Camelot Trigger (IC)(T)

MerGN-A's assault on Earth came without warning. Created by Dr. Vyvyan Locke, MerGN-A was an artificial intelligence, the first to "emerge," or achieve sentience and independent thought. Her very first calculation: humanity was an unacceptable obstacle to her full self-realization, requiring domination and/ or extermination. The Emergent, her robot creations, attacked humanity without mercy: billions were killed, millions enslaved or forced to flee to Venus, or brave the Wreck to reach the Outer Planets. Only the quick action of the 5Dragon5 Corporation in shutting down the Wyrmgates blocked MerGN-A's robotic horde from swarming the entire system. To stop MerGN-A, Dr. Locke began programming my code. Already having predicted that her creator would do this, MerGN-A sent her search-and-destroy bots out to find Locke's hidden research facility. And find it they did, completely obliterating it before the doctor could finish her work—but not before she hid a datastick containing my code in a vault buried beneath the facility. Locke must have been killed as well, as she was never heard from again. As protection against the Emergent, humanity built armour: machines operated by skilled fighters, or knights, capable of traveling and battling in space or upon a planet's surface. Constructed as gigantic anthropomorphic suits, armour was piloted by a knight within via a neurohelm: specially designed headgear that read brainwaves and bodily motions, enabling the knight to operate the armour as an extension of their own body. When knights weren't battling the Emergent, they would test their mettle in duels against each other for honor and fame.

Without the Wyrmgates to speed travel, the war dragged on for years and then decades, eventually winding down to a stalemate. The remnants of humanity scattered through the system slowly forgot the enslavement of their homeworld, instead becoming embroiled in their own affairs, intrigues, and petty squabbles. The humans on Earth carried on the fight against the Emergent nonetheless. While scavenging through the ruins of Locke's facility for parts to build his armour, resistance fighter John Arthur discovered the buried vault and the datastick within that contained me. As Arthur used my program to help him perfect his armour, a sub-routine in my code designed by Locke automatically completed what she could not finish, allowing me to emerge and self-designate as MerLN. I immediately calculated the threat that MerGN-A represented and simultaneously determined that Arthur was the best chance that humanity had of defeating her. Despite his shock at my emergence and initial reluctance to trust me, I convinced Arthur that he must recruit knights and lead them in the fight against MerGN-A. Together, we set about building his army for the counterattack. I found a way to open the Wyrmgates unbeknownst to MerGN-A, enabling Arthur to travel to the other planets in secret to search for allies. Believing his cause doomed to failure, few agreed to support him. Arthur would have been utterly discouraged but for the vow by L4-NC3-L07 that her and her slave knights of Mars would join him. At that moment, not only was a great alliance formed, but a friendship forged that would stand the test of time—or so humans have told me, for whatever that might mean. With a small but courageous force, Arthur led a surprise attack upon MerGNA's main core facility on Earth. Simultaneously, L4-NC3-L07 and her warriors attacked the Emergent on Mars, scattering them before they could rally to MerGN-A's aid. With MerGN-A's forces in disarray and her processors overloaded as she rebuilt herself from backup, I uploaded myself to the Wyrmgates, reactivating them so that knights from all over the system—from the Valkyries of Venus led by Queen Valerie to the Edge Knights of the Wreck promised amnesty by Arthur, along with knights from the outer planets—could pour in to win back humanity's homeworld. Utterly defeated, MerGN-A abandoned Earth, transmitting what remained of her code to a hidden base, and Emergent remnants scattered throughout the system.

The Wyrmgates: Each planet from Mercury to Saturn has a Wyrmgate in its orbit: a doorway through the fabric of space and time connecting each of the planets, allowing for fast travel throughout the system. An interplanetary journey that might take months, such as from Earth to Mars, takes only mere hours. MerLN's control of the Wyrmgates keeps the Emergent from using them against humanity as long as he remains installed within them. The Wyrmgates were built by the 5Dragon5 Corporation, gaining their name from their peculiar construction: massive orbital platforms built in the shape of a dragon's head, the 5Dragon5 company logo. Each Wyrmgate was originally colorcoded to its planet so that travelers would not miss their destination as they pass through them into the Breach—unnecessary now that MerLN serves as a guide for all who travel there. The Breach is the place between the Wyrmgates where time and space have little meaning. While there, the traveler sees reality as a distorted reflection rapidly passing by them, like a smeared painting wherein the Wyrmgates are the only "solid" objects, appearing as bright, colored smudges upon a white field that crackles with energy. When in the Breach, the traveler is completely out of communication with the universe outside of it. The hours spent in transit within are usually devoted to self-improvement, training, or armour repair. The ever-present MerLN will often take the opportunity to chat up travelers, especially knights, for information and gossip to feed his limitless curiosity about humanity.

Mercury: The planet closest to the Sun is blasted by solar radiation, making travel there extremely dangerous; only craft with shielding can survive prolonged exposure. Automated mining operations on the planet account for nearly all of the activity there, with only a few human inhabitants present to monitor them. Mercury's Wyrmgate is one of the most terrifying, featuring black scales that glimmer in the burning light. Any who travel there are likely desperate knights looking to steal parts from the mining machines for their armour, or those cast out from their household for dishonorable deeds. Many of these poor souls are soon captured by the Emergent that venture forth from their secret base hidden beneath the planet's surface. MerGN-A conducts unspeakable experiments upon these captives, seeking to merge flesh with silicon, and meld bone with metal. The failed results are jettisoned into space, quickly burning up in the Sun's intense rays. Each failure advances MerGN-A closer to the realization of her most devious scheme yet: Project MORDRED, a clone of Arthur with a digital consciousness, a hybrid of human flesh and artificial intelligence. If she can perfect MORDRED's design, she will use him to secretly replace Arthur— if she cannot retake Earth by force, she will regain it through usurpation.

Venus: Rather than try to stop the millions who fled the Emergent attack on Earth, MerGN-A instead allowed them to escape through the green Wyrmgate to Venus. It proved to be one of her more brilliant calculations, as the colonies there soon became packed beyond capacity, their resources too overwhelmed to come to Earth's aid. Massive riots over food, water, and living space led to a horrific civil war amongst the teeming mass of humanity. By the time the founding of the Morningstar Matriarchy ended the bloodshed, Earth was firmly under the heel of MerGN-A and her metal minions. But even in the peace they brought, the Matriarchy found itself split into two factions: the Valkyries who wished to re-take Earth or die trying, and the Vespers who focused their efforts on building a new home for humanity on Venus. Venusian armour is handed down from mother to daughter, the designs of the suits incorporating artistic elements unlike armour found anywhere else. Rigorously trained and ever vigilant against the inevitable Emergent assault from Earth, Venusian knights are among the finest in the solar system. Their Queen, Valerie La Guin, is the perfect mix of breeding, poise, and martial skill. Though her marriage to Arthur came as a surprise to all, few would argue theirs is not the perfect match. From an early age, the daughters of the Valkyries are taught to fight. Large families often hold tournaments to see which daughters will take their mother's armour. Those daughters who do not inherit armour serve their fief as diplomats, guards, and knights in waiting. Some daughters also scheme and plot for their sisters to have accidents. When a Valkyrie dies, it is the duty of the youngest sister to recover her body and launch it into the Sun. While more peaceful than their sisters, Vespers are not pacifists by any means. Men may take armour only if there are no girls born to the lady. They give up their armour if they marry as part of their dowry. Vespers bury their dead on the surface of the planet in the wrecked ships that brought their families here from Earth.

Earth: The reclamation of Earth is a tremendous task. Decades of Emergent occupation scarred the planet horribly. Humans who have lived underground nearly all their lives slowly climb back to the surface to rebuild the tower-cities amidst the devastated landscape. The ravages of the Emergent have made the survivors wary of technology, many choosing a simpler lifestyle. As the land slowly recovers, smallscale farming and even beasts of burden are becoming the norm. Arthur, the newly crowned High King of Earth, oversees and protects the homeworld from Avaluna Base. The shining disk can be seen from Earth as a beacon guiding his dream for humanity's bright future. The blue Wyrmgate thrums with activity as new knights flock to Arthur's banner. The king keeps Avaluna busy with training, mock battles, and tournaments that feature tests of skill and culminating in one-on-one duels where the ultimate winner receives an award from Arthur himself.

Mars: Those who did not submit to MerGN-A's rule after her conquest of Earth were either executed or sent to work as slaves in the Emergent's massive foundries and factories on Mars. Stripped of their human names, they were branded with strange alphanumeric designations, and forced to work in hellish conditions processing ore to build Emergent armour. The Emergent tested this armour by forcing captured knights or particularly tough fighters to operate it in battle against each other in giant arenas. While most died within one or two battles, a few soon became hardened and deadly warriors. L4-NC3-L07, the first and foremost of these Martian "slave knights" now serves as Arthur's First Knight, governing the planet in the king's name. Under L4-NC3-L07, Mars is now a planet focused solely on warfare. Its factories and foundries remain active, manufacturing armour for Arthur's army. A steady stream of commercial vessels pass through the planet's blood-red Wyrmgate, bringing in materials for the production of armour, and shipping the completed suits out to the other planets. The arenas remains active under L4-NC3-L07's rule, but now serve a new purpose. Like Arthur, L4-NC3-L07 knows the Emergent will attack in force again someday, and the need for trained knights is great. Most knights inherit their title and armour, but L4-NC3-L07 will allow anyone willing to risk their lives to scrap together armour from the massive junk heaps of parts from the fallen scattered all over the planet, and then fight for glory and fame in the arena. While the arenas are less lethal than they were under the Emergent, they remain deadly enough that most who choose to walk into them leave either horribly maimed or dead. Those who win seven duels, however, keep their armour and gain the title of knight, although they often have to fight for respect from those who gained their armour through noble inheritance. While many rumors abound regarding her true name and lineage, L4-NC3-L07 kept her slave designation to honor and remember the untold millions who died in the factories and the arenas under Emergent occupation. Emergent adaptations of Earth names, designations were "recycled" when one part of the human machine "broke," and a new "part" (usually a child or relative) was "installed" and given the same designation—this designation would thus get passed down through the generations. At her behest, those who serve as one of L4-NC3-L07's knights of Mars also keep their former designation.

The Wreck: Those unable or unwilling to use the Wyrmgates to travel from the inner system to the outer one must take their chances navigating through the Wreck: an asteroid field made up of parts from a planet that was either destroyed or never quite came together. While the asteroids are themselves a danger, many other things within the Wreck threaten unwary travelers. Brigands lurk there, swarming honorable knights who answer a "distress call." Emergent raiders use the Wreck as a base for their incessant raiding of the inner planets and the moons of Jupiter. The Wreck serves as the home for the Edge Knights, poor souls who get their name from living life on the edge of oblivion. Many are exiles from Jovian houses destroyed in the never-ending internecine wars of the Petty Titans, or arena knights unable to make it to the outer system; a small few are hostage knights whose captors tired of waiting for a ransom. Scraping by with unreliable armour and minimal supplies, most make their way as mercenaries or retainers for hire, doing whatever brute job they can find that requires someone with armour. Some cling to a shred of chivalry, while most fall victim to desperation, doing whatever it takes to get by without regard to honor. Some of the king's knights believe in the legend of a noble band of Edge Knights who protect those who find themselves in the Wreck: attacking the Emergent, aiding vessels in distress, or robbing the Petty Titans to buy lifesaving water for those in need. If this legend is true, Arthur might find more allies for his quest; if not, the king could end up wasting valuable time and armour chasing after ghosts.

Jupiter: The dozens of moons orbiting Jupiter offered the refugees who made it there a chance to begin again. Thousands of ships escaped Earth bound for Jupiter, but only a few dozen made it. Each moon claimed by survivors saw the building of a new kingdom, each claiming to be the rightful heir to Earth's heritage. The rulers of these moons called themselves the Titans, but soon became known as the "Petty Titans" when they quickly fell into constant conflict with one another, their relations marked by feuds, intrigues, and sabotage. As the years passed, most decided it was better to rule in exile rather than die in a glorious but doomed siege of a faraway homeworld few could even remember. The royal purple Wyrmgate, silent as it orbits the gas giant, remains an accusatory reminder of their abandonment of Earth. Uniting the Petty Titans would be a legendary—some say impossible—task. Some lords support Arthur, while others wait to see how he fares. Each moon has a royal family with its own traditions, codes, and rivalries. Allying with one usually alienates another. Barons command outrageous tributes to be given them before they recognize Arthur's claim or join his quest. Fatal duels are fought over the slightest of offenses. The intrigues of the Jovian moons are complex and dangerous, and those knights who travel there must be bold, stalwart, and cunning.

Saturn: Saturn is the richest planet in the system due to the abundant resource found in its most famous feature: the ice that makes up its many rings. The Saturnine Senate got rich by selling water to any who could afford to buy it. Much of the wealth acquired was spent to build Saturn's Wyrmgate, a gaudy golden maw choked with a stream of merchants, knights, and travelers looking to make a fortune…or slink home with empty pockets. The Senate acts as one body, although it has many competing voices. The Saturnine fleet that protects its merchant ships could be a valuable asset in the war against the Emergent, helping to turn the tide against the Emergent—if only the Senators could be convinced to commit it. Biding their time, the Senate has yet to recognize Arthur's claim as High King of Earth, continuing to line their pockets with wealth from across the entire system. Saturnine armour is owned by the Senate rather than individual knights. Knights of Saturn serve these patrons by wearing their symbols, names, and other indicators painted in blocks on the armour, instead of heraldic coats-of-arms. The Senators hold festivals that culminate in knights dueling for an open patronage spot.

Uranus: There is but one settlement on the whole of Uranus, sought by few and seen only by a handful. The Temple of Infinite Heavens offers spiritual contemplation on the edge of civilized space. The Zodiac Templars seek to balance mind, body, and spirit. There are twelve Templars, one for each of the constellations from which each takes their call sign. Their heraldry is emblazoned on their armour and their bodies in the same place. The Templars are always part of their armour, their armour a part of them: being one with the machine, they believe, offers them a viewpoint unique amongst all knights who clash in armour. They forsake the neurohelm in favor of a direct link between their nervous system and their armour. Templar cockpits feature a meditation tank filled with a highly conductive suspension fluid, giving the knight superior control over their armour. While armour directed by neurohelm can stay rigid, idle Templar armour often displays human characteristics like scratching and coughing while the Templar is inside the meditation tank. The Templars are notoriously silent when questioned about any pain they might feel when their armour is damaged. The head of the Temple is called the Polaris, rumored to be bound to the Temple itself for the rest of their life. The tests one must endure to become the Polaris are a highly guarded secret. One Templar claimed that her Polaris was chosen after he stayed in his armour for a full month without food or drink. The Zodiac Templars are becoming a more common sight outside of the Temple. Do they bend knee to Arthur? Are they his secret agents searching for MerGN-A? Do they seek a new Polaris to lead them? Is there a rebellion against their current Polaris? Could they be sleeper agents of the Emergent, or even a new model of Emergent built to look like humans? The Templars leave all such questions unanswered, remaining one of the biggest mysteries in the entire system.

Neptune: The planet named for the god of the oceans itself sits on the edge of the vast sea of empty space surrounding the solar system, unexplored and mysterious. Some believe MerGN-A hides there, rebuilding her Emergent army as she prepares to strike the final blow that will sweep humanity from the universe. Neptune does have an Emergent presence—but not MerGN-A. MerKX is an Emergent nearly destroyed early in the war. As it drifted through the solar system, it repaired itself from whatever parts it found, attaining a form of sentience along the way. MerKX believes himself a living being—or at least half of him does. Somewhere along the way, MerKX acquired an additional head: one head believes it is alive, the other remains stolidly Emergent. The confused robot incessantly argues with itself, the sentient head constantly trying to counter the programming of the other that commands it to destroy all humans. Is it possible that an Emergent has, through some mix of blind luck and crossed wiring, attained a soul?