*Background notes*

Nation States

United Allies: A coalition dominated by the United States, though with a good deal of autonomy for its member nations. The United States, a flagging superpower, revitalized itself by scaling back its military and remaining a commercial empire by hardening links with nations that shared its values and business practices regardless of geography. A company of the US was the first to discover how to travel faster than light, making the US first out of the gate in settling colonies and further increasing the economic might of the US and its allies. Close allies with the Saudi Caliphate, Federated Brazil, West African Union and the Republic of India. Tense relations with PREA, European Union, Republic of Turkey and South American Collective.

• Earth territories: United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, Philippines, parts of Indonesia, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Papua New Guinea
• Colonies: Vegas, Ganymede, Shenandoah, New California, Deseret, Lincoln, Roosevelt, New America, Tabula Rasa, Lone Star, Himiko, Yamato, Otomo, Eden, Elizabeth, Oz, Gideon, New Kingston, Zayed, part of Mars

Peoples’ Republic of East Asia: A collection of territories under the full control of China and its authoritative government. Seemed to be on the rise to becoming the dominant nation on Earth until the unexpected revitalization of the United States. An industrial spy stole information on FTL travel before the UN ordered the US to make the information public, making them the other nation able to settle colonies early. Allied with European Union and the Republic of Turkey. Tense relations with United Allies, Russian Federation, Saudi Caliphate and Republic of India.

• Earth Territories: China, Mongolia, Nepal, Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, parts of Indonesia, Bhutan, Brunei, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Kashmir, Laos
• Colonies: Guangan, Taoyuan, Kunlun, Xindi, Huangdi, Wumu, Mao, Qingtian, Kongxing, part of Huoxing (Mars)

European Union: Power in the European Union became increasingly centralized over the decades until the autonomy of the individual nations that made it up was eclipsed by federal power. Germany is the heart of the Union and produces much of its leadership. Accepted Armenia into its Union and defends it tenaciously, making the EU disliked by the other powers active in the middle east. Allied with the PREA, West African Union and South American Collective. Tense relationship with Federated Brazi, United Allies, Republic of Turkey, Saudi Caliphate and Russian Federation.

• Earth territories: Germany, Spain, Greece, Italy, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, Iceland, Greenland, New Zealand, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, part of Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, French Guiana, Netherlands, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia
• Colonies: Adenauer, Bismarck, New Svealand, New France

Russian Federation: A vast territory controlled by the autocratic government in Moscow. Russia has been cagey in playing its two main rivals, PREA and UA, against each other so that both leave Russia more or less alone. Encouraged (but didn’t cause) a breakdown of relations between UA and EU that spelled the end of NATO. No strong allies. Tense relations with European Union.

• Earth territories: Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan
• Colonies: Putin, Pitir, Lenin, Gagarin

Republic of India: Once the other rising power in the East, India was checked hard by the PREA and though it remains an economic power, it is not a military one at the moment. Though its colonial aspirations have lagged (in part due to industrial sabotage) India is hopeful that its large population will give it an edge in creating a competitive empire. Allied with UA. Tense relations with PREA and Saudi Caliphate.

• Earth territories: India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
• Colonies: Ambedkar, Indira

Republic of Turkey: The sole major power in the middle east to resist the Saudi Caliphates expansion thanks to assistance from Russia and China. Turkey remains a small power though, opportunistically nibbling at the edges of surrounding powers. Its sole colony is currently more of a status symbol than a viable colony. Allied with PREA. Tense relations with European Union, Saudi Caliphate and United Allies.

• Earth territories: Turkey, Syria, Cyprus, part of Greece, part of Bulgaria, part of Iraq, Lebanon
• Colonies: Ataturk

Saudi Caliphate: An empire created when the US decided to back Saudi Arabia fully when hostilities with Iran finally erupted into a hot war. Ignoring condemnations from the UN, the US supported territorial conquests by the Saudis in hopes that it would end the instability of the middle east. Only Qatar, Israel and the UAE (as UA members) and Turkey resisted. Iranians detest being under the thumb of the Saudis but the Caliphates repressive policies keep them mostly under control with the colony of Cyrus functioning as a release valve. Closely allied with and funded by the UA. Tense relations with Turkey, PREA and India.

• Earth territories: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, part of Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan
• Colonies: Saudialealamia, Cyrus

Federated Brazil: A nation that continues to mostly get in its own way in regard to becoming a great power but has incorporated a few new territories (Cuba by conquest, the others via diplomacy). The chosen (but frustrating) son of the US, who have supported Brazil hoping that a Brazillian expansion can tamp down chaos in South America the way the Saudis did in the middle east. Though they have thus far failed in that, Brazil remains a solid middle rank power. Allied with the UA and the West African Union. Tense relations with the South American Collective and European Union.

• Brazil, Cuba, Guyana, Suriname, Haiti
• Colonies: Vargas, Isabel

South American Collective: An alliance of nations spearheaded by Argentina for the express purpose of resisting Brazillian expansion. They have thus far done that as well as becoming a rival economic power. Allied with the European Union and (quietly) the PREA.

• Earth territories: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador
• Colonies: San Martin

West African Union: Created when Algeria and Nigeria pulled out of the African Union and allied together with the goal of cultivating their surrounding nations and only allowing them into the WAU if they could prove peaceful and productive. It has been a success, with the WAU becoming a major economic power while staying out of the wars of the other powers. It continues to try and cultivate neighboring nations (such as Chad and Congo nations) and has recently begun a colonial program. Allied with the United Allies, European Union and Federated Brazil. Tense relationship with the Republic of South Africa.

• Earth territories: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Liberia
• Colonies: Obasanjo, Numidia

Republic of South Africa: In contrast to the WAU, South Africa used the collapse of the African Union to expand via diplomatic pressure and ****. Though of similar size to the WAU, South Africa hasn’t progressed as rapidly economically and remains a regional, rather than world, power.

• Earth territories: South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar
• Colonies: None

Unaffiliated: Switzerland, Singapore, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Belize, Colombia, Comoros, DRC, Congo, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, the Moon

Characters

• MC - You, a CIA agent in the body of a Japanese teenager
• Yozora Tainaka - a Japanese teenage prostitute **** by the NPA who’s body you currently inhabit
• Ryota Ishikawa - a straight-laced NPA agent angling for transfer to the CIA
• Joe MacKinnon - your direct supervisor, legendary field agent
• Rosa Serrano - neurosurgeon who helped move your brain
• Satsuki - a prostitute who plays the shamisen, older than the rest of the prostitutes in the Hoseki House
• Ayako Chigusa - proprietress of the Hoseki House
• Jun - Yozora’s boyfriend
• Chiaki - prostitute working at the Hoseki House
• Maria - prostitute working at the Hoseki House
• Yoshinori Yoshida - a leader in the Tokyo Yamaguchi-gumi and HR director for Edogawa Biotechnologies
• Doctor Bunishichi - a “doctor” working for Yoshida specializing in ****
• Kazuo Kamiya - lieutenant of Yoshida
• Masahiro Hayama - lieutenant of Yoshida
• Noboru Inoue - lieutenant of Yoshida
• Park - designer of the security for Yoshida’s building
• Hasegawa - security expert working for Yoshida
• Ueno - bodyguard of Yoshida
• Subaru - bodyguard of Yoshida
• Prime Minister Shindoa - current Prime Minister of Japan
• George Tran - Former Democratic President and current candidate
• Robert Trippel - Republican Senator and candidate for President

Alien Races: WIP