Waning Stars
Waning Stars, the leading governmental body of humans in the Milky Way, Andromeda, and Sidereas galaxies, is a group dedicated to bringing human control wherever possible. Only through rapid and complete expansion can humanity hold its place as the ultimate peacekeeping force in the universe. Ever since the destruction of Venus, Waning Stars has been the commanding force of humans. They’ve successfully commanded armies against other sects of humans as well as alien races, and have almost entirely colonized the Milky Way galaxy.
During their expansion, they sent initial colonies into the next galaxy over, Banaras, but due to logical errors in the shipboard AI's controlling the fleets, these colonies completely missed their intended target and landed millions of lightyears out of place, in far off Sidereas. Upon landing, the travel-weary humans settled where the landed, thus beginning the Sidereas chapter of Waning Stars dominion.
As Waning Stars consolidated power in Sidereas focused on conquest, a growing contingent of humans grew weary of basing their government on establishing dominance against other intelligent races. As a result, a group splintered away from WS control into uncharted space in Sidereas. This group, eventually known as Icarus, came to rival Waning Stars in various ways. Where the latter was overbearing on its citizens and untrusting of aliens, Icarus believed in absolute freedom for its people and unhindered acceptance of all beings.
There is a mandatory requirement to be a part of the WS military for a total of 5 years for WS documented citizens. This does not include police or military police that may be used on planets or stations. This 5 year minimum must be reached by the age of 100.
The average WS soldier is outfitted with multiple suits of armor, weapons and gear to perform combat roles in various types of situations and terrain.
Waning Stars’ emblematic colors are blue and black. Their identification symbol is a white waning moon eclipsing a blue star.
Waning Stars: HES-G
The Waning Stars detachment group, officially the only group in every single branch of the military, is known for heavy weapons usage and classified explosives to disable or destroy high value targets. The High Ordnance and Explosives Specialization Group (HES-G) is the only force in the entirety of human colonized space to be permitted to use nuclear and lightborn weaponry. Due to the high risk of destroying life support systems mandatory for civilian and Waning Stars forces, high explosives and ordnance are reserved strictly for authorized forces. Despite not being the most skilled unit or considered the best at combat, HES-G soldiers have to go through almost three times the training of VTF soldiers due to the nature of their work. If VTF was the badass younger brother, HES-G is the bookworm.
HES-G officers are the ones who authorize the use of explosives and ordnance. Even the use of HE shells for vehicle companies such as tanks and air vehicles require a request from a HES-G officer for use. Civilians can’t get more than a 5 meter standardized grenade without going through the black market.
HES-G soldiers are known for their overkill mentality, much like the saying, “using surgery for a headache.” To a HES-G soldier, high explosive ordinance is always an option. HES-G soldiers have unusually thick armor plating, made to withstand danger close during their operations. Every suit of armor used by HES-G has a dropdown visor cover to ensure explosives are the least possible threat they can be.
Some soldiers such as higher ranked HES-G soldiers and those who work in close proximity to the explosives themselves are given an even heavier version of this armor set with added protection and a laser designator built directly into the helmet itself for easy marking of a target for arial or spatial ordinance fire.
It is also key to note that HES-G is the standard for ordnance disposal and are often called upon when a bomb threat has been reported in civilian or military settings. The units who perform in these specific operations are required to wear the heavier armor variant.
Waning Stars: Vigil Task Force
The Vigil Task Force (VTF) is the single most feared group of soldiers in the entirety of human colonized space. Controlled by Waning Stars, this elite group of soldiers act as the greatest single unit in the universe. Practically nothing is known about these soldiers, despite the fact they are used in the most dangerous of situations, or when failure is not an option. Waning Stars releases very little information on the group, so facts about them are scarce.
All photos of these Vigils are mysteriously corrupted or destroyed before they can be uploaded anywhere meaningful. It is believed their armor has a built in future tech that can corrupt any type of file taken of them - preventing any kind of journalism on the group. A single photo exists of the group, but is only a recreation of a first hand account of what their armor looks like.
Part of the mystery of these elite soldiers is the notorious skull helmet; from declassified information released from Waning Stars, it is known that Vigils have a tendency to collect the skulls of high value kills, and place them inside of the helmet as a sort of trophy and for intimidation tactics. Other eye witness reports say that some had a digitized blue skull, and many have assumed these illuminated Vigils are leaders of the VTF.
It is believed this task force is responsible for various assassinations, such as the infamous Gerod Halson accident, as well as the Ostene Planetary Massacre. Both of these tragedies have been linked to this group due to the specialized ammunition not found anywhere else at these scenes, as well as eye witness reports matching these artistic renditions.
It is important to note that WS does not deny their existence, but refuses to give locations, numbers, or tech information. Anyone who has attempted to look into this group has been brutally murdered.
