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  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
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  Sam moved to the corner of the next intersection lust in time to see more guards 
  running toward them. She fired wildlq. then ducked bach around the wall "Can't 90 
  that waq." she @led over the returning fire. 
  Holli was frantic: she didn't dare looh at her chronometer. She glanced around and 
  spotted a stairwell on the other side of the intersection. Behind her. she could hear 
  Corp-Serfs coming down the hall. 
  Sam Fred again "Which waq?" she qelled 
  "Upl" Holli darted across the corridor. throwing herself against the stairwell door. 
  Sam was two steps behind her Theq pounded up the Stairs. toward freedom. 
  ri 
  I' 
  Harvesting a meager living from the surface of a rough primal world. thehberati are a proud and 
  tough people rebels and nomads that do not fit the highlu structured societu of the Trench Stuck mi 
  between uncaring megacorporations and a fascist invader bent on conquest, it IS Iiterallq a do-or- 
  die situation for those brave souls on the front line of the neu conflict raching the Heavq Gear 
  universe1 This manual contains bachground information and resource material on the underground 
  freedom fighters and nomad miners of Caprice. 
  This sourcelook include5 
  Rcomplefe historq ofthe liberati. 
  - Full overview ofttberati culture and Iifestqle: 
  Resistance operations and resources, 
  Sample Liberati-ariented campaign set-ups. 
  I 
  I S B N :  1-896776-80-9 I 
  9 ~~11111111llll~/111lll11llll~~ 
  781896 776804 I 
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  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  CHAPTEA 1: IWTAOllUCTlON .............................................................................................................................................. 
  4 
  FICTION: TACTICS OF OPPORTUNITY 
  11 FREE MEN AN0 WOMEN ............ 
  ................................................................................................................. 
  4 
  ..................................................... 
  1.1.1 SUBSISTENCE ................................................................................. 
  1.1.2 RESISTANCE .................................................................................................... 
  1.2 HISTORY OF THE LIBERRTI ................................................................................................................ 
  ........................................................................................................................... 
  6 
  ..................................................................................................................... 
  1 
  ..................................................................................................................... 
  8 
  1.2.4 ISOLRTlONlST YERRS ................................................................................................................................. 
  8 
  CHAPTEA 2: LlIEtlRTl CLANS ......................................................................................................................................... 
  10 
  FICTION: MRHl NG TINE .................................................................................................................................................. 10 
  ..................................................................................................................................... 
  11 
  2 1  THE CLANS .. 
  2.11 NOH 
  RWlZRTlON .................................................................................................................... 
  11 
  2.1.2 GOVERNMENT ............................................................................................................................................ 
  12 
  2.1.3 JUSTICE ................................................................................................................................................... 
  13 
  2.1.4 PREJUDICE RHO ArrrmDES .......................................................................... 
  2.2 LIFESTYLE ......................................................................................................................... 
  2.2.1 LRNGURGE ................................................................................................................................ 
  2.2.2 MARRIAGE RHO FllNlLY GROUPINGS ............................................................. 
  2.2.3 SPlRllURLlTY ........................................................................................................................................... 
  19 
  2.2.4 EOUCRTION ............................................................................................................................................. 
  20 
  2.3.5 DWELLINGS .............................................................................................................................................. 
  21 
  2.3.6 RURlRL RITES ......................................................................................................................................... 
  22 
  2.3.7 FATE ........................................................................................................ 
  2.3.8 CLOTHIN6 ................................................................................................. 
  2.3.9 FOOD 6 ORINH ............................................................................................ 
  .......................................................................................................................................... 
  21 
  ERRTlNG WORH ................................................................................................................... 
  27 
  2.3.2 SUPPORT PROFESSIONS ........................................................................................................................... 
  28 
  2.4 ARTS 6 ENTERTAINMENT ........................................................................................................................................ 
  30 
  . 2.41 LIBERRTI DANCE ..................................................................................................................... 
  2.4.2 TRIOEO AN0 VIDEO ENTEllTAlNNEllT .......................................................................................... 
  2.4.3 STONE ETCHING ....................................................................................................................... 
  2.4.4 NOMAD MRRHETPlRff ............................................................................................................ 
  CHRPTEA 3: lllEAtlTl FACTIONS .................................................................................................................................... 32 
  FIcnoN: REUNION .............................................................................................................. 
  3.1 FREEOOM FIGHTERS AND OPPONEWTS .............................................................................................. 
  3.1.1 PRRRLLEL RESISTANCE .................................................................................. 
  31.2 PUBLIC OUTLOOH ......................... 
  ...................................................................................................... 
  33 
  ...................................................................................................... 
  34 
  3.2.1 SHROOWS RHO SECALTS ........................................................................................................................... 
  34 
  3.2.2 COMMANO STRUCTURE ............................................................................................................................. 
  34 
  3.2.3 OncnNimnoi ........................................................................................................................................ 
  35 
  3.2.4 EOUIPMENT .................................................................................. 
  ............................................. 
  36 
  3.2.5 TRCTICS ....................................................................................... 
  ............................................. 
  38 
  3.2.6 DUTIES ....................................................................................... 
  3.2.7 CONTIN6ENCY PLANS ................................................................................... 
  3.2.8 JUSTICE ...................................................................................................... 
  3.3 SYNPRTHIZERS .................................................................................................................... 
  ......................................................................................... 
  ................................................................................................... 
  .................................................................................................................. 
  .............................................................................................................. 
  ............................................................................. 
  ................................................................................................................... 
  43 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  T A B L E  O F  
  CHRPTER 4: ACTIVITIES AND INFLUENCE ........................................................................................................................ 44 
  4.2 ACllVlllES AND ONGOING CAHPfllGWS .............. 
  .............. 
  4.2.1 THE MRAHETPLACE 
  .......................................... 
  ....................................... 
  46 
  ........................................ 
  .......................................... 
  4.4.2 WITH COMOAAANS .................................... 
  .......................................................................................................................... 
  ............................................ 
  5.3.2 ASSISTANCE 
  .............................................. 
  RMlA Al-JUYUSH HlCH ................... 
  RHlA FALCON ........................... 
  ............................................................................................. 
  60 
  ............................................................. 
  ......................................... 
  67 
  ............................................. 
  67 
  ................................... 
  lNM .......................................................................................................................................................................... 
  80 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  TACTICS OF OPPORTUNI TY 
  Thick billowing smoke from the husks of burning transports rolled over the rough canyon 
  floor. Bodies were littered across the rocks, battered and broken. Captain Horace Casper 
  stood at the edge of the scene, his eyes taking i n  everything, filing the details away. He 
  adjusted his uniform and started back toward the mobile HQ at the edge of the scene. 
  "Find what you were looking for, sir?" A young trooper met him halfway. He had been a 
  Last minute replacement for this inquest and seemed to lack a bit in the brains department. 
  "No, I did not," Casper said. "Did you interview the survivors like I asked?" 
  The officer nodded. "I spoke to a l l  fifteen able men. That's what's left of the hundred and 
  forty that were guarding this run." He scrolled through some notes on his datapad. "Would 
  you like to see the results?" 
  Casper brushed the datapad away. "Just tell me what you found, Corporal." He pulled off 
  his thin gloves and scratched the back of his hands. 
  "Well," the corporal began, turning to face the devastation, "the advanced scouts chose 
  this route because they could dispense with the breathing rigs. They've been short on 
  breathers since last month's attack on their outpost." 
  The corporal pointed to spots on the canyon's edge. "The scouts were sent ahead, there 
  and there, to guard against an ambush, but the hostiles were waiting for them. They killed 
  the scouts and used their transponders to draw the cargo transports into the canyon." He 
  sighed. "Looks like the Liberati not only knew the route but the transponder codes as 
  well. Someone got sloppy, very sloppy." 
  Casper slowed to a stop at the steps of the mobile HQ trailer. "That's the easy answer, 
  Corporal," he said. He opened the door at the top of the steps and they both entered, 
  loosening their breathing gear. The door closed itself and the air pressurized slightly. The 
  corporal wiggled his finger i n  one ear. 
  "On our way here, I checked the reports on the Liberati strikes over the past few months," 
  Casper continued. "It seems they've been purposely destroying, not capturing, supplies 
  north of this location. When they hit the Denner outpost, they focused on destruction 
  also, but this time they hit mostly the air processors. Made the Denner troops a little 
  nervous about breathing too hard." 
  The two soldiers squeezed past other officers and clerks to a small desk i n  the front of the 
  trailer. Casper sat down. The corporal stood at attention. 
  "I checked a lot of things," Casper continued, "including the repair logs on the 
  transponders." He pulled a slim thermos from his jacket and poured himself a mug of 
  steaming liquid. The corporal could smell coffee and liquor. "Turns out they had undergone 
  their yearly maintenance not two weeks before. But the shipment that brought the spare 
  parts had reported being harassed by Liberati raiders. Strangety, they made it through." 
  The corporal looked bewildered. "You think they planted the parts? Sir, that would mean 
  the Mberati had the whole thing planned months i n  advance. That's a little much, don't 
  you think?" 
  Casper held up his hand. "The Liberati don't plan i n  linear terms," he said. "They work 
  with what you might call the 'tactics of opportunity: In other words, they plant seeds and 
  wait for them to become useful. The transponder incident might have been used i n  a 
  completely different scenario - a theft perhaps. The trick is finding out where they've 
  planted the seeds and burning them out before they can be used." He sipped his coffee. 
  The corporal fidgeted. 
  "I've been keeping tabs on the Liberati since our forces arrived on this hellhole. It's 
  the 
  only job I've ever enjoyed." He gulped down the rest of his coffee and stood up. "Now, 
  let's go over the site again. Tell the men to suit up." 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  The surface of Caprice is harsh but geologically wealthy. The chaotic nature of this young 
  solar system has created a huge amount of economically desirable elements and gathered 
  them in the crust of the planet, ready to be harvested and made into the technology that 
  the human race requires for i t s  expansion and comfort. This isolated and harsh world has 
  given birth t o  one of the most interesting cultures in history: the nomadic civilization of 
  the Liberati. 
  Born from a proud heritage, the Liberati nomads live in quasi-permanent villages or 
  townships of their own manufacture, as squatters i n  abandoned camps, or as contracted 
  help i n  any operation willing to hire them on. In some cases, entire communities of these 
  gypsies never settle down, but remain forever on the move, transporting goods across the 
  planet. I n  all cases, the Liberati nomads grow up, work and die together in what often 
  amounts to a desperately short life. There is little doubt, however, that they are the 
  toughest beings Caprice has ever produced. There is no hardship they cannot survive. It 
  i s  not a matter of hope, but of perseverance and innate stubbornness. 
  Though outsiders often perceive the Liberati as a unified bloc, they are in fact composed 
  of a large number of vety distinct families and factions. Each region has its own social 
  peculiarities based on its history and relative isolation, though many share similar traits. 
  Freedom defines the Liberati and gives them their name. Liberati strive for two different, 
  yet often intertwined freedoms. They seek socioeconomic freedom, and they seek political 
  freedom. These two aspects are often described as "subsistence and resistance." 
  The term "subsistence" is one few Liberati would use to describe their lifestyles. It i s  a word that only the people of 
  Gomorrah use, from learned scholars to "armchair" historians, and it reveals an inherent amount of misunderstanding 
  and bias on their part. The Liberati do not "subsist;" they exist, their lives largely free of the excesses and wastefulness 
  of the Gornorran lifestyle. They use only what they need t o  survive, and they are generally better off because of it. This 
  simplicity of lifestyle, this "subsistence" is their social and economic freedom. It defines the Liberati nomads, the 
  freelance miners and workers of the wastelands of Caprice. 
  Over the centuries, Gomorran corporations have built and abandoned installations in an unending cycle of mining. 
  The surface i s  dotted with disparate camps and scarred by the deep wounds left by careless strip-mining. These 
  abandoned facilities provided early Liberati nomads with a supply of pre-fabricated building materials and salvageable 
  equipment. Today, the Liberati still salvage materials and equipment when they can - 
  the littered, rocky fields of the 
  Southeast Quadrant providing a different sort of salvage than the mines and camps - 
  but they also manufacture such 
  things on their own. 
  The Liberati nomads have always resisted political bondage in one way or another. For the most part, this resistance has 
  been as simple as packing up and leaving, moving on to new lands, new contracts and new opportunities. At the 
  opposite extreme, their resistance has sometimes exacted a bloody toll from both sides, such as happened during the 
  Trent Sector Incident and the resulting Li berati Uprisings of 5370. 
  Although the term "Liberati" was originally used to identify the nomadic peoples of the Capncian highlands, it has come 
  t o  encompass all those struggling for freedom - 
  most recently those working to undermine the Terran invaders. While 
  the Liberati rebels and the Liberati nomads are two separate entities, they are tied together quite closely. Most nomads 
  will assist and even hide anyone fleeing from the CEF, assist in raids if asked, and provide support within their capacity. 
  I n  turn, the rebels will do the same for the nomads. It i s  this exchange of assistance that enabled the rebellion to 
  sunn've for this long. I n  addition to the nomads, however, the Liberati rebels also enjoy the secret support of the 
  Coalition. Caprice's civilian government supplies them with weapons, information and resources when necessary, and it 
  turns a blind eye when the Liberati need access t o  restricted areas. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  I 
  Caprice was a corporate investment first and foremost. It was never intended to become 
  a colony world, a home t o  a new branch of the human race. To all, it was a mere resource, 
  a service stop, a footnote in a system rich with natural interstellar Gates. The planet 
  itself was a place where corporations could extract materials without costly vacuum- 
  proof equipment and easily transform them into finished products that would i n  turn be 
  used to expand humanity's dominion in the galaxy. 
  Opening a new frontier requires manpower, and the poor and destitutes of crowded Earth 
  saw opportunities among the stars. Workers were cheaper than robots, more versatile, 
  and self-maintaining. Ever-evolving hibernation techniques allowed human beings t o  be 
  frozen and carried about like cordwood with minimum maintenance and supplies. During 
  the first few centuries of exploitation, milions of people were shuttled back and forth 
  between Earth and the Loki system in great transfer barges that were little more than 
  frameworks and monitoring computers. 
  1.2.1 - Origins 
  Most if not all of the early mining ventures were located in the giant Cat's Eye Trench that crossed the face of the planet 
  like a giant scar. The trench was a mineral-rich site that was far below the mean average altitude of the surface. This 
  increased the concentration of the atmosphere and thus the trench could support life, reducing the cost of exploitation. 
  The surface was just as rich, but the planet's errant magnetic field and the unknown pitfalls of an unexplored world 
  would prevent its exploitation for many years. Eventually, corporations built installations and processing factories over 
  lucrative areas, and with this stable foundation i n  place they planned out their eventual spread to the surface of the 
  planet with miners as their frontiersmen. Through intensive "Atmosphere Indoctrination Training," corporations conditioned 
  miners for life on the surface. Eventually, the Cat's Eye Trench became the transfer point for workers arriving on Caprice. 
  Installations within the trench grew into small communities through miners and their families. Businesses cropped up 
  slowly, and eventually, miners on furlough vacationed in the trench rather than paying for expensive trips back to Terra 
  Nova or Earth. The industrial compounds became hubs for disparate communities. 
  Meanwhile, while the corporations got richer, many of the workers got poorer. Dissatisfaction with the system spread, 
  but few were willing to do anything about their lot. Very few workers who quit their jobs could afford to return to their 
  homes, and rarer still was the corporation that would foot the bill. Since most corporations wallowed in corporate self- 
  interest, the oppressive policies that led workers to quit one corporation were virtually identical in the next. Even 
  finding a new job was i n  question, thanks t o  widespread corporate blacklisting. 
  This small but growing portion of the population was left jobless and with nowhere to turn. Some tried to make homes 
  in old Trench mines. Others lived in makeshift shelters within the city itself. A few brave souls ventured out onto the 
  surface of Caprice, using stolen vehicles and equipment to do so, disabling their tracking devices in order to avoid being 
  caught. These people rapidly learned that survival was easier and life just a little more comfortable when they gathered 
  together in bands. 
  + Caprician Gqpsies -The 
  First liberati 
  A very small fraction of the dissidents was able to buy its equipment legally, usually through canny contract manipulations 
  or off-world connections. This group of people often tried to form small, independent contracting companies. A few 
  flourished; many vanished without an appreciable trace. The small contractors often hired whole bands of "freelancers" 
  (as the unemployed workers euphemistically called themselves), for whom any escape from their hardship was a blessing. 
  These independent contracting groups provided a better environment for the freelancers than the giant corporations 
  did, so despite living below the standards of the Trench communities, they were overall happier and better-off. As a 
  result, they tended to stick together, moving from contract to contract as bands and eventually forming familial bonds. 
  The subculture of gypsy miners and nomads kept their professional trade within familial bands. They worked as freelance 
  miners, moving across Caprice in nomadic caravans and hiring their services to the often-understaffed facilities. Most 
  lived as squatters, claiming unused tracts of terrain and abandoned complexes until local Corp-Serfs (corporate security 
  forces) drove them off. Society saw them i n  an unsavory light, but needed the unaffiliated to do the jobs corporate 
  miners considered too dangerous to touch. They became known as "Liberati." 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  u 
  A A I ~ V  Van Daar + 
  While the first gypsy bands were still forming in Caprice's early history, an unusual event took place. A man from Earth 
  arrived on Caprice with his entire extended family, but with no corporate contract and no apparent desire to join a 
  corporation or even to start his own business. He had enough money to purchase survival gear, a few old vehicles, and 
  food and water for him and his family. After doing so, they quietly set off for the surface, scarcely saying a word. The 
  man, Alev Van Daar, had no apparent Terran criminal record - 
  he had no record of any kind, i n  fact, and little is known 
  of him, his family or the circumstances of their departure from Earth. It i s  not even known if his descendants know these 
  details, although they maintain that it was not political exile that sent them to Caprice. Among the small pieces of info 
  known about Alev Van Daar, however, is the fact that it was he that coined the term "Liberati." When asked to state his 
  purpose for leaving the Trench with his small convoy i n  tow, he said merely, "We are Liberati." 
  The liberati Revolts - 1.2.2 
  The early 54th century was a dark and ugly time on Caprice. Without direct intervention by the Sol-based Human 
  Concordat, companies subjected their workers to forgotten and often medieval practices. Employees and their families 
  were forced to live in crowded compounds, and most miners were rapidly indentured through legal but shady practices. 
  Community services, such as insurance and medical coverage, were supplied at the bare minimum level. No one said 
  anything, because the authorities who could have done something about all this abuse were too far away. Some 
  corporate officers came t o  believe that there was no higher authority, and this world and its people were theirs to use 
  and abuse as they pleased. Concordat officials were bribed, removed, or simply disbelieved when they returned t o  Earth 
  - 
  surely, in a modern, post-Ice Age society such horrors were unthinkable. The sad truth of the situation was that, as 
  long as revenue and manufactured items poured through the Gate, few people cared about the fate of the emigrants. 
  The voice of freedom came from the miners who were already free from corporate ties: the Liberati. I n  the decades since 
  their first appearance, the Liberati's ranks swelled as more miners and families joined the nomad sub-culture. Many were 
  workers who were "downsized" and did not have the money to return to Earth. Other families were indentured corporate 
  slaves who had managed t o  escape their lot. Resentment built up between industry and the highly independent Liberati. 
  The only thing left to turn this equation into a violent confrontation was a catalyst. 
  The Trent Sector Incident + 
  The Aurora Miners was the only Liberati group to wander near Caprice's desolate Trent Sector, near the planet's north 
  pole. They made their meager living by collecting frost and rare minerals. The cold summers of the Trent Sector were 
  unforgiving, but the winters were even worse. Normally, the band left the region for warmer weather to the south, but 
  5370 proved to be a deadly exception. An early cold storm trapped the Aurora Miners deep i n  Trent Sector with few 
  provisions and no adequate shelter. Left with no other option, they broke into a Slayke Industries automated mining 
  station. Slayke had scattered quite a few of these large robotic factories over the harsh northern territories, hoping to 
  find lodes that would be inaccessible to other corporations. 
  The station's security systems alerted Slayke's main headquarters to the unauthorized access of its innards. The board of 
  directors was livid when they saw the vid-images of the squatters setting up camp i n  the mining station. The company 
  had already lost one mobile station in the area the year before, and losing another one - 
  t o  sabotage or to mischief - 
  was unthinkable. The situation called for radical action. The company authorized the use of deadly force to deal with the 
  "intruders" and turned the facility's mining drones on the Aurora Liberati. Fewer than a dozen people survived out of one 
  hundred and twelve. The survivors who escaped the station shared their tale of horror with other Liberati; the fuse was lit. 
  Confrontation + 
  Throughout Caprice, Liberati mounted guerrilla-style raids against isolated corporate facilities. They captured whatever 
  vehicles, equipment and material they could and destroyed the rest. For the most part, however, they avoided killing 
  non-combatants, going so far as t o  evacuate facility personnel into portable survival sheds before laying waste to a site. 
  Corporate troops were a notable exception to their mercy, however, and suffered casualties throughout the Uprisings. 
  Corp-Serfs tried handling the situation, but when it seemed likely that the general populace was going to support the 
  rebel Liberati, the corporations turned t o  the Concordat and requested military assistance in stopping the rebellion. 
  Fortunately, the Concordat realized matters were escalating out of control, and declared a state of military emergency 
  while it investigated the matter. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  1.2.3 - Birth of a New World 
  I n  short measure, the Concordat discovered the revolution was a symptom of deep resentment against Caprice's corporations. 
  Outraged by the obvious human-rights violations and corrupt bureaucracy, the Concordat removed ruling power from the 
  companies. The Concordat and the corporations ratified the Caprician Corporate Executive (CCE) in the Trent Sector 
  Accord, named after the fatal incident at Slayke Industries' facility. This pseudo-government united the disparate 
  districts of Caprice, removed Earth's draconian practices in outlying settlements and created universal programs for 
  waste-management, health care, urban planning, law enforcement and education. The accord also finalized the name 
  Gomorrah as the trench city's official name. 
  Although animosity between the Liberati and the corporations remained for several generations, the CCE successfully 
  balanced the interests of the commercial and private sectors. Admittedly, Caprice was a dedicated industrial world, but 
  the CCE's main concern was to ensure that the standards of living were as high as those of Mars or Earth. Essentially, the 
  corporations were responsible for the well-being of their employees - 
  humanity over profit, or "Responsible Bureaucracy" 
  as it were. I n  turn, it was the employee's responsibility to ensure his company succeeded: the driving principle for the 
  employee was dedication over self-interest, or "Responsible Loyalty." Outsiders accused these policies of bordering on 
  socialism, but Caprice never developed into a capitalist-free environment; Responsible Bureaucracy and Responsible 
  Loyalty were rules of business conduct and not governing laws. It was still difficult for outsiders to understand this 
  fundamental difference, however, and many accused the CCE of condoning corporate slavery. 
  1.2.4 - Isolationist Years 
  After the collapse of the Human Concordat, Caprice nearly fell with the ensuing anarchy. Many high-ranking officials, 
  including Gomorrah's political executives, abandoned their responsibilities and fled for Earth aboard the last ships. The 
  few that remained behind - 
  whether they chose to do so out of adherence to Responsible Bureaucracy or were forced 
  to through the machinations of their greedier superiors - struggled to maintain order. They likened the experience to 
  losing control of a sports car on a long, smooth patch of ice: no matter how desperately they struggled to regain 
  control, disaster was inevitable. 
  Just before all contact with Earth ceased, streams of refugee ships passed through the Loki system on their way to Sol. 
  Many of the passengers could not complete the journey because they lacked the resources to go farther. Others wanted 
  to go elsewhere to escape the poverty gripping the homeworld. Another handful simply missed the Last Gateship. 
  Whatever the reason, the result was a sudden influx of refugees who were ill-equipped to handle Caprice's hostile 
  conditions and who could scarcely replace the fleeing executives. The economic stability of Gomorrah teetered, unleashing 
  rampaging mobs and riots. Whole districts went up in flames and nearly three-quarters of the city burnt to the ground 
  before the remaining corporations had enough sense to come together. They unified their security forces, quelled the 
  riots, and assumed the abandoned positions of political office for the duration it would take t o  rebuild the city. 
  With the tremendous mineral wealth of the planet and the technology base already in place, there were sufficient 
  materials to rebuild Gomorrah. Rebuilding the city girder by girder, panel by panel, united the people of Caprice as the 
  Gomorrans found themselves working side-by-side with the Liberati. Not only did the latter's relatively meager economies 
  rise with the demands of their services, but their populations swelled as well. While many of the refugees joined the 
  ranks of the corporations, an unexpectedly large fraction left the Trench for the surface. Few already-established clans 
  welcomed the newcomers directly into their numbers, but most willingly advised them in the formation of new clans. 
  ~ 
  Have Spaceship, Will Travel 
  The aftermath of the riots gave the people of Caprice pause t o  consider their new isolation. Their immediate needs 
  prevented them from trying to establish contact with the other colonies for some time. Though the Loki system had a 
  dozen Gateships under i t s  control shortly after Earth abandoned i t s  colonies, they were pressed into service transporting 
  ice from the Blessed Asteroids. In-system ships and planetary shuttles were i n  short supply, having been absorbed into 
  the fleeing fleets or lost to accidents during the rush to leave the planet. 
  Thanks to their uncanny technical expertise, many Liberati mechanics found service aboard the Gateships-turned- 
  transports, particularly in the areas of life support maintenance. Other Liberati enjoyed employment retrieving old 
  shuttles and system craft from mothballs and spaceship graveyards. Still others helped repair damaged orbital facilities, 
  although they never returned Monolith Station to i t s  former glory. It was an unprecedented period of opportunity for 
  Liberati, since most of the Loki system's space vehicle technicians had fled along with their ships. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  I n  LC 259 (6115 AD), the New Earth Commonwealth invasion fleet took the planet by surprise. No one had expected the 
  mother planet to come back for i t s  wayward colonies, much less t o  do so in force. The Liberati followed the situation 
  with great attention when they first observed the massive spaceships of the CEF move into low Caprician orbit. 
  The CCE abdicated power rather than watch Gomorrah die beneath orbital bombardment. There was nothing they could 
  do t o  oppose the fleet or the ground forces directly. I n  one swift year, all resistance fell - or so Earth believed. I n  
  reality, the Capricians were not prepared to fight a war, but neither were they surrendering. Most citizens understood 
  this distinction; it was not yet the time to fight back - 
  not yet. Outsiders, however, mistook Caprice’s actions as one 
  of opportunity. 
  While the Coalition supposedly cooperated, it enacted Operation: Feint. A few “freedom fighters” escaped into the 
  hostile outlands of Caprice to fight the NEC. These decoys knew this endeavor would likely cost them their lives, but the 
  price was well worth it. The NEC had advanced the art of warfare through nearly three centuries of strife, and the 
  Coalition needed t o  know how. Whenever rebels engaged the invading force, human and electronic spotters studied the 
  enemy‘s tactics and technology. If the rebels won, they scavenged whatever equipment they could and smuggled it back 
  to distant corporate R&D installations. 
  After several months of these attacks, the rebels feigned a last stand at an abandoned mining base. A few people 
  sacrificed their lives and remained behind to man the defense perimeter, but most of the bodies the NEC found on the 
  base had been dead since long before the battle. The rebels escaped through mining tunnels and the NEC was none the 
  wiser. It believed it had won. 
  The CID soon discovered that curfew and travel restrictions would be next to impossible to implement given the life 
  habits of the Caprician society. The world-city simply never slept: keeping all of the population indoors at the same time 
  would be impossible and counterproductive. The Liberati were even harder to deal with, since they often needed to be 
  outside at random hours to check on equipment or deal with sudden storms or tectonic activity. 
  On the other hand, the CID soon found it would be a simpler matter to control the movement of the populace. There 
  would be no need for passports and travel restrictions; some simple modifications to the data-rig tracking grid, which 
  was already up and running, would do the job. Both the corporations and the Liberati groups were quite happy with the 
  idea; they had long since learned to circumvent the system if they needed to. 
  The arrival of the 1 s t  Black Talon expedition on Caprice surprised many people almost as much as the arrival 
  of the NEC fleets had three decades previously. The Liberati resistance movement‘s highest-ranking officials 
  knew all about their arrival, of course, as did the various people directly involved, such as Qaidis Henault, 
  captain of the ice mining ship Princess. The partisans and nomads, however, could scarcely believe it 
  when Lieutenant Juno Vesping, lieutenant Boyden Wallis and the rest arrived. Although the 
  NEC had maintained strict secrecy about the defeat of the 8th Fleet at Terra Nova, 
  rumors had spread nevertheless and the Liberati rebels had elevated the Terranovans 
  to an almost mythical godhood. To meet actual living gods (in a sense) 
  was nothing short of astonishing. The fact that they came to Caprice 
  with a full complement of highly adaptable Heavy Gears - 
  very 
  reminiscent of Caprice’s own Mounts and the tools of the 8th 
  Fleet‘s ground forces‘ destruction - was almost 
  for many of the Liberati. 
  When t h i  Liberati partisans and nomads discovered 
  that these godlike mythical heroes were mere 
  mortals like themselves, it only reinforced their 
  admiration of the Terranovans and gave the 
  Liberati a burst of hope. I f  these mortal 
  Terranovans could rid their world of the NEC, 
  then so too could the Liberati. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  MAHING TIME 
  A battered transport truck sped for the North security gate of North Tachyon Hub, spraying 
  clouds of dust and dirt behind it. Right on its heels were three dozen liberati Ghazis, 
  weapons blazing. Their light trucks and buggies bounded playfully over the roads. Their 
  radios were loud with laughter. 
  "...so 
  God says, 'Hell? I'm sending you to Disorra.'" 
  Cory Jerson chuckled and watched as CEF troops swarmed out of the gate like cockroaches. 
  He signaled his team to dismount their vehicles and take cover. As they spread out amongst 
  the rocks, Cory radioed his fire support on the ridge above the gate. 
  "Hey, Rachael, you want to spread some of that cover over here?" he yelled over the 
  noise, "I got Keffs making a charge." 
  "I think Andel's on that. I can see him-" 
  Rachael's reply was cut short as Andel roared by 
  i n  a buggy. Herson was with him, manning a pintle-mounted light machine gun. Tracer 
  rounds scattered the troops as the buggy spun onto a new course. Rachael's voice sounded 
  over the headset again. "We got 'em running," she said. 'They'll call support for sure. 
  Hey, Cory? You're up, brother." 
  Cory winced: he was no good at jokes. As he and his team bounded for the next outcropping 
  of cover, he thought hard. "Okay," he began, sending half his team around to flush out 
  the remaining troops, "three medics are discussing what kind of patients they like. The 
  first doc says, 'I 
  prefer data-comptrollers. All their organs are i n  alphabetical order.' The 
  second doc says, 'I prefer engineers, all their organs are numbered' - Hold on." 
  The CEF troops had regrouped faster than Cory had expected. He laid down cover fire for 
  his team. Several of the Keffs doubled over i n  succession and the rest backed up - 
  Rachael and her rifle, no doubt. 
  Ducking back down, Cory went on. "The third guy thinks for a minute and says, 'I prefer 
  corporates. They're brainless, gutless and heartless, and their heads and rear ends are 
  interchangeable!'" Cory could hear laughter over his headset. Rachael's light chuckles 
  sounded above the rest. Maybe he would reconsider asking her for a drink, he thought. 
  The CEF troops were falling back. He switched his radio to another frequency. "All right, 
  the truck is almost at the gate. let's make one more push, people!" On his command, 
  three yazaks of liberati charged the Gammoran security gate. The night air lit with weapons 
  fire and explosions. 
  "Whoah, Cory, they've got some heavy anti-personnel stuff mounted on that gate." That 
  was AndeL 
  Cory searched the terrain. "All right, let's not make this serious." Cory's voice bounced as 
  he and his team charged down an embankment. "Get your carriage behind that hill on 
  your left and give Herson a good angle." He paused, then added, "It's your turn." 
  Andel laughed. "Right I've got one." Andel's buggy hopped into position and Herson 
  spread fire across the front of the gate. The firefight continued. "A Van Daar, a Roy, a 
  Gommoran and a Keff are sitting on a bus. The Van Daar offers everyone some fennel 
  bread, then he throws the rest out a window, but says, 'Don't wony, we have plenty of 
  those where I come from.' So the Roy offers everyone a can of blackroot ale, then-" 
  " S o y  to cut you off, Andel," interrupted Rachael, "but we've got more company. I 
  can 
  see at least one Tarantula on approach, maybe more." 
  Cory grimaced: that was most certainly not funny. "Brothers, the package i s  delivered. 
  The time has come to let the Keffs do the work. Everyone, pull back and scatter." Like 
  shadows, the thirty-odd men and women vanished into the hills with only the echo of 
  laughter behind them. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  THE ClANS - 2.1 
  "To be Liberati is to be free," goes the old saying. Revolutionaries and freedom fighters 
  have called themselves Liberati whenever the need to rise up against oppression has 
  swelled in Caprician history; most recently, the organized resistance to CEF occupation 
  has claimed the title and the slogan. Its origins, however, go back nearly 800 Caprician 
  years to when the Van Daar family first arrived on the planet and set off on i t s  own, 
  without corporate support. It was not political freedom that the Van Daars sought, but 
  rather freedom from modern society - freedom simply to exist outside i t s  normal 
  bounds. 
  The Liberati - 
  the nomads, the wanderers who cannot be tied down, not the freedom 
  fighters who actively fight oppression - 
  comprise hundreds of thousands of individuals. 
  They are not all freedom fighters, though the Liberati rebels' ranks threaten t o  burst 
  with the nomads' numbers. Those who choose not t o  fight have their own reasons. For 
  some, the issues are too far removed from the needs of their day-to-day existence. For 
  others, the NEC seems no worse than the corporations. Still others are afraid of turning 
  a tolerable situation into a catastrophe. Few, if any, Liberati nomads actually like the 
  CEF occupation, however. 
  Nomad Social Organization - 211 
  Liberati nomad society has four levels of social organization beyond the nomads as a whole; the need to consider this 
  level of society is rare and is given little scholarly thought. The next level is the regional social group. This level i s  
  analogous to a nation, although the analogy breaks down in all but the spatial sense. Nevertheless, sociologists outside 
  the Liberati sometimes use the term out of convenience. The three largest Liberati "nations" are the Van Daar, the Roy 
  and the So-Doura. (See Life on Caprice, p. 24, for more information.) The Liberati themselves have no term for this 
  level. A member of the Hazzak clan is just as likely to refer to herself as a Van Daar as a member of the Van Daar clan 
  itself is. Observers are expected to understand the difference from context. 
  The clan is the next level of organization; it i s  analogous to the city. Indeed, most clans are organized as small towns 
  or villages, so the analogy i s  appropriate. Most clans engage in one primary activity that supports the clan as a whole. 
  This occupation is the "face" presented to outsiders. The Thirsk clan of the So-Doura nation, for example, is well-known 
  for petroleum mining, even though individual members engage in other work. (The Thirsk family itself actually tends the 
  clan's hydroponics gardens.) The family is the next level of organization; it is covered in detail in section 2.2.1, Marriage 
  and Family Groupings (p. 18). The individual comprises the smallest level of organization within the Liberati nomads. 
  Most Liberati tend to think of themselves as family-members first, clan-members second, and individuals last, however. 
  Since the Liberati as a whole and the Liberati nations are somewhat abstract concepts, most scholarly work discusses 
  them on the clan-level. Families within a given clan tend t o  share the same traditions, habits and attitudes, with only 
  minor differences from family to family. Thus, to outsiders, the clan i s  the obvious group unit for the Liberati nomads. 
  0 Travel to New Worlds. Meet Interesting People 
  Throughout history, soldiers returning from foreign soils have brought with them trinkets 
  and tales of the native peoples. Though this information is of varying strategic value, it 
  i s  often important in the larger scheme of things. Such is the case with Terra Nova's Black 
  Talon insurgents. Although the reports and artifacts brought back by the 1st Black Talons 
  seemed to have little immediate tactical use, the Westphalia Cabinet recognized them as 
  valuable to the overall Black Talon mission. I n  order to make allies with the Liberati 
  nomads - 
  and with other colonies - 
  i s  will be vital to understand their societies. 
  As a result, the Cabinet has brought a few Terranovan social scientists into its operation, 
  including Dr. Isaac Langmuir and Dr. Sylvia Shirato of the Mekong Academy of Science 
  (see Character Compendium, pp. 104-113). Although the scientists themselves will likely 
  not be traveling to Caprice and beyond for quite some time, they are training members of 
  several Black Talon teams to be amateur anthropologists and sociologists. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  The governing body of each clan is called the Council of Seniors (sometimes called Council of Elders). This council 
  decides how the clan is t o  be run, what contracts it will take, where and when it will move, and presides over any 
  number of major and minor issues that arise on a daily basis. Councils convene irregularly as needed and their proceedings 
  are always open to the entire clan. There are few written rules for the council's parliamentary procedure, but many 
  unspoken traditions have developed over the years. Most of these traditions involve the council's decorum and what 
  criteria determine a councilor's seniority. New council members usually take a few months to ascertain their own place 
  in this pecking order and during this time frequently attend council meetings only to gain familiarity with that order. 
  Any clan member may call the Council of Seniors together to debate or adjudicate a particular matter. The supplicant 
  simply requests a conference, and the council convenes at i t s  earliest opportunity to discuss the topic at hand. The 
  meeting may be as simple as sharing a meal together to pass around and examine a prospecting report or as complicated 
  as assembling the entire clan within a hydroponics compound to alert everyone to an immediate hazard. Most councils 
  are able to convene at a moment's notice, work schedules permitting, but meet frivolous requests with more than a little 
  irritation. It i s  not unknown for councils to assign extra work details as punishment for such frivolity. 
  Councilors are naturally highly respected by their clan for their ability to keep the clan functioning smoothly. The 
  position is very important since the clan's future is i n  the hands of the council - 
  an incompetent or corrupt council can 
  throw a clan into poverty, and a poorly negotiated work contract can mean virtual slavery for the entire until the contract 
  expires. For this reason above all others, the council comprises only the most experienced and brightest leaders available. 
  + Appointment to the Council of Seniors 
  Appointment to the Council of Seniors is awarded only by a unanimous vote from the existing council and i s  usually 
  preceded by intense public scrutiny to determine the nominee's ability to lead. To be considered for a place on the 
  council, the nominee must have been part of the clan for at least five years and must also be a master of his or her 
  particular field. To be a "senior" or "elder" does not necessarily mean that the nominee is old; it reflects the nominee's 
  position as senior clan member in the relevant work force. It is not unusual for a particularly gifted tradesman to ascend 
  to a council position at a relatively young age, for example. The nominee i s  required only to demonstrate expertise 
  before the council appoints the person. Unfortunately the requirement of a unanimous vote can make it difficult for a 
  nominee of little charisma to be appointed to the council; fortunately, it also makes it difficult for an unscrupulous 
  member to be appointed as well. 
  + Removal from Office 
  The removal of councilors from office is a serious issue not entered into lightly. If a member of the clan believes that a 
  member of the Council of Seniors (or even the entire Council as a whole) i s  not working in the best interests of the clan, 
  that member can convene a confidence test. The entire clan i s  informed of the meeting and given the opportunity to 
  attend. All other priorities are set aside for a confidence test, including work details and any tasks which are not 
  essential. The complainant presents before the assembled clan the list of reasons he or she believes the Elder should be 
  dismissed. The accused councilor is allowed t o  address each item as it is presented, which can make the proceedings 
  quite long and arduous. Tempers often flare, but the very fact that someone feels it necessary t o  call for a confidence 
  test means that tempers are already near the boiling point. After the defense is complete, the council addresses the clan 
  either i n  support of the accused or in support of the complainant - there is rarely any middle ground on such 
  occasions. The vote is then held. If 75% of the clan votes in favor of dismissal, the councilor is immediately removed. 
  Dismissals are frequently followed by the appointment of a Council Deputy t o  investigate any suspected wrongdoings. 
  + The Pollinq of the Seniors 
  Every so often, an issue arises that requires consensus from a Liberati nation as a whole or, more rarely, the entire 
  Liberati nomadic people. When such a situation arises, the Council of Seniors that calls for the consensus sends couriers 
  to each relevant clan - if the situation requires wide consensus, it i s  almost certainly too sensitive t o  entrust to 
  electronic communications. This formal process is called the Polling of the Seniors and can take weeks or months before 
  the Councils reach a consensus. The last Polling of the Seniors that affected the entire Liberati people took place during 
  the Liberati Uprising of 5370. Analysts predict that the next such Polling of the Seniors i s  on the horizon and will 
  precede a planet-wide revolt again$t the NEC. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Justice - 2.1.3 
  The very existence of the Liberati began as a response to an oppressive legal system on Earth that curtailed the freedom 
  the ancestors of the Liberati craved. Modern Liberati society is a similar reaction to Caprician law. Just because they 
  scorn the overly bureaucratic Trencher society does not mean the clans live in a lawless society, however - 
  far from it. 
  While the Trench lives with countless edicts, statutes and decrees, the Liberati obey only three cardinal rules: 
  Do your job. 
  Do what is right. 
  Accept the consequences of your own failure. 
  The rule of doing what is right seems vague t o  outsiders, but the members of the tight-knit clan communities generally 
  know what passes for right and wrong in their clan. It varies somewhat from clan to clan in a given nation and more 
  dramatically from nation to nation. 
  Whenever a clan member violates these rules the victim or a representative of the victim must bring it to the attention 
  of a member of the Council of Seniors. The severity of a particular crime is decided by the councilor approached with the 
  charge. Minor infractions such as theft, shirking work duties or defamation are usually solved by a personal intervention 
  by the councilor. The councilor decides reparations and punishment on the spot, t o  be addessed immediately. Common 
  punishments include additional work details and fines. When a serious crime i s  committed the entire Council of Seniors 
  convenes to sort through the details and assign punishment and reparation. Serious crimes include workplace negligence, 
  being a safety hazard and assault. Punishment for a serious crime may include enforced work details, short-term 
  incarceration or public caning. Murder, rape, betrayal of the clan and sabotage are classified as perilous crimes and 
  result in severe punishment. Long-term incarceration, castration or mutilation, and death by exposure to the elements 
  are possible punishments for committing perilous crimes. 
  Once a councilor (or the Council of Seniors as a whole) determines guilt and just before sentencing, the councilor 
  addresses the complainant. At this point i n  the process, the complainant may exercise clemency. Even the victim of a 
  perilous crime may ask the council for mercy and suggest a reduced penalty. Victims may also ask for a harsher sentence, 
  but in either case it is up to the councilor and the councilor alone to mete out punishment, though the words of the 
  aggrieved party always carry great weight. 
  Inter-clan crimes require the cooperation of the Councils of Seniors of each involved clan. The councils appoint 
  representative councilors to negotiate between the clans regarding punishment and compensation. It is unusual for 
  this compensation not t o  be forthcoming or for the offending party not t o  be delivered immediately, but not unheard 
  of. A few clan feuds exist throughout Caprice over unresolved past disputes, but these feuds are the exception rather 
  than the rule. 
  There are no written rules of law to guide a councilor, only the rules of logic, common sense and propriety. When the 
  facts are laid before the councilor and all the evidence presented, it is up to the councilor t o  determine guilt and 
  punishment. This responsibility is a grave one, and one that is taken very seriously by allinvolved. Occasionally, a crime 
  requires an in-depth investigation that the councilor could not possibly complete alone. I n  situations of this type, or 
  when the accused has fled, the councilor must appoint a deputy or team of deputies t o  investigate the matter. The 
  larger clans have permanently assigned deputies who investigate all complaints in addition to performing their regular 
  duties. It is rare for a deputy to work solely as an investigator, however. Deputies are expected to forgo their usual 
  duties‘and investigate the case at hand to the exclusion of all other priorities. They are given the power of search and 
  seizure’of any clan property and may even detain outsiders for questioning. They may requisition any equipment, 
  vehicles or facilities (complete with staff) that they may require in order to complete their task. Most are given an 
  authority ledger from their parent council to keep track of all expenses and also t o  serve as a badge of authority. 
  Deputized Liberati answer only t o  their parent council and expect to receive the support and cooperation of any Liberati 
  they meet. Occasionally the facts of a case may lead the deputy to suspect a Trencher of the crime. Situations of this 
  type are quite tricky since Liberati are regarded with disdain by Corp-Serfs. When the suspect is an Earther or military 
  personal the problem i s  compounded. In cases involving outsiders and uncooperative authorities, the deputy will ask 
  the parent council for i t s  recommendation, which is usually t o  drop the case and return t o  his previous duties. Rarely, 
  the deputy will be told to use his own judgement. This assignment is essentially an endorsement by the council for the 
  deputy to use any means necessary to see justice done, but contains a veil of deniability for the council and the clan. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  21.4 - Prejudice and Attitudes 
  The Liberati nomads are generally very accepting of other peoples and customs, and unless given a reason to act 
  otherwise, the clans are very tolerant and open - 
  far more so than their history might lead outsiders to expect. Their 
  general acceptance and tolerance i s  partly a reaction to the treatment they have received throughout their history, and 
  it also comes from the strong need t o  cooperate in the Caprician surface environment. There i s  some distrust of Caprice- 
  based corporations, but since the Aurora Miners tragedy and the Liberati Uprisings of 5370, the corporations have 
  treated the clans better, thanks to the Trent Sector Accord. There is a certain amount of healthy suspicion between the 
  Liberati contract-workers and the corporate employees, but no more so than any other contract-worker/employee 
  relationship. The wounds suffered by all Caprice workers during the Uprising have long since healed, thanks to the 
  speedy actions of the Concordat. There is very little bad blood between the nomadic peoples and the corporations that 
  hire them - 
  the native Caprician corporations, that is. 
  The interloper corporations from Earth are another matter, however. When the CEF entered the Loki system and seized 
  control of Caprice, the corporations they brought with them had little reason to obey or even acknowledge the Trent 
  Sector Accord. The shrewd action of the Caprice Corporate Executive in ordering the Corporate Regulatory Authority t o  
  open the Caprice Mercantile Exchange to the Terran corporations had the side effect of implicitly forcing the Terran 
  corporations to obey the Accord. This action in turn has eased relations between the Liberati and the Terran corporations, 
  although the two parties still distrust one another. 
  + liberali and liberati 
  Within a given clan workforce, there are a number of occupations that are vital to the clan's survival and only one or two 
  that draw revenue for the clan. Ironically, most clan members view the revenue-generating positions as being more 
  important than those occupations that ensure the clan survives. No matter how successful a clan is at its chosen 
  occupation, the people still need to eat, drink, breathe and maintain their vehicles and buildings. Still, miners, caravaneers 
  and researchers are seen as superior and more productive members of the clan than those members engaged in clan 
  survival occupations, no matter how vital those occupations might be. It i s  relatively uncommon for there to be open 
  antagonism between the groups, but workers assigned to the survival sections often suffer from low self esteem. 
  Liberati contract workers often refer to their "lesser" brethren as "farmers" (even if farming is not their occupation), 
  and the latter group often calls the contract workers "connies." 
  + liberati and Trenchers 
  Most Liberati have a playful prejudice against city dwellers or "Trenchers," as they call them. Some of the less- 
  prosperous clans blame their hardships on the Trench and thus have a strong dislike for Trenchers, but these are in 
  the minority. Both Trenchers and Liberati share a common bond of resistance against oppression, dating back to 
  before the Libercii Uprising, both groups having been poorly treated by the corporations. What little real prejudice 
  exists between these two groups has been washed away in the face of the NEC's occupation of the planet, however. 
  The clans often work side-by-side with Trenchers, and they know that whether they live i n  the Trench or i n  a new 
  outpost complex, Trenchers s t i l l  work as hard as any clan member does. Likewise, the majority of Trenchers recognize 
  the occasionally backward-seeming Liberati as resourceful, hardy and industrious workers with an excellent work 
  ethic. Liberati do sometimes refer to the people of the Cat's Eye Trench as "kitties," especially the prissy ones, but 
  this term i s  usually only used when tempers flare. 
  + liberati and Earthers 
  The clans are very opinionated when it comes to Earthers and will voice their opinion at every opportunity. They take 
  particular delight in rubbing the Earthers' noses i n  their failure at Terra Nova and Atlantis -to a Liberati nomad, blindly 
  rushing into a situation without understanding it is the most foolhardy action imaginable. Life on the surface of Caprice 
  makes such actions potentially deadly, and it amuses the Liberati to no end to think that the great Colonial Expeditionary 
  Force was so careless. The Liberati tend to think all Earthers behave this way and are always on the watch for such 
  behavior. This attitude applies to the Earth corporations as well as to the Earth troops who enforce the corporate edicts. 
  One question that lingers in the minds of the clan elders is the question of who serves whom. Are the Earther corporations 
  the lapdogs of the CEF or is it the other way around? The universal term of derision for Earthers i s  "keff," whether the 
  person in question i s  part of the CEF or not. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Liberati tend to be sympathetic towards GRELs. They see in the treatment of GRELs by the CEF a situation disturbingly 
  similar to the way the Caprician corporations treated the Liberati before the Trent Sector Accord. They have a difficult 
  time understanding the GREL psyche, however, since being conditioned for obedience is about as far removed from the 
  Liberati psyche as can be. Very few GRELs have asked for adoption into Liberati families, but the few that have done so 
  have generally been accepted. The single-mindedness with which GRELs approach their duties strikes a chord with the 
  Liberati work ethic, and the abuses they've suffered from their human masters invariably angers and outrages the 
  Liberati. I n  the Liberati Highlands tongue, the general term for GRELs i s  "karariyah," which means "shock trooper." It 
  applies to all GRELs, not just Mordreds, and is a respectful term. 
  Mordred GRELs are welcome because of their amazing strength and durability. While some Liberati workers are jealous of 
  these mountains of muscle, most feel nothing but awe to watch a Mordred at work. The only difficulty with bringing 
  Mordreds into their clans i s  the fact that AWOL GRELs are criminal fugitives and must be kept from the prying eyes of the 
  CEF and its sympathizers. This fact means Mordreds can only work at the most remote mining sites. There i s  little call for 
  sheer physical strength at the clan homesteads, so Mordreds who wish to join are typically directed to the clans farthest 
  from the Trench. Isaac technicians and Kassandra electronics specialists, on the other hand, find can find lots of work 
  within a clan homestead, as can Isabella medics. The few Minewa pilots that escape often find themselves happily 
  employed with the caravan clans. Maxwell gunners have a harder time fitting in with the Liberati nomads, but they are 
  often welcome to join the Liberati rebels. Morgana commando GRELs and their killer instincts scare most Liberati and 
  are rarely welcome with the nomads. Jan-class GRELs almost never feel the need to join the Liberati. SLEDGES are too 
  new and too closely monitored t o  have reached the point of defying their makers. 
  A certain mystique has grown around Terra Nova i n  recent years. The fact that Terra Nova 
  staved off the CEF invasion immediately impressed the Liberati. Although the CEF has 
  officially declined t o  comment publicly on the Terra Nova invasion, word has spread. As 
  the years have drawn on since the invasion, the tales of what actually happened have 
  grown into legends. Some say Terra Nova has a space fleet that dwarfs Earth's. Others 
  firmly believe Terra Nova has allied itself with aliens to repulse the invasion. Speculation 
  on what actually happened at Terra Nova is very popular with the clans; at times it seems 
  as though each family i s  trying to outdo the others with exaggerated tales of Terranovan 
  daring, each tale more outrageous than the last. 
  The arrival of the 1st BlackTalon (and subsequent missions) only strengthened the mystique. 
  The 1st Black Talon had only a little time to interact with the Liberati, but in that time 
  they practically proved that everything ever said about Terra Nova is true. The fact that 
  the Talons represent a world united against oppression, a world capable of striking back 
  and a world resolute and resourceful enough to do so, has fueled the flame of resistance 
  within the clans. The first mission was so successful and suffered so few casualties while 
  dealing out so much damage to the enemy that it's hardly surprising many Liberati 
  practically revere the Black Talons. Most see them as the renewal of the struggle for 
  freedom or as a call to arms t o  begin the uprising, others see them as the very 
  personification of Liberati ideals. 
  The mystique surrounding Terra Nova obscures the actual picture for the Liberati. Most 
  believe every Terranovan is a rugged frontiersman or pioneer. The achievements of the 
  Black Talon mission have galvanized the hearts and dreams of the Liberati so much that 
  the younger ones believe that Terra Nova is entirely populated by daring pilots and 
  undefeatable Heavy Gears. Even the most experienced Liberati - who know that the 
  Black Talons cannot possibly represent the entire planet - 
  experience a small amount of 
  disappointment whenever they meet a Terranovan who i s  not a Gear pilot. A common 
  term for Black Talon operatives is "canyon raven" or simply "raven,'' 
  alluding both to the 
  canyon hawks that prey on pests in the Cat's Eye Trench as well as to the birds of ancient 
  gypsy legend. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Water is a precious commodity on Caprice, especially for the Liberati, who cannot rely on 
  routine shipments from the Blessed Asteroid Belt. For this reason water is recycled at 
  every opportunity, resulting in a very dry environment within clan encampments and 
  work sites. As such, Liberati usually clean themselves and their equipment with various 
  dry cleaning agents or simple Caprician dust. They scrub pots and dishes with dust and 
  blow them clean with compressed air - 
  they use an abrasive cleanser and water bath 
  only as a last resort. For this reason cooking pots and serving plates are almost always 
  cast from durable alloys that will resist scratches. 
  The Liberati maintain personal cleanliness in a similar manner, with mildly abrasive dust 
  scrubbing followed by a vacuum cleaning. Of course, the human body is not a cooking 
  skillet and sand will not entirely clean it. After the dust scrubbing, the Liberati wash 
  themselves with a sponge bath using recycled water t o  moisturize the skin and finish the 
  cleansing process. It is not unusual for family groupings or intimate couples to cleanse 
  each other with sand and water. 
  I n  many ways, the Liberati are hardy, headstrong pioneers. They exist in an environment that is almost as inhospitable 
  to human life as the vacuum of space, and they thrive i n  it. The Liberati live their lives by three watchwords: Reuse, 
  Retool and Recycle. There i s  nothing in a clan encampment that can not be adapted to serve another function by the 
  versatile clan, and their recycling and life support systems are without peer. The Liberati nomads are a pragmatic group 
  who won't hesitate to move along once a job i s  complete or no longer profitable. This attitude extends into nearly all 
  aspects of clan life including social and professional relationships between the clan and other groups. I f  a relationship 
  with another group or a job becomes more effort than it is worth, the clan will move along unless it violates i t s  honor 
  or a signed contract. A clan's word is i t s  bond and it will move heaven and earth to keep it. 
  Interpersonal relationships are another matter. With members of their own clan, and especially members of their family, 
  Liberati will make every effort to cooperate. With members of other clans or with non-Liberati, the consequences of sour 
  relationships are not nearly as dire, so they tend not to worry too much if things don't work out. They approach intimate 
  relationships such as friendship and romance with the same caution with which they approach marriage and adoption, 
  although the trial period i s  usually less than a full year. I f  the relationship doesn't work out, they part ways and attempt 
  to remain civil. Romance is always openly displayed (as i s  common i n  the Trench as well), but it is never consummated 
  without a contract to protect the well being of offspring that may result. Contracts and honor work on the interpersonal 
  level just as strongly as they do on the clan level, and few Liberati will violate these promises. 
  Since much of their food, water and equipment i s  recycled to one extent of another, the clans are rarely fastidious and 
  do not balk at duties or actions that most other cultures would find repugnant. Swabbing out a sewage vent or peeling 
  fungus from a clogged water reclamation unit is all in a day's work and nothing to turn one's nose up at. The Liberati 
  often uses these duties t o  measure a prospective adoptee's mettle, though not to the point of harassment. For the most 
  part the Liberati are very tolerant of their finicky cousins and will frequently volunteer for such duties to ingratiate 
  themselves with their Trencher co-workers. 
  The communal and shared nature of accommodations i n  Liberati encampments results i n  there being few taboos 
  about personal nudity. Personal hygiene can become a group issue, however, and offending members are "invited" to 
  a communal scrubbing t o  deal with the problem. Facial hair i s  common among males mostly due to the fact that it 
  promotes a rugged appearance that sometimes makes dealing with outsiders easier, but it i s  never longer than a few 
  centimeters - anything longer would interfere with the sealing on an environmental suit or may constitute a 
  workplace hazard. 
  Most property within a family grouping i s  considered communal, but the privacy of an individual's personal items is 
  sacrosanct. It is not unusual to see family groupings sharing clothing, tools and even undergarments and dental care 
  implements, but it is unheard of for a family member to read anothefs journal. Council deputies' rights t o  search and 
  seizure override privacy, since the welfare of the community may be at stake. 
  Hater Usage 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  language - 2.21 
  The Liberati speak Highlands, a melange of languages from old Earth, especially from Europe and the Mediterranean 
  regions. Linguists and anthropologists trace its origins back t o  the nomadic workforce that plied ancient Earth. These 
  workers roamed Europe for economic reasons, and when the Ice Age forced humanity to migrate towards the equator, 
  these groups had little difficulty adapting their languages as needed. What puzzles anthropologists, however, is that 
  the language appears t o  have died out during the Ice Age. It thus seems that either the language became a secret 
  language or the direct ancestors of the Liberati deliberately revived the language - whether it was for practical 
  reasons, homage to the earlier nomadic wanderers or simply as an elaborate joke i s  unknown. Certainly the earliest 
  Liberati to arrive on Caprice spoke it as natives. 
  Regardless, Highlands experienced its sharpest evolution during the Ice Age, when the encroaching masses of ice forced 
  Earth's population to move toward the equator. Nomadic and migrant peoples were the first to move and the first to mix 
  with the peoples of the equatorial lands. This mixing created hundreds of microcultures that flourished just long enough 
  for more displaced populations t o  mix in and mutate the culture. Most of these cultures lasted only a few decades, but 
  i n  that time, the nomadic portions of the populations adapted their languages t o  their locales. Over the course of 
  several generations, these nomadic languages continued to shift and evolve, providing a record of the groups' travels - 
  a living map tracing the geographic movement of entire peoples. As the disparate groups merged, so did their languages. 
  By the time New Samarkand had collapsed and the United Earth Government had replaced it, the fluid languages of the 
  nomads had all but vanished, Highlands seemingly among them. It reappeared at the start of the Second Renaissance 
  i n  the 4470's. 
  The timing of its reappearance and its use by freedom-loving people is the source of the so-called "secret language" 
  theory of anthropologists. They believe it became a code used to identify members of groups caught up during the Later 
  Crusades of the 29th through 44th centuries, and that it enabled the clandestine survival of these groups as the Council 
  of True Faith and the Compact of Revelations waged their terrible wars. Opponents of this theory note that an entire 
  language is hardly necessary to mark members of a clandestine organization: a single, simple symbol will do just as well. 
  Highlands Roots + 
  Highlands is a melange of Scandinavian, Anglic and Arabic languages, evidence of the southern migration of the 
  ancestors of the Liberati. Linguists can also detect words that originated in classical French, German and several 
  Slavic languages including Bulgarian, Russian and Slovak. Highlands sentence structure is similar to modern Anglic, 
  but the grammar retains a female and male gender with regards to pronouns and nouns, which is relatively uncommon 
  in modern tongues. 
  One major difference between Highlands and its ancestral languages is the amount of technical jargon it contains. 
  Life on Caprice has infused Highlands with a large amount of technical and job-related jargon. This jargon is a 
  combination of a Highlands descriptive phrase and a more common vernacular word, resulting i n  a plethora of false 
  cognates. Words of this type - 
  words that sound similar i n  two languages but which have wildly different meanings 
  - 
  sometimes make it difficult to communicate clearly with people who don't understand Highlands. For instance, the 
  Highlands word for a seismic charge is "quakori," which is easily mistaken for unrelated Anglic words since "quak" is 
  pronounced more like "cook" than "quake." The prevalence of false cognates has led to a number of workplace 
  accidents and has caused most corporations to allow only bilingual Liberati onto factory and mining floors. Fortunately, 
  most Liberati speakers are bilingual. 
  The Highlands Accent + 
  Highlands has given the Liberati a distinct and easily recognizable accent. This accent manifests itself mainly by a 
  trunchon of most vowels (except "a") and the addition of a nascent "e" following words ending i n  "t." "Cat" i s  a good 
  example of this accent; the word can sound like "Katie" when spoken with a thick Highlands accent. Other words that 
  the Highlands accent can confused include "eight" and "eighty," "fit" and "fight," "flight" and "flighty," "craft" and 
  "crafty" among others. The word "Caprice" i s  pronounced as if it were "KAYprice," a source of amusement for Trenchers, 
  who believe this accent makes the Liberati sound a little slow. This occasionally makes the nomads the butt of some 
  unfortunate ribbing from Trenchers, who make fun of the strange sounding lilt of their Liberati coworkers. For the most 
  part this joking i s  well-intended fun and good-natured amusement - but not always. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  2.2.2 - Marriage and Familq Groupings 
  The Liberati have a very distinct cultural identity that contrasts sharply with that of the Gomorrans (or "Trenchers," as 
  the Liberati call them). The differences are dominated by the Liberati love for life on the surface and the freedom it 
  provides. Their lifestyle requires strong independence; the smaller the community, the easier it is to pack up and move 
  on when it's time to do so. Conversely, the harsh environment and basic human needs require a strong sense of 
  community. Small groups of people cannot last very long on Caprice's surface. These two seemingly contradictory social 
  forces blend successfully i n  the Liberati clans and shape their customs. 
  For large societies, family life i s  often regarded as a luxury at best and an unnecessary nuisance at worst. For the small 
  Liberati clans, however, it i s  one of the most important aspects of their culture. Liberati families are extended rather 
  than nuclear and are divided roughly evenly between patrilineal and matrilineal systems; most families of a given clan 
  tend to follow the same lineage system, however. The tradition of marriage is taken very seriously i n  Liberati society. 
  Because the clans are so small, there i s  strong social and environmental pressure for a married couple to produce 
  children. Although homosexual relationships are not taboo, the genetic engineering required to produce offspring from 
  such a relationship is an expensive luxury for the Liberati, and so same-sex partnerships are very rare. Polygamy is 
  strictly taboo i n  nearly every Liberati clan, however. 
  Because of their nomadic lifestyle and because most of the clan works away from the encampment, Liberati clans 
  function as extended meta-families: children are raised together and the individual families live together in a single 
  compound. Chores are communal, assigned according to aptitude whenever possible. Those better suited for work 
  outside the encampment will travel to the work site while those suited for community management and support tasks 
  stay home. The advantage of this arrangement is a tight knit group in which each member can count on the others. On 
  the negative side are a definite lack of privacy and the occasional rivalry with other families in the clan. 
  The Tqpical liberati Marriage 
  A l l  marriages begin with a courtship that is similar to social dating but much more formal. I n  addition to the couple 
  courting, the two families set up regular meetings and attempt to bond as fully as the couple. Inter-clan marriages 
  frequently make family bonding meetings impossible given the distances between most clans, but a frank and open 
  exchange of communications can often substitute. Courtship between Trenchers and Liberati, rare in their own right, 
  often break down at this point because the frequent communications from the Liberati family are an unwelcome 
  intrusion and too overly familiar for Trencher tastes. After the courtship, which can be anywhere from a couple of 
  months to many years depending on the couple and the two families, the partners enter into a trial marriage. There is 
  very little formal ceremony involved at this stage; the partners simply begin sharing their habitation and lives. The sole 
  formality i s  the signing of the trial marriage contracts. If, after a year, the couple is willing to enter a permanent 
  partnership, the pair formalizes the arrangement with a small, intimate ceremony t o  which only the two families are 
  invited. The pair again signs contracts and the union becomes binding. The couple joins one or the other family, 
  depending on the lineage system of the clan. Occasionally the two family groupings merge into one large grouping but 
  very rarely will the couple begin its own, new family grouping. 
  + Adoption of Outsiders 
  Occasionally, a Trencher becomes so enamored with Liberati life that he or she desires to join a clan. Such people are 
  almost always very hardy and durable, but some are victims of Trencher social neglect or stigma, looking to escape life 
  in the Trench, and aren't actually well suited to nomadic life. Prospective adoptees are always examined very closely by 
  the entire extended family into which they seek adoption. The family decides if the person has any useful skills and the 
  temperament required to fit well into the clan. If the prospective adoptee seems to be suitable, the family petitions the 
  clan elders (known as the Council of Seniors) on the person's behalf. The Council always has the last say as to whom 
  they will adopt into the clan, but it is rare for the Seniors to refuse an adoptee who has the support of a family. A small 
  ceremony follows the acceptance, and the adoptee enters into a one-year trial adoption very similar to the Liberati trial 
  marriage custom. During this time, the adoptee is free to return to his or her previous life. After the trial year, the 
  person becomes a full member of the sponsoring family and the clan. 
  Informal, honorary adoptions sometimes arise. This practice has become increasingly popular with the arrival of the 
  Black Talon units. Every Black Talon member who has had contact with the Liberati i s  an honorary member of at least 
  one family - 
  frequently more. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  A number of different religious beliefs co-exist within the Liberati clans, just as they do 
  in Trencher society. The major difference between Liberati and Trencher spiritual beliefs 
  is lack of any real organization in the Liberati versions. The degree to which Buddhism, 
  Sartahism, Jerusalemism and other faiths mix within a particular clan varies - some 
  clans tend towards a dominant religion while others are much more diverse. Families tend 
  to share the same religious beliefs, however. 
  Terranovan Revisionists would have a hard time recognizing Liberati religions as such. I n  
  fact, the clan members treat their spiritual lives more like a correspondence course than 
  anything else; "home study" i s  an apt description of religion amongst the nomads. Religious 
  materials and books are readily available to all clan members and while there is rarely an 
  official spiritual leader such as a priest or a minister, there i s  generally one member of 
  each religion i n  a given clan whose knowledge is more complete than the rest. 
  Ceremonies tend to be impromptu and revolve around the accomplishments of one of the 
  parishioners. It i s  common to see religious ceremonies cobbled together at a moment's 
  notice and held in any convenient open area large enough to gather the people wishing 
  to attend. Religious symbols will occasionally be embroidered on clothing or into the 
  design of a member's ribbon. (See section 2.2.8, Cfothing, p. 25 for more information 
  about Liberati ribbons.) 
  Recent Trends + 
  Two trends have recently emerged within Liberati society; both trends seem t o  be uniting the Liberati, but in contrasting 
  ways. The first i s  a trend towards outdoor services, which i s  becoming so popular that many different faiths frequently 
  combine to hold a single cross-faith ceremony. Such a custom is virtually unheard of on Terra Nova and has piqued the 
  interest of the religious scholars and leaders of Terra Nova. These outdoor services usually require the participants to 
  wear environmental suits or breathers. Caprice's parent star, Loki, serves as a focus in these ceremonies and i s  smoothly 
  integrated into the traditional rituals of the participants. The subdued ceremony emphasizes inner peace and individual 
  commitment; Liberati tolerance and the minimal display of religious trappings eliminate most conflicts between the 
  faiths. The ceremony commonly involves offerings of food and water or the building of small stone shrines by each 
  parishioner. After a ceremony, it is not uncommon to see rows of small shrines catching the rising sun. 
  The second trend is uniting Liberati under a religion new to the nomads and is a result of the first Black Talon mission. 
  As part of that mission, the Talons joined up with Liberati rebels drawn chiefly from the Van Daar clan. During their brief 
  time together, the Van Daars and the Talons came t o  know each other quite well - 
  a common occurrence between 
  battlefield companions. I n  the few moments of peace that occasionally found the combined force, Sous-Caporal Morgausa 
  Temple frequently engaged in the rites of Zentai Buddhism. Although the Liberati had little i n  common with most of 
  Terra Nova's religions - 
  Revisionism in particular - 
  the Mekong Dominion interpretation of Buddhism struck a chord 
  with the Van Daar. The Van Daar have always had a large fraction of Buddhists within their clan, and Mekgongese Zentai 
  Buddhism had much in common with the Liberati way of life. Both stressed the mobile nature of Buddha and how space 
  curves upon itself t o  make all places the same and Buddha's presence truly universal for the faithful. 
  Before her team's departure, Sous-Caporal Temple presented the Van Daar with electronic copies of her faith's religious 
  scripture. These materials have since spread like wildfire among the clans. Copies of the text have even made their way 
  to the Trench where their popularity is exploding. There even exists a small but vocal movement t o  canonize Temple as 
  a warrior/saint; no doubt she would be mortified to learn of this result of her unintended evangelism. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  2.2.4 - Education 
  The Liberati value education and encourage their children to learn as much about the world as they can. The communal 
  children’s center is filled with learning aids and toys that emphasize work skills that will be important later. Computer 
  play/study consoles are available for the children, though there are rarely enough for all. This situation is deliberate; 
  Liberati pedagogy holds that by forcing children to share workstations and toys at an early age they will learn to 
  cooperate as a team. Another important lesson they learn i s  to conserve resources. I n  the children’s center these 
  resources consist of toys, candies, game pads and play/study consoles. Later i n  life these resources will consist of 
  vehicles, work tools and life support necessities such as food, oxygen and water. The Liberati hope the children will 
  learn to cooperate and t o  conserve at an early enough age that it will stay with the children for the rest of their lives. 
  All children are taught together until they reach adolescence, at which point they Leave the play/study consoles and 
  toys of the children’s center behind them and begin serious study. 
  Adolescents study a large variety of subjects under the tutelage of a mentor. The mentor is generally a clan member 
  who has shown an aptitude for teaching and works full-time as an educator. The mentor tailors a study program for 
  each student and melds it with a trade skills program to round out the curriculum. The mentor spends a few hours a 
  day with students guiding them, correcting errors and tutoring all students as a group. The mentor will then spend 
  time with each student on an individual basis. Students are prompted by their mentors to choose study paths that 
  will make them productive members of the clan. Machining, mining techniques, geology and equipment repair are 
  important courses to the entire clan and highly prized. If 
  a student shows an aptitude for the clan support occupations, 
  such as hydroponics farming or food preparation, the mentor will guide the student towards those skills. The minor 
  Liberati prejudice i n  favor of the clan revenue-generating occupations means these students of the support professions 
  sometimes feel less important than their peers. Regardless of whether a student i s  guided towards the revenue- 
  generating occupations or the support industry, all students engage i n  an apprenticeship with a master of their trades 
  i n  addition to studying with their mentors. 
  A common Trencher misconception i s  that the nomadic Liberati - 
  with their strong work ethic and history of mining 
  employment - might frown on more sedentary pursuits. I n  fact this belief couldn’t be farther from the truth. One 
  needn‘t look very far to discover that many Liberati also find work as researchers and technicians. In addition to these 
  pursuits, there are Liberati academics in all fields. 
  The mentor system quickly determines which students are suitable for higher education. The mentors petition the 
  Council of Seniors to send such students t o  a Trench university. If the Seniors deem a student acceptable and the 
  student’s family group agrees with the assessment, the clan enrolls the student in the best college or university that it 
  can afford. The clans watch these students very closely. They do not accept academic failure very well and unless the 
  students apply themselves to the best of their abilities at all times, they will be withdrawn from the school. Generally, 
  the clans give their students of higher education as many clan resources and as much support as they require, and the 
  students often rise to the tops of their classes and are even offered (and accept) academic chairs with Trench universities. 
  Most Trenchers enjoy sharing classes with their rural brethren, but there i s  occasional resentment of these privileged 
  students - 
  not for the financial support they receive, since most Trencher students enroll within the higher education 
  system with the backing of families’ employers. What the Trencher students resent i s  the enormous support base the 
  Liberati students enjoy. A Trencher student can look forward to praise and support from his or her immediate family; 
  Liberati academics look forward t o  admiration from their entire clan. 
  + Those Who Can, Teach ... 
  The Liberati hold their mentors and childcare professionals in high esteem: they are an exception to the general Liberati 
  preference for revenue-generating occupations over the clan support industry. This exception arises partly out of the 
  fact that a good early education and a healthy childhood tend to yield adults well-suited for life in the clans. The 
  respect also comes from the fact that all Liberati once looked up to their mentors. It i s  not unheard of for the clans to 
  romance teachers from outside of Liberati society, luring them t o  the clans with high-paying temporary positions. The 
  Liberati invite many of these employees to join the clan, either through marriage or adoption. Next to the Council of 
  Seniors, mentors are the most influential and honored clan members. I n  fact it is not unusual for a Council decision to 
  be overturned by an impassioned plea from an honored mentor. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Ourellings - 2.2.5 
  Many of the work sites to which the clans travel are open pit mines or unsightly excavations that permanently scar the 
  landscape. To the corporations, Terran and the Caprician alike, Caprice is simply a resource to be exploited. To the 
  Liberati, however, it i s  home. This difference has given the clans a broader perspective of the planet and how they affect 
  it. As a result, the Liberati try to minimize their impact on their environment as much as possible. Waste is collected and 
  disposed of or recycled, never casually discarded. They construct as much of their homes as possible with natural 
  materials and try to make a deliberate effort to avoid interfering with any of Caprice's dwindling sensitive or delicate 
  environments. 
  The majority of Liberati are nomadic; only a small percentage of the clans live in permanent settlements. "Nomadic" 
  does not mean they are constantly on the move, however, with the exception of the caravan clans. The rest of the 
  nomadic Liberati maintain semi-permanent encampments that can return to a close approximation of the planet's 
  natural state once the people have moved on to a new site. 
  The Liberati build these semi-permanent encampments using an adobe-like mixture of soil, polycrete and a small 
  amount of water. It i s  important to locate a site where the soil i s  firm enough to pack down into a solid foundation; 
  loose soil won't be able to support a structure well. Once they have chosen such a site, they excavate deep pits in the 
  shape of the structures they will eventually build. This excavation often continues until bare rock i s  encountered several 
  meters below the surface - 
  some structures are entirely subterranean with only an adobe roof required to seal the site 
  from the environment. Most foundations, however, are cut only two to three meters into the ground. Once they have cut 
  the foundation, the Liberati erect a metal frame and lay recycled metal plates and beams across the top. This frame 
  becomes the template for the structure's walls, and the builder simply molds the adobe to the desired shape. The builder 
  typically leaves 50 centimeters or so of space between the frame and the excavated wall t o  allow for thick walls to seal 
  the structure. The beams and plates support the adobe roofs. 
  The adobe hardens over the course of a few days, after which a second and third layer are applied and allowed to harden 
  before the frame i s  dismantled and the roof plates removed. The resulting abode walls are generally about a meter thick 
  and have a strength similar to that of limestone but with vastly superior insulating properties. Windows, doors and 
  equipment hatches are easily carved into the walls of the adobe without risk of the entire structure collapsing. The 
  result i s  a solid, airtight structure that the Liberati can use for many years with periodic maintenance. Adobe i s  a natural 
  insulator and very resilient to damage; while not as sturdy as other construction materials and unable t o  support more 
  than a single story, the adobe i s  easy to manufacture from local materials. For a nomadic culture this quality is 
  important - 
  shipping construction materials to a new site is prohibitively expensive. 
  While preparing adobe, Liberati often mix various dyes into the material to tint it virtually any shade imaginable. 
  Although most clans shun garishly dyed outer sutfaces and prefer to let their dwellings blend with the natural beauty of 
  Caprice, their building interiors are another matter entirely. Bright blues, brilliant yellows and vivid reds are common 
  shades for the insides of Liberati dwellings, and the riot of colors often makes quite an impression on visitors. Liberati 
  commonly paint murals on the insides of their homes. These murals typically depict pastoral scenes from the Earth's past 
  - 
  frequently more fanciful than accurate. Other common themes include entirely mythical locations and scenes of the 
  clan's past accomplishments. The transient nature of Liberati dwellings provides a constant supply of material for 
  Gammoran art historians to study. Recently a type of stylized cave painting has become popular with the clans, 
  depicting all types of futuristic subjects such as Gears, Mounts, hovertanks and Gateships from the point of view of 
  primitive people. 
  Permanent Clan Settlements + 
  Permanent Liberati settlements are little different from Trencher outposts and consist of thick-walled structures built t o  
  resist micrometeorite strikes and the abrasive conditions of Caprice's surface. Underground motor pools house the clan 
  vehicles and are connected to the living areas by subterranean tunnels. Hydroponics, work areas and other zones of 
  constant activity are separated from the living areas to isolate the social activities from the work activities, minimizing 
  the impact of work on the social group. Underground tunnels connect these areas, too. Liberati prefer the underground 
  tunnels due to their less obtrusive appearance. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  + Hidden Encampments 
  Since they are built above a foundation carved into the soil and use local materials, it is often difficult to locate Liberati 
  settlements, especially the abandoned ones. When a clan moves, it will leave its old homes intact and trust the harsh 
  winters and elements to dismantle them over time. This process can take many years, since the structures are very 
  resistant to corrosion, but eventually the dwellings will collapse into the foundations from which the Liberati excavated 
  them, leaving only a slight rise or depression to mark their passage. The symmetry of returning t o  the planet that which 
  they used i s  not lost upon the clans and greatly influences much of their philosophy of life and death. 
  It can take many years for a discarded dwelling to become incapable of habitation and there are literally thousands of 
  such encampments scattered across the planet in various states of dissolution. From above, the habitats look like 
  nothing more than vaguely regular deformations in the planet's surface or perhaps piles of discarded mine trailing. 
  Without tracking surface activity, it is very difficult to determine if any one particular site is in use or abandoned. Frost 
  skimming (see p. 29) is a good indication of habitation as i s  vehicle movement, but the former can take place many 
  kilometers away from the encampment and unless a particular site is under specific surveillance, the latter is easy to 
  miss. NEC orbital facilities are not up to the task of locating and keeping track of all Liberati encampments and generally 
  stick to watching hot spots and suspect clans. The efficient insulation properties of the adobe help to keep Liberati 
  encampments hidden from satellite surveillance, too. 
  + location 
  Liberati settlements tend to be located close to their work, but not close enough to either be a safety hazard or for the 
  work site to intrude upon the clan's activities. Whenever possible Liberati families prefer not to set up camp on 
  corporate grounds, and will not share living space with corporate employees. Clan members may sometimes bunk with 
  Trenchers but only a destitute family will accept corporate housing. 
  2.2.6 - Burial Rites 
  The rite of burial is both festive and somber amongst the Liberati, who prefer t o  remember the deceased's accomplishments 
  rather than dwell on their own loss. The deceased's immediate family prepares the body for burial; those members 
  chosen to perform this rite are called "grooms." If the deceased had no relatives, or if the relatives are incapable of 
  performing the rites, then the Council of Seniors appoints the grooms. The grooms not only prepare the body, but also 
  attend to the deceased's last worldly affairs. The Liberati have no system of legally challenging a will or the grooms' 
  distribution of the deceased's few personal items, but the Council of Seniors can mediate complaints. The grooms 
  conduct all estate matters in the first few weeks following the funeral; their initial duties involve only the actual 
  ceremony itself. 
  The clans never embalm their loved ones: it is an affront to the sanctity of the deceased's remains. Instead they prepare 
  the corpse of their loved one by washing it with the same dust used to clean tools. They never use their limited water 
  supplies to cleanse the body. Using dust emphasizes that the soul of the departed has left for a better place, and that 
  all that i s  left i s  a discarded vessel, a tool like any other. Once the body i s  clean, the grooms wrap it i n  a new linen 
  shroud before interment. Family members and friends often inscribe the shroud with poems and dedications to the 
  deceased as a tribute to the previous life and to the dreams and memories left behind. 
  Preparation of the body and the shroud generally takes two to three days; it is regarded as a very bad omen if it takes 
  any longer for whatever reason. During this time, the grooms construct a place of interment at a location that they 
  select. The location i s  always some distance away from the encampment. They excavate a shallow pit approximately 1.5 
  meters i n  diameter, above which they set a cylindrical tarp. The tarp forms the mold for a semispherical inverted dome. 
  The grooms use only one coat of adobe, since it is not necessary t o  fully insulate the cover - 
  the crypt is meant to inter 
  the dead not shelter a living family. They dry the adobe for a single day above the pit and then transport it to the 
  encampment. Loved ones and admirers of the deceased paint scenes on the concave side of the now-solidified capstone. 
  Painting this panorama is an essential part of the grieving process and it i s  not uncommon for Liberati to paint a 
  capstone with images of a deeply personal nature. While painting the capstone, they share stones with each other 
  celebrating the life of the deceased and reaffirm their connection with the living. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Once the preparations are complete, the actual ceremony takes place. The grooms personally 
  invite anyone outside of the deceased's immediate family that they believe should be i n  
  attendance. They are also responsible for providing transportation to the interment site 
  and have the final say over who can and can not attend the funeral. Any of the funeral 
  attendees can say a few words over the crypt but are not required to do so. After the 
  attendees have spoken their piece, a groom or family member blesses the deceased and 
  wishes him luck in his new life or new home, whichever i s  appropriate t o  the religion 
  involved. The grooms then lower the corpse into the crypt using thick ribbons in either 
  the clan's colors or the deceased's. The grooms leave the ribbons i n  the grave as a final 
  benediction by the clan and a memory of their heritage. A presiding member of the 
  Council of Seniors provides a final dedication before personally helping the grooms lower 
  the capstone into place and sealing the crypt with more adobe. After the ceremony, the 
  grooms hold a wake in the family's quarters. The whole clan is welcome to attend and tell 
  or listen to stories of the deceased's life. When the deceased is particularly important or 
  a lot of well wishers are expected, the grooms hold the wake in a large open area such as 
  a vehicle shed or hydroponics compound. Very rarely, a corporation will host the wake 
  using its own facilities and springing for the costs. 
  Crypt capstones are constructed from the same adobe mixture as Liberati dwellings; like 
  the encampments, they will decompose and collapse upon themselves over time. Eventually, 
  the crypt will return to the dirt from which it was constructed, just as the deceased 
  returns to the soil of the planet that gave him birth. The symmetry of this process i s  not 
  lost upon the clans and Liberati poets often refer to death as 'the great recycler' and the 
  interment crypt as 'Caprice's final dark womb.' The site of Caprice's wastelands makes it 
  uncommon t o  stumble across a crypt, but such an event i s  not unheard of. A collapsed 
  crypt can be indistinguishable from the surrounding soil, which can lead to some disturbing 
  finds. There have been a few incidents of prospectors unintentionally disturbing crypts, 
  but incidents of this type are thankfully rare. 
  Many families take photographs of the inner panorama of the capstone to be preserved for posterity. A few weeks after 
  the funeral, the burial grooms send all guests a picture or hologram of the painted capstone. There i s  no stigma 
  associated with displaying these paintings and it is not unusual for a family dwelling to have memorial walls i n  their 
  dwellings that show numerous pictures of the deceased members of the family along with their capstones. Some families 
  even combine the photos of the capstone and scenes from the deceased's life i n  a moving multimedia presentation. One 
  of Caprice's most famous downloads is Clon Memories ond Monuments, a pictorial compilation of some of the finest 
  examples of capstone artwork. The writer/photographer, Esther Van Friesen, i s  still a celebrated author, but has yet t o  
  produce a work as popular as this one. 
  Burial Superstitions + 
  A number of superstitions have arisen around the burial ceremony. If the adobe of the crypt lid cracks while drying, it 
  is believed that the deceased i s  trying to reveal a secret taken to the grave. Similarly, if the lid cracks during transport, 
  while being painted or when finally settled in place, it is said that someone involved in the ceremony is false, either in 
  their expressed emotions or in some aspect of the deceased's life. If one of the grooms drops his or her end of a ribbon 
  while lowering the body, the clan is thought t o  be somehow responsible for the death. The same i s  true if the crypt lid 
  doesn't sit properly when lowered. If the adobe dries darkly or is malformed or blotchy, the deceased i s  said to be calling 
  out for justice because he or she was murdered. If any of these ill omens occurs during a funeral, it i s  not unusual for 
  remorseful clan members or those with feelings of guilt to journey back to the crypt at a later date to make amends. To 
  allay these feelings, the clan member will place a small icon of fate near the crypt (but not touching it) to help the 
  deceased travel onto his or her next life. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  All Liberati acknowledge the role of Fate in their lives; while the practice falls short of a true religion, the Liberati 
  venerate Fate and often personify it in human shape. Fate is universally depicted as a very thin figure of indeterminate 
  gender. Fate's arms are always outstretched, with the right hand gripping an olive branch and a dagger. This hand 
  represents the dual nature of Fate, which can bring sorrow just as readily as it can bring peace. The left hand occasionally 
  holds a star, food, water or the sun, but often i s  empty. The left hand generally represents the best of all possible 
  outcomes or a lofty goal, for which the Liberati should always strive. Liberati use hastily drawn figures of Fate to invoke 
  Fate's help in attaining a personal goal. Figures used for this purpose typically have the left hand filled with representation 
  of the goal, often a child, money or even broken chains. Some darker images of Fate depict the left hand dripping blood 
  or holding a human head, but these are very rare. 
  The face of Fate is androgynous; i t s  features appear neither to frown nor to smile, but rather to suggest both. Fate's eyes 
  are oversized and slightly oval shaped, suggesting a cat's eye rather than epicanthal folds. The right eye i s  always the 
  blue of Earth and sometimes even contains a pictograph of the ancestral homeworld. The left eye is generally the red- 
  brown of Caprice, but other colors are also common, their meanings known only to the artist. Fate's head is always 
  surrounded by a semicircular oval that might signify the sun or a rainbow. Most scholars associate it with the helmet of 
  an environmental suit as befits an idol for gypsy nomads on an alien world. 
  Fate wears only strips of colored ribbons, each of which represents the life of one of Fate's followers. It is said that to 
  attach a ribbon to a statue of Fate i s  to petition Fate for good luck or to grant a boon for the owner of the ribbon. The 
  location of the attachment is significant: tying a ribbon to fate's feet is hoped to help elude one's enemies or to grant 
  a safe trip, while braiding two ribbons together and wrapping the conjoined cloth about Fate's waist is believed to 
  increase the chances of a fertile union. Using a ribbon to bind a lock of an enemy's hair or a piece of his clothing to 
  Fate's left hand is intended to invoke bad luck. Clothing a Fate idol i n  black ribbons is a very bad omen - it denotes 
  impending disaster or death. 
  + Mew Year's Daq 
  Most families have at least one statuette of Fate for luck. While Liberati don't actively worship Fate as a religion, all give 
  Fate Fate's due At the beginning of each new year, they place two small containers at Fate's feet; one holds a small 
  amount of water and the other holds a small amount of dust. These signify the present and the future. I n  a small 
  ceremony, the family members tie ribbons t o  the icon; the ribbons signify themselves as they ask Fate for luck in the 
  coming year. The family head then mixes the water and dust into a thick paste with which to anoint Fate's feet to signify 
  the link of Fate to this world and t o  provide a conduit for Fate into the household. After the small ceremony, the family 
  holds a large, festive dinner and rambunctious party for friends and neighbors. 
  + lnvohing Fate 
  The Liberati have a number of common hand gestures and habits meant to invoke Fate's assistance or protection. When 
  hearing bad news, Liberati typically touch both wrists then their shoulders. Anthropologists ascribe this gesture to old- 
  style environmental suits, the glove and helmet seals of which were notoriously susceptible to leaks. Rubbing an object 
  vigorously i s  supposed to imbue it with the rubber's determination and make the object function better or fix itself. 
  Liberati all hold four to be a lucky number as it corresponds to the four letters i n  Fate as well as to the four seasons, four 
  alchemical elements and four types of human (boy, man, girl and woman). Medallions depicting Fate are common items 
  of jewelry, and gripping one while uttering an oath or otherwise invoking Fate is supposed to be a particularly potent 
  invocation. Spitting while holding one will bring bad luck down upon the object of the medallion owner's scorn. Liberati 
  often sell Fate medallions to outsiders at markets, but these are especially garish compared to authentic Liberati Fate 
  medallions. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Liberati clothing is as much an exercise i n  personal freedom as any other aspect of the 
  clan member's life. Members choose clothing according to personal preference, and 
  other Liberati rarely criticize their choices. As a general rule, clothing tends to be light 
  and airy, allowing the wearer to move freely as well as allowing the body to breathe. 
  When not on the job, clothing is meant to make the wearer feel relaxed and comfortable. 
  Billowing chemises and wide-legged pants are common choices, as are wraparound 
  kimono-like robes. Despite the lack of a taboo against nudity, it i s  rare for any Liberati 
  to show a lot of skin - Liberati encampments are notoriously drafty due to their 
  atmosphere reclamation systems. 
  One constant amid the diversity of Liberati fashion is the Liberati ribbon. As children 
  grow, they create their own unique ribbons. A Liberati ribbon is a strip of colored bands 
  that stays with the nomad for his or her entire life. The tradition of the ribbons comes 
  from the first Liberati miners, who wore bands of color on the arms of their environmental 
  suits to identify themselves. To this day, Liberati environmental suits are painted in the 
  particular color choices of their owners. Not only does this practice help identify the 
  owner on the job site, it individualizes their work tools. It also makes it easy to distinguish 
  Liberati workers from corporate workers at a mixed job site. Miners will occasionally 
  wind strips of cloth in their colors around their work suits, though this practice i s  
  frowned upon as a possible workplace hazard. When off duty, however, all Liberati wear 
  their ribbons. 
  Liberati clothing always features at least one ribbon and often many. Common uses for 
  ribbons include belts, bandoleers, hair braids, headbands, arm wrappings and bracelets. 
  There i s  no social stigma attached to using ribbons in a purely utilitarian way. Liberati are 
  happy to secure equipment with their ribbons, hand tools from them, and so on. I n  
  emergencies, they can use ribbons to seal environmental suits, bind wounds or apply 
  tourniquets. While decorative and serving as an individual's personal emblem, Liberati 
  ribbons are much like the Liberati themselves - 
  entirely functional. 
  Ribbons as Rites of Passage + 
  Weaving one's first ribbon i s  a Liberati rite of passage from childhood to adolescence. The skill with which a child 
  weaves is said to foretell their success i n  the world. A sloppy weave means the child will struggle and have difficulty 
  controlling his life. A blending of the colors instead of distinct bands indicates the child will have little direction. 
  Ragged edges or a loose weave points to a lack of conviction. While the creation of one's first ribbon may be a joyous 
  time of ascendance to adolescence, it is also surrounded by superstitions that subtly taint the celebration. 
  Until the age of fifteen, children wear their parents' ribbons. At that time, they return those ribbons and are allowed 
  to choose their own colors and design and weave their first 
  ribbon. Over the course of the next five years, the 
  adolescents may reweave their ribbons as often as they wish, choosing new colors and discarding old ones as their 
  tastes change. Adolescence i s  a time of testing and of making of important choices by Liberati teens, and their 
  ribbons frequently undergo many changes. Once they reach their twentieth birthday, however, they officially become 
  adults and may engage i n  adult activities. To celebrate their ascension into adult status, each adult creates a new 
  ribbon, one that encapsulates his or her life experiences, hopes and dreams. This ribbon does not change and 
  represents the solidity of adulthood. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  2.2.9 - Food 8 Drinh 
  Meals are very different between clans, and while most clans have a number of set dishes they commonly cook due to 
  the particular availability of foodstuffs, their cooks are also renowned for improvising unusual meals. Liberati design 
  most of their meals for efficiency and convenience, using a bread-like combination of grain and soymeal called grainpaper 
  to hold the meal together so it can be carried easily to the work site or eaten while working. The cooks usually mince 
  the contents of such a pita into an easily digested paste. Liberati frequently seal grainpaper pitas inside a plastic bag 
  and carry them outside their environmental suit to work. Clan cooks often joke that a grainpaper pita should be so 
  tightly wrapped that the contents can survive in vacuum, though most Liberati attempt to do so only once i n  their lives. 
  Breakfast typically consists of a grain harvested from the hydroponics facility and ground into a fine powder to be 
  combined with a thick soy paste. The thick cake is toasted and spread with preserves or jellies if available or is simply 
  eaten as is. Juices and Caprician coffee (which is much weaker than Earth breeds) round out the breakfast. Those clan 
  members who remain at the encampment over lunch usually share a stew or a fried dish from a huge communal pot; 
  pitas are predominantly for off-site workers. Evening meals are a completely different matter; Liberati cooks prepare 
  these as family-wide social events. They prepare many different dishes for the meal and the entire extended family i s  
  expected to attend, save those working evening shifts. Slices of cured meat, pots of stew, curries, pickled vegetables 
  and lots of oven baked grain/soy bread comprise the evening meal. There is little ceremony involved in a typical 
  evening meal with seniors, children and all other family members serving themselves at will. Formal meals feature a 
  little more decorum: guests serve themselves first according t o  workplace seniority. The actual meal itself always 
  features large sealed jugs of water for the participants to consume, especially since Liberati food can occasionally be 
  quite spicy. Drinking lots of water is a complement to the cooks, and while it may seem extravagant, the reality is that 
  the clan reclaims the majority of the water through recycling, to be prepared for the next day's consumption. 
  + Meat, Vegetables, Other Stuff 
  To disguise the fact that most of the clan's foodstuffs come from a limited pool of penned animals, hydroponics and 
  reclaimed matter whose origin i s  in no way appetizing, Liberati cooks prepare meals in a variety of ways. The evening 
  meal is often quite spicy, and the morning and afternoon meals are rarely so, since sweating in an environmental suit 
  is not to be encouraged. Amateur cooks and chefs at faux Liberati restaurants in the Trench often make the mistake of 
  believing that simply adding a variety of spices to a meal will improve it. Experienced cooks realize that an assortment 
  of spices and cooking styles are required to emphasize the flavor and texture of the particular ingredients. Grilling, 
  boiling, frying and poaching are all valid cooking choices for the evening meal, provided the dish i s  prepared correctly. 
  One unusual aspect of Liberati meals that often makes outsiders hesitate i s  the communal aspect of the meal. So close 
  are the clans that the members give very little thought to sharing tableware and dishes at a meal. A society that 
  recycles every available resource, including food and water, does not foster fastidious or picky eaters. It i s  not uncommon 
  for a pair of Liberati to share a single bowl of stew, which often makes visiting Trenchers uncomfortable. 
  It i s  a mild insult to ask a Liberati cook what ingredients he used in preparing a meal. If asked, the cook usually 
  responds by saying, "meat, vegetables, other stuff," and will refuse to elaborate. Asking what i s  in a meal is offensive 
  because occasionally clans have t o  improvise to provide enough food to survive. The hardy nomads think nothing of 
  sacrificing a pet or making use of an insect infestation if it i s  the only source of protein available and not using it would 
  mean sickness within the clan. This circumstance is a rare occurrence outside of the poorer clans. 
  + The 12 Pinter Rhqmes 
  There is an ancient Liberati nursery rhyme that goes: 
  Piotr Pinter lived in a pita. 
  He had a sister her name was Rita. 
  But his hunger it grew, 
  So he chewed his way through, 
  And the wind sucked him aut by his seat-a. 
  Like most rhymes this one has a lesson for young children, emphasizing the hazards of breaching the encampment's 
  walls. Other rhymes warn of the dangers of talking to Trenchers, carlying sharp objects inside an environmental suit and 
  playing around machinery. Only Piotr Pinter's rhymes revolve around food, and anthropologists and literary experts have 
  documented The 12 Pinter Rhymes among nearly every clan. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Revenue-Generating Worh - 2.31 
  The clans have engaged i n  mining activities for so long that most Capricians assume all Liberati are miners. Although 
  many of the clans do other work, the vast majority do indeed make a living as contract miners. Mining clans move from 
  one contract job to another, working for any number of different corporate interests. The corporations value Liberati 
  workers for their drive, experience and thorough knowledge of mining operations. Living on the surface rather than in 
  the Cat's Eye Trench gives clan members a distinct advantage over their Trencher brethren. Add to that an intimate 
  familiarity with environmental suits and equipment and it's easy to understand why mining corporations like to contract 
  nomad labor. 
  There are many other reasons why Liberati are preferred as miners, however. The larger clans provide their own equipment 
  and many will actually maintain and repair the contracting company's equipment and site. The clans also provide their 
  own housing and transportation to and from the mine as well as their own personal equipment and tools. The savings 
  involved i n  not having to house their workers alone are often worth the corporation's signing a contract with Liberati 
  miners. Many of the clans even negotiate clauses into their contract to build the requisite on-site company facilities. It 
  i s  not unusual for a Liberati prospector who has found a rich, untapped site of valuable minerals to contact his Council 
  of Seniors and ask them to shop around a proposal to potential buyers. These contracts i n  particular often involve the 
  clan preparing the site by building housing for the mining equipment, stores and processor. Once the site is ready the 
  company simply moves in the actual apparatus of mining and the work begins. 
  Another, less common type of Liberati clan is the outpost clan. Outpost Liberati clans are involved in scientific research 
  and are preferred by the corporations to staff the few remote research outposts and geothermal power stations of 
  Caprice. It i s  difficult for companies to find skilled researchers and technicians who have not only the technical know- 
  how and education to operate these facilities effectively, but who also have the perseverance required to stay on the 
  surface for years on end. Gomorrans soon miss the bustling activity of the Trench and easily become homesick or 
  claustrophobic; the Liberati do not suffer from this malady, especially if the entire clan can work in and around the 
  station. Generally a clan will combine outpost work with another income-generating venture such as cattle rearing or 
  frost skimming in order to make the arrangement work out the best, but it will sometimes simply send the researcher's 
  extended family to live and work at the site. If only a select few Liberati can participate in the work, it i s  sometimes 
  foolhardy to bind the entire clan to the site. Regardless, many of Caprice's foremost scientists are Liberati researchers. 
  Caravan Clans + 
  A few of the clans exist only to move supplies and equipment from one location to another. These clans are the most 
  mobile of the Liberati, rarely staying i n  one place more that a few weeks. Their vehicles are extremely sturdy and consist 
  for the most part of massive tractor-trailers and collapsible shelters. These clans are smaller than most because they 
  cannot accommodate the support structure of the larger clans. They have t o  purchase most of their consumables such 
  as water, food and oxygen, but even so they are able to make a good living moving materials across the planet. Caravans 
  are always welcome because they not only transport minerals away from the mine site and bring necessary and luxury 
  items to the scattered encampments but also carry with them important news and gossip. It is not unusual to see a 
  convoy of caravan vehicles traveling through the Cat's Eye Trench as they deliver goods and resources to the corporations 
  as well as the clans. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  2.3.2 - Support Professions 
  Keeping a clan alive requires a lot of effort and specialized knowledge. Part of Caprice's 
  attraction to the Liberati lifestyle is their love of freedom and their self-reliance, but 
  anyone that thinks freedom isn't a lot of painstaking and thankless work lives in a 
  fantasy world. Moving from one job to another i s  a lot of effort and isn't always safe. 
  Moving one's home and entire family across a hostile planet can be extremely hazardous, 
  especially if the clan i s  involved in mining the crags of the northern sectors. Each clan 
  requires a number of highly specialized support personnel in addition to those clan 
  members working the contract jobs; these support jobs ensure the clan survives and 
  thrives. Food production i s  one of the most vital of encampment activities. Liberati use 
  hydroponics domes to produce grains, fruits, vegetables and oxygen. The crops are 
  genetically designed to be resistant to radiation, to produce food year-round, and to be 
  especially efficient at scrubbing carbon dioxide out of the air and replacing it with oxygen. 
  The plants are hardy but require a lot of maintenance; the Senior i n  charge of the 
  hydroponics domes is always a skilled plant biologist who could easily find employment 
  with any Caprician corporation. Many of the research outposts on Caprice conduct 
  hydroponics and livestock studies, and their parent corporations frequently contract Liberati 
  to conduct the research. 
  Liberati as a whole tend to be technically adept; Earthers often compare Liberati technicians 
  to Isaac-class GRELs in terms of skill, know-how and the amount of hard work they 
  perform. This comparison only amuses the Liberati, who know that they have an advantage 
  their genetically engineered distant cousins lack: adaptability. Because the Liberati are 
  so well-known for their technical expertise, corporate headhunters often try to lure the 
  nomads into working for their company, but the tight family structure and the Liberati 
  love of freedom tends t o  make such efforts futile. A clan will occasionally send clan 
  members on extended contracts with corporations, however, since there i s  often knowledge 
  to be gained. Some Liberati even work on Loki system ice mining ships and orbital 
  processing stations, where their diverse knowledge - 
  especially of life support systems 
  and enclosed environments - 
  makes them especially valued technicians. A few of these 
  nomad contract workers have contacts with the Liberati insurgents, which makes them 
  especially valued for reasons aside from the clan's monetary gain. The CEF tries to keep a 
  close watch on these orbital miners but the wary and insular nature of ice mining crews 
  and the secretiveness of most Liberati make this task very difficult. 
  + Clan Phqsicians 
  Of the specialist occupations, few are more revered than the physician. It i s  a great source of pride for a clan to produce 
  or even to adopt a doctor; only mentors can compete with physicians i n  terms of clan prestige. Clan physicians are 
  always educated in Trench universities and are rarely specialists i n  only one field. Most clans do not have a resident 
  doctor and instead must rely upon the assistance of their neighbors in the event of an emergency. This reliance gives 
  physicians a unique status within the Liberati, that of being shared by several clans. They take their commitment to 
  preserving life very, very seriously and no matter what feuds or opposition against Earth are planned, Liberati doctors 
  will render aid to any wounded. 
  Doctors have a tacit agreement with the clans that allows them to request help or to requisition vehicles and 
  supplies when they need to do so. Well-respected doctors often have permanent loan vehicles from their parent 
  clans for their own use. Clans treat visiting doctors as family members and accord them all the privileges of a Senior. 
  Clan members who wish to share the prestige of the Liberati physicians and engage i n  a life of travel often court 
  visiting doctors. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  livestoch Management + 
  The Liberati are not vegetarians, and they raise their own livestock. Liberati livestock i s  very rugged and tends to be the 
  diametric opposite of the bulky, genetically mutated Trencher livestock. Like their opposites in the Trench, however, It 
  can be difficult or even impossible to raise Liberati livestock without proper training and facilities. Cattle and hogs are 
  popular with the Nomads, though it would be difficult to recognize either breed as being descended from Earth's 
  animals. Both species sport thick coats of hair that the handlers shear t o  provide coarse wool. Their meat is used for 
  food, their bones for building materials and their skins for clothing; the clans waste nothing. The methane produced by 
  the animals i s  condensed into vehicle fuel, and the animals' refuse is processed into fertilizer for the hydroponics. 
  The cattle are smaller than their Terran cousins and have been genetically bred and manipulated to combine a number 
  of traits from different breeds of cattle as well as a few traits from elsewhere. In addition using these cattle for food, 
  Liberati can use advanced cloning techniques to graft human cells onto the animals' digestive systems, replacing one or 
  more of their four stomachs. In this way, they can induce the cattle to grow human organs. Lungs, kidneys and such are 
  very easy t o  bud from the cattle's outer stomach lining and generally take two to three months to mature. The stomach 
  feeds the growth of the budding organs, but not without causing discomfort to the beasts. For this reason, the handlers 
  isolate animals implanted with budding human organs, so the animals avoid injuring themselves, the other animals and 
  the organs growing within. Once the organs are removed, the animal is generally butchered for meat. The cattle require 
  a strict grain diet and must be closely watched at all times because they are especially stupid, even for cattle, but the 
  hogs a different matter entirely. 
  Liberati hogs are omnivorous, and their handlers feed them refuse: they are the ultimate recyclers. They will eat literally 
  anything, and anything they cannot digest they will gamely devour anyway - but they are especially fond of meat. 
  Ornery and temperamental, Liberati hogs are dangerous beasts. Too often, unwary clan members have fallen into hog 
  pits, and before they can escape, the rampaging animals have horribly wounded them - 
  some have even died. There 
  have also been incidents of murderers covering up their crimes by throwing their victims to the hogs. "To pit" someone 
  or "to throw someone to the hogs" i s  Liberati slang for murder. To keep the hogs under control, the Liberati keep them 
  in deep pits and occasionally in underground warrens. There are rumors of wild Liberati swine living in the sewage 
  reclamation system of some hubs. 
  Frost Shimming + 
  Frost skimming is a labor-intensive occupation that all clans pursue to some degree. Frost skimming requires no 
  specialized skills and is often the first chore that a young clan member will be assigned once he or she comes of age. The 
  Council of Seniors often assigns mentally infirm Liberati to the chore as well, since it keeps them productive and 
  valuable members of the clan. Most clan water i s  recycled or purchased from caravans travelling from Vega Starport, but 
  all clans have some sort of frost skimming activity. 
  The technique of frost skimming i s  quite simple. It dates back to an ancient Bedouin method of water reclamation. The 
  skimmer builds or places a clear plastic dome or cylindrical structure on the surface of Caprice. The clear plastic structure 
  acts like a greenhouse, and the trapped heat evaporates the surface frost. The liberated water coats the inner surface of 
  the dome, and ridges funnel the water to a central depository where it collects i n  a convenient storage container. 
  Depending on the geography, there can be up t o  a liter of frost per two square meters, though generally a single liter 
  requires a 10- t o  20-square-meter area. 
  At the beginning of every day, the skimmer moves the apparatus to a new site. The process can be as simple as shifting 
  a small pup tent or as complex as disassembling a 1000-square-meter greenhouse. The skimmer must also keep accurate 
  track of where he has previously harvest frost, since it takes a full season for it to accumulate. Long-term or permanent 
  clan encampments may have frost skimmers many kilometers away from the encampment simply because they have 
  played'yt the frost close to home. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  2 4  - ARTS 1 ENTERTAINMENT 
  As one might expect from a people who live their lives on the surface of Caprice, Liberati artwork prominently features 
  landscapes. Nearly every family has at least one magnificent panorama in i t s  home. The Liberati encourage artistic 
  ability i s  in their people, and they have developed a number of unique ways of expressing it. Sandscapes are very 
  popular, and Liberati children learn how to create them during their years in the communal children children's centers. 
  Mentors are particularly fond of sandscapes because they teach patience and perseverance. Sandscape creation i s  
  similar to finger-painting, but without wasting water. The artist pours colored sands over a stone background, blending 
  the colors and tracing out designs with his fingers. Once the sandscape i s  complete, the artist (or a responsible adult, 
  in the case of children) sprays a thin but durable sealant over the sand, securing it in place. Most sandscapes are 
  abstracts, but a few talented artists can paint quite intricate and realistic pictures of any subject imaginable. 
  Fabric weaving i s  another common art form in every clan, and the resulting textiles provide a source of great pride for 
  the person that creates them. Clothing sold at Liberati marketplaces i s  often both very beautiful and very durable. The 
  pride taken in weaving the cloth i s  obvious, and the vibrant colors are attractive even to the relatively stodgy Earthers 
  and Trenchers - certainly clothing made from Liberati textiles is more appealing than army fatigues and corporate 
  attire. It also provides a fashionable contrast to the high-tech clothing the corporate factories churned out; it i s  not 
  uncommon to see Gomorran girls mixing Liberati skirts with Ocean Wear blouses. Trenchers frequently invite famous 
  weavers to put on shows of their best clothing; the Liberati occasionally accept the invitation. 
  2.41 - liberati Dance 
  The Liberati are well known for their flamboyant dances, which are always well received at the marketplace. Liberati 
  encampments include plenty of open space for dancing, although these spaces often have more pragmatic uses. The 
  Liberati frequently convert hydroponics facilities into dance halls simply by rolling the plant beds aside; they can 
  convert vehicle hangars just as easily. Additionally, corporations sometimes permit the Liberati to hold social dances in 
  their facilities, especially if they invite the Gomorrans to attend. For the Trenchers, these dances provide a welcome 
  change of pace from Trench life. 
  The Liberati have two very different styles of dance. The first is a solo style that i s  entirely exhibitionist; dancers 
  sometimes pair off or form small groups, but at its heart, it remains solo. It i s  a freeform style with steps partially made 
  up on the spot according to each dancer's whim. When i n  small groups, the dancers attempt to outdo each other with 
  complexity or style. There are overall patterns to these dances, but only in the broadest sense. A particular group of 
  measures - 
  one, two or four - 
  will have a well-defined starting move and closing move, but what happens in between 
  i s  entirely at the discretion of the dancer. The result is a dynamic performance with an overall pattern to the movements 
  - 
  much like nomadic life itself. The second style is a group dance similar t o  square dancing and always features either 
  pairs or quartets. It is a highly choreographed performance that only the best dancers undertake. The movements appear 
  to be as chaotic as the solo style, but they dancers design their moves ahead of time t o  match or complement those of 
  a partner rather than to compete. Many Trenchers are initially very self conscious at Liberati dances, but soon fit into 
  the spectacle once they realize that a lot of Liberati actually have no rhythm at all and no one seems to care. 
  One occasionally finds seedy establishments i n  Gornorrah advertising "Erotic Nomad Dancers." These are invariably not 
  real Liberati but Gomorrans performing the same erotic dances found in the rest of the Trench City's underbelly. True 
  Liberati dancing i s  entertaining and fun, but it is never erotic. 
  24.2 - Trideo and Video Entertainment 
  Trideo and flat screen productions are popular among the Liberati, and while the clans do not produce entertainment 
  of this sort, they often inspire it. Most Caprician entertainment that features Liberati i s  woefully inaccurate; the most 
  common stereotypes are the jack-of-all-trades technicians, naYve wanderers and tough-as-nails miners. While there i s  
  a very small amount of truth i n  these stereotypes, they hardly portray Liberati life as it truly is. Regardless, the 
  exploits of such fictional heroes as Jenz Colton and Tomaz 'Bedrock' Vanson entertain Liberati and Trencher alike. The 
  adventures of Jenz Colton in Nomad's Vengeance are widely acknowledged classics. A t  the other end of the quality 
  spectrum, the Cave In series, featuring Bedrock Vanson, i s  little more than a melange of formulaic violence and 
  pornography. Both are set against the Liberati culture and both are resounding successes - 
  much to the Liberati's 
  collective amusement. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  1 IBERA 
  Stone Etching - 2.4.3 
  Stone etching is a relatively new and under-appreciated art form. It involves leaving trails of nutrients on bare stone t o  
  feed Caprician acid lichen. As the lichen slowly works its way along the stone, it leaves behind swaths of dissolved and 
  stained stone. The particular nutrient used determines both the color and the depth of the etching: some nutrients take 
  longer t o  absorb than others, and the chemicals in the nutrients color its secreted solvent. Like the ancient Japanese art 
  of bonsai, stone etching takes many years of patience and foresight to complete successfully, but once the etching i s  
  complete the effect is quite dramatic. For some artists, however, the etching is never complete and takes on an ever- 
  changing nature. 
  The Nomad Marhetplace - 2.4.4 
  The marketplace is a popular Liberati spectacle that most Trenchers find quaint. Few Trenchers ever realize the full 
  extent of what actually goes on at the marketplace, however. Clans hold market every three to four weeks, depending 
  on how close they are to other clans or t o  the Cat's Eye Trench. The timing also depends on the routes of the caravan 
  clans, which often do most of their business at the market. The Liberati set up small stalls to sell goods that range 
  from very practical tools and clothing t o  Liberati knick-knacks. Other stalls sell food and drink. Liberati entertainers 
  thrive i n  the market, wandering throughout t o  perform music and dances, tell stones or read a customer's fate - 
  the 
  latter of which Trenchers find very amusing. The marketplace is an excellent opportunity for the clan t o  mingle with 
  new neighbors and boost its revenue, if only a little bit. It i s  also a good way t o  get to know co-workers when taking 
  on new contracts with the corporations. Many Liberati clans ingratiate themselves with the corporate employees via 
  the marketplace. 
  Some Trenchers attend the Liberati marketplace for the foodstuffs alone. I n  addition t o  their grainpaper pitas, the 
  Liberati sell a few other delicacies at these events. Their smoked meats, which are not actually smoked but chemically 
  aged and which they originally produced for Long overland travel, have become works of culinary art. Subtle herbs and 
  spices make the meat very delicious, and the dozens of different ways of preparing it mean that almost no one walks 
  away from the marketplace on an empty stomach. Delicious fennel bread provides a light counterpoint to the smoked 
  meats, and deep-fried, sugar-coated breakfast cakes delight young and old alike. The Liberati also sell a variety of 
  alcoholic beverages at the marketplace. Nomad lager is bitterer than most other brews, but is a very powerful beer. 
  Blackroot ale is a heavy brew but sweet; a non-alcoholic version is quite popular among those who prefer not to 
  consume alcohol. The Liberati sell most of their brews i n  large, tavern-like stalls that always feature rugged musicians 
  performing traditional and contemporary folk music - 
  one of the most popular themes in contemporary Liberati music 
  i s  the raven, which is always symbolic of the Black Talon squads. 
  The Genosia Harhetplace 
  The marketplace is always a festive affair where the attendees let off a lot of pent up 
  steam, but when two or more clans get together the festive nature increases 
  exponentially as each tries to outdo the others. The annual Genosia Marketplace i s  an 
  incredible event, a veritable riot of Liberati culture to which nearly every clan sends at 
  least one representative. The Marketplace is a combination festival and convention at 
  which clan politics, contract negotiations, vehicle and equipment sales, and marriage 
  meetings all combine with the nomad cultural atmosphere at its most flamboyant. 
  Adventurous thrill-seekers from all over the planet come to attend, take in the atmosphere 
  and enjoy the strange and exotic sights. 
  The Liberati marketplaces in general are the preferred location where many of the 
  connections between the Liberati nomads and Liberati rebels are made. The chaotic 
  nature of the whole event makes it very hard to track and observe anyone, much less a 
  native. As a result, marketplaces are a hotbed of intrigue and politics that attract both 
  CEF spies and undercover informants. The nomads spot most of these spies right away 
  and target them for open ridicule; the ones who escape this attention often discover 
  that the Liberati found them out as well and have secretly manipulated them into 
  giving their handler false or (most often) humiliatingly incorrect data. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  REUNION 
  Maxine cleared off her desk with a sweep of her hand and saved the program she had been 
  working on. She grinned madly. She hadn't seen Yalin Thomas for five years. He and 
  Maxine had been like brother and sister in college, the "team supreme" with any 
  engineering project anyone could throw their way. However, just before graduation, Yalin's 
  father had been killed i n  an ice-mining incident out i n  the Blesseds. Yalin leftimmediately: 
  Maxine hadn't seen him since. 
  The office door opened and there he was, wearing the same battered jacket he'd worn all 
  through college. The smile was the same swashbuckling devil-may-care grin, but a little 
  tired somehow. A thin scar ran across his left cheek. The two embraced and held each 
  other tightly. Maxine broke the silence. "Wow, it's good to see you. How've you been?" 
  "Good, Max," Yalin answered, "I've been real good." He pulled a small bottle of Minet's 
  Whiskey from a bag. It had been their choice of drink i n  the college pubs. Maxine laughed. 
  "You remembered!" She reached for two dusty glasses sitting atop a worn cabinet and 
  blew into them. "Have a seat," she said. "Tell me what the hell's been going on." 
  Yalin explained how he had been on his way back to Caprice when he had scored a job 
  with a ship captain that had known his father. He had been working ships until recently. 
  While talking, he kept casually refilling her glass. Maxine's smile grew wry. She interrupted 
  Yalin's story. 
  "You always try to get me drunk before you ask me to join you on some mad scheme. 
  What is it this time? You want me to buy a ship with you? You have some new design to 
  register with the corps?" 
  Yalin's face turned to stone. "Maxine," he whispered, "I work for the Liberati." 
  Maxine hadn't expected that. Her lips moved wordlessly. "How," she said finally, ". . . how 
  the hell am I supposed to respond to that?" Her throat was dry and her heart would not 
  slow down. She polished off her drink and took a deep breath. "That's why you couldn't 
  come back, isn't it?" she demanded. 'They wiped your rig." 
  "The CEF killed my father, Max," Yalin said. Suddenly, his mask dropped and his face 
  twisted with emotion. "I had to find a way to strike back. And now.. ." He looked at her, 
  as if trying to find some sign that things would not get worse. "I came because we need 
  you. I know you're alone, that your family-" 
  "That's not fair," she cut in, perhaps a bit too loudly. 
  "You're right. I'm sorry, but I know the kinds of things you do for the CEF. You've never 
  believed it, but they are the bad guys here. I've seen them do things I'll never forget. 
  Killings, experimentation, a l l  because they blame us for a centuries-old defeat. Are these 
  the people you want to support?" 
  Maxine shook her head. It had been a long road to where she was. Yet, after everything, 
  where she was turned out to be nowhere. Yes, she occasionally worked for the CEF. She'd 
  always told herself that things would get better, but they never had. She looked at Yalin. 
  "You want me to give up everything, my business, my life and follow you out into space 
  to fight a revolution?" 
  "Yes." There was a long pause. The two friends looked at each other, searching. 
  Maxine chuckled. "You don't ask much from a gal, do you?" They both laughed i n  strained 
  tones. Maxine looked around her offlce. Her heart was still pounding. She was terrified, 
  but, for the first time i n  years, also strangely alive. "I'm in," she said at last. "Team 
  Supreme, right?" 
  Yalin nodded. "Team Supreme." He sighed heavily and relaxed. He was glad that he would 
  not have to find out if he could have used the pistol under his jacket. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Liberati are not the only ones in the struggle, nor do all Liberati fight for the same 
  cause. Though it sometimes appear as i f  the entire nomad population of the planet is 
  arrayed against the invaders, many people cannot afford to fight directly, either because 
  of age, illness or dependents. Only a small percentage of the population can actually 
  take arms against the invaders. Most of the rest are content t o  support them, materially 
  if possible, i n  spirit otherwise. Cases of elderly or pregnant individuals taking part i n  
  Liberati raids do exist, but they are rare, and only authorized if the person i n  question 
  possesses a skill or access that i s  available through no other means; were such a person 
  to be killed, or worse, captured, there would be severe damage to morale among both 
  the Ghazis and Muttawah. 
  A small percentage of the Liberati population do not believe that the CEF can be defeated, 
  and have started to form links with the invaders in order to secure wealth or freedom. For 
  obvious reasons, these collaborators attempt t o  keep their views and affiliations secret 
  from their fellows. Although the resistance is aware of the identities of many collaborators, 
  it is certain that many more exist; after all, if the Liberati can hide from the CEF, they 
  should have few problems hiding from each other. 
  Parallel Resistance - 311 
  Though most of the resistance effort i s  center around the Jund, the Liberati army (see page 35), it would be futile to 
  expect that an independent people like the Liberati would gather under one sole banner at once. The Jund i s  the largest 
  and best organized of the resistance groups, with ties t o  the corporations, but there are many others in existence, most 
  of them being composed of little more than a few scattered cells that coordinate their activities as best they can. While 
  the majority of these independent cells operate out of isolated bases (often little more than a few tents and vehicles) 
  in the highlands, a growing number of urban resistance groups are operating right under the noses of the corporations. 
  The independent resistance groups may fight against the CEF, but they are seldom associated with the Jund. The 
  reasons for refusing to join with the Jund vary widely, from a desire for autonomy and control to an outright enmity 
  for Jund members. Indeed, several Jund regulars who have committed severe crimes against fellow rebels or atrocities 
  against the CEF have gone into voluntary exile, often forming resistance/bandit groups. While the common cause 
  against the invader is often enough for the various resistance groups to stay out of each others’ way and even to 
  cooperate occasionally on missions and share resources, rivalries and hostilities have been known to result i n  violent 
  encounters between opposing resistance groups. These incidents are particularly troublesome to Amir alJuyush 
  Wick; in addition to lowering the morale of all resistance fighters, the conflicts also represent a major threat to the 
  Liberati‘s security and secrecy. 
  The Battle at Reid Crater + 
  The Battle at Reid Crater is remembered as one of the most vicious examples of rebel factions clashing. I n  LC 265, a pair 
  of Jund Yazaks crossed paths with the Liberated Peoples of Caprice, an independent resistance group lead by a former 
  Qaidis who had voluntarily left the Jund after she had ordered the destruction of a CEF outpost that later turned out to 
  have been a civilian research station. Members of her former team were part of the two Yazaks that met the LPC, and 
  they flew into a zealous, hateful rage at the sight of her. When the dust had finally settled, all forty-five freedom 
  fighters were dead. 
  Public Outlooh - 31.2 
  To the invaders and most of the Trench’s population, the Liberati resistance movement i s  dead and buried. The local 
  corporations now work for the benefit of the New Earth Commonwealth, and the population follows their lead. The 
  occasional raids or bombs, when placed at the planetary scale, can easily be explained away as the actions of a few 
  discontents who will surely not last long alone and without support. This perception is reinforced by the Liberati’s 
  efforts to remain hidden; no credit i s  ever claimed for any of its acts (except as misdirection), and the Liberati are 
  ruthlessly efficient i n  rescuing or eliminating any of its members who are captured or compromised. 
  FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND OPPONENTS - 3.1 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  3.2 - INSURGENTS 
  The word Liberati often summons images of the fiercely independent Capncian highlanders, as well as of the fabled 
  resistance fighters from the beginnings of the CEF occupation. The two are not always the same. Before the occupation, 
  Liberati were simply the nomadic mining families who had fought for their civil rights against the corporate structure of 
  pre-collapse Gomorrah. When the CEF arrived, these independent folk were the best choice to begin the guerrilla 
  movement against the Earth forces. 
  After the initial resistance, the Liberati moved underground, leading the CEF forces to believe they had been destroyed. 
  Nothing could have been further from the truth. The Liberati movement expanded throughout Caprice, until the name 
  included any of the tens of thousands of operatives, soldiers and spies that make up the current phantom army. 
  However, within the Liberati movement, it is important to understand the difference between those who fight for a free 
  Caprice and those whose blood links them t o  the long, harsh history of the Liberati family clans. The Liberati families 
  still live as they have for hundreds of years. Their environment has molded them into a strong and independent people, 
  the perfect warriors for the long and arduous job at hand. Needless to say, they take the Liberati name with great pride. 
  Many Muttawah, or volunteers, on the other hand, are from outside the clans and have little understanding of their 
  ways. These Muttawah hail from Gomorrah or other settlements, separated from the highlands by both blood and 
  culture. To them, the name Liberati is an unspoken word, a designation that they are fighting for their world i n  hidden 
  action only. For the sake of secrecy, the Muttawah never refer to themselves as Liberati; as far as they are concerned, the 
  Liberati rebels have no name to call themselves. 
  3.21 - Shadow and Secrets 
  Secrecy and loyalty, i n  that order, are the cornerstones of the Liberati struggle. Many members of the movement, 
  experienced and novice alike, are eager to take the fight directly t o  the CEF. This would, of course, end in disaster, since 
  the CEF occupation army has the advantage in nearly every tactical aspect. 
  Within the resistance movement, the practices of stealth and hidden agendas take on lives of their own. The average 
  member of the Liberati has developed two occasionally overlapping personalities t o  help hide himself from the CEF. One 
  i s  the shadow warrior of myth, the unnamed revolutionary. The other is an everyday person, whose job consists of no 
  more than feeding the family and having a good time. This multiple role-playing is especially distinct in Liberati 
  members from the cities and hubs, where such ruses are vital to surviving the regular scrutiny of the corporations. 
  Loyalty only comes second for the sake of the movement as a whole. In other words, the Liberati’s normally unwavering 
  loyalty to the individual ceases when, for whatever reason, that individual become a threat t o  the movement. Some 
  extremists have been known to kill their own cellmates to keep them from falling into enemy hands. 
  3.2.2 - Command Structure 
  The Liberati operate in a loose command structure based on the terrorist cell. The typical Liberati cell has five to ten 
  members, and is made up of a Qaidis (leader), a second in command and a group of specialized Ghazis (soldiers). Both 
  the Qaidis and second are loyal and proven Liberati, and it is rare for the Ghazis to question them. 
  The cells will rotate members and leadership on a regular basis (three t o  four missions) to keep from becoming too 
  comfortable or falling into any recognizable habits. I n  Gomorrah and other areas of high population, the members of a 
  cell generally do not live near each other for the same reasons. On the other hand, Liberati cells in the highlands will 
  usually be part of a larger group that is together all the time. The highland cells will still rotate amongst themselves to 
  keep their memberships fresh, though. 
  The Liberati normally receive their assignments from a Muttawah trained in espionage. Though not professional soldiers, 
  these volunteers are usually much more adept at gathering the information necessary for the careful planning of a 
  Liberati strike. Once an assignment has been accepted, it is up t o  the Qaidis to relay mission parameters to their team. 
  Though how much the team members know of their mission vanes from cell to cell, they are generally only given the 
  information needed to complete their assigned duties - only the Qaidis and the second in command will know the 
  whole story. The second i n  command knows the details i n  order to keep the mission from failing in case the Qaidis is 
  killed early on. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Organization - 3.2.3 
  The Liberati movement in Gomorrah has been growing fast. More citizens are joining, if only in an observer or reserve 
  member capacity. The number of active members has remained static, but their support base has increased twelvefold. 
  Liberati rebels know they need more troops, but it i s  still a dangerous time t o  organize a standing army, and the 
  organization lacks the resources to supply their expanding membership. So, for the time being, the Liberati are s t i l l  
  divided into cells until such a time they can support larger groups. 
  liberati Ranhs and Divisions + 
  None of the active Liberati insurgents have data-rigs. Their real identities were wiped away by the Coalition following 
  the CEFs invasion. allowing these individuals to work anonymously. If captured, they have no accessible records, 
  thereby ensuring that their families cannot be hurt or used against them easily; DNA analyses are always possible, but 
  are long and costly and possible only if the family member's genome i s  on file, either for previous offenses or special 
  medical treatments. 
  The Liberati are a small force with limited manpower. As such, they have a highly compartmentalized hierarchy and a 
  small number of actual ranks. Their titles and descriptions are ranked below, in order of importance: 
  Jund: Code word for Liberati army as a whole. It also represents their cause. 
  Amir alJuyush: The leader of the Liberati movement. It means Commander in Chiefjust as Admiral comes from Amir al- 
  Bahr or Commander of the Sea. 
  Atabeg: Senior officers. The Amir al-Juyush's command staff consists of five Atabeg. They act as advisors and keep in 
  contact with the Amirs. Each is responsible for an average of ten Amirs. 
  Amir: Equivalent to a CEF Senior officerofficer; each Amir cares for five Yazak. 
  Yazak: Means "advance post," but it is used by the Liberati to mean a cell of Ghazis. There are usually five to ten 
  mem bers per cell. 
  Qaidis: Commander of a Yazak. The organizing representative of a group of Muttawah i s  also referred to as a Qaidis, even 
  though such an individual neither lives in the field nor commands Ghazis. 
  Ghazis: Full time soldiers. These Liberati are full-time members who fight, carry out assignments and do all the dirty 
  work. They are generally organized in Yazak. 
  Karariyah: Newly adopted code word for the GRELs joining the cause. The word itself means "shock trooper." There are 
  very few active Karariyah yet, but if 
  Bastille Alpha i s  liberated, there will be several hundred more. 
  Muttawah: Volunteers. These Liberati are part-time rebels who act as lookouts, provide shelter for other Liberati and 
  procure information. Most Liberati who live in Gomorrah are, by necessity, Muttawah. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  3.2.4 - Equipment 
  The Liberati are not as well equipped nor as large a fighting force as the CEF. They are extremely well-organized, 
  however, and are adept at keeping a Low profile. I n  some cases, they have even managed to camouflage sabotage 
  operations and assassinations so effectively that the CEF did not suspect their involvement in the matter, writing off 
  the incidents as either simple accidents or isolated crimes. Thus far, the Liberati have played their cards cautiously. 
  + Easq to Retool and Reuse 
  Most of the equipment the Liberati use i s  looted from the enemy or assembled from the few autofacs they control. Spare 
  parts are hard to come by, especially for high-tech equipment like Mounts, a situation that forces the Liberati to 
  sometimes abandon or destroy otherwise valuable captured equipment. For the Liberati, a handgun that works all the 
  time i s  of far more value than a Battle Frame that only starts on every tenth try. 
  Liberati mechanics and engineers are highly adept at repairing and modifying broken machinery. As such, most of a 
  clan's motor pool consists of older vehicles than a Trencher might use. Despite their age, these vehicles are almost 
  always in top-notch shape. The clan mechanics have adapted many - especially the Mounts - 
  for uses other than 
  those that the original designers intended. Mining conversions on Mounts are popular, and more than one clan has 
  converted a 100-year old luxury sedan into an environmentally sealed off-road vehicle. The Liberati prize adaptability 
  i n  equipment, and those mechanics who have seen the Black Talon's customized Dark-series Gears speak of the 
  experience with awe. 
  + Equipment Caches 
  Equipment caches are one of the most important aspects of Liberati organization. Sealed boxes of needed supplies can 
  be found almost anywhere on the planet: under people's homes, buried i n  the mountains or hidden i n  the backs of 
  warehouses. There are even stones about caches concealed in CEF buildings. After the decades of operation, many of the 
  caches have been forgotten, and several operatives on the run have stumbled across these hidden caches, often with 
  life-saving results. An unfortunate side effect, however, i s  the occasional loss of such equipment through theft by 
  opportunists. Whenever such a theft i s  discovered, the Liberati make a point of finding the thief and delivering an 
  unforgettable lesson; it i s  the only way to dissuade further such crimes. Equipment cache contents vary, but listed 
  below are some of the more common items found in a cache. 
  Hiqhland Equipment Cache I l l  
  EQUIPMENT 
  BOOK/PAGE 
  EQUIPMENT 
  BOOK/PAGE 
  Breathing Rig 
  HGRBZ, p.74 (part of Climbing Gear) 
  Multipurpose Heater 
  t 
  Purified Water in Sealed Container (5-15 liters) 
  t 
  Flashlight 
  HGRBZ, p.75 
  Preserved rations (several meals) 
  HGRBZ, p.75 
  Emergency Beacon 
  First-aid Kit 
  HGRBZ, p.72 
  Batteries 
  t 
  Synthetic-weave Rope 
  p.56 
  Desett Cloak 
  p.57 
  Knife 
  p.56 
  HGRBZ, p.74 (part of Climbing Gear) 
  Automatic rifle and three magazines of ammunition 
  titq Equipment Cache Ill 
  EOUIPMENT 
  BOOK/PAGE 
  EQUIPMENT 
  BOOK/PAGE 
  Purified Water in Sealed Container (1-2 liters) 
  t 
  tom-set 
  *. 
  Presewed Rations (one meal) 
  HGRBZ, p.75 
  Change of Clothes (one size fits most) 
  HGEC, 0.18-19, LOC p.66 
  First-aid Kit 
  HGRBZ, p.72 
  Briefcase with hidden compartment 
  t 
  Fake Data-rig 
  p.57 
  Pistol and two magazines of ammunition 
  p.56 
  legend I l l  
  HGRBZ - 
  Heavy Gear Rulebook 2nd Edition, HGEC - Heavy Gear Equipment Catalog, LoC - Life on Caprice 
  *The emergency beacon is somewhat similar to the Cranerunner (HGEC, p.10). **The Portable Satellite Msh on p.9 of the HG Equipment Catalog is the 
  closest to the com-set. tThese items have no stab, but can be improvised by the Gamemaster depending on the needs of the moment. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Medical Treatment 4 
  Every hospital and clinic i n  Gomorrah has i t s  records regularly inspected by the CEF as well as local authorities. Gunshot 
  wounds and other suspicious injuries are always documented, resulting in an information trail designed to make capture 
  of a wounded fugitive virtually certain. For the most part, this system works, but it i s  by no means perfect. Several 
  doctors and medical personnel i n  Gomorrah are sympathetic to the rebel cause. They either have hidden treatment 
  centers concealed i n  the Alpha Level or have managed to circumvent the security and surveillance systems i n  their own 
  clinics. There are even rumors of medical havens for the Liberati located in the highest levels of corporate complexes. 
  Each Yazak is given a corn-number to call in emergencies. The person at the other end i s  an intermediary (always a 
  proven Liberati operative) who is the only one who actually knows the identity of the doctors. If a Liberati i s  captured 
  and forced t o  divulge the emergency number, this system will hopefully give the intermediary enough warning t o  escape 
  capture or eliminate himself, thus protecting the lives and families of the doctors; retaining the trust and loyalty of its 
  medical care personnel is vital to the Liberati's continued ability to operate in Gomorrah. 
  I n  addition to finding trained personnel, the Liberati must also maintain supplies of drugs and medical equipment. This 
  can be very difficult, both in Gomorrah and the highlands. I n  Gomorrah, medical supplies are always tracked, which 
  means that the Liberati's only sources are sympathizers with access to manufacturing facilities and outright theft. In 
  the highlands, some supplies can be manufactured by autofacs, but most drugs must either be stolen or smuggled out 
  of Gomorrah. As a result, despite the skill of Liberati medical personnel, there are many cases where skill and a first-aid 
  kit have proven inadequate. 
  Being a resistance movement hidden among the populace, the Liberati cannot afford to swing public opinion against 
  their cause. Therefore, the Liberati never steal from Caprician citizens. While the rebels will pilfer supplies from the CEF 
  and publicly-known collaborators (including corporate storehouses), the bulk of their food and clothing comes from 
  voluntary donations from Liberati families and sympathizers. While the Liberati rebels have attempted to grow their 
  own crops using small hydroponic racks hidden in their bases and safehouses, chronic shortages of power and water 
  have limited the scope of these efforts. 
  It takes great courage for a soldier in a beat-up old mining truck to face down a state-of-the-art Battle Frame, but this is 
  exactly the situation most Liberati Ghazis find themselves in. The vast majority of Liberati vehicles are converted mining or 
  transport vehicles, which are f i r  easier to maintain and replace than the rebels' tiny supply of purpose-built military 
  vehicles. These makeshift fighting vehicles are armored with simple sheet metal, although more advanced materials are 
  sometimes available in sufficient quantity to protect the forward facings with layered alloys. Weapons are strapped or 
  bolted in place, which makes for easy removal and exchange at the expense of stability and arc of fire. Fire control ranges 
  from simple iron sights to stolen hovertank fire-control systems, although the former are overwhelmingly more common. 
  The resulting homemade tanks are no match for CEF combat vehicles, but they make up the difference in sheer numbers. 
  Liberati Mounts are a slightly different matter. Many of the civilian Mounts readily accessible to the Liberati tend to be 
  rugged mining vehicles. As such, their hulls are tougher than those of many other civilian vehicles, and afford greater 
  protection to their crews; the increased maneuverability of these vehicles helps, too. Those that have manipulator arms 
  are easier t o  equip and outfit, as well - 
  the innovative Liberati have even crafted hand grip adapters for weapons 
  systems that were never intended to be carried by a Mount. Liberati Mounts are quite rare, however; the clans usually 
  need their mining Mounts for business, and sympathetic corporations can only fake the scrapping of older-model 
  security Mounts so often. 
  Heaponrq 4 
  Rifles, grenades and other small arms are sometimes stolen from the CEF, but the Liberati also possess a number of 
  illegally modified autofacs they use to manufacture their own weapons. Raw materials come from the Liberati mines, 
  where output is high enough that a few hundred kilograms are never missed. Exotic materials, such as alloys needed for 
  electronic components, are usually obtained from Muttawah with access to corporate resources. Liberati engineers are 
  also adept at innovative adaptation; a much-told story among the Liberati describes how a large purchase of electronic 
  school supplies from a toy store was converted into laser rangefinders and targeting scopes. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  ~~ 
  3.2.5 - Tactics 
  Despite (or perhaps because of) all the technology available to them, the Liberati are 
  still fond of more practical solutions. This allows them more flexibility and less reliance 
  on hardware. The higher the technology, the more maintenance needed, the more resources 
  expended and the more likely the item will be missed or tracked. The Liberati will not use 
  an airjack when a hammer will do. 
  I n  Gomorrah, the majority of Liberati data transfer work i s  done without the use of com- 
  sets or computer networks; as a result, no path needs to be covered up, and no backtracking 
  of the transmissions is possible. Except in cases of extreme emergency, all data is kept on 
  encrypted memory chips and hand-delivered through the hubs to its location. Data runners 
  will usually operate in teams to insure that the information can get past security checks. 
  These teams will create a "bump path," letting the chip change hands from block to block 
  in the cover of the crowds. Though data i s  passed more slowly this way, it is infinitely 
  safer for both the sending and receiving parties. 
  When necessity demands it, however, the Liberati must be ready to deliver high-tech 
  attacks. To this end, they have recruited many talented hackers to help them in their 
  missions. While the hackers usually spend their time doctoring accounts and deleting 
  security records in order to help keep the Liberati and their sympathizers hidden, they are 
  sometimes used to attack enemy central computers i n  coordinated raids. These types of 
  attacks are usually of the data-collection or distraction variety: no Liberati hacker has 
  yet t o  attempt destructive sabotage of the CEPs command network computers. 
  + Characteristics 
  Liberati tactics tend to follow four characteristics. These traits are partly ideological but mostly pragmatic; if the 
  Liberati do not adhere to these principles, the basic survival of the resistance movement will be jeopardized. 
  Discreet: the CEF was led to believe that the main Liberati resistance was annihilated a few years ago. The members of 
  the resistance, along with their corporate allies, certainly do not want to change this perception in any way. Isolated 
  cells can exist, and coordinated operations are still possible, but they must never be associated with a larger movement 
  by the CID or the CEF. 
  Fast: Liberati strikes are noted for their speed of execution. When fighting against the odds, not leaving the enemy time 
  to muster i t s  defenses is a crucial survival trait. Strict timetables are arranged and adhered to. A delay of even a few 
  seconds can result in an entire operation being scrapped. The Liberati have a saying: "Better t o  have delayed success 
  than immediate failure." 
  Hidden: if possible, Liberati raids and operations are camouflaged as accidents. This ties i n  directly with the discretion 
  mentioned above as well as with the resistance's need for secrecy. Accidents do not bring deep inquests in the same way 
  that obvious acts of terrorism do. If an accident would be too implausible, the Liberati will attempt to arrange evidence 
  such that a known collaborator or other enemy of the Liberati ends up being blamed for the incident. 
  Humane: raids and strikes are conducted mostly against machines and facilities, not people. Machines are expensive in 
  both time and resources to replace, while dead people tend to just make their friends and allies mad and even more 
  determined. This does not mean that the partisans shirk from killing when necessary, but they will take other paths of 
  action whenever possible. All of the other characteristics of Liberati tactics are dependent on their ability to hide i n  and 
  be hidden by the population; if they come to be seen as ruthless murderers, sympathy for their cause will evaporate, 
  leaving them unprotected and vulnerable. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Duties - 3.2.6 
  The basic duty of any Liberati is to maintain the secrecy of the rebellion. Only if this duty i s  carried out to the fullest 
  extent can the secondary duty of causing damage t o  CEF facilities, equipment and morale be pursued. Thus, the ability 
  to be patient and sit still for long periods of time is prized among the Liberati; it takes only one overeager hotshot to 
  compromise an entire cell. 
  All of the Liberati's standard operating procedures are an extension of the two principles of secrecy and damage to the 
  CEF. Personal com-calls and correspondence must always be cleared with the Qaidis, subsuming personal privacy in the 
  interest of security. Romantic relationships are discouraged, but not prohibited, so long as a security risk is not present: 
  this almost always eliminates the possibility of developing a relationship outside one's own Yazak, and it i s  often 
  problematic when the Yazak rotates its members. 
  Basic Liberati training includes survival, security and weapons. Ghazis are trained to operate in pairs when on covert 
  operations and i n  squads when in combat. Muttawah are given basic combat training and more extensive schooling i n  
  concealment, camouflage and other skills that will help them avoid detection and elude pursuit. 
  If necessary, a Liberati may kill in order to complete a mission or preserve secrecy, but such an action is always 
  considered murder until the killer can justify the act to his Qaidis or (in extreme cases) the Liberati judicial board. 
  Although the need to allow soldiers to kill is recognized by Amir alJuyush Wick, he wants to make it clear to the Jund 
  and the other Liberati groups that the needless taking of human life will not be tolerated. Likewise, atrocities such as 
  torture and rape are treated as military crimes, usually resulting in a death sentence: the Liberati do not have the 
  resources t o  maintain a prison. 
  Continflencq Plans - 3.2.7 
  Before it went to ground, the Jund created a number of contingency plans that would ensure the survival of the 
  movement even if all its senior officers were killed or captured. Most of these plans center around the survival of the 
  concept of resistance, not individual personnel. For example, i n  the event of a major security compromise i n  Jund 
  central command, the Porcupine plan calls for all Liberati personnel to go to ground. Troops and assets will be scattered, 
  and all personnel are to remain incommunicado and inactive for a minimum of three months. Under this plan, it is 
  virtually certain that the higher echelons of the Liberati, along with many isolated pockets, will be caught and eliminated, 
  but the movement as a whole will survive and resurface later. 
  In an extreme emergency, the Exodus plan takes advantage of the increased contact with Terra Nova. Should the Jund 
  ever find itself facing complete annihilation, it would be possible to evacuate the main leaders and resource personnel 
  off-world while the rest of the army would go t o  ground as described above. They would form a headquarters i n  exile, 
  presumably establishing a base of am'on i n  one of the Blessed Asteroid Belts or even Terra Nova itself, should the 
  situation degenerate that far. 
  Justice - 3.2.8 
  Although the Liberati exist outside the authority of the CEF, corporations and nomad clans, they still must maintain 
  order within their ranks. The Jund has its own judicial board, tasked with judging criminal cases internal to the Liberati. 
  Led by Atabeg Majida, the judicial board's five members review cases, hold trials and assign punishments. Most severe 
  crimes perpetrated by a Liberati end up in front of the judicial board: less important incidents, such as minor assault 
  and financial claims, are below the interest of the board's already overworked members. 
  The Liberati are aware that they are at war, however, and cannot always afford to bog themselves down in legal 
  procedures. I n  cases of insubordination, treason, cowardice, murder or other severe crimes, a Yazak's Qaidis has full 
  authority to administer any punishment he or she sees fit, up to and including summary execution. Every punishment, 
  no matter how light, must be reported t o  the Qaidis' Amir, along with any protests or defense given by the punished 
  individual or other members of the Yazak. Each officer must be able to justify every punitive action taken, and there 
  have been cases of Qaidis removed from their posts or brought to trial for unwarranted harshness. Another balance to 
  the power of the Qaidis is the effect a harsh punishment will have on the surviving Ghazis: depending on the nature of 
  the crime, the damage to morale and the troops' confidence in their commander may be severe. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  3.3 - SYMPATHIZERS 
  Sympathizers are Liberati supporters who are not actively fighting the occupation forces but resent their presence on 
  their world. Sympathizers are numbered i n  the hundreds of millions, and for the most part are the silent majority of the 
  Liberati movement. They provide intelligence, equipment, shelter, money and training. Most wasteland denizens will 
  provide a safe haven for Liberati rebels, and will freely provide information on nearby CEF activities. I n  Gomorrah, a 
  growing number of sympathizers will purchase supplies for the Liberati or provide access codes and security information. 
  Most sympathizers are people with normal, everyday lives, and who are unwilling to give up those lives for the Liberati. 
  Their involvement with the Liberati is conditional, based on assurances that their identities and families will be kept 
  safe from any CEF reprisals. Sympathizers tend to be people who oppose the CEF and its policies but who are too much 
  a part of mainstream Caprician society to run off to join the rebellion full-time. Sympathizers are both a boon and a 
  burden to the Liberati. On one hand, sympathizers provide vital information and supplies to the Liberati, but on the 
  other hand, maintaining good relations and devoting energy to the necessarily unfailing protection of sympathizer 
  families is often a strain on Liberati resources and personnel. 
  For security reasons, few records of sympathizers are kept. Jund central command has information on the number of 
  known sympathizers and their skills, reliability and availability. I n  order to actually contact a given sympathizer, the 
  Liberati use a network of intermediaries, Liberati operatives whose only task is to keep track of sympathizers and make 
  sure their identities remain safe. Only one intermediary will ever know a given Sympathizer's real name; in all other 
  interactions, pseudonyms are used. Intermediaries are skilled guerrillas with orders t o  take every measure to prevent 
  their own capture and interrogation, but it is every sympathizer's nightmare for his or her intermediary to be caught and 
  forced to divulge the names of his charges. 
  3.31 - Muttaluah 
  The codename for the reliable sympathizers i s  Muttawah, or "volunteer" i n  the Liberati Highland dialect. Muttawah 
  straddle the line between sympathizer and full-blown rebel. While they are far more willing to risk their careers and lives 
  in order to help the Liberati, they also demand that the Liberati make every effort to allow them to keep their normal 
  lives intact. Doctors, corporate executives and security personnel who sympathize with the Liberati often become 
  Muttawah simply by the nature of their involvement. 
  Whereas a normal sympathizer could be expected to be angry if asked to shelter an armed rebel, most Muttawah have 
  deepened their association with the Liberati to the point that they have established methods by which they can be 
  contacted in emergencies. Normally, intermediaries use drop boxes, coded messages and other means of the slow-but- 
  sure variety to contact sympathizers whose services are required, but such leisurely methods are impossible during a 
  crisis. Muttawah doctors must be ready to respond to a simple one-word com-call that will summon them to a predetermined 
  location to provide medical aid, and a corporate Muttawah may have to rush out of a meeting to clear a security block. 
  As a result of these decidedly risky self-imposed duties, a Muttawah's position i n  society is often in great jeopardy. 
  Although the Liberati have well-practiced measures to evacuate a Muttawah and his family if necessary, most Muttawah 
  consider exile from Gomorrah to be as much a prison sentence as a term in Bastille Alpha. Fears of discovery and the 
  subsequent destruction of their lives has prompted many Muttawah to deny their services at critical moments, making 
  them not completely reliable in the eyes of Jund command. However, their inherent value makes the Muttawah's ties to 
  corporate society a worthwhile price to pay. 
  Owner and proprietor of Mythic Comix, an entertainment store located in B.F.T. 
  Heights, Thomas Wyndam is a plump, 
  jovial man always in high spirits. Even when he's angry, Wyndam is extraordinarily pleasant and doesn't stay angry for 
  long. Through Mythic Comix, he receives information on CEF activities via a very informal network of "spies" - his 
  customers. He passes this information on to his contacts within the Liberati whenever he can. Additionally, he distributes 
  underground samizdats and journals, which he keeps i n  the back storage room. Wyndam even has a small shelter and 
  first aid station for hiding Liberati for short periods of time; the pass phrase i s  "Tommy? Can I 
  use your restroom? I 
  have 
  grease all over my hands and I 
  don't want t o  get the comics dirty." 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Organization - 3.3.2 
  There is no formal organization within the sympathizer movement. Indeed, most sympathizers have no other evidence 
  beyond the word of their intermediary that they are not the only such individuals in the area. There are several 
  intermediaries who have successfully kept next-door neighbors from knowing about each others’ involvement with the 
  Liberati. Were the Liberati to simply vanish one day, the sympathizer movement would similarly vanish, each individual 
  assuming that his services to the cause had been taken over by another. 
  Unexpected Rllies + 
  One of the interesting developments in recent years is the revelation of a possible fifth column inside the CEF command 
  structure. Several CEF sympathizers have contacted the Liberati movement, to assist in operations or provide information. 
  Though it took some time for the Liberati to trust these mysterious agents, their support has become most helpful, 
  garnering a modicum of gratitude. It i s  not yet known how many fifth columnists may exist or how organized they are. 
  If there i s  a traitorous web inside the CEF, they have become even more slippery than the Liberati spies. After all, their 
  punishment for defying the will of Earth would be horrible indeed. 
  GRELs are not likely to be part of this putative fifth column. Their programming tends to prevent them from forming 
  opinions of their own, especially when their purpose i s  defined to be the subjugation of Caprice and its native population. 
  However, when this basic programming i s  broken, GREL behavior is often undefined. This flaw in the fundamental 
  concept of programmed loyalty often leads GRELs to side with whatever cause most strongly suits their sense of self; in 
  many cases, the results are astonishing to observers. GRELs who are sent to Bastille Alpha are prime candidates for 
  programmed loyalty breakdown. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine a priori whether their desire to join the 
  Liberati resistance is due to a belief in the cause or a need t o  engage in violent behavior. 
  Motivations - 3.3.3 
  Most sympathizers help the Liberati out of hatred for the CEF, but a few have more mercenary or direct goals. Several 
  informants provide information for wealth or in exchange for other information; they are a security risk, but too 
  valuable to cut loose. Other sympathizers only provide aid in support of a specific goal, such as the elimination of CEF 
  forces from the local area or the liberation of a certain individual from CEF custody. Few sympathizers are willing to stick 
  their necks out beyond the limits they have set for themselves, and no amount of moralizing about the fate of the planet 
  i s  likely to sway them. 
  h 
  ChethamHohund 
  Chetham Hokund is a drunk, a womanizer and a bigot. He is ill-tempered, selfish, vulgar and smelly. He i s  also one of the 
  finest trauma doctors in Gomorrah, and is uncharacteristically modest when presented with that fact. His association 
  with the Liberati is several years old; among the rebels, the reputation of ”Old Grimy” is both famed and unsullied. 
  Born into a wealthy corporate family, Hokund spent his youth in comfort and luxury. His decision to pursue medical 
  research was influenced by his family, but his interest in his medical schooling was genuine. His misgivings about 
  corporate research deepened during his early medical career; assigned by mistake to a lower-level medical center, 
  Hokund was shocked by the violence and misery that pervaded the less-privileged sectors of Gomorrah. Reassignment t o  
  a clean, well-ordered corporate clinic only deepened his cynicism. His attitude eventually resulted in a final assignment 
  to an Alpha-level hospital, from where he runs a hidden clinic for Liberati and other fugitives. 
  Hokwd‘s current view of humanity divides the race into two segments. People who need his help are patients, and are 
  treated with skill and compassion. Well people who don’t need his help are obviously only out to make other people into 
  patients, and are thus only worthy of contempt. He knows that his clinic i s  the only source of medical care many of his 
  patients can receive, and he blames every single other human being for making such a clandestine facility necessary. 
  The irony of the fact that his greatest passion lies in making patients (whom he cares for) into well people (whom he 
  despises) i s  not lost on him. This distinction i s  the only one Hokund makes, however; he will provide medical services 
  to anyone i n  need, even CEF troops and GRELs, and he is unwaveringly hostile and rude t o  anyone else. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  3 4  - COLLABORATORS 
  Every society has individuals who despise the status quo, those who welcome change for whatever reason. On Caprice, 
  there were citizens who cheered when the Coalition surrendered t o  the CEF, hailing the day as the dawn of a new age. 
  While that new age has failed to materialize, there still remain those Capricians who have chosen to actively aid the CEF 
  in consolidating their hold on the Gate world. 
  The Liberati (and many Caprician citizens) label as a collaborator any person who aids the CEF cause. However, the label 
  fails to encompass the variety of modes by which these individuals perform their work for their masters. Some collaborators 
  are covert operatives, finding out information about the Liberati and passing it on t o  the CEF. Others have provided 
  public mouthpieces for the invaders, using various media to promote the CEF's propaganda messages. Most numerous 
  (but perhaps the least dangerous) are the citizens who join uniformed groups who march i n  rallies and pass out flyers. 
  Almost all Capricians collaborators have been identified by the Liberati and are either used as tools to feed misinformation 
  to the Earthers or are slated to be the unfortunate victims of accidents, depending on the extent and sincerity of their 
  zeal for the CEF cause. 
  For their part, the CEF and CID have little faith i n  the collaboration movement. The Earthers, with the GRELs and 
  SLEDGES, have grown accustomed t o  unquestioned loyalty, and they firmly believe that anyone who would turn against 
  their own people, for whatever reason, can always be expected to turn back sooner or later. The CEF needs all the 
  support it can get, however, and has promised the collaborators large measures of freedom in exchange for their 
  services. Most CEF troops despise the Capricians, having only a grudging respect for their accomplishments and no 
  regard for them at all as an independent society. The NEC is well aware that Caprice is little more than a big ball of 
  resources, and plans to treat it as such. Despite the lack of mutual trust, however, the collaborators are of real value to 
  the CID and the occupation army. They are a source of information and provide a convenient target for hostilities that 
  would otherwise be directed toward the invaders. 
  3.4.1 - Organization 
  There is no formal organization to the collaboration movement. Most collabos (as they are often referred to) act on their 
  own or in small vigilante-like groups. Their contacts with the CEF are arranged often simply by calling a CEF official and 
  offering to help. The CEF often gives promises to protect collaborators and conceal their identities, but in truth, this i s  
  only done for exceptionally valuable individuals: other collaborators are either left to fend for themselves or are 
  deliberately used to lure Liberati attention. 
  Small social movements called leagues have also sprung up as a result of civilian collaboration with the CID. Inspired by 
  the political indoctrination movements back on Earth, they use songs, rallies and activities to foster a group spirit and 
  ingrain NEC philosophy to the Capricians. They often feature uniforms (if only a shirt or armband) and a mob-like 
  mentality. Neither the CEF nor the Liberati take the leagues seriously: the CEF finds them tactically useless, and the 
  Liberati regard league members as weak-minded trend-followers who would, i n  the absence of the CEF, simply find 
  another cause to wave the flag for while not doing anything truly effective. 
  + The league of Sociallq Conscientious Citizens 
  The League of Socially Conscientious Citizens, or LSCC, operates in Mineral Forest. Led by Andeer Kabak and sponsored 
  by Hezer City Construction, they hold peaceful rallies and demonstrations whenever a "terrorist" attack strikes at one of 
  the corporations Located within Mineral Forest. They also stage numerous seminars on the dangers of escalating violence 
  in general; these seminars generally promote cooperative behavior towards the CEF occupiers under the guise of "social 
  conscientiousness," which is their rallying cry. 
  The LSCC banner i s  the symbol for Caprice in blue, but with red bars forming the ancient symbol for peace. Members wear 
  armbands bearing this symbol at all times, even when they leave Mineral Forest. They have offices i n  each of the Twelve 
  Realms, near the heavily guarded entrances to Alpha Level, from which they operate social welfare missions to the 
  denizens of Alpha Level. Members of the resistance movement try to make use of these facilities whenever possible: 
  although they view the LSCC with little more than contempt, the LSCC's social welfare efforts provide a moderate source 
  of indirect information about the local area. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  3.4.2 - Motivations 
  Many collaborators are from poorer neighborhoods and hubs, seeing an opportunity t o  better their social status by 
  aiding the Earthers. Others are wealthier individuals who believe that the CEF will win in the end, and that the only way 
  to survive is to be on the winning side from the start. A significant number of collaborators help the CEF out of simple 
  greed; the CEF pays handsomely for information, and many of these individuals can also forestall Liberati vengeance by 
  selling data to the rebels, as well. 
  Some poorer or shady families put their tools in the service of the occupation, gathering minerals and resources 
  exclusively for CEF-controlled installations. They will sometimes, with help from the CEF, take over mining concessions 
  and other resources from long-time enemies, using the conflict as an excuse to resolve generations-old disputes. 
  Despite common beliefs to the contrary, many collaborators honestly feel forced into their role as traitors, either 
  because of threats to their families or because the current Caprician government has even less use for them than the 
  CEF. The unbridled hatred many loyalist Capricians hold for collaborators only reinforces these beliefs, further alienating 
  the collaborators from their own people. Few collaborators meet good ends; when the CEF i s  done with them, the most 
  convenient way to deal with them is t o  leak their identity and location to the public. 
  Cora Yamanitsi’s cherubic face is plastered all over walls and trideo screens in Gomorrah. Flyers bearing her visage can 
  be found even in the most remote mining camp, shipped via corporate mail services. Most Capricians, when they hear 
  her name, think of her as the woman whose organization cares for the thousands of unfortunates who have become 
  destitute or homeless as a result of health disorders brought on by the rampant pollution in the lower levels of 
  Gomorrah. Very few really consider her the greatest propaganda tool the CEF has on Caprice. 
  The CEF first heard of Cora Yamanitsi and her Alpha Health Cooperative when she contacted them with an innocent 
  question about providing air-cleaning technology for the lower levels. Although she was initially rebuffed, a shrewd CEF 
  officer noted her potential usefulness and arranged for a series of aid packages to be sent in support of Yamanitsi and 
  the AHC. 
  Yamanitsi’s public acknowledgment of the CEF‘s aid i n  providing huge stores of breathing masks and protective clothing 
  for Alpha-level denizens was a major media coup for the CEF, all the more so because her statement was both grudging 
  and unflattering. As a result, much of the public has come to view Yamanitsi as a person who is willing to baldly state 
  uncomfortable truths. Her recent announcements have become increasingly pro-CEF, with virtually no reduction i n  
  public regard for her person, goals and opinions. Most recently, Yamanitsi has begun decrying the terrorist attacks that 
  have allegedly intercepted much-needed health-care supplies earmarked for the AHC. 
  Privately, Yamanitsi firmly believes that the CEF is the best hope for the improvement of the lives of those who live in 
  the lower levels. Although she recognizes the tyranny that the CEF stands for, her decades of living i n  the slums, 
  surrounded by poverty, illness and death have convinced her that a life under the heel of the NEC is better, if only 
  marginally, than the hopelessness of the status quo. She i s  not willing to lie for or fawn over the CEF, but she is aware 
  that her recent claims that terrorists have been destroying AHC supplies are half-truths, at best. 
  For the Liberati, Yamanitsi is something of a dilemma. The damage she i s  doing to the resistance effort is immeasurable, 
  but her humanitarian goals cannot be ignored. Indeed, many Liberati from Gomorrah know someone who has survived 
  because of the AHC, or are themselves such individuais. As a result, assassination is out of the question, but permitting 
  Yamanitsi t o  continue swaying public opinion toward the CEF is also not possible. The Liberati have yet t o  come up with 
  a solution, and have not proscribed any kind of action against Yamanitsi for the time being. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  PlRNS WITHIN PlANS 
  After three hours i n  the utility corridors of the CID branch i n  North Tachyon, Holli had 
  decided that they were no place for a sane person. The evening guard rotation was coming 
  to a close and Holli needed as much time as possible to do her work. She wiped her hands 
  on her jumpsuit again and tried to tell herself that it was just the heat. 
  Through the grated door i n  front of her, she could see two guards pass by: that was her 
  cue. She gently pushed the gate open and edged into the hallway. A security camera was 
  aimed down the corridor. It should have been rerouted by now: that was the plan, but 
  Holli could not stop looking at the lifeless eye. She moved quickly through the silent 
  hallways to a door with a placard that read "Interrogation Room 4." Holli shuddered at 
  the thought of the things that happened i n  such places. 
  The mom was small and dimly lit. The sting of raw alcohol assaulted Holli's nose and eyes: she 
  forced back a cough. A woman slumped over i n  a metal chair was i n  the center of the room. 
  "Sam," Holli hissed, eyes darting across the empty room. "Sam, are you awake?" There 
  was a groan. Holli rushed to the woman's side and began working at her bonds. Her voice 
  was hushed and cracked. "Oh, Sam, I'm so sorry. I didn't know until this morning." The 
  bonds came loose and the woman pushed weakly at Holli. 
  "G'way. .. wannadie..." 
  she mumbled. Holli reached into another pocket, removed an air- 
  hypo and pushed it into Sam's neck. Sam's head rolled over and she slid back. Holli caught 
  her, then grabbed her face with both hands. 
  "Sam!" she whispered urgently. "Get up! We have to go, now!" Several precious moments 
  passed. Sam's eyes fluttered, then snapped open. Her body stiffened. 
  Holli checked her watch; they were way behind schedule. She cursed under her breath and 
  grabbed for Sam, pulling her through the door. Just outside, two guards rounded the 
  corner. Holli backpedaled into Sam, who snatched the pistol from Holli's waist and dropped 
  to one knee. She fired twice before the guards' guns could clear their holsters. Holli 
  looked on i n  amazement. "I thought you were-" 
  "I was," interjected Sam, looking faint again. "Still am, just adrenaline." She moved to 
  the next intersection just i n  time to see more guards running toward them. She fired 
  wildly, then ducked back around the corner. "Can't go that way," she yelled over the 
  returning fire. 
  Holli was frantic: she didn't dare look at her chronometer. She glanced around and spotted 
  a stairwell on the other side of the intersection. Behind her, she could hear more guards 
  coming down the hall. Sam fired again. 'Which way?" she yelled. 
  "The roof, we gotta get to the roof!" Holli was sheet-white and running as fast as she 
  could. It was all Sam could do to keep up with her. Two painful floors later, with Sam 
  trailing behind, Holli reached the roof access. It was locked. 
  "Gun!" Holli screamed. "Throw me the gun!" Sam whipped the gun up the steps. Holli 
  caught it and emptied the clip into the lock. Sam came barreling up behind her like a 
  freight train. The door smashed open. Holli bolted onto the roof. 
  "Wait!" yelled Sam, running after her. Holli was headed right for the edge of the building. 
  She didn't look like she was going to stop. 
  There was a muffled roar from inside the building. The sound grew louder and was joined 
  by the crashing of glass. Sam ran for all she was worth. Holli had already gone over the 
  edge. It was a two-story drop into the trash i n  the alley below: Sam landed hard besides 
  Holli, rolling with the impact as best she could. 
  Behind them, the CID building was collapsing i n  on itself. A fireball rushed up the spine 
  of the structure into the night sky. The surrounding buildings shook but stood strong. 
  Holli chuckled through the pain. "That's my boys, never a second late." 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Areas of Influence: The Trench - 4.11 
  The Liberati actively pursue ties to Gomorrah’s gangs and criminal organizations. These groups provide information, firepower, 
  fake data-rigs and other items the Liberati need. I n  exchange, the Liberati are asked to occasionally supply storage space or 
  shelter in the highlands. For the moment, the Liberati have accepted their dealings with criminals as a necessity against a 
  common foe, but there are many who worry that this may well come back around to haunt them at a critical moment. 
  I n  the city, the Liberati are mostly active i n  the industrial or run-down neighborhoods, because they are easier t o  hide 
  in and harbor resources the Liberati need. Corp-Serf patrols are less frequent in these areas, and seldom stay long. There 
  i s  also a preference for hubs on the edges of the Trench; access to the highlands is easier, and squatter allies are easy 
  to find. I n  the wealthier and more central hubs, Liberati influence i s  generally limited to local intelligence gathering 
  and the occasional safehouse. Most Liberati in these areas are Muttawah. 
  Areas of Influence: Perimeter - 41.2 
  The Liberati’s influence outside the city proper is much greater; the Corp-Serfs have less authority, and local sentiment 
  leans much more heavily against the CEF. The rebels operate out of small farming communities, concealing equipment 
  and personnel amidst vast arrays of hydroponics storehouses. Security i s  difficult to maintain over the entire perimeter, 
  and unregistered entries and exits (many of which have nothing to do with the Liberati) are common. On the other 
  hand, once an alert i s  called, hiding in the suburbs can be problematical; there are fewer people to hide among, and 
  careful scans will show any anomalous items hidden in the neatly arranged farm zones. The Liberati have survived in the 
  suburbs by not drawing attention and evacuating quickly and efficiently when called upon to do so. 
  Liberati face the paradoxical situation of having to hide their existence and wage an 
  effective guerilla war at the same time. Without secrecy, the Liberati will be destroyed, but 
  without active guerilla operations, it might as well not exist. For the moment, the Jund 
  has struck an uneasy balance between these two requirements, while most of the rest of 
  the Liberati have chosen the cautious route of remaining hidden and inactive. Those few 
  groups that have taken the oppostie path of open warfare are no longer in existence. 
  The Liberati’s end goal is to save the planet, but they are pragmatic enough to pursue their 
  dreams one step at a time. For the moment, it is necessary for the growing organization to 
  monitor itself and instill in all its members a sense of responsibility and loyalty. Adherence 
  to duty and security procedures is stressed for all Liberati members: the matter of anti-CEF 
  action i s  not even mentioned until this lesson i s  learned. The next step i s  to weaken the 
  hold of the CEF/CID by destroying their assets and the morale of their troops, acquiring war 
  resources and new personnel, and inspiring the people of Caprice to join in the rebellion. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  4.2 - ACTIVITIES AND ONGOING CAMPAIGNS 
  This section details a number of important activities that the Liberati are pursuing or are prepared to implement. In 
  addition to these major operations, the Liberati have several major initiatives i n  motion. While their scope is too large 
  and the necessary actions too dispersed to be encompassed by a single operation or campaign, these initiatives are 
  some of the most important activities the Liberati are engaged in. Whereas the individual operations are large-scale 
  resource drains with specific goals, the major initiatives are broadly-defined objectives whose requirements vary based 
  on the situation. 
  Help the People: The Liberati must, by necessity, focus much attention on the face they present to the people of 
  Caprice. Their sympathizers receive protection and aid, and regular efforts must be made to discredit CEF apologists and 
  collaborators. If the general populace should ever be persuaded that the rebels are a greater threat to their livelihood 
  than the CEF, and hope of a Liberati victory will vanish. 
  Sabotage: If an opportunity to hurt the CEF occupation presents itself, the Liberati must take advantage of it if at all 
  possible, so long as secrecy i s  not compromised and all reasonable measures against civilian casualties are taken. 
  Sabotage can range from simply stealing a CEF officet's keycards in a bar t o  using explosives t o  destroy a CEF vehicle 
  depot. Sabotage operations must usually be cleared with one's superior, but hundreds of minor acts of sabotage take 
  place every day across Caprice with no approval whatsoever. 
  Black Talon: As the Liberati's only off-world allies, the soldiers of the Black Talon are irreplaceable and incredibly 
  valuable. If the alliance between the Black Talon and the Liberati proves fruitful, Terranova will be all the more likely to 
  send more troops and aid. Thus, the Liberati have made it a high priority to provide support and assistance to the Black 
  Talon whenever possible. 
  4.21 - The Marhetplace 
  The Genosia Outpost Marketplace bustles with activity throughout the year. It i s  composed of and patronized by a 
  healthy assortment of Liberati visitors who have a little money t o  burn, a few Trencher tourists, some less honest folk 
  trying to do right and earn an honest dollar and plenty of people who are petty criminals caught up or bred into the 
  lifestyle. A smattering of transient drifters, merchants, traders, smugglers, mercenaries, pilgrims and monks makes the 
  Marketplace a bewildering kaleidoscope of human activity. 
  The Marketplace is a privileged place for the Liberati t o  meet and set up operations. Many of the connections between 
  the Liberati nomads and Liberati rebels are made there. Liberati often set up temporary homes i n  the Marketplace, 
  earning money by selling trinkets or services, and keeping an eye out for information i n  between missions and moves. 
  The CEF sends many spies to the Marketplace, but they are easily spotted, and have thus far been duped into 
  reporting that any terrorist groups are isolated independents with no central organization or purpose. The CEF has 
  few friends i n  the Marketplace, and its agents are treated poorly even by shopkeepers and street people with no idea 
  that the Liberati s t i l l  exist. 
  A greater danger to the Liberati has recently manifested, however. While informants have always attempted to tell the 
  CEF about the Liberati, they have always been successfully discredited by rebel agents. However, in recent years, the 
  Liberati have become increasingly certain that some of their members have chosen t o  aid the CEF; if this is true, it is 
  only a matter of time before one of these turncoats uses his connections to lead the CEF right into the midst of the 
  Liberati presence at the marketplace. The Liberati have tightened security, but morale is starting to drop, and fingers 
  are beginning to point. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Operation: Mother's Milk - 4.2.2 
  The Deep Core Drill project on Carthage has been subverted by Liberati sympathizers who are secretly preparing landing 
  and refuel sites for Terranovan soldiers. This is the reason that the Deep Core's production has slipped below quota i n  
  recent cycles. The CEF is going t o  send a team out to Carthage to find out the reason behind the change i n  production. 
  This is a relatively low-priority concern for the occupiers, however; the prevailing theory is that diminishing resources 
  coupled with lazy or rebellious workers has caused the shortfall. The investigators are t o  document living conditions, 
  crew morale and accounting files and are also t o  provide encouragement to the miners, promising rewards and gratitude 
  from the CEF. Part of the team, however, is made up of undercover agents; some intelligence officers are suspicious of 
  the timing of the shortfall, and have sent the agents to look for any signs of Liberati sympathy or collaboration. 
  The Liberati are sending a team of their own, along with additional weapons and military equipment. The team's 
  primary mission i s  t o  warn the sympathizers of the impending investigation and help them to conceal the landing and 
  refuel sites. If all goes well, the CEF investigators will believe that mining accidents and equipment malfunctions 
  have been responsible for the output falloff, and will leave none the wiser. The preparations can then move back into 
  If the ruse should fail, and the investigators show signs that they have discovered the sympathizers' activities, the 
  liberati troops are t o  arrange a series of accidents that will eliminate the CEF team. The worst-case scenario assumes 
  either that the investigators escape and summon help, or that the CEF plays its cards right and sends a military escort 
  with the investigators. I n  that situation, if the Liberati cannot bluff their way out of the problem, they will have to 
  resort to open combat. 
  full swing. 
  Operation: Parasite - 4.2.3 
  A recent collaboration between the Liberati Amirs and a mole sympathizer within Kadellie Weapon systems has 
  resulted in a unique initiative. Kadellie has been pushing t o  implement the Octopus Pack weapon unit that can be 
  attached t o  frames for added fire support. Unknown t o  Kadellie and the CEF, the Liberati have acquired the 
  design specifications, not for the device itself but for the mountings and targeting system parameters. The 
  software i s  ready t o  be downloaded into a commonly available trideo game unit, while the actual mounting 
  mechanics can be manufactured through any autofac. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  4.2.4 - Operation: Access 
  Although the Liberati in orbit have been unable to discover the location or purpose of Moscow base, they have 
  discovered a microgate that the CEF is unaware of. The gate has been used twice to bring ships from Terra Nova into the 
  Loki system. Both times the opening of the Gates have been hidden from sensors by the detonation of mining charges 
  by ice mining ships in attempt to conceal the Gate's opening. 
  Unfortunately for the Liberati, the second opening was detected, and CEF forces are scouring the area for the Gate. 
  Liberati spies report that the CEF's data i s  anomalous, so the search effort has been rather haphazard. However, 
  the local commander, Zeo Tatopoulos, is reputed as a shrewd hunter who will eventually find what he's looking for. 
  The Liberati are arranging to send personnel to the vicinity of the gate to help the ice mining ships that are 
  already i n  the area. However, as preparations for the trip reach the final stage, an unverifiable, but very interesting, 
  communique has reached the Liberati: Tatopoulos has been purposely dragging his feet, and sympathizes with the 
  Liberati cause. 
  Naturally suspicious, the Liberati leave their initial plan largely unchanged. A single attempt t o  ascertain Tatopoulos' 
  intentions will be made, but even i f  his sympathies can be verified, there may still be no way to prevent the gate 
  from being found. I f  the gate i s  in danger of being discovered, the Liberati will have to make a decision, based on 
  the strength of CEF naval forces, whether t o  write off the gate an find a new one, or risk several precious ships i n  
  an attempt to destroy Tatopoulos' flotilla (along with a potentially valuable ally) before it can report back t o  
  Admiral Veda. 
  4.2.5 - Operation: Aurora 
  This i s  the codename for the Liberati's most daring operation and the linchpin to the rebellion's success. Already, the 
  tunnels beneath Bastille Alpha are almost completed, and the hardened criminals and GRELs (both loyalist and disillusioned) 
  within are about to be released en masse. 
  Arms and weapons are waiting for those troops who have been covertly primed by Amir Falcon to join the 
  rebellion; all that remains i s  t o  actually release them. Aurora i s  intended to ensure that the CEF does not stop 
  them. The upper command of one of the arclight satellites stationed i n  polar orbit around Caprice has been 
  replaced with a Liberati infiltrator, one of their best men. When the operation commences, he will seize the 
  command center and proceed to scour the surface of Bastille Alpha with the lasers of the station. The infiltrator 
  will keep up the barrage for as long as possible before sabotaging the station's power systems and escaping i n  a 
  lifeboat to a waiting ship. 
  The Arclight strike will destroy surface weapons, solar collectors and hanger bays, and will disrupt communications 
  over a large area. I n  coordination with the strike, a computer virus will be uploaded into the GPS satellite network, 
  causing the CEFs navigational systems to randomize. This will make it impossible to send mechanized aid to the 
  Bastille immediately, leaving only local forces for the escapees to circumvent. Without gun emplacements, vehicles 
  or sensors, the CEF will be unable to track the escaped criminals, and their attention will be distracted away from the 
  insurgents entering through the tunnels or the criminals escaping out the same way. Once the Bastille is destroyed, 
  the CEF will presume all the criminals were killed, at least until they resurface, armed t o  the teeth, throughout 
  Gomorra h. 
  Needless to say, the operation i s  extremely risky. Several layers of contingency planning have attempted to account 
  for unexpected occurrences, from a simple timing error to a full-scale CEF assault on the prison. It i s  obvious to 
  both the Liberati and the CEF that any attempt to infiltrate Bastille Alpha will be heavily weighted i n  favor of the 
  Earthers. However, if the CEF is overconfident enough to be lax in their watch over the prison, the payoff may be a 
  free Caprice. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  HIDING PLACES - 4.3 
  The Liberati and their allies are not a front line army, and they cannot directly oppose the might of the CEF. While the 
  majority of the planet resents the CEF invasion, very few are actually willing to go up against a column of hovertanks. 
  The result is that on the battlefield, the Liberati would be both outnumbered and vastly outgunned. To survive while 
  doing harm to the enemy, the Liberati must thus strike at the underbelly of the beast, inflicting pinpricks from places 
  it cannot reach. Therefore, the need for secret routes and hiding places i s  paramount, for the enemy cannot destroy 
  what he cannot find. There are three purposes that need to be served with locations and access: transport, stockpiling 
  (troops or equipment) and training. The Liberati’s hiding places also serve as focal points for Terranovan strategy; 
  should the time come when more troops need to land on Caprice, their drop zones and ranges of operation will be largely 
  determined by the arrangement and availability of Liberati resources in the vicinity. 
  Secret Routes - 4.31 
  Troops, agents, equipment and supplies must be taken to the proper location in order to be used. Regular convoys and 
  trade routes provide a good means of carlying basic, innocuous items like food and raw materials; in some cases, 
  partisans with faked data-rigs may pose as workers i n  order to use commercial trucks and service routes without 
  arousing suspicion. Liberati know many trails and forgotten passages that may be used to move about; orbital and aerial 
  surveillance can usually be avoided by careful observation of the sky, judicious information gathering and the use of 
  camouflage, caves or buildings along the way. Operations to provide up-to-date satellite tasking data are common. 
  There are many tunnels and abandoned industrial facilities under and near the Trench. Most were destroyed during the 
  fire that destroyed three-quarters of Gomorrah i n  the past, but many are s t i l l  accessible. Although they are run-down, 
  difficult to find and prone to collapsing at inconvenient times, they are invaluable resources. A number of the factories 
  have been reclaimed and are quietly turning out munitions and spare parts. The tunnels themselves are used as a covert 
  movement system leading into and out of Gomorrah. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  4.3.2 - Training Camps 
  A number of training camps are maintained in the quadrant of the Trench t o  provide basic instructions to new recruits 
  and to provide practice space for special operations. The camps can also double as staging areas for battle groups 
  operating i n  the wastelands. Though all camps are different i n  design and are of a highly transient nature, they all share 
  some basic characteristics. 
  Most camps begin their existence as mining compounds, and indeed most are registered in just this way on the official 
  terrain maps. Great pains are taken to maintain this charade for the prying eyes and sensors of the orbital CEF ships, 
  with pits and piles of dirt scattered in the surrounding area. An average camp can withstand a cursory aerial inspection, 
  though anything more will reveal a number of discrepancies. A camp that is about to come under close inspection can, 
  given time and warning, almost completely disguise itself, hiding weapons and equipment under tons of rock and 
  performing real mining operations until the inspection passes. 
  ~~ + layout 
  A camp’s main feature i s  the main operations area. I n  most places, it is simply a stretch of land that has been cleared 
  of boulders and other obstructions for use as an airstrip and staging ground. Sometimes, a paved surfice will be 
  constructed and concealed under netting. Depending on the age of the camp, it may be pristine and well-maintained, 
  or be badly scoured by wind-carried sand and cracked and chipped by the harsh temperature differentials. No trails or 
  pathways mark the operation area as anything but a big unused space; on the other hand, extra vehicle and human 
  tracks are made around sampling zones, ore piles, mineshaft entrances and other mining facility features. 
  A half-buried hangar is located near one edge the strip, where an additional rectangular zone has been cleared off, 
  paved and carefully hidden from aerial view. This tarmac serves as an additional staging area or a central assembly place 
  if need be. Trailers and makeshift pressurized bunkers - 
  little more than pits dug into the ground and lined with plastic 
  and a standard airlock - 
  are scattered near the hangar. Each one is carefully hidden; the main mining facility buildings 
  are used for housing and everyday business, while the bunkers are used to conduct military business and hide equipment. 
  Slag heaps, pits and scars from previous extraction efforts can be found scattered around the base. The pits and depressions, 
  if far enough from the main buildings, are used to teach the proper use of explosive devices and to test new types of 
  makeshift bombs and demolition tools. Metal sheet targets are often stuck at various angles on the slag heaps to provide 
  targets for firing practice. When available, fabricated rock overhangs are used to conceal as much activity as possible. 
  Though it i s  virtually impossible t o  see from the sky, the perimeter around the compound is lined with razor wire and 
  anti-personnel fragmentation mines. These are carefully concealed and are very hard to see (Notice Threshold 6); even 
  the razor wire has a mat coat matching the surrounding rocks. These passive defenses are set about a hundred meters 
  away and are intended to delay hostile forces while the defenders get ready. The camp will also have at least one 
  concealed escape tunnel or other such route, enabling troops t o  quickly evacuate the base. The tunnel is also used to 
  move troops on operation, lessening the chance of a raid being traced back to the camp. 
  + Facilities 
  One of the pressurized pit bunkers is actually far larger than the others, though this i s  not readily visible from the 
  outside. It serves as a makeshift command post and houses communication equipment and computer banks. Orbital 
  movements of enemy ships and assets are monitored from there at all times to ensure that no suspicious activities (like 
  firing practice) are scheduled to take place when there are enemy vehicles i n  the sky above the compound. 
  The most important pieces of equipment in a Liberati base are its vehicles, which are concealed under camouflage or in 
  the hangar when not in use. I n  addition to providing transport and combat abilities, the vehicles also allow the entire 
  camp to pack up and move, if necessary. The vehicles’ powerplants are used to generate the electricity required to run the 
  place, though some camps also have either a hydrogen fuel cell or wind generator. The former is preferred because it can 
  double as the camp‘s source of drinking water, which would otherwise need to be stored in a separate tank elsewhere. 
  The main hangar serves as an assembly and lecture hall. A portable projector or holo-tank can be hauled in for 
  presentations and planning sessions. Sometimes, meals are shared here as well, though each group is responsible for its 
  own cooking. Hygienic and recycling facilities are located in the vehicles, though some of the older camps have a waste 
  pit somewhere just outside the camp as well. The latter features a small water and condensation system to reclaim as 
  much water as possible. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  AI-Haben Haven + 
  The camp below is an older and well-established one. In the official records, it is known as AB-456, a mineral exploitation 
  facility owned and operated by the Al-Haben family about three hundred kilometers west of the Trench. To the Liberati, 
  however, it i s  known as Haven, and is where many of its troops have been trained to bear arms for their world. Unlike 
  many other camps, Haven is still exploited as a mine, and regularly sends back quotas of ore and resources, which help 
  keep the CID inspectors off its back. It also helps t o  explain away the large number of housing bunkers and the 
  occasional explosions taking place within its perimeter. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  4.3.3 - Safehouses 
  Abandoned tunnels and underground facilities provide barracks for the few Liberati guerillas that actively raid and fight 
  the enemy. These secret locations may not be luxurious or equipped with all the modern amenities, but they do provide 
  a safe haven for troops on the run or between ops. Most of the locations also feature stockpiles of weapons and armor, 
  mothballed and ready to use. There are often too few troops to use all these weapons, but if the liberation of Bastille 
  Alpha i s  successful, these hidden caches will be put t o  good use. Many of the Liberati’s hydroponics racks are also 
  located i n  safehouses, fed by generators and regular deliveries of water. 
  There are many safehouses scattered throughout the Trench as well, mostly i n  the lower levels and run-down areas that 
  are less likely to attract the attention of the Corp-Serfs or CEF patrols. These safehouses are generally tiny apartments 
  in old buildings, preferably abandoned so that no one needs to register the place in official documents. They show their 
  age, with small windows and cracking, stained walls. Security i s  poor to non-existent, and i s  often limited to metal bars 
  in windows at the ground floor. The buildings are also usually vermin-infested and filled with toxins; otherwise, they 
  would be already taken over by squatters. 
  The first thing done when a new safehouse i s  acquired i s  to modify the place to make it secure. Areas that will be 
  inhabited are thoroughly cleaned and sealed. Cubbyholes are cut into the walls and floors t o  hide equipment and 
  weaponry, and secret emergency exits are established. Anti-personnel mines are installed behind the main door and the 
  corridors, if any. Directions to the safehouse are hidden at secure deadmail drop-points. 
  Many safehouses are long-term establishments, used to store food, equipment and personnel with who have little 
  likelihood, for whatever reason, of attracting undue attention. Other safehouses are emergency, single-use facilities, to 
  be abandoned once a team has used it. If a safehouse is ever compromised or rendered unusable, a Liberati team 
  disguised as Costa Moreia maintenance crew will attempt to return the location t o  i t s  original state, or, if this is 
  impossible or impractical, destroy it (usually through arson, which raises fewer questions than liberal use of high 
  explosives). There are countless abandoned structures littering the underbelly of the city, and the Liberati are in no 
  danger of running out of hiding places. 
  L 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  OPERATlONAl R~LATIONS - 4.4 
  Liberati culture i s  by nature somewhat distrustful of outsiders. The horrors of the early corporate period are deeply 
  engraved in the collective psyche and color their relationships with the other fictions that are active on Caprice. While 
  recent contacts brought on as a result of the growing resistance have changed some of the Liberati’s ingrained views, 
  most of the highlands inhabitants still work from the assumption that anyone not from the highlands is untrustworthy 
  until adequately proven otherwise. 
  With Elach Talons 
  The Black Talon program was an unexpected gift to the Liberati movement. When they sent out emissaries to the other 
  colony worlds, they expected little success. Even if one of the colonies was willing to stand up for Caprice, there was no 
  assurance that they would not simply take the place of the first invader. The Black Talons were the perfect compromise: 
  a strike force that gave strength to the movement without putting shackles on it. 
  With each further mission, the Liberati partisans fighting alongside the Terranovan commandos grow fonder of their 
  star-found brethren. The reverse i s  also true, and several Talon troopers are known to have gone native. 
  With Gomorrans 
  Highlands Liberati are usually amused by the civilian population of Gomorrah, those people who have no true corporate 
  or government loyalties beyond collecting a steady credit increase and feeding their families. The civilians pose little 
  threat, regardless of their stated political alignments, and are seldom of any particular use besides camouflage. Liberati 
  and Muttawah in the city, however, usually have stronger feelings about the populace; they can see the fear and 
  resignation i n  the eyes of the working class, and are both sympathetic to their plight and angry that so few will actually 
  rise up to do anything about it. 
  With Corporations 
  The Liberati distrust the corporations, seeing many of them as collaborators and traitors of the worst kind. They tolerate 
  them as a source of supplies, weaponry and information, but otherwise have little use for them. All Liberati personnel 
  are t o  assume that no corporate deal or aid comes without some kind of hidden cost or betrayal. 
  With the CID 
  The Commonwealth Integrity Directorate is the most common day-to-day opponent of the resistance. They are waging 
  a mostly covert war against what they believe to be scattered groups of saboteurs and malcontents, never dreaming that 
  they are battling the heads of a much larger hydra. This is exactly what the Liberati leaders want - 
  until they can get 
  additional support, either from the corporations or the other human colonies, they are not strong enough to go against 
  the full might of the CEF. 
  With the CEF 
  The CEF is the ultimate enemy, the occupation force that controls the planet. TO the freedom-minded Liberati culture, it 
  i s  an abomination that must be taken apart and destroyed. Many draw an emotional parallel between the CEF and the 
  cordorations of old, and images from Liberati folklore and legends are often used to demonize the Earth occupation 
  force even more. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  PUZZLES 
  Horace Casper stood at his office window, thinking, tapping his lips with a stylus. The 
  lights of Gomorrah played against the glass like imitation stars. He had been chasing a 
  hunch for four months and it had finally played out. Unfortunately, most of a CID branch 
  building had been destroyed before he could do anything. 
  His secretary called over the intercom. "Sir, you have a call from Lieutenant Colonel 
  Rassul on priority frequency. Shall I 
  put her through?" 
  Casper returned to his desk. "Yes, of course, Nivar." The shimmering image of the CID's 
  most well known agent appeared, floating over Caspefs desk. 
  "Good evening, Colonel," Rassul said through a severe frown. "What do you know about 
  the Tachyon Hub bombing?" 
  "I 
  know that the Liberati are involved. Is that what you're asking?" Only paying partial 
  attention to the hologram, Casper begin prepping a data upload. 
  "You have proof?" Colonel Rassul also seemed distracted by something out of view. Casper 
  punched i n  an encryption code and sent the data to her terminal. 
  "Coming your way now, Colonel," said Casper. He waited as Rassul barked orders to someone. 
  She turned her attention to Carper's information. 
  "Basically," said Casper, "I 
  have noted a group of related events leading from the recent 
  ambush i n  Bengetti to the Hub bombing. Most of it involves a single truck." Casper 
  cleared his throat. "During the clean up i n  Sengetti, my team made a count of all the 
  vehicles and equipment that we found, i n  order to keep track of stolen goods. This was 
  then entered into a database so we could trace any equipment being used outside CEF 
  jurisdiction. A t  the time, we found nothing out of the ordinary. Yes, items were missing, 
  but beyond the cargo, nothing more than a few rifles and ammunition. 
  "However after the Tachyon Hub bombing, I 
  took a closer look and ran the serial number 
  from the truck used to deliver the device inside the CID branch there and found that it 
  should have been i n  the Bengetti group." 
  Colonel Rassul eyebrows arched. She interrupted him. "They traded one of their already 
  stolen trucks for a new one that wouldn't be in the database. We'll have to adjust the 
  report protocols to flag all stolen or destroyed vehicles. See what you can do with that." 
  "Already done, ma'am." Casper allowed himself a little smile, but Rassul frowned again. 
  "You said this was part of a series of events." 
  Casper explained. "The truck from Bengetti was used to smuggle agents into Gomorrah, 
  using a diversion to rush the security check. These agents vanished into the city, but I 
  suspected that they had recruited a computer programmer who had recently gone missing. 
  This technician hacked into the command computers to change the transport schedules 
  and place the bomb inside the CID building i n  Tachyon." He took a breath. Rassul waited. 
  "I 
  have assigned field agents to track down any further information, but the offending 
  parties w i l l  be well out of the city by now." Casper watched as Rassul went over his data 
  again. She pursed her lips. 
  ''This isn't enough to convince Central Command," she said simply. 
  Casper crossed his arms. "It never is, Colonel, but it is more than we had four months ago. 
  The more we watch them, the more we learn." 
  Adaptation, improvisation, tenacity. The Liberati were quicksilver thorns. He spun his 
  chair to face the city. He watched his smile reflect coldly in the night black window. For 
  the first time i n  his career, Casper was beginning to have respect for an enemy. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Designing a liberati Character - 5 1  
  Liberati characters are all too often stereotyped as simplistic nomad folk or rugged miners. While such stereotypes have a 
  basis in fact, Liberati society i s  diverse and complex and can lead to almost any Heavy Gear character type. The exact type 
  of campaign will play a significant role in the development of a Character. Campaigns that focus on the day-to-day lives 
  of the Liberati nomads will require "ordinary" folk (if any Liberati can truly be said to be ordinary), from miners to farmers 
  to merchants, while campaigns that center on the resistance will likely require combatants, military types and spies. 
  The central, driving motivation behind the Liberati way of life - 
  whether it's the nomads or the rebels - 
  is freedom. 
  Liberati Characters will almost always consider themselves free in any situation, and will struggle t o  defend that 
  freedom if it's directly threatened. This driving force should always guide a Liberati Character's actions. 
  Although generally accepting of other people and cultures, Liberati do tend to have certain preconceived notions of 
  how those people fit into their overall worldviews. Deviation from those expectations can often result in mild surprise, 
  though the Liberati readily adapt and rarely experience traumatic letdown when their expectations are not met. Their 
  strong sense of independence often leads to them appearing to be strongly opinionated, too, especially about other 
  groups of people. It is not uncommon for Liberati to use slang for their associates, and it is usually up to the listener 
  to determine whether it is meant as a compliment or an insult. 
  Concept, Bachflround and Sub-plots - 511 
  Perhaps the single most important factors in the creation of a Liberati character are their association with a clan and 
  their fierce independence. These two apparently contradictory elements are carefully balanced against each other. The 
  Liberati's extended family social structure plays a major role in their lives, and Characters may call upon the support of 
  their families and allies, but such a relationship i s  a two-way street. One has to give something back. 
  Player Characters may choose to belong t o  one of the clans or families mentioned in this book but they may find greater 
  freedom in playing a member of the thousands more not described for lack of space. Caprice is, after all, an entire world 
  and has plenty of room for Gamemasters and PLayers' creations. 
  When creating a new clan, it is important to determine how the clan interacts with its neighboring clans. Although 
  clans are relatively sparsely scattered across the planet, competition for resources and corporate contracts are issues 
  that are not always settled at the Genosia Marketplace. Additionally, since family life is such a central focus of the 
  Liberati nomads, it is important t o  think about a Character's extended family. This task should rarely be left solely to the 
  Gamemaster, since the Player Characters will be intimately familiar with their families. 
  Attributes and Skills - 51.2 
  The Attribute choice for Liberati characters i s  little different than that for other Heavy Gear characters. The daily toils 
  of hard work and constant exposure to a harsh enviroment mean that most Liberati are robust, and a FIT of +1 i s  often 
  appropriate. They do not always have access t o  higher education, so KNO rarely goes above +l. 
  Skill selections for Liberati characters are at the discretion of Players and Gamemasters, though the following guidelines 
  are suggested. Survival Skills are widely taught from an early age, a necessity given the environment. Skill levels of 1 or 
  2 are common, with specialization in Wasteland or Space at the Player's option. The Driving Skill is also common among 
  characters from a nomadic background, usually at level 1 or 2. Characters can justify Skills such as Demolition, Electronic 
  Warfare and Combat Sense by exposure t o  mining and survival equipment. Liberati culture ensures that the Small Arms 
  and Melee Skills are common despite the lack of any standing armed force. 
  Almost all Liberati Characters speak both Anglic and one of the Liberati Highlands dialects, though their abilities with 
  both vary considerably depending on their background. Characters associated with the major clans have level 3 in their 
  mother tongue and level 2 in Anglic, while other characters have level 2 i n  both languages. Individuals will likely speak 
  Anglic at level 2 and have basic (level 1) Skill in one or more wastelands dialects, reflecting their travels. 
  Several of the Perks and Flaws i n  the Heavy Gear Garnernastefs Guide may also be appropriate for Liberati characters, 
  though care should be taken to avoid them becoming a crutch for poor roleplaying. Connections (p.13) is a must for 
  clan characters; Obligation (p.20) may also be suitable for characters in some way beholden t o  their clan. Sense of 
  Direction (p.15) may also be appropriate. A passionate need for freedom and a distaste for restrictive laws is recommended 
  for all Liberati characters, though exact details should be discussed with the Gamemaster. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  5.2 - EUUIPMENT 
  Liberati equipment rarely incorporates cutting-edge technologies but is practical and seen as good value. Most i s  
  rugged and reliable, intended to withstand life on the wastelands of the surface, far from any factory or extensive 
  repair shop. 
  The following items are merely representative of Liberati technology and equipment and similar items may be found 
  elsewhere on Caprice. Of course, most of the basic tools and equipment existing on Terra Nova have a Liberati counterpart, 
  which tends to be slightly heavier and sturdier. 
  5.21 - Weapons 
  Liberati culture led the settlers t o  arm themselves early on. I n  the "wild west" atmosphere of the first few decades of 
  the settlement, it was not unusual for people to take the law into their own hands, especially when corporate authorities 
  were unable t o  act (or worse still, were bribed to look the other way). A sidearm was part of the basic attire for most 
  Liberati for a long time, and all carried knives for both protection and usefulness. 
  When the CEF arrived on the planet, they were understandably upset at having a large armed population roaming at will. 
  Weapon-carrying privileges were revoked and severe laws put in place regarding ownerships of firearms. Hundreds of 
  thousands of guns were turned in at the collecting stations placed at all marketplaces, and surprise searches were 
  common. As the years passed and the occupation forces settled in their garrisons, fewer and fewer weapons were found. 
  The wily Liberati had surrendered their older guns, of course, and had gotten new ones from pirate autofacs. These were 
  carefully hidden, and nowadays all families can count on enough weaponry to start a world war. 
  I 
  liberati Heapon Table 
  Weapon 
  Accuracy 
  Damage X 
  Range (m) 
  ROF 
  Ammo 
  Cost*** 
  "Canyon Eagle" l l m m  pistol 
  0 
  x20 
  5/10/20/40 
  0 
  15 
  450 
  "Raven" 9mm submachinegun 
  0 
  x15 
  10/20/40/80 
  2 
  45 
  550 
  Caprician Utility Knife 
  0 
  AD+7 
  Close combat 
  15 
  50 
  "Old Faithful" 12-gauge shotgun 
  -1 
  x30* 
  6/12/24/48 
  0 
  2 
  150 
  "Canyon Hawk" 7mm Assault Rifle 
  O/.l*' 
  x22 
  45/90/180/360 
  0/2** 
  45 
  850 
  *Double Armor against shotguns and reduce the Damage Multiplier by 5 per Range Band. 
  **Selectable fire rate. I n  single-shot it i s  Accuracy 0, ROF 0. In burst-fire mode it gains an ROF of 2 but suffers a -1 
  Accuracy penalty. Changing fire rate during combat requires an Action. 
  ***For comparison purposes only; all weapons are Black Market only. 
  snyon Bglc" l l m m  pistol 
  *Canyon Hawk" 7mm Assault Rifle 
  "Old Faithful" 12-gauge shotgun 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Personal Equipment <.E 
  Nomad Liberati are the largest group, principally working on water farms or at scattered and often transitory townships. 
  The population has adapted to the harsh and spartan life on the wastelands, often existing at little more than a 
  subsistence level. These communities rely on their own efforts to survive though wandering merchants provide a link 
  with the rest of the world. 
  Survival Hit + 
  From an early age, Liberati carry a survival kit that often makes the difference between life and death. There are two 
  distinct parts to the kit: that carried on the person and that kept nearby. The former includes a water canteen, matches 
  and ration bars, as well as a compass or mem-compass. Kept nearby, on a Mount or in a vehicle, i s  a lightweight tarp 
  used to create an emergency shelter, along with a spare respirator mask. Some richer groups substitute a tent for the 
  tarp but the latter offers greater flexibility. A medical kit and flares are also kept close at hand and a water condenser 
  i s  often added for journeys away from the farmstead. Survival kits are often customized and the most common addition 
  is a knife. Conventional knives are favored over vibroblades, the latter being too prone t o  malfunction. The hollow hilt 
  contains matches and even a tightly rolled survival blanket while the screwcap contains a conventional compass. 
  Work Clothing + 
  The clothing popular i s  often simple and practical, i t s  manufacture part of cottage industries. Tough jackets and 
  trousers made of woven algae-derived fibers are common, supplemented by sturdy armored workboots and gloves. 
  Cattle- and swine-hair clothing i s  also popular, thanks to i t s  decent insulating properties and plentiful abundance. 
  Styles and colors vary from region to region. Some Liberati make use of hi-tech solutions like desert suits but these are 
  not common. A l l  outdoor clothing can be worn with a hood and breathing mask for activities on the surface, of course. 
  Desert Cloah + 
  On Terra Nova, desert cloaks are generally designed to keep the wearer cool. I n  the deserts of Caprice, however, the 
  objective i s  to stay warm. A reflective inner lining i s  often a key feature of cloaks designed strictly for survival. Liberati 
  desert cloaks, however, are lined with hair from their swine and cattle. Not only is this hair readily available, it helps cut 
  down on stray reflections - 
  a definite requirement for covert resistance operations. The outside of the Liberati desert 
  cloak is generally camouflaged t o  blend i n  with the local terrain. 
  "Canqon Eagle" llmm Pistol + 
  The canyon eagle is a mythical creature said t o  live in the Cat's Eye Trench; no documented specimen has ever been 
  observed, however, and most anthropologists attribute it to the significance birds of all types hold in certain Liberati 
  cultures. Nevertheless, the favored handgun of the Liberati Ghazis, an otherwise generic autofac-manufactured I l m m  
  semiautomatic handgun, is usually dubbed "the Canyon Eagle." Some Ghazis, especially those who have come into 
  contact with Black Talon operatives from Terra Nova's Western Frontier Protectorate, are starting to favor revolvers; the 
  massive magnum revolvers produced by Socorro Arms of Fort Williams, WFP, are particular favorites. (See the Heavy Gear 
  Equipment Catalog, p. 37.) Inevitably, the Ghazis also refer to these handguns as "Canyon Eagles." 
  Fahe Data-Rig + 
  Life i n  the Trench can be difficult without a data-rig. Although no Liberati worth his salt would have any difficulty 
  sudiving amongst the homeless of the Alpha Level streets, surviving as an operative within mainstream Trench culture 
  withtht a data-rig i s  another matter entirely. As a result, all Liberati working within the Trench have fake data-rig 
  implants. These are no different from authentic data-rigs, except that all data on them is fictitious. Additionally, the 
  operatives can deactivate their data-rigs' tracking signals with a simple sub-vocalized command. To handle financial 
  transactions, the fake data-rigs tap into the accounts of known CEF sympathizers through a series of dummy accounts 
  that are difficult to trace. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  5.3 - llBERATl CAMPAIGNS 
  Liberati campaigns can be centered on the Liberati nomads. Merely struggling to survive on the hostile surface of 
  Caprice can be a rewarding roleplaying experience. The day-to-day life of these deceptively simple people is, in reality, 
  full of complications. Many corporations don't always obey the Trent Sector Accord, after all, and when they can get 
  away with cheating or abusing their contract workers, many will - 
  especially the Earth corporations. Additionally, since 
  the CEF doesn't necessarily see the distinction between the Liberati nomads and potential rebels, harassment by the 
  military is an ever-present danger. Inter-clan politicking and competition over resources i s  another aspect of life that 
  challenges the Liberati. 
  The Liberati rebels provide an immediate and clear source of action-oriented campaigns. Assaults on CEF positions and 
  infiltration of Caprician and Terrestrial corporations are two contrasting campaign plots that span the spectrum of pure 
  action to intrigue. Interfacing with Black Talon missions can provide great opportunities for roleplaying, too, especially 
  if the Player Characters are mixed between Liberati rebels and Black Talon operatives. 
  5.31 - Subversion 
  The fact that Earth believes that the Liberati movement has been destroyed or at least reduced to a pathetic remnant of 
  itself is a great advantage. When no one believes you exist, it i s  easy to manipulate the enemy - 
  even take them out 
  for good - but it is a delicate balancing act. Too much activity and the CID will take notice, too sloppy and they will 
  be all over a resistance cell. The last thing the Jund wants i s  have the CEF realize that the Liberati are s t i l l  active and 
  that they have the popular support of the people and Caprician corporations behind them. 
  Subterfuge, intelligence gathering and subtle sabotage are common activities that will not arouse unwanted scrutiny 
  from the planet's overlords or their collaborating lapdogs. Many of the Liberati's efforts are concentrated on learning as 
  much about Earth as they can: troop distributions, which officers are important and which can be influenced, new 
  weapons systems and of course vital outposts. An outright assault is out of the question presently; it is absolutely vital 
  that the Liberati pave the way for the coming conflict with the best intel they can manage. However, that does not 
  mean that cells are entirely non-aggressive. Whenever they can, the Liberati will attack Earth installations, important 
  personnel and troops, but only when they can disguise the attack as an accident or something other than armed 
  resistance. The primary intent of any attack is always t o  safeguard the existence of Liberati cells and only secondly to 
  hamper the CEF forces. It is in everyone's best interests not to reveal the existence of a wide-scale, organized and highly 
  trained resistance movement. CID officers who stumble across definite proof of a Liberati cell often get caught i n  
  industrial accidents, environmental malfunctions or simple car accidents. 
  There are countless intelligence agents working for various corporations (Earth and Caprician), CID and CEF officers, 
  unscrupulous street informants and simple citizens who stumble upon the wrong place at the wrong time. All of these 
  people are an extremely dangerous risk to Liberati cells and it i s  a delicate, deadly balance every resistance fighter 
  strikes between trust and safety. There is much to learn before the war starts i n  earnest and many will give their lives 
  to protect the secret of the Liberati's existence. 
  + Starting Point: Ooppelganger 
  A corporate employee is defecting with great secrets, but the secrets will be worthless if his absence i s  discovered. An 
  elaborate deception has been planned that hinges upon the Player Characters. To ensure that the employee i s  spirited 
  away without his absence being noticed, a Liberati infiltrator has been assigned to impersonate him. It is vitally 
  important that the deception be maintained while the defector is moved. The longer the deception is maintained the 
  farther away and hence the safer the defector will be. The impersonator must learn enough about the defector to 
  convince friends, family and co-workers that they are him. Even the slightest misstep could have fatal consequences. 
  A team has been assigned to the infiltrator to keep him safe and make sure all the bases are covered. These specialists 
  will provide up-to-the-minute intelligence via a microburst receiver built into the infiltratots data-rig. They will also 
  warn him of any threats and, if his cover is blown, will provide logistical support and tactical aid. This team will consist 
  of the best and brightest intelligence, covert ops and computer infiltration specialists the Jund has to offer, or whatever 
  team happens to be in the area. The resistance has had to make do with what's at hand on many, many occasions and 
  has a reputation for getting the job done without proper training, equipment or preparation. Make do or make tracks is 
  the infiltration team's unofficial motto. Of course there i s  only so much one team can accomplish but if it's the right 
  team that intel can change the fate of entire worlds. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Assistance - 5.3.2 
  One of the most important and dangerous tasks the Liberati undertake is helping their own. Smuggling supplies and 
  arms into and out of the trench is a very hazardous occupation in and of itself as the CEF deals very, very harshly with 
  any form or resistance. Still the troops have t o  be supplied and as hostilities are increasing it i s  becoming more and 
  more vital that ammunition and weapons be distributed to the various insurgent groups scattered across the planet. The 
  job is always hazardous - 
  not only from enemy patrols and inspection sites but the very planet itself. 
  A common way t o  circumvent Earth inspections of cargo vehicles is to do without vehicles altogether. This means 
  carting massive crates of ammunition through abandoned tunnels, across treacherous lava fields or through debris 
  strewn dunes by hand. At any time the enemy could descend upon the group with guns blazing, or someone might 
  rupture an environmental suit and slowly suffocate before help arrives. A small group of Liberati clanners will be waiting 
  at the rendezvous site to take over. They will then play cat and mouse games with CEF patrols until they can successfully 
  and covertly deliver the arms to the troops. 
  More often than not, the troops do not make the rendezvous and the convoy itself i s  forced to complete the mission and 
  attack whatever target was assigned the missing (dead?) troops. Once the mission i s  complete, one way or the other, it 
  is back to playing cat and mouse with the CEF, this time with a much bigger enraged cat. Now the cargo consists of men 
  and women that need a place t o  hide while the enemy cools down. Any misstep along the way can mean death or a 
  lengthy stay i n  Bastille Alpha. The Black Talons can testify as to how effective these Liberati can be. 
  Starting Point: Talon Dolun + 
  A Black Talon shuttle has crashed in the highlands, and it's a three-way race between the Liberati, CEF and the elements 
  to see who'll get to the hapless Terranovans first! On the one hand the Earthen have the advantage of numbers and 
  technology and weapons and orbital surveillance and logistical support. All the Liberati have going for them is an 
  intimate knowledge of the area and a determination that can move mountains. Is there really any doubt as to who will 
  get there first? Maybe not, but getting out again as the CEF closes a noose around the area is another matter entirely. 
  Sabotage - 5.3.3 
  For the longest time, the Liberati have realized that they will have to prepare secretly t o  oust these arrogant invaders 
  form Earth. I n  recent years they have seen the CEF suffer a major defeat at the hands of Terra Nova, and now that the 
  resistance has reopened contact with their fellow colony they realize this conflict will occur soon. I n  preparation they 
  have scaled up their sabotage operations. No longer content to gather information and take the occasional opportunity 
  to damage equipment, Liberati cells across the planet have been ordered to step up their operations. 
  The existence and stunning success of the Black Talon mission has galvanized the resistance to take a more aggressive 
  role. Additionally the Talons have provided a cover of sorts for Liberati attacks. A missing patrol or ambushed convoy 
  can be attributed to Terranovan guerrillas with a little effort. Not every attack can be disguised as a covert off planet 
  mission, however. Nosy CID investigators and collaborators are unlikely targets for a military strike. A little more finesse 
  i s  required to eliminate these threats and Liberati cells are very good at improvising and covering their tracks. A 
  botched bank robbery could catch an undercover operative, while an Earth agent might fall prey to an unfortunate gas 
  main explosion or a spate with a Caprician lover that turns violent. O f  course there are many, many ways t o  take out your 
  enemies; the trick it to do so without revealing too much of your hand to the other guys. 
  Starting Point: Mites in the Machine + 
  Your Liberati cell has been given a very dangerous assignment, but a vital one. A chemical factory complex outside one 
  of the major Gomorran hubs has been targeted for destruction. The facility was 'repatriated' by Earth early in the 
  occupation but until recently security was too tight t o  get any accurate intelligence on what the CEF was doing there. 
  Last month a Liberati infiltrated herself at the factory as a maintenance technician with a collaborating Caprician 
  corporation. The majority of the facility has been retooled to produce ammunition at an alarming rate. Something must 
  be done to stop or at least slowdown production. The Liberati contact within the complex believes that a judicious 
  application of rust mites (see page 73) could damage the assembly lines for at least three months, long enough for a 
  Talon Strike' to be mounted. Somehow the players must find a way to get themselves on the next personnel rotation of 
  a hostile corporation to a secure facility and bring a destructive native life form with them. 
  , 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  I Amir Falcon A 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  AIJaidis Henault 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Anatole Van Saaker rose through the ranks of Hakkar security through two decades of impeccable 
  service. During that time he developed a reputation for efficient and flawless investigations, and a 
  near 100-percent conviction ratio. When Earth returned to claim caprice and repatriate the corporations 
  there, the CEF demanded corporate aid in routing out the Liberati rebels. The success of Anatole's 
  team garnered the attention of the old master of Hakkar who in a public ceremony awarded his entire 
  team with medals of distinguished service. He also whispered a few private words in Captain Van 
  Saaker's ear which forever and secretly changed his assignment. Now the captain's team directs its 
  investigations towards common incidents such as failed robberies and industrial accidents, fabricating 
  evidence to make them look like incompetent wannabe Liberati attacks. Lulling Earth's investigators 
  into believing that the Liberati consist of idiots and commonplace radicals is a demanding job that 
  he has successfully kept secret from his superiors within Hakkar and the CEF - as well as from the 
  real Liberati, who believe him to be a genuine threat. 
  * 
  P
  i
  '
   
  * 
  ,--: 
  I 
  *
  *
  +
   
  ~ 
  Saaker's position with Hakkar as a captain in their security and enforcement division and his directive 
  to hunt down Liberati insurgents gives him sweeping powers that could easily be abused - and 
  - 
  abuse them he does. He has fabricated evidence, planted clues and even eliminated CEF informants, 
  all under the guise of patriotism and most importantly without being discovered. Only Anatole and 
  the Old Master know his true mission; to everyone else he's either a traitor or a loyal servant. 
  I 
  1 
  + Attitudes 
  Loyalty is so deeply ingrained in Anatole's character that he has difficulty discerning right from 
  wrong. His loyalty i s  only to the company and ultimately he answers only to the Old Master for his 
  actions. He will do anything and has on occasion sacrificed suspected and known criminals by framing 
  them as Liberati insurgents. Cold and ruthlessly efficient, much like the Old Master himself, Anatole 
  always gets the job done, no matter what's required of him. 
  P 
  Anatole lost his left arm up to his elbow while serving a warrant against a suspected Liberati saboteur. 
  Captain Van Saaker knew the man was innocent of the charge, but also that he was a child molester, 
  no great loss to the world. Unfortunately, a stray round ignited the 'evidence' just as it was being 
  planted, killing the suspect and crippling the Captain's hand. Since that incident Anatole has favored 
  his left arm, even though the prosthetic i s  every bit as good as the one it replaces. I n  combat he is 
  ruthless, calculating and efficient. He will not hesitate to push an advantage or retreat in the face of 
  superior forces even if the means leaving men behind. 
  + Combat Reactions 
  *
  *
  *
  .
   
  Ill Attributes 
  AGI 
  +l 
  APP 
  0 
  BLD 
  +l 
  CRE 
  +1 
  m 
  INF 
  +I 
  KNO 
  +I PER 
  +l 
  PSY 
  0 
  WIL 
  STR 
  0 
  HEA 
  +l 
  STA 
  30 
  UD 
  6 
  AD 
  Shills 
  level Am. 
  Skill 
  level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Bureaucracy 
  2 +l FirstAid 
  1 +l 
  Law 
  2 
  +l 
  SmallAnnr 
  3 +l 
  CombatSense 3 
  +I 
  Hand-to-Hand 
  2 +l 
  leadership 
  2 
  +l 
  Security 
  2 
  +I 
  Streetwise 
  2 
  +I 
  I 
  - 
  b 1  
  Notice 
  2 
  +1 
  Tactics 
  I 
  I Drive 
  z 
  +I I Intermaation 
  2 
  4 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Kelsey Lansing is a clan senior within a small band of caravaneers of the Van Daar nation. Her clan’s 
  chief responsibility i s  to move goods, produce and food to the various Van Daar encampments and 
  work sites as well as to move refined and bulk ore to the various hubs. Kelsey’s clan is entirely mobile, 
  consisting of twenty heavy haulers and various smaller vehicles manned and maintained by forty-odd 
  men and women. Keeping this group moving, organized and on schedule i s  a grueling task, but one 
  that Kelsey at the tender age of 29 i s  ideally suited for. 
  Her clan moves almost daily and has stops in the foothills of the East Doran Range, the Disorra 
  Desert, the Northern Wastes and as far east as the Sigma depression. The sheer size of the area she 
  covers makes her clan’s job incredibly difficult but also very profitable. It has also given her an 
  intimate knowledge of the area both above and below the ground. Every active or abandoned 
  outpost, every decaying mining facility, every Liberati encampment as well as every CEF check- 
  station, which she frequently avoids, i s  ingrained in her memory. Chief Lansing’s knowledge has 
  proved useful to the Liberati on numerous occasions - as has the fact that her clan frequently 
  services Bastille Alpha. 
  1
  1
  1
   
  *
  .
  e
  *
   
  Profession + 
  Kelsey’s father and his father before him were clan seniors and while the position isn’t hereditary, it 
  has remained in her family grouping for three generations. That doesn‘t mean everyone in the clan 
  supports her as senior, however, and she constantly has to prove her right to lead the clan to the 
  other seniors on the council. Kelsey’s chief opposition comes from Gareth Tronson, the hydroponics 
  senior, who’s always complaining about shortages in his section. Were she not an extremely competent 
  leader, Kelsey might easily be outmaneuvered by Tronson, but as long as the clan continues to 
  prosper her position i s  secure. 
  Attitudes + 
  Lansing i s  the very epitome of a Liberati nomad clan leader: decisive, careful and ruthless when she 
  has t o  be. It i s  no wonder she i s  a competent leader as her father groomed her for the job since she 
  was a child. 
  Combat Reactions + 
  Chief Lansing is not a fighter in any sense of the word. Although her clan frequently works in and 
  around hot spots such as Bastille Alpha, she relies on her own cunning to keep her and her clan out 
  of trouble. As a clan leader, she i s  rarely in a dangerous situation without a bodyguard of some sort. 
  When she is, she takes great care not to escalate the situation beyond her control. 
  Vital Statistics 
  Athibutes 
  +1 
  APP 
  0 
  BlD 
  0 
  CRE 
  +1 
  m 
  +1 
  +2 
  KNO 
  +I 
  PER 
  0 
  PSY 
  0 
  W I l  
  +l 
  0 
  HEA 
  +1 
  STA 
  30 
  UD 
  2 
  AD 
  2 
  Shills 
  level Attr. 
  Skill 
  level Attr. 
  Skill 
  level Attr. 
  Skill 
  level Attr. 
  Bureaucracy 
  2 +1 
  Drive 
  3 
  +1 
  Haggling 
  3 
  +2 
  Mechanics 
  2 
  +I 
  Business 
  2 
  +1 
  Etiquette 
  2 
  +2 
  law 
  1 +I 
  Survival 
  2 
  +I 
  Craft (Weaving) 
  2 +I F. 1. (Anglic) 
  2 +l 
  leadership 
  2 
  +2 
  Tinker 
  2 
  +I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  ~ 
  Jesseth "Hatchetman" Henson 
  Jesseth Kenson moved from one company to another and developed a reputation as a troubleshooter, 
  the "go to" person when a corporate division or project was behind or mismanaged. As a corporate 
  hatchetman, Jesseth found it difficult to retain his professional detachment from the people around 
  him. Unfortunately, the stress of the job and a lack of any real friendships caused an emotional 
  breakdown and Kenson turned to drugs to bolster his mood swings. Things turned out bad, as such 
  things invariably do, and Kenson was dismissed - for all intents and purposes blackballed by the 
  corporate community. His severance pay was sufficient to allow him to purchase a small convenience 
  store, which he runs himself but he i s  still struggling with his drug dependency, and supplements his 
  income with the occasional odd job for the Liberati. His unique knowledge of both corporate and 
  street-level etiquette makes him a valuable resource to the resistance. 
  + Profession 
  The Hatchetman used to be a corporate insider but broke under the stress. He still has many of his old 
  connections, and can use "back doors" in the system to gain information and has done so on numerous 
  occasions. A true mercenary with a large monkey on his back, Kenson will dole out his precious 
  information only for money and will use his convenience store as a way to launder this income. Today 
  the Hatchetman lives day to day as a street-level informant, whose web of knowledge extends far 
  above his actual level within Gomorrah's society. 
  Most of the Liberati believe that Kenson's Grocery is simply a front for the Hatchetman's covert 
  information gathering activities. I n  truth Jesseth i s  simply making the best of a bad situation and 
  uses most of his money to feed his drug habit. One might expect him to be bitter about being 
  drummed out of corporate society, but he seems quite accustomed to his new lot in life. Whether this 
  i s  due to newfound wisdom or chemicals is anyone's guess. Jesseth likes to sell his information along 
  with his store's products and rates his intelligence this way. A 10 P candy bar accompanies small bits 
  of info; larger ones earn a 300 P liter of milk. If he asks you to take a look at his second hand jewelry 
  you know you've hit paydirt. 
  + Combat Reactions 
  Jesseth has no combat training to speak of, except what little he's picked up on the street. This 
  consist mainly of allowing himself to be struck repeatedly without losing his senses and cowering 
  effectively as he i s  shaken down for info. There's a certain amount of violence inherent as an informant 
  -all of it on the receiving end. The Hatchetman knows better than to retaliate and will flee if things 
  get out of hand or someone forgets their role. 
  ~~ 
  Ill Vital Statistics 
  La&62E=s 
  I Heiaht: 
  180111. 
  I Weight 
  75 kp I Hairtolor: 
  Gny I EveColor: 
  Blue I 
  Attributes 
  AGI 
  0 
  APP 
  -1 
  BlD 
  -1 
  CUE 
  +1 
  FIT 
  -1 
  INF 
  +1 
  KNO 
  +1 
  PER 
  +I 
  psy 
  -2 
  WIL 
  0 
  mr 
  -1 
  HEA 
  -1 
  STA 
  15 
  UD 
  2 
  AD 
  1 
  Shills 
  Skill 
  LMI Am. 
  Skill 
  L m l A t t r .  
  Sklll 
  L m l  Attr. 
  Skill 
  level Attr. 
  Bureaucracy 
  2 +l Fint Aid 
  1 +1 
  Investigation 
  2 
  +1 
  Stealth 
  1
  0
   
  Business 
  1 +1 
  F. 1. (Highbnds) 2 +1 
  Law 
  1 
  +I 
  smbvi5e(rmllw)3 +l 
  Combatknse 1 + I  
  FOIWN 
  2 +l 
  Notice 
  2 
  +1 
  I Dodae 
  1 
  0 1 Hand-to-Hand 
  1 
  0 I Securilv 
  1 
  + l  1 * S o e c i a G  1 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  5.4 - STOCH NPCS AND PERSONALITIES 
  The most unique aspect of Heavy Gear i s  i t s  underlying storyline. Over the course of the next years, readers, Gamemasters and Players 
  will see the world of the game change and grow as the story threads scattered throughout our sourcebooks are woven together. While 
  the storyline i s  intended to serve as an interesting background to individual Gamemasters' campaigns (which are the foreground), it 
  does mean that not every character in the game can be used freely without worrying about the consequences. To give Gamemasters 
  some indications of how to use these introduced characters, every Heavy Gear product since Life on Term Novu,first edition has featured 
  the chesspiece system and included a brief description of it. 
  New characters are given one of five chess pieces as an indication of their importance in the storyline. This permits Gamemasters to 
  understand how best to use these NPCs without worrying about disrupting the setting and having to retrofit upcoming source material. 
  Of course, roleplaying i s  about creating one's own stories, so Gamemasters should feel free to disregard the limitations of the chesspiece 
  system, as long as they understand that their campaign world may no longer mesh with Dream Pod 9's. 
  The principal use of the chesspiece system i s  to indicate each character's importance to the overall storyline of Heavy Gear. These 
  pieces, however, also give some indication of how to use the characters as NPCs in roleplaying sessions, even if one is not concerned 
  with remaining consistent with the background storyline. 
  + Historical Figures 
  Kings and Queens are characters who have died before the date featured on the Timewatch"' display. Their inclusion indicates that they 
  have had some importance for Heavy Gear, either by setting events in motion that have influenced the Heavy Gear storyline or by 
  leaving a legacy still felt. These characters have usually played some role which is important to the storyline, but may also have simply 
  been a prime example of the spirit of their times. Often their legacy will play a role in the development of the Heavy Gear storyline, and 
  their descendants, old allies and enemies might as well. Gamemasters running historical scenarios should treat these Historical Figures 
  as Restricted Characters so as not to alter the main line of the storyline. 
  + Restricted Characters 
  Rooks are characters who are key to the Heavy Gear storyline and are to be used with care. Although they can still be useful i n  a 
  roleplaying campaign - both as background elements and motivating forces - 
  their survival i s  critical to the storyline until they can 
  leave their mark. Although many Rooks hold powerful positions, others seem utterly powerless or even insignificant. Small actions may 
  have larger consequences later in the storyline. Gamemasters should tread carefully when using these characters in roleplaying sce- 
  narios, but they can become contacts, allies or even adversaries of Player Characters. Using them in purely confrontational scenarios, 
  however, may prove unwise due to the chance for fatalities. 
  + Verq Important People 
  Not everyone of note is central to the Heavy Gear storyline. Very Important People are those characters who have a significant 
  impact, but are not critical to the storyline itself. This does not mean they have no influence on it, however. Knights may not play 
  a central role in the Heavy Gear storyline, but they may well have some impact. As important people in the game setting, they can 
  influence major players or simply be carried along by the storyline. Gamemasters can feel free to use Knights i n  their adventures and 
  campaigns, but they should remember that a l l  will be well protected (in one way or another) by underlings and allies. 
  + Social Encounters 
  Social Encounters are those characters who are included in source material primarily to add flavor. They are rarely criticalindividuals 
  and do not have a significant impact on the storyline, but they stand as symbols of larger trends. They serve most commonly as 
  contacts and background elements, rather than opponents. Bishops serve as reminders of social forces beyond the central plot of the 
  storyline. From student movement leaders to fashion designers, these social leaders may have some secondary effect on the storyline 
  but are mostly present to add flavor and reflect current events. Gamemasters may use social encounters as they see fit, although 
  they are rarely designed for combat of any sort. Bishops may return in future products, but for purposes of atmosphere only. 
  + Expendables 
  In general, Expendables are "average" people. The have no personal impact on the storyline and are included in Heavy Gear products 
  primarily to be used by Gamemasters. Although this category i s  used for faceless stock NPCs and typical citizens, many of the Pawns are 
  anything but everyday. Some pawns are periphically linked to the storyline, but they have no real effect upon it. Interesting pawns can 
  even be used as Player Characters if the GM and Player wish. 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Most of the daily administration of the occupied territories is taken care of by the Commonwealth 
  Integrity Directorate (CID), a secret-police-like body. The CID normally institutes curfews and other 
  population control methods, none of which work well with the Liberati Lifestyle. The CID has thus 
  . Only the very best - and thus most dangerous - succeed. 
  0 
  BLD 
  +1 
  PM 
  0 
  HEA 
  +I 
  -A 
  30 
  UD 
  Skill 
  level Attr. 
  Skill 
  LevelAttr. 
  S k i l l  
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Bureaucracy 
  1 
  0 
  Dodge 
  2 
  0 
  Hand-to-Hand 
  2 
  0 
  Notice 
  CombatSense 
  2 
  +I 
  Etiquette 
  1 0 
  Investigation 
  2 
  +l 
  SmallArms 
  1 
  0 
  Disguise 
  2 
  0 
  F. L. (Highlands) 2 
  0 
  Melee 
  1 
  0 
  Streetwise 
  1 
  0 
  "
  "
  "
   
  *
  *
  I
   
  The CID is not the only one trying to place moles within the enemy's ranks. Many agents of the 
  resistance operate undercover, using a number of pre-generated identities complete with data-rig 
  files and established backgrounds. They can slip in and out of the Trench almost at will, carrying out 
  +I 
  FIT 
  +l PPI 
  0 
  WIL 
  +1 
  STA 
  30 
  UD 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Bureaucracy 
  1 
  0 
  Etiquette 
  1 
  0 
  Investigation 
  1 +1 
  Security 
  CombatSense 2 
  +1 
  F. L. (Anglic) 
  2 
  0 
  Melee 
  2 
  0 
  SmallArms 
  1 
  0 
  Disguise 
  2 +l 
  Hand-to-Hand 
  2 
  0 
  Notice 
  2 +l Survival 
  Typical Equipment: 
  Middle-class clothes, concealed weapon, data-rig (implanted) with fake information 
  15,000 - 25,000 P per year 
  22 Character Points and 40 Skill Points 
  Base Character Costr: 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  The caravaneer corresponds to the typical Liberati image that comes to mind to most off-worlders 
  (and Trenchers for that matter). The caravaneer is an exotic and oft-romantic figure dressed in a 
  lightweight pressure suit and shrouded in gaily decorated robes, who spends his life moving through 
  the wastelands of the planet, buying, selling and trading goods. 
  Attributes 
  AGI 
  0 
  APP 
  0 
  BLD 
  0 
  CRE 
  +1 
  FIT 
  +1 
  INF 
  +l 
  KNO 
  0 
  PER 
  0 
  PSY 
  0 
  WIL 
  +1 
  0 
  HEA 
  +I 
  STA 
  30 
  UD 
  3 
  AD 
  3 
  Shills 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Business 
  2 
  0 
  Drive 
  2 
  0 
  Haggling 
  2 
  +1 
  Survival 
  2 +1 
  Bureaucracy 
  1 
  0 
  F. 1. (Anglic) 
  1 
  0 
  Mechanics 
  1 
  0 
  Tinker 
  1 +l 
  Craft' 
  1 +I 
  *Pick specific craft or substitute similar Simple Skill 
  Equipment and Cost O l  
  Typical Equipment: 
  Salary: 
  Base Character Cost% 
  Survival gear, environment suit, vehicle (Mule truck or similar) 
  5000 - 30,000 P per year 
  22 Character Points and 27 Skill Points 
  Many of the Liberati families living on the surface are organized around a clan model, where blood 
  relations and age define the social structure. A Council of Seniors leads each clan: each senior is 
  typically the best at what he does, his skill often supplanted by charisma. These seniors direct the 
  clan's efforts. Their personalities vary widely, but wisdom and influence are common traits. 
  Rthibutes 
  0 
  APP 
  0 
  BLD 
  +I 
  m 
  +l 
  0 
  CRE 
  +2 
  KNO 
  +1 
  PER 
  o
  m
   
  0 
  WIL 
  +1 
  0 
  HEA 
  +I 
  STA 
  30 
  UD 
  3 
  AD 
  3 
  Shills 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  2 
  +1 
  Craft. 
  3 +l 
  Law 
  1 +I Survival 
  2 
  +I 
  Bureaucracy 
  2 
  +I 
  Etiquette 
  2 
  +2 
  Leaderrhip 
  2 
  +2 
  Teaching 
  1 +1 
  *Pick specific craft, substitute similar Simple Skill, or replace with Level 2 Complex Skill and related 
  Level 1 Simple Skill 
  Equipment and Cost 
  Typical Equipment: 
  Survival gear, environment suit, data pad 
  5000 - 30,000 P per year 
  30 Character Points and 40 Skill Points 
  Base Character Costs: 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  the clan. A large part of this work consists of locating new mineral deposits to exploit. If Liberati are 
  perceived as loners, then prospectors are the ultimate representatives of their society. They are solitay 
  figures, moving ahead of the main caravan in fast all-terrain vehicles, scouting for riches and dangers 
  +I PER 
  0 
  PSY 
  0 
  WIL 
  +1 
  HEA 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  level Attr. 
  Skill 
  level Attr. 
  Skill 
  lml Attr. 
  CombatSense 2 
  0 
  Drive 
  2 
  0 
  Mechanics 
  2 
  +I 
  Notice 
  Computer 
  1 +1 
  Earthsciences 
  2 
  +1 
  Melee 
  1 
  0 
  SmallArms 
  1 
  0 
  Demolition 
  1 +l 
  First Aid 
  1 +1 
  Navigation (1and)l 
  +1 
  Survival 
  Typical Equipment: 
  Survival gear, prospecting equipment, vehicle (Mule truck or similar) 
  5000 - 30,000 P per year 
  22 Character Points and 38 Skill Points 
  Ease Character Costs 
  of the population, and they are constantly on the move between safehouses. Partisans a l l  share two 
  traits: an unforgiving love of their planet and an unswerving loyalty to their cause. They would rather 
  die than endanger their people - but would much rather CEF soldiers died in their place. 
  +1 
  APP 
  -1 
  WIL 
  0 
  HEA 
  Skill 
  level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  Level Attr. 
  Skill 
  level Attr. 
  Camouflage 
  1 0 
  Drive 
  1 +1 
  Hand-to-Hand 
  2 +I SmallArrns 
  2 
  +1 
  combat~ense 2 +1 
  FirstAid 
  1 
  0 
  Melee 
  1 
  +I 
  Survival 
  Demolion 
  1 
  0 
  F. 1. (Anglic) 
  2 
  0 
  Notice 
  2 
  +1 
  Tinker 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  G A M E M A S T E R  R E S O U R C E S  
  S.S - Creatures 
  Caprice i s  especially poor, flora- and fauna-wise, due t o  the harsh environment and lack of any significant amount of 
  oxygen in most of the planet’s atmosphere. Given a few millennia the planet would have developed its own higher 
  lifeforms, but humanity arrived early-on and abruptly halted the planetary biosphere‘s development just as it was 
  getting started. The few creatures that exist consist of rudimentary plants and a few microscopic colony groups that 
  exhibit animal-like behavior. Many of these organisms exist only i n  various corporate zoological exhibits or research 
  outposts, as the changes in Caprice’s atmosphere due to pollution have killed many unique lifeforms. 
  The native flora was nowhere near developed enough to compete with a few imported Earth animals, let alone plant life. 
  Throughout the Trench Earth plants thrive, driving out the primitive native plants, though to be sure the heavy pollution 
  serves to keep wild plants stunted and sickly. Most Terran plants are used to provide oxygen and food in massive 
  hydroponics bays. Imported animals are used to provide food, to recycle garbage and to produce fertilizer for the 
  hydroponics installations. 
  Another interesting use Capricians have found for animals is as a sort of mobile clone bank. Organs are grown inside an 
  animal - 
  typically cattle, with which it i s  relatively easy to attach to one of their stomachs - 
  and harvested when 
  mature. The advantages over cybernetics or a cloning facility are obvious especially for a nomadic culture like the 
  Liberati clans. Implant a few cells from the donor, coax their development here and there and in a few months you have 
  a fully matured organ with very little fuss or without any expensive facility being required. 
  Most animals are seen as either nuisances or resources, but a few are kept as house pets and treated as family members, 
  though this is rare. Icarus canaries are very common, mostly due to the many practical reasons for keeping them as a 
  safety system. Cats and a unique breed of micro swine are also common pets, generally found in Trencher homes. 
  Liberati clans tend not to keep pets since they are difficult to take care of when the clan moves and they contribute 
  little to the encampment, but occasionally a clan will keep have a pet or two as a communal mascot. 
  Icarus Canaries 
  Wealthy corporate immigrants imported Earth canaries as a delicate luxury. The Caprice 
  version i s  a little hardier, but only exists at a certain altitude i n  the Trench. If they fly too 
  low the pollution kills them, too high and oxygen deprivation likewise kills. Many Liberati 
  keep these creatures in their hydroponics domes both t o  assist i n  pollination as well as to 
  detect possibly fatal air leaks. The fact that the canaries are highly susceptible to 
  atmospheric changes and increases in carbon dioxide make them valuable to the clans 
  and Trenchers as a living environmental warning system. There are many breeds of Icarus 
  canary that exhibit slight differences from each other as well as two wild breeds that live 
  only in the Trench. 
  Athibutes 
  +2 I BLD 
  -a 
  I m 
  -3 I PER 
  +I 
  I 
  +2 
  I 
  INS 
  I WIL 
  -3 I SIR 
  -3 I HEA 
  0 I SIA 
  10 I UD 
  1. I 
  *(+natural weapons) 
  I Skill 
  Level Attr. I SMII 
  L m l A t t r .  I Skill 
  L m l A t t r .  I SMII 
  LmLAttr. 
  I 
  I Combattense 
  2 
  +2 I 
  Dodge 
  2 
  +2 I survival (~r1m0.2 
  -3 
  I 
  *(Specialization) 
  I 
  Special Abilities Ill 
  I10 meters Der same turn). Peck fxl damage) 
  I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  One of the rare native creatures of Caprice, the rust mite is not exactly an animal, at least 
  not by Earthbound definitions. These microscopic creatures live i n  colonies of millions of 
  individuals and survive by consuming minerals and simple organic compounds on the 
  planet‘s surface. They reproduce by budding a small dry husk containing a sticky walled 
  cell. This is blown by the wind across the planet: when it makes landfall, the husk breaks 
  open and the cell searches for more minerals t o  consume. This organism can be a problem 
  for surface vehicles and orbital transfer shuttles. Over eons, large colonies tend to 
  concentrate minerals in pools, which aids mining. 
  The Liberati use the rust mites as a perfect sabotage tool. When placed i n  the right 
  environment, such as a vehicle’s innards, they will slowly corrode and destroy the delicate 
  mechanisms within. The damage is then explained by the locals as “typical outworlder 
  carelessness,” allowing them to retire a great deal of invaders’ material without exposing 
  themselves to retribution. 
  Luckily the creatures can be held i n  a simple glass vial that does not show up on CEF 
  surveillance monitors, and the husk has so far defied chemical sniffers, though the CEF is 
  working on new sniffers that can detect the mites. 
  Attributes 
  I Aggressiveness: 
  0 I Damage/turn: 
  X I  I Threshold 
  20 I 
  Random HonleSize: 
  3xd6 1 
  I BasicSwamSize: 
  30 I 
  I 
  I 
  I 
  The Caprician swine i s  a genetically engineered breed of hog developed from hardy Terrestrial 
  swine and adapted to Caprice’s harsh environment. One of i t s  strongest adaptations is its 
  thick coat of bristly, long hair, which reduces the heating requirements of their pens. The 
  irony of introducing and strengthening a trait that Terrestrial farmers had spent centuries 
  breeding out of the hogs is not lost on the Liberati farmers, who find it somewhat 
  amusing. Swine are natural omnivores and will eat anything; the engineers who developed 
  the Caprician swine enhanced this trait and turned their already rugged digestive systems 
  into the ultimate natural recycling system. An unexpected side effect of this enhancement 
  turned the Caprician swine into vicious and cunning animals. Although they rarely attack 
  each other, they are particularly fond of meat - 
  any meat - 
  and pose a certain amount 
  of danger to farmers, who keep them in deep pits (and sometimes in underground warrens) 
  to keep the hogs under control. 
  WIL 
  +2 
  STR 
  +2 
  HFA 
  +1 
  STA 
  *(+natural weapons). 
  Skill 
  Lml Am. 
  Skill 
  Combatknse 2 
  +2 
  Dodge 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  LlIERATl BUNGRLO 
  The nomadic lifestyle practiced by many Liberati families does not necessarily imply leaving behind the comforts of 
  modern life. A Large number of vehicle types with extensive living quarters have been developed over the years to sustain 
  entire clans as they move and work over the harsh surface of the planet. Most of the designs are of the "land-train" type, 
  where the various vehicles owned by the family are linked together by airlocks allowing access to all compartments. Each 
  vehicle in the train has its own drive system and an autopilot slaved to the computer of the lead unit. 
  "Bungalo" is the common nickname for a Mule truck-derived house unit. The sturdy 8x8 articulated wheeled suspension 
  system i s  based on the Mule's, i t s  standard tires supporting boxy but Comfortable living quarters. Sometimes, a caboose- 
  style cupola is found at one end of the vehicle, offering additional space but increasing overall height clearance. The 
  docking airlock i s  usually always extended and mated t o  the towing Mule's cargo bay (which can be pressurized as well). 
  + Service Record 
  Bungalos and other similar vehicles have been in service for at least as long as there have been Liberati on the planet. 
  Older yet still serviceable vehicles are passed down to a new generation regularly, and it i s  not uncommon to see 
  families living in vehicles that are centuries old and highly customized. 
  Game Statistics Ill 
  Threat Value: 
  351 
  Offensive: 
  0 
  Defensive: 
  29 
  Miscellaneous: 
  1042 
  Lemon Dice: 
  3 
  Vehicle Specifications Ill 
  208.250 Pounds 
  Manufacturer: 
  Various corporations 
  UK: 
  LMng Quarters Trailer 
  Heiaht 
  6.0 meters 
  I Len&. 
  ~ 
  lometers I 
  10.3 meters I 
  I Width: 
  I A v e m  Armor Thickness: 
  13mm I 
  I 
  Armor Material: 
  Metal Allws I 
  I Standard Osentional Weiaht: 
  6400kg I 
  Ground (80 kph) I 
  I Primary Mowrnent Mode: 
  1 
  Deployment Range: 
  700km 1 
  I Sensor Range: 
  40 hcxes/2 km I 
  400 hcxes/20 km I 
  I Communication Range 
  I Powerplant: 
  1 x Gas Turbine and Superconductor Batteries I 
  I EngineOutput: 
  850hp I 
  Heapon Paqload Ul 
  I Name 
  Ammunition Payload I 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Though the word "mines" brings giant open-air pits to many people's minds, the mining operations conducted by 
  Liberati crews on the surface of Caprice are actually both smaller and a lot more precise. Raw bulk materials such as iron 
  and silicate are fairly easy to find in and near the Trench; what the Liberati are after are the much rarer minerals that 
  fetch a higher price on the market. I n  order to find and exploit the scattered deposits, a wide variety of vehicles have 
  been developed over the years under the generic appellation "prospector." The prospector shown here is a typical 
  example, derived from the basic chassis of the sturdy Mule service truck. 
  The layout of the vehicle is fairly simple, with the mining equipment and open-topped, Mule-sized cargo bay to the rear 
  and a pressurized laboratory and crew work area up front. A set of sensitive geological sensors is controlled and managed 
  from the latter. The half-track suspension system of the Mule has been retained to support up to nearly twenty tons of 
  raw material. The chassis is equipped with towing hardpoints and an autopilot to link up with other vehicles in a "land 
  train" (see p. 72). The docking airlock i s  usually extended and mated to the rear of a Liberati truck or living quarters. 
  + Service Record 
  Prospectors and other, similar, vehicles are fairly widespread. Some designs have better sensors or mining equipment, 
  while others exchange the lab for increased cargo capacity. Most prospectors are fairly old, kept in service for as long as 
  they can be easily maintained and repaired. 
  Game Statistics Ill 
  Threat Value: 
  399 
  Offensive: 
  0 
  Defensivc: 
  29 
  Miscellaneous: 
  1160 
  lemon Dice: 
  3 
  I 
  Vehicle Specifications Ill 
  " 
  , 
  Ammunition Payload 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  G A M E M A S T E R  R E S O U R C E S  
  REUBEN1 IITTFICH TRINE 
  There were never any true armed forces on Caprice, and so the Liberati face a severe shortage of combat vehicles for 
  their operations. They sometimes manage to capture enemy vehicles, but for the most part their forces are composed of 
  units converted from whatever vehicles are available. 
  The Reubeni attack trike is based on a scouting and exploration all-terrain vehicle that was itself derived from the Mule 
  all-purpose truck. Except for the addition of armament and some performance tune-ups, the vehicle i s  basically the 
  same. Most of the time, the guns are taken from downed corporate units: the most common configuration mounts a light 
  rifle scavenged from a Type 55 "Fatman" and a light machinegun scavenged from a Type 32 "Little Boy" Mount. The fire 
  control system is simple but reliable and uses remote bore-sighted gun cameras to relay targeting information to the 
  gunner's display. A makeshift gunnery station occupies the space previously resewed for a bunk area. 
  Service Record 
  The Reubeni's glory days came not long after the CEF's arrival on planet. The trike design was already well-known, 
  having been deployed in numerous corporate conflicts, but there were never as many fielded at the same time as there 
  were arrayed against the Earth invaders. Many of these vehicles were totalled in the subsequent attacks, and most of the 
  rest were destroyed during the Liberati "rout." Their hulks are still scattered in the wastelands surrounding the trench, 
  many of them requiring only a few hours of tinkering to be made battle-worthy again. 
  Game Statistics 
  Threat Value: 
  100 
  Offensive: 
  38 
  Defensive: 
  33 
  Miscellaneous: 
  229 
  lemon Dice: 
  3 
  r 
  Vehicle Specipcations 
  Code Name: 
  Attack Trike 
  Production Code: 
  Production Type: 
  Mass Production 
  Cost: 
  50,000 Pounds 
  Manufacturer: 
  Various Liberati Pam'sans 
  UK: 
  Paramilitary Utility Transpolt 
  Height' 
  5.3 meters 
  Length: 
  10 meters 
  Width: 
  8.3 meters 
  Average Annor Thickness: 
  10 m m  
  Metal Allovs 
  Armor Material: 
  ~~ 
  ~ 
  I Standard Onerational Weiaht: 
  3700 ka 1 
  I P G r v  Movement Mode: 
  Ground (100 kDh) 1 
  i 
  OiDlownent Ranae: 
  700km I 
  I Sensor Ranae: 
  40 hexes/2 km I 
  400 hexes120 km I 
  I Communication Range: 
  I Powerplant: 
  1 x Gas Turbine and Superconductor Batteries I 
  I Engine Output: 
  850hp 1 
  Heapon Paqload Ill 
  Ammunition Payload 1 
  I Name 
  1 Mark X I V  25mm recoilless rifle 
  30rounds I 
  200 belted cartridges I 
  I Kroker 10mm machinegun 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  PITHOM WORHMOUNT 
  Over the years, the resistance forces have converted many of their work vehicles into makeshift combat units, with 
  various levels of success. They tend to fare poorly when sent against military units, but they perform adequately for fast 
  raids and against regular infantry. The Pithom is a six-legged precursor to the Moab Combat Mount (see Black Talon 
  Field Guide, p.98) that was used extensively t o  move material and supplies i n  the Trench during the last few centuries 
  of construction. I t s  ruggedness soon made it a Liberati favorite for combat conversions. 
  The Pithom has a number of characteristics that make it highly desirable as a combat unit. For one, it almost (but not 
  quite) maneuvers equally well in all directions. I n  fact, the entire body (and associated weapon systems) can swivel 
  through 360 degrees without moving the legs. The multi-legged design handles rough ground quite well at Low and 
  medium speeds, although the older autobalancing system is not as sophisticated as later designs. The trapezoidal main 
  body comes equipped with two sturdy side hardpoints, which were originally used for cranes and manipulation devices. 
  These were replaced by a pair of 2x4 inter-linked rocket launchers (two rockets deep each, for a total of 32 rockets), 
  with scavenged machineguns bolted just above them. 
  + Service Record 
  The Pithom is one of the vehicles that has been kept in the Liberati arsenal throughout the occupation. The Mount can, with 
  some effort, be loaded into the cargo bay of a Mule truck when crouched. It i s  a tight fit, and boarding is a somewhat tricky 
  maneuver that cannot be done in a huny without damaging both Mount and carrier, but the element of surprise i s  invaluable. 
  Game Statistics Ill 
  Threat Value 
  225 
  Offensive: 
  344 
  Defensive: 
  100 
  Miscelbneous: 
  231 I Lernonmce: 
  3 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
  (laidis ............................. 
  29 . 
  Reubeni Attack Trike ................................ 
  76 
  42 
  Revisionists 
  ....................... 
  13 
  ............................... 
  . 
  Assistance ........... 
  ..... 13 . 
  SLEDGES 
  Casper, Captain Homc 
  Knife, Caprician Utility ............................. 
  56 . 
  Cat's Eye Trench ....... 
  Clothing ...................................... 
  15, 18 . 
  Mythic Comix .......................................... 
  40 . 
  Work Clothing ....... 
  Equipment Caches ................................... 
  36 . 
  Operation: Aurora 
  34, 38, 48. 53 . 
  Privacy ......................... 
  Bryce Hubbard (order #5318102)
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dream Pod 9/Heavy Gear/064 - Caprice Book 2 - Liberty.pdf