Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/The Telogrus Bastion Fists

"For Honor of Westeros and Valyria!"

- The voice when Bastion is selected in the Conquest mode.

The Telogrus Bastion Fists are one of the nine bonus factions in Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict. This factions relies on siege warfare and fortifications.

History
Who or what the Telogrus Bastion mostly depends on who you ask. For instance, in the case of the Guardians, the official answer is that it's a nascent coalition of recently independent countries that are about to apply for membership at any moment now. If you ask an official of the Voshkod, the answer will be more along the lines of the peoples of Bastion finally shedding the chains of oppression and following the natural progress of history. A Syndicate businessman will probably just let out a chain of expletives before refusing to speak more on the subject. Ask a Bastion soldier, on the other hand, will tell a completely different story.

For the people of the Esso and the dispossessed Void Elves, Draenai, Sylvaneth, and Westerosi (double so for the Valyrians as they had already lost their first home from the Doom that destroyed Valyria and Navea in the distant past), the history of the Bastion is one of betrayal and neglect, of dashed hopes and unfulfilled dreams, of hatred, revenge, and regeneration through these last two. But, over anything else, it's a quest for unity and total self-determination.

The foundations for Bastion thought were first laid by one Marcus Garvey. A (Jamaican) immigrant to the Aquilan States, the atrocities he had heard from colonial (Africa) has inspired him to form the Universal Negro Improvement Association and (African) Communities Bastion, or UNIA-ACL for short. UNIA-ACL divisions were founded in many countries to spread black empowerment, and his Black Star shipping line was instrumental in transporting goods to (African) communities worldwide. Many intellectuals within the diaspora, especially the (African)-Aquilans, signed up for Garvey's organization, and his anti-colonial beliefs spread fast in then-colonies in the mother continent itself. Not everything would go swimmingly for Garvey, however. Imprisoned for mail fraud and his shipping line bankrupted, the movement was about to collapse until a visit to (Dahomey). There, he met Mustafa Zakim, a diamond baron hailing from (Turkey) plying his trade there. Despite his Ottoman background, he was embittered by how little Hawke War's conclusion did to end colonialism and struck a deal with Garvey. Zakim would endorse him and assist him financially, and Garvey would propagate the word of pan-(Africanism) far and wide.

Far and wide did pan-(Africanism) spread. Zakim's money revitalized not only Garvey's movement but the Black Star shipping line as well. Stepping foot in the (Caribbean), the Aquilan South, and eventually colonial protectorates in (Africa), his rousing speeches frequently talked about the need for self-reliance and nationalist unity. But unlike his contemporaries, he championed the voluntary migration of the (African) diaspora back to the mother continent to free the ones still in bondage and uplift the lives of all (African) folk. Unable to purchase lands in Liberia, Zakim suggested traveling to Ethiopia to garner support for the UNIA-ACL.

Why E(thiopia), you may ask? That nation resisted the invasion of a Hawke power... And succeeded.

A latecomer to the Scramble for (Africa), the newly-unified Antivan wanted to build a new (Roman) Empire. Taking advantage of a mistranslation in a treaty, the kingdom launched an invasion of Abyssinia in the late 19th century to turn it into a protectorate. However, they did not expect Emperor Menelik II's having bigger numbers, aided militarily by the Voshkod Empire that time. The invaders were forced to retreat to Antivan (Eritrea), and Abyssinia remained independent.

Encouraged by their victory over the colonialists, Garvey, Zakim and a few UNIA-ACL representatives established their first branch in Addis Ababa. Emperor Haile Selassie I proved receptive to pan-African ideals, something that became an advantage in the future. Funded by the Syndicate, (Mussolini's) Antivan launched another invasion of Abyssinia in the '30s as revenge for their loss decades ago. What was perceived to be a quick victory surprised many observers as (Haitian), Umbutan-Arkesian and even Orlesian West (African) volunteers from UNIA-ACL's paramilitary wing, the Universal (African) Legion, fought for the Abyssinians, turning it into a long and drawn-out conflict in which they eventually emerged as the victor. As icing in the cake, they even retook Antivan Somaliland.

They tried the same tactics during the GVAW to mixed results. The hope was placed on the fact the Alliance and the Voshkod tussled with each other over North (Africa), thus leaving sub-Saharan (Africa) less defended. While a few areas were liberated, The Dalish held even tighter to its colonies, sending its own forces to assist colonial troops against the UAL in the midst of WWII. Other colonial powers such as the Fereldan used divide-and-conquer tactics, isolating anti-colonial forces from the greater population and fomenting tension within them. Moreover, Legion mercenaries destroy any UAL encampment they could find, making it harder for them to operate.

If these flaws weren't given much attention during WWII, then decolonization put them all out in the open. After Garvey's death in 1959 V.C., the news of colonies given independence at long last should've been good news to the Telogrus Bastion (their new name). Instead, inter-ethnic conflicts flared up in many of the newly-freed countries, and pro-Allied, Voshkod or Syndicate leaders either were voted in or took power by force. Even those from the diaspora who have migrated to the mother continent thanks to the Bastion's Right of Return policy faced misunderstanding from native societies. This chain of events, along with the start of the (Congo) Crisis, showed the Bastion that their attempts at keeping (Africa) united and free are futile, and as such vowed to be more proactive in doing so.

During peacetime, radical reforms were instituted across the board. Tribal leaders and presidents the Bastion deemed unworthy were forced to resign, and were often replaced by pliable Bastion-affiliated politicians. The current borders that define states were deemed by Bastion leaders as illegitimate, so talks of doing away with them altogether have begun. Buildings have been constructed in lands that nomadic tribes called home, and those who protested are encouraged to move to the cities instead. While laws have been passed outlawing barbaric crimes such as female genital mutilation, laws banning Alliance or Syndicate businesses from operating in Bastion territory have driven locals out of employment.

In a move that further intensified criticism, an alliance with the Katsuragi Protectorate was signed by the two factions. The outcry was largely silenced when the Protectorate made good in their promise that they would help liberate the mineral-rich Dalish colonies in the Cold War. The trade deal in which Ulthuan would provide technology and military advisers in exchange for Bastion resources also sweetened the whole affair a bit. Much of the Bastion Divisions (the successor to the UAL)'s technology was developed in times of war: long-distance ramjet cannons blowing away Legion mercenaries, diamondweave armor courtesy of Zakim Diamonds Inc. protecting buildings from Guardian or Destroyer forces.

When the Protectorate faced defeat, the Bastion Divisions prepared for UAV strikes or submarine attacks in either the Western or the Eastern coast. But, the Regal Sultanate of Elona, which they initially fought in skirmishes during the Cold War, started a 'peacekeeping operation' in the Horn of (Africa) to clear out MLA elements from the region. It wasn't until they intercepted plans for a Sprawl to be built on Kismayo that they started to bring the derricks into Sylvaeth. Syndicate (Somalia) already effectively splits Bastion territory in half, and now the Sultanate threatens to annex their east territories.

Whoever the colonizer is, the Bastion will fight tooth and nail to preserve the continent's freedom. To all occupying governments, whether it's the UASR to the west or MLA to the South, even the Sultanate moving to Addis Ababa itself, the Bastion enunciates only one message to all of them: (Africa) will be free to decide her own destiny, and will never again kiss the soles of a foreign power.

Description
* TBA*

Lore Articles

 * Who is Alleria Windrunner?
 * The Valyria-Voshkod Conflict of 1974 V.C.
 * The Valyrians
 * The Six Houses
 * The Void Elves
 * The Lightforged Draenei
 * The Free Cities
 * Void Technology and Weaponry
 * Ramjet Weaponry
 * Refractor Weaponry
 * Bastion Diamonds
 * New Valyria
 * Valyrian Steel
 * Bastion small arms and equipment

Relations

 * Socialist Union of Voshkod: At War
 * Collective of Auring: At War
 * Brotherhood of Asmodia: At War
 * Karak Overlord Coalition: Neutral
 * Lumeris Syndicate: At War
 * Minutemen Survivors: Unknown
 * Aristocracy of Encantadia: Hostile
 * Alliance of Hawke: Friendly
 * Moonlight Liberation Army: ???

Tactics
The Bastion are unique in that most of their buildings come with defenses, while their normal buildings are shot out of their Fortress, from where Pionierpanzer have to complete the job. They are also unique in that almost all of their units need to fight from afar to have any sort of effectiveness, as most of them do splash damage and getting too close makes them prone to collateral damage.

Veterancy Levels
The ranks of the Bastion are the bases of these veterancy ranks.

Notable Characters

 * Daenerys Targaryen
 * Tyrion Lannister

Legendary Generals

 * Alleria Windrunner: General of the Void Elf Siege Command
 * Viserys Targaryen: General of the Targaryen Defense Command
 * Eddard Stark: General of the Lightforge Mechanical Group Command
 * Drycha Hamadreth: General of the Sylvaneth Strike Force Command

Commandos

 * Vereesa Windrunner: Void Elf Siege Command Commando
 * Rhaenyra I Targaryen: Targaryen Defense Command Commando
 * Jon Snow: Lightforge Mechanical Group Commando
 * Sedge: Sylvaneth Strike Force Commando

Sub-Factions

 * Void Elf Siege Command
 * Targaryen Defense Command
 * Lightforge Mechanical Group
 * Sylvaneth Strike Force

Arsenal
Main Article: Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/Bastion Arsenal

Building Catapult
The Bastion employs an unusual build system. The premise behind it is that the cannon on their Fortress will shoot out the basic frame of the building out towards the desired location, where, from there, Pionierpanzer can go and finish it up with all of the indoor construction. Theoretically, this system would allow very swift expansion, but in practice, thanks to the slow workers, its construction is slow, but efficient.

Fortify!
This faction improves its economy in a different way from many other races. Since the Bastion only gets one generator and refinery per HQ. The way to increase resource gain is by buying the uprade available to every building; Fortify. By purchasing this upgrade not only will the HP and armor of the building increase, but so will the resource rate.

Veterancy
Veterancy is purchased through their Bastion Fortress Command Headquarters, costing credits, which is then applied to all new and existing units. Making each of their units stronger while not suffering much setbacks when such units are lost compared to losing an officer unit or a veteran.

Structures
Basic Structures Defense and Support structures