The Democratic Kakistocracy of Buncombe
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:49 pm
The Democratic Kakistocracy of Buncombe. (D.K.B.)
[The definitions of the words are important. Democratic: of or pertaining to democracy, rule of the many, Kakistocracy: rule of the worst members of a society, Buncombe: originally a county in North Carolina, became origin of the words bunk, bunkum, etc. (nonsense) because of the bunk spewed out by their politicians.]
The planet of Buncombe, located in a middle-outer solar system of the Brikverse, (although the Buncombians like to think of themselves as outer-middle) has for the past few centuries been united under the three-fold principles of Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality embodied in the Democratic Kakistocracy. Because of the incentive structure created by the democratic process, the very worst persons (although the best politicians) always rise to power. Buncombe is governed by a parliament, currently with 837 members, and a separately elected executive, the Chief Citizen.
The current Chief Citizen is Arnold Kirkson, a hard-blank-area-between-the-eyes-and-above-the-mouth politician famous for his rousing speeches and hopes of inter-galactic fame and glory.
The most important members of his cabinet: on the left, Hiram O'Angus, the Minister of Defense, and the Sullivan Buckborne, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Lasting power however, lies with the various special-interest groups who are in the advantageous position of having the politicians curry their favor behind the scenes in exchange for campaign donations. These special-interest groups are led by a shadowy group of businessmen and union bosses. Few are aware of who they are, although their names occasionally appear on foreign spies’ reports and tax returns. As far as foreign politics are concerned, the two most important groups are the Armament Deterrent Manufacturing Conglomerate (ADMC) headed (nominally at least, until he falls into disfavor with either the public or “the committee”) by Thyssen Krupp:
Shown here with the director of R&D at ADMC, Adolfstein VonRindindorff
And also the Forceful Disincentive Systems Operators Union (FDSOU) [i.e. the soldiers union] headed (also nominally, until she falls into disfavor with either the public or “the other committee” which some suspect to be the same as “the committee,” although they are mere rumors and have never been confirmed) by Helen Nestor.
To distract attention from domestic issues and to increase the prestige of the government (and also to prop up the armaments industry and provide employment for the “forceful disincentive systems operators”), the DKB has recently began an aggressive program of colonization and expansion beyond their own star system, having previously established colonies on several planets within their system. To support these new colonies and enable further territorial expansion, the Buncombian military has been enlarged and has undergone several phases of reorganization. The result of these actions is the Buncombian military as it stands today.
The Buncombian Star Fleet (B.S.F.)
Led by Admiral Hitchcroft, I haven't finished any ships yet, but they will be coming.
Buncombian Marine Corps (B.M.C.)
Commanded by Colonel Roger VanReindlersma, who lost his left hand to a enemy chainsaw and replaced it with a gold-plated buzzsaw. If at this point you are wondering what those feet belong too...
...they belong to this, the Marine At no time Yielding Heavy Enemy Massacreer (M.A.Y.H.E.M.)
Closer view of the 10" gatling gun.
Closer view of the shoulders and flame-thrower turret. I'm not extremely happy with how the turret turned out (with the exception of the flamer itself) so I'm open to suggestions of how to improve it.
Kakistocratic Buncombian Army (K.B.A.)
The High Command
In the center is Grand Marshal George Rothfield, commander of all Buncombian armed forces, on the left is General Patrick Eastman, and on the right is Marshal Rudolf Brugger.
Infantry
Absolutely Normal Ordinance DElivery Soldiers (ANODES) [a.k.a. line infantry]
Completely Autonomous Though not very Helpful Ordinance DElivery Systems. CATHODES
When these were originally introduced, there was immense resistance from the FDSOU who were worried that if the production of dead enemies was automated, they would become unemployed. After much political wrangling, (read: the ADMC and the FDSOU both giving loads of money to politicians)
A compromise was reached where the ADMC would make the robots unintelligent and destructible enough that the soldier’s jobs would not be in danger. This had the added benefit for the ADMC that the military would need more of an easily destroyed robot than a sturdy one.
Buncombian Commandos
When a trooper is hard-working and exceeds his quota of enemy kills, he is disciplined by the union for his selfish action. If he persists with his work ethic despite increasing severity of corrective measures, he is sent to the commando school where he receives extra training, armor, and a snazzy OT laser rifle. The rigorous selection process results in only the best becoming commandos, however, because they are despised by the other regular troops for being un-egalitarian, they always wear an opaque silver mask to hide their identities. In blue is the commando commander, Lieutenant Bill Worthsman, who does not hide his identity because of his massive ego and confidence in his ability to defend himself at all times.
Aquatic special forces
Heavy flame-thrower troopers
Light recon infantry. They have 7" move, 5" ropes, and can climb with no penalty.
Medikal Korpse, with Chief Surgeon Dr. Jean DePaule
Heavy armored machine gun troopers.
Although not technically part of the army, the assassins occasionally show up on the battlefield. Aside from the Master Assassin Nikola Kyrgitsky, all the assassins are little girls due to their small size, flexibility, lack of susceptibility, and general love of killing people.
Group picture. I did not add pictures of the vehicles because they are already on separate threads.
Another overview.
Liberty! Fraternity! Equality! Long Live the Kaksitocracy!
[The definitions of the words are important. Democratic: of or pertaining to democracy, rule of the many, Kakistocracy: rule of the worst members of a society, Buncombe: originally a county in North Carolina, became origin of the words bunk, bunkum, etc. (nonsense) because of the bunk spewed out by their politicians.]
The planet of Buncombe, located in a middle-outer solar system of the Brikverse, (although the Buncombians like to think of themselves as outer-middle) has for the past few centuries been united under the three-fold principles of Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality embodied in the Democratic Kakistocracy. Because of the incentive structure created by the democratic process, the very worst persons (although the best politicians) always rise to power. Buncombe is governed by a parliament, currently with 837 members, and a separately elected executive, the Chief Citizen.
The current Chief Citizen is Arnold Kirkson, a hard-blank-area-between-the-eyes-and-above-the-mouth politician famous for his rousing speeches and hopes of inter-galactic fame and glory.
The most important members of his cabinet: on the left, Hiram O'Angus, the Minister of Defense, and the Sullivan Buckborne, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Lasting power however, lies with the various special-interest groups who are in the advantageous position of having the politicians curry their favor behind the scenes in exchange for campaign donations. These special-interest groups are led by a shadowy group of businessmen and union bosses. Few are aware of who they are, although their names occasionally appear on foreign spies’ reports and tax returns. As far as foreign politics are concerned, the two most important groups are the Armament Deterrent Manufacturing Conglomerate (ADMC) headed (nominally at least, until he falls into disfavor with either the public or “the committee”) by Thyssen Krupp:
Shown here with the director of R&D at ADMC, Adolfstein VonRindindorff
And also the Forceful Disincentive Systems Operators Union (FDSOU) [i.e. the soldiers union] headed (also nominally, until she falls into disfavor with either the public or “the other committee” which some suspect to be the same as “the committee,” although they are mere rumors and have never been confirmed) by Helen Nestor.
To distract attention from domestic issues and to increase the prestige of the government (and also to prop up the armaments industry and provide employment for the “forceful disincentive systems operators”), the DKB has recently began an aggressive program of colonization and expansion beyond their own star system, having previously established colonies on several planets within their system. To support these new colonies and enable further territorial expansion, the Buncombian military has been enlarged and has undergone several phases of reorganization. The result of these actions is the Buncombian military as it stands today.
The Buncombian Star Fleet (B.S.F.)
Led by Admiral Hitchcroft, I haven't finished any ships yet, but they will be coming.
Buncombian Marine Corps (B.M.C.)
Commanded by Colonel Roger VanReindlersma, who lost his left hand to a enemy chainsaw and replaced it with a gold-plated buzzsaw. If at this point you are wondering what those feet belong too...
...they belong to this, the Marine At no time Yielding Heavy Enemy Massacreer (M.A.Y.H.E.M.)
Closer view of the 10" gatling gun.
Closer view of the shoulders and flame-thrower turret. I'm not extremely happy with how the turret turned out (with the exception of the flamer itself) so I'm open to suggestions of how to improve it.
Kakistocratic Buncombian Army (K.B.A.)
The High Command
In the center is Grand Marshal George Rothfield, commander of all Buncombian armed forces, on the left is General Patrick Eastman, and on the right is Marshal Rudolf Brugger.
Infantry
Absolutely Normal Ordinance DElivery Soldiers (ANODES) [a.k.a. line infantry]
Completely Autonomous Though not very Helpful Ordinance DElivery Systems. CATHODES
When these were originally introduced, there was immense resistance from the FDSOU who were worried that if the production of dead enemies was automated, they would become unemployed. After much political wrangling, (read: the ADMC and the FDSOU both giving loads of money to politicians)
A compromise was reached where the ADMC would make the robots unintelligent and destructible enough that the soldier’s jobs would not be in danger. This had the added benefit for the ADMC that the military would need more of an easily destroyed robot than a sturdy one.
Buncombian Commandos
When a trooper is hard-working and exceeds his quota of enemy kills, he is disciplined by the union for his selfish action. If he persists with his work ethic despite increasing severity of corrective measures, he is sent to the commando school where he receives extra training, armor, and a snazzy OT laser rifle. The rigorous selection process results in only the best becoming commandos, however, because they are despised by the other regular troops for being un-egalitarian, they always wear an opaque silver mask to hide their identities. In blue is the commando commander, Lieutenant Bill Worthsman, who does not hide his identity because of his massive ego and confidence in his ability to defend himself at all times.
Aquatic special forces
Heavy flame-thrower troopers
Light recon infantry. They have 7" move, 5" ropes, and can climb with no penalty.
Medikal Korpse, with Chief Surgeon Dr. Jean DePaule
Heavy armored machine gun troopers.
Although not technically part of the army, the assassins occasionally show up on the battlefield. Aside from the Master Assassin Nikola Kyrgitsky, all the assassins are little girls due to their small size, flexibility, lack of susceptibility, and general love of killing people.
Group picture. I did not add pictures of the vehicles because they are already on separate threads.
Another overview.
Liberty! Fraternity! Equality! Long Live the Kaksitocracy!
but this is gonna happen a bit whilst I get caught up on the Armory.