Many Prime Brothers began to show damage to their muscles, joints and bones, as their bodies were unable to adapt to the gene-mods. These flaws were found in every Prime Brother, but for some the deterioration was much slower than others, with it taking decades for the worst effects to show in some, but until then, each Prime Brother remained a highly effective warrior.
The Prime Brothers carried on even after these side effects were discovered. However, despite the wishes of the Custodians, they revealed the side effects of their gene-mods publicly. Despite this, many recruits were still willing to accept the risks in order to join their ranks. Prime Brothers know that they will likely die from gene deterioration if they do not fall in battle. As a result, many will take risks which others would deem unacceptable. This has only further built their reputation as heroes and drawn in more recruits who idolise them.
Due to their shortened life spans, Prime Brothers often lack the organisation and personal experience of the Battle Brothers, so they rely on their advanced technology and individual heroism to overcome this disadvantage. While some Battle Brothers may view them as reckless, others have developed a keen respect for the bravery and sense of sacrifice common to the Prime Brothers.
How will your short lifetime serve the Founder’s vision?
History
Formation
After arriving in Sirius, the followers of the Founder faced new threats. To respond to these threats, gene-mods were experimented on to further enhance the Battle Brothers.
Distribution
The Custodian Brothers announced and distributed the Conduit’s newly created Prime Brother gene-mods to Battle Brother recruits. These enhanced gene-mods allowed for significantly improved healing and reflexes, and those who were accepted into the experimental program soon emerged as a new kind of elite soldier in the service of the Conduit.
New Frontiers
Under the Custodian’s directive, the Prime Brothers were deployed to the frontiers, far from the core of the Conduit’s territories, in order to explore and spread the Founder’s vision. The Prime Brothers were formed into new Detachments rather than reinforcing the existing Battle Brothers forces. The Prime Brothers became symbols of bravery to the followers of the Founder.
Side Effects
Many Prime Brothers began to show damage to their muscles, joints and bones, their bodies unable to adapt to the gene-mods. These flaws were found in every Prime Brother, but for some the deterioration was much slower than others. It would take decades for the worst effects to show in some. Until then, each Prime Brother remains a highly effective warrior.
Recruitment
The Prime Brothers carried on after these side effects were discovered. However, despite the Custodian Brothers’ advice, they revealed the deterioration which they suffered due to their Genemods publicly. The cause of the deterioration remains unknown to any outside of the Custodians themselves, however. Many recruits are still willing to accept the risks in order to join the Prime Brothers.
Prime Brothers
- 40 BRC - Development of Gene-mods
- 20 BRC - Founder's Coup
- 0 - Humanity Arrives in Sirius
- 109 ARC - Creation of Prime Brothers
- 126 ARC - Revelation of Side Effects
Society
The Prime Brothers are supercharged versions of the Battle Brothers, created as a result of Conduit-led experiments with gene enhancement. But while they are stronger and faster, they are also more unstable, with genetic defects that lead them to deteriorate and die relatively fast. This has made them even more risk-prone and fanatical.
Because of their shortened life spans, Prime Brothers lack veterans and experienced Commanders. This means that they often lack the organisation and personal experience of the Battle Brothers. They make up for this with advanced technology and individual heroism, with a willingness to take on dangers that others might call reckless. While some Battle Brothers may view them as reckless, most have developed a keen respect for each other and an understanding that they can learn from each other.
Vanguard
The Prime Brothers are the spearhead of the Conduit’s expansion, deployed on the borderlines and sent into dangerous operations. They lack the years of experience of Battle Brothers and are seen either as heroes of legends or crazed fanatics. Most of the Protectorate’s new territories are conquered by Prime Brother detachments, using experimental technology to strike the enemy hard and fast.
Daredevils
Prime Brothers tend to favour offensive strategies, deploying wherever they can do the most damage with their cutting-edge armours and weapons. They compete with each other in feats of heroism, hoping to leave a mark in this universe by securing new ground and eliminating the Conduit’s rivals. While even regular Battle Brothers are prone to risky behaviours, they also fight to build up protectorates, hold territories and help their civilian society flourish. Many protectorates become populated areas with a life and culture. Prime Brothers are totally devoted to war and almost always only erect military bases, abandoning them when the theatre of operations moves. They leave the job of establishing civilian infrastructure and permanent defences to others, whether they are Battle Brothers, Custodians or civilian contingents.
Distant Intrigue
The creation of the Prime Brothers disrupted the delicate political balance between the Custodians and the Battle Brothers. The Prime Brothers have shown little interest in involving themselves in the Protectorates' politics, but their unquestioning loyalty to the Conduit makes them a tool which the Custodians could use to undermine the Battle Brothers. Some, civilian and Battle Brother alike, have expressed concerns with the power this gives the Custodians.
For now, the Prime Brothers have largely been deployed at the edge of the Protectorates and kept far from politics, but if internal conflict were to break out, they would make a dangerous weapon which Custodians would be well positioned to use against loyalist Battle Brothers. Their distance from internal politics means that they could easily be used as pawns, provided they were given reason to believe that their actions served the Conduit. Most within the Protectorates still revere the Prime Brothers for their willingness to focus upon spreading the Founder’s vision rather than getting involved in courtly politics.
The Radiance
Compared to their compatriots in the ranks of the Battle Brothers and the Custodian Brothers, the Prime Brothers have little interest in spending their shortened lives in pursuit of scientific mysteries. However, their reduced life spans and determination to prove their mettle have often seen them recruited on expeditions to the Zone, whether serving the scientific interests of their allies or pursuing dangers within this already perilous corner of space. The Prime Brothers see the Radiance as merely another frontier for them to strike out upon and prove their worth, at least in those moments when there is glory and honour to be gained.
Language
The Prime Brothers draw upon the same diverse recruitment pool as the Battle Brothers, sometimes even inheriting the language of their progenitor. Detachments often adopted the most common language of the world they were assigned to. Prime Brothers, upon receiving their gene-mods, are allowed to choose a name; traditionally, these names have been angelic figures, but some detachments instead take names from other protectors from a variety of cultural traditions. These originally operated as code names, but in the centuries since their creation, the adoption of these names has gained significance as a rite of passage, and the recruit will rarely make use of their birth name after adopting it.
Many Prime Brothers will also include their town or region of origin in their names; this is often necessary to distinguish between those who have chosen particularly popular names such as Michael. Those who distinguish themselves may instead be awarded a title, such as Destroyer of Saronoi; for example, if they distinguished themselves in a battle. Captains and other officers may even have entire planets or systems listed in their titles rather than towns or systems.
Example Names
[Vehuel], [Acolyte] of [Solitude] - [Name], [Title] of [Region]
Battle Brother Names:
- Vehuel, Acolyte of Solitude
- Yael of Ostramire
- Kiraman of Kinloch
Officer Names:
- Kafziel, Conqueror of Hazmark
- Israfil, Inquisitor of Jari Prime
- Castiel, Zealot of Uruk II
Note that characters are usually referred to by their first name (in italics).
Trivia
Proverbs
- Death is a given; glory is earned.
- Stunning triumph or heroic sacrifice; there are no downsides.
- The Conduit lights my path, the Founder steadies my aim.
- I do not wish to live forever, but I intend to outlast you.
- Across countless Human skies, the roar of our ships means hope is back again.
