We Who are About to Die

In the 21st Century humanity took stock of their home and found much that they had wrought wanting. The most notable changes were ecological. Many were from the effects of the last century. Most notably the Earth had continued to warm and many of the world's coastlines had been changed.

At first the changes Mankind made were political. Despite the much predicted collapse of the United Nations, the world powers met to sign the compact of Brienz that ended the threat of nuclear annihilation. This did not mean that some kind of arbitration was no longer needed. The Padeia Institute performed this function. Originally the Padeia Institute had been an organisation devoted to educational reform, but it came to offer mediation and arbitration between corporations and governments at all levels. This service was put on a commercial footing and the majority of the first and second world took out contracts: all the members of the European Economic Community; the Commonwealth of Independent States; as well as Canada and the USA. In turning to the Institute for its help, both governments and corporations were looking to an independent and autonomous body, one that spread world-wide when the nations of Africa and Asia also signed contracts.

Effectively the institute had become a world government. By 2060 this was exactly the case. Whilst it allowed all signatory countries the right to self determination, the Padeia Institute imposed the rule of 'Pax Humana' that brought a world peace. A dream was realised. It was not to last.

When war came, the Padeia Council became the authority with full emergency powers co-ordinating the defence. This time, though, the war was not one of man against man. It was man against alien. There was life beyond the solar system and it wanted the Earth to feed upon . . .

The Horde fell upon the Earth with a vicious greed. The planet they found was rich, peaceful and ripe for the taking . . .

From their ships in orbit and their base in Cape Town they have for the last four years raided across the planet for food, for resources, for trinkets, for slaves. Their ships descend from the sky quickly and easily overcoming any defences with their advanced technology. The Horde is then free to plunder at will and commit signatory wholesale acts of slaughter . . . Afterwards they rocket skywards, huge engines burning and melting the buildings they have just raided.

But there is a slim hope. Secret research has discovered a process, one that turns men and women into super-powered weapons. Weapons that are tougher and stronger than the Horde. Yet there are drawbacks to the Morituri process: the 18 year olds who undergo it will die from it within a year . . .

We who are about to die, salute you . . .

Thus created are 'Strikeforce: Morituri'.

Introduction

'Strikeforce Morituri' is a Science Fiction Superhero comic written by Peter B. Gillis and drawn by Brent E. Anderson. It was published by Marvel Comics beginning in December 1986 and ran for 31 issues before cancellation. It was continued in one sequel 'Strikeforce: Morituri - Electric Undertow', a five part mini-series from Epic Comics.

GURPS Strikeforce: Morituri is a 500 point Science Fiction / Superhero campaign. It is a conversion of the Marvel Comics series, and aims to present an exhaustive guide to the Earth and its near environs in the early 2070's.

It is split into three parts. The first deals with the war with the Horde and covers the first twenty-one issues of the comic. The second part, written by James A. Hudnall, details issues #22 through #31 and focuses upon the danger within the Padeian Council and a second extra-terrestial threat. Part three, set ten years after the defeat of the Horde, further explores this threat as told in 'Strikeforce: Morituri - Electric Undertow'.

Where possible I have tried to be as faithful as I can to the source comic, but in some cases I have had to extrapolate from only a few details. One change I have made from the comic is including the fall of communism and its effects, which as the comic was begun in 1986, could not have been forseen. Thus the USSR becomes the CIS - though of course, things could have as easily changed, or even reverted by 2050 ! Ideally of course, I would like to be able to check these facts for accuracy by contacting Peter B. Gillis or Brent E. Anderson, or indeed James A. Hudnall. If anyone reads this and knows them, please let them know about it and pass the details of this site on.

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