Norts
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Norts are a fictional fascist enemy from Rogue Trooper, a science fiction strip in the British comic book 2000 AD, who are fighting the Southers. They were mainly responsible for the Quartz Massacre. The Traitor General was briefly allied with them.
[edit] History
In a war which broke out on Earth, Germany and Russia formed a large empire stretching from Asia to Central Europe and entered into an unstable alliance with the Southers. Germany's and Russia's armies colonised planets deep inside the Souther Confederacy's space, and formed a political party known as The Nordland Party, and their men became known as Norts. Both Norts and Southers colonised Nu-Earth when it was discovered. The early Nort colonists lived in the desert and tamed its wild animals. Years later, when it was discovered that black holes led to other parts of the Galaxy, tensions mounted between both sides. Eventually the Norts declared attacked Fort Neuropa, starting the Nu-Earth Future war. By the time of the story, the atmosphere of Nu-Earth is heavily poisoned by war gases and cannot be breathed except by the Rogue Trooper; all others in the open must wear chemsuits.
[edit] Realpolitik storyline
In the "Realpolitik" storyline, War Marshal Zell travels to Nu-Earth after hearing of his son's death. He releases Kapitan Arkhan from prison with the intention of capturing and killing his son's killer, the Rogue Trooper. When Arkham fails the mission, Zell orders Nu-Earth to be captured and sends all available troops there. Eventually, Zell's Inner Circle begin to plot against him, believing he has gone mad due to his son's death. They capture Rogue Trooper and order him to assassinate Zell. Arkhan discovers the plot and executes the chief plotters. Meanwhile, Rogue's contact in the base (who is a Double agent) betrays him, resulting in her death. Arkham then contacts Rogue and orders him to continue the mission. After Rogue successfully finishes the mission, he is captured, but is soon released by Arkhan after Arkhan is promoted to War Marshal. Before the newly promoted marshal leaves Nu-Earth, he orders the remnants of the plotters to be executed.
[edit] Military
Nort Military have formed many units and war machines. In addition to Military police, pay corps, Intelligence, scientists, medics and Bioware Units, the Norts also have at their disposal:
- Base Commanders
- Chem-sisters
- Dust Devils
- EMP troops
- Filth Columists (Undercover agents)
- Genetic Experiments (Apes that can survive in poisonous atmosphere)
- Infantry
- Kashan Legions (Nordland's Elite)
- Kashar Legions (Nort warriors)
- Lazooka troops
- Motar troops
- Nagan Legions (Penal troops)
- Navy Sergeant
- Sailors
- Scum Legions (Formed by Admiral Torpitz and disbanded after the Fort Neuropa Campaign)
- Scum Marines (Named after the Scum Sea)
- Sergeants
- Shotgun troops
- Snipers
- Space pirates
- Sun Legions (Hang glider troops)
- Stammel Riders
- Vroogmen (Divers)
- Snow troopers
Their war machines have included:
- Amoks (large robots)
- Blackmares (Giant tanks)
- Decapitators
- Dream Weavers (Horrific illusions)
- Drill Probes
- Foils (carrying missiles)
- Hell Cannon
- Hellstreaks
- Attack Hoppers
- Deploy Hoppers
- Lamprey Assault Ship
- Missile Bomber
- Nort Heavy Support Armour
- Nort Tactical Armour
- Patrol Boats
- Pillboxes
- Porcupine (Particle-Accelerated Armour-Piercing Sabot Micro-Rounds)
- Ro-Rats (On Horst Only)
- Seed Ships (carrying Decapitators)
- Submarines
Numerous allies have included:
- Drom
- Winged bats
- Amphibious crabs
- Rhino Subspecies
Other:
- Marauders (Bandits from both sides. Briefly led by the Traitor General)
- Ghouls (Deserters from both sides who live on what salvage they find)
- Body looters (Auction what battlefield salvage they find for a high price)
- Mr. Bland and Mr. Brass (Famous body looters)
[edit] Equipment
Their usual chemsuit has a soft hood, often with a low blunt-pointed top, hiding the wearer's face completely except small round eye-holes, and two large backpack air or oxygen cylinders. Two wide breathing tubes run, one from the top of each cylinder over the shoulders and run into the hood beside his mouth and nose. The design was likely inspired by the old-type open-circuit aqualung, but with the very common comic-book error described here. In some episodes this set has an extra smaller cylinder on the back of the two main cylinders, likely imitated from U.S.Army flamethrowers.
[edit] Well-known Norts
Well-known Norts include:
- General Doenz - The Supreme Commander
- War Marshal Zell (Killed and replaced by Arkhan)
- The Grand Marshal (on Horst)
- Admiral Torpitz - Naval Commander
- General Vagner - Army Commander
- The Traitor General (The Souther responsible for the destruction of the G.I.s)
- Morgen (Ex-Nort sniper for the "Marauders")
- Commandant Marvin - Sun Legion Commander
- Marshal Mooler - Scum Marine Commander
- War Marshal Arkhan (High ranking Nort Commander)
[edit] Trivia
- They were inspired by the Northerner Unionists from the American Civil War and the Nazis from World War II.
- The Norts' protective suits (showing only the eyes) reinforce the "Bad Guy" delineation.
- They often say "Stak!" when either surprised or dismayed.
