Encounter #20 Rich Five

[ArmySGT.]

Name: Rich Five
Geographical Location: 3 and 4
H&M Average:5
H&M Range n/a
Number found : 5
Tech Level: A
Power / Resources : Equal to the Project but, not as widespread.
Weapons: Any Modern including limited amounts of lasers.
Special Attributes: Highly developed empire far outnumbering the Morrow Projects personnel.

The Rich Five are the survivors of a group of five Industrialists who had been frozen before the War along with portions of their empires. They have gathered a following and are building a city in the Kentucky highlands. They are a slave culture and are easily insulted.

More is made of this encounter group in "Bullets and Bluegrass" and "Fall Back!" to create a more powerful arch nemesis for the Morrow Project and counter the Projects high technology.

As I envision it these are the things holding back the Rich Five:

• Limitations. Restrictions imposed on their minions by the Rich Five. The do not want to be usurped.

• Raw materials. They can build anything but, many not have the ore or the refined materials to make something in a large quantity.

• Manpower. They have a lot of territory and a need to work it, police it, and protect it. Hence the use of slaves. The Five might even be withholding tractors as hard labor keeps the lower classes to busy and hungry to think about rebellion. Then there is loyalty something the Five would require before imparting to much knowledge and equipment on a underling.

• Infighting. They all want to stay in power and be the most powerful. This contention is diverting resources that could go to reconstruction or conquest of more territory.

• Predation. External forces are taking, raiding, or preventing enough activities that the expansion of the KFS is slowed or stalled.