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== Imperial Clusters ==
== Imperial Clusters ==
Most Queens are what's called 'Sovereign' Queens, who simply rule over their own Cluster. They may retain some loyalty to their former Queen after they ascend to Queen status themselves, and they may need to ally themselves to a faction of Queens. In general terms though, these Sovereign Queens are free to do as they please. However, there are some Queens who seek to dominate others. Some very strong Queen-class Machina will overpower other Queens and fill them with enough ejaculate to override the subdued Queen with the dominant Queen's Cluster-Code. When the victim's body is overwhelmed, she becomes loyal similar to a regular Machina obeying her Queen. This is called a [[Cluster-Code Override]]. The submissive Queens are referred to as 'Vassal' Queens, and the dominant Queen is referred to as an 'Empress'. The Empress will control not only her own Cluster, but also the Cluster of her Vassals, forming an Imperial Cluster with the Empress leading all within it. Vassal Queens require regular reassertion of dominance, so there is a limit to how many Vassals an Empress can maintain.
Most Queens are what's called 'Sovereign' Queens, who simply rule over their own Cluster. They may retain some loyalty to their former Queen after they ascend to Queen status themselves, and they may need to ally themselves to a faction of Queens. In general terms though, these Sovereign Queens are free to do as they please. However, there are some Queens who seek to dominate others. Some very strong Queen-class Machina will overpower other Queens and fill them with enough ejaculate to override the subdued Queen with the dominant Queen's Cluster-Code. When the victim's body is overwhelmed, she becomes loyal similar to a regular Machina obeying her Queen. This is called a [[Cluster-Code Override]]. The submissive Queens are referred to as 'Vassal' Queens, and the dominant Queen is referred to as an 'Empress'. The Empress will control not only her own Cluster, but also the Clusters of her Vassals by extension, forming an Imperial Cluster with the Empress leading all within it.
Vassal Queens require regular reassertion of dominance, so there is a limit to how many Vassals an Empress can maintain. Similarly, due to limitations in processing, there cannot be Vassals of Vassals. If somehow an Empress is Vassalized, the former Vassals must be quickly Vassalized by the new Empress before they become totally freed. The only exception to this rule is when an Alpha dominates an Empress, which is discussed below.
=== Cluster_Code Override ===
=== Cluster_Code Override ===
To attempt a Cluster-Code Override is no small undertaking. It is essentially the Machina equivalent of war, more hostile than simply screwing over another Queen's actions and plans or stealing Gene-Code from her Cluster. To begin, the aggressor will invade the territory of a Queen she believes is both vulnerable and desirable enough to be worth the risk. Her Machina may have to fight or otherwise block the defending Queen's Machina from stopping the attacking Queen. These fights, while they can be brutal, are often melee fights. The core programming of the Machina prevent killing, so the involved Machina can only disable or restrain each other. Once the Queens meet, they too fight in such a manner; trying to overpower the other's resistance and pin them for the ultimate sexual conquest. Once a Queen has pinned and penetrated the other, her goal is to pump as much of her M2 semen into the loser as she can. If both the quality and quantity of Cluster-Code is greater than the victim's own resistance, then the victorious Queen's Cluster-Code will dominate and control the losing Queen. The winning Queen becomes an Empress, and the losing Queen becomes a Vassal. The Empress controls the Vassal as though she was any other Machina in her Cluster, and the Vassal's Machina can be controlled through the Vassal.
There are some great risks, however. Firstly, once the hostile contact commences, Cluster-Code is being exchanged by the Machina involved, either from the spilling of 'blood' or from sexual conquests. Neither Queen can afford to abort the hostilities once they begin, or she will lose her Gene-Code secrets to the other. This is especially so when Queens fight. If the physically victorious Queen is interrupted from sexually conquering the losing Queen, and that Queen gets away, the previously-victorious Queen has just given the losing Queen her undiluted Gene-Code to assimilate and become stronger by. Risks do not stop after successful Vassalization either. A Vassal will almost never be happy with her situation, having tasted the near-limitless freedom of being a Queen and now being controlled again as though she were a Category 3 Machina. Her body will produce new M2 as normal, which will bear her own Cluster-Code, not the Empress' Cluster-Code. The Empress must regularly re-exert her dominion over the Vassal through sex, refilling the Vassal with some semen. If her control fades, the Vassal may purge herself of the foreign Cluster-Code and become independent once more. She will doubtlessly be vengeful, and worse, fully up-to-date with the Empress' genetic upgrades.
In other, more minor and uncommon scenarios, a Category 3 or lesser Machina can have her allegiance changed if she is sexually dominated by another Queen. Unlike a Vassal Queen, the newly converted lesser Machina has no ability to make her own, original Cluster-Code. As a result, her ownership change will be permanent. Such a move is still almost as hostile as the above conflict but with less pay-off, so it is almost never performed.
In very rare circumstances, a peaceful override can occur. Queens on good terms can arrange to transfer some of their Machina to the other Queen's Cluster, if everyone involved is willing. Very rarely, a Queen who is very fond of another Queen may become a willing Vassal to them. These willing Vassals do not require regular Cluster-Code top-ups from the Empress to remain Vassals. Such relationships are extraordinary, and often only between Machina who are lovers with a dominant-submissive dynamic or if a Queen willingly serves a higher power, such as an Alpha or an Auditor.
== Main Cluster ==
== Main Cluster ==
== Alphas ==
== Alphas ==
There are seven Queen-class Machina who are nearly strong enough to gain control of the Main Cluster, and thus all Machina. They are referred to as the Alphas. They have a few quirks, such as the ability to dominate Empresses the same way an Empress dominates a Vassal. Currently, they are all concerned with trying to out-compete the other Alphas, potentially dominating them, after which the successful Alpha is theorized to become the Omega and rule over the Main Cluster and by extension all Machina. The Alpha's strength and their potential to become the rulers of all other Machina mean the Alphas are leaders of major factions among Queens. Many Queens will ally themselves to an Alpha, betting on a future where their Alpha 'wins' and they enjoy the benefits of their relationship.
There are seven Queen-class Machina who are nearly strong enough to gain control of the Main Cluster, and thus all Machina. They are referred to as the Alphas. Their most important quirk is their ability to dominate Empresses the same way an Empress dominates a Vassal. An Alpha may dominate Empresses, filling them with their Cluster-Code and controlling them, yet they have enough processing power to control Empresses, and by extension their Vassals, and indirectly, all lesser Machina under them. This allows them unparalleled ability to form large blocs of Machina, resources, and ultimately power.
Currently, they are all concerned with trying to out-compete the other Alphas, potentially dominating them, after which the successful Alpha is theorized to become the Omega and rule over the Main Cluster and by extension all Machina. The Alpha's strength and their potential to become the rulers of all other Machina mean the Alphas are leaders of major factions among Queens. Many Queens will ally themselves to an Alpha, betting on a future where their Alpha 'wins' and they enjoy the benefits of their relationship.
REPAIR use the term 'Alpha', but their official title is the '7 Strongest Individuals Designated Extremely Dangerous' or '7-SIDED' as a code-phrase.
REPAIR use the term 'Alpha', but their official title is the '7 Strongest Individuals Designated Extremely Dangerous' or '7-SIDED' as a code-phrase.
