502:, the ship's computer. He controlled the ship's other systems, and interacted with the crew via a 'mouthpiece': an anthropomorphic avatar that originally resembled a court jester, but an ion storm damaged his personality tapes, turning him into a hippie. Following a three-hour flirtation with pacifism, Smith and Loon were able to persuade him to resume normal service. His avatar was redesigned to suit his new personality, but his behaviour remained erratic and his dialogue peppered with underground jargon. His avatar was also capable of using weapons, as shown when he helps the crew fend off a horde of young Geeks armed with two pistols. He is presumably 'killed' when the original V.C. ship is destroyed above the Geek homeworld.
487:. The main protagonist of the series. An 'earthworm' (derogatory term used by colonists for all those born on Earth) who signed on as a new recruit. Assigned to replace the late Crick, much to the chagrin of his new crewmates. Being an 'earthworm', he is near-universally disliked by his new crewmates- especially Ringer, who has a hatred for worms and tries to provoke him at every turn. He finally starts to toughen up and gain respect when Earth is bombed by the Geeks, killing his family. During the assault on Geek space he retrained as a star-scout. He played a pivotal role in the first Geek War by destroying Geek High Command. General Moore promoted him to
515:. Members of the Diplomatic Corps were all called 'dishwashers' and were universally despised by the star-troopers for their cowardly demeanor and futile attempts to reason with the Geeks. One unnamed member of this group took command of the Terran reprisal fleet sent to end the first Geek war. Sadistic, cowardly and arrogant, he quickly came to hate the V.C.s, and sought to kill them by sending them on a series of suicide missions that blinded Jupe; sent Ringer mad and claimed the lives of Dwarf Star, Hen-Sho and Loon. He aided the Geeks when they infiltrated his flagship, tried to kill Smith to cover his tracks, but was decapitated by Ringer's kill-disc.
459:. The ship was attacked by the Geeks and was forced to make a jump to hyperspace to escape; but the hyperspace jump affected the colonists. Though the ship reached Neptune, Dwarf Star and his identical twin brother Midge were born deformed, with "no hair, strange eyes and mis-shapen faces". In the course of the story Smith is forced to fire on Midge's ship which had been captured by Geeks, killing Midge and souring relations between himself and Dwarf Star. Dwarf Star was flushed into space when a barrage from a Geek ambush force cracked open his gun turret, sacrificing himself to seal the door and save the rest of the ship.
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this as an opportunity, and a Geek armada attacks every major colony in the system, including Mars and Earth. After this, a counterattack is launched against the Geek homeworld by the
Dishwashers. Following a preliminary attack on what was thought to be the Geeks' home planet, the V.C.s disobey orders by going down to the planet to save a platoon of 'green' soldiers. The 'Dishwasher' in charge perceives this as a slight, and gives the V.C.s punishment by sending them on near-suicidal duties. Much in the style of
445:. He takes an instant dislike to Smith and becomes his main adversary, attacking him multiple times and even attempting to kill him once. He was driven insane after a Geek torture session and remains unfit for duty until Smith rescues him on the flagship. An expert with the 'kill-disc', a Saturnian powered weapon capable of decapitating its target. He demonstrated this weapon's effectiveness on the Dishwasher, slicing his head off at short range. He took a las-beam meant for Smith and died seconds later.
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soldiers, appearing identical to human eyes but for a distinguishing pheromone. A Geek general is recognisable by its swollen cranium and facial tentacles, suggesting that it and others like it are bred for heightened intelligence and advanced tactical planning. Some Geeks are bred solely for the purpose of breeding; they are sent into ships as kamikaze troops, laying dozens of eggs at the moment of death in order to overwhelm the enemy with their young.
641:. In the new stories Smith, now a major, is a veteran of the first Human-Geek war who leads a squad of raw recruits when a new war breaks out between the two races just as Earth is on the verge of joining the Polity, a galactic alliance of species. It was later revealed that "The Polity" was behind both wars. At the end of Book V, the Humans finally negotiated a deal with the Geeks.
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435:, which has been colonised by the Chinese. Hen-Sho has a highly evolved code of honour. A skilled martial artist, excelling in the use of the las-lance. While on a mission to locate the Geek homeworld in a stolen Geek ship, he was mortally wounded by shrapnel from a shipboard explosion. He evacuated Smith and Loon to the two remaining lifepods and died when the ship was destroyed.
603:, has just completed his training and signed on with the Global Combat Corps as a star-trooper, but is quickly thrown in at the deep end: he is assigned to the hard-bitten crew of a space patrol ship crewed by the "Vacuum Cleaners" or V.C.s for short; so called because of their penchant for clean kills, with little to no debris. The twist is that Smith is the only
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611:, often being physically adapted to alien environments, and having little love for 'Ma Earth'. A major theme of this series is the antagonism between the crew (often racially motivated), particularly towards the "earthworm" Smith; and Smith's struggle for acceptance by the crew. Like many war stories, there is a high mortality rate amongst the main characters.
658:. They have spread to the rest of the Solar System, colonising the many planets, moons and planetoids within the influence of their sun. A belligerent, persistent and aggressive species, they have risen to each challenge presented by their dozens of new homes, building stations, fortresses and cities wherever the space can be found, and even undergoing
425:, giving him a huge physical presence and above normal strength. During the fight on the Geeks' fake homeworld, he is blinded by the light from the binary stars above, and is taken off active duty. A hardened fighter, being blinded did little to dull his fighting edge and he was still capable of snapping a Geek's neck with his bare hands.
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The V.C.s are regarded with contempt by the Earth-led high command, but are acknowledged as the best crew in the fleet. Eventually, the
Diplomatic Corps (known as 'dishwashers') recalls most of the fleet back to the colonies in an effort to show the Geeks that they mean peace. However, the Geeks take
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for disorderly conduct, which left him mentally unstable. He had a tendency to giggle inanely; Loon was also prone to carrying a teddy bear (much to the annoyance of Dwarf Star) and occasionally covering himself in war paint and going on a murderous rampage. He is killed by a Geek fighter-craft on a
709:
The Geeks first became involved in human history when they waged war on humanity during the early 26th century. The resultant interstellar war affected every one of the burgeoning colony worlds in the Solar System held by the humans. Notable victories scored by the Geeks during this first space war
705:
Geeks have an emphasis on controlled breeding, which pervades their culture and tactics. Many Geeks are predestined for one role or another; the circumstances of their creation generating specific physical characteristics. They are several different kinds or castes of Geek: the most common serve as
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to better adapt to their worlds. A great deal of animosity that shares elements of both racism and national pride exists between the colonists and the humans that chose to remain on Earth. Smith, upon encountering the V.C.s, observed in his diary that his comrades were all 'half-castes', while his
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and experienced field officer of the Global Combat Corps, respected by all the star troopers for his record and perseverance. Forced to play second fiddle to the 'Dishwasher', he nonetheless helps Smith and Jupe rescue the rookie soldiers on the Geeks' fake homeworld. Later assumed command of the
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During the first war, they often used guerrilla tactics and traps against the humans, rather than straightforward warfare. Whilst they can and do engage in battle, they are far more fond of weakening the enemy first and then going in for the kill afterwards. Examples of their tactics include:
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this results in a high fatality rate and over the course of the series all of the V.C.s save Smith and Jupe are killed off. Ultimately Smith, the sole member of the original V.C.s who remains fighting fit, leads a heroic attack on the Geek homeworld that ends the war.
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Constructing hives inside asteroids; when activated with a special signal, thousands of Geek young are released to attack. This trap nearly overwhelmed the V.C.s until Smith figured out their control vector and got
Brother to send a countersignal, disorienting
663:
father, upon seeing Jupe on a vid-screen was surprised to see a 'real, live Jovian' and described him as an 'ugly-lookin' fish'. Conversely, the V.C.s, all colonists from different worlds, often used the term 'earthworm' to describe Smith and his compatriots.
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and he was prone to hallucinations, haunted by visions of his dead comrades. By the beginning of the second series, his military career has finished and he works as a janitor, but when the second war starts he is quick to sign up
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Capturing a ship and its crew and forcing the crew to lure others into a killzone; this was tried with Midge's ship, but he managed to get a coded message through to the V.C.s in time for them to react.
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to the highest bidder exterminating entire species. They have highly advanced military technology that can destroy an Earth ship with their
760:(this means "murderous pink-skins of Earth"). They are capable of speaking English, but this is only shown by leaders of the Geek military.
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586:, the new 'missile man' despite being a woman. Another new recruit from the lunar colonies but tougher (and madder) than Hoff
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for his actions, and he rose to the rank of major between the first and second series. The effects of the first war gave him
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such as the Naxon to fight their wars. It is also revealed that any species within their empire are
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Using a lake on an otherwise desert planet as cover in order to ambush troops landing on the planet.
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and the ship's port gunner. His family was attacked by the Geeks while on a colony ship bound for
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so much that they now believe that they are unable or unsuited to fight, they have to rely on
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series that first appeared in the
British science fiction
1058:"Old Soldiers" (by Dan Abnett and Anthony Williams, in
1065:"Mail Call" (by Dan Abnett and Anthony Williams, in
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397:later the series at Book 5 with the help of artist
670:, tightening their grasp over their Solar System.
535:When the team was reformed new members included:
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599:species known as "Geeks". Steve Smith, a raw
930:(3–4, 6,-7, 10–13, 16–20, 23–24 and 27) and
982:"Escher's Well" (with Anthony Williams, in
521:, second-in-command of Task Force Titan. A
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1028:"E & E" (with Anthony Williams, in
1014:"Bystander" (with Anthony Williams, in
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34:Cover to the first trade paperback, by
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1007:"Tickover" (with Anthony Williams, in
373:No. 140 – 178 (1979–1980). Written by
1000:"Shotgun" (with Anthony Williams, in
926:(2, 5, 8–9, 14–15, 21–22 and 25–26),
825:to assassinate the Apologist leader.
821:talks and enlisted the help of Naxon
1110:at the Comic Book DB (archived from
1053:Prog 2004 and #1371–1379, 2003–2004)
1042:"Charon" (with Anthony Williams, in
1035:"M.I.A." (with Anthony Williams, in
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1021:"Green" (with Anthony Williams, in
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938:#140–175, 1979–1980, collected in
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1069:#1486–1495, 2006)
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399:Anthony Williams
375:Gerry Finley-Day
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302:Anthony Williams
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769:The Polity
756:, becomes
748:, becomes
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631:Dan Abnett
576:, the new
574:Tommy Hoff
449:Dwarf Star
405:Characters
395:Dan Abnett
362:future war
348:1905437978
272:Dan Abnett
169:#1486–1495
164:#1432–1441
134:#1330–1331
109:#1300–1306
43:Created by
1108:The V.C.s
1102:The V.C.s
1088:Prog 1486
905:The V.C.s
896:strip in
894:eponymous
791:amusement
578:starboard
556:colonies.
357:The V.C.s
278:Artist(s)
260:Writer(s)
119:Prog 2003
59:Publisher
22:The V.C.s
815:sabotage
738:phonemes
727:Ganymede
308:Reprints
244:Hen-Sho
104:#140–175
95:Title(s)
74:Schedule
64:Fleetway
1067:2000 AD
1060:2000 AD
1051:2000 AD
1044:2000 AD
1037:2000 AD
1030:2000 AD
1023:2000 AD
1016:2000 AD
1009:2000 AD
1002:2000 AD
995:2000 AD
984:2000 AD
977:2000 AD
936:2000 AD
898:2000 AD
874:natives
872:of the
837:A Naxon
795:evolved
627:2000 AD
601:recruit
554:Neptune
500:Brother
457:Neptune
429:Hen-Sho
423:Jupiter
370:2000 AD
246:Ringer
200:English
188:2000 AD
178:Formats
167:2000 AD
162:2000 AD
157:2000 AD
152:2000 AD
147:2000 AD
142:2000 AD
137:2000 AD
132:2000 AD
127:2000 AD
122:2000 AD
117:2000 AD
112:2000 AD
107:2000 AD
102:2000 AD
964:
946:
865:Polity
857:at 100
855:shield
811:Humans
787:aliens
716:Phobos
562:, the
523:cyborg
496:again.
453:mutant
443:Saturn
439:Ringer
360:was a
346:
330:
77:Weekly
993:, in
975:, in
922:(1),
882:Earth
847:Keege
829:Naxon
819:peace
807:spies
803:slave
695:them.
650:Human
605:Earth
597:alien
584:Tycho
560:Keege
474:Crick
366:comic
206:Genre
154:#1335
149:#1334
144:#1333
139:#1332
129:#1329
124:#1328
114:#1327
962:ISBN
956:(by
944:ISBN
914:and
878:Geek
863:The
817:the
750:Geek
674:Geek
591:Plot
564:port
540:Kali
467:Moon
463:Loon
451:, a
433:Mars
419:Jupe
389:and
344:ISBN
328:ISBN
250:Loon
240:Jupe
231:2006
227:1979
185:(s)
740:as
550:Ryx
1124::
907::
900::
401:.
393:.
385:,
1114:)
950:)
859:%
729:.
546:.
191:.
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