The Coalition is gearing up to transport players back to the early days of the notorious Locust War with their upcoming Gears of War installment, aptly titled Gears of War: E-Day. Gamers will once again step into the shoes of the legendary duo, Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, as they confront the Locust threat for the very first time. Unlike the more recent entries in the series, this game marks a return to form with the Locust taking center stage as the chilling main villains. However, The Coalition has a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the lore by highlighting one of the lesser-explored factions in the Gears universe—the Union of Independent Republics.
### Understanding the Union of Independent Republics in Gears of War
Much like Earth, Sera’s history evolved from feudal systems to industrial powerhouses and then modern nation-states. The discovery of an energy-rich substance called Imulsion, buried beneath the surface roughly a century before Emergence Day, shifted the industrial focus from traditional fuels like coal and oil. This geographic disparity in accessing Imulsion led some less fortunate nations to join forces, forming the separatist superstate known as the UIR, which squared off against the Imulsion-rich Coalition of Ordered Governments.
For almost eight decades, the bloody Pendulum Wars raged between the COG and UIR, with both sides crafting unique weapons, vehicles, and technology. The UIR notably developed impressive machinery and weaponry, such as turreted APCs, Pariah tanks, Khimera helicopters, and the famous Hammer of Dawn satellites. Ground forces, often referred to as Indies, donned green skull-like armor and wielded distinctive UIR weaponry, forming specialized units like Cosmonauts, Elite, and Sandswept along the way.
### The Decline and Impact of the Union of Independent Republics
A mere two years before Emergence Day, during the conflict at Aspho Fields, COG commandos led by Major Victor Hoffman acquired the UIR’s Hammer of Dawn technology. With Adam Fenix perfecting this technology, the COG threatened the UIR with destruction unless they surrendered. While many UIR nations conceded, some, like the Republic of Gorasnaya, continued their fight until the COG intervened with a Lightmass Missile. The six-week respite from the Pendulum Wars ended abruptly with the Emergence Day tidal wave of destruction, which saw many UIR soldiers join the COG ranks in rebuilding the world through the Open Arms Program.
### The UIR’s Prospective Role in Gears of War: E-Day
In Gears of War: E-Day, as confirmed by Creative Director Matt Searcy, players won’t solely traverse the chaos of Emergence Day. The narrative stretches across several days post-invasion, exploring events leading to the Locust incursion. This timeline allows The Coalition to potentially showcase a significant battle from the Pendulum Wars, juxtaposing the human UIR against the monstrous Locust. Such storytelling could enrich gameplay, giving fresh insights into the UIR’s technology and forces, typically seen only in ruins or detritus in previous games like Gears of War 4 and Gears 5.
By structuring the beginning of E-Day to feature the UIR as initial adversaries, similar to the opening of Gears of War 4, the game could dramatically transition to the Locust’s emergence. This approach might introduce new UIR enemy variants and combat vehicles, further enriching the multiplayer and Horde modes with fresh elements alongside the existing Locust forces. Imagine commanding a UIR Pariah tank during a mission—that’s just one of the engaging scenarios The Coalition could unfold, ensuring players have plenty of incentive to explore the multifaceted world of Gears.
