Uncovering the UIR’s Crucial Role in Gears of War: E-Day!

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In the upcoming mainline Gears of War game, titled Gears of War: E-Day, players will once again be transported back to the start of the Locust War. Here, you’ll assume command over the legendary duo, Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, as they confront the Locust menace for the first time. In contrast to recent Gears installments, the Coalition plans to present the Locust as the primary adversaries in a more terrifying way than before. Additionally, Gears of War: E-Day offers an excellent opportunity for The Coalition to delve deeper into one of the lesser-known factions from the Gears universe: the Union of Independent Republics.

Gears of War’s Union of Independent Republics Explained

On Sera, history closely mirrors that of Earth, with human societies evolving from feudal and monarchical beginnings into industrialized civilizations, eventually becoming contemporary nation-states. Similar to Earth today, Sera’s industry initially relied heavily on coal and oil for energy. However, approximately 100 years before Emergence Day, an underground resource called Imulsion was discovered. Initially used as a pure fuel source, Imulsion quickly became highly sought after by various nations on Sera. Access to Imulsion deposits varied among nations, leading the less fortunate countries to band together and establish the separatist superstate known as the UIR (United Independent Republic), in order to challenge the socialist, Imulsion-rich regime known as the Coalition of Ordered Governments.

Over the past eight decades, I’ve witnessed the fierce battles between the COG and the United Independent Republic (UIR), known as the Pendulum Wars. These conflicts were fueled by the coveted resource Imulsion and control over the planet Sera. Throughout the years, both sides refined their own distinctive arsenals for these wars, including weapons, armor, vehicles, and technologies.

The UIR crafted turreted Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), massive Pariah main-battle tanks, agile Khimera attack helicopters, spacious transport helicopters, rockets for their Space Program, and, most notably, the Hammer of Dawn satellites. On the ground, UIR soldiers, commonly known as Indies, could be spotted in either green skull-like armor or repurposed COG Gear armor painted black. They wielded UIR-made weapons like Markza Rifles and Booshka Grenade Launchers.

The UIR also boasted specialized units such as Cosmonauts, Elite forces, and Sandswept troops, each playing a crucial role in the ongoing struggle for dominance.

The Fall and Legacy of the Union of Independent Republics

Two years prior to Emergence Day, I found myself in the thick of the Battle of Aspho Fields, where a group led by Major Victor Hoffman, under the Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG), made off with Hammer of Dawn tech from the Union of Independent Republics (UIR). Later, my father, Adam Fenix, would refine this technology, using it as a threat to force the UIR into submission. Many UIR nations yielded, but not all; the Republic of Gorasnaya tried to launch their own Hammer of Dawn satellites, only to be halted by a COG Lightmass Missile. The Pendulum Wars ceased for six weeks until the Locust burst forth on Emergence Day, annihilating millions from both the UIR and COG. In the ensuing Locust War, many UIR soldiers joined forces with the COG army through the Open Arms Program, helping rebuild in the aftermath.

A majority of the events from the UIR and the Pendulum Wars are portrayed in the extended content of the Gears of War franchise, including novels like Gears of War: Aspho Fields and the Gears of War comic series published by DC Comics.

The UIR’s Potential Role in Gears of War: E-Day

In a recent confirmation, Matt Searcy, Creative Director for Gears of War: E-Day, has revealed that the game won’t be confined to Emergence Day exclusively, but will span “multiple days” following the Locust invasion. This broader timeframe could allow The Coalition to start the game with one of the final skirmishes from the Pendulum Wars between COG and UIR. By doing so, they can create a stark contrast between the relatively human UIR forces and the terrifying Locust horde. This approach could offer players an opportunity to experience the UIR’s troops, vehicles, and arsenal in authentic gameplay, as their encounters with the UIR military have been mostly limited to rusted remnants in Gears of War 4 and Gears 5 so far.

In the opening stages of a potential game titled “Gears of War: E-Day“, the narrative could mirror that of “Gears of War 4” by having the UIR serve as initial enemies for several chapters or segments, before the Locust emerge as the primary antagonists on Emergence Day. Introducing the UIR in this manner would provide a chance to showcase more facets of their military, introducing new enemy types and hostile vehicles. The protagonists, Fenix and Santiago, might even commandeer a Pariah tank at some point during the campaign, giving players their first taste of using a UIR vehicle. These newly introduced UIR enemies and vehicles could then be incorporated into “E-Day“‘s multiplayer PVP and Horde Mode, adding variety to the mix and ensuring both Locust and UIR forces are well-represented, offering numerous benefits to this hypothetical addition.

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2025-02-24 01:04