Introduction
February 7th, 1945
Eight months ago, Allied Forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. This event would be remember throughout history as D-Day. To some, that nomenclature might inspire visions of doomsday and destruction, but in fact the name had the specific military purpose of keeping the day and hour of the Normandy attacks a secret.
The Allies weren't the only ones with secrets.
Far from the cold, snow patched shores of France, thousands of kilometers, continents and oceans away, sits the even colder wasteland of Antarctica. Here, in the Nazi claimed territory of New Swabia, work had been underway for years on a project that many party elites were even unaware of. This project, perhaps some sort of Doomsday weapon of some kind, was so tightly kept a secret that few people beyond Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler had any clue to its existence.
And since February 7th, it has remained a secret. The exact fate of the project that had been underway here is unclear, even to Western and Eastern intelligence services.
The only thing that is known is that since 1945, the world has seen the appearance of people with special abilities and powers. The papers, comics, and general public itself, had an easy time coming up with several names for these kinds of people, but the most generally accepted name is Superheroes.
March 11th, 2045
The end of the Second World War lead to the birth of a new one, the Cold War, a war that should have ended decades ago, but has been kept alive and well through a nearly century long arms race. Nuclear power and weapons, the space race, and other technological advancements have been important focuses, but all have been nearly eclipsed by the struggle to crack the secrets of how Superheroes are made, and how states (and even corporations or nefarious organizations) could manufacture them themselves.
With nearly thirty million superheroes around the world, monumental achievements have been made, from contributions to science and technology, art and literature, peacekeeping, and generally keeping average civilians safe. For the average person today, it's a good time to be alive. The stock market is strong, unemployment rates are low, safety in the workplace is standard, and the average person in wealthier countries enjoys a fairly high standard of living.
America is still a super power, Japan and South Korea have become technological marvels, India a major manufacturer, and Singapore acting as a sort of new Hong Kong, an Asian New York.
Even Communist countries like the USSR and China, who have undergone some political and economic turmoil in past year (with the USSR losing several of its states and satellite states to succession), recovery has been well underway, and their influence in global politics is being felt once again. Despite the fact that the embers of old rivalries are beginning to glow once more, it is an optimistic time to be alive.
Then again... Now more than ever is the race for greater Superheroes underway. The one century anniversary of Germany's surrender in World War Two is approaching, but a question remains to be answered: Has the world learned the lessons of that time?
And for that matter, what should be made of the shadowy government organizations rumored to exist? Operating in ways alleged to be outside of the laws of their own countries? And the corporations, secret societies and villainous groups plotting to enact some dark purposes on unsuspecting innocents?
There are secrets out there, things hiding under the surface of calm waters. You're sure to find answers once you've looked within, but the greatest question is, what will you find....
Setting
Welcome to Atlas City, North Carolina, the Birthplace of the first Man Made Fusion Reaction! That's right, stepping onto these hallowed grounds, either as a visitor, a new resident, or a life longer, you are stepping into the pages of history itself!
You already know the story, how in 1998, the famous hero, Atlas, helped American and Allied Scientists create the conditions necessary to achieve the FIRST Man Made fusion reaction! This discovery has begun to propel us into a new age of scientific discovery, advancement, and adventure! As you also know, the secret didn't stay secret for long. This mighty achievement was not easy, even for a hero as incredible as Atlas, so it became necessary for the researchers to expand their studies and experiments.
Thus, in 2002, Atlas City was officially incorporated, and new residents have been streaming in ever since! With a population of 873'000 people, Atlas City has been a fast growing Metropolis filled with career opportunities in Fusion Energy, Oil and Gas, Medical Research, Technology and Electronics, Construction, Shipping and Transportation, and of course, Tourism.
World Class hotels, fine restaurants, and gorgeous beaches make Atlas City one of the greatest American cities to live in, or visit. Swimming and surfing, boating, fishing, hiking, shopping, and so much more awaits you! And with a burgeoning economy and housing market, you don't just have to visit Atlas City, you can move here! Houses and apartments of all sizes and price ranges exist, and with plenty of highly prized job opportunities, this is the perfect place to make a life!
Note: We do advise that visitors avoid the Old Industrial and Southwest parts of town. These areas are considered unsafe for tourists or wandering citizens, so we advise caution or avoidance.
Atlas City also acts as a monument to the achievements of both average humans, and of supers, a testament to what we are capable of when we come together as one. The brilliance of our scientists, and the hard work and gifts of Atlas himself, helped us to reach one of humanities greatest scientific achievements. Sadly, Atlas passed away in 2012, leaving behind tremendous contributions to America, and indeed the world. He will be eternally memorialized in this great city. But his story doesn't end there.
Many more secrets remain to be discovered in fusion energy, and Atlas City is still very much at the cutting edge of it. Supers and Non-Supers are in demand for jobs in almost every industry here, whether its following in Atlas's footsteps in fusion research, or helping to build the city in one of hundreds of construction projects, or working in oil extraction. And of course, good work is rewarded with high pay, Atlas City boasting some of the highest wages on the East Coast!
The great legacy Atlas has left behind for all of us continues to inspire supers and average Americans to come together here, to build our bright future! There's high demand for skilled super and non-super workers, in nearly every This is a city where anyone can make their dreams come true, where they can achieve a new American Dream, and where by your skills, and the sweat of your brow, you can find greatness too!
Note: If you witness any Super related crimes, Villains, or suspicious activity, please call 911 and ask for Police or S.I.N.S. Agency (Supers Intelligence for National Security).
Taking place in...
Atlas City our primary setting
A city on the front line of innovation, science, industry, and heroism! A growing community, helping build a better future for everyone!
The Story So Far... Write a Post » as written by 15 authors
"Mind if I try?" he started, throwing a few disks across the gap between the highrises. If an enemy was there, displacing them out of time should render whatever cloaking they were using useless. There between flickers of time dilation, the pair could make out what looked to be a robot? it was a brief view as the disks short-circuited, there was likely an EMP field emitting from the robot but it was enough time to see what they were up against.
"There's your sniper, any ideas?" he took a stance to ready himself for the chase he expected was coming.
Setting
0.00 INK
Egypt
The flight from London to Cairo was ten hours. The jeep ride from the city's outskirts was only three. The jeep ride felt longer. A long trek through rural Egypt. All so they could plunge into the depths of the desert. There were four of them. Fortune hunters. An anthropologist. And then there was him.
He lead the trek, he knew the old routes. He took them far beyond the sprawling cities, well beyond any veneer of civilization. Cairo soon became a blip on the map as small as any grain of sand. Their only compass as the Nile as they wound along it's path like a sidewinder, in silence. Each passing town quickly became more rural then metropolitan as the distance between them grew sparser and sparser.
The sun began to set, reflecting in red across the vast stretch of water before they reached their destination. He was the first to step out, sandaled feet alighting with Earth. He was the first to be greeted, but only in a whisper.
"Piaulef."
They knew old ways here. Didn't practice them but they knew. These people were smart. They knew where that road often lead.
"Aben Ecgetheow."
"Khadhani iliha," he replied back to them, eyes imperceptible due to the slick pair of shades strewn across his face. They knew him even with the tagelmust wrapped around his head. Their eyes glared past the cloth, past the flesh. They glared directly into the soul. Seeing his intent, they nodded and led him up a hill as he was reluctantly followed by his three companions. The villagers payed him little heed until they saw where he was heading. A small secluded hut behind a row of houses atop the hill. Barely visible unless one was looking for it. Maybe only visible if one were looking for it.
He pushed through the veil, greeting an old woman smiling upwards at a small desk full of trinkets. She lifted one up, a golden badge in the shape of a bull and offered it to him. But they both knew he had no interest in such things. "Al-katib al-mofqud...I want the book," he stated in a low growl.
"Have you decided to finally lay yourself to rest?" the old woman replied, in English after a moment. "Do you need instruction?"
"We ALL will!" He shot back. "If we're not careful. If and when the world turns on it's head again. That book's the key to somethin'. All you gotta do is let me take a look."
The woman studied him for a moment. Quietly, she gave a nod and walked behind her desk towards a small window, that faced opposite the stone wall her tiny house had been built against. While it didn't offer much a of a view, what it had in store was so much more. She pulled down the tassel and the entire wall fell downwards, folding into a short staircase that lead directly towards a cavernous pit.
He took no fear as he stepped forward into the abyss, those that followed him, tiptoeing behind with far more reluctance. He drew a lighter from his coat and used it to set the torches laying on the walls ablaze. The sight they were greeted with was one not once recorded in the annals of history. Two stone rings the size of minivans, spiraling against each other intertwined in midair.
In their center was not written word was the script. Words Emerging Forth Into Light. He began to reach out toward it, but thought better fairly quickly. all eyes were on him now. And when he read, his eyes widened. "What came before would come once again? Nothing set in stone, no crowns no kingdoms. Just a banner..." he stopped reading suddenly and turned to face the old woman. "On second thought...I'mma need to take this with me."
"As for keeping my secrets Vicky, I'm not really worried about any of that. You don't seem the sort to burn bridges with friends, and I think you might be looking for some right now. Some resourceful, well connected friends."
Richard stared down the glistening air, noticing a red dot now trained on him. "Carlisle? Oh he's my grandfather figure." He remarked sardonically to the sniper. Richard's right hand was tensing up, readying up as he responded again. "As for how many of us he's got around, that's need to know information. And you don't need to know. Though I have to ask; who hired you to kill some random, old billionaire, and why?"
Before an answer could be given, time began to skew around the sniper. Klaus had arrived, and not a moment too soon. "Appreciate the help! Now as for ideas..." Richard paused, finally being able to see glimpses of the enemy. A robot? Seriously? This was beyond anything he expected... But not something he was going to be any more intimated by.
"I've got a few." Richard grinned as the red dot swayed slightly. He flicked something with his right hand, and the red dot quickly separated into thousands of directions as it shone through a piece of glassy ice. Taking a dive to the side, Richard fired off a few shots at the robot, before tucking and rolling into cover. A few shots silently rang out from the sniper, but while Klaus made a few attacks of his own, Richard came back around in a full charge at his steely foe.
George nodded stoically to Henry, though his eyes showed a certain dread, the realization of how precious a commodity time was, and how forces were now at play that sought to rob him of as much of it as possible. "We'll need to contact the others. Richard is going to try to subdue the shooter, but you're right, we need to get out of the city. I think it's finally time we made that trip out to sea..."
THUD
CRACK
Richard's body slammed into a sheet of reinforced, skylight glass, causing the whole piece to buckle and crack. He gasped silently, his whole back searing in pain from where it connected with the skylight, his chest contracted and unable to move, incapable of taking in any air. Gripping onto the side of the angled surface, he steadied himself enough to roll off of the glass and onto the layer of concrete that made up the roof of an entirely different skyscraper. The fight had gone unexpectedly wrong when the assassin grabbed Richard and threw him from the roof of the Galliant building, and onto whichever building he was on now.
His whole body shook violently as the realization came over him of just how close to death he had been. The assassin made a miscalculation, a mistake. Had he thrown him in a different direction, or with less strength, it would have been pavement Richard was landing on. Finally, his chest managed to release from its contraction, and deep, shaky breaths returned to him as he gulped up as much air as his lungs could handle.
Laying prone, resting his forearms on the ground for support, Richard slowly rolled himself over onto his aching back, gazing unsteadily into the bright blue sky above him. There was rapid, unintelligible chatter come through his comms device, something about the other group being attacked by some villains? An explosion at the mansion? Needing to retreat? His brain couldn't make any sense of it, so he pulled the device from his ear and decided to just lay there.
Just 10, maybe 15 minutes. 20 tops. He just needed a second. He just needed some Time.
View All »Arcs
Arcs are bundles of posts that you can organize on your own. They're useful for telling a story that might span long periods of time or space.
Good Morning Atlas City
March 11, 2045 (morning)
Independent Contract
March 11, 2045 (morning) - Soldier Park
Witchfinder Greeting
March 11, 2045 (morning) - Atomic Anne's Diner, Soldier Park
Jericho Hunt
March 11, 2045 (night) - Soldier Park
Moe Stalker
March 11, 2045 (night) - city streets
King of the Quarry
March 11, 2045 (night) - Downtown Shopping Center
Breakfast Conversation
March 11, 2045 (morning) - Sasha's apartment
Shapeless
March 11, 2045 (night) - Club Shapeless events
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Welcome home, Promethean. Here, you can manage your universe.
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View All » Add Character » 44 Characters to follow in this universe
Newest
Y'mari Abara
"You will not see me. I will sunder you."
Scourge
"Pain and Glory!"
Jamie Kerrow
Spiderblood
Amelia Brunel
"Right on target!"
Niall Khadkani
"If I want, I'll take it. And I... want it all."
Evangeline Richter
NAHLA's Radiant Queen
Gideon Gauss
I have the will that will pave the way!
Ezekiel "Zeke" Walker
"Where there's smoke, there's fire."
Hudson Li
World's best damn mecha pilot
Albrecht von Richthofen
"Z tego powodu latam: aby uciec od ciemno??ci."
Trending
Amelia Brunel
"Right on target!"
Cannonade
Super Roma #1
Gideon Gauss
I have the will that will pave the way!
Albrecht von Richthofen
"Z tego powodu latam: aby uciec od ciemno??ci."
Jamie Kerrow
Spiderblood
Hudson Li
World's best damn mecha pilot
Henry Stewart
Can't just be strong for your own sake. Not always.
Silentium
I appreciate the finer things in life...more so than you do life itself
Klaus Zeit
Trapped in the past to find his future
Sairyn Pendrake
The Arcanist of NAHLA
Most Followed
Jamie Kerrow
Spiderblood
Henry Stewart
Can't just be strong for your own sake. Not always.
Sasha Belov
In the motherland, he was called Koschei, the Undying. Now, he's looking for a new name.
Maeve Butler
Calm is a skill.
Niall Khadkani
"If I want, I'll take it. And I... want it all."
Y'mari Abara
"You will not see me. I will sunder you."
Silentium
I appreciate the finer things in life...more so than you do life itself
Sheri Galloway
"I'm not really fond of attention."
Maxwell Landon (The Shape)
"If you don't like how the table is set, turn over the table."
Cannonade
Super Roma #1
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878 posts · 44 characters present · last post 2021-04-18 06:06:17 »
A city on the front line of innovation, science, industry, and heroism! A growing community, helping build a better future for everyone!
Fullscreen Chat » Create Topic » Hadean: Out of Character
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Hadean
by Lord Saethos on Wed Jun 17, 2020 6:28 pm
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on Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:25 pm
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Hadean
Most recent OOC posts in Hadean
Re: Hadean
DOHA is the organization tasked with managing all hero organizations across the United States (both private and government operated). They are composed of several members of the Cabinet, National Security Council, and other relevant civilian and military organizations in the United States. Notably absent from this organization is the Director of National Intelligence, an intentional choice when the DNI was originally established (and before that, when it was only the Director of Central Intelligence that existed). The main reason for keeping the DNI and DCI out has been to ensure privacy and security of American heroes, and to help instill greater public trust in the organizations DOHA administers.
Important People:
- Victor Covistic - Secretary of Defense of the United States of America
- Claudia Burke - Attorney General of the United States of America
Director of National Intelligence (DNI):
The current DNI is Douglas MacNamara, an ambitious man known for his previous career as the Director of SINS, and the generally bipartisan support he receives for his handling of both SINS and the CIA. While the actual work both organizations does is fairly secretive, it's rumored he has pushed for all intelligence organizations to take very "active" roles in American Foreign Policy. However, this still quite often bleeds into domestic policy as well, and the more SINS is wielded as a sword, by MacNamara, the more their influence and sway is felt in the hero community. It's become increasingly common for more and more heroes to be encouraged to join the ranks of intelligence agencies under MacNamara.
The Shadow Pentagon:
The Shadow Pentagon is a rogue division of the Pentagon, one which operates under absolute secrecy and a close knit circle of military members and defense experts, all working together with one simple goal:
Keep America at the top of the food chain, now and forever.
They operate with total independence from the United States government, keeping everything they do entirely secret do to it's illegality. While what they do is illegal, they are absolutely convinced in the righteousness of their cause, so much so that they keep their work hidden from US Intelligence Agencies, the general public, and even the President of the United States (at least most of them).
Important People:
- Colonel Anthony Van Graft: A more subordinate member of the group, brought in due to military experience, and patriotic disposition.
- Senator Frank Stewart: An associate only at the moment, the Shadow Pentagon is choosing to allow him to be involved at arm's length. He has military industrial complex connections, which the SP hopes to utilize to get more equipment and funding for their research projects.
Re: Hadean
The UID you entered is recognized as Sebastian Velazquez! Your last session was logged at 10:04 AM of Tuesday, January 2045!
You were editing for the com-
Skip welcome message.
Command acknowledged! Would you like to resume your last session?
Yes.
Wonderful! The User should know that their work IS being read and archived by SINS, the-
Yeah yeah, skip.
Speech-to-Text detected! Would you like-
Good god... SKIP! Resume editing!
Understood! Thank you for your compliance!
[BEGIN EDIT]
Menagerie Pharmaceutical Technologies.
There's too much that Menagerie is hiding from the public, so my timelines may be off.
I hope this helps you, Chorus. We need to bring these bastards down.]
Menagerie Pharmaceutical Technologies, also called Menagerie Tech, or M. Tech., is a relatively large and well known medical corporation. The corporation was founded in 1997, around the advent of time when super-powered individuals were growing that much more well known and respected.
Menagerie Tech made its name in the field of medical technologies, specifically prosthesis and 'genuine' methods of 'repair and maintenance of super powered individuals and inventions.' Put simply, they specialized in replacement limbs and the healthcare of Supers and Super Owned 'Technologies.' They became extremely popular along the western coast of the United States after a slew of successful, experimental at the time, surgeries that proved to be effective on Supers whose biology would ordinarily be too 'impenetrable' to typical medical tools.
They further received additional funding from a certain few branches of the American military in exchange for the devoted research towards the production of... Enhanced limbs.
It would take years, until about 2011, before Menagerie Tech was one of the first companies to ever produce a proper, high end prosthetic limb. It was at first a hand 'unit' paired with a modifiable firearm. The firearm would lock to the specific hand unit, and at the time would simply engage its' safeties until such a time that the proper 'unit' would register to the firearm. A seemingly useless and benign prosthesis, it was nonetheless an advancement unlike any other of its time.
Menagerie would then join the race for even higher grade prosthetic limbs and organs. Culminating in their greatest achievement in 2038.
Nick-named ‘Icho-Gel’, and otherwise referred to as Product
The product has a as of yet unknown production method, but considering Menagerie Tech’s considerable donations to the American Public and their Supers, most of the populace simply chose to ‘not look a gift horse in the mouth’ as it were.
The product in question is reserved solely for use in Menagerie Tech’s hospitals and clinical units, though it’s widely sought after by the otherwise super-powered crowd, or at least those that are in the ‘know’.
Icho-Gel is marketed as a ‘panacea, or as close as we have ever gotten to making one.’ And has been regarded as a medical achievement akin to penicillin. Ichor-Gel, when applied topically to any wound, has been shown to rapidly increase the body’s base healing process.
What would take months or years to close up, properly heal, scar over, and then slowly fade from the body, would only take mere days to hours with the aid of Ichor-Gel. The product was even shown and proven to work on Super-Powered-Individuals with otherwise impenetrable skin.
Menagerie Tech has not yet released how exactly the gel accomplishes this, but has proven through many clinical trials that the product causes no adverse harm to the body.
A glorious cause, and a hefty sum of profit would fall into Menagerie Tech’s hands as a result of their medical marvel...
Unbeknownst to the public however, was another, more sinister goal in mind. Menagerie Tech was contacted in the year 1998, by an otherwise unknown source- Rumored at the time to be SINS and their Russian equivalents- to devise a means of active, hidden, mass producible, homeland security.
It is unknown at the time how credible these claims can be, but with the disappearances of many low level Superheroes and Villains alike all across the southern and western states, the claims continue to build merit.
That was until relatively recently, when a particularly acclaimed Supervillain by the name of Lab Rat was credited with the kidnapping and illegal experimentation of numerous supers.
Lab Rat has also become a prime suspect in the brief appearance of what the public of the small town of Ipswood Texas were calling "The White Pillar", along with the subsequent disappearance of Ipswood nearly 48 hours after.
Rumors surfaced mere weeks later, of an 'escaped experiement', prowling the area where Ipswood once stood.
[END EDIT]
Log off. I'm done.
Goodbye User!
Re: Hadean
Lichmore Massachusetts was a small coastal city in New England established in the 1600's, during Puritanical settlement of North America. The city's primary source of income was from fishing, but it had grown to be more industrialized over the years too, becoming an important port town for the region. However, during the mid-1800's, soil erosion, increased rain, sea encroachment, and flooding began to deteriorate the town. Buildings were starting to become more derelict, mainland access was becoming more difficult, and sea growth started to across the town, whether it be barnacles on buildings, or bits of seaweed lining the streets, even dead fish piling up in some spots.
And that was before the town really began to suffer. In the late 1910's, the roads to the mainland had practically been washed away, streets began to collapse into the ocean from seismic activity, and the whole city had essentially become a waste pile for the dead and decayed things the sea refused to keep within it. The 1920's saw criminal activity surge in the city, now with a population of 232'000 people. Bootlegging had become a major source of income for the community, and its increasing remoteness made it harder for Prohibition cops to catch anyone there. Most of the enforcement had to happen out at sea, or at the ports of other US cities.
This was not to last long however. By 1928, the city had become overwhelmed by the forces of nature. A mass exodus to leave the city had been going on since 1926, and with barely a few thousand people left in the waterlogged mess, it was essentially a ghost town already in the eyes of the rest of America. When the earthquake toppled the buildings, the roads, the foundations of the city itself, and the hurricanes and floods swallowed it all up or washed it out to sea, no one remained to mourn the loss.
The derelict did not go quietly, but it may as well have, for the sheer lack of anyone to have heard it. Any that remained in the city to die with it were almost as derelict as the mold infested, waterlogged buildings that were a light breeze away from collapse.
Few remember this part in American history, and fewer care. Greater and more important things were always around the corner, things that had persisted far longer, and would continue to do so even longer.
Re: Hadean
File 062628
Recording begins.
-What - what is this? Magnetic tape recordings? Did Dr. Halsey really do this?
-Yes, ma’am. Your predecessor was adamant about keeping records that couldn’t be traced digitally.
-Well that’s- I suppose that makes sense. Even if it is a little… hipster. Where are her earlier recordings?
-I wouldn’t be the one to ask, ma’am.
-Fantastic. Alright then. You can go.
-Yes, ma’am.
-Alright. [clears throat] This is file… what’s the date today? Oh-six-two-six-two-eight. Audio recording by Dr. Elizabeth Galloway, newly appointed head of biological defense research - what the fuck even is that? Making superheros? Christ - at Vanguard Enterprises, Boston. Following the final instructions by my predecessor Dr. Catherine Halsey, I’ve followed up on her reports of seventy-three children she flagged as viable candidates for “Project Mastima”. Mastima? Really? Is that meant to refer to herself, or…
-Anyway, I’ve been having Esquela and Brown look into the addresses she listed. Most of these should be fairly easy to bring in, but some of these others - Miss Zima Kratka and Mister Tan Zexian, for example, will present some difficulty. I don’t know what that woman was thinking, selecting children from the other side of the Curtain.
-I also have some… apprehensions concerning her decision to use children as her subjects. I understand it, logically, the increased genetic flexibility will certainly help with any potential… complications. I think I would prefer to go forward with volunteer trials first, however.
File 120328
Recording Begins
-Fuck it all to fucking fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!!
-Volunteer trials were a fucking disaster. One hundred and forty-three either dead or crippled beyond hope of physical or psychological recovery. At least no one’s left to point the finger at us. Jesus Christ, six months of work down the fucking drain.
-I suppose it’s not all a complete loss. Our trials into the study of pre-existing powers bore some surprising fruit - one Mr. Jon Gerry, aka the convicted villain Supernova, had his superpowers removed successfully. Now it’s just a matter of figuring out which method worked, and whether it’s repeatable. And whether those powers can be transferred into another subject.
-As for Dr. Halsey’s children… Well, I suppose that decision’s been made for me. I’ll authorize for them to be. Well, “adopted” isn’t entirely inaccurate, but.... [clears throat]
File 011929
Recording Begins
-This is Project Mastima file oh-one-one-nine-two-nine. Dr. Elizabeth Galloway recording.
-The last of the children arrived today. I’ve ordered full medical diagnostics for all of them. Some of them were in uh. [clears throat] Not great. I’ve arranged for the next two months to be dedicated to medical treatment and physical training drills. I want them as healthy as I can get before we start tests.
-Another thing, those up top want me to give the kids new names. Make them harder to track down, I guess. [short laugh] Not that anyone’s looking for them. Dr. Halsey already made sure of that. No families, no birthdays on record, and now no names? May as well tattoo “expendable resource” across their foreheads while we’re at it.
File 031329
Recording Begins
-Mastima file oh-three-one-three-two-nine. Dr. Galloway recording.
-Trials started today. Of the seven kids who were tested today, three never made it out of the room, and one had to be… put down. [clears throat] I’ve been trying to maintain distance from them these past couple months but it’s, it’s-
-God damn it, they’re just kids. They’re just fucking kids.
File 032329
Recording Begins
-Mastima file oh-three-two-three-two-nine, Dr. Galloway recording.
-Initial trials ended yesterday. Despite Dr. Halsey’s… let’s say “optimism” concerning the use of prepubescents to limit mortality, we still lost half our initial sample population. Thirty-seven out of the original seventy-three subjects died due to extreme trauma during the trial, or were forcibly terminated by security personnel following… spontaneous, aggressive genetic mutation.
-I’ve ordered a week off for recovery, both by my staff and our remaining sample size. After that, we’ll get to work measuring the scope of our survivors’ new abilities.
File 032529
Recording Begins
-It was brought to my attention by a caretaker that one of our subjects, Mr… Gilbert Allan, is refusing to eat. I remember this one, his powers turned much of the equipment in lab five to dust. Apparently it made him too afraid to touch anything.
-I resolved the situation through the use of a placebo; I gave him a pair of gloves, and told him they’d been especially designed to resist the effects of his ability. It took a bit of convincing, but he’s managed to wear them without issue, and has resumed eating.
-I’ll keep this incident in mind. I may be able to apply similar placebo effects if the powers of our other subjects prove too much to handle otherwise.
File 041329
Recording Begins
-Project Mastima file oh-four-one-three-two-nine. Dr. Elizabeth Galloway recording.
-Initial assessments were completed today. Overall I am… shockingly optimistic. Results… were varied, but many vastly surpassed initial estimates. A handful in particular, namely Mr. Gilbert Allan, Miss Suchin Mookjai, and Mr. Tan Zexian showed remarkable aptitude for their new abilities. Gilbert was a surprise; I wouldn’t have expected him to gain control of his abilities so quickly.
-Others will require… special attention, for the potential danger their abilities could pose if they had such a mind. Miss Ursula Kohler’s ability to influence others with her voice in particular… concerns me. I think I’ll look into countermeasures for that.
-I was disappointed with Miss Zima Kratka. Her display in the initial trials led me to believe she would be one of our best subjects, but her performance during her assessment was comparatively underwhelming. Perhaps she’s reluctant to embrace her newfound talents? Unfortunately I don’t have the time to pay special attention to every one of them, so if she would rather underperform… I suppose that’s her prerogative.
File 041629
Recording Begins
-Mastima file oh-four-one-six-two-nine. Dr. Elizabeth Galloway recording.
-I’ve reconsidered the suggestion concerning names. In light of… events concerning our old buddies across the curtain which have transpired in the past and may yet transpire in the future, I feel it may benefit to give these kids a sense of unity. A shared name is a powerful thing, after all, so I announced this morning that they would all be given new names, to signify their “second birth” as supers. Reception was… mixed, but they’re young enough that they’ll bounce back.
-There… are fewer of them than yesterday. On review of their assessments, and pending further medical examination, I’ve reached the conclusion that twelve of them are unfit to continue in this project. Those that are left, these twenty-four remaining members of Dr. Halsey’s chosen children- No, my children. I should at least offer them that degree of accountability. My children. They need to feel like they belong here. If I convince them to think of each other as their siblings, of me as their mother…
-I’m still thinking about those who turned into.. Whatever those were, during the initial trials. Tests following the trials showed many of the remaining subjects were still genetically unstable - the twelve I’ve authorized to have removed from the program are at the greatest risk, but the threat is still there with the others. Hopefully this decision concerning their names will help them feel more at home here, and lower the stress on their psyche.
-Not that that’ll matter much, if they’re cleared for field duty. “A new weapon to protect the world, safer than any bomb.” Yeah, right.
Re: Hadean
S.I.N.S. (Supers Intelligence for National Security):
SINS is a simple organization to understand, if you understand American military and "intelligence" agencies. Part FBI, part NSA, and a great deal of CIA, SINS keeps track of Supers that don't "conform" to the expectations the state has for them. Vigilantes, villains, and supers that just cause too many problems for Uncle Sam. That's what they take care of. Everything they do is perfectly legal, and moral, so long as it benefits America, and so long as they aren't caught. Of course, that's mostly rumors and conjecture, conspiracy theories talked about by tin hat wearers on the internet. At the end of the day, they keep America safe from supers. At any cost.
National American Hero League Association (NAHLA):
This is THE Hero Organization to be a part of, the absolute cream of the crop, the best that America can possibly dish up. Patriots, dogooders, Good Samaritans, this is the US Marine Corps of superheroes. Of course, it is government sponsored, so registration is required, but it comes with big perks, both financial, and in terms of fame and glory. Some argue that it can be "elitist", and crazies say they're just supermuscle for the government or corporations, but don't pay that any mind. They're almost all good people, who've saved countless lives, and come to the aid in nearly every disaster since the 1940's. Many have laid down their lives, and are forever remembered in the NAHLA Halls of Fame and Heroism.
Witchfinder Generals:
A listed terrorist group, mainly domestic and operating in the United States. Their membership has fallen in the past few decades, but they have been known for murder and other crimes against Supers. This is strange in that many of the members are themselves supers, but the philosophy they subscribe to is that supers are unnatural, demonic beings, and must be rid from the Earth. They tend to dress in slightly modernized Puritanical Settler attire, sporting even the old style of hats often portrayed for that time.
Atlas City Heroes Incorporated (ACHI):
The ACHI was the first private hero organization formed in Atlas City, and has been here ever since! Originally it included Atlas as one of its founding members, but with his passing others have had to carry the torch. Sadly, the organization had originally had more philanthropically minded members, which meant finances were limited. Add to that various issues with infighting, and the organization today is mostly a shell of its former glory, having been surpassed by newer, or much larger and better funded, hero organizations. A few members remain, even one or two of the originals, and they continue to try to keep it's glory and history alive. While it can still afford to...
People's Alliance of Heroic Communist Transformationalists (PAHCT):
As the name may imply, this is an international organization of supers hailing from nations with Communist and/or Socialist governments, or major allies of such countries. The phrase "Transformationalists" essentially means Supers helping to transform the world into a more just, Communist one, where all men, women, and others are equal and free from the oppression of Capitalism and the Bourgeois. Largely headed by the Soviet Union and China, this organization has constantly been at odds with American and other Western hero organizations, though little more than a few sporadic fist fights have ever occurred between these groups. Personal grudges and animosities aren't considered good reasons to start full scale wars, not in the eyes of the Communists, or Capitalists.
The Union:
A criminal organization that previously held sway in various parts of the world (sometimes great, sometimes weak). The Union was supposed to have collapsed earlier this year, but rumors of other criminal organizations potentially having taken on their mantel have begun to surface. Verifying any of this is next to impossible as all traces of them seem to be non-existent, but what is clear is that they are dangerous, and should be treated as such.
Unknown Soldiers (Unconfirmed Existence):
Rumors and speculation abound of strange groups of soldiers being spotted in various locations around the world, some have been spotted in all black, others in blue or white, or similar colors. They may be two groups, and no connections have been made between them. There has also been nothing of note to identify them with to this point, beyond the colors and their secrecy. This could be pure fantasy, but for some it may be useful to keep it in mind anyways, if for no other reason than to stay safe.
Re: Hadean
Being a Super, while still controversial today (despite Supers having no control over their condition), has no real legal limitations to it. Supers are able to live normal lives just like anyone else, sometimes slightly more interesting and exciting given their special gifts.
However, being a "hero" or "heroine" is much more legally complicated. As far as the law concerned, any Supers who wish to carry out acts of heroism MUST be part of a LEGALLY recognized organization. This is broken down into several types of organizations.
Government Organizations: Organizations like this include the police, the military, S.I.N.S. (Supers Intelligence for National Security), Intelligence Agencies, search and rescue, medical services, and fire services.
Government Sponsored Hero Organizations: Most national governments in the world sponsor their own Hero organizations (some sponsor more than one even!). These organizations require that their members be given very specific, government mandated and regulated training. Heroes in these organizations may take part in crime fighting and rescue operations, but only if they have successfully obtained their training in these programs. Most members of these organizations must have their identities registered with the government, but their secret identities still remain hidden from the public (for safety and security concerns).
Privately Operated Hero Organizations: These organizations are similar to government Sponsored Hero Organizations, save for the fact these organizations are privately owned and operated. As a result, the owners and members often take on direct legal liability for anything negligent or illegal that one of their Supers does. The draw to some of these organizations is that while they do offer lower pay in some cases, they do offer higher levels of privacy and anonymity. The Supers that join must still participate and pass the government regulated training programs, but it allows them to also participate in crime fighting and rescue operations, when the government gives them permission.
Note: These organizations are NOT required to give the identities of their Supers to the government, however they ARE required to collect their identities and personal information, and they CAN be required to present it to the government in the case of criminal misconduct and investigations. In other words, a subpoena from the courts can force these companies to reveal the identities of supers involved in a legal suit.
International Hero Organizations: These are hero organizations registered, trained, and legally capable of operating in more than one country. These types of organizations are tricky, particularly as some straddle a fine line with the law at times, but they exist largely to participate in major, global scale emergencies. Some of these are government operated (either between different governments, or through international bodies like the UN), and others are privately operated.
Some countries have different approaches to allowing IHO's to handle crises, for America they tend to require the IHO be trained with American standards of Hero training. Additionally for America, they generally require that Supers from a US Government Sponsored or Private American Hero Organization, to work with the IHO, essentially to "babysit" them, or in actuality to ensure they aren't enemy spies working against the US.
Due to this, many IHO's try to incorporate or register themselves in the US to help ease the international legal tensions, though another way to mitigate this is to register in countries considered allies of America. Alternatively, some IHO's register in the USSR, China, or another nation that might be allied to one of these states, or lead by a Communist government.
Vigilantism, Good Samaritans, and Heroism Outside of the Law:
Put simply, any Super (or Non-Super for that matter) that tries to carry out acts of heroism is at serious risk of legal repercussions. Firstly, Vigilantism is illegal period. Supers and Non-Supers cannot ever fight crime without being part of a registered Hero Organization. Things like Citizens Arrests, or working with a Crime Watch organization, is typically legal, however causing serious damage to property, injuries, or death doing either of these will still be punished to the full extent of the law.
Supers and Non-Supers that "take the law into their own hands" will be treated just like the criminals they try to fight.
When it comes to trying to save people, however, the law is a little trickier. Supers and Non-Supers that try to carry out "Good Samaritan" acts can still be charged with negligence and endangerment. For example, saving someone from a burning building, pulling someone out of a car crash, etc. Supers and Non-Supers CANNOT intervene in these dangerous situations without training. If they do so, they could be charged with Reckless Endangerment, even if no one is injured or killed. If anyone is killed or injured, the punishment will be much stricter.
Luckily, Supers and Non-Supers CAN take Good Samaritan training programs! Not only is First Aid training available, but so is fire rescue, car accident scene rescue, earthquake rescue, and much more. With this training, Supers and Non-Supers can carry out acts of heroism when such a time arises, and they can do it safely and with respect to the law.
Note: This training is available to the general public. Supers and Non-Supers do not need to join any organization to receive this training, however it only applies to Rescues and Good Samaritan acts. It does NOT include crime fighting. To fight crime, Supers and Non-Supers MUST join a registered organization.
Super Registration Laws:
Currently, there is no law that exists that requires Supers to be registered in any way. The only time Supers must be registered is when they join Hero organizations, and the only time they need to be registered with the government is when they join organizations sponsored by the government.
However, there has always been a movement of civilians that have pushed for mandatory registration for ALL Supers. So far, no such law has been passed in most Western Nations, but the desire among politicians, corporations, and even regular civilians, to have such laws passed still exists. Whether or not this could ever happen is debatable, but at this moment, most Western governments have not made an effort to pass such laws.
Re: Hadean
From what scientific study has produced so far, the way in which the powers of supers work is tied into atomic and subatomic particles. While much of these studies have had to lean on hypothesis at this point, it's clear that the effects these powers produce is largely based on a manipulation of particles, possibly through some unknown type of energy. What can be observed is that certain powers (for example fire creation) involves no use of fuels, either already existing ones or a fuel that exists within supers. Fire can simply, at face value, appear out of thin air.
Of course, that would imply a non-scientific origin perhaps, but other studies have led to evidence that suggests the existence of either particles or an energy that allows supers to manipulate other atomic and subatomic particles. This is still only a hypothesis, as it has so far been impossible to detect this with current scientific instruments and measurements.
Other things like biological or chemical changes have been considered, but these fields of study have so far shown very little. Some evidence might lead to supers having certain shared genetic traits, but if this is true, it has not yet been discovered where these traits came from, and whether they cause the powers, or are caused by the powers, or if the powers and the genes are created by some sort of "point of origin" (which raises a multitude of other hypotheses as well, including multiverse theories).
Finally, there is the hypothesis that powers work through more supernatural means, though even that has opened up its very own field of hypotheticals, and of course, pseudo-science.
Important Note: As far as scientific studies have illustrated, the powers supers today demonstrate have not been documented at any point in time before World War 2. This leads to the conclusion that some event in WW2 is what led to the existence of these powers. Some have speculated the atomic bombs used on Japan may be the origin, others have suggested strange Nazi science and occultism, and others still suggest more supernatural events that took place at the time.
There are rumors of some powered beings from another world, or immortals who have existed since long before World War 2, of monsters and legendary creatures. As far as science can show, these are all rumors, speculation, myths, and legends. Some, at worst, are mere conspiracy theories. Until evidence can surface to support any of these claims, they cannot be given any merit.
Power Origins:
The powers of supers have a variety of identified "origins", points at which powers demonstrate themselves in supers, but the main five are as follows:
Birth: A super is born with their powers.
Trauma: Some severe, traumatic event results in the appearance of a super's powers.
Random/Chance: A super is not born with their powers, but they at some point "activate" in a super, with no identifiable origin or reason for activation. In other words; "They went to bed normal, but woke up as a Super".
Anomalous Incident (Speculative): Some supers report having been involved in an incident that defies the laws of nature and science, some supernatural or science fiction event outside the norms of our world. This is, at this point, speculative as it relies on the self-reporting of supers. It is possible these origins are true, but without further evidence, it cannot be accepted conclusively, making it a speculative origin only for the time being.
Other (Sometimes Speculative): Similar to anomalous incidents, but generally more grounded in reality. Some claiming to be the result of government experiments, or created by malicious corporations, or some kind of construct of powerful Supervillains. Some claims go so far as to suggest they are aliens, beings from other worlds, other galaxies, even other universes. Like anomalous incidents, without further evidence, many of these cannot be accepted conclusively and must be assumed as speculative origins for the time being.
Re: Hadean
Based on some of the Power Classifications of the Worm IP: Power Classifications - Worm Wiki
More will be added, subtracted, or edited from this list to fit with the mechanics of the Hadean universe.
Mover: An ability that enhances mobility.
Shaker: An ability with an area of effect.
Brute: An ability that grants enhanced strength or durability.
Breaker: An ability that allows the super to shift into another state
Master: An ability that allows a super to control others or create minions.
Tinker: An ability that allows a super to create or alter devices with futuristic technology.
Blaster: A ranged, offensive ability.
Thinker: An ability that focuses on information gathering.
Striker: An ability that is melee-ranged or touch-based.
Changer: An ability that allows the super to alter their form or appearance.
Trump: An ability that allows the super to manipulate powers in some capacity.
Stranger: An ability that focuses on stealth or infiltration.