The Echelon
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| The Echelon | |
| Founder: | |
| Basics | |
| Side: | Hero |
|---|---|
| Motto: | To Pierce the Shadows |
| Leader(s): | Aisynia |
| Logo: | Unknown |
| Group Colours: | Black and Blue |
| Playerbase | |
| Levels: | All |
| Play style: | Casual |
| Roleplay: | Yes |
| Timezone(s): | Any |
| Recruiting: | Yes |
| Contact: | @Aisynia; @Amadeus08 |
| No additional information available. | |
Contents |
Overview
(Out of character information. this is not something to skim over lightly. We make a point of making absolutely sure someone knows as much about us as possible before joining for a very good reason. We want you to be able to make an informed decision, to really know if we are right for you.)
Activity
We are not mega super active, but we do have a dedicated core of players that log in and play every day. We are well established, we've been around for a while, and we aren't going anywhere. Some days it can be kinda dead, others, it's quite active.
The kinds of things we do vary widely. Sometimes we are all off solo, sometimes all grouped up. Sometimes out wrecking on bad guys, sometimes hanging out. Sometimes in character, sometimes out of character. Sometimes we are very quiet, sometimes SG chat is flooding. By saying this, I mean that we don't arbitrarily hold ourselves to any special or specific activity at any specific time beyond our meet ups (and those are optional), we just do what feels right at the moment.
In addition to this, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST, we have RP meet ups in our base. Every second saturday we run high level farm missions lowbies can come along on if they wish to get some nice XP and loot. Every Thursday at 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST is our Villain night where we go red side and do things. Remember, this is all optional.
Theme
We don't have a specific theme. A theme can arbitrarily keep good roleplayers, and more importantly, good people, from joining simply because they don't fit in. While the SG's base is a highly advanced starbase, we are a very diverse group and have heroes of all types within our ranks.
Policies
We are big on no drama, no pressure, no BS.
The above cannot be stressed enough. We are a tight knit, friendly, laid back group, and very much open to, and welcoming of, new members. We're all friends and some would call us family. This is probably the most important aspect of our SG, for while we are all roleplayers, the person behind the character matters most and comes first in consideration. And above all else, real life ALWAYS comes first. This is a group of friends playing a game, we will never treat it as more than it is.
We are rules light. We don't put silly requirements on people like "you must be in SG mode!" or "you must be online this much!" This is a game, not a job, we play to enjoy ourselves, not to have pressure put on us. If people are online, it's because they have the time to play, and if they are in SG mode, it's because they like us and want to see our base expanded further.
Speaking of our rules, we only have 4 rules and 1 guideline. You won't find any "article 23, subsection A7, paragraph 9 of rule 5B, addendum" stuff here. We like to keep things simple. Here they are:
1) No god modding or story forcing.
2) Be helpful if possible.
3) Be respectful.
4) Don't be a jerkoff.
See? Easy! ™
It's all about respect for your fellow SG members. Now of course the above mentioned guideline. It's not a rule, as it doesn't make sense as one, but it is vitally important to our philosophy. It should be kept in mind at all times. Here it is:
Be communicative! If there is any issue within the SG, bring it up to the leadership, especially if it has to do with the leadership, that way we can sort it out like adults. We are huge on member accountability, no playing favorites, and no reading between the lines. I (the leader) consider myself the most accountable member of all, because my actions can effect everyone. So if there is any issue, bring it up, and if I do something dumb, please, by all mean, call me on it.
History
The Shade Sentinel
The Shade Sentinel is a starbase 92 miles above Paragon City, in geosynchronous orbit. It was built by the Vresi of the world of Tikalintra, an advanced race of beings from another universe. It was initially built as a series of modules, self contained rooms that would hook up to other modules to form a larger structure. This was to allow ease of transport between universes. It was later decided, for purposes of defense and structural integrity, that these would be suspended and secured inside a large semi-spherical structure called the Hyperframe. The Shade Sentinel was specially ordered. It was designed and built specifically to meet the needs of The Echelon, and as a result, has a myriad of interconnected systems ranging from scientific observation to full scale weapons capacity. First and foremost though, the Shade Sentinel was designed to be both accessible and safe for members of The Echelon.
Security
Safety is the single most important factor in the design of the Shade Sentinel. Every single piece of equipment aboard the starbase is designed first for safety.
Access to the starbase is protected by specific encrypted data block working on a digital nutation. Without broadcasting this, the space folders will not even activate to pick someone up from the planet. In the event that someone wishes to dock, this code must also be verified or manual permission must be given by a ranking member.
All surfaces are coated in a "no shock" micro-polymer, an invisible, non-conductive substance which reduces impact forces by 82%. What this means is that, in the unlikely event that the starbase is struck by a large object or a weapon, and artificial gravity is unable to compensate for the inertia, people thrown to the ground or against objects will sustain impacts significantly less harmful than they otherwise would. Likewise, gravity is kept at about 95% earth normal, which also helps somewhat and gives people a general feeling of being "light on their feet".
On command, the air inside the Shade Sentinel can quickly be flooded with Bio-Synthetic Tissue Regenerators, a type of hyper advanced medical nanite. These will quickly seek out all known biological entities and stabilize their conditions. Most surfaces are already crawling with millions of repair and maintenance nanites. Naturally, these avoid biological entities, so no one has to fear leaving the starbase with more than they came with. In cases of emergency, however, these can seek out robotic or android entities and initiate pre-repair sequences, serving the same function as the Bio-Synthetic Tissue Regenerators serve for biological entities.
Almost all crucial systems aboard the starbase, such as life support, artificial gravity, space folding, and shielding have at least two redundant backup systems to ensure that, should they fail, they can be brough tback up in short order. Systems without backups, such as main power, are extremely well protected and also designed with extreme safety in mind. Should the main power core (the Quantum Ripper Core, or QRC) be overloaded, it will violently implode, however it would do so into another dimension, leaving equipment even a few inches away completely unharmed.
In addition to this, spare parts are kept in canisters and crates throughout the starbase. Keeping with its accessible and modular design philosophy, parts replacement was designed to be extremely simple. All parts are unique and distinctly labeled. Old parts are literally unplugged and disposed of, and then new parts are simply plugged back in. Likewise, the stores canisters and crates themselves are secure and will not roll around or fall over in case of shock, as local gravity directly beneath said items is intensified to several times earth normal.
Force fields are employed to help protect people and systems throughout the starbase. Most noticable is a force field in the main computer room, which seals off the equipment ditch, a highly dangerous area with exposed equipment and charged with electricity in the terajoule range. Though an intruder is highly unlikely with external shields and exclusive access codes, force fields can also be automatically erected around such intruders should they manage to board the starbase. In such cases, they are referred to as security fields. when used for security, force fields are more charged than normal and cover a broader spectrum of energetic and electromagentic frequencies, making them nearly impossible to break out of. As per standard procedure, intruders are held until a ranking member arrives to deal with the situation. During situations in which large meetings with non members or strangers are held aboard the starbase (a situation which allows nearly free access), a system called Violence Suppression can be activated. While activated, anyone who commits or attempts to commit violence (depending on how quickly and how well the computer interprets actions) will be trapped within a security field. Standard procedure afterwards is for the detained to be spacefolded back to the planet below.
Gravity
There are many systems within the Shade Sentinel that help to make it a livable habitat 92 miles above the surface, but artificial gravity is by far one of the single most important and inquired about. Likewise, its reach goes beyond allowing people to walk around inside.
Artificial gravity is generated in several areas, one of which of course, is beneath the floor plating. Beneath the floors are thousands of small devices which generate "hyper dense virtual exotic particles". In layman's terms, these devices generate tiny black holes which continuously wink in and out of existence. The rate at which these are generated is directly asssociated with the level of gravity in that section of the starbase. For instance, generation of these micro black holes is at a vastly increased rate beneath the storage crates and canisters, creating a heavier localized gravity to keep them fastly held to the floor.
Artificial gravity is also used to dampen and compensate for inertia. In most cases, the starbase would never move out of its relative orbit with Earth, however it does have the ability to maneuver in order to alter its orbit, and it is also equipped with a hyperdive (installed solely for emergency escape situations). In cases such as these, typical acceleration could cause extremely typical biological entities to be impacted on the opposing walls and killed. The artificial gravity system is also installed inside the walls and ceilings in a somewhat different manner. In these cases, they use small subspace windows in conjunction with the exotic particle generators to create negative mass, and as a result, "anti-gravity", a repelling force. This anti-gravity is focused on a reactionary basis to directly counteract and weaken the effects of inertia within that module.
Artificial gravity is also used to keep the Shade Sentinel in a stable orbit. Gravity Anchors, attached to the outside of the hyperframe, create localized gravity wells that literally hold the Shade Sentinel in place. These anchors are also the starbase's means of sublight propulsion and maneuvering. They can be reversed to create negative mass and anti-gravity which is then focused and projected to propel the starbase along a preset course or correct an orbit.
Outer Construction
The Hyperframe and the Main Space Folder were the first pieces to be transported over from Tikalintra. So far, the Hyperframe itself has been the single largest object transported across the universal divide, measuring 1200 feet (365.76 meters) in diameter. The Hyperframe is most of what is seen from the outside of the starbase. It is a composite of an impervium like substance, trace amounts of neutronium, and super strong synthetic metalerials created by the Vresi. In most places it is about 10 feet (3.048 meters) thick. The internal surfaces are laden with technological components and the outer surface has several distinct sets of equipment attached to it.
Notable amongst these are the various communications and sensor platforms, shield projectors, the hyperdrive, the gravity anchors, the racks holding the anti-proton bombs, and of course, the anti-proton cannon. Extending out from the hyperframe's "equator" is the external launch bay tube. A flight bay has always been planned for the Shade Sentinel, and soon enough, the module should be transported over from Tikalintra and installed. When fighter drones leave the flight bay itself, they will be taken through a large access tubeand then transferred into a lunch tube, which they will use to exit the base. The launch tube was designed like this to allow both independent installment of the flight bay, and expansion of it in the future.
Mission Log
The Search for Dr. Robinson
One Dr. Jessica Robinson had gone missing, but we had no idea where she was or who took her, or if she was even taken. The contact was anonymous, so we had little idea of the intentions of the person, but we did feel Dr. Robinson was in danger and thus deserved our attention.
She had been missing for several weeks, and was taken directly from her home. In the first two weeks she was missing, police and several other groups searched for her, but came up completely empty. The case was passed to us by an anonymous contact.
We knew very little about Dr. Robinson. We knew that she worked on something secret, in a secret place. We had no idea if it was government or private however. She had no public records, not even a social security number, only her name was on file. We knew where she lived, but her house was almost totally clean. I managed to get a strand of her hair from deep inside her shower drain, but that is all. We also knew of one person she worked with, Dr. Keith Drake.
Dr. Drake himself had been interviewed by both police and several other super groups and I interviewed him as well, but he was not very forthcoming and provided nothing of use.
With no leads, we had a meeting and brainstormed.
We had three primary ideas:
* Seek out a seer (in this case the one known as the Fortune Teller) to scry out her location. * Scan the DNA from her hair for anomalies. * Scry Dr. Drake and see if we could find where he lived and worked.
Arake (the being I am in symbiosis with) and myself came up empty in scrying out Dr. Robinson herself, so it was not considered, as Arake is an excellent scrier.
Firstly, to locate the Fortune Teller, Menezzar and I decided to meet with Azuria, to see if she could tell us where she was. Azuria in fact told us that she was not yet a part of our destinies and used her own powers as a seer to assist us. She said that the point in time Dr. Robinson was taken from her house was wiped away somehow, which would help explain why we could not scry her out. It is impossible to erase a moment in time, theoretically, but if some damage were to occur, it would certainly help to explain matters. Furthermore, she said that Dr. Robinson was alive in a "sterile place", but could not tell us where. She also said that there was "another" with her but not next to her. She said it could be a form of possession, or it could in fact be a torturer who had imprinted him or herself upon Dr. Robinson's mind. Either way, Azuria said the "other" was malevolent.
Purrkins and Dr. von Ronsomburg, two scientists who are members of The Echelon, went over her DNA and took samples from various members for comparison. They noted that she had a small, non harmful anomaly in her DNA, caused by a type of radiation they weren't familiar with. This mark was shared by myself and Purrkins, but not Dr. von Ronsomburg or other members of The Echelon. They theorized it was a "mark" of a shared experience of some kind. The only thing that they could think of was that both I am Purrkins have gone through portals to alternate dimensions. It proved nothing, but we didn't have much to go on. If this was indeed the case it may have turned out helping us by pointing to what Dr. Robinson did for a living.
For the third, to scry Dr. Drake, we would need to get a part of him or something that belonged to him. We figured we could kill two birds with one stone. We set up a meeting with him and had planned on discreetly obtaining a hair sample. This would allow us to scan his DNA for the same anomaly and scry out his home and his place of work. Unfortunately, before the meeting, he disappeared. We figured he may have either gone into hiding upon becoming suspicious of us, or may have been abducted by the same people that abducted Dr. Robinson.
The investigation, hence, hit a brick wall.
There was one thing to note however, in that the disappearance of Dr. Drake seemed to leave the same emptiness that the disappearance of Dr. Robinson had. We decided we needed to investigate these "holes" in spacetime themselves. We figured, if we could find out who or what was causing them, and how, we could find the missing doctors.
With all of the evidence piled up, we theorized that some kind of Gravity Tunneler (what my people call wormholes) is being used which is intentionally damaging spacetime, the ultimate way to cover one's tracks.
Menezzar then tracked down the Fortune Teller herself and she told him "what was there is here, what was here is there." Though cryptic, it does indeed support the theory that some kind of gravity distortion is being implemented.
Our next step was to talk to a powerful Warshade, as they and their Nictus counterparts are masters of gravity manipulation.
With the help of Xillouette, whose formerly nictus half had awakened, we were able to trace the holes in spacetime and were guided through a portal to where we thought Dr. Robinson and Dr. Drake might be held. Instead, we (Myself, Zero Red, Purrkins and an ally from Lunar Force, Xou Lyn) found a vast forest, covered in the desecrated bones of the dead. Seemingly unrelated, Arake cast numerous spells to consecrate the bones and together we defeated the one responsible, a praetorian. Upon returning to our earth, we told Xillouette's counterpart that he had been off the mark, but indeed, he told us that by simply going, we dislodged the doctors from where they were being held.
We split up and found them at the places they had disappeared, having both become host to Warshades, or Nictus, only time will tell. They are currently in protective custody with the police, but some things don't seem to add up. Regardless, mission accomplished, it's out of our hands now, and has been for some time.
Magical Technology
Shortly after completing our previous mission, we were contracted by another anonymous contact. This time, we were to find a piece of what appeared to be "magical technology". We were provided with a holographic image of it, and who might have it. They provided us with no idea what it was for, or why it was taken, but we accepted.
We had no way of knowing if the person sending us after this piece of technology combined with magic was legitimate. It was very strange to us that they had an exact holographic replica of it on file for visual reference. It could have been someone who had their prized possession stolen from them. It could as easily have been, however, someone who wanted us to steal something that was very powerful. We figured at that point, it may very well have been some combination of the two. Regardless, we decided to accept the mission because regardless of anything, it was a possibly dangerous artifact, and proportedly, in the wrong hands.
The people who were said to have it were none other than the praetorians, however, we found ourselves unable to get into their dimension. We found this extremely odd, and were forced to wait things out. It wasn't long however, before our starbase's sensors picked up a spatial anomaly in the city. Upon investigating it, we discovered an advanced science lab full of wayward freakshow. We decided to clear them out and see if we could find any clues about this disturbance. Surely enough, in a back room, secluded from the rest, we found a strange device inside a trash can of all things. It was a partial match to the holographic image we were given.Indeed, it seemed to be but a part of it, and it seemed to be built to disconnect into smaller pieces. One of our own studied the lines of circuitry and the pieces of technology, saying that it was designed to, in some way, manipulate gravity.
We took that object back to the Shade Sentinel for secure storage and then kept a watchful eye on the city for any reports of crime relating to our case. While it didn't seem directly related at first, we responded to a call for help, the Circle of Thorns were robbing a bank in King's Row. The Circle robbing a bank was strange, and so within moments, we were on the scene. Upon dispatching the Circle, we discovered they were not after the money at all, but in fact trying to break into a specific safety deposit box. We opened the box ourselves and discovered another piece of this device.We decided to take it and hooked it up to the other piece. It was at this time we began to notice that some incomplete along the edges.
With a bit of investigation it seemed that box was owned by an art depot. We went to the art depot to find that it was overrun with Skulls trying to raid the place. We dispatched the Skulls and discovered that the Art Depot was a front. Inside, we found an advanced scanner array, specifically tuned to track down pieces of this object. It seemed that they had sold the piece as an art curiosity, in the hopes that those with other pieces would find it and take it, leading them to other pieces. We downloaded the sensor data it had gathered, determined the location of another piece and then destroyed the scanner.
We quickly raided an office building overrun with Arachnos and found a self proclaimed treasure hunter that had been after it. He said that Arachnos had already taken it. Using the data we collected, we set our own sensors to look for the final pieces. Soon enough, we found ourselves in a cave deep below the surface, where the Circle and Arachnos had apparently clashed. Liberating that piece, it turned out that Gelle had the final piece all along. Yet something was still missing. Upon putting it together, we found that it was still incomplete.
Upon studying and researching, we found that the runes on it were incomplete, and once we liberated the proper texts from the Circle, we were able to fill in the blanks. Unfortunately, the moment the device was truly completed, it disappeard. We recieved a message a short time later from an anonymous person, possibly our contact. It's contents?
"Thank you."
The Warped Eight
Dr. Robinson, the same woman we rescued in our first mission, contacted us with an urgent mission to rescue a group of people called the Warped Eight.
Like the Nuclear 90, these eight people were the subjects of a remarkable coincidence. They were all born in the same hour of the same day, in the same city, Paragon City. Each was born with the capability to effortlessly warp spacetime and step into alternate dimensions. Each had an innate sense of their home dimension, and a check in station to record their comings and goings, as a walk in the park could mean a stroll through several alternate dimensions. Furthermore, they had all gone missing, and had not reported in for days.
They each shared a unique gravitational signiture, that would make our stations sensors easy to track, and easy it was. Strangely enough, finding and rescuing these people wa nearly effortless, simply amatter of setting sensors to scan in nearby dimensions and then using the spacefolders to temporarily enter those dimensions and retrieve them. Through our travels, we visited several earths where the Rikti had not invaded, or where Arachnos had never existed, but in each one lay the council, or at least a splinter of them. The Council were the ones behind the kidnappings, and even more oddly, they did not seem that concerned with keeping the eight prisoner. According to the eight, the Council had done several tests on them and had extracted their DNA.
Though we had a lot of questions left, we managed to rescue them all. It was the easiest task we have ever been assigned, and the one that has left the most questions unanswered.
Why them? What could their DNA gice the Council? What exactly did the Council have in mind? The andwers to these and many more elude us till this day.
The Eye of Arajian
We were given a task by a scientist to find the Eye of Arajian, an ancient artifact he said may have the capability to unlock a whole new kind of science. It started, with a legend:
"Millenia ago, on a distant planet, there was a great Titan of Metal and Fire, its name was Arajian. Arajian had an Eye of great power. The Eye of Arajian was the key to unlocking the Great Secret.
From different points of light and stars in the sky came three brothers, each carrying a different banner of war. Their goal was to slay Arajian and take its Eye, so that they might unlock the power of the Great Secret. Slay it they did, however, they could not decide amongst themselves who would have it, and so they fought. the battle was long and disastrous and there was much destruction.
To stop this bloody affair and to keep them from unlocking the Secret, a being known as the Benefactor stole away the Eye and hid it upon an uninhabited planet."
With the help of our contact, we have determined that the location of this Eye of Arajian is not only Earth, but the tunnels beneath Paragon City. At first, we had no leads beyond that, so we did what we could by heading out and seeking information on it.. in other words, we beat down some criminals and see if they knew anything. The Tsoo, it turned out, were also looking for it.We managed to find out that they were searching for the three Scrolls of Ha'har and the Cocoon of Ha'har, seemingly in relation to the Eye of Arajian.
Over the following days, we slowly learned of the location of at least one of the scrolls and took possession of it, however we had little idea what the cocoon would be.
We found that it was not only the Tsoo, but the Circle of Thorns, Arachnos, the Banished Pantheon and others were all vying against one another in an attempt to track down the Eye. From the clutches of a band of Arachnos soldiers, we rescued a n archeologist who had worked at the National Museum in Paragon City before the first Rikti Invasion. She said that the Scrolls of Ha'har had indeed been in the museum, but were looting shortly after the first Rikti Invasion. She said she had studied them closely and had managed to begin trnaslating parts of them. Indeed, they also spoke of Arajian and its Eye.
We spent weeks with no leads, and finally had a break in the case, tracking down two of the scrolls at once. Taking them back to the Shade Sentinel, we realized that they were designed to be folded together in certain patters. Discovering these patterns, the folded papers seemed to draw a strange symbol.
[Following information restricted, ommited for member: Ko']
We were told that the Cocoon would need to touch this. We also learned that the cocoon was not an object, but a person, or a type of person. There would only be one Cocoon in the universe at once, and they woudl need to meet very specific conditions. If they were to at any time fail to meet those conditions, one of which was ignorance as to their status as the cocoon, they would cease being so forever, and another would become it.
I knew instantly who this was. We had Ko', one of our members, touch the folded papers, without telling her why. Ko' is the Cocoon.
[End Restricted Information]
A being called the Benefactor appeared to us. It showed us images and told a story. It told us the true story of Arajian. Arajian was an emmense, humanoid war machine, miles upon miles tall, and built millions of years ago. It was designed with one purpose, to annihilate the life on the planet it was set upon. It accomplished its task handily, and simply existed there as the ages passed. Its people never came to retrieve it, as they too had been annihilated in that war. Over the ages, it became semi sentient.
When it was built, it was built with a power core unlike any had seen before, a seemingly simply, small, blue disk. This seemingly simple object however, tapped into the very fabric of the universe for its power, and used a whole different kind of science. The Benefactor said it had no means to destroy it, and so destroyed the idea or knowledge of it by hiding it away. It said that the Eye must be destroyed, and that we might be able to find the means to do so. Unfortunately, to physically destroy it would likely destroy the universe, and so, we are faced with a true conundrum...
Betrayal
Upon sealing th eeye of Arajian inside the Afterlife, we recieved a strange transmission on our comm network. A darkly hooded man with a vortex for a face told us that he had in fact been manipulating us for months. All of our previous missions, the missing Doctors, the Magical Technology, the Warped Eight and the search for the Eye had all been prchestrated by him. We had played directly into his hands up until the point we effectively destroyed the Eye. He didn't make clear his aim, he did however, make clear his frustration.
Declaring his anger that we had no done as he would have wished with the Eye, he launched nuclear weapons at the Shade Sentinel. Normally, the sensors would have automatically detected the incoming missiles and raised the shields, but somehow, he managed to refract our sensors. The first missile struck the Hyperframe, delivering minor damage. Once the base knew it was under attack, it immediately raised shields and the second missile impacted them harmlessly.
The man we will simply call "Vortex Face", upon seeing what minimal damage he had caused us, declared that the missiles were a warnign and closed communications. Teh vast majority of the damage was self-repaired within hours, however, Platino spent the next few days getting all the small glitches that would normally require a full repair team ironed out. In addition to this, a couple of Vresi scientists stayed aboard for a few days, attempting to find out how their extremely advanced sensors had been fooled.
Several days later, with no luck and no sign of Vortex face or whatever faction he represents, we held a meeting. A darign plan was proposed, whereby Platino, Sable Dusk and Hawthorne Grimm woudl travel back in time, observe the events and try to determine where the missiles came from and where the commynication originated as well.
Platino and Sable Dusk managed to find out the missiles came from Warburg, which is essentially a dead end, as almost anyone can walk in and launch a nuke. In fact, we use modified missile lanuches from Warburg to deliver our own anti-proton payloads to orbit, where they are re-housed inside more advanced delivery systems.
Hawthorne traced the communication, but it was bounced between so many places it was impossible to pinpoint an origin. It is however, feasible to go to those individual places in an attempt at narrowing down the point of origin.
Unable to return home through conventional methods, Platino and Hawthorne waited out the week at a diner in Warburg before returning to the station.
As of yet, we have little idea how we were attacked, but we continue to investigate.
Roster
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