Trinity RPG: Quantum of Hope - Noetics and Taint Diseases - A Primer

[knave]

Primer for Operatives of the Integrated Intelligence Services dealing with Psionically active opponents

Author: Agent Jemima Carter, Analysis Division

Classification: Eyes Only

Encryption: DSE

Investigating the activities of Psions is likely to be one of the most difficult tasks asked of agents of the field division. The reason for this is twofold. Firstly, Psionic powers represent considerable danger in and of themselves. Secondly, Psions are likely members of world spanning organizations that have influence and power comparable to His Majesty’s Government.

The document continues to give brief synopses of the various orders, being particularly suspicious of The Ministry (because of its National Interest), and particularly critical of the Norca for their criminal links. The document also gives a brief overview of the particular aptitudes associated with each order, but warns against assuming that any particular psion follows his or her order’s default - as horse trading does take place.

The general recommendation is to not trust any psion, to not trust anyone who has been around a psion for any length of time, to only use agents who haven’t had access to sensitive information to deal with psions, and, in conflict, to shoot first and ask questions later.

Other notes include to avoid physical contact with psions if possible, and to always confront psions with groups of agents rather than alone.

The document goes on to describes the current view that Psi and Taint are opposed forces - allowing Psions to both detect Aberrants at range, and giving them a slight edge when it comes to fighting them.

Special Report Taint Illnesses

Author: Sir Milliard Coleman

Classification: Top Secret

Encryption: DSE

The title refers to the group of generally non-infectious diseases which exhibit a ‘Taint Register’ detectable by psions. It is currently believed that the sufferers of these illnesses all came into contact with ‘Taint (Aberrant) Radiation’ at some point - either from external or internal sources.

If the Taint is generated internally by a developing Mazarin-Rashoud node, the patient is designated as a sufferer of Aberrant Syndrome - i.e. he or she is in the process of becoming an Aberrant. In some cases this change is quick, but in others it is slow and incredibly painful for the victim. Virtually any prognosis is possible - everything from mild headaches to random rapid mutation.

If a case of Aberrant Syndrome is strongly suspected or greater, field agents have authorization to forestall any developing threat using any discrete means at their disposal.

If the victim has been affected by an external source of Taint there are a large and growing number of possible prognoses. However, agents should note that there is a somewhat increased risk of Aberrant Syndrome developing in sufferers of other Taint illnesses.

In this category the most common disease is known in the medical profession as Wexler’s Disease, but is more commonly called Decay, or simply D. Wexler’s takes between one and three years to kill its victim. The only vaguely merciful thing with the disease is that the nerve endings are one of the first things to atrophy, leaving the victim free from most pain during the ugly, disfiguring end stages of the disease. Loss of tactile sensation and hearing accompanied by a prickling on the skin are early warning signs of D.

Gruber’s Rot appears to be an increasingly common subcategory of D. With this variant, only the victim’s skin is affected - breaking down more and more and leaving the sufferer more vulnerable to infection. Like Wexler’s proper, with this variant the sufferer loses sensation first, but hearing is unimpaired.

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Trifal (a blood disorder), Compound Breakdown Disorder (CBD) (a disease that shuts down multiple organs and impairs cognitive function) and Genomorphic Compression Syndrome (GCS) (a mutative diseases) are also described, but are listed as being quite rare.

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All the Taint diseases are detectable by psions. All of the Taint diseases are resistant to treatment by psions; although Psions have also had the best success rate, but even so, it is statistically insignificant.

Should Taint diseases begin to spread via any of the usual disease vectors, lethal force should be used from the outset to contain them. The security of the Crown and State are at Risk.

Mills.