Trinity Universe: Into the Void: Background and Intro

[knave]

Into the Void

intro part 1

"20610907 WorldWideNews Special Report" Breaking news from around the globe!

"Today at 18:00 GMT Lin Li Wei, Chinese Minister of Security, read a short statement claiming responsibility for the destruction of Bahrain.  The minister claimed that the assault was in retaliation for an attack on China’s interests in space and declared that  any further assaults on Chinese property by Novas or any other agency, group or nation state would result in a full scale nuclear bombardment of the planet..."

"... When asked where the Novas should go Minister Lin simply replied 'Away.'"

Reliable sources have revealed to WorldWideNews that China currently has in excess of five hundred nuclear capable hyper-fusion powered craft in orbit in addition to the earlier reported OMEN Satellite Weapons platforms.  Dr Soguk Birlesme, inventor of Hyper-Fusion and outspoken scientist has ventured the opinion that potentially any five of these craft could bring about an extinction level event.

[knave]

Partial Timeline

--expect additions

1980: Diana Kadmon born in Bath, England

1998: Novas proliferate globally.

1999: Diana Kadmon enrolls in Yale Medical School - she erupts during her stay there but goes unacknowledged for the next 9 years.

2002: Colin Ingells born in London

2008: Dr Kadmon joins Project Utopia studying the effects of the use of Nova abilities.

2015: The NASA begins earthside construction of what will become the Olympus Moon Base.

2018: Dr Kadmon leaves Project Utopia stating a difference of vision to found a Nova run philanthropic baseline aid agency called ˜Everyone Dreams Everyone Needs".

2020: Colin Ingells applies to Cambridge University to read Astronomy and Physics

2021: Dave Henderson born in New York

2022: Dr Soguk Birlesme invents hyper-fusion

2024: USA launches Freedom, the first hyper-fusion powered spacecraft

2025: Colin Ingells erupts and takes the name 'Apollo' Milliken - he joins EDEN and becomes involved in rescue missions.

2031: Olympus base established on the Galatea crater. Over the next twenty years Luna changes from a mining base to a genuinely independent colony.

2041: Dave Henderson joins the US Navy

2043: Lieutenant Dave Henderson joins the US Navy SEALs

2045: Britain's Camelot moonbase adjoining Olympus goes live followed two months later by Russia's Yeltsingrad Mining Station

2045: USA introduces a Nova registration act granting access to any Novas abilities on demand. Several Novas register out of fear. Teragen agents respond by destroying the Washington Monument and defacing Mount Rushmore.

2046: Allah's Legion forcefully takes control of the island nation of Bahrain annihilating the state’s defence force and a large number of civilians.

2047: Dave Henderson erupts during a recon mission in Bahrain and goes AWOL.

2049: The U.N. declares war on "Nova Aggression" - The conflict begins

2049: 'The Space Brigade' strikes and takes Olympus after destroying several orbital weapons platforms.

The strike is completed with only 17 casualties.

Dave Henderson, Space Brigade Commander declares Olympus a neutral zone for any Nova who wishes to leave the war behind. The several thousand lunar baselines (miners, engineers, tourists and their families) are well treated, but are not allowed to return to Earth. Few complain.

2050: Olympus’s defences are improved with weapons taken from orbital ships and several OMEN satellite platforms.

2051: Novas begin to trickle into Olympus.

2052: Jerusalem is destroyed in battles between both conventional and Nova forces.

2053: China launches Xingyang Sujia - The first manned mission to Mars.

2054: 'Cultist' Christian Nova Calvert Wycoff, resident of Hastings Nebraska explodes destroying much of the USA's grain belt.

2055: USA invades Canada with the aid of Quebec ostensibly to claim Canada's farm land.

2061: Nova Mungo Kuwasha of unknown affiliation destroys the OpNet

2061: China's Earthstrike Ultimatum.

2061: Divis Mal makes its promise.

[knave]

intro part 2

"20450301 WorldWideNews Special Report" Breaking news from around the globe!

"Today at 14:00 GMT Congressman Roger McIntyre of Virginia's Emergency Ability Registration Act and act was passed by both houses.  This follows the recent Wade vs Grayson and State of Virginia vs Alan Grent court cases.  The registration act will allow all registered Novas the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans, but will require them to declare themselves at all ports and assist law enforcement or Project Utopia personell on request.  Mask wearing 'Nova personas' will be restricted to entertainment projects."

"... The congressman has stated that he looks forward to being able to draw on the powers of good hearted American Novas to prevent such tragedies as the the recent destruction of the technical college in Lille, France."

"20450309 WorldWideNews Special Report" Breaking news from around the globe!

The Washington Monument is rubble!  With a single energy blast from the sky it was gone.  Civilian death toll is currently estimated at nearly one hundred.  Who could have done such a thing?  Who will step forward and take responsibility for such an action?  Government and Utopian sources are currently 'investigating', but several tabloid NetZines including the once great N! are speculating on Teragen involvement.

[knave]

intro part 3

Triton's Babel Dossier Extract

A much-pirated underground transmission, probably from around 2053 shows a determined looking dark haired man wearing faded military fatigues sitting behind large, wood-veneered desk with a single terminal to his left.  Behind the man is a window through which the Earth can be seen eclipsing the sun.  The man does his best to square his weak jaw and seems to somehow grow in stature - somehow filling up more of the screen.  He speaks - his voice is deep, American and determined:

I let it be known after we took this place that any Nova who wanted out of the war could come here.  That the Mount would be a safe port of call for any of you.  We only had three rules: One: That you leave your politics on Earth, Two: That you respect everyone - Nova and Baseline - on Olympus as all are under Space Brigade protection, and, finally, that you not use us for a springboard for political actions.

The man reaches down to his left - as if opening a drawer.  His hand rises holding long strands of dark hair... Attached to a head... a severed head... the dead man may have been Arabic given his features and skin tone.  The man places the head to his right facing the camera.

"Nasim here wasn't paying attention to the rules.  He even came back to try to f*ck with us a second time.  I'm going to make this real simple:  You come here you're free to stay as long as you want, but you don't leave unless it's on Brigade Business.  And right now the Brigade's primary business is f*cking those who f*ck with us!"

The severed head begins to atrophy.  Amazingly quickly - as if in stop motion - rot sets in and the head becomes a rotting lump of flesh – becomes a cleanly picked skull.

The man's right hand slams down on it - sending skull fragments flying...

[knave]

Novas of Olympus

Dave Henderson

Appears: Well built, thirty-something, 6'1" dark hair, dark eyes, bit of a weak chin. Tends to wear fatigues.

Rank: Commander

Demeanour: Autocrat

Position: Head of the space brigade with loyalty of the inner cadre

Politics: Non-intervention. Dave was convinced that the best way to remove Novas from the ongoing conflict is to give them a reasonable alternative. Whether or not he has thought about what will happen next is open to debate.

Powers: Tactical Genius, Socially Convincing. Combat skills. Temporal Manipulation.

History: New Yorker and ex US Navy SEAL. Occasionally talks of the nightmare intrusion mission into Allah's Legion occupied Bahrain during which his eruption occurred. Dave survived the mission and returned to the USA where he went AWOL. He describes the following year during which time he recruited his inner cadre and planned the assault on Olympus as his 'thinking time'.

Dave's inner circle cadre is mostly ex Elites with military backgrounds.

Dr Diana Kadmon

Appears: Nearly six foot with dark hair, eyes and complexion Diana could be described as a strikingly attractive woman in her late thirties with a magnetism to her that makes it hard to look away.

Rank: Advisor

Demeanor: Caregiver

Position: Primary doctor, advisor and mediator to the baselines who are prepared to accept her. She also does extensive medical research work with Novas and baselines. Heads the remainder of the EDEN faction and has gained considerable respect from the Commander.

Politics: 'Utopian' Novas have a moral responsibility to protect humans from the ravages of feral Novas and even to assist humanity in projects where normals cannot hope to succeed.

Powers: Vast understanding of medicine, physiology, psychology and quantum forces. Extreme charisma.

History: Diana founded Everyone Dreams, Everyone Needs - a charity using Novas to assist baselines and Novas in need after working for Project Utopia for eight years. She seldom talks about her time in Utopia, and when she does her mood always turns sour. Kadmon, Milliken and several of her supporters arrived on Olympus in early 2050 to 'care for the baselines'. Diana's skills quickly made her a major advisor to the Commander.

Although several of her staff have left permanently to address issues of family on Earth Diana maintains a strong following amongst the Novas and even stronger following amongst the baselines.

Diana has made no secret of the fact that she is studying the interplay of energies between Novas and Baselines.

[knave]

Apollo Milliken

Appears: A pale skinned man of just under six foot with a shock of unruly brown hair and a permanent 5'o'clock shadow.

Normally has food stains on his shirt.

Rank: Advisor

Demeanor: Explorer

Position: Astronomy and General Science advisor

Politics: Apollo is one of Diana Kadmon's EDENites although his personal politics have always hinged around finding a new Earth for Novas and baselines to start afresh. Apollo has not elaborated much on how he'd like to see the new society engineered, as he seems to believe that a large part of that will have to do with the environment of the new planet.

Powers: Extreme Ranged perceptive powers. Radiant conversion of matter to energy.

History: Apollo arrived with Diana Kadmon and several other Novas in 2050 ostensibly to see to the needs of the several thousand baselines marooned on Olympus. He has since proved his worth in locating and removing satellites targeting the base. Apollo spends most of his time doing astronomical surveys searching for stars with planets that may be the next Earth.

Dr Lelethu Khumalo

Appears: An African (South African in fact) woman in her twenties. Lelethu maintains generous curves (not fat just curvy) despite her Nova metabolism. She tends to dress in loose-fitting African robes.

Rank: Advisor

Demeanor: Architect

Position: Biologist, anthropologist and expert on matters relating to Luna itself.

Politics: Green. Lelethu believes that Novas have the ability to control their own evolution and so that they should be controlling that evolution to better fit the world in which they are living.

Powers: Lelethu is an accomplished shape changer as well as having power over 'nature'.

History: Lelethu arrived in 5053 after a conflict between Elites destroyed the PU mission where she was working.

On arrival she rapidly made herself useful by taking responsibility for and massively improving the output of all the Hyroponics bays.

Although Khumalo and Kadmon work together with the baselines as scientists, it is well known that the two women do not get on.

Much of Lelethu's past remain shrouded in mystery and so she does not enjoy quite the trust of the base Commander or his inner cadre that she might otherwise.

There are rumours of Khumalo conducting secret ceremonies with baselines in the hydroponics bays.

[knave]

Lt 'Marina' Chen Lin

Appears: A small Chinese woman with short, badly cut hair. Dresses in a tight, black Eufiber suit that leaves very little to the imagination.

Rank: Lieutenant

Demeanor: Follower/Bravo

Position: An ex Elite of little note, Marina has come to be the Commander's closest confidant and friend. A member of the original Space Brigade and the inner cadre.

Politics: Don't question those who have thought things through more than you have.

Powers: Incredible strength. Nigh indestructible.

History: Despite working for DeVries for a year the only thing 'Iron Lotus' managed to become known for was a botched mission where she was thrown through a Tokyo skyscraper by members of the Nippontai. Henderson's group were one of the few who would take her in. Marina has since returned the favour with fierce loyalty to her commander and a great deal of contempt for anyone who makes his (or her) life more difficult.

[knave]

Lt David 'Graviton' Giles

Appears: Six four with an athlete's build, blond hair, a hooked nose and piercing blue eyes make Giles unmistakable. His prominent Australian accent doesn't help either.

Rank: Lieutenant

Demeanor: Critic

Position: Lieutenant and primary teleporter for the Brigade's inner cadre. Giles is too much work to be the commander's friend, but the commander does seem to value his opinions quite highly.

Politics: Willing to apply force to correct the world's problems. Firmly believes that the world's baseline leaders and most of the Nova leaders should be forced to see sense. He recognises that he isn't the one to be doing the forcing however.

Powers: Gravity control fifty meters around Giles enjoys Earth normal gravity - Luna Aggravated Osteoperosis sufferers tend to shadow him as well as very powerful Warp capabilities.

History: Giles was part of a five member Australian Nova squad associated with the Australian SAS. He left (and was hunted by his team) after a Nasty bit of black Ops. Apparently, he joined the brigade out of desperation.

Giles and Milliken have been conducting experiments on combined use of Giles powers something they're calling a Warp Tunnel.

[knave]

Sgt Robert Bue Li

Appears: A tall, balding Philippino in his 50s with the look of someone who worries too much.

Rank: Sergeant

Demeanor: Paragon

Position: Although he came to Luna in 2055 Robert Bue Li’s abilities and military intelligence background provided sufficient reason for the Commander to invite him into the military cadre.

Politics: Devoutly Christian Bue Li agrees with the commander’s non-intervention policy but has been known to venture quite radical opinions on what ‘should be happening’. His personal opinions tend – for those who are prepared to listen - to fall into a category of informed guidance by those who can see the bigger picture.

Powers: Telepathy

History: Bue Li is a lifelong government and intelligence services worker. His family life appears to have been a broken mess that eventually led to his eruption.

Yuri Antonov

Appears: Devilishly handsome forty something Russian and a bit of a snappy dresser.

Rank: None

Demeanor: Gallant/Visionary

Position: Part of Diana Kadmon’s EDEN faction.

Politics: Antonov has expressed a succession of theories for building a better society – each seemingly designed to annoy/astound the person he is talking to. Never the less his work record with Eden is both extensive and impressive.

Powers: Aside from warp abilities Antonov can generate precise energy blasts and create matter from nothing.

History: Antonov has done extensive work for EDEN in Russia. Known for ‘unmasking’ three Elites employed to unseat an elected official in the Ukraine.

[knave]

Dr Damien Green-Mills

Appears: Almost preternaturally thin Englishman of average height in his mid thirties. Close cropped brown hair, blue eyes.

Rank: Advisor to both Baseline and Nova Councils

Demeanor: Analyst

Position: Maintains a position on both the Nova and Baseline advisory councils.

Politics: Green-Mills is interested only in the politics of ensuring that the least number of people die. He has very little political acumen, and so sways between the three major groups the Brigade, the Edenites, and the Greens

Powers: None - aside from incredible scientific and engineering aptitude.

History: Green-Mills was the head researcher for Camelot's research division. When the brigade shut down the British research base and moved its personnel to Olympus Green-Mills used his knowledge the subselenic construction tunnels and base technology to ambush and incapacitate several Brigade members. It took Henderson and his Lieutenants themselves to apprehend him. It seemed that the stress of the attack had caused the scientist to erupt in an extremely focussed way. He now provides scientific and engineering information to the Brigade as well as maintaining his position on the baseline council. Green-Mills is one of a very small number of Novas to have their families (Wife Cheryl and son Jamie 8) on base.

Maria da Silva

Appears: A six foot tall Chilean woman of unusual - almost oriental - features.

Rank: None

Demeanor: Hedonist

Position: Until two months ago Maria da Silva was Khumalo's closest friend and confidant.

Politics: Green

Powers: Hyperfast flight and density control.

History: Two months ago several Novas were attracted to this woman's bunk by strange Quantum emanations. They found da Silva encased in a glowing cloud of energy - apparently comatose. She has remained as such ever since. Despite Khumalo's objections Kadmon has had her moved to her lab.

[Alex Green]

Jason 'Landslide' Brown

Appears: A hansom ruggedly built Caucasian man in his mid twenties with brown hair and eyes.

Rank: Operator

Demeanor: Survivor

Position: Member of the Space Brigade.

Politics: Unknown or perhaps none.

Powers: Bodymorph Mud. Taint manipulation.

History: Jason was a baseline member of Wycroff’s cult, and Wycroff’s family, who survived the explosion by erupting in 2054. Captured shortly afterwards by the Army, he was drafted (he would say ‘enslaved’) and put to work doing such things as invading Canada. In 2057 he killed one of his officers and fled to Olympus. Since then he has loyally served in the Space Brigade.

Kelly 'Delphi' McGovern

Appears: A young blue eyed platinum blond. Could pass as a baseline super model.

Rank: Council Member

Demeanor: Survivor

Position: Civilian - Council Advisor

Politics: ???

Powers: Precognition.

History: Rumor has it Kelly erupted at the Wycroff explosion, but hid her nova status for several years. She fled to Olympus with Jason 4 years ago when she was 15. Since then her advice has proved invaluable to everyone, enough so she has a seat on the council. Uniquely she both is, and is not, a member of every faction. A cynic might say she’ll go with the winner. She is known to be close to Jason but their exact relationship is unclear.

[knave]

Tania (Chadwick)

Appears: 5’3” pale, very dark haired, very beautiful Canadienne Novox. (20ish)

Rank: None

Demeanor: Rebel

Position: Well loved young entertainer. Politics: Utopian / Anti-Teragen

Powers: Novox. Illusion control.

History: Tania arrived in 2058 after death threats and actual attacks by Teragen members after appearing at a Utopia sponsored anti-war aid concert.

[knave]

Lower Profile Novas:

Those marked with a * have interventionist leanings.

Those marked with a & have ‘green’ leanings.

Military Cadre

1) Sgt Ryan West (solid, square jawed all American)

2) Flt Lt Yolanda ‘Lobo’ Kowalski (Pilot) * (svelte with arching brows and an evil grin)

3) Op Andrew ‘Firelancer’ Tarrant (tall, red haired, English)

4) Op Chris ‘Dust Devil’ Wells (New Zealander Maori)

5) Op Erin ‘The Body’ Ash (incredibly dextrous American brunette)

6) Op Tony ‘TT’ Tarony * (tall dark and unmistakably Italian)

7) Op Samuel ‘Space Cadet’ Mullins (Pilot) (Heavyset, African American – an astronaut through experimentation)

8) Op Caroline ‘The Tache’ Viera & (unfortunate featured Brazilian woman)

9) Op Anna ‘Dangerlady’ Anderssen * (fiery Swede)

EDEN Faction

1) Helena Belle (Pilot) & (Short, plain, French brunette)

2) Julian Sumner (Pilot) (scarred American)

3) Dr Keiko Tanaka & (Scientist - Small, exquisite Japanese woman)

4) Dr Barny Howard (Psychologist – Large, glowing eyed Irishman with almost no hair)

5) Cameron Trent (Curvy, blonde American)

6) Dr Heather Ross & (Epidemiologist – leggy Scot)

‘Guest’

1) Greg Hatcher * (‘Aberrant’ Scientist – 30s, tall, mottled appearance, Australian)

2) Rick Craven * (‘Aberrant’ Scientist, golden skinned South African)

3) Garfield Wilson (English Millionaire playboy)

4) Narnia Holland (Garfield’s Nova model girlfriend) &

[knave]

Op. Kagejin

Appearance: Kagejin is a non-descript japanese man. He has moderate length spikey black hair and carries a sword.

Rank: Operator

Demeanor: Survivor

Position: A recent arrival who speedily gained the respect of the members of the military cadre – quickly enough to almost bypass the ‘rookie’ stage of initiation altogether.

Politics: His only politics seems to be an interest in keeping the peace. While he will let minor violations go most times, he can become quite severe with repeat offenders.

He has expressed some interest in training and leading his own 'peacekeeper' team.

Powers: Kagejin is exceedingly quick in his movements.

History: Kagejin apparently erupted when he was young and was soon placed in a Japanese training facility. On arriving on Luna he almost immediately sought out the Commander and was granted a place in the military cadre. Henderson allowed him to return to Japan briefly to gather some things and return.

He has brought a young woman (Mika Yomashi) along with him who silently serves him when he needs, along with some 'self-defence' devices - notably a Ninjato. When asked, he has been known to say, "Its enough to defend myself and everyone under my shadow."

[knave]

Life on Luna

A few things to bear in mind

- When Graviton is awake he extends a field of Earth Normal gravity over a large swathe of the base. When he is sleeping this field becomes much smaller. He does this because baselines and even some Novas were getting badly affected by Luna Aggravated Osteoperosis - resulting in very weak bones. The rest of the time gravity is 1/6 Eath Normal. The consequences of this are fairly interesting - although everything is six times lighter, it's mass remains the same - and Force still equals mass * Acceleration. So throwing a space ship at someone will still hurt as if it was thrown on Earth. (Squish)

- Suntanned people... I guess someone might have hooked up some sunbeds, or got some of the facs to produce some bronzer... otherwise you need to be outside the base...

- The base. At this stage Olympus is a multi-level tunnel complex under at least five meters of lunar rock and radiation shielding. Mylex (the stuff that makes the Trinity Era Olympian Towers possible) has not yet been invented. Given that, it follows that most of Olympus is cut from rock and insulated with various materials. So expect everywhere to be regularly shaped. There are no houses - there are quarters. There is no climbing over walls - there might be going up/down to the next level and accessing a maintenance tunnel.

Now - I'm not having a go - because Kagejin has relevant powers in this regard, but in general:

There are plenty of places to hide, (air ducts, maintenance tunnels etc) but don't expect to be able to hide by, for example, bracing yourself in the rafters because - well there really aren't any rafters. There are occasional bracing pillars in the larger living spaces, but that's it.

The height of the roof in most corridors is about 9 and an additional foot potentialy covered in covered or potentially exposed fibre bundles.

The roof is much higher in several of the facs where robotic machinery buzzes out its assigned tasks and in some of the larger living spaces. Nowhere on the base allows you to forget that you are not on Earth.

Common Haunts

Obsevatory - a dome equipped with an array of telescopes. The shielding may be withdrawn exposing a large spherical window that allows beautiful views of Earth and the Galatea crater. Baselines are not allowed to work in the dome for more than four hours at a time as a precaution.

Hydroponics Bays - There are four 'Gardens' around the base where all of the base's requirements are grown. These areas have become the home of the 'Green' faction although technically everyone is allowed access. The centre of each garden has been changed to incorporate trees taken from Earth in small shrines to the world below. Expect to eat a lot of soy.

Command and Control - A heavily shielded area accessible only trusted personnel. There is also a redundent C&C centre guarded by baselines.

The Walks There are three 'Walks' - highstreet type areas with stores. Currently these are staffed by volunteer baselines and trade in goods produced on the base. The walks also access the various diners and entertainment centres. (before the OpNet crash there was something of a roaring trade in the display of pirated films)

Michelle's - Currently the top eatery is Michelle's - a baseline who manages to produce particularly interesting sauces with what's available.

Hangers There are several hanger bays opening onto short landing areas. Ships are generally fired out of the hangers into lunar orbit on catapults - saving them fuel.

Labs - There are numerous labs designed to study every sort of phenomina imaginable.

[knave]

John Stevens

Appearance: John is a fairly attactive man in his early 30's with slightly unkempt dirtly blonde hair and blue eyes. He typically dresses in utilitarian attire best suited to the task at hand, often jeans or coveralls.

Rank: Popular (civilian)

Demeanor: Survivor

Position: John's been on the moonbase for a while and most of the baselines there know and like him

Politics: None in particular

Powers: John has the ability to 'imprint' (replicate) the quantum abilities of other novas.

History: John was born in a small town in the southwestern desert of the United States. After (barely) graduating from high school, he set out on a backpacking tour of Europe, earning cash doing odd jobs as he went. He's been a drifter ever since.

John found himself at the Olympus moonbase in 2046, working in the mines, and again doing odd jobs as necessary.

The actual date of John's eruption is something of a mystery. In retrospect, he remembers about a year ago having painful headaches and occasional sickness for an extended period of time. Not being one to whine, John just 'sucked it up' and kept on about his work. Eventually the headaches stopped, and there were no obvious quantum powers to replace them.

His nova status became clear when the Space Brigade took over Olympus and, after shaking the hand of Dr. Khumalo, he began shapeshifting uncontrollably.

[knave]

Name: Adam Hoyle

Appearance: A tall, heavily muscled, darkly tanned caucasian in his early twenties. He's a square-jawed, imposing, powerful and handsome figure with a long mane of dark brown hair.

Rank: Civilian (well Respected)

Demeanor: Hedonist

Position: Confidant of Dr Khumalo

Politics: Greens, closely affiliated with Dr Lelethu Khumalo.

Powers: Control over nature (animals, plants, weather)

History: Adam is a fairly recent arrival to Olympus, and fairly new as a nova as well. In his baseline life he was a rich kid who got as far as a few years at college studying social sciences, before he'd had it with the whole thing and took a year off. He erupted on a safari somewhere in Africa, and lived a peaceful life alternating between the wild and tropical tourist resorts until anti-nova attitudes became too much.

[knave]

Symbiote

Appears: As his host…

Rank: Accepted, resprected and even venerated amongst some baselines'

Demeanor: Architect

Position: None, he doesn’t seem too concerned with party politics.

Politics: Unknown

Powers: Telepathy and parasitic domination. He’s also been known to use teleportation powers on his host.

History: About a year ago as the War was turning to its ugliest, a fair-haired baseline, US Corporal Cody Macnichol and his girlfriend, Roxie Salvo, ported right smack in the middle of the Observatory. It turned out that Macnichol was possessed by a benevolent Nova and that both Cody and Roxie had willingly agreed to coming to Olympus. Since then Cody has more or less acted as Symbiote’s voice among the mortals, a voice highly veneered by some, even though he rarely serves directly as his host anymore. Indeed it can be hard to tell where Symbiote actually is at any given time. Since his arrival there have been no executions among the baselines and some whisper that Symbiote has some influence on the Council…

[knave]

The Prophet

Appears: Humanoid in shape, the spacetime distortion that is The Prophet stands(floats) about 6'1" tall. The entire surface of his skin shows images from different points in space in the present. Those who look into his eyes see images from the past, theirs, his, and others. His humaniod shape is completely hairless, as befits a creature made of warped spacetime, and around the bizzare melange of images on his skin and in his eyes swirl ghostly transparent images of likely events in the near future. Baselines and less tainted novas feel uncomfortable even being in his presence, and few dare look at him directly. Those who can stand to be around him feel somehow smaller, dwarfed by the sense of the enormity of time and space that he exudes. Those very few able to read his moods at all describe him as seeming almost permanently distracted, even when he's doing things in the present, the sense that his mind is elsewhere and elsewhen permeate his being.

Rank: None, he's viewed with both awe and suspicion by novas and baselines alike.

Demeanor: Inscrutable (Permanently Distracted)

Position: Crazy oracle, uncertain ally

Politics: Though difficult to speak to, as his answers to various direct questions put to him by certain novas and baselines indicate a strong feeling of obligation towards the entire population of Olympus. Few trust this entirely, but so far he's prevented several accidental events from harming both baselines and novas on the base.

Powers: Bodymorph, ESP, Pretercognition

History: The Prophet appeared suddenly in 2049 in a cocoon of images from all over time and space, some familiar and pedestrian, some bizzare beyond understanding or belief. The stunned group of baselines and novas, eating a communal meal at the cafeteria in Olympus base, didn't react immediately, which probably saved the Prophet's life. Once they determined that the strange thing that had appeared wasn't dangerous, and was in fact a nova in some sort of taint-ridden cocoon, they held a meeting of the entire population to determine what to do with it. Eventually they decided to keep him, under close watch at all times, and try to explain things to the nova if he ever woke up.

With the arrival of EDEN, care of ‘sleeping beauty’ was taken over by Diana Kadmon and her fellow scientists. Almost twelve years later, a month before the Chinese Ultimatum and very close to the time that Maria da Silva fell into a similar stasis, The Prophet woke up - a few seconds later half the novas in Olympus Colony were in his room, telling him not to move, and inquiring as to his intentions. The Prophet explained who and what he was, as best he could to those without his perspective, and that he felt an obligation to help them in their endeavours. He spoke of the vision that had come to him as he awoke from his long dormancy, of the coming Ultimatum, and the exodus. He expressed his desire to go with them when they went where they were going. Since then, he's acted as an oracle to those brave or desperate enough to seek him out, and has prevented several accidents. Still, even though his predictions have happened exactly as he foretold, few trust the admitted Terat and obvious example of the horrors of their Tainted philosophy.

[knave]

Mikhail 'Bolshoi' Andreivich Rastov

Appearance: His relatively short height (5' 5") and his chiselled Nova physique serve to make him look rather squat. Still, compared to most baselines he's a good looking man, with a strong jaw and high Slavic cheekbones. His hair is thick and dark brown. The colour of his eyes change constantly, depending on his mood - a deep blue when he's calm, all the way through to a blood red or deep black when he's enraged.

Rank:: Popular/Respected Civilian

Demeanor: Adventurer

Position: Grew up as the son of wealthy managers on Yeltsingrad, and as such is part of the closest thing Luna has to a social elite.

Politics: Nominally associated with the EDEN faction, although this seems an arrangement of convenience rather than anything to do with ideologies.

Powers: Mikhail is a potent telekinetic, and possesses a handful of other mental abilities.

History: Mikhail Andreivich Rastov was born on the lunar mining colony of Yeltsingrad, to Andrei Rastov and Tatyana Rastova. As senior management at Yeltsingrad, Mikhail enjoyed as many privileges as colony life would allow, and his family was as close to the social elite as off-world living could provide. Thus it was a shock to all when he erupted a few days after his 19th birthday. Mikhail himself, however, was more than ready for this new turn in his life. Finally freed from the endless rounds of business meetings, paperwork and general existence on the lunar surface, he offered himself to the EDEN group, in return for them taking him away from Yeltsingrad and teaching him all about his new abilities.

[knave]

Sinclair

Appears: Just under six feet tall, and thickly muscled, Sinclair's most notable feature is a pair of feline eyes peering out from between a mass of long, reddish-brown hair and a mountain-man beard. So thick is his hair and beard, it's difficult to really identify an actual face back there.

Though unkempt, he is clean, and typically wears a Eufiber body suit that changes to whatever outfit he needs. His usual style leads the eufiber to look like denim blue jeans and a non-descript sweatshirt or pullover.

Rank: Civilian

Demeanor: Caregiver/Survivor

Position: Computer Specialist, Biologist, Engineer

Politics: Disgusted with the Ultimatum, his obvious desire help others is at odds with his distrust towards most baselines, especially baseline governments.

Powers: Incredible sensory range and sensitivity, able to adapt and/or thrive in nearly any environment.

History: Very little is known about this nova or his past. Occasionally he makes slips in conversation that indicate firsthand experiences of working with Aeon's Project Utopia, and reminisces of computers before the OpNet. These indicate he is of considerable age, but his reticence forestalls any details; as does the extreme difficulty in finding any records of his former life on Earth.

[knave]

Prof. Robin Hawkling

Appears: A guant, pale man, Prof. Hawkling suffers from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and appears as though he should be slumping in a wheelchair. He talks with the aid of a mechanical voice and he does walk and move, just like a Marionette in the hands of a master Puppeteer.

Rank: Civilian

Demeanor: Gallant

Position: Master Engeneer and Researcher in the science department.

Mentor:Dr Diana Kadmon

Politics: He sees politics as a distraction, but backs Dr. Kadmon when the need arises.

Powers: The ability to brainstorm in both Physics and Engeneering, Cyberkinesis, Adaptability

History: In his third year at Oxford, Robin became clumsier, and started falling over without reason. Doctors diagnosed him with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gahrig's Disease. They predicted he would die within two years. Over time, Stephen was confined to an electric wheelchair, and his speech became more slurred, until only a few people could understand him. But in one way he was fortunate; his condition worsened at a slower rate than a normal ALS sufferer. After gaining his Ph.D. in Engeneering and Physics, Robin came to the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge.

In 2055, Professor Hawkling contracted pneumonia. He had to have a tracheotomy operation, which left him without speech entirely. It also forced him to erupt. In 2056, Prof Hawkling decided to leave Earth and join the remanants of E.D.E.N (and Dr Diana Kadmon) on Olympus. There he could persue his love of the stars, hopfully in peace. Since then, he has been working on the QuEST(Quantum Entanglement Spontaneous Trancever) radio for use between the colonies.