Eldritch - The Unlikely Heroes of Earth (Science Fantasy Strategy RP)

[Flameal15k]

Year 20XX: Around the world, outside the view of normal humans, secret battles were fought. Creatures of myth and legend, monsters from beyond time and space, and lighthearted oddities such as magical girls warred for the destiny of mankind. There conflict was harsh and brutal, but mostly hidden in the shadows of modern society....

Until the Horrors came.

From the heavens and the oceans they came, waging war upon all they encountered. Which side you stood for amid the other clandestine factions mattered little, for the horrors brought death upon all they encountered. Demon, fairy, or cosmic horror, it mattered little to the Horrors: where they came, though brought only death.

Worse still was the arrival of the invaders – a more technology inclined, yet equally alien foe, the invaders desired Earth for their own reasons. That was made clear on the first day of the war, when the fought both man and horror.

It only took a few days for major cities around the globe to be occupied, with militaries scattered and in disarray. Casualties amount to one billion human souls by the end of the first month.

Faced with Extinction, the myriad hidden groups hastily brokered alliances with one another and the world governments. Facing a new threat, they emerged from the shadows and united to stave off the threat of extinction.

This is there story.

XXXXXXXX

Welcome to Eldritch! This is an idea I had swirling around while I was working on my passion project, Conquest In The Name of Advancement (known on FFN as Annihilation Through Unity). That story is pending a rename since it sounds weird.

That aside, Eldritch is a GSRP set on an alternate Earth where things like the Cthulhu Mythos, the Illuminati, aliens and other paranormal/fantastical things ( examples in order of seriousness include demons, angels, the reptilians, imps, goblins, elves, dwarves, unicorns and magical girls) exist. All of them were milling, sticking to the shadows, and occasionally fighting clandestine wars, until the invaders and the horrors showed up and started killing humans like there was no tomorrow.

Now, with the potential destruction of Earth and Mankind on the table, they have united, if only to ensure that their….investments in Earth are not lost.

With that out of the way, here is the outline for all submissions:

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Name of Organization: Self Explanatory

Leader of Organization: Self Explanatory

Species: (can be human, non-human of any sort, or a mix of several species/machines)

Manner of Recruitment: Do the pull people off the street, clone the greatest warrior who ever lived and send an army of their clone children to battle, grow people in labs, build robots, or just do 'normal' recruitment

Reason for getting involved in the conflict: Are you fighting out of altruism or pragmatism?

Mystic/Science Based(?): Do they rely on Magic or Technology to fight, or do they want to mix both.

Headquarters: You can have bases all over the world, but you have to start somewhere.

---------

Now, here are the rules:

Your characters/faction cannot be overpowered compared to other settings (so no using an Army of Asuras – the world pretty much ended, and curbstomping all of the time is annoying).

You can use an existing force from another piece of fiction, but they must at least be willing to fight for the preservation of humanity for goals that reasonable (for example, since I have a thing for ship girls, the Fleet of Fog is a valid faction, but the Abyssal Fleets are not).

No infighting between players except are war games for training. Failure to do so will incur penalties for all players, even if they weren't involved.

Finally (for now), to compound on rule two, no factions are allowed who will immediately backstab mankind after defeating the invaders and the horrors – even if they see mankind as food and are only fighting to protect their harvest. Assume they want to let the herds to plentiful before its time to take them to slaughter.

Oh, and for anyone wondering since I did a major plot twist where I crossed over two of my longest running stories together with admittedly limited foreshadowing, this story will not cross over with any of my existing ones – it is going to be stand alone…well, this version will. I might include an alternate universe one in my PASI, but this RP exists in its own multiverse.

Also, since I'm currently still in college and generally busy as is (and have half a dozen stories I am working on), expect updates about once a week. The start date for this story depends on if/when we get to the minimum number of players wanted/needed (7-10 would be nice).

Lastly, in regards to factions, you can use anything from the Illuminati to the Mages Association to XCOM and even a group of magical girls (except the Puella Magi - that setting is an anime In Universe, plus its themes regarding entropy and stuff are incompatible with the lore I have planned). Also, I'm reserving the Illuminati, XCOM, and the Phoenix Project as GMPCs. That may change in the future.

GO FORTH AND CONQUER!

 

[SitzKrieg]

Damn I've got two pretty decent ideas that I'm finding trouble choosing between......one hand I've got a multiversal mega-conglomerate who's branch offices are forced to requisition men and material though a bureaucracy that makes Warhammer Imperium times seem quick. And on the other I've got Holy Lawyers.

 

[Flameal15k]

....Flip a coin, I guess?

Or you could have them working together - I am not averse to that.

 

[Space Jawa]

I'm going to have to put some thought into what to apply as.

 

[Flameal15k]

I'm going to have to put some thought into what to apply as.

Click to shrink...

Take your time.

 

[NeonLights]

WIP

Spoiler

Name of Organization: "Inter-universal Investigating", though this is only a front organization for Task Force Orion of the 11th Heavenly Host.

Leader of Organization: The Triumvirate, consisting of Lieutenant General Armaita Temperance of the 873rd Rapid Response Contingency Corps, Major General Adriel Gallaghim of the 89th Covert Operations Division, and Military Intelligence Director "Resplendence" of Operation Harmony.

Species: Predominately angels, although a sizable minority of other species exists.

Manner of Recruitment: Task Force Orion's members are recruited from the population of Heaven, and it consists of angels and those who have earned entrance into it's hallowed halls.

Reason for getting involved in the conflict: To fulfill the Celestial Bureaucracy's policy objectives, to act as a relief force in the protection of Earth and humanity's free will, and to collect information on the invaders to send back to Heaven.

Mystic/Science Based(?): Task Force Orion's capabilities rely on mystical and magitech principles, though due to the technological era of Earth, influence from it's non-angelic contingent, and the need to have backups in case of anti-magical influence, pure technological equipment is kept in reserve.

A keystone of Task Force Orion's equipment is the binding of spirits. With these, a form of powered armor and equipment is obtained. The current doctrine is to use these spirits as a means to support the casting of magic, allowing for all soldiers to have an increased pool of mana available to them. More elite units have more powerful spirits assisting them. For example, a Strike Team member will have multiple spirits in their armor, compared to the one spirit in a Marine's armor. Vehicles also have spirits, but they are not responsible for locomotion, merely providing assistance and lending their power.

The same paradigm applies to soldiers. Less skilled infantry will have less spells with lower power compared to higher ranked infantry.

Headquarters: Formerly based out of Bucharest, Romania, Operation Prismatic Dawn and associated events have forced a relocation into the Karanga region in Kazakhstan. While normally it would be extremely difficult to transfer a headquarters across country lines, it's nature as a pocket dimension accessible through the use of a portable teleportation array simplified the task.

Spoiler: Reference images

Background:
-Operation Harmony
-Assignment of the 89th Covert Operation Division to Operation Harmony
-Initial Invasion Response
-Arrival of Reinforcements

Units:

Spoiler: 873th Rapid Response Contingency Corps

Subfaction theme

Order of Battle:
Rapid Deployment Command:
319th Infantry Division
794th Infantry Division
265th Armored Walker Division
965th Air Assault Division
43rd Marine Division
-75th Specialized Unit Regiment
188th Commando Division
32nd Tank Division
696th Artillery Division

Tactical Air Command:
233rd Air Superiority Wing
948th Air Superiority Wing
6755th Strike Wing
42nd UAV Wing
22nd Airborne Warning and Control Wing
450th Thaumaturgical Combat Wing
324th Supply Wing
897th Transportation Wing


Units:
Infantry:
Infantry - Regular infantry, insofar as Task Force Orion deploys regular infantry. Trained soldiers who are capable of offensive and defensive action, and are combat effective at all ranges. Mainly armed with swords and mageguns, though other specialist weapon types can be found on the field. Capable of casting basic attack and defense spells. Also responsible for IFVs and APCs.
Commandos - Special operation units that specialize in raids and unconventional assaults on high value targets, alongside working in tandem with regulars units on the front lines to achieve tactical objectives.
Airborne Infantry - Airborne soldiers are those deployed directly into enemy territory, dropped from transport aircraft into the jaws of death. The flight packs of their armor allows for limited low level flight capability, resulting in hit and run tactics with grenades before pushing in or pulling back.
Mage - Mages are casters who have learned to bend magic in destructive and creative ways. Mages focus on three elements at the most, with a smattering of other simple spells from other elements. Attached to units at the battalion level.
Rangers - Rangers are scouts, snipers, stalkers, and silent killers, working ahead of the main forces to keep track of enemy movement. Issued chameleon cloaks to blend in regardless of surroundings.
Marines - Assault infantry designed to meet the enemy straight on. Equipped with tougher armor, flight packs and heavier weapons compared to other formations. Designed for heavy firepower, long range mobility, and interdiction capabilities to the enemy's rear elements with direct forces and long range weapons.
-Scorchers - A specialized marine detachment, Scorchers specialize in anti-devil tactics and weapons, though this skill set finds much use against magically inclined foes.
-Combined Anti-Armor Team - Another specialized marine formation, CAATS use heavy weaponry and mobility to combat armored threats and fortifications. Their armor is occupied by more powerful spirits to keep up with the demands of energy intensive equipment and weaponry.

Armor:
Regulator -
Stake IFV - A heavily armed hover IFV, equipped with a beam main weapon that can control beam width and beam type, for anti-infantry and anti-armor combat. Equipped with protective shielding and externally mounted homing anti-armor munitions. Can be converted in an anti-air platform.
Mistborne APC -
Walker - Small armored walkers used in rough and urban terrain. Can generate directional protective fields, synchronize with the pilot, and use jump jets for short duration mobility boosts. Can be armed with anti-infantry and anti-armor weaponry.

Artillery:
Regulator SPG - Besides switching out the main gun for a heavier weapon, the Regulator SPG conversion trades away some armor for speed, point defense, more ammunition, and the accommodation for a wider array of anti-personnel, anti-fortification, and anti-vehicle spells. Equipped with a 150mm spellgun, point defense lasers, 360-degree protective shielding, and an active protection system.

Aircraft:
Arden XVI - An ambitious VTOL air superiority combat craft that removes the pilot altogether, leaving control of all systems in the hands of a bound spirit, allowing for feats that would kill a being of flesh and bone, or cause a different craft to crash or tear itself apart. Armed with a nose mounted beam weapon system and hardpoints for enchanted munitions and mission dependent equipment.
Apex V - Conventionally piloted VTOL strike fighter used primarily for ground attack missions. Standard configuration is a nose mounted beam, ground attack heavy beam, and quad multi-purpose multi-missile pods, but can be reconfigured for different roles given time at an airfield.
Mark IV Ambler - Hunter killer UAV designed for high altitude long range surveillance and targeted killings, piloted by the spirit possessing the airframe. Equipped with stealth systems and homing enchanted munitions.
C6 Teacup - Supersonic recon drone used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Equipped with an Intelligent Sensor Array (ISA) and stealth systems.
Windrunner: VTOL transport aircraft designed to ferry troops and supplies over wide distances and combat zones, doubling as an insertion shuttle for Marines. Equipped with overlapping protective shielding and improved engines.
AWACS + Drone control
EWAR + Magic

Spoiler: 89th Covert Operations Division

Subfaction theme

Number of Personnel

Order of Battle:
5th Covert Operations Group
9th Covert Operations Group
17th Covert Operations Group
25th Covert Operations Group
29th Covert Operations Group
54th Special Purpose Group
36th Research and Surveillance Group
1st Thaumaturgical Support Battalion
89th Military Intelligence Battalion
42nd Cultural Affairs Battalion
11th Material Support Brigade

Combat Doctrine:
Speed, Surprise, and Violence of Action
Elite infantry focus
Heavy Spiritual, Physical, and Mental Enhancement
Special Operations
Decapitation Strikes
Recon and Intelligence

Infantry:
Strike Team - Elite and heavily equipped SOF units that are used for special operations, counterterrorism, raids, and unconventional warfare. Also used to spot for fire support to dislocate the enemies' momentum and wreak havoc behind enemy lines. Keep themselves alive through stealth and overwhelming firepower. Their armor makes them noticeably bigger in comparison to other troops.
Shadow Team - Intelligence units that utilize stealth and patience to conduct decapitation strikes, thaumaturgic warfare, sabotage, and infiltration tactics. Stealth suits with adaptive camouflage and mimicry talismans are the hallmarks of a Shadow Team.
Pursuer - Originally formed to hunt Implacable Stalkers, these operatives are solely concerned with the art of ruthless assassination, be it large beasts or guarded souls. Infiltration is the biggest trick in the hat, but there's also survival, evasion, speed, and one-shot one-kill weaponry.

Vehicles:
Hoverbike - Fast one man skimmers armed with a cloaking device and a powerful engine. All have in-built measures to help drivers in order to prevent crashing.
Gryphon - Sometimes access to resources is scarce, and organic cavalry is the only thing that can be reliably kept going. Recruited for long term missions in the field, relying on hunting and scavenging for sustenance.

Artillery:
Battlemage - Powerful archmagi who are equal to an entire conventional artillery battery on their own, and can work together to create rituals for scaling effects. They are capable of strong and varied magics, and can act as clerics as well, calling upon miracles from God. Unlike members of the Strikes Teams and other casters, Battlemages are learned enough to cooperate with the spirits in their armor to amplify personal spells, rather than just pooling magic reserves.

Spoiler: Operation Harmony

Subfaction theme

Operation Harmony was launched to investigate the flash point of the barrier between Earth and the World of the Fey breaking down. As such all it's member are all experienced, and are equipped with the necessary spells, tools, and training to succeed at their jobs. Since Operation Harmony was launched to collect intelligence, it's members do not hold combat roles, nor do they receive military equipment. Nonetheless, they are still trained in self-defense to ensure personal safety.

Infantry:
Spy ring:
The workhorse of the operation, spies are responsible for obtaining what the enemy doesn't want you to have. They are trained in the arts of infiltration and sabotage, and use a variety of mobility, illusory, and mimicry spells to evade detection. Well versed in disguise, deception, and bribery.

Diplomatic Attache:
Silver tongued negotiators, diplomats are responsible for keeping tensions soothed and pivoting others to see a certain way. They rely on their wits to persuade and convert, as well as spells related to charisma, intrigue, and subterfuge.

Strategic Analysis Team:
Task Force Orion's intelligence analysts process information retrieved by the spies and diplomats, and are what allows for the masquerade as an investigative agency in the first place. Organization is separated into two divisions: Strategic Information Control focuses on strategic information, crisis monitoring, and anomalous event tracking, while their counterpart the Tactical Intelligence Branch assists in operation planning, as well as keeping track of groups of interest in the field. Both groups' spells focus on prognostication, information analysis, cognitive enhancement, and pattern recognition.

 

[Flameal15k]

First off, to get this out of the way, this RP will be cross-posted on Spacebattles.

Now, here's a bit of a set up for how things were going before the horrors and invaders showed up (beware of retcons from the first post. Also, this incorporates some info from the GMPCs I will use, though they can be tweaked if someone else wants them):

2015: The Ethereal War ends with XCOM destroying the Temple Ship. For the most part, the war is brushed off, but around the world, paranormal and occult groups begin preparing for the now inevitable point where certain masquerades will no longer be possible to uphold. The United Nations begins increasing funding to both XCOM and other specialized forces to prepare for other, larger conflicts. Side note: most people know that aliens invaded to some degree. They don't know that many already live peacefully among them. Also, the Men in Black are excluded as player characters, since the Ethereal Fleet would otherwise have been destroyed by the Arc Net). The United Nations Paranormal Council (itself predating the formation of the United Nations) begins to take a more active role in managing paranormal clandestine wars to prevent mass panic from engulfing the world.

Zero Hour-15 years: Berezovitch Kryuger and Subject: Griffin found the Griffin and Kryuger Security Firm in Eastern Europe. Three years prior, the Russian Federation rebranded itself as the New Soviet Union (someone asked me about using stuff from Red Alert is here, and I said yes. Don't judge either of us!). Secretly, the UN Paranormal Council purchases a contract of indefinite length with G&K so that they have a force available for deniable operations.

Zero Hour-10 years: Reports of Strange Tectonic Activity in several mid ocean ridges and deep ocean trenches are followed by the loss of several submarines sent to investigate the activity. Unknown to all but a few extremely attentive organizations, this is humanity's first contact with the horrors.

Zero Hour-9 years: continuous low level activity from the horrors causes the barrier between Earth and the World of the Fey (where goblins, imps, fairies, dragons, unicorns and what not dwell) to begin crumbling. Representatives from this world begin meeting with their human counterparts to figure out the cause, as they are well aware mankind has lost the knowledge to affect the barrier on this level.

Zero Hour-6 years: A Terrorist Organization known as the Global Liberation Army rises up and declares war on much of the world. Initially swiftly suppressed, they suddenly experience a resurgence when the supposedly exhausted armies find new lines of credit and new supplies on their doorsteps. Meanwhile, various alien observing groups begin to observe strange new additions to the night sky - the scouts of the invaders arrive. Contrary to how it appears, the invaders did not cause the formation of the GLA. They did, however, give them enough supplies to make a resurgence (think of the invaders as being like Charon Industries from Red Vs Blue in this regard).

Zero Hour-5 years: The UNPC has gathered enough evidence to determine that the Horrors and the Invaders are moving to conquer Earth, though why is still an enigma. Orders are given to the various divisions to begin combating these organizations, though as neither group has any discovered bases, this is harder than expected.

Zero Hour-3 years: Despite years of work, the UNPC have yet to achieve any real breakthroughs with combatting the Horrors and the Invaders, though neither group has gone on any major offensives. In part, this is because neither group has committed any forces to establishing beachheads on Earth, merely sending in small groups to cause mischief and divide mankind, to varying degrees of success. Most worrisome, however, is that the Invaders and Horrors' actions have caused the barriers to the realm of the Unseelie (all the evil beings associated with fairies) to break down at an accelerated rate. Fears of a potential three front war lead to further mobilization of forces. The various unaffiliated paranormal groups around the world begin to take notice.

Zero Hour-6 months: The UNPC, after years of failure, finally make a breakthrough: their agents discover recently established command posts belonging to the Invaders and the Horrors, which they manage to sack, whilst also learning of when they plan to invade Earth: in one year for the Invaders and seven months for the horrors. Immediately, the UNPC calls a council in three months time where they will invite all available assets and potential allies to discuss the oncoming conflict and figure out how best to prepare for it. Unfrotunately, the Horrors and Invaders decide to invade ahead of schedule, with the invaders accelerating their plans by half a year and the horrors by one month.

Zero Hour-3 months: The Council for the protection of Earth is held. Unfortunately, many groups did not receive invitations, and some of those that did refuse to arrive. Still, enough organizations arrive that the Council is able to come up with a plan to ensure that ninety five percent of the Earth's surface will be defended in sixth months' time, which will throw Invader and Horror operations into disarray....at least in theory.

Zero Hour (Operation Prismatic Dawn): To the shock of everyone, including each other, the Horrors and Invaders launch full scale assaults on Earth on the exact same day, within minutes of each other. Cities are devastated, with millions dying in the opening hours. Horror forces use major water ways to advance inland from the sea, though they face stiff resistance in the Americas and Africa from crocodilian derived humanoids and giant fish. Europe is hit particularly hard, with ten different nations suffering invasions from within as horror forces camped around the Danube River emerge to attack. The Americas and Australia mostly avoid being overwhelmed by the horrors, instead becoming major targets for the Invaders. Various paranormal organizations, despite being completely caught off guard, move in to try and salvage the situation, to various degrees of success.

Zero Hour+1 month: Despite suffering 1 billion+ casualties, mankind and its allies finally put a halt to the Invaders and the Horrors advance. This is where out story begins.

* For reference, the Global Defense Initiative and the Chaldea Security Organization are both factions that could work under the United Nations Paranormal Council, if you want to play as them. Though, before you ask, the Seven Beasts and the Brotherhood of Nod do not exist in this timeline - Kane would have already left and the unique points in this timeline prevented the beasts from manifesting.

** The Unseelie are a potential third opposing force to players, embodying magical enemies. I will put their inclusion up to a vote after we get the minimum number of players - if they are added in, the will form a trinity with the others consisting of Horrors (eldritch magic and biotechnology), Invaders (sci-fi technology), and Unseelie (magic). Should they show up, it will be some time into the RP.

 

[Space Jawa]

Name of Organization: The League of Genius (LoG)

Leader of Organization: Council Director Dr. Ivan von Braun (AKA "Dr. Chaos")
-Current Council Members:

Dr. Ferdinand Cortez (AKA "General Havoc")​

Dr. Silvia Fox (AKA "Mistress Mayhem")​

Dr. Hans Jacob Washington​

Dr. Jade-Lin Yamamoto (AKA "Professor Braincase")​

Dr. Duke Charles Bonaparte (AKA "Prince Frankenstein")​

"Dr. Titan"​

Species: Primarily human leadership; member base a mix of humans, assorted 'post-human', 'bio-experiments', and robots

Manner of Recruitment: Leadership recruited from elite scientific minds; minions are 'acquired' through a vast mix of careful recruitment of 'normal' civilians with potential, robot construction, bio-engineering, etc; handful of individuals are 'involuntarily recruited' as needed for assorted testing and experimental purposes.

Reason for getting involved in the conflict: Pragmatism - Standing LoG mission statement and objectives are rendered irrelevant if Earth is destroyed. Facing the lack of means to realistically relocate to another world, LoG sees no alternative but to assist in the defense of Earth.

Mystic/Science Based(?): The League of Genius is traditionally devoted to scientific and technological development, and it remains the organizations primary focus. As result of recent developments, there has been open discussion and investigation toward exploiting 'supernatural' elements in a scientific manner to augment current resources.

Headquarters:
-Primary: A secret underground base somewhere under northeastern coastal Siberia [Official Designation: LOG CENTRAL]
--Secondary (1): Covert volcano island base somewhere in the asian pacific [Official Designation: FIREBASE LOG]
--Secondary (2): Mobile aquatic base near/underneath Earth's Magnetic North [Official Designation: ICEBOX LOG]

 

[Flameal15k]

The world after the Prismatic Dawn is, quite simply, a mess - many nations have suffered heavily, with some being wiped off the map (albeit only because they've descended into anarchy after their governments collapsed), and those that didn't are about to suffer economic ruin.

So, plan is to divide the world into sectors of sorts - North America is split among the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the US further split between...I still need to figure out how many regions, but yeah. Europe is divided between West (from France and Belgium leftwards), Central (from the Western Border of Germany to the Eastern Border of Poland, including all shared vertically), and East (everything else). Australia is essentially one nation. Will figure out the rest later. South America and Africa will each be treated as singular regions to keep things from getting too hectic.

For the sake of not running out of stuff, the UNPC is giving out energy to matter fabricators and perpetual motion generators (a recent development and thus still very inefficient). You will have three resources: Manpower/souls, production materials, and supplies.

Production Materials covers plastic, wood, and metal, which is used to make new things. These are obtained primarily by having your people search for them early in the RP, then by using fabricators later on.

Supplies govern food, oil, and what have you. Most of this stuff can be grown at your bases.

Manpower/souls is the most important resource - it represents your soldiers and support staff. This is produced by settlements and stuff around and in your base. Do not take it for granted!

Regions have three different stress resources, which govern different things: Population, Panic, and Resistance.

Population represents how many sentient beings aligned with players that are living in a region. This effects your manpower/soul's production, and is initially relatively high, but can rapidly be lowered by aggressive actions on the part of the Invaders and Horrors. In general, the horrors will deplete population the fastest, as the horrors have several ways to stop population from being replenised. A region that loses all of its population is considered lifeless. This reduces all of the manpower/souls produced by a region, and as it is extremely difficult, though not impossible, to repopulate a lifeless region, every lifeless region is treated as a point toward victory for the horrors.

Resistance governs how willing the natives are to fight off the enemy. IT wears away as the war takes its toll on humanity, though it can be replenished by successful actions on the part of your factions. The Invaders specialize in depleting Resistance. Once all resistance is crushed, a region becomes Obediant. Obediant regions no longer oppose the enemy, and will impair your ability to operate stealthily, as well as lower the rate at which you gather production resources.

Panic is very similar to the panic system from XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Unlike Population and Resistance, Panic is problematic when it increases, not when it gets low. Panic represents how safe people feel in the face of the various monsters trying to kill them. Should panic become too high, a region will suffer paranoia. This impairs your ability to gather logistic resources and can cause the natives to attack you. If you vote to allow them into the RP, the Unseelie will specialize in increasing panic.

That is all for now.

 

[Flameal15k]

The Poll for whether or not the Unseelie should be added in as a third enemy faction is now up.

 

[Commander Rexen]

Welcome New Director,

Through your hard work, the board of directors and myself have chosen you to be the newest member of the board. Congratulations are in order, but the world is different from when you started. The world is at war, for our very survival, but you already knew that. Due to your new clearance, I shall let you in on the origin of the Complex.

There was a time where magic and science coexisted. However history wouldn't remember it that way. The Dark ages changed all that, the church decided that it was problematic. It was a time of book burnings and ignorance. Knowledge was casted aside and progress stagnated. We were hunted for our knowledge, we were heretical. Escaping the inquisition, we sought refuge from these men. Eventually finding our sanctuary across the sea, where no one could reach us. Starting over we eventually found our home in the peaks of Rocky mountains. Through knowledge of the arcane and the mechanical. To say we had a head start compared to our brethren back home is laughable. As they struggled, we prospered. For every technological invitation they made, we already implemented it.

Through isolation we achieved much but we reached a point that isolation was infeasible. Lack of certain resources, stagnation of progress were the main problems facing us. Our focus turned outward, revealing a world that was recovering from the world wars. Tensions ran high, superpowers locked in proxy wars, escalation of force. In short a world that was ripe for opportunity. Front companies were founded, personal transfers, paperwork, applications and patents filed. Slowly but surely we came to a major power, pulling the strings to increase military spending, R&D, and starting private military companies. Slowly but surely we introduced our wonders, for a price.

During the height of the so-called cold war, we encountered a group that rivaled us in age and technology. You may know them as people currently running the world, the UNPC. Relations were strained immediately on both sides. Knowing that you aren't the only paranormal group around, and having completely different ideology arises a situation where negotiations become almost impossible. However, the world almost turned into a radioactive winter during the Cuba missile crisis. An uneasy alliance was formed, between us. We provide them with our technology, science and we manufacture most of their units or other equipment. UNPC paid for our services, becoming one of the few manufacturers for them, and finally keeping our secrecy. Until a time where it was no longer feasible. As the Soviet union collapsed, we started rolling out the orders that were requested. Manufacturing plants began rolling out lasers, main battle tanks with rail or lasers, the first prototype robotic soldier.

By the dawn of the 21st we had offices in every major nation. Each furthering our profit and goals. The alien invasion of 2015, and XCOM going public was a setback. While they didn't expose us directly, they did however tell the UN about where they got the extra backing. The UN demanded we surrender part our stock, for the defense of the earth against further invasions. Begrudgingly we accepted, giving our technology we provide XCOM. Little did they know that was our older technology, but still they demanded we share any new technology. Like hell we will, the UN is a mismanaged mess. Look how many groups we left out of the global defense summit.

Though that's enough remising from me. You should be caught up with our past. Welcome to the board, you'll find that the world will become a little more hopeful.

Don't disappoint us, director.

The Administrator.

Name of Organization: The Complex

Leader of Organization: The Board of Directors/Administrator

Species: Humans and robots.

Manner of Recruitment: Complex uses a combination of normal recruitment, buying private military companies, or taking people that have qualities that make them valuable.

Reason for getting involved in the conflict: Profits are the first goal of the Complex. Second the UNCP influenced them to take a bigger part in combating the threats.

Mystic/Science Based(?): Mix of science and magic. Most of the Complex's gear is infused with magical runes. These runes can do a wide variety of things. Amplifying the weapon's power, increasing the range to more than twice their counterpart are some examples. The quality of the rune affects the power, a rushed rune provides minor benefits. Master crafted runes can triple the effect of the rune. However these runes are only reserved for the most elite units or relics.

Spell casting is some of the most sacred and well kept traditions of the Complex. Many working at the company often learn a little of magic. Technomancers are the apex when magic is involved. Able to effectively combine magic and technology into a terrifying weapon. Magic amplifies the object that the person is holding, cast lightning, use technology remotes or even casting spells remotely though devices.

Headquarters: The main facility is located in the Rocky mountains, deep underground. Central Manufacturing Plant is a massive complex, able to produce and maintain all the equipment needed to supply their forces.
Branches:
DC: Destroyed, London: Destroyed, Paris: Destroyed, Berlin: Active, Moscow: Abandoned, due to the formation of the second Soviet Union , Tokyo: Active, Beijing: Destroyed, Ottawa: Active, and Sol: Active.

Spoiler: Infantry equipment

Lance laser rifle
Formally produced by the ARES corporation, a Complex front company. ARES has now sense been reincorporated into complex One of the most popular products that is offered by Complex. Lance lasers rifles are highly effective when combating non armored all the way up to medium armored foes. The bullpup nature of lances allows for a compact package when compared to other rifles.


Aegis Combat Armor
After the XCOM unveiled carapace armor to the world, the complex sought to develop a versions of their own. What came out was the Aegis Combat Armor. This armor was designed durable but flexible. Slightly more armored compared to the XCOM's version, with the benefit of being fully sealed, allowing the user to operate in CRBN(Chemical, Radiological Biological and Nuclear) conditions. Extreme nuclear and radiolgical conditions can still pose a danger the wearer. Advance filtration systems prevent gas or other harmful agents from the air. The helmet contains a HUDs with all the necessary information for soldier to have, ammo counter, squad statuses, environmental statistics, with some more minor details.

Titan Drone Weapon System
Titans have been refined over the decades since the first prototype was deployed in the 90's. Rising from a clunky piece of machinery that only fulfilled the role, to one of the finest pieces of robotics on the market. It's advancement in robotics and AI have increased to the point to allow a fully autonomous soldier. With the collective control AI chronus, which increase the intelligence of the group. While able to function on it's own, Titans synergies with human soldiers allowing for greater tactics and strategies. At current there are three types of titan drones, Prometheus, Gaia and Atlas each with their own roles. All Titan Drones have a pulse laser as a general anti- infantry weapon. Titans are quite popular with PMC's and nations before the invasion, with the US being one of the biggest buyers.

Prometheus
Prometheus's are the heavy assault drones, armed with a heavy assault laser and the toughest armor of the drones. Mounted on the right shoulder, the Iblis heavy laser functions as the anti armor weapon of the trio of drones. For crowd suppression, it's armed with a auto grenade launcher on the left arm. Titans are the first drone developed and the most common.

Gaia
Where the Prometheus lacks subtlety, Gaia wields subtlety for a ambushes. Using camera system to project it's surroundings on to the frame. Resulting in a crude active camo system, the system works but there is much that can be improved.

Atlas:
Atlas once held up the sky, but no longer. Atlas serves as a mobile anti air platform, bring down airborne threats with its harpoon missiles. A single harpoon missile has a advanced targeting system, ensuring a hit in some of the most difficult conditions. A single Atlas is equiped with two pods of six missiles mounted on the shoulders. Two more pod carried on the back as reserves in case of extended missions. Atlas operates in teams of six to twelve drones normally.

Spoiler: Ground Vehicles

MBT-Gallafire
The Gallafire role within the complex military is that of shield and horde breaker. One high output lasers prove enough to pierce most shield with one or shot shots. This laser can be fired as a consent beam, sweeping across the battlefield with deadly grace. While Gallafire laser is quite powerful, it's prone to over heating over extend operations, requiring minute to cool down. It's secondary weapons help keep enemies off it during this time but it's recommend to pull back. Laser weaponry allows for the loader to be removed from crew, allowing for a three man crew.
Price $750,000




OMMI Anti air vehicle
Surpassing the Atlas in capability and range. The OMMI's deal with targets that the Atlas's can't reach, missile defense and engaging airborne threats at range. OMMI's targeting system was designed purely for Anti Air and missile defense. While it might always not be accurate, but what beats the speed of light as weapon. The OMMI is has four High powered lasers with wide firing arcs and high elevation. This is a fairly large vehicle due to needing a large amount of power to function. OMMI is not the fastest vehicle around.

Arkon Artillery
One of the few ballistic weapon that the Complex uses. Rather then using a large caliber cannon to rain fire on the enemy, instead the Arkon uses a 120mm cannon as the main weapon. The platforms focus on rapid movement and repositioning to avoid counter artillery and enemy airstrikes. The Arkon is one of the simplest complex vehicle.

Outrider APC
The Outrider APC is a multi purpose machine. Designed for human or drone transport, with the capability of supporting it's occupants once deployed. The maximum transport capability of twelve soldiers within the transport or 10 titans, four within and six outside of the vehicle. It uses several clamps to keep the drones safely secured to the side of the vehicle. Outriders are armed with one medium laser cannon and a pluses laser for anti infantry purposes.






Heavy main battle tank-Runespear
Runespears are the heaviest and most advanced vehicle in the complex arsenal. Designed to break heavy fortifications and hard to destroy targets. Duel 150mm cannons enchanted with runes can break through most targets. Heavy armor provides the Runespears with impressive survivability that is further enchanted by a runes. Runes are the core of the Runespear design, the first production vehicle to come with runes. This increases the cost and the complexity considerably thus limiting the amount produced and deployed. The advanced invasion of horrors and invader limits how many operational tanks available, with only 500 tanks online(at the start of the RP). Runespears are only deployed in joint operations and or sieges that require heavy fire power.
Not for sale

Spoiler: Current Assets

Available Assets
10,000 non combat personnel
1000 Human soldiers.
1000 Technomancers.
1500 Titans.
500 Gallafire with crew.
500 Runespears with crew.
250 OMMI with crew
100 Arkons with crew.
750 Outriders

Current Stock
50,000 Lances
20,000 Gallafires
10,000 OMMI
40,000 Aegis's
5000 Arkons
5000 Outriders

Deployable Assets
1st Arcane Battalion(500 men)
2nd Arcane Battalion(500 men)
American Front 1st Combined Arms Division(100 Gallafires, 500 men, 500 drones, 100 OMMIs, 250 Outriders)
American Front 2st Combined Arms Division(100 Gallafires, 500 men, 500 drones, 100 OMMIs, 250 Outriders)
1st Rune regiment(250 Runespears)
2nd Rune regiment(250 Runespears)

 

[Flameal15k]

Okay, time for me to give a short overview of the monsters, aliens, and myths you will fight:

The Horrors (also known as Abominations)
Monsters from the Lovecraftian Nightmare, these beasts come from alien stars, using a mix of flesh and magic to wage war on mankind and its allies.

Unlike the other two factions, the horrors want mankind gone. Horror forces actively attack civilian settlements in an area and attempt to deplete the population of any regions they are occupying or advancing into. They also tend to cause a fair amount of panic. However, their inability to be reasoned with means that they increase resistance with their presence, so those opposing them will fight to the last.

The Invaders
Though XCOM repelled one group of aliens, others still see mankind as worthy of destruction. The Invaders are one such group. A confederation of many different species, the invaders seek to conquer Earth.

While the Horrors want mankind gone, the Invaders seem to have an interest in keeping us alive, but subservient to them. Thus, in sectors where the invaders are active, the population will actually increase due to invaders using their technology to clone humans so as to...provide additional willing servants. Invader actions tend to incite fair amounts of panic, though, but this pales in comparison to their Resistance-eroding skills. As invaders tend to reward collaborators handsomely and punish dissenters quite harshly, resistance will plummet in territories they occupy.

The Unseelie
From the legends of the past comes a foe bent on treating us like cattle - they view our fear, sorrow, misery, and pain as the most delicious of morsels, and enjoy inciting Panic among humans. Resistance also decreases around them, but population is only minimally affected.

Others: Other enemy groups exist, but they are of lesser concern - mostly scavengers that will roam around, trying to exploit the collapse of society for their own benefit. Feel free to make them up for your forces to fight if the current week is boring. Note: minor forces are nuisances at best.

 

[VoidZero]

Name of Organization: The Under Bureaucracy Expedition

Leader of Organization: Hozuki of the Eastern Regions. Leader of the vising delegate from the Japanese underworld bureaucracy, part of an official exchange program like student exchange programs on the living world. He more or less took over the expedition by force of personality and physical might. Ungodly pissed off at the moment.

Hozuki: THESE JOKERS RUINED MY VACATION!

Species: Oni, Ghost official, and Human of the Eastern Region.

Manner of Recruitment: Normal human recruitment much like governments. Oni and Ghost official from the underworld, near-limitless but takes time to arrive.
"You want to be an official that wields ghostly powers? Here's a 20 page index listing the books you gotta study for the 3-day-long endurance examination. You are an Oni? Here is a 1 page reading and writing exam, then you go to that green room and put on something decent. Taoists? You still have your national permit to practice? Okay now recite book of Lao Tzu, i will tell you when to stop. Shinto Kannushi ? Go to the Kyoto branch, we have too much people to keep track of as it is."

Reason for getting involved in the conflict: "Do you have any idea how much workload this out-worldly invasion caused? Our overtime spending had ballooned by 666% within the first hour of the conflict! The judges of hell and their subordinates are seriously overworked." The diligent denizens of the underworld are rather ticked off by the influx of deceased, the rising workload and noise complaints being the primary causes.

Mystic/Science Based(?): Magic only, technology doesn't fucking work in the underworld or else we wouldn't have so much paperwork. Ghost officials and Taoists wields very standard mystic arts such as soul strike, soul binding, and soul capture. Some also have more niche skills such as healing, detection, and warding. Supposedly younger Oni and Taoist are trying to elemental-bending like that cartoon.

Headquarters: China, Chongqing municipality, Fengdu Ghost City. A fine garden city known for its connection to the underworld, a perfect retirement location.

 

[JbeJ275]

Name of Organization: The Order of Concrete Havens

Leader of Organization: Marcus Wei, Grand master of the New York Node, Master of Unsleeping Arts, Bearer of the Amulet of Nod, Great High Master of the order

Species: Human, though many carry the blood of ancient sorcerer kings

Manner of Recruitment: Largely Dynastic, with the duty passed down from parent to child, many are also bought into the order through marriage or those who have seen to much to remain blind to the unsleeping being brought into the order if they show sufficient dedication

Reason for getting involved in the conflict: It has always been the Order's Duty to protect the cities and civilisations of the world from the imposition and attack of unsleeping elements.

Mystic/Science Based(?): Magic is their speciality, warping the spaces where human belief is strong and silently channelling the greater will of a united humanity into countless miracles of protection and destruction. They do have access to modern MilSpec gear though

Headquarters: New York City, USA

Background: A union of countless ancient orders each dedicated to protecting one great city, one shining example of human civilisation. In the age of the enlightenment and ever increasing globalisation they came together to protect each monument to human civilisation and co-operation and to shepard away angry unsleeping spirit or the restless dead. Present in every major city on earth, but with a lighter presence in China due to the order backing the RoC a few decades ago and recent disputes in Lhasa and Hong Kong.

 

[Space Jawa]

Any estimate on when this game might get underway?

 

[Flameal15k]

Any estimate on when this game might get underway?

Click to shrink...

Going to try and get everything started in early September - hashes our the details right now so that it doesn't start as a colossal mess.

 

[Flameal15k]

Here is my Discord. Most questions will be answered here.

 

[Flameal15k]

As the amount of Players is get high enough, submissions for characters will close on Friday.

 

[Awetduck]

Halcyon Institute
​

Name of Organization: Halcyon Institute for the Advancement of Humanity

Leader of Organization: Ernest "Ernie" Harper, Institute Director. Mai Wong, Field Director

Species: Human, Some Grey/Fra'al.

Manner of Recruitment: Telepathically Sensitive members of the Administrative Division sense developing psionic potential and dispatch recruitment agents to draw nascent psionics into the fold. Limited Cloning of Fra'al Members

Reason for getting involved in the conflict: The Greys who founded the institute require a psionic geasault to power their spacecraft. The three survivors of the crashed scout ship could never power it by themselves and work to encourage the telepathic potential of humanity to harness their power and reawaken their spacecraft.

Mystic/Science Based(?): The Institute operates daily as a technology development think-tank with limited access to alien super-science. As they implement more human adoption of Fra'al technologies they can field powerful but delicate superscience tools.

Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada

Background: A Fra'al Scout ship crashed during a conflict in the mid 50's. Its five surviving crew used their psionic abilitites to blend into humanity and work to repair their ship. The Institute was founded as a way to gather more nascent psions and gain manpower for the redevelopment of technologies needed to fix their ship. Since that time they have learned that the Fra'al Collective has fallen and retooled their expectations to building a new home on Earth. While not interfertile with humans certain genetic traits are similar enough that Fra'al Gene Therapy can enhance or awaken human psykic potential. The Halcyon Institute has satellite offices in dozens of Canadian and PNW cities and is rumored to have lunar interests.

Spoiler: Special Division Operator

Numbering Roughly 1000, Special Division is Ernest Harpers sword. Competent Telekinetics, Paired with an O.S.I.R.I.S shard which operates the squads drones they normally deploy in squad strength in domestically manufactured Firstorm ships. They field the peak of alien and human technology the Institute is capable of fielding.

Spoiler: Intelligence Division

Mai Wongs scalpel to Ernests sword, the Intelligence Division cloak their equipment in a thin veneer of civilian trappings and act as the Institutes primary means of interacting with the public and other Organizations. Some 2000 Agents operate in field teams of 4 to 8 headed by a Special Agent.
Their Principal means of transport is the ubiquitous Black Suburban typically with a B6+ ballistic armor and deploy-able turret.


With support available in the form of the local offices flight of Bell 412 Helicopters, typically with door mounted microguns.

 

[Flameal15k]

Halcyon Institute
​

Name of Organization: Halcyon Institute for the Advancement of Humanity

Leader of Organization: Ernest "Ernie" Harper, Institute Director. Mai Wong, Field Director

Species: Human, Some Grey/Fra'al.

Manner of Recruitment: Telepathically Sensitive members of the Administrative Division sense developing psionic potential and dispatch recruitment agents to draw nascent psionics into the fold. Limited Cloning of Fra'al Members

Reason for getting involved in the conflict: The Greys who founded the institute require a psionic geasault to power their spacecraft. The three survivors of the crashed scout ship could never power it by themselves and work to encourage the telepathic potential of humanity to harness their power and reawaken their spacecraft.

Mystic/Science Based(?): The Institute operates daily as a technology development think-tank with limited access to alien super-science. As they implement more human adoption of Fra'al technologies they can field powerful but delicate superscience tools.

Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada

Background: A Fra'al Scout ship crashed during a conflict in the mid 50's. Its five surviving crew used their psionic abilitites to blend into humanity and work to repair their ship. The Institute was founded as a way to gather more nascent psions and gain manpower for the redevelopment of technologies needed to fix their ship. Since that time they have learned that the Fra'al Collective has fallen and retooled their expectations to building a new home on Earth. While not interfertile with humans certain genetic traits are similar enough that Fra'al Gene Therapy can enhance or awaken human psykic potential. The Halcyon Institute has satellite offices in dozens of Canadian and PNW cities and is rumored to have lunar interests.

Click to shrink...

Nice.

.....Are these guys meant in any way to be related to the Sectoids from XCOM, since that is part of this RP's backstory?

 

[Awetduck]

Nice.

.....Are these guys meant in any way to be related to the Sectoids from XCOM, since that is part of this RP's backstory?

Click to shrink...

If that makes this more fun I'm totally down. I was imagining them as Roswell Grays/ the D20 Fraal.

 

[Flameal15k]

FINAL CALL ON SUBMISSIONS IS TONIGHT! IF YOU HAVE NOT POSTED A CHARACTER SUBMISSION BY THE TIME I CHECK TOMORROW MORNING, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO JOIN THE GAME!

 

[Awetduck]

To Wear The Ring

​

The five divisions of The Institute all had a roll to play in Prismatic Dawn.

Administration coordinated with the hundreds of teams on loan to dozens of organizations and governments around the world.
Analytics fed data into O.S.I.R.I.S and worked with the increasingly disjointed predictions it described.
Archives pooled almost a hundred years worth of Alien relics and hoarded artifacts to act as a counterbalance to the invasion force.
Intelligence teams were embedded into military and paramilitary units across the country to give each a dedicated core of psychic power to oppose the projected abilities of the Invaders.
Special Division QRF loaded into gunships and awaited deployment orders from the Temple Cascadia training camps along the west coast.

Logic, Technology, Psionic Prognostication. Non-euclidean monsters from the depths played marry havoc with the more linear focus of The Halcyon Institute and when Zero Hour hit and the missiles flew, as counterfire began stripping the first ICBMs from the sky it was one machine understanding the thinking of another that served the Institute best. O.S.I.R.I.S grappled with Warminds planning in seconds and suggested a total withdrawal from designated target zones. Where withdrawal was impossible the limited stock of Fraal shielding or group Psionic Shields were hastily erected around Institute facilities.

The cure was nearly as bad as the disease. As nuclear fire purged the areas around the Pascific North West the patchwork of safe blocks around Institute branch offices became choked with survivors and the devastation to allied forces left only those units directly attached to Intelligence Division Psychics spared from annihilation.

With survival first came gratitude, and in its wake resentment. Even as refugees huddled under the light of the Institute they began to hate the power and otherness of those who wear the torch insignia.

​

 

[Space Jawa]

A Council for War
(Zero Hour-6 months)​

From within the depths of LOG CENTRAL, seven individuals met around a table. Four of them were there in person, while three were present by proxy, their forms represented by holographic display.

"My fellow researchers." Started Dr. Braun. As council director, he was the League of Genius' clearly recognized leader, responsible for directing LoG policy and making the final call when the Council was incapable of reaching a decision. "It would appear we find ourselves at a crossroads."

"We are all familiar with the ongoing incursions that Earth has endured for the past nine and a half years." Braun continued. "Dr. Cortez and Dr. Fox especially. These incursions have become an increasing problem as time has worn on."

"However, it would appear that crisis has given way to opportunity. The UN Paranormal Council, one of the League's longstanding adversaries, is prepared to play nice."

"The UNPC, play nice? Impossible." Said Dr. Washington.
"Not as impossible as you might think." Replied Dr. Fox. "If our intelligence is correct - and I can assure you that it is - then the UNPC has grown quite desperate. Dare I say, they are...terrified."

There was unnerving air about her words as she spoke, her tone that of a woman who was enjoying the potential suffering the UNPC might be going through in their current state.

"I can concur with that statement." Dr. Cortez agreed, speaking via his holographic representation. "None of you have had to directly deal with incursion forces the way I have, the Horrors, the Invaders, or the Unseelie. Reports can only say so much, but let me assure you that any one of them would be a force to recon with in their own right. Except we're looking at an increasingly likely scenario where Earth is likely forced to content with an invasion on three fronts."

"Three extra-planetary forces converging on Earth, all at once." Dr. Braun emphasized.

"And the UNPC is so terrified of this that they are prepared to 'play nice'?" Dr. Bonaparte asked by way of his holographic display, somewhat in disbelief.
"Exactly." Braun replied.

"What qualifies as 'playing nice'?" Asked Dr. Yamamoto via her hologram.

"Full cooperation." Braun answered. "More importantly, looking the other way. They and everyone else they are seeking to recruit as part of a larger coordination defense of Earth."
"We're just going to buy into this? After all these years, they're just going to look the other way?" Bonaparte asked.
"Under the circumstances, we are the lesser enemy." Cortez said. "Whatever opposition they may have to our activities, it pales in comparison to our mutual foe."

"Are we actually going to go along with this?" Bonaparte asked.
"We may not have an option." Cortez answered. "Given our foes strength, even as three forces working in direct opposition to one another, I do not believe we can afford to ignore this conflict. The UNPC requires our aid, and we require allies."

"Do we, though?" Bonaparte asked, looking to Dr. Titan.

"Despite our advances, we lack the means to leave Earth." The doctor answered from within his full body suit, his voice it's usual deep, mechanical self. "Interdimensional travel still remains...unreliable at best. While we do have the means to establish an extra-planetary colony, we lack the resource to ensure its survival against extra-solar invaders. At this juncture, Earth is all we have."

"You're looking at this the wrong way, Dr. Bonaparte." Fox said. "Since the League's founding, its primary obstacle has always been its need to operate in secret. It's enemies have been countless, each one with the desire to wipe us out on 'ethical' and 'moral' grounds, merely because we're willing to conduct research that needs to be done, no matter the cost."

"Dr. Fox is correct." Braun said with a nod. "While the circumstances may be less than ideal, the fact remains: We have won. LoG will finally have the freedom and resources it needs to truly live up to its reason for being."

"All we need do is ensure the survival of Earth." Cortez said. "Which is in our best interests anyway."

"It's settled, then." Said Council Director Dr. Ivan von Braun, almost as if he was stating a foregone conclusion. "The League of Genius is going to war."

 

[Commander Rexen]

Outskirts of DC
DC Complex building
12:00pm local time

Tom made his way down a quiet hall, it was after all a Saturday. Upon reaching the elevators he made his way up to the top floor, he headed toward his office. Tom waved and smiled when seeing his employees, most of them did the same back. His office was minimalistic, having only a desk, armchair and a laptop sitting on top of the desk. Other than that the office was bare with a window looking out at the skyline of DC. Walking over to the desk, but as he pulled out the chair to sit down, he could hear something thundering. A few seconds later a shock wave impacted the building, shattering most of the windows and knocking him to the floor. Sluggishly getting up, he turned around to see what happened, fully expecting a bomb to have gone off. However, what he saw was worse than he could imagine. While the city is relatively intact, but large cylinders have impacted the city. These pods were now opening, deploying units to invade the city. From his office Tom could see these invaders' energy weapons impacting civilians, they were dying. So the invasion would happen sooner than expected. He quickly opened a drawer, revealing the office line. Smashing the button for facility wide, brought the phone to his head.

"This is site manager Tom speaking, What you felt earlier was the preemptive invasion, we are at war. I need all combat personnel gear up, and at the lobby in 15 mins. Get all vehicles and drones ready, we're going to save as many people as we possibly can. Non combatants except medical personnel get to the rune room, to the citadel. That is all, get going!"

Turning back to DC, He saw the city start to burn, grimacing turned back to the phone. Pressing the bottom button for the administrator. He once again brought the phone back to his face.

Cracking to life, the administrator spoke, "Administrator speaking"

------------

Central manufacturing plant
Rocky mountain's complex
Boardroom, 12:00 pm local time

The boardroom inside the rocky mountain complex was in high spirits. Profits were up from last quarter. As the Invader and horror threats were known, people were buying their equipment to hopefully counter them. With the UNPC being their biggest buyer, with the United States being a runner up, but most organizations bought enough only to field a unit or two.

The 13 directors were discussing plans to improve profits, research goals, and recruitment of military forces. At the head of the table sat the administrator. Listening in on the conversation, occasionally giving a comment or two. He was busy looking at site operations and status reports. Some deep space telemetry and deep ocean acoustics were troubling, but were in the margin of error. He glanced down looking at the red dial up phone, before quickly looking at the tablet.

"An open recruitment policy would allow us to field a greater number of forces compared if we used just our assets." One director chimed in.

"We can't honestly trust any random person with our tech, let alone our runes. They could be from our competitors." A man with a grey beard and a staff quipped.

"Relax, I don't think our competitors could even replicate our runes. I put forward we start acquiring private military companies. If we bring them into the fold we can boost our forces considerably. While they can't become technomancers, they still provide great assets at our disposal." One of the younger directors responded. Murmurs of agreement came from the other directors.

Looking toward the directors, "How goes RuneSpear production?" The Administrator asked.

A woman pushes her glasses up, "We currently have 500 units available, with 3000 being operational by the deadline."

"Excellent, I see our preparations are coming along nic--" His voice was cut off by the ring of the red phone and several alarms going off.

Picking up the phone, and answering it. "Administrator…. What? Do what you can, medical teams will be waiting at the teleporter room. Get as many people out, machines are replaceable, you and your men are not. Remember to break the circle after you leave. Godspeed." Putting down the phone and looking at all the directors. "Invaders and horrors are ahead of schedule, several cities have already fallen already. Our France and Britain offices are currently under siege by horrors. The DC branch is also under attack by invaders, the defenders are currently holding them off while they are evacuating civilians where they can but they are currently falling back to the teleporter as we speak. Directors, I trust you know your roles?" Nods of argument and yes sir came from the directors. "Good, I must address the company."

Directors rose from their seats quickly exiting the room. Filling out orders that they thought they had time to prepare for, now there was no time.

Standing up his arm chair, quickly pushing a button. Public Announcement systems across the globe within complex facilities crackles to life.

"Greetings fellow members of the complex, I'm the administrator."