CCW P.O.S.T.

[Chad]

Somewhere someone said something about the Consortium's answer to the Invincible Guardsman (nanite-empowered supersoilders?)
I don't know who is writing it, Carl Gleba I think, but does anyone have any info?

[KLM]

There aren't such thing, as a CCW equivalent of the IG.

However, the CCW acknowledges the Cosmo Knights and it does not
have a sizeable population of superpowered beings some of who are
certainly working to "retire" the Emperor. (well, not on the Royal Kreeghor
level). Oh, and they do not have an Emperor, for that matter.

So, they do not need them.

On the other hand, they MUST have some kind of a "special weapons
and tactics anti-superbeing unit", probably in the TWIA, as they always
conduct an investigation whenever a CK "falls".
And also, they have to deal with vampires, TGE "superspies", etc...

...but they do not need Übermutants for the job.

IMO, of course.

Adios
KLM

[Jefffar]

CCW has the Quatoria and the Cyberai and the Noro Psychic Warrior and is generally on good relations with the Cosmo-Knights.

There may be some super soldier programs going on elsewhere, but I think the above keeps the CCW's bases covered.

[Braden Campbell]

Somewhere someone said something about the Consortium's answer to the Invincible Guardsman (nanite-empowered supersoilders?)
I don't know who is writing it, Carl Gleba I think, but does anyone have any info?

It was me... the other Phase World author

Since you won't see Corkscrew Galaxy in print for several more years, I feel safe in telling you my concept for the Posts. Keep in mind that it might change whenever the book is finalized, but here's my idea. Feel free to use it.

"Post" is actually a derivitive of the term "post-human". In a nutshell, since the Consortium cannot compete with the TGE in terms of magic augmentation or genetic manipulation, they have choosen to dominate the science of nano-technology. There are three known races with a mastery of this area (the Republican Wulfen, the Oni, and the T'Zee), and it just so happens that all of them are CCW members. It is a top priority that the TGE be denied this technology at all times.

The Posts then are the CCW's response to the Invincible Guardsmen. Using nanoscopic robots, the Consortium creates superspies to engage the TGE in covert operations. How small are we talking here? Well, a nano is one-billionth of a meter. One hundred such machines can fit into a single human blood cell... 300 trillion of them could occupy a person's entire blood stream. And network themselves while in there. And that's just blood... never mind putting them into muscle or skin or neurons.

The Posts are the elite of the elite, and although they may work with (or pass themselves off as) members of the CCW's other special forces, they they are in fact their own tiny division within the government. They are watched over by a Departmental Head, who in turn reports to the Secretary of Special Departments (a position within the Office of the Prime Minister, and the man or woman placed in charge of winning the Cold War against the TGE). The Posts are NOT the Galactic Security Agency, although they frequently work with them and provide them with HUMMIT (human intelligence). Likewise, they are NOT the Silver Hawks: the CAF's elite power armour commandos (though, again, they may work with them in joint opperations).

They are trained for years in the arts of espionage and subtrifuge, because as awsome as the nano-enhancements make them, they are still no physical match for the Invincible Guard. Their focus is information gathering, assasination, sabotage, and the like, rather than stand-up fighting. They gain the following abilites:

1. Bone and Muscle Reinforcement. Add 3D6+33 to SDC, 1D4 Hit Points, 1D4 to PS, and 1D6 to Spd

2. Hypersenses. All Posts are light sleepers and need only 4 hours of rest per day. they are also +2 to initiative, +1 to parry, +2 to dodge, +2 to roll, and +1 to save versus Horror Factor.

3. Neural Reflex Reinforcement. Nanites working in the brain take information gathered from the hypersenses and use it in times of combat. Add +1 to initiative, +1 to dodge, +1 to disarm, and +2 to roll.

4. Mental Programing. (one of my favourites). Each Post can be "programed" with up to five skills at 88% efficiency (or at 8th level for skills without percentile rolls). These can be any skill from the entire list, without the need for prerequisites... and yes, you can take a Hand-to-Hand form and/or a Weapon Proficiency as a programmed skill. This the Jason Bourne type of thing, where the character may know things without knowing that he knows. Most often, Posts are programmed with languages or intelligence files. If they are going deep undercover, then their assumed indentity and all the pertinent information related to it count as one skill. These skills should be dumped out once every six months (then reloaded ro replaced with new skills).

5. Smart Skin. Nano-machines laced throughout their epidermis give them the equivilent of the following cybernetic systems: finger jack, ultra ear, bio-comp monitoring system, and full cybernetinc sight. The Post can also change the colour of his/her skin, facial features, skin elasticicy, and whatnot as if they had an all-over cyber disguise. A post heals at at increased rate of 4D6 SDC/ Hit points per minute.

6. Meltdown. To avoid capture, the Posts may commit suicide by instructing their nanites to disassemble them. The process is painless, quite quick (about one minute) and leaves nothing behind but grey goo.

As an OCC layout for the time being, I recommend either the Freelance Spy from Rifts: Mercenaries, or better yet the ADA Field Agent from Nightbane book two: Between the Shadows. Posts can come from any SDC Consortium race, but Humans, Wulfen, and Noro are the vast majority (99%) because these species are also commonly found throughout the Transgalactic Empire.


Hope that's a help.

[Chad]

It hasn't come out yet everyone, supposed to be new material. The're called POSTs and I know I've read it somewhere.

... ask Braden.

Is Braden Campbell writing it?

edit-sorry, posted at the same time.

[KLM]

There are three known races with a mastery of this area (the Republican Wulfen, the Oni, and the T'Zee), and it just so happens that all of them are CCW members.

***cough***Machine people ***cough***

And of course the "bad Wulven".

Adios
KLM

[Braden Campbell]

Yes, very true and not forgotten about.

The problem with the TGE is that the Kreeghor always shoot themselves in the foot because of their racist attitudes (ie. that anything non-Kreeghor must suck because it wasn't built by the Kreeghor). Case in point: the Hunter-class cruisers of the Dark Tribe Wulfen. The TGE could have had stealth cruisers, but instead the Kreeghor used them as target drones. D'oh!

So, yes, while they could very well gain some nano-tech from their vassal species, I believe that they've focused on bio-wizadry (what they consider to be their heritage) to the exclusion of all else.

[Chad]

First off- Beyond cool! Thanks.

Since the nanites are increasing performance in the brain, if I'm reading this right, should there be any bonuses/abilities to ME and/or IQ?

[Braden Campbell]

Uh... yeah, probably.

It's still a work in progress. Maybe +1D4 to each?

[taalismn]

Quatoria...
Plus any secret upgrade programs for them they may be working on...

[Jefffar]

CCW Has Nano-borgs and now they have a Nano-juicer with a touch of crazy for good measure.

[KLM]

Yes, very true and not forgotten about.

The problem with the TGE is that the Kreeghor always shoot themselves in the foot because of their racist attitudes (ie. that anything non-Kreeghor must suck because it wasn't built by the Kreeghor). Case in point: the Hunter-class cruisers of the Dark Tribe Wulfen. The TGE could have had stealth cruisers, but instead the Kreeghor used them as target drones. D'oh!

So, yes, while they could very well gain some nano-tech from their vassal species, I believe that they've focused on bio-wizadry (what they consider to be their heritage) to the exclusion of all else.

This a bit contradicts the Machine People RCC description...

Namely, that the TGE wanted them so badly, that they were offered the
status of an ally first - and they didn't nuke them as a knee jerk reaction,
even if several other civilisations tried it before.

Reaction to the Hunter: as most IRL totalitarian powers, the Kreeghor
also got rid of non-standard eqipment as soon as they could affor it.
Heck, even captured dreadnought battleships were scrapped or used
as targets after WWI and WWII.

Also, compare the possible numbers of captured Hunters to the
estimated number of TGE frigates...

Just my two cents.

Adios
KLM

[Chad]

Uh... yeah, probably.

It's still a work in progress. Maybe +1D4 to each?

I was thinking before I read the description it would probably be a Jake 2.0 type of deal.
Then as I read about these Posts using subterfuge instead of stand up fighting, I thought, 'Damn, I think he's talking about a Mental Juicer!' Instead of mega-bonuses to PS, PE, and next to impossible to surprise or get the drop upon; it's more like mega-bonuses to IQ, ME, and next to impossible to break (mind control or possess). Don't need as quick reaction time when your always 1-2 steps ahead.
Palladium has alot of ways to build up the physical stats of a PC, but hardly any for the mental stats. Just a thought.

I like that mental programing. Especially the Jason Borne aspect. Are you considering an unique style of fighting? Something only your Posts would know- Hand to Hand Krav-Maga or Arnis or something?

[Braden Campbell]

Shouldn't your .sig picture link to a Blog that keeps the PB faithful up to date on the subject of the picture...

That's not a bad idea. I'd first have to run it past the Palladium legal department for some guidelines as to what I'd be allowed to talk about and not, however.

[Braden Campbell]

Are you considering an unique style of fighting? Something only your Posts would know- Hand to Hand Krav-Maga or Arnis or something?

Excellent ideas... they should be have the equivilent of Total Recall (no ISP expenditure), and the EM Psi-dampener implant in addition to what's listed above.

I don't think I want to clutter up Corkscrew with a lot of non-area description, but I have been thinking about a Rifter article detailing some racially specific martial arts forms: one for the Noro, the Wulfen, the Oni, the Kreeghor... even Humans. Just a thought...

[Braden Campbell]

nanites making someone a superhuman, interesting.

Art imitates life...

[Braden Campbell]

You know, now that I think more about it, they might even be able to "morph" some of their cells; tell the nanites to rearrange things a bit, so they could copy things like hand prints and retinas (to fool scanners, I'm thinking).

[Aramanthus]

Interesting concept. Thank you for sharing the secret Braden. We're looking forward to seeing how it ends up looking like. Nice suits Gadrin.

[KLM]

nanites making someone a superhuman, interesting.

The Juicer and the Crazy augmentations are also utilise nanites, thought on a
much cruder level.
-------------------------

I think that there are "levels" in nanotechnology too.

The first is the IRMSS - nanites with limited use/programming, SDC and non-replicating

The second step is when they do capable of replicating (this obviously
comes with a huge leap in their program - and hardware too).

The final one is the level of Machine People: MDC capable, replicating, you name it.

Adios
KLM

[Aramanthus]

Where the nanites form gessaults that give rise to true sentience! I know that the machine people are the purest form of nanotech.