The following text is presented as submitted (with minor edits) for the Conspiracy X
Atlantis Rising Contest. It was created by the contest
entrant without prior review by the staff at Eden Studios. It has not been screened for
consistency or compatability with the entire Conspiracy X line of products, and may not
be incorporated into future Conspiracy X releases. It should not be considered an
"official" part of the Conspiracy X storyline. As always, Game Masters are free to adopt
or reject this material as they see fit... Eden
Studios
In the main ConX rulebook, it was mentioned that one of Aegis' greatest advantages over the Black Book was Aegis' superior knowledge and access to Atlantean technology. However, the Atlantis Rising sourcebook had very little on this. This is my own take on the matter.
In 1951, an Aegis agent in Seattle who was analyzing a piece of the anomalous Atlantean technology reported that he had made a breakthrough in understanding the devices. It was already known that other machines, too small to be seen with the naked eye, were within all Atlantean technology. However, these served no discernible purpose. This agent suggested something incredible. Perhaps these incredible tiny machines were the Atlantean technology. If his theory was correct, these machines were actually capable of manipulating individual atoms. Although Aegis Prime was skeptical, it soon realized that this was indeed the key. Moreover, this was a piece of knowledge its archfoe, the Black Book, did not have. If Aegis could learn to control this revolutionary concept, it would have a counter for the psychic powers of the Greys, which were starting to have an impact on the covert war between the two organizations. Massive research was begun to capitalize on this breakthrough. The organization to do this would be called the Moleconics Institute. Since Eric Drexler published Engines of Creation, nanotech has been the commonly used term in Aegis, but the name Moleconics Institute has remained.
Aegis had four advantages when it came to investigating nanotech. First, they already knew that it worked. Knowing how the Atlanteans did things made it possible for Aegis to avoid blind alleys in its experiments. Secondly, it was investigating nanotech decades before anybody else was. Third, most of the Black Books researchers were, and still are, investigating the Greys. When the Saurians came onto the scene, efforts by Aegis' archenemy were diverted even more. The last is one Aegis was, and still is, unaware of. Many Atlanteans are subtly helping Aegis research in this matter. Aegis is an enemy of the Greys just as the Atlanteans are, and because of its knowledge of psychic power, Aegis tends to do better in encounters with them than Atlanteans do. They see little wrong with giving Aegis a helping hand.
Aegis also worked to keep the idea of nanotech from emerging elsewhere. It did a good job until Drexler came along. Extensive investigation into Eric Drexler's background has revealed nothing. He has no internals or strange psychic or magical ability. He seems to be just an ordinary person who had an extraordinary idea.
In general, Aegis can do anything the Atlanteans can do, but not as well. However, even a poor man's version of Atlantean technology is far better than what is conventionally available. This research has made possible such devices as the Aurora, Hermes links, MHIC-EDOMs and the Gunstar satellites. Nanotech materials purification made psychotrons man-portable and psi-drugs safer. It has also brought about other areas of research, ones that will not be revealed to Cells until the final battle.
Also, Aegis has not researched many of the applications the Atlanteans have. It is fighting a war, and Aegis Prime is only interested in things that will help in that war. Therefore, while large resources were devoted to reproducing the Neural Links and the DNA identification systems almost none went into the Audio\Visual Recorder (it was assumed Cells could use cameras) or such smart tools as Furniture and Clothing.
Aegis has also not researched Creations. The only AIs Aegis has are ones that work for it
only. They are designed to perform specific tasks, and are never allowed to control any
machinery other than a monitor to display responses and a keyboard to receive input. Aegis
Prime has enough problems with the nonhuman intelligences present already, it doesn't want
to add more. However, the AIs it does have proved invaluable in research and in cataloguing
HERMES data.
The Moleconics Institute Research Scientist
Influence:
Science/Research
Trainings:
Awareness, Biohazard Control, Communication
Skills:
Computer Programming, Computer Use, Engineering, Humanities, Medical, Repair/Build, Research, Science, Teaching
Aegis Department Pulling Strings: Because the Moleconics Institute works directly under Aegis Prime, it has access to Aegis Departmental Pulling Strings.
Access to Alien Technology: Although the Moleconics Institute focuses more on Atlantean equipment than Saurian or Grey, it still has some access to alien technology. A Df4 HERMES test will grant access to any Atlantean equipment type, and a Df5 will grant access to any Saurian or Grey equipment type, delivered anywhere in North America within 4D+5 hours. A visit to the Ranch will drop the tests to Df3 and Df4, respectively. On a roll of 1 on a 1D, the Atlantean equipment will be unavailable. This is 1 or 2 for Grey or Saurian equipment. No more than one request may be made per week. If the item is not returned in one week in the same condition it was lent out, a Df1 loss of influence will result.
Lab/Workshop Access: To reverse-engineer alien technology, good analysis is a plus. A Df2 Influence Test will allow access to a good Quality Rating lab or workshop (+2t to any skill tests performed). A Df3 test will allow access to a excellent Quality lab or workshop (-1Df to any skill tests performed).
Aegis is constantly on the lookout for people with nanotech implants. The policy for such people is identical to that with psychics -- recruit or kill. The Black Book wants such people as well, and has an identical policy. The implants come from two possible sources, an Atlantean or Aegis Prime, which is the only terrestrial organization with the knowledge to perform implantation successfully.
Atlanteans grant internals for a number of reasons. The most common seems to be for fun, as the Atlantean watches the human try to cope with his new powers. Many such souls do not adjust well. The next most common is as a reward for the Atlantean's human "employees". Other reasons include idle curiosity, whim, or to aid the servant on a particular task they are performing.
Aegis Prime gives out implants only when doing so will aid the recipients in doing their jobs. For example, some surveillance experts are given Hearing and Vision Enhancements. Biologists may receive Knowing Touch. Keep in mind that this is only done if the person has already proven himself competent at what he does. Occasionally the implants will be used to correct a major defect in an otherwise acceptable Cell candidate. More than one quadriplegic has walked once more after his muscles were replaced.
Occasionally, Aegis will use internals to create a fully loyal agent. A blind man who sees, for example, will be eternally grateful to his benefactors.
Assemblers as used by Atlanteans are never made available to Cells, because they are needed for more important purposes, to wit producing HERMES links and making the advanced materials needed for psychotrons. However, the "cheapo" assembler can be made available. It costs twenty RP, and comes with five free programs to make any item of Very Simple, Simple or Average complexity. Each additional program costs 1RP for a Very Simple Item, 2RP for a Simple Item or 3RP for a Average Item. The size of the tank is 1 cubic meter, and takes 8 minutes per cubic meter to produce Very Simple Items, 16 minutes per meter for Simple Items and 32 minutes per meter for Average Items. Although expensive, the incredible versatility of this technology makes it a much sought after item.
Unlike Atlantean assemblers, these are only capable of functioning with prepared Feed. Feed is a mixture of various elements arranged in a precise manner so that the Assembler knows where to look for each type of atom. The assembler comes with ten cubic meters of Feed. Each additional cubic meter the Cell needs costs 1RP.
The products that come out are identical to ones bought normally. The Cell will have to take care of any registration or documentation for the item themselves.
Any Smart Tool available in the Atlantis Rising sourcebook is available to Aegis as well. Although Smart Clothing and Furniture are available, no Cell has ever asked for any. One that did would be immediately deemed unsuitable for continuing the Aegis mission. These items are bough using the Access to Alien Technology Pulling String found under Operation Moondust and Groom Lake. The RP costs for the others are as follows.
Briefcase 3RP Comm 1RP Climbing Claws 3RP Laptop 1RP Lie Detector 5RP Molecular Blade 2RP Needler Pistol (with Disassemblers) 4 RP Poisons 3RP per dose Railgun 8RP Restraints 3RP
Each of these Smart Tools has been modified to run off an powerbox (see below). They also come with conventional trigger mechanisms which have been added on.
These are devices that Aegis has produced using its knowledge of Atlantean nanotech. They are bought using the Cell's APs.
Regen treatment: This is identical to one of the earliest applications the Atlanteans developed. Nanomachines are injected into the subject, where they repair cellular damage before leaving the body. In game terms, this means that an injured character will heal in one-third the time they would normally. Cost: 3APs per dose.
Clensing: Identical to regen, but with a major difference. Instead of healing wounds, a cleansing removes addictions. A character undergoing this should make a Luck Roll. If Bad Luck results, the addiction stays. Cost: 4APs.
Bio-diamond Coating: Aegis has been able to reproduce the bio-diamond coating used by the Atlanteans to armor their devices. Any Cell can send in a device to receive such a coating. This substance has Ar5. The AP cost depends on the size of the device to be repaired. A simple cellular phone might be 1AP, while a helicopter would be 5 or more.
Powerbox: The powerbox is an oblong box about the size of a tissue box. Essentially a superior battery, it provides a great deal of energy. A particle rifle will fire ten shots before the battery is drained. The powerbox can be hooked up to conventional machinery, but this will require Engineering or Build/Repair tests, at the GM's discretion. Cost: 3APs.
Repair: Any Cell can send any damaged item to Aegis Prime, which will use nanites to repair the device.
The repairs will be complete in 3 days, plus time to get the item to Groom Lake and for it to
be returned. The costs are the same as for the Coating. Note that unless the Cell can give a
legitimate reason why it can't do the repairs itself, this request will be denied.
Implantation: Over the years, Aegis has acquired nanomachines able to make all Atlantean implants at one time or another. Although it has not yet reached the point where it can design new implants, it is able to copy the programming of the Atlantean nanites onto its own. To receive an implant, a character must spend a number of APs equal to the CP cost of that implant.
AI-assisted research: For any research project, the Cell Leader may request an AI be assigned. A HERMES link will be offline for the duration of the project, and instead be used to link with the AI back at the Ranch. The Df of any research test will be lowered by one if an AI assists. Also, the character using the AI must make a Luck Test. If Bad Luck is scored, the AI has suffered a slight malfunction (still common) and that week's research test must be made at normal Df. Cost: 3AP.
Profiling: An application of Artificial Intelligence that is truly frightening is
Profiling. A profile is an exact mental copy of an individual. Aegis Prime will feed in
every bit of information it has on a person, and the result will be an AI that thinks it
is that person. Aegis Prime than puts the AI into illusory situations and the reactions
of the AI will be the same as that person's reactions. A Cell Leader can request this for
one action of any individual at the cost of 3APs. It takes a day to program the AI, and
each situational prediction must be purchased separately, since immediately after the AI
has served its purpose it is wiped. A Luck roll must be made, on Bad Luck the information
received is inaccurate. A person who is Dead or has No Records is immune to this because
little or no information is available on them.