Lyonesse Research and Development Base.

This is the background for a research base in my last GH/SQUK 1e game, from many moons ago.


 Lyonesse Research and Development Base.

Originally known as the STAR (Submarine Technologically Advanced Research) Complex it was apparently built to  create and test weaponry to counter the Soviet threat during the cold war. The real reason that it was set up was to exploit a crashed alien vessel of huge size.
Located between land’s End and the Isles of Scilly it was called Lyonesse when it became an island in 1995. Lyonesse was built and grown over the crashed alien ship that was partially submerged into the sea bottom mud. Genetically engineered coral makes up the bulk of its mass and the island is three kilometres across at its surface. Underneath it a cylindrical core with multiple levels is the workplace of many scientists who are employed to uncover the secrets of the hyper advanced Trimorph technology. Many people live there for months at a time, and the island has living quarters for them. Supplies that can’t be grown hydroponically, or made in the vats, are brought in by submarine. There are submarine docks built into the island, under the water level.
SOLOMON.
Lyonesse is run by an A.I. called SOLOMON, an acronym for Symbiotic Organisation of Living Organisms and Machine Operating Networks. SOLOMON is integrated into the structure of Lyonesse and acts as an autonomic system to keep nutrient pumps feeding the coral, surrounding the central core, and maintaining life support for the base. The A.I. also acts as security, librarian and cleaner along with monitoring experiments and running the ‘Rainbow Vats’ (large tubs containing constructor nanomachines which can build any object they are programmed to, atom by atom. The vats look like they are filled with a chromatic oily substance hence the name).
Security.
The land, sea and air around the base is patrolled by armed drones controlled by SOLOMON. Furthermore there is a 2 kilometre exclusion zone for all commercial boats and planes around the island.
The Projects.
The government carries out several top secret projects at the base. These are:
Project Talos, researching cybernetics, artificial intelligence, robotics and powered armour.
Project Helix, researching the human/ superhuman genome and genetic engineering.
Project Pentagram, researching magic and supernatural phenomena.
Project Eye, researching psionics and psionic augmentation by technological means, and its use in spying.
Project X, researching the alien craft and trying to exploit the knowledge gained (an Anglo-American spin off from this is the top secret construction of an FTL ship, the Narrenschiff, at a base on the dark side of the moon).
Project Arrow is testing small space shuttles fitted with mass/inertia altering technology.
Mastermind.
Professor Marcus Wiseman is the scientist in charge of Lyonesse. He has been with the project since its beginning and almost never leaves the island. The professor is a cyborg, the upper left side of his head and left eye are artificial. His right arm too is bionic and he trundles around on tracks, due to injuries caused by an accidentally activated Trimorph, some years ago. Because of his part in the Intelligence Amplification Project, when Lyonesse was still the STAR Complex, he is known as Mastermind.
EGO: 10     STR: 8     DEX: 15     VIG: 11    MOV: 7     DOD: +1     STRIKE: 0     DC: 7     Frames: 4
Powers: Advantageous Backgrounds-Brilliant Scientist Mechanical/ Position of Power- Head Scientist in charge of Lyonesse/ Cybernetics g3 (Computer Brain, Bionic Arm, Tracks )/Heightened Senses - IR and Sight (left eye only) Field Manipulation g2(Electrical and Data. If the Prof is within 20 metres of a computer he can manipulate either the circuitry or data flowing through those circuits due to cybernetic effector tech embedded in his body).
ARACHNE.
One of the heroes created by Project Talos is ARACHNE, (Advanced Robotic Agent Combining Hybrid Neural Electronics) a four legged android that was once a flesh and blood member of the Talos Division (technosoldiers whom the public at large call "The Iron League"). Alice Ekenga’s body died protecting Mastermind from a reactivated Trimorph and her mind was uploaded into ARACHNE. The scientists at Project Talos have tampered with her persona so that she accepts her new form. In between active duty she dwells in a virtual reality simulation of a palatial victorian manor house attended by SOLOMON as her butler. She has had multiple copies made of her mind which can be downloaded into other ARACHNE units should she be damaged beyond repair.
EGO: 15     STR: 33     DEX: 15     VIG: 13     MOV: 7     DOD: 0     STRIKE: 0     DC: 4     DAM: +18     Frames: 4     HEIGHT: 2 metres     WEIGHT: 196 kilos      HTK: 59/4      HTC: 56/3
Powers: Advantageous Background- Talos Division Robot/Armour g1/Cybernetics g2, (Computer Brain, Cyber Drones- there are 4 of these small spying remotely controlled spiderlike drones. ARACHNE can see, hear and communicate through them, should she wish to do so. They have a transmitter range of 15 kilometres. Size is 6.5 cms long, 2.5 cms wide. Move at 3 metres crawling and 10 metres flying. They can crawl on vertical surfaces and are at –3 to be hit due to their small size. Each has 8 HTK)/Health g2 (survives in radioactive, poisonous, airless and under sea environments )/Heightened Sense g1 Radar/Martial Arts g1/Strength g1/Web-Slinging (15d6 of quick drying polymer webbing. See the article A Web in the Dark by Simon Burley, in White Dwarf # 66, for rules on this power)/Wallcrawling.

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