CREDITS

WRITING
Benn Graybeaton, Giles Pritchard, Mitchell German and Jonathan 'Killstring' Herzberger

COVER ART
Bagus Hutomo

INTERIOR ARTWORK
Cameron Ax, Toma Feizo Gas, Aitor Holgado, Bagus Hutomo, Vincent Laik, Andre Meister, Edson Pagola, Reynan Sanchez, Vladimir

ART DIRECTION
Marc Langworthy, Rodrigo Vilanova

LAYOUT INFINITY RPG LOGO LEAD EDITOR

Jen McCleary Michal E. Cross Kimberly Nugent

CARTOGRAPHY SECTORIAL ARMIES LOGOS PROOFREADING

N.R. Bharathae Alberto Abal, Carlos Llauger "Bostria" Marshall Oppel
and Hugo Rodriguez
INFINITY LINE DEVELOPERS ASSISTANT LINE DEVELOPER
Benn Graybeaton, Gutier Lusquiños Rodríguez Marc Langworthy
CORVUS BELLI APPROVALS
Gutier Lusquiños Rodríguez, Alberto Abal, Carlos Torres, and Carlos “Bostria” Llauger

ORIGINAL 2D20 SYSTEM DESIGN

Jay Little

GAME DESIGN
Benn Graybeaton, Nathan Dowdell, Mark Redacted, Justin Alexander, Marc Langworthy

CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER MANAGING DIRECTOR

Chris Birch Rita Birch Cameron Dicks

HEAD OF PRODUCT HEAD OF CREATIVE SERVICES FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

Sam Webb Jon Webb Luc Woolfenden

LINE MANAGER PRODUCTION AND LOGISTICS VIDEO AND PRODUCTION

James Barry MANAGER MANAGER
Peter Grochulski Stephen Daldry

PHOTOGRAPHY CREATIVE TEAM ASSISTANT OPERATIONS MANAGER

Rocio Martin Perez Kieran Street Benn Greybeaton

WEBSTORE MANAGER CUSTOMER SUPPORT CUSTOMER SUPPORT BOOKKEEPER

Kyle Shephard MANAGER Shaun Hocking Valya Mkrtchyan
Lloyd Gyan

SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to Corvus Belli—Alberto, Gutier, Carlos, and Fernando—for letting us play in your world!

PUBLISHED BY Modiphius Entertainment

Modiphius Entertainment Ltd. Product Number: MUH050220
2nd Floor, 39 Harwood Road ISBN: 978-1-912200-29-0
Fulham, London, SW6 4QP
Artwork & Storyline © Corvus Belli S.L.L. 2019
United Kingdom
INFINITY is © Corvus Belli S.L.L. 2019
The 2d20 System and Modiphius logos are copyright Modiphius Entertainment Ltd 2019. All 2d20 System text is copyright Modiphius Entertainment
Ltd. Any unauthorised use of copyrighted material is illegal. Any trademarked names are used in a fictional manner; no infringement is intended.

This is a work of fiction. Any similarity with actual people and events, past or present, is purely coincidental
and unintentional except for those people and events described in an historical context.


 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

INTRODUCTION

O-12

INTRODUCTION – INTEGRITY, PEACE,

AND SECURITY
“Wherever diplomatic resolution is a feasible outcome, it is undoubtedly the path we will choose to take. A
non-military approach is always our priority, with such measures supporting O-12’s overall mission within the
Human Sphere. Of course, through our policing of criminal factions and enforcement of geopolitical legislation,
there comes a time when the gloves must come off. We trust that every representative gathered here today truly
understands that O-12 will continue to take any, and all, steps necessary to maintain peace and provide security
to those who live and prosper within the borders of the Sphere.”
-Raff Tennon, O-12 spokesperson and diplomatic liaison.

The O-12 is the peacekeeper of the Human Sphere. Born from a coalition of democratic nations and the
remains of the UN, O-12 is a legislative government body with a single aim in mind – security for all who
live within the Human Sphere.
From toppling corrupt corporations and levelling trade monopolies, to providing aid and military enforce-
ment against militia groups, O-12 agents are proficient both in the boardroom and in all known theatres
of war. They are well funded, well equipped, and uniquely positioned, with field offices located on all major
planets within the Sphere. Taking action that doesn’t draw the gaze of O-12 is a skill within itself, and
conducting business without the usual regulation has become the ultimate dream of many hypercorps.
O-12 provides regulation and guidance in everything from agriculture to manufacturing, from policing
to education. Divided up into a number of Bureaus, O-12 takes action against any organisation who does
not uphold the spirit of their all-important ‘Pillars’ by responding with the full weight of their political
influence.

o-12 3

PILLARS OF O-12
Unity, Cooperation, Support, and
Progress – the very Pillars upon
which O-12 was formed. This
foundation shapes the core of
O-12’s mission statement and
is the message they promote
throughout the Human Sphere.
WHAT’S IN THIS BOOK
This sourcebook serves to provide the reader with everything they need to know about O-12, from the
organisation’s history and structure, right through to its key figures, geographical presence, and even the
equipment and weapons that can be found in the hands of its agents throughout the Human Sphere.
This book, however, aims to be more than simply a guide to using O-12 in your games of Infinity: The
Roleplaying Game. Instead, this book’s true purpose it to inspire GMs and players alike to want to delve into
the world of governmental control and law enforcement, to promote new ideas for storytelling and give
the whole experience of playing Infinity a new twist.
It’s a dangerous and volatile world out there… now’s your chance to make it a better place.
CHAPTER 1 – THE O-12 CHAPTER 4 – EMBASSIES
FILES OF NOTE
Delve into the foundations of O-12 with an insight O-12’s reach and infrastructure are supported not
to the faction’s military capabilities and structure, only by the wealth of resources on Concilium Prima,
as well as the rules of engagement that they but also throughout its significant network of
adhere to when assessing whether to get involved embassies that can be found scattered throughout
in any potential situation. the Human Sphere. Home to political leaders,
ambassadors, and diplomats, these outposts and
This chapter also probes the identity of O-12
sanctuaries are key in controlling legislation and
members and studies not only the loyalty of its
providing a stable regulatory platform.
agents, but also the corruption and manipulation of
individuals and what impact that can have on the O-12 embassies have an open-door policy, inviting
political landscape that O-12 strives to govern. the concerns of the surrounding nations, where
local ambassadors can tackle issues on a case-by-
Finally, we take a look at Shimmering Sky, the
case basis. This relationship with other nations is
incredible climate control system on Concilium
one of the driving forces behind O-12’s acceptance
Prima and the role it plays, not only in the atmos-
throughout the Sphere and why they are so well
pheric stability of the planet, but also as O-12’s
positioned to take control of rising struggles before
primary controller of communications both on and
they get out of hand.
off world.

CHAPTER 2 – PLANET CHAPTER 5 – FIELD

CONCILIUM PRIMA
Concilium Prima is the centre of O-12’s operations
– a planet renowned for scientific innovation and
industrial prowess, but also strangely beautiful and
temperate, thanks to Shimmering Sky.
Discover the geography of the plant, from its
oceans and economy to the flora and fauna that
prop up the stable eco-system. This chapter also
gives a whirlwind tour to Concilium Prima’s most
notable regions and cities, providing all you need
to know about what these places have to offer.
CHAPTER 3 – THE
CONCILIUM SYSTEM
From Asgard and Bifrost to the entertainment
centre of Cibola, this chapter provides a detailed
snapshot into the Concilium System as a whole,
offering a glimpse into the some of the key loca-
tions, orbitals, and asteroid belts. The information
afforded here should give GMs enough to plant
seeds for adventures set throughout the system,
while also offering players notable insight to what
life within one of these key locations might be like.
OFFICES
While major nations make home for an O-12
embassy, many less significant locations, or those
where a political agreement has not been reached,
will instead play host to an O-12 field office.
These locations act as front-line contact points for
surrounding areas and will often directly support
embassies by providing more feet on the ground
in locations where additional peacekeeping or
diplomatic presence is required.
Unlike an embassy, O-12 don’t own the land upon
which the field office is located. Instead, these
outposts are set up in spaceports, marketplaces,
spare floors of office buildings, or at the edge of
rural lands – anywhere they can get a foothold and
start making an impact. This chapter investigates
the purpose and influence of field offices located
throughout the Sphere as well as touching on what
it is like to work for O-12 while stationed in one of
these outposts.

4 Introduction

CHAPTER 6 – BUREAU
AEGIS
Bureau Aegis is uniquely positioned to uphold and
investigate anything which may be considered a
‘legal issue’, making them the executive arm of the
government. Bureau Aegis is comprised of three
notable sections, each working with significant
autonomy, but together, their focus is to ensure that
O-12 can always carry out its primary mission and
uphold the Pillars through legal, military, or politi-
cal means by acting to enforce agreements, treaties,
and partnerships throughout all systems.
CHAPTER 7 – UPHOLDING
THE PILLARS
Want to run campaigns as agents of Bureau Aegis?
Then “Upholding the Pillars” is your exhaustive
guide to making that happen, from guidance on
the expectations of the bureau’s representatives,
to the most common tasks, threats, and problems
those agents can expect to face. Running games
for Bureau Aegis agents poses a number of new
challenges, not just for the GM, but also for players,
who must seek to take action within the confines
of O-12’s expected jurisdiction. With information
regarding personal goals, the rules of engagement,
and the power of public reputation, this chapter
provides everything your field agents need to
enforce the law.
CHAPTER 8 – BUREAU
NOIR
O-12’s secret service and the Human Sphere’s fore-
front intelligence agency, Bureau Noir fills a vital
role from its central office on Concilium Prima. This
chapter allows readers to discover more about the
organisation’s structure, its handlers, agents, and
the process of secondment.
Of all O-12 bureaus, Bureau Noir is the most
resourceful, and arguably, dangerous of all, provid-
ing the rest of O-12 with a constant stream of data
regarding threats and corruption throughout the
Sphere. It is within this chapter that we learn more
about the impact of Bureau Noir’s work and the
true power of knowledge.
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
CHAPTER 9 – O-12
CHARACTERS
Additional information on creating O-12 characters
for use during Infinity: The Roleplaying Game cam-
paigns, including rules for allegiances and multiple
O-12 specific careers, from Cyberghosts to Analysts.
The information contained here is designed to
work in conjunction with the corebook content to
provide players everything they need to get set up
as O-12 agents.
CHAPTER 10 – O-12 GEAR
The gear chapter delves into the weapons, equip-
ment, and technologies of O-12, discussing the
tools used by peacekeepers, intelligence agents,
soldiers, and bureaucrats. With O-12 having access
to some of the most reliable and sought-after
equipment in the Human Sphere, the information
provided here will give players in the O-12 faction
an edge in the line of duty.
CHAPTER 11 – GUARDIANS
AND ADVERSARIES OF
THE SPHERE
The final chapter provides GMs with a range of NPC
profiles for use during O-12-related campaigns,
covering the various units and agents of the
faction as well as common threats and adversaries.
Within these pages, you’ll find the ranks of Kappa
alongside talented diplomats, right through to
turn-coat intelligence moles and mercenary Hyenas
– everything the GM could possibly need to help or
hinder the agents of O-12.
o-12 5
 CHAPTER 1

THE O-12 FILES

With jurisdictional power and remit to set and enforce international laws throughout the Human Sphere,
O-12 is the lynchpin that holds the weft of humanity together. A pseudo-nation in its own right, O-12 is
forthright in its independence and has been one of the most powerful and influential forces that endeav-
ours to thwart a slide into total war and anarchy. From the Concilium system and the main planet of
Concilium Prima, the laws, regulations, decisions, and interventions carried out under O-12’s auspices have
had a profound impact on humanity. O-12 provides a stable and visionary goal for what humanity could
and should be as a group of independent nations and dynamic wash of cultural tropes and ideals. O-12 is
the hand on the tiller, the navigator who has managed to weather devastating storms and tempestuous
waters, guiding humanity forward into a better tomorrow.

contempt follow the rulings of O-12, Bureau Aegis

SWORDFOR
Whatever regulations and laws introduced through
the Öberhaus and Petite Assemblée, whatever
rulings made by the Courts of Concilium, whatever
cries for help, aid, and assistance that fall at the
feet of O-12, it must have a way of responding with
strength when strength is required. Bureau Aegis
is the governmental agency that represents the
military arm of O-12. It is the sword wielded by
O-12 when words fail. When inaction or downright
ensures that these mistakes are not long standing
and that the words of O-12 are followed by action
and implementation.
Bureau Aegis is divided into two sections, each of
which plays a vital role in turning the decisions
of O-12 into action. Section Statera supports
the Courts of Concilium and is the branch of
Bureau Aegis dominated by lawyers and civil
servants whose job it is to apply legal pressure
where required and ensure the compliance of

6 Chapter 1
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

governmental bureaucracies and corporations to served with distinction in the military and have the
the rulings of O-12. Section Spatha, also known depth of skill required to deal with a wide range of
more commonly as SWORDFOR, is responsible for mission types in a variety of circumstances. O-12’s
the physical reinforcement of O-12’s rulings, where SWORDFOR also captures the imagination and
required. In this capacity, SWORDFOR manages admiration of popular culture, with a number of
and deploys O-12 personnel in potential conflict Maya dramas based on their more famous missions,
zones, on peacekeeping missions, as security, and and a wildly popular infotainment sensaseries
into active warzones. Breaches of agreements, called The Line that follows a semi-fictional unit
treaties, and conventions are determined by the of the Special Crimes Squad, the Venatio, on their
courts, which are, in turn, handed over to Bureau operations throughout the Human Sphere.
Aegis. Traditionally, when Bureau Aegis is activated
Although relatively small in comparison to a
by a court ruling or a direct order from the Petite
majority of the standing armies of the Human
Assemblée or Öberhaus, the case is first handled by
Sphere, SWORDFOR has managed to create a name
Section Statera. If legal pressure is found wanting
for itself as a highly effective, militarised police
or a risk analysis deems it will be ineffective,
force. When Bureau Aegis restructured during the
cases are in turn passed on to Section Spatha to
latter stages of the NeoColonial Wars, creating
be physically investigated, executed, or otherwise
SWORDFOR and Starmada, a large quantity of
dealt with. Section Spatha may also be directly
the earmarked money was funnelled off into the
activated by a ruling from the Security Council, and
creation of research and development departments
indeed, while a larger number of cases are referred
operating mainly from Surt. These have paid divi-
through Section Statera, the more significant
dends over the years, redeveloping the technology
operations Section Spatha have been involved with
donated to O-12 into more advanced and highly
have come directly from the Security Council.
effective weapons, armour, and remotes.
The military arm of the O-12, Section Spatha is
Taken as a whole, SWORDFOR is one of the most
made up of two key branches each with their
comprehensively trained forces in the Sphere, and
own roles and jurisdictions. Most commonly seen
little wonder given the range of missions on which
throughout the Human Sphere and able to travel
they have served as investigators, active combat-
freely under the Bureau Aegis badge, the Global
ants, and peacekeepers. SWORDFOR also receives
Police (GloPol) specialise in criminal investigations,
a widely unrecognised and significant level of sup-
forensic and crime scene analysis, financial crimes,
port from ALEPH, who sees the force as operating
and so on. GloPol officers are often employed in
toward broadly the same goals but with a greater
an advisory role to governmental police forces or
remit for action throughout the Human Sphere. As
corporate security.
a result of these factors, any force SWORDFOR is
The second branch of Section Spatha, and often able to bring to bear in a conflict far outstrips its
used in interdiction operations or as tactical numbers and technology both in capability and
assault forces, is the Bureau Aegis Tactical Police intelligence.
Department. SWORDFOR tactical operatives
Specialising in small-scale operations and func-
are often called in to act in response to GloPol
tioning without heavy support, units in SWORDFOR
investigations and may be deployed to deal with
have served throughout the Human Sphere to
a variety of situations. The tactical department of
take down rogue mercenary outfits, criminal
SWORDFOR are, both functionally and in terms of
organisations, pirates, and corporate armies. They
capability, more like a peace keeping force. While
have provided peacekeeping forces on Ariadna,
SWORDFOR remains a police and investigatory
Svarlarheima, Paradiso, and most recently in
body, a majority of its troops can be found in Kappa
support of Greater Japan. SWORDFOR units have
Units including roles in peace keeping and human-
also provided troopers to serve on the front lines
itarian support. SWORDFOR also contains a number
of Paradiso, and now, on Dawn. These forces may
of units that could be described as more militarised
be threaded among those of other nations and are
that are capable of fulfilling a variety of roles
most regularly used for special operations. Officers
professionally, often unconventionally, and almost
and the elite of SWORDFOR are regularly employed
always successfully. Many, including some corpo-
in advisory or training roles with other national
rate and government agencies, have criticised the
armies and have even been known to assist in the
existence of the SWORDFOR as a bait and switch
development and training of mercenary units and
that allows O-12 to deploy highly trained military
corporate security teams, although the application
operatives into a much wider range of deployment
process for such privately funded roles can be so
zones than they would otherwise have the author-
convoluted that the procedure alone dissuades
isations for. There are very few, however, who dare
many companies and corporations from employing
suggest that the SWORDFOR unit is ineffective.
SWORDFOR training.
On the contrary, SWORDFOR operatives are fright-
eningly capable and highly elite. Most members

The o-12 Files 7

 Young hopefuls from all over the Human
Sphere are drawn to the opportunity to enlist in
SWORDFOR, many locals to Concilium Prima itself,
and applications are constantly processed. The
physical and mental requirements for enlistment
and training are as strenuous and unforgiving as
with any military in the Human Sphere. Training
on the surface of Concilium Prima is tough, with
bases across the planet, but especially in the
Antarctic wastelands of Helheim, a place aptly
named. Training also takes place in a wide range of
biomes throughout the Human Sphere, especially
on Paradiso. Zero and microgravity training occurs
on specially built orbitals around the planet or
in the military base in orbit around the planet
Muspelheim. Training, drill, and simulation are
constant, and the demands of making the grade are
severe. But, those who manage to make the cut, and
stand to attention at their passing out parade, have
been shaped into formidable weapons of war.
In orbit around Muspelheim, the fifth planet in the
Concilium system, is the key military and operations
base of Bureau Aegis and SWORDFOR. Protecting
this — and the system as a whole — is a formidable
armada of artillery bases and battlestations known
as the Surt Defensive System. No mere hand-me-
downs from other national navies, the protective
stations of the Surt Defensive System navy are
state-of-the-art. No true count of the offensive or
defensive capabilities has ever been successfully
made; the number, class, and armaments of the
stations and platforms is not exactly known. It
has been estimated by intelligence agencies, such
as the Hexahedron, that the Concilium system is
capable of weathering an assault from any other
national power in the Human Sphere. Where
the funding, technology, or indeed the stations
themselves came from is the subject of much
supposition and guesswork. From an official point
of view, it is never mentioned, a tacit understanding
by all that the fleet exists is as far as enquires into
the subject goes. That is not to say, however, that
the Hassassins, Hexahedron, Stavka, and Imperial
Agents haven’t tried hard to penetrate the veil of
Muspelheim to find out, but rather, that their efforts
so far have had little result beyond more rumour to
add to the mill. The existence of the Surt Defensive
System is an open secret for those with clearance
enough. The exact makeup of the system is the
detail that everyone else beyond O-12 is desperate
to find out, but unwilling to ask.
Starmada has its primary command structure
positioned within the Surt Defensive ring. The
Starmada navy encompasses an eclectic mix of
ship classes and types to support the flexible roles
required by SWORDFOR and O-12. Of the largest
tonnage ships Starmada is able to field, a vast
majority are troop transports, all of them in contin-
uous use unless docked for repairs and refits. The
8 Chapter 1
most well-known ships of Starmada are the famed
hospital ships. Vast and advanced, they provide
succour in humanitarian crises and are in continual
need on the war front of Paradiso. Many of the mil-
itary ships Starmada fields are designed for speed
and precision orbital support. They are not so
much designed for space combat but for providing
surgical and devasting firepower for SWORDFOR
forces on the ground. Many of their military vessels
are also used to guard the humanitarian convoys of
Bureaus Athena and Lakshmi or the scientific expe-
ditions of Bureau Tiandi. Most unique to Starmada
are the Circle Runners, conceived as escorts for the
Circulars. These are hybrid ships, combining the
capabilities of a gunship with the range and speed
of a patrol boat, and are also used for pirate hunt-
ing. Beyond whatever ships are stationed in the
Concilium system, the number of ships O-12 has
available and is permitted to put into the field is
few. Starmada has the whole of the Human Sphere
in which to make its presence visible, and those
ships assigned to that duty are stretched thin.
Rumours abound of experimental technologies
drawn from the physics laboratories of Huaquiao
and the study of alien technology captured from
Tohaa and Combined sources alike. Tied up with the
general mystique that surrounds SWORDFOR, the
gossip includes some Maya-sci-fi worthy material.
Starmada features heavily in many of these
rumours, but whatever truth there is to that is
impossible to draw out from the wild fictions that
abound on some Maya platforms.
IDENTITY AND
LOYALTY
At its heart, O-12 is a legal framework and the
associated structure to enforce that framework,
embodying a set of ideals about how the various
powers that make up the Human Sphere should
operate and interact. It is not a universal governing
system, as many critics would suggest it sets itself
up as being. Rather, it is a scaffold of ideals on how
the various power blocs of the collective human
race may maintain independence and autonomy,
while at the same time treating with each other by
a universal set of expectations designed to create
an even playing field for competition which main-
tains a state of relative stability that all may thrive
and prosper. This set of ideals is encapsulated in
the Pillars of O-12: Unity, Cooperation, Support, and
Progress, and is enshrined in a set of international
laws, conventions, and legal set of apparatus
designed to ensure they are adhered to.
With the movement of O-12 to Concilium Prima as
an independent headquarters, it has slowly grown
into a quasi-nation in its own right, with a citizenry,

government, economy, and all the machinery
of a functional nation state. O-12 straddles an
interesting line, its role and function within the
Human Sphere is as a mediator, legal contingency,
and aspirational guide. To maintain these various
roles it strives above all else for independence and
impartiality, yet, at the same time it is also a grow-
ing nation with significant economic and political
influence. As many analysts of geopolitical history
have observed, the next twenty to fifty years will be
defining for O-12. Will it be able to maintain a care-
ful balance in the power structures of the Human
Sphere, or will it slide into a position of being just
another national power striving to find its own
path to ascendancy in the Human Sphere?
Commonly quoted as the mantra of the peoples
who call Concilium Prima their home and O-12
their nation is the saying La tajdo de unueco nin
kune or “the tide of unity brings us together”. The
people who make up the citizenry of O-12 are an
eclectic melange of nationalities and ethnicities.
Many of the older generations were attracted
to O-12 by the promise of what it stood for, by
the opportunity to be a part of the very stitching
that holds an otherwise conflict-ridden humanity
together and a vision for what humanity can and
should strive for. Nowadays, a majority of the
younger generation is born and bred O-12, but
there are still a significant number of citizens
attracted to join O-12 for the optimism that it
embodies. Those indigenous to O-12 are, by and
large, influenced by the educated idealism of their
parents and grandparents. Every year a larger and
larger portion of those citizens who fill roles within
the bureaus and agencies are native born. A number
of citizens have joined the nation because their
families were sent there for work, and within the
household, the O-12 administration is seen not so
much as a home or the nation to which they belong
but as a posting, while their personal loyalties
still ache for their familial homelands. A sense of
national identity is a cultural phenomenon still in
its infancy. Much like that nationhood of O-12 itself,
some sense of a unifying cultural distinctiveness is
growing and is dominated by the adherence to and
idealism of the Pillars of O-12.
Being a member of O-12, whether in an official
capacity or as a civilian, comes with expectations.
There is a pressure to live up to a certain standard
in behaviour and temperance that is applied by the
social and cultural norms of O-12 and a certain
level of expectation in terms of behaviour, attitude,
and bearing that is applied to members of O-12
from other nationalities. This burden is felt by all
at some point or other in their lives, and by those
who travel widely or operate in an official capacity,
it is something that must often be struggled with,
especially when a situation is palpably unfair or
emotionally charged. What may be written off as a
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
fair and natural expression of nationalistic emotion
and zeal in others is often regarded as unaccept-
able from citizens of O-12. Fair or otherwise, the
pressure to live up to the neutral level-headedness
and impartiality that O-12 is expected to embody
can be burdensome, especially to the younger
generations of this pseudo-nation.
O-12 and Concilium Prima particularly are cultural
melting pots. The cities and towns of Concilium
Prima are dominated by cultural enclaves, and
while the ideals of the Pillars provide a sense of
harmony and the cultural zeitgeist of inclusivity
and unity are a bonding factor, old loyalties swirl
beneath the surface. These former allegiances are
plucked and played by all manner of manipulators.
O-12 sits in a position of political influence and
power within the Human Sphere, and even the
families who can trace their lineages back to the
first settlers of Concilium Prima are young enough
to still have familial ties in other nations in the
Human Sphere. Much time and energy are spent by
the other nations on wooing or coercing citizens,
especially those who have relations in other
nations or who may be groomed to have a position
within the bureaus or agencies of O-12.
CORRUPTION AND
MANIPULATION
Overseeing a vast portfolio of economic, techno-
logical, social, legal, and military issues, often in a
managerial or judgemental capacity, places O-12 at
the beating heart of cooperative and competitive
negotiation throughout the Human Sphere. From
aid packages, trade deals, military operations, polit-
ical cooperation, corporate negotiation, and the
settling of high-level legal disputes, O-12 is front
and centre, the impartial administrator that ensures
justice is maintained and everyone gets the fairest
deal given the context of the situation. As with any
such position, there is never a happy medium. It is
rare that all parties involved in a deal or dispute
walk away feeling completely content with the res-
olution, and it is almost always the case that one
or all of the parties involved feel like they received
the poorer outcome. As the old saying goes, heavy
is the head that wears the crown, something that
is as true of O-12 as it ever was for king or dictator.
Despite its integral role in the Human Sphere, and
despite the all too often made assertion that O-12
tries to assert itself like a king or ruler, the reality is
far from the truth.
While O-12 has significant powers in its capacity
to mediate solutions, its rulings are sometimes
treated with little more than lip-service. Nations
and corporations alike are only too happy to see a
dispute dragged through years of legal wrangling
The o-12 Files 9
 while they do as they please in the meantime. It
is something of a minor miracle that the courts
and bureaus that mediate on legal questions
in relation to economic or trade issues, military
actions, breaches of law, and diplomatic quarrels
are able to cut through the walls of red tape that
plaintiffs and defendants are eager to employ to
delay the processes of resolution. This is partly due
to the mechanisms of the O-12 political and legal
structure that allow the organisation to leverage
direct legal or military action against those who
are deemed guilty of a crime or those who try to
muddy the waters of due process. O-12 has the
vested authority to take a determined course of
action through an investigative or advisory panel,
rather than simply relying on the court systems to
eventually resolve a dispute, allowing for direct and
relatively swift responses to issues it oversees. With
a heritage born from the failure of the old United
Nations, the capacity to take direct action was
deliberately built into the O-12 charter.
A result of its unique capacity and position to medi-
ate solutions between powerful entities and its
ability to take direct action when its own investi-
gative processes deem that action is required, O-12
maintains a position of control and authority. O-12
is a balancing factor in the mess of international
powers striving against one another across a host
of domains for influence and supremacy. Given such
a position, for O-12, corruption is the biggest threat
to the impartiality of the processes, and for every-
one else, an often-used vehicle to tip the scales of
balance in their favour. Corruption is something
that the systems and bureaus of O-12 do their
best to combat and limit, and strict and severe
punishments can be meted out in cases where it
is uncovered. But O-12 is not so naïve to believe
that its own checks and balances will be enough
to stamp corruption out. It understands that the
organisation and pseudo-nation are made up of a
great many peoples, with loyalties and motivations
that may bias them in one way or another. The so
called Wilderness of Mirrors is not a problem solely
for intelligence agencies but also applies more
broadly to the entity of O-12 as a whole.
Gifts, endorsements, donations, benefits, and
employment or business opportunities are all
leveraged by external parties as common methods
of extorting support from members of O-12. Such
offers are never direct or easily traceable. They are
more often made to extended family, as patronage
to charities chaired by or businesses run by
children, wives, husbands, cousins, aunties, uncles,
or close friends. While complex algorithms are
used to monitor transactions and the movement of
monies and goods, the line between an acceptable
donation and one used to solicit support is a grey
area. A growing trend to avoid detection has been
a general ubiquity when corporations and nations
10 Chapter 1
make donations and gifts to a variety of O-12
personnel as a form of thanks. This has served to
muddy the waters and has made the detection of
irregular patterns in financial exchanges difficult
to identify. Typically, the solicitation of support
involves a variety of elements rather than a one-off
payment. It may be a niece who is offered a well-
paid position within a corporation connected to
the one doing the lobbying, as well as a generous
donation to the charity run by a family member, and
the opportunity to invest in property developments
owned by a company connected through financial
ties, as well as an implied threat of leaking unde-
sired information to the media or bureaucracy… The
network of relationships and deals, of transactions
and influence, can be next to impossible to track,
a convoluted mess so tangled that the actors at
the centre may not be aware of who the ultimate
directors are.
Issues such as Ariadnan trade and sovereignty con-
cerns, the distribution of aid packages to orbitals
holding territorial or mining rights, the phrasing of
legal codes surrounding the research or application
of technologies, corporate tenders for multinational
contracts negotiated by O-12, and a million other
agreements and commercial issues are sought
to be influenced by corruption. Bureau Agni, with
its management of energy and the Teseum trade.
Bureau Athena with its focus on the abuses of
human rights. Bureau Gaea with a portfolio that
covers the investigation of corporate activities.
Bureau Ganesh with a focus on trade and econom-
ics. Bureau Hermes, which manages issues surround
commerce and space flight. Bureau Lakshmi with
a focus on regulating medical practice, research,
and procedures. Bureau Tiandi, which manages the
surveying of new territories, and Bureaus Concilium
and Trimurti both for their focus on tackling
corruption. All of these core bureaucracies within
the O-12 structure are the target for influence and
corruption, where stakeholders, nations, and big
businesses are more than happy to throw signifi-
cant money at any issue that may benefit them or
conceal wrongdoings from the courts.
Lobbying, bribery, political and financial pressure,
religious and national loyalties, as well as threats
and violence are all tools used to coerce the
personnel who work and act on O-12’s behalf. Such
undue influences are combated where they are
found and are, to an extent, expected. It is this level
of expectation that allows O-12 some capacity
to mitigate undue influence. The people who fill
positions on investigative panels, legal teams, and
within bureaus are carefully selected from within
O-12, not just for their merit and their loyalty to
O-12's processes and ideals, but also to provide
a mix of potential influences in order to preserve
some measure of internal balance. All O-12
personnel have detailed files maintained on them,

which are processed by selection panels assisted
by ALEPH Aspects. When a team is assembled for a
specific task, legal case, or panel, the people who
make it up represent the diverse interests that may
seek to influence the processes. It is not a perfect
solution to the age-old problem, but by pitting
bias against bias, the influence of corruption is, to
some extent, mitigated before it has too much of a
chance to dominate one side of an issue.
Corruption, old loyalties, and personal biases are all
factors that can lead to a break down in processes,
dysfunction, and the loss of impartiality. Through
the recognition and manipulation of this, rather
than the blind hope it will never occur, O-12 con-
tinues to do its best to maintain at least a veneer
of impartiality and objectivity in its rulings and
enforcements.
THE SHIMMERING
SKY
A constantly moving network of trillions of nano-
machines, programmed to respond to one another
like birds in flight and controlled from the Bureau
Gaea facility in Bhai, seed the upper atmosphere of
Concilium Prima. From orbit, this blanket of nano-
machines causes the surface of Concilium Prima
to seem pixelated, or appear to swim, as if viewed
through water, which is where the system gets its
name — the Shimmering Sky.
Originally conceived to combat the accelerated
greenhouse effect caused by the volcanic activity of
the Choola region, the nanomachines scrub harmful
gases, predominantly excess carbon dioxide, as
well as particulate from the atmosphere. Despite
its distance from the star Concilium, the luminosity
of the star, combined with an atmosphere thick
with greenhouse gases, had put Concilium Prima
in the early stages of a runaway greenhouse effect.
When the planet was identified and surveyed, the
regulation of the atmosphere was identified as a
vital component of the terraformation process.
One of the O-12 teams working for the nascent
Bureau Gaea, headed by engineer Nguyễn Thi Lâm,
realised that the proposed nanomachine network
being developed for use on Concilium Prima could
have further applications that would suit the needs
of the organisation once the planet became the
centre of the O-12 bureaucracy. What was to be
solely a method for regulating the atmosphere
became, after some brilliant technical develop-
ment, a method for regulating communications
channels on and from the planetary surface. The
nanomachine network, which became known as
the Shimmering Sky, was designed so that, in
addition to stabilising the atmosphere, it would
cause microwave beam attenuation and effect the
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
propagation of radio waves from the surface. The
Shimmering Sky would allow the O-12 organisation
a method to control, in essence, the most used
communication systems, especially between
the surface of the planet and orbit. The control
of communication channels provide significant
benefits for an organisation that sits at the heart of
the conflicts, negotiations, and deals of the power
brokers of the Human Sphere.
Relay towers for radio wavelengths on the surface,
and relay stations floating in the atmosphere,
which bounce microwave transmissions from the
surface to their target destination, allow for a
fairly seamless communication system. Of course,
these relays are state owned and run as a part of
the Bureau Gaea portfolio. It is widely understood,
especially among the nations and corporations who
deal with O-12, that the relay stations are moni-
tored closely by Bureau Noir. This is especially true
of the floating relays that essentially provide win-
dows through which communications between the
planetary surface and orbit can be made. There are
several thousand of these floating stations across
Concilium Prima, each one filtering and monitoring
the myriad of communications beamed from or
to the surface. Each one is also, at any point, the
potential target for those who would seek to find
a way to communicate unmonitored. Such attacks
come often and may be hacking attempts from the
surface or orbit, or even clandestine assaults on
the relay stations themselves, mercenary strikes
to install hardware or malware into the relay and
allow backchannel communications. Bureau Aegis
and Bureau Noir both are tasked with ensuring the
communications systems maintain their integrity,
but it is a constant battle.
One curious effect of the Shimmering Sky has
been the use of old-fashioned spying and commu-
nications technologies on Concilium Prima. With
communications channels so heavily monitored
and contact between assets in orbit and the
surface often so integral to the shifting nature of
deals, court cases, and negotiations, a reversion to
old-fashioned techniques for sneaking intelligence
and communiques between parties has seen some
interesting strategies. Implanted data-packets are
relatively easy to pick up via scans, but the employ-
ment of written messages or codes printed onto
temporary tattoos, concealed cyphers reassembling
messages hidden in blockchains, data smuggled
in goods, artworks, or codes imprinted into music
files and the like have all been techniques used by
intelligence operatives from other nations attempt-
ing to find a way around the Shimmering Sky. One
thing is certain, if the Shimmering Sky was a stroke
of genius, the methods being used to subvert or
avoid it do much to demonstrate the endless crea-
tivity of human ingenuity.
The o-12 Files 11
 CHAPTER 2
PLANET CONCILIUM PRIMA
CLIMATE AND
GEOGRAPHY
Concilium Prima represents both a lucky charm, in
finding a planet so amenable to settlement and
habitation, and a work of scientific triumph, in that
a myriad of aspects were manipulated through
terraforming to create and sustain the environment
that citizens enjoy today. Perhaps the biggest
challenge in the management of Concilium Prima
was not the initial carefully planned modifications,
but the ongoing task of maintaining the planet’s
climate. With the great scars rending Choola irreg-
ularly spewing tonnes of greenhouse gases, ash,
and particulate into the atmosphere, the continual
manipulation of the Shimmering Sky to maintain a
stable climate has been masterful. Concilium Prima
also makes use of massive industrial facilities
which draw trace elements from the atmosphere to
process and sequester carbon. The planet was orig-
inally identified as sitting on a tipping point, where
12 Chapter 2
a runaway greenhouse effect could have had a
significant impact on the long-term viability of hab-
itation on the planet’s surface. Thanks to scientific
intervention these issues have largely been pre-
vented, but it is an ongoing struggle that requires
constant study, supervision, and intervention.
Concilium Prima’s large moon Unueco has a
significant effect on weather patterns and life
cycles on the planet, with tidal forces that can
cause extreme swells. Tidal effects are immediately
noticeable to anyone visiting a coastal region for
the first time. The water surges of the tidal action,
combined with the massive swells of the ocean
itself have a significant effect on the prevailing
winds, which in turn create wave crests that can
make some coastal areas dangerous. Significant
swathes of beach are uncovered during low tide,
and the often-violent return of the waters at high
tide pose a significant risk to anyone unfamiliar
with the patterns. Settlements on the coast for the
most part have weather monitoring services and
extensive breakwaters designed to protect ships

in harbour and the settlements themselves from
the potentially damaging waves. While those living
along the coast are well versed in the dangers
inherent to the tides, injuries and even fatalities
remain all too common mostly among tourists and
those who ignore the safety warnings to surf or sail
in dangerous conditions.
Emergency responders serve in a multi-role
capacity, receiving training to provide support in
emergencies, reducing the dangers, as well as direct
action on the ground, including providing medical
support. Emergency responders may even receive
basic combat training, and the pathways into and
from the Bureau Aegis Global Police are strong.
With a slight axial tilt, the variation in seasonal
patterns across the planet surface is not signifi-
cantly noticeable. The tropical zone extends well
up into Midgard and down into Jaulan, and the
year-round weather is warm and muggy. In the
northernmost portion of Midgard and the south-
ernmost portion of Jaulan, the seasonal changes
are more temperate, with cold winters and hot
summers. The most northern and southern regions
of Jotumheim and Helheim respectively sit within
the polar latitudes. These locations are bitterly cold,
windswept, and icy all year. Even in the middle of
summer, the sun stays close to the horizon, and
daylight hours are relatively fleeting.
Along the length of the coastlines, squalls are
common. These storms can form quickly, coming off
the ocean to wrack the land with rainfall and high
winds. The heaviest rainfall anywhere on Concilium
Prima however, comes to the north and south of the
El-Gebal mountain range that separates Choola and
Jaulan. To the south, rain falls in monsoonal tor-
rents almost all year, causing the jungles of Jaulan
close to the mountain range to be mired in great
swamps and a myriad of rivers and streams. To the
north of the El-Gebal, the storm cells pushed inland
by the mountain range collect sulphur and other
chemicals, which can lead to acid rain, something
the Terraforming Institute remains apoplectic about.
Over the area known as Loki’s Land, blankets of fog
are common and, on bad days, can be concentrated
enough to cause respiratory problems and other
health complications, particularly in the young,
elderly, or those with sensitive or damaged lungs.
Thankfully neither the acid rain nor the fog travels
inland enough to threaten settled areas, but they
are enough of a concern to complicate scientific
expeditions to the area. In the last few years, there
have been a number of companies interested in
mining Loki’s Land as a source of industrial chemi-
cals, and even one company that is developing rain
farms to catch acid rain.
The El-Gebal mountain range is the largest and
highest on Concilium Prima. The foothills facing
the south are steep, a maze of deep valleys full of
jungle and rushing torrents. Only partially explored,
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
drone footage and stories of the splendour of
the waterfalls and valley systems are something FIRST RESPONSE
of a legend among the students and lecturers of Bureau Concilium, in conjunction
Concilium University. It is the dream of many a with Bureau Gaea and the
young biology major to take part in one of the few climatologists from the Manaheim
funded expeditions to this region of the planet. University, run the largest weather
monitoring alert system on
The continued manipulation of the weather pat- Concilium Prima. The weather
terns and climate of Concilium Prima has allowed station provides weather and
for human habitation in a way and to an extent that emergency updates across the
would never have been possible otherwise. Despite planet and liaises with emergency
this, many leading scientists have voiced concerns services in identifying threats
and the ongoing analysis
about the long-term effects of the process. Not
of emergencies.
only has the adjustment to the climate made the
planet more amenable to plant and animal life
introduced from other systems, but it has also had
a significant impact on the natural cycles of the
native species. This was to be expected, of course,
but the degree to which the changes in the climate
of Concilium Prima have impacted the life cycles
and breeding habits of the native flora and fauna
has led some to speculate that the planet could be
approaching a catastrophic collapse in the complex
web of relationships between the living organisms
on the planet. While these concerns are regularly
dismissed as unnecessary fearmongering, it has
been noted that the algal blooms, which appear to
have thrived on the trace elements deposited in
the oceans across the planet from the volcanic rifts
across the Choola region, are diminishing year in,
year out. Given these same algal blooms produce a
significant percentage of the oxygen on Concilium
Prima and that they are a foundational component
in many food webs for larger organisms the fishing
industries of the planet rely on, there is, perhaps,
some cause for concern.
FLORA AND
FAUNA
Far and away, the largest collective biomes on land
are the great savannahs that dominate and extend
from Midgard in the north, and south through
Maidan and the top of Choola. Punctuated by
broadleaf forests in the north and jungles in the
south, these grasslands stretch for thousands of
kilometres. Genetic studies have shown the grasses
of Concilium Prima are comprised of massive clonal
colonies connected by a thick network of stolons (or
runners), some of which may represent the largest
living organisms known to the Human Sphere. The
stolons that connect the grasses form an extremely
dense mat, sometimes 20 centimetres or more
in depth, giving the ground a decidedly spongy
feel. A number of small regional communities use
cuttings of these mats as a form of insulation, but
if the climate is particularly dry, they can also pose
a significant fire risk. These stolon mats, which sit
beneath the visible grass stems, have been argued
to constitute a seperate biome, and a whole web
Planet Concilium Prima 13

PHYLUM, FAMILY,
CLASS
Life on Concilium Prima evolved
distinct from that on Earth, from
the chemical reactions that led
to the first cells to the complex
animals of today. Despite the
differences, the chemical pressures
that led to abiogenesis and
the evolutionary drivers that
influenced the diversity of life
from that moment on remain
the same. While many biologists
agree that a taxonomic structure
unique to each instance of life is
a more accurate model for life in
the universe, it has proven easier
to simply lump new animals into
the familiar taxonomic model. The
arthropods of Concilium Prima are
close enough to their Earth-bound
counterparts that the term was
an easy fit; they are a family of
animals with segmented bodies
and a chitinous exoskeleton.
Morphologically, they are similar
to the arthropods of Earth, hence
the easy adoption of the term.
The same is broadly true for
other forms of life on Concilium
Prima and elsewhere in the
Human Sphere.
14 Chapter 2
of life exists within it. Some of the creatures which
rely on the mat are little more than fungi, or tiny
arthropods. Others, however, can grow to be as
large as a small cat or ferret. Almost all of these
creatures are arthropods, from herbivores to car-
nivores, and a number can give a nasty bite to the
poorly dressed or unwary traveller.
The arthropods which make the grass mat their
home also pose a continual risk to farm animals
allowed to crop the grasses, as the bites can cause
infection and lead to disease. Some effort has
been made to eradicate areas of grass to free up
cropland, but because the grass is virulent, the
effort is labour intensive as the ground needs to be
scarified. While some attempts to create cropland
have been undertaken throughout Concilium Prima,
the most effective method of food production has
undoubtedly been the fish farms and hydroponic
centres of Kala Pani.
Wandering the savannahs across Concilium Prima
are large herbivorous animals known to science
as MegaVombatus and locally as ‘giant wombats’
because of their morphological similarity to the
wombat of Earth. These creatures can grow to
the size of a small car and live by cropping the
grasses as they wander across the savannahs.
MegaVombatus live in herds that can number as
many as thirty individuals. The adult males tend
to leave the herds and live more solitary lives and,
much like the bull elephants of Earth, are often
aggressive and can be dangerous, particularly
during their mating season, theorised to coincide
with every second or third full moon.
Studies tracking the movements of these great
animals have uncovered some curious details
about their habits. Always on the move, herds of
MegaVombatus follow distinct migratory paths
thousands of kilometres in length. These migratory
paths overlay in a complex web that allow the
different herds to meet up regularly in a pattern
synced with the lunar cycle.
Following the herds and eager to break away any of
the young, sick, or old, are a vicious little predator
known as Alba canis or arthrodogs. This peculiar
portmanteau stems from the arthropods’ loping
movement along and their pack hunting tech-
niques, which are much like those of the wild dogs
of Africa. Able to run quickly over short bursts and
capable of sustaining long and steady marathons,
these creatures are not so dangerous individually,
but as a pack they pose a serious threat to anything
they set their minds on. Running on four gangly
legs, they have a pair of forelegs that reach out
beyond their mandibles. These are capable of
delivering knife-like wounds when punched into
a target and deliver a mild tranquilizer. One dose
is hardly enough to stop a grown MegaVombatus
in its tracks, but a dozen knife-like lacerations and
a dozen doses, and the arthrodogs soon have a
comatose target to begin feeding on.
Land-dwelling plant and animal life on Concilium
Prima is not as diverse as that on Earth. Most
of the terrestrial biomes tend to have a handful
of species which dominate their niches. The
broadleaf forests and jungles contain only a
handful of species of trees, and while there are
hundreds (and likely thousands of undiscovered
and unclassified) species of animals, diversity and
variation is less distinct than on Earth. Almost all
the plants on Concilium Prima rely on the wind
for both pollination and seed dispersal, something
that can play havoc with anyone who suffers from
hay-fever. While this seed dispersal method works
for the native plant life, given the windy nature of
the planet’s weather systems, it has also meant that
introduced species of trees, grasses, and flowers
have been able to spread. Established through the
terraformation process, plants and animals from
across Earth have been repeatedly introduced to
Concilium Prima with a significant impact on the
plant and animal life native to the planet. Some
biologists are concerned that with changes to the
climate as well as the spread of introduced plant
and animal life, the biomes native to Concilium
Prima may face catastrophic collapse.
OCEANS
Of all the biomes that dominate the planet, the
oceans are the most diverse and rich in life on
the planet. The depths of the oceans have been
partially mapped using sonography, but like 21st
century Earth, they still represent the least studied
portions of the planet. So far, only a handful of
exploratory scientific missions have gone beyond
the euphotic (or sunlit) zone, and none have
plumbed the depths of Concilium Prima’s great
oceanic trenches, the greatest of which extend
east and west of Choola, continuing along the fault
lines beneath the turbulent oceans above. With
a noticeable drop in the quantity of the sea life
that has become a part of the diets of Concilium
Prima natives over the last few years, thought in
part to be a biproduct of terraforming, a number of
studies designed to examine the oceans are in the
planning and acquisition phase. It is hoped these
studies will net useful results that will aid in the
maintenance of this vital biome.
Algae dominate the oceans, exist in a wide variety
of forms and species. and are believed to be so
widespread due to the minerals and chemicals
introduced to the oceans through volcanic erup-
tions in Choola. Algal blooms can be hundreds
of kilometres across, each glowing a different
bioluminescent colour, referred to as ‘Hue Biomes’.
These blooms support a wide range of marine
animals that come to feed on them. The largest of
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

these blooms are visible from space and appear as until recently, are gigantic vessels, some the size
slowly moving, fractal-like patterns pockmarking of an office block. Beneath these hulking machines
the surface of the oceans. It is quite the sight – and are networks of great sluices. the aqua-harvesters
quite the tourist attraction. are designed to be piloted through an algal bloom
where the sluices allow the water and algae, and
Another diverse form of life is much like the crus-
any similar small creatures, to float away, but trap
taceans of Earth. These ground-dwelling creatures
the larger ones. This indiscriminate form of inten-
live most of their days on the abyssal plains of the
sive fishing had devastating consequences for life
ocean floor, but when the algae blooms occur, they
in the waters of Earth, and despite the importance
siphon water from a float bladder beneath their
of the fishing industry, there was little outcry as
shell and rise to the surface using their legs (which
it was allowed to go into decline. Nowadays it is
they have up to a dozen pairs) to swim. Their long
much more common for small teams of fishing
hairy protuberances flail around and then draw
boats to selectively fish for specific species of crus-
back and across their mouth parts removing the
tacean or nudibranch, which are in high demand
algae that are trapped in the hairs.
in the restaurants of the planet due to their tender
Feeding on the wide variety of crustaceans are and succulent flesh. For the core food supply, the
creatures much like the sea slugs or nudibranchs of aquafarms provide more than is required.
Earth. These can grow several metres in length and
Like on land, a number of introduced species
are brightly coloured. With four large multifaceted
are finding a growing foothold in the oceans of
eyes on stalks, these creatures tend to hunt from
Concilium Prima. These are mostly fish that have
below, spotting their prey by the pattern of light
escaped aquafarms and include species like salmon,
emitted from the algae the crustaceans are feeding
trout, pollock, and tuna.
on, then rising swiftly to envelop and wrap around
their target, crushing the shell, and pushing their
oral tentacles through the breaks to feed on the
soft flesh within. These creatures have been noted
ECONOMY
to have made a number of recorded attacks against For all the industries and production that form
human divers, most of which have been fatal. an integral part of the economic machinery of
Concilium Prima, politics remains the largest
Undoubtedly the most dangerous animals to make
contributor to the wealth of the planet. With
the waters of Concilium Prima their home are giant
bureaucratic, legal, and judicial centres such as the
creatures much like the jellyfish of Earth. There are
Öberhaus, the Petite Assemblée, and the Courts of
a number of distinct, documented species, and they
Concilium, as well as the myriad of bureaus that
share very similar traits. These creatures can grow
support them, Concilium Prima is a fulcrum around
to be several hundred metres in diameter, while
which legislation and justice is served throughout
the largest ever recorded was close to a kilometre
the Human Sphere. Such functions of universal
across. They are transparent, and often every
importance naturally attract the attentions of gov-
difficult to spot, but produce a spectacular light
ernments, corporations, and individuals who wish
show using bioluminescent algae that live within
to take an active role in or influence the political
their membrane. They rely on ambush techniques,
decisions.
spreading their membrane out just below the
surface and mimicking the colour patterns of an Vast sums of wealth are spent on lobby groups
algal bloom to attract would-be predators. The that represent corporate and government interests,
underside of the membrane reflexively envelops religious and social ideologies, and a variety of
the creatures that brush against it, administering a other agendas. Wealthy stakeholders — whether
powerful toxin. Once enough animals are caught in governments, corporations, or individuals — may
the membrane the creature sinks to a greater depth sponsor or support a range of lobby groups, each of
to slowly absorb its food. which reflects aspects of ideology or policy change
they themselves would like to see passed. These
Much of the marine life of Concilium Prima has,
lobby groups in turn pour vast sums of money into
at one time or another, been employed as a food
summits, meetings, retreats, and a slew of other
source for the growing population. The fishing
events designed to consolidate a supporter base,
industry, until a decade ago, was the key nutritional
refine and reinforce ideological positions, and build
foundation for the citizens of the planet. The
action plans that seek to influence the wheels of
rise and success of intensive aquatic farming
power. Significant sums are also spent creatively
techniques particularly in the Gulf of Choola have
to buy access to representatives, ambassadors,
led to a decline in the fishing industry as a whole.
corporate leaders, high ranking bureau officers,
Many biologists have raised concerns about the
and politicians. Bribery is, of course, illegal, but the
type of fishing that the planet was coming to
boundary between a paid guest or speaking role, a
rely on, so aquafarming received a sizeable seed
gift or endorsement, tickets to a high-end retreat
funding. Aqua-harvesters, which were widely used
or event is blurred and deliberately obfuscated

Planet Concilium Prima 15

 by all parties involved. Of course, the complexity
of the information network made possible by the
quantronic revolution means that ALEPH and
anti-corruption agencies can track the movement
of money with relative ease and accuracy, so
representatives seeking to influence those in power
through bribery or coercion need to be inventive.
There are privacy laws in place that protect an
individual from disclosing financial details without
a legally awarded warrant, and the use of valuable
gifts, Tunguskan banks, and other forms of payment
are widespread.
Anti-corruption investigations are a continual part
of the pattern of life in cities like Edda. Bureau
Concilium and Bureau Trimurti spend a consider-
able amount of time and effort in carrying these
out. Charges of corruption rarely stick, however.
All too often key players are whisked away out of
the jurisdictional reach of the investigators, or the
cases are held up in the court systems by repeated
appeal. It is a depressing state of affairs to many of
those who truly wish to see an end to corruption
and the undue influence the wealth holders have
over policy and legislation. The silver lining is that,
despite the dangers of corruption and the lobbying
of influence peddlers, the wheels of the judiciary
and government do manage to pass rulings and
laws that are genuinely in the best interests of the
Human Sphere.
Almost all of the bureaus organised, operated,
and ostensibly funded by O-12 make a significant
portion, if not more, of their own budgets annually
through a litany of fees, fines, and taxes related to
their various areas of jurisdiction.
The Concilium system also boasts a vibrant
economy in other ways. Though the political and
legal position of O-12 brings in significant wealth,
and the bureaus also contribute much, the planet
and system would be self-sufficient, maybe even
wealthy, without these aspects. Mining is a rich
source of income for the Concilium system, whether
rock hoppers or Nomads in the Brísingamen, or
the deep-cut mines of Minas Gerais. Aquafarming
florae in the black waters of Kala Pani creates a
variety of food stuffs that is exported throughout
the Human Sphere. Education on Concilium is
highly regarded and sought after, with international
students making up more than fifty percent of
annual enrolments and paying considerably more
for the opportunity. The entertainment industry
on Concilium Prima, and for the many stations in
orbit, is well regarded and in much demand by the
wealthy citizens and visitors alike. Lastly, one of
the growing industries in the last decade has been
tourism. Every year, more and more people from
throughout the Human Sphere ride the Circulars
looking to make Concilium Prima their destination.
The Shimmering Sky, the Blue Woods, the biolu-
minescent light shows, and profoundly important
16 Chapter 2
places like the Öberhaus and Courts of Concilium
are well-liked attractions that have grown expo-
nentially in popularity. In short, the economy of
Concilium Prima is booming, as varied and colourful
as the vibrant mix of peoples and cultures on the
planet. Concilium Prima achieves well above what
might be expected.
REGIONS AND
CITIES
BOIS BLEU
Bois Bleu is one of the most iconic places people
throughout the Human Sphere associate with the
planet Concilium Prima. Famed for its biolumines-
cent flora, the Blue Wood has become a carefully
manicured garden. The illusion of a tumbling
natural landscape is meticulously preserved, and
hidden within this natural splendour sit the estates
of the wealthy and influential. Originally contained
to a defined habitation zone encompassing Sainte
Michelle De Bois Bleu, the houses and estates have,
little by little, crept further across the main island
itself, the habitation zone redefined and adjusted
incrementally to accommodate this gradual
extension.
A NATURAL WONDER
Running northwest to southeast across the main
island of Bois Bleu is the Poivré mountain range,
consisting almost wholly of sedimentary rocks.
Great shale escarpments are surrounded by heavily
weathered sandstone bluffs and rises. The moun-
tain range gets its name from the myriad of caverns
and cave systems worn into it over the millennia.
While the lower slopes are covered by dense
vegetation, the upper slopes are bare sandstones
and shale pitted with thousands of holes. The
mountain tops are snow-capped, and traversing
them can be extremely dangerous as the ice sheets
beneath the upper layers of snow are as cracked as
the mountains below them. Terrifying ravines can
swallow a party of climbers in a moment’s thunder-
ous collapse.
Within the cave systems of the Poivré mountains
live a multitude of species of flying arthropods.
Many of these are no larger than a butterfly or
moth on Earth, but some, such as the Appius Magno,
are the size of a small bird and can deliver a nasty
sting which has euphoric and hallucinogenic
properties. These creatures are a vital part of the
ecosystems of the Bois Bleu islands serving as
night-time pollinators to the bioluminescent plants.
The plants that make Bois Bleu so iconic are unique
to the island chain, their famed bioluminescence
produced in a symbiotic relationship with a number
of species of algae much like those that bloom in
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

BUREAU FUNDING
Bureau Aegis is almost wholly funded by O-12 itself, and a portion of the tithes and taxes that go into supporting infrastructure
such as the Circulars also contribute to this budget. The exact amount of money Bureau Aegis receives annually is supposed
to be public domain, but the reality is that O-12 shifts a vast sum of money and materials to Bureau Aegis under the public
radar. Some governments and corporations complain about the money spent on O-12’s ‘private army’, but the roles Bureau Aegis
play in defending the Circulars and in warzones such as Paradiso have meant that public support across the Human Sphere is
broadly in favour.
Bureau Agni receives a significant portion of its annual budget from the fees and fines relating to investigations and breaches
of laws surrounding the development and application of technologies by corporations across the Human Sphere. The process
of applying for approval when dealing with borderline illegal technology (whether genetic, AI, military, or otherwise), can be
an expensive and drawn-out process, but one that is often valuable if the developer ever finds themselves investigated or in
court over a suspected breach.
Bureau Athena is ostensibly funded by O-12; however, the two largest sources of its annual income come from charitable
donations and from the micropayments millions of citizens around the Human Sphere make to access the histories and infor-
mational texts preserved and made available through Section Clio.
Bureau Concilium is funded directly by O-12 and is ostensibly the governing body of the Concilium system. The economy of the
planet and its various outposts, mines, and stations elsewhere in the system pour into the coffers of Bureau Concilium before
they are divided up between the bureaus and organisations that make up O-12.
Bureau Gaea secures a significant portion of its budget directly from Bureau Concilium as payment for ecological management
and managing the Shimmering Sky. They also receive a small percentage of their annual budget in direct donations.
Bureau Ganesh makes more money than is allocated to its own budget and counts toward the domestic product of the planet.
With a range of fines, fees, and taxes relating to trade deals and practices forming the largest part of their income, they also
make significant amounts running summits, seminars, think tanks, and retreats.
Bureau Hermes and its own corporate face, TransEtherea, is, by far and away, the wealthiest Bureau. On its own Bureau Hermes
represents a sizeable portion of Concilium Prima’s GDP. Most of its money comes in the form of licence and registration fees,
but the maintenance of the Circulars, jump gates, and docks around the Human Sphere all contribute a significant amount of
money as well. Financial restrictions on Bureau Hermes were imposed by other powers in the Human Sphere, which is one of
the reasons TransEtherea now runs the business side of the Circulars. But despite this interference, Hermes remains one of the
biggest contributors to the success of the Concilium Prima economy.
Bureau Lakshmi is funded almost exclusively by tithes paid directly from governments and power blocs throughout the Human
Sphere. Run as a not-for-profit, Bureau Lakshmi’s primary concern is for the health and well-being of all the citizens of human-
ity. Whatever grumbling might be heard about money going to Bureau Aegis or Hermes, there are rarely any complaints about
the payments made to Bureau Lakshmi. Everyone might agree that the money spent on Bureau Lakshmi is money well spent,
but that does not mean that everyone is always happy about the bureau’s operations. While the bureau provides guidelines and
hard rules about what is acceptable in terms of technological explorations concerning health and medical experimentation,
many nations and corporations disagree, appeal, or downright ignore their rulings.
Bureau Noir is funded directly by O-12. While a rough estimate of the annual budget may be ascertained by examining other
public financial records of O-12, the exact amount is never disclosed and never truly known.
Bureau Tiandi is directly funded by O-12, but also makes a significant amount of money selling survey data to governments
and corporations. This bureau has found several idiosyncratic locations where unique technologies have been developed or
explored. Rumours suggest that it has on a number of occasions sold surveys of such locations to corporations for a financial
stake in the technologies developed. A number of O-12 member states have made direct contributions to Bureau Tiandi, often
supporting specific projects which meet or align with their own interests.
Bureau Toth receives the lion’s share of funding of all the bureaus — perhaps even more than all the other bureaus combined
— but the amount can only be guessed at. Not even ALEPH is privy to knowledge about the extent, functions, personnel quota,
and budgets of Bureau Toth. Some conspiracy theorists claim that ALEPH uses its processing power to gamble, invest, and,
according to some wild claims, simply create its own fortune. As persistent as these rumours are, little evidence has been found
to suggest that is the case. The Nomads refuse to allow any of the money they contribute to O-12 to go towards support or
funding for Bureau Toth. Part of their membership agreement states that the portion of the Nomad fees that would otherwise
be apportioned to Bureau Toth is divided between Bureaus Athena and Tiandi instead.
Bureau Trimurti is strictly funded by Bureau Concilium and is disallowed to accept any form of donation, contribution, or gift
from any other source.

Planet Concilium Prima 17

 the oceans. The algae live inside the plants, feeding
off the glucose produced, and in turn attract
pollinators that allow the plants to reproduce. The
complex web of symbiotic and mutualistic relation-
ships between the plants, algae, and arthropods of
the Bois Bleu islands are a delicate web, and many
biologists are increasingly concerned over the
potential impact of human habitation in the area,
not to mention the throngs of tourists attracted to
this natural wonder each year. Any conservation
efforts, however, are tough going as the desires to
push the habitation zones just that little bit further
each year are backed by some of the most influen-
tial and wealthy individuals on the planet.
Roughly three times a year several plant species
on the islands release their seeds in a spectacular
display, their pods erupting, sending the hundreds
of encased seeds into the air, each topped with a
bundle of nearly weightless filaments that catch
the wind and allow the seeds to be transported
many hundreds of kilometres. The seeds themselves
glow gently, and the light display of thousands of
plants launching their seeds into the sky makes
the dispersal events prime time for the tourism
and entertainment industries of Sainte Michelle De
Bois Bleu. Many seeds are transported far enough
to make it to the mainland, but whether it is some
quirk of the soil, the complex interdependencies
that allow the plants to thrive, or some other
reason, these plants have never managed to find a
foothold anywhere other than the islands.
SAINTE MICHELLE DE BOIS BLEU
Sainte Michelle De Bois Bleu may only be a small
city by comparison with the other civic centres on
Concilium Prima, but it is, per capita, the wealthiest.
Seen as a playground for the rich and influential,
those individuals and corporations who own
property in the city number among the richest on
the planet. Sainte Michelle De Bois Bleu boasts
many expensive and exclusive restaurants, galleries,
theatres, and music halls, all there to service the
lavish manor houses and apartments of the CEOs,
moguls, and politicians.
With all the wealth, power, and privilege amassed
in Sainte Michelle De Bois Bleu, it is little wonder
that beneath the immaculate surface lies a fester-
ing cesspool of corruption. Sainte Michelle De Bois
Bleu is rife with dirty dealings, political machina-
tions, briberies, blackmail, and laundering. Money
flows like water, and while many of the galleries
and entertainment houses appear privately owned,
they have a myriad of well-concealed connections,
financially or through family, to corporations and
nationalities throughout the Human Sphere. Money
paid to a politician for support in a legislative
push might come through as donations made
to a theatre company they own, the ridiculous
amount of money paid for a piece of art at auction,
18 Chapter 2
or the gift of a famous singer to perform at their
family-owned music hall. It is no coincidence that
Bureau Trimurti has offices in the city.
MIDGARD
Housing the largest population density of anywhere
on Concilium Prima, with the planetary capital Edda
and the most iconic institutions of O-12, Midgard
is undoubtedly the most central and important
region on the planet. The population is centred in
the great cities of this region. In between, great
swathes of grasslands, extensive broadleaf forests,
and in the middle and extending south, large
mountain ranges are all relatively untouched by
human habitation. Some settlers move out of the
cities looking for a quieter life or one closer to
nature, and some corporations have spent time
surveying the mountains for minerals worth mining,
but these efforts have been limited in scope.
LORENA
Often referred to as the ‘Gateway to Bois Bleu’,
Lorena is frequently overlooked as a place worth
visiting in its own right. From humble beginnings
as a leisure town to a rolling exemplar of living
city design, however, Lorena is majestic. In the
evening, the glow of Bois Bleu is visible across
the strait that divides the island chain from the
mainland, and Lorena is like a jewel nestled on the
coast. Coming from the mainland, it is difficult to
identify where the rolling lands marching to the
coast stop and the city itself begins. Such is the
design of Lorena — that much of the city is merged
with the natural setting, buildings within the
rolling hills, orchards, gardens, and copses of trees
supplanted from Earth. The buildings not crafted
into the landscape are curving structures, walls
green with plant life, roofed gardens, and terraces.
Road systems wind throughout, sometimes difficult
to manage without the augmentation delivered to
every visitor’s patina through the city network. The
city descends from the hills to the coastline, broad
levels undulating to the wide, pale beaches. It truly
is a place designed by masters of their art.
Great ferries take passengers out on the water to
gently traverse the strait, these evening cruises
take advantage of the diffused light show of Bois
Bleu and are replete with rooms open to the
islands containing restaurants, musical entertain-
ment, and guided shows. Regular passage between
the mainland and the city of Sainte Michelle De
Bois Bleu is available almost all 23 hours a day, and
it is common for tourists to stay in Lorena, making
their way to Bois Bleu for a day or a night before
returning. There is a constant flow of people and
traffic, always new arrivals looking to experience
the visual delight of the islands off the coast and
usually equally delighted by their experience of
Lorena itself. During the day, water sports are

a common pastime, and the city’s heritage as a
leisure town is far from forgotten.
In the restaurants and hotels, a great many wealthy
and influential people meet for discussion and
deal making, though it must be said, the truly
powerful pass through to Sainte Michelle De Bois
Bleu. Bureau Gaea has its headquarters in Lorena,
although it also operates from other significant
stations around Concilium Prima. An old rumour
persists that somewhere beneath one of the many
hills that conceal the largest buildings of the city is
an extensive underground laboratory where Bureau
Gaea studies alien lifeforms.
HUAQIAO
Nestled on the west coast of Midgard is Huaqiao,
Huaquio was originally one of a few key launching
stations for the great harvesters that ply the
oceans. This industry has died off with the rise of
aquafarming, and instead Huaqiao has been trans-
formed into a centre for energy research. As the
headquarters of Bureau Agni, the focus of Huaqiao’s
economy has shifted from food production to sci-
ence, education, research, and particularly physics.
On the bluffs above the city are several plain look-
ing buildings, old hotels for the most part, which
now house some half-dozen schools focused on the
teaching of physics. These are not universities; they
are educational facilities where qualified and able
physicists go to deepen their learning and engage
in collaborative studies. Known locally as the
Agora, these schools house a variety of laboratories
funded in part by O-12 along with other facilities
in the city below. With a myriad of national and
corporate sponsors, these laboratories represent
some of the most advanced physics facilities in the
Human Sphere. Ostensibly, the research developed
in Huaqiao is meant to be open, but many of the
technological breakthroughs have remained either
secret or proprietary due to the sponsorships. The
constant flow of interns, students, and scientists to
and from the city allows agents from national and
corporate intelligence agencies easy access to the
city itself. Access to the Agora and the laboratories
is another matter, but there are many ways for
a craft intel operative to gather the information
they have been sent to uncover. Espionage is rife,
and Bureau Noir have offices in the city to support
Bureau Agni in ensuring it happens as little
as possible.
Back from the city itself, dug into a basalt shelf, is
the deepest building on Concilium Prima. Nearly
half a kilometre underground, the Master Clock and
its numerous tangled quantronic systems tick away,
providing Easy Time for the entire Human Sphere.
Time in Huaqiao is Easy Time, and more than one
tourist has come to the city to experience standing
in the place where 12 noon, with the sun overhead,
is 12 noon for the ships in orbit around Bourak or
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Paradiso, and 12 noon for the Circulars plying their
way through deep space.
EDDA
Natives like to consider Edda the very centre of the
Human Sphere, the heart of human civilisation. As
conceited as this may appear, especially to those
from elsewhere, there is also a kernel of truth to
the importance of this city. Between the Öberhaus,
the Petite Assemblée, the Courts of Concilium, the
embassies of every major and minor nation in the
Human Sphere, and a host of corporate centres,
Edda is home to a concentration of wealth, power,
and influence unmatched anywhere else. A constant
flow of people and materials from elsewhere on
Concilium Prima and the Orbital Asgard positioned
above the city makes the city a restless and
never-sleeping melange of cultures and vested
interests. Business is eternal in Edda, and power-
brokers and peddlers of influence are in a constant
dance, wheels spinning within wheels, plans in
motion, and money invested, splashed, and passed
under tables. It is a city that is wonderful for all
its magnificent variety and idealism, but it is also
dangerous. If the buildings were not constructed
from self-repairing materials, a visitor might be
shocked by the violence written in pock marks
on the walls throughout Edda. With the powerful,
the influential, and the wealthy come those who
would turn them, bend them, and break them, and
of course, those paid handsomely to ensure these
things never happen.
Nation states, international corporations, corporate
fronts for national interests, and lobby groups
representing a majority of the biggest and most
powerful forces in the Human Sphere are con-
stantly waging a war in the board rooms, meeting
halls, and fine dining tables of Edda. Senators
and ambassadors, judges and politicians all vie
for each other’s attentions, looking to make deals
in exchange for favours, goods, or money, or the
leverage required to force an opponent to concede
a sticking point. This web of interactions, alliances,
betrayals, and old adversaries is almost impossible
to keep track of, especially since allies pushing one
piece of policy might well be bitter opponents in
the resolution of a court case. Bribery, blackmail,
financial pressure, dishonesty, and even violence
are often deployed in the perpetual struggle for
vested interests.
Most people of rank and influence live in gated
communities or walled-off houses, and almost
all employ bodyguards and mercenaries. Edda,
when ranked by the number of contracts issued, is
the largest user of the War Market, meaning that
inhabitants of the city use more mercenaries than
anywhere else in the Sphere. This is true whether
one splices the data to look at individually issued
contracts or contracts issued by entities such as
governments and corporations. A vast majority
Planet Concilium Prima 19
 of these are retained as bodyguards and security
details, but some are employed as double agents,
spies, or to apply pressure through the use of or
threat of violence in the endless political struggles
that dominate the city.
Asgard, sitting above Edda, is one of the few
gateways to and from the planet. While it is high
in security, it is nonetheless a perpetual target
for smugglers, traffickers, spies, and agents from
around the Human Sphere. Orbitals, shuttles, and
the space elevators have become conduits for
low-tech stratagems seeking to convey information
and exchange messages covertly between the
planetary surface and the space above because the
Shimmering Sky imposes restrictions on communi-
cations relayed from the surface.
MANAHEIM
Beyond Edda and the obvious wheels of justice and
politics, one of the biggest sources of controversy
from Concilium Prima comes from Manaheim
University. While widely regarded as one of the
premier universities anywhere in the Human
Sphere, the socio-political doctrines and theories,
the studies and papers on cycles in history and
the geopolitical webs of humanities current great
empires, attract much attention beyond university
walls. Decried on as many fronts as they are lauded,
the simple reality of the matter seems to be that
the publications that attract the greatest levels of
vitriol from the wealthy and powerful also seem to
hit closest to the truth. Security is high at the uni-
versity, with intimidations and death threats from
powerful or influential factions come hot on the
heels of almost every widely acclaimed publication
put out from these esteemed halls of learning.
Adding more controversy to the pile, Bureau Athena
maintains its headquarters in Manaheim. As a body
dedicated to upholding human rights and exposing
and punishing human rights abuses, it also earns its
share of vitriol and threats.
Manaheim as a city takes it all in stride, its citizens
viewing the controversies as a badge of honour
that shows not every fight is fought with weapons.
The city is proud of its stature as a centre for
learning, and while elsewhere the political and
media moguls seek influence through the control
of information, selling the lie that the educated are
an out-of-touch elite, the culture of the citizens of
Manaheim places great stock in learning.
MAIDAN
Maidan is a huge swathe of largely uninhabited
land, what settlements there are crowded against
the coast and are all relatively close by to the two
major cities in the region, Maidan Basha and Kala
Pani. Where areas of Midgard and Jaulan have been
heavily invested with flora from Earth, Maidan (with
20 Chapter 2
the exception of Kala Pani) is still dominated by
indigenous plant life. Great savannahs dominate
the region, with the thick stolon mats forming
a dense web on top of the ground and the long
grasses above this coming to the waist and
sometimes higher. In the centre of the region is
a large jungle. Nestled against the mountains in
the north, this jungle extends down the centre of
Maidan until it dwindles toward the south, where
the high plateau of the region descends into a
desert near the Gulf of Choola. MegaVombatus and
arthodogs are the largest animals to dominate
the region, but a host of smaller arthropods make
the savannahs their home, and the jungle is thick
with arboreal life. An insect commonly found in the
stolon mats of the region is the Veritas Morsus, an
interesting little bug that gives a sting which may
go unnoticed until it swells into an itchy scarlet
lump. These bites deliver a small dose of a toxin
that has similar chemical compounds in it to many
psychoactive drugs used as truth serums. A bite may
make a person feel lightheaded and makes them
suggestible, leading them to say or do things they
wouldn’t normally do. Several bites increase the
effect, and many more can lead to an overdose that
can damage to the brain. These insects are found
throughout the savannahs in the region, and people
have even reported effects of the bites in Maidan
Basha and its nearby towns.
MAIDAN BASHA
For all the wealth, power, and prestige of Edda, it is
Maidan Basha that is the engine room of Concilium
Prima. It serves as the focal point for all imports
and exports to and from the planet. The Bifrost
orbital bridge dominates the centre of the city,
and traffic is constant, bringing cargo to the planet
and moving vast quantities of resources into orbit.
Almost everything on Concilium Prima that has
been manufactured off world has come through
the ports at Maidan Basha, and likewise, all trade
goods and resources that come from the planet are
transported to and exported from Maidan Basha.
Where Edda receives the laurels and prestige for
all the power of O-12 vested in that city, Maidan
Basha keeps the wealth and economic growth of
Concilium Prima flowing. Bureau Hermes, one of the
most powerful of O-12’s bureaus, has its headquar-
ters in this city, and Bureaus Aegis, Ganesh, and Noir
also maintain a significant and constant presence,
safeguarding the flow of wealth and resources and
doing their best to maintain security and crack
down on smuggling.
A living city, Maidan Basha is situated on the coast,
built into and on the steep drop from the plateau
that dominates the Maidan region and extending
down to the beaches facing the Guanabara Sea.
Across the Guanabara Sea, the islands of Minas
Gerais are visible on a clear day. These islands
are where massive deposits of mineral wealth

are mined and shipped to the seaports of Maidan
Basha. These ports are vast and extend far out
into the Guanabara Sea. Ships carrying ore and
minerals from Minas Gerais cannot get too close
to the coastline due to shallow waters. To combat
this, the ports have been extended and areas
of the sea floor dredged to allow their passage.
Built onto the ports is a network of trains which
operate on a winch system. Once full, carriages are
winched along the tracks through the city and to
the distribution centres. These distribution centres
are huge warehouses with attached facilities,
built around the base of the Bifrost Orbital lift.
In the distribution centres forklifts, trucks, and
heavy loaders move goods and materials from
arriving carriages into storage or directly to the
loading platforms of the orbital lift. Goods arriving
in Maidan Basha from overland, either from the
highspeed Maglev from Manaheim or Edda or from
low-flying transport ships from Kala Pani, also
end up at the distribution centres. Needless to say,
these warehouses with their constant flow of traffic
and shipments are often the target of smugglers.
These illegal activities differ from most other areas
as the trade is not so much in illicit substances and
subversive material, but in unmarked weapons and
most importantly in people and information. It is a
habit of workers in Maidan Basha to conspicuously
wear their identifying tags in their publically
accessible patinas. The smuggling of people,
whether informants or spies, political firebrands,
corporate hit men, or high-profile political refugees
is common enough to make random security checks
and searches a part of day-to-day life.
KALA PANI
Kala Pani feels like a city in isolation, on another
world almost, from the hustle and bustle, power
and influence, of the rest of the planet. It would be
easy to underestimate the importance of Kala Pani,
dismiss it as a regional agricultural town, except
that it is responsible for producing almost all of the
food stuffs consumed on the planet and enough
extra to support a significant export industry.
Sheltered from the tumultuous conditions of the
Njord Sea and situated in the Gulf of Choola, Kala
Pani is a veritable paradise of lush growth and life.
The land is rich in minerals, and supports large
orchards, extensive grain fields, and further inland,
significant herds of farm animals. The Gulf of
Choola, with waters enriched by the warm under-
ground springs, abounds with intensive aquafarms,
growing algae that is processed into high protein
food supplements, as well as specially adapted
grains and cereal crops, and of course, fish such as
salmon, trout, pollock, and tuna. A number of native
species have begun to be farmed here as well,
some proving quite the delicacy.
Projections estimate that the growth of the
aquafarming industry of Kala Pani could support
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
a population four times the current level of
Concilium Prima before the technology would
require significant development. Experts around
the planet, however, are concerned about relying
too heavily on a single location for food production,
one so close to the volatile Choola region and
ringed with dormant volcanoes. Kala Pani is, for
many, one unlucky event away from disaster. A
number of studies have been done on the sustain-
ability of the aquafarming industry, and all of them
raise concerns about the potential poisoning of the
region from a volcanic event. Some reports worry
that a terrorist attack on Kala Pani could wreak
havoc on the planet in the short term. Naturally,
food security is a key concern, and the area is heav-
ily guarded against such a threat by Bureaus Aegis
and Noir. Viability studies by the larger aquafarming
businesses in Kala Pani have been looking at other
areas of the planet to set up sustainable aquafarms,
and efforts on this front have been well supported
by Bureau Concilium.
CHOOLA
Choola a highly volcanically active region, a
by-product of the orogenic belt resulting from the
subduction of the Jaulan plate in the south beneath
the Mentor plate to the north. This geological
activity has produced the El-Gebal mountain range,
and the fracturing of the southern edge of the
Mentor plate has resulted in the blasted lands to
the north of the El-Gebal range, known as Loki’s
Land, which covers much of Choola. The major
fault lines in the region are known as Laufey and
Farbauti respectively, and Choola, with the pent-up
pressures of so much geological force, is a volatile
and unpredictable location. So dangerous and
unstable is the region that there is a blanket ban
on any settlement there, and even travel to and
within the region requires a special permit.
MONTECRISTO
While it is forbidden to settle in Choola, there is
one infamous place located here — Montecristo.
Montecristo is a maximum-security prison that
houses dissidents, terrorists, and some of the worst
violent criminals from across the Human Sphere.
In Montecristo can be found double agents who
worked in support of the Combined Army on
Paradiso, extremists loyal to some religious or
ideological purpose, and dissidents whose knowl-
edge, contacts, and intent threaten the safety and
security of the Human Sphere. There are terrorists
whose acts were planned to, or did, cause the death
of many, and scientists and engineers who went
beyond the law and the bounds of ethics, breaking
the Sole-AI bill or experimenting on unwitting
populations. Those confined to Montecristo are the
worst of the worst. Irredeemable, dangerous, and
often insane, they have power and the intent to use
it and will never be released.
Planet Concilium Prima 21
 With Montecristo defined as a black hole where the
normal rules and rights governing the treatment of
prisoners do not exist, these people are kept alive
to uncover their confidants and compatriots, lead-
ing to whatever bigger fish still remain at large.
Escape is nigh impossible, and even if achieved,
the location of Montecristo would mean starvation,
atmospheric poisoning, or worse, crossing the
Badlands of Choola. If, through some miracle, an
escapee managed to avoid all of that, then certainly
they would be gunned down at the hands of the
Lawkeepers who patrol the Badlands.
Eruptions are common, sometimes resulting in
magma reaching the surface, with pyroclastic flows
racing from the El-Gebal range and great clouds of
gases erupting from geysers and volcanoes. On the
mountain range’s windward side, clouds are pushed
back over the region, acid rain is common, and vog
often blankets large portions of the Choola. Both
the acid rain and the vog contain sulphuric acids
and other sulphates, and while not deadly over the
short term, it can lead to severe respiratory reac-
tions. Loki’s Land is dotted with cinder cone and
lava dome volcanoes, and the region is fractured,
great plateaus and wide valleys filled with geyser
fields. There are few locations where such geolog-
ical features are so haphazardly crammed together
into one broken mess. Loki’s Land is a wonder to
study. The gargantuan forces of tectonic pressure
are on display in great wounds and welts on the
surface. Satellites in orbit constantly monitor the
region for activity, and every vibration and shudder,
every hiss and roar, is measured and instantly
communicated with more than a dozen sites across
Concilium Prima. This collected data, as well as
continual feeds from hundreds of atmospheric
monitoring stations positioned across the region,
provide an in-depth and real-time picture of what
the region is doing and what effects are likely on
the atmosphere and climate of the planet. Bureau
Gaea have extensive offices in Bhai to the very
west of the region, from where complex algorithms
crunch the incoming stream of information.
Planetologists, assisted by ALEPH, make the neces-
sary alterations to the Shimmering Sky required to
ensure the effects of any eruption are maintained
well within safe limits.
A growing number of scientists are raising concerns
that the climate change and continual adjustments
wrought by the Shimmering Sky are having a
detrimental effect on the native life on Concilium
Prima. The algal blooms form such an integral basis
for the web of life in the oceans and are thought
to be fed by the constant outpouring of minerals
and chemicals from the Choola region. Interference
with this system, it is thought, may lead to a cata-
strophic collapse. Others still raise serious concerns
that a single sizeable event could lead to dire sit-
uations, among these the destruction or poisoning
22 Chapter 2
of Kala Pani, the food bowl of Concilium Prima,
or even a global extinction-level event. Certainly,
geological studies indicate that this has happened
with some regularity in the planet’s deep past.
JAULAN
Jaulan, on the southern side of the El-Gebal
mountain range, is a strange counterpoint to
the unpredictable violence of Choola. While the
El-Gebal range on the southern side is occasionally
rocked by earthquakes, and more commonly
by rockslides, the Jaulan region as a whole is
comparatively stable. To the north of the region,
great jungles dominated by native growth crowd
against the mountain range, and a vast number of
rivers and streams pour from the El-Gebal, draining
into wide swamp lands or into the Njord and Aegir
Oceans. Extending south and around the edges
of the region are great broadleaf forests, all stock
introduced from Earth by the scientists in charge of
the terraformation process. Great pine, oak, and ash
forests are much like the forests of Europe, with
a wide range of introduced animals from bears to
deer, boars, rabbits, foxes, and squirrels.
AL BACTRA
Regarded as something of a hidden jewel, Al Bactra
is not a city that is frequently covered in travel
shows or one that appears in the tourists guides,
yet it is nonetheless one of the most beautiful
cities on Concilium Prima. Perhaps one of the
reasons it is mentioned so little is due to the fact it
has become something of a refuge for the rich and
powerful, those seeking escape from the limelight
and 24-hour media cycles of Edda and the great
cities to the north. Constructed by Haqqislamite
planetologists, Al Bactra is a city that would not
look out of place on Bourak. Comprised mainly
of single-storey buildings, some vast, it is a city
that sprawls along the coast, with a multitude of
suburbs, each expansive, and the majority of the
stand-alone homes ringed by gardens. The streets
of Al Bactra are wide, and most of them are lined
along either side and down the middle by oak, elm,
and ash trees. It is a gentle city, pleasing to the eye
and lungs, with a staid pace that gives it an air of
tranquillity.
On the surface, the key industry of Al Bactra is med-
ical. Home to the headquarters of Bureau Lakshmi,
Al Bactra has well-appointed medical research
facilities, three of the most advanced hospitals
in the Human Sphere, and a host of specialists
housed in expressly designed suites scattered
across the city. In addition, there are a number of
pharmacological research centres, almost the equal
of those found on Bourak. The facilities of Al Bactra
diagnose and mend almost any blight, whether it is
physical or mental. Of course, beneath the surface
there is another great industry. As a refuge for

so many bureaucrats and wealthy and influential
people, Al Bactra is the meeting room behind the
meeting room. Many of the decisions on policy and
business that are discussed, planned, and agreed
upon here end up in Edda requiring only a rubber
stamp of approval.
Many schemes and plots, business decisions,
take-overs, mergers, and take-downs that have
dominated news cycles for weeks were planned
and put in motion in Al Bactra. The calm of a beau-
tiful city robed in tranquillity is an illusion. Those
seeking a place away from the spotlight are often
the most dangerous, and many a businessperson
has arrived in Al Bactra, heart filled with schemes,
only to disappear. It is not uncommon for bodies
to be found, stripped almost completely of flesh by
marine life, bobbing in the waters far off the coast.
Local law enforcement just shrug. Too often wealthy
know-nothings think they can take a pleasure yacht
further out than is safe, and the waters of the Aegir
are choppy if you don’t know what you’re doing…
BHAI
A small city nestled on the coast, Bhai once relied
on the fishing industry to sustain itself. Now the
city is dominated by two bureaus, one in plain sight,
the other something of an open secret. Climate
stations and relays constantly updated by the
seismic and atmospheric monitoring stations set up
throughout Choola are run and carefully watched
by Bureau Gaea. Gaea has a significant presence
in Bhai, and more than a hundred scientists, from
climate specialists to geologists, parse and analyse
the data from Choola in order to provide the meas-
urements required to manipulate the Shimmering
Sky. Bureau Toth has a small outpost here as well,
and a number of supercomputers house ALEPH
Aspects whose duty it is to support Bureau Gaea
scientists in their operations and studies. A number
of research facilities are perpetually at the ready to
send forays and missions out into Choola to repair
damaged relays, build new ones, or take samples
from the field.
The second largest bureau to have a presence in
Bhai, and only superficially a secret, is Bureau Noir.
The agents of Bureau Noir filter and monitor data
from the Shimmering Sky, observing the flow of
messages and information that passes through the
communications relays for anything worth further
investigation. Infiltration attempts are common,
and ALEPH provides support to Bureau Noir in
code breaking, attempting to crack open the mes-
sages sent from the surface to locations in orbit.
Diagnostics are regularly run from facilities in Bhai
to test whether any relays have been subverted
or compromised, and many missions every year to
repair and defend communications stations are
undertaken based on the data collated in Bhai.
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
HELHEIM
Bleak and inhospitable, Helheim is an antarctic
continent blanketed by thick sheets of ice. The
coastlines are battered, ancient rock eroded into
a twisted pattern and laid bare by the unceasing
pounding of ocean waves. Scouring the continent
almost constantly are highspeed, freezing winds.
Even with appropriate survival gear, when the
winds pick up, life hangs in the balance. Seasonal
changes are almost imperceptible elsewhere with
the minor axial tilt of the planet, but on Helheim,
for around a quarter of the year, the sun creeps
above the horizon, and navigating the waters to
and from the mainland becomes dangerous, as
icefloes and bergs break away from the sheets
that extend into the ocean. Once upon a time, this
quarter of a year was when Helheim was at its
most active. Passage to the continent increased as
soldiers and other personnel were transported in
low-flying craft to the training centres of Thokk to
commence gruelling tests of their endurance and
will. These days Helheim is a hive of activity. With
the Combined Army having achieved a beachhead
on the continent, a constant and deadly war rages
between the forces of the Combined Army and the
frozen, desperate, and heroic soldiers of the Human
Sphere who fight valiantly to stop their advance.
THOKK
Once a small city hosting one of the most gruelling
military training bases in the Human Sphere, Thokk
is now the headquarters of another type of test,
one that holds the Human Sphere in the balance.
Following the disastrous Operation Stake Out,
Shasvastii forces managed to infiltrate and pave
the way for a larger Combined Army assault on
Concilium Prima, with their landing point and cur-
rent beachhead the hostile continent of Helheim.
Thokk is now the headquarters for the Concilium
Coordinated Command, which coordinates the
international forces deployed to Concilium to
defend against the rampages of the Combined
Army. While the frontline sits miles away, Thokk
has grown from a small military settlement to an
ever-growing city of deployable modules, under-
ground facilities, and barracks. Whatever civilian
population once lived in Thokk has been evacuated,
and the city is almost wholly populated by military
personal drawn from across the Human Sphere. A
desperate hope pervades this desolate and remote
place. The feeling that if the Combined Army can
extend its beachhead to the mainland, then the
Human Sphere itself will tremble is a fear that
drives the soldiers newly deployed to the frozen
wastes of Helheim to grim determination.
MINAS GERAIS
Minas Gerais is, to some extent, a region at
odds with itself. On one hand, the main island is
Planet Concilium Prima 23
 dominated by heavy industry, autonomous drones
perform a majority of the manual labour, and the
deep-cut mines yield massive amounts of raw
materials that form one of the key backbones to
the economic power of Concilium Prima. On the
other hand, the smaller islands to the east, and
Bianca in particular, are dominated by a thriving
tourism industry drawn to the white beaches and
verdant displays of life off the coast. In recent
years, the tension between these two industries
has been palpable, with complaints lodged with
Bureau Concilium, Bureau Gaea, and Bureau Ganesh
over the impact the mining industry is having and
is projected to have on the naturalistic setting
upon which the tourism industry depends on. In
almost all cases, the matters have been deferred or
ignored. For now at least, the mining industry feeds
too much wealth into the coffers of the state for
such trivialities to be an impediment.
VIANA
Viana is a city of overseers, project managers,
technicians, and mechanics. The centre for the
mining operations on Minas Gerais, Viana is where
the mined ore is taken, in some cases refined, and
the ore or end-product shipped to Cambados on
the island’s southern point. The mining operations
are almost wholly performed by autonomous
drones, although a number of companies have
petitioned Bureau Concilium to allow them to ship
in workers from off world. The processing plants
and storage depots of Viana are on a scale that is
hard to believe without witnessing first-hand. Aside
from the myriad of mining drones, everything is
big. From giant diggers, graders, rock breakers, and
dump trucks that can individually haul over 500
tonnes of material, the scale of operations on Minas
Gerais is stunning, and the largest of the massive
open cuts they work in is visible from space.
CAMBADOS
Materials not processed in Viana are dealt with
in Cambados. The city is perpetually lit with a
frenetic dance of intensity. Revolving shifts for the
workers ensure the streets are never empty and the
factories and refineries never silent. The layers of
ownership of the big mining corporations that work
Minas Gerais are on full display in Cambados. Some
own mining drones and have a stake outside of
Viana. Others purchase unrefined ore and process
it in Cambados, and others still operate refineries
used to outsource the processing. A massive and
dense network of factories and plants, Cambados
is dominated on the coast by a huge breakwater
and port facility. From the port, the refined ore is
shipped throughout Concilium Prima, but in the
largest quantities directly to Maidan Basha and the
Bifrost orbital lift. Competition is high, and the cap-
italistic fervour that dominates the frenzied pace
of the industries of Cambados is so intense that
most workers here last only a few years. Equipment,
24 Chapter 2
skilled workers, and housing are all a premium,
with Cambados rated as the second most expensive
location to live on Concilium Prima. Everything has
a price, and big corporations are eternally looking
for ways to squeeze every dollar they can from the
mining boom.
BARONHA
Capital city of Minas Gerais, it is the centre for
trade, industry, and the hypercorporations that vie
for ever greater stakes in the profits. Bureau Ganesh
has its headquarters here in an interconnected
triple high-rise that also contains outposts and
offices for a number of other bureaus and even
some minor nations, orbitals, and a Nomad office
representing mining interests in the Brísingamen.
Corporate logos, signage, and office blocks domi-
nate the centre of the city, and residential housing
surrounds this core. The wealthier tend to live
closer to the beaches, and the poorer, in the foot-
hills away from the coast. Great reinforced cables
run beneath the waters that separate Minas Gerais
from the mainland that secure the communications
links between Baronha, Edda, and Maidan Basha.
Almost every major corporation in the Human
Sphere has an office, if not an entire office block,
somewhere in the central business district of
Baronha, and trade delegations from off world
are so frequent that there has been on and off
discussion about building an orbital lift in the city.
In the last few years, some concerns have been
raised about the business strategies of Yu Jing, with
the explosive Qingdao report released some years
ago. Tenacious reporters and members of anti-cor-
ruption watchdogs have been tracking through
the convoluted mess of shell corporations and
ownerships. Their findings, released piecemeal as
official reports or to the media directly, have been
damning, uncovering that Yu Jing has deliberately
pursued a strategy of buying up companies that
have a stake in the mining operations of Minas
Gerais. When Bureau Ganesh meets to receive
advice from the private sector, a seat at the table is
provided on a company-by-company basis. There is
some concern that with so many companies poten-
tially reflecting a singular viewpoint — with Yu Jing
as the nation behind those companies — that the
nation is able to unfairly dominate discussions and
policy decisions. Yu Jing, of course, makes it plain
that the StateEmpire does not govern from corpo-
rate boardrooms, and the purchasing decisions of
companies that happen to be Yu Jing merely reflect
sound business decisions.
Baronha is a city of corporate wealth and influence.
It is not the concealed politicking of a city like
Edda, but the calculated and deliberate stratagems
of big business, seeking to influence the game
to ensure their owners and shareholders are
kept happy. Competition is severe, and corporate
espionage, hacking, and spying happen here on a

scale only matched in Edda. Naked ambition hides
behind a thin veneer, and with the remit of Bureau
Ganesh involving trade regulation and policy of all
sorts throughout the Human Sphere, the scramble
to gain influence is often a deadly game.
MONTALBAN
Self-described as the capital city of Bianca Island,
as much to avoid connection with the heavy
industry of Minas Gerais as for any other reason,
Montalban is everything that the cities of Minas
Gerais are not. Extensive reef structures and white
beaches extend almost all the way around Bianca
Island, with the inland dominated by broadleaf
forests and gently rolling terrain. Complaints have
been made in the last few years about the impact
of the nearby mining industries, with evidence of
coral bleaching and photos of the western beaches
stained dark with sooty powder apparently from
the refineries of Viana and Cambados. The mining
industry claims that the distance is too great for
the claims of Montalban to be remotely accurate,
while the more paranoid of Montalban believe that
environmental degradation is a deliberate strategy
to claim more land to mine or as a ploy to discredit
the practices of some specific companies and make
them more amenable to takeover. Whatever the
truth of the matter, it remains a fact that Montalban
is one of the key tourist destinations on Concilium
Prima, famed for its water sports and diversions as
well as its beauteous landscape.
JOTUMHEIM
Dark cold forests march their way north, slowly
decelerating as they hit the treeline and the tundra
and ice of the arctic take over. Jotumheim is an
inhospitable place, and transport to and from the
continent is strictly prohibited without special
transfer papers. The entire continent exists under
martial law, trespassers and illegal visitors can
be shot on sight, and those that live and work
here wear their identification tags in plain view at
all times.
BERGELMIR
Situated on an island chain off the east coast
of Jotumheim, Bergelmir comes under the same
jurisdiction and restrictions. Windswept and bitter,
it is home to the Derr Irrgarten, the instruction
and training centre for Psi Unit agents. Great
concrete edifices show a blank face to the sparse
land around them, but within the offices, briefing
rooms, classrooms, meeting halls, and dark rooms
are where the minds and willpower of the next
generation of Psi Unit agents are taught, honed,
broken, and reassembled. In the Bureau Aegis train-
ing camps in Thokk, the physical endurance tests
can break the body, and only the hardiest make
it through; in Bergelmir, the Dark Rooms are the
stuff of nightmares, where willpower and nerve are
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
stretched to the limit and snapped. Only the finest
can make it through into the Psi Units, and only the
finest make it through training whole.
Rumour has it there alongside Derr Irrgarten are
the buildings and offices of the headquarters of
Bureau Noir. Blanketed in secrecy, the truth will
likely never be known. Many have suggested that
the chances are more than even that Bureau Noir
started the rumours, and that if rumour points
a finger at Bergelmir, then it is little more than
misdirection.
UTGARD
Utgard is a city built to look natural so carefully
that it appears almost preternatural. The sections
of the city that are actually lived in and used are
highly regimented, however. Utgard is, after all, the
centre of operations for Bureau Toth, the key nerve
centre for ALEPH, and therefore the most strategi-
cally important location in the Human Sphere. The
chambers that house the quantronic macro-proces-
sors that could be referred to as the brain of ALEPH
are honeycombed into deep chambers driven deep
into the rock beneath the surface. Built to with-
stand orbital bombardment, there is nowhere in the
Human Sphere as secure. The city, such as it is, is
riddled with cameras and scanners, and drones and
soldiers are constantly on-duty guarding the mind
beneath, as well as the hundreds of technicians,
programmers, and engineers that service it.
Extensive and thorough biosecurity systems are in
place, and moving from one building into the vast
chambers beneath the city can take an hour or
more in processing and security checks alone. Once
beneath the city proper, all clothing is removed.
Chemical showers and more testing are followed
by the donning of special biological suits, all of it
a complex web of precautions designed to protect
ALEPH from the slightest interference or danger.
The Shimmering Sky above Jotumheim may be
directly manipulated from Utgard, and the flow of
encoded information is constant. Beyond the city
itself, knowledge of Utgard is highly restricted. It
is known publicly, if at all, as nothing more than
the northernmost fishing town and occasional
destination for geologists. O-12 and Bureau Toth go
to great lengths to maintain this public charade.
LYNGUI
Barren rocks, the islands of Lyngui are the upthrust
of a now-dormant volcanic tantrum. The cliff faces
are jagged and worn, beaten down and shaped by
the unceasing battering of the ocean waves. There
is little of interest in these islands. From the out-
side they appear nothing more than shattered rocks
poking from the turbulent ocean. Rumour speaks of
sightings of what could be an underwater mobile
base off the shores of Lyngui, but who or what
would have the reach and capacity to pull such a
feat off is something no rumour dares to address.
Planet Concilium Prima 25
 CHAPTER 3

THE CONCILIUM SYSTEM

THE CONCILIUM SYSTEM

This chapter is not intended to be an exhaustive description of the five planets, two asteroid belts, and
multitude of orbitals present in the Concilium system. Instead, it will focus on a number of specific
locations as points of interest. The locations detailed fall into two broad categories. The first are the more
commonly visited and well-known places, orbitals like Asgard or Asaheim, and the second are locations
that may provide interesting seeds for story and adventure.

ASAHEIM constructed language. The largest of these sections,

Asaheim is the gateway to the Concilium system.
Almost every visitor that arrives in this system does
so at the Asaheim orbital. Built in a great revolving
ring around the Vila Booster through which the
Circulars arrive, Asaheim is vast, dealing with both
the incoming and outgoing population of visitors as
well as the flow of trade goods and materials to be
imported into or exported out of the system.
The gargantuan rotating ring that makes up the
orbital is the first port of call for anyone visiting
the system, and for almost everyone who arrives
that eventual destination is Concilium Prima.
Asaheim represents a visitor’s first taste of the
Concilium Prima, and also therefore of O-12. As
such the orbital is well maintained, and the ring
is neatly segregated into sections that are all
named using Esperanto, the most widely spoken
the Bonvenon (Welcome), deals with visitors of all
sorts, businesspeople, ambassadors, and tourists.
It is expansive, designed in a flowing network of
hubs referred to as communities that each offer
accommodation, food, shopping opportunities, and
entertainments. Each community also contains
all the official representatives required to check
and supply travel permits and papers, offer official
tours or simple advice about the best places
to visit on Concilium Prima, and deal with any
confusion relating to identifications, transfers, and
citizenship. Bureaus Athena, Concilium, Ganesh, and
Lakshmi all have important and accessible offices
throughout the communities of the Bonvenon. The
largest bureau present, and the one that manages
the Asaheim orbital in general, is Bureau Hermes,
which ensures everything operates as it should.
The bureau is also responsible for maintaining the

26 Chapter 3

communications networks and working with the
myriad of incoming and outgoing ships.
The second largest portion of the Asaheim ring is
the Merkato (Market) and is devoted to the transfer
and shipment of trade goods and materials. Vast
warehouses receive and store almost everything
from mineral shipments to live exports. Bureaus
Ganesh and Hermes oversee the operation and
maintenance of this section and work closely with
traders and ship owners.
A third section of the ring called the Milita
(Military) is smaller but no less important and
is devoted purely to military personnel. Arriving
Bureau Aegis ships typically have clearance to
exit the Vila Booster and travel straight to their
destinations, either Concilium Prima or Muspelheim,
but a few pause at Asaheim first. This has typically
been the case when the soldiers on board require
some form of debrief before entering the system
proper, either updating them on some change since
they left the system or advising them of what they
do and do not have clearance to communicate. The
Milita is not typically bustling with activity, and
most of the facilities, barracks, and briefing rooms
are now used by either the Bureau Aegis Global
Police or by Bureau Noir operatives and handlers.
The last key section is referred to, by those who are
aware of its existence, as the Gvidilo (Guide). While
externally indistinguishable from the outside, the
Gvidilo has no hard-line connections with any other
section of Asaheim. It generates all its own power,
has its own internal quantronic network, and does
not communicate with the rest of the station. It
also maintains its own accommodations, food, and
limited entertainment for the personnel who are
stationed here. The Gvidilo is run by Bureau Toth
and ALEPH. Here fundamental updates to ALEPH
are parsed from external signals and relayed to
Concilium Prima. Also signals are received from the
communications arrays of Utgard and sent via a
number of means to the rest of the Human Sphere.
If Utgard can be seen as the home of the brain of
ALEPH, the Gvidilo must therefore be the first link
in the chain that makes up its nervous system.
Heavily guarded, seemingly insignificant, and
known only to a few, the Gvidilo is one of the most
important locations in the Concilium system.
Due to its position around the Vila Booster,
Asaheim also serves as the relay station, acting
as an intermediary for all signals arriving in or
leaving the Concilium system. Antennae and dishes
protruding from the inner portion of the Asaheim
ring are trained on the Vila Booster, straining for
any and every signal that comes through. Further
out from the Booster are a chain of beacons that
also perform the same task, using tightbeam
microwave transmissions to send intercepted
signals back to Asaheim, where they are forwarded
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
on to their intended in-system destination. Security
is tight, and just like on Concilium Prima, great
efforts have been taken to ensure that the flow
of communications are carefully monitored. The
beacon network represents the weakest link in
the chain, and each beacon is regularly checked,
rebooted, and replaced. Despite the potential
security threat, their existence is necessary due to
the interference caused to Asaheim when the Vila
Booster is most active. Multiple attempts over the
years have been made to insert false beacons or to
hack, modify, or reroute their signals. Some serious
questions have been raised in recent years as to
the contractors engaged to supply parts for the
beacons, and indeed, many of the communications
technologies utilised throughout the Concilium
system. A number of the companies that supply
parts have been identified as belonging to Yu
Jingese corporations. As yet, nothing has been done
to change the current contractors. Extensive studies
and analysis have discovered no signs of tampering,
malware, or system redundant pieces that suggest
the communications systems have been, or can be
compromised.
ASGARD
Asgard hangs above Edda like a great jellyfish. The
upper levels, the Arrivals Area, is also known as
the Topside Docks and is bulbous and extensive.
Hanging beneath in a series of concentric rings,
each smaller than the last, is the Transfer Area, or
Lower Bays. The rings of Asgard rotate to provide
gravity, all of them punctuated by large bay
windows or transparent wall sections that offer
plentiful opportunities to get a glimpse to the left
and right of the higher rings on one side and the
shimmering planet below on the other. Asgard is
one of the cleanest and most advanced orbitals
in the Human Sphere, and for any corporate head,
diplomat, or delegate, it is typically the first place
they go when leaving Concilium Prima and the last
they arrive at before descending to the planet itself.
Asgard is the waystation and stop-over for any high
profile or powerful person travelling to or from
Edda. As such, it contains multiple corporate offices
and meeting rooms that may be hired, as well as
extensive restaurant, relaxation, and bar options,
where the business of corporations, states, and
nations can be discussed in furtive engagements or
large gatherings.
Asgard is the location where deals and alliances
begin with the finer details hammered out when
parties reach Edda. It is where friendships are
struck and broken, and where information vital to a
cause or nation is carefully smuggled through the
protected communication systems of the planet.
Given its position in the travel network, Asgard is
often the place where corporate representatives,
The Concilium System 27
 ambassadors, or diplomats will meet those who called for these functions to be broken apart, with
are destined to exchange places with them. Such the tourism portion assigned to a proposed third
transfers often involve a ritualised process, a major orbital, although this is little more than idle
shaking of hands, a dinner or two, a soiree, and off suggestion.
both parties move to their respective destinations.
Bureau Hermes maintains a significant presence
As innocuous as these rituals might appear from
on Bifrost, alongside Bureau Noir and Aegis
the exterior, they are also the opportunity for those
operatives, and they are responsible for preventing
outbound to exchange vital information with those
the smuggling of goods, people, and information.
inbound, important updates on the ever-shifting
In close communication with their headquarters
state of politics and the network of friendships and
in Baronha and their partner offices on Asaheim,
alliances, careful warnings and needed reminders
Bureau Ganesh has key offices here to support and
on the particulars of individuals, policies, and issues
coordinate the flow of trade. Bifrost is a bustling
that need to be passed on. “The walls have ears” is
and never-sleeping hive of movement and activity.
a warning about Asgard, often shared by those who
Both the flow of travellers and the flow of goods is
know and understand the nature of high-stakes
unceasing, and the orbital represents a key compo-
business and politics on Concilium Prima. While the
nent in the economic engine of Concilium Prima.
passing of information on Asgard is vital, it is also a
layered linguistic dance designed to obfuscate and
conceal, a mix of words and expression, gesture and CIBOLA
implication, making it hard for anyone listening to Cibola seems a world apart from the idealism
discern the true nature of what is actually being and preoccupations of Concilium Prima. It is a
communicated. turbulent and exciting place, dominated by leisure,
games, and entertainment. Constructed as a series
BIFROST of connected habitats referred to as beads, it is
surrounded by a torus of radiation shielding, with
Bifrost is the name of both the great orbital ele-
docks in a centre hub connected to the torus by
vator connected to Maidan Basha and the massive
transport shafts. Passengers arrive at Cibola’s hub
orbital that sits atop it. Twin to Asgard, Bifrost is the
and are transported via small maglevs along the
destination for any and every visitor to Concilium
shafts to the torus itself. Wide hallways ring the
Prima who is not on direct business with O-12.
far side of the torus interior, allowing visitors to
Tourists throng the expansive galleries and malls,
move from bead to bead, looking for the pursuits
and in a myriad of corporate offices, corporate rep-
and distractions that best suit their needs and they
resentatives dealing with trade and partnerships
find most stimulating. Each bead is dominated by
meet to make and break deals. The meetings on
a specific entertainment, and throughout are scat-
Asgard discuss policy and agenda, seek to find and
tered hotels, eateries, and shopping opportunities.
extend alliances, and ingratiate corporate heads
Almost every form of legal entertainment can be
and national representatives with one another.
found in one of the beads of Cibola, from Aristeia!
Bifrost, however, is where business is done directly,
to Dog Bowl, live music and edgy theatre, comedy
where money is exchanged, goods and materials
to circus acts, and of course, the opportunity to
purchased, and shipping orders placed.
gamble is everywhere. While alcohol and drugs are
Resources, materials, manufactured components, available to the discreet and gambling is a major
and a host of other goods all make their way to revenue source, Cibola is firm about its dedication
Bifrost, either to be shipped to the surface, or to remaining a family-friendly location. Station
brought from the surface to the orbital for ship- security is quick to respond to any problem, and
ment out of the Concilium system and to elsewhere disorderly or violent behaviour is not tolerated
in the Human Sphere. The volume of trade moving and is something that will earn the perpetrator a
through Bifrost is astounding, and the haphazard shameful trip back to Asgard or Bifrost. Security
expansions of the dockyards and storage facilities is managed by private firms employed by station
over the last decade have extended the orbital on management, and serious breaches of the peace
a scale that was never anticipated and speak to may result in lengthy or even life-long bans.
the resounding good health of Concilium Prima’s
At various times in its history, Cibola has been
economy. Originally intended as the gateway to
the target of Submondo or other criminal groups
Concilium Prima, Bifrost is now a gargantuan tangle
hoping to set up shop quietly under the noses of
of modules extending from the orbital itself. All of
station security. The concentration of sports events
it serves two primary needs. The first is the boom-
and gambling opportunities continues to echo with
ing tourism industry, the constant flow of human
the promise of wealth for many who would seek
traffic from and to the planet, and the second is the
to manipulate, cheat, and downright steal from
import and export trade, the shipment of goods and
visitors. Luckily, Cibola makes it a point of business
resources. Both these functions have grown at a
to employ a number of investigators and security
rate that nobody truly anticipated, and some have

28 Chapter 3
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

advisers, nearly all ex-Bureau Aegis or Bureau Noir, served to muddy the waters and provide a veil of
to help sniff out any illegal operation and send secrecy, allowing the truth to hide, as it were, in
them packing. That it has so successfully managed plain sight. Indeed, there have been a number of
to maintain a relatively crime-free location while serious incidents in Gjǫll, but it has also been the
packing in so many leisure, sporting, and pleasure source of vital intelligence on both the make-up
activities is a tribute to the hard work and dedica- of the Combined Army and Combined operations
tion of the station management and the security on Paradiso.
teams who live and work there. The destination
to visit when looking for entertainment and THE BRÍSINGAMEN
excitement, Cibola is the place almost every young
A wide and extensive asteroid field lies between
person who grows up on Concilium Prima wants
the planets Concilium Secunda and Niflheim
to visit and is a ‘must go’ destination for tourists
known as the Brísingamen. While many of the
coming into the system.
asteroids in the Brísingamen are C-Type, mined
predominantly for the water that is converted
GJǪǪLL into fuel for the barges which transport material
A few years ago, Rumours started spilling from back to Concilium Prima. There are many large
the manufactories of Cambados that O-12 was S-Type and M-Type asteroids that provide minerals
constructing some form of installation on the rocky which are used for a wide variety of purposes from
island of Lyngui on Concilium Prima. A security manufacturing large scale constructions through
incident which was referred to as the ‘Voices in the to delicate quantronic systems. While the Bifrost
Dark’ led to wild speculation about a secret orbital space elevator and orbital make the transportation
somewhere in the Concilium system. The Voices of materials from the planet economically viable,
in the Dark incident involved the public release of
an audio exchange apparently between high-rank-
ing officers in the Bureau Aegis Tactical Police
Department (BATPD) and exobiologists from Bureau
Gaea. This discussion touched on the construction
of an alien studies laboratory on Concilium Prima
and the transfer of viable Combined Army prisoners
from somewhere called Gjǫll. Given the details of
the discussion, it was clear that Gjǫll was an orbital
somewhere in the Concilium system.
Naturally, O-12, Bureau Gaea, and SWORDFOR all
released statements condemning the recording as
a convincing fake, designed to stir trouble and feed
popular conspiracy theories about O-12. While the
incident has largely been forgotten except in a few
corners of Maya where such things are popular, the
existence of Gjǫll has moved into the public psyche
as fact. A few conspiracy theorists have tried to run
voice pattern studies on the recording to identify
the speakers, and others have posited the likely
location of this secret facility as in orbit around the
planet Niflheim. But while the existence of Gjǫll is
popularly regarded as fact, it has never been offi-
cially confirmed, and proof of its existence, whether
real or fake, seems less interesting than the idea
that it does.
The public’s tacit approval of the existence of Gjǫll
has led members of O-12 and Bureau Aegis to
treat it as something of a running joke. A number
of leaked classified operations and incidents have
humorously been described as having happened
in Gjǫll, which has come to serve as a colloquial
reference to somewhere secret. While the pop-
ular attitude toward the rumours of Gjǫll have
been surprising to many within the hierarchies
that know the truth of the matter, it has neatly

The Concilium System 29

 it has also proven to be equally viable to mine
resources in-situ on asteroids in the Brísingamen
and ship them through low-fuel transfer orbits
back to Concilium Prima. A healthy mining industry
exists in the Brísingamen, managed by an eclectic
mix of operations owned and run by natives of the
Concilium system and miners from the Corregidor
Nomad mothership. A healthy rivalry exists between
the two groups, and while they are competitive in
the stakes they claim and the quantity of materials
they gather, they both make use of the same trans-
portation infrastructure and maintain a very strong
sense of camaraderie and mutual support. Claim
jumping is almost unheard of, and by and large,
what appears to be a competitive rivalry from the
outside conceals a more subtle sense of community.
The presence of the Nomads in the Concilium
system who have been given the right to exploit
the mineral wealth of the Brísingamen has been
a constant source of consternation for many of
the member states of O-12 when so many other
national corporations have been declined the
rights. The PanOceanian hypercorp Minescorp has
repeatedly lobbied the Öberhaus and appealed the
exclusivity of the exploitation licence extended to
the Nomads in the High Court of Concilium, but
as yet it has been to no avail. Given the lurking
presence of PanOceanian prospecting ships and the
disaster of the Cerberus Crisis, Starmada maintains
a constant patrol throughout the Brísingamen to
both guard against illegal mining operations and
prevent the Combined Army from establishing a
permanent base in this area. For themselves, the
Nomads provide more than a means to extract min-
eral wealth. Existing on the outside, in many ways,
of the power structures and information and com-
munications network of the rest of Human Sphere,
the Nomads provide an opportunity to an influ-
ential cadre of O-12 members, an opportunity to
access and transfer information, goods, and people
outside of the normal systems, unwatched by the
usual quantronic eyes and ears, and unmonitored.
The value of this access is more than whatever
minerals can be farmed from the floating rocks of
the Brísingamen, but it is a double-edged sword.
Many within O-12 do not support this arrange-
ment, if they are even aware of it, and ALEPH, the
greatest ally to O-12 in the Human Sphere, does
not approve. It is up to a clique within Bureau Noir
to act on behalf of those within the O-12 upper
echelons that do see the merit in it, and their
actions are undertaken with the understanding that
not even their greatest ally, ALEPH, can know the
details of their transactions.
30 Chapter 3
SVALINN
From the outer edge of the Brísingamen, defined
as about 4.5 AU from the star Concilium, is a
restricted zone that extends all the way to the
edge of the Concilium system. Only craft with the
military clearance or scientific missions approved
by SWORDFOR are permitted to enter this region.
Of course, policing such a vast area of space is next
to impossible, but penalties for unauthorised entry
are severe, and there are areas within the restricted
zone that are heavily monitored. One such place
is the planet Muspelheim and surrounding space.
There are mining facilities in the upper atmosphere
of Muspelheim. These extract and transport ammo-
nia back to processing facilities around Concilium
Prima. The operations are run by special contractors
selectively approved by SWORDFOR, and the
mining facilities and operations carefully tracked.
In orbit around Surt, one of the large moons of
Muspelheim, is a military installation known as
Svalinn. While the existence of the installation
is widely known, the size, nature, and specifics
are highly classified. It is widely believed that
Svalinn exists to protect the mining operations
on Muspelheim and to a lesser degree the
Brísingamen, but this is a weak cover story. The
truth of the matter is that Svalinn is the beating
heart of Sword.
Svalinn is not one single facility but a chain of
installations, orbitals, and shipyards in orbit around
and buried beneath the surface of Surt. Here
cutting-edge technologies are in constant devel-
opment. The research laboratories of Svalinn rival
any in the Human Sphere, and some of the best and
brightest drawn from the universities on Concilium
Prima are hired to develop their theories and tech-
nologies under the guidance and support of Bureau
Aegis. Svalinn also houses significant barracks and
training facilities, both beneath the surface of the
moon and in orbit. These can be variously used
to simulate a wide range of environments and
gravities. There are significant quantronic facilities
and an entire structure beneath the surface of Surt
packed with processors dedicated to ALEPH. PsyWar
facilities in Svalinn monitor and parse information
and intelligence drawn from all over the Human
Sphere, including information passed through the
relays on Concilium Prima. Bureau Noir operatives
often receive special training in Svalinn, alongside
Aegis soldiers, and the bureau has a significant
presence and role in the gathering and analysis
of intelligence. Indeed, Svalinn could be regarded
as much the headquarters of Bureau Noir as any
facility on Concilium Prima.
Shipyards in orbit around Surt are a bustling hive
of activity, maintaining, repairing, and improving the
exhausted ships used by O-12 in support of ALEPH
and specifically for the Bureau Aegis navy, known

as the Starmada. The Surt Monitoring System,
stationed so far out in the system and deliberately
shielded from the prying eyes of any would-be
intelligence operatives, is significantly powerful
enough to defend the Concilium system from any
fleet capable of being put in the field by any nation
in the Human Sphere. That the Surt artillery bases
exist is well known in intelligence circles, and the
size, structure, and technology level of this orbital
battle-station network was a closely guarded
secret before the Cerberus Crisis. Even now, not all
its offensive capabilities are well known. What is
suspected amongst intelligence circles is that Surt
is one of the most powerful and technologically
advanced defensive systems in the Human Sphere.
AKRARNIR
Extending from a distance of about 7.5 AU out
to the vast distance of about 50 AU is a sparsely
populated asteroid belt known as Akrarnir which
translates as “The Fields” in Icelandic. Given the
closer proximity of the Brísingamen and the
distance between the rocky bodies that make
up Akrarnir, this area holds little in the way of
economic interest but has long been known
as a safe haven for corsair and pirate vessels.
Starmada deployed a number of automated roving
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
observation stations in the area, which watch the
body for signs of gravitational disturbances and
movement. In past years, Starmada vessels flew
irregular patrols to update and check on their
observation stations. In more recent times, these
patrols have grown in intensity, and the chain of
observation stations has been expanded, watching
carefully for any sign that the Combined Army
might be operating in the area. Singasteinn station
was originally the nexus and relay station for the
roving observation platforms in the Akrarnir, and
with the Combined landing on Concilium, this
station has been reinforced with significantly more
personnel and resources, including a number of
small inter-system patrol craft that are perma-
nently deployed there. Many of the new modules
and weapons platforms added to the Singasteinn
station have been built with international
cooperation, with both Cosmica Ltd and Duànzào
Constructions working to extend the station’s capa-
bilities and defensive powers. Extra security staff at
the station have been provided by Corregidor, and
the StateEmpire Fleet has bolstered Starmada’s
capacity in this portion of the system with a
dedicated contingent operating from this station.
Since the Combined Army arrival in the Concilium
system, Akrarnir and its staff and vessels maintain a
permanent Beta level operative alert.
The Concilium System 31
 CHAPTER 4
EMBASSIES OF NOTE
EMBASSIES OF
NOTE
O-12’s embassies around the Human Sphere are
extensions of O-12 itself. While ambassadors,
politicians, and business leaders are posted to
or regularly make the trip to Concilium Prima to
lobby O-12 representatives, the Petite Assemblée,
courts, or Öberhaus directly, a great many other
applications, petitions, and claims are made to the
embassies instead. O-12’s embassies are widely
seen as the vehicle through which those without
a direct line to the powerbrokers can have their
voices heard. As such, a great many of those who
approach the embassies with concerns, complaints,
petitions, and demands represent smaller political,
corporate, and religious groups. Quite often, the
O-12 embassies are also where those individuals
seeking safety and protection go to petition O-12
for asylum.
32 Chapter 4
Despite widespread cynicism about the true
independence, authority, and power of O-12, many
groups and people do approach the embassies with
their concerns. Many of the matters brought before
the O-12 ambassadors are dubious in nature, a fact
hopefully realised by an intern or aide before they
are taken any further. However, there are genuine
points, and sifting through the pile of cases to find
those that both fall within the remit of O-12 to act
upon and that are of a nature whereby O-12 has
the capacity to affect some influence or change,
is the job of the bureaucracy housed within the
embassy. These bureaucrats, or attachés, are almost
exclusively made up of members of Section Statera,
one of the two key branches of Bureau Aegis.
Although in some cases, office workers, janitors, and
other specific roles are filled by local contractors.
It can be a tedious job, interviewing the claimants
or applicants, assessing their petition, researching
the specifics around the case, and making the
sometimes-tough call as to whether something is
worth supporting or not. It is vital though, not just

for those seeking the support of O-12 but to ensure
that O-12 is visible and active to the powers and
people of the Human Sphere.
A great many of the cases brought to the embas-
sies are little more than people or ideologically
motivated groups venting their frustrations and
demanding O-12 take some action to support them.
But it is equally true that every so often a case
comes to an embassy that is important, dangerous,
and sometimes even significant enough to trigger
a chain of reactions that reverberate through the
Human Sphere. One such example was the case
of Wang Zhao, a minor Yu Jing Party member who
sought political asylum at the O-12 Embassy in
Tiān Di Jing. Wang Zhao appeared, at first, to be
little more than a minor political figure, claiming
to be in fear of his life for some insult to another
Party member. In the interview during his process-
ing, it turned out that Wang Zhao was, in fact, a
whistle-blower making some far-reaching claims
about the political use of the ‘private’ Yujingyu
companies by the Yănjīng. His claims supported an
investigation opened by Bureau Hermes in the city
of Qingdao, and the resulting Qingdao report made
geopolitical shockwaves around the Human Sphere.
Sadly, Wang Zhao suffered an allergic reaction
during further hearings in Edda and died shortly
afterwards of complications, but his example is only
one of many occasions where a case made to an
O-12 Embassy has had significant consequences.
Each embassy is the territory of O-12, a piece
of land and the airspace above it that is legally
regarded as equivalent to the soil of Concilium
Prima. Guarding the embassies are soldiers from
Section Spatha, the second key branch of Bureau
Aegis. Other members from Section Spatha may
work out of the O-12 embassies, usually teams of
Global Police (GloPol) or the Bureau Aegis Tactical
Police Department (BATPD). Bureau Noir handlers
also work from each embassy. Often known to local
intelligence agencies, their job is both to liaise with
resident agencies and manage and support embed-
ded handlers or field operatives working in their
area of jurisdiction. Each embassy is also meant to
house a representative, known as a minister, of the
Bureaus Agni, Athena, Ganesh, Hermes, and Lakshmi,
representing energy distribution, human rights,
trade, the Circulars and ship licencing, and health
respectively. In truth, it is often the case that these
posts are held in absentia and filled on-site by
attachés from Section Statera, but claims can, and
often are, made directly to specific bureaus whose
remits cover the specifics of the claim.
As independent as the embassies are meant to be,
they are always under watch by the intelligence
agencies of their location. As destinations that
attract political asylum seekers, dissidents, and
activists who may, like Wang Zhao, be attempting
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
to leave their sovereign nation with explosive
information, it has, more often than reported, been
the case that the Bureau Aegis soldiers on guard
at the gates have had to watch people arrested,
beaten down, and in some instances shot before
making it to O-12 soil. Life at an embassy can be
full of opportunity and a chance to make important
contacts and business connections, but it can also
be a dangerous task, one where every minute
of every day is recorded by some intelligence
agency, whether familiar or foreign, and carefully
scrutinised.
The ranks within an O-12 Embassy, as a general
rule, are consistent throughout the Human Sphere.
The head of the embassy is the ambassador.
Beneath the ambassador are ministers representing
their various bureaus. Counsellors sit below the
ambassador and ministers and have a key role in
assessing serious cases made to the embassy and
liaise with their counterparts from other nations.
Beneath these are a number of secretaries, whose
jobs consists largely of managing the bureaucratic
processes and staff of the embassy. A majority
of the workers at an embassy are the attachés,
bureaucrats predominantly from Section Statera
who manage and investigate cases and pass them
up the chain of command when it is appropriate.
PANOCEANIA
O-12’s representation in PanOceania is strictly
hierarchical. While consulates are present on every
PanOceanian planet and regional delegations may
be present to supplement them, the embassy in San
Pietro on Neoterra sits above them all. San Pietro
is home to the ambassador to PanOceania, the
most senior ranking diplomat representing O-12.
The ambassadors-at-large are of similar rank to the
ambassador in San Pietro and are the heads of the
consulates on Acontecimento and Varuna and the
delegations on Earth, Svalarheima, and the Saturn
Carvanserai. Nonetheless, it is the ambassador in
San Pietro who is the face and voice of O-12 to
PanOceania, and they play a key role in represent-
ing O-12 in the halls of power of the PanOceanian
Capitol building.
O-12’s relationship with PanOceania is fraught
with tension. While PanOceania is self-assured in
its pre-eminence within the Human Sphere, O-12
is often considered by many within the hyperpower
as a continual source of frustration rather than a
powerful legal and political body that should be
listened to. O-12 has had a number of drawn-out
political conflicts with PanOceania, particularly over
the hyperpower’s encouragement of the corporate
exploitation of Ariadna, the continual struggles
on and around Svalarheima, and the management
of the Paradiso front. PanOceania has delayed the
payment of its membership fees to O-12 several
Embassies of Note 33
 times, a continual issue, despite demanding influ-
ence within O-12 and regularly requesting support.
PanOceania’s parliament makes no apology for
their belief that O-12 requires PanOceania to func-
tion but consider that they deign to acknowledge
O-12 should be regarded as payment enough. The
ambassador must, to some extent and for the sake
of stability in the Human Sphere, grin and bear it,
though any opportunity the ministers or attachés
have of foiling PanOceania are taken with relish.
Notable small clawbacks in the last decade include
ensuring that Bureau Aegis commanders manage
the battlefront on Paradiso and putting restrictions
in place following the Commercial Conflicts
on Ariadna.
While the powerbrokers of PanOceania often go
out of their way to make O-12 look deferential and
weak, the truth of the matter is that PanOceania
requires O-12 just as the opposite is accurate. An
independent arbiter, free of the desire to expand
its own territory and economic might, is necessary
to fill the space between the other hyperpowers
of the Human Sphere, and as much as this might
rankle with some within PanOceania, it is also
widely understood to be true. Whatever the public
perception or the attitudes of the rabid nationalists
within PanOceania, it is a fact that O-12 does have
power and wields it when necessary through policy,
through the Courts of Concilium, and more subtly
through access to ALEPH.
THE SAN PIETRO EMBASSY
One of the most time consuming and prominent
roles played by staff at the San Pietro Embassy is
participating in the lobbying structure that dom-
inates the political landscape of PanOceania. The
ambassador and ministers are regularly involved
in the VR Moots that have great influence on the
policies and agendas of the PanOceania govern-
ment. This direct appeal to lobby group members
has proven to be an important way of keeping O-12
both abreast of social and economic developments
and ensuring that O-12 remains visible and
accessible to the people. The powerful lobbies of
PanOceania regularly make appeals to O-12, and
while many have representatives on Concilium
Prima, issues relating to local or regional matters
are often brought to the closest embassy. There is
a widespread belief that appealing to a represent-
ative embedded in the local area is more likely to
net a positive result for any case put forward.
Given the fact that the lobby groups usually
represent or are funded by powerful corporations,
they are often used as a form of Trojan horse. An
appeal to O-12 is seemingly made from a public
group, but this appeal represents the desires of
a single corporation or conglomeration of corpo-
rations seeking the same goal. An analysis of the
34 Chapter 4
petitions raised by lobby groups in the past has
demonstrated that, more often than not, the issues
brought forward by these supposedly public groups
do, in fact, mirror the desires of the companies that
fund them. Examples have included things like the
relaxation of weapons regulations in the Concilium
Convention or adjustments to research guidelines
allowing problematic research subjects to be
pursued in specifically made environments. One
example of this was the proposal that banned lines
of gene editing could be permitted in specially con-
structed orbitals outside of normal jurisdictional
zones. Another appeal sought the reclassification
and a relaxation of the laws surrounding the
protection of alien life forms. Originally, these
laws were used to allow the PanOceanian Military
Complex to use specific interrogation methods to
gain information from Combined prisoners but
was also, post approval, used to sanction reprisal
actions against the Helots of Varuna. The list of
examples where seemingly innocuous laws or
exceptions have much broader implications, appli-
cations, and intentions is endless. The choppy seas
of legal and political wrangling to be found in the
halls of the San Pietro Capitol building are a serene
lake when compared to the mismatch of words and
intentions coming from PanOceanian lobby groups.
It is the job of the host of attachés at each embassy,
consulate, or delegation to weed out the intention
from the presentation, a difficult task often requir-
ing the most cynical of minds.
The ambassador to O-12, currently Arabella Loft, is
almost always invited to participate in the cabinet
meetings and parliamentary sessions in San Pietro.
Ambassador Loft is well known for being a passion-
ate speaker and comfortable in the ever-shifting
maze of politics and social tensions that plague
the Capitol building and VR Moots of the powerful
lobby groups.
Several units of Global Police are also stationed
at the embassy in San Pietro. Ostensibly, the
Global Police are there to provide an extra layer
of protection for the staff at the embassy, but they
also serve in an advisory role, offering guidance,
training, and in some cases, on-the-ground support
when requested. The Global Police are also some-
times activated to respond to the presence of an
individual, gang, or Submondo group that is wanted
internationally but not specifically by PanOceania,
the equivalent of saying that this is your mess to
clean up, not ours. The Global Police of the BATPD
are widely regarded as being an elite force and are
regularly, if sometimes with a level of resentment,
called upon by the Block Forces for either high-
level support or training.
Acknowledged, but unspoken, is the presence of
the Psi Unit, the Bureau Aegis’s intelligence service.
In the San Pietro Embassy, the Psi Unit command

officer is the liaison between Bureau Aegis and the
Hexahedron, occasionally exchanging resources
or training but more regularly passing on relevant
information between the two agencies on people of
interest or cases that have switched jurisdiction. It
is widely understood that the command officer also
provides a contact point and support for a number
of handlers embedded around Neoterra, whose job
it is to support agents in the field.
The presence of Bureau Noir agents is suspected
but unproven. Such agents are usually assigned
under a covert ID within the embassy under
another bureau where most of their co-workers
have no knowledge of their real identity. It’s not
uncommon for agents to be seated in departments
responsible for cultural affairs, visa confirmation,
or some similar section. Ideally, the agent will have
a role that allows for them to be unreachable for
significant parts of their day for any of a multitude
of understandable reasons.
As a courtesy, the San Pietro Embassy houses an
Apostolic Nunciature of the Christian Church, an
opportunity for the church to liaise directly with
the ambassador and ministers of O-12. As often
as the political will of PanOceania seeks to apply
pressure on cases being managed by the embassy
through pressure from both governmental and
church sources, it has also been the case that O-12
leverages support for specific issues by manipulat-
ing the same network.
The San Pietro Embassy is a beehive of activity,
with direct links to the lobby groups, the halls of
government, and the church, as well as being regu-
larly petitioned by smaller groups and individuals.
Life here is break-neck and high-stakes, and much
is expected of the staff. It is the largest and most
powerful O-12 Embassy in the Human Sphere, and
staff here are often fast-tracked for promotion into
positions on Concilium Prima, within the bureaus,
Öberhaus, or Petite Assemblée. It is also, conversely,
a location that staff are often unwilling to shift
away from; once the glitter and bustle of life in San
Pietro is savoured, it is hard to give up.
THE ACONTECIMENTO
CONSULATE
Located in Cidade BomJesus, with a number of
smaller delegations positioned around the planet,
the Acontecimento Consulate is a far less hectic
station than San Pietro but is nonetheless a vital
one. Not as concerned with political and corporate
machinations, the issues that dominate the
Acontecimento Consulate usually revolve around
trade, specifically the exportation of foodstuffs
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
to the rest of PanOceania and elsewhere in the
Human Sphere. As a result of Acontecimento’s
position as one of the largest food producers in the
Human Sphere, the ambassador-at-large is nearly
overshadowed by the importance of the ministers
for Bureaus Gaea, Ganesh, and Hermes. All of these
ministers are directly involved with trade negotia-
tions and do their best to ensure that at least some
of the massive quantities of food stuffs produced
on the planet go toward ensuring the food security
of other planets, particularly the orbitals in the
Human Edge.
THE VARUNA CONSULATE
Most problematic of the diplomatic missions
to PanOceania, the Varuna Consulate has been
entangled in the mess of policy and governmental
action involving the treatment of Helots on Varuna.
Minister for Bureau Athena, Clara Ngor, is a figure
who has attracted much vitriol for her tireless
efforts to support research missions and influence
policy around the treatment of Helots. Her actions
and the actions of Bureau Athena have led to a
strained and often bitter relationship between the
Varuna Consulate and those within the government
and military of Varuna. Despite hundreds of death
threats, media pressure, and continual muckraking,
Minister Ngor has maintained her staunch support
of the Helot cause.
DELEGATIONS
O-12 supports dozens of delegations, usually
spread around a planet and in support of the
consulates of Acontecimento and Varuna or the
embassy in San Pietro on Neoterra. The three major
delegations that operate independently enough
to be considered consulates in their own right are
on Earth, Svalarheima, and the Harafi Caravanserai
near Saturn. For the delegation to Earth and
Svalarheima, the primary concerns are the main-
tenance of the fragile peace that exists between
the abutting hyperpowers present on each of these
planets. For the Harafi Caravanserai delegation,
more often referred to as the Saturn Delegation,
which is dominated by the enigmatic minister for
Bureau Hermes, Marcus Kibult. The key concerns are
the safety and stability of the Saturn system and
the flow of ships and traffic through the wormholes
near Saturn. Bureau Noir and the Global Police both
have a sizeable presence at the Saturn Delegation,
the former monitoring the flow of people through
the system and the latter operating in support of
Bureau Aegis soldiers to provide security on the
Circular docks and to act as fast response units for
Harafi’s own security forces.
Embassies of Note 35
 ALL THAT GLITTERS
Sins of the Father
Father-Knight Malley of the Order of Santiago has returned from an undercover mission to the Human
Edge, but the news travelling in his wake is troubling indeed. According to rumour, Father-Knight Malley
was involved in a number of violent clashes with the Global Police team on the End of the Line orbital.
His mission may have been church sanctioned, but his actions were not. Since returning to Neoterra,
he has gone into a self-imposed exile, refusing to communicate with members of his Order. His actions
demand his capture, and the Order of Santiago has ruled they will not intervene. Word has been sent to
the embassy in San Pietro. Find Malley and bring him to justice.

A Dangerous Line
A small lobby group called Ruminin have been pushing hard for changes to a small piece of regulation in
the Concilium Convention involving the restriction of biological loads implanted in ballistics. They claim
that a company supporting them have developed a low-powered weapon designed to release a targeted
virus aimed at controlling pests that plague the crop lands on Acontecimento. One of the attachés has
uncovered a financial link between Ruminin and the Albetor Company which is contracted to provide
security on Varuna and has been involved in numerous clashes with Libertos terrorists. The attaché is
concerned the weapon Ruminin claim to be for pest control may have been designed to target Helots.
You have been seconded to the consulate on Varuna to investigate the research of Albetor and uncover
the truth about the intended use of this weapon.

Through Dangers Untold

The minister for Bureau Noir at the San Pietro Embassy has received word from his counterpart at
the Hexahedron that a dangerous Submondo leader, Malik Yuan, is scheduled to arrive at the Harafi
Caravanserai en route to trial on Earth. The Hexahedron believes there is a tangible threat in his arrival.
Members of his Submondo group, the Scars, are preparing for something, and it may well be a rescue. You
are to meet the security team escorting Malik from the Circular to Harafi and ensure that he makes it to
trial on Earth, alive.

A Poor Investment
A lobby group on Svalarheima known as Chukwik has purportedly been raising funds to donate to the
Tatenokai, helping Japanese citizens escape Yujingyu cities on the ‘Snow Train’. While PanOceania rec-
ognises this to be a valiant cause, the revelation that a political body in the hyperpower is directly
supporting the Japanese could destabilise the situation on Svalarheimla. While PanOceania is hesitant
to act against its own people, Bureau Noir or the Global Police could ensure that the planned cash drop
between Chukwick and the Tatenokai never takes place.

YU JING fleeing the StateEmpire could legally seek refuge.

Located in Tiān Di Jing on Yutang, the O-12
Embassy to Yu Jing is the only dedicated embassy in
the StateEmpire. For PanOceania, O-12 representa-
tion is spread across the embassy, consulates, and
delegations; however, the Yu Jing StateEmpire
demands a more restricted structure. Outside of
Yutang, there are no other embassies or consulates
in the StateEmpire territories as these would,
under law, be permitted a small allotment of land
to occupy that would be regarded as sovereign to
O-12. Rather, O-12 has been allowed to represent
itself throughout the StateEmpire through dele-
gations. These delegations are invited to occupy
buildings or offices owned by the StateEmpire,
and are not, therefore, locations at which a person
The only territory sovereign to O-12 within the
Yu Jing StateEmpire is the embassy building and
grounds in Tiān Di Jing, which is heavily monitored
by the Yănjīng.
It has long been understood that the StateEmpire
carefully monitors the activities of the O-12
staff at the embassy, with a range of bugging
and monitoring devices in place throughout the
building. Unusual for an embassy, all maintenance
to the building and grounds must be performed by
StateEmpire companies, and the level of paranoia
among staff working there is understandably high.
Even the sewage produced by the embassy staff
is processed and tested, with medical information
gained through genetic and chemical analysis used

36 Chapter 4

on occasion by Yujingyu diplomats to gain leverage
over their O-12 counterparts. With O-12 support
for the nascent Japanese Empire, the restrictions
on O-12’s representatives to the StateEmpire have
been even more strident. Celestial Guard units have
been posted on the Yu Jingese side of the gates to
the O-12 Embassy, purportedly for the embassy’s
own protection in these troubling times, and the
delegation to Shentang has been ‘asked’ to leave.
This is not to say that Yu Jing treats O-12 like
some sort of embedded enemy. The StateEmpire
has gained much through its connections to O-12,
especially in the aftermath of the NeoColonial Wars.
Access to the Teseum trade has been secured by
Bureau Agni through complex deals with Ariadna
and PanOceania, an extensive military build-up has
been encouraged in support of the war on Paradiso,
and hundreds of other deals and agreements have
been struck through and thanks to the work of O-12
diplomats in a large part. Yu Jing does, however, run
its own agenda and is more open about the fact
than PanOceania, who are happy as often as not to
shake hands on a deal and then do their own thing
regardless.
Given the structure of the Yu Jing government, the
ambassador spends a majority of his attention on
the Imperial Court and the Emperor while the first
councillor liaises with the Party, and is, in many
ways, more directly plugged into the political
machinations of the state than the ambassador.
This is a fact not lost upon O-12, and while cos-
metically the ambassador holds rank over the first
councillor, it is understood within O-12’s diplomatic
service that the first councillor is functionally the
leader of the embassy. Beneath the twin ranks of
ambassador and first councillor are the bureau
ministers, and these too spend a majority of their
time working directly with Party representatives
who in turn represent the desires and needs of
both the StateEmpire and the major Yujingyu
corporations, although these are often one and the
same. Attachés posted to the embassy in Tiān Di
Jing are some of the best and most capable from
Section Statera, and they need to be. The network
of relationships between political objectives and
private and corporate desires is extremely difficult
to track. The political objectives of the StateEmpire
are, as often as not, presented to the embassy as
requests, suggestions, and appeals coming from
private and corporate sources. Finding direct links
between an applicant and the Party often involves
searching through a maze of familial and personal
relationships, business deals, and financial ties. The
StateEmpire is careful and clever about who, what,
and how they attempt to leverage the support
of the O-12 staff at the embassy. In the past, the
StateEmpire has not only utilised applicants
secretly connected to the Party, but also grooms
personal relationships with the embassy staff and
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
exploits information gained through surveillance
techniques.
In recent times, with the troubles stemming from
the Japanese Secession, the embassy and its staff
have found themselves on the outside of many
of the Court functions and Party meetings that
they were invited to in years gone by. While the
delegation to Shentang has been officially asked
to leave the planet, the Party has quietly forced the
delegation to stay on, citing unspecified threats as
the reason as to why the delegation can’t comply
with the official request. All of this is a front, a
mask allowing Yu Jing to maintain and use the
delegation at the same time as not appearing to
lose face for inaction in response to O-12’s support
of the Japanese. The delegation on Shentang has
been thoroughly occupied by Yu Jing officials.
Despite the request for them to leave, delegates
have been deeply involved with facilitating and
participating in negotiations with the Japanese
forces on Shentang and in Kuraimori particularly,
which is currently under martial law.
O-12 DELEGATIONS TO YU JING
Housed in StateEmpire owned office blocks and
complexes, the O-12 delegations to Yu Jing are led
by ambassadors-at-large, beneath whom the bureau
ministers most relevant to each regional posting
work in support. The four main delegations outside
of the Shanxing system can be found in Shidong on
Svalarheima, Beijing in Chung Kuo, Yínhuo on Mars,
and in the Harafi Caravanserai on Iapetus, the moon
of Saturn.
Given O-12’s limited access to Yu Jing, it is sur-
prising that more of an esprit de corps does not
exist between those delegations that do exist.
However, considerable rivalries and internal politics
dominate the relationships between regional del-
egations. Due to the seniority of Yutang in terms of
politics for the StateEmpire and the level of influ-
ence the embassy there has with both the Imperial
Court and the Party, the embassy is the de facto
manager of the regional delegations. Almost all
communications and decisions are cleared through
a chain of command that places the embassy in
Tiān Di Jing at the top of the tree. This suborning
of the chain of command is one of the key sources
of the rivalries between the delegations. On paper,
the Harafi delegation is meant to manage the
delegation in Beijing, and the O-12 bureaucracy
in Marsport is meant to manage the delegation in
Yínhuo, both of which are meant to liaise directly
with bureaucrats on Concilium Prima. In reality,
neither of these technical truths represents how
the delegations work with one another. Instead, the
embassy on Tiān Di Jing manages all. Naturally, the
importance of the embassy has become, as a result,
something of a self-reinforcing cycle. The regional
Embassies of Note 37
 delegations are often left feeling like they operate
as an afterthought or that their issues and the
cases they manage are not deemed important on
Concilium Prima due to everything passing through
the lens of the Tiān Di Jing Embassy.
The delegation in the Harafi Caravanserai is the
key link in the chain. Despite being worked around
in the command structure of O-12 diplomatic
relations with Yu Jing, it is the main vehicle through
which Bureau Aegis and Bureau Noir agents are
able to filter into the O-12 diplomatic network to
the StateEmpire. It is the least reliably monitored
of all the delegations because the delegation in
Harafi also serves as the delegation to a number of
other powers within the Human Sphere, including
PanOceania. It is through leveraging the rivalries
of the Yănjīng and the Hexahedron that a greater
level of internal security is afforded the Harafi
delegation: as much as both hyperpowers want to
spy on the O-12 delegation, they want the other to
spy less. By working with both the Yănjīng and the
Hexahedron, the Harafi delegation has managed to
maintain a strong independence and is relatively
secure. Because of this, when O-12 wishes to
plant Bureau Aegis or Noir operatives inside the
diplomatic network within Yu Jing, they are typically
first sent to Harafi, awaiting a ‘promotion’ to Yutang,
Shentang, Svalarheima, Mars, or Earth.

ALL WARFARE IS BASED ON DECEPTION

A Twisted Arm
One of the junior attachés at the Tiān Di Jingg Embassy managed to accrue a sizeable debt to a gambling
establishment over one alcohol-fuelled evening. While the embassy has, on occasion, stepped in to help
in such situations, this particular case reeks of deliberate interference. Blood results indicate the attaché
may have been drugged. Rather than interfering at this stage, the embassy has asked for a team of agents
to investigate the gambling establishment. The attaché was working on a number of case files belonging
to Triad members who have worked as informants for Bureau Noir. Is there a connection? Who really
runs this gambling establishment? In his addled state, did the attaché unknowingly give away more than
just yuan?

A Mistake and A Kidney

The minister for Bureau Hermes at the Tiān Di Jing Embassy recently attended a party, drank heavily, and
woke the next day with a whopping head-ache and abdominal pains. Sick and sore, he spent the next
week off duty. At some point during the party, drugged and inebriated, the minister was operated on. His
left kidney was removed and replaced with a synthetically manufactured match. Such was the skill of the
surgeon that no-one would have known but for the minister’s unlikely reaction. Embedded in this new
kidney is a monitoring device, linked directly to the minister’s own comlog. Removing this kidney-bug
would be easy, but tampering with it appears like it will release an agent that will kill the minister. Your
team must track down this surgeon — luckily, only a handful of biomedical facilities could have manu-
factured the kidney — and bring him to the embassy to unlock the kidney for its removal. It must be done
silently, and the minister’s life depends on it, and… report for a body scan before you leave the embassy.

Bag Check
At the baggage collection at the Yínghuo Spaceport a bag was left unattended long enough to attract
attention. Inside were the dehydrated remains of a Section Statera attaché identified as Wu Hudong
of the O-12 delegation to Yínghuo. He was supposed to be on a field mission to privately interview a
former Triad member, Shi Wang who was seeking protection after having been involved in some form of
operation with the Yu Jing Interspace Trust Corporation. Now Wu is dead, the recording of that meeting
is missing, and Shi Wang is in the wind. Was it Wang, regretting something said in the interview? Was it
Wang’s Triad seeking reprisal for secrets revealed? Or was it someone from the Yu Jing Interspace Trust
Corporation, wanting to keep any word of their arrangement with the Triad a secret? Find that recording,
if possible, and find Shi Wang as they are key to unravelling the mystery of Wu’s killing.

38 Chapter 4

THE JAPANESE EMPIRE
Shockwaves reverberated around the Human
Sphere with the sudden burst of internecine
war and retaliatory violence that came with the
Japanese Uprising. The nascent Japanese Empire
had been a dream that only through many long
years of painful suffering and careful planning was
able to catch and, like a grassfire, spread. Yu Jing
was unable to contain the Uprising. Born, as it was,
of torturous grief carried in silence, those dreaming
of an independent Japan, when their time came,
stood to the challenge.
O-12 had a choice to make, and one that only
became more difficult as time wore on. They
could stand by and watch, in full understanding
that the reprisals would be gratuitous, lengthy,
and eventually absolute, or stand by their own
ideology and back a people loudly and desperately
clamouring for the recognition that had cost them
so much blood to be heard. ALEPH had modelled
the Uprising, not exactly, but had predicted with a
certain level of certainty that it would occur, and so
O-12 officials were not without warning. The files
containing the plan of action if ‘Rising Sun’ ever
occurred were dusted off and long meetings held.
Finally, O-12 made the public statement that hit
Maya like an aftershock — they declared support of
the nascent Japanese Empire.
This declaration of support vindicated PanOceania’s
delighted backing of Japanese forces and was a
slap in the face to the StateEmpire that, doubtless,
will not go unforgotten. Regardless of the recog-
nition provided by O-12, the struggle for the unity
of the StateEmpire continues, with the Japanese
Empire unrecognised by Yu Jing and its leaders
and soldiers regarded as dissidents, traitors, and
terrorists.
O-12 has no official embassy within the recognised
Japanese territories; however, it does have four
official delegations. The most senior delegation is
in Tokyo on Earth. It is currently under expansion
and is planned to become the first official embassy
to the Japanese Empire.
A delegation was deployed to Kokkyō-3 on Paradiso
and has been leveraged by O-12 to secure some
symbolic support for humanity’s war against the
Combined Army. One of the key reasons the dele-
gation was placed in Kokkyō-3 was the hope that
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
the official placement of an O-12 delegation there
might hold some influence in stopping the advance
of Yu Jing troops into the area. However, it has had
little impact on this front, and it has only been
through the efforts of the Japanese soldiers that
have managed to stem the Yujingyu onslaught.
Another of the key delegations is in place on the
Kinkakuji space station in the Human Edge. As one
of the main operation centres for the Tatenokai,
having a delegation there with Bureau Aegis mil-
itary personal has been an important component
in O-12’s capacity to stay abreast of developments
within the Uprising as a whole.
The last and, for now, perhaps the most important
delegation is the one both asked to leave and
prevented from leaving Shentang. This delegation
has been at the forefront of negotiations between
the Yujingyu and Japanese forces in and around
the city of Kuraimori. This is a key location for
the Japanese and central to the political struggle
between the would-be nation of Japan and its
former master, Yu Jing.
On the two sides of the Uprising, Japan and Yu Jing
both, there is the feeling that the sudden escalation
of hostilities and the spread of revolutionary action
needs to abate, at least for a time. For Japan, the
desire for official recognition is key, and a part of
that is finally forcing Yu Jing to see the Japanese
Empire as an independent nation state. The need
to consolidate and create structure in disparity is
paramount, and the Japanese are driven not only to
assert themselves as a nation, but to ensure they
have the capacity and freedom to move people
and resources between their far-flung territories.
For Yu Jing, the war against the Japanese has only
seen a rise in dissident sentimentality and action
across the StateEmpire. While Yu Jing still claims
sovereign rights to those territories now defined as
Japanese, to see the Uprising continue — or worse
to spread to other ethnic groups within Yu Jing —
would be disastrous. As desperate as Yu Jing is to
regain its lost territories and bring the Japanese
to heel, it is also desperate for stability in these
troubling times. Stability means both an end to the
spread of the Uprising and an end to civil unrest. At
the moment at least, while O-12’s actions in legit-
imising the Japanese Empire will not be forgotten,
O-12 has a vital role to play in securing the desires
of both Yu Jing and the Japanese Empire.
Embassies of Note 39
 THE RISING SUN
Surprise, Surprise
Shortly after the transport left for Kokkyō-3, carrying a new junior attaché to support the ambassa-
dor-at-large leading the delegation there, a body was found in the roof space of the spaceport toilet-block.
It was the body of the attaché, luckily found shortly after it was concealed there by a maintenance worker.
Doubtless, whoever was responsible has since landed in Kokkyō-3, and a communication has been sent
to the delegation, but your team has been assembled to follow, track down, and eliminate whoever was
responsible. After finding out why they were sent of course…

Protect the Envoy

An envoy has been secretly sent from the Japanese space station Kinkakuji on the Human Edge, and your
team has been tasked with guiding her safely to aid in negotiations in Kuraimori on Shentang. The C8
Circular left the Heraclitus system, through the Concilium wormhole to the Concilium system, and from
there on to the Shanxing system. After arriving eventually in Koryō on Shentang, the envoy was knifed
in the spaceport. The suspect escaped. Your team managed to stem the bleeding, but whoever it was, it
wasn’t random, and they weren’t working alone, whatever the local police force says. They will come for
the envoy, and you still need to get her from Koryō to Kuraimori.

THE OUROBOROS attachment points. Access from one to the other,

however, is only possible through a low-tech
Despite their dislike of and antagonistic rela-
access tube, which contains no power cables or
tionship with ALEPH, and against the wishes of a
wiring of any sort. While the Ouroboros is wholly
majority of the nations in the Human Sphere, the
reliant on the Tunguska for power, oxygen, water,
Nomad Nation maintains a relationship with O-12.
food, and waste recycling, all of these transfers
With the Nomad Nation already represented in the
are carefully constructed and managed to disallow
halls of power on Concilium Prima, O-12 has recip-
any access between the electronic systems of the
rocated with a dedicated embassy to the Nomad
Ouroboros and the Tunguska. Power is beamed to
Nation known as the Ouroboros. Given O-12’s close
the Ouroboros via laser, while oxygen is pumped
relationship with, and some would say reliance on,
through ducts, and waste is removed via vacuum
the processing and reasoning powers of ALEPH,
tubes. The communication arrays of the Ouroboros
the relationship between O-12 and the Nomads is
remora craft are low powered and openly readable
fraught with complexity. The Nomads see ALEPH
by almost anyone with the mind and resources to
as a true enemy to the human species, and ALEPH,
do so. Important communications that cannot be
as far as anyone can tell, sees the Nomads as little
trusted to this unsecured network are physically
more than wayward dissidents, who threaten the
delivered to the Ouroboros using lo-fi techniques,
stability of the Human Sphere. However, despite
such as physical databanks and storage devices.
this backdrop of distrust and dislike stands O-12, an
Indeed, the entire electronic systems of the
entity that is not wholly ALEPH and yet that is tied
Ouroboros are maintained within a processing and
into the AI almost completely. An organisation that,
storage limit defined in a number of agreements
irrespective of whatever views and actions have
with the Tunguska. Communications between the
been taken by ALEPH or other nations, has always
Ouroboros remora and the Tunguska are always
stood up and supported the Nomad Nation in their
made in person, and the access tube has fully
pursuit of self-sovereignty and recognised them as
secured airlocks on both sides. As much as is pos-
an individual nation of peoples. The relationship is
sible the Ouroboros exists attached to the Tunguska
complex and multi-layered, and trust does not run
on the other side of a carefully constructed demar-
deep, but regardless, O-12 recognises the Nomads,
cation line, across which communications and
and the Nomads, by and large, understand the value
signals are not permitted to pass.
O-12 provides themselves as a nation and the
Human Sphere as a whole. Yet, despite all of this inbuilt security, born of
the distrust of ALEPH, and the Nomad reliance
The Ouroboros Embassy is, in many ways, symbolic
instead on their own Arachne systems, the
of the complex relationship between the two
relationship between O-12 and the Nomads is
powers. It is a remora craft to the Tunguska mother-
open, refreshingly honest, and something both
ship, connected to and travelling with the Tunguska
sides agree is of vital importance. Negotiation and
wherever it goes, but again, this connection is
discussion between the staff of the Ouroboros and
layered in complexity. The Ouroboros is tethered
the Tunguska is, by the necessities imposed by so
to the Tunguska through a network of permanent

40 Chapter 4
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

many layers of security, slow and procedural, but
it is almost always frank and to the point. This has
not stopped various factions within the Tunguska
from seeking to listen in on the activities of the
Ouroboros, despite the security warnings that they
should not. Section Spatha staff stationed at the
remora embassy are required to perform regular
EVAs to check the hull for magnetic repeaters or
listening devices.
Due to the role Tunguska plays within the Nomad
Nation, ministers for Bureaus Ganesh and Hermes
are permanently placed at the embassy and are
functionally the most important staff working
there. Meetings between Tunguskan companies and
representatives are regularly held on the Ouroboros
or on the mothership itself. In agreement with
the Nomads, a representative for Psi Unit is also
permanently stationed at the embassy. While not an
acting minister, they function as a handler, and the
Tunguska a useful transfer point for Psi Unit agents.
From the Ouroboros to the Tunguska and out into
the Human Sphere again, the processes for washing
an agent’s identity and providing them a new one,
and specifically for being able to move an operative
into cover, has proved especially useful to the point
that Bureau Noir has infiltrated the Ouroboros and
uses its existing processes to infiltrate its own
agents in the same way.
This agreement does not sit well with a vocal few
within the hierarchy of Tunguska, who are con-
cerned about the use of Psi Unit agents as a Trojan
horse for initiating another Violent Intermission.
However, it is understood by those that do support
the agreement, that while ALEPH and O-12 are
intrinsically linked, and ALEPH might have its own
agenda when it comes to the Nomads, so too does
O-12, and O-12 has proven repeatedly that they are
not beholden wholly to the whims of ALEPH. The
mining rights to the Brísingamen in the Concilium
system and a host of other forms of recognition and
support for the Nomad Nation stands in evidence
of the fact that whatever ALEPH might think about
the Nomads, O-12 officials are more than willing to
deal with them.

THE SERPENT
Revealed
Word has reached the Ouroboros that the identities of three Bureau Noir agents who passed through into the Tunguska in the last two
days have been posted on a dark-site found on Arachne. These agents are currently in the field on board Tunguska, securing passage
off the mothership to take up their operations elsewhere in the Human Sphere. With their false identities listed as known agents for
the bureau, it’s only a matter of time until they are revealed and killed or their information sold on. These agents must be found and
removed to the Ouroboros for debriefing and reassignment, but finding a Bureau Noir agent already working their cover will be neither
easy, nor safe.

Run-Away
A junior Section Statera attaché to the Bureau Hermes minister, who has been on-station for only a few months, appears to have fallen in
love with a Tunguskan local and has absconded from their post to start a new life. All of this could be forgiven — it’s hardly the first time
something like this has happened — if the attaché had not taken a bunch of blank ship registry files, which can fetch a high price on the
black market. Perhaps the attaché intends to sell them to start their new life, but perhaps the new love they have found is not all they
seem to be. Either way the attaché must be found and the documents recovered before they make their way to the black market.

Arrr They Pirates?

Your team has been selected to go undercover and secure a place on the Ram’s Horn, a ship suspected of engaging in illegal attack and
salvage operations against private merchant vessels. Once a berth has been secured, you are to accompany the Ram’s Horn and gather
evidence as to whether their activities do indeed match up to rumour. However, one of the Tunguskan officials who approved the opera-
tion is not known for being the most honest of coves, which begs the question, will you be on board the Ram’s Horn hunting for pirates
or will pirates be hunting you?

Fight Club
Internal Tunguskan security operatives have become aware that a remora craft attached to the Tunguska has been hosting gladiatorial
matches. While not strictly illegal, the latest news includes reports of a number of Shrike Tardigrades smuggled in to be used in the
fighting pit. These formidable beasts could pose a threat should they get loose. The remora is owned and run by a Submondo group
with financial ties to a number of important Tunguskan businesses, so acting directly against them would be imprudent, to say the least.
Instead, security have dutifully passed the information on to the Ouroboros and hope that O-12 will intervene in their place. You are that
intervention. Get into the remora and ensure these beasts are executed, and please, make it back…

Embassies of Note 41
 BOURAK
Of all the nations in the Human Sphere, Haqqislam
perhaps has the warmest relationship with
O-12. This relationship, which has involved close
inter-bureaucracy cooperation for many years,
became particularly close when the planetary
engineers of Bourak’s Terraformation Institute
worked alongside scientists with Bureau Gaea to
design and shape the environment and climate of
Concilium Prima. Close ties also exist between the
many biomedical research faculties of Bourak’s uni-
versities and bimaristans and Bureau Lakshmi. More
than that, the Pillars of O-12 — Unity, Cooperation,
Support, and Progress — resonate with the twin tra-
ditions of the Haqqislamite Search for Knowledge.
Though complicated, as all relationships between
powers are, the Haqqislamite nation is more open,
friendly, and willing to engage with O-12 than any
other of the major powers in the Human Sphere.
Based on Nawal Island and in facilities supplied
and paid for through a special fund from the Majlis
al-Bourak, O-12’s representation to Bourak is a
delegation rather than a full embassy. In addition
to the delegation, a number of the bureaus of O-12
have representatives and field offices working
with their counterpart Haqqislamite Diwâns across
Bourak, including staff from Bureau Hermes work-
ing with the Diwân al Mazalim (the Trade Office)
and Bureau Toth members working with the Diwân
al Rasa’il (the Communications Office).
The lack of a full embassy has occasionally been
touted as some sort of sign that O-12 deems their
relationship with Haqqislam to be of a lesser
importance to their relationships with the other
hyperpowers, but it is far from the truth. Such
propaganda can usually be tracked back to rumour
mills funded by Silk Lords or sources in the Funduq
Sultanate who are happy to apply a level of social
pressure on the Majlis al-Bourak and Hachib to
maintain a distance from O-12. Legislation and
commerce negotiations related to the Silk trade
and proprietary technology connected to Silk and
reincarnations are thought to be the main issues
that drive these moguls to fund such rumour mills.
In truth though, the powerful financial backers
keep their propaganda machines oiled well enough
to be connected to the news cycles and social
networks but quiet enough to avoid any significant
backlash. The relationship between O-12 and the
Haqqislamite government is just one of a number
of the conspiracy theories pushed. Rumours related
to ALEPH and other hyperpowers are given a
broadly equal amount of air-time.
Very occasionally, the delegation in Nawal Island
will be leaked information related to improprieties
and implied criminal activities of powerful people
and groups on Bourak. In recent years, such leaks
have involved a number of Silk Consortiums and
42 Chapter 4
even high-ranking members of the Qapu Khalqi and
Funduq governing body. It is broadly understood,
although never voiced, that the Haqqislam govern-
ment is often the source of these leaks, targeting
people and organisations that the government
would not countenance investigating either offi-
cially or unofficially for political reasons.
In the chambered basements of the delegation
building on Nawal Island, there are a connected
series of levels and rooms that are only accessible
under the highest of O-12 security clearances. O-12
maintains the line that the reason these rooms
have such a high security clearance is due to the
fact that the delegation shares the building, and
that they need somewhere ‘off-limits’ for data stor-
age related to the delegation and its operations.
Public knowledge of a secured bunker beneath the
delegation is a constant source of rumour and con-
spiracy theory. Some suggest that it is the location
of an ALEPH node which tells the delegation what
to do and how to respond to issues. Some say that
it is a facility used to store advanced Lhosts as
backups for the delegation staff. Others believe it
is a secured seed vault, located on Bourak because
it is the only location in the Human Sphere where
Nassait is able to be cultivated. Particular ideas
are even crazier: that is the location of an ALEPH-
designed Recreation of an alien ruler taken from
Paradiso; that the brood-queen responsible for
producing Silk is kept in a cage there, controlled by
ALEPH; that ALEPH uses the facility to manufacture
Recreations of leading Haqqislam political figures
controlled by the AI and intended to replace the
real versions; that there are tunnels leading from
the delegation to all manner of other locations,
including the palace of the Hachib; and many other
fringe beliefs. Needless to say the delegation is a
constant and popular source of fiction and conspir-
acy, despite the fact that the number of people who
actually believe such things is minimal.
Head of the O-12 delegation on Bourak is
Ambassador Lucian Trang, and he’s held the
position for close to fifteen years. Beneath him are
ministers representing Bureaus Agni, Concilium, and
Gaea, all of whom have close working relationships
with members of the Terraformation Institute. It is
notable that Bourak is the only place in the Human
Sphere outside of Concilium Prima and the End
of the Line Orbital that maintains a minister from
Bureau Concilium, representing the governing
body of O-12’s home planet. A minister from
Bureau Lakshmi has an office at the delegation, but
traditionally spends a majority of their time split
between the duties of minister and functioning as
a guest lecturer and advisor in Medina. In recent
years, with the recognition of the Non-Aligned
Nations and the Japanese Empire, a representative
from Bureau Athena has joined the O-12 delegation
at the request of the Majlis al-Bourak. Bureau

Athena agents are fundamentally involved in
issues of human rights and ethical and religious
issues and having a representative to take part in
negotiations hosted by the delegation was seen as
an important reminder to all those attending that
their larger duty was to the species, as opposed
to more parochial concerns. Bureaus Ganesh and
Hermes, tied to trade and shipping, share offices
and staff on Nawal Island, but spend an equal
amount of time between Nawal Island, Medina,
and Dar el Funduq. Bureau Noir is assumed to have
an unspoken presence within the delegation, and
while attempts have been made to work alongside
the Hassassins on a number of occasions, such
overtures have led nowhere. Lastly, Bureau Aegis,
while represented in the largest numbers through
Section Metis, also has minister recently posted to
the delegation. Alongside the minister for Athena,
the minister for Aegis, a general with Section
Spatha, has been heavily involved in negotiations.
The delegation on Nawal Island is a busy hive of
activity that is plugged directly into many of the
economic and technological drivers of Bourak
and the Haqqislamite nation. Recent years have
also seen Nawal Island host an ongoing series of
negotiations between a number of the hyperpow-
ers. These negotiations have been fundamental to
some of the processes and tensions surrounding
the Japanese Uprising, the employment of
Non-Aligned Nations forces on Paradiso, the man-
agement of the Paradiso war effort, and the recent
developments on Ariadna. How exactly Bourak, and
Nawal Island specifically, became part-time host
to these talks appears to be a matter of fortune,
but the delegation has been forced to expand and
accommodate the changing needs quickly and effi-
ciently. To date and under the careful leadership of
Ambassador Trang, they have risen to the challenge.
ARIADNA
From settlement through internecine war, the
Commercial Conflicts and to the current socio-po-
litical climate, Ariadna has had to fight tooth and
nail for every scrap of recognition and sovereignty
that it holds. Ariadna is officially supportive of O-12,
but a litany of bad deals, even if they were the best
of the worst scenarios, has led to a culture of mis-
trust between the Ariadnan Council and the O-12
Embassy in Mat’. Not that O-12 isn’t seen as impor-
tant or useful, but rather that it is not Ariadnan, and
O-12 doesn’t always ensure that trade deals and
the sharing of information, power, and technologies
are in the best interests of Ariadna.
With four local factions striving to each have their
voice heard as a part of the general clamour from
the Ariadnan Council, with Yu Jing and PanOceania
both making territorial claims often on behalf
of and backed by powerful hypercorps, the O-12
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Embassy is a complicated mess of arguments, mis-
understandings, and contradictory claims. Morale
at the embassy is low, and the posting is seen
anywhere between a baptism of fire and a walking
nightmare. Turnover is greater in the Mat’ Embassy
than at any other O-12 posting in the Human
Sphere, including Paradiso. All of this chaos is not
just due to the fractious climate. The rate of turno-
ver is also a contributor, with leadership roles and
ministerial postings often short-lived or left empty
for extended periods. There are heavy restrictions
on the movements and clearances of embassy staff,
who often have to navigate byzantine layers of
bureaucracy to get the reports they require, only
to find that the case has changed, been dropped,
or shifted to another department. The technolog-
ical backwater of Ariadna requires a significant
adjustment for arriving staff and is something
that most of them never really adapt to. Strict
regulation requires that staff must be paid in sol,
but they are required to exchange it for rubles to
actually use it for anything, and the exchange rate
is often set unfairly or subject to a litany of small
fees. For a vast majority of cases, embassy staff
must work through contacts within the Rodinan
Federal Service, who appear to go out of their
way to makes things move slowly, are riddled with
mistakes, or are missing vital details, and the whole
experience of life at the Mat’ Embassy is unlike any
other posting O-12 offers. All of that is not even
counting the fights. Those few staff members who
manage to finish a tour of duty, as they call it, will
listen to staff from other embassies talk about their
trials and tribulations like grizzled vets listening to
casual paintballers talk about the stress of combat.
One of the bitterest points of argument and tension
comes from trade negotiations. These are almost
universally seen as being unfair and borderline
criminal in their disregard for Ariadnan sovereignty.
Echoes of the Commercial Conflicts dominate
discussion — who owns what scraps of land and to
what depth, and the continual meddling of hyper-
corps whose annual profits outstrip Ariadna’s gross
domestic product by several fold. An ongoing point
of contention is the unwillingness to share technol-
ogy. While Ariadna is able to trade for manufactured
items, the processes and knowledge required to
manufacture similar items for themselves is hidden
behind a wall of a proprietary ownerships. Ariadna
has had some successes in more recent years
through painful reverse engineering processes,
although these are heavily at risk of being locked
up in court battles on Concilium Prima. Unofficially,
many within O-12 would like to see Ariadna freed
of the constraints their technology places on them,
but officially they must appear, at least, to uphold
the law, however constructing and unfair it might
feel. Whatever O-12 might secretly wish for, and
whatever the staff at the Mat’ Embassy sympathetic
Embassies of Note 43
 1001 NIGHTS
Shimmering Sky
Shaima AlHassan is a prominent planetary engineer with Bureau Gaea. For the last month, she has been working
closely with Terraformation Institute experts in Maracanda. Two days ago, she was abducted. Normal protocol
would stipulate that the investigation should be handled by local law-enforcement, but Shaima AlHassan
was no ordinary planetary engineer. She was lead collaborator on the current state of the Shimmering Sky on
Concilium Prima and has in-depth knowledge of its systems, processes, functions, and access pathways. As soon
as the news broke of her abduction, codes and passwords were changed, and keys were broken and remade, but
her intimate knowledge of the system may still yield damaging results if she is subjected to interrogation and
breaks. She must be found, and given the sensitivity of the mission, the Haqqislam government has agreed to
allow O-12 to place agents in the field. That is where you come in: find Shaima AlHassan’s last location, liaise
with local law-enforcement on any leads, and follow them, wherever they may take you. Find her, bring her
home alive if possible, her cube if not, or ensure both are destroyed as a last resort.

An Orchid in the Wind

Qing Wen, daughter of a Yujingyu Imperial noble, has been kidnapped. The Haqqislam government has extended
its regret and offered to put its intelligence services to task of retrieving her. Given that Haqqislam has recently
show military support for the Japanese Uprising on Paradiso, the Yujingyu have rejected all such offers, insisting
instead that O-12 be allowed to place agents in the field. Haqqislam has acquiesced to this request, and you
have been seconded to the operation. Questions abound though: why was a minor noblewoman from Yu Jing,
on holiday papers, in the Gabqar Khanate, and why in the mercenary markets of Kum-Dag? What could a Kum
biker gang want with a Yujingyu noblewoman, and why has there been no ransom demand?

The Contract
You and your fellow operatives have been given new identities as a small but highly successful mercenary
outfit called Luchnik, and a suitable electronic trail has been created to support your cover. Arriving on a small
private craft, outfitted to suit your new identities, you are scheduled to attend an event on Zumorroda, a private
island run by Qaid Fahesh who is the leader of the Dahshat Mercenary Company. Every year, Qaid Fahesh holds
an event designed to identify and recruit promising small mercenary outfits that can be subcontracted by the
Dahshat and may even earn themselves a more permanent role. Little more than rumour is known of how the
event is run, but stories of games, drills, live fire exercises, and bloody competitions run rampant. It is even
said that the event is little more than a cover for Qaid to make a small fortune through the gambling of the
high-powered and shady people invited to watch. Dahshat and Qaid Fahesh have come under international
investigation for a number of reasons, and some idea of the layout of his island, its inner-workings, and the
sorts of people he rubs shoulders with may be vital to future operations. As Luchnik, you will strive in the
activities and games, seeking to make a name for yourselves in the eyes of Qaid. Be wary though. He is shrewd
and intelligent and according to rumour the deaths and ‘accidents’ at these events are not insignificant!

Rogue
A woman sits in a cell in a high security prison in Khadijah on Nawal Island. Her cell is designed for sensory
deprivation, the walls layered with counter-intrusion measures creating a Faraday cage within. She is fed
through a slot in the door, and multiple guards are posted outside 24 hours a day. She has been there for eight
days. She has not spoken. She has no identity on record. She may be Hassassin, she may be Al Hawwa’, she
may be an agent of another nation, or she may be something else entirely. Eight days ago, she attacked the
PanOceanian Embassy, killing twelve guards and three embassy staff before a lucky ricochet blinded her, and
she was arrested. PanOceania is demanding a full investigation be undertaken by Hexhedron agents, while the
Majlis al-Bourak have offered their own intelligence services. For reasons as yet unknown, neither side trusts
the other to pursue this case without concealing something. It has fallen to O-12 to break the deadlock. You
are a part of that team. You will be watched, be sure, by Haqqislamite and PanOceanian agents equally. You are
not permitted to interview the woman. You have limited access to the footage and associated files. Somehow,
you are expected to crack the case and manage it in a way that satisfies both parties. Why did she attack the
PanOceanian Embassy? Was she hoping to stir trouble between the two powers? Was she acting alone? Was it
a reprisal for something? Who is she? What is she? And why won’t either nation agree to allow you to interview
her or access the official files?

44 Chapter 4
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

to the Ariadnan cause might think, the embassy and With the discovery that the Combined Army has
its staff are caught in the unenviable position of formed a beachhead of sorts on Dawn, the entire
being between a rock and a hard place. The other well-practiced dance that represents the rela-
G5 nations are happy to see Ariadna in a weak tionship between O-12 and Ariadna has changed.
and exploitable position and apply pressure on Proof of the Combined presence on Dawn caused
almost every conceivable front to ensure that stays the Ariadnan Council to wake with the sudden
the case, all the while Ariadna chafes under the and gut-wrenching realisation that a warfront on
bonds imposed on it. O-12 and the staff at the Mat’ Dawn does nothing for Ariadna but allow other
Embassy are in the middle, doing what they can to G-5 Nations, particularly Yu Jing and PanOceania,
keep the peace. to push forward with their own territorial claims
under the guise of fighting the enemy. News that
Another constant source of frustration that has
the Combined forces had slipped the heavy cordon
done much to drive a wedge between the Ariadnan
in the Paradiso system and made it through to
Council and O-12 is the Ariadnan Exclusion Zone
Dawn is highly classified information, but it is infor-
(AEZ), governed by a team known as the Ariadnan
mation that has rocked the political stability and
Development Council and led by the minister
ambitions of all the G-5 Nations. Understanding
for Bureau Ganesh, another position within the
that any attempts to push for overall command of
embassy that has operated with a revolving door
the military operation under claim of sovereignty
of ministers. While the institution of the AEZ was
are likely to be as ignored as any previous attempts
an important step at the time of its creation, the
to assert authority in the face of corporate land-
changing circumstances, fortunes, and socio-po-
grabs, the Ariadnan Council have suddenly found
litical climate of both Ariadna and the rest of the
that they need O-12 in a way that was previously
Human Sphere has pushed the need for the AEZ
unpalatable to consider. The Ariadnan Council have
from a necessity to a contentious and arguably
pushed hard on every lever they can grasp to assert
unnecessary imposition. The Ariadnan Development
that the right to manage a multinational response
Council is meant to delineate swathes of land
on Dawn must, like on Paradiso, be managed by
to allow each of the Ariadnan nations room to
O-12. They knew that wasting time to push for
expand, but the process has been complicated by
their own authority was likely to allow the other
the high turnover of key staff. The Ariadnan Council
nations to land forces on Dawn and begin the
has the power to rubber stamp new settlements
process of land-grabbing under the pretence of a
within the AEZ as long as they can demonstrate the
united defence of the planet, so Ariadna took the
necessity of doing so, and without bothering with
unexpected step of demanding O-12 be given the
the justification, this is exactly what the Ariadnan
lead. While not fully supported by PanOceania and
Council have started to do. There is some concern
Yu Jing, any argument to the contrary looked lost
that this will lead to competing claims between
before it could be started, and O-12 was quick to
the Ariadnan powers, again pushing an already
assume overall command. Legally, O-12 will coordi-
fractious alliance into civil war, but as many point
nate the military responses to the new front against
out, Ariadna as a whole have enough common
the Combined enemy, and the Ariadnan Council
enemies to keep them fighting side-by-side, and
hope that this way will help prevent other nations
the thinking that dominated the establishment of
from simply landing troops and claiming territory
the AEZ has become redundant given the current
for themselves. This singular change in dynamics
situation. Of course, the reality of this changing
between Ariadna and O-12 has been a paradigm
climate does nothing to stop the occasional fresh-
shift, with Ariadna suddenly more cooperative,
faced bureaucrat arriving from Concilium Prima
supportive, and willing to engage with O-12, and
intent on making some point or investigation into
O-12 investing significant resources and personnel
infringements of the AEZ, but the Ariadnan Council
into their operations on Ariadna. Of course, the
is as skilled at stone-walling as any other power
Stavka have also stepped up their investment into
in the Sphere, and such new arrivals usually don’t
the infiltration of O-12 on Dawn. What use is it to
last long.
pass authority on to someone else if you can’t keep
a close eye on them?

Embassies of Note 45
 A NEW DAWN
Do Two Wrongs Make A Right?
A stanitsa in the foothills of the Tartary mountain range lodged a series of complaints with the Ariadnan Council and the O-12
Embassy in Mat’ over the illegal and aggressive expansion of a Yu Jingese mining site on their western border. They reported a
series of atrocities including outlying farming families butchered. The acting minister for Bureau Athena called for an investigation,
which is why you are here. You must travel to the foothills of the Rodina mountain range and uncover the truth of these claims.
But unbeknownst to O-12, the Ariadnan Council have already acted. What atrocities did the mining company commit, and can they
be brought to justice for their crimes? Or was the reprisal so brutal that any investigation could end up seeing Ariadnan officers in
court for their punitive actions? Everyone has a different story to tell, and weeding the truth from the cover-ups is going to be tough,
especially with the Stavka watching. Will the actions of the company be such that the response was justified?

Uncovering the Future

A research laboratory in Mariannebourg inadvertently triggered a silent alarm in a weapons system it appears they were attempting
to reverse engineer. With little alternative, Moto.Tronica alerted O-12 to the breach along with the demand that the people involved
be investigated and brought to justice. In the course of investigation, you learn that the Ariadnan mining company that trades with
Moto.Tronica for their technology has been manipulated to trade at a significant disadvantage, that they were promised access to
technological processes but given prefabricated tech instead. Moto.Tronica assumed the people they were dealing with lacked the
technological capacity to surreptitiously record their meetings and thought that the signed paperwork would exonerate their actions.
It turns out that those assumptions were wrong. When Moto.Tronica learn of this however, they will hire people to ensure any records
are destroyed, even if those records are in the hands of the investigators they called upon.

Sight-Seeing
A new minister for Bureau Agni has been posted to the Mat’ Embassy to replace the last, who went on leave a year ago. In traditional
fashion, the Ariadnan Council has thrown out the welcome mat and have invited the new minister on a tour of the countryside.
Innocent and all too trusting, the minister agreed. The Ariadnan Council are well known, among those who have served with the
embassy for long enough, for their capacity to concoct strange, demanding, and sometimes downright dangerous hazing rituals.
Whatever the new minister for Agni expressed to them in his initial meetings, it impressed them enough to get creative. The ‘tour’
will be guided by officers from the Spetsnaz and a number of staff from the Rodinan Federal Service, all of whom find the entire thing
hilarious. Two weeks in driving sleet, snow, cold, and hunting for their own food. It’s not a tour; it’s a survival course. You have been
assigned to protect the minister and ensure he survives. Will encounters with Dogfaces shake his bull-headed determination to ‘see
it through’, or will the biting hunger, cold, and suffering be enough?

Battle of Five Armies

A unit of Fusiliers, a unit of Zanshi, a unit of Kazaks, and your O-12 team walk into a Combined ambush… There are a lot of punchlines.
Not only have the Combined managed to ambush this small multinational scouting force you are part of, but however they managed
it, Yu Jing and PanOceania both just happen to be carrying survey equipment that identified the area you have stopped in, in the AEZ,
to be the potential site of a Teseum vein. Tensions were already high, and radio calls already being made in hurried voices, when the
Combined descended. Chaos reigns. Can the force be pulled together to fight off the Combined? Will they just turn on each other? Is
it everyone for themselves? What happens when the O-12 staff break through the Combined cordon with the only surviving survey
results, and make their way into the wilderness of the AEZ, hunted by friend and foe alike…

FREE ISLAND OF have seen an explosive change in the dynamics

SÁLVORA
Unique and hardly deserving of the title of mere
embassy, the Free Island of Sálvora is home to
the busiest and most influential O-12 Embassy in
the Human Sphere. Liaising between the Paradiso
Coordinated Command, who manage the warfront
against the Combined in the Paradiso system, the
expanded Tohaa Embassy, the governing bodies
of the territories on Paradiso, and dealing directly
with envoys representing the hyperpowers, there
is nowhere O-12 holds such influence and power
outside of the Concilium system. The last few years
of relationships and deal making. The Japanese
Uprising, with all of the changes to the political
landscape that wrought, has been the paradigm
around which everything has shifted, and the
implications and shockwaves of the Uprising are
still causing significant waves.
While the Paradiso Coordinated Command manage
the military campaign against the Combined Army,
the involvement of the embassy has stepped up.
The relationships between the various factions
of the Human Sphere have always been fractious,
but since the Uprising, trying to coordinate a

46 Chapter 4
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

multinational war effort has required more diplo-
macy, bombast, and threats of sanctions or other
punitive actions than ever before. The Combined
Army have leapt on this disunity and are pushing,
not only on Paradiso, but have stepped up attacks
on the Acheron Blockade and threaten to breach
human space with the beachhead established on
Dawn. Now is not the time for the petty squabbling
of nation states to distract from the greatest
common enemy humanity has ever faced, and the
O-12 Embassy has worked tirelessly to remind the
envoys and representatives they are dealing with of
this exact point.
The embassy on the Free Island of Sálvora is
housed in a number of high-rise buildings in the
centre of Sálvora City, with the most important
called The Assembly Building. The Hall of the
Assembly, an expansive and vaulted meeting
room with a number of attached chambers for
hearings and special cases, is a debate and meeting
chamber where generals, envoys, and diplomats rub
shoulders with members of the press, bureaucrats,
and other officials. Perpetually streamed on Maya,
The Hall of Assembly was in years past rarely rated
highly, but the current volatility of state interac-
tions has pushed it into one of the most highly
rated Maya streams available. Screaming matches,
arguments, thrown cups, and even a number of fist
fights have all been documented by cameras that
hang from the chamber roof. The public seem hor-
rified and fascinated in equal measure by the sight
of their representatives tearing at the foundation
of cooperation that keeps the Human Sphere safe
from the Combined Army onslaught.
Beyond the public debate hall of the Hall of the
Assembly, and on the higher levels of the embassy
building, are where the real deals and discussions
take place. Here a legion of bureaucrats from
Section Statera work in support of the ambassador
and ministers and synchronise with the Paradiso
Coordinated Command. Here too is where the
envoys and diplomats gather around smaller tables
in meeting rooms, have their grievances aired, and
make demands and concessions both to keep the
veneer of unity intact, and as the embassy staff
and O-12 hope — work towards a more cooperative
tomorrow.

ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL

With Friends Like These
Military surveillance footage retrieved from a PanOceanian Fusilier’s headset contains a clear video and
audio recording of an event on the Norstralian front showing a Tohaa Makaul executing members of the
Fusiliers, including the soldier from whom the footage was recovered. Politically explosive, the footage
was passed to the Paradiso Coordinated Command and from there to the O-12 Embassy on Sálvora Island.
In secret, diplomats have already secured an assurance from the Tohaa that the soldiers in question will
be punished severely according to Tohaa law, alongside an apology to both the PanOceanian Military
Complex and the families of the affected soldiers. The apologies to the families will never be passed on.
The official record has already been altered to list the Fusiliers as victims of a friendly fire tragedy. How
Anthony Rogers, a young diplomat for PanOceania who has political ambitions, managed to get hold
of copies of the apologies to the families is unknown. But Hexahedron operatives managed to identify
the data breach, and you, representing the Bureau Noir, are being mobilised to ensure that the press
conference Anthony is planning never takes place and the files are deleted forever. If the Tohaa apologies
got out onto Maya, the political repercussions and social backlash could threaten an important alliance.

In the Wind
Lucy Obasanjo was a Section Statera bureaucrat working under the minister for Bureau Hermes. Shortly
after being questioned about some irregularities in shipping manifests, she took leave and using passes
she issued to herself took off. It was a number of days before her absence raised any alarm bells, and the
investigation that followed was startling. For a number of months, and perhaps longer, Lucy had been
using her position within the bureaucracy of Bureau Hermes to issue ship licences and shipping passes to
a number of private contacts. The investigation discovered that these contacts are likely to be connected
to an unknown Submondo group, but who are likely to be the same group that has been investigated
for the last eighteen months for the smuggling Voodoo tech off Paradiso. Obasanjo was transferred
to Section Statera from Section Spatha after a serious injury sustained on Paradiso. She has detailed
knowledge of a number of investigations undertaken by Hermes, as well as an unknown data taken from
the databases of the Sálvora Embassy. She must be tracked down and brought in for interrogation, but no
doubt her new friends will keen to hide and protect her.

Embassies of Note 47
 CHAPTER 5
FIELD OFFICES
FIELD OFFICES
Embassies are the result of a significant investment
by O-12 and the host nation. They require detailed
agreements and come at a substantial ongoing
cost in terms of both maintenance and personnel.
A field office is a convenient workaround when a
political solution has not been found to allow the
placement of an embassy or where the situation —
the political, geographical, or economic significance
— is not rated as high enough for an embassy. O-12
has a number of field offices in place around the
Human Sphere, in addition to, and often in support
of, their embassies. These field offices, theoretically
at least, represent easy-to-reach contact points for
individuals, companies, and government officials to
48 Chapter 5
the bureaucratic machinery of O-12. Documentation
that must be lodged through official channels may
require an in-person meeting or verification and
is the simple, necessary process that dominates
a majority of the time of those working in field
offices. It is an unglamorous job and broadly
unpopular as postings. Most field offices therefore
are filled by local citizens, either trained through
the field office itself or a nearby embassy, virtually,
or are bureaucrats who are university trained
on Concilium Prima taking a position close to
family or home.
Field offices may be rural and quiet, urban and
posh, or may be positioned in a caravanserai or
spaceport and hectically busy. Irrespective of the
quantity of cases and amount of documentation
they process, the structure of a field office is

significantly different to that of an embassy. Most of
the time a field office will be led by a junior consul,
counsellor, or ministerial liaison; the number of
these positions of rank depends on the workflow
of the field office. Beneath these ranked positions
are the bureaucrats, members of Section Statera,
and all-important cogs in the machinery of O-12.
All field offices also have a posted security team,
usually a number of individuals or a small unit from
Section Spatha, who might be Global Police. If a
field office is close enough to a hot-spot or opera-
tional theatre, members from Bureau Noir or Aegis
may use it as a staging base for their operation or
as a rallying point afterwards.
A field office occupies a different legal position to
an embassy. Where an embassy is O-12 territory, a
field office is technically not. While O-12 officials
at a field office may declare a person or persons
within the offices have been granted asylum, those
individuals do not have the same protections
offered by an embassy. This is often compounded
by the fact that field offices regularly share a floor
or building with another organisation or business.
In the past, accepted asylum seekers have been
taken into custody within field offices while O-12
staff have been able to do little more than watch
and later lodge a complaint. There are a number of
field offices designed to work in a roving capacity,
housed within a small frigate that is relocatable
depending on the need.
Given their unassuming nature, the prevailing
attitude is that field offices are O-12 embassies
with no teeth. Bureaus Noir and Aegis both have
used this to their advantage. More often than
many might care to note, the bored Section Statera
bureaucrat who spends their day lodging documen-
tation related to ship licences and shipping permits
is also a handler for Bureau Noir agents in the
field or gathers intel for a Global Police operation
in the area.
The field offices detailed in this chapter are not
an exhaustive list but represent instead some of
the more important or unique field offices oper-
ated by O-12.
END OF THE LINE
FREE ORBITAL
Established at the end of the Corporate Crisis, the
End of the Line Free Orbital was originally built
as a way O-12 could monitor the Astraea system
and ensure the brittle peace held. Corporate and
national powers made extensive use of mercenary
forces to seize claims, hold them, claim jump, and
subdue rivals into selling out, joining up, or simply
leaving. Many believed the Human Edge was poised
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
as the powder-keg that would initiate the next big
war, but it never happened. As the crisis wound
down, O-12 established a presence in the system
that allowed them a frontline role in mediating
disputes, and while the Human Edge remains a
fractious and close to lawless frontier, the larger
clashes and general chaos of the crisis period is
well behind them.
Originally, O-12 located themselves in an orbital
purchased from the Yan Wei Corporation. It was
small and barely functional but served for five years
while the first stages of the End of the Line Free
Orbital were constructed in orbit around Heroclitus.
Built in toroid-shaped zones that revolve around
a central axle, it was designed to be expandable
while leveraging the simplicity of a Bernal sphere
to provide gravity for the inhabitants. O-12 first
moved into the End of the Line Free Orbital when
the second of the toroid zones was completed, and
since then, a further five have been added.
End of the Line is the default destination for new
arrivals to the Human Edge. Here, any required
documentation can be verified and processed, and
there are extensive programmes to allow new
arrivals to adjust to life on the frontier of human
space. Named originally as a tribute to the fact that
the Human Edge represented the farthest flung
location of human expansion, the title has grown
to carry a dark, satirical tone. A great many new
arrivals to the Human Edge come as prospectors
or refugees, people wanting to find a new life or
escaping the old one, and unfortunately too many
of those that arrive at the End of the Line find it
difficult or impossible to move on. There are many
reasons for this, and a majority of them boil down
to assets. Often new arrivals lack the connections,
resources, skills, or wealth to secure a position or
find a home elsewhere in the system. There are
also those who have made the first steps toward a
new life, but falter, facing and unable to make that
final jump, not quite willing to return to whatever
they left and not quite willing to commit to the
uncertainty of life in the Human Edge.
End of the Line is a vibrant place, a place where
the diaspora of humanity rubs shoulders with
one another regardless of creed, nationality, or
religion. It is also an energetic job market, with
corporations running mining operations throughout
the Astraea system looking for skilled workers,
linguists, scientists, medics, and teachers. A thriving
mercenary industry on the Human Edge also shops
at the End of the Line for promising new recruits.
Small intra-system ships come and go in an endless
stream, and the shipping and docking facilities
have had to be expanded multiple times with the
growth of the station itself.
End of the Line is a protectorate of O-12, ostensibly
it is governed by Bureau Concilium, the same
Field Offices 49
 governing body that rules the Concilium system,
and recognised citizens of the End of the Line
are permitted to vote in the Bureau Concilium
elections. While officially operated as a field office
for O-12, the End of the Line Free Orbital is more
of a territory, and ministerial representatives for
a number of bureaus work here, liaising with
corporations and the other orbitals of the system.
Several consuls have residence at the End of the
Line, and their job is both to manage negotiations
that do not fall under the direct remit of the bureau
ministers, arbitrate disputes, which usually revolve
around mining claims, and to keep an eye on pirate
activity and mercenary operations in the system.
Bureaus Aegis and Noir have permanent ministerial
positions at the End of the Line, alongside handlers,
operatives, and soldiers familiar with the various
orbitals, corporations, nations, and operations in the
system. Both Bureaus Aegis and Noir use the End
of the Line as a ‘washing machine’, a place where
agents often arrive with one identification and
move back into circulation with another.
ROVING FIELD
OFFICES
A majority of the roving field offices, as they are
called, are repurposed escort class ships, solidly
constructed but with the weapon systems removed,
usually excepting the point defence systems.
They can link to larger vessels and space stations,
provide the services of a field office, and deliver
other practical forms of support. It is rare for a
roving field office to be capable of using the jump
gates on their own. They rely on the Circulars to
move around the Human Sphere and have priority
docking rights in the event of their need to do so.
Several such vessels are stationed at various orbit-
als in the Paradiso system to help process refugees
seeking to move out of the system. Many of the
roving field offices still in service had previously
been stationed at hot spots throughout the Human
Sphere like Svarlarheima during the later stages of
the NeoColonial Wars and around Dawn during the
Commercial Conflicts.
It is the capacity to provide on-the-spot crisis
support that makes the roving field offices most
valuable. The members of staff that operate on
50 Chapter 5
a roving field office are often structured with a
defined chain-of-command and, in this sense,
borrow some of the structure and bureaucratic
network of a military vessel. The staff members
aboard a roving field office are usually small in
number and highly skilled. Staff are also chosen for
their experience, level headedness, and, of course,
skill set, and most usually function as project, relief,
or event managers dealing with crisis situations.
Roving field offices can even provide engineering
advice and management and can respond to prob-
lems associated with energy and food distribution
in trying circumstances, such as in the aftermath of
natural calamities. In a very real sense, they operate
as a disaster relief team, able to provide the analy-
sis, processing, and support to assist in response to
a wide range of crises.
This may seem beyond the remit of a run-of-the-
mill field office or embassy, but the capacity for
a roving field office to support a situation comes
not just in its ability to provide direct assistance,
but its ability to serve as the vital and immediate
interface between O-12 and a multitude of other
support agencies within the host nation or around
the Human Sphere as required by the circum-
stances it faces.
O-12S MALASPINA
Able to relocate to wherever it is needed, capable
of operating on its own, or in support of another
field office or embassy, the Malaspina is one of a
number of roving field offices operated by O-12.
Throughout its history, the O-12S Malaspina has
spent a majority of its operational life working in
the Human Edge, stationed for many years with
the Boushra Caravanserai in the Orthys Belt. For
the last three years, the O-12S Malaspina has been
relocated to the Kinkakuji station in orbit around
Heraclitus. With the Japanese Uprising and the
official recognition of the Japanese Empire, the
O-12S Malaspina has served in a vital position as a
bridge between the nascent Japanese government
(as relayed from Tokyo through the Kinkakuji) and
the O-12 on Concilium Prima. Given its current role,
a number of Bureau Noir operatives and Bureau
Aegis units are positioned on the Malaspina, the
former to manage intelligence operations around
Japanese activities in the Human Edge and the
latter for protection.
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

THE NEW WILD WEST

Drug Bust
Algae farms are a vital source of food in the Human Edge. Relatively easy to cultivate in a variety of gravities, they form
a bland but important function in keeping many mining facilities and orbitals fed. With the right mix of chemicals added
to the algal soup however, algae farms can also be encouraged to produce a variety of other things from medication to
construction material. Recently, a new drug has surfaced at a number of the orbitals around the Human Edge and has
been popular in more isolated mining stations. Looking very much like traditional protein tablets from algae farms and
going by a number of names, most notably Green, this drug is a mild hallucinogen that provides a euphoric high. It has
also been shown to affect depth perception and has been linked to several recent tragedies and accidents. Chemical
analysis of acquired samples suggests that Green comes from a single source, likely to be an asteroid mine converted to
algal farm. The composition of Green has indicated key ingredients that must be added to a standard algal farm set-up,
which are not easy to get in the Human Edge. You are to go undercover to work your way up the supply chain, from street
dealer to smuggler, with the aim of conducting a sting operation on the manufactory, once located. Did we mention
there appear to be links to the Struktura presence in the Human Edge? Those people are nasty.

Keep It in the Family

A bloody dispute has shattered a small mining community in the Socratic Trojans. A hard-working family has torn itself
apart over the rights to an asteroid that they have been working for close to a decade. People are dead, and the violence
looks to spread into the local community as friends support friends while family strikes family. It wouldn’t normally be
an O-12 issue, but the families involved, despite working in the Human Edge for a generation, have no documentation
at all. They may have arrived as stowaways, which is unlikely, may be criminals, escaped prisoners, or even ex-military or
some branch thereof high enough to secure a life in hiding. Whatever the truth of the matter, no one is owning this, and
something must be done before it spirals any further.

It’s So Crazy It Just Might…

The Human Edge is home to many and varied people and, broadly speaking, is probably one of the most multicultural
and accepting locations in the Human Sphere. But even by the zany standards of the Human Edge, the Summoners are
just too much. The Summoners are a religious cult who believe the Combined Army is the angelic army of the Lord
and that it is their job to communicate with them through the planet Socrates, which will tell them how to access the
Human Sphere so that all of humanity may be saved. For a number of years, they have been largely ignored as harmless
lunatics, even as they built a network of small settlements on a number of the smaller moons and plutoids in orbit
around the gas giant. Each small settlement builds shelters, algal farms, and a radio dish. It was thought that the radio
dishes were nothing more than the Summoners’ basic communications network, and that they might one day be used
to commune with the strange radio signals coming from Socrates. However, a young analyst ran a study through the
computer systems on End of the Line, for a laugh initially. What would happen if the network of radio dishes were used
to simultaneously blast radio waves at the Xenophon military base? Using their highest wavelength setting, it turns out,
the radio dishes could be devastating to the PanOceanian base’s quantronic systems and the perhaps even the ships in
orbit. Stunned more than amused, the analyst spent time digging into the Summoners and found that one of their key
benefactors was Mei Shi, daughter to one of the owners of Gāng Tie Industries, a Party faithful and previously accused
of using corporate assets to further the goals of the StateEmpire. A coincidence? Before PanOceania catch wind of the
possibility, or the radio dishes are used for that dangerous purpose, the minister for Bureau Aegis thinks it might be a
good idea to shut down a few of the dishes before an ‘accident’ has the chance to happen.

Fallen Star
Former Aristeia! champion Marlo ‘The Cleaver’ Handburg is on the run. Marlo’s life as a mega-wealthy Maya-star has
come crashing down around his ears. A playboy, part-time Aristeia! star, and full-time drug addict, Marlo had a penchant
for the high life and the fast lane. He even used his wealth to build his own personal zoo. Highly illegal given its location
within an orbital above Varuna, he had the animals smuggled in. Harmless enough, until his pair of Shrike Tardigrades
escaped, killing dozens of innocents in the process. Marlo fled as his careless, and even worse, remorseless, response
to the tragedy spread like fire around Maya. Soon enough, reports of fixed matches and other criminal activities saw
his accounts locked and Marlo himself degraded from star to murdering criminal. He fled, using whatever contacts he
had made throughout his long experience of misdemeanour and self-interest. He fled, what’s more, to the Human Edge.
Sure, the Human Edge is home to 100 million souls, but it can’t be hard to find a former superstar who likes the lavish
things in life, surely. You’ll need to get hold of him before his enemies or the bounty hunters do; he must face trial for
what he did over Varuna.

Field Offices 51
 GM TIP: READY FOR ANYTHING
Running a campaign centred around a team on a roving field office could present a multitude of opportunities for daring acts,
careful diplomacy, and political wrangling. Roving field offices typically consist of a small staff of capable professionals who are
relocated to assist in situations where things have gone horribly wrong for one reason or another.

Roving field offices may be sent on mission as a secondment to Bureau Athena to scrutinise or support an investigation into
human rights abuses or to negotiate in a diplomatic mission to a Tohaa outpost. They may be seconded to Bureau Ganesh as a
part of the Concilium Disaster Fund to ensure the distribution of food, energy, or medical supplies is professionally managed and
not funnelled off by greedy middlemen. They may be seconded to Bureau Aegis to uncover evidence and serve court summons to
the Courts of Concilium in the event of breaches of the Concilium Convention, illegal research, the smuggling of VoodooTech, or
other corporate crimes. The possibilities are endless and have the opportunity to take the characters across the vast territories
and nations of the Human Sphere, doing what they can to protect and uplift those suffering and unshackle the downtrodden.

In many ways, the mission briefings for a roving field office are similar in outline to those that a Bureau Noir team might under-
take. The key differences are that field officers serve in direct and overt ways and their mission parameters rarely justify getting
involved in combat unless in it is direct support of their mission goals. Missions in this sense are diplomatic, science based, and
investigatory. Players will need to use a wide range of skills to deal with problems that arise by primarily relying on the Psywar
and Infowar Battlefields and resorting to Warfare only when their hands are forced. Players in a roving field office campaign are
likely to represent the key staff, and a number of Troop-level NPCs will live on-board to support the characters, without getting
directly involved. These represent the bureaucrats and office workers of Section Statera who perform a vital, if less interesting,
function of ensuring the documentation is drawn up and the players have a way to access the supports they require.

52 Chapter 5
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

tried slowly expanding into PanOceanian or

EARTH
Positioned in a chain of interlinked offices in the
orbital at the top of the Lagos space elevator, the
O-12 to Earth Field Office is primarily concerned
with monitoring human rights abuses, liaising
with and providing support to the Climate Control
Agency, and protecting heritage sites around the
world from ongoing conflicts and acts of terror.
While the Saturn Delegation is the primary contact
point for the major political entities in the Sol
system, the Earth Field Office plays a close role in
monitoring activities on Earth and is often the O-12
contact point for the smaller political entities such
as Nigeria, Russia, the USA, and others.
Continual clashes between the smaller nations of
Earth, looking to expand in a world fenced off by
major political entities they cannot hope to match,
are common. In the quieter and less well-populated
areas, some of these smaller nation-states have
Yujingyu territory, seeking a stake in the rich lands
they see as abandoned by the great powers. Such
efforts may go un-noted or ignored for a time, but
on a number of occasions have led to brutal push-
backs by the hyperpowers, something of concern to
investigators from Bureau Athena.
The Earth Field Office is managed by an ambassa-
dor-at-large who answers to the Saturn Delegation.
Beneath the ambassador-at-large are ministers
representing almost every bureau from O-12. One
of the most active bureaus representatives in the
Earth Field Office is the minister for Bureau Noir,
who liaises with handlers positioned around the
planet and a number buried in deep cover in the
Free City of Tycho on Luna. Bureau Noir has a
singularly important role to play on Earth, with the
squabbling of so many minor powers, the general
lack of interest from the great powers, and the rise
of terrorist organisations such as Eco-Aktion.

WHERE OUR ANCESTORS ROAMED

Grey Ghosts
A growing Nigeria has managed to find stability and even a level of prosperity in the new world order.
With expanded borders encompassing several old neighbours and a promising economic base, it has
engaged in a number of environmental preservation projects. One of these was undertaken with the
support of Bureau Gaea, a Regeneration Project aimed at restoring the old Réserve Naturelle de Ngiri,
with a particular focus on providing environmental stability for the restoration of the nearly extinct forest
elephant. A little over a week ago, a warlord from south of the old Republic of Congo moved troops in the
reserve and has threatened to wantonly kill the elephants en masse unless a ransom is paid. Your team of
Bureau Noir agents have been seconded to infiltrate the area and assassinate the warlord while Nigerian
Special Forces secure the safety of the elephants.

All in the Family

In a deep cave system in the mountains along the Russian and Yu Jingese border, a burial site has excited
anthropologists. In the upper caves are the remains of a number of Denisovans in what may well be rit-
ualised burials. Even more exciting, in a deeper series of chambers, the remains of a previously unknown
hominid have been uncovered, one that has only been hinted at through traces of DNA. The find has made
headlines in Russia, even if it has hardly gone noticed on the broader Maya networks. A fundamentalist
religious group, known for terrorist acts seeking to destroy important ancient archaeological sites, has
declared this new discovery must be scourged from the Earth lest deception blind humanity from the
truth. Normally, such claims are little more than rabid threats, but in this case, the group has a worrying
history of carrying through. Your team of operatives have been dispatched to the location to provide
security and threat analysis. If an attack comes, the cave systems must go undamaged!

Field Offices 53
 CHAPTER 6
BUREAU AEGIS
If the words, writs, and laws passed in the
Öberhaus, Petite Asemblée, and the Courts of
Concilium are not enough to induce action from the
nation states of the Human Sphere, there stands
Bureau Aegis, the hands that carry out the will
of O-12. Of all the bureaus, Aegis is second only
to Bureau Toth in funding, and for good reason.
Divided into two vitally important sections, Bureau
Aegis ensures that O-12 can carry forward its
mission, whether that be through legal, political,
or military means. Bureau Aegis stands firm in
upholding the framework of laws and agreements
that keep the Human Sphere from slipping off
the knife’s edge of stability, without them, as any
O-12 citizen will gladly relate, humanity would
doubtless fall.
Now, more than ever before in history, humanity
stands on the brink. Self-governance, perhaps even
the preservation of human life itself, could tip
54 Chapter 6
into an abyss from which it would never recover.
Humanity, as varied, beautiful, and bright as it
has ever been is also fractious and fragmented,
minded to parochial sentimentality and divisive
nationalism, prone to acrimonious squabbling and
narcissistic self-aggrandisement. After all, compe-
tition has often been the spur to advancement. But
now, with an alien foe slavering for total domina-
tion clawing its way, part by part, into the bastion
of the Human Sphere, a united front is required.
Order and organisation need leaders, those with
the foresight to see the bigger picture, and the
will to forge a path into a hopeful future. It also
requires enforcers, shepherds, and taskmasters who
will carry out the will of those great minds. In O-12,
humanity has both the leaders and the enforcers.
If the political mechanisms of O-12 represent the
former, then Bureau Aegis stands as the latter. It is
Bureau Aegis that sees the agreements made are

carried out, that the law is upheld, justice meted,
and that the great enemy, wherever they turn, finds
not a haphazard and fragmented defence, but a
united front intent on absolute defiance.
Section Statera and Section Spatha are the two
vast divisions that make up Bureau Aegis and are
often referred to offhandedly as ‘the Scale’ and
‘the Sword’ respectively. Section Statera is a huge
corps of lawyers, aides, bureaucrats, accountants,
and other experts who ensure justice stands and
rulings, regulations, and restrictions are upheld.
Section Spatha is a gendarmerie, a militarised
police force with legal roles and responsibilities.
Section Spatha is not shy of participating in front-
line action, often employed as military support
and ever called upon to pursue investigations and
criminal activities that fall across multiple national
legal jurisdictions. While both sections sit beneath
the Bureau Aegis directorship, both are also highly
independent, pursuing their different responsibili-
ties with skill, tenacity, and professionalism. Bureau
Aegis is, in short, a vital tool in the arsenal of O-12,
which is itself, a vital asset working tirelessly to
maintain peace, stability, and a united defence of
the Human Sphere.
SECTION STATERA
Without doubt and beyond comparison, Statera
is the largest section in O-12. By number of
employees, it outstrips most other entire bureaus
by a significant margin. This vast section has its
own director and managerial board but is also
split into a number of divisions, each tasked with
dealing with aspects of Section Statera’s remit.
Each division has a director (or directors) who takes
their place on the section board. Divisions exist for
a range of specialised areas including Legal, Human
Resources, Recruitment, Cybercrimes, Finance,
Administration, and Internal Affairs. Each division
is subsequently split into a range of relevant
branches. For Finance, these departments consist of
Fraud, Taxation, and Forensic Accounting.
Divisions most often function in teams called
‘satellites’. These satellites may be as few as a
dozen members, with a satellite manager and
leadership team of one or two, or may be several
hundred members strong. Satellites are designed
to work with and within other bureaus across O-12,
following up legal concerns relevant to the bureaus
they have been allocated to, thereby enabling them
to outsource important research and support work
to relevant experts in their fields.
Each bureau within O-12 usually has at least
one Section Statera Satellite that liaises with
and follows up on issues relevant to that bureau.
To confuse matters more, satellites are often
cross-divisional, with forensic accountants working
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
alongside legal and paralegal assistants, attorneys,
cybercrimes technicians, and investigators from
Section Spatha, as the needs of the bureau they
have been assigned to dictate. Experts are regu-
larly seconded to a satellite to serve a particular
function in relation to specific cases, but the
general expectation is that a satellite assigned to
a bureau will include all the relevant expertise
to pursue and execute any cases or investigations
their assigned bureau might require. Satellites
typically work on site at the headquarters of the
relevant bureau, where they have close and easy
access to personnel, the knowledge base, records,
and research. Section Statera Satellites are also
assigned to key apparatus within the government
and legal systems of O-12, including and most
obviously to the Courts of Concilium, but also to
the Öberhaus, the Petite Assembleé, and even the
Security Council.
Sitting outside the usual division, branch, and
satellite structure of the rest of Section Statera is
the Internal Affairs Division. As often as it has been
suggested that Section Statera and Section Spatha
be divided and made into two distinct bureaus,
so too has the separation of the Internal Affairs
Division into a distinct and independent body been
a regular topic of discussion and debate. For now,
and the foreseeable future however, the position
of the division within Section Statera is ensured.
While every bureau has its own form of an Internal
Affairs Division, and Bureau Trimurti manage a
large Internal Affairs Division responsible for inves-
tigating and holding other bureaus to the standards
expected, the Section Statera Internal Affairs
Division has a clear mandate to investigate and
prosecute actions that relate to security and mili-
tary matters. This includes investigations into the
actions and operations of Bureau Aegis itself and
also the O-12 Security Council and Bureau Noir. In
fact, any matter that is deemed to relate to defence
and security is within the remit of Section Statera’s
Internal Affairs Division. Distinct from Bureau
Trimurti, whose primary focus is on corruption
and the mishandling of funding, Section Statera’s
Internal Affairs is focused specifically on military
and security. While they regularly liaise with Bureau
Trimurti, the division regularly deals with highly
classified and sensitive actions and operations.
The Internal Affairs Division’s broad ranging
jurisdiction as it relates to security matters also
happens to incorporate sitting members of the
Security Council belonging to other nation states,
and officers belonging to other national militaries
that have participated in operations led by O-12.
There are few that are wholly happy with the
wide-ranging investigative powers of Section
Statera’s Internal Affairs Division, but there are
fewer who are willing to lend their voice to an
argument for curbing their reach. As much as
Bureau Aegis 55
 other nations don’t like the idea of their soldiers
or officers falling under threat of investigation,
they don’t like the prospect of their rivals avoiding
scrutiny even more. The risk is part and parcel
of electing O-12 to manage or coordinate an
operation.
Due to the sensitive nature of the cases Internal
Affairs manages, a vast majority of their investi-
gations and findings are made to closed courts of
‘cleared’ individuals, and the punitive measures
undertaken as a result are kept just as quiet. An
uneasy acceptance surrounds the Internal Affairs
Division. On one hand it has an extremely powerful
reach; on the other, it has shown time and time
again that it has the courage and fortitude to delve
into some of the murkier corners of O-12’s joint
operations carrying the light of justice in hand.
SECTION SPATHA
Section Spatha is the will of O-12 manifested.
Structured as a gendarmerie, Section Spatha has
responsibilities that would be deemed by any
other state as military, but also includes roles more
typically executed by law enforcement and policing
services. Section Spatha troops may be found on
Concilium directing traffic and providing security.
They may be found in hot spots around the Human
Sphere coordinating joint military operations, pro-
viding training, serving on the front line, and they
may also be found throughout the Human Sphere
investigating and pursuing criminals whose crimes
cross national boundaries and jurisdictions. They
are a multi-purpose force, well trained in soldiering,
but capable of so much more.
Section Spatha maintains the hierarchical structure
common to military forces. The secretary general is
ostensibly the leader of Section Spatha. They are a
sitting member on the Security Council of O-12, and
it is they and their team of generals and advisers
who make up ‘Command’ and allocate forces around
the Human Sphere, initiate operations, and appoint
Section Spatha leaders to the O-12 commissions
operating around the Human Sphere.
Section Spatha, also known as SWORDFOR, is
divided into a number of departments: the Psi Unit,
Starmada, Procurement, the Bureau Aegis Tactical
Police Department (BATPD), and the Bureau Aegis
Investigations Police Department, also known
as GloPol (or the Global Police). Each of these is
structured slightly differently, and it is common for
individuals to shift between these departments
for specific operations or throughout their career.
While the differences are, by necessity, blurred, the
importance of the delineation is in their specific
roles and responsibilities. In the last decade, a shift
has slowly been taking place within Section Spatha.
56 Chapter 6
Three of the five major departments have grown in
importance, size, and independence.
Procurement is the logistics and supplies depart-
ment and has grown to assume a key role on a
broader stage. Because the Concilium Conventions
regulate military hardware that is legal and illegal,
Procurement has striven to become the standard for
the Human Sphere, leading the way by modelling
the types of gear and equipment law enforcement
and security personal should have access to, and
just as importantly, what is not appropriate for a
security force. They maintain guidelines that, tacitly
at least, are expected to be adhered to by corporate
security and policing forces around the Human
Sphere. Most national police forces pay lip service
to the guidelines, but Procurement agents have
a key role in setting a standard, testing and field
testing newly developed technology for suitability,
as well as making recommendations as to what
should be added or removed from the Concilium
Conventions.
The Bureau Aegis Psi Unit, the military intelligence
wing of Bureau Aegis, has grown to a size and
specificity of training that candidates now rarely
come through the bureau’s usual recruitment pool.
Currently, new rekruts (recruits) for the Psi Unit are
often tapped on the shoulder rather than gathered
from the general rekruts into Spatha. While Psi
Unit members were once all soldiers or ex-soldiers,
nowadays, the department includes a more diver-
sified pool of talent drawn from multiple bureaus
across O-12 and who are there at invite more often
than by application.
Starmada has been a part of Bureau Aegis since the
bureau’s founding, and while new members of this
force often are transfers from other departments
of the Section Spatha and even Bureau Tiandi,
many join by invite. Most newly inducted members
are experienced SWORDFOR personnel who have
proven their ability, bravery, and most importantly,
their loyalty. While the ships of the Starmada fleet
are well recognised throughout the Human Sphere,
especially the Circle Runners and hospital ships,
Starmada’s headquarters and the Surt Defensive
Ring that it is based in are highly classified and
shrouded in secrecy.
Top ranking officers in each of the departments
are members in Section Spatha Command. The
overall bureaucratic structure places the secretary
general at the top of the hierarchy. The secretary
general is a position held for a three-year period
(though recurrent appointments are possible) and
has traditionally been the highest-ranking officer
in the Tactical Police Department. Even though
they are ostensibly commander in chief, the sec-
retary general’s role (and the structure of Section
Spatha) has evolved to treat the commanders of

the Psi Unit and Starmada as equals rather than
sub-ordinate positions. This evolution has been a
process driven by necessity as the size, importance,
and resulting independence of these departments
has been a response to the changing state of affairs
across the Human Sphere. There may well be a day
soon coming where the Psi Unit and Starmada are
reshuffled as distinct sections within Bureau Aegis,
but so far this step has been held back by the fear
that it would look externally like O-12 was moving
to establish a fully-fledged military force.
BASIC
Section Spatha's budget invests heavily in recruit-
ment. Throughout Concilium, there are augmented
reality displays and advertising prompting passers
by to consider joining SWORDFOR. There is a social
and cultural weight to signing up. If you are an
O-12 citizen, that is not often matched elsewhere,
and tried and tested recruitment and advertising
methodology is relatively cheap and effective.
THE LINE
Section Spatha, SWORDFOR, Bureau Aegis
Tactical Police Department, Bureau Aegis
Investigations Police Department, GloPol…
These are all names that, for the general
public, are often used interchangeably. While
SWORDFOR and Section Spatha are two names
for the same thing, which includes the Tactical
Police Department and the GloPol Department
(technically the Bureau Aegis Investigations
Police Department), the names are not often
accurately applied in the media or by the people
in general.
SWORDFOR has a high level of public visibility,
largely due to a wildly popular sensaseries
called The Line. The Line has been lauded for
its realistic portrayal of SWORDFOR operations
and is purported to be supported by Bureau
Aegis advisers. It has been recently approved for
an eighth season. The Line follows a fictional
Special Crimes Squad called the Venatio.
The show’s name was selected both for its
history (coming from a much older ‘Thin Blue
Line’ colloquialism applied to a police force) and
for its regular use in slogans and recruitment
banners for police across the Human Sphere.
The Line between justice and anarchy. The Line
between peace and chaos. The Line between
good and evil. The Line between humanity
and destruction.
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Advertising and recruitment of potential soldiers
from outside of O-12 space is a trickier process, due
in part to an unwillingness of nation states to allow
O-12 to openly recruit and in part to perceptions
regarding O-12 that exist in the media and are
pushed by certain national interest groups. Of
course, walk-ups do happen, and O-12 recruitment
agencies are ready for anyone who actively wants
to join (provided they pass stringent vetting pro-
cesses), but to broaden their reach and to attempt
to break down barriers and perceptions, Bureau
Aegis takes a slow and considered response using
targeted advertising based on Maya behavioural
patterns.
Much time and money has been invested in
developing tools designed to look for candidates
who have a tendency to display an interest in inter-
national affairs, lack strong nationalistic tendencies,
have connections to a range of fitness applications
and services, and a range of other key tags in their
online and real-life behaviour. Candidates filtered
through this complicated data farming process, who
seem to match the social, political, and psycholog-
ical profiles that Bureau Aegis are looking for, will
be slowly exposed to advertising and propaganda
through augmented reality and their various online
interactions. The algorithms will monitor a target’s
response, and if this response isn’t overtly negative,
the engagement is slowly stepped up. The object
of this highly developed process of slow exposure
to carefully selected targets is to break down the
social and cultural assumptions held about O-12
elsewhere in the Sphere and make the idea of
joining a force built on the principles of peace and
justice sound like something that a certain type
of young person would benefit from. After the first
steps have been taken, more blatant and suggestive
advertising is used to prompt potential candidates
to sign up. The following stages involve interviews,
online tests, and if all those are passed, tickets to
the closest O-12 office, almost all of which employ
staff capable of running the interview and recruit-
ment process.
New members recruited into Section Spatha are
trained broadly with the intention that they will be
able to serve in any of the departments. More often
than not, a rekrut’s successes and abilities will
have them earmarked by their trainers for specific
departmental roles or units. Whether a rekrut has
their eyes set on the Tactical Police Department
or GloPol, the first introduction to service is Basic
Training. For all candidates, regardless of where
they are in the Sphere, Basic Training takes place
on Concilium Prima in training centres in the city of
Edda and in the orbital Asgard high above.
Basic Training is a tough three-month experience
designed to test and build a new rekrut’s strength,
endurance, and mental acuity. Not only does Basic
Bureau Aegis 57
 deal with rebuilding the body, but much time
is also spent on developing the mind. In fact, a
significant weight is placed on a rekrut’s academic
progress, as academics are a vital component of a
typical SWORDFOR officer’s regular duties. Training
courses on laws, psychology, de-escalation strate-
gies, negotiation, psyops, investigation techniques,
and counterinsurgency strategies, as well as many
more, are all part and parcel of the experience.
The object of Basic is not to produce a finished
SWORDFOR officer, but to prepare a candidate for
the next stages of their training.
Basic is a process that is designed to instil a
standard set of skills in all SWORDFOR officers, but
it also includes a process which will help direct a
rekrut to an avenue of further training that most
ideally suits their interests and abilities. The final
two weeks of Basic includes a significant focus
on where a rekrut will go next. Based on their
progress, tests scores, aptitude ratings, and a range
of other data sets, each rekrut will be given a list of
options for further training. It is in this stage that
rekruts are shifted into departments and earmarked
for specific units that will manage the next steps in
their training.
Options to sign up for Procurement, the Psi Unit,
and Starmada are not open to just anybody. While
recruitment drives may occasionally take place,
they are carefully targeted, either within existing
SWORDFOR ranks or in universities around
Concilium. The training and vetting processes are
lengthy, and the requirements of entry are high and
often extremely specific.
JOINING THE TACTICAL
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Rekruts who have made it through Basic and opt
for entrance into the SWORDFOR Department are
shuffled into groups, sometimes called batches,
or teams. These are usually between twenty and
forty individuals who are then relocated to camps
around Concilium Prima for Induction. Induction
is really another word for a series of specialised,
extended courses: weapons drills and training, laws
and regulations, teamwork and riot control, counter-
insurgency, and so on. Always with a strong physical
and mental fitness component, these courses take
place at specialised facilities built for purpose, and
teams are revolved through these facilities over
the two months of their Induction. Throughout
Induction, rekruts are encouraged to apply for
entry into the specialist honing courses which will
follow, each of these specifically drilling the rekrut
in the skills and requirements of a specific unit in
SWORDFOR.
Induction ends with a passing out parade, a short
leave period, and the beginning of the honing
course they successfully applied to. Honing courses
58 Chapter 6
are a one-month embedded course held with
the unit, before a rekrut is officially passed and
awarded their ‘deputy gendarme’ epaulettes and
their blue caps.
JOINING THE GLOPOL
DEPARTMENT
Those rekruts who have applied to GloPol tend
to have a more academic bent. As well as rekruts
coming through Basic, many GloPol officers enter
the force through invitation while undertaking
a university education in forensics, cybersecurity,
accounting, and the like. For those who do enter
GloPol from Basic, there are multiple opportunities
for further education, including university courses
in return for terms of service, which are typically
four years.
Many rekruts to GloPol undertake training in
policework, following which they will serve as
general duties police officers working throughout
the towns, cities, orbitals, and settlements of O-12.
Later in their careers, many general duties police
officers ‘train up’, completing specialist courses that
will see them gain the rank of agent and provide
them the opportunities to work forensics, as detec-
tives, and so on.
While many specialist agents will end up serving in
O-12 territory, a majority will find service through-
out the Human Sphere, by assisting national police
forces, in training, or in pursuit of criminals whose
actions breach the laws of multiple national
jurisdictions. These agents are not heavy armed
tactical police — that is what the Tactical Police
Department is for — they are investigators and
detectives, forensics and fraud experts, people
with specific skill sets to trace and track criminal
activities across national boundaries and bring the
perpetrators to justice.
THE TACTICAL
POLICE
DEPARTMENT
As innocuous as the name might sound, the Bureau
Aegis Tactical Police Department is, and without
a doubt, the most well-armed and armoured
organisation in O-12. The banal name is deliberate,
and O-12 continues to employ significant amounts
of propaganda to convince people that the Tactical
Police Department is not a military force. It is
impossible not to agree that the last twenty years
have seen a substantial militarisation of O-12’s
tactical force, but this has also coincided with a
rise in corporate military might, larger and more
capable mercenary forces, an increase in tension
within the Human Sphere, and a much larger

role for O-12 in coordinating and supporting the
defence against the Combined Army. Nonetheless,
many detractors throughout the Human Sphere
decry the increased militarisation of O-12 assets,
suggesting it was never the role O-12 was meant
to assume and implying O-12 has imperialistic
designs. Tough times call for tough measures, and a
growing capacity to meet greater threats is needed
if there is to be any hope in carrying out O-12’s
mandate to provide enforcement for the rules and
uphold international justice. The debate, however,
is the key reason O-12 is very careful with the
language it uses to describe its people. It does not
have divisions and soldiers — it has departments
and agents. And while the ranks of the Tactical
Police Department mirror those of many militaries
throughout history, they are never officially referred
to as soldiers.
However careful O-12 is in the use of its language,
it is agents and members of the Tactical Police
Department are still taking on front-line duties
around the Human Sphere. Through their Basic
Training, they are well versed in the essentials of
local laws, but once they have been passed Basic
and entered Induction, training brings the focus on
military interventions, tactics, and strategies to the
forefront. Honing courses see rekruts embedded
RANKS IN THE TACTICAL POLICE DEPARTMENT*
Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs):
Rekrut (Recruit)
Deputita Ĝendarmaro (Private)
Sub Korpa (Lance Corporal)
Korpa (Corporal)
Gendarme (Sergeant)
Serĝenta Majstro (Sergeant Major or
Warrant Officer)
* While the autotranslation systems of the TPD commonly default to the English language titles rather
than Esperanto, it is one of the common ways that newly recruited or liaison forces are recognised. Few
if any members of the TPD use these terms except when speaking with outsiders.
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
with their prospective units and upskilled in the
specific roles and responsibilities of that unit. For
most units, like the largest general unit the Kappas,
this training is an intensive one-month process,
but for more specialised units, like the Omega or
Gamma Units, this process is both longer and far
more gruelling.
Training camps for the Tactical Police Department
are scattered throughout Concilium Prima. High
intensity physical training takes place in facilities
in the El-Gebal mountain range, the Kappa unit
training bases are in the lowlands of Maidan,
north of Kala Pani, while the best of the best
are relocated to the remote city of Thokk in the
arctic continent of Helheim. Here, far from prying
eyes in the harshest of conditions, Tactical Police
Department agents are put through batteries of
tests and training programmes designed to break
them down and rebuild them. In separate camps
beyond the grey buildings of Thokk itself can be
found the training bases of the Lynx, Delta, Omega,
Gamma, and Razor Units, not that a prying eye
would make that far.
Once a rekrut has made the grade, passed their
Basic, Induction, and Honing Training Courses they
will enter service as a deputy gendarme (the equiv-
alent of a private or constable) in their unit.
Commissioned Officers (COs):
Aspirant (Officer Cadet)
Sub-Leŭtenanto (Sub-Lieutenant/ Ensign)
Leŭtenanto (Lieutenant)
Kapitano (Captain)
Grava (Major)
Leŭtenanta Kolonelo (Lieutenant Colonel)
Kolonelo (Colonel)
Brigado (Brigadier)
Plej Granda Generalo (Major General)
Ĝenerala Leŭtenanto (Lieutenant General)
Generalo (General)
Bureau Aegis 59
 Environmental training takes place in the specially
built orbitals in Concilium Nova and at the Bureau
Aegis training facilities on Surt, the moon of
Muspelheim. The wide array of training camps
and facilities is designed to provide SWORDFOR
agents with the familiarity and training required
to best support them whatever situation they are
thrown into.
Serving throughout the Human Sphere, Tactical
Police Department units are highly trained and
effective. When a geopolitical tension, corporate
disagreement, or potential flashpoint is identified
as likely to deteriorate, the O-12 Security Council,
on advisement from the Psi Unit, can authorise
Bureau Aegis to step into the gap as mediators.
Authorisation requires a majority vote by the
Security Council and gives Bureau Aegis the legal
right to intervene and mediate with very specific
boundaries. Such mediations involve high-level
negotiation, deals, embargos, or concessions,
though on a number of occasions in recent years
the Tactical Police Department has been forced to
take a more direct approach and settle the matter
themselves.
Nations may invite O-12 to support or coordinate
actions within their territories. Such invitations
typically come with a defined remit, though this is
often negotiated given the needs of the situation.
Bureau Aegis Tactical Police Department units
may provide training, logistics, front-line support,
or defence and security. Nation states often make
use of O-12 resources in this fashion, and some,
like PanOceania, regard access to Tactical Police
Department agents and units for training and coor-
dination as their due right, since, they argue, they
pay for O-12 in the first place. It is only a matter
of diplomacy that Tactical Police Department staff
are explicitly ordered not to remind PanOceanian
officials just how many years the nation is behind
in their payments to O-12.
Tactical Police Department units like the Kappas
are trained to specialise in peacekeeping opera-
tions. Petitions may be made to the Öberhaus and
passed onto the Security Council by organisations,
representatives, or charities. Most often however,
cases are brought before the Security Council
directly by Bureau Athena. If the Security Council
votes to support a case, it is turned over to
SWORDFOR Command. Tactical Police Department
units, most regularly the Kappas, who may be
supported by other units at the advice of the Psi
Unit General-on-Command, will be deployed to a
location to provide security and peacekeeping. In
peacekeeping operations, units must abide by the
Peacekeeping Rules of Engagement. However, for
any individual operation, SWORDFOR Command
may suspend specific articles within those rules
depending on the situation. If circumstances are
60 Chapter 6
regarded as volatile and likely to change swiftly,
an O-12 commission may be dispatched alongside
the peacekeeping force with the authority to make
on-the-spot decisions about the suspension of
rules as the situation evolves.
THE GLOBAL
POLICE
DEPARTMENT
GloPol, or the Global Police Department, is
also known by its full name, the Bureau Aegis
Investigations Police Department. Unlike the
Tactical, or Tactical Police Department, officers in
GloPol are not heavily armed and armoured; they
are not front-line troops expecting or capable of
dealing with entrenched or heavy resistance. GloPol
is an international police department that special-
ises in investigating crimes and pursuing justice
across national boundaries throughout the Human
Sphere. GloPol also have responsibilities that
extend to general police work within the Concilium
system, and on a number of Orbitals in the Human
Edge. GloPol is divided into two large departments,
each with quite different roles and responsibilities.
THE GENERAL POLICE
DEPARTMENT
The General Police Department has duties that
extend to essential police work and includes things
like dealing with anti-social behaviour, community
safety, attending accidents, enforcing traffic laws,
dealing with breaches of law and peace that relate
to drugs and alcohol, and attending emergencies.
The General Police Department itself is divided
into a number of smaller departments, each taking
a focus on specific responsibilities or aspects of the
duty. It is most widely described as there to keep
the peace and ensure that there are trained people
present to deal with dangerous or illegal activities.
Officers of the General Police Department can be
found throughout the Concilium system, on the
Circulars, in the End of the Line free orbital, and
a number of other smaller orbitals and colonies
around the Human Sphere who have applied to
O-12 for support, most of these are too small or
disparate to manage a law enforcement or security
force of their own.
Members of the General Police Department are
expected to perform their duties to the highest of
standards. Training courses and refresher courses
take place on a regular basis and are designed
to reinforce or develop officers beyond their
Basic Training.

RANKS WITH THE
GENERAL
POLICE
DEPARTMENT*
Probable Konsistulo (Probationary Constable)
Kontestanto (Constable)
Anltrangulo Konstruisto (Senior Constable)
Gvidanta Altranga Konstruisto (Leading Senior
Constable)
Serĝento (Sergeant)
Plej Granda Serĝento (Senior Sergeant)
Inspektisto (Inspector)
Ĝenerala Inspektisto (Chief Inspector)
Superintendento (Superintendent)
Ĉefa Superintendento (Chief Superintendent)
Asista Komisaro (Assistant Commissioner)
Vikomisaro (Deputy Commissioner)
Komisaro (Commissioner)
Investigations department have the prefix
Detektivo (Detective) before their rank (which is
usually shortened). All Kontestanto are referred
to as just Detektivo, all Serĝento are referred to
as Detektivo Serĝento, and all Inspectors are
referred to as Detektivo Inspektisto.
* While the autotranslation systems of the
TPD & GPD commonly default to the English
language titles rather than Esperanto, it is
one of the common ways that newly recruited
or liaison forces are recognised. Few if any
members of the TPD & GPD use these terms
except when speaking with outsiders.
THE INVESTIGATIONS
DEPARTMENT
Alongside the General Police Department, less
seen in Concilium space but more commonly seen
outside it, is the Investigations Department. The
Investigations Department is the largest, most
influential, and most well-known part of GloPol,
so much so that if a person anywhere in the
Human Sphere is asked to describe GloPol, they
will describe what they know of the Investigations
Department. In essence, GloPol is the Investigations
Department.
While the Investigations Department does
have general field agents and specially trained
agents, like the Team Sirius operatives who have
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
synchronised robotic partners, they are mostly ana-
lysts. The Investigations Department is split into a
number of sections and subsections, each specialis-
ing in analysing and investigating particular types
of criminal activity.
Sections include:
• Intelligence Support, which includes subsections
focused on crime and narcotics, counterintel-
ligence, policy support, terrorism, cybercrimes,
forensics, forensic accounting, specific nations
(PanOceania, Yu Jing, etc.), the Tohaa, the
Combined Army, and so on.
• Clandestine Support, which is the subsection
responsible for training all active field agents
and carries out physical operations around the
Human Sphere.
• And Logistics Support, which includes procure-
ment and distribution of equipment and services
for the department.
GloPol’s Investigations Department has no rank
structure. While there are positions in authority,
including the Direktoro (director), Vikdirektoro
(deputy director), Ŝtatestro (chief of staff) and so on,
the internal structure resembles a corporation more
than it does a military or police force.
Investigations analysts and agents are regularly
employed throughout the Human Sphere to inves-
tigate and pursue criminal activity and criminals
that operate across national boundaries or in
locations or situations where a national jurisdiction
is unclear. GloPol liaises with intelligence and
law enforcement organisations throughout the
Human Sphere, and analysists and agents are
often seconded to national police or investigations
departments to support or coordinate investi-
gations and pursuits, to provide guidance, or to
offering training and development. GloPol has
extremely close ties both to the Section Spatha
Psi Unit and to Bureau Noir. Regularly, operations
launched by Bureau Noir come from intelligence,
investigations, and information gathered by GloPol’s
Investigations Department.
STARMADA
Closely tied to the Tactical Police Department,
Starmada is a relative newcomer to Bureau Aegis,
though in reality has operated in one form or
another since the NeoColonial Wars. Starmada is
the wing of SWORDFOR responsible for patrols,
operational support, transport, and logistics, and
the insertion and extraction of SWORDFOR assets.
A part of Starmada, though wholly shrouded in
secrecy, is the Surt Defensive Ring. While word
of the ring slowly leaked into intelligence circles
nearly a decade ago, it is surprising that such a pur-
portedly large infrastructure project has managed
Bureau Aegis 61
 to keep under a cloud of rumour and secrecy that
no power has yet been able to pierce.
Much has been made in the confidential halls of
power about the existence of the Surt Defensive
Ring. The Security Council, as well as the Secretary
General of Bureau Aegis have been recently ques-
tioned about the nature and purpose of the ring, as
well as roundly criticised for not answering ques-
tions with any clarity or specificity. There is a tacit
understanding that the Surt Defensive Ring exists
for system defence, should it ever be required, but
questions still loom about the force projection it is
capable of. While intelligence services throughout
the Sphere have been unable to crack the high
levels of secrecy and security around Muspelheim
and the Starmada shipyards in orbit there and on
the moon of Surt, all reasonable estimates suggest
the ring represents a significant defensive capacity.
O-12 have long operated a fleet, but it has only
been within the last decade that this fleet has been
reorganised into a specialised wing of SWORDFOR
and named Starmada. Starmada vessels are a mix,
donated, bought, and built to support the wide
range of roles O-12 requires. Some larger ships are
used to defend and support O-12 conclaves and the
scientific and humanitarian missions of the other
bureaus. Smaller craft, including the flexible Circle
Runners, are used to defend the Circulars and are
often deployed as system patrol craft and special-
ised pirate hunters. The largest of Starmada’s ships
are undoubtedly the troop transports, in regular
use by all powers in the Human Sphere, and the
vast hospital ships, which are in constant rotation.
O-12’s needs are many, and the Starmada fleet,
while it performs above and beyond all expectation,
is stretched thin. As much as O-12 would like to
be able to dedicate more resources to expanding
and developing its fleet, many of the powers in the
Human Sphere, most notably PanOceania and Yu
Jing, have been resistant to this move. They argue
that it is not within the needs or remit of O-12 to
have a larger or more militarised fleet and have
used their positions in the Öberhaus and Security
Council to limit 'needless' spending on Starmada
vessels. Despite their objections, it is becoming
clear that Starmada is being stretched thin, and
some level of expansion will be required in the
near future.
62 Chapter 6
Ranks within Starmada are the same as those of
the Tactical Police Department. This is a hangover
from the fleet being a disparate collection of ves-
sels belonging to a range of bureaus and sections
before being reorganised under Starmada. Soldiers,
pilots, engineers, technicians, chefs — all manner
of personnel serve in Starmada Department. New
members of Starmada do not usually come from
volunteer recruits. Instead, they are most often
offered positions and are routinely promoted to
Starmada from other Bureau Aegis departments.
PSI UNIT
Every power requires up-to-date and fine-grained
information in order to take effective and impactful
action, even when that information is often
something others don’t want them to have. Bureau
Aegis’s Psi Unit is the intelligence department of
SWORDFOR. They employ the analysts and agents
responsible for combing every scrap of available
data that can be found, drawn, pulled, or beaten out
of the Human Sphere, the Tohaa, and the Combined
Army. While a vital part of Bureau Aegis, and funda-
mental to the effective utilisation of Tactical Police
Department, GloPol, and Starmada assets, they
also liaise closely with the O-12 Security Council
and Bureau Noir. A majority of the members of the
Psi Unit are data analysis experts across a swathe
of fields, but there are times when cracking data
packets and putting together the pieces is just not
enough. These occasions require an agent in the
field, and Psi Unit field agents are called COps, or
Covert Operatives. Trained in the mind-breaking
Der Irrgarten facility in Bergelmir, a secretive little
settlement in Concilium’s arctic region, agents are
drilled, lectured, quizzed, interrogated, and trained
to the point that most break. Those that make it
through are all-purpose field agents capable of
finding the torn pieces of a scribbled note, tracking
and observing a mark unseen, and, if necessary,
getting information from those less than willing
to share it. Psi Unit teams can be found supplying
information to the Security Council and working
alongside almost every Section Spatha operation in
the field and with O-12 conventions. The Director
of the Psi Unit is a member of Section Spatha
Command, and the department is vital to the main-
tenance and success of O-12’s vision.
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

GLOVES AND GAUNTLETS

Like all big organisations, Bureau Aegis is filled with a range of factions, often with varying and some-
times conflicting ideologies. Within Bureau Aegis, and most prominently with the upper echelons of
Section Spatha, there are two broad factions, internally referred to (and never in the open) as the Gloves
and the Gauntlets. The Gloves are the dominant faction and have been since O-12 was first founded, but
in the last decade, the Gauntlets faction has been growing in numbers, in support, and in openness.
These two factions differ in how they view O-12 should carry out its mandate to keep the peace in
the Human Sphere. The vehicle through which the will of O-12 is carried out is predominantly Section
Spatha, and how Section Spatha should plan and execute their support of O-12 is the contention.
The Gloves have always followed a quiet approach, supporting O-12, the Courts of Concilium, the
Öberhaus, and the Security Council through mediation, peacekeeping, and careful management. They
believe a soft touch is what is required, and that if O-12 were to try and stamp their authority with too
much force, the nations of the Human Sphere would rebel. O-12 would become a faction in its own
right, and Code Infinity would spiral into deadly internecine wars leaving humanity wide open to the
depredations of the Combined Army.
The Gauntlets take the opposite view. Long have they watched the petty squabbling of the nations of the
Human Sphere, witnessed an inability or unwillingness to put aside parochial differences for the sake of
humanity, and seen the ineffectiveness of the Gloves’ approach over such a long period. Too many empty
seats in the ships returning to Concilium from Paradiso or any number of other flashpoints around the
Human Sphere and for what gain? Humanity is closer to the brink of self-destruction than ever before,
and there is a hostile alien force raging to enslave all. The Gauntlets take the view that in order for O-12
to govern the rudderless ship of the Human Sphere they need to stand firm, be unrelenting, brook no
opposition, and make its statements declarative, with bullets for exclamation points if words are not
sufficient.
For a long time, the number of agents and officers who shared in the ideology of the Gauntlets remained
few, but the events of the last decade have seen a sharp rise in the number of Gauntlets throughout
Section Spatha. More vocal now than ever before, if a Gauntlet should ever be made secretary general
and end up advising the O-12 Security Council, who knows what the result would be. The Gloves would
say it would be disastrous; the Gauntlets would say that it would finally see O-12 take the effective and
prominent role it was always meant to. For now, the Gloves have the numbers and the positions, but never
have the Gauntlets been more numerous…

Bureau Aegis 63

“Unity, cooperation, support, and
progress. You know what O-12
stands for. You’ve seen those
words dance in your patinas so
often you don’t even see them
anymore. I’m not here to talk
about what the Pillars stand for;
I’m here to tell you that in order
to uphold them, in order to carry
them forward, you’re going to come
face to face with their opposites:
division, interference, sabotage, and
decay. The General Department
is the force behind the words of
O-12. As that force, we don’t fight
on behalf of O-12, we fight for
humanity. Those opposites would
tear us down, have us at each
other’s throats, let the great enemy
ravage and enslave us. We stand in
defiance of that future. We oppose
it utterly.”
–Plej Granda Generalo Piotr Simkin,
in his speech at the passing
out parade of Group 7-9 of the
General Department.
64 Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
UPHOLDING THE PILLARS
“Upholding the Pillars” introduces new mechanics
connected to running campaigns as a part of
Bureau Aegis.
As a large bureau with many responsibilities, the
scope and range of campaign styles can alter dra-
matically — from internal affairs field investigations,
paramilitary ops, undercover police stings, through
to gangbuster teams working with Starmada to
break up pirate operations on the Human Edge.
Bureau Aegis is a multi-layered source of pos-
sibilities for action, adventure, and intrigue. The
possibilities of working across departments and
secondment to other bureaus allows for a huge
range of possible campaigns, whether investigating
claims of human rights violations on behalf of
Bureau Athena, safeguarding a shipment of aide
and medicines to a war-torn city on Paradiso for
Bureau Gaea, to infiltrating and busting open a
smuggling ring for Bureau Ganesh.
At the end of the day, while the agents for Bureau
Aegis deal with some of the worst the Human
Sphere has to offer and tangle regularly with the
great enemy of the Combined Army, each agent is
expected to operate to the highest of principles.
Bureau Aegis is the most visible symbol of O-12.
Agents work openly across the Human Sphere,
and as such they must live up to its ideals and
aspirations. More often than not, this is a significant
challenge. Representing justice in the face of injus-
tice, clemency in the face of brutality, unity in the
face of division, it is no easy path to walk.
This chapter focuses on how to bring the feeling of
working for Bureau Aegis into the game mechan-
ically and does so through the systems of Ideals,
Goals, Splashback, and Reputation.
IDEALS, GOALS,
SPLASHBACK,
AND REPUTATION
To reflect the difficulties faced by agents of Bureau
Aegis in balancing the execution of their duties and
the symbolic creed of O-12, the organisation that
they represent, there are mechanics for both Goals
and Ideals.
In Infinity the Roleplaying Game, the Wilderness of
Mirrors is a system that may be leveraged by play-
ers and GMs alike to create interesting narrative

tension between members of the clandestine
Bureau Noir (see Infinity Corebook, p. 14). While
the Wilderness of Mirrors may be utilised in a
Bureau Aegis campaign, members of this bureau
are continually drilled to work and fight as a team.
GMs and/or players who still wish to incorporate
the divided loyalties of the Human Sphere in their
campaigns should feel empowered to continue to
use the Wilderness of Mirrors rules. However, we
suggest toning down the factional interplay of
different nations and utilising Goals and Ideals as
an alternative driver for narrative tension in your
games either as an addition or an alternative.
In essence, Goals and Ideals are two themes to
every adventure or campaign that regularly come
into conflict with one another. Goals represent the
mission objectives, in other words, getting the job
done. Ideals represent the pressures of living up to
a symbolic standard of behaviour and composure.
Conflict and narrative tension within a game ses-
sion come from when one of these gets in the way
of the other. Where the actions required to get the
job done directly contravene the ideologies or laws
of O-12. Where the question of the ends justifying
the means is called into play. Where the agents are
put in a position from which they can follow orders
and not intervene, knowing something terrible will
happen once no one is watching, or they can bend
or break orders and intercede. Characters may be
placed in a position in which they can follow the
legal or directed path, and know it will take longer
and lead to more carnage, or take some short-cuts
and hope their superiors don’t notice, and thereby,
maybe, avoid so much collateral damage.
GM NOTE
Narrative conflict may come from situations in
the game where the players must make a choice
of how to react. (Will we physically intervene and
release these hostages, even though we have
been directed to remain hands off observers?) Or,
it may be imposed from above, by directives or
orders given that go against the standards and
expectations of service to which Bureau Aegis
is held. (Our superior has ordered or implied
that they want us to eliminate a dissident, and
we know they are asking us to break the Rules
of Engagement.)
IDEALS
Ideals fall into two categories, Personal and
Professional, and both are outlined in more
detail below.
PERSONAL IDEALS
Personal Ideals are where the character stands as
an individual on the role and responsibilities of
O-12 and whether they should lead by example
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
or whether they believe that the end goals of a
mission are more important than following every
letter of every article. Broadly, these two ideological
factions within Bureau Aegis are often called the
Gloves and the Gauntlets, and where each character
sits in relation to these is something each player
should define for their character. A player may wish
to simply identify which of the two internal factions
of Bureau Aegis (Glove or Gauntlet) they belong
to, or they may want to provide a more varied or
detailed description.
GM NOTE
Personal Ideals can be utilised as Traits in a
game session. See Infinity Corebook, p. 35 for
more on how Traits may be invoked or triggered.
It is worth spending some time during character
creation to flesh out what they are for each
character. It may be as simple as a single word.
Glove or Gauntlet would be appropriate, but
Idealist and Cynic are terms that may be used
to have a similar meaning. Traits may also be
a short statement of belief, something like:
“Andros believes that the ends can never be
used to justify the means.” or “Lucy believes that
sometimes hard choices are required for long
term success.” Some suggested personal Ideals
are listed below:
• Idealist/Glove
• Cynic/Gauntlet
• Rash
• Cautious
• Humanitarian
• Jaded
• Empathetic
• Unemotional
• X believes that they must reflect the standards
O-12 represents.
• X believes in achieving mission objectives at
any cost.
• X questions their orders.
• X joined up for what service represents.
• X joined up because it was a job.
NOTE
Mental health and PTSD significantly impact
the real-life of many who have experienced
trauma. The rules detailed for Splashback on
p. 66 abstract the effects that service and
trauma can have on an individual. They are rules
in a game, and ultimately, if the GM or players
feel they do not want this to be a part of their
games, then they should be discarded. A game
is played for enjoyment, and while the struggles
of dealing with conflicting beliefs and orders
can be an interesting story element for a service
like Bureau Aegis, nothing is interesting enough
to include if it means someone at the table
is uncomfortable.
Upholding the Pillars 65
 PROFESSIONAL IDEALS
Professional Ideals are defined by the GM and
are likely known to the characters, but this is not
always the case. Professional Ideals can reflect
the type of operation or beliefs of the characters’
superiors and the directives they are given. It may
be that a character who believes in upholding the
very best of standards is ordered to undertake a
mission they know is in violation of the Rules of
Engagement. Or it may be that a character who
believes that cutting corners is ok as long as the
mission is successful is working underneath a
superior who believes everything must be done by
the book. These don’t need to be factors in every
game session but can be utilised by the GM to
create interesting story moments within a game. If
they are defined by the players and the GM prior to
the beginning of a session or campaign, they can
provide a useful source of narrative tension and
lead to interesting developments in the story.
GM NOTE
A good way of varying and bringing in
professional goals is through NPCs such as
the superiors who provide the characters with
their missions. It may be that the characters
have an Operations Director who is a pure
idealist, and any hint of actions that are in the
grey area or outside the Rules of Engagement
result in references to internal affairs, threats
of demotion, or other consequences. It may be
that the characters have an Operations Director
who regularly implies that the characters can
or should push the boundaries, or even directly
order them to take actions they know are illegal
or against the Rules of Engagement.
How these play out need not be defining
components of every single adventure but can
add pressure and nuance to a story, a little like
the voice of good conscience and temptation
on the characters’ shoulders as they face some
tough decision point in a game.
GOALS
Goals will vary with every operation or mission that
is undertaken whether it is pursuing a hardened
criminal and bringing them back to face justice,
protecting a settlement from the machinations
of a powerful corporation that wants to mine
where they live, or a straight up military op against
entrenched Combined forces on the surface of
Paradiso. Every mission will come with its own
parameters and objectives. Unlike many of the
police and military forces in the Human Sphere
though, Bureau Aegis is under constant and signif-
icant external pressure to maintain high standards,
which is why they have Rules of Engagement.
66 Chapter 7
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
SWORDFOR’s Rules of Engagement is a lengthy
piece of documentation containing many clauses,
sub-clauses, conditions, and exceptions. In its sim-
plest form it can be defined as the following:
• A SWORDFOR agent should only use force when
it is deemed necessary in self-defence, when the
proportional use of force would prevent greater
harm from taking place, or in defence of an
operational mandate.
• A SWORDFOR agent is impartial to the politics
of the Human Sphere.
• A SWORDFOR agent operates at the consent of
the parties involved, unless that party is deemed
an enemy of the Human Sphere or ruled as an
‘illegal actor’ by an approved court.
In reality, every mission will have its own specific
Rules of Engagement. These typically include
directions on:
• Operational Zone. Where are the agents allowed
to perform their duties and where are they not
permitted jurisdiction.
• Operational Jurisdictions. Who else has authority
within the Operational Zone.
• Operational Parameters. What level of force is
permitted, from nonlethal to lethal use of force,
as well as what weapons, equipment, armours,
etc. are allowed to be deployed.
• Operational Restrictions. Anything the agents
are specifically barred from doing that they
might otherwise consider a reasonable course
of action like not harming a target, not entering
certain spaces, or not coordinating with allies
they might otherwise coordinate with on other
operations.
GM NOTE
It’s not necessary to create a detailed set of
Rules of Engagement for every adventure or
mission the characters undertake. But they can
be a useful way of restricting the characters’
choices, making them think outside the box, and
most importantly, as a source of conflict with
their Ideals.
SPLASHBACK
Actions and choices have consequences. These
consequences can be personal, professional, and
given the nature of some of the work that Bureau
Aegis undertake, even public. Splashback is per-
sonal. It is the effects of a character’s actions and
choices on how they perceive themself and the
impact of their experiences on their mental health.
Splashback can be negative, and it can be positive.
Some suggestions for how to handle Splashback
are detailed below.

AN EXAMPLE SET
OF RULES OF
ENGAGEMENT:
Operation Description: You have been ordered to
find Riku Tanaka, an illegal actor wanted for the
trafficking of arms in breach of the Concilium
Convention and return him to Concilium for trial.
Operational Zone: Yingxian and Quibilah
Regions on Paradiso, and any of the orbitals of
this planet.
Operational Jurisdictions: The Imperial Service
has requested and received equal jurisdiction
in this operation for its agents of the Pheasant
rank and higher. This jurisdiction only applies
within the Yingxian region.
Operational Parameters: Nonlethal use of force
strongly preferred. If this not possible, Cube
recovery is a requirement. Collateral damage
will be the subject of investigation.
Operational Restrictions: Riku Tanaka is not to be
rendered to the Imperial Service without direct
permission from the Operations Director.
Negative personal Splashback often results from
the characters making choices, taking part in
actions, or even simply choosing not to intervene in
situations that conflict with their personal Ideals.
If a character is idealistic, or sees themselves as
good actors upholding the mandate of O-12, and is
about to do something that the character believes
is wrong, the GM might invoke their Personal Ideal
as a Trait, warning them there could be a longer-
term consequence. Such consequences can be
things like:
• Suffer the Fatigued condition.
• In the case of a serious incident, it might mean
the character suffers 1 point of Mental Stress.
• Changing their invoked Trait to become less
idealistic or embittered.
If the character is more cynical, and they are forced
to risk themselves or the mission for the sake of
following the rules, orders, or due to some higher
ideal, the GM might invoke their Personal Ideal as a
Trait and warn them of a longer-term consequence.
Such consequences can be things like:
• Suffer the Fatigued condition.
• In the case of a serious incident, it might mean
the character suffers 1 point of Mental Stress.
• Changing their invoked Trait to become more
idealistic or more embittered.
Splashback can also have a positive effect if char-
acters make hard choices in a game that conform
to their personal Ideals. Such consequences can be
things like:
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
GM NOTE
Just by jotting down a few notes, the players
have plenty of background to work with, and
the GM has plenty of opportunities to introduce
complications. What if Tanaka crosses the border
into the PanOceanian region of Syldavia? What
if the characters uncover some greater crime
Tanaka is involved with, and Imperial agents
turn up demanding to take him before he can be
returned to Concilium or interrogated further?
These can be further compounded by the
Ideals of the characters (personal) or the Ideals
of the Operations Director (professional). For
example, the characters are idealistic, while
their Operations Director is a cynic. They have
discovered that Tanaka is rumoured to be
involved with helping plan a terror attack in
PanOceanian territory. When Imperial agents
turn up asking for Tanaka, the characters suspect
Tanaka will ‘escape’ and carry out the attack.
Their Operations Director brushes them off
and just wants the operation done. As a result,
they get permission for the handover. Can the
characters get Tanaka the few miles to the
border and into Quibilah where the Imperial
agents will have no authority? Is that the right
thing to do? Perhaps a cynical Operations
Director will suggest everything would be
easier if Tanaka was dead, then the characters
could just take the Cube. What if the Rules of
Engagement demand the return of Tanaka and
the nonlethal use of force, and the characters
know that if they hand Tanaka to the Imperial
agents, he will be killed? If the characters within
a group have a mix of Ideals, or their Ideals differ
to that of their Operations Director, the interplay
in this decision making can be a fun source of
narrative tension.
• The character might heal 1 or 2 points of Mental
Stress.
• In the case of a serious or significant tough
choice that poses personal or professional risk
the character might heal 1 point of Trauma.
• The character might gain a bonus experience
point or three.
GM NOTE:
Like the Wilderness of Mirrors, Ideals, Goals, and
Splashback are elements that are best used
sparingly, with good narrative reason, and to add
interest and conflict to an ongoing story. They
are not tools designed to be used to punish a
character or a player, but to add nuance to the
stories they are part of. Representing O-12 is not
an easy job, and personal setbacks can result
from the tough knife’s edge the characters will
often be required to walk. These systems are
designed to aid the story and should only be
used when they add something that the GM and
players alike feel adds depth and interest.
Upholding the Pillars 67
 REPUTATION
Where Splashback is the impact the lives the
characters lead on their own wellbeing, Reputation
is how others perceive them. Reputation is a factor
that will typically apply to some, but not all, of the
roles that may be assumed within Bureau Aegis. If
running a campaign centred around internal inves-
tigation or clandestine work, where the actions
and exploits of the characters take place behind a
veil of secrecy, then reverting to the Wilderness of
Mirrors is likely to be the most useful vehicle for
tension. If the characters have roles that fit within
the General Department, operating in the field as
police, bounty hunters, pirate hunters, or as paramil-
itary units, then Reputation (and the above systems
of Ideals, Goals, and Splashback) may be a better fit.
Reputation is how well known a group of characters
is. It is the degree to which their names and deeds
proceed them, are recognised, and evoke some
reaction in those they encounter. Like experience,
Reputation is earned through action and adventure.
Unlike experience, Reputation is a rating that
belongs to the group as a whole. While Reputation
is a recorded as a number, the GM should feel
free to add nuance, remembering that famous
and infamous are two sides to the same coin. In
this section, two types of Reputation are detailed,
with some recommendations and advice for how it
may be accrued and what game effect it will have.
Reputation comes in many forms, for the purposes
of Bureau Aegis agents the two types of Reputation
are Professional and Public.
PROFESSIONAL REPUTATION
Professional Reputation represents how well
known, trusted, and well regarded the group of
characters is. It may benefit them in terms of how
autonomously they are permitted to operate, how
people within the bureau may support them, and
how much they can push the boundaries without
repercussion.
PUBLIC REPUTATION
In a setting that spans multiple star systems and
is home to trillions of souls, gaining public recog-
nition is a matter of specifics. Public Reputation
in Infinity is linked to groups and locations. When
a GM is developing their plan for an adventure
or campaign, and using or creating organisations,
gangs, settlements, or cities as the backdrop to
those adventures, Public Reputation can be used as
a way of tracking how well known the characters
are within one of those specific contexts. In other
words, Public Reputation is linked directly to a
group of people or a location. If the characters are
playing an adventure and dealing with a gang they
will never encounter again, or a small settlement
somewhere they may never return to, then the GM
68 Chapter 7
should feel free to ignore Public Reputation in this
context. However, if the characters are entering
into an adventure or campaign with reoccurring
opponents or will be operating in a specific area for
a length of time, then Public Reputation can be a
fun element to track. Public Reputation may benefit
the characters in terms of the support they receive
from locals, how they are received or what sort of
reaction they get, or how afraid a particular group
is of them and how that might impact interactions.
EARNING REPUTATION:
Any starting group of characters will have
Professional and Public reputations of 0. As they
execute missions, carry out their duties, and begin
to have an impact on the universe around them,
their Reputation will grow and develop.
Over the course of their actions and travails, the
characters as a group will earn Reputation. Below
are some guidelines for how Reputation may be
gained and how Reputation can be brought into
the game as a system that impacts the actions and
interactions of the characters.
Reputation is earned through action. Whether it
is because the characters successfully completed
a mission, dealt with an adversary, successfully
resolved a dangerous situation through negotia-
tion, or rescued a group of people from a deadly
scenario. Below are some guidelines on how
Reputation may be awarded.
PROFESSIONAL
REPUTATION
Professional Reputation is the result of how the
characters' superiors and their fellow agents view
the actions and outcomes of the characters.
• 1 point for the successful completion of a mis-
sion. Add an additional point if, in successfully
completing the mission, the characters out-
competed or were more successful than a rival
group in an allied nation. (For example, getting
a mission done before or better than a group of
Hexahedron agents.)
• 1 point if the individual characters in the group
average around 3000 experience, and +1 for
every further 3000 experience (on average)
earned.
• 1 point for going above or beyond the objectives
of the mission.
• 1 point for rescuing, saving, or vitally supporting
a different group of Bureau Aegis agents.
Actions or choices that go against the mandate of
O-12, are illegal, are against orders will equally
have an impact on the Reputation of the characters.
In narrative terms, these types of actions can result
in internal investigation, loss of rank or privilege,
reduction of income, or some mundane duty. In

GM NOTE:
Sophie is creating a campaign for her players
set in the Septentria continent on Paradiso. The
adventures she is developing centre around
a number of cities and settlements in that
continent, particularly in the PanOceanian held
territory of Gāytarī. She decides that for her
group she will track Public Reputation with two
key factions:
• Datrani Corporation in Rilaspur. Rilaspur is
where the characters will be based and where
they will be involved in investigating the
Datrani Corporation.
• The city of Aritya, a city under gratuitous siege.
This is where the characters will be trying to
extract dozens of ex-employees of Datrani,
abandoned by the corporation when it left
the city, and who are struggling to survive in a
hidden grotto well behind Combined lines.
The characters’ Public Reputation with the
Datrini Corporation may be leveraged when the
characters carry out their investigations. Sophie
imagines games later in the campaign where
the Reputation of the characters strikes fear
into the corporate board who so callously and
deliberately left their people behind.
The characters’ Public Reputation within Aritya
may be leveraged when the characters need
some kind of backup or support, perhaps the
surviving civilians come to their aid or soldiers
come to hear of them and pressure their
commanders to help in a final effort to extract
the civilians under heavy fire.
serious cases, it could involve being discharge from
duty, but this would only result from significant or
repeated breaches.
• Negative actions or choices as described above
will result in the loss of 5 or more Professional
Reputation, depending on the severity of the
breach.
PUBLIC REPUTATION
Public Reputation is how well known and regarded
the characters are within a location or to a group
of people.
• 1 point for the successful completion of a
mission in or around the location or that is
connected to the group.
• 1 point for successfully dealing with a group of
Elite NPCs (a group being at least as many as the
PC group) in the location or that is connected to
the group.
• 1 point for successfully dealing with a known
Nemesis NPC in the location or that is connected
to the group.
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
• 1 point for successfully rescuing, protecting, or
extracting a party of NPCs connected with the
location or group (a party being at least as many
as the PC group). Add an additional point if the
group rescued, protected, or extracted is large
(approximately 20 or more).
• 1 point for the characters’ actions in any of the
above being witnessed by Warcors or otherwise
covered by the media.
• Add an addition 1 to 5 points to any of the
above if the location or group is small or tightly
connected.
Actions that harm, belittle, abandon, are to the
detriment of a group of civilians, or that are illegal
will result in negative Public Reputation. This can
manifest as a narrative element but should only be
applied sparingly. In this situation, the characters or
their actions are called into question by the media,
by an external court, or within a social group. This
sort of situation can be used as a narrative element
in a larger adventure (for example, the characters
have to clear their names), or it just be a minor
detail to add to their ongoing exploits.
• Negative actions like those described above
will result in the loss of 10 or more Public
Reputation points, depending on the severity of
the characters’ actions and choices.
GM NOTE:
In all of the above descriptions what exactly is
meant by terms like ‘successfully’ or ‘deal with’
are left deliberately vague. It may be that many
situations are resolved through martial action,
but they might equally be resolved through
negotiation, trickery, or some other creative
means. Whatever the solution, if it was successful
the characters have earned their point/s
of Reputation.
GM NOTE:
It should be noted that the actions of the
characters may earn them Reputation in multiple
ways at the same time. Successfully completing
a mission might score the characters 1
professional Reputation and 1 Public Reputation
at the same time.
GM NOTE:
You will have noticed that if the characters
lose Reputation, they lose a significant amount
(starting at 5, and potentially higher depending
on the severity). Bureau Aegis does not suffer
mistakes or missteps lightly; they cannot
afford to.
Upholding the Pillars 69
 REPUTATION EFFECTS
As the Reputation of the characters grows, it can
begin to affect the sorts of opportunities they have
access to and influence their interactions with
those who have heard of them. Below are some
guidelines for how this can be manifested in the
game, though of course, the GM should feel free to
alter, remove, or add elements as suits their style
and the style of the campaign they are running.
Whether Professional or Public Reputation, a new
benefit should be conferred for every 10 Reputation
the characters earn. Similarly, a reduction in
Reputation that takes them below a 10 (or multiple
thereof) should result in the loss of a benefit. The
GM may decide to confer the benefit themselves or
may decide in concert with the players. It should be
noted that while Reputation is earned and lost as
a group, each character will gain a benefit. It may
be the same benefit applied to every character, or
different benefits for different characters.
GM NOTE:
When the characters gain 10 Reputation, they
will earn a benefit, when their Reputation hits
20, they will gain another benefit, and so on.
If the characters lose Reputation, and they are
taken beneath a threshold (for example, losing
5 Reputation and going from 31 to 26), they will
lose a benefit that they had previously earned
but not necessarily the same one earned for
originally crossing that threshold.
PROFESSIONAL REPUTATION
As the characters complete missions and grow
in experience their ongoing efforts will be
recognised by those around them. Depending on
which Bureau Aegis section and department the
characters belong to that they are doing most of
their work for, the effects of Reputation will vary. If
the characters belong to the General Department,
then starting the characters at the Deputita
Ĝendarmaro (private) rank might be a good place
to begin. In this instance, having the opportunity
to rise in rank is a suitable reward for a character’s
growing Reputation. If the party belongs to GloPol’s
Investigations Department, then ranks have little
meaning, and other rewards are more suitable.
Below is a list of suggested benefits gained from
growing Reputation. The GM should decide which
are most appropriate given the characters' position
within Bureau Aegis and the actions that have
earned them their Reputation. A unit of characters
may get the same benefit a number of times over
their career. The GM might also decide that when
the characters’ party crosses a threshold, that differ-
ent benefits are meted out to different characters.
• An increase in rank. Within the General
Department the characters might rise up
70 Chapter 7
through the non-commissioned officer ranks.
Depending on their role, having a unit of all
Korpa ranked members (Corporal) or Gendarme
(Sergeant) is not unknown or unusual.
• A higher ranking (than the PCs) commissioned
officer or member of the department becomes
an ally and advocate for the PCs. The PCs may
reach out to this person for aid, assistance, and
information, and depending on the context, this
person will try and support them.
• The characters gain +1 Asset.
• The characters gain +1 Earnings.
• The characters have earned some leeway in
terms of the equipment they are permitted to
take on a mission. This allows the characters to
take their own or more personalised equipment,
as long as the equipment taken fits within the
Rules of Engagement.
• The characters have earned an ally, perhaps a
Maya-reporter, hacker, government official, and
so on, outside Bureau Aegis. The characters can
call upon this person for a favour (support or
information). This person will try to provide what
the characters want, but the characters will then
owe them a favour in return.
• The characters have earned some trust in terms
of their ability and integrity, a minor misdemean-
our such as stretching the interpretation of or
stepping beyond their orders will be overlooked
once in the future.
• The characters have earned significant trust in
terms of their ability and integrity, minor misde-
meanours such as stretching the interpretation
of or stepping beyond their orders are regularly
overlooked and unpunished.
• The characters have earned significant loyalty,
whether officially sanctioned or not. They may
call upon another group of agents within their
department for support or information any time
they require it (and may be called upon equally
by the group of agents).
GM NOTE:
Any benefits gained through increases to
Reputation are given as well as any additional
rewards the GM might provide the PCs for
their exploits. If you are using the Infinity
Gamemaster’s Guide, “Assets and Other Rewards”
starting on page 25 provides a thorough
description of rewards a group of PCs might gain
through their adventures. The benefits gained
from Reputation are provided as an addition
to these.
In addition to the above benefits, as a team of
PCs grow in Reputation, so too will they be more
recognisable by people within their department,
section, and bureau. Below is a rough guideline for
what Reputation means in that context. Of course,

significant events and heroic actions can also grab
attention, and the GM should feel free to override
the meaning of a Reputation value if the PCs have
achieved something amazing.
0-20 Reputation — The people who know of the
characters are those they directly interact with.
21-30 Reputation — The characters may be known
to people within their own division, unit, depart-
mental area.
31-40 Reputation — The characters and their
exploits are well known within their division, unit,
or departmental area and may be known to people
in their department.
41-50 Reputation – The characters and their
exploits are part of the body of stories told across
their department. They may be known by members
of a different department.
51-60 Reputation - The characters and their
exploits are part of the body of stories told across
their department. Many others will have heard of
them from other departments in the bureau.
61-70 Reputation – The characters and their
exploits are part of the body of stories told across
the bureau. The characters are highly likely to be
known to anyone in their section, and likely to be
known by anyone in the bureau.
71-80 Reputation – The characters and their
exploits are part of the body of stories told when
stories of Section Spatha’s exploits are discussed.
The characters are highly likely to be known to
anyone with the bureau and may be recognised by
anyone in the bureau.
81-90 Reputation – The characters are regarded
as heroes of the bureau, people who have worked
tirelessly to uphold the Pillars.
91-100 Reputation – The characters are regarded
as living legends within the bureau.
PUBLIC REPUTATION
Public Reputation is a more amorphous concept. It
is typically applied to a specific location or group,
though if the characters grow in Reputation their
names may well become known outside these
staid circles.
Below is a list of suggested benefits gained from
growing Reputation within a location or group
who the characters are working for or with. The GM
should decide which are most appropriate given
the characters’ actions and interactions within
the context of the location or group. A unit of
characters may get the same benefit a number of
times over their career. The GM might also decide
that when the character party crosses a threshold,
that different benefits are meted out to different
characters.
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
• Assets. +1 Asset, given in thanks.
• Contact. A contact who has access to a particular
set of skills the characters may call upon for
support at a later date (for example, a doctor or
mechanic). If they are called on too often, they
will stop providing this support.
• Ally. An ally who has access to a particular set of
skills the characters may call upon for support.
An ally will expect to be able to access and gain
some level of mutual support from the charac-
ters as well. This option is usually only available
after gaining a contact (above).
• Access to Service. They gain access to a service
for no cost like accommodation, medical care,
information gathering, specific resources, and so
on. This may be used 3-5 times before they stop.
• Regular Services. Access to a service for no cost
(as above), but the service provided on a more
permanent basis. (This option is usually only
taken after gaining an ally or access to service
(above)).
It may well be that the PCs have a Reputation
within a location or group that is adversarial to
the characters. In this case, the list of benefits
suggested below are more suitable. This list is
designed as a ladder, with the PCs beginning with
the first level, and gaining each level in order as
the grow in Reputation.
1. The characters are recognised as adversaries.
Members of the location/group may act in
an observably different way around them (-1
Difficulty to any test where the PCs attempt to
spot the NPC/s as a member of the location/
group).
2. The PCs’ presence makes any NPC from the
location or group suffer the Fatigued condition
during the next encounter.
3. The PCs gain the Fear 1 Special Ability when
they next interact with an NPC from the
location or group. The PCs gain level 1 with
any location or group linked to this location or
group.
4. The PCs gain the Fear 1 Special Ability
whenever they interact with an NPC from the
location or group (can only be taken after the
above option has been taken).
5. The PCs gain the Fear 2 Special Ability when
they next interact with an NPC from the loca-
tion or group. Once this is used, the previous
level effect applies.
6. The PCs gain the Fear 2 Special Ability
whenever they interact with an NPC from the
location or group (can only be taken after the
above option has been taken). The PCs also gain
level 4 with any location or group linked to this
location and group.
The list of benefits for adversarial locations and
groups also gives an indication of how well known
the PCs are to the people of that location or group.
Upholding the Pillars 71
 CHAPTER 8

BUREAU NOIR

O-12 isn’t blind to the plethora of intelligence networks that operate within the Human Sphere and its
many nations. Since the inception of O-12 and the establishment of the interstellar political scene, each
nation has worked to leverage an advantage through subterfuge and espionage.
These machinations couldn’t be entirely matched by the newly assembled O-12, despite valiant efforts
from the young organisation. Issues of clarity and inter-organisational jurisdiction made retaliation and
investigation sloppy. The establishment of the bureaus aimed to alleviate the issue, dedicating resources
to investigate the trespasses of the nations who thought themselves above their stellar neighbours.
The acquisition of restricted knowledge was considered mandatory in this endeavour, leading to the
formation of O-12’s secret service, Bureau Noir. Whilst the other bureaus act in the open, Bureau Noir is
the agency that works quietly to acquire the secrets the other agencies need to pursue their respective
missions. Bureau Noir is a dedicated agency with one central purpose, to protect the O-12 from the threats
within the Human Sphere.
Bureau Noir works across all of the nations of the Human Sphere, from Earth to the Human Edge, main-
taining a watchful eye on any criminal and political movements before reporting back to Concilium if
anything untoward takes place. In addition, the bureau works closely with its fellow bureaus, supplying
them with vital information and services.

72 Chapter 8

BUREAU
OPERATIONS
Bureau Noir represents a dedicated arm of O-12’s
covert operations, a sister agency to Bureau Aegis’s
Psi Unit. The entire organisation is dedicated to all
forms of intelligence work, including reconnais-
sance, information documentation and study, Maya
observation, surveillance of high-priority individ-
uals and locations, espionage, and off-the-books
operations against criminal elements.
The operational duties of Bureau Noir require
them to maintain a presence across the Human
Sphere, both official and clandestine. Bureau Noir
agents and handlers can be found (with difficulty)
across every city and nation in the most unlikely of
places. A nice old lady down the hall could actually
be leading a deep-cover corruption investigation
into a local lobbyist. The local librarian could be a
bureau hacker, monitoring the outbound traffic of a
local terrorist. These false identities and covers are
paramount to the investigative work of the bureau,
to ensure their operations continue uninterrupted
and undiscovered. The identities of the bureau’s
agents are so heavily classified that even ALEPH is
unaware of the totality of the organisation.
Although the bureau operates as an individual
entity, it is common for it to assist other O-12
bureaus in their own work. This assistance is vital
support to the bureaus, who rely on Bureau Noir
to provide vital information. Aegis requires infor-
mation out of their usual reach in areas outside
the jurisdiction of O-12, and Tiandi often taps into
this external information in their tracking missions.
Agni requires close eyes on the energy barons of
the Human Sphere, and a closer eye on their com-
munications. Athena needs operatives to insert into
undercover operations to ensure the fair treatment
of ethnic groups. Gaea needs planted agents to
monitor the black markets for any poaching of
endangered species. Ganesh requires a similar
service, with Noir agents monitoring illegal trade to
help trace back to the source in addition to illegal
Resurrection facilities. Toth maintains a number
of Noir operatives to scour illegal AI development
circles on Maya and Arachne. Trimurti especially
requires wet work assistance in the recovery of
classified bureau information, and the two organi-
sations work closely together.
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
ORGANISATIONAL
STRUCTURE
Bureau Noir demands an operational structure that
is different to the other bureaus of O-12. Bureau
Noir must maintain locations across the Human
Sphere and beyond to continue their work, each
carefully hidden from sight and quantronic trails. In
addition, more than half of the bureau’s personnel
are spread across the Human Sphere at any given
time, making a standard chain of command ineffi-
cient and unwieldy, the anathema to an interstellar
intelligence organisation. To maintain effective
response times and rapid dissemination of informa-
tion, Bureau Noir operates in two separate spheres
of command.
Regional command is comprised of the bureau’s
officers, each maintaining a designated jurisdiction.
These locations include cities, planets, and even
entire systems. These officers are tasked with the
maintenance of bureau facilities and resources
as well as the outsourcing of local, unassigned
personnel to inter-bureau operations. Whilst the
agents of the bureau commonly operate inde-
pendently, these commanding officers ensure there
are ports of safety and security for these agents to
rest, deliver reports, and resupply.
In addition, these officers serve as the link between
the field agents of the bureau and its main offices
on Concilium. They also coordinate action between
local agents and any foreign agents brought in
to assist on assignments. As agents rarely directly
report to the core organisational command, this
connection is incredibly important, and there is
a heavy responsibility placed on the officers to
ensure each report is verified and confirmed before
submission. Besides field agents, the officers also
have direct command over an internal staff that
handles the more mundane aspects of intelligence
work, namely analysis and projection of informa-
tion. These teams assist the officer with ensuring
their jurisdiction is running efficiently.
As Bureau Noir requires its agents and command to
be flexible and multi-talented, each bureau agent
receives training to ensure they can successfully
manage their own network of informants and
agents. Those that excel commonly find their way
into advanced training programmes that lead to
regional command positions. Thanks to this merit
system, most regional officers have experience in
wet work, despite their position usually keeping
them away from active field work. Several agents
jokingly refer to this as being benched, a term
quietly shared by commanding officers as well.
Bureau Noir 73
 The second command sphere is the individual field observe other officials. Handlers are encouraged
agents themselves, the handlers. Each handler to use whoever and whatever necessary to achieve
operates across various jurisdictions, deploying into their goals.
them on the request of a regional officer or central
It is rare for these individuals to be informed of
command. Whilst in a jurisdiction, the handler com-
their employer’s identity. Only the most trusted
municates directly with the regional commander to
individuals ever discover that they are working for
organise resources and funding but maintains their
a Bureau Noir agent. The exceptions to this are
own network of agents and informants drawn from
bureau-sanctioned agents operating under the han-
the populace or from previous assignments. Each
dler, who are trusted with the more vital objectives
agent is expected to keep their network reimbursed,
of each assignment. These agents form teams that
well equipped, and most importantly, quiet. This
undertake infiltration missions, espionage actions,
portfolio of assets is referred to as the agent’s
or any other tasks that couldn’t be trusted in the
black book and is only available to the handler in
hands of ordinary civilians.
the interest of secrecy and operational security.
Handlers use their own black books and discretion
to run operations, allowing them to operate off the
books if necessary. ASSETS AND
Upon assignment to a region, a bureau handler fol- ARMAMENTS
lows a fairly standard procedure. First is integration
Acting under O-12, Bureau Noir field agents are
into the populace, coordinating with jurisdictional
rarely hurt for basic assets. Inter-bureau funding
command and the local government (when possi-
allows plenty of room for equipment of all varieties,
ble) to establish a primary cover identity as well
so long as it observes the laws of the Concilium
as a couple of easily burnable secondary identities.
Accordance. Vehicles, armaments, protective gear,
This is to ensure that whilst they orchestrate their
identification, and technology dedicated to uncov-
assignment in the region, they can act with impu-
ering hidden information are accounted for by the
nity and a measure of safety. O-12’s mandate often
budget. Direct funding lines are rarely used. Instead,
grants the handler the power to officially establish
funding is channelled through shell corporations
identities and create falsified histories that can
and dummy holdings to make it difficult to track
hold up to the deepest probe, but occasionally they
the digital trail to the bureau and its agents. This
will have to fabricate identities with their own
use of clandestine funding means that discretion is
skills or by calling on outside help.
the rule. Capital is often easily available, but agents
After fabricating their new identities, handlers find it more efficient to use back channels to obtain
integrate themselves into their new home, using equipment than wait for an official request.
their own judgement on how best to do so. Some
When confronted by the weapons of the lawless
handlers prefer to be gregarious members of the
and criminal elements they seek to defeat, some
community, developing their false life into an inte-
veteran agents flirt with the use of illegal equip-
gral pillar of their operational zone. Others prefer
ment. As is unfortunately common in intelligence
to become a quiet observer, posing as shut-ins and
organisations across the Human Sphere, the legal
private citizens. Some agents strike the middle
restrictions on this equipment hasn’t stopped its
ground, carefully curating a selection of ‘friends’
use in off-the-books operations. Younger O-12
and potential allies but remaining private enough
agents rarely stoop to these measures, their faith
as to avoid scrutiny. There are even some agents
in the four Pillars trumping their need to use out-
that scrap integration completely, preferring to
lawed weapons and technology.
operate from a distance through the use of ghost-
ing technology and carefully directed agents. In any case, the primary concern of Bureau Noir is
accessibility of equipment in the field. Exchange of
No matter the development of their presence, it
tactical resources, including portable quantronics,
is inevitably used to discover points of interest,
surveillance equipment, weapons, ammunition, and
people, and assets that the handler can use to
basic rations for prolonged operations are easily
build their local network or even fold into their
traced by the enemies of the bureau. This has led
black book. Once these assets are discovered and
to entire covert operations dedicated to the estab-
investigated, the agent begins the careful work of
lishment of safe houses and supply drops for field
constructing their web of influence. Common exam-
agents, usually led by regional commanders. These
ples include hiring private security teams to protect
locations are leased to a handler’s operational
safe houses and storage facilities, hackers to allow
parameters packet when they are deploying into
access to a target’s personal files, trusted members
a region.
of local law enforcement to keep the handler
informed on the movements of the police and other These supply points are bolstered by drawing on
investigative bodies, and even politicians to closely local resources. This is preferable to tapping into

74 Chapter 8

the mission’s OPP, as it restricts the amount of
evidence that can be traced back to the bureau. The
origin of a money trail can easily be manipulated
by the bureau’s hackers and financial managers,
but an advanced firearm or comlog can draw the
suspicions of a variety of enemies, especially if the
handler is using a particular cover.
It is common for a handler to prioritise securing
money and resources upon their deployment to
a region. Whilst regional commanders can direct
them to previously used sources, it is entirely up to
the handler to secure them for their own use. The
bureau’s code of conduct in field operations cover
interaction with local criminal elements, allowing
legal security to the operatives when they choose
to purchase and use unlicensed equipment. Use
of this equipment benefits the bureau agents by
eliminating a degree of culpability and can even
serve to assist local law enforcement upon com-
pletion of the mission. Many black marketeers have
been exposed by Bureau Noir agents turning in the
illegal technology they utilised after they complete
their assignment in a jurisdiction.
Ownership of bureau property can become an
issue due to the compartmentalisation of the
organisation’s operatives. The secretive nature of
each handler’s black book, as well as the lack of
shared intelligence between teams, can lead to
several squads having to draw on the same safe
houses and supply drops during their respective
missions. Ordinarily, this situation won’t escalate
beyond stern words or bickering, as there are very
few situations that would require the emptying of
an OPP. But in the rare case of a conflict of requi-
sition, regional commanders are drawn in to settle
the issue.
The acquisition and possession of illegal and
foreign technology is another murky area in bureau
operational policy. Typically, such equipment is
turned in after the resolution of the mission. Bureau
policy demands either surrendering the equipment
to local law enforcement before departure from
the region or at the very least destruction of the
equipment to eliminate any possible traces to the
bureau’s work. This hasn’t stopped several agents
keeping small mementoes from their work abroad.
In the case of legal acquisitions, many items includ-
ing rations, devices, or even weapons find their
way back into the safehouses and supply stores of
the bureau after being scrubbed of any evidence.
The clandestine nature of Bureau Noir operations
means that budgets must often be constrained in
the field. Frugal use of assets is not only one of the
most important principals of espionage, it is a merit
treasured by the bureau, and waste features nega-
tively on after-action reports. Such resources can be
of immense use in future missions, especially with
assets that are ordinarily hard to come by outside
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
of a jurisdiction. This local equipment can improve
the chances of success for bureau teams by making
their trail read more like a disgruntled citizen or
local criminal rather than a member of an interna-
tional force of spies.
CONFLICTING
INTERESTS
Due to the divided nature of handlers and regional
commanders, it’s surprisingly common for bureau
teams to cross paths in the field. For example, one
team may be assisting a Bureau Aegis task force
in the apprehension of a terrorist agent, only to
discover that the agent in question is an informant
for another bureau handler. In situations like these,
the fluid nature of the bureau command structure
can cause issues to transpire. Communication and
compromise are vital in these situations to reach a
desirable outcome for all parties.
In situations where a compromise cannot be
reached, intervention by higher ranking officers may
be required to resolve the conflict of jurisdiction. In
these cases, it falls to the officer to make a judge-
ment call on which operation takes priority. These
situations however are undesirable to the bureau as
a whole as they demand that the involved handlers
turn over classified information that proves why
their operation demands greater attention. To the
paranoid minds of bureau handlers, these scenarios
can cause unfortunate information and resource
leaks that could jeopardise their mission.
Although direct conflict is an incredibly rare
scenario in the bureau, accidental incidents and
friendly fire between unaware teams are dangers
that persists. Most teams operate undercover at
all times and rarely have identification connecting
them to the bureau on person. Compounded with
the classified nature of each handler’s operations,
it is easy for teams to step on each other’s toes by
accident. Most regional commanders ensure that
handlers are aware of each other when operating
under the same jurisdiction and encourage touch-
ing base with each other. It isn’t mandatory for
handlers to share any important information, but
the mere acknowledgement of the others’ presence
can do wonders for saving lives and time, some-
thing every bureau agent can acquiesce to.
Sometimes however, this protocol is abandoned
altogether, an unfortunate eventuality in the field
of espionage. A handler may consider their task
too important or their quarry too perceptive to
risk exposing their operation. This is particularly
common during internal investigations into
corruption or embezzlement or if the quarry is an
experienced intelligence operative themselves.
Other times, rival agents could be chasing the
Bureau Noir 75
 same lead and will resort to underhanded tactics
to ensure they come out on top out of a sense
of unnecessary competition. Agents of opposing
homelands may attempt to undercut and sabotage
the other to ensure their nation receives the upper
hand in a matter of international espionage. Or
worse, an agent could intentionally cause harm
to another, as is occasionally the risk for agents
directly facing the horrors of the Combined Army
and its sepsitorizaton processes. While this is quite
rare, it remains a possibility as Bureau Noir agents
are considered quite the catch by the EI.
The influx of new bureau recruits from the Amikeco
Initiative has caused growing pains. As more
agents enter the service with lowered standards of
skill and talent, agents find themselves engaging
each other as the bureau struggles to keep track
of them all. Although Bureau Noir is improving its
infrastructure and resourcing to account for the
influx of agents, gaps continue to form in the short
term, and it’s more common than ever that bureau
teams may clash in the field.
76 Chapter 8
INTER-BUREAU
POLITICS
Whilst the other bureaus of O-12 are formed on
strong foundations and strict chains of command,
Bureau Noir is the outlier. The directive of the
bureau demands a dedication to individual
empowerment, a dedication to commit sometimes
unforgivable acts in the name of international
peace and prosperity. Perhaps it is no surprise then
that, in the freeform web of Bureau Noir’s structure,
factions dedicated to differing ideals have naturally
formed. These factions are simply known as cabals
and are unofficial groups comprised of agents that
have drifted together under a shared ideology or
modus operandi.
Although these cabals tend to be aligned to the
four Pillars of O-12 and humanity as a whole, it is
their disparate beliefs that separate them. Each
hold differing points of view on how the work of
Bureau Noir should be pursued, what ends it should
achieve, and even if the bureau itself should take
an active role in shaping the political landscape
of the Human Sphere. Some are harmless, merely
nudging and prodding outside of their mandate in
service of a secondary goal. Others are genuinely
dangerous for the Human Sphere, possessed of
ideologies that threaten to destabilise humanity,
and driven by beliefs that are born out of years
of bitter clandestine work rather than healthy
engagement with their fellow man. It is perhaps
unfortunate that these cabals are hidden away in
one of the hardest organisations to scrutinize in
the Human Sphere.
From a roleplay standpoint, these cabals allow
players to delve into the murky water of one of
the Human Sphere’s foremost intelligence organ-
isations. It allows the players, or the characters
that surround them, to pursue varying agendas
and goals.
BUREAU CABALS AND
AGENDAS
Bureau Noir’s agendas are as numerous and diverse
as the agents that populate it. Many operatives
find their views influenced by the nation they came
from, experiences in the field, education, political
stances, and the influence of other members of the
bureau. The most popular agendas can be divided
into the following cabals.
SAVE THE SPHERE
The most commonly held belief amongst agents
of the bureau is a simple one — the gathering of
information is vital for the protection of the Human
Sphere, and there are few prices not worth paying
for it. Most agents are inducted into the bureau
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

THE NEUTRAL GROUND

The Save the Sphere philosophy should be the default position of any Bureau Noir NPC agents introduced
into a story. It is rare that a Bureau Noir agent diverges from this philosophy, and most will only slightly
deviate from it in their time with the organisation. Some agents may find themselves going to lengths
other agents wouldn’t dare, breaking moral codes and laws to achieve their goal, but ultimately remain-
ing true to the ultimate goal of protecting the Human Sphere. Other agents may become even more
dedicated to the idealistic end of the philosophy, willing to sacrifice themselves for their cause. Though
their methods vary, the agents ultimately want the same thing.
Players belonging to this ideology represent the vast majority of Bureau Noir agents. Dedicated, skilled,
and ruthless, these are the tenants a character should aspire for when standing in the middle ground.
Unlike other cabals, they won’t have any additional agendas beyond O-12’s core objectives.
The neutral position that the faction grants allows all manner of stories to grow from players interacting
with agents, especially if the players themselves are agents. In addition, saving the Human Sphere is far
from a radical concept and will grant players an ideal to follow they can all agree on. In low paranoia
campaigns, this allows the party to truly connect on what matters, allowing their characters to bond
despite previous allegiances.

with this mindset, and it remains the neutral
ground of the more elaborate agendas.
Due to the agenda holding the most ideological
ground amongst the bureau, its followers are rarely
hard pressed gaining the aid of fellow bureau
members. Collaboration and teamwork come easily
to agents who put aside their differences with the
intent of defeating internal and external threats to
the Human Sphere.
BUILDING A CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT
The introduction of ALEPH to the Human Sphere
allowed significant advancements across the
worlds that accepted its influence. Infrastructure
and bureaucracy were greatly accelerated under
the AI’s watchful eye, leading to a faster and more
efficient society. Restrictions placed on the AI
ensure that it doesn’t assume total control of polit-
ical freedoms, and that the AI remains humanity’s
helper rather than its overlord.
Some in Bureau Noir think this is a poor use of
the AI’s capabilities. They believe that the various
governments of the Human Sphere have failed
humanity as a whole, squabbling over resources
that are plentiful and territory that should be used
to benefit all of mankind, instead of a single sect
of it. These members of the bureau work in the

A SINGLE RULER
Agents that belong to this agenda are similar to the Save the Sphere members. Their goal is the protec-
tion and preservation of the Human Sphere’s people, and they will go to great lengths to achieve it. In this
regard, players can usually trust members of this agenda. Unlike the Save the Sphere agenda members
however, they are more prone to having ulterior motives. They may seek to undermine corrupt and inept
politicians to set examples of incompetency, pushing public opinion towards adopting ALEPH as the
core political entity of the Human Sphere. More radical members may even go out of their way to plant
evidence to achieve this goal or even ‘remove’ roadblocks to ALEPH’s ascendency.
Players that join this agenda can come from anywhere but may be more commonly aligned with the
ALEPH faction (Recreations and Posthumans, especially) or be the victims of uncaring and inept govern-
ments. This agenda is good in low paranoia campaigns, as it doesn’t directly require players to clash, but
in higher paranoia campaigns Wilderness of Mirrors objectives could involve eliminating corrupt threats
and the ‘unworthy’, whilst working to increase the bureaucratic reach of ALEPH. This can include black-
mailing or threatening politicians to grant ALEPH greater administrative powers, exposing corruption to
turn the public against the current political heads, or even ensuring pro-ALEPH politicians and lobbyists
receive preferential treatment.
Campaigns involving this faction should involve themes concerning conspiracies, AI-human relations,
and Posthuman ideas of leadership roles. When players are confronted with a group attempting to hand
more power to ALEPH, it should be up to them to decide whether the true AI deserves the position of
humanity’s ruler or if it is simply too dangerous to hand all executive power to a machine.

Bureau Noir 77
 background with the intent of taking power away
from the corrupt and incompetent and delivering it
to ALEPH, who by its very nature will use it wisely,
at least in their eyes.
Initially, this faction was very minute, as it was rare
to find individuals that were willing to act against
their homelands and betray their old governments.
It was far more common for citizens of O-12 who
joined the bureau to hold these beliefs, as they had
grown up around an organisation that worked as a
single governing body. The recent war with the Ur
Hegemony has changed this. The Hegemony stands
chillingly united, its armies and population incredi-
bly efficient under the influence of the EI. More and
more bureau members find themselves thinking
the only way to match such a force is to emulate it,
to remove the bickering many and replace it with
a united front. Although this faction’s membership
is still small compared to others, it grows larger
every day.
LET GOD SORT THEM OUT
Agents within Bureau Noir often times stumble
upon truly horrific discoveries in their line of work.
Though other bureaus handle the prosecution and
incarceration of international criminals, it is Bureau
Noir that must search for the evidence of their
crimes. War crimes, interstellar human trafficking
rings, and the ruthless activities of crime syndicates
are but a few of the many crimes the bureau agents
investigate in conjunction with other bureaus.
Behind every breech of the Human Sphere’s
international conventions is violence and hatred
that can shake one’s convictions to the core. Some
bureau agents lose their moral bearings after being
exposed to these situations for too long. They are
exposed to too much tragedy, misery, and despair
for an ordinary human to handle. Some find their
actions becoming more extreme, their empathy
worn away. Other agents are already radicalised to
this line of thinking through ideological indoctrina-
tion or misanthropy.
This faction emerged from the joining of these
individuals into one of the most dangerous cabals
in Bureau Noir. Over time, these individuals began
to see conflict as the crucible that shapes humanity.
War encourages growth, violence eradicates the
weak. The faction has come to believe that induc-
ing calamity in the form of Infinity Codes will allow
the Human Sphere to become stronger from the
resultant arms and technology races. Human history
has justified this method in their eyes. For the
worst of them, however, they just want to see the
Human Sphere shatter.
Other factions in the bureau relentlessly hunt these
individuals with as much dedication as they would
hunt terrorists and war criminals, leading them to
act in utmost secrecy. Internal commissions have
been launched to root out and arrest these radicals
before they can cause international turmoil.
These hunts have become even more important
in recent years, as the Human Sphere battles the
Ur Hegemony, and instability becomes an even
deadlier proposition.

BURN IT ALL DOWN

Agents that belong to this agenda are villainous in the extreme. Their ultimate goal is the complete
collapse of cooperation and peace in the Human Sphere and inducing Infinity Codes. In their minds, this
will cause a survival of the fittest situation that will advance humanity’s technology and power, as well
as purge the ‘undesirable’ elements. They seek to achieve this by staging international incidents, assassi-
nating figureheads of peace and cooperation, as well as stealing and exposing the secrets of each nation
to pit them against each other. Mercifully, this faction is also the smallest of the cabals within Bureau
Noir, and as such these characters should serve as major antagonists, or even as the primary villains, of
each story.
Players that want to represent this faction must be warned that they are choosing to represent a force
with very few allies. There aren’t many individuals who want all out conflict to erupt in the Human
Sphere, and there are plenty who will arrest or kill individuals with such ideals. More often than not, it
will be their task to work against the entirety of their team, sabotaging them at every turn and working
towards causing inter-party conflict and suspicion. Encourage players that want to undertake this role to
be as secretive as possible, in line with the values of the faction.
This faction can serve as a powerful enemy within a campaign. The idea of a group attempting to bring
chaos and destruction on the Human Sphere is an excellent way to unite a team of players representing
the Human Sphere’s many opposing nations. Campaigns involving this faction should tend to be on the
low paranoia side, as it plays easily into a ‘save the world’ type of story. That being said, if a player amongst
the party wishes to do so, a high paranoia campaign can be crafted by having a traitor amongst the party.
The team will struggle to decide who to trust as they attempt to thwart the villainous cabal.

78 Chapter 8
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

NEED TO KNOW In recent years however, one faction has emerged

The repository of classified knowledge held by
Bureau Noir is a dangerous resource. Within its
halls and servers dwell the efforts of thousands of
investigations and commissions and the informa-
tion they obtained. It’s no surprise then that some
of this information is sensitive enough to cause all
kinds of problems for the Human Sphere, incrim-
inating everyone and everything from powerful
individuals to entire organisations.
Although the bureau is dedicated to rooting out
the truth wherever they operate, publishing the
information to the masses has always been a point
of contention amongst the many internal factions
of the bureau. Some believe it is vital that the
information be made public to ensure transparency
and encourage trust between O-12 and the major-
ity of humanity. Other factions are aware that such
information could cause unnecessary damage if
revealed without censorship. Most factions strike
the middle ground between these points, carefully
handling their findings to maintain the advantage
it provides, whilst ensuring the masses know of any
important developments they discover.
that believes that the edge Bureau Noir fights
to maintain should be guarded at all costs.
Transparency of information can lead to the
bureau’s more intelligent enemies to catch wind
of their operations and grant them insight to
the methods the bureau may employ. To this
end, the cabal fights to suppress any and all
information they deem unessential for the citizens
of the Human Sphere. Unsurprisingly, the list of
information they have deemed necessary is exceed-
ingly small.
The faction has been likened to dragons in
this regard, jealously guarding their horde of
information. Due to their objective technically
not breeching any O-12 operational laws, they
ironically operate openly within the bureau to
campaign for the suppression of information. They
invoke rules and regulations to attempt to tie up
information releases in bureaucratic red tape or
lock it behind layers of mandatory security. More
nefarious members will even taint information to
force it to be held back.

BUREAU EYES ONLY

Agents that belong to this agenda aren’t as secretive as others and are very open (to other bureau
members) about their desire to withhold information from the public. Many members have learnt to voice
their views on information redaction very concisely, arguing that revealing any sensitive information only
causes the bureau to expose its methods and ongoing investigations. In addition, they prefer to ensure
the stability of the Human Sphere by suppressing any dangerous discoveries and may come into conflict
with the party in this regard. That being said, they might also endeavour to help the party on the proviso
that the party keep quiet about any information they turn up during their operations.
Players that belong to this faction can rest easier than others, as their mission will rarely bring them
into violent conflict with others (assuming their work doesn’t harm or endanger others). They will almost
certainly earn distrust and ire from their fellow players for their goals of information suppression, but it
is easy enough to justify it to their teammates. In high paranoia campaigns, players in this cabal might
want to achieve their goals with more subversive methods — tainting discoveries to ensure they can’t be
used, stealing evidence from other players, and using any and all methods to secure information before
it can be leaked.
Campaigns involving this section of the bureau should be steeped in mystery. The secrecy of Bureau Noir
aside, this faction’s predilection for cover-ups and information fabrication could form the bedrock of an
intense conspiracy story. For example, the party could be a group of civilians trying to expose a major
secret that has affected them greatly, and they must match wits against an enemy that specialises in
erasing information and constructing new narratives.

Bureau Noir 79
 DEATH TO SPIES
As can be expected, Bureau Noir is incredibly
careful in regard to the individuals it recruits into
the core organisation. Potential agents are thor-
oughly screened to ensure they will serve humanity
first and foremost, rather than compromise the
operations of the bureau in the name of misguided
loyalty to their former homelands. Despite the
efforts of the bureau however, corrupt agents, spies,
and stringent nationalists worm their way into the
organisation from time to time, an inevitable even-
tuality, considering the nature of the intelligence
profession.
Most of the time, these traitors are caught as they
pursue their agenda, overplaying their authority
when attempting to win favour and power for their
nation. Once suspicion is drawn, formal investiga-
tions are launched to confirm any wrongdoings.
These investigations are heavily regulated but
transparent, with the agent in question being given
a chance to defend themselves lawfully. Often
these investigations are handled by an empowered
commissioner and a team of dedicated agents.
One faction of Bureau Noir personnel doesn’t
agree with this slow and clean-handed approach.
A bureau agent, even an unfaithful one, is a potent
force. They are individuals recruited for the strength
of their character, but also for their resourcefulness,
dedication, and raw talent. Directly investigating an
agent can lead to them leaking their knowledge of
the bureau’s operations, however compartmental-
ised it is, to the public or their master in question.
This is an unacceptable outcome, leading to the
natural formation of a collection of like-minded
agents who believe that spies and traitors need to
be eliminated with high prejudice.
Normally operating in groups, these teams gather
together in secret when presented with proof of
a fellow agent’s corruption or national preference.
After confirming their suspicions with interviews
and subterfuge, they will hunt down the agent in
question and ensure they are ‘handled’ before they
can give away any secrets to their masters. More
often than not, this leads to unofficial incarceration,
but these teams aren’t afraid to kill in the name of
international security. Sometimes these teams will
even ‘burn’ the agents in question, leaking their
identity if they are undercover or cutting them off
from their resources to ensure their demise.

ALWAYS WATCHING
Of all the bureau factions, this faction is the one most likely to take aim at the players. The very purpose
of the Wilderness of Mirrors is to encourage players to act against the interests of the team and serve
another faction, something that will draw the ire of this cabal. NPCs belonging to the cabal should
rarely interact with the players they hunt, waiting for the perfect moment to confront the players on
their suspicions. These moments are deadly affairs, as the agent will have planned out the confrontation
thoroughly. Teams of mercenaries will be in place to capture the players if they flee or intervene if they
try to fight their way out. Killing the agent will only lead to more consequences, as their fellow cabal
members home in on the guilty party. Due to this, the cabal is an ideal foe if you want to add an element
of danger for the team, as the scrutiny will lend a weight and difficulty to their efforts in completing
Wilderness of Mirrors objectives.
Players who serve this faction have a tough but rewarding job ahead of them. Their objective should be
to discover the objectives of their fellow teammates and make every effort to sabotage them, as well
as collect evidence to eventually act on. This task is ideal for a high paranoia campaign, but even low
paranoia campaigns can benefit from an element of internal division. These players will have a difficult
time keeping allies within the team, so ensure the player in question is prepared for the trials associated
with the ‘job’.
Campaigns structured around this cabal could be built on the players being ‘burned’. A member of the
team, or even their handlers, has been discovered to have ties to a nefarious element or international
power. Even if most of the team is innocent, the cabal is dedicated to ensuring the guilty one can’t
leak information, which means tying all loose ends. A campaign can be fostered by locking players in a
location such as a city or other urban locale, where any person or location could be turned against them
and be focused on the team surviving invisible threats and clearing their name before the cabal captures
or kills them.

80 Chapter 8
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

THE PRAGMATISTS the means. Murder, use of illegal equipment, torture,

Bureau Noir pursues an important objective in the
scheme of the Human Sphere’s stability. It is their
work that shines a light in the darkest places, to
bring corruption and danger to light so that the
bureaus of O-12 might take action before they
harm humanity as a whole. All agents in the bureau
understand the weight of their charge, the impor-
tance of their work. It isn’t uncommon for agents to
be faced with tough decisions. Choices they make
every day can cost lives, and most agents try to
make the best decision for all involved.
Some use this important charge as a licence to
justify an operational method beyond extreme. Not
necessarily a faction, but instead a small number of
individuals spread across the bureau, these agents
are willing to commit inhuman acts to ensure they
succeed. These agents hide in the shadows and
spend the lives of others in pursuit of their work,
because in their eyes the ends will always justify
even working with the very enemy they hunt, any
and all methods of acquiring information and
silencing ‘troublesome’ elements of the Human
Sphere are game to these agents.
Unfortunately for the few bureau members who
know enough of the cabal’s crimes to try to
stop them, this willingness to break the rules to
achieve their goals extends to their fellow agents.
Investigators might be framed for crimes they
didn’t commit or be caught up in an unfortunate
‘accident’ such as a shuttle crash or a mugging.
Anything to ensure that they can operate another
day and make the hard choices that they believe
their fellow operatives could never make. Despite
the ethical nightmare they pose, nobody can argue
with the effectiveness of their methods. Crime lords
who could just buy their way out of imprisonment,
CEOs who stand above the law, and many more
have fallen to these cold-hearted agents.

AT ANY COST
Whilst other parts of Bureau Noir aren’t opposed to performing questionable actions in the name of the
Human Sphere’s safety, these agents are fanatics that don’t care about the cost so long as their objective
is completed. Murder, theft, extortion and blackmail, hostage taking, and even torture are considered
acceptable measures by these individuals. NPCs that belong to the faction are cold blooded and eerily
focused, but also deceptively charming. They have learnt how to convince others to commit the unspeak-
able and have turned this charisma to protecting themselves from suspicion. Hint to the underhanded
and devious nature of these NPCs through their actions. They will constantly take their work too far, which
should be the red light the players need.
Player characters that belong to this faction are a simple affair. They should play characters willing to
bend and break the rules so long as it means success. They should be willing to sell the lives of those
around them or treat others as resources to be used and discarded in pursuit of the endgame. Take note
that this type of character is easily abused by the wrong players, who may take it as a licence to commit
crimes and cause grief for their fellow players in the name of their mission. Be sure to enforce conse-
quences for their actions if this is the case, to ensure they understand that the role they have accepted is
a dangerous one, without many friends to bail them out if they overstep.
If a player wishes to align themselves with this cabal, make sure they are able to do so constructively. A
good player in this role can be an excellent measuring stick, forcing other players to question just how
far they should go to achieve their goals. In reverse, the character in question might just be convinced by
other, more empathetic characters to pull back on their methods, leading to interesting character beats
and developments.
Alongside the cabal focused on causing Infinity Codes, this faction plays into a very clear heroes versus
villains campaign. It won’t be hard to convince your players that the villains of this campaign are just that
— violent extremists bent on achieving their goal at any cost. The tricky part will be their end game. This
cabal, whilst remorseless and dangerous, still serve the ‘good’ of the Human Sphere. Their actions should
be in line with what the party wishes to achieve, but at a greater cost than the players are willing to make.

Bureau Noir 81
 THE EYES OF THE
LAW
Although Bureau Noir lends its services to many of
O-12’s organisations, it is Bureau Aegis that has the
most dynamic relationship with the intelligence
organisation. While Bureau Aegis has its own
Psi Unit, every day this is supported by reports
dispensed by Bureau Noir, from accounts on inter-
national crime and gangs to military reports from
the front lines of Paradiso.
COPS AND SPIES
At a cursory glance, the relationship between the
two bureaus would be rife with competition. Both
organisations are dedicated to the acquisition
and use of information and evidence to bring
the enemies of humankind down. Add to this the
vast difference in operational standards: Bureau
Noir's focus on espionage and off-the-books
investigations versus Bureau Aegis’s focus on public
campaigns and by-the-book operations, and it is a
miracle that the groups would even work with each
other. Indeed, it is a common trope in the Human
Sphere’s entertainment circles that the two organ-
isations oppose each other at every turn, bickering
over jurisdiction and rules. The truth is that the
two organisations enjoy a series of relationships
with the other. Information has semi-public and
completely covert channels with senior members
very aware of the advantages to utilising local or
external assets on any particular task. It’s entirely
possible that even while the two agencies are
facing off against each other in secure committee
chambers, over coffee, the same impassioned
directors are bargaining and trading opportunities
for each agency.
Those in the know often attribute this to the
common guidance of the four Pillars of O-12, and
that a shared dedication to the goal of law and
safety grants agents from both groups a common
ground to work together on. Regardless of whether
this is true, each agency values the support of the
other and recognises their unique talents, tools,
and tactics.
HOME GROUND
In matters of international crime (or crime based on
Concilium and other O-12 jurisdictions), the order
of operations for the two organisations is clear.
While there is some overlap and Bureau Aegis has
some very capable investigators, Bureau Noir finds
them, and Bureau Aegis catches them.
82 Chapter 8
Intricate intelligence networks fostered by Bureau
Noir exist across the Human Sphere, constantly
feeding information to both bureaus. Officially,
when a threat is determined, a meeting between
the region’s operatives takes place to determine
how to handle the threat.
Bureau Noir makes resources available to their
allies in the form of evidence, testimonies from
their field agents, undercover access for Bureau
Aegis officers, and even equipment from their
stashes if the need is dire enough. Bureau Aegis
brings manpower and authority in this arrange-
ment, granting trained officers and specialists that
Bureau Noir couldn’t mobilise on its own, spread
thin as it is. These agents ensure that criminals
marked by Bureau Noir can be overwhelmed and
arrested with minimal fuss; few criminals organi-
sations would dare face down the full might of a
Bureau Aegis force.
FRONT LINES
By the time Psi Unit has deployed and Section
Spatha has moved into conflict zones, Bureau Noir
will often have been on the ground for some time.
It’s common for such agents to brief Psi Unit prior
to the reconnaissance phase of an intervention,
giving them much-needed personal intel and pro-
viding real insights that make for a fast effective
action. Whether peacekeeping or providing human-
itarian aid, this information is vital for the most
effective deployment of resources and assets.
Whilst Bureau Noir will rarely take direct action
in any active conflicts, either war or rebellion, on
occasion, a field agent will be assigned to Section
Spatha units in war zones to provide logistical
support. Normally, these agents have become
integrated with the local population and have
scouted the terrain for any positions insurgents
or enemy combatants could be entrenched in.
This liaison ensures that O-12’s military units can
remain briefed on any potential threats amongst
the populace of their targeted zone, as well as
have a specialist familiar in the region’s culture
and language.
As the war with the Ur Hegemony progresses, more
and more Bureau Noir agents have been recruited
and deployed to the front lines in active and
preventative measures. Speculo Killers and other
Combined Army specialists demand an ever-grow-
ing dedication to internal security, and task forces
built from Bureau Noir ‘sniffers’ and Section Spatha
‘wolves’ work to hunt down and eliminate the alien
presence in the human command structure.
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

CHAPTER 9

O-12 CHARACTERS

Blessed are the peacemakers? Perhaps. But messy indeed is the peace-making. O-12 finds itself in the
unenviable position of playing mediator between a hurricane and an earthquake with an ice storm on the
horizon. Between the powers of the Human Sphere’s constant squabbles, the invasion of Paradiso — and
beyond — by the Combined Army, and the enigmatic agenda of the Tohaa, it’s a miracle that the Human
Sphere hasn’t torn itself to pieces.
Actually, scratch that. It’s a series of miracles, wrought by the blood, sweat, and tears of O-12. To grow up
on Concilium is to feel the weight of this burden every second of every day. To know that it’s your birth
right to inherit this impossible task. And to rise to the occasion, performing miracles to keep the whole
thing together, just to do it all again tomorrow.

O-12 LIFEPATH DECISIONS

DECISION TWO — FACTION AND HERITAGE
Characters with O-12 as both Faction and Heritage roll again on the Faction Table (see Infinity Corebook,
p. 41) to determine their family’s Historical Ties.

DECISION SEVEN — ADOLESCENT EVENT

Characters in the O-12 Faction roll on the O-12 Faction Adolescent Event Tables (p. 84-85).

DECISION EIGHT — CAREERS

Instead of rolling on their respective Faction Career Table, O-12 characters roll on the O-12 Careers Table
(p. 86-87). Similarly, when working a career, they roll on the O-12 Career Events Tables (p. 86-87), other-
wise proceeding normally.

DECISION NINE – FINAL CUSTOMIZATION

Immediately following Decision Eight, O-12 characters roll on the Pillars Table (p. 92), otherwise
proceeding normally.

O-12 CHARACTERS 83

“Six months of intel fed back
to the Nomads. Just as many
shuffling critical data to Xperides
Omni-National. And over the past
week, you slipped sensitive data
to Haqqislam. Now, I don’t know if
your loyalty’s really that cheap, or if
you’re just bad at saying no — but
I have to think that this coming
out would mean more than just
the end of your career in Bureau
Ganesh. But don’t worry – your
secrets are safe with me. For now.
Just need you to do me a teensy
little favour.”
–Jherek Argent, Bureau Noir. Off-
the-record conversation, Concilium.
84 Chapter 9
DECISION SEVEN: O-12
ALLEGIANCE ADOLESCENT EVENT
Anyone is welcome to join O-12, regardless of their Characters in the O-12 Faction roll on the O-12
nation of origin. That doesn’t mean it’s done lightly Faction Adolescent Event Tables. If the character’s
— new members must renounce their prior national heritage and faction are different, then they may
allegiance(s), pledge their loyalty to O-12, and vow choose to roll on either faction’s unique table on a
to uphold its Pillars. Ostensibly, this ensures that roll of 1-3.
O-12 operatives act impartially, showing no favour
to their former homelands, and arbitrating the O-12 FACTION
affairs of the Human Sphere without bias. ADOLESCENT EVENT
Of course, things are rarely that simple.
TABLES
D6 CAREER
DIVIDED LOYALTIES AND 1-3 O-12 Adolescent Event Table
HISTORICAL TIES 4 Adolescent Event Table A1
The vagaries of loyalty are a constant source of 5 Adolescent Event Table B1
intrigue in the Human Sphere, and for all its high-
minded talk of Unity, Cooperation, Support, and 6 Adolescent Event Table C1
Progress, O-12 is just as susceptible to betrayal 1 — Infinity Corebook, p. 49-52
as any of the other great powers. Whether they’ve
joined under false pretences, succumbed to
blackmail — emotional or otherwise — or simply
harbour a lingering sense of fealty to their nation
of origin, the possibility of split loyalties lurks like
a spectre in the shadows, sowing doubt across the
organisation.
While not exactly common, these historical ties
do occasionally lead to double agents working
undercover in O-12. Bureau Noir has an unofficial
policy of attempting to create triple agents out of
these assets when possible. While the true loyalties
of such compromised assets remain suspect, O-12
knows how to turn the screws when it needs to.
O-12 CHARACTERS
The ranks of O-12 are filled with recruits from
every corner of the Human Sphere. Some are born
and raised on Concilium, while others choose to
join the organisation on their own terms. However
they make their way to Concilium, those historical
ties continue to shape events around them, whether
they realise it or not.
The rules presented here replace their counterparts
from the Infinity Corebook.
DECISION TWO: O-12
FACTION AND HERITAGE
If the Lifepath reveals your heritage is something
other than O-12, then simply proceed normally. If,
however, your Faction and Heritage are both O-12,
roll on the Faction Table (see Infinity Corebook, p.
41) until you get a result other than 18. On a roll
of 20, simply roll again once to determine your
family’s historical ties, but note that the parting
was unlikely to be amicable; gain a trait describing
an old family nemesis carrying a grudge against
your bloodline.
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

O-12 ADOLESCENT EVENT TABLES

SUGGESTED
D20 ADOLESCENT EVENT CHARACTER OPTIONAL EFFECT
TRAIT
Your friends all thought that the senate was boring. You, however, were Gain 1 rank in Analysis. You can freely select Senatorial Support
1 Policy Wonk
enthralled. Staff as your first career.
You're caught committing a minor crime, and in response, your family Reduce Personality by 1. Increase Brawn by 1. Likely gain both a
2 Sticky Fingers
sends you to a “reform school” in frozen Thokk. tolerance for and extreme dislike of cold weather.
You are infected with a symbiotic parasite. It's mostly benign, but
Good news, you found a new type of bioluminescent moss while
Luminous it does lend a slight glow to your saliva, tears, and other bodily
3 exploring the Blue Wood. Bad news, it seems to be an infectious
Biochemistry fluids. A cure exists, but will ravage your nerves, removing 1
parasite that's crawled into your nervous system.
point of Agility.
Hopeless
You have a whirlwind romance, though your family strongly Romantic Gain 1 rank of Resolve for defiance or 1 rank of Discipline if you
4
disapproves. Do you defy them or break it off? or Conflict acquiesce. Gain your paramour as a contact either way.
Avoidant
Your sibling disappeared without a trace. What's worse, there's no
5 Suspicious Gain 1 rank of Observation.
record of them ever having existed.
As they say, La tajdo de unueco nin kune, or “the tide of unity brings
6 us together.” You never expected to cross paths with someone so Star-Crossed Gain a contact from another faction.
different, but since that fateful day, you've been inseparable.
Full of youthful vigour, you head off to explore the isle of Choola —
7 Rasping Wheeze Reduce Vigour by 1 point.
and suffer horrific chemical burns for your trouble.
Lost in a sailing accident, you nearly drown before washing up on
8 Hydrophobic Reduce Resolve by 1 point.
shore.
So what if you stowed away on a Circular to Ariadna? You finally got to
9 Reckless Gain 1 rank in Stealth.
see the Newport Krakens in person!
Your parent got a massive influx of cash. A bonus at work, they said — Gain 5 Assets and a contact in the Submondo faction, whether
10 Criminal Ties
though their guilty eyes told a different story. you want one or not.
An off-world ambassador enrolled their child at your school. The other
Easily Tugged
11 kids picked on them, but you hit it off with the young Tohaa almost Gain a contact in the Tohaa faction.
Heartstrings
immediately.
Add 2 ranks to your geist's Intelligence, as it rapidly
During a school trip, a Bureau Toth agent seems to take an interest in
self-improves. Whether the risk is genuine or not, Bureau Toth is
12 you. You see them around now and again, and eventually it dawns on On the Watchlist
monitoring it as a potential emergent AI. Gain a nemesis in the
you — it's not you they're monitoring. It's your geist!
Bureau.
Turns out, the agents watching you weren't suspicious. They were Roll on the O-12 Faction Career Table for your first career. This
13 Rising Star
recruiting. does not cost a Life Point.
Gain 1 rank in Animal Handling. The way bugs react to you
Your friends were terrified by the strange arthropod, but it seemed to Critter
14 increases the complication range of Persuasion-based tests by
take a liking to you. Whisperer
+2.
A stranger visited your home in the dead of night, speaking in slow,
15 serious whispers with a family member. What did you overhear that Troubling Secret Gain 1 rank in Observation.
you shouldn't have?
Accepted into the University of Manaheim, you pursued a second
16 Tunnel Vision Add 1d6 years to your age, and gain 1 rank in Education.
degree.
While attending a concert in Manaheim, you suffered a nasty head Ringing in Your Increase the complication range of sound-based Observation
17
injury. That, or you stood much too close to the speakers. Ears tests by +1. Treatment is available, but will cost 3+3§ Assets.
Politically Increase the difficulty of Lifestyle tests by +1 until you buy off
18 Your family is at the heart of a scandal.
Notorious the trait.
Growing up on Concilium was almost a little too idyllic. So, when an You defect to a new faction, determined by your heritage or
19 “old friend of your family's” showed up with an offer, you at least heard Rogue Asset historical ties. On a roll of 11-20, you haven’t actually defected;
them out. you’re a double agent (see p. 86).
You and your friends decided it'd be fun to start a Mayacast. The last
Mysterious Your character died and was resurrected. See the rules for
20 thing you remember is a dark-eyed man hastily exiting an embassy.
Secrets Resurrection in the Infinity Corebook, p. 54.
Then? Darkness.

O-12 CHARACTERS 85
 “Word of advice, kid: once things
get hot, the Pillars don’t mean jack.
Unity and Cooperation are all well
and good, but when you and Mr.
Neoterra here are under fire, you
really think he’s going to trust your
Shentang accent? Old habits die
hard. Try not to die with ‘em.”
–Jherek Argent, Bureau Noir.
Informal aside during Bureau Aegis
training manoeuvres.
DOUBLE (AND TRIPLE) AGENTS
In the espionage-rich world of Infinity, double (and even triple) agents are still rare, but they’re hardly
unheard of. Whether a character is sent to infiltrate, or develops divided loyalties, double agents have a
lot to keep track of.
Primarily, they have two factions: their current faction, and their “true faction” where their loyalties actu-
ally lie. By default, double agents use their current faction when determining careers, restriction, tariffs,
etc. If they wish, they can use their true faction in its place, though this is risky; any rolls involving your
true faction double their complication range (so a complication range of 1 becomes 2, a range of 3
becomes 6, and so on).
In a Wilderness of Mirrors campaign, double agents have two different handlers, one each for their cur-
rent and true factions. When giving out covert objectives, the true faction handler will be cognisant of
the double agent’s need to protect their cover. This may require altering covert objectives, and GMs are
encouraged to use their discretion.
If a double agent’s current faction becomes suspicious, it will take steps to ascertain the character’s true
loyalties. And of course, if their cover is ever blown, a double agent can no longer use their current faction
when making rolls — though that’s likely the least of their concerns.
A triple agent functions exactly the same as a double agent, the difference is one of allegiance. In order
to preserve the agent’s cover, O-12 remains largely unaware of the deception — being caught in the act by
fellow O-12 members is unlikely to go any better for the triple agent than it is the double. Such are the
risks in the world of high-stakes espionage.

DECISION EIGHT: CAREERS

When creating a O-12 character, use the options presented here in place of their counterparts in the
Infinity Corebook Lifepath.

O-12 FACTION
CAREER TABLE
D6 CAREER
1 Special Forces1
2 Intelligence Operative1
3 Politician1
4 Diplomat1
5-6 Bureau Toth Agent1,2
7 Gangbuster2
8 Psi Unit2
9 Field Scientist1
10 Cyberghost2
11-13 Senatorial Support Staff
14-16 Bureau Analyst2
17-19 Bureau Aegis Specialist2
20 Roll on Faction Table of Your Choice
1 — Career from Infinity Corebook.

86 Chapter 9
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

O-12 CAREER EVENT TABLES

D20 CAREER EVENT GAME EFFECT
You saw something that you weren't supposed to and were offered a
1 Gain 5 Assets or a nemesis from a random faction.
substantial sum to keep quiet. Did you?
Working on Concilium is deeply political. What did you do to make
2 Gain a rival in a random faction.
enemies this time?
A prominent politician decides that you're the reason things aren't You must pass a Challenging (D2) hazard test for your current career.
3
going their way. Otherwise, you are Fired (see Infinity Corebook, p. 54).
If you intervene, gain a contact in one random faction and a rival in
A disagreement between factions breaks out in front of you. Do you
4 another as, intentional or not, you tip the scales. If you let them go at it,
intervene before it turns violent or let it run its course?
instead gain 1 rank in Discipline.
Everybody has their secrets, and someone has yours. What did they find
5 Gain the Trait Blackmailed.
out?
6 You're damn good at your job. And someone up top finally noticed. Gain a bonus worth 3 Assets.
An old “friend of the family” contacts you out of the blue, desperate for Either gain a debt worth 2+6 Assets, or 1 rank in Discipline and the Trait
7
your help. What do you do? Stone Cold.
While walking around Edda, you helped a hopelessly lost diplomat make
8 Gain a contact in another faction.
it to their meeting.
You must pass a Challenging (D2) hazard test for your current career.
Politics aren't always clean. Willing or not, you got mixed up in
9 Otherwise, you are Fired, and gain a Criminal Record (see Infinity
something dirty.
Corebook, p. 54)
You get dragged into a debate between two factions. Miraculously, you
10 Gain the Trait Mediator.
resolve the issue.
You are approached by a Nomad mining crew working the Brisingamen. If you elect to help them, gain a group of contacts from Corregidor,
Having partied a bit too hard, they've lost their credentials, but if you as well as 1 Asset for your trouble. If you go to the authorities, gain a
11
can just get them back to Bifrost orbital, they can get this whole mess contact in Bureau Aegis or Hermes, depending on how truthful their
sorted out. What do you do? claim actually was.
On your way back to Concilium Prima, your ship malfunctions. The
Gain the Trait Void Terror. While the trait remains, add +1 complication
12 matter is resolved, but not before your escape pod is jettisoned with you
range to all Extraplanetary tests.
in it. It takes a week to find you.
An acquaintance suddenly dies, leaving you certain effects... and and a Gain a heavily encrypted comlog, an onyx ring engraved with characters
13
note claiming there was no one else they could trust. you can't read, and a dose of Extra-Strength Painkillers.
Gain 5 Assets or a rival in a random faction. Either way, describe the
You're offered a bribe to grant access to secure sectors of Edda. Do you
14 kidnapping, assassination, heist, and/or hack that took place, and the
take it? Either way, how do things go wrong?
role that your actions played in it.
If you pass a Daunting (D3) Resistance test, your character suffers no
Your drink order is mistakenly switched with a prominent politician's. permanent effects. Otherwise, your character dies and is resurrected
15
Unfortunately, their drink was laced with a deadly, fast-acting poison. in your choice of a Standard, Orlando, or Siren Lhost. Gain an ally in a
random faction either way.
You and a co-worker are up for the same promotion, but their political
16 Gain a rival within O-12.
contacts ensure it's never actually a fair contest.
If you turn in the evidence, gain a nemesis in a random faction, and
You are the only witness to a major crime, but no one realises it. What generate 1 additional Momentum on Personality-based tests with law
17
do you do? enforcement. If you inform the guilty party, gain a trait describing your
blackmail. If you do nothing, gain 1 rank in Discipline.
It was nothing personal, just business. Their goals in the Öberhaus just You are Fired (see Infinity Corebook, p. 54). Gain the Trait Definitely Hard
18
needed you out of the way. No hard feelings, right? Feelings.
Concilium is typically a peaceful place, but that peace was literally
Your character died and was Resurrected (see Infinity Corebook, p. 54).
19 shattered in smoke and fire. Awakening in your new body, you find an AR
Gain a contact from your heritage or historical ties.
tag, simply stating “Consider my debt to your family paid.”
Roll again three times on the Career Event Table for this career phase.
The Music of the Spheres is supposed to be a beautiful, harmonious When spending a Life Point to choose a specific event, you may not
20 thing. Maybe you'll hear it in time, but for now it's hard to sort anything choose this result. If you roll duplicate events, it means some similar
out through the cacophonous racket. event has occurred. If you roll Music of the Spheres again, add additional
rolls.

O-12 CHARACTERS 87
 BUREAU ANALYST BUREAU ANALYST
From optimising trade deals with Bureau Hermes, ATTRIBUTES
to assessing potential human rights violations AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
with Bureau Athena, or even conducting planetary +1 +3 +0 +1 +2 +1 +1
surveys under Bureau Tiandi’s auspices, O-12 runs
on information, and much of that information MANDATORY SKILLS: Analysis, Education, Observation
comes through analysts. While experiences vary ELECTIVE SKILLS: See Determining Your Bureau
widely from bureau to bureau, each analyst brings EARNINGS RATING: 2+1§
a keen eye and tactical mind to bear on the Human GEAR: Analysis Suite, Negotiator's Suite (7 days credit),
Psychoanalysis Suite.
Sphere’s problems. And as there are plenty of
SPECIAL: When taking this career for the first time, roll on the
those to go around, O-12 never quite has enough Bureau Analyst Table to determine your Role. Once you’ve determined
analysts on hand. your bureau, you no longer roll upon taking this career, but if desired,
you can attempt an Average (D1) hazard test to repeat this career in
the Role of your choice. In any case, you can instead spend 1 Life Point
to simply choose your bureau.

DETERMINING YOUR BUREAU

Each bureau has a distinct set of Elective Skills that members pick up on the job. When working the career,
roll on the Bureau Aegis Units Table below, or spend 1 Life Point to select a Squad, then use its Electives.
At your GM’s discretion, you may also use your bureau’s Elective Skills in place of the standard for other
careers on a case-by-case basis.

BUREAU ANALYST TABLE

D20 BUREAU ELECTIVE SKILLS
1 Aegis Athletics, Hacking, Resistance,
2 Agni Hacking, Science, Tech
3 Athena Lifestyle, Persuade, Psychology
4 Concilium Discipline, Lifestyle, Persuade
5-6 Gaea Extraplanetary, Science, Survival
7 Ganesh Analysis, Hacking, Lifestyle,
8 Hermes Lifestyle, Pilot, Spacecraft
9 Lakshmi Medical, Psychology, Science
10 Noir Discipline, Stealth, Thievery
11-13 Tiandi Extraplanetary, Spacecraft, Tech
14-16 Toth Command, Hacking, Tech
17-19 Trimurti Command, Persuade, Psychology
20 Choose Your Bureau

88 Chapter 9
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

CYBERGHOST PSI UNIT LINKSWORD

Between keeping Maya safe, Arachne in line, and
an eye on local dataspheres, the quantronic side of
the Human Sphere is even more sprawling, layered,
and dangerous than the physical side. Hoping that
hackers will stick to the rules is dangerously naïve.
Policing cybercrime requires operatives who are
the equal — or superior — of their quarry in every
meaningful way.
Enter the Cyberghosts. Bureau Aegis’s Quantronic
Intervention Unit, ‘ghosts are door kickers in the
physical world as well as the virtual one, providing
quantronic support to O-12 agents, hunting enemy
hackers, and generally diving face-first into the
ugliest, roughest quantronic zones in the Human
Sphere, slinging their quantronic SWORDs with the
same lethal precision as their physical counterparts.
CYBERGHOST
ATTRIBUTES
AGI AWA BRW COO INT
+1 +1 +1 +1 +3
MANDATORY SKILLS: Close Combat, Hacking, Stealth
ELECTIVE SKILLS: Hacking, Observation, Tech
EARNINGS RATING: 1+3§
GEAR: Armoured Clothing (casual), Assault Hacking Device or
White Hacking Device, LinkSWORD
GANGBUSTER
The political climate of the Human Sphere is not Developed specifically for Bureau
unlike the void between its planets: harsh, lethal, Aegis’ Cyberghost Quantronic
and completely unsurvivable without the proper Intervention Units, these circuited
tools. For space, that’s exosuits and ships. For blades come alive in the hands of
politics, it’s spies. Sure, the nice folks from the Psi a skilled user. (See p. 98 for a
Unit will tell you that they’re “military intelligence,” detailed entry.)
but they’ll also tell you that they’re part of Bureau
Aegis’s Section Spatha. While both are technically
true, the reality is that O-12’s Psi Unit has been
essentially autonomous for a long time now, with
an independent chain of command and a hazi-
ly-defined mission statement. Psi Unit is seen as a
larger, more aggressive agency than Bureau Noir.
Responsible for the majority of intelligence gath-
ering and counterespionage activities, its public
budget is much, much greater than Bureau Noir’s.
So, when Psi Unit assets are assigned to a Bureau
Noir task force, it often comes as a small shock
exactly how much more latitude Bureau Noir has in
allocating its substantial resources.
PER WIL
— +1 PSI UNIT
ATTRIBUTES
AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
+2 +2 +1 +1 +2 +1 +1
MANDATORY SKILLS: Hacking, Observation, Stealth
ELECTIVE SKILLS: Close Combat, Discipline, Thievery
EARNINGS RATING: 2+2§
GEAR: Armoured Clothing (business), Hacking Device, Nanopulser

Whoever said “crime doesn’t pay” has never seen

a Submondo boss’s bank account. O-12’s Special SENATORIAL SUPPORT
Crime Squad (SCS) exists to ensure that it’s every STAFF
bit as costly. From busting up illegal Teseum smug-
The Öberhaus is a busy place on an off day. During
gling rings with Bureau Agni, to cracking down
heated legislative discourse, it’s a battleground in
on illegal AI research alongside Bureau Toth, to
its own right. Among the 200-odd sitting senators
infiltrating Submondo trafficking rings with Bureau
who make up the assembly at any given time, there
Lakshmi, SCS agents — affectionately nicknamed
are thousands more who make the gears turn.
“Gangbusters” — are among the most-seconded
Policy specialists, lawyers, financial analysts, and
units in all of O-12. Their ability to seamlessly infil-
bodyguards make up the essential core of any given
trate criminal organisations makes them invaluable
senator’s retinue. And anyone who’s been in those
in O-12’s multifaceted mission. It also routinely
political trenches can tell you that it doesn’t take
puts them in the line of fire, often in a quite literal
long for one role to bleed into the other. At the
sense. If and when your cover is blown, you’ve got
end of the day — if and when it finally comes — it’s
to be tough to make it out alive. Through means
about making sure that the senator is able to repre-
clandestine or violent, Gangbusters show that while
sent their constituents. Whatever it takes.
crime might pay, it also invites payback.

GANGBUSTER SENATORIAL SUPPORT STAFF

ATTRIBUTES ATTRIBUTES
AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
+1 +1 +2 +2 — +2 +2 +1 +2 +1 +1 +2 +1 +2

MANDATORY SKILLS: Ballistics, Discipline, Lifestyle
ELECTIVE SKILLS: Resistance, Tech, Thievery
EARNINGS RATING: 1+3§
GEAR: Armoured Clothing, Boarding Shotgun, Multispectral Visor 1
MANDATORY SKILLS: Education, Lifestyle, Observation
ELECTIVE SKILLS: Close Combat, Hacking, Persuade
EARNINGS RATING: 1+3§
GEAR: Nav Suite (Edda), Painkillers (3 doses), Sensor Suite, Stims
(2 doses)

O-12 CHARACTERS 89
 BUREAU AEGIS BUREAU AEGIS SPECIALIST
SPECIALIST ATTRIBUTES
Balance is a tricky thing. As the executive branch AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
of O-12, Bureau Aegis fields a robust tactical police +1 +1 +2 +2 +1 +1 +2
branch, something resembling an army if you
squint, and a legitimately impressive navy — all part MANDATORY SKILLS: Ballistics, Discipline, Resistance
of its mission to protect the whole of the Human ELECTIVE SKILLS: See Aegis Units
EARNINGS RATING: 1+4§
Sphere. Of course, that frequently means protecting
GEAR: See Aegis Unit Table
the Human Sphere from itself, a thankless task in SPECIAL: When taking this career for the first time, roll on the
the best of times. Aegis Unit Table to determine your Role. Once you’ve determined your
These are not the best of times. Unit, you no longer roll upon taking this career, but if desired, you can
attempt an Average (D1) hazard test to repeat this career in the Role
Every military prides itself on the need to be the of your choice. In any case, you can instead spend 1 Life Point to simply
best. But balanced upon a razor-thin margin, it is choose your Unit. Characters with a Criminal Record are automatically
not enough for Bureau Aegis’s forces to be the best. assigned to Beta Unit and cannot spend a Life Point or attempt a
They have to be just a little bit better. hazard test to change their unit. After completing the career phase, the
Beta Unit character's Criminal Record is removed.

AEGIS UNITS
Alpha Unit: After suffering a series of devastating
losses during the NeoColonial Wars, SWORDFOR
needed a string of victories in the worst way.
Formed from the few survivors of Phi Unit and
a handful of volunteers, Bureau Aegis forged a
counter-intelligence outfit who could legitimately
keep O-12’s enemies away from its plethora of
dangerous secrets. On top of that, they also had to
restore the prestige of Bureau Aegis. They needed
to make the Human Sphere take O-12 seriously, or
things would only get worse.
Thankfully, the Alphas proved to be all this and
more. Expert mediators, skilled investigators, and
stalwart fighters, Alphas are the gold standard for
Bureau Aegis’s troops, the north star lighting the
way even in the darkest of nights.
Beta Unit: As an international law enforcement
agency, Bureau Aegis also maintains its own
correctional facilities. And unlike many prisons
unworthy of the name, O-12 possesses a genuine
interest in reform. Beta Unit offers a second
chance to convicts who show the potential to
re-join society, or at least wish to atone for their
past misdeeds. And while such individuals could
never be seen sporting the Bureau Aegis badge in
public, the Betatrooper programme pairs talented
individuals with remote presence bodies, tasked
with extremely dangerous and difficult tasks.
Some never make it out of the programme, suffer-
ing from metabolic collapse or lethal amounts of
neural feedback. But those who do receive a clean
slate, acknowledgement of their heroic deeds, and
full membership as an O-12 citizen.
The Betatrooper programme exemplifies O-12’s
belief that everyone deserves a second chance —
or at the very least, in not letting prime talent go
to waste.

90 Chapter 9

DETERMINING AEGIS UNITS
Each Unit has a distinct set of Elective Skills that members pick up on the job. When working the career,
roll on the Bureau Aegis Units Table below, or spend 1 Life Point to select a Unit, then use its Electives. At
your GM’s discretion, you may also use your Unit’s Elective Skills in place of the standard for other careers
on a case-by-case basis.
AEGIS UNIT TABLE
D20 UNIT ELECTIVE SKILLS
1-2 Alpha Command, Education, Persuade,
3-4 Beta Hacking, Pilot, Tech
5-6 Delta Observation, Stealth, Survival
7-8 Epsilon Discipline, Persuade, Psychology
9-10 Gamma Ballistics, Resistance, Tech
11-12 Kappa Athletics, Observation, Persuade
13-15 Lambda Athletics, Medical, Tech
16-17 Omega Ballistics, Close Combat, Resistance
18-19 Zeta Ballistics, Discipline, Pilot
20
Delta Unit: Honouring the special ops units that
carried the moniker before them, Delta Unit
contains O-12’s commandos. Trained to head into
sensitive situations with no backup, little intel, and
no margin for error, Deltas handle counterterrorism,
hostage rescue, and sudden strikes. It takes a spe-
cial sort of person to become a Delta, adrenaline
junkies with hearts of gold, thrill-seekers with
political savvy. A rare breed indeed — Deltas are
notorious for treating their operations as one big
game. Because to them, it is, the most extreme of
all extreme sports. The pinnacle of risk-taking.
Epsilon Unit: Members of Epsilon Unit undergo bio-
genic treatment, altering their body chemistry and
allowing them to approach a state of near-absolute
rationality. Political liaisons to the military high
commands of every nation, expert investigators,
tactical advisers to the whole of O-12, and – when
the need arises – stone-cold operatives who kill
without hesitation. What some call a hyper-rational
state, others consider the death of human empathy,
with even ALEPH showing more emotion than the
average Epsilon.
The truth however is that the ability to ignore one’s
emotions doesn’t make them go away. Epsilons feel
just as deeply as the next human, if not more so
for keeping their emotions bottled up all the time.
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
GEAR
Armoured Clothing, Heavy Combat Armour, MULTI
Rifle, Negotiation Suite (1 Week Rental Credit)
D-Charges (2), Nanopulser, Remote Presence Gear
Combi Rifle, D-Charge, Hacking Device, Pistol, Knife
Medium Combat Armour, MULTI Sniper Rifle,
Panzerfaust (with 2 Needle Reloads), Powered
Armour
Combi Rifle, Light Combat Armour
Combi Rifle, Light Combat Armour, Medikit,
Powered Multitool
Heavy Machine Gun, Powered Armour, Knife
Armoured Clothing (Uniform), Inlaid Palm Circuitry,
Pistol (with 4 Reloads)
Choose Your Unit
But if it serves their agenda to be seen as unfeeling
machines, then machines they shall be. The impor-
tance of their work demands no less.
Gamma Unit: One of the major issues facing an
international body like O-12 is the impact of
authorisation and approval from different parties.
By the time that Bureau Aegis is authorised to
intervene in a situation, things have usually gone
from bad to worse, if not beyond. Sometimes the
parties in question are simply uninterested in
de-escalation.
That’s when the Gammas show up.
O-12’s sledgehammer, these heavy assault units are
a blunt — yet somehow still precise — instrument
of unrelenting violence. Fast and overwhelming,
Gammas attack the enemy physically and psy-
chologically in equal measure, thundering across
the battlefield while somehow keeping collateral
damage to a whisper. In the chaos of war, they
represent the arrival of unsympathetic order, here
to make things right, whether anyone likes it or not.
Kappa Unit: The core of Bureau Aegis’s para-
military force, Kappa Units are O-12’s primary
international peacekeepers. Ostensibly part of
Section Spatha’s police force, they embody the
Escalation Section nickname through and through.
O-12 CHARACTERS 91
 Whether via dialogue, mediation, search and Zeta Unit: The ultimate expression of O-12’s
rescue, or full-fledged combat, Kappa Units are the authority, Bureau Aegis’s Zeta Units represent an
standard-bearers for security and stability in the immediate and forceful solution. Piloting a unique
Human Sphere. evolution of the latest PanOceanian TAGs, these
remote presence operators routinely spend double
Kappas operate on a thin margin of error. Their
shifts in the cockpit. Graduates of Concilium’s
role as front line responders makes them a sort of
Mechanised Pilot Academy, the screening process
ambassador for O-12. Kappas not only have to get
is so brutal that other units frequently fight over
the job done, they have to keep their hands clean
the washouts, such is the honour of even being
while doing it, setting an example for the rest of
considered for the post.
the Human Sphere. For their part, Kappas pride
themselves on being “untouchables,” and proudly The result of this programme is the absolute
set the bar for the rules of engagement. cream of the crop. Ace piloting skills are a given.
What truly sets the Zeta apart is their unbreakable
Lambda Unit: Bureau Aegis’s technical and medical
spirit, tireless focus, and ruthless efficiency. The
specialists, Lambdas quickly gain familiarity with
latter in particular is unusual for O-12, sparking
the wide array of cutting-edge technology that
an interested concern in the various powers of the
the Human Sphere has to offer. Often working
Human Sphere.
alongside military liaisons, observers, and advisers,
Lambda techs need to be able to repair the servos
on a PanOceanian TAG one minute, then ensure a DECISION
Haqqislamite field surgery station is up and run-
ning the next, with little to no warning about what
NINE: FINAL
critical issue is about to become their problem. CUSTOMIZATION
Equally as skilled, the Lambda Battalion of Field The four Pillars of O-12 — Unity, Cooperation,
Doctors operates Bureau Aegis’s field hospitals Support, and Progress — are more than just a
and can be found in the midst of practically every slogan inside O-12. They’re the moral compass, the
humanitarian mission occurring in the Human foundation upon which society is built. As such, it’s
Sphere. From disaster relief to field surgery, common for citizens to identify more strongly with
Lambdas receive similar combat training to their one Pillar or another, or at least be seen to do so
peers in Kappa Unit. In order to do their job, they’re by society.
likely to need something with more kick than a
MediKit or a wrench before the day is through. Before continuing through decision nine, roll on the
Pillars Table below, and add the associated effect to
Omega Unit: O-12 is built upon the Pillars of Unity, your sheet. Whether or not your character identifies
Cooperation, Support, and Progress. More than one with the Pillar (or lack thereof), that’s how O-12
observer has pointed out the organisation’s hypoc- society views them.
risy in this regard, and while there’s often more
nuance at play the people realise, the Omegas are a
PILLARS TABLE
favourite target. Where’s the cooperation in sending
a lone soldier in servo-powered armour into the D20 PILLAR EFFECT
fray? What these critics don’t see are the countless Gain a contact outside
souls providing tactical data, making sure their 1-4 Unity
your faction.
armour functions perfectly, and otherwise setting
the Omegas up for success. 5-8 Cooperation Gain a contact inside your faction.
9-12 Support Increase Social Status by 1.
What they do see, however, are the results. One
problem, one Omega — and that typically means a Gain a contact in the Tohaa
13-16 Progress
problem that’s as good as solved. faction.
17-20 None Decrease Social Status by 1.

92 Chapter 9
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

CHAPTER 10

O-12 GEAR

The O-12 fulfils a unique role in the Human Sphere, not only as an administrative and legislative body,
but as a super-national enforcement agency. While the majority of its time is spent in an advisory capacity, WHAT YOU’LL FIND
there comes a point when putting boots on the ground is the only solution. Most of the time, this is all in IN THIS CHAPTER
the open with maximum transparency for the rights of all involved. Occasionally though, investigators get
• Rules for additional Nonlethal
overly enthusiastic in pursuing their prey, and niche tools are developed that while not illegal are certainly
equipment including its use
questionable. and misuse.
Policing has come a long way from the dark days of sjambok confessions, but there’s always a risk when • A catalogue of police equipment
stress defeats judgement that even the best and brightest of the Human Sphere can turn ugly. both physical and quantronic.

O-12 GEAR 93
 on common armoured clothing, the Bond suit
GEAR CATALOGUE shares one notable weakness with its forebear.
Until the trilby comes into vogue again, few such
ANGEL DRONE suits offer any head protection.

This small, baseball-sized quadrotor is programmed

to immediately launch when an officer draws their
sidearm. Completely outside the control of the
officer once launched, these units relay the video
and audio feed of the situation. Recognised as
reducing officer-involved shootings by 15%, many
officers object to its presence, right up until their
first hearing, when they discover the fairly open
secret that even within their storage holster Angel
Drones are always listening. Once an Angel Drone
has been active for five minutes it calls for an
Overwatch remote to attend the scene.
TROOPER
ANGEL DRONE
ATTRIBUTES
AGI AWA BRW COO INT
6 9(1) 4 6 8 6
BUREAU AEGIS CORDON
CONTROL VEHICLE
Ground, High Performance, Wheeled
Based off the chassis of the discontinued Moto.
Tronica Livewire street bike, the Cordon Control
Vehicle is as much a pseudo-AI managed remote
as it is motorcycle. Deployed when civil emergency
requires a location to be ring-fenced at particular
speed or a vehicle has become out of control and is
in need of direct intervention, the CCV carries up to
two riders who with magnetic armour contacts and
without the need to directly control the bike can
act independently of it and take whatever actions
are needed to confront the moment.
TROOPER
PER WIL
BUREAU AEGIS CCV
8

FIELDS OF EXPERTISE ATTRIBUTES

AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
Combat — — Movement +1 1 Social — —
10 10 9(+1) 10 10 5 10
Fortitude — — Senses +1 1 Technical — —

DEFENCES FIELDS OF EXPERTISE

Combat — — Movement +3 +3 Social — —
Firewall 8 Resolve 8 Structure 2
Fortitude +1 — Senses — — Technical — —
Security 2 Morale — Armour —
SPECIAL ABILITIES DEFENCES
• Common Special Abilities: Inured to Disease, Poison, and Vacuum, Firewall 5 Resolve 5 Structure 6
Superhuman Awareness 2 Security 3 Morale 3 Armour 2
• Mayfly: The Angel Drone is ill-suited to long standoffs. It can
fly continuously for approximately 15 minutes before needing a ATTACKS: Ground Spike Launcher, Cordon Rope
recharge. GEAR: Pitcher
• Always listening: The remote can reduce the difficulty of Observation SPECIAL ABILITIES
tests within Medium range by 1. • Common Special Abilities: Inured to Disease, Poison, and Vacuum
• Vehicle (See below)
GEAR: Recorder
ATTRIBUTES
Scale 1 Speed 4 Brawn 9(+1)

BOND SUIT DETAILS

Many operatives are required to attend formal,
social, and undercover occasions where obvious
body armour would stand out and impede the
valuable work being done. To facilitate this, Bureau
Aegis maintains contracts with many common
clothing manufacturers so that operatives can dress
as needed without being unprotected. By utilising
next generation strengthened polymers, the Bond
suit, named after Earth’s iconic spy, grants the
outfit the protection of Light to Medium Combat
Armour depending on the number of layers worn.
In addition to this, concealed pockets throughout
the garment allow the operative to carry whatever
small pieces of equipment they might need without
drawing undue suspicion. A marked improvement
Max Passengers 2 Impact 1+3§ (Knockdown)
BUREAU AEGIS
INTERCEPTOR PATROL
VEHICLE
This six-seater, mid-engine patrol vehicle
offers top-of-the-line pursuit capabilities
while maintaining two dedicated rear prisoner
compartments and a front-mounted armoured
storage space.
Additional variants exist substituting the prisoner
compartments and rear seating, including a mass
transport variant with capacity for 2+8 tightly

94 Chapter 10
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

packed officers or secured prisoners and a first of less-lethal weapons designed to cow all but the
responder vehicle that trades the regular seating most intransigent of rioters.
for a dedicated emergency response unit with two
Designed with Gamma Units in mind, the primary
beds and tools for all manner of emergencies.
module of the RDV is suitable only for passengers
Likewise, the top turret is configured as needed. in Heavy or Powered Armour. The accommodations
Riot control vehicles trade a tear gas grenade are so spartan that even the seats have been
launcher for the standard adhesive launcher, removed. Each passenger is connected to the
and first responder vehicles often mount a foam module via a shoulder harness which holds them
launcher to aid in resolving fires. tethered till they make ground fall. When the con-
ENCLOSED, GROUND, WHEELED
vertiplane is over the deployment zone, the riders
are lowered in place inside the lower half of the
BUREAU AEGIS INTERCEPTOR module, which has an inner segment that provides
PATROL VEHICLE cover for the descending troops’ rears and flanks.
ATTRIBUTES The secondary module is much the same as the
Scale 2 Speed 4 Brawn 16(+1) primary, though the harness also contains support
for the additional weight of three cordon control
DETAILS vehicles. These motorcycles are spaced with a yoke
Max Passengers 7 Impact
of semi-collapsible foam that upon landing can
2+6§ (Knockdown)
simply be kicked away.
HARDPOINTS The tertiary module is designed to carry a fully
1 External, 0 Internal (seating configuration), 1 Weapon loaded interceptor with passengers. While ideally
MOUNTED WEAPON: Adhesive Launcher the passengers will be in suitable armour for
SPECIAL ABILITIES transit, so long as the passengers are using the
• I Rule the Road. When involved in a chase on ALEPH-controlled roads, interceptor’s seatbelts and heating system, there
the pilot gains 2 bonus Momentum on any Piloting test so long as the shouldn’t be any ill effects of not being so pro-
interceptor can contact Maya. tected. This module is often used for the movement
GEAR: 3x metal front plates (see Tactical Magnetic Harness), 2x of high-priority prisoners once they have been
pistols with 1 Reload in magnetic pouches, 1x boarding shotgun with
stowed in an interceptor.
1 Reload, 1x collapsible exoskeleton, 1x cordon rope, 4x road spikes, 1x
MediKit, 1x repair kit, road cones, quantronic paint, and signal flares
AIRCRAFT, ENCLOSED

NEW OPTION BUREAU AEGIS RAPID

Prisoner Habitation (1 Internal) DEPLOYMENT VEHICLE
This module takes a normal bench seat found ATTRIBUTES
in the back of many vehicles and secures it for Scale 3 Speed 4/2 Brawn 18(+1)
prisoner habitation. Each unit holds 2 prisoners in
complete isolation from each other. The module DETAILS
denies access to door handles, has a faraday cage Max Passengers 2+module Impact 3+6§ (Knockdown)
to prevent quantronic communication, and is signif-
icantly reinforced to prevent physical breach. HARDPOINTS
The habitation has Armour and Security 6 and can 1 External (plus module), Internal 2, Weapon 1
be sealed in the event of a chemical or biological SPECIAL ABILITIES
attack. Rumours that officers have sealed prisoners • Ground Suppression. The RDV has a series of approximately twenty
in habitation units after they have been exposed to single-use grenade launchers lining the undercarriage which can
gas are just that, rumours. be fired as a single bombardment. Usually, these are loaded with a
combination of flashbang grenades and tear gas. Any character within 1
zone of the craft will be automatically hit by 1+2§ grenades of a type
BUREAU AEGIS RAPID determined by the GM.
DEPLOYMENT VEHICLE • Cover Plating. (Primary module only.) Troops landed in the primary
When interceptors aren’t enough, Bureau Aegis module gain 4§ Cover from the rear and the flanks and 2§ Cover
from the front.
calls in an RDV. These convertiplanes are the
ultimate in no-frills transport. Designed with three
modular storage containers, the RDV can deploy
individual police, motorcycle responders, or even
a fully loaded interceptor without particularly
straining the engines. To support deployment, the
RDV is armed with a dramatic, saturation-based set

O-12 GEAR 95

DISPROPORTIONATE
FAILURE
A disproportionate number of Cryo-
Pod failures impact terrorists and
violent criminals. While some of
this is down to the fact that these
make up the bulk of occupants,
Bureau Aegis is concerned that
someone is engaging in non-
judicial executions. Whether this
is a lone vigilante, Submondo
organisation, the Hassassins,
Bureau Noir, or some other
organization is unknown, but
investigations are ongoing. In the
meantime, checks on prisoners
have been doubled even as
critics argue that this makes
escape much easier and transport
more expensive.
96 Chapter 10
CALM
Provided to help forestall PTSD in Bureau Aegis
agents. Calm is a mild muscle relaxant and mood
stabiliser. Agents who routinely investigate particu-
larly horrible cases rave about it, albeit in a quiet
and even manner. While not physically addictive,
concerns about long-term psychological depend-
ency mean that it is restricted to those under active
psychological direction. This has led to several
Submondo organisations attempting to corner the
market with knock-off antidepressants repackaged
to look like the real deal.
Calm Ingested, Instant, 1 day, 1+2§
mental damage
Addiction 1 / 2 doses, Compulsion 2*, Withdrawal
1, 1+3 mental damage
Harm effect: Causes depression increasing the
characters complication range by 1. Every time
harm effects are rolled when taking Calm, that
character considers this narcotics Compulsion
to be 1 higher than normal. If the character can
resist Calm for a week this will reduce by 1.
CAPTURE BAG
Controversial to say the least, capture bags are now
more a historic fascination than an active tool. Only
ever used against criminals considered the worst
of the worst, these bags use nanotech to seal the
captive from the neck down within a stab-proof
bag. These bags are specifically designed to cover
a suspect all the way into and out of a cryotube if
need be and, as such, provide little to no protection
from the environment.
Placing a suspect in a capture bag is not an
easy task. Unless the subject is unconscious or
otherwise compliant, they will have to be wrestled
into the bag.
Standard operating procedure during peak use of
these bags involved stunning the suspect with gas
or electricity, rolling them up into the bag, sealing
them in, and finally carrying them into the back of a
waiting vehicle.
COLLAPSIBLE
EXOSKELETON
A streamlined gruntsuit with few BTS protections,
these units are often used by emergency services
when dealing with significant issues such as
tectonic quakes and large fires. When not in
service, they fold down to the size of folding chairs.
Opening up a collapsible exoskeleton requires 5
minutes and an Average (D1) Tech test.
CORDON ROPE
Cordon rope is a length of self-repairing cord that
is designed to deter movement past it. Working like
a series of rechargeable single-use stun batons,
when impacted by a vehicle, multiple individual
capacitors will make contact across the chassis
of the vehicle and send electricity through the
vehicle’s power plant causing inbuilt safety features
to kick in and stop the vehicle.
While a lifesaver in the right hands, cordon
rope has a mixed history and has been linked
to a high-profile police corruption scandal in
Acontecimento where it was used to solicit at least
two forced confessions and has been linked to a
series of expensive vehicular thefts across Neoterra
connected to the Comuna.
When a vehicle impacts cordon rope, it suffers
damage as per its Scale below. Non-Vehicular
targets are considered Scale 0. Cordon rope can be
placed like a mine, though with its bright colours
and obvious placements, most victims deliberately
drive through. Often their internal monologue
starts with, “How bad can it be?” and concludes
with, “Oh, that bad.”
1+3§ Grievous, Knockdown, Piercing 3, Stun,
Scale 0-1
Munition
2+6§ Grievous, Knockdown, Piercing 3, Stun,
Scale 2
Munition
2+8§ Grievous, Knockdown, Piercing 3, Stun,
Scale 3+
Munition
CRYO-POD
Carrying the stigma of the Nomad’s Red Auction,
Cryo-Pods are a political hot potato. While inval-
uable in transporting prisoners securely, multiple
human rights watch organisations have raised
concerns that this is an inhumane punishment
levied against people before they have been given
a hearing. The O-12 is sympathetic to these views
and thus only uses Cryo-Pods for the transportation
of particularly unpleasant career criminals. While
Cryo-Pods have been in use since the early days of
wormhole exploration, there are occasional failings
in occupant preparation, which leads to the occu-
pant being flash frozen and unrevivable. In some
cases, the occupant’s Cube is destroyed as well.
Many vehicles with a passenger compartment can
be fitted with a Cryo-Pod. Cryo-Pods take up 1
Internal hardpoint for every occupant.

DISASTER RECOVERY
SUIT
When TAGs reach the end of their operational
life, they are stripped of their expensive armour,
propulsion units, and weapons, leaving little more
than a pilot’s compartment and a set of powerful
limbs. For the military, they are all but useless,
but for budget-constrained first responders, these
repurposed frames are a godsend. The exact
capability of a DR Suit varies from suit to suit, but
one thing remains the same. They are so close to
falling apart and have such a risk of catastrophic
failure that they are only brought out for the worst
emergencies.
First responders say that you have to be nuts
to wear one, but DR Suits have been known to
perform rescues that would have been otherwise
impossible. With the massive strength of a TAG and
a variety of custom-designed emergency tools, they
can cut civilians out of pretty much any ruin. While
DR Suits have been a feature of Neoterran disaster
recovery since the roll out of 2nd generation TAGs,
they have only recently begun to be found in
other parts of PanOceania. The O-12 has begun to
investigate their use, but other than a small pilot
programme, this is liable to be tied up in committee
for many years to come.
EMT EQUIPMENT
While not as immediately useful as a MediKit, many
operatives like to carry EMT equipment. These
pockets of bandages, ointments, plasters, small
splints, and of course EMT shears are very useful
in the times of crisis when Serum is needed for
critical cases and medics are short on the ground.
When used in concert with a MediKit, they provide
no bonus, but used on their own, they allow for
Medicine tests against injuries of D2 or less at no
additional penalty for a lack of equipment. Most
operatives carry EMT equipment as a backup option
even when carrying better medical technology.
FEUERBACH
The Feuerbach, roughly translated as “river of
fire” from German, certainly lives up to its name,
unleashing a relentless volley of auto-propelled
rounds from its oversized barrel. Typically loaded
with AP rounds, this heavy support weapon can
quickly redefine how the opposition feels about
suppressive fire, reducing sturdy cover to flying
shards in the blink of an eye. (Range L, 2+5§
damage, Burst 2, Unbalanced, Piercing 1, Salvo
(Anti-Materiel 2))
THE ROLEPLAYING GAME
FIRST RESPONDER IT’S TOO HOT!
UNIFORM (FRU) While the FRU is popular enough
When on open duty, most operatives tend to wear on Neoterra and Svalarheima,
an issued uniform that is designed to operate in officers in warmer climes find
a variety of civilian emergencies. This uniform it to be stuffy, and operatives
has brightly coloured panels for night duty which in the jungles of Paradiso find
can be revealed/concealed as necessary by both it to be insufficient protection.
The police of Varuna’s Akuna Bay
physical action and quantronic command. A stab-
district are already piloting a next
proof lining and a hood that when combined with a generation FRU, which trades
respirator mask will protect the wearer from most some of its BTS for a more climate-
hazards in the short term. appropriate design.
FRUs come with an inbuilt locational beacon, tacti-
cal magnetic harness as well as numerous pockets
filled with EMT equipment, a holster for their side-
arm, and a shoulder mount for an Angel Drone.
GAMMA ARMOUR
Gamma Armour was purpose designed and built to
support the Gamma Unit’s role in quick and total
domination during strike operations. The Gamma
Units mean business, and they mean to end it
quickly and efficiently. Using the mobility suit,
designed and built by PanOceania’s Omnia Research
Corp and worn by select Father Knights, as a basis,
the Gamma Suit was made sturdier, with heavier
armoured plates that offer increased protection. In
addition to these alterations, O-12 engineers com-
pletely overhauled the auto-medical system, adding
a number of injectors to deliver carefully measured
doses of adrenaline and other chemicals designed
to allow a soldier to continue fighting at peak effi-
ciency, even if they have suffered significant trauma.
Well-protected compartments in the backpack
store hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and the
auto-feed is capable of ramping up into suppres-
sion mode, increasing the rate of fire of the heavy
machine gun or Feuerbach the soldier is wielding.
The end result is a servo-powered armoured suit
that offers substantial physical protection and can
keep a soldier in fighting condition through injuries
that would cripple even the fittest. As strike units,
this armour offers the Gammas a significant advan-
tage over the enemy, allowing them to deliver
shock and overwhelming firepower and withstand a
substantial onslaught while doing so.
GAMMA ARMOUR
HEAD TORSO ARM LEG BTS
4 5 3 4 4
Qualities: Exoskeleton 3, Bioscanner
O-12 GEAR 97
 Using jaws of life in melee as
anything more than a club is very
difficult, increasing attack difficulty
by 2 steps.
TAKE NO CHANCES!
IEDs have been known to be
used by earthbound guerrilla
movements in concert with snipers
to draw out local PanOceanic
forces and ambush them. Yu Jing
steadfastly denies training or
arming these insurgents. As these
IEDs have a surprisingly effective
kill rate, including at least one
Cutter TAG, they may be less
improvised than they initially seem.
98 Chapter 10
GROUND SPIKES
Ground spikes or portable bollards as they are
known in some jurisdictions are plastic and steel
columns filled with nanoparticles. Upon hard con-
tact with the ground, the plastic ruptures allowing
the nanoparticles to spill out. As the particles come
into contact with air, they expand and harden into a
toughened barrier approximately 20 centimetres in
diameter. Used in close proximity with each other,
ground spikes form an obstacle with Armour 3 and
Structure 5 that inflicts 2+4§ damage if rammed.
When combined with cordon rope, this can easily
disable a vehicle that impacts it. In these situations,
the cordon rope rolls its damage independently of
the ground spikes.
IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE
DEVICE (IED)
A staple of terrorists for over 400 years, the IED
takes any explosive material the creator can lay
their hands on and packs it with frangible materi-
als. While modern body armour is usually sufficient
to protect officers and soldiers from harm, this
simply means that softer targets such as civilians
or transit control hubs are now at risk. IEDs are
banned by the Concilium Convention and its pre-
cursor Ottawa Treaty.
Small IED [ Ammo Type] Mine, 0+6§ Disposable,
Indiscriminate (Close), Unsubtle
Restriction 3, 1+cost of Reload +T1
Large IED [Ammo Type] Mine, 0+7§ Disposable,
Indiscriminate (Medium), Unsubtle
Restriction 3, 1+cost of Reload +T1
INTERROGATION CELL
A specialized holding location, these cells are
designed to inflict psychological stress over time to
facilitate in interrogation. Utilising domotic tech-
nology, room features automatically change so that
rest is nigh impossible. Chairs angle subtly. Tables
reduce to make the seating cramped and lights
adjust to just outside comfortable brightness.
When a suspect has been in the cell for an hour, the
combined effects grants Vicious 2 to any Psywar
attempt made upon the suspect. Should a suspect
be left within a cell for much longer, the cell will
start to take a toll upon them. Once a suspect has
been in a cell for Willpower x 10 minutes, they will
take 4§ Mental damage. If the suspect is being
interrogated at the time, then this is added to
the bonus damage of the interrogator. There is of
course a downside to this as it opens the door to
later lawsuits for police misconduct, not to mention
appeals should a confession be obtained.
JAWS OF LIFE
The most common emergency cutter, these heavy
industrial cutters tend to eschew hydraulic strength
for modern artificial muscles. While impossible to
use in the frenzy of a melee, more than a few crim-
inals have found their incredible cutting power a
quick and simple way to break through restraints of
all sorts. The biggest limitation on the jaws of life
is that they can only cut what they can fit between
their jaws. While this varies most models extend to
approximately 15 cm.
Jaws of Life, 3+5§ damage, Grievous, Piercing
2, Vicious 2
LINKSWORD
The preferred weapon for Cyberghosts from
Bureau Aegis’s Quantronic Intervention Unit, the
LinkSWORD’s damage increases with the skill of the
hacker. For every rank of Hacking Focus the char-
acter possesses, they deal 1§ quantronic damage
on a successful melee attack. Additionally, for every
rank of Close Combat Focus they possess, they can
reroll 1§ when using a SWORD program.
OVERWATCH REMOTE
The Overwatch remote is essentially a combination
of microblimp and quadrotor fitted with top-of-
the-line cameras and integrated into the local
police recorder network. These larger versions of
the Aerocam allow for silent, continual bird’s eye
surveillance for weeks at a time, providing 3D
imaging of all places where there is a recorder
network in place.
Usually floated for festivals and large gatherings,
these remotes come in such a variety of styles that
they are easily disguised as advertising placements.
Some jurisdictions sell the advertising space so
that they can take advantage of loopholes created
by this combination of policing and commercial
activity.
While there is absolutely no evidence to suggest
that these remotes have been weaponised, this
hasn’t stopped several Maya shows featuring the
Overwatch remote as the police force’s secret
assassin. Serious conspiracy theorists have however
noted that if the police did want such an assassin,
they probably wouldn’t use such an obvious vector.
Indeed, it has been suggested that by saying that
the remotes are evil assassins, the public are more
likely to look up at the remote, thus enabling facial
recognition to function better and ensuring that
they can claim more revenue for displaying the ads.
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

TROOPER broadcast privately, later changed, or even moved

by quantronic command. Quantronic paints don’t SUSPECT TAGGING
OVERWATCH REMOTE It is well known that almost every
have to have an active pigmentation and are gen-
police organisation maintains
ATTRIBUTES erally non-toxic, which has led to it being used on an internal social network for
AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL rioters so that they can later be identified. collaborative working. These
8 11(2) 8 9 11 6 8 networks and their chatter are
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE SENSE LINK often called upon in litigation and
as a part of the defence discovery.
Combat — — Movement +1 1 Social — — Popular with live streamers across the Human What is not known is that on a
Fortitude — — Senses +3 2 Technical — — Sphere and operatives of all stripes, the sense link lower level, many departments
is a small implant that sits in parallel with the have their own such networks that
DEFENCES user’s Cube. Disinterested with emotion, memories, are not subject to such scrutiny.
Firewall 11 Resolve 8 Structure 8 or intuitions, it copies all objective sensory infor- It is on these networks that
Security 2 Morale — Armour 2 mation across all nine senses to a backup location. quasi-legal quantronic markers are
For most undercover agents, external connections given to citizens so that individual
GEAR: 360˚ Visor + Recorder police are able to benefit from
SPECIAL ABILITIES are left off in favour of utilising an internal storage
medium, but for everyone else, this is usually some their colleagues’ impressions.
• Common Special Abilities: Inured to Disease, Poison, and Vacuum
These networks invite corrupt
• Eye in the Sky: The Overwatch remote can fly continuous flight for form of cloud storage. Cheaper implants are availa-
dealings, whether it’s in how much
weeks at a time and move vertically without reduction in speed. ble, but these tend to only record one or two senses an investigating officer listens to
• Always Watching: The remote can reduce the difficulty of Observation making them of limited use. the tagged civilian, the civilian is
tests within Medium range by 1.
marked for harassment, or indeed,
• Maintain Coverage: The remote can travel at vehicle speeds of 4.
STATEMENT TAKER deciding that a suspect is guilty
before investigation. When used
In addition to the usual audio-video recordings well, suspect tagging has led to the
QUANTRONIC PAINTS that most officers are able to take through their uncovering of Submondo families
With multiple programmable nanites embedded in own sense links, each unit carries a small box and the prevention of numerous
the mix, this paint can be applied to any dry surface, called a statement taker. On the top is a single data crimes, but it’s uncertain if the
often as warning symbols or tags, and presents port, though the majority of its function happens benefit outweighs the cost and
a quantronic message to all individuals with an quantronically, well within the arms of ALEPH and indeed what can be done to stop it.
active connection to the city’s public network. Most the Cube backup system. The box is simply there to
brands require the user to program their message assist in the backup process.
into the spray unit prior to spraying the paint, but When a Cube-enabled witness voluntarily connects
specialty brands exist where the message can be NINE SENSES?
to a statement taker, they are asked by the device While the basic five, hearing,
sight, smell, taste, and touch, have
been understood since Aristotle,
neurologists are currently debating
whether there are many more senses
than this. At present, four have been
generally accepted as senses, though
some researchers make arguments
for many, many more than that. The
four other senses are:
• Equilibrioception (balance)
• Nociception (pain)
• Proprioception (self position)
• Thermoception (heat)

NEIGHBOURHOOD
WATCH
Some communities have a standard
agreement to provide data to
police anonymously through an
ALEPH Aspect, judging what is in
the police’s interests to see. These
neighbourhood watch agreements
have been ruled as circumstantial
evidence in most jurisdictions as
they, allegedly, can’t be tied to the
producing witness.

O-12 GEAR 99

The term Social Care Kit became
popularised after a Yu Jingese
police officer was live recorded
offering a child a G-Pal after a
terror attack during the Japanese
Uprising. When asked why he had
a child’s toy in his squad car, he
responded embarrassedly, “All
officers have a duty of care for the
public. I maintain a Social Care Kit
for times of emergency.”
100 Chapter 10
to stipulate the duration of their memory that they
are willing to grant the operatives as evidence.
Once they state this timeframe with a positive,
un-coerced mental state, ALEPH will initiate a
backup and copy the portion of memory assigned to
the investigation over to the investigating officers.
If ALEPH detects coercion, it will instead send a
report to the officers’ commanding officers.
Evidence gathered by a statement taker is consid-
ered subjective but equal to that of the recorded
testimony of a dead witness. Because of this, it is
common for witnesses who subject themselves
to this process to be called to give in-person
testimony. During such testimony, any criminality or
flaws of character recorded by the statement taker
are often brought up by defence attorneys to the
detriment of the witness. Suffice to say, granting
access to a statement taker is very unpopular with
anyone remotely aware of criminal proceedings.
SOCIAL CARE KIT
While the popular opinion of modern police is that
of stern bad-asses who get into shootouts on a
daily basis, a disproportionate amount of time is
spent dealing with the fallout of crime, particularly
where vulnerable persons are involved. The Social
Care Kit is a bag of various items that are useful
in calming distressed witnesses, lost children, or
neurologically distinct members of the community.
Nobody distributes these kits from a centralised
source, but you won’t find an experienced police
officer that doesn’t have their own. Social Care Kits
often include toys, candy, cans of coffee, and similar
single serving food items.
On a successful recovery test, a Social Care Kit
allows the recovering character to restore 1 more
Resolve than normal.
STRIPTAPE
Striptape, or Tactical Enforcement Tape, is a stopgap
measure used to restrain a suspect for short peri-
ods of time while Securi-cuffs or similar restraints
are being obtained. Striptape can reliably restrain
most suspects though stronger hosts (Brawn
12+) will require a second or even a third layer.
Striptape is porous enough that the skin beneath it
can breathe and is not suitable for environmental
suit repairs. Removing striptape from naked skin
without a suitable chemical agent is momentarily
painful but not considered dangerous. Most brands
of striptape include quantronic tags similar to
quantronic paint to announce that the wearer is
in custody.
SUBDUAL BATON
The Bureau Aegis Type 3 Stun Baton is becoming
the most common police baton in the Human
Sphere. A combination flashlight, defence weapon,
and striptape deployer, this baton is routinely sold
to any law enforcement body willing to purchase
it. Enhanced quality control ensures that the risk of
permanent injury is negligible so long as the baton
is not misused.
Subdual Baton (Melee 1+4§, Non-Hackable,
Knockdown)
• Correct mode (Primary) Subtle 1, Stun
• Misused (Secondary) Vicious 1
TACTICAL MAGNETIC
HARNESS
The TMH is a proprietary harness that can be worn
over or under most types of clothing or armour.
Consisting of an assortment of electromagnetic
couplings and metal-backed pouches, it enables
an operative to go from civilian dress to tactical in
mere moments. Many operatives choose to wear
their TMH even when off duty so that they can
reinforce active units with the support gear found
in an interceptor.
The most common piece of equipment worn with a
TMH is a metal front plate. This provides 4§ Cover
on any shot that hits the operative’s torso. While
this can be worn with a Bond suit without penalty,
wearing it with any armour will cause the character
to be encumbered by it, suffering a difficulty pen-
alty of 1 stage on all physical tests.
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

ARMOUR TABLE
ARMOUR SOAK RESTRIC-
ARMOUR BTS QUALITIES COST TARIFF MAINTENANCE
HEAD TORSO ARM LEG TION
Bond Suit
0 2 1 1 1 Hidden2 2 6+3§ T2 –
(Summer)
Bond Suit
0 3 2 1 1 Hidden 2 2 7+3§ T2 –
(Heavy)
Collapsible
0 2 1 1 0 Exoskeleton 1 2 8+5§ T2 2
Exoskeleton
First
Responder 1 2 1 1 3 2 6+3§ T2 1
Uniform
Gamma Exoskeleton 3,
4 5 3 4 4 5 (O-12 4) 15+5§ T2 2
Armour Bioscanner
Tactical
Magnetic 0 4§ 0 0 0 2 6+3§ T4 1
Harness
1
See entry for details. 2
No tariff for O-12.

AUGMENTATIONS TABLE
AUGMENTATION CATEGORY TYPE QUALITIES RESTRICTION COST TARIFF MAINTENANCE
Sense Link Cybernetic Implant Concealed 1 1 7+2 – –

DRUGS TABLE
DRUG RESTRICTION COST TARIFF
Calm 4 3+1 T4

EXPLOSIVES TABLE
COST
EXPLOSIVE CATEGORY DAMAGE 1 SIZE QUALITIES RESTRICTION TARIFF
( PER 3)
Disposable,
Small Improvised 3 (2 for 1+cost of
Mine 0+6 1H Indiscriminate T1
Explosive Device Submondo) reload
(Close), Unsubtle1

Disposable,
Large Improvised 3 (2 for 2+cost of
Mine 0+7 2H Indiscriminate T1
Explosive Device Submondo) 2 reloads
(Medium), Unsubtle1
1
Do not add bonus damage from attributes to explosive devices.

MELEE WEAPONS TABLE

WEAPON DAMAGE SIZE QUALITIES RESTRICTION COST TARIFF

LinkSWORD 1+4§ 3 1H Unbalanced, Parry 2, Vicious 13 3 3+3 T22

Jaws of Life 3+5§ 3 2H Grevious, Piercing 2, Vicious 2 1 2+4 T1

Subdual Baton 1+4§ 1H Non-Hackable, Knockdown 2 4+1§ T2

2
No Tariff for O-12 3
See entry for details.

O-12 GEAR 101

 RANGED WEAPONS TABLE
RESTRIC-
WEAPON RANGE DAMAGE BURST SIZE AMMO QUALITIES COST TARIFF
TION
Piercing 1, Salvo
Feuerbach L 2+5§ 2 Unb Standard 3 10+3§ T2
(Anti-Material 2)

REMOTES TABLE
ITEM RESTRICTION COST TARIFF 1 MAINTENANCE
Angel Drone 0 5+2§ T1
Overwatch Remote 3 9+3§ T1
1
No Tariff for O-12

TOOLS & OTHER ITEMS TABLE

ITEM QUALITIES RESTRICTION COST TARIFF MAINTENANCE
Armoured 2, Self
Capture Bag 4 4+2§ T3 1
Repairing
Cordon Rope – 2 4+1§ T1 –
Cryo-Pod Armoured 3 2 6+3§ – 2
EMT Equipment – 1 4+3§ – –
Interrogation Cell Armoured 6 3 10+4§ T21 –
Quantronic Paints – – 1+2§ – –
Statement Taker Comms 1 1+3§ – –
Social Care Kit – – 2+1§ T1 1
Striptape Armoured 1 1
1 1+2§ – –
1
See entry for additional abilities. 2
No Tariff for O-12

VEHICLE COSTS TABLE

RESTRIC-
VEHICLE SCALE SPEED STRENGTH ARMOUR BTS IMPACT COST TARIFF
TION
Bureau Aegis
Cordon Control 1 4 9(+1) 2 – 1+3§ 2 12+2§ T21
Vehicle
Bureau Aegis
Interceptor 2 4 16(+1) 4 4 2+6§ 3 10+2§ T21
Patrol Vehicle
Bureau
Aegis Rapid
3 4/2 18(+1) 4 4 3+6§ 4 6+5§ T21
Deployment
Vehicle
Disaster
* * * 1 1 -1§* *–1 *-2+2§ T1
Recovery Suit
1
No Tariff for O-12 *Disaster recovery Suits have attributes equal to the TAG the suit is based off of.

102 Chapter 10
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

CHAPTER 11

GUARDIANS AND ADVERSARIES

OF THE SPHERE

O-12 sits in an unenviable position. As an organisation, O-12 strives to uphold the Pillars of Unity and
works towards a better future. It encourages the nations of the Human Sphere to set aside their differ-
ences and parochial loyalties and see a bigger picture, one in which humanity as a whole can advance
into a brighter tomorrow. It is an adjudicator and serves a vital role in maintaining the Human Sphere on a
knife’s edge of stability. It is a role, however, that is far too often overlooked, underappreciated, unwanted,
and derided. There is truth to the cynical adage that a compromise leaves everyone unhappy, and O-12 is
the ultimate compromise.
Many pundits believed that contact with an alien species would be a watershed moment, a moment in
history in which humanity would pause for introspection and move forward unified in a recognition that
the greatest we can aspire to be is human. That nationalism and self-interest would fade under the bright
light of a new fire, which burned with an understanding that the nation state to which we owe our great-
est loyalty is humanity itself. The arrival of an enemy beyond the stars many thought would also stimulate
a paradigm shift… But old loyalties and modes of thought die hard, and tribalism and self-interest are
habits that run deep. While cooperation is key to the defeat of the greatest enemy humanity has ever faced,
it has not softened the tendency toward self-service, petty jealousies, and a hunger for wealth and power.
O-12 stands in defiance of these basest of tendencies. It represents a hope in a future in which humanity
stands united, both eyes on the future. But the reality is that the various nation states that make up the
Human Sphere have always maintained at least one eye on their own advancement. Tension, war, and
conflict have resulted. O-12 remains committed, regardless, to the idealistic role of playing adjudicator,
judge, and teacher in these troubling times. It is not a role that is easy, and O-12 can never be the answer
to every ill that afflicts the Human Sphere, but the people who serve the Pillars do so in the hope that
through their actions, the Human Sphere can be made a better and safer place for all of humanity.

Guardians and Adversaries of the Sphere 103

 O-12 is unique. Every adversary from every book in the Infinity the Roleplaying Game line is fair game
when it comes to opponents a group of characters might have the opportunity to interact with or face
off against. A great many of those are equally likely to be allies. More often than not, a friend one day
might well be the enemy you face off against on another day. O-12 carries out operations and missions,
whether law enforcement, military, diplomatic, or trade, throughout the Human Sphere. It is the business
of members, representatives, and agents of the many bureaus that make up O-12 to regularly interact with
the various nation states that make up the wash of humanity, and equally, with the allies of humanity in
the Tohaa, and the enemies, the Combined Armies. This chapter is divided into two broad sections, giving
a brief cross section of adversaries that characters may interact with as allies or opponents. The first of
these sections deals with a sample of the guardians of O-12, while the second seeks to provide examples
of the types of adversaries that may be faced by agents of Bureau Aegis and its various departments.

GUARDIANS
In this section are detailed the stat blocks for five Bureau Aegis agents that characters who belong to O-12
might have cause to interact with. For those outside of the Concilium system, three of these represent the
most recognisable faces of O-12, the diplomat, peacekeeper, and detective. Wherever they go in the Human
Sphere, representatives of O-12 strive to uphold the Pillars of Unity, Cooperation, Support, and Progress. It
is not an easy task and is often a thankless one. For every citizen protected from harm who has cause to
see O-12 as a saviour, there are many more who espouse the view that O-12 is a pointless organisation,
a meddler in the affairs of nations, and a power in its own right wrapped in a holier-than-thou attitude.
Irrespective of the views of those they interact with, agents of O-12 carry out their duties with profession-
alism and hold themselves to a high standard.

KAPPA TROOPER

Largest of SWORDFOR’s units, the Kappas are also KAPPA

the most visible, the most well recognised, and
the most commonly deployed agents of any O-12 ATTRIBUTES
bureau. With their distinctive blue and gold combat AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
armour, the Kappas are iconic, and for many citizens 7 8 9 9 7 8 8
throughout the Human Sphere, when thinking of
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
O-12, they conjure mental images of the Kappas.
The Kappa Unit exists to protect the citizens of the Combat +2 1 Movement +1 — Social +1 —
Human Sphere, and as such, have seen deployment Fortitude +1 — Senses — — Technical — —
to the frontlines in the fight against the Combined DEFENCES
Army, but are also used on a regular basis as peace-
Firewall 4 Resolve 4 Vigour 5
keeping troops. As peacekeepers, they have seen
Security 0 Morale 0 Armour 1
the worst humanity is capable of when unleashed
upon itself and have fought steadfastly to protect ATTACKS: Combi Rifle: Range: C/M, 1+5§, Burst 2, 2H, Expert
and guard the vulnerable, oppressed, and abused. 1, MULTI Light Mod, Vicious 1
GEAR: Light Combat Armour
SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Peacekeeper: As peacekeepers, Kappas are specially trained to
provide a knockout blow without killing. Any attack made by a Kappa
automatically gains the Non-Lethal and Stun qualities. A Kappa may
spend 1 Heat to elect to turn this Special Ability ‘off’. This is usually
only done when their mission parameters dictate, if the enemy they
are facing is violently aggressive towards the Kappa or those they are
protecting, or if the enemy is an Enemy of the Human Sphere.

104 Chapter 11
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

INVESTIGATOR
Whether from GloPol’s Investigations Department,
Section Stratera’s Internal Affairs, or Psi Unit’s
Covert Operatives, Bureau Aegis makes extensive
use of field agents charged with detective work,
undercover investigations, and forensics. Many
of these agents are seconded to other bureaus
within O-12 to work with small teams, investi-
gating crimes that fall within that bureau’s remit.
Investigators work both in the Concilium system
and throughout the Human Sphere, either actively
pursuing cases or supporting local law enforcement
agencies by following leads and putting the puzzle
pieces together. Often carrying little more than
a sidearm, these agents are experts in their field,
employed by O-12, and carry a mandate that allows
them access to doors few other agencies can open.
CYBERGHOST
A vast majority of the crimes committed in the
Human Sphere are carried out in the quantronic
world. An effusive layer of data that extends
across human space like another dimension, the
quantronic networks, of which Maya and Arachne
are only the most visible parts, hold side alleys
where deals are done and doors that lead to the
most sensitive personal and national secrets in the
Sphere. All of this needs protection of course, but
more than being simple guardians, Cyberghosts
are expert hunters, prowling quantronic space
with ruthless efficiency for illegal activity and the
hackers who try to pull it off. Whether tracking the
transfer of wealth, peeling back layer upon layer
of shell corporations to find the faces behind the
masks, or pinpointing and attacking hackers trying
to crack and steal state secrets, Cyberghosts are
O-12’s weapon of choice in this dizzying theatre of
operation.

ELITE ELITE

INVESTIGATOR CYBERGHOST
ATTRIBUTES ATTRIBUTES
AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
9 11 8 9 9 8 9 8 10 8 9 11 8 9

FIELDS OF EXPERTISE FIELDS OF EXPERTISE

Combat +2 — Movement +2 — Social +2 1 Combat +1 — Movement +1 — Social +1 —
Fortitude — — Senses +3 2 Technical +2 — Fortitude +1 — Senses +2 2 Technical +3 2

DEFENCES DEFENCES
Firewall 9 Resolve 9 Vigour 8 Firewall 11 Resolve 9 Vigour 8
Security 3 Morale 0 Armour 1 Security 3 Morale 0 Armour 1
ATTACKS: Knife: 1+3§, 1H, Concealed 1, Non-Hackable, ATTACKS: Pistol: Range: R/C, 1+4§, Burst 1, 1H, Vicious 1
Subtle 2, Thrown, Unforgiving 1 GEAR: Armoured Clothing (Hidden Armour 2), Assault Hacking
Heavy Pistol: Range: R/C, 2+4§, Burst 1, Unbalanced, Unforgiving 1, Device or White Hacking Device, LinkSWORD
Vicious 1 SPECIAL ABILITIES
GEAR: Armoured Clothing (Hidden Armour 2) • Ghost: A Cyberghost may re-roll 1d20 on any technical skill test.
SPECIAL ABILITIES • Personal Encryption: Given the nature of their work, Cyberghosts
• Keen Eye: May re-roll 1d20 on any senses skill test. must ensure the integrity of their personal networks at all times. Each
• Personal Encryption: Given the nature of their work, investigators agent is issued with a buzzer, a small device that encrypts their patina
must ensure the integrity of their personal networks at all times. Each and personal network, making it more time consuming and difficult to
agent is issued with a buzzer, a small device that encrypts their patina crack. This provides agents with a Security Soak of 3.
and personal network, making it more time consuming and difficult to
crack. This provides agents with a Security Soak of 3.

Guardians and Adversaries of the Sphere 105

 OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Any time a Bureau Aegis agent is placed in the
field, they are handled by an Operations Director
until the mission is closed. Operations managers
exist across all of the sections and departments
of Bureau Aegis. They may be GloPol officers
responsible for investigatory teams working
within Yu Jingese territory, they may be Starmada
officers liaising with a ship’s crew on a pirate
hunting op, or they may be managing an armed
contingency deployed to the jungles of Paradiso.
O-12 actively works to avoid the use of overtly
military terminology in an attempt to maintain a
clear-cut distinction between their own agents
and the armed forces of other nation states. This is
why the term Operations Director is so widespread.
Operations Directors are usually high-ranking
officers within a department with years of expe-
rience under their belts. A majority of them were
once field agents, and they are masters of manag-
ing their people, resources, and support structures
to see a mission to a successful end.
DIPLOMAT
Words of wisdom, encouragement, peace, and
friendship are all part and parcel of any deal meted
out between the powers of the Human Sphere. Just
as often these words can turn to rebuking, critical,
devastating, and threatening… A good diplomat
knows when to switch from one to the other and
has the skill and presence to manage it effortlessly.
O-12’s Diplomats are some of the most able, skilled,
and careful in the Human Sphere, and they need
to be. Dealing regularly with high tensions, high
stakes, and high-risk negotiations, O-12 Diplomats
develop a sixth sense for the most minor of signals
in tone, inflection, and body-language and are mas-
ters at taking advantage of any weakness, any chink
in the armour of their adversaries. There have been
countless occasions on which O-12 Diplomats have
managed to get unwilling parties to compromise
on issues regarded as unbroachable, and more
often than not, those parties walk away feeling like
the deal reached was their great idea.

ELITE NEMESIS

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR O-12 DIPLOMAT

ATTRIBUTES ATTRIBUTES
AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
8 10 8 8 10 10 9 9 10 8 10 12 12 11

FIELDS OF EXPERTISE FIELDS OF EXPERTISE

Combat +2 — Movement — — Social +3 2 Combat +1 1 Movement +1 1 Social +4 2
Fortitude +2 1 Senses +2 1 Technical +1 — Fortitude +2 1 Senses +3 2 Technical +2 1

DEFENCES DEFENCES
Firewall 10 Resolve 9 Vigour 8 Firewall 14 Resolve 13 Vigour 10
Security 0 Morale 4 Armour 1 Security 3 Morale 4 Armour 1
ATTACKS: Heavy Pistol: Range: R/C, 2+4§, Burst 1, ATTACKS: Pistol: Range: R/C, 1+4§, Burst 1, Unbalanced,
Unbalanced, Unforgiving 1, Vicious 1 Grievous, Vicious 2
GEAR: Armoured Clothing (Hidden Armour 2) GEAR: Armoured Clothing (Hidden Armour 2)
SPECIAL ABILITIES SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Hardened: With years of experience, Operations Managers are • Personal Encryption: Given the sensitive nature of their work,
psychologically tough as old boot leather, they gain a Morale Soak Diplomats must ensure the integrity of their personal networks at
of 4. all times. Each Diplomat is issued with a buzzer, a small device that
• Inspiring Commander: Players may elect to add 1 Heat to the GM’s encrypts their patina and personal network, making it more time
pool to re-roll 1d20 for any skill test undertaken in the current Scene. consuming and difficult to crack. This provides diplomats with a
OR players may elect to add 1 Heat to the GM’s pool, gaining +2§ Security Soak of 3.
Morale Soak for the remainder of the current Scene. Each character • Heard It All: Diplomats have a Morale Soak of 4.
may activate Inspiring Commander once per adventure. • Masterful: When a Diplomat uses the Coax, Intimidate, or Negotiate
Psy War techniques (see Infinity Corebook, p. 129), they roll +2§
damage.

106 Chapter 11
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

ADVERSARIES
In this section are presented a sample of the adversaries that any of the Bureau Aegis departments might
typically engage with. Given O-12’s role and presence within the Human Sphere, any adversary from any
of the books in the Infinity line are reasonable inclusions in a game, many of them as both allies and ene-
mies, depending on the day. This section divides the listed adversaries into typical opponents of the five
key departments detailed in Chapter 7 of this book (see p. 64). These departments are Section Statera’s
Internal Affairs, SWORDFOR (aka Bureau’s Aegis Tactical Police Department), GloPol’s Investigations
Department, Starmada, and the Psi Unit.
How an agent of O-12 may engage with an adversary is generally defined by the Rules of Engagement that
govern their mission. Typically, adversaries fall under two broad legal terms, Illegal Actors and Enemies of
Human Sphere.
Illegal Actors is a legalese term used to describe an individual or group of individuals who have broken
one or more national laws and have been declared international criminals in a Concilium Court. These are
criminals who have been deemed viable targets for investigation and persecution by O-12 agents.
An Enemy of the Human Sphere is a term applied to any member of the Combined Army and criminals who
have committed particularly egregious acts of violence or destruction. Like ‘Illegal Actor’, the term ‘Enemy
of the Human Sphere’ is applied as a result of a Concilium Court ruling. Being declared an Enemy of the
Human Sphere is a terrifying prospect for any citizen, as it is a legal appellation that means the Rules of
Engagement do not apply to them.
All the adversaries in this section have names that reflect departmental slang. They are sobriquets used
extensively throughout Bureau Aegis to describe a certain type of criminal or criminal behaviour.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Dealing with the criminal elements of the Human ELITE
Sphere brings an agent face to face with some of
the worst humanity has to offer. Somehow though, TAKER
nothing is more bitter than betrayal.
ATTRIBUTES
TAKER AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
There are good agents, who strive to better the 9 10 9 9 9 10 7
Human Sphere every day through action and deed.
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
There are neutral agents, who are there because it
is a job. They may have lost their sense of idealism, Combat +2 1 Movement +1 1 Social +3 2
or always been more cynical, but their role does Fortitude +1 1 Senses +2 1 Technical +1 1
not carry any high idealism, and while they may DEFENCES
excel at their job, they continue to do it because Firewall 9 Resolve 7 Vigour 9
it’s work. Then there are bad agents, agents who
Security 0 Morale 0 Armour 1
use the position of O-12 and their position within
O-12 to make money illegally. Maybe they get slid ATTACKS: Assault Pistol: Range: R/C, 1+4§, Burst 2,
a few extra sol to look the other way, maybe they Unbalanced, Vicious 1
are happy to receive gifts and bribes in exchange GEAR: Armoured Clothing (Hidden Armour 2)
SPECIAL ABILITIES
for just a little information. Maybe they are neck
• Dirt: For 1 Heat, the Taker may recall/uncover one story about a
deep, actively working with smugglers pulling character they are interacting with that may be used for blackmail
VoodooTech from battle sites on Paradiso, running or leverage. This may be something from the character’s past, it may
drugs in a few spare compartments in their convoy, be some action that character has taken in a previous game, but
or making vital paperwork on important cases whatever it is, it has some emotional or professional implications
disappear. However deep they are, these corrupt should the secret get out. This may be used for narrative purposes
agents are universally called Takers. This term has or may be used to give a +2§ bonus to one Psywar attack on that
an obvious heritage in the idea of taking a bribe, character. Dirt may only be used by the Taker once per game session.
but has some nuance within O-12, whose idealistic
rhetoric talks so much of giving. These people are
the antithesis of that vaunted ideal.

Guardians and Adversaries of the Sphere 107

 MOLE
Intelligence gathering is a dirty game, and one of
the best ways to gather the richest intel is to have
a person on the inside. O-12 actively recruits from
around the Human Sphere, and while their vetting
processes are extensive, there is always someone
who is a little more clever or careful than normal
and manages to slip through. Moles are people
working as agents within O-12 but whose loyalties
lie with another power. More than harbouring a
mere personal belief, a Mole actively works for the
power they are loyal to. Passing on information,
clearances, names, times, dates, and all manner of
valuable intelligence, perhaps even leaving the odd
door unlocked (physical or quantronic), or worse,
a Mole can be a nightmare for security and safety.
Moles work hard and diligently for O-12 and are
careful and discreet. They seek to be hired into
positions that give them access to data, people, or
places that are targets for whatever intelligence
agency they actually work for. Moles are elusive.
They have managed to convince those around
them they are just another body in the office, all
the while stealing and passing on information to a
potential enemy. Catching one is no mean feat.
ELITE
MOLE
ATTRIBUTES
AGI AWA BRW COO INT
9 10 8 9 10
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
Combat +1 1 Movement – –
Fortitude +2 1 Senses +2 1 Technical
SWORDFOR
Agents of SWORDFOR, also known as the Bureau
Aegis Tactical Police Department, are deployed
throughout the Human Sphere. They run peace-
keeping operations, investigations, aggressive
actions against dangerous criminal and terrorist
organisations, and serve alongside military personal
from other nations in the ongoing conflict against
the Combined Army. They are professionals, and
while they are called agents, “soldier” is often a more
appropriate term.
HYENAS
Mercenaries, also known as soldiers of fortune, private
military companies (PMCs), and dogs of war, often skirt
the line of what is acceptable or legal. Many operate
in a grey zone, and this is, for better or for worse, part
and parcel of the job. There are those who go beyond
the boundaries, far beyond. Those who interpret and
execute the mission objectives in ways that carelessly
or deliberately lead to needless loss of life and
property, who regularly flaunt the laws, who go in
intending to leave no witnesses to the atrocities they
commit. These dogs of war are known within Bureau
Aegis as Hyenas. Mad, savage, and baying for blood,
they often take a gratuitous pleasure in the wonton
destruction and death they inflict. Sadly, the war
market is such that companies who engage in this
type of ‘problem solving’ still frequently manage to
get contracts, especially from the Lists. Operating, as
many PMCs do, across multiple national jurisdictions,
these types of mercs too regularly fall into the “too
PER WIL hard” basket for many national law enforcement agen-
cies. This is where SWORDFOR shines. Once a PMC
9 8
has been declared illegal, it is the department’s job to
send in teams to ensure these hyenas are disbanded.
Social +2 2 Permanently.
+2 1 TROOPER

DEFENCES HYENA
Firewall 10 Resolve 8 Vigour 8
Security 2 Morale 0 Armour 1 ATTRIBUTES
AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
ATTACKS: Pistol: Range: R/C, 1+4§, Burst 1, Unbalanced,
Vicious 1 9 8 9 9 7 7 7
GEAR: Armoured Clothing (Hidden Armour 2) FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Gaslight: A Mole is a master manipulator. They have the uncanny Combat +2 1 Movement +1 – Social – –
ability to have the people they are talking to question their own Fortitude +2 – Senses – – Technical – –
reality, to ask themselves whether they really did see or hear the
DEFENCES
things they saw and heard. For 1 Heat, the GM may add 2d20 to any
skill test made to deceive a character. This may be used once per Firewall 4 Resolve 4 Vigour 5
character per scene, and the normal limit of no more than +3d20 to Security 0 Morale 0 Armour 2
any skill test applies.
ATTACKS: Heavy Pistol: Range: R/C, 1+5§, Burst 1,
• Evidence?: Moles are careful, and cover their tracks. For 4 Heat, the
Unbalanced, Unforgiving 1, Vicious 1
Mole may destroy or invalidate one piece of quantronic or physical
evidence that shows or implies they are a Mole. Evidence? may only Combi Rifle: Range: C/M, 1+5§, Burst 2, 2H, Expert 1, MULTI Light
be used once per game session. Mod, Vicious 1
GEAR: Light Combat Armour
SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Shoot First: Hyenas are highly aggressive and almost universally
have a shoot first ask questions later mentality. Even though they
are Troopers, Hyenas may use the Return Fire Reaction as per the
normal rules.

108 Chapter 11
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

CORPSEC
It’s been a slow slide over decades, but the gradual
weakening of oversight laws, the increased levels
of tension and sectarian violence, and the war with
the Combined Army have all eroded the limits on
what a corporation can do to protect its personnel
and its interests. The rise of corporate armies has
been frightening. Some of these are mercenary
companies ‘retained’ on permanent contracts,
some are private security firms usually owned by
the corporation that hires them, and some are
laughably referred to as corporate security and
employed directly. Whatever their origins and
arrangements, one thing is common, CorpSec forces,
as they are widely known, have become much more
seriously armed, armoured, and more deeply trained
in combat skills than they are in security. It is not
unusual now to have CorpSec teams supported
by a TAG, and many of the largest hypercorps also
maintain a standing, albeit small, fleet of space
craft capable of providing defence to their shipping
and transfer fleets. CorpSec are known to push the
boundaries of what is acceptable and do so under
the protection of national provisions that allow
and encourage companies the right to aggressively
defend their interests, however that is defined.
KINGPIN
From the shady heads of Submondo groups to
the leaders of terrorist organisations, Kingpin is
Bureau Aegis departmental slang for any boss,
chief, or commander of a criminal organisation
with significant power and influence. Every now
and then, a brutish thug manages to beat their way
to the top of the ladder, but they rarely manage
to stay there. It takes cunning and intelligence, it
takes connections and an ability to manipulate
them, it takes an understanding of how to allocate
and commit resources, and it takes a willingness to
break the law in just the right ways and places to
make it difficult to ever pin back. Kingpins are not
typically the best fighters; they are the brains of an
operation. They get to the top because they have
foresight and cunning and because they are willing
and capable of doing what it takes to achieve their
goals, even if it means breaking laws, conventions,
and tradition — whatever that is. Kingpins regularly
fall under the purview of Bureau Aegis as they tend
to operate across multiple national boundaries and
manage to do what they do without ever having the
law land on them. Universally, they are dangerous
and never to be underestimated.

ELITE NEMESIS

CORPSEC KINGPIN

ATTRIBUTES ATTRIBUTES
AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
9 9 10 10 8 8 9 9 11 10 10 12 9 11

FIELDS OF EXPERTISE FIELDS OF EXPERTISE

Combat +2 1 Movement +2 +1 Social +1 1 Combat +2 – Movement +1 – Social +4 2
Fortitude +1 1 Senses +2 +1 Technical +1 1 Fortitude +3 1 Senses +3 1 Technical +2 1

DEFENCES DEFENCES
Firewall 8 Resolve 9 Vigour 10 Firewall 14 Resolve 14 Vigour 13
Security 1 Morale 0 Armour 2 Security 1 Morale 3 Armour 1
ATTACKS: Combi Rifle: Range: C/M, 1+5§, Burst 2, 2H, Expert ATTACKS: Pistol: Range: R/C, 1+4§, Burst 1, 1H, Vicious 1
1, MULTI Light Mod, Vicious 1 Nanopulser: Range: C, 1+5§, Burst 1, 1H, Biotech, Subtle 3, Torrent,
GEAR: Light Combat Armour Vicious 2
SPECIAL ABILITIES GEAR: Armoured Clothing (Hidden Armour 2)
• Well Resourced: CorpSec are not just corporate goons protecting their SPECIAL ABILITIES
employer’s property, they are well resourced and well maintained. • Confident: Kingpins aren’t cocky, self-assured, and arrogant; they are
They are after all, walking resources for the company. If the GM confident. They know who and what they are, and more importantly,
uses Heat to summon reinforcements (see Infinity Corebook, p. 34), they know the laws. They know what they can push and bend, what
summoning a CorpSec costs 1 Heat each, even though they are Elite. not to say. Kingpins gain a +3 Morale Soak for their confidence; they
know they have planned well.
• Minions: One of the reasons that Kingpins so regularly manage to
escape the legal repercussions of their actions is that they have
others who get their hands dirty. Every Kingpin has an organisation of
minions. If the GM uses Heat to summon reinforcements (see Infinity
Corebook, p. 34), double the number of reinforcements that arrive as
the normal amount for no increased Heat cost. (For example, 1 Heat
will summon 2 Troopers rather than one.)

Guardians and Adversaries of the Sphere 109

 INVESTIGATIONS
Whether working for GloPol’s Investigations
Department or pursuing a lead as a tactical oper-
ation, Section Spatha agents regularly undertake
investigations and often on secondment to other
bureaus. These investigations take Bureau Aegis
agents to every corner of the Human Sphere.
HARDBALLERS
They know what law enforcement is capable of,
they know the law, hell, they’ve been arrested and
served time often enough to know the system
inside out, warts and all. Hardballers, as Section
Spatha agents call them, are serial criminals. Not
the sort of serial criminals who fall into crime on
a regular basis because of circumstance or desper-
ation, but those who have taken a measured look
at their options and decided that a life of crime
sounds like an appropriate career choice. These are
the ones that plan and execute corporate robberies,
hit and run ops on high-valued targets, kidnap-
pings, and blackmail. They plot things out, know
exactly what they’re about, and have been around
long enough to spot the law enforcement agent
lurking on the corner in civilian clothes trying to
look nonchalant from a mile away. Hardballers
professionally break the law and are unafraid of
breaking a few bystanders in the process.
SCALPER
There are multiple accounts of legally sanctioned
bounty hunters or law enforcement officers step-
ping beyond their legal remit. Usually, one would
hope, that the system catches up with them, but
sometimes these things are swept under the carpet,
ignored, rubbed out, or their operation parameters
are ‘updated’ retrospectively. Scalper is a term used
by Section Spatha to talk about law enforcement
agents or bounty hunters who break the law and
get away with it, and it usually implies that they
are killers. These cases are rare, not because they
are uncommon, but because they usually come
through an appeals process undertaken by civilians,
often family members of the victims. The appeals
process is not easy to access, and the process can
be lengthy. More often than not, Section Spatha
Agents tapped to chase up a Scalper will find a
long history of just the sort of behaviour that led
their name being subjected to the O-12 appeals
process. There are times when Scalpers are left
to deal with their mess on their own, but many
Section Spatha agents will relate that Scalpers are
regularly protected by a system that doesn’t want
word leaking out. They can be difficult cases to
work, but they are important for all the reasons that
make them difficult.

ELITE ELITE

HARDBALLER SCALPER

ATTRIBUTES ATTRIBUTES
AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
9 12 8 9 10 7 9 10 9 11 10 8 7 8

FIELDS OF EXPERTISE FIELDS OF EXPERTISE

Combat +2 1 Movement +2 1 Social +2 1 Combat +3 2 Movement +2 +1 Social – –
Fortitude +2 1 Senses +2 1 Technical +3 1 Fortitude +2 – Senses +2 – Technical – –

DEFENCES DEFENCES
Firewall 10 Resolve 9 Vigour 8 Firewall 8 Resolve 8 Vigour 11
Security 0 Morale 2 Armour 1 Security 0 Morale 0 Armour 2
ATTACKS: Assault Pistol: Range: R/C, 1+4§, Burst 2, ATTACKS: Heavy Pistol: Range: R/C, 2+4§, Burst 1,
Unbalanced, Vicious 1 Unbalanced, Unforgiving 1, Vicious 1
GEAR: Armoured Clothing (Hidden Armour 2) Combi Rifle: Range: C/M, 1+5§, Burst 2, 2H, Expert 1, MULTI Light
SPECIAL ABILITIES Mod, Vicious 1
• Cocky: Hardballers have a Morale Soak of +2. GEAR: Light Combat Armour
• Step Back: A Hardballer has everything under control. A Hardballer SPECIAL ABILITIES
can make the Withdraw Action as a Free Action once per Scene. • Contacts: A Scalper usually has some level of support from their
• Plan B: Never walk into a place you can’t walk out of. Hardballers contacts, whether unspoken or known. This can make dealing with
have been around long enough to understand how important it is to them tricky. When a Scalper enters a scene, the GM immediately
have a Plan B! For 2 Heat, a Hardballer can ‘find’ a hatch, ventilation adds 2 points to the Heat pool.
shaft, hidden door, window, or some reasonable means to move from
one zone to an adjacent zone through any intervening blocking
terrain (like a wall). This ability is not intended to be used magically.
The GM should provide a reasonable explanation, and naturally, the
characters should be able to follow (after any required skill checks to
find it, open it, or whatever is appropriate).

110 Chapter 11
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

STONE COLDS STARMADA

Brutish thugs and violent drunks are one thing and It has been a long time since Starmada ships made
murders of passion and random killings happen their presence felt in the Human Sphere. More
for a whole range of reasons. These are universally often than not, they provide protection, whether for
abhorrent acts committed by broken people. The a small network of settlements or minor colonies,
acts committed by Stone Colds are something else a shipping lane, or space facility. Their duties are
entirely. Officially, these criminals are called serial many and varied, but one of the most common pre-
killers, mass murderers, or terrorists, but there is occupations of Starmada patrol craft is the hunting
something about the Stone Cold sobriquet used of pirates.
by Bureau Aegis that implies a level of demented
joy and exaltation that is derived from the act of PATCH
killing. These are not mere thugs and gangers, Pirate crews are famous for their many and varied
Stone Colds are calculating and efficient, they are methods of ship-to-ship assaults. A quick burn from
careful and selective. They plan their killings from their attached ship to get both vessels spinning
selecting the target to disposing of the pieces, from can sow chaos and disorientate the opposing crew,
cleaning up to getting away. They are brutal and venting portions of the atmosphere to confuse and
deadly dangerous. The Stone Colds that Bureau terrify, and a range of other tactics. Pirate crews
Aegis agents are called upon to deal with move often train for specific tactics, sometimes called
across national boundaries to avoid the law and plays, and are therefore prepared to deal with
hide their actions. They change identities like sudden and specific changes in conditions. Very few
clothes and lie as easily as they breathe. They are pirate crews have their own uniforms, and in the
psychopaths, regarding themselves as apart from confusion of a close fight (if and when it comes to
humanity and not bounded by its moral structures. that), telling friend from foe can be problematic.
They are master manipulators, able to feign emo- Instead, most crews don marks or badges which
tion and read their opponents. However, a society are worn prominently and make telling allies from
defines good and bad, right and wrong. There is no enemies all the easier. It is this habit that has given
doubt in any society how a Stone Cold is defined — rise to the nickname pirates are given in Starmada
they are evil. ranks, Patches. This jargon is a nod to the badges
worn by pirates, and a nod to the stereotypical
NEMESIS pirates of ages gone by, with their eye patch and
STONE COLD parrot. Pirate crews are many and varied. Some
have chosen this life; others have fallen into it.
ATTRIBUTES Mostly they target supply ships, small outposts, and
AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
facilities.
10 12 10 10 12 10 10
TROOPER
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
Combat +2 2 Movement +1 1 Social +4 2
PATCH
Fortitude +2 1 Senses +3 1 Technical +2 1
ATTRIBUTES
DEFENCES AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
Firewall 14 Resolve 12 Vigour 12 8 9 9 9 7 7 7
Security 0 Morale 5 Armour 1
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
ATTACKS: Pistol: Range: R/C, 1+4§, Burst 1, 1H, Vicious 1 Combat +2 1 Movement +1 – Social – –
Nanopulser: Range: C, 1+5§, Burst 1, 1H, Biotech, Subtle 3, Torrent, Fortitude +1 – Senses – – Technical 1 –
Vicious 2
GEAR: Armoured Clothing (Hidden Armour 2) DEFENCES
SPECIAL ABILITIES Firewall 4 Resolve 4 Vigour 5
• Unempathetic: A Stone Cold has no regrets, no loyalties, no illusions, Security 0 Morale 0 Armour 2
no conscience. They have a Morale Soak of +5.
• Fear 2: Whenever a Stone Cold attempts a Psywar attack based on ATTACKS: Axe: 1+5§, Unbalanced, Non-Hackable, Thrown,
fear, they gain 2 bonus Momentum. Vicious 1
• Threatening 2: When they want to, Stone Colds exude a powerful Boarding Shotgun: Range: C, 1+5§, Burst 1, 2H, Knockdown, Medium
sense of danger and threat. When a Stone Cold enters a scene, they MULTI
begin with 2 Heat that may be used only to benefit themselves. GEAR: Light Combat Armour
SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Space Legs: When on a ship or in zero-g, a Patch moving into a zone
that requires a terrain test reduces the Difficulty of that test by 1. If
the Difficulty is reduced to zero, no test is required.

Guardians and Adversaries of the Sphere 111

 SEAL BUSTER (SEALY)
While most pirates are experienced in boarding
actions, a Sealy raises the bar to the next level.
These are the hardened dogs with many actions
under their belts. They are tough, experienced,
highly capable, and mad. Called Seal Busters, or
Sealys, as they are the first through any breach.
They seise the bulkhead (adapted from beachhead)
and allow the rest of the crew relative safety as
they come aboard and prepare for the main action.
Being first through the breach is deadly dangerous,
and these pirates process massive amounts of
miniscule cues to judge and adapt to the ship they
are moving into. Sometimes the airlocks they enter
have been vented and jammed open, sometimes
the gravity has been manipulated, and sometimes
an electric current is surging through particle
charged air. Sealys have seen it all and then some.
It takes years to develop the knack of Seal Busting,
and those that master it describe it as if it’s another
sense, and the risks are extreme. Many Sealys
survive on a mix of adrenaline shots and narcotics,
for best be sure, those first into an enemy ship are
the first to meet any bullets if the enemy plans on
defending themselves.
MORGAN
Morgan is a slang name used broadly within
Starmada to mean the captain of a pirate vessel.
The term has a curious origin, being both a refer-
ence to the pirate Captain Morgan of old and as
a name that has long been associated with rum.
(While the brand whose name is now associated
with rum no longer exists, the term retains that
relationship, and rum, of course, is also linked
to pirates.) For these reasons, the name Morgan
was selected as the title for the first independent
operation carried out by Starmada as a department
in its own right, an operation dedicated to reducing
pirate activity around the End of the Line orbital
in the Human Edge. It stuck, and now Morgan is
universally used within Starmada as a stand-in for
captain. A Morgan tends to be wily and intelligent,
knowing when to push and when to back off. Those
that manage to survive more than a couple of
assaults are capable of identifying a ripe target,
and often utilise unique and novel tactics to make
the initial assault disorientating and chaotic for
the defenders of the target vessel. Often capable
fighters, the real strength of a Morgan is in their
ability to lead their crews and to continue to make
good choices about what to target.

ELITE NEMESIS

SEAL BUSTER (SEALY) MORGAN

ATTRIBUTES ATTRIBUTES
AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
10 10 10 10 8 7 8 9 10 9 10 11 11 10

FIELDS OF EXPERTISE FIELDS OF EXPERTISE

Combat +3 1 Movement +2 1 Social – – Combat +2 1 Movement +2 1 Social +4 2
Fortitude +2 1 Senses +1 – Technical +1 – Fortitude +2 1 Senses +2 1 Technical +2 1

DEFENCES DEFENCES
Firewall 8 Resolve 8 Vigour 10 Firewall 13 Resolve 12 Vigour 11
Security 0 Morale 1 Armour 3 Security 0 Morale 2 Armour 3
ATTACKS: Axe: 1+5§, Unbalanced, Non-Hackable, Thrown, ATTACKS: Stun Baton: 1+4§, 1H, Non-Hackable, Knockdown,
Vicious 1 Subtle 1, Stun
Chain Rifle: Range: C, 1+6§, Burst 1, 2H, Spread 1, Torrent, Vicious 1 Heavy Pistols: Range: R/C, 2+4§, Burst 1, Unbalanced, Unforgiving 1,
GEAR: Medium Combat Armour Vicious 1
SPECIAL ABILITIES GEAR: Medium Combat Armour
• Space Legs: When on a ship or in zero-g, a Sealy moving into a zone SPECIAL ABILITIES
that requires a terrain test reduces the Difficulty of that test by 1. If • Space Legs: When on a ship or in zero-g, a Morgan moving into a zone
the Difficulty is reduced to zero, no test is required. that requires a terrain test reduces the Difficulty of that test by 1. If
• Hypervigilant: Whether it’s the adrenaline or the drugs, Sealys are the Difficulty is reduced to zero, no test is required.
hypervigilant, with reflexes wired to the slightest of triggers. A Sealy • Cunning: Morgans are known for their use of unique, and sometimes
may make 1 Retaliate or Return Fire Reaction for free per scene. downright strange, tactical plays. When on a ship, once per scene, a
Morgan can cause the environmental conditions to change for a zone.
This might include making a regular zone difficult terrain, a zone that
is difficult terrain into hazardous, reducing or increasing the gravity,
or creating obstacles. Aside from introducing a new terrain effect, in
the first turn after the change has taken place, anyone in the zone
that is part of the Morgan’s crew gains Surprise on anyone who is not
a part of the crew (see Infinity Corebook, p. 105).

112 Chapter 11
 THE ROLEPLAYING GAME

PSI UNIT COIN

Gathering intelligence typically means data analy- A coin has two sides, when you look at it, one of
sis, but the Psi Unit does have covert agents whose those sides is visible, but the other is still there…
job it is to gather intel the old-fashioned way, by This sobriquet, taught at the Der Irrgarten facility
hand. Covert operatives regularly engage with on Concilium to all Psi Unit Covert Ops agents,
agents from other international agencies as the has a double meaning. On one hand it refers to
secretive dance for intel plays out in the shadows the person themselves — the Coin, a person who
and alley ways of the Human Sphere. appears to be played by an agent, but who is in
fact playing the agent. On the other hand, it refers
SEAM to the intelligence the Coin passes on, on the face
Within the mysterious world of covert operations, of it, useful and accurate intel, while in reality
the Psi Unit agents trained in the maze-like warren misleading and potentially dangerous. Many Coins
known as Der Irrgarten are taught that some of appear to be Seams, and the intel they feed an
the richest intel can be leeched directly from unsuspecting agent can negatively impact tactical
opposing agencies. A rich source of information, and strategic decision making, policy choice, and
they are taught, is called a Seam. Seams are a endanger lives. A Coin might be an enemy agent,
treasure, usually easily manipulated and regularly but equally might be a highly intelligent civilian
in a position that gives access to intelligence they who has managed to see through an agent’s
should not typically be sharing. A Seam to the Psi attempts to manipulate them and turned the tables.
Unit, is what other agencies call unwitting assets.
It may be within a governmental department, a
corporation, a military command, or a ship’s bridge,
but whatever the location, a Seam is not usually ELITE
a head honcho, but rather someone underneath, COIN
someone in the background, like an aid or a clerk,
a personal assistant, or a lover. A vast number of ATTRIBUTES
state and corporate secrets have been uncovered by
AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL
manipulating someone who happens to work in the
8 10 8 8 10 10 9
office of the someone the Psi Unit is interested in.
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE
Combat – – Movement +1 – Social +3 1
TROOPER
Fortitude +2 – Senses +2 1 Technical +2 –
SEAM
DEFENCES
ATTRIBUTES Firewall 10 Resolve 10 Vigour 8

AGI AWA BRW COO INT PER WIL Security 0 Morale 2 Armour 1

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 ATTACKS: Pistol: Range: R/C, 1+4§, Burst 1, Unbalanced,

Vicious 1
FIELDS OF EXPERTISE GEAR: Medium Combat Armour
Combat – – Movement +1 – Social +1 – SPECIAL ABILITIES
Fortitude – – Senses +1 – Technical +2 1 • Resistant: A Coin is intelligent enough to be resistant to manipulation
and coercion; they have a Morale Soak of 2.
DEFENCES • Friend: A Coin is capable of countering any attempt at manipulation
Firewall 4 Resolve 4 Vigour 4 by leaning into it and making the enemy agent believe their attempts
are successful. They appear, in other words, to think of the agent as a
Security 0 Morale 0 Armour 0
friend. Any Psywar attack on a Coin is at +1 Difficulty, which the GM
ATTACKS: As per occupation and background. can explain as being due to the difficulty the Coin will have in gaining
GEAR: As per occupation and background. access to the intel they are after or the importance (and implicit risk)
SPECIAL ABILITIES the Coin is undertaking in sharing the intel.
• Seam: A Seam is a rich source of intel. The players may opt to pay • Liar: Almost every piece of intel shared by a Coin will be misleading
the GM 1 Heat to gain a piece of useful intel on one location or one or false but appear on the surface to be accurate and true. Spotting
person the Seam works for or has a relationship with. If this ability is the intel is bad will require inflicting a Metanoia effect on the Coin or
used twice in an adventure, the Seam becomes suspicious, will cut passing a Daunting (D3) Analysis, Observation, or Psychology skill
contact with the characters, and may report them. test.

Guardians and Adversaries of the Sphere 113