23.04.2122, New Delhi

The old man slumped against the wall, his quick breaths coming in a seriesof wheezes. He had the look about him of someone who had not know the touchof society in many years, his clothes dirty and torn, his face unshaven and hisbody unwashed. His left eye was covered by an eye patch. Slowly, he raised hishead to look upon the man who stood over him.

The man was a Legionnaire. His face bore the tell-tale tattoo that markedhim as a member of the Second—Fortune’s Knights. His uniform was well tendedand cared for, its only dishevelment coming from the five-block chase he had justhad to make before the old man collapsed in the alley. There was somethingstrange about his eyes, though. Contempt was gone now. What was left was…longing?

“What… do you want… from me?” the old man’s voice cracked as he spoke,his one dark, dull eye examining every shift and change in the face of theLegionnaire. The Legionnaire seemed to contemplate for a moment, as if hehimself were unsure of his actions. Finally, he licked his lips and uttered a singlesentence:

“I want to understand.”The old man smiled. Understanding? Is that what the Legionnaires now

sought? It certainly did not seem as if that was what they sought thirteen yearsago when a hundred psions and countless neutrals were massacred in the name of“human security.”

“So, you want understanding now do you? Now! Don’t you think it is alittle late to be seeking understanding now?” the old man spat. “My comrades’blood lies on the hands of you and your murderous friends! You didn’t questionyour actions when you killed them! Why not finish the job now!” The Legionnairepaused for a long second, his hand quivering slightly at his side, tempting him todo his duty—to exterminate the dark psion, to boil his blood.

“Do you really want it to end likes this?” the Legionnaire finally spoke. “Doyou want me to simply… kill you, to continue that cycle of murder and distrust westarted in Bombay? I can’t believe you wouldn’t want to make some kind ofdifference…”

The old man lowered his gaze to the rough stone of the alley for a momentand then raised them once again to meet the gaze of the Legionnaire. “Alright…understanding you seek… understanding you will have.” But even as he said thewords, a dark twinkle was forming in the old man’s eye…

Hunted Predators

14.07.2108, Bombay

The halls were dark, the only dim light cast by flickering green lightsplaced sporadically down the hallways. Nassir mused for a moment, trying toimagine this place once being a hospital for the mentally ill. A scream of horrorand anger echoed through the hallway suddenly, like some wild beasts beingstruck with a whip or club. “Perhaps it still is a hospital for the ill,” Nassirwhispered it to himself.

“Yes, bahadur, that really is how you need to think of it. If not you mightbecome deluded into thinking that the mission that is placed upon your back issomehow… treason against humanity.” The Indian woman who spoke was young,barely in her twenties, but she was obviously very bright—why else would she behere?

Nassir looked at her for a moment. “Sujai, are you,” he blushed slightly. Hefelt odd asking her.

“Yes, bahadur?” she said, a questioning look in her eye.“Are you a quantakinetic?”She smiled and shook her head. “No, bahadur, I am neutral unfortunately,

though I do not plan to ever stop being tested. You never know when latencymight show itself.” She once again offered a light smile.

By: G

eoff Ba

in

Hunted Predators

14.07.2108, Bombay

The halls were dark, the only dim light cast by flickering green lightsplaced sporadically down the hallways. Nassir mused for a moment, trying toimagine this place once being a hospital for the mentally ill. A scream of horrorand anger echoed through the hallway suddenly, like some wild beasts beingstruck with a whip or club. “Perhaps it still is a hospital for the ill,” Nassirwhispered it to himself.

“Yes, bahadur, that really is how you need to think of it. If not you mightbecome deluded into thinking that the mission that is placed upon your back issomehow… treason against humanity.” The Indian woman who spoke wasyoung, barely in her twenties, but she was obviously very bright—why elsewould she be here?

Nassir looked at her for a moment. “Sujai, are you,” he blushed slightly.He felt odd asking her.

“Yes, bahadur?” she said, a questioning look in her eye.“Are you a quantakinetic?”She smiled and shook her head. “No, bahadur, I am neutral unfortunately,

though I do not plan to ever stop being tested. You never know when latencymight show itself.” She once again offered a light smile.

Nassir smiled back. She seemed pleasant enough to have as an assistant,and he was sure he would need someone pleasant to be with considering thenew work he was taking on. “I hope you find yourself latent one day.”

“I do as well, bahadur. Come, this way, I shall show you your specimen.”Nassir nodded, feeling his apprehension rising. This would be the first time hewould see one up close. The first time he would know the presence of true evil,evil he had tried to illustrate time and time again in holovids, but had nevercaptured. It was captured now.

Sujai gently pressed numbers on a keypad.“Please place your eye on the scanner,” the computer’s voice answered.Sujai quickly did so.The sound of whirring circuits echoed out of the machine and suddenly

its voice rang out again. “Please place your thumb on the scanner.” With thisSujai also complied immediately, the sound of a needle gently breaking her skinwas audible.

“Please state your name and authorization number for voicerecognition,” the computer commanded.

“Karampuri, Sujai. Alpha 71291,” Sujai said clearly. Nassir noticed thatthe number she spoke was an entirely different number than what she enteredon the keypad.

There was a short pause, once again followed by the whirring of themachine’s internal processes. “Identity confirmed,” the security doors began toslide open. “Welcome, Sujai Karampuri.”

Sujai turned to face Nassir. “I want to apologize for the amount ofsecurity, but you understand, its… necessary.” Nassir nodded, there was noneed to explain to him. Besides, his attention was much too diverted by what laybehind those security doors to play attention to any nuisance of bypassing them.

In the room beyond was a fully functioning laboratory. Members of theChitra Bhanu order scuttled around the room, test tubes and lab reports and allmanner of other top secret research instruments passed through the hands ofthese scientists everyday. The were the advance scouts of the most dangerouscrevice that noetic science had to offer. They were beneath notice.

Only one thing in the room could hold Nassir’s attention. A row ofmassive tanks, reaching from floor to ceiling. They vaguely resembled thePrometheus Chamber actually, Nassir mused to himself as he looked at them,with their organic texture and the appearance that they simply had taken rootwhere they sat rather than having been placed there. The strange bio-organicooze that filled them was different; however, in a Prometheus Chamber the fluidwas greenish in colour—this was red. Red like blood. Fitting, Nassir thought,considering the nature of the occupants.

Hunted Predators

Four of the five chambers were currently occupied. Aberrants. As Nassir enteredthe room, one of them slowly opened one of eight eyes, its pupil rolling aboutfutilely searching for some kind of weakness or escape. Moments later, withoutresistance, its eye closed again. “Astonishing,” Nassir whispered, walking slowlytowards the tanks, Sujai following closing behind him.

What’s that, bahadur?” Sujai questioned.Nassir placed his hand on the bio-organic glass of one of the chambers. It

was warm to the touch, though Nassir was not certain that the fluid within had anyheat at all. “I can’t even feel them…”

Sujai’s face beamed with pride. “That is the true mastery of this project,bahadur. That tank you are touching is what we call a Noetic Stabilizer. It was verydifficult to create, but we did it. It creates a field of static noetic flux focusedthrough the fluid within each chamber. An Aberrant, when placed inside, losing theability to implement most—if not all—of its powers; it also makes them impossibleto detect. Also, for some reason we could not deduce, they also become docile, ifnot catatonic while within the Chambers.

Nassir looked down the row of chambers, at the monstrosities containedwithin. It was true. No sign of movement of any kind other than an occasionaltwitch. He imagined that even the opening of an eye, as he had observed upon hisentrance, was a rare occurrence. Nassir turned to Sujai and smiled.“Astonishing.”

Hunted Predators

Sujai smiled in response. “Come, bahadur, allow me to show you to your workstation.” Nassir nodded.

As they walked through the room towards his workstation at the far endof the row of chambers, Nassir leaned closer and whispered. “Are these all the…I mean, are these all the specimens we have?”

Sujai shook her head. “No. There are many here, in many rooms…”

23.11.2108

“A little weaker,” Nassir said, carefully watching the power flow to theNoetic Stabilizer. “A little weaker… just a little bit more. There! Stop!” Thetechnicians immediately stopped the process of weakening the chamber’sstabilization field, quickly locking it into its new position. The field had beenlowered to a level where the Aberrant’s powers and control over the Taint shouldstill be under control, but much of the lethargy that resulted from the chamberhad been removed.

The Aberrant within the chamber stirred ominously, its tentacles movingslightly as if it were some great leviathan of the sea, awakening after a thousandyears. Slowly, four great eyes pried themselves open within the red ooze of thetank. “Do you know where you are?” Nassir said slowly, trying to coax theAberrant into a response.

Slowly, the titan turned two of its eyes towards Nassir, examining himlike an insect under a microscope, while the other two continued to shift takingin the vision of the room. “Do you know where you are?” Nassir repeated.

The tension in the room was tangible, everyone stood still. There wasnone of the hectic flow of constant research that was usually found in thesechambers—only stillness, the only sound the beating of hearts and Nassir’svoice. Nassir could feel the Aberrant now. The stabilization field was lowenough that, being so close, he could feel it like a soft thudding in the back ofhis mind, a dark and twisted presence. Nassir swallowed hard. “Do you knowwhere you are?” he repeated for the third time.

Slowly, the monster’s mandibles began to open. “I…am…a…prisoner,” itsdark voice echoed through the ooze of the chamber like the voice of someancient beast awakened from the depths of nightmare in some holovid.

“No,” Nassir shook his head, he could feel particles of sweat rolling downacross his brow. “You’re a patient. You’re in a hospital. Do you understandwhat I’m telling you? You’re in a hospital.”

“A… hospital…” Nassir couldn’t tell if it was a question or a statement.The beast continued to stare at Nassir with two of its burning eyes, with theother two drifting over the other scientists and technicians. There was a visibletension that passed through anyone who meet that monsters gaze.

“That’s right… a hospital. We’re going to try to help you. Do youunderstand that? We are trying to make you get better. We are trying to cureyou of your disease. Do you understand everything I am telling you?”

The monster’s voice came as a deep rumbling, and its heavy mass shiftedslightly within the chamber as it spoke. “The.. One.. Race.. knows… no…disease. Only,” the monster’s eyes drifted over the technicians once more,though he still kept two fixed upon Nassir, “…baselines… know… disease.”

“What do you mean? Could you explain what you mean by One Race andbaselines?” Nassir asked, quickly pulling a handkerchief from his pocket anddabbing his forehead.

“Baselines…” the monster made a vague gesture toward the crowd oftechnicians with one of its heavy tentacles. “Baselines… are… nothing.” Thefinal word seemed to echo strongly than the others, as if it held some form offinal judgment, some message from a place that no one understood.

“Are you saying that non-Aberrants are—”

Hunted Predators

“Baselines…” the monster made a vague gesture toward the crowd of technicianswith one of its heavy tentacles. “Baselines… are… nothing.” The final word seemedto echo strongly than the others, as if it held some form of final judgment, somemessage from a place that no one understood.

“Are you saying that non-Aberrants are—”“Is this thing contained?” Nassir said, his eyes fixed on the enraged Aberrant

in the chamber before him.“Yes, bahadur, it should be fully contained,” said Sujai, standing nearby at the

controls. “The stabilization field, as far as Taint neutralization goes, is still in theSafe level.”

“HOW DARE YOU!” the Aberrant’s voice reverberated through the entire roomas it continued to rock back and forth in the chamber; its great tentacles thrashinglike some sea monster trapped in a net. “I will not go back! You cannot make me goback! I SHALL NOT GO BACK TO BAHRAIN!”

Nassir shot a quick glance at Sujai. “Bahadur! Levels dropping!”“What?” Nassir shouted in shock, rushing toward Sujai, to look at the controls.“The containment levels are dropping and fast. We’re no longer in the Safe

zone!” Alarms began to sound as red flashing lights activated throughout the room.The scientists that, moments before, had been frozen in fear, began rushing to Taintcontainment chambers spread throughout the room where they would be safe fromany melt down. “We’re in the Danger zone, bahadur!” Sujai said, looking up at Nassiras he got closer. Her eyes filled with horror for a single second. “Bahadur!” shescreamed.

Nassir could feel the soft thudding feeling of Taint’s presence suddenlysurged upward, to almost standard levels. Before he could react, the containmentwas breeched. In a massive show of force, the Aberrant smashed one of his massivetentacles through the bio-glass. The tentacle came rocketing towards Nassir in aflurry of shattered bio-glass and red ooze. Nassir barely managed to turn his headaside from the mess before he felt the tentacle rush past, nearly striking his face. Abrief sense of relief overtook him. He hadn’t even been touched.

He thought too soon.The passing of the tentacle was following by nothing less than a whip of

telekinetic force. The force felt like a sledgehammer crashing against the side of hishead and across his left eye. With blood streaming freely down his disfigured face,Nassir began to collapse. With his right eye he saw the doors opening and membersof Dhiren rushing in wearing TRS’s equipped Noetic Crystalizers.

Everything went black.

> > > > > < < < < <

Nassir woke up later in a hospital bed, his head was wrapped securely with abandage, covering his left eye. He had no idea how much time had passed, only thatSujai sat at his bedside, her eyes ringed with dark patches beneath them. She smiledas he awoke. “Welcome back to us, bahadur.”

Nassir could help but produce a feeble smile, but even that small effort achedwithin him. His head throbbed horribly, and he let out a soft groan. “Do not worry,bahadur,” Sujai assured. “We have everything back under control at the laboratory.You only worry about resting, and getting better.” She gave a half-hearted smile.

Nassir’s right eye drifted around the room slowly, coming to rest on a familiarsign. A distinctive variant on a cross—Æsculpians. Nassir took a deep breath andclosed his eye. “Sujai… if I was treated by the rexes… why isn’t my eye any better?Shouldn’t… shouldn’t they have fixed it?”

Sujai bowed her head. Nassir knew the answer before she even said it. Theycouldn’t fix it. Taint had done this to him. Direct exposure to a powerful blast ofTaint energy at close range. Nothing could be done for his eye. He had lost half thelight of the world in the name of science.

Hunted Predators

16.12.2109“What is going on!” screamed one of the technicians. “What is all that

noise outside?” his face was filled with terror.Nassir didn’t know what to say. He stood still for a moment, petrified.

“They’re… they’re attacking us.” His voice seemed to lose the implications of hiswords, almost as if what he said was unimportant. A cry of disbelief spreadthrough the room. “They found the Noetic Stabilizers in Containment Room 3.Someone fired…”

His calm tone of resignation was crushed immediately as the foundationsof the building shook as some capital weapon was fired at the clinic from someOrgotek or Legion vessel. Nassir swallowed. “There’s no way we can fight them!”he suddenly said, in a burst of passion and fear. “We have to run.”

“But there’s no way out, bahadur! They’re all through the complex!” Theroom shook again, this time with greater force.

“We don’t have a choice!” Nassir shouted. In a few minutes this building isgoing to be coming down whether we’re still inside or not! Do you really thingthose Legionnaire gunners out there care if we die? I think that’s their intention!They’re not trying to subdue us—they’re trying to exterminate us.”

Nassir’s words were punctuated by a laser blast shattering away the doorto the laboratory. A suddenly scream went up as the scientists prepared todefend themselves in some futile battle against fully trained Legionnaires.“Surrender and nobody gets hurt!” echoed from the Legionnaires, fully clad inbattle armour, as they rushed into the room, armed with laser rifles.

Most of the scientists and technicians only took cover. Nassir grabbedSujai and dived into an alcove, out of the view of the Legionnaires, and watched.Slowly, one technician. A young neutral stepped forward, his hands raised.Nassir squinted to recognize him from the vantage point he had. It was Sujai’shusband, Adel Dhamani. They had been married since July. Nassir looked atSujai, her eyes wide with horror.

“I surrender, just please… do not hurt my wife.” There was a moment ofsilence. Everything was still throughout the room, it was as though the worldhad stopped spinning. A single tear rolled down Sujai’s cheek. Then the lightcame.

The distinctive flare of an L-K Vindicator II laser carbine being fired. Thesmell of seared ozone was atrocious, and, in the end, it was the thud of Adel’sbody hitting the ground that shattered the moment of silence, his body cleavedclean in half by the laser’s arc.

“You behen chods!” one of the other scientists screamed out. Soon theflare of Vindicators and quantum energy filled the room as the quantakineticscientists—usually somewhat pacifistic took it upon themselves to avenge theirfallen friend.

Sujai screamed in horror, trying to rush towards her fallen husband. OnlyNassir’s firm grip around her waist kept her from running into the line of fire ofthe ensuing battle. Tears streamed freely down her face as she wailed andmoaned for fallen husband.

“We can weep for him later,” Nassir whispered. “Quickly, now we must gothrough the air ducts. There are technician panels inside that should have mapsof the entire ventilation system.” Sujai was resistant at first, but conceded asNassir removed the paneling and pushed her gently into the vents.

They crawled for what seemed like hours, the building shaking all aroundthem from the impact of ships’ weaponry. They carefully following technicianmaps placed inside the shafts, leading them to a shaft near the waste disposalcenter, a place unlikely to be heavily guarded by the other orders.

Sunlight streamed in from beyond as they reached the end of the shaft,and Nassir looked out onto the ground below. No one was there. He let out asigh of relief. “Alright, Sujai… listen to me. We’re going to jump. It’s about tenmeters, but don’t worry, I’ll bring us down safely.” Sujai nodded, her headbowed. Nassir sighed. He wished he could show more sympathy for his friendand assistant—she had always been there for him. He would have to make it upto her in the years to come.

Hunted Predators

Nassir carefully removed the outer panel of the air duct and pulled it carefullyinside the vent. He took a deep breath and took a hold of Sujai’s arm. With a briefthrust forward, they were out of the shaft, plummeting through the air. Nassirreached out and called noetic energy to him to lessen to the pull the Earth had overthem as they fell, praying that his attempt would not bring the murderers running.

They landed with a soft thud on the pavement below, and Nassir took acursory glance around the area. “Everything seems to be clear, Sujai. We have togo—we have to go now!” With that, he grabbed her wrist tightly and began to runoff for an alley behind the waste disposal center, desperate to outrun anyone thatmight do them harm. He could not let Sujai down.

The sound of their footsteps was lost in the explosions of gunfire from above,something that Nassir was glad for. It was almost poetic. It seemed their veryattempts to kill them would hide their exit and possibly the exit of other survivors.Nassir looked up towards the sky for a moment as they ran, seeing what wasattacking.

The air was swarming with Orgotek and Legion vessels, just as he hadsuspected. They were making swoop after swoop, firing full battery at he building.It seemed they wanted nothing less than its complete collapse! Before he averted hisgaze once more, Nassir was almost certain that he caught a glimpse of a BCARFassault craft, the deadly Commonwealth Aberrant Response Force.

Nassir smiled. They had evaded them all. They were free. They were safe.They had escaped from danger and could start their lives anew. Nassir had neverfelt so alive. He stopped and pulled Sujai against a wall with him, glancing around.“We’re safe, Sujai… we made it. You hear me, we made it!”

“You thought you made it,” a voice echoed suddenly from behind Nassir.Nassir instinctively put himself in front of Sujai, looking towards the end of the alleythey now found themselves in. A group of five Legionnaires had obviously spottedthem and now they were prepared to take them prisoner… or kill them, as theirpractice seemed to be.

“I surrender, but don’t do anything to her, please. She’s not involved. Shedoesn’t know anything.” Nassir put his hands up. The Legionnaires exchangedglances quickly, and began to raise their laser carbines.

“No!” Sujai screamed, the vision of her husband’s death springing to her mind.She pushed forward, past Nassir, to stand in front of him, just as the lasers fired. Bythe time she fell dead there was little left of her other than a charred husk. TheLegionnaires seemed totally un-phased and immediately began to target theirweapons on Nassir.

Nassir’s face twisted in horror as she died. His best friend in the entire world.Murdered by those filthy Legionnaires! Nassir’s eyes filled with hate and quantumenergy roared within him. As the Legionnaires fired again, a shell of energy eruptedaround Nassir, raging in a horrible torrent. The energy of their weapons seemed tobe lost inside the shell, useless against it.

Nassir let out a scream of rage and charged forward towards theLegionnaires. Two managed to release a volley of flame upon him as he charged, butto no effect. He did not even seem slowed, his shield only deflecting and absorbingthe flame. The Legionnaires turned to run as Nassir encroached upon them, but theywere too late. The energy ripped out and grabbed them, rushing through theirbodies like a main feed electrical line. They tried to scream in agony, but even thepower to do that was lost to them. Within seconds, all five Legionnaires lay dead.Slowly, the energy around Nassir faded to nothingness, and he looked at the carnageall around him.

“I’m sorry, Sujai,” he whispered as he ran off into the streets beyond.

23.04.2122, New Delhi

“Is that understanding enough for you?” Nassir, the old man, muttered,looking at the ground. “Is that enough? I am not a young man anymore, and I havebeen made no younger by carrying these memories in my heart.” He glanced up atthe Legionnaire standing over him.

Hunted Predators

The Legionnaire shook his head in horror and disbelief. “I never… I neverthought of it the way you told it—like a slaughter. I’m sorry. I… I didn’t know. Iwasn’t part of it.”

Nassir slowly rose to his feet. “I understand, Legionnaire. Now youknow… perhaps you can help redeem your order. Redeem them for what theytook from us… from me.” Nassir turned to leave the alley.

“Wait,” the Legionnaire whispered, it was almost inaudible.Nassir turned slowly. “Yes?”“I…I’m sorry, but I can’t just let you go. I have a duty to uphold. I am

sworn to my Legion and my order. I have to destroy any rogue member of theChitra Bhanu I encounter. It’s regulations.” The Legionnaire began to raise hishand at Nassir, to boil his blood where he stood.

Nassir sighed. “Then all this has been for naught. You did not seekunderstanding. You sought to make a mockery of my pain. You disgust me,Legionnaire!” Nassir waved his hand.

A look of shock spread across the Legionnaires face. He had tried to usehis powers; he had tried to kill the old man, but nothing had happened. It wasas though his energy had abandoned him. “Have you learned nothing?” Nassirwhispered, shaking his head.

Suddenly, energy leapt from Nassir’s hand in green rivets, rippingthrough the air towards the Legionnaire. The Legionnaire’s eyes opened inhorror as the energy struck him in the chest and spread throughout his body.The pain was indescribable, and Nassir knew it, and he did not care. “This is butlittle retribution for what your kind have done to me,” Nassir whispered calmly.

The energy stopped flowing from his hand, and the Legionnaire slumpedto the ground, face down, smoke rising in gentle wisps from his corpse. “Isuppose this is the way it will always have to be, is it, Legionnaire?” Nassirsighed, and turned away, stepping slowly into the busy street beyond.

Cred

its

A note on this momentous first release:So here we are finally releasing India Underground (c’mon, you know you were all

thinking it). This little piece of work has seen a lot. It came about during the height of Eon’ssuccess, and has hung around to watch it rise from the ashes (not unlike the phoenix) andreinvent it self. But, is has also seen the Trinity line itself rise up from a long dry spell only tofall, seemingly permanently, to the trials and tribulations of the free markets system. And, justwhen all seemed lost this work was snatched from the jaws of digital purgatory (read my harddrive) just in time to herald the triumphant return of Trinity it self, though in a different yet stillfamiliar form.

This little guy has made it through a lot of time and uncertainty passing up pettybickering and clashes of ego to take on the form it holds today. While everyone involved withthis piece might not have always been pleased with this idea or that, I can guarantee that IndiaUnderground would be barely a shadow of its current form if not for everyone involved in itsconstruction. So, here she is a little under edited (most of the editted work was lost in a harddisk failure) and a little over due. I’d also like to take this time to personally thank GeorgeLucchese for saving me from being the ass that deleted the entire book. Without him I assureyou this project would NEVER have gotten to you. Enjoy (fingers crossed).

-Slag

Words from the DeveloperSo here it is—India Underground all finished and ready to be read. Let me tell you, I

really could have never done this on my own—trust me, I tried it once-upon-a-time. As far asthis book goes, sending that email to Chris Hill that day offering the deal that if he helped meget organized I would put India Underground up on his site was the best thing to everhappen.

Really all the people who helped make this book deserve as much credit as I do for it.Ok, maybe not (only kidding guys). I’d like to make a special shout out to Chris Hill who wasthe organizer (or as we called it “producer”) of Team Underground and Jake Ekiss for taking onmore than he probably should have. Of course, the project never would have come togetherwithout the efforts of everyone, so Holli, Dave, Joseph, “Natwick”, “Slagheap”; everyone take abow. I appreciate all the effort each of you put into the project.

I am also going to offer, at this point, thanks to everyone who is reading this right nowbecause it means you cared enough about all our work to bother at least giving it a look over.Now, if you don’t like it… well, umm… Sorry. I did my best, I tried my hardest, and there’s notmuch more I can do than that, y’know.

With all this thanking I’m getting a bit teary-eyed, but I’m not too emotional to forget mytwo most important thanks, nor my three dedications. -Geoff Bain

Special Thanks:Andrew Bates, you and your team gave us a dream to believe in. A dream so

compelling and fascinating that we had no choice but to follow it to its completion, and that’sthe finest accomplishment of storytelling. You should be proud of what you’ve given us. Iknow I am. I hope you like my work and my adaptation of your grand vision. I hope I did youjustice.

Bruce Baugh, I don’t know if you’ll read this (what with that vacuum mind of yours) buteven if you don’t, I hope you’ll hear about it. I want to thank you for stepping in and keepingthe dream alive. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the work you have put in to keep usfans happy (I know we can be unruly jerks at times… ok, a lot). You’ve saved a story, and forthat you deserve our thanks.

Dedications:Once again, I would like to offer this honor (at least I hope its an honor, depends on

how well received the book is, I suppose) to Andrew Bates and Bruce Baugh, for all yourtremendous work I am truly thankful.

And if nobody minds, I’d also like to insert a little personal dedication here to mybeloved Erin. You’re my everything, sweetheart, and I couldn’t have done it without you (eventhough I’m going to keep telling you my writing sucks… and you know it does!). I love youmore!

Words from the Producer

Wow, what a ride!

What you’ve got right here is the culmination of months of very hard work by someextremely talented people. I hope you’ll agree that, for a fanfic book we’ve done a good job.

Co-ordinating such a project can be difficult, time consuming and sometimes just a littlestressful, but the people involved in this book have made it an enjoyable and worthwhileexperience - they have really blown me away with the quality of what they have produced, andthe amount of time and effort everyone put in appreciated immensely. You guys rock!

Not only did India Underground give us Æon fans an opportunity to share our own takeon certain aspects of the Continuum, but it has also spearheaded the development of severalother fanfic e-books for all three Æon Continuum games. We currently have several projects onthe go, and I hope that you’re going to enjoy them all! - Chris (Slave-driving British Energizer Bunny) Hill

Special Thanks:I’m going to take the liberty of saying a quick thank you to the EON Site staff, Joe, Harle,Aninemity, Aeon and (of course) Senior Mal - we wouldn’t be able to do this sort of stuffwithout you guys - plain and simple.

Dedicaton:James Edward Richard Hill - for everything.

Developer: Geoff ‘Breearg’ BainOpening Fiction: Geoff ‘Breearg’ BainWriters: Geoff ‘Breearg’ Bain, Dave ‘Aeon’ Sammels, Jake ‘Victor Frost’ Ekiss, Chris ‘Slagheap’Worthington, Chris ‘CHILL’ HillEditor: Dara ‘RoseBriar’ Smith (sorry most of your hard work got lost)Cover Art: Jake ‘Victor Frost’ EkissArtists: Jean-Francois ‘Natwick’ Dubeau, Jake ‘Victor Frost’ Ekiss, Holli ‘Harlequin’ Raan, Joseph‘Joseph’ Peloquin, Chris ‘CHILL’ HillBack & Front Cover Layout: Chris ‘CHILL’ Hill, Jake ‘Victor Frost’ Ekiss, Chris ‘Slagheap’WorthingtonLayout and typesetting: Chris ‘Slagheap’ Worthington, Vincent “The Man in Black” Santa Maria, Chris‘CHILL’ HillSaving Grace: George Lucchese

IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE

Various terms used throughout this book are copyright White Wolf Publishing Inc. Thispublication is purely fan fiction, it is in no way associated with or recognised by White WolfPublishing Inc. In short, this book is completely unofficial, please take it as that.In order to use the contents of this book you will need to have purchased several of the officialbooks available from White Wolf Publishing at http://www.white-wolf.com, support the TrinityUniverse by either visiting White Wolf’s website or your local gaming store to purchase theofficial books.

This book in its entirety has been developed to be freely available to fans of White Wolf’sTrinity Universe - the most recent copy of this book can be downloaded for free from EON athttp://www.eononline.net/

The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to thetrademark or copyright concerned. This book uses science fiction for settings, characters andthemes. All science fiction, geopolitical scenarios and psi-related elements are fiction andintended for entertainment purposes only. Reader discretion is advised.

Tab

le of Contents

Fiction: Hunted Predators

Introduction

Chapter One: Psi OrderChitra BhanuChapter Two: QuantakinesisChapter Three: BharatiCommonwealthChapter Four: StorytellingChapter Five: TechnologyChapter Six: DramatisPersonae

Timeline

Introduction

It is important that humanity, if it is to grow, examine the mistakes it hasmade in the past. There is a lesson to be learned in the misadventures of therogue Chitra Bhanu Psi Order. Were they really a group of rebellious, corruptcultists, or are there deeper messages hidden just below the surface?

QuantakineticsThe fallen order Chitra Bhanu is a nightmare used to scare little children at

night. Once revered among the rest of the Psi Orders as staunch, forthrightdefenders of the Earth, they are now the boogie-men under the bed.

The Chitra Bhanu also had a side which, even to this day, the other ordershave not glimpsed. A side that did not allow them to dictate their own destiny. Aside that is ultimately responsible for their destruction.

The Chitra Bhanu, also known as the quantakinetics, are perhaps the bestexample of the failure of the Æon Trinity’s eternal struggle – the struggle forhumanity to become independent from outside influences. The quantakineticswere subject to influence from both the Doyen and the Aberrants, from themanipulative to the mutated, and the order suffered for it. To Joe Hologram, theyare a sad case of corruption and evil; to the wise man, they are martyrs inhumanity’s eternal struggle to be free.

Bharati CommonwealthThe Bharati Commonwealth is a shining beacon of hope in a world whose

societies often go sour. A center of diplomacy and politics, it preserves an idealof a higher civilization, a bastion of defense against the dark horrors that waitaround every corner. Yet, despite its best efforts to create a nation of completeharmony, this glorious society is not without its own dark side, its own skeletonsin the closet.

From the Pakistani Conquest to the Bombay Crisis and the flooding ofThimpu, the Bharati Commonwealth has been ripe with conflict since before theAberrant War. Only time can truly reveal whether the Bharati Commonwealth willcontinue forth into a grand new era or collapse under the weight of its own greatexpectations.

How to Use This BookIndia Underground provides the first in-depth look into the inner workings of the long

lost Chitra Bhanu Psi Order and one of the gems of world politics and diplomacy, the BharatiCommonwealth.

Chapter One: Psi Order Chitra Bhanu explores the dynamic relationships andinteractions between parts of the Chitra Bhanu order, through scientists, ethical leader,Aberrant hunters and the Proxy herself.

Chapter Two: Quantakinesis delves into the secrets surrounding the aptitude whichhas so long remained a mystery. It explains many different workings of the most potentaptitude known to noetic science, including primary and alternate modes.

Chapter Three: Bharati Commonwealth gives a thorough look at the Indiansubcontinent and the many different factions that call it home. This chapter provides a fulland colorful view of life in the Bharati Commonwealth.

Chapter Four: Storyteller Information reveals lesser-known facts best left in thehands of the Storyteller, ranging from the true military power of the Bharati Commonwealth tothe secrets of the few remaining Aberrants inside the nation. It even explores the insidiousinfluence exerted over the Chitra Bhanu by the mysterious Doyen.

Chapter Five: Technology expands upon the technology presented through the rest ofthe Trinity supplements, including the tools used for capturing and containing Aberrants.

Chapter Six: Dramatis Personae shows the true nature of Proxy S.K. Bhurano anddiscusses those known as the Brahmin, who served as her inner council. It also reveals notablequantakinetic survivors, including the leaders of surviving hives of rogue Chitra Bhanu.

Appendix: Timeline wraps it all up with a look at the historical events which served asthe foundation for the Bharati Commonwealth nd the rise of the Chitra Bhanu Psi Order.

As with the other psi order/region books, India Underground is a comprehensivesourcebook, but it’s by no means an exhaustive catalog of everything relating to the ChitraBhanu and the Indian subcontinent. Use it as you please to fit your story, and above all—havefun! Hope you enjoy!

Alright, so, without further ado—INDIA UNDERGROUND

PSI ORDER CHITRA BHANU & BHARATI COMMONWEALTH SOURCEBOOK

Psi Order C

hitra BhanuProfile

Chitra Bhanu. Chibs.Quantakinetics. QK’s. Who are they —who were they? And why did they earnthe infamous designation, the DarkPsions? To get to the heart of thesequestions, we must look back to theearliest days of the order itself.In 2106 the public became aware theexistence of the Order after thedramatic events at Sydney Spaceport.As Æon began its media blitz to helpthe world’s general population learn totrust and understand the Psions, theChitra Bhanu set out to explain them.Wielding the ability to seeminglyreshape the Nuclear forces of theuniverse and generate flashy effects,that appeared chillingly similar toAberrant abilities, the Quantakineticskept a much lower profile than many ofthe other orders. But, this shroud ofmystery not only drew more attentionto the Order in the end, it alsoattributed to their eventual down fall.

The almost reclusive order washeaded up by well-known BombayPsychologist S.K. Bhurano. Psi OrderChitra Bhanu was composed primarilyof thinkers and academics almostentirely hand selected by theorganization’s founder. Instituting apolicy of latency testing regularly on allmajor college and university campuses,Dr. Bhurano competed with theÆsculapians and Orgotech for the bestand the brightest minds of thegeneration. Of all the orders the ChitraBhanu had the highest percentage ofmembers with PhDs. Bhurano kept herorder small by refusing to triggeranyone but those individuals who bothexcelled in their fields and showed thehighest levels of mental stability.Applicants showing even a hint ofpsychological perturbation were deniedadmittance to the triggering process,but were still offered positions withinthe order.

In their three years of publicactivity before the Purge Chitra Bhanubecame champions of scientificexploration and higher education. Theylead a campaign to increase children’saccess to education, especially thosefrom the poorer areas of India andSouth East Asia.

Proxy Bhurano felt thatmarginalizing any portion of theworld’s society lead to too manycapable minds going untapped.

Working closely with theÆsculapian Order, the Quantakineticsalso pioneered the field of Noeticscience, culminating in the 1st NoeticConference in Olympus in October of2109 scant months before the Purge.In a handful of years the two ordersmade great progress in defining thenew and miraculous happenings thatcame along with the rise of the PsionicOrders. As their research began toindicate an inner connection with allthings living and otherwise, manyChitra Bhanu took on a more mysticaland esoteric view of reality and scienceblending. This mentality lead to amovement from with in the orderattempting to merge the ideals ofseveral eastern philosophies anddogmas with the concept of the Noetictotality. The two orders’ research alsodelved into the cases and possiblecures for Taint diseases like D andeven Taint syndrome itself. This lineof research lead to the infamousProject Harmony, the catalyst for theone of the largest massacres of the22nd century.

Project HarmonyProject Harmony was initiated

at the direct request of Proxy Bhuranoin the fall of 2107 in order to study theeffects of and possible cures for Taint,Taint Syndromes, and Aberrant pow-ers. Unbeknownst to those working onthe project — or to anyone else, forthat matter — the project itself was amask for Doyen research into theeventual eradication of the Aberrantthreat. While none of the scientistsand researchers engaged in the projectwere aware, they were being subtlyguided towards unraveling the secretsof the M-R node in order to find a wayto nullify it completely. While it wasno secret among the labs that mea-sures were being taken to reduce taintand possibly “cure” aberrant syndrome,it was only vaguely evident that thisprocess might not have entirely altruis-tic sources.

The Doyen within Bhurano demandedconstant updates on the project’s researchand advancement, pursuing it almostravenously and constantly interruptingexperiments to ask for progress reports.

Naturally, when studying taint, testsubjects were required. Thus, Dhiren soldierscaptured aberrants, who were then studied adnauseum (sometimes not so humanely). Theseunprecedented experiments yielded shockingresults.The Project findings eventually lead to thediscovery of ways to reduce the effective levelof taint within an aberrant, but in doing so,researchers learned methods of increasingtaint as well. Unfortunately, this secondaspect was the nail in Project Harmony’scoffin. It cemented in the minds of both theother orders and the Doyen that the ChitraBhanu had strayed from the path they hadoriginally set for themselves. To ensure thatthe secrets of this research were neverallowed to proliferate throughout humanity,the Doyen triggered the Purge, therebyending the taint research indefinitely.Some Project Harmony research has beenduplicated and hinted at elsewhere. Thisrenewed work has come from unlikely sourcessuch as the Norça and Æsculapian orders,most notably to be seen in the Huang-Marrconspiracy. However, the extent to which theRexes borrowed from the Chitra-Bhanuresearch is still unconfirmed.

Order OrganizationDivided into four sections, Psi Order

Chitra Bhanu carried out everyday operationswith an efficiency to rival that of both theNorça and General Larssen’s Legions. TheJnyadeep carried out the bulk of the researchand scientific experimentation, while theSaguna vigilantly kept an eye out for anyethical shortcomings in the other Chibs(though some would argue that they failedmiserably in this function). The Dhiren, whoacted as inner order security and aberranthunters, also housed a number of psionsalmost equal to the Jnyadeep. They also heldthe honor of being the smallest of the order’sbranches. The fourth and final branch of theChitra Bhanu was the Anirudhha. While doingvery little independent work, the Anirudhhahoused all non-Quantakinetic psions andneutrals in the order. This largest branch ofthe order fleshed out the ranks of the otherthree.

The majority of the real work done inProject Harmony was performed on and withso-called reformed Aberrants.

JnyadeepThe Light of Knowledge

The heart of the Chitra Bhanu Order,the Jnyadeep, existed purely for the pursuit ofscience. As the second largest branch of theOrder, members of the Jnyadeep were highlyvisible and powerful forces within the clinic.

Seen as the keepers of the Order’s truepurpose, members of the Jnyadeep were givena wide berth and a reasonable amount ofautonomy in all subjects involving theirresearch. This mentality led to manyJnyadeep having single-minded pet projectsand narrowed fields of expertise, but it alsogave rise to many of the astonishing leaps inmodern science that revolutionized life in theearly 2100’s. Consequently, the Jnyadeeppushed the bounds of Noetic theory andopened the door for many discoveries yet tocome. They redefined centuries of atomictheory in only a handful of years, engineeredbuilding materials that forever altered theconcept of architecture, and unlocked levelsof psionic power that even some of theProxies did not think possible.

However, the Jnyadeep soon began toshift their primary focus towards Taintresearch. This effort was led by the Sudhish(Lord of Excellent Intellect) Swati Bhurano,youngest sister of Proxy S.K. Bhurano. Then,in 2107, Proxy Bhurano herself enacted aseries of sweeping policy changes thatcemented this trend and paved the way forthe controversial “Project Harmony.”Unfortunately, the questionable nature of thisprogram overshadowed many of the positiveadvancements that the order had made.

It was during the tenure of ProjectHarmony that two philosophical camps beganto form within the Jnyadeep. The first,commonly referred to as the Ambara or “sky”faction, was composed of pure scientists. LikeProxy Bhurano, the members of this factionwere dedicated to science and the pursuitknowledge for its own sake. The other campmight more accurately be called inventors:socially minded researchers interested in theapplications of their work. These ChitraBhanu, idealistically aligned with SwatiBhurano, were known within the order as theDridha or “firm.” This division in philosophycaused some friction within labs, but it alsoacted as a ballast, preventing either groupfrom dominating the research.

These twisted creatures werereportedly “cured” by experimentalapplications of Quantakinesis (see alternatemodes pg.28). The use of Noetic Stabilizers(Tech pg. 59) prevented Aberrants’ Taintemissions from disrupting the Chitra Bhanuscientists’ psionic abilities.In the end, the heart of the order would be itsundoing. The dubious work involved withProject Harmony, in conjunction with otherabnormal circumstances, would draw thecombined wrath of the other orders and spellthe demise of the once proud Chitra Bhanu.

Allegiance: We carry the lamp ofknowledge for future generations. Ourdiscoveries open doors and build bridges forthose yet to come. With the enlightenmentthat we bring to the world, anything canbecome possible.

Abilities: Academics, Bureaucracy,Engineering, Etiquette, Science, Investigation

SagunaVirtuous

It has been said that the road to hell ispaved with good intentions, and if it is true,then the Saguna were responsible for the bulkof the lofty aspirations that lead the ChitraBhanu to their eventual fate. Composed ofphilosophers, theologians, and cultural andmoral theorists, the Saguna branch was theeven-tempered parental figure to the order’sother branches. Designed to be mediamiddlemen, the Saguna were intended toprovide realistic and thoughtful bridgesbetween the realms of religion (which was astrong part of many Chitra Bhanu’s lives) andscience (which was the driving force thatmade the order a haven for the great mindsof its time). To this end, they were alsotasked with keeping the order well withinstrict moral lines, as well as ensuring that thevarious branches of the order stayed true totheir respective philosophical intents.The Saguna branch itself was run by theSunita (“one with good morals”) who, until2107, was a man named Sajeesh Pilarkat.However, Pilarkat is reported to have died ina laboratory experiment, and his position wasfilled by Avinash Gourgonda. Gourgondaserved in the position until the order’s even-tual fall. Both Sunitas went on record asopposing the particulars of Project Harmony,though neither made much headway intocurbing its research. In fact, at one point, theorder contemplated the removal of theSaguna branch altogether.

Were it not for the protests of SunitaGourgonda, such a proposition might havebeen carried out, dooming the order to aneven swifter end. Unfortunately, the Saguna’sefforts ultimately failed. The Jnyadeep’sresearch was directly backed and supportedby proxy Bhurano and was therefore nearlyuntouchable to the Saguna. Eventually,reports of the research on aberrants wereleaked and, with the hysteria that ensued,even the Saguna could not rationalize awaywhat had been done within their own order.

Allegiance: Where there is no thought,there can be no responsibility, and wherethere is no responsibility, there is only chaos.We guide our brothers and sisters so that, onthe road to our future, we may not waver andfall to the very perils we wish to dispel.

Abilities: Academics, Etiquette,Science, Rapport, Linguistics, Savvy

Proteus ArchivesSubject: Chitra Bhanu, Sunita SajeeshPilarkatFrom: Roger Steed, Proteus Division FieldAgentTo: William Renton, Proteus Division DirectorEncryption: DSETransmission type: holofileDate: 13:35:55 19.11.2121

New information has come up regard-ing that accident that supposedly killed thefirst Sunita of the Chitra Bhanu Order,Sajeesh Pilarkat. My new investigation seemsto indicate that he did not die in the accident. Activity in his personal affairs denotes thathe was alive until at least 2115, and hepossibly remains at large to this day. If thisis true, there is great danger. A member ofthe Quantakinetic inner council is a danger-ous foe to face.

It is important to note that, while theDhiren were noetically gifted beyond compari-son, they were terribly deficient in actualhuman-on-human combat techniques andtactics.

Unlike the Legions, Dhiren could notcoordinate troop movements with pinpointprecision or counter large-scale militarymaneuvers, since they were not trained to doso. This is the main reason that the purgeitself was so successful against an entireorder of psions who, conceivably, should havebeen able to lay waste to almost any threatbrought to bear against them. The Legionswork in skilled pods of five to fifty men whoall concentrate on a single focused goal oncean order is given. The Dhiren, on the otherhand, were lone combatants faced withopponents who knew not only theirweaknesses, but also the means to exploitthose weaknesses.

At the time of the purge, the ChitraBhanu’s prided warriors were the first to fall,all valiantly attempting to protect the order towhich they had devoted so much of theirlives.

Allegiance: We are the spear and theshield, the hunters and guards for ourbrothers and sisters in humanity. We guardthem without hesitation, restraint orexpectation. Should the time come, we willlay our lives down for the betterment ofhumankind.

Abilities: Survival, Martial Arts,Intimidation, Athletics, Endurance, Meditation,Engineering

DhirenOne Who Is Strong

Popular rumor suggests that no humanor psion has ever survived a directconfrontation with an aberrant without beingaccompanied by extensive backup forces orutilizing a VARG. The Dhiren, however, defythis common misconception. Scholar warriorsof unspeakable power, these members of theQuantakinetic order were hailed as heroes andsaviors to humanity, our best chance to defeatour aberrant foes.In truth, while this was the party line among theorders, and even among some Dhiren, certainexaggerations may have been made. TheDhiren, while extremely deadly and skilled inpsionic disciplines, were much like the rest ofthe Chitra Bhanu: scholars first, and warriorssecond. Nearly all Dhiren spent equal parts oftheir time bettering both body and mind, andmost conducted themselves in a fashion notunlike ancient warrior monks.

Though this outlook made themembers of the branch highly adept in manyfields (from survival to noetic theory), it oftenmade them solitary and introspective. Quietand occasionally brooding in nature, the Dhirenwere lone soldiers in the fight for humanity.Strikingly, this mindset may have been boththeir greatest success and worst downfall. TheDhiren were tasked by proxy Bhurano tocapture live aberrants for Project Harmony.While this was a daunting and, some would say,suicidal undertaking, the Dhiren gladlyaccepted the challenge and met with markedsuccess.

Their individual and introverted naturemade them poor team players, but the Dhirenused a nearly flawless tactical system forbringing down individual aberrants in safe andrelatively non-destructive ways. After anaberrant was located, a decoy Dhiren wasdeployed, engaging the aberrant directly withher most devastating abilities and generallymaking herself a very large and inviting target.While the decoy distracted the aberrant, asecond Quantakinetic would stealthilyapproach to tag it with noetic crystalizers andrender it helpless. Thus were countlessaberrants restrained and brought under ProjectHarmony’s direct study.

AnirudhhaCooperative

Numerically the largest branch of theQuantakinetic order, the Anirudhha suppliedthe manpower necessary to keep the orderrunning. It fulfilled a role similar to that of theLegion’s Support Force One (Aurora Australispg. 24), consisting of all neutral and non-Quantakinetic psions. This branch handledduties for the rest of the order that made itvirtually indispensable, though the otherbranches would have scoffed at such a notion.Janitorial, piloting, secretarial work, assistancein the labs, and hundreds of other positionswere filled primarily by members of theAnirudhha.

Unlike the other branches of the order,the Anirudhha was headed not by a singledirector, but by an advisory council answerableonly to the Proxy herself. While mostQuantakinetics saw its lack of unifiedleadership as a sign of its lesser status, theseelitist academics failed to consider theawesome powers wielded by the Anirudhha.

The Advisory Council controlled theassignments and reassignments of everyneutral and non-Quantakinetic in the order,giving them almost undue influence withinthe order. Many a Jnyadeep scientist whofound herself on the wrong side of theAnirudhha found her lab under staffed byinept and unqualified assistants.

While most Anirudhha felt theegocentric ire of the other branches at onetime or another, most still carried on withtheir work, firm in the knowledge that theorder could not exist without them. Thisawareness of their own importance in thegrander scheme is what allowed theCooperative to function as efficiently as theydid.

Even with all the responsibilitiesshouldered by the Anirudhha, most had littleif any knowledge of Project Harmony. But, forthe other orders, ignorance was no excuse. InNovember of 2109, as Legion, Norça andOrgotech forces laid siege to the Chitra Bhanucompound, Quantakinetic and Anirudhha wereshot down in the ensuing chaos.

Allegiance: We are the adhesive thatbinds the order together, and to theboundaries of the everyday world. We are theheart of the everywoman, the soul of reasonand practicality amidst the dreams anddangers that surround us.

Abilities: Might, Pilot (or Drive),Academics, Bureaucracy, Engineering, Science

A Dark Day for the OrderIn November of 2109, a policing force

composed of units from the Legion, Orgotechand Norça surrounded the Chitra Bhanu Clinicin Bombay and demanded a full surrender,citing evidence of elicit interactions betweenQuantakinetics and Aberrants. In an attemptto defuse an obviously volatile situation, theQuantakinetic order invited the policing forceinto the clinic with open arms. At this point inthe record, accounts become muddled; no oneknows exactly when or why the situationdegenerated. The general consensus is that,during negotiations, the Chitra Bhanu refusedto surrender and opened fire on therepresentatives from the other orders.

In the decade following the Purge,many investigated the events of thatinfamous day, but few gained any new insighton the subject. Some investigators even claimto have had their efforts thwarted byindividuals claiming to be representatives ofthe Psi Orders, though as of 2122, theseclaims remain unsubstantiated. For moreinformation on the events and causes of thePurge, consult the ST section (pg XX).

AftermathSince the Purge, both Trinity field

offices and the Psi Orders have receiveddozens of reported Quantakinetic sightingseach year. In most cases, these “sightings”turn out to be pranks or confused individualswith overly active imaginations. However,due to the awesome power of the Dark Psions,these officials are forced to take all but themost absurd reports seriously and investigatethem thoroughly. Though, some would arguethat, in recent years, these investigationshave become more and more lax in execution.

While most reported sightings are falsealarms, in those rare cases in which a QK isfound, the rogue psion is to be eliminated asquickly and as quietly as possible. Somecritics argue that this shoot-on-sight policy isboth wasteful and unethical, but by and largethese voices go unheeded.

Even with this constant scrutiny, ahandful of old Chitra Bhanu remain. Themajority of these survivors were oncemembers of the Anirudhha, thus making itfairly easy for them to simply blend in anddisappear. If a neutral Chitra Bhanu is careful,she can live out the rest of her life in relativesafety, with little to fear from hunters.

Subject: Bombay Fact Finding MissionFrom: Lieutenant Daniel Baelan, ProteusDivision, AthenaTo: Commander Pierce, Proteus DivisionEncryption: DSE, SPETransmission type: Text OnlyDate: 3:27:46 02.08.2119

Followed up on information regardingpossible survivor. Search inconclusive.Associate informs me we are being tailed byunknown individuals. Possibly Electrokinetics.Upon return, hotel rooms ransacked asthough hastily searched. Presently housed atalternate location.

Please advise.

Proteus Archives

However, a few small pockets of noeticallyactive Quantakinetics do remain at large.These small bands must be both crafty andstealthy to survive; contrary to the imageportrayed by popular cinema, one would behard-pressed to find a Quantakinetic willing tomake a flashy show of her abilities in all butthe most dire of situations. For more informa-tion on these groups of rogue psions consultHidden Hives (pg 51).

Time and Time Again: Thoughts on the 10-Year Anniversary of the Chitra Bhanu Purge—Cori Heisler, The painful Truth ã 2119 MMI

On this ten-year Anniversary of thebloody Purge of the Quantakinetic Order, weturned to you the viewers to find out yourfeelings:

“It came as quite a shock to me that anypsions were in league with those squiddies,much less a whole order. But, no Abbiesympathizer is a friend of mine! I just thankGod we still have the Legion looking out forus…”Ronnie Miers Melbourne, Austronesia

“The Dark Psions will rise again! And, whenthey do they’ll bathe in the blood of all thosewho oppose them! Damn the Man! Fight theEmpire!”- Wes Lewis London, UK

“I can understand how we all got so caught upin the hysteria of it all, but hasn’t it beenlong enough that we can finally go back andreally examine the events of November2109?”Ikrima Elhassan Sudan, UAN

“I knew it from the beginning. Those chibsare just more had proof that all the Ordersare evil.”- Jeffery Williams New York, FSA

“It was really a shame that those misguidedsouls didn’t just go along peacefully. Allthose lives lost for nothing.”- Teressa Davé Bombay, BharatiCommonwealth

MMI

Qua

ntakinesis

The power of a god?Quantakinesis gives psions the

power to bend, twist and warp the stuffof the universe to their will. With thesepowers, the once respected Chitra Bhanuorder walked as gods among men. Nolonger peering from the shoulders ofgiants, the Quantakinetics madescientific breakthroughs by leaps andbounds.

Quantakinesis is the manipulationof the four forces of the universe(gravity, electromagnetism, and strongand weak nuclear forces) through whatsome have dared to call the newlydiscovered fifth force: Noetics. TheNoetic spectrum acts as the sub-quantumglue that holds all other forces together.With precise and focused use of theirNoetic aptitudes, these Psions are able toduplicate many of the effects generatedby the other orders.

In the early days of Noetictheory, the orders extensively researchedthe limitations of psionic aptitudes, thusexploring the underlying nature of theirpowers. While the Chitra Bhanu foundtheir abilities limited to one medium,much as the other orders did, they soonlearned how far-reaching their powerreally was.

Physicists and Noeticiststheorized that Quantakinetic powerswere effectively limitless, but theirNoetic effects always seemedconstrained by the Psions’ capability tofocus and manipulate Psi energy.Regardless of the modality used, theChitra Bhanu Psions always foundthemselves forced to channel moreNoetic energy than Psions of otherorders. Some theorists argued that thisrequirement was the factor thatprevented the Chitra Bhanu order fromreaching its true potential. The truecause of the limitations of Quantakineticabilities, as well as their incredibleversatility and magnitude, would not bediscovered until Project Harmony (pg.14).

Through the research done incollaboration with Aberrants duringProject Harmony, the Jnyadeep was ableto properly define the source ofQuantakinetic powers and solve amystery that had plagued the order sinceits formation, forcing Chitra Bhanu to usetheir psionic talents sparingly in public.

They discovered that whenwhile a Quantakinetic focused one ofhis modes, any other Psion attuning tohim would register a weak but stillnoticeable trace of taint. The fewinstances in which Chitra Bhanupsions were active in the fieldalongside members of the otherorders, the non-Chitra Bhanu werevery distressed by this impression oftaint. This disturbing anomaly wasexplained when Jnyadeep researchersfinally fully defined the source of theQuantakinetics’ power.

To truly understand the sourceof a Quantakinetic’s power one mustfirst understand the source of anAberrant’s power. Aberrants derivetheir power by channeling quanta —the combined four forces — so as todirectly affect the fabric of thephysical universe. Psions, on theother hand, derive their power fromsub-quantum psion particles, so theirpowers never directly touch quantumspace. Quantakinetics, whileoperating under the same generalprinciples as other psions, alsomanage to duplicate many quanta-driven effects by using Psi as a “sub-quantum glove” to manipulate thequantum universe. In other words, theChitra Bhanu simulate the directinterface with reality that Aberrantsuse by psionically controlling particlesin a more immediate manner thanother psions. Knowing the source oftheir power lead some Chitra Bhanu tobelieve that they could use theirpsionic talents to duplicate theawesome power and wide scope ofAberrant abilities. But, the immenseenergy requirements needed toreshape the quantum world throughsub-quantum means caused the ChitraBhanu to fall short of this goal. Thus,the true limits of Quantakinesis maynever be known.

Quanta and TaintWith so many terms getting thrown

around, it’s easy to get a little confused. Whendealing with Aberrants in Trinity, the terms“Taint” and “Quanta” may be usedinterchangeably, though it would be highlyunusual to hear anyone other than a ChitraBhanu or a Nihonjin ever refer to Aberrantsmanipulating Quanta, as opposed to Taint.

Technically, Aberrants do manipulateQuanta and not Taint. Taint is just a byproductof the manipulation of large amounts of Quanta,and during the Aberrant era this distinctionwould have been common knowledge, but bythe Trinity era the semantics have changed abit. This shift occurred because Psions are nottaught to distinguish between Taint andQuanta. Since Psions are told that what they aresensing is Taint alone, a semantic expansionrendered the two terms virtually synonymous.This is the reason for the Upeo’s confusionupon first meeting Apollo (see Stellar Frontiers).Strangely, they found him to be low in harmfulTaint (actual Taint), but very high in non-disruptive Taint (what we know to be Quanta).

We hope this explanation clears up anyconfusion. And, as always, if you find thisexplanation to be at odds with your game,please disregard it.

Thermodynamics, Conservation ofMass and Quantakinesis; A Primerfor Science Buffs

While it is true that many of the effectsof Quantakinesis mentioned in this chapterand others are far-fetched and, in some ways,totally inconceivable by modern scientificstandards, one must remember a few smalltidbits in order to keep perspective.

In an Einsteinian universe, it isimpossible to create or destroy mass. Thisrule is finite and limited, not unlike the speedof light and relativity (two concepts that ,tothis day, can only begin to state thecomplexities of the universe as a whole). Theworld of Trinity is set within a post-Einsteinian universe, however. Within thisworld, humans have discovered a few aspectsof reality since Einstein that effectively alterhis rules. These discoveries are, respectively,quantum and subquantum forces, with thelatter being our main focus in these chapters.The noetic medium can be viewed as a fifthforce in addition to the four basic elementsholding the Trinity universe in place (the otherfour being gravity, electromagnetism, andstrong and weak nuclear forces.

The noetic medium can be viewed as afifth force in addition to the four basicelements holding the Trinity universe in place(the other four being gravity,electromagnetism, and strong and weaknuclear forces). This fifth force unifies theother four and thereby gives the wielder ofpsionic powers the ability to, in essence, bendwhat we know as physical law.

When a Quantakinetic uses a powerthat would otherwise violate conservation ofmass, the discrepancy is attributed to psionparticles. In much the same way as Norça cantranslate their body mass into pure psionicenergy, Quantakinetics can convert all sortsof molecular and sub atomic particles into psi.The idea is that, since psi permeates thephysical universe, it can be used to literallyreplace parts of that universe at an evenexchange rate. While thermodynamics andnormal physical law would deem theseprocesses questionable, remember that it’s aworld in which the characters are supposed tobe working with data far more encompassingand advanced than our generation has everseen.

QuantakinesisQuantakinesisQuantakinesisQuantakinesisQuantakinesisMinimum Latency: As Upeo in Stellar FrontiersBasic Technique

Taint Resistance: A Quantakineticreflexively protects herself against Taint byapplying Psi to it to control it for her own use.System: On a successful Psi roll theQuantakinetic can add a number equal to herhighest Quantakinesis mode as soak againstany taint-based affect.

ENHANCEMENTENHANCEMENTENHANCEMENTENHANCEMENTENHANCEMENTIn effect Enhancement is the

Quantakinetic’s hacked version of Adaptation.Though not as effective as the Biokineticmodality, Enhancement can give theQuantakinetic the needed edge in the fieldthat can often mean the difference betweenlife and death.

O Basic Enhancement: BasicEnhancement allows the Psion to temporarilyincrease the efficiency of his bodily systems,allowing him to become exceptional when hewould otherwise be average or even pathetic.The gradual progression of Enhancementfollows that the Psion simply becomes morerefined in his ability to enhance his ownphysical, mental and social characteristics.

System: Spend 2 Psi and rolls Psi at +1difficulty; if the roll is successful the Psionmay enhance one attribute by one dot.

At Enhancement 2 the Psion may enhance anattribute by a number of dots equal to hisEnhancement Mode. When the Psion reaches3 dots in Enhancement, he may have multipleenhanced attributes at once (includingspreading the bonuses over several attributesor activating the power more than once). ThePsion cannot enhance an attribute that isalready enhanced (i.e.: enhance Strength inone round and then again in the next roundwhile the first enhancement is still active). The effects last for a number of turns equalto his Psi score; however, each additional Psipoint invested allows the Psion to extend theduration by an action.

OO Heightened Senses: At this levelof mastery the Psion may enhance his sensesto super human proportions seeing fartherand more clearly, hearing a wider spectrum ofsounds, feeling even the most subtle textures,tasting well enough to pick out the chemicalcomposition of a substance (science roll maybe required), and smelling precisely to trackby sent.

System: Spend 2 Psi and roll Psi, thePsion may add a number of dice equal tosuccesses to all sensory based checks (STdiscretion) for the remainder of the scene.The Psion may also add the number ofsuccesses from the Psi check to Initiative.NOTE: While the Psion’s senses areheightened he is more susceptible to poisons,loud sounds (Add the Psion’s number ofsuccesses to incoming Screamer damagepools), and pheromone effects.

OOO Bestowed Enhancement: Anatural outcropping of the Basic Enhancementtechnique, this ability allows the Psion toaffect others in much the same way he usesBasic Enhancement to aid himself. This is theQuantakinetic ability that the Biokineticsadapted to become both Anabolysis andCatabolysis.System: Spend 3 Psi and roll Psi at +1difficulty, if the roll is successful the Psionmay enhance a single attribute of anotherliving being by a number of dots equal to hisEnhancement Mode. When the Psion reaches5 dots in Enhancement, he may enhancemultiple attributes of another living being atonce (including spreading the bonuses overseveral attributes or activating the powermore than once). The Psion cannot enhancean attribute that is already enhanced (i.e.:enhance Strength in one round and then againin the next round while the first enhancementis still active).

The effects last for a number of turns equal tohis Psi score; however, each additional Psipoint invested allows the Psion to extend theduration by an action. BestowedEnhancement may also be used to harm thetarget as per the rules for Catabolysis (TrinityCore book pg. 199, see side bar for furtherdetails) this damage acts as Aggravateddamage in the Aberrant system.

OOOO Picture of Health: With thisability the Psion is able to accelerate the rateat which he heals, healing wounds that wouldusually talk months to a year in days or evenhours.

System: Spend 3 Psi and roll Psi, foreach success treat the healing time for thePsion’s greatest wound level taken as one lessthan it is (to a minimum of bruised), and thendecrease all subsequent wound levels asthough the previous wound was the level ofit’s new healing time. If 4 or more successesare scored one health level is healed instantlyin addition to the accelerated healing effects.

Catabolysis

While the Norça did ‘steal’catabolysis from the Chitra Bhanu, theability doesn’t quite translate perfectlydue to differences in manifestation. TheQuantakinetic version of the ability isactually in some ways less effective thanthe Biokinetic variant because of the BioKability to destroy the target’s biologicaltemplate. Quantakinetics do not havethis ability, so the damage they inflict ismore easily repaired than is damagefrom similar Norça attacks.

OOOOO Endure Forte: Members ofthe Dhrien who wished to supplement theirmartial skills while hunting Aberrantsdeveloped this technique. The Psion uses hismastery of the Enhancement mode to increasethe strength of the molecular bonds in hisown body. This along with an increase inmass allows the Psion sustain a much greateramount of damage and remain relativelyhealthy.

System: Spend 4 Psi and roll Psi at a+1 difficulty, success doubles the number ofhealth levels the Psion has. (i.e.: 2 Bruised, 2Injured, 2 Wounded…). On a failure the Psiontakes Psi dice in bashing damage unsoakable.On a botch the Psion takes Psi dice in LethalDamage unsoakable (cap damage taken at 6)and must make a Willpower save at +2difficulty or loose consciousness.

ENERGETICSENERGETICSENERGETICSENERGETICSENERGETICSThrough a manipulation of the four

forces (five counting Psi) of the Universe thePsion is able to generate almost any form ofenergy. At higher levels of Energetics thePsion is able to direct and shape hisemissions.

O Energy Production: When thispower is active random blasts of energyemanate from somewhere on the Psion’sbody. The produced energy can be uses tolight an area, provide background noise, harman opponent or one of countless otherapplications.

System: Spend 2 Psi. Allows the Psionto generate random bursts of simple energy. This energy can be used in one of three ways:offensive burst (range in meters equal toEnergetics rating) of said energy that does[Energetics] dice of Bashing Damage; sensoryoverload, used against everyone within anarea of [Energetics] meters from the Psion,this use causes the disruption of the victims’senses (such as a blinding flash of light or adeafening sound), there is a resisted Psi andEndurance roll—if the Psion scores moresuccesses than the victim, the victim suffers+2 difficulty on perception checks involvingthat sense for [Psi] rounds; finally, utilitypurposes, such as using Psi to generateelectricity to power a minicomp or heat tocook a frozen dinner, light an area, etc. (theexact extent of these applications is up to theStoryteller).

OO Quantum Blast: A more refinedform of Energy production, Quantum Blastallows the Psion to produce a directed burst ofenergy. This power is manifested in variety ofdifferent fashions depending on the type ofenergy the Psion chooses to generate.Thermal attacks can be produced by agitatingor slowing the movement of molecules in agiven medium (usually a fluid like air), whileelectrical jolts can by formed by drawing theelectrons out of the local area and arcingthem at the target. These are only a fewapplications of this ability.

System: Spend 2 Psi. Allows the Psionto launch a burst of energy (Sonic, Thermal,Electric, etc) that deals Psi + Energetics dice oflethal damage (other effects, such as stunningfrom waves of heat or cold, or damage toelectronics by blots of electricity are left to Stdiscretion). The Hit roll is Psi + Firearms. Attack ignores armor. Range equals Psi x 5meters. The Psion may spend 1 extra Psi torefine the effects of the Quantum Blast andcause Bashing Damage instead of lethal.

OOO Quantum Shield: With fewDhrien having any true military training theuse of bulky armors became problematic whilehunting and capturing Aberrants. To givehunters in the field a defensive edge a groupof Dhrien researchers developed yet anothermore refined form of Energy Production.Quantum Shield is generated in much thesame way Quantum Bolt is, the primarydifference is that energy produced is focusedinto a sphere or aura surrounding the Psionrather than being directed at a target.

System: Spend 3 Psi and roll psi.Allows the Psion to create an energy shieldaround him; made of a basic force (Heat,Kinetic, Sonic, etc) this shield adds their Psi totheir soak vs. all attacks, and twice their Psi tosoak attacks based on the energy form of theshield. (Physical attacks like bullets, knivesand fists for kinetic, lasers for anelectromagnetic shield, flamethrowers for aheat shield, etc.)

OOOO Quantum Storm: In keeping with theChitra Bhanu philosophy of pushing theboundaries of existing abilities and refiningmore basic techniques and theories the Quan-tum Shield was improved upon. Much like theQuantum Shield the Quantum Storm providesprotection against injury in battle. However,unlike the shield, which was merely a defen-sive aptitude, the storm also provides anoffensive edge.

During the initial development and fieldtesting of this mode researchers found thatone of its short comings was that in the heatof battle the use of this ability often lead toDhrien injuring their own teammates.

System: Spend 3 Psi and roll psi at +1difficulty. The Psion is surrounded in a stormof Quantum Energy of their choice. Thisfunctions exactly as Quantum Shield, but alsodeals Lethal Damage equal to the Psion’s Psiin dice to anyone standing within [Energetics]meters of the Psion. This damage ignoresarmor and cannot be dodged, it must besoaked with stamina or you must back thehell up.

OOOOO Noetic Conversion: NoeticConversion broke the mold use to forgeprevious Energetics modes, in a way it was anapplication of Energetics to Noetic science atit’s most basic levels, Psi itself. Psion particlescan be converted into almost any form ofmatter, and almost any from of matter can beconverted into Psions. It is this aspect of Psithat allows for most Quantakinetic as well asmost other Aptitudes to even function. NoeticConversion is an exploration of this mostbasic tenet of Noetic theory. Throughfocusing on a particular form of energy, likeheat or electricity the Psion is able to alter theNoetic spectrum in such a way that theparticular form of energy being focused oncan be changed into an equal amount of Psionparticles. In fewer words the Psion canactually transform regular energy sources intoPsi energy. Early experiments in activatingthis power, successively to provide either theability to convert multiple energy types orextreme amounts of the same type of energy,resulted in an unexplained Noetic feedbackloop, causing the Psions attempting the featto vanish into tiny motes of pure Noeticenergy. (Your character instantly dies.)

System: Spend 4 Psi, pick an energyform and then roll Psi at a +2 difficulty. Forthe rest of the scene the Psion gains a ‘bank’of soak vs. that type of energy equal to theirPsi rating for each success rolled. Each timethey soak with this bank (which must berolled as a die pool rather than automaticallyapplied), the number of dice of damagesoaked is removed from the pool (i.e.: thebank decreases in size by the number ofsuccesses each soak), and rolled, each success*adds* a point of Psi back to their temporaryPsi pool. Their temporary pool cannot growlarger than their maximum normal Psi pool. Until their soak bank is used up, the Psion’snormal soak becomes inactive. This powercannot be activated

more than once in a single scene.

TRANSMUTATIONTRANSMUTATIONTRANSMUTATIONTRANSMUTATIONTRANSMUTATIONWith Transmutation the Psion uses his

“Noetic glove” to gain a sense of the molecularstructures of targets. Ultimately the Psiongains the ability to restructure targets on themolecular level.

O Molecular Scanning: While inphysical contact with a creature or object thePsion is able to focus his Transmutationmodality and gain a greater understanding ofthe object or creature’s molecular make up.This most basic application of Transmutationallows the Psion to sense or feel the make upand arrangement of his target, thoughscientific knowledge is required for the Psionto truly understand what he is sensing.

System: Spend one action, 2 Psi androll Psi at +1 difficulty (difficulty maybeincreased if the object being scanned isparticularly well made). If the roll issuccessful the Psion has found some sort ofimperfection in the target. The target’s soakis lowered by a number equal to theQuantakinetic’s Transmutation mode. For thislowered soak to take effect, the attack mustbe a called shot against the target’s “weakarea.” This modality may also be used to aidin investigation, medicine (for diagnosis) andengineering checks. In these cases MolecularScanning should be treated as a separatecheck, and not an addition to an ability check.At Transmutation 3 physical contact with thetarget is no longer needed, and the Psion mayscan a target at a range of Psi x 5 meters.

OO Molecular Folding: At this level ofTransmutation mastery the Psion can not onlysense the arrangement of molecules in anobject, but he may also change thatarrangement. This can manifest itself in thetwisting of an iron support beam into a jaggedmess of metal, or fusing the tumblers in a locktogether. Whatever the case may be MolecularFolding allows for simple physical alterations tononliving targets.

System: Spend 2 Psi and roll Psi at +1difficulty. Success allows the Psion to alter thebasic shape of an object by rearranging themolecules in relation to one another; eachsuccess allows the Psion to affect one kilogramof matter. This technique can be used todisable weapons/equipment, but if theweapons/equipment are being held by a Psionor Aberrant the respective Psi or Quantum(Taint) field creates interference and the Psionor Aberrant may roll a resisted Psi vs. Psi or Psivs. Quantum (Taint) check.

This power has no effect on living matter. Anengineering roll may be required if a specificresult is desired, for example turning rawmetal into a key or reshaping a club into aknife.

OOO Change of State: All matterexists in one of four states solid, liquid gasand plasma. Through a manipulation ofboiling points and energy levels theQuantakinetic is able to change the state ofalmost any object…or at least a portion of it.

System: Spend 3 Psi and roll Psi at +1difficulty. Success allows the Psion toinstantly change matter between its liquid,solid and gaseous states; it can even generateplasma. Each success above two represents aKilogram of matter that can be affected, andan hour that the molecular changes made to itwill last before reverting to the state it wouldnormally maintain at local temperature. Usedas an attack (To turn an opponent’s gun intoplasma in their hand or free the nitrogen intheir lungs) it deals Psi dice of lethal damage,and can destroy equipment IN THE PROCESSof causing the damage, thus allowing the tideto be turned rapidly. In the case of Change ofState being used directly on a living target theattack is resisted with a Willpower savecanceling successes one for one.

OOOO Molecular Mastery: A more preciseversion of Molecular folding, Molecular Masterallows the Psion to not only modify theconfiguration of the molecules in an object,but also break them down to their componentelements and create a totally new object. Thisis one of the more dramatic abilities in theQK’s arsenal, and is often mistaken for“magic” by less informed peoples.System: Spend 3 Psi and roll Psi at + 2difficulty. Each success above difficultyaffects one kilogram of matter. This Powercould for example be used to turn a lump ofcoal into a diamond, or a tree into a house. Ifthe final shape is very complex the Storytellermay require an intelligence + science(chemistry) roll to succeed, other rolls mayberequired as always the Storyteller has finaldiscretion. Used as an attack this power doesPsi dice of unsoakable lethal damage(aggravated Damage in Abberant.)

OOOOO Midas Touch: Midas Touch isthe pinnacle of the application of Transmuta-tion. For centuries Alchemists struggled tofind a way to lead into gold, through thewonders of Noetics the Chitra Bhanu can.Unlike Molecular Mastery which was limited todealing with component elements, MidasTouch allows the Psion to convert traceamounts of Psi into Protons, Neutrons and

electrons changing the atomic composition ofthe atoms in an object and turning it into anentirely new substance.

System: Spend 5 Psi and roll Psi at +2difficulty. Each success allows the Psion toconvert one kilogram of a pure element intoone kilogram of any other element includingOlaminium... or Plutonium. When dealing withnon-pure elements difficulty increasesdramatically. Due to the amount of focusnecessary to change the atomic compositionof a substance Midas Touch is impossible touse on living targets.

AlternateQuantakinetic Powers

Through both laboratory research andapplied experimentation the Chitra Bhanudeveloped a suite of alternate modalities at arate exponentially faster than the otherorders. As the Quantakinetics pushed theenvelope of their talents preexisting abilitieswere built upon to create more specializedvariations, while at the same time, entirelynew techniques were developed generatingeffects seemingly outside the realm ofphysical possibility.

Had the Dark Psions had more time to honetheir Noetic talents one can scarcely imaginethe scope of applications they might havecatalogued.

Learning New TechniquesA Quantakinetic may learn any of the

following techniques in place of the standardtechniques seen above. However, beforeprogressing to a higher level in the givenmode the Quantakinetic must first perchancethe accompanying standard technique.

For example: Seyas reaches 4 inEnergetics, but rather than purchasingQuantum Storm from the standard selectionSeyas chooses to take Turbulence from thealternate list. But, before he may raise hisEnergetics score to 5 he must purchaseQuantum Storm.

One must remember when dealingwith alternate Quantakinetic modes that, aswith all alternate modes, a mentor is requiredto train the Psion in these techniques in mostcases. For a game set during the standardtime frame (2120-1222) alternate modesshould be fairly difficult for player charactersto obtain. Due to the Purge there are fewteachers available, and even fewer willing totake on a student.

Basic TechniqueQuantum Sensitivity: Through

continued focus on Quantum energies theQuantakinetic has a great awareness of Taintbased energies.

System: The Psion may add thenumber of dots in his highest Quantakineticmode (as Psi) to Attunement range whendetecting Taint and radiation.

ENHANCEMENTO Density Strike: Experimentation

with the physical aspects of enhancement(pioneered by Dhiren for the most part) lead tomost of the techniques listed in this section.The first couple of techniques themselves camefrom the realization that some of the strengthand durability increases granted by the standardtechniques of enhancement were generated byselective mass redistribution, specifically themovement of internal body mass in the form ofexcess fat being redistributed to muscle andskeletal regions. Density strike allows a Psionto take this distribution to frighteningextremes, making his fists battering rams ofsuper dense matter.

In God’s PlaygroundWhen dealing with Quantakinesis,

particularly Transmutation, a lot of sciencecan come into play that neither the ST nor theplayer understands very well. As a rule ofthumb, if the ST says it can be done, then it’sokay. Otherwise, you’re out of luck.

In the case of Molecular Mastery,remember that the QK can only play withwhat’s already there, so you can’t make ablock of Graphite into Swiss cheese — theneeded components just wouldn’t be there.However, since Graphite is made entirely ofcarbon, you could change it into a diamond,which is made of the same molecules in adifferent arrangement. (Swiss cheese is not, infact, entirely Carbon.) But, with Midas Touch,you can make a block of Graphite into Swisscheese (or even Gouda or Cheddar, for thatmatter); there the sky is the limit. Justremember that, in all cases, the sky is only ashigh as the ST decides it is.

Also, keep in mind that Quantakineticabilities are incredibly powerful and easilyabused. If you’re not careful, you may find anentire game turned on its ear by one abusiveplayer; QK’s are a use-at-your-own-risk sort ofthing.

System: Spend 2 Psi. Roll Psi. Allunarmed physical attacks (punches, kicks andthe like) do lethal damage instead of bashing.Each activation of this power lasts 1 scene.

OO Density Shield: Like densitystrike, density shield involves enhancing thebody in a very specific fashion, in this casemaking the skeletal structure and fattydeposits that are utilized for padding moredurable and impact resistant. The Psion’s skinin fact takes on fiberweave like qualities,losing nothing in texture and sensitivity, butbecoming exceptionally difficult to pierce,burn or otherwise mangle.

System: Spend 2 Psi. Roll Psi. Allincoming lethal attacks may be soaked withfull stamina. Psions with this power arenearly as well protected as if they werewearing combat armor without the bulk. Thepower lasts 1 scene.

OOO Speed Burst: This powerenhances both the speed ofneurotransmission in the Psion’s reflexsystems as well as increasing the relativeflexibility and toughness of muscles inresponse to high-speed movement. It’srumored that the Norça had a hand in thispower’s development and it’s thought thatthis initial trading of ideas may have lead tothe future collaboration between the twoorders.

System: Spend 3 Psi. Roll Psi. ThePsion may take 2 actions for that round. Eachadditional Psi point invested buys 1 additionalaction.

OOOO Hyper-Immunity: Hyperimmunity increases the relative response timeand effectiveness of the body’s natural toxindefense mechanisms. White blood cell countis upped, and the immune system kicks intooverdrive. Its good to note that this does notmean the Psion starts rejecting bacteria ororganisms that might be beneficial. The bodycan still detect the difference between a threatand helper; it merely becomes much morecapable of expulsing the threat than itnormally would.

System: Spend 3 Psi. Roll Psi at a +1difficulty. The QK is instantly purged of alldiseases and/or poisons regardless ofintensity.

OOOOO Adaptability: The ultimateachievement of enhancement (to many QKresearchers anyway) was the newfound abilityto withstand nearly any external conditionsno matter how harsh and unforgiving. For atime at least, a psion with adaptability

becomes almost completely immune tooutside forces (of course, attacks will affecthim normally, but the environment will not).The psion will develop any means it can tocounter harsh environments, generallymanifesting in the normal body being forcedto perform at well above peak efficiency inmany instances. In other circumstances, thechanges are hardly describable much lessmeasurable. In the case of hard vacuum thepsion simply ceases to breathe, though themeans by which this is accomplished areunknown (likewise with how the psionsurvives the pressure difference, cold/heat,radiation, and countless other hazardsassociated with space)

System: Spend 4 Psi, roll Psi at a +1difficulty. For the rest of the scene the QKcan withstand any form of environmentincluding hard vacuum.

ENERGETICSO Ripple Beacon: The smart soldier

knows when to call in reinforcements, and noone can attract the attention of other Psionsfaster than Quantakinetics. This power allowsthe Psion to emit a resonating Psionic pulsethat is readily detectable and easily tracked byeven the most inexperienced recruits usingattunement. It is not unusual for this powerto be used as a signal for both backup andgeneral assistance in any extreme situation.

System: Spend 2 Psi and roll. Onesuccess spreads the beacon over a diameter ofPsi times ten in kilometers and eachsubsequent success doubles the range. AllPsions within the area of the beacon rollingattunement will notice the effect and anythingover one success on the attunement rollallows the Psion to tell general direction andrelative distance of the Psion from theirposition.

OO Psi Shield: While there is noabsolute defense against aberrant abilities theChitra Bhanu worked tirelessly to find as closeas one could get, and in doing so theydiscovered this technique. The Psi shield is anextension of natural Psionic defense to taintand an amplification of the Quantakineticability to reflexively force a barrier againstharmful taint driven effects (see basictechnique).

System: Spend 2 Psi and roll Psi at +1difficulty. A barrier of Psi forms around thePsion and extends to a distance of one meter(about enough for one or perhaps two otherpeople to stand in if the case required) thatsustains a defense against ALL quantumrelated powers. A constant disrupting effect

on the vast array of aberrant powers(including but not limited to mental attacks,temporal manipulations, momentumalterations, information manipulations andquantum constructs et al) is maintained.Successes rolled on Psi are counted as anautomatic soak (added to those granted byany disruption rules in play plus the QK basictechnique if applicable) against any and allforms of aberrant attack. If a temporalmanipulation power, mental attack or othersuch power is used the successes count as anautomatic defense/disruption pool comparedto the aberrant’s roll (canceling successes). Ifa quantum construct enters the field it willtake number of successes in automaticdamage for every turn spent within the fielduntil it is dissipated completely or recalled bythe aberrant in question. This power lasts fora number of turns equal to theQuantakinetic’s successes.

OOO Quanta Field: Through theresearch into taint, its origins, and its nuancesthe Quantakinetic order discovered that theycould in fact raise the ambient taint (quantafor all you aberrant players) aroundthemselves thereby providing a defenseagainst powers employed by the other Psiorders.

System: Spend 3 Psi and roll Psi at +1difficulty. Much like the Psi shield the quantafield extends a barrier of energy one meteraround the Psion for purposes of defense.The Quanta field however works only onPsionic powers. All successes rolled apply inmuch the same way as they do in theaforementioned Psi shield, working as eitheran auto-soak or a pool of automatic successesfor any resisted actions. The shield lasts forone turn per success rolled and then must bereactivated normally. Any effect the QK usesthat is not internal (like enhancement abilities)also suffers the same difficulty modifier.

OOOO Turbulence: The naturaloutcropping of the quanta and Psi barrierswas the simultaneous usage of each. Thistechnique is extremely rare and takes anenormous amount of concentration tomaintain and activate. The Psion emitsalternating bursts of quanta and Psi therebydisrupting both Psionic and quantum effectsover a very large area.

System: Spend 3 Psi and 1 willpowerand roll Psi at a +2 difficulty. The number ofsuccesses is applied to the difficulty of anyPsionic or quantum related effect over an areaof the Psion’s Psi score times ten in meters.The power lasts for one minute per success.Due to the nature of this power and the focus

it requires any Psion employing it will beunable to access any of their otherQuantakinetic abilities as well as being at a +1difficulty to all actions for the duration of thepower’s effect.

OOOOO Purify: The Pinnacle of theresearch done in Project Harmony the ChitraBhanu learned to temporarily decrease theamount of Taint generated by an Aberrant.Unfortunately, as history has recorded, it wasthis technique in specific, which lead toreports or “rehabilitated Aberrants” spurringthe other Orders into action. This techniquehad only just been developed when the Purgetook place, but even in the short time it wasused the Chitra Bhanu learned volumes aboutthe interactions of Psi and Taint energies.Sadly the majority of this research was lost,though rumors still circulate that portions ofthis research still exist in the hands of theother orders. With access to both the oldresearch and a handful of Quantakinetics onecould stand to gain a tremendous amount ofuseful information on both AberrantSyndrome and the nature of Noetic abilities. Ifonly such a situation existed…

System: Spend 5 Psi and 1 Willpowerand roll Psi at a +2 difficulty. This power lastsfor a number of hours equal to successes onthat roll. For every success on the roll, lowerthe target Aberrant’s Taint score by 1. Also,the greater the successes, the more mutationsthat are characteristic of Aberrants which areremoved for the duration. The Aberrant’sTaint score returns at a rate of 1 dot per hour. [If using Aberrant rules, each successeslowers the Aberrant’s permanent Taint by 1(and any Aberrations that go with that Taint)and his Quantum Pool by 4 points. Taintreturns at a rate of 1 dot per hour; however,Quantum Pool regenerates as normal.]

TRANSMUTATIONO Expansion: This ability allows the

psion to alter and make pliable the moleculesin a solid to the point where the psion canactually pass through them with sufficientforce. The appearance and shape of the objectdo not change, though the consistency andgeneral properties are for a limited time. Theobject becomes pliable and mostly fluid butstill intent on keeping its standard shape(scientists assume this is due to the objectsinherent “location” and “shape” within theNoetic plane, though the true nuances of thispower are for the most part a mystery).Passing through an object that has beenexpanded is a somewhat surreal experience,as it’s not unlike walking through thick taffy.

Anyone who can see the psion will instantlyknow that a technique is being used (giventhat externally it looks much like the psion ispassing through thick taffy as well) but thistends to be an adequate tradeoff consideringthe psion can walk through walls.

System: Spend 2 psi and roll psi at a+1 difficulty. The psion may “expand” a baseof ten kilograms and multiplies this rating by2 for every permanent psi she has as well asher successes. Any material that is expandedis still difficult to move through and must bephysically pushed through so a standardstrength plus might check must be made. AStoryteller may opt to give some substanceswith a higher density a higher difficulty onthe strength check, making things likeolimanium a +2 or 3 difficulty due to itsincreased mass and inherent structuralstability.

For example: Seyas has 5 psi and expansionand wishes to walk through the back wall of hisprison cell. It’s a large-scale high securityprison and he’s not completely sure how far thewall goes back so he intends to get the full .

extension of his expansion ability. He spendspsi and rolls. He gains three successes whichis 10 (base) multiplied by 2 eight times (5 psiplus 3 successes) for the amount of mass hecan expand. Thus he can expand up to 2560kilograms of material. He does so and rollsstrength. He gains a success, just enough topush through. While inside the material he hasno oxygen and no light though, so the st willrequire of him several stamina and perceptionchecks. He succeeds on all of them so hedoesn’t suffocate or get lost in the wall. Heeventually comes out on the other side and isnow home free.

OO Contraction: The first twoalternate levels of transmutation are basicallyjust altering the inherent viscosity of physicalmaterials. Contraction involves raising theviscosity of fluid materials like water and oilas well as some gases. A psion with thisability could conceivably do things like walkon water, thickening air to impede thebreathing of a target or any number of

various lab experiments.System: Spend 2 psi and roll psi at a

+1 difficulty. The psion may “contract” a baseof ten kilograms and multiplies this rating by2 for every permanent psi she has as well asher successes. Any material that is contractedmay still be difficult to move across in whichcase a standard Dexterity plus Athletics checkmay be required. A botch on this check mayfind the Quantakinetic stuck in the substancenot unlike quicksand. In situations when thispower is used as an attack targets are allowedto resist with Psi or Willpower (which ever ishigher). The ultimate effects of the attack areleft up to the ST.

OOO Fortification: The naturaloutcropping of powers like molecularscanning and expansion/contraction is themanipulation of a molecular structure’s basicinternal strength and resistance. Fortificationmay be used to increase armor soak ratingsfor any nonliving object. If the psion wishesshe may use this ability in combat, raising theeffectiveness of her armor, adding to theprotection provided by cover and other suchmanifestations.

System: Spend 3 psi and roll psi at a+2 difficulty. The psion may increase boththe bashing and lethal soak of the targetmaterial by one plus extra successes. Thisadded protection lasts for the rest of thescene or until the target object is destroyed.An object can only be fortified once per scene.

OOOO Decomposition: This ability isthe inverse of the fortification technique.Using psionic energies the character corruptsthe base integrity of nonliving targets,effectively lowering their overall resiliency todamage. No change is evident externally (likewith fortification) however the materialscomposing the object become weakened. Apsion with this power and fortification wouldbe a challenging combatant to say the least,breaking down an opponent’s armor whileenhancing her own!

System: Spend 3 psi and roll psi at a+2 difficulty. The psion may decrease boththe bashing and lethal soak of the targetmaterial by one plus extra successes. Thisadded protection lasts for the rest of thescene or until the target object is destroyed.If the target object is warn by a psion, thepsion may resist with Psi. If the armor is warnby an Aberrant, the Aberrant may resist withTaint (if the armor is Eufiber treat theEufiber’s rating as automatic successes). Anobject may only be decomposed once perscene.

OOOOO Mass Conversion: One ofthe most awesome and frightening abilities inthe Quantakinetic’s arsenal is MassConversion. With Mass Conversion theQuantakinetic is actually able to convertphysical matter into ambient psi energy. Atthe root of their abilities Quantakinetics aresimply swapping out Quantum particles withpsion particles, Mass Conversion is merelythis basic aspect of Quantakinesis taken tothe Nth degree. This ability was discoveredduring experimentation with the Energetictechnique Noetic Conversion. Even in theheight of the Order few Chitra Bhanu had thefocus or training necessary to master thispowerful technique. As such very few psionsoutside of the top echelons of the otherorders are even aware of its existence. MassConversion is a very raw application of apsion’s abilities yielding highly inefficientresults. Given more time to research it ispossible Chitra Bhanu scientists could haverefined the technique allowing theQuantakinetic to tap the nearly limitless levelsof Noetic energy locked in even a singlekilogram of matter

System: Spend 2 psi and roll psi at a+3 difficulty. The psion is capable ofconverting one Kilogram of matter per pointof permanent Psi, plus one per extra success.Each kilo successfully converted yields twopoints of temporary psi released into thegeneral area, through creative applications ofEnergetics it is possible for the Quantakineticto absorb this energy, otherwise any psion inthe area meditating is likely to absorb theextra ambient energy. If Mass Conversion istargeted on a living target the target resiststhe attack with willpower and psi (or taint ifapplicable). Each success, after difficulty,achieved by the QK is treated as oneaggravated level of damage and thegeneration of the usual two ambient psipoints. While these wounds heal the damageleft behind is comparable to that ofBiokinetickly applied Catabolisis. If asuccessful attack is make against a psion eachsuccess first disperses one point of temporarypsi from the psion’s pool before causingdamage. Researchers theorized this effectwas due to interference between the twoNoetic auras.

QuantakineticDysfunction

Being the order with the most in-depthknowledge of the workings of Noetics PsiOrder Chitra Bhanu was acutely aware of thedangers of Psionic Dysfunction. TheQuantakinetics were also required to becognizant of dysfunction due to the volatileand often lethal fashions in whichQuantakinetic Dysfunction manifests itself.

With these factors in place newlytriggered Chitra Bhanu were regularly lecturedon the threat dysfunction posed as well as theimportance of proper pacing in psionictraining. But. Even with all of the schoolingon the hazards and effects of PsionicDysfunction some Quantakinetics still foundthemselves suffering from the disorder. Withwas often the result of a researcher becomingto caught up in her experiments, or academiccompetition taken too far.

In the terms of the game dysfunctionoccurs when a psion has five dots in onemode while have only one or no dots in eitheror both of the other modes. Dysfunctionoften manifests itself in both a physical andpsychological manner. While the specificeffects a given psion will experience aredifficult to predict some affectations are morecommon than others. Below is a list of someof the more common dysfunction effects.

Enhancement DysfunctionEnhancement is sometimes referred to

as the other Biokinesis, through this mode thepsion has the ability to alter and enhance(hence the name) her own body. Therefore itis not surprising that the peculiarities thatEnhancement Dysfunction sufferers exhibitare strikingly similar to those of manyAdaption and Psychomorphic Dysfunctionsufferers. Psions with EnhancementDysfunction often become obsessed with theirbodies to the point of arrogance, extremevanity and even total self-absorption. Alongwith these personality quirks those withEnhancement Dysfunction also tend to exhibitimpulsive behaviors similar to those withAdaption Dysfunction. Characters withEnhancement Dysfunction will rarely go anentire scene without utilizing at least oneEnhancement ability. These uses of psionicpowers are often wasteful and unnecessary tothe situations in which they are used. Theseself-centered psions can be dangerouscompanions in the field as they are likely torush headlong into situations they are

woefully unprepared for as well as beingequally likely to abandon members of theteam to save their own skin.

Energetic DysfunctionPsions with Energetic Dysfunction

often volatile and unpredictable individualsaround which almost anything is possible.These afflicted psions find their emotionalstate to be in constant flux. These sometimesviolent and often extreme shifts intemperament are comparable to a person withan acute bi-polar syndrome. But, the moodswings are only the beginning of the psion’strouble, along with these emotional shifts areconcurrent discharges of psi energy inresponse to her changing emotional state.These responses can range fromunconsciously lashing out at those who haveangered the psion to mild changes in thetemperature to better suit the psion’s tastes.Needless to say these unchecked releases ofpsi energy can easily result in e\injury andeven death for those around the psion andeven the psion herself. Some rare and nowdifficult to find reports of EnergeticDysfunction talk of psion’s uncontrollablyabsorbing all of the ambient psi in the areaand even leaching psi from other psionsaround them. Though these stories areunsubstantiated most of them end with thedeath of the psion in some gruesome fashionsuch as violently exploding or simplydisassociating into ambient psi energythemselves.

Transmutation DysfunctionIn the case of a psion with

Transmutation Dysfunction it is all togetherpossible that a watched pot never will boil, oron the other hand the water could flash boilor sublimate away almost instantly.Transmutation Dysfunction can be the mostdisruptive and difficult to understanddysfunctions of them all. In the few cases ofthis form of disruption recorded the ailingpsions developed a number of oddpsychological debilitations. The first set ofsuffers seemed to align themselves alongconceptions of order and chaos. Those with amore ordered view of reality tended to exhibitconfusion and in some cases horror whendealing with any matter other than a solid,unconsciously altering the physical propertiesof any visible nonsolid matter to those of asolid. One report of a Chitra Bhanu researchscientist with Transmutation Dysfunctionstates that upon being caught in a rain stormthe scientist panicked and converted the raindrops in to solid chunks of H2O (not to ice,

just to solid) causing a number of injuries. Onthe other end of the spectrum are the morechaotic personalities, which seemed torandomly change the physical environmentaround them with no clear intent or purpose.Due to the dangerous and disruptive nature oftheir actions these psions were usuallysedated to prevent them from causing unduedamage and death.

While these conditions are odd, by farthe strangest falls into an entirely differentgroup. This last set of dysfunction sufferersseem to loose the ability to comprehend tophysical world in the same fashion as the restof us. These individuals might walk into awall or door, unable to fully comprehend thathumans are not capable of passing throughsolid objects. On the other had the psioncould attempt to walk across water or evenstep out off of a cliff unaware that fluidmatter like liquids and gases cannot supporther. In the case of an eminent crash the psionmight fail to brace herself, believing that thevehicle would just pass through what ever itis that is in the way. The thought processesof these psions is difficult to comprehend bymost and can easily lead to difficulties insocial situations.

Optional Dysfunction RulesFor those of you wanting to make

dysfunction more of a possibility in yourgames, you might consider giving playerswith four dots in one mode and none in theothers disruption, though possibly more mildform than normal. In these cases even onedot in another mode would eliminate theproblem. If this still is not enough for you,you could consider requiring at least two dotsin one mode and at least one dot in the otherto eliminate normal cases of disruption. Ifthis last option is used along with thepossibility of four-dot disruption, just requireone dot in both other modes to eliminate theproblem.

These optional rules could help to cutdown on over specialization of psi powers if ithas become a problem in your games.

The Bharati Com

monw

ealthThe Bharati Commonwealth is not

some backwards collection of Balkanstates nor is it a land where Aberrantcults have free reign and their vilemasters command an enslaved people,despite what some horror vids from theFSA might want you to believe. On thecontrary, the Indian Bloc of the 22nd

century is a shining beacon of worlddiplomacy and philosophy made up ofseven countries unified for mutualsuccess: Afghanistan, Bangladesh,Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and SriLanka. A melting pot of regional culturessecond to none.

With such success, it is hard toimagine, in the Asian world today, thatthe Bharati Commonwealth almost nevercome to exist due to the relative failure ofits predecessor—the Indian League—during the days of the Aberrant War. Thehostilities between the various religionsof the region, quarrels over land area,disputes over the structure ofgovernment—all these things almost torethe infant organization apart. However,somehow through it all, they havemanaged to prosper in the new age ofhumanity.

From Aberrant cults arising likeweeds around false avatars, to thehorrible Bombay Crisis of 2056, tooverpopulation and famine, the BharatiCommonwealth truly serves as a symbolof human determination to defy all theodds and overcome all their hardships.Yet more challenges still confront theIndian Bloc. Will the BharatiCommonwealth stand the test of time, orwill it be lost forever and the peace of theentire region with it?

The modern age of the Indiansubcontinent started with the entrance ofthe European powers into the region inthe final days of the 1400s. Thoughthese European advancements originallywere founded in trade, eventually theBritish East India Company gained controlover the region and the British were theundeniable new rulers of India.

However, the people of the regionhad a growing dislike of British rule andtheir agitation eventually rose to the levelof all out revolt in 1857, resulting in theBritish parliament taking directadministrative control of the India in1858. Though the India people weredefeated this time, this revolt was aturning point in their history that begunthem down the road to totalindependence nearly a full century later.

The British promised; however, thatthey would not extend their controlby annexing Princely states and thusIndia became divided into BritishIndia—governed by the Britishgovernment—and the Indian States—governed by Indian princes.

A major focus of the Britishinvestment in India during this timewas industrial, bringing Indiaglimpses of modern, western culture.Many Indians realized that thereform of social institutions andreligious outlook of people was anecessary pre-condition for thegrowth of national unity.

Due to the horrific, racisttreatment of British laws against theIndian people, nationalisticorganizations within India saw agrowing need to organizethemselves in order for their peopleto be represented. The culminatedin the Indian National Congress, aconcrete step towards Indian self-government. Since the IndianCongress had great faith in theBritish and thought Britain wouldchange its policy towards India,there were no revolts or any violentagitations. The main strategy at thistime was Petition, Prayer and Protest.

Gradually, things becamemore and more strained between thepeople of India and their Britishoppressors, and after severaldifferent attempts at liberating Indiafrom the grasp of Britain (two of themost important being non-violent,civil disobedience under MahatmaGhandi and the militant IndianNational Army), the subcontinentwas partitioned into separate Hinduand Muslim states and granted itsindependence on the 15th of August,1947. From that point until theAberrant Era, India struggleddesperately to attain fullmodernization and be recognized asone of the forefront nations of Earth.

The Aberrant Era broughtdrastic and tragic changes to theregion. Very many Aberrantsemerged from the overpopulatedIndian subcontinent and many wererevered by rural Hindus as theavatars of the gods. Though someAberrants aided in some parts of theregion, a horrible trend of vicioustyranny began to emerge. In aneffort to hold their own nations

The Indian LeagueThe Indian League joined the nations

of India, Sir Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan andNepal in a loose confederation of cooperationat the First Conference for the Consolidationof the Indian Bloc in 2047. The League wasthe precursor to the modern BharatiCommonwealth founded in the dark daysright before the Aberrant War, mostly in orderto secure the economies of the area and unitetheir efforts against maddened Aberrants.

The Indian League was not particularlysuccessful in any sharing of resourcesbecause the Indian Bloc RepresentativeCouncil (which represented the “united” Indiannations) had no administrative ability orresource gathering authority. Thus many oftheir advisements were pushed aside by theindividual governments within the League dueto concerns over resources.

The only concrete steps taken by theLeague that were of any real significancewere, in fact, their opposition to the Aberrantsas each nation gladly donated resources toassault teams to combat the rouge monstersand to educators to teach the people(especially in rural areas) how to avoid beingtricked into complying with the Aberrants.Their most drastic assault came in the form ofthe 2051 edict; approved and implemented bythe governments of each of the membernations, it served to remove certain religiousfreedoms from the Aberrants—specificallytheir right to declare themselves gods. Thislegislation resulted in catastrophic riots acrossthe region and finally to the decline of theAberrants’ godlike supremacy over the nativepopulation.

The ILARFThe single most important

organization to come into existence duringthe period of the Indian League was the ILARF,the Indian League Aberrant Response Force.This force made use of the most advancedscientific knowledge available from Nepal andthe greatest resources that could bescrounged from India.

It quickly surpassed the armies of anyof the member nations and became the first“international army” of what would laterbecome the Bharati Commonwealth. It wasdivided into five divisions, one from eachcountry, that worked directly for the IndiaBloc Advisory Council.

During the twelve years of theAberrant War, the ILARF became known asone of the most efficient units for hunting

Aberrants on the face of the Earth (includingColombia’s National Force). They oftenresponded to potential Aberrant threats orAberrant cults before even the localauthorities could make moves against them(which unfortunately lead to an unhealthyrivalry between those same authorities andILARF). These rivalries sometimes lead tobrash actions—almost exclusively on the partof the local police forces—with destructiveresults.

The Bombay CrisisThere was a massive upheaval in

response to the severing of the Aberrant’sbasic religious freedom from humans andAberrants alike. The most extreme of theseupheavals became known as the BombayCrisis. In 2056, the Aberrant known as Shiva(a renowned master of destructive arts,especially fire) virtually held the city ofBombay hostage.

He announced over internationalcommunication lines from Bombay that hewas the true avatar of the Hindu god Shiva,and that if his right to show his true self wasforbidden by human law then he wouldimplement his divine duty as destroyer uponthose who would defy him.

Constructive Destruction-Charles Baker, Asian Sector © 2108 GN

The Bombay Crisis was most definitelya horrific event in India’s history and one ofthe most destructive events of the AberrantWar to occur within the nation’s borders, buteven with the horrors conjured by holovids ofbuildings collapsing in blazes of fire andwhole swaths of people being incinerated,some good actually came out of it. TheBombay Arcology. This, the biggest and mostefficient arcology in the entire BharatiCommonwealth, would have never come intobeing if it wasn’t for the fact that massiveamounts of money had to be spent rebuildingBombay, and building the arcology was themost efficient way of doing it.

There were massive riots throughoutthe city—many ironically pledging theirloyalties to the rouge Aberrant, proclaiminghis right to rule over humanity by divine edict.However, despite this, Indian police tookmatters into their own hands and descendedupon the temple in downtown Bombay whereShiva displayed himself to the city. Shivaresponded with massive destructive force,raining fire and death across large portions ofBombay, killing tens of thousands of peopleand causing over ninety billion dollars inproperty damages. The Crisis finally came toan end when the ILARF unleashed strategicrocket strikes, bringing the Aberrant to hisdemise.

Followers of BrahmaThe incident involving the Aberrant

group known as the Followers of Brahmabrought an end to the Aberrants’ hold in thehearts of the people of India. Several monthsafter the Bombay Crisis, a group ofapproximately thirty Aberrants callingthemselves the Followers of Brahma cameforwards to the Indian government.

Fearful of suffering the same fate as

Shiva, the group asked for sanctuary, for aplace to be set aside by the Indiangovernment where they could continue theirlives in peace. When asked whether theywould agree to announce to the public thatthey were not gods, they declined; whenreminded by the government that such claimswere illegal, they stood firm and continued todecline. The Followers were immediatelytaken into custody by the ILARF.

By the end of the day they were in trialbefore members of the Indian BlocRepresentative Council in New Delhi. TheCouncil offered them one final chance torepent on the very serious charges of self-deification in exchange for the charges beingdropped; the Followers still declined andbecome unruly. It was this loss of control thatlead to the groups demise. In heated words,the Aberrants—on recording—signed theirown death warrants.

A brief battle ensued in which theILARF subdued the Aberrants, and therecordings from the trial were subsequentlyreleased to the public. The backlash againstthe Aberrants throughout India was

Triton Archives-Excerpt, Trial Transcript: Followers ofBrahma 13.3.2057

Council Man 1: Will you—theFollowers of Brahma—announce to the publicthat what you did was wrong and that you arenot truly gods.

(Commotion erupts from the Followers)Speaker of Brahma: We shall never say

any such thing!CM 2: Need we remind you that your

activities are highly illegal under the IndianLeague Anti-Deification Act of 2051?

SB: No—but such laws are the realmof men, and we will not acknowledge lawsthat oppose our divine rights!

CM 1: Denounce your claim ofgodhood and the charges held against youwill be dropped and you will be givensanctuary in an Indian League IsolationZone—do not, and you face charges of lifeimprisonment in an India League AberrantControl Camp.

SB: Never! We shall never denouncethe divine truths! This trial is a travesty andproves that no filthy human-monkeys can betrusted! This is why we should bring aboutyour end!

unparalleled. It was one thing for Aberrantsacross the world to denounce humanity, butthey had trusted these very ones as their owngods—such a betrayal could not be excused.

For the first time ever in India, publicdemands coincided with Indian Leaguepolicy—the Aberrants who claimedmembership in the Followers of Brahma werekilled without mercy in the ensuing battle forviolation of self-deification laws and violentresistance. Public support for Aberrantsdeclined across the entire region and soon thecitizens took an active part in reporting theactivity of the Aberrants, causing a massivedecline in Aberrant activity inside the IndianLeague.

The BharatiCommonwealth

The Indian League’s stumblingadvisory could not see the Indiansubcontinent towards true unification of anysort, its inability to succeed at any trueprocedure besides the battle againstAberrants doomed the project. However, theexperiment did pave the road for thedevelopment of a much more successful formof government: the Bharati Commonwealth.

What finally showed the members ofthe Indian Bloc Representative Council thatthe Indian League was a true failure was thePakistani Conquest of 2062-2064 (see page44). As the Pakistani soldiers tore throughnorthern India and descended on the bordersof Nepal, the quickly collapsing Indian Leaguebegged for a truce so that the situation couldbe discussed diplomatically. Surprisingly, thePakistani government agreed to the temporarycease fire.

Quickly, the governments of India,Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka,Bangladesh and Nepal met at a hugeconference in New Delhi that came to beknown as the Second Conference for theConsolidation of the Indian Bloc. Over thenext few months, the Conference evolvedfrom simple negotiations to ensure the peaceof the region to an attempt to form a wholenew government. The Pakistani governmentquickly became enraged, arguing that themeeting had dissolved from attempting tosatiate Pakistan with peace terms to anattempt by India to subvert the authority ofall Muslim states.

In anger, Pakistan and Afghanistanwithdrew from the conference and Pakistan’sforces once again rose to the offensive.However, the conference had ensured amassive mutual defense pact amongst the restof the nations, and the United Bharati DefenseForce (UBDF) repelled the attempts of Pakistanto resume its invasion of Nepal and its pushto capture more of India.

The United Bharati Nations invitedAfghanistan to another conference in NewDelhi to discuss revisions of the earlierproposed settlements. Afghanistan agreed,but Pakistan continued to be defiant,reinforcing its forces in the regions it hadcaptured from India. By the closing of theThird Conference, Afghanistan had joined theUBN.

The Fourth Conference established thepresent day governmental structure of theregion and officially changed the name fromthe United Bharati Nations to the BharatiCommonwealth. These revisions made it clearto Pakistan that the Commonwealth was notsimply an attempt to usurp power away fromMuslims. Finally, the Bharati Commonwealthissued its Free India directive proclaiming thatby the beginning of 2066 it would begin toforcibly seize the territory claimed by Pakistanin the Pakistani Conquest.

This combination led to the Fifth andfinal Conference. At the conference, Pakistanagreed to peacefully join the newly foundedBharati Commonwealth in exchange forkeeping the land currently under its control

Bharati SlangSlang in the Bharati Commonwealth

comes from a variety of different sources—including a large portion which stems fromslang used by the British while they occupiedthe region—and reflects the general tones ofthe culture. What lies below is no where neara comprehensive list, but should scratch thesurface of slang as it is used in the BharatiCommonwealth in the 22nd century.

Bahadur: A term of respect.Behen chod*: “Sister fucker”, the most

common of Hindi vulgaritiesChitrali*: Used to refer to the people

of Afghanistan.Chota Wallah: “Little guy”, used by

members of the larger nations (India, Pakistan,Afghanistan and Bangladesh) to refer to SriLanka, Bhutan and Nepal or anyone fromthose countries, often used affectionately.

Croaker: Used to refer to a quitter orsomeone who is dying

Cultists*: Used by Pakistanis to referto Indians.

Cutch or Kutcha*: Used to refer tosomeone of the lower class.

and a sizable number of votes in theCommonwealth Parliament. The modernincarnation of the Bharati Commonwealth hadfinally appeared.

GovernmentThe Articles of Centralization as set

forth in the Fourth Conference define thegovernment of the Bharati Commonwealth allthe way from the highest levels to theindividual governments of the membernations.

The Articles state that each membernation must be governed by its own internalparliament which is capable of passinglegislation that applies only to that territoryas long as it does not contradictCommonwealth law. Each TerritorialParliament (as these governing bodies areknown) is lead by the nation’s Prime Ministerwho is also known as the Territorial Governorfor that region and sits on the Council ofGovernors, an advisory council to thePremiere (see below) that helps make militarydecisions for the entire Commonwealth.

Every Governor serves as the head of themilitary and police forces inside their ownterritory as well as presiding over theirnational parliament. Also, each Governor iscapable of passing emergency protocolswithin his own territory for the space of thirtydays before they have to be reviewed by theterritorial parliament.

On the Commonwealth level there is asingle unicameral parliament which createslegislation for the entire Indian bloc. Eachgovernment in the Commonwealth has anumber of votes based on a variety of factorsincluding wealth, production, population, andmilitary might. The break down of the 647seats in parliament is as follows: 247 forIndia, 145 for Pakistan, 79 for Bangladesh, 69for Afghanistan, 38 for Nepal, 37 for Bhutan,and 32 for Sri Lanka.

The Commonwealth recognizes twodistinct heads of state: the Premiere and thePrime Minister. The Prime Minister’s powersinclude: appointing all CommonwealthMinisters, control of foreign policy, andpresiding over parliament (including theability to expel speakers from the floor for thespace of the day’s session after a warning,

Dekko: To lookDoggo: To hideJirga: Used to refer to the Afghan

parliament.Kila: An arcology.Mussulman*: Used by British soldiers to

refer to Muslims, this term is now used in Indiato refer to anyone from Pakistan.

Pakis*: A Pakistani.Pukka: Used to refer to someone of

higher class.

*Denotes that a piece of slang is particularlyvulgar or offensive.

Terms of Office-Richard Linam, Parliament and You © 2118MMI

There are quite a few offices inside theBharati Commonwealth and sometimes it canbe hard to keep a check on them. Well, forease of records, here are the major positionsand their terms of office: TerritorialParliament Representatives serve 3 years intheir national parliament, CommonwealthParliament Representatives serve 3 years inthe Commonwealth Parliament, TerritorialGovernors serves 5 years, the CommonwealthPrime Minister serves 6 years, and finally, thePremiere serves for 8 years.

command speakers to silence, open sessions,close sessions, and permit a third vote on agiven piece of legislation).

The Premiere does not hold thelegislative ability of the Prime Minister, butrather commands the military and securityaspects of the entire Commonwealth. ThePremiere’s duties and abilities include:enforcing emergency protocols across theentire Bharati Commonwealth for a period of60 days before they must be reviewed by theCommonwealth Parliament, presiding over theCouncil of Governors, and holding absolutecontrol over the Commonwealth Police (whoenforce Commonwealth legislation throughoutall the member states) and the BharatiCommonwealth Military.

votes of that country.If the suggested legislation is rejected,

any representative seconded by two othersmay reopen the floor for a final plea toparliament. After the legislation isreintroduced, the entire process starts overagain.

After the second round of voting, thedecision of the parliament is final unless thePrime Minister decides that the issue deservesfurther consideration, at which time he maycall for a third round of discussion and voting.After the third round, the parliament’sdecision is absolutely final and the topic maynot be brought up for a new vote until afterthe next elections of CommonwealthRepresentatives (this keeps the parliamentfrom being bogged down by repeatedsuggestion of that same laws while stillallowing people the chance to appeal).

The Voting ProcessThere is a certain process that is

followed in the Commonwealth Parliamentwhen new legislation is suggested to therepresentatives. First, each representativewho wishes may argue his case (talking toexcess to prevent other people from speakingis grounds for dismissal by the PrimeMinister). econd, there is an internal vote ofthe representatives from within each country,whatever course of action is approved by themajority of representatives receives the

Government AgenciesBharati Diplomatic Corps

The Bharati Diplomatic Corps, lead byDr. Anupa Kelkar, is renowned for being oneof the greatest diplomatic organizations onEarth (its only peers being the UANAmbassadorial Corps and the United NationsAmbassadorial Corps).

The BDC is best known for itsmediation of diplomatic tensions in the MiddleEast (especially between Israel-Judah and itsless powerful neighbors, Oman and Persia)and in the Eastern European nations.However, despite its reputation for mediatingforeign disputes, the most important functionof the BDC happened right at home.

It was only the efforts of a small teamof diplomats (that later made up the startingfoundation for this agency) that kept theCommonwealth from crumbling intosomething akin to the Shatter before it waseven fully formed. These were the diplomatsresponsible for mediating all disputes thatarose during the five Conferences. In short,the BDC is the very cornerstone to theCommonwealth’s way of life.

The BCARFThe Bharati Commonwealth Aberrant

Response Force continues the tradition of itspredecessor (the ILARF) in its devotion toexcellence. In fact, the BCARF has somethinggoing for it the ILARF never had—governmentauthority.

The modern BCARF works as a depart-ment of the Bharati Commonwealth Military incharge of controlling and subduing anyAberrants inside the Commonwealth. Justlike the ILARF, it is divided into a number ofsmaller units—each one assigned to a

MMI

All or Nothing-Richard Linam, Parliament and You © 2118MMI

This is what I could never get aboutParliament—in the Territorial Parliamentseveryone gets a single vote (though the partywhips do try to get everyone in the sameparty to vote alike), but when a vote comes upin the Commonwealth Parliament, it’s totallydifferent! All the representatives from aparticular member nation vote amongstthemselves, and whatever the majority insidethat territory supports gets the vote of everyseat for that country in the main vote—even ifonly a little more than half the representativesactually support it! What’s up with that?

PoliticsPolitics is the battlefield of the 22nd

century Bharati Commonwealth. The regionhas a history of volatile conflict, but in themodern era these violent clashes havereached a minimum and are now mostlychanneled into the legal, political arena.

Unlike places such as the AustronesianUnion, the people of the BC definitely do nottake politics as a recreational sport; they takeit as a bloody free-for-all for dominance in abizarre and changing region—a constantstruggle for survival while surrounded by adozen different huntsmen.

The Bharati Commonwealth inheritedthe traditions of its member nations duringthe unification movement and thus hasliterally dozens of parties. However, most ofthese never manage to find seats in theCommonwealth Parliament; below are thoseparties that have managed to work their wayinto the grand scheme of things.

Bharati Federalist Party (BFP)The leading party of the

Commonwealth has been in almost completepower of the Commonwealth Parliament sincethe Commonwealth’s inception in 2065 and iscurrently headed by Prime Minister UlindNarang. Even when its supreme power didfalter it was a force to be reckoned with. TheBharati Federalist Party supports strongcentral government with controls in industry,economics, health care and agriculture acrossthe member territories equally. Its goals areto bring the member nations so close thatthey no longer feel like separate entities, butrather as a single unified nation.

This party strongly opposes partiessuch as Muslim Rite and the IndianTraditionalist Party who have a strongreligious base that may serve to alienatecertain member nations. In fact, all threetimes the BFP slipped from power it was toIndian Traditionalist Party (in the elections of2086, 2107 and 2119).

Communists of the Commonwealth (CC)This is a relatively minor party in the

grand scheme of the Commonwealth, onlyever holding three of the 647 seats (2 seatsfrom Afghanistan and 1 from Bangladesh), atsome points holding no seats at all. Usuallythis party manages to secure a single one ofAfghanistan’s 69 seats.

This party came into existence in theearly 2090s in Afghanistan due to thefrustration and anger of the poor workers atbeing oppressed by the feudal lords. Angrily,the group demanded justice and it spread like

throughout the lower class of Afghanistan.They are still fighting an uphill battle,

but they saw their gain of a seat outsideAfghanistan in 2104 as a great victory andstill hail it as the crowning glory for theirparty, despite the fact that for the next threeelections straight they had no representationof any sort, and ever since they managed tosqueeze back in, they have held only one seat.

Confederation of Territories (CT)The Confederation of Territories is a

party that stands in opposition to the vastlymore powerful Bharati Federalist Party. TheCT stands for weakening the centralgovernment of the Bharati Commonwealthand giving more power to the individualnations. After all, each one is a sovereignnation in its own right, shouldn’t they havethe freedom to govern themselves as they seefit?

The CT favors an arrangement similarto that that existed under the Indian Leaguewhere the central board can makeadvisements that the individual territories canchose to follow or not to follow. In the pastthey have even lobbied for legislation to givethe individual regions the right to declare waron another nation without the consent of the

MMI

Proteus Archive-Unknown Audio Transmission, Afghan RadioUnderground, 2113

Comrades, fellow workers, do you not think itodd that we, the CC, cannot gain any seats inparliament? Do you not think it strange thatevery popularity poll shows we are ahead ofthe MR at least three-to-one, yet they get allthe seats in parliament? I cry injustice! Fightagainst the oppressors! Workers uni—(Transmission Terminated)

Commonwealth Parliament. This party holds alittle sway within Afghanistan and Pakistan,but has no major following and, while moreinfluential than the CC, is generally seen as ajoke-party by the rest of parliament.

Greater Pakistani Party (GPP)The Greater Pakistani Party is a

political party with a bad reputation, areputation for terrorism. Generally, thisreputation is unfounded (though notalways…) and comes from a terrorist groupbearing the name “Greater Pakistan”—a groupwhich attempts to achieve the same goals asthe party but through unsavory means.

This party’s platform seeks to returnPakistan to the glory it felt during the earlypart of the Crash during the PakistaniConquest. It openly professes that itssovereignty has been under attack from Indiasince 2065 and demands that India be forcedto submit for a while. It demands equalseating in Parliament to India despite themassively disproportionate sizes andpopulations between the two countries andinsists that the capital of the Commonwealthbe relocated from New Delhi to Islamabad.Generally they also feel they (but only they)should bear the benefit’s the CT proposes for

The more radical among this group demandthe complete separation of Pakistan from theCommonwealth and its installment as acompletely independent state.

This party is violently opposedeverywhere outside Pakistan, and even inPakistan it is seen as radical and greatlyoutnumbered in Parliament by the MuslimRite.

Indian Traditionalist Party (ITP)The Indian Traditionalist Party is

generally acknowledged as the third mostpowerful party in the Commonwealth, rightafter the Bharati Federalist Party and MuslimRite (their plummet from first to third placeangers them greatly). The IndianTraditionalist Party argue that the soul of allthe region’s people was horribly tainted bythe intrusion of Europeans upon their soil, andthat to regain a true sense of identity theymust cast aside their western ways. Theypropose many laws that are based in ancientHindu tradition including separation by caste.

The Indian Traditionalist Party enjoysreasonably strong support in India and Nepal(though support for this party throughout theCommonwealth has plummeted since 2119)and sometimes garners a few seats from SriLanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan. As of 2122they have relinquished their brief control ofthe Commonwealth Parliament back to theBharati Federalist Party after passing a seriesof unpopular Hindu-specific laws, includingeverything from levying taxes on beef tolegalizing the caste system!

Muslim RiteThis party serves as a strong counter-

point to the Indian Traditionalist Party, and,whereas that party supports Hindu traditions,the Muslim Rite supports the rights of thedisenfranchised Islamic population.

This party as a cohesive group hasonly recently emerged from the union of halfa dozen minor Muslim rights parties. Thisconsolidation movement is a direct result ofthe formation of the Muslim Bloc—a coalitionof Afghan and Pakistani voters to help push aMuslim agenda through the CP—that formedin 2119 when the ITP took control ofparliament.

During the period of the ITP’s control,the number of party members outsideAfghanistan and Pakistan (especially inBangladesh) began a steady rise; though thisexpansionist trend has evened off for themost part since the BFP’s re-ascension tocontrol of parliament. The MR remains apowerful entity; however, and it is generally

The Dalit People-Excerpt, Understanding Modern India,Walkabout Press © 19.7.2122 Genman

In India, there is a common belief thatall people of Hindu faith originated from apart of God’s body. The upper class emergedfrom his mouth, the king’s and holy men fromhis shoulders, the middle class from histhighs, and at the bottom, from his feet, camethe slaves. The Dalit people on the otherhand, are people who Hindus believe do notoriginate from God at all. Therefore they areallowed no place in the Hindu caste system.They are seen to be impure; to touch orsocialize with a Dalit is thought to make aperson unclean. Often Dalit sufferdiscrimination and abuse from Hindus.

Although at present the BFP are inpower and the caste system is illegal, manyHindus still continue to persecute Dalit. Thisis particularly aggravated by the recent stintin office by the ITP, who made the castesystem legal, although they had too little timeto enforce more injustices against the Dalit.

acknowledged as the second most powerfulparty in the Commonwealth.

Patchwork Quilt: TheRegionsIndia

Politics and culture are both veryimportant in the Indian way of life (and, whenit comes to the Indian Traditionalist Party, gohand-in-hand), and the people of the nationare very concerned with retaining theiridentities, despite any adversity. The India ofthe 22nd century has embraced the philosophyof diplomatic cooperation, seeing the bestway of preserving their way of life is torespect the way of life that others choose tolive as well. It was with this new philosophyin mind that India worked tirelessly topromote itself to a status of diplomaticsupremacy during the mid-21st century (whichbegan with the 1st Conference for theConsolidation of the Indian Bloc).

It was in this spirit of diplomacy thatIndia forged many outside allies shortlybefore and during the Aberrant War whichallowed the nation to rejuvenate itself muchfaster than many other nations of the Crash,catapulting itself to the position of third mostinfluential nation of Asia (following China andNippon). However, despite the emphasis puton diplomacy, it is on tense relations withsome of its closest neighbors—especiallyPakistan. In fact, many Indian officials aregrowing worried about the rise of the newMuslim Bloc coalition which might threaten toeven the battlefield of parliament.

The Bharati Federalist Party currentlyholds over seventy percent of all the seats inthe India Parliament, making them by the farthe most significant force (their closercompetitor is the ITP with twenty-sevenpercent) in the nation’s parliament. Indiaconstantly spearheads more projects ofgoodwill to try and bring the nations of theCommonwealth closer together, and theyseem to be functioning rather well in thesmaller countries of the region while the moreprominent countries (such as Pakistan andAfghanistan), worried about losing theiridentities, resist India’s advances.

All in all, it seems as though only timewill tell if the Bharati Commonwealth will stillbe remembered as “India” or if that name willfall to the wayside—and if it does fall, towhat? A greater ideal of centralization

or the worst nightmares of the Indianpeople—an Asian Shatter.

Urban AreasNew Delhi

New Delhi is undeniably the politicalcenter of India and the Commonwealth as awhole. It holds both the national parliamentand the dominating mass of theCommonwealth Parliament Dome and servesas the region’s modern “battlefield”—abattlefield of debate.

Government buildings—both Indianand Bharati—make up over three percent ofall the structures in the city (while this notseem much, there are over ten million peoplewho make residence in New Delhi), includingthe personal offices of the Prime Minister,Premiere and Indian Territorial Governor. It isbecause of the presence of so many powerfulofficials that it is said that any word spokeninside New Delhi will be debated on the floorof parliament—eventually everything getsback to the government.

Despite its status as political center ofthe Commonwealth (or perhaps because of it)the people of New Delhi are nervous of theirsurroundings, this feeling has been especiallyapparent since the Pakistani Conquest, when

portions of northern India were seized,making the border of Pakistan no more than100 kilometers north of India’s capital. Whilethis sense of nervousness did dwindle overthe intervening years since the formation ofthe Commonwealth, the recent activity ofterrorist organization from Greater Pakistan tothe Punjab Resistance League has made thecity tense once more, and these tense feelingsoften find themselves bleeding over onto theparliament floor.

New Delhi lost its position as thecultural epicenter of India during the mid tolate 21st century and the wound still burns tothis day, but the people of New Delhi didn’tlet all their glory slip away so easily and put agreat push into their research and industrialsectors as well as devoting massive sums ofmoney to environmental clean-up of majorIndian areas. It is one of New Delhi’s greatprides that a majority of designers andtechnicians who created the Bombay Arcologywere New Delhi born and trained (includingKiee Bhurano, the head engineer of thearcology). However, despite its vast industrialstrength, New Delhi’s biotechnology industryis minimal (regardless of government pushesto increase it), and the people of New Delhiare afraid that Bombay will continue tomaintain supremacy in that field.

BombayIf New Delhi is the political center of

India, then Bombay is most definitely thecultural center. The early 21st century markeda massive upsurge in Bombay’s standing as acultural nexus as its cinema industry“Bollywood” soared to the heights of filmmaking, while in recent years it has lost someamount of ground to the Austronesian mediacorporations, Bollywood still remains a forceto be reckoned with.

But the cinema revolution was only thebeginning, the removal of vast amounts ofpollution from the Bombay area in the dawnof the Aberrant Age and the generalmodernization of the city inspired massmigrations from poorer and more desolateregions of India; the influx of citizens causeda cultural mix so potent that it is found nowhere else in the country.

Oddly enough, if anything, the BombayCrisis only strengthened the city’s clutch oncultural supremacy; the construction of theBombay Arcology provided new, cheap livingspace for tens of thousands more inhabitantsthan the previous Bombay incarnation (not tomention the project attracted some of thegreatest minds in engineering from acrossIndia and Nepal).

This mosaic of different immigrants

caused the greatest leaps in the culture of theera, quickly the sharing of ideas burst forthinto a cultural renaissance. It was in the half-completed Bombay Arcology that NavayanaBuddhism began to find its first majorfollowings which eventually lead to thedecline of Hindu supremacy in several majorurban areas.

Despite the number of new religionsthat spring from the fertile well of ideas thatis Bombay, one has risen beyond allexpectations to become vastly popular acrossIndia (and many other parts of the world); thiscult, this wild new idea of life, was calledAnima. When Anima appeared in 2106 on thestreets of Bombay and began to gainpopularity almost immediately it began topermanently change the economic positionthat Bombay held, pushing it to develop themost advanced biotech laboratories in theentire Bharati Commonwealth. Today overtwenty percent of Bombay’s massivepopulation has converted to Anima (surpassedonly by Hinduism and Buddhism).

CalcuttaThe city of Calcutta likes to pride itself

on being one of the greatest metropolises inall of India, but, though it does live up to itsclaim, it is deeply resentful of how it has beenput in background time and time again byBombay and New Delhi.

The modern city of Calcutta can besummed up in a single statement, repeatedcontinuously: “not quite enough.” Calcuttawas not able to push quite hard enough toconvince India’s major industrial mega-corpsto set up in their city rather than New Delhi,they were not quite successful in convincingmajor biotechnology researchers to movetheir headquarters from Bombay, and whenthey decided to try to best Bombay bybuilding an arcology of their own, it turnedout to be not quite as good.

Despite all these set-backs; however,the people of the Calcutta Arcology continueto put on a brave face. They remain quiteconfident that eventually the great cities ofNew Delhi and Bombay will falter and onceagain give Calcutta the opportunity to claw itsway into becoming the greatest city of India.Until that day, Calcutta waits patiently and itspeople push on.

Rural AreasIndia’s rural regions stand in stark

contrast to the highly modernized cities andmany of the more remote regions still usecenturies old techniques to perform farming

Triton Archives

The Triad Imprisoned-Excerpt, New Delhi Tribune © 23.6.2122

The Aberrant Cult calling itself “TheTriad”, which had been operating out ofsouthern Karnataka for several months, wastaken into custody by the BCARF this morningafter staging several small-scale raids on theoutskirts of Bangalore in the name of “Shiva,Vishnu and Brahma.” Twenty-one of thegroups 127 members were killed while beingrestrained, and the remaining 106 weremoved to Deprogramming Centres early thisafternoon.

and other such activities. However, even thisworks to India’s example as tourists from theworld’s more advanced areas rush to see the“primitives” at work.

Other than modern technology, thenew cultural elements that have entered theIndian world also are hard-pressed to infiltrateIndia’s rural strongholds, and as such,Hinduism generally still holds tight controlover the way of life in rural India since newbeliefs (such as Anima and NavayanaBuddhism) are virtually unheard of in thoseparts—though parts of northern India arestrongly dominated by Buddhism and theprovince of Sikkim has a strong Sikh presence.

The most endearing thing about theway of life in rural India is that it is—not byany lack of ability on the part of thegovernment—deeply rooted in ancienttraditions. The simpler way of life is simplythe preference of many of the people ofIndia’s rural communities who find the fasterpace of India’s arcologies and metropolisesdistasteful.

One thing that does cause worry forIndian authorities is the high number ofAberrant cults found in isolated regions ofIndia as carry-over from the early half of the21st century in which such worship ofAberrants in the country was an accepted wayof life. In the name of maintaining abenevolent governmental system (rather thema tyrannous regime that crushes religiousfreedom), the Indian authorities generally donot take action against such cults unless theygrow out of control and begin committingcriminal acts—at which point the BharatiCommonwealth Aberrant Response Forceseizes the cultists and places them in BharatiCommonwealth Deprogramming Centres tohelp show them the error of their ways.

Society & CultureThere is a general overtone to the

modern Indian way of life and that is a tone ofcooperation. India is not a harsh dictator ofthe Bharati Commonwealth, but rather aloving comrade and ally who wants what isbest for all the countries in the region. Indiahas even been called the BharatiCommonwealth’s “big brother” and theworld’s “best friend.”

India always seems more than willingto help out another country in a bind as longas such aid would not alienate another groupof people (this is especially prevalent inPakistan’s ongoing conflict with the PunjabResistance League—Pakistan continuallypresses for outside aid in quelling therebellions and India consistently refuses due

to the possibility to alienating the Sikhpopulation of the Punjab).

Few things will cause the anger of theIndia people to rise, but internal politicscertainly is one of them. The people of Indiatake their government very seriously and it isnot unknown for discussions of politics (oreven debates in the Indian parliament) todissolve into fist-fights. This emotional fire isoften mocked in Pakistan which uses it toprofess the people of India as merehypocrites.

World Ethics ConferenceThe World Ethics Conference, held

annually in the Bombay Arcology, is ashinning event in the realm of India’scooperative policy. Specialists in the field ofethics and moral codes from the world overgather in Bombay and discuss the nature ofethics in an attempt to elevate people aroundthe world to greater heights of responsibility.

Since 2106, the United Nations hasalso used the World Ethics Conference as theground point for their ethical standards. Thisaction on the part of the United Nations cameas a godsend to the Indian (and the Bharati)government, carrying with it a great amountof prestige and bringing India into the world

spotlight beyond any it had ever occupiedbefore.

EntertainmentSports remain a major form of

entertainment in India in the 22nd century withthe Indian cricket team continuing to drawrecord crowds (especially when they playagainst neighboring Pakistan), but thistraditional sport is not the only outlet ofphysical exercise that is popular. Moremodern sports also catch the attention ofIndia, and the Indian Gravball team wasranked fourth in the entire league at theclosing of the tenth year of the Gravball tour,shockingly soaring up in rank—even pastsome orbital stations—from their close atnineteenth place in the ninth year ofcompetition in 2120.

However, sports are not the only formof entertainment to hold the interests of theIndian people—Bollywood continues tofascinate the country with its bold newapproaches to the cinema industry. Currentlythe most popular part of Bollywood’sproductions are the number of Gifted starsthat appear in their films—in fact, over eightypercent of all Psion screen actors are onexclusive contract with Bollywood’s studios.

In addition, Bollywood makes uses ofNepal’s most advanced digital graphingtechnologies to create holoshows with state-of-the-art holograms to enhance the viewersexperience beyond watching the standard vid.Recently, Bollywood has been feeling thestrain of competition from the Austronesianmedia giants, but it maintains confident that itwill continue to grasp the cutting-edge of theindustry.

FashionLike most things in India, the clothes

that people wear take on their own specialflavor. While the rest of the world is wearingKostbaar, the people of India (especially inBombay and Calcutta) seem to favor thefashion that is one of the least popularelsewhere in the world—organic clothing.

This strange fashion was born out ofthe same spirit that gave rise to AnimaCulture, and it is generally thoughtthroughout India that wearing organic clothessomehow makes the individual more in tunewith the world around him and morethoroughly accepted by the world in turn.Some even suggest that this connection withlife even improves a person’s karma!

PakistanIn many ways, Pakistan stands as a foil

for Indian supremacy in the BharatiCommonwealth—Pakistan simply refuses tofold into some warped idea that India is thetrue identity of the region. With this in mind,Pakistan has struggled and fought againstIndia from the beginning to make sure thattheir great nation is not forgotten. And well itshould not be. Pakistan is easily the secondgreatest nation of the Commonwealth,holding wealth from its agricultural productsand military technologies—which it makes apractice of selling to the highest bidders.

The Pakistani Parliament is known forits extremism—and with good cause. Themajority of the Parliament (63%) belong to thefundamentalist party Muslim Rite, withanother 11% belonging to the even moreextreme Greater Pakistani party. Theremaining 26% is divided among the BharatiFederalists (having 19%), the IndianTraditionalists (holding 3%), and theConfederation of Territories (holding theremaining 4%).

A vast majority of the country isMuslim, but also a strong number of Hindus,Buddhists and Sikhs are within their borders(especially since the Pakistani Conquest).

EclipsE MEdiaZero Gravity, Zero Morals-Benjamin Karik, interviewed by ValanceParker, Luna Sports © 2121 Eclipse Media

VP: What’s your reaction to India’srocketing to fourth place in this year’sGravball tournament from their position innineteenth place in the 2120 tour?

BK: Well, as coach of the Olympusteam all I can say is that I pity the poorbuggers who came in behind those dirtycheats. Now, my team came in first, so youknow I’m not saying this out of spite, butthose bloody Indians must be doingsomething tricky to beat out those otherteams.

VP: Are you accusing them ofcheating? Those are some pretty heftyaccusations; do you have anything to backthem up?

BK: All I know is that India doesn’t liketo lose, let alone come in as far down asnineteenth, and they’d do anything to win. Ican only hope justice will be served.

Proteus ArchivesRadio transmission, securePakistani Military ChannelDate: 13:03:12 15.4.2063From: Karim El-Far, Pakistani Head of

StateTo: Muhammad Hassan-Ali, Pakistani

Military CommanderGeneral Hassan-Ali, you have my full

confidence in your expeditions into landsoccupied by the Indian League. However, Ihave a new agenda to add to your assignmentas you move into the Punjab and HimachalPradesh: the extermination of uncooperativenationals by burning. They must learn fromthe very beginning that I shall not stand fortraitors and revolutionaries! Go with Allah.

From the seat of the Pakistani nationalgovernment in Islamabad, these Pakistaniofficials look towards New Delhi, and vow thatthey will be the equals of the people in that citysome day. The irony of this statement isamazing—because that city could have beentheirs.

The Pakistani ConquestOn March 17th, 2062, the people of

India lost their hope for peace following theAberrant War. Pakistani forces led by GeneralMuhammad Hassan-Ali crossed the borderinto Khasmir and almost effortlessly seizedthe region and fortified Pakistani dominance.India, its resources tied up in the India LeagueAberrant Response Force, could forward onlyminimal resistance that was effortlesslycrushed by Hassan-Ali’s forces.

The horror did not stop there;however, and Hassan-Ali continued hisrampage south into the Punjab and HimachalPradesh, forcing the people of those regionsto submit to Pakistani rule or be burned todeath. While official Pakistani records of theevents are sketchy, it is generally acceptedthat several thousand men, women andchildren were herded like cattle and burnedalive.

It was at this time, in early 2063, thatpublic outcry in India could not be ignored byparliament any longer—action had to betaken. People protesting against resourcesbeing wasted combating the Aberrants—anenemy that had already been defeated—pushed for those resources to be put againsttheir true enemies (especially with thePakistani forces quickly making their waytowards New Delhi). The Indian governmentagreed, and soon ILARF vehicles andequipment were being turned to a newfunction—supplementing India’s dwindlingmilitary.

When Hassan-Ali began to sweepsouth into Uttaranchal and Haryana, India wasready to retaliate. Hassan-Ali, unprepared forthe resistance, found his advance slowingalmost to a halt in Haryana as more and moreresources rushed to the defense of the Indiancapital. However, Pakistani forces stillmanaged to slowly devour the province ofUttaranchal and by the dawning days of 2064Pakistani forces stood poised at the border ofNepal. Resistance in Haryana still keptPakistani forces at bay as close as 100kilometers from New Delhi, and Hassan-Ali’spatience finally left him. He demanded thefull surrender of India’s capital at New Delhi

and the complete annexation of Nepal or hewould launch full-scale nuclear strikes againstboth nations.

India and Nepal made one final plea to savethemselves—they begged Pakistan to come toa diplomatic conference to help appease thenation’s seemingly insatiable appetite forpower. To the surprise of all parties involved,Pakistan agreed to attend what later becameknown as the Second Conference for theConsolidation of the Indian Bloc.

As the months dragged on, themeeting drifted from trying to satiatePakistan’s greed to a plot to form a newgovernment—a government that was knownas the United Bharati Nations. Infuriated,Pakistan and Afghanistan withdrew from theConference and once again Pakistan’s forcesmobilized to invade Nepal and New Delhi.

This time, however, the battle was noteasily won—the United Bharati Defense Forcesunified against the Pakistani army anddecimated them in battle. With that, inNovember of 2064, Pakistan’s dreams ofconquest died.

Triton ConfidentialSubject: Kavi SinghFrom: Maria Pappagallos, Triton DivisionDirectorTo: Æon CouncilEncryption: DSETransmission type: holofileDate: 14:41:05 28.09.2122Commander Kavi Singh falls into a category oftruly exceptional human beings—he hasstrategic talent beyond anything I have seenin a long time. Usually this would not seemimportant to note beyond simple catalog, butthese kind of people have been popping up infar too great a frequency since the events of22:51 03.08.2122 to be natural. Look isthere something I should know about goingon here?

Greater PakistanThis group began in the 2060s—

following Pakistan’s entrance into the BC—asa group of non-militant protestors andgovernment officials concerned with thedirection Pakistan was taking by submitting tothe wills of India. Gradually, as nothingseemed to change and India continued todominate the region, more militant attitudesbegan to seep into the organization.

In 2084 an official split occurredbetween those who still maintained non-violence and those who openly professed thatthe only way to open the eyes of theCommonwealth was to engage in terrorism.Those who supported a platform of non-militant protest formed the Greater PakistaniParty while those more violently inclined keptthe name Greater Pakistan and wentunderground.

The group still continues to be activein 2122, and, in fact, is more powerful thanever before. Responsible for numerousterrorist acts in Pakistan, India, Nepal andBangladesh, this faction is responsible forgrowing tensions across the Commonwealth.If all this wasn’t bad enough—they haverecently acquired official support, and itseems as though the 2084 break may becoming closer and closer to an end as thehead of the GPP has defected to this terroristorganization and has begun to secretly supplythem with whatever they need.

The Punjab Resistance LeagueThough the Pakistani Conquest came

to a close nearly sixty years ago, that doesnot mean the memory of it has faded from theminds of those people oppressed because ofit. The Punjab Resistance League—a group ofSikh warriors devoted to freeing the Punjaband creating an independent Sikh republic—has been around since Pakistani forces firstmoved into the region. For most of itshistory, it has been a relatively minor terroristgroup with its raids often thwarted quiteeasily by the vastly superior Pakistani militarypolice.

All this changed in early 2121 when ayoung Sikh—barely a boy of 17—joined theResistance. He steadily rose through theranks by virtue of his amazing tacticalabilities and found himself in the highest tiersof the organization by October of that year.When the Commander was captured during araid in December, all eyes turned to thisyoung Kavi Singh to take the lead.

that time, the organization has gonefrom minor annoyance to colossal threat.

Four Pakistani military bases have beenoverwhelmed by Sikh warriors already andtheir equipment seized. The targets were notonly military; however—Kavi is dedicated todriving Pakistan out of the Punjab by anymeans necessary. He proceeded to burndown almost two dozen mosques throughoutthe region as a warning that an oppressiveIslamic government would no longer betolerated in the Punjab.

So far, Pakistan has yet to respond tothis new threat the League presents, but it isbeginning to make government officialsnervous—if the Punjab falls into all outrebellion what is to stop other capturedterritories from rebelling as well? The GPP isalready using this indecision on the part ofthe government as a sign of how far Pakistanhas fallen and demanding that it take greatercontrol of its destiny. The final result remainsto be seen, but one thing is for certain: thePunjab Resistance League will not surrenderwithout a fight.

Urban AreasIslamabad

In the early days of independence itwas felt that a new and permanent Pakistanicapital city had to be built. It was consideredprudent and in the nation’s best interest tolocate the capital where it could easilyaccessible from even the remotest corners ofthe country. In view of the Islamic ideology ofthe country, the capital had to be locatedcloser to the Muslim areas of central Asia andin close proximity to the fraternal people ofIran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

A commission was appointed to findan ideal location in 1958. After much studyand debate, the commission decided that theideal location for the new seat of Pakistanigovernment would be the area northeast ofRawalpindi. The construction of the new citywas turned over to the Greek architecturalfirm Doxiadis Associates who set aboutplanning the city to be one of the mostbeautiful in the world.

The modern city of Islamabad lives upto that title. The city was redesigned into anarcology structure as a defensive measureduring the Aberrant War, but it did not loseany of its dedication to preserving its naturalbeauty. Every arcology sector—of which thecity has eight—holds it own natural park forthe enjoyment of its citizens. In fact, itsamalgamation of rigid hardtech design andbotanical masterwork has earned it thenickname of the New Hanging Gardens.

Other than its beauty, Islamabad alsoholds a vital industrial position for thePakistani nation and remains the countriesprimary provider of military technologies,high-grade industrial construction equipmentand deep ground mining. Although despiteits magnificent industrial technologies,Islamabad follows the trend of the rest of thecountry (or perhaps it follows Islamabad) inthe fact that it has not broken into the biotechmarket—there simply does not seem as greata demand for “living tools” in Pakistan as inneighboring India.

Rural AreasUnlike India, Pakistan has put a great

amount of concern into bringing its moreisolated regions into the modern age. This ismore of a military and political maneuver thanan attempt to raise the standard of living forthe people occupying those areas—Pakistanlikes to maintain tight control and that controlis impossible if the people do not have a dailyreminder that they do belong to Pakistan.

In general, this modernization andlinkage of the rural communities to the

greater industrial and economic centers is metwith welcome arms by the local population;however, this is not always the case. This isespecially true in those regions that werecaptured from India in the last century. Dueto the general social unrest in territoriescaptured, Pakistan harbors the largestnational military out of any of the members ofthe Commonwealth (which is responsible for alarge number of their seats in theCommonwealth Parliament).

Pakistani paranoia over rebellion incaptured territories is so intense that it iscomparable to the paranoia held in the Spartaof ancient Greece. As such, the world ofPakistan has begun to resemble that sameancient land—a powerful military state. Infact, tension is growing within theCommonwealth that Pakistan might beheading quickly upon the path to fascism.Indeed, this fear of fascist takeover inPakistan has lead to recent increases in traderestrictions between the FSA, Argentina andthe Bharati Commonwealth being passedthrough the Commonwealth Parliament.

BangladeshBefore winning its independence in

1971, Bangladesh was known as East Pakistanand shares a Muslim majority with the countryfrom which it was born to this day. Ironicallyfor a country which shares its roots withPakistan, Bangladesh has been a majorsupporter of Indian policy from the birth ofthe Commonwealth and, indeed, was one ofthe founding nations of the Indian League.

While a majority of the Bangladeshnational parliament continues to support theBharati Federalist Party, membership in theMuslim Rite has skyrocketed a full 16% sincethe ITP’s recent term of office. The parliamentis currently divided into 53% BharatiFederalists, 40% Muslim Rite, 5% IndianTraditionalists, and 2% TerritorialConfederates. The division of power oftencauses violent debates on the floor ofparliament between the Federalists andmembers of the Muslim Rite.

On the economic front, Bangladeshremains a largely agricultural national as ithas been since its farmland was rejuvenatedin the early 21st century. In fact, Bangladeshisoil is so rich that the small nation provides amajority of food supplies for theCommonwealth with the rest mainly beingimported from the Russian Federation. It isthis control of the agricultural industry thatallows Bangladesh to exert its influence whenit feels the need. Generally, however,Bangladesh need not exert its political weight

as, unlike its fellow Commonwealth membersPakistan and India, it has managed to main-tain entirely peaceful relations with all itsneighbors.

AfghanistanAfghanistan has a proud history of

success in the face of outside aggression.From consistently driving back the BritishEmpire to defeating the Soviet Union,Afghanistan has defiantly held onto itsnational identity. This national strength hasonly made the more recent history ofAfghanistan all the more horrific to itsinhabitants.

In 2037, the unified nation ofAfghanistan collapsed into civil war. Directlyfollowing a devastating attack by rougeAberrants in which Kabul was virtuallyreduced to rubble, most of the standinggovernment of Afghanistan was brutallykilled. Following the example set by thenewly arisen Pakistani dictator, Karim El-Far,all across the nation power-hungry generalsbegan to take up arms. By the time sideswere chosen a full seventeen would-bedictators were on the move.

This civil war continued to ragethroughout the 2040s, with numerousdictators falling until only twelve of theoriginal seventeen remained. So Afghanistanstood divided into twelve independent nationsuntil the declaration of the war against theAberrants in 2049. With such a devastatingconflict growing so near, the dictators knewthe time for alliance was at hand and thus,after 12 years of fighting, Afghanistan wasready for reunification.

Out of the alliances made by thedictators of the twelve regions of Afghanistanthe Confederacy of Afghanistan arose.Though it presented a unified diplomatic andmilitary front to the world, its internal politicsstill largely resembled twelve independentstates ruled by dictatorial oligarchies and so itremains to this day.

Though on the surface it appears asthough Afghanistan complies with the Articlesof Centralization, having a central parliamentin the reconstructed city of Kabul filled withelected representatives, the true power stilllies in the hands of the families of thedictators who ruled before them. Thoseelected to the territorial parliament are almostentirely allies and cohorts of those familiesand work exclusively for the advancement ofthe family they represent.

This form of governmental elitism haslead to horrible oppression of the working

class throughout Afghanistan and isresponsible for the birth of the Communists ofthe Commonwealth movement which, whileholding the popular support of thedisenfranchised majority of Afghan workers,is looked upon as dangerous and evenrevolutionary by the ruling families. It is forthis reason that the oligarchies of Afghanistanbegan manipulating the votes in theirelections to put the Muslim Rite far above theCC, despite the overwhelming popularsupport for the latter.

So it seems that the last semblance ofdemocracy is fading from Afghanistan and itis falling more deeply into the realm of feudalrule than ever before. Workers are quicklylearning that they are forfeit and akin to littlemore than slaves and must rely on thesubordinates of the ruling families in order tosurvive in the harsh land that their countryhas become.

Urban AreasKabul

The rebuilt Kabul serves as the centerof “national” government in the Confederacyof Afghanistan and the area on which it sitswas deemed by general consensus to be aneutral, capital territory. In short, all servantsof the oligarchies can scheme there equally.

Kabul is, architecturally speaking, amoderately constructed city; however, its lackof brilliant design can be attributed to thetime of its reconstruction—it was the birth ofthe Aberrant War and Afghanistan was onlyrecently arising out of its own bloody civilwar. Kabul’s social development is littlebetter, unfortunately, as workerrevolutionaries representing the CC find ahaven in the vast slums surrounding thecity—especially since no one oligarchy holdscontrol.

In general, the city is divided into twosectors, separated by a great metal securityfence. Only people with proper clearancecards can enter the inner city from the outerslums (though direct air transit is far morepopular) and the walls are topped with barbedwire and archaic machine guns reminiscent ofthe Berlin Wall of the 20th century. This wallserves to keep the oligarchies representativesin parliament and the rich aristocracyseparated from the destitute workers beyond.This separation holds a double purpose forthe oligarchies as it helps prevent bothcommunist insurgents from murdering thewealthy or attacking parliament while keepingthe rich blissfully unaware of the true horrorsthat live outside their gilded cage.

NepalNepal is a prosperous member of the

Bharati Commonwealth. The majority of thecountry is in the Himalayan Mountain range,with the major cities founded in the shallowvalleys in between them, including the capitalKathmandu. Its economy is based on themanufacture and development of hardtechcomputer components, tourism and their highquality agricultural products. The nation ispredominantly Hindu, with a smattering ofMahayana Buddhists. The official language ofthe country is Nepali, but Hindi, Chinese andEnglish are all spoken widely.

In the early 21st century the smallcountry was skyrocketed into its position asone of the most prominent nations in thefields of digital technologies, computers andthe OpNet with the assistance of the heroes ofthe day, the Aberrants. Its wealth wasincreased tremendously during this period,and its membership in the Indian Leagueensured its influence as a rapidly modernizingcountry. But with the Crash and thedevastation of the OpNet, a major blow wasdealt to the Nepalese economy. Although thecountry had played an insignificant role in theWar, their most important market wasdestroyed overnight. A strong supporter ofunity in the Indian subcontinent, it was afounding member of the BharatiCommonwealth and public opinion in Nepalmaintains this stance today.

The future looks bright for Nepal. Ithas rebuilt its technological markets that weredestroyed in the Crash and is one of thenations leading the development of newhardtech technologies. Its economy isbooming, social unrest is virtually unheard of,and the popular BFP is in power once again,holding 81% of all seats in their parliament(with the ITP holding the remaining 19%) .Their only worries concern China, with whichNepal shares a long border, causing the BC tohold a significant number of troopsgarrisoned near that border.

BhutanBhutan is a minor player in the Bharati

Commonwealth, one of the “chota wallahs”;however, it holds an important militaryposition within the Commonwealth. Namely,the small country holds the gateway toseveral important Himalayan mountainpasses—an important factor in defenseagainst any possible aggression fromneighboring China.

The primary language of Bhutan isDzongkha the primarily religion is Buddhism.

In fact, up until the Articles of Centralizationand the inception of the BharatiCommonwealth, Bhutan was a democratictheology, and most demonstrations of otherfaiths were socially unacceptable. Thoughthis has changed somewhat since the newrepublic has been implemented, Buddhismstill holds the greatest number of followersinside the small country. The most importantcultural fact about Bhutan; however, remainsits devotion to preserving its ancient culture—monks transcribe ancient Buddhist texts intominicomps and traditionally-dressed archersuse orbital steel bows and arrows. Bhutanteeters on the edge of the line between themodern and the medieval.

The political situation in Bhutan oftenmirrors India, with the smaller country oftenlatching onto the behemoth of theCommonwealth in order to secure its favorshould a crisis occur. In this tradition, theruling party of India is virtually guaranteed tobe the ruling party of Bhutan and the currentsituation is no different. Currently the BharatiFederalists control 80% of Bhutan’s parliamentwith the Indian Traditionalist party controllingthe other 20% (though the tiny minority ofMuslims within the country are attempting torally a burst in the Muslim Rite).

The Thunder DragonThe mythology of Bhutan is riddled

with the peaceful Thunder Dragon. In fact,the people of Bhutan even refer to themselvesas the dragon people. Thus it was acceptedwith open arms when an Aberrant bearing thename of the Thunder Dragon appeared in theearly part of the 21st century.

However, over time this peacefulbenefactor became a colossal threat. Nolonger did he benevolently protect the peopleof Bhutan from harm, famine and invasion,and soon he began to demand tribute andworship. The nation became little more thanhis thrall and play-thing. This despotic con-trol lead to Bhutan desperately ratifying theIndian League Anti-Deification Act.

Outraged by what he viewed as abetrayal by his followers, the Thunder Dragondescended upon the capital of Bhutan. Risingout of the Thimpu River, the tyrant-godlooked towards the city (also called Thimpu)and called up his ultimate wrath. The watersof the river swelled and churned and quicklyThimpu was flooded until it was wholly lostbeneath the waters of the new lake the Thun-der Dragon had formed.

Unfortunately for the Thunder Dragon,he lost control of his phenomenal powers andwas tossed and pulled beneath the ragingwaves. Finally, the waves became too much

for the monstrosity and his life was seized by his own hands. Inadvertently, the monster hadfulfilled the edict he wished to punish his followers for supporting.

Of course, the event was also tragic for the people of Bhutan, as their capital was lostbeneath a Taint infested lake. The lake is still quarantined to this day and occasionally crazedanimals, infested with Taint diseases, emerge from beneath the waters. Horrified by what theircapital had become and in an attempt to make a new start, the people of Bhutan situation theirnew capital as far from their old as possible in Sakden, on the eastern side of Bhutan.

Sri LankaSri Lanka wields the smallest political weight of any nation in the Bharati

Commonwealth, but it does not allow itself to be forgotten despite this fact. Over the courseof the 21st century, the small island nation worked furiously to set itself up as a center ofmarine research.

In addition to numerous mining and research endeavors throughout the Indian Ocean,Sri Lanka also serves as the staging point for the entire Bharati Commonwealth’s navy. In fact,Sri Lanka has set itself up as the dominant force in maritime “politics” in the region, with manyresearch and mining endeavors (even international ones) in the Indian Ocean going through theSri Lankan Maritime Agency in its capital city of Sri Jayawardanapura (a minature city enclosedwithin Sri Lanka’s greater commercial capital of Colombo).

Like Bhutan, Sri Lanka is predominantly Buddhist with a small splattering of Muslimsand Hindus. Though English is the common language of government, the most commonlyspoken language in the island nation is Sinhala, a language spoken almost no where else in theworld (a hindrance which has forced a vast majority of Sri Lankans to learn another languagemore commonly practiced in the Commonwealth).

The political climate of Sri Lanka has always been one of strong support for theCommonwealth as the military might of the greater nations gives them the leverage nessicaryto maintain the claims they make through the Indian Ocean. As such, the Sri Lankanparliament is almost 90% made up of Bharati Federalists with the remaining 10% being dividedamount the Muslim Rite (3%) and Indian Traditionalist Party (7%).

Storyteller Informa

tionThis chapter covers basic rules

information and behind-the-scenesnotes, mostly to help the Storyteller addfurther depth to a series based in theBharati Commonwealth. There is someinformation (data covering Aberrants,hidden enclaves of quantakinetics theChitra Bhanu Purge, and the like) that isintended for Storyteller eyes only.Players who want to maintain theirsense of mystery about the TrinityUniverse should skip this chapter en-tirely.

Military in theCommonwealth

Even in an age of unity anddiplomacy, the leaders of the BharatiCommonwealth are aware of the veryreal need for and effective and well-maintained military. Ever fearful ofAberrant cults, extremist groups andpotential threats from countries such asChina, the government maintains a largeand very well equipped force capable ofdefending each and every membernation should the need arise.

With the formation of theCommonwealth, the member nationsslowly moved towards transformingtheir considerable collective militaryresources into a single unifiedorganization. Each member of theCommonwealth provides personnel,hardware and facilities based strictlyupon its political strength—a policy thatwas not without controversy in the earlydays of the Commonwealth.

The Bharati Commonwealth isthe most populated nation on the planet- and its combined military reflects thisin sheer numbers of ground troops,armored units, specialist forces, and aircapability.

The collective military capabilityof the Commonwealth benefits fromboth a staggeringly large resource ofpersonnel, and a keen interest in takingadvantage of the very latest scientificand technological advances. The menand women of the Commonwealthmilitary are some of the best equippedon Earth.

By mutual agreement, the entiremilitary takes advantage of scientificdevelopments and advances intechnology made by any member nation.There is keen atmosphere ofcooperation between member nations

and an entire division of the military isdevoted to research endeavoursdesigned to strengthen the capabilitiesof the military.

With such varied geography,research tends to be focused onproviding the very best tools toaccommodate the deployment oftroops anywhere within the BharatiCommonwealth.

Of course, the BharatiCommonwealth keeps up-to-date withadvances elsewhere. The BharatiCommonwealth government simplypurchases technology developedoutside of its borders, or reverseengineers it for their own use. Onnumerous occasions the scientists inthe research division take technologyfrom outside its borders, modify it,and deploy a far more effectiveversion.

Although it has a considerablywell equipped force at its command,the Bharati Commonwealth prefers touse diplomatic instead of militarysolutions to any problems that mayoccur. The Commonwealth wasfounded due to the careful efforts ofits diplomats, and whilst thegovernment recognises the need tomaintain its military it rarely has thedesire to deploy it.

It is a requirement that allmilitary ministers spend at least threeyears in diplomatic duty. Fully twothirds of cabinet ministers that advisesthe government on military mattershave spent several years working inthe peace and diplomatic corps. Thisensures that calm heads prevail wherein other countries more aggressiveattitudes would rule. On the rareoccasions that the Commonwealthhave deployed their forces, they havedone so only after every possiblediplomatic opportunity had beenexhausted.

With a prevailing desire forpeace, a potential aggressor might bemislead into thinking that the BharatiCommonwealth is completely unwillingto use force. In the past, Aberrantsand extremist groups have discovered,to their surprise, that the governmentcan and does deploy troops whenfaced with an adversary unwilling topursue diplomacy.

Bharati CommonwealthIntelligence Corps (BCIC)

Within the government, there arethose who believe that vigilance is just asimportant as diplomacy. To that end, theBharati Commonwealth sanctioned thecreation of a division of the military dedicatedto locating potential threats to its security, orto monitor the activities of those individualsthat demonstrate hostility to theCommonwealth.

This division, Bharati CommonwealthIntelligence Corps, has the remit to monitorthe activities of some of the more militantextremist groups and watch for the signs ofdeveloping Aberrant cults in conjunction withthe BCARF. The BCIC’s remit does not allowengagement of the enemy under anycircumstances. Careful monitoring andreporting of the activities of potential threatsis their prime function. The military cabinetwill determine action, diplomatic or otherwise,that may need to be taken based on thereports of this division.

In recent years, a small group of BCICofficers and field agents have taken it uponthemselves to more closely monitor theactivities of the Bharati Commonwealthsneighbor—China. Whilst activities arecurrently restricted to shadowing any agentsChina has placed within the borders of theCommonwealth, it may be only a matter oftime before efforts are made within theborders of China itself. Should militarycabinet ministers become aware of suchactions, the people responsible would almostcertainly find themselves on trial for engagingin criminal, and not to mention extremelydamaging, activities.

Hidden HivesThe greatest fear the other orders held

following the Quantakinetic Purge was this:where are the survivors. Powerful andcorrupt, nothing would be more dangerousthan a quantakinetic on the rampage besidesan Aberrant itself—with whom thequantakinetics were in league! Thusly, greateffort was expended by all the orders intracking down these remaining rogues;however, their efforts were far from perfect:twenty-five chibs—a full fifth of thequantakinetics survived the hunts and remainalive to this day. Below are listed the placeswhere these rogues have gathered intogroups; however, these groups only accountfor seventeen of the twenty-five survivors,leaving eight individuals surviving on theirown… somewhere.

Nora ChibsTen of these twenty-five ended up in

the most unlikely of places—in the service ofanother order: the Norça. They work underthe command of Carlos Cantillo (see DramatisPersonae, page 64, for more information onCantillo) in the gilded cage of top-secretlaboratories spread throughout SouthAmerica, especially in the VenezuelanQuarantine Zone. While their situation isbetter than death, many of them arebeginning to stifle under the new life theyhave within the Norça. (For more informationon these Norça chibs, see Terra Verde, page30).

Icarus’s Ice MaraudersWhen S.K. Bhurano summoned all the

chibs home from the field, some of themdecided they were fed up with hermismanagement of the order. The mostprominent of these rogue chibs was IcarusZahn (see Dramatis Personae, page XX formore information). Under his leadership,three other quantakinetics abandoned theirformer positions within the order. The fourrenegades quickly escaped to Antarctica,sensing something dangerous on the horizon.

Their predictions turned to truth whenthe Quantakinetic Purge destroyed the order.They laid low in ice caverns and like and—when possible—migrated between settlementsin the frigid wasteland that had beenabandoned since the Aberrant War. Æon andthe rest of the orders were unaware they haveeven survived the Purge until the group spenta short time in the Dakshn Gangotri base, anold, abandoned outpost. Here they werealmost found out by a group of patrollingLegionnaires; they were forced to flee the siteso quickly that they left several researchpapers behind—research papers detailing theinteraction of Psi and Taint and the study ofAberrants.

Now their enemies know that someoneis out there, be they simple Chitra Bhanu“cultists” or actual members of the order.Whichever it is, the Legions have, amongstthemselves, named this group the IceMarauders and cautioned any outpostsettlement to watch out for these “bandits”but do not attempt to engage them. Anysighting of the group is to be reported to aLegion outpost at once.

Currently, the group of fourquantakinetics hides several hundred metersbelow the surface of the frozen continent inan abandoned network of undergroundcaverns used by early, post-War settlers in the

in the 2070s. They live in a constant state offear, worried that at any moment the Legionsmay arrive to force the fate of their orderupon them.

Diablo’s AsteroidIf the orders knew about this enclave it

would probably be the most frightening of all,despite the fact that it holds the smallestnumber of chibs, numbering at only three.The fear would come from what is happeningthere. One of the most powerfulquantakinetics ever known, Swati Bhurano(see Dramatis Personae, page 61 for moreinformation), and two colleagues tirelesslystudy… along side an Aberrant, a horrific warcriminal known as The Devil.

Driven only by revenge, the group hasbecome harsh and intolerant in the void ofspace, questing always to reconstruct theirlost Prometheus Chamber as to give birth tothe order anew, so that they may take theirrevenge. The Devil himself encourages thisfor his own ends. If the orders are occupiedwith an invasion of a new order of ChitraBhanu then his own efforts at conquest willhave less resistance. He would be invincible.

The Chitra Bhanu of Diablo’s Asteroidcontinue to be oblivious to the Devil’s agenda,though they do suspect some darker purpose.However, the question remains if that even ifthey knew his plans—could they resist him?(For information on some of the technologythe quantakinetics of Diablo’s Asteroid havecreated see Chapter Five: Technology).

Aberrant Activity inthe BharatiCommonwealth

The Bharati Commonwealth AberrantResponse Force and Bharati CommonwealthIntelligence Corps are so vigilant, deadly andwell-equipped that groups of Aberrants insidethe Indian subcontinent have been unknownsince the days of the Crash. However, India’spolitical enemies (especially the FederatedStates—angered over recent anti-tradesanctions—and sometimes even neighboringPakistan) often use the country’s reputationfor harboring a large number of Aberrants inthe early 21st century to depict India as anation full of cults worshipping Aberrantgods.

Thankfully, the reputation of theBCARF and the good name the entire BharatiCommonwealth holds throughout humanspace makes these opinions the minority.

Most of the world realizes and accepts thecompetence of the various anti-Aberrantorganizations in the Commonwealth.

Vishnu Pawan Bhardwaj was born in 2009 in anisolated Indian village where he lived a simplelife... until 2027 when he fell victim toAberrant Syndrome while infected withmalaria. He had several days of visions andthen dropped into a coma for a week. When he awakened, Bhardwaj was adifferent man. He had taken on thecountenance of the Hindu god Vishnu. Alongwith his newfound abilities, he quicklyproclaimed himself—with complete sincerity—as the avatar of Vishnu. He enjoyed thecomplete loyalty and devotion of his villageand lived in unparalleled splendor with nocares for the world beyond his small universe. Until the day Shiva arrived. It was 2052,and Shiva showed Vishnu the rest of theworld, and how they were treating the divine.Soon, under Shiva’s tutelage, Vishnu becamesickened by the ways of the mortals andvowed to have revenge in the name of hispeople. His first victims were the loyalvillagers who made up his cult of personality,he slew them one by one, falling deeper anddeeper into the ravages of Taint. It was atthis point the Shiva introduced Vishnu toBrahma, the third member of the order theycalled the Triad, modeled after the Hindutrinity.

In the war against the humans, eachtook his role: Brahma was to lay thefoundation of the society to come after thevictory of the divine, and in that respect hebegan to gather followers to himself; Shivawas to destroy the old, human order as toallow the New Order to be freely ushered in;and finally, Vishnu was to provide the wisdomwith which to preserve the New Order. Inaccordance with his duty, Vishnu sank intodeep meditation, studying the world aroundhim and the nature of reality.

It was this meditation that savedVishnu’s life. Shiva’s massacring of humanityand Brahma’s violation of anti-deification lawsbrought them both to their demise, Vishnu;however, did nothing. He only watched andwaited. It was not until the dawn of thepsionic age in the early 22nd century that heassumed an active role in the creation of anAberrant order. He gathered a cult to him,calling it the Triad, in honor of his dead allies.

His experiment was a disaster. In theirfirst raids against the Bharati Commonwealth,they were decimated by the BCARF, all themembers being imprisoned or killed.

Powers:Time Distortion: Vishnu holds an odd

ability to manipulate the very fabric of time!He moves at incredible speeds, able to takefour actions in one round with no penalties (atno cost). In addition, with a touch, Vishnu canage a subject a 10 years (either making themolder or younger) for every success on a Taintroll. The age altering effects of this powercosts two Taint per use. It is thought that thistime distortion is also what makes him hard tofind by Clairsentient scans—almost as if hispresence is being detected in places where hewas.

Wrath: Vishnu is capable of enactinghis wrath through a massive bolt ofdestructive energy. This horrific attack useshis Taint score as the attack roll and inflicts[three automatic levels + Taint dice] of lethaldamage. This attack can be used at a rangeof 1000 meters. If Vishnu wishes he maydirect the attack towards a number of targetsequal to his Taint score. The damage dice ofthe attack are divided amongest hisopponents as he sees fit (though all take thethree automatic levels of damage). Thispower costs 1 Taint to activate.

Only Vishnu escaped, using his considerableabilities to avoid being caught and executed.Now Vishnu waits deep in the Indianwilderness, biding his time until he can makea reappearance and forge an empire forAberrants across the globe. He remainsunquestionably the most powerful Aberrantstill living in the Bharati Commonwealth.Nature: MonsterPhysical Attributes: Strength 1, Dexterity[Flexible] 7, Stamina [Resilient] 5Mental Attributes: Perception [Patient] 7,Intelligence [Pragmatic] 10, Wits [Creative] 7Social Attributes: Appearance [Exotic] 9,Manipulation [Domineering] 7, Charisma[Cool] 7Abilities: Athletics 5, Martial Arts 6, Stealth4, Endurance 5, Resistance 5, Awareness 6,Linguistics 8, Medicine 4, Arts 3, Meditation10, Rapport 6, Intimidation 6, Command 4,Subterfuge 4, Perform (dance) 7Willpower: 10Psi: 0Taint: 10Backgrounds: Cipher 4Gear: Conch shell, discus, lotus, and a mace

Extra Limbs: Vishnu has two extra arms. AllVishnu’s penalties for multiple actions(assuming he uses up his four actions around!) are reduced by 2.

Divine Sound: Vishnu may issue fortha sound so captivating as to make people hiswilling servants. He rolls Command at +2difficulty, if he suceeds everyone within a 10meter radius falls under his control. Thevictims of this power may make an extendedWillpower check every day at +2 difficulty.Accumulating 20 successes without a botchbreaks the victim free; a botch results in theloss of accumulated successes and preventsthe victim from trying again for anothermonth. This power does not function againstPsions for reasons unknown.

Hardy: Vishnu can soak lethal damagewith his entire Stamina score.Aptitudes: Like all Aberrants, Vishnu doesnot truly possess Psionic Aptitudes, but hedoes have powers that resemble the followingPsionic Modes: Adaptation 2, Transmogrify 2,Psychometry 5, Psychonavigation 4,Telesthesia 4, Telekinesis 3, Empathy 2,Minshare 3, Iatrosis 4.

Shyam AmlekarShyam Amlekar was born in Calcutta in

2085, but his family moved to Kathmanduwhen he was nine years old. Taking instantlyto the techno-centric society of his new home,Amlekar became the head of his owncomputer corporation by the age of twenty-four. It is rumored that it was the stress ofrunning this company which caused his latentAberrancy to burst forth in 2113.

He became a being made of livingcircuitry, with electricity rippling along hiselectronic skin and water becoming a bane tohim, and with the changes came the ability tomanipulate computers at his whim. Knowingthat he could not remain long, Amlekarquickly gathered a few personal belongingsand sped away in his personal shuttle.

However, even as fast as he acted, hecould not escape the attention of BCARF. Thesound of their hyper-fusion engines roaredafter Amlekar as he shot across the HimalayanMountains. Amlekar desperately tried to usehis powers to disable the crafts, but theirsecurity was simply too tight.

However, his chance to escape came,ironically, when they fired their air-to-airrocket strikes. Amlekar found that, though hecould not affect the power or guidancesystems of the pursuing crafts, he couldmanipulate their sensors. As far as the BCARFknew, they had scored a direct hit and had thevideo footage to prove it—little did they know

that Amlekar had used his abilities to hide thefact he had ejected from the vessel from theironboard cameras.

Amlekar continues to hide in theHimalayans to this day, using his abilities tosurreptitiously manipulate computer systemsinside less secure regions of theCommonwealth, especially Afghanistan. Hehas no true goals beyond simply feeling andcontrolling the “life” of the machines. If anywere ever to take the control away from him,he doesn’t know how he would react, onlythat it would not be pleasant for the offender.His greatest fear remains that the BCARF willdiscover his manipulation and once againbegin the hunt for him—and that this timethey may not be so easily fooled.

VighneshwerMohit Prem was born in India in 2049

at the dawn of the Aberrant War. His earliestmemories were of terror and death, and theyshaped his mind for the rest of his life. Hebecame a devout pacifist, and when he wasold enough, he joined the peace corps. Heapplied to government training programs andsoon became an accomplished diplomat.Things were looking bright for his future.

Until 2074 when he was sent to helpresolve violence in the Punjab. Negotiationsfailed, and he and the other diplomats wereimprisoned and forced to watch—throughbars—the ruthless massacre by Pakistanisoldiers of twenty women and children fromthe Punjab. The horror of the event and hisinability to stop it triggered Prem’s Aberrancy.He became twisted into the resemblance ofthe Hindu elephant god Ganesh, andemployed his newly found divine powers toburst forth from his cell and destroy thePakistani murderers.

He then quickly escaped into thewilderness of the Commonwealth. For thenext few decades, he roamed theCommonwealth endlessly (especially thefringes where patrols were lightest), trying tostay one step ahead of the BCARF that heknows looms around every bend. As the 22nd

century began; however, he felt the tensionsomewhat relieved (though he is still everwatchful and always migrating) and began totake up his old role as mediator of disputes.Taking up the name Vighneshwer (anothername for Ganesh which means “remover ofobstacles”), he descended on places where hefelt the suffering of the people… and destroythat which was causing their suffering.Several of these “mercy missions” haveresulted in a small following of human cultistswho gather around him as a symbol of peace

and hope, even though some of them arebeginning to…change from constant exposureto his Taint signature.

Vighneshwer possesses powers ofblinding destruction, being know to havekilled fifty soldiers in a single blast of “divine”energy. Besides his destructive abilities, he isalso extremely charismatic and most whospeak with him are entranced by hismannerisms. Beyond that, the “deity” holdslimited control over the weather and theability to heal grievous wounds with a touch.

OceanusAdrian Babakulas was an immigrant to

the Bharati Commonwealth in 2099 when hewas 23. He had traveled from Greece toexpand his studies on marine biology in theIndian Ocean so he naturally found himself inthe ports of Sri Lanka, finding his skills ingreat demand. He soon found himself in aposition he had only dreamed of—leadingscientific crews to study native deep sea life.

His Aberrant Syndrome emerged when,one night during a survey mission, a horriblestorm blew up suddenly, tossing and tearinghis tiny research vessel. The ship was tornapart and he was thrown into the roaringwaves. The need to survive activated his M-RNode, not only giving him a body made ofpure water and control over the seas, but alsoinstantly corrupting his mind. He nowthought of himself as Oceanus, the titan ofthe great river sea in ancient Greekmythology.

Since that day, in the winter of 2111,he has been the bane of all thoseunfortunates who meet him in “his” ocean. Heoften uses his abilities to summon uptowering waves to destroy ships. Not onlythat, but since the first appearance of hispowers he seems to have developed a newability—the ability to create specialized (notto mention deadly) new types of seaorganisms which he often sends to patrol theocean and attack approaching ships. He callsthese creatures his Oceanides (named afterthe nymphs created by Oceanus in Greekmythology).

The BCARF had been totally unpre-pared for the emergence of such a potent sea-faring Aberrant—not to mention one almostindestructible and nigh invisible in his nativeenvironment due to his body being made ofwater. Since that time they have been push-ing for more resources to hunt the monster,but their attention is usually diverted tohandling minor Aberrants on the mainland(not to mention the dispute over whether theirresponsibility covers the international waters

of the Indian Ocean), so it seems for nowOceanus continues to have free reign.

Doyen InvolvementThe Doyen, the manipulative beings

who gifted humanity with the secrets ofpsions and biotech, lie at the very core of theevents surrounding the Chitra Bhanu’s riseand fall. It was all carefully planned, andmanipulated so that what they wanted for theorder was what the order received.

Humble BeginningsThe Doyen first gained interest in

humanity in the 2060s, when thousands ofAberrants fled from Earth into the vastcosmos of space. Fearful of the destructivepower of the Taint which Aberrantscommanded (especially to their own fragileforms made of psionic energy), the Doyenwent about finding ways to put an end to thethreat. One group sought to destroy all ofhumanity and enlisted the aid of theChromatics; the other came to humanity andoffered the Prometheus Chambers.

However, the Doyen found somethingunexpected amongst the humans whom theysaw were capable of wielding psionicabilities—quantakinetcs. The Doyenthemselves, the undisputed masters of powerof noetics, had no knowledge of such anability, an ability that allowed a few humansto affect the very building blocks of theuniverse with the power of their noetictalents.

The Doyen were cautious andthoughtful at first, they believe that perhapsthese few individuals held the key tounlocking and destroying the evil of theAberrants. Perhaps the similarities betweenthe two powers would make them the perfectadversaries for the Tainted Ones. So, afterthought, the Doyen offered the quantakineticPrometheus Chamber along with all the othersat a secret lunar meeting where the Proxieswere bestowed with their incredible powers.

However, something different wasdone with the quantakinetic Proxy, she waspossessed by the Doyen entirely. While shestill possessed some amount of free will, anyaction she took which stood contrary to thewill of Doyen was suppressed mercilessly.The search for a cure to the Taint had begun.

The Plot ThickensThe Doyen, being patient creatures,

scheduled a slow introduction to the study ofTaint into the order, as to ease any fears of

those researchers involved in any projectsinvolving the sensitive subject. The programwas scheduled to begin in 2114.Unfortunately for the Doyen, the brashactions of Proxy Larssen in 2106 sped uptheir plans considerably, the introduction oftheoretical Taint studies began shortly afterthe attack at Sydney Spaceport in 2106 whichresulted in several pieces of Aberrant huntingequipment (see Chapter Five: Technology)being invented by mid-2107.

The advancements made in theDoyen’s pet project increased tremendouslyover a rather short period of time—coming asmuch of a surprise to the Doyen as it did tothe quanta kinetic researchers themselves. Itwas during this time that the Doyen began topanic. Their alien concept of time beingunable to keep up with such rapid progress,the Doyen began to use their immenselypowerful telepathic abilities to alter the publicperception of the quantakinetic Order in early2107, which gave rise to growing rumours ofthe Chitra Bhanu dealing with knownAberrants from the war, while all the time, theDoyen pushed for greater delving into thenature of Taint and possible cures.

The Final NailIn late 2108 a horrible piece of

theoretical research came to the attention ofthe Doyen forces in control of the ChitraBhanu Order—several key members ofJnyandeep had, while researching intoartificially altering Taint levels—had stumbledupon a way to increase the amount of Taintan Aberrant possessed. Immediately, all theanti-human factions burst into an uproar—ithad been proved. Mankind was irrevocablycondemned to the service of the Taint.

Immediately, in an effort to quell thefears of the opposing faction as to not ignitean interstellar conflict with the Chromatics(for which the Human Faction was notprepared), the Human Faction Doyen triggeredthe event for which all their subtle telepathictampering had been designed. The completeextermination of the Order. The Doyenpossessing Proxy Bhurano ordered allquantakinetics in the field to reportimmediately to the facility while the rest ofthe Doyen set about triggering mass hysteriaamongst the population at the revelation ofthe “quantakinetic conspiracy.”

With their final resignation to thedestruction of the Order, it came as quite ashock to the Doyen inhabiting the Proxy whenSwati Bhurano revealed that she had found away to reverse the effects of the formerexperiment—to temporarily erase any

evidence of Taint from a subject. Thisamazing result was coupled with the ability topermanently cure Taint diseases. The Doyeninside the Proxy panicked, fearing that hisfellow Doyen would punish her severely forher rash decision that the time was right todissolve the Order just before such animmense breakthrough. The Doyen, in hispanic, seized the mind of the Sudhish andcommanded her to keep the knowledge asecret.

The Doyen was unaware that theSudhish had already shared her research withthe other members of the lab teams workingwith the Aberrants, having—in his panic—notsearched her mind thoroughly, and theknowledge was already spreading through theelite sectors of Jnyandeep researchers by thetime the other Orders came. The Doyencontinued with his assigned task and invitedthe other Orders inside to initiated a conflict.Soon the Order was crushed and the Doyenabandoned the body of Saraswati Bhuranomoments before her death, believing that hishost’s sister’s secret discovery would be lostwith her.

Unplanned by the Doyen, not only didSwati survive the Purge (though she has notbeen in any position to spread herknowledge), but the information was recordedin her secret journals. The rest of the Doyenfaction—who soon discovered del Fuego’spossession of the journals—were not amusedby the failure of their forefront member andcalled for his immediate diffusion into theNoetic Totality. In blind fear, the Doyen whohad once inhabited the Proxy of S.K. Bhuranofled from those that had been his companionsand disappeared into the cosmos, to fight theTainted Ones on his own terms and restorehimself to his former position within his race.

Since that time it has become almostthe holy grail of the Human Faction to recovera surviving quantakinetic with the knowledgeof Taint removal; however, to this day nonehave been able to locate any survivors withthe knowledge (or gather the informationitself from the journals or del Fuego). Itseems only time will tell of the progress of theDoyen’s fight against the Tainted Ones whowould tear their existence asunder.

Technology

J-81 “shellhead” ChitraBhanu tactical fieldgear/armorWhile full-scale heavy weight fieldarmor was generally unused by theChitra Bhanu proper, this armor wasdeveloped specifically for Dhiren senton aberrant hunting missions. The Mainconcept behind this armor was to beboth utilitarian and multipurpose aswell as having the capability to func-tion for extended periods in extremelyharsh (Terran) environs. The suit ishardtech and is specifically fitted to thewearer upon purchase via means ofarmor specialists for the sole purposeof maximum comfort and mobilitywithin the designated suit. The entirearmor is built to be customized, refur-bished and overhauled, allowing forany future upgrades to blendseamlessly with the original form. Thestandard unit comes complete withinterior radio transciever/ cell link,HUDset (complete with Taint sensorpackage, as per the aberscope in TrinityTech Manual) and a backpack stockedwith as much rations and field suppliesas it can carry (generally enough for upto a week without support while inhostile territory). While not the heaviestarmor available, and certainly not asfancy as some legion designs, the J-81does offer superior protection for itsminmalist design, and avoids the bulkproblems of many heavier armors.

[3/3,0] Mass: 6, cost: restricted

Taint Reduction Suits(TRUSTs)Taint reduction suits were primary tools inChitra Bhanu labs from their initial foraysinto taint research. The suits themselvesallowed neutrals to work around powerfulaberrants without fear of gaining taintdiseases or aberrant syndromethemselves. The system was a simple bioorganic insulation suit capable of filteringout all but the most potent quantumradiations. If the suit was formatted to itsuser then it would make her nearlyinvulnerable to taint based illness or anymanifestations of aberrant syndrome.

Tech: øArmor: 1/0Tolerance: •

E-10 Gila Transport/ScoutPrimarily a military scout ship, the Gila

was often used in short range military andprisoner transportation roles (where it wouldbe escorted by several larger, more dangerousfighters). The craft itself, while adequate formost missions, has been overshadowed in theyears since its design by flashier, faster, andbetter armed craft produced by companieslike Bakahatsu, Banji, Clin Tech, and L-B. Thecraft sports a modest design with two turretmounted light lasers placed on either side ofthe fueselage right above and behind thewing components. The scout’s cargo,weaponry and defensive capabilities are subpar considering modern standards leading toits almost nill production levels by 2119. TheGila handles like a dream though, so manystripped down versions have made their wayinto the open market for us by enthusiastsand daredevils. The Gila requires a crew ofone and has enough seating capacity to carryfour others if the need arises.

VT: JetTech: hardtechCS:Mach 1TS:mach 1.1Handling: +3Mass:6Cost 5 (armed version is considered militaryand is not available commercially)Armor:2[1]Weapons: Two turret mounted light lasers(Acccuracy: 0, Damage 5 D10 [5]) (militaryversion only)

Noetic CrystallizersThese versatile items were the ChitraBhanu’s secret weapon in trapping theiraberrant subjects. Noetic crystallizer issomething of a misnomer given that thedevice itself doesn’t in fact crystallizeanything. Instead it siphons off theaberrant’s inherent energy (quantum toall you Aberrant players and taint todenizens of the Trinity universe). The nameitself was taken from the bio matrix’stendency to alter shape suddenly whiledraining off an aberrant’s energy and reformits surface into a somewhat crystallineappearance, becoming more rigid andangular as well as translucent. In gameterms, the crystallizer is treated as astandard staff weapon (it is essentially justgrippers on the end of a long rod anyway) inany normal combat situations with all thelimitations and bonuses that would apply.Against an aberrant however, thecrystallizer may be used to make a grabmaneuver with the pincers on the end.Doing so is a dex+melee roll at a +1difficulty. If the grab is successful thecrystallizer then automatically drains3+successes taint (for those buildingaberrants as per the trinity main book) or6+successes quantum (for anyone usingaberrant rules). The pincers may be usedon any human or near human sized targetregardless of aberrancy, though if they areused to ensnare a neut or a psion theymerely are treated as an immobilizingweapon. The staff has an effective mightpool of 10 for purposes of resisting thetargets attempts to escape its grasp.

Tech: øAccuracy:0Damage: Str+6d10 B or quantum/taintdamage (special, see description)Maneuvers: D P S WConcealability: NMass: 3.2Tolerance: •Cost: restricted/ not available on currentmarkets

Noetic StabilizersEven with the Chitra Bhanu’s extensiveknowledge of taint and aberrantsyndrome they needed a fool proofsystem of containing the creaturesonce they had been captured andbrought in for study. To this end,

Noetic stabilizers were created. Thesedevices were containers roughly 9 feet

tall and cylindrical, set on a base ofbioware components. The tube was fittedwith a transparent bioglass door on one endto facilitate observation and theimprisonment of the aberrants in question.The device could be linked to any number ofother stabilizers as long as the immensepower requirements were met and the entirearray was controlled by a central computerterminal. The stabilizers, once activatedwith an aberrant inside, would fill with ared, noeticly charged, nutrient rich,insulating jelly. This would contain it withina field of pulsating psionic turbulancethereby disrupting its node and effectivelymaking it inert and controllable. The tankitself was also astoundingly durable, havingmilitary grade bioglass and biopolymersemployed in its design.

Tech: øMass: 120Armor: 5[5]Cost: not available on current markets

Dra

ma

tis Personae

Due to the circumstancessurrounding the Chitra Bhanu Order(namely the Purge of 2109) many of thecharacters presented (S.K. Bhurano beingchief among them) are deceased by2120. However, their profiles are stillincluded for those who wish thehistorical reference or perhaps wish torun a historical game set before thePurge or a game in an alternate settingwhere these individuals still live.

Proxy S.K. BhuranoSaraswati Kalyani Bhurano,

named after a goddess of learning,apparently learned too much. Oftencalled simply “Sara” by her fellowProxies, Saraswati was a mild manneredwoman with knowledge in a greatmany fields: everything frompsychology to philosophy toquantum physics. However, inthe last years of her life, therewas something very strangeabout her…

Saraswati Bhurano wasborn in 2064 in one of theearliest functional sectorsof the Bombay Arcology.Her father, Kiee Bhuranowas one of the fewremaining wealthypeople in India at the time as he wasrecently commissioned by the newlyformed United Bharati Nations as one ofthe head engineers for the arcology inwhich the Bhuranos made residence.

Bhurano was a brilliant scholarfrom a very young age with a specialpenchant for physics. By the time sheturned fifteen she was renownedthroughout the Bharati Commonwealthas the foremost thinker in theoreticalquantum physics in the Indiansubcontinent (some even whispered theworld). However, when her father fell toAnt Farm Syndrome shortly after hersixteenth birthday, Saraswati turned hertremendous intellect toward psychologyin hopes of helping her father (or if shecould not, helping others with similarconditions).

Like with physics, Bhuranoexcelled at psychology, and by the timeshe was twenty-three she placed a downpayment on a charity clinic in Bombay tohelp treat people with mental illness.She managed a thriving medical practiceuntil 2103 when she mysteriously went

on sabbatical for most of that year.When she returned she wastransformed.

She no longer held her passionfor treating the mentally ill, insteadshe became interested only in deeptheories. Quickly it became apparentthat her interest in psychology hadmysteriously faded, only to bereplaced by a sudden resurgence inher interest in quantum physics.Finally, in late 2103, she closed theclinic facilities to the public andgathered close friends and co-workersand announced her incredible newpowers. Quickly, portions of the clinicwere gutted and replaced withresearch facilities; however, Bhuranowas oddly resistant to attempt to

remove the deep psychosismedical wards, insisting theywere necessary for her research(these same facilities were laterused to house capturedAberrants).

By early 2104, a closefriendship had developed

between her and Zweilderover a combination of

their mutual skill in themedical field as well astheir extremelyscientific minds.

Together than began tolay the foundations of

modern noetic theory. Cassel tooshared a strong bond with the womanwho would later become the queen ofthe dark psions. By 2106, however,Bhurano and Zweilder had driftedapart as Bhurano delved deeper intotheoretical studies of noetics whileZweilder spent his time researchingpractical applications of noetics tosociety. However, Cassel and Bhuranoremained close friends.

By 2107, Bhurano’s focus inquantum physics was focused stronglyon Taint research. Cassel began toworry about his friend’s stability andwell-being, but she assured him thatnothing was amiss. It was at this timethat she entrusted her sister, SwatiBhurano, with command of her newproject—a project devoted to studyinglive Aberrants and attempting to cureTaint.

Almost immediately tensionssoared among the orders as“rehabilitated” Aberrants began to besited around the Chitra Bhanu clinic in

Bombay. As her fellow proxies demanded herto explain herself, Saraswati becameuncharacteristically resistant to their requests,and during 2109 she called all quantakineticsout of the field and back to the Bombay clinic.Finally, the other proxies had had enough,they called for an immediate vote overwhether to dissolve the Chitra Bhanu withBhurano’s ever faithful friend Cassel castingthe only vote against the movement.

Soon psions from many of the otherorders were descending upon the Clinic anddemanding entrance to the facilities.Strangely, Saraswati opened them in withopen arms. Soon the true extent of theDhiren’s activities and the order’s workwith Aberrant’s was exposed. Thetension of the situation finally snappedand a weapon was fired. It is stillunknown who fired first, but withinmoments, an all-out battle erupted,and at the end Proxy Saraswati KalyaniBhurano lay dead along with whateversecrets she held.

Bhurano’s AgendaBhurano had no agenda of her own,

per se. Her actions were the dictations of theDoyen. Fascinated by the unique power ofquantakinetics and the possibility that itmight provide a solution to the problem withthe Aberrants, the Doyen forced her toresearch Taint.

Her only true motivations of her ownwas to help those less fortunate thanherself—especially the mentally troubled—bywhatever means she had at her disposal. TheDoyen manipulated this desire within her totheir own foul ends.

However, towards the end of her life,Bhurano was not allowed self-motivation ofany sort for the Doyen judged it toodangerous, seeing the power that thequantakinetics held. Against her will, theyforced her to make unreasonable decisionswhich eventually resulted in her death.

Puff of SmokeThe witnesses that claimed to see

Swati Bhurano mysteriously vanish in themidst of the fighting during the Purge werenot mistaken; however, they were mistakenabout her ultimate fate. In fact, Swati Bhuranocontinues to live into 2122—simply not onEarth. During the Purge, a powerful Aberrantknown during the War as The Devil used thecover of the Taint of escaping Aberrants fromthe Clinic to snatch the Sudhish to a secretfacility in a distant asteroid belt. There heoffered her a choice—live and aid him with hisexperiments with the hopes of eventuallyreturning to Earth and avenging her sister ordie immediately. Swati chose revenge and hassecretly been working for The Devil ever since(see Hidden Hives: Diablo’s Asteroid, page 52for more information).

The BrahminsSudhish Swati Bhurano

Swati Bhurano was the youngest of thefive Bhurano daughters (with her sisterSaraswati being the eldest), and, like hersister, she was extremely gifted. While heresister was mostly concerned with physics,Swati’s focus was on chemistry. When hersister founded her clinic, Swati was at herside, serving as her resident chemist toproduce any drugs needed in her treatments.

When Saraswati returned as theQuantakinetic proxy she identified her sister’spowerful latency and invited her to be thefirst member of her new order. Swatigraciously accepted, soon becoming an expertin Transmutation and Energetics equally.When the structure of the order was formed inearly 2104, it was no surprise to anyoneinvolved that Swati was placed in the positionof Sudhish, head of the Jnyandeep research

branch.When Saraswati first announced to the

Brahmins her intentions to turn a greatamount of Jnyandeep’s efforts towardsTaint research in early 2107, Swatiwas delighted (having been the main

proponent of such research sincethe founding of the Order).

However, as mid-2107approached and Saraswatiannounced to the inner circlethat Dhiren would begin tohunt Aberrants in the field andbring them back for liveresearch, Swati becameworried, but continued her

research as normal.As time wore on, Swati took great

pains to carefully monitor her sister’s

increasingly erratic behavior and even went sofar as to make a number of journals followingher sisters actions and declaring theories thatshe may be mad or under the influence of theAberrants (journals that are now in the handsof Proxy del Fuego). Swati was shocked as hersister refused the requests of the other ordersand called all chibs back from the field. Shepleaded with her sister to be honest with herfellow Proxies—and that seemed to be exactlywhat Saraswati did as she welcomed orderstrikes teams inside the facility.

So for Swati it was all the morehorrifying when the investigation snappedinto all out violence. Swati refused to takepart in the fighting, declaring herself apacifist and offering to surrender.However, despite her refusal to fight,several witnesses (including thequantakinetic rogue Nassir Samatar) claimto have see her disappear in a flash oflight during the closing of the fighting—all witnesses profess the belief she wasthe victim of a Upeo death drop.

Sunita Avinash GourgondaBefore her ascension to the position of

Sunita in 2107, Avinash Gourgonda had beenonly a low ranking member of the Sagunawithout much knowledge of the higherworkings of the order (some whisperedbehind closed doors that that was why shewas chosen for the position—much less likelyto question the Proxy’s research than herpredecessor). Gourgonda preformed her newduties to the best of her ability, but she wasno expert in the fields of ethics and morality,and the Jnyandeep often pushed herdemands and suggestions aside.

By mid-2109, whenthere was talk ripplingthrough the order that soonSaguna might be entirelydissolved due to their lack ofcontinued necessity, Gourgondahad a surprise turnaround. Shedemanded that the voices ofSaguna be heard and that theorder could not operatewithout the mediation of theethical branch. She alsopointed to the reconciling ofreligions with modern scientifictheory—a strong area of Saguna focus—as amajor reason for Chitra Bhanu popularitythroughout the Commonwealth.

With her solid arguments, the youngSunita, made wise by her time in her position,saved Saguna from destruction. However, theploy came too late and the Purge quickly

descended upon the order—with SunitaAvinash Gourgonda killed during the fighting.

Dhirendra Bernard NozBernard Noz was first and foremost a

scholar. He had struggled through holdingtwo jobs and living a life offrugality to attend universityclasses in New Delhi to becomea biologist. When hegraduated, he was hired by S.K.Bhurano’s Bombay clinic to

help study the brainchemistry ofpsychological patients.

By amazingcoincidence, Bernardwas also marginally aquantakinetic latentand when Saraswatibecame Proxy sheimmediately took

him into the inner workings of her new order.By early 2104, Proxy Bhurano announced himin charge of keeping their research out of thehands of other organizations and named himDhirendra. However, at that point, his dutiesas chief of order security were secondary tohis research collaboration with Jnyandeep.

That all changed suddenly one day in2107 when Proxy Bhurano announced to himand the rest of the Brahmins that Dhirenwould take on a new duty—the hunting downand capture of Aberrants. He was presentedwith several technology tools Jnyandeep hadsecretly been developing to help him in thefield (among them Noetic Crystalizers, seeChapter Five: Technology for moreinformation) and his research suddenlybecame secondary to his duties as an“Aberrant Hunter.”

Noz worked hard to please the Proxy,devising new and innovative ways in which tosubdue Aberrants, but he still longed for hislost research. However, the Dhirendra would

never see his research again as he wasslain by an escaped Aberrant during thePurge.

NotableQuantakineticsSajeesh Pilarkat, TaintedQuantakinetic

Rumors were that Sunita SajeeshPilarkat died in an experiment regardingProject Harmony. Like most rumors, this oneheld a grain of truth—the Sunita’sdisappearance was linked to experimentsregarding the Aberrants; however, he did notdie.

Pilarkat was one of the early pioneersworking alongside Swati Bhurano to delve intothe realm of purification of Taint.Unfortunately during the course of hisexperimentation, the techniques Pilarkatapplied were still in the elementary stages anddifficult to control. The Taint field Sajeeshwas working with became unstable. In short,Pilarkat lost control of his powers.

Within moments, the left side of theSunita’s body was twisted beyond recognition.His skin was rent with boils and his salivabecame a sickly green ooze. His skindesiccated to a charcoal black, and his left eyeswelled and enflamed to a blood red.Horrified by the results of his mutations, hewas rushed to an Aberrant containmentfacility and put in solitary confinement untilthe Proxy could make judgment.

The Proxy was as shocked by theresult as anyone else, indeed more so. Thelevels of Taint radiation that flowed throughPilarkat’s body would have killed any otherhuman, Psion or otherwise. It was onlythrough his strength of will and careful focusof his Quantakinetic abilities that the Sunitawas able to keep his disease at bay. Bhuranoimmediately removed Pilarkat from hisposition as Sunita and had the position passedto Avinash Gourgonda. She quickly had therumor spread that Pilarkat had died duringexperimentation while desperately seeking acure for his affliction. Unlike the other rareinstances where Taint slipped through thequantakinetics’ natural buffer, Pilarkat hadsurvived, and his condition appearedpermanent.

Pilarkat remained in solitaryconfinement undergoing any number ofexperiments until the Purge in 2109. Duringthe chaos that ensued Pilarkat, fearful that hewould be mistaken for an Aberrant and slain,escaped by blasting a hole through the floorof the facility with the weapon of a fallenLegionnaire tunneling through the arcology

floor onto a lower level where he escaped intothe slums and eventually beyond thearcology’s walls.

In 2122, Pilarkat remains on the run,operating out of a tiny research facility he hasbuilt in the Himalayan foothills. He remainsundetectable on Taint scans as long as heactively uses his quantakinetic abilities toprevent the spread of the Taint in his body.He has managed to keep his location—andeven the fact that he still lives—a secret as hedesperately seeks a cure for his predicament.

Carlos Cantillo, ShelteredResearcher

Carlos Cantillo was a member ofJnyandeep deeply involved in the Aberrantresearch project until 2108 when he made acareer decision: he changed division toDhiren to become an Aberrant hunter. He wasone of the most successful of all the Dhirenand often worked in direct conjunction withthe Dhirendra.

When Proxy Bhurano made her call forall quantakinetics to return from the fieldCantillo was in his native South Americanjungle, hot on the trail of the elusive Aberrantknown as the Arboreal. He assumed that if hecould finish his hunt quickly and capture theArboreal, his lack of punctuality in returningto the clinic would be excused.

Being in the field, Cantillo missed theslaughter that followed. However, before hecould quietly slip into obscurity he wascaptured by the Nora. They offered him achose of being exposed to the other ordersand more than likely facing certain death, orcoming to work for them as the headresearcher of a small group of quantakineticsthey had managed to secretly capture duringthe Purge.

Cantillo, seeing no other choice,accepted the deal that the Norça put beforehim, and he continues to work in theirfacilities to this day. Over time, the Norçahave come to value Cantillo’s viewpoints notonly on the theories behind the interaction ofPsi and Taint, but also in techniques used tohunt Aberrants. (See Hidden Hives: NorçaChibs, page 51 for more information).

Icarus Zahn, RenegadeQuantakinetic

Icarus Zahn was a member of Dhirenwho served as an advance scout and fieldagent, rooting out Aberrants so more combatoriented members of the order could move infor the attack. At first, he had no qualms aboutcarrying out the Proxy’s orders. However, as

the situation became more and more tensebetween the different orders, Icarus began todoubt the wisdom of the Proxy.

When Proxy Bhurano gave thecommand for all agents in the field to return tothe clinic, Zahn turned rogue. Gatheringtogether a small group of friends and fellowscouts he quickly moved them into hiding inAntarctica where they remain to this day,avoiding capture in their subterranean complex(see Hidden Hives: Icarus’s Ice Marauders,page 52 for more information).

Noteworthy BharatiFiguresUlind Narang,Commonwealth PrimeMinister

Ulind Narang is the current PrimeMinister of the Bharati Commonwealth and thehead of the Bharati Federalist Party. Born in2056, his earliest memories are those ofterror throughout his country. Even with thedefeat of the Aberrants in 2061, the fearcontinued to tear the country apart—especially when the Pakistani invaded oneyear later.

It was looking as if his country wouldnever again know any peace to the six yearold Narang. However, with the foundation ofthe Commonwealth and the peace withPakistan, 2065 became the first time in hisentire life that Narang’s country had been atpeace.

Narang decided then that he woulddevote his life to preserving that union ofpeace. In 2077 he joined the BFP, and in2101, after holding several other posts innational and Commonwealth parliaments, hewas elected Commonwealth Prime Minister.He lost his position to the ITP in 2107, butreclaimed it in 2113 only to once again lose itin 2119. However, when the ITP PrimeMinister died in 2122 under mysteriouscircumstances, emergency voting proceduresshowed Narang to be the new PM.

Despite popularity lapses in hisprevious terms, Narang now seems to havethe support of a majority of theCommonwealth in his back pocket, and theanalysts—barring tragedy—are alreadypinning him for re-election in 2125.

Sadiq Younus, GreaterPakistani Party

Sadiq Younus is the head of theGreater Pakistani Party. He has served fourterms of office as a Commonwealth ParliamentRepresentative from Pakistan since 2101, andhe was recently elected to a fifth term in2122. He has plans to run for Prime Ministerin 2125 in hopes of bringing the GPP with himinto power.

Younus was an upstanding proponentfor Pakistani independence since he was ayouth, even so far as organizing studentprotests against the “corrupt Commonwealth”in his university days. However, his desire forindependence went from upstanding tosubversive in 2106 when he was contacted bythe Greater Pakistan terrorist movement.They easily turned the bitter representative’spatriotic streak into violent hatred of theCommonwealth and especially India. Eversince that time he has publicly remained anupstanding member of the Greater PakistaniParty in parliament, pleading for Pakistan’srights, but has been secretly smuggling fundsand supplies to the underground terroristmovement to “liberate” his homeland

Babak Zamani,Commonwealth Premiere

Babak Zamani grew up in a ruralcommunity in southern India and throughouthis youth he was taught about the old Hindutraditions and culture. It was no wonder thenthat when he decided to enter politics, hejoined the Indian Traditionalist Party.

He eventually entered office as anational representative in the IndianParliament and then, eventually, in 2110, hewas elected the Indian Territorial Governor.He served in this capacity until 2115 at whichtime he—to the amazment of India’s BFP-controlled parliament—won a second term.When the ITP took control of theCommonwealth Parliament again in 2119, hefelt he had enough experience in politics, andthis was his chance: he ran for—and won—the seat of Premiere in 2120.

To his horror, 2122 marked the end ofthe ITP’s gains as the CP once again fell intothe hands of the Bharati Federalists. Thesituation was only made worse by the deathof his friend and fellow ITP member, theCommonwealth Prime Minister, and the re-election of Ulind Narang in his stead.

Now, Zamani finds himself surroundedby enemies and struggling to hold up thedignity of himself and his party. Despite the

Nature of the Beast

Though at first glance it may seemthat Kavi Singh is a Stalwart (or even just anexceptional baseline, neutral or whateverother label for non-Inspired you chose), this isnot the case. For those of you withAdventure, Kavi Singh is a Daredeviltriggered by the Venezuela Phenomenon withthe Knacks One-Man Army, Steely Gaze, LieDetector, Indomitable Will and a Heroicvariant of Sun Tzu’s Blessing. In addition tothis, he has ability mastery in Command.

valiant effort he has made so far, the idea ofretirement six years early weighs on his mind.

Kala Subbaraman, AnimaGuru

Anima Culture found its birthplace in2106 in India when psi and biotech wererevealed to world at large, and this womanwas there from the start. Often viewed as tooold to be a member—let alone a leader—ofthis movement, the now 32 year oldSubbaraman is still devoted to her faith.

In fact, she currently leads the largestsect of Anima followers in human space andenjoys the absolute devotion and respect ofher disciples. Her following is so great; infact, that she is gaining some amount ofinfluence in the government which she usesto push for more biotech integrationthroughout the Commonwealth.

Her influence is not limited to theCommonwealth; however, and she hasnumerous contacts within the Chinese AnimaMusic Culture and Psi Nippon, much to thedismay of the Chinese and Nihonjingovernments.

Anupa Kelkar, Director ofInternational Diplomacy

The Bharati Diplomatic Corps has cometo true fruition under the leadership of Dr.Anupa Kelkar, the Director of InternationalDiplomacy as appointed by Ulind Narang in2101. She began her career in diplomacy inthe United Nations Ambassadorial Corps in2083 and is generally recognized as one ofthe leading authorities in her field.

Despite the shifts of power betweenthe ITP and the BFP she has retained herposition as each Prime Minister has observedher undeniable skills. The 57 year old Dr.Kelkar displays no interest in leaving herposition anytime soon and still maintains acool, calculating success in her negotiationswith foreign governments. Her trained teamsof diplomats are viewed as the best in humanspace and often loaned to the United Nationsto mediate disputes.

Kavi Singh, PunjabResistance LeagueCommander

Much of the Punjab ResistanceLeague’s recent success can be attributed tothe leadership of Kavi Singh, the man knownas the “Lion Poet.” .” He has a streak oftactical genius in him and has led several

successful raids against Pakistani militaryinstallations inside the Punjab and recentlyburned a number of mosques in a show ofopposition to the Pakistani, Islamicgovernment.

The Pakistani government sees Singhas nothing more than a thug and a terrorist,but to the Sikh population of the Punjab he isa freedom fighter struggling to create anindependent Punjabi nation, free from thetyranny imposed by the “greater” Bharatinations.

The general consensus amongPakistani officials is that if a concerted effortwas made to eradicate Kavi Singh and hisPunjab Resistance League then the movementwould easily be crushed beneath the might ofthe Pakistani army; the truth may be quite thecontrary; however, as it seems that Kavi Singhis almost superhumanly talented at what hedoes—perhaps only time will tell.

Character TemplatesThe following templates represent a

small sample of the characters one mightencounter from the Chitra Bhanu Order orfrom traveling through the BharatiCommonwealth. These individuals may beincorporated into a series with relative ease—either used as is, or modified to theStoryteller’s taste.

Disgruntled SurvivorNassir Samatar was born in the ruins ofBombay in 2072 to a middle classfamily. He enjoyed a relatively stablehome life and at school he progressedat an accelerated rate because of hisimpressive intellect. However, hiswhole life was changed duringhis college years when,during a fine arts class, hevisited Bollywood Studios.He was immediatelycaptured by the glamourof the movies and soonwithdrew fromuniversity at the age of22 with dreams ofbecoming a director.

He finally received anopportunity to make his ownfilms in 2101 with the release ofhis first movie—Cold HuntAberrant. Over the next sixyears he made various otherminor films, but none wereoverly successful. So in 2107when the Chitra Bhanuinformed him that he hadquantakinetic latency andthey wanted him to retake hisscholarly roots in theiremploy, he agreed, leaving hisdays in the cinema behind him.

He quickly progressed throughthe ranks of Jnyandeep with hisideas on theoretical physics,particularly in the arena of Taint.His fascination with the subject ofTaint lead him to be quicklyindoctrinated into the AberrantProject by early 2108. In thatenvironment he had foundhis niche. Quickly, hebecame one of the leading workersin handling unruly Aberrants and operatinganti-Aberrant equipment. Unfortunately, late

in 2108, an out of control Aberrant attackedhim, permanently damaging one of his eyes,even beyond the ability of the vitakinetics toheal.

As the fighting of the Quantakinetic Purge of2109 broke out, Nassir was working with anAberrant. When forces arrived in his area ofthe facility, he allowed the Aberrant to escape

to distract approaching Legion forces, andhe slipped into the ventilation shafts

and escaped just in time to seeSudhish Swati Bhurano disappear in abright flash of light. Since then hehas wandered the world alone,moving from place to place, takingon numerous different identities.

Image: Nassir Samatar is a wreck ofman. He shaves infrequently,generally keeping a face covered inseveral days worth of stubble. Hisclothes fare no better, and aregenerally dirty, wrinkled andunkempt. Generally he can beseen with a cigar in his mouthand a bottle in his hand, bothhabits he has picked up since thePurge. His left eye is covered byan eye patch, a constantreminder of his unlucky

encounter with an Aberrant.Nearing fifty years of age, Nassir issimply falling apart.

Roleplaying Hints: The worlddoesn’t do anyone any favors.If you want something goodto happen to you in thisworld, you have to make ityourself with your ownblood and your own sweat.The others orders deservewhatever hardships cometheir way and the more

suffering they go through thebetter for what they did to you.

Aptitude: Quantakinesis

Gear: Cheap cigars, flask ofwhiskey, 50 yuan, numerousfake IDs

The UN InvestigatorXavier Sloane was born the second son

of a moderately wealthy family in upperLondon. Raised with many privileges yet stillaware of the world around him, Sloane wasgiven a strict moral compass by both hissurroundings and his parents. When hecame of age and left college Sloane felt thebest way to utilize his skills was in theservice of others. While still somewhataccustomed to some of the fineries in life, hedecided to apply to the United Nations officein London in order to obtain an occupation.

While not the most physically adeptor even the brightest among the manyapplicants, Sloane possessed just theright balance of qualities andabilities that set him apart fromthe rest of the crop and wasquickly taken into the UN’smassive umbrella of influence.Though he had expectedmerely to be involved in eitherthe humanitarian effort orstandard policing duties thatthe UN is best known for,his superiors opted togroom him for a moreinteresting careerpathway. Givenspecialized coursescovering both psilaws and noetics ingeneral, Xavier wasmolded to becomeone of the UN’s fewelite psionicinvestigators. While thedetails of this positionwere kept from Sloane forthe better part of histraining he soon came tolearn that he was being givenone of the most prestigious,dangerous, and intriguing tasksthe United Nations had to offer:the unhindered policing andregulation of any and all illegal (orquestionable) psionic activitiesacross the globe and into space.

specialized field agents to keep the threat ofeven telepathic interference with theirobjectives to a minimum. Consolidating hismental and physical arsenal, Xavier was set

into some of the largest psionicinvestigations to come about inpresent history, including Huang-Marr. Currently, Xavier is in theprocess of investigating thepossibility of rogue Chitra Bhanustill residing within the Bharati

Commonwealth and surroundingareas.

Image: Xavier stands a fulltwo meters in height and

sports some of themore classic Europeanfeatures. He is alwaysimmaculately dressedand generallydisplays some formof UN identificationon his person.

Roleplaying Hints:In your life, there

are two constants,right and wrong, and you

are well aware of exactlyhow much of each isrealistic in the modernworld. You are a realist andpragmatist, a stable andintuitive judge of bothsituation and character. Atthis time, you have almostno preconceived notionsabout anyone, for you havelearned that everyone hasthe capacity for both goodand evil, even the media’sdarling psions. You are nostranger to violence but avoidit if you can; there’s no needfor it in most instances toyour mind.

Aptitude: none, but he doeshave the Thought Disciplineability (for each dot hepossesses in the ability, 1success on any telepathy rollagainst him is canceled)

Gear: Banji Cycloneautopistol, ceramiccollapsible cane (breaks into

two short batons for use with Escrimatechniques), minicomp, various investigationand monitoring devices

Sloane’s drastically developedmoral and ethical qualities made himand excellent candidate for this posi-tion, given that he could analyze asituation, evaluate its repercussionsand then dismiss it accordingly should nothreat be involved. His unique outlook alsomade him a nominee for the special “ThoughtDiscipline” program given to the most

Up and Coming DiplomatMariah Tellefsen was never what could

be called a “standard” child. Raised by herparents in some of the poorer districts of NewDelhi she was always the odd kid out amongboth her friends and family. She wasimpetuous and bold, with a sharpwit andgracefuldemeanorand oftenwas placedoutside thestandardflow ofinteractionsimplybecause of herstrikinglyactivedisposition.

A l w a y s theinnovator and renegade, she had highaspirations to one day become one ofthe elite militia corps she watched onher holovids. She was fascinated bythe glittering armor, the exoticlifestyle, and, most of all, the authority.Absolute and unclouded control over asituation was like a beacon to heroutcast personality. How better tobecome comfortable in the world thanto harness some of the influence itoffered and use it to make oneselfheard? This dream became Mariah’sdrive and goal in life and as she grewolder she took great care to keepinformed on all of the current entryrequirements and then train herselfto suit them accordingly.

While aware of the diplomatictraining that was required to attainher goal, she was unprepared forthe fascinating new possibilities theoccupation of diplomat offered. Shelearned how to control a room with herattire, how to dictate terms with a glance,how to, in essence, rule the world withoutever having to do more than calmly ask forthe power it was willing to give. Intrigued byher courses and training in the verbal andformal arts, Mariah opted to postpone hermilitary training in light of a short stint in theDiplomatic Corps. The world now open to herwas unbelievable, she was meeting, greetingand in some cases influencing the mostpowerful minds in the world simply by learn-ing how to properly interact with them andthe nations they represented.

She quickly adapted to the high-tension mode present in delicate negotiationsand in fact made it her specialty. If there wasa situation where all means were exhausted, atime when life or death meant knowing thedifference between respect and etiquetteacross a negotiating table, Mariah was there.Since her youth she has become an

imposing and aggressive force among theCommonwealth diplomats and still

manages to keep a handful of high levelcontacts in the military she onceadored so strongly (there is more thanone way to impress a general).

It is true however, that eventhe strongest minds have their limit,and Mariah is no exception. Her lastthree years in the Diplomatic Corpshave slowly ground her patiencedown and she is beginning to showsigns of favoring aggressivemilitary action over extendednegotiations. This is only a slighttendency however and whenever itis brought up she works doublyhard to dissipate it once more.Her current position is liaisonbetween the Chinese military andthe Commonwealth nationalforces, a task to which she is wellsuited.

Roleplaying Hints: Fortune favorsthe bold, and you’re as bold asthey come. Try to find a way torule the day through words, but ifits necessary coming to blows isnot to be overlooked as anoption. Having control of yourenvironment is absolutelyessential.

Image: Mariah is youthfuldespite her near twelve years inthe diplomatic arena andattempts to stray from excessand extravagance in her attire

whenever possible; extremes ofappearance can dramatically alter a situationsimply by giving an undertone of arrogance orpompousness. Her favorite color though is adeep red shade that dominates much of herwardrobe, seeing as how red in itselfgenerates a presence of authority andstrength.

Gear: minicomp with all the latest informationon virtually all customs, political affiliationsand national standings, the best vocodermoney can buy and a mountain of referencematerial for almost any occasion.

Aberrant CultistZachariah Koyama is a man on the

brink of all that is human. Born on theoutskirts of the Bharati Commonwealth in apoor independent village (independent inthat it was too small for the governmentto ever take notice or offer support) hewas raised in a state of near constantfear and depression. Starvation, diseaseand political uprisings claimed the livesof all of Koyama’s immediate family andmost of his childhood friends by thetime he reached age twenty.

Despite all this, Koyamamanaged to build a family of hisown within the village,marrying a local woman andeventually having two childrenwith her. Living in their handbuilt house the family wasnever what one would callhappy, but they managed tostay at least hopeful that oneday their state wouldsomehow miraculously alter.This wish would be grantedsoon, though none would everhave guessed the means.

In early 2117 a smallboarder skirmish betweennational forces and guerillaactivists broke into anoutright slaughter. The battlelasted for a few days andeventually spilled into thevillage, killing Koyama’s wifeand threatening those of hischildren. At the climax of thefighting a bright light enteredthe city and from it emergedthe horror of the modernworld—an Aberrant. Thecreature subsequently laidwaste to both sides in theconflict and began toretreat into the wasteswhere it would not be followed. Zachariahhad witnessed the event through pained andgrief stricken eyes as the death of his wifehad hopelessly mauled his conscious mind.All he could see was the glorious aberrantarriving in a scene of death and destructionand bringing peace. He did not notice thecharred and mangled bodies strewn across thelandscape as he told his children to pack andfollow him into the wilderness after theAberrant.

Several months of searching passed,and finally Koyama stumbled upon the

Aberrant’s camp, filled with humanfollowers. There, he pledged both his life andhis children’s to the would-be-god and toldhim that if the “Great Peaceful One” wouldallow it, he would appreciate being allowed tostay with the camp in the service of the

aberrants. The Aberrant, styling himselfVighneshwer, accepted graciously andallowed the family to stay as well treatedand taken care of servants.

Zachariah is and has not been inhis rational mind since the death of hiswife. He believes that given time and

effort he can earn the favor ofVighneshwer and that the aberrant

will then return his dead wife tohim. While his children are notnecessarily as bent on theirpresent situation as their father(they posses a vagueunderstanding of the real worldand who Vighneshwer really is)they are far too young to questiontheir father and completely unableto make it away from the cult ontheir own should they try.

Image: Zachariah is of averageheight and well muscled for his size.Years of traveling with the cult havetaken their toll on him and thoughhis age is beginning to show hemaintains a fair degree of health. Hisstandard dress leans towards theeccentric to match that of hisbenefactors. He has some form offace paint on his body that hearranges to (in his mind) reflect thereligious aspects of his masterVighneshwer.

Roleplaying Hints: You arecompletely devoted to yourseemingly divine master and takegreat offense at anyone whoshould try to impress upon youthe implications of several ofthe cult members being

slavering taint-infested men. Your responseto this is that Vighneshwer is all-acceptingand that he takes in even the underprivilegedas long as they are faithful to the way. Youare a strong and willful follower and fatherand would do anything for your real family aswell as your newfound aberrant “family”.

Gear: various rations and supplies along withany salvaged weapons for self-defense.

Quantakinetic PrisonerSeyas Dama’Arcis was the only child of

mixed heritage Indians. Part Indian, Chinese,and Austronesian, he was the one of the firstand most well versed members of the ChitraBhanu after the orders revealed themselves tosociety. Recruited at a remarkably early age,Seyas advanced quickly within the order if notwith his own abilities. He was bright, kind andquiet, an excellent example of theintuitive and inquiring attitude theorder sought in its members. Atthe time of the purge Seyas wasdoing heavy meditation trainingattempting to gain insight intothe powers which until this pointhe had been unable to generate inany notable form. He wasdetained after being found alonein a sensory deprivationchamber attempting franticallyto access his abilities fordefense. He was immediatelyhauled off to amaximum-securityfacility, outfittedwith a psi collarand a straightjacket and put intosolitary for the nextten years.Imprisoned, alone,and completely cut fromworld interaction andcurrent information, Seyasslowly began to go madwithin the small 10x10 cell.The incessant hum of sentrygun turrets and the muffledfootfalls of the exteriorguard rotations temperedevery thought he had.Had he notremembered hismeditation exercises he wouldsurely have gone completely insane.

Seyas decided to continue his formerfocuses and adapt them to his current situation.Despite his familiarity with the Chitra Bhanuorder and their inner workings, several of thedetails surrounding the actual purge weredistorted and nonsensical to him. He began toponder the “ripple effect”, the idea that everyaction in turn plays off another and another andso on. Using this thread of meditation coupledwith his sharp memory he was able to graduallypiece together much of the mysterysurrounding the purge and what actually causedit.

He stumbled upon the revelation that proxyBhurano must have been under undue influencefrom some outside force and that this influencewas somehow directly involved in the fall of theorder. During this time Seyas was able to gainenlightenment on his powers as well. With hismind now being separated from his noetic senseshe was able to analyze them from and exteriorstandpoint and realized that should he manage toescape the facility his abilities would grow quickly.Luckily, his wait was soon ended.

The facility in which Seyas was being heldwas in fact a maximum-security prison designedfor the expressed purpose of detaining aberrantsand studying them ad nauseum. Dozens of smallaberrant mutants along with at least three

moderately powerful aberrants were detainedand vivisected here during Seyas’s tenure.At some point during 2120 the prison wasattacked by a small group of very potentaberrants presumably at the direction ofthe Colony. Seyas managed to escapethe facility in the interim between theend of the attack and themobilization of reinforcements.

Now on the run andconstantly hunted by the otherorders, Seyas is on a personalmission to both vindicate his orderand see its eventual revival. At thistime he is now an exceptionalQuantikinetic with abilities thatwould easily earn him a place

within any psi institute or militarycommand.

Image: Seyas is relatively tall andsomewhat thin, as his time in prison hasmade him accustomed to not eatingregularly. He typically wears whateverthe local fashion is; however, his clothesare always the cheapest and leastobvious he can find. He still keeps hisold straightjacket though, and has evenhad it retailored into a somewhatreinforced shirt, he thinks of it as asouvenir.

Roleplaying Hints: You are one of the lastof your kind, a nearly unique being in theuniverse. Beyond this, you an incredible amountof power at your disposal should you ever chooseto use it. Now is not the time however, force is apersision instrument, retribution for your harshimprisonment must be dealt with as though it wasa scalpel and not a club. You are cold andgraceful, a force of nature destined to help yourorder be reborn out of the ashes of its destruction.

Gear: reinforced clothing, rations, a small amountof money just in case, fake ID and passport.

Appendix1947- The British Empire withdrawsfrom the Indian subcontinent.1998- Aberrants appear, they beginto almost immediately declaringthemselves gods throughout India.2001- First attempts to quell out thebelief that these Indian Aberrants aregods made by the Æon Society.2005- Attempts to halt these“Aberrant Gods” largely fail due to thedevotion of the Indian people. Futureattempts to correct these Aberrants’beliefs are sporadic and inevitably fail.2014- India has the largest populationof any nation on Earth.2018- Bangladesh’s landscape isrejuvenated by the Aberrants,providing extremely fertile farminglands for the overpopulated nation.2020- Aberrants help Nepal sky-rocket itself within a two year periodto one of the most prominent nationsin the fields of digital technologies,computers and OpNet networking.2037- Kabul sacked by Aberrants.Afghan civil war begins.2047- First Conference for theConsolidation of the Indian Bloc meetsin New Delhi, forming the IndianLeague consisting of Nepal, Sri Lanka,India, Bhutan and Bangladesh.2049- The United Nations declareswar on the Aberrants.2051- Official Indian Leaguelegislation outlaws “self deification” bythe Aberrants throughout the membernations. The Aberrant known asThunder Dragon submerges the city ofThimpu.2056- The Bombay Crisis occurs.2057- The Aberrant group known asthe Followers of Brahma petition forsanctuary on lands chosen by theIndian League. Conflict erupts at theirtrial, resulting in their deaths. Thetranscript of their trial turns manypeople against their former “gods.”2061- The OpNet Crash decimatesNepal’s technological utopia. TheUltimatum drives a majority ofremaining Aberrants off Earth. Indiacontinues to put significant portionsof their funds into rooting outremaining Aberrants.2062-2064- The Pakistani Conquestoccurs.2064-The Second Conference for theConsolidation of the Indian Bloc meetsin New Delhi. This marks the formalfoundation of the United BharatiNations. S.K. Bhurano born.

2065-The Third, Fourth and FifthConferences for the Consolidation of theIndian Bloc renamed the region theBharati Commonwealth, assimilatedAfghanistan and Pakistan and establishthe modern structure of theCommonwealth government.2076- First Commonwealth-wide internalOpNet system goes online spearheadedby Nepal.2080-S.K Bhurano’s father, KieeBhurano, falls victim to Ant FarmSyndrome in the crowded Bombaymetropolis. S.K. Bhurano’s interestmoves from physics to psychology.2083-The Bombay Arcology declaredoperational.2087-S.K. Bhurano opens a charity clinicin Bombay for victims of psychologicaldisorders.2099- First World Ethics Conferenceheld in Bombay.2103- S.K. Bhurano takes a sabbaticaland returns as the quantakinetic proxy.Upon her return, she converts sectionsof her Bombay Clinic into researchfacilities for her minute Order.2104- S.K. Bhurano begins working withProxy Zweidler to establish modernNoetic Theory.2106- The Orders go public.2107- Project Haromony begins underthe supervision of Proxy Bhurano’syoungest sister, Swati Bhurano. TheProject attempts to explore the nature ofTaint and find a cure.2109- First Noetic Conference. Paranoiaover the Chitra Bhanu’s supposedinvolvement with Aberrants reachesfever pitch and all Chibs are called fromthe field back to the Bombay Clinic. TheChib Purge occurs, a few rouge chibsescape.2119- The Indian Traditionalist Partywins a majority of seats in theCommonwealth Parliament, barelydefeating the Bharati Federalist Party.Over the next three years they manageto pass a series of laws that areextremely unpopular with non-Hindus.2122- Present time. The BharatiFederalist Party once again controls theCommonwealth Parliament, but dislikefor India still grows within the non-Hindu nations of the Commonwealth.The Venezuela Phenomenon originatesfrom a Norça research facility.

-FIN-

Dark Psions wander...

The Chitra Bhanu--dark psions, chibs--were those rare psions giftedwith the most remarkable of abilities, the ability to control the veryfabric of the universe. The quantum forces of gravity, electromagne-tism and weak and strong nuclear forces were their playground.They seemed to be the most powerful, shining beacon for the de-fense of humanity against the Aberrants, and they made their homein a land that shared their glorious brightness--the Bharati Com-monwealth. Until they themselves fell to the Aberrants’ darkpursuit...or did they?

Bright Home Abandoned...

India Underground delves into the secrets of the fallen Chitra Bhanupsi order and the glorious beacon of the Bharati Commonwealth.Learn what it is like to be one of the survivors of the quantakineticpurge, to have the very building blocks of the universe bend to yourwill. Discover how the Bharati Commonwealth has survived andthrived despite the loss of the psi order that called it home, andhow the member nations work with and against each other for thegreater glory of the Commonwealth. Find out what caused thedownfall of the Chitra Bhanu... and what might be their ultimatefate.

India Underground Includes:

* Expanded, full colour source material on the Chitra Bhanu * Detailed information on the nature of quantakinesis, including

full powers * Revealing information on the Bharati Commonwealth and its

member nations