Plumbers (Classic)

The Plumbers, informally referred to as Red Spots,The More Things Change: Part 2 are an intergalactic law enforcement organization that makes use of high-tech gadgets and weapons to protect the universe from various threats and attacks. The name has also been used by an independent and secret government organization that protects the general public of Earth.
==History==
===Prime Timeline===
====Background====
The independent Earth Plumbers, initially known as the Plumbiers, were first established by the Founding Fathers in the 1700's. George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were some of the first members.A New DawnUltimate Weapon
The Plumbers were created to "plug the leaks" (hence their name) in the normal everyday world like monsters and ghosts, making sure such oddities were not discovered or encountered by humans. Operating in secret, the Plumbers took on anything too tough or weird for normal law enforcement to handle.
At the time of its establishments, all governments on Earth became aware of the Plumbers, secretly recognizing them as the best in dealing with alien threats.Colonel RozumFame This would eventually lead to the development of many secret bases within significant locations across the country such as Mt. Rushmore,Secrets Fort Knox, and the Space Needle.Ben 10 vs. Negative 10: Part 1
The Plumbers fought mostly paranormal and dimensional trouble until the early 1800's. As they began encountering extraterrestrial life, the warlord Vilgax became the Plumbers' primary adversary. Vilgax would ultimately be defeated by a Plumber named Max Tennyson.
At some unknown point, the Plumbers developed a generations-long feud with the Lenopans until a close relationship was formed between Max's nephew Joel Tennyson and a Lenopan named Camille Mann. A ceasefire between the two species was forged, with their wedding years later serving to put an end to years of fighting.Big Fat Alien Wedding
Before disbanding, the Earth Plumbers became aware of the Forever Knights' existence and some of their alien collecting activities. At the time, they were known by their code name "The Organization".Max TennysonA Small Problem
Though most of the Plumbers eventually disbanded over the years, Max and a few other members remained in a semi-active capacity. During this period, Max's family somehow learned of his experiences as a Plumber, with his son Carl being especially conflicted about his father's line of work.Grounded
====Ben 10====
At some point prior to the Original Series, Max heard rumors of a powerful device known as the Omnitrix through his Plumber and off-world connections.Hunted Though he initially dismissed them, they were eventually proven true when his grandson Ben obtained it during a road trip with Max and his cousin Gwen. Effectively forced out of retirement, Max used his Plumber experience and related gear and weaponry to aid his family.
In Secrets, Max and Gwen visited the Plumber base at Mt. Rushmore to collect a special weapon after a returning Vilgax captured Ben to remove the Omnitrix.
In Truth, Max's past as a Plumber was revealed to Ben and Gwen before eventually crossing paths with Max's former partner Phil Billings. However, they would learn that Phil had stolen the Null Void Projector stored at Mt. Rushmore as a part of a scam to profit from catching aliens he himself had released. Phil's plan was thwarted by the Tennysons, who sent him to the Null Void.
In Ghostfreaked Out, Max used a Plumber weapon known as a Sun Gun to help Ben destroy Zs'Skayr after he freed himself from the Omnitrix.
In Big Fat Alien Wedding, the Plumbers' relationship with the Lenopans is explored as Camille's parents and ex-boyfriend scheme to stop her wedding with Joel. However, the evil Lenopans were defeated by the Tennysons with extra help from Camille and thus she and Joel were married.
Though they were similarly against the marriage for different reasons, Gordon and Betty Jean Tennyson eventually realized how unfairly they had treated Camille. Assisting her and the other Tennysons present, Joel's parents accepted Camille as their daughter-in-law, thus putting an end to the Plumber/Lenopan feud.
In Ben 10 vs. Negative 10: Part 1, Max reveals to Ben and Gwen that Fort Knox and the Space Needle used to be Plumber bases. However, members of the Negative 10 broke into both locations, stealing special keys for a hidden vault in the Mt. Rushmore base.
In Ben 10 vs. Negative 10: Part 2, it was revealed that the Mt. Rushmore base contained the Sub-Energy, which was locked in a vault that could only be unlocked using the keys stolen by the Negative 10.
====Five Years Prior to Omniverse====
The Rooters were a secret black-ops branch of the original Earth Plumbers who a powerful rank within the organization.Rook Blonko Though Rooter operatives answered to the High Protectorate, only the Magistrata outranked their leader Servantis.The Rooters of All Evil When Earth joined the galactic Plumbers, the Rooters were retained as an "experiment in cultural sensitivity".MagistrataWeapon XI: Part 2
The experiment was discontinued when Servantis became paranoid over Ben's possession of the Omnitrix and began conducting illegal activities in the extradimensional Null Void. Using Ben's rival Kevin Levin to infuse a group of young humans with foreign DNA provided by captive aliens like Argit, he created a specialized strike force that could hopefully destroy Ben.Weapon XI: Part 1
However, despite having sent them on preparation missions, Servantis declared the entire project a failure after Kevin went insane from absorbing the Omnitrix's energy (again). Wiping his subjects' memories, he released them into the Null VoidArgit while also planting false memories in Max's mind. Although the Rooters created Aggregor as a replacement, they would later memory-wipe and release him as well once Ben suddenly stopped using the Omnitrix.Ben Tennyson Servantis perceived this development as the threat Ben allegedly posed as having passed.
Max had Victor Valadis discharged for treason and illegal possession of advanced technology, sending him out of Bellwood along with his daughter Elena to an unknowing Ben's dismay.Ben 10: Alien Swarm
====Alien Force====
Sometime prior to Alien Force, Max learned that the Highbreed and DNAliens were up to no good and warned Magister Labrid before going missing in action.
In Ben 10 Returns: Part 1, Labrid mistakenly tried to capture Ben and Gwen, believing they were stealing the Omnitrix. Upon learning who they were, he asked for their assistance in finding the reason for Max's disappearance. The three of them managed to interrupt an arms deal between the Forever Knights and DNAliens with Kevin as the middleman. After a brief battle, they captured Kevin and convinced him to help them find out what was going on; Kevin decided to as he was not paid. They tracked the weapons back to one of the Forever Knights' castles.
In Ben 10 Returns: Part 2, Labrid was fatally wounded during a battle with the Forever Knights. His dying wish was for Ben and his friends to finish the mission and he thus charged them with protecting Earth.
In Everybody Talks About the Weather, it was revealed that Plumbers possess special badges. All of these bear the intergalactic peace symbol that is also the symbol of the Galvan race and Omnitrix. There is also a practice where alien Plumbers who have interbred give their offspring a badge to prevent them from being arrested for interplanetary trespass, as demonstrated with former Rooter operative Alan Albright.
In Plumbers' Helpers, former Rooter operatives Helen Wheels and Manny Armstrong attacked Ben and his team, capturing Kevin and nearly sending him back to the Null Void. However, they were eventually convinced to stand down after a database search and a message from Helen's brother Pierce made them realize they might have imprisoned fellow Plumbers as well.
In Darkstar Rising, Ben, Gwen and Kevin were forbidden to fight the Highbreed by Magister Prior Gilhil, who doubted they were a threat. However, his opinion changed after he, Ben, Kevin and a Highbreed were captured by Michael Morningstar to feed his powers. With the help of some DNAliens, Gwen freed them and Morningstar was arrested while the other villains escaped. In gratitude, Gilhil made the team honorary Plumbers so they could legally defend Earth.
In Voided, the Plumbers in the Null Void under the command of Max fought against Aloysius Animo to stop him from leaving to conquer Earth with an army of enslaved Null Guardians.
In War of the Worlds: Part 1, Gwen, Kevin, Cooper, Alan, and Professor Paradox warped into the Plumber base in Mt. Rushmore to free Morningstar for his help in defending Earth from the Highbreed and DNAliens. As such, Ben and his extended team participated in a final battle against the invaders.
In War of the Worlds: Part 2, Ben's team was joined by Max and his Plumbers' Helpers. When the Highbreed invasion was thwarted, Max recruited them, Alan, and Cooper as a team of Plumbers-in-training with himself as their leader and mentor.
In Vengeance of Vilgax: Part 1, Max's team fought and was defeated by a newly-resurgent Vilgax.
In Above and Beyond, most of the Plumbers' Helpers were sent to a space station when Max was seemingly attacked by Ben, only for it to be revealed as an elaborate team-building exercise.
In Vendetta, Ragnarok escaped from the Null Void's Incarcecon to draw out Kevin by attempting to destroy Earth's sun with a special ship. Max's "past relationship" with Kevin's father were also explore, though these memories were later revealed to have been falsified.
====Ultimate Alien====
During the flashback portion of Escape From Aggregor, Gilhil answered a distress call from Galapagus aboard Aggregor's Ship, only to be told by the roaming Aggregor that the distress call was an error. After demanding a search, he located Aggregor's prisoners only to be murdered by him.
In Fame, a defeated Bivalvan was approached by who he thought were the Plumbers but was actually Aggregor.
In Escape From Aggregor, Aggregor disguised himself as a Plumber using the suit and ship he stole from Gilhil to recapture Galapagus.
In Too Hot to Handle, it was revealed that Plumber Badges can act as radiation detectors. When Aggregor attacked the ship carrying P'andor, the Plumbers onboard were thrown into space where they suffocated to death.
In Ultimate Aggregor, a squadron of Plumbers attempted to arrest Aggregor and liberate Ra'ad, only to be killed by the villain's ship. Fortunately, the lead Plumber was able to inflict enough damage to prevent Aggregor from leaving Earth.
In Deep, a Plumber Central Command was referenced by Magister Pyke, a Piscciss Volann Plumber stationed on Piscciss.
In The Enemy of My Enemy, a Plumbers' Academy made an appearance and Magister Coronach ran it, though he did not approve of the place being a prison or battlefield.
In Basic Training, Ben, Gwen and Kevin were sent to a different Plumbers' Academy where they were trained by Magister Hulka, the toughest Plumber of all.
In The Purge, Pierce came into conflict with the Forever Knights only to be quickly dispatched by them.
In A Knight to Remember, a squadron of Plumbers helped Ben, Gwen, and Kevin fight the Flame Keepers' Circle in an attempt to capture Vilgax but failed.
Sometime after The Ultimate Enemy: Part 2, Vilgax was taken into Plumber custody after being defeated once more by Ben, this time using the Ascalon.Vilgax Must Croak
====Omniverse====
The Plumber Headquarters beneath Max's Plumbing in Bellwood is where most villains are imprisoned if they are not sent to the Null Void or elsewhere.
In A Jolt From the Past, the Plumbers arrested Fistrick and his gang for using unwilling Nosedeenians as living batteries.
In Outbreak, Plumber Headquarters was infiltrated by Dr. Psychobos, who stole a piece of Ben's current Omnitrix. This indirectly caused Rook Blonko and several imprisoned criminals to be temporarily mutated with DNA from Ben's transformations until Blukic and Driba fixed the Omnitrix.
In Showdown: Part 1, Rook mentioned that all members of the Plumber Special Forces have access codes to Galvan Prime.
In Vilgax Must Croak, the Plumbers attempted to transport a captured Vilgax to Incarcecon in space. However, Attea and the bounty hunters SixSix, SevenSeven and EightEight attempted to assassinate Vilgax so her father Milleous could conquer Vilgaxia. Though Attea's group failed, the incident gave Vilgax an opening to escape.
In Rad, Plumber agents trapped within Incursean territory were rescued with the help of Rad Dudesman.
In The Frogs of War: Part 1, the Incurseans invaded Earth and exiled Ben, leading the remaining Plumbers to be captured.
In The Frogs of War: Part 2, Ben managed to infiltrate the Incursean armada controlling Earth as Bullfrag after he had been rescued by Azmuth. After Milleous and Psychobos were defeated, Attea usurped her father and withdrew his forces.
In Mud is Thicker Than Water, Gorvan infiltrated the Plumbers and allowed Psyphon and his gang to acquire their technology.
In The Rooters of All Evil, the remaining Rooters assaulted Plumber Headquarters upon realizing that Ben was using the Omnitrix again. During this period, Servantis removed Max's fake memories while accidentally restoring Kevin's. However, they departed once they learned Kevin escaped. Kevin began locating and restoring the memories of those also involved with the Rooters, starting with Argit.
In Universe vs. Tennyson, the Plumbers were repeatedly stymied by Chadzmuth, who exploited numerous loopholes to have criminals released or their sentences reduced.
In Weapon XI: Part 1, Kevin and Argit located Alan and restored his memories while Gwen and Rook located Helen and Manny. However, when everyone was brought together into the Null Void, Servantis subjected Kevin, Alan, Helen and Manny to brainwashing, turning them on Ben, Gwen, Rook and Argit.
In Weapon XI: Part 2, Kevin revealed that he had been ignoring Servantis's control before defeating him and freeing the kids. The intergalactic Plumbers' Magistrata then arrived to strip Servantis and his crew of their ranks and equipment, effectively leaving them stranded in the Null Void and at the mercy of its inhabitants, specifically the Way Bads.
In The Final Countdown, the Plumbers assisted Ben in capturing Yetta. However, the Plumber HQ in Bellwood was launched into space with the core ejected during an attack by Kundo.
====Omniverse Future====
In the future, the Plumbers wear armored suits as their standard uniforms. Kevin is assigned to keep the Rooters at bay in the Null Void, lest they escape.The End of an Era
In The End of an Era, the Plumbers and various individuals throughout the galaxy are having a celebration of Max's retirement and the passing of his position to Rook.
===Alternate Timelines/Dimensions===
====Dimension 23====
In Dimension 23, the intergalactic Plumbers are led by that reality's Azmuth. Max's counterpart had died by the time Ben found the Omnitrix.
In Store 23, the Plumbers of Dimension 23 sought to take Ben 23's Omnitrix. Despite being outmatched, a visiting Ben Prime convinced his counterpart that Azmuth's Plumbers (along with other aliens) posed no real threat.
====Race Against Time Timeline====
This timeline's Plumbers had been fighting against mostly supernatural threats up until Eon appeared on Earth in the 1800's, at which point they made it their main objective to protect the Hands of Armageddon from him over the next 200 years.
Over time, the Plumbers kept the Hands hidden in an underground base. They did not make the connection between Eon and the Omnitrix until earlier in the summer due to similar energy signatures.
In Ben 10: Race Against Time , the Plumbers assisted Team Tennyson in their ordeal with Eon while taking up various jobs in Bellwood so as to not cause suspicion.Ben 10: Race Against Time
==Known Plumbers==
===Active Members===
====Prime Timeline====
*Ben Tennyson (deputized agent; semi-active)
*Max Tennyson (magister)
*Gwen Tennyson (deputized agent; semi-active)
*Rook Blonko
*Magister Patelliday
*Galvan
**Blukic (technician)
**Driba (technician)
**Luhley
**Galvan Teacher
*Drax (cadet)
*Fistina (cadet)
*Scout
*Lucy Mann
*Jerry (Inhuman Resources office manager)
*Magister Arnux
*Plumbers' Helpers
**Alan Albright
**Helen Wheels
**Manny Armstrong
**Cooper
*Rook Shar (cadet-in-training)
*Bromeba
*Stick Doug
*Leadfoot
*Chortle
*Tack
*Alpha Squad
**Hobble
**Molly Gunther
**Zorian
**Brannigan
*Magister Pyke
*Bryk
*Morty
*Elliot
*Sheriff Wat-Senn
*I.M. Werfzel
*Magistrata
*Magister Coronach (teacher)
*Magister Hulka
*Joel Tennyson
*Bel Biv Kaboom
*Plumber Medic (medic)
*FleebitJerryThe Final Countdown
====Race Against Time Timeline====
*Max Tennyson
*Edward White
*Doris Dalton
*Hawkins
*Fire Chief Whittington
*Mr. Enguells
*Mr. Jenyx
*Mrs. Carlyle
*Old Man
====Dimension 23====
*Azmuth
*Tetrax Shard
*SevenSeven
====Omniverse Future Timeline====
*Ben Tennyson (Omniverse Future Timeline)
*Rook Blonko
*Kevin Levin
*Blukic
*Bryk
*Molly Gunther
*Zorian
*Magister Arnux
*Elliot
*I.M. Werfzel
===Honorary Members===
====Prime Timeline====
*Camille Mann
*Xylene
===Former Members===
====Prime Timeline====
*Kevin Levin (discharged)
*Wes Green (retired)
*Gordon Tennyson (retired)
*Betty Jean Tennyson (retired)
*Magister Labrid (deceased)
*Rooters (discharged)
**Servantis
**Swift
**Leander
**Phil Billings
*Michael Morningstar's FatherDarkstar Rising
*Vreedle Brothers (discharged)
**Octagon Vreedle
**Rhomboid Vreedle
*Magister Prior Gilhil (deceased)
*Plumbiers (subsumed)
**George Washington (deceased)
**Benjamin Franklin (deceased)
*Sir Driscoll (discharged)
*Pierce Wheels (deceased)
*Victor Valadis (deceased)
====Race Against Time Timeline====
*Constantine Jacobs (deceased)
====Dimension 23====
*Max Tennyson (deceased)
===Non-Canon Members===
*Plen Stroff
*Ilma Nar
*Tini Rau
*Skraprr Byakko
*Judicator
==Known Allies==
*Azmuth
*The Secret Scientists
**Secret SaturdaysT.G.I.S. 
==Legislations ==
There are restrictions on Technology Levels in certain areas of the known universe, as well as classifications for said technologies.
The Plumbers have an equivalent of Human Resources called Inhuman Resources (IR for short),Mud is Thicker Than Water which is a bureaucratic department that does tedious things like filling out forms, taking complaints and filing. The Payroll Department is also part of IR.
==Plumber Rankings==
*Magistrata/Magistratus
*Proctor
* Magister
*Agent
*Deputy
*Cadet/Cadet-in-Training
==Locations==
 
*Plumber Headquarters (Alien Swarm)
*Plumber Headquarters (Omniverse)
*Plumbers' Academy
*Plumbers' Research Satellite Delta
*Mt. Rushmore
*Fort Knox
*Space Needle
*Moon
*Rooter Headquarters (formerly)
==Organizations==
*Plumbiers (subsumed)
*Rooters (discharged)
==Equipment==
*Plumber Suit
*Plumber Badge
*Plumber Ship
==Etymology==
The Plumbers are named after the real-life White House Plumbers, a group tasked with stopping or preventing the leakage of classified information to the public during Richard Nixon's presidency.
==Trivia==
*When the Plumbers were first introduced, it was originally stated that they retired sometime after Vilgax was defeated in the 70s. However, it is later revealed that the Plumbers were active a few years prior to the Original Series, long enough for Joel and Camille to have met.
*The point in time in which the Earth Plumbers integrated with the galactic Plumbers is unclear:
**In Moonstruck, it was stated that Max was recruited by Magister Labrid for the organization, implying that they had integrated before Max joined.
**In Rook Tales, Max recounted the integration of the organization, having been rivals with Sheriff Wat-Senn, implying the process occurred during his initial tenure. Correlating with this, Phil recalled Magister Patelliday being the first alien he saw at an Earth Plumber base.Max's Monster
**According to Derrick J. Wyatt, the Earth Plumbers integrated with the galactic Plumbers at some point between Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens and the Omniverse flashbacks.
*Impersonating a Plumber is an interstellar-class felony.Magister Prior Gilhil
*Among a few others, the Incurseans, Area 51 and most of the Anur System do not recognize or acknowledge the authority of the Plumbers.
*The Plumbers are primarily forbidden from arresting humansKevin LevinViktor: The Spoils except if they have proven themselves significant threats and/or involved with alien-related matters. They also have the authority to take other Plumbers into custody.
*The Plumbers work for officials such as Judge Domstol. 
**Despite being a trusted advisor, Azmuth has no authority over the Plumbers.
*Even though there are other interplanetary and intergalactic law enforcement agencies besides the Plumbers and Galactic Enforcers, the Plumbers are the only such organization recognized by all signatories of the Milky Way Treaty.
*The Plumbers built garbage trucks, station wagons and a riding lawnmower with weapons and gadgets like the Rustbucket.
* Jetpack repair is a basic skill taught to Plumber cadets.Divided We Stand
*Regardless of the timeline, the Plumbers have many secret bases hidden in ordinary and public places. Throughout the United States, at least one base has been built in every state, including almost every major military base in the country.
**Similarly, not all Plumbers are fighters like Max. Many current and former Plumbers are scientists, researchers, explorers, teachers, and technicians.
==Notes==
==References==
===Crew Statements===
====Derrick J. Wyatt====
====Eugene Son====
====Dwayne McDuffie====
====Matt Wayne====
===Pop-Up Trivia===
===Audio Commentary===
===Ben 10 Planet===
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Category:Plumbers
Category:Groups
Category:Allies
Category:Heroes
Category:Dimension 23
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Category:Alternate Timelines