X-51

X-51 is a group of former Majestic 12 scientists, technicians, and ex-United States soldiers, led by Dr. Gary Savage, who defected from Area 51 in 2051 after learning about the shadowy intentions of Majestic 12, the secret organization led by Bob Page. 
They are the only institution aside from MJ12 to possess a Universal Constructor, a device with which they hope to manufacture a cure for the Gray Death.
After their defection, they are said to have eluded UNATCO and the U.S. Army by posing as a research consortium and purchased Vandenberg Air Force Base, which had fallen into disrepair as a result of the SoCal earthquake. They have had contact with the NSF, the Illuminati and other resistance movements, however they are not coordinating fully with any organization. Despite this, Vandenberg is heavily fortified and has a bot defense, though lacks a human militia, and numerous spies remain among the rank of MJ12 researchers.
==Background==
X-51 formed in 2051, by researchers originally employed at Area 51. The precise reason why they went rogue is not known, but members of X-51 included nanotechnological and biochemical researchers who worked on the Gray Death,Carla Brown: " We knew about the Gray Death a year ago, but no one would believe us." and performed the first open air testsCarla Brown: " My group at Area 51 performed the first open-air test of the virus." after tests on lab monkeys ran empty.Carla Brown: " We used monkeys, but Page's people could have cared less how many monkeys we killed." All subsequent tests were on humans, civilians "accidentally" exposedCarla Brown: " Most of the real research happened in secret labs underground on civilians who had been "accidentally" exposed." when Gray Death spores drifted across a major highway.Carla Brown: " There weren't any accidents. Our test site was chosen specifically so that the spores would drift across a highway." Other realized corruption and embezzlement committed by Bob Page,Tim Baker: " I knew Page was gonna come after us, but nobody listened." though there was disagreement as to the course of action to take. Tim Baker suggested letting Congress handle it,Tim Baker: " We knew Page was stealing government money. We should have let Congress handle it." as he did not believe that the government was corrupt to the point that nothing could be done.Tim Baker: " I don't believe the government's corrupt. That's just paranoia."Tim Baker: " The politicians are slow, and sometimes kinda stupid, but that doesn't mean they aren't honest."
Gary Savage, who worked under Page on morally corrosive projects for decades, as far back as Rifleman Bank Station and human experiments in 2027,Gary Savage's computer (DXHR) finally decided that enough is enough and organized the walkout. It was a form of penance, atoning for the years he was doing great science at the expense of his humanity,Vandenberg Air Force Base computers, We Must Stand and he was ready to die for it.Gary Savage: " I made the decision at Area 51 that this cause was worth dying for -- I just didn't realize that she would be the one to die." Under his leadership, the scientists organized a mass walk out, blowing up larger machines with explosives,Carla Brown: " We C-4'ed the large pieces of machinery when we walked outlast year." and taking everything smaller than a paper clip,Carla Brown: " Page probably needs reaction-level components. When we walked, we took everything smaller than a paper clip." most notably the reaction modules necessary for the operation of a Universal ConstructorBob Page: " Excellent. We're all here."
Gary Savage: " You aren't in a position to make any demands, Page."
Bob Page: " On the contrary. My mission might have failed, but so did yours. I captured your daughter an hour ago."
Gary Savage: " Tiffany..."
Bob Page: " She's been quite forthcoming. So you were hoping to find a containment unit in the ocean lab..."
Gary Savage: " I demand to see my daughter immediately!"
Bob Page: " Well, like you, we lack certain components of a Universal Constructor"
JC Denton: " Don't negotiate."
Bob Page: " Oh, yes, Mr. Denton -- I wanted you here for a reason. Look at me."
Bob Page: " You interfere in any way, I will kill that young woman. I mean it."
Bob Page: " I want those components, Savage. You will bring them to the abandoned gas station west of Vandenberg in exactly one hour."
Gary Savage: " You hurt my daughter and I swear to God --"
Bob Page: " Bring me the reaction modules!"
 and genetic data related to the nanoaugmentation project, including genetic profiles for JC Denton, used to calibrate the UC organic construction.Vandenberg Air Force Base, Genetic Profiles While Walton Simons was concerned about their defection, Page dismissed them as an issue, citing their "ethical inflexibility" as the reason why Majestic 12 will retain technological supremacy.Bob Page: " Your appointment to FEMA should be finalized within the week. I've already discussed the matter with the Senator."
Walton Simons: " I take it he was agreeable?"
Bob Page: " He didn't really have a choice."
Walton Simons: " Has he been infected?"
Bob Page: " Oh, yes, most certainly. When I mentioned that we could put him on the priority list for the Ambrosia vaccine, he was so willing it was almost pathetic."
Walton Simons: " This plague -- the rioting is intensifying to the point where we may not be able to contain it."
Bob Page: " Why contain it? Let it spill over into the schools and churches, let the bodies pile up in the streets. In the end, they'll beg us to save them."
Walton Simons: " I've received reports of armed attacks on shipments. There's not enough vaccine to go around, and the underclasses are starting to get desperate."
Bob Page: " Of course they're desperate. They can smell their death, and the sound they'll make rattling their cage will serve as a warning to the rest."
Walton Simons: " Mmm. I hope you're not underestimating the problem. The others may not go as quietly as you think -- intelligence indicates they're behind the problems in Paris."
Bob Page: " A bunch of pretentious old men playing at running the world."
Bob Page: " But the world left them behind long ago. We are the future."
Walton Simons: " We have other problems."
Bob Page: " UNATCO?"
Walton Simons: " Formed by executive order after the terrorist strike on the Statue. I have someone in place, though. I'm more concerned about Savage -- he's relocated to Vandenberg."
Bob Page: " Our biochem corpus is far in advance of theirs, as is our electronic sentience. And their...ethical inflexibility has allowed us to make progress in areas they refuse to consider."
Walton Simons: " The augmentation project?"
Bob Page: " Among other things -- but I must admit that I've been somewhat disappointed in the performance of the primary unit."
Walton Simons: " The secondary unit should be online soon. He's currently undergoing preparation and will be operational within six months. My people will continue to report on his progress. If necessary, the primary will be terminated."
Bob Page: " We've had to endure much, you and I, but soon there will be order again, a new age. Aquinas spoke of the mythical City on the Hill. Soon that city will be a reality, and we will be crowned its kings."
Bob Page: " Or better than kings. Gods."
The newly formed X-51 covered their tracks good enough to be able to pose as an independent research consortium, using their accumulated funds to purchase the damaged Vandenberg Air Force Base from the United States government and other sites in California. The airmen who vacated the base remembered them as strange and quiet, though they accurately identified them as ex-military.Datacube transcripts (DX): "FROM: Captain Chip Moser
TO: Major Derek Walcombe
SUBJECT: Saddle Up (Draft Text)
It's funny, in the army you get shifted around so often you develop attachments to any place you can call home for more than nine months, and I've been at Vandenberg for more than ten years. My family has grown up here. I'm actually sorry to see it go. But you've been a big help to all of us, Derek, and I appreciate your efforts in getting us moved out to Fort Jasper -- it'll be good to actually sit down and have a beer with you again in person.
I heard yesterday that the government has sold off the base to some research consortium. They must have deep pockets if they're willing to fix all the structural damage that's cropped up since the Big One a few years back. Strange birds, real quiet. Probably ex-military would be my guess. Anyways, I'm sure I'll have some stories for you by the time I make it up there. Should be next week.
Give my best to Kim,
Chip" They covered up their tracks well enough for UNATCO to be at a loss as to where they operated, though also likely due to MJ12 believing X-51 might be advantageous down the road.Gary Savage's computer, Long Time They weren't free from harassment: Savage's wife was killed by a spy for Page shortly after arrival in Vandenberg.Savage’s assistant: " A spy for Page assassinated Gary's wife shortly after we came here."
X-51 focused on technological research and gaining an edge over Majestic 12, primarily constructing their own Universal Constructor to rival page, while maintaining a Milnet connection inherited from the military.Morgan Everett: " What matters to us is that it opposes Majestic 12. We must help it destroy their intelligence apparatus -- but that will require the military networks. I have already contacted Gary Savage of X-51."
JC Denton: " The former Area 51 scientists... Are they still camped out at Vandenberg Air Force Base?"
Morgan Everett: " They are close to completing a UC and have the kind of connection Daedalus will need."
JC Denton: " Sounds like my pilot and I should head to Vandenberg."
Morgan Everett: " Yes. I took the liberty of radioing him. Here is a key to the helipad stairway. The door is in the foyer, where Atanwe revived you. Good luck. I will be in contact."
 The process was slow, but progress was made, building on the experiences at Area 51, particularly with the interference patterns and feedback on reaction modules that has led to an incident at least once.Vandenberg Air Force Base, Reaction Modules UNATCO eventually branded X-51 a terrorist group, involved in illicit research "proscribed by worldwide concordes over the last fifty years" and linked the group to the SoCal earthquake that left much of California underwater. Gary Savage was also noted as a black project researcher, though as having disappeared years earlier.UNATCO bulletin terminal, Know Your Enemy -- X-51
MJ12 tolerated the existence of X-51 for months, until JC Denton destroyed the Universal Constructor in Hong Kong. With the Ocean Lab UC disabled due to an incident that put the entire complex out of commissionDr A. Pinkerton: " It seems Majestic 12 lost everything they were doing down there." (a source of much jubilation among dissident scientists),Dr A. Pinkerton: " You can imagine our jubilation when we heard about the accident."Carla Brown: " Without the ocean lab, Bob Page will have to rebuild the UC at Area 51." MJ12 was unable to bring the Area 51 UCs online, and ultimately opted for a direct force approach: MJ12 troops openly attacked X-51 to recover the reaction modules. The force was small, especially considering that Savage obtained Page Delta-2 Peacebringer robots from HK,Gary Savage's computer, Incoming but succeeded in pushing the scientists' back by shutting down their power system and preventing the bots' release. JC Denton arrived on site in the middle of the siege, pushing MJ12 troops back and lifting the siege.Jock: "Majestic 12 is attacking Vandenberg, JC. Base is under lockdown until the four MJ12 bots can be destroyed. MJ12 shut down power to the X-51 scientists' own bot defense system, so I'm transmitting a map of the base that shows the two control stations to the west you will need to bring online in order to make use of Vandenberg's defenses. The code is 5868. Get power to the bots, and watch out for snipers!"
All that remained to break the grip of Gray Death was activating the Universal Constructor. X-51 didn't have a containment vessel and attempted to recover the schematics from the Ocean Lab. The attempt was spearheaded by Tiffany Savage, Gary's daughter, who was captured during the attempt. Page attempted to use her as a bargaining chip, to force Gary to return the reaction modules so that the Area 51 UC could be activated. Denton was sent to rescue Tiffany and recover intel to continue her mission at the Ocean Lab, where he linked up with scientists who survived the incident.Dr A. Pinkerton: " You Denton? Savage said to expect someone on a mission to the Ocean Lab."
JC Denton: " Denton's an old code name from my UNATCO days, but it seems to have stuck."
Dr A. Pinkerton: " I have a map of the facility. Also you can use my login"
JC Denton: " Thanks. You one of the scientists Savage lost to Majestic 12?"
Dr A. Pinkerton: " My situation here is temporary. I still report to Gary Savage."
 Denton once again managed to penetrate the defenses and reach the underwater section of the Ocean Lab, recovering the schematics for the containment vessel. Helios intercepted the transmission and the schematics, allowing Page to bring Area 51 UCs online in short order, while ordering a nuclear strike on Vandenberg to deny them the use of their UC to manufacture a cure.Bob Page: " In case you were wondering, Helios intercepted your transmission; we accessed the Ocean Lab computers ourselves, which means our UCs will be operational shortly."
JC Denton: " Meanwhile, we will be manufacturing a cure to the virus."
Bob Page: " A cure? A cure! Do you have any idea how easy it will be for me to make a new virus? All I have to do is find a very large prime number and multiply."
JC Denton: " And all we have to do is crack the code."
Bob Page: " Mathematically unlikely. As are your chances of leaving the Ocean Lab, by the way."
JC Denton: " You're next, Page. Your greatest strength was secrecy, but now we know everything, including your present location."
Bob Page: " Always the optimist. You would need an army to attack me at Area 51, and pretty soon -- if the missile is accurate -- your "X-51" will be a thin, gray smudge where Vandenberg used to be."
 MJ12 troops dispensed with any pretense of order and just directly attacked the military controlling the site, then began the launch sequence.Gary Savage: " Page's troops have occupied a missile silo. They have a warhead pointing at Vandenberg."
JC Denton: " Has he made any demands?"
Gary Savage: " The launch sequence has started. No demands. They want to wipe us out."
JC Denton: " I'll have Jock get me there as quick as he can."
X-51 was capable of producing the Gray Death vaccine within the hour with the schematics recovered.Gary Savage: " We should begin manufacturing the vaccine within the hour." Savage met JC at the Ocean Lab,Gary Savage: "I'm leaving a copy of the schematic in your datavault. It's exactly what we need. I'll catch a ride with Jock and meet you on top of the sub base's command module, just onshore." immediately sent him to the silo. He successfully infiltrated the facility and redirected the warhead to strike at Area 51. The impact was sufficient to provide a window of opportunity for JC to infiltrate the bunker and assassinate Page. The mission was successful, though at the cost of triggering The Collapse.Tracer Tong: "Here's a satellite image of the damage from the missile. Page is weakened, but you still have to get past the large blast doors north of the helipad and penetrate his bunker deep underground. I seem to be in remission, JC. Everett is right: the virus has some sort of on/off switch. Anyway, I'll be looking over your shoulder again."
==Organization==
X-51 is a small group of scientists led by Gary Savage. Its major weakness is isolation: Savage did not coordinate with other resistance factions before the MJ12 attack, not even the National Secessionist Forces headquartered a few hundred miles north, in NorCal.
Morgan Everett: " You saw a piece of Echelon III in Beth's chateau. We salvaged some of the hardware."
Morgan Everett: " Surveillance used to be daemon-based. Daedalus is more distributed; a blip of his code runs on every communication device on the planet."
Morgan Everett: " If we control communications, we can organize and the other side cannot."
Morgan Everett: " Lack of organization is exactly what has plagued X-51."
Morgan Everett: " They're great scientists, but isolated. They left Area 51 to protest Majestic 12's experiments, and that's what it amounted to: a protest."
Morgan Everett: " They don't even coordinate with the NSF, which is headquartered a few hundred miles to the north."
Morgan Everett: " You see the need for global organization. Someone has to bring these disparate groups together."
Morgan Everett: " X-51 has assembled excellent technology; they just need someone to help them use it."
Morgan Everett: " You will be my representative at Vandenberg."
Morgan Everett: " I will trust you to find a way to manufacture the cure."
Morgan Everett: " Meanwhile, I have other preparations to make."
 Much of that had to do with the Aquinas Protocol, which forced X-51 to stay offline, as any attempt to use Internet 3 would be immediately noticed by the Area 51 computers (ironically, linking up with the NSF would have provided them with a solution for that problem).JC Denton: " Something unexpected happened when I brought up the computer."
Gary Savage: " Yes...?"
JC Denton: " The AI's joined together into... an entity called Helios. A trap Page had laid."
Gary Savage: " He's always controlled communications. We can't challenge him there."
JC Denton: " I hope you keep the UC on a local network."
Gary Savage: " The Aquinas Protocol leaves us no choice but to stay offline. You simply can't use Internet 3 without a machine at Area 51 knowing about it. I don't know what Everett was expecting to accomplish."
JC Denton: " I guess it backfired, whatever his plans were."
Gary Savage: " JC... If you find my daughter, tell her I'm sorry. I'm sorry I had to risk her life!"
 However, they maintained contact with scientists in Majestic 12 facilities scattered across the ruins of California, including the Pasadena Ocean Lab, where the staff was either indifferent to MJ12, held prisoner, or spying for X-51.Gary Savage: " Many of the scientists in these labs are either prisoners, spies for X-51, or indifferent to Majestic 12. Make use of them." The attrition was severe, and Gary lost many scientists due to execution or incidents.Gary Savage: "I've lost so many of my people this way." A dozen X-51 scientists were imprisoned in the Ocean Lab, for example.Gary Savage: "More than a dozen of our scientists were prisoners in the ocean lab and have probably drowned." 
However, while Gary Savage laments the losses, most of the X-51 scientists are ready to lay down their lives to oppose Majestic 12. While they prefer for lives to be saved, they prefer death to giving in to Page and his coterie.Savage’s assistant: " We can't give in to MJ12, even if one of us has to die." Their distrust extends to the Illuminati in general, and any alliance of convenience remains just that.Savage’s assistant: " I would be careful about trusting the Illuminati." Many are also almost fanatically loyal to Gary Savage: Stephanie Maxwell, forced to lay explosives at gunpoint, refused to do so, find death a preferable alternative to betraying Dr Savage.MJ12 trooper: " Let's see how well you can follow orders."
Stephanie Maxwell: " I will die before I betray Dr. Savage."
MJ12 trooper: " You will be permitted to work in one of our laboratories, but you must be willing to follow orders."
Stephanie Maxwell: " You might as well kill me now."
MJ12 trooper: " Come on. Position the dynamite as I instructed."
Stephanie Maxwell: " I did enough of your dirty work at Area 51."
MJ12 trooper: " As you wish."
==Trivia==
*The name X-51 is a play on the term 'ex-Area 51' as all of the scientists are ex-employees of Area 51. Coincidentally, they defected in the year 2051.
*In The Missing Link, an e-mail message entitled "Re:Supply requisition" - from a computer located in the Archives room near the morgue of the Belltower base - shows Gary Savage's ID as being SavX51. 
==References==
pl:X-51es:X-51
Category:Deus Ex organizations
Category:Factions