Matthias Augustine

Matthias Augustine is an Angler currently stationed at Adelphi Shelter, second-in-command to Phoebe Adrakis and the Shelter's current Watchman. Originally a Combat Arms Training and Maintenance specialist in the U.S. Space Force Security Forces, Matthias first crossed paths with Phoebe during a joint operation prior to the Transfer, when the fleet in which she was stationed provided security for a Space Force launch site. Serving as a technical sergeant and assisting with his vessel's security coordination and armory readiness, Matthias's commitment to the safety of his crew and his knowledge of other trades related to his specialty, quickly earned Phoebe's respect. Matthias continued to serve the Space Force faithfully until it was absorbed by the Primacy in the transfer, at which point he departed formal service and began working as a security contractor in the private sector, mistrustful of the Primacy's intentions and capability for leading humanity's defense.

Matthias was marked as an expat soon after the Declaration, for refusing to bend the knee to the Primacy. Before either he could evacuate or the Primacy could execute him, he was contacted by Phoebe, who offered him a place in her Shelter's security forces. A movement was forming to stand against the Primacy, and Phoebe needed allies she could trust at such an early stage. Matthias quickly agreed, escaping the cities before the Primacy could reach him and rendezvousing with Phoebe out in the Environs. Becoming one of the first Adelphi, Matthias began tirelessly organizing a strict security regime to keep the Shelter's inhabitants safe, working with Phoebe to trade for cameras, motion sensors, explosives, and the newest weapon schematics. His experience in his vessel's armory gave Matthias a strong command of weapon maintenance and assembly, making him the de facto armory officer in addition to his position as the Watchman of the Adelphi. He accepted all of these duties with diligence, playing a key role in transforming the Shelter from a refurbished bunker into a hub of anti-Primacy resistance and a safe haven for the nearby expats.

As the Adelphi grew and operations began to expand, the need for trained, combat-ready fighters became apparent. Matthias and Phoebe began to offer the newly arrived expats the chance to learn the arts of combat and security, dubbing these new fighters "Anglers" and quickly training a sizable portion of volunteers. As Phoebe's intelligence and networking skills continued to increase the Shelter's role in the war, she and Matthias continued to personally extract several expat households from the cities, often only minutes before the Primacy could reach them. One of these early expat families was the Eversnow household, a Christian family who made contact with the Shelter with barely any time to spare. Racing to the cities to extract the Eversnows, Matthias and Phoebe were arrived too late to rescue the parents, but they located the family's youngest member, Joy, before she could be executed. The two quickly evacuated Joy to the Shelter, treating her wounds and offering her as much support as they could to address her mental trauma from the loss of her family.

Matthias's duties as a Watchman kept him occupied full-time, but when he could find even a free hour, he did his best to help Joy in her recovery. While Phoebe handled the girl's education and adjustment to life in the Shelter, Matthias focused on protecting her, monitoring the security of the Adelphi even more tightly than before to ensure that the Primacy could never take anything else from Joy. His role in her rescue endeared Matthias to the girl, and as she slowly began to reach out to those around her, she began to look to Matthias for guidance on many practical matters. The man's presence seemed to make her feel safer, and she gradually opened up to him about her nightmares and struggles with grief. Although Matthias preferred to operate in the tangible realm, his time in the military had given him plenty of chances to witness the destruction of trauma and loss, and he did everything he could to give Joy and ear or a shoulder whenever she needed it.

As Matthias continued to train more and more new Anglers, one man began to catch the attention of the Shelter's leadership: Asa Colt. The guarded expat was dedicated and focused, but his violent past, discovered through Phoebe's surveillance prior to bringing Asa to the Shelter, troubled Matthias. He kept a close eye on this new Angler, especially as Joy gradually began to warm up to Asa as well, due to the man's honesty and willingness to listen. Although Matthias remained skeptical for the first months of Asa's stay, even sharing concerns with Phoebe that the man could be a false expat sent by the Primacy to infiltrate and expose the Shelter's location, Asa ultimately proved his loyalty and sincerity by following Matthias's instructions closely, performing his duties with diligence, and respecting both the chain of command and the Shelter's need-to-know policy for sensitive intel. Gradually, Matthias's suspicions vanished, and he came to respect Asa first as a fellow Angler, and eventually even as a friend.

With Asa and some of the other Anglers ready to take the reins for field missions, Matthias shifted his focus back to the Shelter's security, often running invasion drills, repeatedly testing the functionality of the Arcus Suits and weapons in the armory, and constantly keeping an eye out for the rumored threat of fake expats leaking intel to the Primacy. He expanded the Shelter's arsenal at any opportunity, eagerly accepting any weapon schematics he could find and resourcefully scrounging up the necessary materials to construct prototypes and keep the Anglers armed with the best tech available. The Shelter wouldn't last long without someone to watch over the concrete day-to-day risks and concerns, and Matthias made it his mission to be the one to take up that duty and keep the home of the Adelphi safe.