recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Empty Red Unit

The **Empty Red Unit** (ERU for short) is a private security company on the Dominion of Muri founded by Andrew Rotham. The organization is made up almost entirely of former US veterans who retired to the island, for whom the Murian government contracts to train local police and National Guard units. Alongside general contracting, the company also regularly investigates criminal and terror related activities on the island conducted by a separatist group.

## History

### Vietnam War

The majority of active members in the ERU are former comrades in the Vietnam War. The men served together in the small Lima Company during the conflict and together became fond of the tropic lifestyle. As the servicemen began finishing their careers, they moved to the Dominion of Muri to settle down for stable life. The last of the members that moved to the south-pacific island came in 1975.

### On Muri

Despite living calm and peaceful lives on this new island home, many of the veterans were worried about the underwhelming support and lack of resources the Murian government allocated towards internal police and National Guard forces. This is when one of the veterans, Andrew Rotham, decided to found the Empty Red Unit as a way to assure protection for their families and the island they became so connected with. The organization was officially registered in 1975 and began operations not long after.

## Services

The Empty Red Unit provides a handful of basic services to police and military forces that can be purchased at moderate fees. Most of the services involve training and security, however the company is often requested to conduct deep-forest investigations or search & rescue missions due to their extensive training in jungle survival. Some of the basic services include:

* Firearms and Weapons Training
* Survival Training
* Asset Protection
* VIP Escorting
* Search & Rescue
* Humanitarian Aid
* Criminal Investigation

## Death of Members

During the world ending disasters brought forth by Talman's Comet in the events of the Checkmate mission, most members of the ERU perished. The members who survived were located by the SCF operators but died not long after. All the ERU members were buried just outside the closed Time Gate in the jungles east of Muri's capital city.
Jin Wei Zhu

A portrait of Jin Wei Zhu.

**Jin Wei Zhu** is the current president of Kaihua Pharmaceuticals, a Chinese pharmaceutical company known in the criminal world for distributing chemical compounds used in crime.

In June 2023, Zhu was kidnapped by Knights of the Hidden Order after he sold a neurotoxin which was used in the attempted assassination of Marshal Fischer, a Marshal of the Order.
Monochrome Team

The Team Monochrome emblem.

**Monochrome** was the callsign of the Knight team employed by the Hidden Order. The team was under the direct authority of Marshal Fischer.

## Background

Monochrome was founded in late 2022 at the request of Marshal Fischer, a director of the secret Hidden Order organization. The agents needed to pass the infamous Knight Selection Examination in order to become Knighted, which they accomplished after terminating a rogue Russian Mafia.

The agents who currently compose the members of Monochrome were hand picked by Fischer after a brief encounter with each of them. Although the agents within the team arrive from various backgrounds, they've all spent time working and training on the Caribbean island of Punta Castillo at the request of Fischer.

## Notable Operations

* Earning Rank: The candidate agents for the Knight program finish the final test of their examination by terminating Vitaly Bazarov, a Russian Mobster who breached the terms of his contract with the Syndicate.
Ghost Stories Series

**Ghost Stories** is a mission series that takes place in parallel with the original Golden Phantom series, in specific between the Carpe Noctem and Cogworks missions. Unlike the Golden Phantom series where players must uncover clues to unlock the next mission, the Ghost Stories series is presented in the form of episodes where each episode comes in succession of the last regardless of player interaction.

## Premise

In the events of the Carpe Noctem mission, the Space Time Continuum Task Force (STCTF) is warped away to the Cogworks to defeat The World Builder. Unfortunately, The Time Dialer cannot track the STCTF operators' exact location and is unable to get in contact with them while they are in this unknown realm. As such, the Sub-Continuum Force (SCF) is created to help locate the STCTF in The Multiverse, and slow down the spread of destruction until the task force can defeat The World Builder.

Members of the SCF were all former Central Intelligence Agency operators who retired onto the island of Muri in the south pacific during the later stages of the Cold War. Following the events of Episode 1, the veterans are inducted into the SCF to keep the fight against apocalypse alive while the STCTF finishes its final duty.

## Episodes

* Episode 1: Blink: The ex-CIA group investigates the presence of Soviet scientific facilities on the island in relation to strange anomalies and missing locals.
* Episode 2: Missing Pieces: The SCF operators travel to a southern region of Vietnam where a former Soviet human testing facility existed to try gathering clues on the whereabouts of the STCTF and why the anomalies were occurring in Muri.
* Episode 3: Crankbait: During an alternate timeline where the cold war ends in a worst-case nuclear war between the US and Soviets, the SCF must track down a large Epochium signature in Chernobyl during one of the final battles of that timeline before the apocalypse.
* Episode 4: Checkmate: The SCF return to Muri one last time to find and extract Jozef Kharov.

## Bonus Episodes

The following episodes occurred in parallel with the original story and included segments that would further complete the tale as a whole.

* Episode 2.5: Deeper Truth: The Star Team investigates a Soviet Radar Base to try and understand what was really going on in Vietnam when the Sub-Continuum Force investigated it.
* Episode 3.5: Kingpin: The Star Team attempts to track down the alternate timeline version of Dr. Alexander Petrov after he goes insane trying to destroy the world with his interdimensional scientific discoveries.
* Episode 4.5: Curtain Call: The surviving members of the Sub-Continuum Force engage in a recon mission out in the now flooded capital city of Muri.
Earning Rank mission

The Popov Winter Estate where Vitaly Bazarov hosted his banquet.

**Earning Rank** is the first operation in the Hidden Order Saga. This mission follows the candidates selected for the Knights of the Syndicate on their final test as they attempt to terminate a client who breached their contract with The Order.

## Synopsis

### Background

Vitaly Bazarov was the leader of a Russian Mafia organization based out of St. Petersburg, Russia. The rise of his organization came through the direct partnership with the Hidden Order, as the Order was able to efficiently fulfill all of Bazarov's transactions. As Bazarov's organization grew, so did his connections with high-ranking (and corrupt) officials within the Russian Armed Forces who were beginning to become great prospects for their mob. As Bazarov's ego inflated due to the support and protection of the Russian Army, he decided to prematurely sever his commitment to the Order and go into business himself.

Due to this breach of contract, the Marshals of the Order immediately authorized the termination of Bazarov and his criminal organization. This harrowing task was delegated to a group of agents who were candidates for the Knights of the Syndicate program. If they were able to complete the task successfully, they would be knighted as members of the elite agency.

In order to boost support from his growing circle of military officials, Bazarov decided to throw a high-profile gala at the Popov Winter Estate in St. Petersburg to network with his contacts.

### Infiltrating the Gala

As the estate is owned by the Russian Armed Forces, Bazarov felt the venue to be a safe option for his banquet. The Syndicate agents who were at the end of their candidacy conducted an infiltration of the party in order to neutralize Bazarov and terminate his organization in one move. The team disabled a Russian Armed Forces communications relay near the estate in order to delay the response time of Russian reinforcements, and bugged a local power station connected to the estate.

Upon disguising as guests, the team entered the banquet grounds and identified Bazarov speaking with Lt. Fahim of the RAF. As the team took position over the party, they cut the lights and neutralized Bazarov and his guards within the estate. The team proceeded to capture Lt. Fahim and escorted him to the exfil point where the agents were airlifted away in a civilian helicopter.
Aurelio De Luca

A portrait of Aurelio De Luca.

**Aurelio De Luca** was a supporting character in the Hidden Order Saga, introduced in Operation VI: Small Blind. De Luca was a business magnate and the owner of Kiesta Auto Dealers, a chain of car dealerships across the United States. He was also a close friend of John Meredith and used his dealerships as a front for illegal gold distribution and money laundering.

## Biography

Aurelio De Luca was an accomplished businessman who had managed to establish a successful chain of car dealerships under the brand Kiesta Auto Dealers. His connection to John Meredith led him to work with Monochrome, a Knight Team of the Hidden Order.

De Luca owned a chain of car dealerships across the United States called Kiesta Auto Dealers. The dealerships served as a front for his illegal gold distribution and money laundering activities. By leveraging his vast network of car dealerships, De Luca could discreetly transport and deliver gold while laundering the profits.

He was also an avid art collector, particularly interested in military conflicts and weaponry.

### Connections

De Luca was close friends with John Meredith, a friend of Marshal Fischer, who works in a similar industry transporting illegal goods across the continental US via his trucking company. Their friendship and mutual interests in illegal activities created a strong bond and trust between the two characters.

He also maintained a close relationship with the chief of police of the Las Vegas police force, which helped him keep his illicit business operations under wraps. This connection was crucial to his ability to continue his illegal activities without drawing unwanted attention.

## Death

During Operation VI: Small Blind, after the Monochrome agents retrieve the stolen gold ingot from the local police station and come under attack by unknown assailants at De Luca's car dealership, they rush inside to make secure both the gold and Aurelio De Luca. Tragically, upon their arrival, they discover that De Luca has been killed by the attackers.

De Luca's death served as a turning point in the mission, highlighting the increased threat and ruthlessness of the adversaries that Monochrome faced.
Atlas Rounds

Three Atlas Rounds glowing blue.

The **Atlas Round** is a firearm cartridge developed for the Sub-Continuum Force used to fight interdimensional threats. Unlike the Cardinal Round which comprises of a pressurized Epochium crystal as the core, a standard lead round is coated in Epochium dust to create this lower caliber ammunition variant.

## Cartridge Details

### Purpose

Atlas rounds are used by operators to fight against interdimensional enemies such as Minutemen who have a naturally strong resistance to conventional firearms. Similar to Cardinal Cartridges, the dense Epochium round exposes penetrated targets with extreme levels of short-range quantum instability and ultimately breaks down organic matter on a subatomic level—killing the target.

### Design

The original cartridge created to address this issue was the Cardinal Round which was difficult to create due to the incredibly difficult process of pressurizing Epochium shards for usage in the cores. Although the pressure treatment process stabilized the material and prevented energy leakage, the discharge of the ammunition would cause a sudden release of energy that would damage the firearm—thus making the production of ammunition and compatible weaponry an even more difficult task.

The Atlas round instead uses a solid lead core that is coated in a compressed layer of Epochium dust which is far easier to obtain than the condensed crystals. This composition is much faster to produce in large quantities however due to the unstable nature of Epochium dust, the material radiates its own energy outward into the surrounding environment (in this amount the effects are not dangerous). The byproduct of this rapid decay is a radiant blue glow from the core, which isn't present in the Cardinal Round's stable red glow. This round is also significantly less effective than the Cardinal Round, however more effective than conventional ammunition.

The Atlas Cartridge adheres to a 9x19mm Parabellum standard.

### Usage

Despite not immediately releasing large amounts of energy upon discharge, the Atlas Round still requires a custom built firearm to support the ammunition type. The primary modification to the weapon should be an inner barrel upgrade that better retains Epochium energy to slow the decay and increase the half-life of each round. Further modifications to the magazine should also be considered in order to maximize the efficiency of the munition, and increase active usage duration.

## Trivia

* The round was originally named *Jay Shot* during development, as the blue hue of the core resembled that of a Blue Jay. Similarly, the Cardinal Round was named off the Cardinal bird species due to its red hue.
Divergence Reliquary

A **Divergence Reliquary** (also known simply as a **Reliquary**) is a structure that appears in a Divergence Field. Reliquaries also often contain a Time Gate that can be used to exit the Divergence Field. Due to the abstract nature of a Divergence Field, Reliquaries can appear vastly different from one another.
Fireborne

Dr. Petrov in Fireborne General form.

The **Fireborne** (sometimes called **Fireborne Generals**) are a type of interdimensional being very similar in appearance to the Minutemen. They are a specialized officer appointed by The World Builder who are able to command armies of Minutemen.

## Appearance

Fireborne look very similar to regular Minutemen. They wear foliage over their skin and gloves to cover their hands. Their skin is severely burned and scarred from head to toe. They wear deer skulls on their heads and are differentiable from the Minutemen due to the blood all over their deer skulls. Unlike Minutemen, the Fireborne's eyes do not glow red.

The Fireborne foliage is a darker shade as well, making them quite difficult to spot in jungles and foliage, though it is not known if they change their appearance to adapt to specific environments.

## Abilities

The Fireborne are able to conjure and command armies made up of Minutemen soldiers. The soldiers can either be armed with rifles and weapons, or unarmed but possess great speed and power. Usually the latter of the two can only be summoned by a Fireborne General, so sometimes seeing unarmed Minutemen can signify there is a Fireborne General commanding from somewhere nearby.

They also have regular combat abilities similar to their soldiers, but they choose to remain as far from direct combat as possible so their military hierarchy does not fall apart.

Fireborne are incredibly resistant to traditional firearms and weapons, however do seem to take damage when hit with Epochium based weaponry such as the Atlas or Cardinal rounds.

By directly inputting energy into their surrounding area, the Fireborne can alter the environment around them similar to the anomalies that occur in continuity zones.

## History

These specialized types of Minutemen were created by The World Builder to be able to carry out specific operations in His stead. The Fireborne were granted the incredible power to control the other Minutemen around them to make attacks far more effective. It is suspected that the connection between soldiers and the general are established by some sort of radio waves, similar to how other interdimensional entities emit them.

The first known Fireborne General was Dr. Alexander Petrov who used his powers to kill his scientific adversary, Jozef Kharov. This command was ordered by The World Builder since Kharov was the only other human to get so close to interdimensional activities and could be used as a tool by The Time Dialer to find the trapped Space Time Continuum Task Force. Petrov in Fireborne form fought the Sub-Continuum Force on the island of Muri during the events of the Checkmate mission, but was slain at the end.
James Beckwith

Portrait of James Beckwith.

**James Beckwith** is the current acting director of the United States INTERPOL branch, headquartered in New York City, New York. He is the overseeing director of the specialized task force, ROSE-4, and acts as their immediate supervisor.

## Appearance

Beckwith appears to be in his mid-to-late 50s with fully white short hair and mustache. He is 6 feet tall, has hazel coloured eyes, and sports a chevron mustache. He regularly wears dark business suits whenever interacting with the ROSE-4 agents. He speaks with a slight Brooklyn accent despite being from out of state.
Kaihua Pharmaceuticals

Kaihua Pharmaceuticals logo

**Kaihua Pharmaceuticals** (**开化** in Chinese) is a Chinese pharmaceutical company known in the criminal underworld for being a distributor of some highly illegal compounds. Most notoriously, Kaihua is known for the distribution of a highly potent neurotoxin, Torgan-V. The company is currently headed by president Jin Wei Zhu.

Mr. Zhu was responsible for selling two versions of the Torgan-V compound, which were used in the assassination of Charlie Gurrola (an agent of the Hidden Order), and the attempted assassination of Marshal Fischer (a Marshal of the Order).
Strike Team STAR

**Strike Team STAR** (abbrv. **ST-STAR**) was a special-purpose Recondo unit that operated in Laos and North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was comprised of CIA special agents and operated as part of the Special Activities Division.

## History

Following the discovery of a Chinese plot to annex the entireity of Vietnam, President Nixon called upon the top officials from the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency to provide him with a concrete assessment of the situation, along with what those officials thought would be the best way forward. The DoD's report was delivered by General Creighton Abrams, and the CIA's report was delivered by Special Agent "Sledgehammer."

While delivering his assesment to Nixon, Sledgehammer was asked what he would do if he were to be given operational autonomy within the region. Sledgehammer proposed what would become known as "Operation Grapevine," which Nixon then ordered Sledgehammer to carry out. Sledgehammer hand-picked a team of four other CIA agents from within the S.A.D. to accompany him into Laos. Once on the ground, they planned to embed with indigenous tribesmen in an effort to foster an anti-communist insurgency within the region.
Freedom Core

The **Freedom Core** was a rebel group that operated out of Inyoni. The original members of the group were members of the Flightless Crows, until a dispute in leadership directions after the conflict caused them to splinter and form a group with their own directives. The group went missing on August 4th, 2022 after the group escaped an attempted ambush by Russian forces whom they were allied with until then.

## Background

Every member of the Freedom Core during its inception was a member of the Flightless Crows rebel group operating in Inyoni as well. The loyalty to the group began dwindling among some members as they did not approve of the Flightless Crows' commander as the next leader of Inyoni after a successful rebellion. As such, several of the core Crows splintered from the group and formed the Freedom Core with their own ideals and directives once the war was over.

Just before the group's separation, the Flightless Crows had already agreed to work with the US forces in pushing the Russians out of Inyoni. In contrast to this after the split, a Russian Spetsnaz officer proposed a similar offer to the Freedom Core, but involving the removal of the Americans from Inyoni. Both rebel groups had the same end goal, albeit different approaches to it.

Eventually the Flightless Crows' commander began becoming unstable, causing many of his loyal followers to disassociate with the group. Several key members left the insurgency to potentially lay low elsewhere on the island. These men were later spotted by Russian foot patrols while they were camping outside a small town.

Once it became clear to the Russians that the Freedom Core had expended their value, the whole team was issued an ultimatum—to capture the rogue Crow members and detain them in a city to the south. The team followed through will the order and led the captured Crows to an abandoned superstore in a southern border city. This turned out to be a trap as explosions and gunfire engulfed the storefront, with Russian troops rushing in to finish all the rebels in one fell swoop. The rebels all successfully escaped and ran towards the southern border, understanding the grim situation for Inyoni. After being pursued nearly all the way to the border, most of the rebels fled across in hopes of finding better lives elsewhere, and the Freedom Core was no more.
The Garden

**"The Garden"** is the moniker for **INTERPOL HQ, NYC: Floor 42**, which is the ROSE-4 primary base of operations. The office is located on the forty-second floor of the New York City INTERPOL headquarters on the east wing and was designed specifically for use by the special task force.

## Floor Layout

The Garden consists of three main sections that each serve a specific purpose for the agents who work within it. The layout of this floor is different than the other floors in the building as it belongs to a specialized division.

### Armory

The armory is a secured room on the south side of the floor which contains all firearms, armaments, and evidence used specifically by the ROSE agents. The room is lined with lockers that are organized by type and can be accessed by those involved in logistics and planning. Only two people have access to everything in the room: Logistics Officer Jay Findlay and Captain Desmond Powers. The room has no exterior-facing windows, only one reinforced window pane facing the interior of the floor.

### Staging Area

In the direct center of the room is the staging area where all operational planning and prep occurs. There is a large table in the center of the room with a backlit OLED touch display on its surface that allows for dynamic mission planning.

### Lounge

The lounge is located on the north side of the floor and provides meal and rest amenities to the team. Since some agents spend long periods of time in the office due to work, the lounge contains a kitchenette area and couches with a television.
Astrals

**Astrals** are omnipotent inter-dimensional entities that act as the "glue" that keeps the Multiverse together. Although their existence has only been proven on paper, they function as a sort of inter-dimensional web that contains every timeline and universe in the Multiverse. Astrals can be observed via specific constellations that are visible in every universe regardless of where you are observing from. Unlike Ephemerals which feed on and interact with Epochium energy, Astrals deposit their energy in the form of Astral Gemstones.

## History

### Discovery

The concept of Astrals were first introduced to the Space Time Continuum Task Force Generation Chiron by Frank Payne and Roy MacGilligan. When the pair founded the research sub-unit, the Anomaly Contingency Force (ACF), MacGilligan focused on locating and trapping Ephemeral beings (in particular, the Ephemeral Orm) while Payne researched the existence of the Astrals. Unlike Ephemerals which had a physical form that could only be in one timeline at a time, Astrals were in all universes simultaneously which made their study and observation much more difficult.

Despite not being a formal member of the STCTF (not being inducted by The Orb), Payne used the Time Gates, under MacGilligan's supervision, to travel between timelines in search of clues that could unveil the mysteries of these entities. Payne suspected that due to the nature of the Astrals' form (being a constellation), it was highly likely that other people in other universes already possessed some knowledge of the beings that he could obtain. After some time away, he returned to the STCTF with at least a paper formulated proof that the Astrals existed. It is unknown exactly which timelines Payne visited in his quest for discovery.
Postmaster Mission

**Postmaster** is the fifth mission in the Golden Phantom Season 2 series. The Space Time Continuum Task Force attempt to locate the secret Anomaly Contingency Force (ACF) base in Northern Norway in an attempt to secure the Project Zero device.

## Synopsis

After learning that the ACF had created the Project Zero device to trap Ephemerals, the STCTF attempted to locate and retrieve it. Since the northern tundra region of Norway shared a land border with Russia, Russian forces had already quarantined the area, citing its massive levels of radiation (caused by Epochium leaks at the ACF secret base).

In order to find the ACF compound, the operators disguised as Russian soldiers to get into the Iver Ruud Arctic Storage Facility where a highly sensitive High Energy Radiation Analyzer (HERA) belonging to the disavowed Dark Sword Research Group was being stored. Upon feeding the HERA data to LAMBDA, the team was able to pinpoint the location of the ACF base. After fighting through the now guarded bunker base, the operators interrogated a chemical scientist who revealed the true location of the ACF base at the collapsed entrance to a tunnel in the south-east of the quarantine zone. The operators located the tunnel entrance and proceeded in to find the Project Zero device.
HAZE Grenade

HAZE Grenade

HAZE Grenades are a type of grenade derived from common NATO colored smoke grenades. They are made by replacing the colored filler in smoke grenades with Epochium Dust. They can be deployed in any method that NATO smoke grenades can, such as 40mm smoke grenade rounds, artillery, mortars, and by hand. Their purpose is to attract and distract anomalies that are hostile for the STCTF.

## Invention

The concept was thought of by Corporal Raphael Cousteau, who surmised that since space time anomalies are almost always attracted to pockets of Epochium, it could be advantageous to purposefully deploy a large amount of Epochium in order to draw them towards it. He requested that LAMBDA manufacture a test batch of HAZE grenades, and open a gate to a timeline suitable for testing. The first field test was a success, drawing three Minutemen to the location of the smoke.

HAZE Grenades are another example of Epochium being weaponized by the STCTF, along with Cardinal Rounds and Atlas Rounds.

## Purpose

To utilize the highly attractive properties of Epochium as a sort of diversionary tool, in a transportable, scale-able form in situations that would benefit from hostile Epochium-sensing entities having their attention turned away from friendly forces. For example, deploying "Haze" in a separate location to lessen hostile density near an AO, or simply deploying it away from the element itself to give said element more opportunities to maneuver and execute plans.

## Design

To prevent issues of storage, standardization, and overall familiarity, Epochium dust is used as a replacement for the chemical composition of colored smoke in common NATO smoke grenades and implements. This accomplishes several goals: ease of manufacturing, ease of deployment, scalability of deployment, and versatility of deployment. It allows infantry to utilize tools and equipment that they are already familiar with. Not only can Infantry throw "HAZE" grenades, but they can also utilize 40mm rifle mounted grenade launchers, as they can launch "HAZE" rounds farther than a smoke grenade can typically be thrown. On top of this, mortar and artillery rounds typically used to deploy smoke can be replaced with "Haze" rounds, allowing for indirect diversionary support on a large scale. Any implement used to deploy colored smoke can in theory also deploy Epochium, and thus, HAZE.
Jack Thorpe

An oil painting of Jack Thorpe.

**Jack Thorpe** is a renowned researcher, explorer, and cryptographer, most well-known for his relentless pursuit of the legendary Elbekian gold. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Thorpe dedicated his life to academic excellence and historical investigation, which eventually led him into a dangerous entanglement with a criminal organization known as the Yaga Order.

## Early Life and Education

Jack Thorpe was born on March 21, 1970, to Andrew and Eileen Thorpe. His father, a professor of history at the University of Glasgow, instilled a passion for the mysteries of the past in his young son. From a very young age, Jack exhibited an intense curiosity and an affinity for deciphering codes and solving complex puzzles.

In 1988, Thorpe began his higher education at the University of Oxford, studying Archeology and Ancient History. His professors recognized his natural talent for pattern recognition and his ability to interpret historical texts, which made him an excellent researcher. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1992, followed by a master's degree in 1995, and finally completed his Ph.D. in Historical Cryptography in 1998.

## Career

After completing his doctorate, Thorpe secured a position at the British Museum as a curator and researcher. His extensive knowledge and talent quickly brought him recognition in the academic community. In 2003, he was part of an international team that discovered a collection of ancient Roman artifacts off the coast of Cornwall, significantly contributing to the knowledge of Roman Britain.

His career took a dramatic turn in 2008, when he stumbled upon the legend of the Elbekian gold, a historical mystery which became his primary focus. He published numerous articles about the Elbekian gold and its potential location, catching the attention of scholars and treasure hunters alike.

## Life and Work

In 2010, Thorpe met Maria Sanchez, an anthropologist from Colombia, at an academic conference. They quickly connected over their shared passion for history and adventure, and married a year later. Their relationship, deeply rooted in love and intellectual companionship, was a cornerstone of Thorpe's life.

In 2015, Thorpe left his position at the British Museum and embarked on an expedition to track down the Elbekian gold. His wife, Maria, was his constant companion and collaborator in this endeavor. Their research led them to Siberia and, eventually, to the Caribbean.

However, their pursuit of the Elbekian gold drew the attention of the Yaga Order, a criminal organization with an interest in the treasure. In 2024, the Yaga kidnapped Thorpe and his wife, forcing Thorpe to share his knowledge about the gold's location. In an act of extreme brutality, the Yaga killed Maria when Thorpe initially refused to cooperate.

Driven by grief and guilt, Thorpe finally divulged some information but kept the exact location of the gold a secret, hidden within his journal entries. He was held captive in Sierra Leone under the protection of a local insurgent group, while the Yaga plotted to use the gold to incite a global conflict.
Divergence Field

A **Divergence Field** is a universe that does not exist on a conventional timeline and is therefore prone to a high frequency of anomaly occurrences. Divergence Fields are best described as miniature representations of the Cogworks whereby the event is filled with Epochium energy and the laws of the particular universe are not constant.

## Access

Divergence Fields are characterized as inverse Space Time Continuity Zones because rather than being a region of inconstancy within a normal timeline, it is a region of "normality" in a completely frayed and contradictory universe. As such, Divergence Fields do not follow conventional timelines and thus exist in a liminal state between the threads of the Multiverse. This makes locating and travelling to these macrocosms (via Time Gates for example) very difficult unless through an existing direct linkage from a conventional timeline. Natural orifices can appear anywhere in the Multiverse and usually radiate high levels of Epochium energy which can attract Ephemerals to feed.

When inside a Divergence Field, the easiest way out is by finding a Divergence Reliquary which will most probably contain a Time Gate back into the regular Multiverse.
Torgan-V

A vial of Torgan-V.

**Torgan-V** is a deadly neurotoxin produced for the primary purpose of assassination. The drug was invented by Iranian scientist Dr. Hossein Mirzaii, but the process was eventually sold to Chinese pharmaceutical company Kaihua Pharmaceuticals for manufacturing and distribution.

## History

The Torgan-V compound was originally invented in an Iranian lab as a treatment for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) by Dr. Hossein Mirzaii, an esteemed Persian chemist and chemical engineer. Once he had discovered the chemical in higher doses could be used as an effective neurotoxin, he hid the process from his research group to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

During a routine office cleanup, one of his colleagues discovered the documents and stole them in an effort to sell the manufacturing process to a third party. This unnamed colleague eventually sold the papers to Jin Wei Zhu, then chair member of the Chinese Kaihua Pharmaceuticals company. Zhu produced the chemical in secret and used the company's logistical resources transport it to interested parties across the globe. The success of selling the chemical to criminal groups resulted in his eventual ascension to president of Kaihua Pharmaceuticals where he continued to manufacture and distribute the deadly neurotoxin.

## Characteristics

The reason Torgan-V is so sought after by criminals is due to the fact that the drug is very difficult to trace in a standard autopsy, and that it can be configured to have a time-delayed response once it has entered the target's body. These two characteristics alone made it the ideal drug to be used in targeted assassinations globally.
Knight Selection Examination

The **Knight Selection Exam** is an intense series of tests carried out by the Church of Knights which qualify candidates in the criminal underworld as future Knights of the Church. The examination is practical and involves a series of difficult tasks and challenges which close off with an actual Knight-level operation. If their mission is successful, the agents are inducted as Knights and free to work in the criminal underworld as elite talent.
Time Gate

The **Time Gate** is a device used to transport mortal beings between different timelines in The Multiverse. It can be done by The Time Dialer, and is frequently used to transport members of the Space Time Continuum Task Force into different events for investigation.

## Specifications

### Description

The Time Gate looks like an old Roman segmental archway with a triangular roof and shingles. The gate often appears embedded in the ground with a sizable crater surrounding it. Severe damage could also be done to any structure or nature in the immediate surrounding of the warp site.

An active gate will emit a deep red glowing colour, and will be surrounded by Orb particles. These particles symbolize the lifespan of the gate and will slowly begin disappearing as the gate's closure time approaches. Once the gate closes for a first time, it will disappear and randomly appear somewhere in an unknown location within a radius of 30km from the last position. This usually signifies that the gate will exist for only about 30 more minutes. Once the timer has expired, the gate will stop glowing, and all the particles will have faded. Thus, the gate is now just an artifact left on the terrain. It is impossible to open the gate from inside a different timeline.

The Time Dialer controls the gate and can summon a guardian to protect it while the STCTF operators are out conducting their mission. The guardian has the ability to activate defensive measures such as weather alterations in order to protect the gate from sustaining too much damage. Almost always if the gate has reached a critical health level, the guardian will force-close the gate in order to protect it, and will not hesitate to leave its riders on the other side.

### Variations

A large warp gate is known as an Omega Gate. These are used to transport much larger objects and entities which would not fit through a traditional time gate. Omega gates possess a much larger Epochium signature compared to regular Time Gates.
Koschei

The insignia of the Koschei death squad.

The **Koschei** were a Soviet-era special forces unit that went into a dormant state after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Their purpose was to act as a sleeping organization until the time where they would be reactivated and reutilized as a death squad to aid in the reconstruction of the USSR.

While attempting to steal back an experimental Soviet WMD from Cardone Island in the Baltic Sea, the device was deliberately set off by Marshal Fischer and his team of the Hidden Order as retaliation for attempting to poison him. The entire Koschei force present on the island was destroyed by a lightning storm created by the WMD.

## History

### Purpose

The Koschei were the death squad of former Soviet Loyalists who are tried to reinstate their former superpower. The group had been searching for experimental weapons scattered and lost across the globe following the end of the cold war and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Along the way they had been hunting and executing anyone standing in their way of reclaiming these WMDs.

According to an old Soviet manuscript discovered on Cardone Island, the Koschei were supposed to be a sleeper-cell organization of sorts:

*"As those cowardly bureaucrats in Moscow authorize a treaty of “peace” with the enemy, our organization remains dormant, waiting for the time to strike. Even as the state is shattered into pieces, an elite guard built from our founding principles will hold onto the torch so that the flame of our Union can burn bright soon again. Codename: KOSCHEI. The Death Squad that will assemble when the time is right to reclaim properties of the Soviet era and reinstate the nation as it once was." —**Soviet Manuscript***

The Koschei left their dormant state at some time in late 2022.

### Destruction

The Koschei were destroyed on Cardone Island on July 20th, 2023 after Marshal Fischer and team Monochrome of the Hidden Order detonated a Soviet-era weather-manipulating WMD which engulfed the island in an extreme lightning storm.
Sand Walkers

The **Sand Walkers** are a rebellion group that oppose the authoritative and oppressive reign of Sanctuary Cities. The core group is made up mostly of orphaned boys raised by former Sanctuary Officer, Michael Kleiner.

## Background

In the late 2130s, the City of Vermouth had become a breeding ground for ignorant citizens and corrupt members of government. The newly appointed Chancellor Bishop established a "peacekeeping" initiative that involved Sanctuary Raider Corps regularly venturing into wilderness settlements as a display of authority. The atrocities being committed in these wilderness towns caused a mass walkout in year 2135 where 73 Guardsmen and Officers put down their weapons and left the city walls to become wilderness dwellers themselves. Michael Kleiner, a defence officer, was one of them.

Michael Kleiner who was 40 at the time decided to live in a small cluster of settlements just outside the Sub-Sanctuary City of Pyro. After a devastating attack by Sanctuary Raiders, Kleiner (who was assisting the wounded) found four small boys abandoned in the settlement. He took them under his wing and began teaching them to show compassion and for those around them, while also teaching them to fight for themselves and the defenseless. Over the years, Kleiner took on more and more lost children and gave them hope—a hope that would lead to change in the future. Kleiner knew these kids would grow up one day to change the world they lived in and reshape humankind forever.

In 2154 during another deadly Raider attack, the orphaned boys involved themselves before the settlement chief was publicly executed on the streets. By rescuing the town from the Raiders, the boys found themselves in the Sanctuary's crosshairs which put everyone around them in danger. Ready to bring on change, the boys departed from Kleiner and escaped into the wilderness to find new allies and resist against the Sanctuary.
Dimensional Warfare

**Dimensional Warfare** is a term coined by the Soviet Dark Sword Research Group (DSRG) describing a new form of combat that involves interpositional and interdimensional armed combat.

## Types

The intended outcome of the Soviets working on their positional matter warp technology was to grant transdimensional mobility to Soviet troops in order to strike at any location around the globe in a matter of seconds. The unpredictability of the technology would become an unstoppable strategy capable of engaging any military on earth. Due to the complexity of the technology, the concept would be broken down into three individually attainable developmental milestones.

### Transpositional Static Matter Warping

The warping of non-living objects between different physical positions falls under the category of transpositional static matter warping because it does not need to focus on the biological state of the matter that is jumped between the rift. The original purpose of this technology was intended for quick cargo and supply transports and for espionage by sending weapons and equipment to agents on foreign land.

### Transpositional Dynamic Matter Warping

This entails the warping of living matter between two different physical positions. The process of achieving this is many times more complex than that of static matter warping due to the fatal nature of temporal paralysis that occurs to living matter travelling through the rift. Once this technology is successfully implemented it would allow for the warping of Soviet troops to any location on the planet at any time.

### Transdimensional Dynamic Warping

The most difficult to achieve is the warping of both living and non-living matter between two different locations in space-time, effectively allowing for time warping. This process puts the most amount of strain on living beings, almost certainly resulting in death if not properly protected.

## See also

* Time Gate: The device used by The Time Dialer to transport members of its task force between various timelines.
* Space Warp Suit: Used by the Space Time Continuum Task Force to protect operators against the effects of temporal paralysis.
Hidden Order: Darkcell

**Hidden Order: Darkcell** is a spin-off of the Hidden Order Saga, set approximately one year after the dissolution of Monochrome. The story weaves together the narratives of two distinct groups: the Hacksaw team, affiliated with the Hidden Order, and *'The Crew'*, a small-scale heist team based in Los Angeles, California. The plot is set in motion during a routine mission when the Hacksaw agents uncover startling evidence of Astra Inc.'s resurgence, the company previously responsible for significant events impacting the Hidden Order. Constrained by the new spotlight on the Hidden Order around the world, the Hacksaw agents are compelled to seek external assistance. They turn to 'The Crew', a group relatively unnoticed in the criminal underworld, entrusting them with the critical task of delving into Astra Inc.'s mysterious activities.

## Synopsis

In the aftermath of a high-stakes confrontation in the Caribbean between the Hidden Order (also known as the Syndicate) and the Yaga Order, the Syndicate's clandestine activities were thrust into the global spotlight. This exposure forced many Knight teams to halt their operations and stay under the radar while their leaders, the Marshals, dealt with the situation at an organizational level. The Syndicate's newfound visibility inadvertently emboldened the criminal underworld, leading to a surge in bold heists and operations worldwide. This escalation in criminal audacity was met with an equivalent response from law enforcement agencies.

Amidst this tumultuous landscape, one Knight team, known as Hacksaw, was conducting routine check-ins with their clients when they stumbled upon a startling revelation: Astra Inc., the very company instrumental in exposing the Syndicate and now believed to be defunct following the death of Kevin Lopez, was showing signs of activity. Recognizing that any direct involvement from them would alert this re-emerging Astra Inc. and jeopardize their investigation, Hacksaw decided against pursuing the lead themselves. Their high-profile status meant that any move they made would be closely watched. Instead, they chose a more covert approach: hiring a lesser-known, small-time heist crew from Los Angeles to carry out the investigation in a more inconspicuous manner. This strategy aimed to keep the Order's involvement hidden and preserve the integrity of the lead. As such, Jin's Crew was discreetly contacted to undertake this critical mission, setting in motion a chain of events that would have far-reaching implications.
Michiaki Imamura

Michiaki Imamura, the leader of the Okami.

**Michiaki Imamura** is the head of the Imamura family and current Kingpin of the Okami in Kyoto, Japan. He has five children who each handle a separate part of the group's operations in Japan and parts of South-East Asia. His eldest son, Kazuto Imamura, was arrested during an INTERPOL raid on one of his Mahjong casinos but was subsequently released to Japanese authorities at the request of Michiaki Imamura.

Imamura has two sons and a daughter: Kazuto, Mamoru, and Yui.
Shurikan Wall

The Shuriken Wall is Lilian's main special attack. By doing this, she summons twenty-five shurikens out of thin air and fires them at any target they see. These shurikens are very similar to the ones she uses normally, but they have the ability of heat seeking. They are also **EXTREMELY** durable. THESE shurikans do about 3/4 the damage of Cody's Katana.
Valentina De Luca

**Valentina De Luca** is the widowed wife of Aurelio De Luca and current owner of the Kiesta Car Dealers business. Following the death of her husband outside his Las Vegas showroom by agents of the Yaga Order, Valentina moved the headquarters of the business to Isla Fortuna in the Caribbean.

De Luca is known to have provided services for the agents of Monochrome when they were hunting the men responsible for murdering her husband.

## See Also

* Aurelio De Luca
* Hidden Order
* Small Blind Mission
* Final Call Mission