Project Scion

Project Scion is a highly classified metahuman development project, devised by the Federal Office of the Abnormal. Initiated in 2001, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Project Scion's primary goal was to create a new generation of metahuman superheroes, firmly indoctrinated under government control. To that end, subjects were acquired at early ages, and telepathically brainwashed throughout life. As they matured, the Project Scion subjects were steadily planted into various superhero teams across the United States. However, Project Scion suffered its worst setback ever in 2028, when one of its subjects, given the name "Damian Knight" overrode their psychological conditioning while on a field test in Mexico City, and beginning the disastrous rampage known as the Hellrise Event.

## History

Project Scion was approved by the Directorate of the Federal Office of the Abnormal on December 29th, 2001. The Project was assigned to the newly constructed Blacklight Station within the Arctic Sea. By February 3rd, 2002, thirty six Specimens , aged one to four years had been collected and brought to base, when ichor infusion was initiated. Dosage levels varied, with nineteen of the Specimen surviving ichor infusion and successfully manifesting metahuman abilities. This marked the end of Generation 1 of Project Scion.

Generation 1 was indoctrinated using conventional brainwashing techniques. Over the years, the insufficiency of these methods became apparent, as numerous Gen 1 Specimens died through mishaps which often derived from loss of control. By 2008, twelve of the nineteen surviving Specimens from Generation remained alive, and the Project managers resolved that Generation 2 would be bred with more thorough control measures in place. To that end, Project Scion began recruiting numerous psychic metahumans with potent Telepathic and Mind Control abilities, which they would use in order to initiate the Standardized Psychic Indoctrination Procedure (SPIP).

Generation 2 of Project Scion launched in 2009. This batch of recruits consisted of twenty eight children, aged two to four years (designated as Generation 2-A), and thirteen in-utero fetuses (designated as Generation 2-B), all of which were administered ichor dosages of various levels. Generation 2-A saw marked improvement over Generation 1, with twenty three out of twenty eight of the Specimens successfully developing metahuman abilities. Generation 2-B was initially deemed subpar, as only six Specimens were successfully carried to term. However, Specimen #73 (Operational Designation: Sentinel, Civilian Designation: Ryder, Scott) developed extremely potent metahuman abilities, projected to place the Specimen into the Alpha Level Threat Class. Specimen #73's success saw a massive increase in Project Scion's funding, and a directive to explore further in-utero ichor infusions when Generation 3 was initiated.

## Methods and Procedures

### Telepathic Conditioning

#### Memory Implantation

All Specimens within Project Scion underwent the process of psychic alteration, via the use of the program's telepathic Monitors. Memories of their upbringing in Blacklight Station were erased, and replaced with pre-fabricated backstories (known as Revised Histories, or RVs for short), implanted by the Monitors. RVs were fully detailed, and included hobbies, parents, friends, academic performances, and even romantic relationships all leading up to the start of their careers as superheroes.

Memories of their time in Blacklight were suppressed and locked away, though any training and conditioning was unconsciously available and could be employed when activated by an individual with the proper Command Codes.

#### Control Protocols

All Project Scion specimens were implemented with telepathic programming which enabled them to be controlled and ordered about by any individual with the necessary Command Codes. Activation Commands require the direct physical presence of an individual who a subject can identify, and can be issued verbally or telepathically. Once the Specimen has entered Compliant or Allegiant Mode, audio or video recordings or transmissions, as well as distant psychic projections can also be used trigger a response. Each Specimen was implanted with a set of Command Codes unique to them, which was given to the Monitors and Handlers assigned to them, as well as the higher ups of the Project.

Specimens are programmed with information regarding various members of the FOA. This allows individuals with high clearance levels to override Commands issued to a Specimen, provided it was done by someone of inferior rank.

##### Cogitation Modes

* Passive: Cogitation Mode: Passive is the default mental state for Project Scion Specimens. In this state, they function completely ordinarily, with active free will and functional memory processing abilities. They are able to consciously recall all memories from their RVs, and any others they have acquired within Passive Mode. Any training they have been granted access to will be available to them here, though it shall be framed through the lens of their RVs.
* Compliant: All Specimens, upon hearing or psychically perceiving their Activation Command Code, will enter a state of mind known as Cogitation Mode: Compliant. In this Cogitation Mode, they will go completely passive, their minds going blank, their bodies still, and faces passive. In Compliant mode, they will not consciously remember anything that transpires. More importantly, however, they will be susceptible to further commands, until receiving their Activation Command again, upon which they will return to Passive Mode. While in Compliant Mode, Specimens will accept Command Codes from anyone who issues them.
* Allegiant: Allegiant Mode is identical to Compliant Mode, with one exception. Whilst in Allegiant Mode, a Specimen will accept Command Codes solely from the individual who placed them into Allegiant Mode, and ignore all other attempts at Commanding them until Allegiant Mode is disabled.

##### Command Codes

* Activation: The Activation Command transitions a Specimen between Compliant and Passive Mode.
* Aptitude Enable/Disable: The Aptitude Enable/Disable allows the Specimen to be granted access to skills learned during their training in Blacklight Station, by deactivating the mental blocks around those skills. Alternatively, those skills can be Disabled by reactivating the blocks. Whilst a skill is Enabled, they may make use of it in all three Cogitation Modes, and the same in reverse if it is Disabled. Such skills entail various uses of their powers, combat training, linguistic and technical knowledge, etc.
* Mission Assignment: The Mission Assignment Command programs the Specimen to receive some sort of task, which they will pursue tirelessly until it is complete or they are issued a Mission Abort Command. Missions parameters can be created on the fly, as while they are in a zombified state, the Specimen is still possessed of their full intelligence and comprehension skills. However, Specimens are pre-programmed with several mission types.
	+ TBD
* Mission Abort: This Command causes the Specimen to abort whatever their current Mission Assignment is.
* Report: The Report Command causes the Specimen to describe their memories of any event, be it one of their missions or a moment of their everyday life. Report Commands are given a date and time. When issued, Specimens have full access to all memories, provided they have not been classified.
* Classify/Declassify: The Classify Command creates a mental block around a specified memory, preventing a Specimen from divulging it unless it is Declassified, either by the originator of the first Command or by someone with a sufficiently high authority to override them.

### Specimen Designation

All Specimens of the Project Scion program were designated with a Specimen Number, tied to their position in the program. This was their primary form of address by the Project Scion staff, and of one another, when such interactions were permitted. Additionally all Specimens were given an Operational Designation, which was to serve as their alias as a superhero or agent of the FOA for those outside or unaware of the program. Lastly, for the purpose of public use, and as part of their psychically fabricated backstory, all Specimens received a Civilian Designation, an ordinary name that they would be able to make use of in life outside the program, whenever they were not activated.

## Organization

### Monitors

Monitors are the handlers assigned to observe and regulate each of the Specimens of Project Scion. The Monitors of Gen-1 were ordinary humans, and saw a high turnover rate as a result of accidental killings or temper tantrums by their charges. The Monitors of Gen-2 were all selected for their telepathic abilities, and were responsible for fabricating memories and implanting command codes in their charges, resulting in a markedly higher success rate in maintaining control over specimens.

Monitors were required to report to the Head Monitor, along with the Project Director.