Arq-Tech

**Arq-Tech** is a private company focusing on science and technology research. It was founded and managed by Jillian Salvius until she handed over daily business to Kristian Schaefer after her son's disappearance. Arq-Tech has developed the Arc as a portal to the other realm.

## History

Although it is not specified who founded Arq-Tech, Jillian Salvius was presumably the founder as she refers it as "my company". The initial motivation for founding this company may have been her son Michael Salvius having a disease which could only be cured in afterlife, as her mother believed. The company has been dedicated to finding divinium to build the Arc, designed as a portal to another world. After Jillian Salvius temporarily retired from her company, she handed management to her adviser Kristian Schaefer.

## Technology

Arq-Tech has developed highly innovative technology in cybernetics and medical science. It conducts research in various domains such as teleportation, energy, medical treatments, and life extension.

The technology Arq-Tech created include:

* the Arc, a quantum portal to another world.
* mind-controlled wheelchairs.
* radiological conductive infrastructure able to convert prayers into energy.
* a plague generator able to create artificial plagues.

## Buildings

Arq-Tech's headquarters are located in Spain. The building has offices, labs, and a hall where press events can be organized.

Arq-Tech also bought a building later known as Adriel's Cathedral, used by the Firstborn Children as a place of worship.

## Employees

Arq-Tech has many employees, including in-house security to secure its buildings. It occasionally use mercenaries to retrieve sacred artifacts. Before becoming the acting manager, Kristian Schaefer was employed as ethics adviser.

## Allies and enemies

### Catholic Church

Relations with the Catholic Church have initially been very tense, as the Church accused Arq-Tech of stealing ancient Christian artifacts considered as sacred relics. Cardinal Duretti even sent Warrior Sisters to break into Arq-Tech labs to retrieve the Shield of Faith. During a press conference, Dr. Salvius publicly accused the Church of stealing the artifact. However, Arq-Tech retaliated by sending mercenaries to take the Shield back from the Church during its transportation. The Church also disapproved of the building of the Arc to access afterlife.

### Firstborn Children

When Kristian Schaefer was acting manager of Arq-Tech, he formed a partnership with Adriel and the Firstborn Children, providing a building bought by Arq-Tech to be used by the FBC as a place of worship. Arq-Tech also built and funded radiological conductive infrastructure to convert prayers into energy and to use this energy to power plagues and the Arc. These activities horrified Jillian Salvius when she learned what he had done. However, when she tried to shut it down, she found that she had handed over too much power to Kristian and there was legally little she could do.

### The OCS

Relations between **Arq-Tech** and the OCS were initially tense, as the Warrior Sisters were involved in a break-in and stealing of the Shield of Faith in the company's headquarters. However, Jillian Salvius used Arq-Tech technology to help Ava better understand the effects of the Halo. She also helped Lilith recover after she returned alive from the other side. Arq-Tech also provided Father Vincent and Warrior Sisters with everything they needed after they left The Cat’s Cradle.