Vanguard

Vanguard is a collective of elite military operatives tasked with keeping track of super powered activities.

## Vanguard

### Members

* Charity
* Steel
* Block
* Beacon
* Professor Teresa Tove

### Previous Members

* Shunt
* Malform
* Rampart
* Vital
* Shadow
* Bleach

## Origin

**Vanguard** was an international task force secretly formed many years ago. Although super powers were uncommon; they were becoming more prevalent across the world. As a result, the UN pooled together their best soldiers and technologies to form an elite strike unit that could keep up with these global developments; whilst also offering military support whenever needed.

## First Line Up

The initial squad consisted of members from across the planet; each recognised for their military expertise. Commander Gianni Cosmo leads the team remotely from the Iceberg, a highly advanced aircraft carrier that can mobilise across the globe. Early into the programme, a highly controversial geneticist called Professor Teresa Tove joined the ship to oversee her personal project. This evolved into the REPLICA PROGRAMME, in which all members (field & support) are subject to DNA processing & storage. This enables them to be effectively cloned into new bodies if the original dies. Although highly unstable, the military operation gave the programme time to experiment. Prof. Jack Jenkins also joined the ship as an expert on super-powers; but was discharged when he questioned the moral implications of the Replica Programme.

Once the Replica Programme was agreed upon by the shadow governments funding the task force; Vital was killed by teammate Shunt at their request; her vampire powers deemed ineligible for cloning. Shunt had believed he was on the path to redemption, despite his natural instincts and felt betrayed by Vanguard. They would discharge & abandon him in the Gobi Desert; allowing him to believe he had enacted against the direct order. Shadow discovered the cloning process and fakes her own death to escape the programme.

Over these years, Vanguard’s influence waned across various international governments and the organisation came under suspicion of corruption and sedition. Although on the surface the team seemed to stay consistent, rumours began that these were cloned versions of the original team killed in action. After a series of disastrous missions which fuelled conspiracy theories amongst the general public and threatened to uncover the secret - they were forced to officially disband.

The disbanding of the team would eventually inspired a more public-friendly team of superheroes that could work in a similar fashion; creating the Global Faction. The true stories of this team were made highly classified to all involved.

## Second Line Up

Although officially disbanded by their original government funding, The Iceberg continued to operate as a surveillance ship to keep track of super power activity. This also gave a safe space for Professor Teresa Tove to perfect the Replica Programme in international waters. After another escalation in super power activity, many governments reverted back to agreement that the Vanguard mission as necessary for global security.

Another recruitment drive was created, bringing together 5 new members under the watchful eye of Commander Cosmo. The history of the previous team (along with the Replica Programme) would be kept secret from this one.

Aristocrat was briefed by the British government to lead the new squad. Although he initially refused because of his young family, his criminal background was used as blackmail, forcing him to sign onto the squad. Over time this would fracture the family, until his wife filed for divorce. Morris was distraught from the family breakdown, becoming a much more detached and pragmatic leader.

Aristocrat alongside Commander Cosmo would recruit team members Charity, Steel, Block & Beacon.