Blacklight Psionic Division

The Blacklight Psionic Division is Blacklight Industries special military unit comprised of psionic-wielding individuals who take on the most hardy tasks, especially mutant elimination.

### **Creation**

The Blacklight Psionic Division, or BPD for short, was created early on after the government initiative for Blacklight was launched. Medical professionals had recently discovered a new gene within a large number of refugees to inner cities who had survived the nuclear blast, noticing that the more tests were conducted, the more these abilities began to show themselves, abilities that no normal human being had ever displayed. A number of these individuals, in return for refuge and rehoming were drafted into Blacklight's special operative unit, where their psionic abilities as they were dubbed were found to be much more effective against combatting the mutant threat than mere bullets . Thus, the Blacklight Psionic Division was created, and has been served by those men and women and their descendants ever since.

### **Recruitment**

Joining the BPD is seen as a great honour throughout the three cities, with the organisation being especially well praised, if not somewhat hounded at times by the media. Recruitment is carried out in one of several ways:

* **Promise Cadet**

A Promise Cadet is an individual who is promised to the BPD from birth by their family, who are usually strong psionic users and already part of the BPD themselves or in high ranking positions such as politicians.

* **Scout**

Even into the 23rd century, Japan still carries out a yearly physical and mental assessment on all of its children of school age and attendance. If a child scores a persistently high score, as well as emerging abilities, those children will be monitored and listed as potential candidates to join the BPD. If then by school leaving age at 16, those children will be recruited into the BPD.

* **Volunteer**

Volunteers are psionically gifted individuals who were not scouted, but join the BPD of their own volition. Volunteers tend to be closer to school-leaving age or in their late teens, but there have always been those who join at a later age into their adulthood.

* **Conscript**

Conscripts are individuals who are drafted into the BPD under duress. These individuals are made up of Synthetic Sources (those who have had their abilities given to them by the government) and incarcerated criminals who display abilities.

### **Training**

Once a candidate has joined the BPD as a Cadet, they begin a year long training regiment at the Blacklight Psionic Academy. This training consists of everything from training with their abilities, research into mutants, individual weapon choice and training, risk assessment and more. Cadets will often join field missions with BPD operatives, but are forbidden from engaging with mutants themselves, and must observe only unless under exceptional circumstances. Once the year has passed and provided the cadet has received the necessary requirements to graduate, they will become a BPD Operative.

### **BPD Barracks**

Whereas most employees of Blacklight Industries, including bureaucratic ministers and members of the Blacklight Security Division live in their own homes and properties, once an individual joins the Psionic Division, they are housed within a set of Blacklight Industries owned barracks, with it being common for a squad to live together within said barracks.

These barracks are state of the art facilities and often large complexes that provide a livable and communal space for all stationed there, as well as separate rooms for sleeping, bathing and so on. All BPD barracks are fully equipped with leisure spaces, kitchens and washrooms, as well as facilities such as gyms. All barracks are secretive in their location, as to not attract unwanted attention from the public and the media, and are often stationed underground. To counteract the underground living however, projection technology is often used to give the appearance of a day and night cycle, with access to gardens and outdoor spaces. Operatives may come and go as they wish however, not being purely confined to the barracks. When not on call, they are allowed to visit family or friends, engage in leisure activities within the city and more. However, BPD Operatives are always on potential call, and if alerted during an activity, must respond immediately or at the closest moment.
### **Ranks**

Though all members of the Blacklight Psionic Division are technically listed as BPD Operatives, there are several ranks within the BPD, noting both their ability and service, as well as some unique and specialist ranks. Some of the higher BPD ranks even have command and jurisdiction over the Blacklight Security Division members and depending on the matter, can take over a case, such as a Clairvoyance user taking over a murder case.

#### **Cadet**

BPD Cadets are new arrivals to the BPD who are within their year of academy training. Cadets are the lowest rank and are unable to engage with mutants, with the risk of being written up or court martialed for doing so unless under extreme and evident circumstances.

#### **Operative**

While operative is generally a blanket term, it is also the rank name of newly graduated BPD officers, who are assigned to squadrons and are given access to rules of engagement with mutants and other dangers at large. Operatives are the most common rank in the BPD, denoting an individual who serves in the BPD but so far has not demonstrated exceptional talents or leadership qualities.

#### **Squadron Leader**

A Squadron Leader is a BPD Operative who has displayed exceptional ability, assessment, teamwork and leadership skills both in the field and out. Subsequently, they had been promoted above an Operative and are tasked with leading their own squad.

#### **Praetorian**

Praetorians are the proven strongest and most capable members of the BPD, who have felled incredibly dangerous enemies and braved immensely dangerous situations. They are hugely admired and honoured not just within the BPD but within society itself. In accordance to their status and exemplary service, Praetorian is a rank not given out lightly, with usually only a handful in service every generation. They are seen as the true embodiment of the BPD and something to be aspired to.

**Special Ranks**

#### **Public Relations Officer**

The BPD have several individuals who serve as PR Officers for the group. While they have capacity as field officers and may carry another rank aside from PR Officer, they are responsible for representing the BPD in the media and any public campaigns run on their behalf.

#### **Handlers**

Each squadron will have a handler assigned to them. Handlers are specifically BPD Operatives who have the psionic ability of telepathy. Handlers are a normal member of their squadron, and as such live with them, but do not engage in the field. They can even decide whether they want to even travel into the field or remain behind in the barracks and communicate from there. Though all squad members can communicate via wristcomm, telepaths can communicate to every team member at once, or individually, as well as being able to communicate with their squad (provided they are within a range of 500km) if the wtistcomm network goes down, although squad members will not be able to talk back to them in that case.

### **Equipment**

All BPD Operatives are outfitted and equipped with state of the art military gear, created and provided by Blacklight Industries and tailor-made for each individual.

#### **Weapons**

All Blacklight Operatives are authorised in the use of weaponry alongside their psionic abilities. There is however, no official list as to what may be used, and each individual may wield any weapon to their liking and suited to their style as a combatant. However, every weapon will be created by Blacklight Industries and cannot come from outside the organisation. When being made, each weapon will be under scrutiny of the finest craftsman, and must pass all relevant tests as to its creation, the materials used and the blueprints.
#### **Clothing/Armour**

Over the course of more than a century, Blacklight Industries have created several sets of clothing and armour for operatives that can indeed be customised and modified, but are based on templates that have served well in the past. However, they all share several things in common.

#### **Wristcomm**

    Each gear set contains a custom wristcomm. While wristcomms are common in the modern world and used by the majority of citizens to keep track of news, talk to friends and family and so on, Blacklight issued wristcomms have several notable features to them. These wristcomms are assigned through a private network to each squadron, allowing squad members to talk to one another and the squad as a whole, without any interference from outside parties. It also gives updates on everything from the user's vital conditions, environmental factors and forecasted mutant activity.
#### **Hood/Mask**

    All BPD sets are equipped with hoods, that are for much for use than aesthetic. When raised, the hoods bring up a holographic HUD displaying not only several immediate points, such as user status, but also potential threats, targets and so on. The HUD is also capable of switching to several other planes of vision, including night vision, UV and Infrared.
#### **Psionic Cables**

    As with the wristcomms and hoods, all gear sets are equipped with several cables attached to various parts of the outfit. These cables connect to a small power pack at the back of each outfit, which is neurally connected to the wearer's brain. These power packs contain such things as condensed adrenaline, as well as liquidated nutrients and saline's containing heat and cold to warm or cool the body in certain environments. When ever a BPD is outfitted for a gear set, among some other unpleasant things, they must have several injections into the body to allow ports for these cables to be fitted.

**SAMURAI**

A suit designed for flexibility and functionality, while providing adequate protection. A popular choice against BPD Operatives who value a balance of physical strength, speed and agility in their approach. The slim blackened version of the SAMURAI gear is the variation made for any Praetorians for who the SAMURAI is the gear of choice, with more expensive and hardier substances.

**KENSEI**
The KENSEI set is a BPD gear set designed for the tankier combatant. Fitted with far more synthetic armour plates than any other suit, it provides superior defense. The power pack also houses a unique formula which grants temporary increase to physical strength. As with others, the slimmer black armour is the Praetorian variation.

**SHINOBI**
A BPD suit designed for lithe swift combat and movements, made of a lightweight alloy fabric, perfect for those who wield lightweight weapons and prefer a faster style. The black variation provides a degree of more protection, without losing any of the flexibility.

**KAGE**
A set of gear designed for purposes of stealth. The cloak allows for blending into the shadows and also concealing small weapons. The Praetorian version is not only of a darker colour for additional stealth, but the cloak is also woven of a denser fabric for overall cloaked defense.

**GEISHA**
The GEISHA set, a counterpart to the SAMURAI set, is designed as a balance of strength and flexibility, with the added 'wings' providing air braking support. The Praetorian gear is more conservatively designed, with an emphasis on style and defense.

**KUNOICHI**    The KUNOICHI gear set aims for flexibility of the user, while providing ample defense over most areas of the body, with many pouches built in over the fabric, able to store many smaller and hidden items. The black slim lined gear is the Praetorian version, offering further defensive padding.

**NOUSAGI**    The NOUSAGI set is used by many who rely more on speed and avoiding attacks, rather than taking punishment, as evident with the lack of defensive cover. The Praetorian set offers fabric of a more sturdy construction, but still leaves little, over favour of maneuverability.

**Ōjo**
The Ōjo set is popular among the younger female cohort for its style, while also providing decent protection for most of the body. The Praetorian variation has little change to it, despite the colouring and some slightly more upgraded materials in its construction.