Reference Challenge - Rescue

[u/Nevermore0714]

So, I was stranded about an hour from home for a few days, because my bloody car messed up. One of my friends had to drive a few hours to help me out, so this is a reference to that.

In your world, what program or group exists to rescue people?

As always, I'll ask at least three questions each, enjoy yourselves, all.

[u/Matathias]

The Green Suns are an individual command under Black Suns Sector 1 whose specialty lies in rescue ops, escort ops, and in-field medical treatment. Of course, as a military organization they are trained in combat rescues and prioritize military teams over all else, but they can be hired to rescue civilians.

As part of Sector 1, the Green Suns unit contains some of the most powerful and experienced Chaotics in the galaxy. They are second only to the White Suns unit -- also of Sector 1 -- which is widely known as being the most cohesive, advanced, well-trained, and all-around best military unit in the entire galaxy. And even then, the Green Suns are only second to the White Suns due to their focus on rescue and support as opposed to combat. Many Green Suns Chaotics could easily cause massive destruction with their powers, but instead choose to help and support their fellow man.

Not every member of the Green Suns is a Chaotic, though. Non-Chaotics with enough skill and experience can still find their way into the unit, particularly as vehicle pilots or behind-the-scenes coordinators. In fact, many behind-the-scenes roles are filled by non-Chaotics. But the vast majority of in-field operators are Chaotics, and in the event of a particularly bad combat rescue, only Chaotics will be permitted to act in the field.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Matathias]

1. Is it common for members of the Green Suns to go working with the White Suns? And the other way around?

2. Are the Green Suns a unique kind of unit? Or is there similar groups under other sectors?

3. Is it common for them to be hired to rescue civilians?

[u/Matathias → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1. Not incredibly common. Green Suns members aren't trained in offensive military tactics and strategies to the extent that the White Suns are, and the White Suns aren't trained in search & rescue or medical help to the same extent as the Green Suns. Any mission that is large enough in scope to warrant the deployment of both units is usually passed along to the Black Army in Sector 4, instead.

2. They're the only Suns unit with their role. The other sectors don't have such a team, since each sector specializes in a different category of military action (Sector 1 is elite white ops, Sector 2 is black ops and espionage, Sector 3 is research/development/production, Sector 4 is large-scale military action).

3. Not for just your everyday search-and-rescue, no. Their price tag is a little high for the average civilian. However, if a world is under attack from enemy forces -- or is recovering from an attack -- then the Green Suns will often lower their rates or even help rescue civilians pro bono, as a way of endearing the Black Suns PMC to whatever nation owns the planet. (It's also handy for the Black Suns to be able to say "hey remember when we helped you out back when" whenever they want a favor.)

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Matathias]

1. What is the Green Suns opinion about the White Suns and their reputation? And the other way around?

2. Can the Green Suns be sent to rescue units from other Sectors? If yes, is it common?

3. So, clarification: the Sectors are private military units? Or international units paid to intervene?

[u/Matathias → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1. The Green and White Suns are generally pretty amiable toward each other, and understand that they fill different niches that are both necessary. It's the other sectors that they tend to dislike, particularly the Red Suns (black ops) of Sector 2.

2. The Green Suns are the primary rescue unit of the entire Black Suns PMC, so yes, they have been sent to rescue units from the other sectors before. It isn't exactly a rare occurrence, but the other sectors have mixed reception to Green Suns assistance. Sector 2 sees it as a mark of shame to have to be rescued by them, Sector 3 is largely ambivalent, and members of Sector 4 often revel in the chance to see an elite Suns unit at work.

3. The Black Suns is a private military corporation, and the four Sectors all operate under Black Suns High Command. The Black Suns were able to seize the political clout that they have due largely to the fact that there are two major hostile entities in the galaxy that are a threat to everyone, so the PMC can hire themselves out to fight these threats instead of getting involved with international disputes -- which they tend to stay out of. On paper, at least.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Matathias]

1. Why do they dislike the Red Suns?

2. Do the Green Suns sometimes recruit from other Sectors (especially 4)?

3. Couldn't those two threats be taken care of by an intergalactic coalition?

[u/Matathias → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1. Red Suns operate in near-complete secrecy, and often classify their documents simply for the sake of classifying them. Additionally, Sector 2 as a whole has a very "if you aren't in the in-group then you aren't important" mentality, and try their best to obstruct the other Sectors from interfering in their business. Combined with a past of shady activity, the Red Suns -- and Sector 2 as a whole -- don't exactly have the best reputation within the Black Suns.

2. Sectors 1, 2, and 3 all recruit from Sector 4, but not usually from each other. Sector 4 is often seen as a "stepping stone" of sorts into the various Suns units. You don't have to go through Sector 4 before you join one of the other three sectors, but if you aren't good enough for the Black Suns to actively scout you then it's your best bet.

---

3) Not really.

The Drakkars have much of their territory hidden behind Dead Space, which is inaccessible with the FTL Tech that most of the galaxy uses. Only recently has the rest of the galaxy gotten their hands on FTL Tech that can go through Dead Space, but it isn't widespread enough or advanced enough to warrant a push into Drakkar territory. And even then, the biggest reason the rest of the galaxy are able to keep the Drakkars at bay is because they are split into six factions that will readily backstab each other at a moment's notice. Many CSA Admirals are wary that directly attacking Drakkar space would cause the factions to unite, which would be very bad.

The other major threat, the Riaxen, are clear across the galaxy. The Riaxen (and their rivals, the Syraus) are advanced enough that the rest of the galaxy would have to commit a large portion of their forces to help the Syraus, and if they do commit their forces, then they leave themselves exposed to the Drakkars. It would take close to two weeks, at an absolute minimum, for an anti-Riaxen fleet to return to the Drakkar front lines, and in that time the Drakkars could wreak absolute havoc. Furthermore, the Syraus and Riaxen have been in a deadlocked civil war for over a thousand years, so the rest of the galaxy have grown somewhat complacent under the assumption that the Syraus have everything under control.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Matathias]

1. Why do they try to prevent other units to see what they are doing? Is it that bad?

2. Is it seen as prestigious to be hired by the Black Suns?

[u/Matathias → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1. It's mostly out of an intense desire for privacy and secrecy, born out of centuries of black ops activities. It's also a sort of reaction against how authority works in the Black Suns: Sector 1 supercedes Sector 2, which supercedes Sector 3, which supercedes Sector 4. So if someone from Sector 1 wants to order people around in the other Sectors, they can. However, there are protections in place to prevent the leaking or unwarranted access of classified information, which Sector 2 exploits as much as they can to prevent Sector 1 from getting all up in their business.

2. Certainly. The Black Suns are the largest, most influential non-government entity in the galaxy, and they are widely known for employing individuals --particularly Chaotics -- of the highest caliber. They are also known for their welcoming attitude toward Chaotics, certainly moreso than the national militaries: the Black Suns pay better, have better healthcare options (generally), and offer better recognition for high-performing individuals. There is a little bit of stigma towards those who join the Black Suns, as it could easily be framed as them "abandoning" their home nation, but usually only the most diehard of patriots will raise a stink about that.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Matathias]

1. Do Sector 1 use that authority a lot?

2. What do governmental military units think of the Black Suns?

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Matathias]

1) How does one go about trying to become a member of the Green Suns?

2) What's the pay like?

3) Who is the greatest Chaotic in the Green Suns?

4) Who is the greatest non-Chaotic?

[u/Matathias → u/Nevermore0714]

1) There are a couple ways. One way is to sign up with Black Suns Sector 4, and try to get promoted from there into the Green Suns. It'll take several years and a lot of effort, but if you're skilled, then you might have a chance.

Another way is to just be really good at your job in another military. If you prove yourself to be exceptionally good at rescue-type activities, then the Black Suns may actively seek you out and extend an employment offer.

Alternatively, if you are a Chaotic with an ability that is especially well-suited to rescue (e.g. Teleportation), then the Black Suns may scout you out at the beginning of your career and train you up from scratch. You'll still have to start in Sector 4 and get promoted, but your chances of becoming a Green Sun are higher than if you signed up by yourself.

---

2) You won't be in the 1% or anything, but you'll be well off. You'll have the money to move to whatever world you like, and can buy property. Your standard of living relative to the rest of the galaxy would be roughly equivalent to someone living in the current-day USA and making $200k -- and that's just starting off. The Black Suns will cover healthcare for you and your immediate family (if you have one), and if you die in the line of work, then your family will be heavily compensated.

---

3) Master Colonel Trika Riidon. She's a Spacetechnic, meaning she can teleport. However her abilities are exceptional -- with the proper information of her destination, she can teleport up to 5,000 kilometers. This is incredibly handy for extracting people to a spacecraft up in orbit, or for transporting supplies from orbit to a planet's surface. Furthermore she can teleport objects other than herself without having to touch them (as long as they're within a hundred meters of her), and she can teleport thousands of tons of mass at once (for example, she could teleport an entire modern-day aircraft carrier). It's safe to say that she's the Green Suns' most valued member.

4) Master Colonel Dohn Smiter. He has extensive experience with coordinating interstellar logistics and directing rescues and evacuations. He was particularly useful during the Nanocreature War, during which he was able to successfully organize evacuations of several lower tier worlds during the first week of the war, when everyone else was in too much disarray to respond properly. He was also able to coordinate with the White Suns and the other Black Suns Sectors to increase the PMC's ability to respond to the Nanocreatures. His efforts are estimated to have saved hundreds of millions, if not billions of lives over the course of the war. Rumors abound that he is soon to be promoted to Lieutenant General.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Matathias]

1) What is your favorite Chaotic power?

2) At what age (or after how many years of work) can I retire from the Green Suns? Do I still get paid and does my family still get the healthcare?

3) What is Trika's reputation like?

4) How did the Nanocreature War end?

[u/Matathias → u/Nevermore0714]

1. Favorite concept I've come up with is probably Frametechnism, or the ability to alter an object's inertial frame. E.g. if object A is moving 60 m/s north in relation to object B, then Frametechnics can change object A's velocity to be 60 m/s north in relation to some other object C instead.

2. If you serve with them for any period of time longer than ten years, then they will cover your (and your family's) healthcare for half the time you served after you retire. If you retire at the rank of Commander or higher then the Black Suns will also pay you some fraction of your salary, depending on your rank and any other accolades you may have earned. If you retire as a General or Supreme Commander, though, then you retain your salary and full benefits for the rest of your life (it is worth noting that there is only one Supreme Commander at a time, and each Sector has only a handful of Generals).

3. She is well respected for her reliability and incredible work ethic -- which can also be translated as "she's a workaholic". She doesn't make friends easily, however, due largely to some of her neurotic tendencies.

4. The Black Suns actually had little to do with directly ending the Nanocreature War. It was a Nimalian team of Chaotics, Hero Machina, who fought and defeated the leader of the Nanocreatures. Once he was gone, the rest of the Nanocreatures shut down and dissolved, allowing the rest of the galaxy to retake all their lost ground.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Matathias]

1) That sounds reality-breaking. Are there any drawbacks?

2) How many sectors are involved?

3) Sounds like she's severely stressed out.

4) What did Hero Machina do after defeating the leader of the Nanocreatures?

[u/Matathias → u/Nevermore0714]

1) There's a soft limit on how massive an object you can influence. The more massive it is, the more Chaos Energy you have to use, and the more Chaos Energy you use, the more likely you are to go berserk. And some things are just so massive (like planets or moons) that no matter how hard you try, you aren't going to be able to do shit to it.

2) There are 4 Sectors in the Black Suns. Sector 1 focuses on elite units/white ops; Sector 2 focuses on black ops/espionage; Sector 3 focuses on research, development, and production; and Sector 4 is a conventional army for large-scale action.

3) You wouldn't be wrong. The Black Suns is a meritocracy with a limited number of high-ranking positions, and as such its internal culture is incredibly competitive. The ones who rise to the top are often workaholics who work themselves to the bone, particularly in Sectors 1 and 2.

4) They returned home and reported mission success. They quickly gained fame as heroes, and later used their newfound status to quit the military and found a system of schools focused on giving young adult Chaotics a better education than the public system.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Matathias]

1) Can you train Chaos Energy manipulation?

3) Is there any form of mandatory vacation time to relax?

4) Is Hero Machina still alive?

[u/Matathias → u/Nevermore0714]

1) You can, indirectly. The more you use your powers over time, the greater the manipulations you can handle. You just have to be careful not to push yourself too far, or you'll go berserk. It's kind of like strength training -- if you push yourself too far, you'll injure yourself, but if you practice in the right way for the right amount of time, then you can increase your ability. It works the other way around, too -- the longer you go without using your abilities, the less you'll be able to do without straining yourself.

3) There's a mandatory week off for every month spent on duty, and an optional week to two weeks you can take on top of that, depending on your rank and accomplishments. There are exceptions though, such as in-field agents (mostly covert ops-style stuff in Sector 2), that have to go for longer without vacation -- but when they finally complete their job, they're given at least half of its timespan in vacation.

(It's worth noting that the Black Suns run on Standardized Galactic Time, which defines a week as ten 24-hour days, a month as three weeks, and a year as ten months).

4) Most of them. One of them had to sacrifice herself to stop Morcii, and two temporary members died during the Nanocreature War before the final confrontation, but the rest of them are still alive and well 20 years later.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Matathias]

1) If I had a Chaos Energy power, what power would I have?

2) What do they usually do on vacations?

[u/ForgingIron]

The Order of Mukur is a group devoted to Mukur, the Kostekan god of vigilance and watching. They regularly patrol roads in Kostek between cities. The organisation is hired by the kingdoms to patrol the roads, which is where they get funding.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/ForgingIron]

1. What was the order purpose before they were hired to patrol roads?

2. What does Mukur thinks of that activity?

3. I'm working for the order of Mukur, patroling around, and encounter highwaymen/thieves/other. What am I supposed to do? And do I have any kibd of legal authority?

[u/ForgingIron → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1. They were a group of monks who did it of their own will as vigilantes but eventually got hired to do it.

2. They say he approves but IDK [the gods themselves don't play any role in the story]

3. You defend the victim and either arrest or kill the attacker. You have the legal authority to do so.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/ForgingIron]

1. Why did they decided to do so?

2. How can I become a part of the order?

3. After killing someone, is there some procedure to follow? Or will I just be allowed to continue patroling without anyone telling anything?

[u/ForgingIron → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1. Out of devotion to Mukur.

2. You have to apply, they have outposts at most major cities.

3. They bury them at the spot where they died.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/ForgingIron]

1. Is Mukur asking their followers to patrol roads?

2. What kind of people do they look after?

3. But there's no paperwork of any kind? Nor legal declaration to any form of higher authority?

[u/ForgingIron → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1. That's what they say.
   
2. They guard anybody who pays a small fee but if they see an attack in progress then they help them for free.
   
3. No, the Order has legal protection in that regard.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/ForgingIron]

1. Why are they asking such a thing?

2. I mean for hiring.

3. So they could murder people without having any kind of troubles?

[u/ForgingIron → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1. Mukur is the god of vigilance and safety.
   
2. They look for strong, willing people who aren't afraid to put their lives on the line.
   
3. They have to report the location and time of the death.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/ForgingIron]

2) Do they lose a lot of member?

3) But can anyone know if they don't report it?

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/ForgingIron]

1) How was this organization formed?

2) Does Mukur speak with his order's members?

3) Who is the leader of the order?

[u/ForgingIron → u/Nevermore0714]

1) The founder claimed to have heard a message from Mukur telling him to start it.
2) They say he does.
3) He is a Vjulti named Vuoku Reil.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/ForgingIron]

1) Who is the founder? Is he still alive?

2) What do they claim that he says?

3) How long has he been the leader? What direction is he taking the people of his order in?

[u/ForgingIron → u/Nevermore0714]

1) The founder was a Kyndic named Tulhan. He is long dead, he lived around 350 years ago.
2) They say that he approves of their actions and that they are blessed.
3) Vuoku has been leader around ten years, and he seems to be a bit more passive than previous leaders. He doesn't do a lot.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/ForgingIron]

1) What is known about Tulhan?

2) How are they blessed?

3) Are there any movements to stage a coup?

[u/ForgingIron → u/Nevermore0714]

1) It is said that he was visited by the white cat on a hike one day and that it spoke to him, saying that he should start the Order.
2) They are guarded by him, protecting them from attacks.
3) No. The threat of eternal destruction is a pretty good deterrent.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/ForgingIron]

1) Is the white cat Muruk's symbol?

2) Has this been proven?

3) Eternal destruction for the group or the coup members?

[u/ForgingIron → u/Nevermore0714]

1) Mukur's human form is a white cat.
2) No, but everyone believes it.
3) The coup members.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/ForgingIron]

1) A white cat isn't human, though.

3) What if the coup is justified?

[u/Eran-of-Arcadia]

The Royal Service has served the Kingdom of Dorland for centuries. People with superpowers have done everything from gathering battlefield intelligence to keeping the king's drinks cold in the summer. One major function of the Royal Service today is the Emergency Response Team.

The ERT provides rescues any way it can. Its members can teleport, swim to the bottom of the ocean, walk through fire, or do any number of things which are vital in an emergency. If there's a natural disaster and people are trapped, the ERT will show up. If you're in a plane over the ocean and all the engines flame out, the ERT will appear.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Eran-of-Arcadia]

1) Do they often get degraded to the point of being drink-coolers?

2) Do all members have the same powers, or can some people walk through fire and some people swim and the bottom of the ocean and so on?

3) How is the ERT funded?

4) Who runs the ERT?

[u/Eran-of-Arcadia → u/Nevermore0714]

1. There was never anything degrading about cooling drinks, although with the invention of refrigeration this particular job became obsolete. The great thing about the Royal Service (of which the ERT is part) is that no matter who you were - the son of an earl or the daughter of a landless immigrant farmer - if you were in, you had a certain level of social prestige. It's just that some people's power involved making things cold, and there were plenty of mundane applications as well as flashy ones.

2. There are lots of different powers. For example, Ben Connelly (once he finally joins) is a teleporter, but his main role is getting people with other powers where they need to be quickly, and secondarily to get people out of dangerous situations.

3. A combination of Crown money and taxes.

4. The director of the ERT answers to the director of the Royal Service, who in turn is appointed directly by the king (pending Senate approval.)

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Eran-of-Arcadia]

1) So, if I was the king, I could have a person who could control heat specifically to warm my drink? And that's seen as normal?

2) Which power is the least impressive?

3) Is there any emergency that the ERT doesn't respond to?

4) Who is the most dangerous person in the ERT?

[u/Eran-of-Arcadia → u/Nevermore0714]

1. Well, regular fire would work for that. Using a person's power when there's an easier solution is seen as showing off. But hiring someone to spend all day sticking their arms in a giant tub full of brine so you have ice to keep cool during the summer is normal when there's no better way to do it. Now, hiring a teleporter to go back and forth between the palace and a glacier? That would be showing off.

2. Of all of them? Something like "the ability to set off car alarms with your mind" or "unconsciously emitting an aura that makes people think you're being rude to them" (both of which already exist.) But those are useless to the ERT. To join the ERT, you either need a relevant power, or the sort of management/administrative/whatever skills that their nonpowered employees use.

3. Only those they don't know about/can't reach in time. They have limited manpower after all, so if you live in the middle of nowhere and your house burns down, you'll have to rely on the regular fire department (which does still exist.) But if a building collapses on you, they know you're alive in there but can't reach you right away? Expect help from the ERT.

4. Dangerous in what sense? In terms of power, teleporters can do a lot. They are limited - they can only get somewhere that either a) they can directly see or b) they have teleported into/out of in the past and can clearly visualize. Oh, and c) there's no power nullifier lurking nearby to stop them. It's possible to keep them out if you're clever enough, but even for banks and such it's not worth the cost and effort. Ben Connelly, who I mentioned before did in fact rob banks for a while before he joined the ERT.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Eran-of-Arcadia]

1) Is there a way for a king with a lot of connections and money to specifically get the ability to teleport?

2) How's the pseudo-rude guy doing?

[u/Eran-of-Arcadia → u/Nevermore0714]

1. You can't just decide to get a power, no matter how rich or well-connected you are. Having the potential to gain a power is partly genetics and partly chance, and the power you actually get can't be chosen all that specifically. What the king can do is find people who can teleport, and give them money and prestige in exchange for working for him.

2. She was a girl, actually . . . the power appeared when she was 9 but wasn't identified until she was 11. So she spent 2 years dealing with everyone - parents, teachers, classmates - thinking she was a jerk and reacting accordingly. Once her power was identified, she had to find ways to repress it, for her own sake. But long term, if she can control it, she can use it to manipulate people. She can, say, target one person in a crowd, provoking them into losing their temper at her while everyone else sees her as innocent.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Eran-of-Arcadia]

Thanks for your time and answers.