Plot Hooks and Devices

[Cpt Micha]

Special Forces

The EUS has several branches of special forces. The branches go back before the days of Earth Gov, when each region of Earth was ruled by it's own country exclusively. While the nations united, their military forces initially remained independent. This too changed over time. Now each remaining colony retains a small portion of it's military forces to defend itself. Each colony also typically possesses it's own Special Forces. These Special Forces are on a hot line to the colony and the EUS council. Some circles whisper that the Special Forces are also on a hot line to various Mega Corporations. But since the missions are typically cleared at minimum of being classified these rumors can not be confirmed nor denied.

There are several special forces of note but perhaps the one that is arguably the best of the best is the Sigma Force, who are based on Mars. Sigma dates back to the founding of the colony. Sigma were literally the first humans to set foot upon Mars, then the scientists. Sigma first saw action during the Martian Rebellion. They have since seen countless sorties on various worlds including Earth itself. Sigma typically utilizes the best in Human Technology and is trained like no other in how to best use it.

Sigma is typically assigned the most difficult, sensitive or dangerous missions. Sigma considering the nature of their assignments have a very low fatality rate. That being said compared to most other Special Forces they have a very high replacement rate.

Sigma teams usually consist of four to six specialists. The specialists that are employed typically are.

Special Weapons- Special Weapons Specialists field weapons that are not typically employed on the battlefield, for example they might field a heavy man portable machine gun or a sniper rifle depending on the mission and specialist.

Heavy Weapons- Heavy Weapons Specialists, typically field the really big stuff, such as anti air missiles, anti tank missile launchers, heavy flame throwers typically mounted in vehicles and various other heavy weapons.

Computer Science- Computer Science Specialists handle the Electronic slicing the team needs done. They are equipped to hack almost any system.

Biology Specialists- Handle the medical needs of the team, as well as the proper handling of biological material.

Demolitions Specialist- Demolition Specialists are experts in explosives and structures. They can handle obstructions both large and small, help breach fortifications or out right destroy them.

[Cpt Micha]

In the vast nearly infinite Universe there are many Anomalies which refuse to bow down and be explained away by Science. Magic is perhaps the most most obvious of these things. Perhaps it is fitting that the things left unexplainable by Science are generally explainable, or at least capable of being theorized by people skilled in the ways of Magic.

There are vortexes in the Universe in which the laws of physics seem to break down to various degrees. Within these vortexes almost anything can happen that one can imagine. Usually these vortexes seem to be in close proximity to a star, or star cluster that are near or contain ruins of Forerunner Civilization. Some says these vortexes occur due to unspent gathered Magical energy, that is unfocused and undirected. These vortexes are often destructive when disturbed. As they are presently undetectable by conventional Human means they present a navigational hazard at best.

There are many such vortexes in the galaxy and most likely as well in the Universe at large. Entire colonial expeditions and military fleets have simply disappeared while in transit through these dangerous phenomena. They simply vanish without a trace and often instrument failure and navigation systems simply shut down in the area.

These vortexes have an eerie similarity to the Bermuda and Dragon's Triangles, giving these areas of space a series of superstitious names. The size of the vortexes can vary widely from just a few hundred miles to encompassing multiple sectors worth of space, generally they are triangular in shape or at least the marked off area is by various trade captains and civilian captains. Most of the colonies and the E.U.S do not officially acknowledge the existence of these vortexes. The knowledge of these vortexes is fairly common among space goers in particular and knowledge is starting to get to the rest of humanity as well, though belief in them varies widely.

Some believe that these vortexes have perfectly logical and reasonable explanations. Of course these people are usually skeptics who refuse to believe in something so silly as Magic so their theories are generally every bit is wrong as the wildly superstitious that believe in them, if not more so. Those who are skilled with the Arcane usually have theories and hypothesizes that generally run closer to the truth of the matter though they are most often scoffed and mocked by the ignorant masses and "real scientists".

[Cpt Micha]

Another kind of anomaly generally attributed to Magic are stars, which do not appear to have any kind of nuclear process taking place. They simply exist and radiate light and heat from their forms... (they also emit strong amounts of Magical Radiation). Magic as a result tends to be extremely prevalent in these areas of space where these stars are present. Most of these stars are discovered by accident by Traders. Generally speaking such impossible stars are written off as flights of fantasy fabricated by either overly imaginative or drunken ship crews by Humanity at large, these stars do not register at all on sensors as anything but a strange thermal anomaly.

[Cpt Micha]

There is yet another common yet unexplainable by Science even that is often found out on the other rim of the colonies, that typically leaves even the most learned Arcanist confused. On various worlds the night sky turns a bright crimson, the moons and stars also vanish and during these nights it is said any number of unnatural events takes place. From the dead rising from their graves (both human and xeno animal alike) to monsters resembling various descriptions of mythological nature (such as were wolves).

There have been casualties that are incredibly high to the point entire colonies have been replaced. The whole of Humanity's various governments have managed to keep these events quiet as the public knowledge of this strange Mist, would probably put quite the damper on space exploration and colonization. They have managed in part to keep it quiet because it has yet to happen on a major colony and there are few if any survivors typically.