mroberon1972
First Post
I was cleaning my pocket PC out today, and while doing so found some ideas that I had puttered around with. It really has nothing to do with Modern Awakenings, but was interesting as an idea. Instead of attempting to build a full product around it, I decided to just post this as a hook for gamemasters looking for a new 'concept'.
Let me know if anyone finds this useful. I have a couple of other things just hanging around doing nothing.
Mr. Oberon
"SC-Prometheus"
---
The Prometheus Effect
In 1890, an object crashed to earth in a remote section of Alaska. This object, at first thought to be a meteorite, was found to have been an artifact of alien manufacture. Its construction was unknown to the science of the time, making it difficult to study. It was decided that instead of attempting to move the object to another site, a base would be built around it. Researchers soon began working with the treasure trove of technological information that was in the object, and dubbed it the Prometheus Core. It was from this wellspring that nearly all of earth's electronic technology was based.
No secret lasts forever. Soon after, P-Core material found its way into the 3rd world, including Germany, Russia, china, and Japan. Even so, the original P-Core stayed with the US, and so allowed them the greatest advances.
Prometheus material allows the rapid prototyping of new technological devices. In many cases, the underlying principles that allowed these devices to operate are not even understood. These prototypes are often reverse engineered in order to be mass produced by more mundane technologies. Even with the help of the Core, though, it would take decades for the technology to publicly develop that would allow the more advanced creations, such as personal laser weapons, for common use.
Other groups attempted to follow the progress of the Prometheus project, but were unable to keep up due to their limited samples from the Core. The US pulled far ahead of its competitors in industry, electronics, and medical technology. These events also helped to lead to the 2nd world war. The most obvious advancement of the Prometheus Core during this time was the development of the technology needed to create the first nuclear bombs. While the nuclear research was almost totally separate from the Prometheus Project, it would have been impossible to complete without the technology imparted from it.
Currently, technology developed from the Prometheus project has advanced to a point that much of what it had to offer has already been "discovered". While it does still allow a technical edge, it is unknown for how much longer this will last.
--- End of File ---
-------------------------------
--- Secure Attachment ---
--- Class Black Secure ---
While the above is all true, and is not misleading in its summary, it does not give the complete picture of the Prometheus project. For a better understanding of the Prometheus Core, one would need to understand its nature. This consists of the following (non-technical) summary.
- The Prometheus Core is a Bio-Technic lifeform. This means that the actual mass of the P-Core is made of machines that act in a way similar to organic lifeforms. It is made up of organic, electronic, and mechanical components. The components are linked in ways similar to the way our organs, bones, and neurological tissues are in most life on this planet.
- The P-Core can absorb mass into itself of kinds listed above in order to grow. Mechanical parts could be thought of as a skeletal and muscle structure, while electronics act as a kind of nervous system. Organics are used to link, supplement, and replace other mechanical parts as needed by the mass.
- Parts excised off of the main mass are used to create prototype devices. This is done psionicly, as it was found over time that the P-Mass reacted well to mental commands from a psi. This allowed a psi to bypass their current limits of construction, and build devices based on the final effect needed. Excised parts have not shown any ability to absorb mass, and without proper care die soon after separation from the P-Core.
- When a device was seen as "possible" (i.e. would not disrupt the masses views of what was currently technologically possible), P-mass would be used to create machinery that could build the devices in a mundane manner. These devices were then reverse engineered in order to construct the basic needed devices for a factory.
- Most of the current electronics available, could have been made available decades ago. These devices were held back until there had been a military or sociological need for them to be introduced into the common worldview. Radio, television, computer technology, the internet, and the space program are all examples of things that were "discovered" when needed.
- Most prototype P-Mass items are "sterilized" before leaving the lab. This means that the living functions are neutralized while still leaving the final function of the device on place. This leaves the device "dead" to psionic manipulation.
- The P-Core has allowed us to test designs in Artificial Intelligence, Cybernetics, Robotics, Electronics, Biotech, Nanotech, Aerospace, and Military Application. While most of these advances exist only as fiction to the average citizen of the earth, most of these items can and possibly will exist if the need presents itself.
It should be noted, however, that the Prometheus project did not create our technology as a whole cloth. It was but several strands of the tapestry. Its largest effect was to accelerate our technological development. Since the P-Mass allowed us to envision the result of our needs, instead of blundering down the road of random discovery, it has allowed us centuries of development in just a few decades.
As a side note, however, I wish to provide this thought: I consider it a priority to not only discover the 'how' of the Prometheus Core, but also the 'why' and 'where' as well. We need to understand the P-Core, not just to exploit its usefulness, but to also understand who or what created it. The reason for this is simple: If they turn out to be hostile, all of our developments in the past hundred years would be nothing compared to what they are capable of. We would be as cattle to the slaughter, and nothing we have would be able to slow them in the slightest.
Commander Alfred Noah
Prometheus research team CEO.
--- End Secured File ---
-----------------------------
--- Attachment Memo ---
From: Douglas Smith
To: Director Nathaniel Dresser
Al's a bit dramatic, since we already know how to destroy P-Mass quite effectively with high power EMP bursts. Stops it dead in its tracks.
---
Reply from: Director Nathaniel Dresser
To: All staff.
True, Doug. But how many people want to watch as the same bursts not only destroy their weapons, but ours as well. Might as well nuke ourselves back to the stone age and save them the trouble.
I won't even get started about the fact that they can continue fighting from orbit until we're nothing but a memory.
Of course that could happen, if they exist, and if they're hostile, and if they're even here. That's a LOT of "ifs", gentlemen, and I'm not going to worry about something we have no control over. It's like worrying about whether the sun will go nova tomorrow. It just does not matter currently.
As a side note: The synthetic muscle tissue experiments were an unqualified success with only one of the ten subjects suffering irreversible damage.
[Rest of document cut]
--- End of File ---
----------------------
--- Level Prime Security ---
--- Prometheus Director ---
All right, J, you wanted a complete "outside" analysis and documentation of the Prometheus Core. Well, here it is.
Prometheus is a living entity. It thinks, although in a way totally alien to our way of understanding it. Worse: It learns. Finally, I really don't think it likes us. In fact, I think it hates us in a way only someone who had been caged and dissected constantly over nearly a hundred years could understand. Oh, by the way, I'm pretty sure we can't contain it for too much longer.
Got your attention yet? Good.
The Prometheus entity is a living being from the stars that combines organic, electronic, and mechanical systems into a single being. As you guessed years ago, it is a nanotech system that allows it to manipulate its form so effectively. It can make just about anything we have taught it to make, and probably knows how to make a great deal more. The cryo-chamber, along with the heavy use of em level radiation has kept it contained this long, but it is literally just a matter of time before it gets loose again.
Also, the creature seems to have a psionic link to the P-Masses that have been cut away from it. Horribly, I have seen the effects of it getting control of a P-Mass when the Psi-Shields went down. Several agents using prototype equipment were "infected" when the items reverted to Proto Mass and attacked them. Within a few dozen seconds, the compromised security agents were fighting to get to the Core. We were forced to retire them.
Just so you know, these agents were not zombies. They used their training and equipment well. Well enough to take down five times their numbers in prepared combatants.
One of the agents was caught attempting to infect a computer terminal. His arms were merged with the terminal up to his elbows. We were able to cut it off from the rest of the lab, and no known damage was done, but I can't help but wonder what Prometheus was after.
Overall, the condition of the project is secure, but I cannot say for how much longer.
J, I also want to point out something that everyone seems to be trying to ignore. Those AI projects that are being developed using the Prometheus entity as a base? Are we sure the intelligence is actually artificial, or could it just be alien? Please consider this for me.
Remember, the legend of Prometheus was that he gave fire to all mankind. This is a fire that could easily burn us all to ash.
Director of Security Allison.
--- End of File ---
Let me know if anyone finds this useful. I have a couple of other things just hanging around doing nothing.
Mr. Oberon
"SC-Prometheus"
---
The Prometheus Effect
In 1890, an object crashed to earth in a remote section of Alaska. This object, at first thought to be a meteorite, was found to have been an artifact of alien manufacture. Its construction was unknown to the science of the time, making it difficult to study. It was decided that instead of attempting to move the object to another site, a base would be built around it. Researchers soon began working with the treasure trove of technological information that was in the object, and dubbed it the Prometheus Core. It was from this wellspring that nearly all of earth's electronic technology was based.
No secret lasts forever. Soon after, P-Core material found its way into the 3rd world, including Germany, Russia, china, and Japan. Even so, the original P-Core stayed with the US, and so allowed them the greatest advances.
Prometheus material allows the rapid prototyping of new technological devices. In many cases, the underlying principles that allowed these devices to operate are not even understood. These prototypes are often reverse engineered in order to be mass produced by more mundane technologies. Even with the help of the Core, though, it would take decades for the technology to publicly develop that would allow the more advanced creations, such as personal laser weapons, for common use.
Other groups attempted to follow the progress of the Prometheus project, but were unable to keep up due to their limited samples from the Core. The US pulled far ahead of its competitors in industry, electronics, and medical technology. These events also helped to lead to the 2nd world war. The most obvious advancement of the Prometheus Core during this time was the development of the technology needed to create the first nuclear bombs. While the nuclear research was almost totally separate from the Prometheus Project, it would have been impossible to complete without the technology imparted from it.
Currently, technology developed from the Prometheus project has advanced to a point that much of what it had to offer has already been "discovered". While it does still allow a technical edge, it is unknown for how much longer this will last.
--- End of File ---
-------------------------------
--- Secure Attachment ---
--- Class Black Secure ---
While the above is all true, and is not misleading in its summary, it does not give the complete picture of the Prometheus project. For a better understanding of the Prometheus Core, one would need to understand its nature. This consists of the following (non-technical) summary.
- The Prometheus Core is a Bio-Technic lifeform. This means that the actual mass of the P-Core is made of machines that act in a way similar to organic lifeforms. It is made up of organic, electronic, and mechanical components. The components are linked in ways similar to the way our organs, bones, and neurological tissues are in most life on this planet.
- The P-Core can absorb mass into itself of kinds listed above in order to grow. Mechanical parts could be thought of as a skeletal and muscle structure, while electronics act as a kind of nervous system. Organics are used to link, supplement, and replace other mechanical parts as needed by the mass.
- Parts excised off of the main mass are used to create prototype devices. This is done psionicly, as it was found over time that the P-Mass reacted well to mental commands from a psi. This allowed a psi to bypass their current limits of construction, and build devices based on the final effect needed. Excised parts have not shown any ability to absorb mass, and without proper care die soon after separation from the P-Core.
- When a device was seen as "possible" (i.e. would not disrupt the masses views of what was currently technologically possible), P-mass would be used to create machinery that could build the devices in a mundane manner. These devices were then reverse engineered in order to construct the basic needed devices for a factory.
- Most of the current electronics available, could have been made available decades ago. These devices were held back until there had been a military or sociological need for them to be introduced into the common worldview. Radio, television, computer technology, the internet, and the space program are all examples of things that were "discovered" when needed.
- Most prototype P-Mass items are "sterilized" before leaving the lab. This means that the living functions are neutralized while still leaving the final function of the device on place. This leaves the device "dead" to psionic manipulation.
- The P-Core has allowed us to test designs in Artificial Intelligence, Cybernetics, Robotics, Electronics, Biotech, Nanotech, Aerospace, and Military Application. While most of these advances exist only as fiction to the average citizen of the earth, most of these items can and possibly will exist if the need presents itself.
It should be noted, however, that the Prometheus project did not create our technology as a whole cloth. It was but several strands of the tapestry. Its largest effect was to accelerate our technological development. Since the P-Mass allowed us to envision the result of our needs, instead of blundering down the road of random discovery, it has allowed us centuries of development in just a few decades.
As a side note, however, I wish to provide this thought: I consider it a priority to not only discover the 'how' of the Prometheus Core, but also the 'why' and 'where' as well. We need to understand the P-Core, not just to exploit its usefulness, but to also understand who or what created it. The reason for this is simple: If they turn out to be hostile, all of our developments in the past hundred years would be nothing compared to what they are capable of. We would be as cattle to the slaughter, and nothing we have would be able to slow them in the slightest.
Commander Alfred Noah
Prometheus research team CEO.
--- End Secured File ---
-----------------------------
--- Attachment Memo ---
From: Douglas Smith
To: Director Nathaniel Dresser
Al's a bit dramatic, since we already know how to destroy P-Mass quite effectively with high power EMP bursts. Stops it dead in its tracks.
---
Reply from: Director Nathaniel Dresser
To: All staff.
True, Doug. But how many people want to watch as the same bursts not only destroy their weapons, but ours as well. Might as well nuke ourselves back to the stone age and save them the trouble.
I won't even get started about the fact that they can continue fighting from orbit until we're nothing but a memory.
Of course that could happen, if they exist, and if they're hostile, and if they're even here. That's a LOT of "ifs", gentlemen, and I'm not going to worry about something we have no control over. It's like worrying about whether the sun will go nova tomorrow. It just does not matter currently.
As a side note: The synthetic muscle tissue experiments were an unqualified success with only one of the ten subjects suffering irreversible damage.
[Rest of document cut]
--- End of File ---
----------------------
--- Level Prime Security ---
--- Prometheus Director ---
All right, J, you wanted a complete "outside" analysis and documentation of the Prometheus Core. Well, here it is.
Prometheus is a living entity. It thinks, although in a way totally alien to our way of understanding it. Worse: It learns. Finally, I really don't think it likes us. In fact, I think it hates us in a way only someone who had been caged and dissected constantly over nearly a hundred years could understand. Oh, by the way, I'm pretty sure we can't contain it for too much longer.
Got your attention yet? Good.
The Prometheus entity is a living being from the stars that combines organic, electronic, and mechanical systems into a single being. As you guessed years ago, it is a nanotech system that allows it to manipulate its form so effectively. It can make just about anything we have taught it to make, and probably knows how to make a great deal more. The cryo-chamber, along with the heavy use of em level radiation has kept it contained this long, but it is literally just a matter of time before it gets loose again.
Also, the creature seems to have a psionic link to the P-Masses that have been cut away from it. Horribly, I have seen the effects of it getting control of a P-Mass when the Psi-Shields went down. Several agents using prototype equipment were "infected" when the items reverted to Proto Mass and attacked them. Within a few dozen seconds, the compromised security agents were fighting to get to the Core. We were forced to retire them.
Just so you know, these agents were not zombies. They used their training and equipment well. Well enough to take down five times their numbers in prepared combatants.
One of the agents was caught attempting to infect a computer terminal. His arms were merged with the terminal up to his elbows. We were able to cut it off from the rest of the lab, and no known damage was done, but I can't help but wonder what Prometheus was after.
Overall, the condition of the project is secure, but I cannot say for how much longer.
J, I also want to point out something that everyone seems to be trying to ignore. Those AI projects that are being developed using the Prometheus entity as a base? Are we sure the intelligence is actually artificial, or could it just be alien? Please consider this for me.
Remember, the legend of Prometheus was that he gave fire to all mankind. This is a fire that could easily burn us all to ash.
Director of Security Allison.
--- End of File ---
