Revision as of 18:58, 5 July 2009

What is Protocol X?

In 2008, the presence of an illegal mutant experimentation program was hinted at by a runaway teenage mutant named Danica King (Virtue). Although no conclusive evidence other than Danica's fractured memories have been found, an investigation into the program known as Protocol X is being taken seriously by GIFT and Longbow.

Danica King and DIADEM

The young mutant named Danica King (Virtue) was only able to give cursory information about the existence of Protocol X to Longbow and GIFT. Danica was kept heavily sedated during her time of captivity within the program, but she does retain a few haunting memories:

• The phrase "Initiate Protocol X" was heard over a loudspeaker when Danica was laying on an operating table.
• Danica recalls the name "Director X (Virtue)" being spoken by several of the doctors or scientists involved in the program.
• The screaming of young mutants or superhumans being experimented or operated on. Danica does not recall any of their names, only that there were many of them.

Prior to her captivity, Danica was an orphan in the care of a family that participated in a Crey-sponsored foster care program. When Danica's powers began to manifest with the onset of puberty, her foster parents enthusiastically enrolled her in a Crey school for young mutants known as the Duchesne Institute for the Advanced Development and Education of Mutants, or DIADEM (Virtue Supergroup). This was the last time Danica claims she ever saw her foster parents, and only a few days after enrolling she awoke one morning in a laboratory cell far removed from the DIADEM campus.

Danica did escape the facility where she claims she was held against her will for several years, but when she led Longbow and GIFT agents back to the lab's location it was nothing more than an abandoned bomb shelter from the 1940's. DIADEM does have records of Danica King's enrollment in their institute, but it was noted that she ran away from the school and was reported as a missing person in 2005. Her foster parents died tragically in a fire caused by a short circuit in their house's electrical wiring several days later. Other young mutants have also run away from the campus and reports have also been filed, but DIADEM is not legally responsible if a young student chooses to run away in the night because they are homesick. All students benefit from an at-will enrollment and can drop out and return home at any time. There are no indications that DIADEM is holding anyone against their will.

Longbow and GIFT are both keeping their investigations open regarding Danica King's whereabouts during the past few years, but to date neither have been able to link Danica's disappearance to a Protocol X program or a woman known as Director X. The faculty at DIADEM have not been implicated or charged in any crimes, and enrollment at the facility is still open for young mutants in Paragon City and from around the world.

Director X

The person allegedly responsible for the existence and continuation of Protocol X is a woman known as Director X (Virtue). Although there is no concrete evidence, Director X may have once been or continues to be associated with Crey Industries, but there are no traces within Crey's records of a woman matching Director X's description and no records of any Crey program designated Protocol X. Director X may also receive funding for her illegal program from other organizations such as the Malta Group and Arachnos, but no one within these organizations is willing or knowledgable enough to say anything.

Protocol X Recruitment

Protocol X is currently looking to expand its roster of operatives. Good concepts for Protocol X personnel include doctors, scientists, corporate or security personnel, mutant hunters, and so forth.

Who We Are Looking For

Below is information on the types of villains and players we are looking to join Protocol X. Please send a message to @Major Paragon during game play.

• Origin: Applicants to Protocol X should ideally have a concept based on corrupt corporate or government agents and operatives. The image of Men in Black works best, comparable to the Agents in the Matrix films. Villains who are soldiers of fortune, mercenaries, or mutant hunters also fit well, and if the villain has a concept or appearance similar to the Crey agents, Malta operatives, or Knives of Artemis then those would be suitable. As far as specific Origins are concerned, villains who have Science, Technology, and Natural origins work best. Mutants are obvious test subjects for Protocol personnel and are excluded from membership. Magic could work with an appropriate background, but the Protocol doesn't deal specifically with magical or extradimensional beings or entities. Masterminds should probably avoid Necromancy as a power choice unless they have a Magic background and a good rationale for working with Protocol X.
• Costumes: Although there are no specific costume requirements, suitable costumes include business suits or attire, doctor or scientist lab coats, and various forms of armor comparable to riot gear, battle suits, and exoskeletons.
• Mature Roleplayers: Protocol X is a roleplaying-based supergroup, so players who enjoy roleplaying their villains rather than just focusing on gaining threat levels quickly and maximizing their PvP potential are encouraged to join. It's great to gain levels and kick butt in PvP - we'd just like to get a little more involved than that. We also want players who are mature in their behavior, will treat others with respect, and realize that this is just a game and meant to be fun for everyone.
• Biographies: You don't have to go crazy, but coming up with a good background and history for your villain just makes them more interesting - especially in a game where dozens of other players use villains with the same power sets your villain has. Differentiate your villain with a unique story, and she will be that much more memorable.
• Villain Names: Names that are spelled properly or easily are the most accepted. A good benchmark is what we call the Comic Book Test for names. If the villain's name is something that you can pronounce and it looks like it fits in an actual comic book then it is probably a very good name. Names spelled in L33T formats, names that are silly (like SecretAgentDude), or those that have awkward spellings won't likely be considered (maybe because someone already took the name Agent Carter, so you spelled it like Agent.Carter or -Agent Carter). Some titles can be included in names like Director, Officer, Agent, Doctor, and Professor. Formal titles may also include Mister or Mr., Miss or Ms., Mrs., and so on. Code names are also suitable; one could always look at the code names used by GI Joe and Cobra operatives as starting points.
• Active or Casual Players: It's ok for casual players to join Protocol X, but please try to play at least once per week to maintain some contact with other players. We're not gung-ho about being on every day and you won't get kicked from the supergroup for too much inactivity (unless you're gone for more than 45 days - at which point we'll assume you stopped playing with that villain for the moment).

What We Would Like to See

• Prestige: Since Prestige is what is used to construct and develop a Base, it is important for members to earn Prestige for their supergroups. Yet some players are set against earning Prestige, even though they still want to enjoy the benefits of teleporters, medbays, and worktables that only Prestige can afford. Protocol X will never mandate that players earn Prestige for the supergroup, but it is appreciated.