Difference between revisions of "NERV Foundation"

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NERV Foundation
TypeNon-profit philanthropic
FoundedXX, X 2010
Founder(s)Alex Xanatos
Headquarters, Most Serene Republic of Pavonis



The NERV Foundation is a collection of organizations operating under a single banner to carry out various joint projects and philanthropic ventures for the Seele Council and the Most Serene Republic of Pavonis.

The most ambitious of the foundation’s philanthropic ventures and the plan from which the foundation draws its name is its Natural Environment Recreation Venture, the natural environment in question being the natural environment for humanity, the current focus project of which is Project Red Earth (see Pavonis Arcology article).

Prior to CorusCon, the leadership functions of the foundation ran through the Seele Council. Following the convention, the positions of Commander and Sub-Commander were created. By majority vote of the Seele Council, the first Commander of NERV is Alex Xanatos (the only vote not for him was his own vote). The first Sub-Commander of NERV is R. Edwin Jarvis.

NERV Section One

The Pavonis Arcology Support Services (PASS) provide and service electrical utilities, water supply and treatment, life support, running Hollow Fields (Agro Division), and similar work for the Pavonis Arcology. Despite not changing its name, PASS also serves the MO-I Asteroid Station.

NERV Section Two

The Special Tactics And Rescue Service (STARS) is a paramilitary organization whose Security Division, Defense Division, Intelligence Division, Emergency Division (Medical Assistance and HAZMAT), and Naval Division serve the NERV Foundation and Pavonis. Rumors of a so-called “Covert Division” somehow related to the equally rumored “Section Five” are laughed at.

While the initial gear of the STARS was rather limited (a Saturday Night Special or a hunting rifle if you were lucky), things did improve with time. As of late 2018, the STARS armory consisted of, in varying numbers: M1911 (Standard Sidearm), Accuracy International Arctic Warfare (Standard Sniper Rifle), H&K MP5 (Security Submachine Gun). Serbu Super-Shorty (Security Shotgun), Steyr TMP (Defense Machine Pistol), Beretta ARX-160 (Defense Assault Rifle), Beretta GRX-160 (Defense Under-Rifle Grenade Launcher), NeoSteed 2000 (Defense Shotgun), DPI USAS-12 (Defense Heavy Shotgun), GE M134 Minigun & Browning M2 (Defense Machine Guns), SBD M136 AT4 (Defense Rocket Launcher), and the rare M202 FLASH (Defense Heavy Rocket Launcher).

Vehicles include the DMC-38 “Yako” interceptor (flown by Strigon Squadron), small numbers of modified M8 “Greyhound” Light Armored Vehicles (MHI-T1) purchased cheap from third world countries, some Paramount Marauders, and a goodly amount of waved civilian Hummers.

Note: The STARS do not provide regular police and firefighting services, though are available to be called upon in a crisis situation.

NERV Section Three

Technological Research And Development (T-RAD)…enough said.

NERV Section Four

Biological Research And Development (B-RAD)… ditto.

Joint Projects

Ongoing joint research and development projects between the members of the Seele Council through the NERV Foundation include:

Project CRS (Cybernetic Recreation Series)

The largest joint project is a cooperative venture between Cyberdyne, Mishima, Altimit, and DeLorean to recreate the T-Series of robots from the Terminator franchise. While having an internal computer brain, the 100 to 600 Series units possess only a number of AI-designed specialist systems that are designed to be easily modifiable and reprogrammable. The T-Series consists of

T-100 Non-Humanoid Robot Series
T-110 GASAR (Ground Assault and Support Actions Robot
Based on the T-1s from the T3 movie, over time, 70 were made for NERV HQ defense. One prototype unit, the T-199 “Scowl”, was made in January 2014, replacing the Minigun mounts and head to test several humanoid arm/hand/manipulator and sensor unit designs and was later placed in NERV Foundation Archival Storage; 10 units designated T-115, based on the versions from the T4 movie, were made and sold to Great Justice in 2020, at cost; none are legally available to the public)
T-120 Drone
(T3 movie, available mid 2013)
T-130 Sidewinder
(T4 comic, ground recon/security, unarmed, available early 2014)
T-140 Hunter
(improved Drone, available April 2016)
T-150 VTOL
(Essentially an oversized Drone, available March 2017)
T-160 Aerostat
(T4 movie, air recon/security, unarmed; available mid 2018)
T-200 Maintenance and Repair Robot

Made in various chassis configurations, the earliest T-202 model was available to the public on 11 January 2014.

T-300 Specialist Combat Robot Series

Project Black Moon programs to replicate a number of combat units from the Terminator franchise; programs ‘requested’ by Great Justice to be suspended following Boskone War conclusion; see ‘NERV Section Five’

T-400 (Prototype designations)
T-400 Humanoid Robot Prototype Mark I
Dawn of Fate T-400, made June 2014
T-450 Humanoid Robot Prototype Mark II
Dawn of Fate T-500, made January 2015.
T-500 Cybernetic Vehicle Series

T-510 Harvester (heavy construction giant tobot/customizable heavy labor robot; available to the public 18 March 2015)

T-520 Aerial (T4 movie [slightly larger than source version]; minivan-sized on the inside; available late 2015; nickname “Poor Man’s Pelican”; comes standard with: life support, self-contained water closet with recycler, medium-sized fridge/freezer, small microwave, and hook-ups and security-clamps for a flat screen TV up to 25”; seats five comfortably [seven max safe life-support limits]; powered by four hydrogen plasma fuel cells [Early Production Model from release date to 2023 requires yearly replacement of cells; Improved Production Model from 2023 onwards requires replacement every five years])

T-530 Transport (T4 movie; light transport; available mid 2017)

T-600 Multi-Function Humanoid Robot (first successful fully-humanoid robot approved for mass production; most noted quirk is that any attempt at disguising a unit as being human fails [often humorously], much like with its rubber-skinned source of inspiration; while all versions have been described as “ugly clunkers” they are also all described as “damn useful”; available to the public 5 June 2015)

T-700 Multi-Function AI Endoskeleton (a much better version of the T-600, it lacks its predecessor series’ quirk that prevented use artificial skin; aimed at the AI market, for AIs who want a body of their own; all units are special orders; available to the public in 12 November 2016 [available ‘in house’ several years earlier]; production discontinued following rollout of T-800/T-900 Series)

(Note: A number of intelligences inhabiting T-700 Series bodies “upgraded” (had their minds transferred) to T-800/T-900 Series endoskeletons. Those “trading in” received a slight discount. Old T-700 units were recycled. The T-800/T-900 Series Neural Net Processors (NNPs) were all developed by Dr. R. Miles Bennett Dyson based on the knowledge retained in his ‘canon’ memories.)

T-800 Advanced-Function Android Endoskeleton (available to the public starting on 12 August 2021, the T-800 Series initially comes in the T-850 “Governator” Classic Model, and ten models of varying body size from the smallest T-801 to the six-foot-even T-810; utilizing WilPharma pioneered CSM-101 Synthflesh, it is half again as expensive as the still-available T-600)

T-900 Advanced-Function Gynoid Endoskeleton (available to the public starting on 12 August 2021, the T-900 Series initially comes in ten models of varying body size from the smallest T-901 to the six-foot-even T-910; utilizing WilPharma pioneered CSM-101 Synthflesh, it is half again as expensive as the still-available T-600)

The Future: All attempts at recreating a T-1000 polymimetic alloy unit have, thus far, failed (rumors about a “Grey Goo Girl Incident” are met with blank stares whenever personnel are questioned). It has generally been accepted that nanotechnology will have to advance more before it can be possible even with handwavium. This conclusion has also been accepted for the T-1100, better known as the T-X.

Project Geofront (An attempt by the NERV Foundation to create a self-sustaining ecosystem, the information gained during its development will hopefully provide useful data to the Mars Terraforming Project. As of 2018, it consists of a lake, some lichens, moss, and simple grasses, and a promising bloom of plankton. The first simple plants and slow-breeding insects were introduced in 2022. It is run by NERV Section Four.)

Project Fragment (Altimit/Heartland project that produced a working version of the DotHack franchise in-series MMORPG, The World [available November 2014])

Project ATF (energy fields and force fields; has produced and is selling through Mishima an Acutely Tickling Field as a non-lethal restraint system [moderately bulky])

Project Super Solenoid (energy generation; produced the NERV-SSH-01 Hydrogen Plasma Fuel Cell for heavy equipment and the NERV-SSI-01 Iridium Power Cell for light equipment)

Project Ego Boundary (man-machine interfaces; best known product is the PICK, sold through Altimit)

Project Heinflick Limit (FTL technologies)

Project Refresher (following Struve Conspiracy, data on biomoding the Boskones considered ‘useless’ recovered during investigation used to offer those getting on in years and otherwise down in health an option of several ‘controlled biomods’ – Antarctic Press Furries [‘too strong and free willed’] and Fantasy Short Folk [‘too limited a customer base’] surprisingly popular, as is the Modern Kitsune Biomod)

Project Dirac Sea (dimensional studies; established following the Interdimensional Incursion Incident) <CLASSIFIED – NERV CLEARANCE LEVEL: INDIGO> {Classification lifted following release of redacted portions of Whole Fenspace Catalog}

Project Longinus Lance (paranormal studies; established following the Interdimensional Incursion Incident) <CLASSIFIED – NERV CLEARANCE LEVEL: INDIGO> {Classification lifted following release of redacted portions of Whole Fenspace Catalog; organization reorganized into MACSA}

Project Black Moon (Boskone War development plan for defense programs; discontinued after the war; rumors that some continued under a secret NERV section are, of course, entirely preposterous)

Project Kraken (Cyberdyne/Mishima/Altimit/DeLorean project; developing an AI-controlled, anti-submarine/wet navy ship drone attack craft for a Case Burgundy scenario [dane invasion of Fenspace]; low priority; designation XT-333) <CLASSIFIED – NERV CLEARANCE LEVEL: VIOLET>

Project Barge (Originally started by the Ozies, construction almost halted during the Boskone War. Following the war construction started again. As one might imagine, Barge is a modified recreation of the eight kilometer long mobile space station from Gundam Wing. It is modified in the fact that it is unarmed. Rather than a military facility, it is intended to act as a support facility for colonization missions. Consequently, most of its interior is empty, intended for supplies and similar cargo.)

DECA

The Digital Enclave and Cyberspace Archive is the central computer core of the foundation. It is connected, but not integral, to the Pavonis Intranet, and can be isolated at a moment’s notice both manually and automatically.

As one might imagine, it is controlled by the three MAGI – but each MAGI is itself composed of three artificial intelligences. Casper is made up of three based upon several Vagrant AIs from the DotHack franchise: Aura, Lycoris, and Macha. Balthazar is made up of Meg, Lou, and Nam from Bubblegum Crisis. Whoever Melchior consists of, however, is classified.

NERV Section Five/STARS Covert Division

      • WHITENOISE***

<CLASSIFIED – NERV CLEARANCE LEVEL: VIOLET>

This organization – the U.N. Mars Force (UNMF) – does not exist.

Following the Struve Conspiracy and the end of the Boskone War, the remaining Seele Council members decided to create a force that could help to both prevent against and protect in the eventuality of similar troubles. Unfortunately, the attitude of toning down on armed forces in Fenspace prevalent after the war – including a formal request from OGJ to cease and desist Project Black Moon research and development – meant that it had to be done incognito.

The result is a force led by R. Lelouch Lamperouge (Director of Covert Operations in STARS hierarchy) out of Ecosystem Monitoring Facility #2 in the Geofront. In transmissions and reports, it is referred to as Eagle Rock Bunker or just ‘the bunker.’

Gear includes the standard STARS equipment (not recommended for denial purposes), access to the secret Biwa Arsenal (see Mishima section of Seele Council article), the MHI-AS09 Gernsback mecha, the IMI Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle, the IMI Desert Eagle pistol, and the MHI-T2 “Dominion” tank (based on data gained from modifying several M8s into MHI-T1s; modeled after the JSSDF 6x6 tank in End of Evangelion).

The most notable units available to – albeit never used by; they’re kept and trained with on a “just in case” basis – the UNMF are the products of the officially cancelled Project Black Moon development programs. The Seele Council plans on sarcastically saying, essentially, “Oh, yeah, cause we’re the ONLY people in Fenspace copying things from fictional sources. Riiiiiiiight~,” should anyone get suspicious of Terminator-related products in the UNMF inventory if ever used. As of 2020, the small stock of such items include the: T-310 Mototerminator, T-320 Snowterminator, T-330 Spider, T-340 Hydrobot, T-350 Tank, T-360 Bomber, T-370 Infantrybot, T-380 Tetrapod, and T-390 Centurion.

What really allowed the operations of the UNMF to take off was the successful recreation of MITHRIL’s Electronic Camouflage System (ECS) – emitters that, when placed strategically around an object, produces an energy field that bends and wraps light around it to make the object invisible. This does not affect radar, thermal optics, or motion sensors, of course, but it is still quite useful. The SC Tuatha de Danaan TDD-1 and the MHI-AS09 Gernsbacks are equipped.

Several UNMF facilities, primarily intelligence units, operate under legitimate front companies. These include: Zeira Corporation (Marduk), Automite Systems (Crystal Paris), Security Trust of Mars Vegas (Mars Vegas), Kaliba Group (Coruscant), and Dakara Systems (Ganymede).

The Lazarus Batch

A curious fact which many notice about the Pavonis Arcology is that there are not as many AIs as one would think, what with it being a manufacturing site for robots. This is due the nature of the handwavium batch found by Alex Xanatos. While being like every other source of handwavium in other ways, a quirk seemingly isolated to this batch (and most blame Alex picking his last name as Xanatos being somehow responsible for it) is that it stubbornly refuses to make any AI whatsoever that is not based on a fictional character that has officially died in its canon.

While AIs based on fictional characters are obviously quite common in Fenspace, there exists a further problem – each of the AIs produced with what became known as the Lazarus Batch insist that they are the genuine article. Disturbingly, the sheer level of detail and clarity with which they can remember their ‘former lives’ – especially a great deal not even covered in the source material – makes the few who know of this phenomenon wonder if it might not somehow be true. This was only given still further credence when several attempts at making duplicates of those already ‘revived’ failed completely.

The Seele Council decided not to take any chances – the ethical questions alone about ‘raising the dead’ were mindboggling. Replacement handwavium sources were purchased, several barrels of the Lazarus Batch were sealed up for later study, and all other samples were destroyed via the sun in March 2013.

All of which changed at SerenityCon and the events up to the Battle of Boskone Prime...

Following the conclusion of the Boskone War, the now-diminished Seele Council came to the conclusion that fail-safes had to be put into place to prevent such a large force of aggressors from assembling without notice or opposition. While the post-war demilitarization was underway elsewhere throughout Fenspace, the council carried out in late 2013 the reorganization of NERV Section Two and the secret creation of the U.N. Mars Force.

A key part of these post-war actions was the Violet-level classified Project Thanatos Gambit. Using the remainder of the Lazarus Batch, a small number of individuals were selected for just what they could bring to the table and their likelihood of being convinced to work with the NERV Foundation were chosen for ‘revival.’

The rest is history.

Dramatis Personae

Note that stats are circa 2022.

Alex Xanatos (see Seele Council article)
R. Edwin Jarvis (see Seele Council article)
Dr, R. Miles Bennett Dyson (T-800 Sapient Android) – NERV Section Three – Chief Cyberneticist
Having once ‘given up’ his life in the cause of stopping a global holocaust before it could start, Miles Dyson now uses the skills and knowledge that led to Judgment Day to better serve humanity.
R. Dr. Daniel Fransisco “Danny” Alvera (T-800 Sapient Android) – NERV Section Three – Chief Programmer
A man who gave up his life several times to spit in the face of Skynet, Danny now applies the know-how that planted the seeds of individual sentience in the Terminators to perfect the software side of things for NERV.
R. Robert Brewster (T-800 Sapient Android) – NERV Section Two, STARS Defense Division – Commandant / Director of Defense Operations
If there is a person who understands how the road to hell can be paved with good intentions, it would be Robert Brewster. His ‘dying moments’ were spent facing the knowledge that his project’s creation was going to destroy his country and world. It will not happen again…
R. Rupert Edmund Giles (T-800 Sapient Android) – Project Longinus Lance (later Mahora Academy Centre for the Study of the Arcane) – Project Director (later Centre Administrator)  
When he woke up after being ‘killed’ by the Twilight-possessed Angel, Rupert Giles had only one thing to say: “Ah…I probably should have expected something like this…” Gradually rekindling his relationship with Janna Kalderash – wed in 2017 – he works now with his wife and a close team to determine the laws, effects, and, inevitably, consequences of magic and the supernatural in this “other Earth.”
R. Janna Kalderash Giles (T-900 Sapient Gynoid) – Project Longinus Lance (later Mahora Academy Centre for the Study of the Arcane) – Technomancy Division Subdirector
After ‘dying’ at the hands of Angelus, Janna can probably be forgiven for kicking Alex in the family jewels when he came into her ‘waking room’ following her ‘revival’ to explain what was going on. Eventually rekindling her relationship with Rupert, she is actually quite excited at the idea of studying and practicing magic in this new world where she doesn’t have to worry about (much) secrecy.
R. Lelouch Lamperouge (T-800 Sapient Android) – U.N. Mars Force – Director of Covert Operations
If it weren’t for Euphie and Shirley he wouldn’t bother at all. His ‘sister’ and friend-who-is-a-girl (and much more if she has her way) are now the rocks by and for which the former revolutionary steadies himself.
…He does wonder how the hell, with all the differences in their timelines, Pizza Hut can exist in this world, too, though…
Dorothy de la Vega – NERV Section Two, STARS Naval Division – Commodore / Director of Naval Operations