|
Post by izzy! on Feb 15, 2009 0:17:36 GMT -5
NOTE: If you want to play a Sentinel character, it is assumed that you will read this thread in its entirety. Sentinels are complex entities, and unless you show that you're willing to read and understand the information, you won't be allowed to play one. We're a little stricter with these guys because with their special talents and technology, there's a lot of room for powerplaying.
----
Believe it or not, the Sentinels were once nothing more than humans motivated by money. A subsidiary company belonging to the Net, called Netsafe Security or the "Netters" is the origin of the Sentinels. Eventually they developed into the Sentinels you know, hear of, or hide from today. Now, of course, they are motivated purely by the promise of upload when they retire.
Implants: These are small chips, embedded into bone for security, that allow Sentinels instant free-for-all access to their own private link. Along with the Implant, Sentinels are given a small number of nanobots - usually around twenty - just enough for each individual to establish themselves with the Link. Through it, any Sentinel can be contacted. It is considered to be the same system as the Net, yet at the same time it is entirely separate. It's basically a "chaperoned" portion of the greater Net, meant to keep the Sentinels focused on their jobs without the distraction of being lured away into the digital world. They also work as a beacon which, with the help of a satellite, can be used to trace the chip [regardless of whether it's in a human or not]. But only if you know their code. Each Implant has a twelve-digit code assigned to it. Sentinels know their own code, but they are instructed never to tell anyone else their code. Generally, each team's commanding officer, or Caesar, knows his or her team member's codes, but that's it.
There are many myths about the Implants, but some are true. During training, the Sentinels are all told that if they remove the Implant, which apparently sends an undetectable signal to the nanobots at regular intervals, the nanobots will "neutralise" them if they fail to receive this signal. A little extreme, but so far no Sentinel has ever attempted to remove their Implant [which would be highly dangerous in any case]. Typically, Implants are located in the shoulder blade, but could potentially be placed anywhere. They can be detected by certain types of scanners, with varying reactions.
- Singular photodiode scanners, such as pen scanners, are uncapable of comprehending the complex signals of the Implant, and will simply start beeping or squealing loudly.
- CCD scanners, the most common kind, will do nothing out of the ordinary, except telling the user that there appears to be a barcode on a human. The Implant code will also also appear on the display, but most people believe this is just part of a barcode [though barcodes typically have ten digits] - and a Sentinel ever confronted with their code on a scanner display would never reveal what exactly the code is.
- Laser and camera based scanners are not known to be able to read Implants.
Command Structure: Sentinels are unique in their command, when you consider designations and all that, but they are also an extension of what used to be a combination of the world's various armed forces. Fourteen years of independent existence, however, has changed the way things get done in the Sentinel camps.
At the top of the little command tree, we have the Dux. There is, and will always be, only one Dux. This man, or woman, is in control of everything, and answers only to the Net government. Next we have the Caesars, though they aren't always capable of leading. Caesar is more of an honourable title, the last step before the promised upload every Sentinel covets.
Because Sentinels always work in teams of six, with the exception of Troy and Designation Epictetus, there is no defined second in command. Everyone is equal, which is a disadvantage, but a minor one. Because of this, the Caesars are well guarded, and don't often venture any closer to the enemy than necessary. The "front" team usually includes a Minotaur, but there are quite a few made up entirely of Heracles designations. Paris and Hector pairs, known as "Troy," work alone, and receive their orders directly from the Dux.
Designations: If you ever spend time amongst Sentinels, which is unlikely unless you are a Sentinel yourself, you will be likely to refer to individuals by their designations. A designation, for Sentinels, is a job description, a title and a rank. Some adapt these as nicknames, such as "Kyrie" from Valkyrie, but this is frowned upon by the higher command. There is no specific designation for what you could consider as spies, because the Sentinels are far too reliant on orders to be able to function as individuals without outside intervention. Designations are often named after influential figures in history.
- Designation Caesar: Caesars are the leaders, the team commanders, and generally older, more experienced Sentinels. It takes a lot to be promoted to Caesar, but once achieved you can sit back a look pretty, because there's nothing left to do but make decisions. Caesars stay well out of danger, with the Valkyrie of the team.
- Designation Minotaur: The Minotaurs are what you might call artillery. If you think the everyday Sentinels you might see patrolling the server cities are heavily armed, then you've obviously never seen a Minotaur.
- Designation Epictetus: Known for their "peace of mind" philosophy, the Epictetus are the psychologists of the Sentinels. Some are also taught hypnotherapy as a means of treatment, but Epictetus are barred from any and all combat.
- Designation Valkyrie: Valkyrie are the connection of the team, employed to relay orders from the Caesar to the team. Some have argued that the Valkyrie are useless, doing a job the Caesars could do themselves, but most believe Caesars have earned their half-retirement. Also, not everyone is capable of using the link effectively.
- Designation Heracles: The bulk of all Sentinels are designated Heracles, the fighting force of the team. Trained in the use of almost every weapon known to man, Heracles are effective as a fighting force, but decidedly ineffective as individuals.
- Designation Paris: There has always been a small number of snipers, or Paris designations amongst the Sentinels, but not enough to be any sort of defence if it came down to that. Unlike most other Sentinels, Paris are quit thinkers, capable of working in pairs with their Hector, or even alone. Paris designations are never included in a team, under the command of a Caesar. Instead, they take orders from the Dux.
- Designation Hector: Hectors, the spotters of a two-man team known colloquially as "Troy," are effective, but useful in only one purpose. It is common term for the Dux or Caesar to say "send in Troy" if they need a sniper, or there is a high profile enemy they cannot reach.
Extra Information:- Identify. Sentinels, when greeting one another, use their full name, Sentinel ID [which is simply the number they were enlisted as - Sentinel 72 would have been the seventy-second Sentinel to enlist] and designation. It doesn't matter who speaks first, but a typical "introduction" among Sentinels would go something like this. The identify command was started due to the fact that Sentinels do not distinguish between ranks with uniforms or pips/stars etc. Let's say Jennifer heard a knock on the door.
Jennifer: "Identify." Robert: "Sentinel 72 Robert Glen Hardy, designation Caesar. Identify." Jennifer: "Sentinel 104 Jennifer Kelley Williams, designation Paris." Robert: "Hello, how's the weather, etc."
- Uniform: The Sentinel uniform is practical, easy to move in and, above all, completely waterproof! Yes, every item is completely waterproof. There are two different uniforms, the 'CK" [combat kit] and the rest is everyday wear. The CK consists of a dark brown thigh length jacket, charcoal pants and a white shirt, sleeveless, short or long sleeved. The other uniform is completely charcoal with red piping. On both sleeves is where the Sentinels remember their origins, with the old Netsafe Security logos.
|
|