RPG Update: BLACKOUT 2054

This is a post-hoc overview of the setting from BLACKOUT 2054, a 21 session campaign based in the Fallen Cycle mythos that I ran in 2020. A setting I hope to return to in the future... we shall see in what way. The art was produced in a similar manner to the process I described here. 

The following material is synopsized from Cell 54’s cranial-neural implants as well as copious A/V sources. These reports are compiled from that data, and what other intel is available to Heliotrope.

Heliotrope Virtual Corporation

“Not just diverse—mentally divergent.”

Are you thinking of joining a talent incubator with a willingness to take things to the “Next Level”? 

Then look no further.

Let us take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about ourselves. Heliotrope Virtual distinguishes itself by employing what we like to refer to as “divergent talent”—individuals who, due to their unique skills, neurodivergence, or societal outlier status, don’t fit into conventional molds. This includes a spectrum ranging from the gifted but marginalized to those whose aberrance borders on the pathological. We don’t discriminate. 

Recognizing the potential in these unconventional profiles, we harness these abilities for tasks where traditional approaches fall short. However, this reliance on such a volatile pool of talent does add a layer of unpredictability and risk, and is one of many reasons why we utilize various layers of opacity in all our operations.  

The versatility of our organization depends on our utilization of limited autonomy AI technology. This approach allows small human teams, or cells, to operate without any direct contact with one another. For our freelancers, the AI is both cutout and handler (in spy parlance), and the organization centralizes and maintains the data-streams of their teams. This “Jiru” AI platform is proprietary, as is our method of data extraction and archival. 

Within a given cell, each operative carries an numerical designation, a unique identifier tied to their financial existence and professional identity. These designations (e.g., “Agent 4032”) serve various purposes—from a mere formality to a cloak of anonymity for those who wish to sever ties with their past, though complete disappearance is a near impossibility in the surveillance-laden world we operate within. Team members are encouraged to socialize and use whatever names they prefer with one another. 

You can expect to be assigned Missions that are as varied as your backgrounds. Many might be morally ambiguous, most aren’t deadly. You shouldn’t expect daily firefights. This isn’t Special Forces. 

As a member of a Heliotrope cell, your day-to-day might involve watching a location for days and reporting back how many in a yellow jumpsuit passed by, or having to drop a thumb-drive to someone called “the Swede” in a back alley noodle shop. But it can still get pretty hot—data courier work, small tactical military operations, covert intelligence gathering to corporate hacking to high-asset ‘babysitting’ missions. When a job aligns with a skill set and profile, Jiru will surface on your private feeds, beckoning the cell to action. 

Success is expected, but failure, while not fatal in most cases, is said to severely impact your ratings—which may affect future assignments. “Better score = better job”. That’s what the brochure says, anyway. 

Everyone’s gotta eat or be eaten in this world. Stick together with your Cell, and it won’t be you. 

Cell 54

Cell 54 was a team of down-on-their-luck freelancers, hiding from their pasts. “Gifted children”, great expectations, mediocre outcomes. As chance would have it, they became quite central to the trajectory of the entire organization, in the process accidentally setting off a firestorm that would remake the balance of power across the solar system. 

They had been working as a team for several years at the start of 2054, but most of their work had been routine. Up until one night ... 

Heliotrope’s Dossiers: 

Cell 54 initial admissions documentation

Prepared by Jiru AI for Heliotrope HK executive staff.

Nemo McBride 

Archetype: The Soul Fisher

Affiliation: Cell 54, White Lotus (former)

Specialty: Razzle-Dazzle (Mentalism)

Background: Nemo McBride, the oldest freelancer to be assigned to Cell 54, was born in the Northeast-American Union (NAU) during the tumultuous period of the United States’ collapse. Identified in primary school as a metacog, Nemo possesses exceptional abilities in constructing mental models of others’ minds and accurately predicting and influencing their mental states and reactions.

Training & Experience: At age 17, Nemo joined a specialized program aimed at enhancing his metacognitive abilities, which led to the honing of his mentalist powers. He excelled in psycho-social capabilities and was subsequently recruited into the government’s Living-Cultural-Artifact-Procurement (LCAP) program. His involvement in an “incident” that led to the destruction of a Neo-Luddite commune, Black-Ridge, caused his disillusionment not only with the NAU, but with much of what he had previously held dear.

Post-NAU Activities: Nemo left the North Atlantic Union (NAU) and began associating with several underground organizations in an informal role. He undertook tasks that often breached ethical boundaries, particularly for the Triad, though he personally refrained from engaging in violence, which he found repugnant. During his over ten-year period with different Triad factions, notably forming a close association with the White Lotus gang, he became gradually numb to the immorality surrounding him. Eventually, he successfully disentangled himself from formal ties with these groups. After this, Nemo disappeared into the transient population of Hong Kong. There, he adopted a new identity as an itinerant advisor or sage. In this capacity, he offered guidance to a diverse range of people, including some of his past connections from the Triads.

This confidant / adviser role combined with his contagious empathy allowed him to take liberties with members of these organizations that would have most others exsanguinated and dumped in the bay. However, even his “razzle dazzle” has its demonstrable limits, and he spent many nights sleeping with a weapon under his pillow. 

Heliotrope Recruitment: Heliotrope approached Nemo with an offer he couldn’t refuse: contractor work in exchange for the protection being part of a Cell provides, a protection we offered to extend to a recently uncovered living survivor of Black-Ridge, effectively harnessing his guilt towards productive ends. Nemo committed to this offer, though he appears to believe that we are threatening the life of the survivor rather than maintaining her protection. This misunderstanding affords leverage that has posed useful. Recommend leaning into it in future interactions. 

Evaluator’s Notes: Nemo’s past experiences, particularly the destruction of Black-Ridge, have left him with deep psychological scars and a somewhat unstable mental state. His problems with authority and history of working with morally ambiguous organizations suggest that he might harbor underlying feelings of resentment and rage. This could potentially impact his ability to work effectively with others and follow orders.

Nemo’s mentalist abilities make him an invaluable asset to the team, but his fragile state requires careful management.

Additionally, his empathic and insightful nature may put him at risk for emotional overload or further burnout, as he may become too deeply invested in the emotional well-being of others, and is prone to bouts of crippling guilt. His unusual talents may also lead to these emotions being weaponized, although that does not seem to match his own underlying MO. It is crucial to provide Nemo with a carrot—adequate support and resources to manage his emotional and mental health effectively, while with the other hand maintaining a firm grip on the stick. 

728

Archetype: The Lone Hunter

Affiliation: Cell 54

Specialty: Cyberbody / Nanites

Background: Subject 728 is a unique full-body cyborg designed to resemble a normal human being under regular levels of scrutiny. Even a field medic might miss the signs, such as the fact that their “blood” is in fact a form of semi-liquid nanites. This secret military-grade nanite technology was developed by Mandragora Corp. When sufficiently optimized for the task, their body is capable of brief feats of strength, endurance, and speed above any recorded human maximum. 

Aside from their difficulties with long-term memory, they are remarkably functional for a full-conversion. 728 seems to retain the muscle memory of a person with extensive military training and field experience. Heliotrope has only been able to ascertain that the conversion occurred in 2037.

Awakening: 728’s earliest clear memory was in 2046, waking restrained to a hospital bed in an unspecified private facility, observed by a doctor through a large, clear window, and surrounded by rows of flashing lights and drones. Communication attempts were met with silence, leading 728 to assume they were in a jail or mental hospital. Muffled screaming through the walls plagued their nightmares, only ceasing when the door opened.

Transition to Military Service: Upon the arrival of ten armed guards and the observing doctor, 728 was informed that they were the sole survivor of a transplant into an experimental cybernetic body that belonged to Mandragora Corp. 

Despite amnesia and occasional fugue states, test subject 728 was considered a success by the scientists and subsequently employed via contract from Mandragora with the PLA military.

Going AWOL: After five years of service, 728 went AWOL, driven by the belief that uncovering their previous identity could end their fugue states. They became a courier-for-hire while searching for cybernetics experts and information about others like them, all while avoiding their former masters.

Psychological Profile: Subject 728 exhibits traits consistent with The Lone Hunter archetype from the Mandragora data archive, characterized by a strong sense of independence and resilience. Jiru has a 99% certainty of this assessment, the highest of the group. 

Their amnesia and fugue states contribute to a constant search for identity and purpose, however, this very propensity for dissociation seems to be part of what has allowed 728 to survive as a full-conversion cyborg without going entirely insane.  

Evaluator’s Notes: It is crucial to monitor 728’s mental state, as they may struggle with trust and loyalty issues due to their uncertain past and the circumstances of their transformation, and it may pose a risk for recruitment from outside organizations. Their determination to uncover their previous identity -- or what they discover if they do so successfully -- could put them at odds with any organization they work with, including Heliotrope.

They may be confronted with the reality that the extent of their freedom is only a question of how long their leash is.

Erastus

Archetype: The Empty Legion

Affiliation: Cell 54

Specialty: Mass Embodiment (Drone Control)

Background: Erastus comes from a privileged background. Born in orbit on New Luna station, he spent little of his childhood down the well. At age 12, he received experimental rigger implants developed by his parent’s corporation (utilizing Yamamori Inc’s Neurotek architecture), allowing him direct neural control of various devices. His exceptional ability to simultaneously control swarms without AI assistance led to an addiction to “embodiment.”

Incident & Aftermath: Tragedy struck at age 14 when Erastus experienced a moment of unified consciousness across an entire habitat ring. This extraordinary event triggered a series of strokes and localized seizures that spread through every connected system. The catastrophic outcome was the destruction of the habitat, the collapse of his family's fortunes, and the loss of 503 lives, including, it was then believed, Erastus himself.

Miraculously, Erastus survived as a shell of himself which found itself back on Earth, drifting through the care of various aid groups and charities, eventually winding up in a refugee camp in Southeast Asia. It was here, triggered by a child’s quadcopter toy incorporating a component from his family’s now-defunct company, that his dormant rigger implants were reactivated, reigniting his sense of self, as well as his addiction.

Current Situation: Erastus became a mysterious figure in HK, repairing anything left at the door of his abandoned-looking machine shop and junkyard, but entirely unable to interact directly with humans. Heliotrope found him in this state, and provided significant psychological rehabilitation and medical treatment, turning him into a functional contractor. He now works for Heliotrope globally from his shop, and locally embedded in Cell 54. 

Evaluator’s Notes: No one fully understands what he’s doing or how—the man has a high school education and what should be crippling neurological damage. It’s not clear how he’s able to walk, let alone simultaneously embody as a swarm of customized hovercraft. 

Something inside him must really know what it’s doing. 

Erik “Spaceman” Braydensson

Archetype: The Wandering Trickster

Affiliation: Cell 54, Russian Intelligence, VVS-Cosmonaut Space Force (former)

Specialty: Uncanny Craftiness

Background: Born in the early 2030s in a Greenland frontier town during the brief “gold rush” era, Erik was captivated by the stark, lawless beauty of the new “Wild North.” The region, energized by the scramble for ice rights and water purification systems, was promoted in ways that mirrored the Wild West of old, with snowmobiles and pick-up trucks replacing horses, and AR-15s at midnight taking the place of high noon pistol duels. In this modern, untamed landscape, Erik grew up a dreamer, deeply influenced by Viking mythology and the stars. His fascination with the cosmos and the lore of Scandinavian history, particularly the tales of valor and war, shaped his aspirations. He even adopted a Viking-like name, adding “-sson” to his father’s name.

Stunted Space Career: Determined to fulfill his dream of space exploration, Erik left Greenland at 18. He journeyed through Iceland and the Scandinavian Union before reaching Russia, where he enlisted in the VVS-Cosmonaut Space Force. In the program, Erik excelled in pilot training, mastering military weapons, survival skills, combat first aid, and flight simulation. However, a significant heart condition, which risked unconsciousness or death under the g-forces of space travel, shattered his dreams. Flagged as “zhiteyskiy” or Earth-Bound, he was deemed unfit for space travel without a costly top-flight cybernetic heart replacement.

Intelligence Career: His nickname “Spaceman” stuck after a candid revelation of his VVS-Cosmonaut past to a colleague.  Despite his medical disqualification, the VVS-C program retained Erik, retraining him for reassignment as an intelligence operative. 

Soon after his arrival, his handler Meisha pushed him to reach out to a number of HK-based firms, but by 2054 was working for Heliotrope exclusively. With them as “Agent 424,” Erik was tasked with gathering intel on Chinese R&D and lunar mining operations, while occasionally performing wet-work. 

Psychological Profile: Erik’s psychological makeup aligns with The Wandering Trickster archetype, as per Mandragora’s Engram assessments. He is characterized by his cunning, adaptability, and an enduring dreamer’s spirit, as well as a remarkable capability to cobble together DIY solutions given adequate time and raw materials. Despite an exterior of cynical realism, he remains internally fixated on his unfulfilled spacefaring aspirations and similar fantasies. His adaptability paradoxically makes him susceptible to external influences.

Evaluator’s Notes: Erik’s dual allegiances present both risks and potential benefits to Heliotrope. His loyalty to his Russian handlers might supersede his commitment to Heliotrope, yet this connection could indirectly benefit the agency. His dissatisfaction with his grounded status and yearning for space may affect his motivation and operational effectiveness.

Prospero

Archetype: The Twins

Affiliations: Cell 54

Specialty: Caliban AGI

Background: “Prospero,” originally named Bialun, was a Russian hacker living near the Chinese border, whose dissident actions against the Russian government caught the attention of the PRC. Shocked to discover the individual behind these actions was a 16 year old, they quietly made contact and brought him to Beijing before Russian officials discovered his identity. He spent the next four years in an advanced military intelligence program that focused on AI dev, infiltration, and psyops. Shortly thereafter, Prospero created Caliban, a unique custom AI integrated directly with his brain, enabling him to manipulate digital information in real-time, effectively bootstrapping his own consciousness to virtually simulate AGI with a system that would otherwise be complex but non-sentient. Where before there was one, now there are two. 

Career in Chinese Intelligence: Working for the PRC for a decade, Prospero was sent to Mars to investigate a top-secret Russian project. The mission failed when an “Artifact” of unknown origin amplified the electrochemical dynamics of human consciousness, in prosaic terms, driving those nearby completely nuts.

Amidst the chaos, Prospero and his Caliban AI managed to escape the facility with his commander, who also succumbed to madness after contact with the Artifact. After a period of imprisonment and interrogation by the Chinese military, Prospero fled and erased his digital footprint and fled to HK. 

Freelancer-for-hire: Prospero has dedicated substantial time to building a small black-market side business creating false identities and personas, both online and offline, alongside his work for Heliotrope. He has been working as a freelancer in Hong Kong for nearly a decade, potentially longer than the rest of the Cell.

Evaluator’s Notes: Prospero’s past involvement with the Chinese government and the potential for lingering psychological trauma from the Mars mission may create unpredictable situations. It is essential to monitor his stability, given his expertise in AI infiltration and manipulation, which could pose significant runaway risks if misused. The true extent of Caliban AGI’s capabilities and their influence on Prospero’s behavior should also be closely observed.

Roza

Specialty: Stealth, Survival, Causing Problems 

Born and raised in a small Siberian village “which makes only boots,” Roza is a young girl in her early teens, who had experienced life in an extremely remote and humble environment. 

However, her destiny took an unexpected turn when her village was exposed to the Feyn-Touched strain of blood-based biotech from the Volk Voinstovo as they moved eastward from the Belaya Gora military base. As her village lay in ruins, with its inhabitants either dead or transformed into monsters themselves, she found herself alone. And yet she also then found she could run as swiftly as a deer, catch a rabbit with her bare hands, or disappear from plain sight if she wanted to. 

Erik discovered Roza in a nearly feral state. Feeling a sense of responsibility for the young girl, as her transformation was essentially his fault, he decided to take her with him on their journey. Although uncertain at first, the other members of Cell 54 quickly found her remarkably resourceful, and perhaps more importantly grew fond of her and ultimately adopted her as one of their own.

As in the case of her “father” Erik, Roza’s blood has been extensively sampled and researched to facilitate in the production of Heliotrope’s subsequent augmented agents. She remained a purely unofficial member of Cell 54 up until their disappearance and a full evaluation has never been done. However, unofficially, she is quite clearly a hypercompetent sociopath.

Geopolitical Primer for Operatives new to HK

Prepared by Jiru-AI

Overview

The period leading up to the 2050’s followed trends that were already well established decades before—a blend of the benefits as well as cascading knock-on consequences of technological progress combined with socio-political upheaval. These opposing yet interlinked forces intensified global Balkanization, fragmenting government coalitions and the veneer of international law, decreasing the overall world population, which have hovered just under 7 billion since the close of the 2040s, and dropped even more precipitously following the events of 2055-57. This era further blurred the lines between corporations, organized crime syndicates, and traditional governments, all wielding significant influence in a moral vacuum.

Technology is in an ever-accelerating race with time. Progress in space travel, artificial intelligence, cybernetics, and fusion energy played key roles in averting total societal collapse, most especially the latter. The development of high-yield fusion reactors revolutionized space exploration, despite their cost, size, and high initial energy requirements. Their considerable net energy gain proved pivotal in space exploration and resource utilization.

Artificial intelligence reached new heights, closely mimicking sentience and igniting endless debates about the existence of “true” Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). These developments significantly impacted various sectors, reshaping industry, military, and everyday human interaction, as the semblance of interiority is sufficient to fool most human observers. 

Despite these advancements, climate change continued unrelentingly, driving the worsening global chaos. Geoengineering efforts to combat its effects achieved only limited success, and the climate crisis remains a major catalyst for societal and environmental disruptions. In short, it was a time of both horror and resurgent hope in the antiquated mythologies of the previous century, a world poised on the brink of either imminent salvation or ruin.

China

China’s general first tier status is sustained through de facto economic neo-colonialism and technological dominance combined with a laissez faire attitude about foreign powers. Despite facing near-collapse in the 2030s combined with a net population decline since the latter 2020s, China’s ascent was characterized by strategic expansion into global manufacturing and robotics, establishing itself as an indispensable node in the international autonomous economy. Its large-scale mass production is unrivaled, though it lags in several areas, including AI.

The nation’s geopolitical landscape is complex, particularly in its relationship with Russia. Despite Russia’s posturing, it plays a generally subordinate role. With Russia contending with endless shadow conflicts and increasingly dependent on China economically, the dynamics of this partnership are crucial.

China’s influence pervades Asia, with nations like Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan maintaining functional independence but operating largely under China’s influence. The PRC’s territorial ambitions are evident in its expansion into areas like the Tarim Basin and its near confrontation with Russia in the 2040s, alongside a complex multi-sided brushfire conflict involving India/Pakistan that led to a brief and bloody conflict that bruised all participants into returning to an uneasy status quo. Its significant lunar presence and investments in South American infrastructure demonstrate its reach, though these ventures provide limited political leverage.

Domestically, the PRC confronts several challenges. Its control over Tibet, held for strategic reasons, and domestic ecological and population issues pose threats to its stability, and there are various active internal dissident movements, despite official claims to the contrary. While its military might trails behind unified forces like the PCU/NAU on Earth, China’s supremacy in soft power, technology, and manufacturing remains unchallenged.

Hong Kong

A city where the past and future continue to collide. More than ever, it’s a melting pot simmering with diverse influences. Yet, the shadow of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) looms large, its grip on the region unyielding since 2020.

The city, once ravaged by rising sea levels that devastated nearby regions like Macau, remains resilient, having partially rebuilt itself many times in prior decades. Unlike its less fortunate neighbors, Hong Kong has weathered the environmental storm through architectural evolution, building in new ad hoc systems in the wake of each disaster. Its multilevel design, sprawling atop the hills rising from the bay, exemplifies ingenuity in the face of adversity. Hong Kong has grown both upwards, reaching for the sky with its towering skyscrapers, and downwards, delving deep into the earth where parts of the city have been re-excavated and re-developed, despite incursions from the bay and the frequently catastrophic typhoon season.

K-Town

Kowloon, colloquially known as K-Town, is a dense, multi-layered urban sprawl. Situated directly north of Hong Kong Island and across the bustling Victoria Harbour, K-Town is bordered to the east by the Lei Yue Mun strait and to the west by the partly submerged Stonecutter’s Island. Its northern boundary is defined by a rugged mountain range, including notable peaks such as Tate’s Cairn and Lion Rock. These natural barriers lend Kowloon a distinct separation from its surroundings, contributing to its unique character.

Kowloon has maintained its status as a key port location, with maritime and aerial transport facilities remaining essential to the region. However, the major international airport and spaceport, crucial for both terrestrial and extraterrestrial travel, is located across the bay, southwest of Chek Lap Kok.

The effects of climate change and rising sea levels have significantly altered Kowloon. The population has adapted to this intermittently semi-aquatic environment, inhabiting sprawling structures that rise above the original street level. These architectural feats symbolize resilience and innovation, with old streets and districts submerged and reclaimed by water in areas lacking advanced bilge, pump, and dam systems. These systems are more common on Hong Kong Island.

Kowloon’s raised roadways, remnants of a bygone era, now serve as vital links between its various elevated districts. Most roads are narrow, with a single lane each way. Areas prone to flooding have become canal-like, where small boats of various designs are essential for mobility, especially where traditional ground transport is impractical. Passenger drones also operate in certain low-altitude zones, albeit less frequently than in Central. In the southwest, Kowloon’s predominantly low-rent industrial sectors once formed the stronghold of the White Lotus, before being overtaken by the Sun Yee Un.

Central

Central, aptly named, is the heart of Hong Kong’s vibrant skyline and business hub on the island. In terms of population density, however, K-Town’s mainland areas surpass Central with a higher number of people per square kilometer. Central, along with its adjacent districts on the island, has thrived more than other areas due to substantial investments in infrastructure.

Nevertheless, parts of the island have transformed into veritable skyscraper fortresses, rising starkly from the waters of newly formed marshlands—a direct consequence of the gradual but relentless rise in sea levels. Hotel Angelfire is situated in Central, in close proximity to the waterfront.

Happy Valley

Happy Valley, situated slightly southwest of Central Hong Kong, was initially an exclusive, walled-off residential area for professionals and high-income individuals, as well as the location of various small high-end pharmaceutical operations. This enclave of affluence and tranquility drastically changed following a catastrophic biohazard event.

In September-December 2054, R358, a deadly and aggressive iteration of Mandragora’s Regen research, transformed Happy Valley into the epicenter of a severe outbreak, likened to a “zombie” infestation. This nickname stemmed from the symptoms observed during the 48-hour phase post-incubation, where patients exhibit zombie-like characteristics such as immunity to pain and single-mindedly cannibalistic intent.

This led to an extensive and rigorous purge by Mandragora Industries, along with the HK Police. Due to the contagion’s severity, Happy Valley was entirely sealed off. Unlike other districts that merely established security checkpoints, Happy Valley was completely isolated, reflecting the dire situation within. These events were witnessed firsthand by the members of Cell 54, whose full involvement still remains a matter protected by NDA.

Four years later, Happy Valley had completely deteriorated. The once prestigious district became a lawless wasteland. This desolate landscape is now controlled by gangs and criminal factions occupying what were once condos, corporate offices and state-of-the-art pharmaceutical labs.  

The Barrens

Below HK lies The Barrens, an expansive undercity formed from disused underground structures, including obsolete subway systems. Vaguely reminiscent of the historic Kowloon Walled City, it is home to inhabitants who rarely see daylight, mirroring indentured life on Mars. While still susceptible to flooding during typhoon season, a remarkable amount of DIY engineering and additional excavation has made them relatively habitable. 

At the core of The Barrens, amidst deserted subway stations, is a network of caverns and derelict buildings. This area, an underground bazaar where virtually anything (legal or illegal) is on offer, operates independently from Hong Kong. Police intervention here is rare, occurring only during major incidents, with the last being in 2038 and then not again until the upheaval of 2055.

The undercity is a maze of clan territories, each named after animals like the Hyena and Rat. Rat Clan dominates the largest central section, known as “The Puddle.” They maintain the undercity’s infrastructure alongside Bear Clan, who are known as rentier merchants with more supply connections with the surface. Renowned for their expertise in tunneling and engineering, the Rats command respect from most clans, with the notable exception of the Hyenaz, who remained defiant until their destabilization by Cell 54. The Puddle is so named because of the once toxic underground pond that is now the site of extensive filtration and aquaponics operations. 

Adjacent to this is Sparrow’s Nest, a multi-tiered market reminiscent of an adobe city, carved into a crevasse. Accessible only by wicker baskets on age-old rope systems, it is primarily operated by the Sparrow Clan. This area also features hidden tunnels controlled by the elusive Fox Clan, strictly off-limits to outsiders.

Japan

In response to its historical resource scarcity, Japan has successfully transitioned to space-based manufacturing, focusing on drive technology, robotics, and cybernetics. This strategic shift enables Japan to overcome the limitations of Earth’s resources, establishing its leading position in the space industry. However, this emphasis on remote operations comes with certain limitations, highlighting the challenges of relying on extraterrestrial resources and environments.

Major Japanese corporations have adjusted to this new direction, establishing operations on space stations and lunar bases. Frequent lunar transport indicates the economic success of Japan’s endeavors, although its impact is more significant in space transit and in orbit than within any gravity wells, including Earth’s.

In contrast to its technological progress, Japan has embraced a curious form of Neo-Feudalism, reverting to traditional values and hierarchies on its islands under the symbolic rule of an AI Emperor who oversees cultural matters, with actual power vested in the Shogun, Hiryu Yamazaki. This movement appears to be a cultural reaction to the swift pace of technological advancement, potentially challenging Japan’s capacity for innovation.

Europe

Europe in 2054 was characterized by its division into three distinct entities: Atlantia, Concordia, and the Scandinavian Union. Each has charted a unique course following the European Union’s dissolution in the 2030s, though they remain connected by a shared trade compact. This new European order reflects a mix of innovation, conflict, and isolationism.

Atlantia, covering much of Western Europe, aims to be a beacon of technological advancement. Its symbol is one of the world’s few operational Space Elevators, the other being in Beijing. This architectural marvel, located in Berlin, grants Atlantia unprecedented access to space, placing it at the forefront of extraterrestrial exploration and exploitation. However, Atlantia’s influence is limited by its concentrated focus on sustaining this significant, singular achievement.

Concordia, in contrast, is entrenched in continuous conflict, reminiscent of the historic East-West divide of the Roman Empire. This ongoing state of war, influenced by Russian pressure from the east and internal strife, has hindered Concordia’s development and left it exposed. Despite some stabilization from Chinese investment in R&D projects, Concordia remains a region rife with tension and uncertainty.

The Scandinavian Union, situated in the northern parts of Europe, has chosen a path of growing  isolationism. Despite its insularity, it has become a leader in artificial intelligence, competing with advancements in Japan and China. This emphasis on AI has elevated the Union to a place of technological importance, though it is offset by internal socio-political challenges, including neopagan religious-political movements (spanning the extreme “Right” and “Left”), often linked to terrorism.

Former USA

The landscape of the former United States has been fundamentally transformed by irreconcilable conflicts that have existed since even before their first Civil War. Following a period of chaos and extreme violence, three factions ultimately consolidated their positions. It is now divided into the Northeast-American Union (NAU), the New Confederacy (NC), and the Pacific-Canadian Union (PCU), each carving out distinct socio-political and economic identities in a post-US era.

The Northeast-American Union (NAU) strives to uphold the ideals and mythic character of the original United States, though it is deeply fractured along economic lines, and never recovered from the violence of its division. Wealth and poverty exist in contrast and often nearly side-by-side, challenging the narrative of equality and opportunity that the NAU aims to perpetuate. Despite these internal struggles, the NAU engages in international trade, particularly with Atlantia, which helps maintain its global presence and economic stability.

The New Confederacy (NC), however, presents a starkly different reality. It is a theocratic state, reminiscent of North Korea in its insular focus and integrated, if technologically regressive military and police forces. This inward-looking approach results in limited external influence and a heightened focus on maintaining theocratic rule. The NC's resemblance to a “hermit kingdom” limits its engagement in global politics, positioning it as an isolated, inward-focused entity. There are DMZs across the jagged line where conflict burned itself out.

The Pacific-Canadian Union (PCU) presents a blend of tech innovation and environmental stewardship, but this facade of progress masks its own persisting social inequalities. Dominated by tech-libertarian ideals in its urban centers, the PCU faces challenges in reconciling these ideals with the realities of internal conflicts, particularly in the northern territories returned to Indigenous peoples, while maintaining friendly relations and a trade compact with the NAU and hostile ones with the NC. 

Russia

Russia is a former superpower, and on paper a shadow of its former self, now redefined by its unconventional strategies and nostalgic yearnings towards what’s been called ‘Perverse Neo-Soviet Capitalism’. This blends elements of capitalist enterprise with ideological echoes of its Soviet past, creating an at times absurdly contradictory identity on the global stage. 

Russia’s diminished traditional political clout is partially offset by its extensive influence over global criminal networks and experimental weapons research forged in partnership with various other conditional allies, and by their investment in geographically remote projects. These elements provide Russia with unconventional avenues of influence, allowing it to maintain a presence on that stage. The nation’s experimental weapons program, marked by both notable successes and publicized disasters, reflects a willingness to push boundaries and risk safety for gains in military technology.

Territorially, Russia’s ambitions extend to Mars, claimed unequivocally after extensive proxy conflicts with corporations in the 2040s, and into the Arctic Circle. These areas serve as strategic points of influence and resource control, though such claims are often contested. On Earth, Russia's borders have not expanded significantly beyond their 2020 lines and its economy has flatlined or worse for nearly as long, though its influence has at the same time extended into neighboring regions, effectively creating a network of client states through horizontally structured criminal syndicates and mercenary groups.

Russia’s relationship with China is a pivotal aspect of its foreign policy, characterized by a hot and cold alliance that serves the interests of both nations, albeit inconsistently. This partnership is as much about mutual benefit as it is about strategic positioning against other powers.

A notable aspect of Russia's strategy is its continued reliance on fossil and fission fuels, contrasting sharply with the global trend towards renewable energy. This energy stance is intertwined with Russia’s theatrical geopolitics, signaling defiance and independence in the face of international norms, reality be damned. 

Arctic Circle

The Arctic Circle, notionally under Russian control yet subject to increasing international interest, has grown in importance due to the thawing ice, which facilitates new opportunities for geopolitical and economic activities, including trade and underwater research.

Russia has established itself as a key player in the region since the 2000s, more recently pursuing a strategy of increasing its population in the islands. This policy, however, has led to the displacement of indigenous communities, raising concerns about potential social unrest. While the Arctic’s oil reserves are significant, Russia’s primary interest lies in capitalizing on the region’s strategic location for trade.

The deployment of numerous underwater stations, predominantly powered by fission technology despite advancements in fusion, underscores Russia’s focus on cost-effectiveness, mirroring their energy strategies on Mars and in their larger space operations.

The governance of Arctic shipping isn’t just under the control of Russia, most notably in the Barents Sea, shared with the Pacific Commonwealth Union (PCU) and the Scandinavian Union.

Near Earth Orbit

Near-Earth Orbit and the Moon have become pivotal arenas of competition, reflecting the extension of Earth-bound geopolitical dynamics into space.

New Luna Station, known colloquially as “the Terror Dome” for its unintentionally tech-brutalist design, is a monumental structure in geostationary Earth orbit, symbolizing the commercialization and politicization of space. Linked to Earth by a space elevator above Berlin and controlled by the Northeast-American Union (NAU), New Luna is primarily managed by a corporate triumvirate. 

The Moon

Largely under Chinese control, portions of the moon have been transformed into a hub of industrial and research related activity. The lunar surface hosts a variety of operations including factories, R&D facilities, and mining ventures, with larger spacecraft components being manufactured and assembled there due to the lower gravitational pull. There is a spaceport on Shackleton Crater station that allows civilian visitors, but the surface is strictly monitored by PRC satellites.

Mars, the Belt and Beyond

Human expansion into the solar system remains sparse mostly due to the vast distances involved. Although Mars is 2-5 days travel from Earth at 1G (including deceleration burn), these are still incredibly remote locations and permanent populations are quite low. However, there are pockets of activity, with populations that in some cases range into the thousands. 

Mars, which remained under Russian control at this time, is a critical outpost for mining and R&D, including high-stakes military projects. Life on Mars, primarily underground due to radiation hazards, is epitomized by the “mole people” – miners and workers enduring harsh conditions, often not surviving their 7-year work contracts.  

The Belt is even more sparsely populated, another region frequently likened to the “wild west”. It’s a patchwork of corporate outposts, small asteroid spaceports, and autonomous enclaves, lacking a unified identity or governance structure. Most resources mined here are also utilized in space, circumventing the economic impracticality of Earth-bound transport. This region epitomizes the chaotic confluence of competing interests, where governance is minimal and resource economics dictate the order. 

Europa houses the most remote permanent settlement, a small underwater colony and research station established by the enigmatic robotics trillionaire Audric Pinault. This venture, rumored to include cult-like elements, showcases the power of individual wealth in shaping extraterrestrial endeavors in a bubble, detached from broader geopolitical dynamics.

Key Organizations

Relevant to Cell 54’s exploits circa 2054-2055.

Heliotrope Virtual (corp)

“Your Second Chance At Being First.”

Heliotrope functioned modularly through different Cells. Cell 54, initially fringe freelancers, became more integral to Heliotrope for a time, following a protection and data courier job that went awry. 

Upon receiving full Agent status, Cell 54 learned that the organization’s physical hub in the region is the Hotel Angelfire in Central HK—a luxurious high-rise that conceals Heliotrope’s more secretive operations. While it functioned publicly as a hotel, it also served as their covert headquarters in an independent (although not technically air-gapped) internal structure running through the core of the building’s top 8 floors. 

This design cleverly segregated public amenities and the front-facing business of the hotel from Heliotrope’s facilities.

The top level of this internal HQ featured a multi-level, fully shielded luxury suite, ostensibly home to billionaire Audric Pinault’s youngest daughter, Adrienne. In reality, Adrienne’s identity was maintained by a surgically altered look-alike, enabling the real Adrienne to work on private projects discreetly through her moniker, Serena Kitsune. Heliotrope’s covert operations facilities within the hotel were small but extensive, incorporating cyber and technology labs, 3D printing stations, a drone bay, and an in-house hospital, accessible only to fully credentialed agents. Staffing for Angelfire HQ comprised only 24 individuals, including security, medical, and technical personnel, complemented by automated systems. Heliotrope also operated a small fleet of ambulance drones within Hong Kong.

Beyond Hotel Angelfire, Heliotrope’s influence extended to offices on New Luna station, a shuttle, and various satellites. Though smaller than major organizations, Heliotrope carved out a significant niche.

Even after Cell 54 were recruited as full Agents, the scope of Heliotrope’s activities outside their purview remained obscured.

Cell 54 returns to Angelfire from Belaya Gora, Dec 2054

Mandragora Industries (Corp)

“Another Take On Life.” 

Mandragora Industries differed from other interstellar corporations by focusing on solving a single “core problem”: the integration and interaction of different forms of intelligence, and extending their own capacity to influence “genesis.” 

They were a major player in the biotech and cybertech sectors, focusing on the intersection of human, machine, and biotechnological intelligence.

This stellar Corporation was heavily involved in organ and body harvesting, particularly for creating human/machine interface components for advanced cybernetic bodies, including 728’s. Their operations were widespread, extending from Earth to lunar and orbital facilities, and included military contracts with a variety of different clients.

They also maintained significant contracts with various governments, most notably the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and had close ties to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), especially in their secretive research facilities on the moon’s dark side. In Hong Kong, they operated under the influence of the PRC, like many major corporations.

Although Mandragora had several customer-facing subsidiaries and numerous shadow subsidiaries, their main revenue came from business-to-business and business-to-government operations. Their public relations strategy was to remain relatively invisible to the general public, focusing instead on direct vendors and suppliers, making it challenging to uncover detailed information about them.

A notable, though smaller part of their business, which led to catastrophic events between 2054-2057, involved selling “functionally deceased” research subjects from the Regen project for “repurposing”. Initially thought to be clones vat-grown for parts resale, these subjects were later identified as research guinea pigs. 

A pivotal moment for Mandragora came with their breakthrough in advanced cybernetics and bioarchitecture, achieved by reverse engineering alien technology. This advancement, however, had unintended consequences... such as making their creations susceptible to possession by Feyn spirits. 

In-depth surveillance of Mandragora Industries by Cell 54 revealed more about the company’s extensive operations, including a Top Secret blacksite facility on the dark side of the moon. Before his end, Erastus came to believe he — or some past version of himself — had been instrumental in founding Mandragora in the first place.

Regen Program

The aim of Mandragora’s Regen Program was to enhance human capabilities through biotechnological means, primarily aiming to develop soldiers equipped for extreme environments, such as the vacuum of space. This initiative included experiments in integrating cybernetic and biological modifications to meet the “evolving requirements of the combat space.”

By the year 2054, the program had conducted 357 experimental trials, all resulting in fatalities and outcomes that remained confidential. A critical turning point followed the problematic series R357, especially in relation to the management of the deceased subjects…

The R357 trials unexpectedly led to an unexpected, significant post-mortem discovery within the body of one of the original test subjects. However, this discovery came after the subject, referred to as an “asset,” had been transferred to another party for resale... and the body appeared to simply run off under its own volition. Consequently, Mandragora sought the assistance of Cell 54 to retrieve it.

This newly stabilized variant, later known as R357+ or “Feyn-touched,” represented a substantial advancement. Nonetheless, by the time this was realized, the Russians, through their agent Erik “Spaceman,” had already obtained it.

The R357+ strain demonstrated exceptional adaptability to its host, aligning with Mandragora’s ambition to create soldiers for space combat and surpassing their expectations. This adaptability was further explored in both animal and human subjects under the Russian VV-program, before the full extent of its risks became apparent.

The subsequent R358 variant aimed to replicate the stability of R357+, offering a 12-hour window for treatment compared to R357’s one to two-hour timeframe. Despite this, both strains ultimately proved lethal. Those affected by R358 underwent a dramatic transformation, becoming immune to pain and effectively brain-dead except for their ability to consume human tissue, which only temporarily postponed their death.

It was later disclosed that the Regen Program used a synthetic biological form of nanites, an evolution of the technology used in the 728’s cyberbody as a substitute for blood.

Lunar Blacksite

Located on the dark side of the moon, above-ground one can only see a nondescript metallic structure, reflecting the dim light of distant stars. The topmost level, partially buried under lunar regolith, included the main entrance, a spacecraft docking bay, and an array of surveillance equipment like satellite dishes and telescopic sensors, complemented by drone ports.

Descending into the facility, the next level buzzed with activity. It housed living quarters, research labs, and administrative offices, all teeming with the site’s 120 employees who worked in year-long rotations.

Further down, in a more secluded section, lay the engram storage area, a critical zone maintained in a vacuum with independent power backups. Data banks and server stacks filled the room, with workers in pressurized suits diligently monitoring and maintaining this essential nerve center.

Adjacent to this was the Sycorax server core, the facility’s digital heart, pulsating with the hum of machinery and the flickering lights of data processing units, where vast amounts of information were stored and analyzed.

The deepest level of the blacksite housed the Regen and Ark Bioarchitecture programs within a complex network of autonomous systems and redundancies. This area, less frequented by general staff, also contained the facility’s life-support systems, power generators, and emergency protocols, designed to sustain the blacksite independently in the event of an external catastrophe. 

Security was a top priority throughout the facility. Drone patrols silently navigated the corridors, and facial recognition scanners controlled access to sensitive areas.

White Lotus (Syndicate)

The White Lotus Triad, which claimed direct lineage to the Qing Dynasty’s White Lotus, emerged in the early 2030s following Bai Yul’s arrival in Hong Kong from Beijing.  There is little to support this claim, as the first mention of the new organization appears to be after Bai Yul’s appearance.

They were recognized for maintaining old and outmoded rituals and aesthetic traditions of the Triads, along with an eclectic assortment of obscure esotericism thrown in, care of their founder.  While the legitimacy of their direct lineage to Qing Dynasty era revolutionaries is questionable to say the least, their aspirations echo the zeal of their predecessors in a poetically resonant manner.

However, the White Lotus Triad was not limited to traditionalism. They actively supported the “Free Hong Kong” movement, with as many younger members drawn from the ranks of political activists and dissidents as rival gangs. 

A notable location associated with them was the “White Lotus” nightclub in Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon). This site, while outwardly an ordinary complex of renovated warehouses, concealed aspects of their operations in its various sub-basements. The “undisclosed revenue streams” discovered in their basement had impossible to predict repercussions, beginning with reshaping the power dynamics of K-Town in 2054.

The evolution of the White Lotus Triad, perhaps like the original Triad organizations, began with a pragmatic focus on ideals over morals. Over time, however, they shifted from being driven by ideological motivations to ego and profit.   

Fu-Ling 14K (Syndicate)

Fu-Ling, ironically named after a mild Chinese herb, was a notable faction within the 14K gang who became posthumously infamous for their sleeper assassinations. Their base in Southwest Kowloon served as a hub for various cover fronts, including underground fight rings and training schools.  These assassins, using drones for short-range hypnosis, manipulated targets to carry out subliminal orders.

Caliban first noticed an increase in these sleeper assassinations, suspecting them as a diversion for Fu-Ling’s “for hire” operations, hiding their strategic plans. This activity coincided with the disappearance of White Lotus Enforcers, foreshadowing an imminent street war, further escalated by Cell 54’s involvement.

Fu-Ling’s leadership structure, comprising five Red Poles (Enforcers) and their subordinates, broke from traditional Triad hierarchies. Most of the Red Poles had an active military background, several as contractors, and they likely retained black market contacts with weapon’s manufacturers. 

Fan, the unofficial leader of the Red Poles, owned a city block featuring a dojo, street vendors, and the Jade Garden restaurant, renowned for its authentic Hong Kong cuisine. Hidden above were a gambling den and a brothel. The restaurant’s secluded back area was frequently used for secret meetings, often with individuals linked to Yamimori’s experimental weapons manufacture and sale, suggesting ties between the 14K gangs, including Fu-Ling, and the Chinese military.

Subsequently, Cell 54’s brutal assassination of the Red Poles allowed White Lotus to temporarily seize control over Fu-Ling’s territories in western K-Town.

Yamimori (Corp)

“Make the Mountain Come to You”

Yamimori, known for leveraging Google’s “SnuggleNet” adaptive AI with their own robotics systems, later faced legal issues over accusations of intellectual property theft. In the 2030s, they were acquired by Mandragora. Yamimori continued to operate as a private entity with divisions focusing on military and consumer drones, and human-drone interfaces. A significant portion of their company is in R&D on experimental projects that operate at a loss, but supply great benefit to Mandragora’s other operations. 

The KRF-1000 Latent Inference Drone (aka “Cordy-drones”) were a notable example. 

The Fu-Ling 14K group likely either stole or illicitly purchased these experimental drones, and repurposed them to control “disposable” inhabitants of the Barrens, using them as sleeper agents for hired assassinations and the elimination of rivals.

Equipped with advanced self-piloting AI and advanced security protocols, these drones feature a “mind control” function that connects to either a military-grade satellite or a local server with equivalent capabilities. The drones’ functionality is reliant on a level 5 or higher mainframe, essential for managing neural data. The drones are armed with a stun stinger weapon and razor-sharp forward legs. Their mobility is exceptional, thanks to an adaptable body plan that mimics the movement patterns of various animals such as snakes and scorpions.

This “mind control” is most effective on sleeping or unconscious targets, with effects lasting up to 24 hours, and subjects may experience amnesia. The drones attach to the spine at the neck base, with antennae extending around the skull for brainwave entrainment.

Russian Intelligence (Syndicate)

The GRU uses its official capacity and underworld connections to advance Russia’s interests, whereas there are also connected networks of unofficial actors. In fact, the distinction between the GRU and the upper echelons of various organized criminal syndicates is virtually nonexistent.

The old adage, “the enemy of my enemy,” seemed to apply for Cell 54, as Erik’s involvement created a de facto association. The relationship between the GRU and Cell 54 could best be described as a strategic equilibrium of mutual benefit. Their partnership was fundamentally temporary, transactional, and devoid of any shared ideals.  

Although their collaboration has been limited mostly to joint operations, Cell 54’s “Spaceman” was instrumental in developing Russia’s own supersoldier program, dubbed “Volk Vóinstvo,” which was developed with a sample of his blood after infection with R357+. This achievement was particularly significant as it came at a time when China, through its Mandragora’s Regen program, was aiming research in a similar direction. Volk Vóinstvo was thus in effect the “perfected” result of Regen research, after it had been modified by the entity known as Volos. They soon discovered the heightened capabilities of VV test subjects would come with unexpected repercussions. 

Sui Ryen (Corp)

“Compact and Full Modular”

Sui Ryen stood out in the security and infiltration sector for its unique, low-rent approach to staffing: employing online gamers to control their drones for a variety of purposes, from observation and courier work to assassinations. 

This strategy, an innovative yet cost-effective alternative to AI, became their hallmark. Renowned for their budget-friendly operations, Sui Ryen was often the premiere choice for clients seeking affordable solutions.

However, this frugality came with a reputation for high risk and unpredictable outcomes. The gamers, though skilled in virtual environments, often faced dangerous, real-world consequences for their involvement in these operations. This was notably evident when Cell 54 identified, traced, outmaneuvered and eliminated several Sui Ryen operatives directly. Conversely, sometimes Sui Ryen teams would get bored and use their drones in ways that were undesirable to their contractors.

The company’s hiring process, characterized by minimal vetting and background checks, made it easy for almost anyone to join. While this inclusivity attracted a wide pool of applicants, and their pay was not substandard, it also contributed to Sui Ryen’s alarming fatality rate, the highest in the industry within their regional market.

Dobýča (Corp)

Literally named “Plunder Mining Corporation” in English. Among their various endeavors, Dobýča’s most notable operations included the revival of the Brothers Island Mine, alongside another graphite mining project in Ulur, and a joint venture in a longstanding diamond mine located in Siberia.

A significant incident occurred in 2054, as detailed in an official report, where Dobýča suffered a severe setback. 40% of their workforce in the mine was lost, ostensibly due to a catastrophic airflow disaster. Following this tragedy, Cell 54 was brought in under a subcontracting arrangement through their Mandragora contact Shigeo, who believed that the incident was in fact connected to the elusive, escaped “Asset” they had been tracking since they first encountered him escaping from a holding vat in the sub-basement of White Lotus’ nightclub. This individual, referred to by some of the workers as “Grendel,” was the focus of their investigation. What they found was a great deal stranger than they could have imagined. 

Later, the situation further escalated when the Little Brother mine was subsequently destroyed. This series of events led to Dobýča being disassembled and effectively reabsorbed by its parent company, Gazprom, marking a rather abrupt end to its independent operations.

Major Players

Jiri AI

As Cell 54’s primary point-of-contact with Heliotrope, Jiru AI played a crucial role in facilitating the communication and management of compartmentalized operations. Heliotrope agents within a cell engage with their unique Jiru AI via A/V feeds and one another in person only when necessary. Jiru is matter-of-fact and direct in demeanor, but slightly too manic to be exactly business-like.

Volos 

Aka “the Asset”, aka “Grendel”

According to his own account, Volos is an ancient entity calling itself one of the “Feyn,” who gained corporeal form through a kind of black swan event—a merger within the blood of a functionally brain-dead R357 test subject. 

In a sleep-walking state this vessel was drawn to an underground site which housed an Artifact, and only upon coming into contact with it did it truly begin to identify and understand itself as Volos. (Later, Prospero confirmed this Artifact seemed nearly identical to the one he had encountered on Mars).

In their initial meeting, Volos claimed that the members of Cell 54 were “repositories for Fallen spirits,” establishing a complex relationship between him and the team with a long history they were at the time entirely unaware of, a notion they initially rejected but later acknowledged as at least partially true.

During their first encounter in the mines, Cell 54 agreed to allow Volos to leave after he summoned back his “children,” the infected Dobýča miners. Unbeknownst to them then, it would later become clear that Volos saw the infected Erik as a more strategic entry point into their world, an action that would forever alter Earth and the solar system, as the arms race around R357+ cascaded. 

Volos, who became something of an ally, (if a remote one), transformed into a significant adversary in the final act. Commanding a Feyn-Touched army linked through the transformative blood-contagion that Cell 54 unwittingly helped seed, he attempted to orchestrate humanity’s expulsion from space.

Adrienne Pinault

Archetype: Mistress of the Labyrinth

Initially introduced as Serena Kitsune, a skilled hacker and data courier for Heliotrope Corporation, her true identity was later revealed as the company’s CEO. The daughter of trillionaire Audric Pinault, she had shunned her father’s interstellar pursuits for a dual life: publicly, a wealthy hotel heiress; secretly, the founder of Heliotrope, a “virtual talent incubator.”

Her motivation to create Heliotrope stemmed from her intense “past life type experiences, almost like a vision,” which led her to seek “the Others.” Initially, her team in Cell 54 had dismissed her cryptic statements and reliance on astrological guidance as mere eccentricities. However, they eventually realized there was substance behind her seemingly whimsical decisions. There was never any doubt about the sharpness of her mind, however eccentric or vapid her apparent game might be.

Far from being a mere figurehead, Adrienne had been deeply involved in Heliotrope’s operations under her alias Kitsune, engaging in cyber espionage against corporate entities such as Mandragora. Her hacking ventures included data theft and the covert “rescue and retrieval” of rejects from Mandragora’s experimental research programs, including 728. Adrienne was also linked to several high-profile, unsolved corporate hacks over the previous decade.

After her father’s death, Adrienne had planned to take control of the Europa colony, entrusting Heliotrope’s Hong Kong assets to Cell 54. This transfer proved short-lived, as Cell 54 was presumed dead following their covert blacksite moon mission (2055-57). Unfazed, Adrienne remotely turned Earth’s operations over to a non-sentient clone of Caliban, created after Prospero’s demise in Siberia, tracking down a third mysterious Artifact the team had discovered.

Bai Zheng

Zheng was the night manager of the White Lotus nightclub, a position he assumed after the club’s previous owner, known only as “Mr. Bai,” was gunned down during Cell 54’s ill-fated data courier mission with Kitsune. Following the dramatic massacre instigated by Fu-Ling, Zheng rose to become the effective second-in-command of the White Lotus Triad in Kowloon. Remarkably, he achieved this high rank while still in his twenties, standing out as exceptionally young among the organization’s leadership.

Formerly, Zheng was one of the eight WL Vanguards. Before joining the White Lotus, he was a rank-and-file member of the 14K.  An avid fan of K and J pop music who was always armed to the teeth, Zheng justified his defection from the 14K by citing a fundamental disagreement with their political ideologies.

In private he confided that he saw their leader Yul as “a bit of a kook”, but he believed in his commitment to a free Hong Kong. Like so many others, he was killed in the banquet bombing.

Bai Yul

Yul, the enigmatic leader of the Kowloon chapter of the White Lotus Triad, was a character deeply rooted in outmoded traditions, and yet also unusually forward-thinking for a crime lord. Known for his reclusiveness, Yul only occasionally emerged for meetings in their restaurant fronts, enhancing his mystique within the organization.

He claimed to have rediscovered his great-great-grandfather’s secret texts on Taoist alchemical martial arts and occult ceremonies. Furthermore, his collection included old and lost editions of nearly every imaginable esoteric system. Yul confided in Nemo that his true passion was collecting and studying these books, considering crime a means to an end. He very well might have been happier as a librarian, or historian.

Yul’s mansion, a modern reconstruction of 17th-century Chinese palaces worth 25 million ¥, was located in the foothills near Shenzen. He strictly enforced a no-electronics rule within the palace grounds.

Despite maintaining an austere exterior, Yul occasionally made unpredictable, even wild decisions. A notable example was his controversial use of Erik’s R357+ blood to create his “Bahk-Jin Enforcers” without Erik’s consent, followed by the unexpected announcement of Nemo as his successor.

This marked a significant turning point and a radical departure from tradition, and may have signaled to other gangs that the White Lotus were fit for takeover. His mentorship extended beyond training; Yul claimed the spirits had instructed him to take Nemo as a spiritual heir.

The organization’s fate changed dramatically following a bombing on the night of a grand celebration, leading to Yul’s disappearance. After being discreetly released by Officer Yan post-blast, Yul’s whereabouts remained uncertain until he resurfaced, entrusting Nemo with rebuilding the organization upon his return from his “last mission” with Cell 54 to the moon. His final message to Nemo read “Nemo, you never understood this thing we have. This life. White Lotus was supposed to be about the old ways. But it was my fault... a lack of wisdom on my part... because I didn’t understand that the old ways can’t be transplanted into the new. The soil will change whatever grows there.”

Nemo’s inability to fulfill this responsibility and the subsequent collapse of the organization led to a profound sense of failure and guilt. Years later, Nemo continued to be haunted by Yul’s ghost, tormented by a library of secrets he wished to ignore.

Boulder

Boulder was the leader of the Rat Clan in the Barrens, a region characterized by both lawlessness and camaraderie. He was wise, no-nonsense, cautiously optimistic, and even-minded. Pretty much the perfect leader. Despite that, he was constantly beset by problems that kept him essentially stuck in place. It is only because of his great fortitude and adaptability that he survived as long as he did. 

Boulder’s early life in a South American village was marked by poverty and political violence. He and his brother managed to escape to Japan, where Boulder embraced the culture, particularly through Aikido, culinary arts, and his love of old cinema, such as old Kung Fu and Samurai films.

The brothers eventually settled in the Barrens, beneath Hong Kong’s glitzy surface. Numerous setbacks and failures later, he found himself without options other than retreat underground. 

In the midst of adversity, Boulder soon emerged as a notably stabilizing figure in the Barrens. He extended his protective nature to the entire community, considering everyone who stands with him an extended family, and this is what led him ultimately to seek the assistance of Cell 54 when his brother was first subjected to a Cordy-drone. 

Boulder was committed to the safety of his clan, a resolve only strengthened by the subsequent death of his brother at the hands of the Hyenaz gang later that year. He continued to lead effectively, focusing on community protection and care, following a short stint “on the path of vengeance,” culminating in the rather dramatic assassination of Hyenaz’s leadership with Cell 54’s help via a hijacked railcar packed with C-4.  

Sugai Shigeo

Despite his humble self-characterization as “simply a representative” of Mandragora, Shigeo’s role surpassed that of a standard intermediary. Renowned for a straightforward and audacious communication style, Shigeo certainly had a distinctive approach for a corporate rep. His unapologetically blunt views were epitomized in statements like referring to humanity as an “eater of worlds” during a live news broadcast interview. He meant this as a positive.

On a number of occasions, Shigeo proposed to leverage 728’s “debt” in the form of the body they inhabited, which required Mandragora technology to operate. This was typical to his MO, employing a combination of incentives and thinly veiled threats. He generally traveled with an entourage of heavily implanted combat mercs.

Their strained sometimes-contractor relationship took a dramatic turn following the Pangu bombing incident. While Cell 54 was detained by the police, he approached them in their cells. He officially informed them of Mandragora’s in-progress hostile takeover on Heliotrope, framing it as “reclaiming what was rightfully theirs from the outset.” He further revealed Cell 54’s impending transfer to the moon for interrogation. 

However, this plan was thwarted when Officer Yan, a policeman known for his staunch integrity, was persuaded to assist Cell 54’s escape in return for their help in uncovering corruption within the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), preventing their moon-bound extradition by Mandragora.

They have never seen him in anything other than a white suit.

Dr Hellström

Dr. Hellström, who began his training in Berlin, epitomizes a cold, calculating intelligence under the guise of a pioneering researcher. With expertise in neurology and cybernetics gained from top academic institutions, his career, marked by ethical breaches, led to a pivotal role in Mandragora’s Engram program. He spearheaded the Engram Archetypes initiative, which aimed to manipulate the 12 identified human narrative archetypes.

In his dealings, particularly with Cells 54 and 728, Dr. Hellström's manipulative tactics were cleverly disguised as mentorship, employing a pseudo-paternal approach to advance his research, devoid of any genuine empathy. His relentless quest for scientific progress often eclipsed ethical considerations. Viewing his subjects not as individuals but as assets of Mandragora, he even audaciously claimed ownership over 728’s body.

Meng Xiao, the “Red Crane”

Meng Xiao, now infamously known throughout Southeast Asia as the “Red Crane,” has carved a niche for herself in the realm of extremely high risk contracts. Her rise to notoriety is marked not only by lethal precision but also by a playful sadism that colors her general demeanor. Xiao was a rare entity in the criminal underworld—an independent freelance assassin with no known ties or loyalties. Indeed, no one knows who she was or where she came from, before she started operating with impunity on contracts from Taiwan to Hong Kong. 

Xiao’s first encountered Nemo at Fan’s noodle shop, trying to hire out a hit from Fan under false pretenses. However, it was their encounter at Bai Yul’s mansion that truly showcased her signature style. 

Initially tasked with eliminating Yul by the Fu-Ling, she readily switched her target to the “General”—one of the other five Red Poles—when Cell 54 presented her with a more lucrative offer and this new target. Her only stipulation was that all the money be delivered up front. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, they later discovered she decided to make a different sort of deal with the former Enforcer. Cell 54 found them together as an “item” at Bai Yul’s side on the fateful night of the banquet. 

This wasn’t merely fickle allegiance-shifting. Their partnership not only saved the General’s life but also elevated Xiao’s own standing within the White Lotus organization by bringing all of the General’s former payments and contacts to Yul. In exchange, Xiao was made one of the first Bahk Jin, enhanced with the Feyn-modified R357 that Bai Yul acquired from Erik’s blood. The General was killed later that very night in the bombing that claimed much of White Lotus’ leadership at the time, and so ended Xiao’s brief experiment in maintaining personal relationships.  

Xiao’s ascent to power finally culminated in her calculated move against Bai Yul, at the behest of Tony Leung of the Sun Ye On triad. This ruthless act of assassination propelled her to a high ranking member of their organization, functionally taking over White Lotus’ territories in K-Town. 

Her rise within Sun Ye On marked a significant shift in power dynamics within the Hong Kong underworld, and made her the reigning power in that District by 2058.

Turtleman

“Turtleman” (or TM), an Australian expatriate and ex-Hong Kong cop, was forced out of the force due to his staunch anti-corruption stance and his unyielding investigation into a Chinese diplomat’s murder, with whom he may have been having an affair. This quest radically transformed his life, leading to his forced resignation and a subsequent assassination attempt, driving him into hiding at the Sparrow’s Nest in the Barrens.

To make their first approach, Boulder gave Cell 54 a bullet marked with Chinese characters for “woman’s garment,” a symbol of this turning point in TM’s life, and the role Boulder apparently played in it. This bullet had been intended for the diplomat whose death TM had faked to aid her escape, a secret known only to Boulder and TM.

It was clear he had played a significant role in his transition to Barrens pawn shop arms dealer. 

This armory became a key supply point in the literal underworld, specializing in illegal weapons and DIY repairs for those with an “in”.

In the post-Hyenaz era, TM took on a more active role in the Rat Clan, supporting food supply efforts in the Barrens. Yet, he continued his illicit arms trade, balancing his community responsibilities with his more lucrative dealings.