Coming Soon (ish) to the S.D.Z.A. Universe (once the Basic Rules are out there, I have many plans to expand the setting).
SDZA - Shadow War "The Battle For the Future has Begun"
A supplemental PDF which will cover (in more detail) Jacob Nexus, MI6 & the S.A.I.N.T.s, AND the True History of Uni-Tech and the Origins of Jorogumo Industries.
Jam Packed full of Super Spies and Secret Agents, Mad Scientists, Evil Organizations, Power Mad Corporations, the Cold War, left over Relics from WWII, Russian Super-Soldiers, and Time Travelling Secret Agents from the Future.
Bit of a quiet Day today, a couple of Orders to send out - some writing to do, but little else.
So how about a Bit of Fun - IT'S COMPETITION TIME!
All you have to do is Write a Scenario Outline for S.D.Z.A. - the Deadline for this is my Birthday (the 23rd of May) as I like fun things to read on my Birthday.
The Winners will be judged by the S.D.Z.A. Playtesters Group (collectively known as Highwaymen)
The top three write ups will get turned into proper S.D.Z.A. (Super-Hero Dinosaur Zombie Apocalypse) by me, with Faction Details and Profiles - which will appear in the S.D.Z.A. Rulebook with a your name in the Credits.
Now, on to Prizes.
1st Place will win a PAINTED pre-production "RoboBorg" Miniature (like the one in the picture) and its an original 3D Print (not a re-cast), AND AND a Set of the original 5 Releases as Resin Master Castings.
2nd Place will win a pre-production "RoboBorg" Miniature (like the one in the picture) and its an original 3D Print (not a re-cast), AND a Set of the original 5 Releases in Metal.
3rd Place will win a Set of the original 5 Releases in Metal.
Rules and Regulations
Entries by Email to me at Nexus Miniatures (varian@nexus-miniatures.co.uk or nexus-miniatures@outlook.com - the Deadline for Entry is Midnight on the 23r of May 2015. You should include your Name/Forum Name with your Entry.
Only one Scenario Outline Entry per person.
Winning Scenario Outlines will written up properly for use with S.D.Z.A. and will be published in both the First PDF and Physical Copy of S.D.Z.A. Basic.
Having a winning entry does not entitle you to further payment or royalties, your entitlement is fulfilled by the Prize you may win - by entering the competition it is taken you agree to this.
No Cash alternatives are offered to the Prizes.
As head of British Military Intelligence, the Woman known only as Fairfax was as high up as you could get. Her job was complex and tasking as you could imagine, and so difficult emotionally most men simply couldn't handle it.
Let me explain, not only does she run British Intelligence - which in itself is mind bogglingly complex, she has to regularly send men on missions he knows will end badly. But she has no choice, if she didn't do it, some other poor bastard would have to - and they might crack under the strain.
It's been even more difficult since the 80's when the world changed - and not for the better. Back in those days she was an Officer in the British Navy, and saw a lot of action during the early Dinosaur Attacks. In the last thirty years we've seen Dinosaurs rampaging through the streets, when the disaster hit - a large chunk of greater London was lost. Beckenham, Romford, and Croydon were lost - sealed off from the rest of the City, those districts are now overgrown with strange plant life - and are like some huge prehistoric safari park. The Dinosaurs stay close to the Cities, they like the smells and the noise. The Gun emplacements and electrified netting keep most at bay, there are very few D.I's (Dinosaur Incursions) nowadays. The Carrion are less of a problem, mostly wandering around the north of England, and the colder weather slows them down considerably - at least we don't have to worry about the Giaour here in England, such roving clans of Cannibals have only been encountered in Scotland and Ireland - very rare compared to the rest of the world.
You would think in this day and age, there would be no need for Military Intelligence - but the fractures in the Political relationships between the surviving nations are even more apparent. Korea is desperate for American DNA and Military technology, Red China want's the UK's food synthesis processes, and Russia is just after ever other Nations edge as their territories include Siberia - and they've got all sorts of problems there.
Every Nation in the world has gone out of its way to recruit Primes into Service - Russia in particular has more Prime Operatives than anyone else, America has a whole Department dedicated to just that. But we have something better, not just regular F.O.N. Operatives - we have Jacob Nexus, the worlds first Prime.
Exposed to the "Re-Birth" process way back in 1964, Jacob was changed forever - like the Turritopsis nutricula jellyfish he can (by all accounts) never actually die, he heals rapidly any injury short of a terminal one. Even when he is "killed" he goes into a semi-dormant state for a period of up to 24 hours (often much shorter) and awakes completely repaired, there is a side effect though - sometimes, when the damage is so severe as to disfigure him, he wakes up with a new face. This has proven a boon to his secret work, as periodically he is a "new man" - although it's been noted his personality pretty much stays the same to a greater or lesser degree each time.
Nexus was a boon to British Intelligence and the world in general, he certainty made Fairfax' life easier.
Jacob had walked into Fairfax' Office with his usual mix of arrogance and charm, whatever she had in mind for his next mission - he knew it was going to be dangerous, that was the only kind of mission he got these days.
"M'am" he uttered, in that deep smooth toned voice of his - "You called". Jacob smirked, the sort of little smile you give when you're trying to be flirtatious.
Fairfax glowered at him, the sort of look you only see coming from angry teachers or disappointed parents - "You can cut that crap with me Agent Nexus, I am immune" she looked down at the paperwork on her desk, "I have no time for misogynistic cave-men like you".
"An oddly inappropriate thing to say considering the current state of the World, wouldn't you say" - Jacob felt smug, VERY smug. It's not that often someone gets to be 'one up' on old Fairfax.
"It was meant as an insult as you well know - your kind Agent Nexus are not, unfortunately, extinct. Neither are your Dinosaur cousins". Fairfax didn't even look up from her reading as that barb found its target.
"Touche" Jacob casually took a pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of his pocket as he responded.
"Please smoke elsewhere, you might be immortal and not have to worry about Cancer - but the rest of us are not afforded that luxury", Fairfax finally looked up at him as be put his cigarettes away. "This mission, though typically dangerous - is a fairly straight forward one" - Her matter of factness never failed to surprise Jacob, "There's trouble in Siberia, I know, I know - there's always Trouble in Siberia".
"So, whats the mission - extraction, sabotage, assassination" Jacobs matter of factness about his work even managed to surprise Fairfax "Sorry to be blunt, but your tone implied this was urgent".
"A group of Russian dissidents are attempting to replicate Uni-Techs Re-Birth technology - if they are successful, it might give them the ability to create Primes deliberately - rather than by accident" Fairfax' tone did indeed sound urgent, VERY urgent "Your mission is a relatively simple one, break into the facility - steal the research and destroy the place".
"Sounds straightforward enough" Jacobs tone betrayed him a little, it was obvious that Fairfax had more to tell.
"The problem is, if you pardon the pun, its a bit of a 'hot zone' for Morlock and Dinosaur activity - the facility is walled off, has laser security, and guards - those I know are no real challenge to you" Fairfax attempted a smile, she failed "But with Carnosaurs wandering about, and the only way to the facility without being detected is through caves infested with degenerates - I can see this actually being a problem" Her concern for Jacob Nexus was obvious at this point, she didn't want him to die . . . again . . . .
1964 - Unitech HQ, London. Current Managing Director Auric Fröbe is looking at the quarterly returns, his personal Assistant Katherine "Kitty" Gale is sitting casually to his right.
"This isn't right", Aurics Austrian accent betrays his ancestry every time he speaks. "These returns show the company is failing, yet we know that not to be true".
Kitty gracefully rose to her feet, slinked her way over to her boss and gently rested her hand on his shoulder. "Those reports can't show ALL Unitech's profits my dear", she smiled ever so slightly. "The Government can never know where Unitech makes its real money surely - illegal activities all over the globe, not to mention our unsavoury medical research".
"True, true". Auric threw the papers down on his desk, almost as if he was forced to agree - even though he knew Kitty was spot on with her observation.
"What about Project Re-Birth" he asked, "Any progress there" - our Scientists insist creating a viable embryo is decades away - the technology or research simply does not exist yet" Kitty's voice showed her irritation, she knew Auric knew this - but he kept pushing the research team for progress and information.
"It's NOT GOOD ENOUGH", Auric was shouting - his face red with rage and frustration. Kitty knew what that mean, he was planning something drastic. "Tell Mr Smith and Mr Glover to bring in Von Claus, take his family too - we need leverage" . . . . .
"Are you sure that's the right thing to do", the concern in Kitty's voice was more than apparent, "Those two are little more than thugs, they always make a mess".
"They get things DONE", Auric was no longer shouting - he's voice was stern and direct. Kitty was no fool, she knew when to back down, "You can clean up after them as usual".
"Yes, Mr Fröbe". Kitty calmly walked out of the office. "Von Claus", she softly uttered to herself, "I know the mans a genius, but this could be very bad for the future" . . .
Here is the Early S.D.Z.A. Timeline, it runs up till 1983 - then, as things got confusing it got sketchy and hard to keep up with. As each City State started keeping their own Histories, and most of these conflict/contradict (what I am saying is you really need to read all the fluff LoL).
1955
Uni-Tech enters the public eye, with the demonstration by Cytogeneticist Joe Hin Tjio working with Albert Levan that there are forty-six human chromosomes - this important research was fully funded by Uni-Tech.
1959
Uni-Tech, through Texas Instruments (a Uni-Tech subsidiary) introduces "the Micro Chip”.
1962
British Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency of the USA begin their investigations of Uni-Tech – who were they, where did their funding come from – all is a mystery.
1963
Kennedy is Assassinated - Kennedy was preparing to amend the National Labour Relations Board statutes and various Internal Revenue Service statues that would prevent foreign flag shipping from being exempt from American income taxes, Uni-Tech knew this would benefit their competitors thus weakening their financial stranglehold on American Business Practices. Both British Intelligence and the CIA suspect Uni-Tech’s Involvement – but cannot prove it.
1964
Jacob Nexus begins his investigation of Uni-Tech in earnest, starting with the London Office - his findings point towards Auric Fröbe and his personal Assistant Katherine "Kitty" Gale having particularly dark pasts. This Investigation will lead him all over the world.
1971
Whilst Jacob Nexus is on a Mission to Nevada - investigating Willard Dean, an eccentric Billionaire – he is killed. Nexus is miraculously restored, and for the first time exhibits full bodily Regeneration - when he fully recovers, he quite literally is a new man.
London Bridge is brought to the U.S. - the process is funded by Uni-Tech, it is not known why.
1974
U.S. President Nixon resigns. It is privately known that Uni-Tech were at least in part responsible for his resignation.
1975
Uni-Tech begins its plans for the revivification of Dinosaurs in earnest, to facilitate this quickly - they use (in theory) harmless DNA from a Bacteriophage Virus (A virus that normally only affects Bacteria) the rate a Bacteriophage Virus replicates itself is going to be a boon when speeding up the cellular replication during the cloning process.
1976
The First Dinosaurs begin to "grow" in the controlled growth tanks at a Uni-Tech research Laboratory in Nevada. The three Compsognathus test subjects reach full maturity in just 30 Days.
1978
The First Test-Tube Baby is born finally proving the Medical Viability of the Re-Birth process.
Uni-Tech, now having reached a position where they can literally "Grow" any Dinosaur species they want in a matter of weeks – announce their plans to create Dinosaur Wildlife preserves around the world, that the basic "tour" would have a nominal cost of entry to the public - but "V-I-P" tours would be available for those with a yen to get closer to these amazing Animals.
1981
The first Dino-Parks start to open, outside Windsor in the UK, Las-Vegas in the USA, Saint-Tropez in Europe, Sydney in Australia.
The first publicly seen "Primes" start to appear - in London a Boy picks up and throws a Car whilst having a Tantrum, whilst in New York a man "Flies" to save a woman who's fallen out of a fourth story window. Scientists are baffled; there is seemingly no explanation for this.
1982
Smaller Dino-Parks start opening all over the world - by this time Uni-Tech have re-created Prehistoric Plant Life as well. Despite some "shaky" research, Uni-Techs plans are going well - and they are hailed as the "Saviours of the Modern Age" - as their new cellular replication processes could theoretically end Poverty and Famine.
The first Carrion "outbreak" takes place in Pennsylvania - the cities of Pittsburgh and Monroeville are the first to get overrun. The outbreak started in a factory just outside of Pittsburgh. Within weeks such outbreaks are taking place all over the world.
A Carrion Outbreak in the Nevada Desert causes the Dinosaurs to escape the enclosures at the Dino-Park nearby. Chaos ensues; pretty soon Las Vegas is overrun by Carrion and the various Carnivores that escaped the Park start picking off survivors trying to exit the city. By the time a Nuclear Strike is agreed to by the Pentagon - it is too late. As by then Victorville, Barstow and Baker are overrun and it decided the collateral damage will be too great.
A tall robed figure is seen directing the Carrion, and strange half-human looking road-warrior are seen carrying primitive weapons.
For some reason there seems to be way more Dinosaurs at large than there were present in the enclosures at the Las Vegas Dino-Park.
1983
Dinosaur Attacks are becoming more and more Widespread, and the Carrion are turning into a more immediate problem - fortunately the Dinosaurs stop the Carrion from completely taking over. A Nuclear response is deemed as no longer viable – because the problems are too wide spread now.
Things start to settle down, time and resources are found to erect huge walls around the surviving Cities. Thou a lot of communities have food, water, and medicines – ‘civilization’ as we knew it, is now spread quite thinly - it’s obvious it’s going to be hard to survive.
A Prime calling himself "Hypnos" declares himself the King of Detroit. Armed forces are deployed to remove him, those who aren't killed - join him unquestioningly.
Similar Prime Overlords start springing up all over the globe - NATO makes a judgement call; it is believed the Primes (dubbed 'Homo-Superior' by the scientific community) are as much of a Threat to the World as the Dinosaurs or the Carrion - if not more so. Cities and Towns where such Overlords arise and they have taken full control are subjected to Nuclear Strikes – it is obvious we are more afraid of these superior beings, than we ever were of the Dinosaurs or the Carrion.
Belinsky, in Russia, is one such place that was nuked to stop the Prime there from raising an army. From the nuclear wasteland that was once the town of Belinsky - a lone individual is seen walking from the blasted remains. After walking nearly ten miles, he confidently approached to the Military Observation post set up to monitor the strike and spoke - "I am Doombringer, like me the Brotherhood shall rise anew" – Doombringer then jumped hundreds of feet into the air, and bound away in a series of huge powerful leaps.
It was quickly realized the Nuclear Strikes made things worse - smaller Nations, now controlled by Prime Overlords launched Nuclear Weapons of their own - irradiating large areas of land (areas which became known as the barrens) and accelerating the spread of the Carrion threat in some cases. Cannibalism becomes rife in far off communities with no resources - these Cannibals look so dreadful and smell so bad, even the Carrion ignore them.
The Primes, in particular the Brotherhood are a worrying factor – something that needs to be watched and controlled – more so even than the Dinosaurs or the Carrion.
