Lore: Paracausal Monitoring Division

Introduction

The PMD Half-Lidded Eye

The Paracausal Monitoring Division (PMD) is a relatively recent addition to NanoTrasen's Emergency Response structure. With some of its roots reaching as far back as the Phoron War, this department was formally established following the Galactic Awakening. Serving as Central Command’s paranormal equivalent of an ERT, the PMD operates across a broad array of fields - from Xenoarchaeology to Field Operations. The PMD has already made a name for itself in more unstable areas of the Galactic Frontier, and its presence at any NanoTrasen facility is usually heralded by a significant catastrophe.

History

During the Phoron War, NanoTrasen faced a wide array of threats beyond the comparatively mundane assaults of the Syndicate. Although at the time many of these events were considered to be misinformation, misinterpretation, or incidents of mass hysteria, some Central Command branches decided to form small investigative units to track and follow up on such accounts. As these units operated in the time prior to the Galactic Awakening, very few were able to confirm paranatural activity. Although these field units were far from successful, the meager infrastructure provided for them inspired the PMD’s modern structure and procedure.

Modern Day

On the day of the Galactic Awakening, NanoTrasen facilities and assets across the galaxy were left reeling by widespread paranatural incursions of varying severity. Within a week, irrefutable evidence of paranatural phenomena was being distributed over secure channels to Central Command branches the galaxy over. True to its nature, NanoTrasen recognized not only the need to provide its holdings with a competent defense - but also the financial opportunity that might be seized through exploitation of this nascent phenomenon.

Utilizing the bare bones infrastructure of their mothballed investigatory units, Central Command devised a method for screening their extant ERT and DDO assets for latent paranatural abilities. Those employees found to possess significant enough paranatural talent were recruited into the PMD, and became the first Paracausal Anomaly Response Agents - PARA. These brave agents continue to undergo rigorous training and study to ensure that the PMD, and by extension NanoTrasen, have the most up to date knowledge of paracausal phenomenon possible.

Due to PARA being encountered largely during emergencies, many NanoTrasen employees are under the misguided impression that they exist as a paramilitary force. In reality, the PMD functions as a scientific initiative, with much of its funding going to R&D: especially the detection and containment of paranatural items. PARA operating in response teams are just as likely to retrieve and secure an anomalous item as they are to encounter hostile paracausal entities.

The Marksman Incident

Shortly after the formation of the PMD, a NanoTrasen expeditionary fleet operating near Artemis’ Bow came under direct assault from Blood Cult forces. The effort was coordinated, sophisticated, and effective. For the better part of two months, Geometer foot soldiers translated onto the NDV Marksman via a paracausal gate. From this beach head they enacted a devastating campaign of terror which the local Central Command and its meager PMD assets struggled to contain. Valuable operatives and recruits were lost in the fighting, but those who survived gained experience combating one of the Galaxy’s newest and most dangerous threats. Veterans of the campaign have since been reassigned to other facilities across the Frontier, where they serve as instructors for fresh recruits.

Structure

Not much is known about the PMD’s formal structure, largely by design. As a subdivision of Central Command, it can be safely assumed that they operate in a manner similar to the standard Emergency Response Teams, albeit with marginally more autonomy in regards to how they conduct their research. It is known that most Central Command branches now possess a dedicated PMD team in their assigned area of operations, generally based out of a containment facility black site. Due to the recent nature of the Awakening, not every CentCom facility has access to a larger PMD presence, and many are lucky to even have a single PARA at their disposal.

Ranks

The PMD hierarchy is not publicly known, and most NanoTrasen employees are unlikely to ever encounter agents above PARA status. Regardless, the ranks and their duties are outlined here for reference.

• Containment Director: The assigned overseer of a PMD facility. Directors determine what assets are mobilized to anomalous events and - most importantly - coordinate containment and research procedures. Currently, no Director’s identity has been made public.
• Researcher: The backbone of the PMD’s study into the nascent field of Paracausal Science, Researchers may often seem deranged to the outside observer. Recruited for their ability to think laterally, Researchers must naturally possess some paranatural talent. This necessity allows them to resist the influence of their subjects and engage in unorthodox methods of experimentation.
• PARA: Paracausal Anomaly Response Agents are, for better or worse, the ‘face’ of the PMD. Trained in the suppression of paracausal phenomena, most PARA possess some paranatural talent of their own, which they utilize to resist psionic influence or augment their own abilities. Due to the hazardous nature of their work, PARA are provided experimental and esoteric gear by the Research department that would otherwise qualify for containment.
• Analyst: The unsung heroes of the PMD, Analysts handle logistics, communications, and other bureaucratic operations. Analysts may be recognized as the operators of the LFDW Parabola arrays, which serve as the early warning system for paranatural activity.
• Inquisitor: Although the name itself bears a dubious connotation, PMD Inquisitors are in fact little more than detectives. Responding to unverified reports, Inquisitors are responsible for HUMINT gathering. Rarely they will fill a PR position, and may sometimes coordinate workshops and lectures to help NanoTrasen crew liaise with the larger Division.
• Chaplain: Chaplains are not, in fact, a formal part of the PMD structure. They are listed here because they are often utilized by the PMD as a manner of canary. Following the Galactic Awakening, the PMD distributed low-tier paranatural equipment - namely weaponry like the obsidian Null Rod - to dedicated Chaplaincy departments across NanoTrasen’s facilities. The PMD does not select or assign crew to the Chaplaincy, though they will sometimes recruit knowledgeable or talented employees.

Equipment

Through the study and exploitation of paranatural artifacts, the PMD has been able to begin production on a wide range of equipment and weaponry designed specifically to combat paracausal threats.

	Name	Description
	Null Rod	Fashioned out of obsidian, these specially crafted rods possess intrinsic properties which disrupt low-grade LFD interference. In the hands of a trained user, a null rod is a formidable tool. Thanks to extensive field research, the PMD has been able to replicate the original design's effects across a much wider array of weaponry, providing their operatives with more options in the field.
	PARA Armor	PARA body armor is undeniably similar to NanoTrasen ERT gear - evidence of the hand-me-down nature of early PMD armament. Reinforced with an obsidian weave and etched with protective wards and seals, this armor is meant to protect its user from a variety of hazards. The Oculus Malum visor, crafted by PMD R&D after numerous losses in the field, effectively protects the trained wearer from memetic hazard exposure without hampering efficacy.
	HOLY Class Armaments	Due to the effects of Acausal Logic Engine Disruption, PMD assets are trained primarily in close combat. However, when ranged weaponry must be utilized, the PMD favors antique or low complexity firearms. Although not as versatile as modern energy weapons, HOLY class firearms are reliable in the presence of strong paranatural phenomena and may be loaded with specialized HOLY class ammunition.

The Six Classes of Paracausal Phenomena

The PMD categorizes paracausal phenomena based on a reference scale, which has been provided below along with examples of eligible events or entities. This list is not exhaustive.

Classification	Event Ex.	Entity Ex.	Threat
Styx	Reality Shifting: An item manifests.	Incorporeal entities: Shades	Minor
Acheron	Reality Shifting: An item exhibits anomalous traits.	Passive corporeal entities: Wards	Minor
Lethe	Reality Warping: A wall begins weeping blood.	Malicious corporeal entities: Cultists	Moderate
Phlegethon	Reality Warping: An item becomes animate.	Malicious corporeal entities: Constructs	Severe
Cocytus	Unstable Realspace Rifts	Known Paranatural Entities: Blood Hunter, Le Gourmand	Extreme
Oceanus	Stable Realspace Rifts	Transubstantiated Deities: Theoretical - No known examples.	Existential

Glossary

• PMD: Paracausal Monitoring Division - NanoTrasen's emergent department oriented towards the defense against - and exploitation of - paracausal activity.
• PARA: Paracausal Anomaly Response Agent - Trained field operatives deployed by the PMD to recover anomalous items or repel paranatural incursions.
• LFDW: Low Frequency Dimensional Wave - An exotic form of radiation which always precedes a significant paracausal event.
• LFWA: Low Frequency Wave Attractor - An occult object, paranatural anomaly, powerful entity, or ritual site which serves as a focusing point for LFDWs.
• LFD Parabola: Low Frequency Dimensional Parabola - An esoteric mechanism utilized by the PMD to detect LFDW interference, triangulate hotspots, and predict incursions.
• HPO: Hostile Paranatural Organization - Any occult or religious organization currently utilizing paranatural powers to combat NanoTrasen or harm its interests.

What A Player Character Knows

Much of this information - but not all of it - is heavily classified or obfuscated in universe. Since this guide is not fully OOC nor fully IC, further disambiguation has been provided here to ensure all players are informed in regards to what their characters should know.

Chaplains

A Chaplain knows little more than the standard crewmate. They are generally aware that Paracausality exists as a genuine phenomena, and that suddenly their prayers may sometimes be answered by supernatural entities. How they choose to come to terms with the reality of the Galactic Awakening is up to them. Some Chaplains may have interacted with PARA, but no Chaplain regularly corresponds with the PMD, and they are not recognized in its power structure. As such, Chaplains may only possess knowledge from this page if they have learned it directly from an IC source.

Command

Command generally recognize the PMD as a legitimate division of Central Command. PMD assets - specifically PARA - are to be treated as equivalent to ERT agents during emergencies. Other PMD agents may be treated as inferior to CCOs, but of rough equivalence to Heads of Staff. They should not be allowed to order around crew or Heads outside of emergencies, but local Command should not obstruct their duties needlessly. Beyond this information, Command staff should not possess any knowledge from this page that they have not learned directly from an IC source.

Standard Crew

Standard crew should not possess any knowledge from this page unless they learned it directly via an IC source.

Lore
Corporations	NanoTrasen, Frontier Megacorporations, Minor Corporations, The Syndicate
NanoTrasen Specific	NDV Marksman, Paracausal Monitoring Division
Other Organizations	ITV Talon, System Defense Force, The Orion Confederation
Worldbuilding	Extradimensional Mechanics, FTL Travel, Galactic Landmarks, Legends, Mysteries, and Rumors, Metaphysics and Paracausality, Technology of the 2500's, The Timeline
Contribution Data	Lore Submission Templates, Roadmap for Lore Development