ANDERS MAGE PAGE 2.0

To Sleepers, the Hubble Space Telescope has been viewed alternately with hope of its promise, dismay at its cost, rage at it not working properly and finally acceptance that it's fixed. Sleeper scientists are now convinced it is a success, and they convinced the public.

To most mages, the telescope is regarded as another example of the Conventions punishing the Void Engineers. To most Technocrats, it is a waste of money. To the Void Engineers, the Hubble Space Telescope is a front for an Umbral physics project of startling success despite frequent Paradox problems and some major setbacks.

The Hubble Monitor is a singular, powerful spirit now associated with the Hubble Space Telescope, existing within the construction. A site of research for a number of Void Engineer masters, they have been pushing their technologies and theories to the bare edge at the site.

In the Umbra, the Hubble Monitor is visible as a huge spirit shaped as a thick worm. Over 150 feet long and 30 feet in diameter. It seems to be made mostly of metal and plastic. The major exceptions being its spread solar collector wings and its ominous lens facing directly outward from Earth.

The Hubble Monitor is known as the "Big Eye" or the "Reality Cannon" among the Void Engineers. The device can peer into the Deep Umbra more efficiently than ground-based Void Engineer scopes. Most outsiders assume this is its function. The true main function of the Hubble device is to operate as a "static cannon".

The static cannon is a complex, powerful magickal effect. Upon sighting a Deep Umbral Realm, it can selectively co-locate it with a part of the physical world. Space is distorted so that a large area is co-located with a small area of the Umbral Realm. The co-location is screened with Spirit, Mind, Matter and Prime so that only limited sections of the properties of the spaces are combined. The paradigm of the physical world is imposed upon the area of the Umbral Realm stongly. Static reality is slammed into effect in the Umbral Realm.

When the static cannon is used, any physical or magickal aberrations immediately begin to attract, and suffer from Paradox. Often, this creates a powerful Paradox storm that has, in test runs, decimated or destroyed large areas — even entire small realms. The Void Engineers are still tyring to perfect the process. Currently, the process itself causes Paradox, results in paradigm anomalies in the physical space used that increase as the duration of the firing increase and consumes prodigious amounts of quintessence.

The Hubble Monitor can defend itself if attacked, spending large amounts of quintessence in its own defense. The Void Engineers do go to great lenghts to ensure this does not occur. The area near the scope is patrolled by Void Strikers, the small combat versions of Void Engines. A small Umbral research station is nearby, with competent mages and Iteration X guardians. The entire area is scoured by Spy Monitors, as are all approaches. Preparations have also been made against attacks from the physical world.

The Hubble Monitor's nuclear reactor serves as a Node of power, providing it with quintessence and Tass in the form of thruster fuel which the spirit stores in internal tanks.

The hubble Monitor is very intelligent and an active participant in the research with which it is involved.

STR 7, DEX 2, STA 8
CHA 3, MAN 3, APP 0
PER 6, INT 5, WIT 3
Abilities: Alertness 2, Brawl 5, Computer 4, Cosmology 4, Etiquette 4 (technomancer), Firearms 4, Science 4, Spirit Lore 5 (monitors), Spirit Names 3
Spheres: Corr. 5, Forces 3, Matter 3, Mind 3, Prime 4, Spirit 5, Time 2
Willpower 8, Rage 8, Arete 7, Quintessence 20, Tass 100+, Paradox 5
Health Levels: OKx4 / -1x3 / -2x3 / -3x3 / -4x3 / -5x3 / incapacitated

Attacks

• Tentacles: The Hubble Monitor has eight tentacles to attack without dividing its dice pool. The tentacles cause seven dice of damage and are used with a difficulty of seven. Attacking with more than one tentacle increases damage by one die per tentacle used. They can be used to bash a victim or grapple them.
• Armor: The heavy Primium armor of the Monitor gives it three extra soak dice. The Monitor also has two dice of countermagick against any magickal attack.
• Regeneration: The Hubble Monitor is self-repairing and regains one health level per round so long as the damage isn't Aggravated.

Magick

Static Cannon (Corr. 5, Matter 3, Prime 4, Spirit 5)

The static cannon is the main experimental function of the Hubble Monitor. Initiating it is a prolonged process, involving at least 20 points of quintessence and several hours.

Once the effect is established, Paradox is incurred in the Umbral Realm as if it was an area of the physical Earth. The corresponding space of the physical world is destabilized and the force of Paradox there greatly reduced. This area is in outer space however, and changes with each firing. The static cannon is only effective on Deep Umbral targets. If it became effective against Horizon Realms the Traditions could be seriously endangered.

Umbral Sighting (Corr. 3, Spirit 1)

As a prelude to firing, the target must be sighted precisely. The locations viewed can be at almost infinite depths in the Umbra.

Unlike other Monitors, the Hubble Monitor is capable of producing a variety of magikal effects to defend itself and attack others with relative spontaneity.