[ N.O.V.A. ]
The National Office for Variant Affairs, more commonly referred to as N.O.V.A., is a government agency that deals with Variants involving everything from public relations to legal issues to scientific research. The agency for the most part is quite professional, though, over the years, corruption has started to make its way through the system at various levels.
Variant Types, Ability Classes, and Danger LevelsN.O.V.A. uses a system to classify Variants based on their specific abilities and also by the potential threat to society that those abilities pose. This does not necessarily take into account the notoriety of a Variant, but an especially aggressive or abusive Variant may have a higher danger level than normal (if he/she has been identified).
Danger LevelsGreen - Low
(oh please...are you even a Variant?)Blue - Mild
(yeah, that guy kinda bothers me a bit...)Yellow - Moderate
(hey now...you be careful with that, ok? we don't want any trouble)Red - High
(wait...she can do what?!...yeah, we're screwed...)Black - Extreme
(that's ok...we don't need the Earth anyway, right?)Variant TypesBrute - Variants with increased levels of strength and/or durability; they may be more difficult to harm or take down
Metamorphic - Variants can change anatomy and/or physiology, either partially or fully; can take human or non-human forms including animal, mineral, energy, or alien
Volatile - Variants have abilities dealing with fire, electricity, plasma, and any other explosive energy/force
Mentalist - Variants possess psychic abilities; can control and/or manipulate objects, people, energy using their thoughts
Agile - Variants are prone to quick movements and/or fast/instant travel; they may possess increased levels of dexterity
Inhibitor - Variants wield powers that can weaken and/or hinder others
Amplifier - Variants have the ability to improve the condition of themselves and/or others
Distortionist - Variants are able to alter space-time, intangible concepts, or reality as a whole
Natural - Variants have abilities that utilize and/or effect the natural world and/or animals
Architect - Variants who are able to manipulate, modify, and/or replicate matter and/or energy; some are able to construct tangible objects from energy
Ability ClassesClass 1 - EnhancementsThese are powers that usually only affect the person using them. They come in the form of things like heightened senses, superhuman strength, accelerated healing, and even immortality. Class 1 abilities are usually of very little danger to others when they aren't being specifically abused.
Class 2 - AlterationThough Class 2 abilities are similar to Class 1 in the fact that they affect only the user, the difference lies in the nature of how they work. While Class 1 abilities are passive, Class 2 are alternatively more active. These abilities allow a person to alter their bodies, both partially and fully. Some examples would be a physical transformation, a manifestation of an elemental force, or adopting the physiology of a non-human creature. This classification isn't limited to changes in physical appearance. Altering one’s natural ability to adapt to certain situations or environments also falls into this category.
Class 3 - Mental PowersThis category of abilities involves those linked with the mind. Standard psychic powers such as telepathy, telekinesis, and ESP fall into this class as well as powers based on auras, sleep, emotions, and intuition. Other examples of Class 3 abilities would be dream manipulation, astral projection, super-enhanced learning, and illusions.
Class 4 - Manipulation/CreationThough there may be a few abilities that blur the line between Class 3 and Class 4, Class 4 abilities primarily deal with the manipulation and/or creation of matter and energies outside of the body; however, the creation abilities are of a very specific and limited nature. This class quite possibly contains the widest variety of powers such as the power to manipulate the elements or organic matter, the power to control something more abstract such as color, and even limited power over space-time.
Class 5 - Almighty PowersThis category is reserved for powers that many would consider to be 'godlike’. These abilities are almost -- if not completely -- impossible to control or counter and, at times, have the potential to alter reality or cause an apocalypse. Oftentimes, they can be highly extreme versions of abilities from other classes such as the creation of highly complex life forms or the ability to gain infinite knowledge. The ability to manipulate intangible concepts like probability or physics also fall under this category. Because of their catastrophic potential, the powers in this class are always considered to be of the highest danger level.
NotorietyOne of the primary goals of N.O.V.A. is to identify and register all Variants living within the nation's borders. As one would expect, not all Variants are willing to comply with the agency's agenda, whether out of privacy or sheer rebellion. For these reasons, every Variant has a certain level of notoriety with N.O.V.A., whether officially or unofficially.
Variants who have yet to be identified by N.O.V.A. are considered
Unknown.
Confirmed Variants fall into two categories:
Watched and
Wanted. Those who have been identified but have not registered -- as Variants have no legal obligation to do so -- are put on a Watch list. Variants who are known to misuse their abilities and pose a threat to the well-being and quality of life of others are considered Wanted. Vigilantes operating outside of the law are also considered Wanted as oftentimes their actions can cause collateral damage to people or property.
Variants who register with N.O.V.A. do so under the obligation that they will gain or have already gained employment -- whether through their own means or through one of N.O.V.A.’s programs. This is to ensure that Variants who are compliant are ‘productive members of society’. While several Variants see the registration as a step toward tagging and tracking, others (usually the less fortunate) see it as a way to guarantee themselves a job in a world that has mixed opinions on the treatment of those with powers.
Employed Variants must renew their registration once a year and are also subject to ‘check-ins’ with N.O.V.A., which is a large part of why many Variants choose not to register.
M.A.D.N.O.V.A. employs a task force that is specially trained and equipped to handle Variant criminal activity. M.A.D., which stands for Monitoring, Apprehension, and Detainment, is a fairly recent institution that is being implemented in several major cities. Its members, which included Variants until a rather serious incident caused a policy change, are commonly referred to as MADmen. M.A.D. uses both street cameras and surveillance drones to track suspicious Variant activity. The main facility contains their central command center as well as an armory, garage, and training camp. There are also several smaller satellite 'posts' that are dispersed throughout a city to ensure a wider coverage and quicker response times.
Blazion
