Post by Tobey on Oct 2, 2006 20:06:54 GMT -5
((Feel free to use Area 52 in your character's backstory, but please ask me first. And keep in mind that security is very tight; so you'll have to get creative in finding ways for your experiments to escape))
This lab is a group of short, very simply built, windowless tan buildings, far away from any civilization, and surrounded by an imposing barbed-wire fence. The lab is in the middle of an Arizona-esque desert somewhere in Iowa, and far enough away from any towns that few people even know it’s there. It's sometimes called "Area 52," both by the experiments there, and the few outsiders who wandered far enough into the wilderness to notice it. The lab is essentially a military base; highly regimented, and intent on keeping the utmost secrecy. Because of the tight security of the lab, escapees are few and far between.
They've started the practice of actively scanning population databases for citizens who wouldn't be missed, killing anyone who has any connection to them, and taking them out of their very homes. They also sometimes set up fake court cases to remove children from the custody of their parents. The lab has a number of other, equally cunning ways of getting their subjects, all of which are carefully planned so that no-one will suspect what’s really going on. Yet, despite the lab's active methods of obtaining subjects and the low escape rate, the lab always remained small, probably because of its isolated location. The scientists don't seem to mind, though. They have enough subjects for their purposes, and fewer subjects means that the security staff can watch more closely the ones they do have. The cages are small; each only holds one experiment (and even then, the cages are too small to move around, or even stand up in), and they're stacked one on top of another. The locks on these cages are fingerprint activated, and keyed to whichever scientists and military personnel need to access a given cage. The experiments only occupy one building of the facility; other buildings are dedicated to various types of scientific/military testing. Within the experiment building, there are various rooms for different types of experimentation. Animal DNA testing is conducted in one room, psychic experimentation (inspired by Orion Labs’ Project Third Eye) is in another, etc.
The staff of Area 52 is divided into two distinct groups. There are the scientists (obviously), but there are also military personnel, who are the ones who really run the place. The scientists handle all the experimentation and data collection, but that’s about it. The military takes care of security, keeping the experiments in line, and making sure the scientists are doing their jobs. Both have a different mentality than the staff of classic genetics labs. The scientists are, for the most part, concerned only about their work. They have no ill feelings towards the experiments; rather, if anything, they have a measure of compassion for the subjects of their research. But the military has drilled into them how very vitally important their work is; the sacrifices of their subjects will go towards the greater good of mankind. The military have a mindset closer to that of the conventional genetics lab scientist. They’re (for the most part) hardened, emotionless people, who aren’t above bullying the experiments. Most of the time, though, they have other concerns. Like the scientists, they know that what goes on in Area 52 is vitally important, not just for such an abstract concept as ‘the good of mankind,’ but also for the safety of the nation. If other countries were allowed to catch up to the U.S. in technology, it would put the U.S. in great danger. It was this perceived threat that Area 52 had been built to protect against.
The experiments are treated much like inmates at a prison, at least by the military personnel. Their lives are heavily regimented; they get to bathe in communal showers twice a week while being watched by a squad of security staff, they are forced to exercise at certain times every day, and even meals run precisely by the clock.
As I said before, the scientists at Area 52 are more compassionate than most. One in particular, Pamela (she used to work at The Pit until the fire, and was the one responsible for Dakota’s Christmas presents) had a soft spot for the experiments. She wasn’t really a full-fledged scientist, more of a janitor/assistant. Anyway, she finally broke down and freed an experiment from Area 52 (Deltar), and shortly thereafter, she was found out, and fired (this happened around November 2005). At least, it was assumed by most that she was fired. Some of the more jaded experiments were sure that they would have killed her, as letting her go would have been dangerous for Area 52's operation. Most experiments didn't want to believe that, though, since she was widely known (in both The Pit and Area 52) as a friend to experiments. In any case, no-one knows where she is now.
This lab is a group of short, very simply built, windowless tan buildings, far away from any civilization, and surrounded by an imposing barbed-wire fence. The lab is in the middle of an Arizona-esque desert somewhere in Iowa, and far enough away from any towns that few people even know it’s there. It's sometimes called "Area 52," both by the experiments there, and the few outsiders who wandered far enough into the wilderness to notice it. The lab is essentially a military base; highly regimented, and intent on keeping the utmost secrecy. Because of the tight security of the lab, escapees are few and far between.
They've started the practice of actively scanning population databases for citizens who wouldn't be missed, killing anyone who has any connection to them, and taking them out of their very homes. They also sometimes set up fake court cases to remove children from the custody of their parents. The lab has a number of other, equally cunning ways of getting their subjects, all of which are carefully planned so that no-one will suspect what’s really going on. Yet, despite the lab's active methods of obtaining subjects and the low escape rate, the lab always remained small, probably because of its isolated location. The scientists don't seem to mind, though. They have enough subjects for their purposes, and fewer subjects means that the security staff can watch more closely the ones they do have. The cages are small; each only holds one experiment (and even then, the cages are too small to move around, or even stand up in), and they're stacked one on top of another. The locks on these cages are fingerprint activated, and keyed to whichever scientists and military personnel need to access a given cage. The experiments only occupy one building of the facility; other buildings are dedicated to various types of scientific/military testing. Within the experiment building, there are various rooms for different types of experimentation. Animal DNA testing is conducted in one room, psychic experimentation (inspired by Orion Labs’ Project Third Eye) is in another, etc.
The staff of Area 52 is divided into two distinct groups. There are the scientists (obviously), but there are also military personnel, who are the ones who really run the place. The scientists handle all the experimentation and data collection, but that’s about it. The military takes care of security, keeping the experiments in line, and making sure the scientists are doing their jobs. Both have a different mentality than the staff of classic genetics labs. The scientists are, for the most part, concerned only about their work. They have no ill feelings towards the experiments; rather, if anything, they have a measure of compassion for the subjects of their research. But the military has drilled into them how very vitally important their work is; the sacrifices of their subjects will go towards the greater good of mankind. The military have a mindset closer to that of the conventional genetics lab scientist. They’re (for the most part) hardened, emotionless people, who aren’t above bullying the experiments. Most of the time, though, they have other concerns. Like the scientists, they know that what goes on in Area 52 is vitally important, not just for such an abstract concept as ‘the good of mankind,’ but also for the safety of the nation. If other countries were allowed to catch up to the U.S. in technology, it would put the U.S. in great danger. It was this perceived threat that Area 52 had been built to protect against.
The experiments are treated much like inmates at a prison, at least by the military personnel. Their lives are heavily regimented; they get to bathe in communal showers twice a week while being watched by a squad of security staff, they are forced to exercise at certain times every day, and even meals run precisely by the clock.
As I said before, the scientists at Area 52 are more compassionate than most. One in particular, Pamela (she used to work at The Pit until the fire, and was the one responsible for Dakota’s Christmas presents) had a soft spot for the experiments. She wasn’t really a full-fledged scientist, more of a janitor/assistant. Anyway, she finally broke down and freed an experiment from Area 52 (Deltar), and shortly thereafter, she was found out, and fired (this happened around November 2005). At least, it was assumed by most that she was fired. Some of the more jaded experiments were sure that they would have killed her, as letting her go would have been dangerous for Area 52's operation. Most experiments didn't want to believe that, though, since she was widely known (in both The Pit and Area 52) as a friend to experiments. In any case, no-one knows where she is now.