Disclaimer: Don't own Incredibles, Pixar does. Don't own the Church of Michael Archangel, White Wolf does. Wish I did...but I don't. Don't know who own PRIMUS or PSI anymore, but they were product of the HERO game franchise originally owned by Iron Crown Enterprises.
Author's Note: As if the Church of Michael, Utopia (and their masters at Aeon), and the Teragen weren't enough...another faction lurks. Okay, some of you may or may not know, I'm also throwing in elements of another RPG in here. I know some of you aren't familiar with Champions except maybe through the computer game that came out awhile back. Unfortunately, I don't have the game, but I do have a lot of original supplements and source books for the original tabletop RPGwhich I am using here. As usual I'm doing some tweaking here and there to make things fit.
PRIMUS
In the 1960s, America's security was compromised on various occasions by high-level supers. On each occasion, American law enforcement and security officials proved inadequate when dealing with the threats. It was only through the intervention of heroes functioning either independently or as a group that stopped these threats.
However, a National Security study of all the incidents pointed out that each time the battle was close, and the villains nearly won. The study also concluded that the response of independent, volunteer heroes in times of national crisis could not and should not be counted upon by the Federal Government. Several recommendations were made and finally, in 1964, the Johnson administration created PRIMUS, the Primary Response and Interdiction Military Unified Service.
That's the official version that is released to the public, along with a "revisionist" history to make them look as patriotic and heroic as possible. And while I do not question the loyalty of the rank and file agents, the leadership is another matter entirely. Since it's inception, the young agency experienced several problems. Due to US involvement in the Vietnam War, recruitment was down and, at times, the agency seemed to be a joke as bureaucrats jockeyed for control of the group. It wasn't until after the Vietnam War that the agency was able to fill its ranks with competent agents and President Ford appointed a Director.
In the late 1970s, using research they had acquired from questionable sources, PRIMUS succeeded in developing a chemical compound called Cyberline. For all intents and purposes, Cyberline, in combination with a specialized training regimen, was a super-soldier serum. In November of 1980, President-Elect Ronald Reagan introduced the Golden Avenger, PRIMUS' first super soldier operative. As chief field agent of PRIMUS, the Golden Avenger proved himself to be a valuable asset and his accomplishments in the field brought respect to the agency (as well as more funding).
However, due to the massive expense of creating and training the Golden Avenger, it was decided that only a limited number of super-agents would be created and those new operatives (designated Silver Avengers) were given a more "streamlined" version of Cyberline and a training regimen not as intense as the Golden Avenger.
In 1983, when the ban on supers was put in effect, PRIMUS helped bring in what they had deemed "rogue" supers who were not willing to obey the government. However, despite the ban, some supers were allowed to operate, but only covertly and under the watchful eye of PRIMUS and the Golden Avenger. Of course, the Golden Avenger and the Silver Avengers were not subject to the ban.
Throughout the 80s and 90s, PRIMUS expanded, gaining more experience, personnel, and equipment. Eventually, the Golden Avenger took over as Director of PRIMUS, officially being appointed to the post by President Clinton in 1993. In fact, PRIMUS' hold on public perception of being "America's True Heroes" was fairly solid until 1998 following the battle with Syndrome in Metroville, California and the Galatea event shortly thereafter.
Though PRIMUS and the NSA quietly feuded with each other, they did join together to voice their distrust for the UN and Aeon backed Project Utopia proposal. However, while both agencies oppose Utopia, it is no big secret neither agency trusts the other. PRIMUS is no longer the joke it was since its inception and sees the NSA as an failing organization that should be absorbed or outright disbanded.
Again, I hold no ill will towards a majority of the agents within PRIMUS, but I do not trust their leadership and with good reason. A little known secret, and one that PRIMUS will kill to keep from the public, was the fact that Golden Avenger, "America's Hero", was all in favor of the ban on supers and, in fact, was pushing the NSA to release all files of relocated supers as putting forward a proposal requiring all supers to register with government.
Another disturbing trend, particularly since the Golden Avenger took over as Director of PRIMUS, is the agency's position towards supers in general. Unless they are supers who are registered with PRIMUS (of which there are only four), novas are viewed as possible threat risks. There are also rumors that some agents in PRIMUS might have connections to the Church of Michael, but that has yet to be proven.
Personnel and Assets:
The Golden Avenger
Robert Washington Kaufman joined the military right out of High School in the mid 1970s. Because of his physical prowess and skill as an infantryman, he was an ideal candidate for the Golden Avenger program. As the Golden Avenger, he successfully carried out his missions for PRIMUS and became a hero to the American public. However, he has made it very clear that "rogue" supers are a threat to America as far he's concerned . He truly believes that those who are not aligned with PRIMUS are enemies of America and sees it as his duty to alert his country to this threat.
Known Abilities:
Aside from being a skilled soldier and hand-to-hand combatant, Kaufman possesses enhanced strength, reflexes, and high physical endurance thanks to the Cyberline treatments. While he does not have strength of beings such as Caestus Pax, he is strong enough to lift a car and toss it down the street.
The Silver Avengers
Only a dozen Silver Avengers are currently active, new ones only being brought in when one dies or retires. Soldiers selected for the Silver Avenger program must be physically fit, fanatically loyal to their country, and must have at least served a few years in the military before being considered.
Known Abilities:
While not as strong and fast as the Golden Avenger, the Silver Avengers are still a force to be reckoned with. They also tend to carry extra weapons and specialize in a particular field of combat, making them somewhat more versatile than the Golden Avenger.
The Iron Guard
In addition to the Golden and Silver Avengers, PRIMUS also fields a few dozen armored battle-suit troopers. Again, the Iron Guard are soldiers with a few years active military experience and they have trained extensively to pilot these newly developed battle-suits.
PRIMUS Assault Agents
The typical PRIMUS agent is a professional soldier with a few years experience in an American elite force (most of them being Army Rangers, Navy Seals, or Green Berets), though there has been an occasional exception. These men and women serve as the basic "foot soldier" for PRIMUS and their specialties do vary. While they do not possess the the advantages (and side effects) of the Cyberline treatments, they are still competent agents and are not to be underestimated.
Assessment:
While they claim to be fighting for America's best interest, it is obvious that Kaufman is consolidating his power base and is taking PRIMUS in a troubling direction. Like Utopia, PRIMUS is pressuring various Senators and Representatives to pressure the NSA into releasing their records on registered supers quietly relocated. Thankfully, there are some members in our Congress that see what Kaufman is up to and vote against any resolution that will give him what he wants. Unfortunately, it's only a matter of time.
