Ethereals: Locations
Blacksites
"Investigating the Blacksites is a good way to learn there are things worse than death."
- Zar'Chon'ravarian'vitiary
XCOM File B555
Authorization Level: Internal Council
Subject: Ethereal Blacksites
Assessment Author: Aegis
Approved By: The Commander
SECTION 1: Overview
The Blacksites are, outside the Temple Ship, the most secure locations within the Ethereal Collective. Most of the Collective has no idea they exist and for good reason. Not every Blacksite is malicious in intent, but some of them contain horrors the likes of which would force the Andromedons and Sectoids to declare war on us.
Some of them are so secret that not even every Ethereal knows what happens on them. I suspect there are several I personally am not aware of, though I am aware of the major ones, specifically those run by Revelean, Fectorian, Sana'Ligna and the Creator. However, not all of them are used for horrific experiments, but are generally considered the "Headquarters" of each Ethereal.
I myself had a Blacksite, but it was not used for nefarious purposes, largely monitoring the various species and leaders and ensuring that their military forces were sufficient, as well as monitoring the inner-galactic species in the event that we were discovered. My purpose was to protect and defend the Collective, and I structured my Blacksite to accomplish that.
I will say what I know of the following Blacksites, but it will likely not be as expansive as you would like as some of them I know only by reputation among the Ethereals. But I should emphasize that the Blacksites are one of the aspects of the Collective that are heavily protected by the Ethereals. Aliens are simply not allowed in…and if they are, they are either returned as messages or find themselves wishing they were dead.
SECTION 2: Known Blacksites
Revelean's Blacksite – "The Forge": This is where Revelean conducts his experiments on the various species, and if you are curious as to what that could be, it is detailed in the report I wrote concerning him, suffice to say that those in his Blacksite are subjected to experiments that make Vahlen look merciful by comparison.
The specific nature of the experiments, such as techniques and methods, I cannot comment on as I have never set foot in that abominable place, nor did Revelean wish me to. Even knowing a portion of his ambition put us at odds and it was decided we worked better apart. However, Sana'Ligna did once describe the station to me.
It is one of the largest Blacksites, largely because Revelean has multiple levels on it, one level per species and he rotates between all of them regularly. He appears to decorate his Blacksite with chemically preserved statues, though for what reason I cannot determine outside of a sick curiosity and appreciation of alien physiology.
The Forge is almost the largest receiver of alien test subjects, sometimes Revelean goes through as many as one thousand a month, though this is admittedly rare. The average tends to fall around three hundred to five hundred test subjects of various species, Humanity now included. I expect further shipments will contain primarily Humans, as your species has certainly captured his attention.
Fectorian's Blacksite – "The Hall of Steel": I have personally been to Fectorian's "Hall of Steel" as the grandiose title implies, and while it is nowhere as reprehensible as the Forge, it is hardly what you would consider pleasant. Fectorian's own plans for the species are arguably as twisted as Revelean's, but at least he prefers to keep the body count to a minimum. As with Revelean, there is a report I wrote on him for further details. I will focus on the Blacksite.
Fectorian is the one who conceptualized the Floaters, Mutons cast off and abandoned which he felt was a waste of resources and devoted to saving. The Hall of Steel is the primary center for cybernetic and vehicle research. Fectorian does not work alone either, many of his assistants are former successful test subjects, cybernetically modified far more than Fectorian himself and help him with his own projects.
At least half of the projects at this Blacksite are…benign, compared to most. They are largely ship, weapon and armor designs which go through endless testing and analysis. Every current weapon in the Ethereal Collective was not only refined by Fectorian, but I know that he is always trying to improve the current designs, though with how many projects he often undertakes, progress is incrementally slow.
As far as I know, the Hall of Steel is the largest Blacksite because of the construction involved for the larger projects. Each level contains a different type of project, for example, weapon research would be a level, as would armor research. However, I must describe the less pleasant aspects of this Blacksite now.
The other half of his research consists of his cybernetic experiments on various species, which usually kills or cripples the victims involved, and test subjects are forced to undergo extensive cybernetic replacement that often drives them insane if not killing them outright. Perhaps the one dark secret very few in the Collective know is that utterly crippled soldiers are not sent back to their families or homeworlds, they are sent to the Hall of Steel.
No one receives an honorable discharge because of an injury. Paraplegics, paralysis, loss of limbs, brain damage, all of these are qualifiers for being sent to Fectorian. Their friends and family are simply told they died and the crippled soldier is sent to become one of Fectorian's test subjects, and if they are lucky, they will die quickly.
I have spoken to some of the survivors. Their minds have been warped by Fectorian to feel nothing but gratitude at their "enhancement", but they spend their lives in constant agony. They feel no fear, no hate, no emotion, nothing but pain.
Sana'Ligna's Blacksite – "Sanctuary": Ah, Sana, the one bright spot as always in the dark and practical galaxy we live in. I will not dispute that Sana'Ligna runs her own experiments on various alien species, but there is a clear difference in both her motives and methods. For the most part, she rarely inflicts physical pain, and even if she does, she always heals it quickly and wipes the subject's mind of what occurred.
Her motives for such are that she does genuinely want to help the various species, although she was forbidden from anything involving the Mutons long ago for obvious reasons. But nonetheless she is committed to helping the ones she can. Many of her own experiments are psychological and help her gain a better understanding of the species in question from a medical perspective, which she will then share with the medical professionals within the species.
Unsurprisingly, this has made her a rather well-liked Ethereal when she makes a rare appearance on their worlds. She is actually rather well-liked by the Andromedons and the Vitakara have nothing but praise for her actions thanks to her involvement in curing them of their genetic plague. All of this is possible from her research on Sanctuary.
She also conducts the majority of the Collective's medical research in Sanctuary, which is why disease is something that is virtually eradicated and our medical technology allows soldiers to survive life-threatening injuries. She is why no wounded soldier has to face implant or organ rejection.
Her processes to accomplish this can seem harsh, such as exposing her own test subjects to diseases in order to cure them, but she always makes sure to keep them alive and cure them of any trauma afterwards. Frankly, it is insulting to compare that to the work Fectorian and Revelean engage in without any remorse.
And also unlike them, test subjects sent to Sanctuary are not killed. Sana'Ligna always inserts them back into the Collective, their minds with false memories and no recollection of their time with her. Sometimes they are put in the Zararch, the Lurainian or simply placed on an unknown colony. But it is a rather happy ending which could turn out much worse.
The Creator's Blacksite – "Hell": No, Commander, the name of the Blacksite is not actually hell, but it is the closest translation to the word Quisilia used to describe it to me. In essence, the word implies "A prison where great suffering takes place and people wish to die." Roughly. It is an appropriate word to apply, yes?
I have never been there. Many Ethereals have not, and barely more actually know what actually is in the mad fortress of the Creator. Perhaps it is because of that that even those who do know are reluctant to speak about what they saw. I did not know, and I had no desire to know as anything involved with the Mad Ethereal is best forgotten.
I am not unconvinced that this is not the Imperator perpetually preparing for the moment to kill her. The Blacksite's location is actually known by most Ethereals…and is a one-way trip unless specifically planned. The Blacksite appears to fulfill two functions: That of a research station, and that of a prison.
Why a prison? Because it orbits the Dead World. I know that it houses beings that may potentially be useful, but are too dangerous to use openly. Like I said, perhaps the location is a contingency if the Creator ever snaps completely.
But as for what goes on there? Rumors and speculation abound. Whispers of unthinkable experiments that make Revelean look tame by comparison. Muton-chryssalid hybrids; Vitakarians giving birth to Andromedon children; placing minds of various species into different alien bodies; fringe science even by our standards.
Anything that enters the Creator's deranged mind has a place at the Blacksite you should call Hell. Think of the most depraved experiment you can, and the Creator has done worse there. I need no proof when even Quisilia's voice shakes when he refuses to talk about what he saw. I need no convincing when the Battlemaster returns from the Dead World, his sword bloody and holding the head of some monstrosity he is no doubt going to give to the Imperator in an attempt to convince him to keep her in check.
The Creator is a genius, perhaps even smarter than Revelean. But she is mad and that Blacksite is a manifestation of her warped and twisted will.
Should we survive to that point, I will personally and happily remove that blight from the face of the galaxy.
Report was found on the body of a gibbering and insane Zararch agent, delivered in a coffin-like box to Zar'Chon'ravarian'vitiary.
Operation: Failure
Division: The Blinded and Shackled
Report Author: The Lady of Life
Authorization: A fool
Dear, dear Zar'Chon, I am most displeased at having to write this. After listening to the lovely Quisilia go on and on about how useful and helpful you are to him, you have the nerve to send your agents to spy on me. Dear Zar'Chon, you do so amuse me here. As if an insignificant creature like you could hope to comprehend exactly what I am hoping to achieve. The thought alone is amusing.
I do wonder what went on in your underdeveloped brain when you ordered your pitiful agent to infiltrate my station. What did you hope to achieve? Did you want to know what was so secret even Quisilia wouldn't tell you? Were you looking for weaknesses to turn against us? Or was this a proposal given to you by the shortsighted fool Battlemaster!?
Ah-no matter, I confess, you are so dreadfully boring as I look upon your little profile. So polite. So professional. So…gah, predictable. Your mind is a sad little box, rigid in your beliefs, unlikely to grasp anything beyond your warped sense of reality. You live in such a sad state, in a place where things obey set rules, where you can see patterns and act on them.
Well here, dear Zar'Chon, there are no such petty rules on reality. Mere mortal beings cannot comprehend what they can't understand. Simply put, you are too primitive to fully open your mind to the realization that the galaxy operates on no rules, and those are only placed on the weak-willed and stupid.
If you could only see the work here, see the dead rising and watching the impossible come to life. I am the architect of reality here, I am responsible for making the impossible come to life, did you know I killed your little agent fifteen times before I sent him back? Impossible you say? Ha! The mere fact you had to ask that question indicates just how little you truly know.
Oh, your brain will grasp and reach for trying to rationalize that statement for months. You will never stop thinking about it until the day you die because you do not understand. Even if you saw it with your own eyes you would go mad upon seeing what you deem abominations and horrors. You would tear your eyes out when you saw nightmares you only saw in dreams. Ah, it would be glorious to see such a mind as yours reduced to little more than mush as the knowledge that reality now bends to me becomes clear.
Gah, but then Quisilia would be displeased, and I do dislike making him angry. Consider this a message, little Zar'Chon, a warning if you prefer.
Have the arrogance to send your pawns at me again, and I will accept nothing less than an apology – in person.
Think on that, dear Zar'Chon. Though I do hope you'll be a fool one more time.
:}
Addendum – Quisilia: Apologies for the state of your agent, Zar'Chon, but you should know by now that there are some things even you should not investigate.
Report was delivered to Chief Overseer Chernior personally by an Andromedon Special Operator before it left and committed suicide in an industrial building, presumably upon orders from an outside party. The explosion was deemed an accident.
REPpORT: 29&#% & *(**
tARGeT 0F INNTTERESTTT: ASJDSNULLNULLNULLWENULLNULL
OWNNERSSSS: ASADSNULLNULLARENULLNULL
THREAT LLeVEEL: OMEGAOMEGAOMEGEAWATCHINGOMEGAOMEGAOMEGA
MmmANUaaL CCCOMMENT: T-t-this is a surpri-ri-rise, Chief Overse-e-er. Even I-I-I did not expect you to be quite-te-te so arrogant as to be-believe that you could investigate-te so brazenly the ones you c-c-claim to call allies-s. To do so-o-o in such a manner implies that you are n-n-not entirely convinced of our authenticity-y-y.
A-a-allow me to c-c-correct that m-m-misconception. You truly have no idea w-w-what you are looking for. You p-play with toys we have gifted your scientist-st-sts, and yet you seek to t-t-turn them on us as w-w-we were nothing more like another petty union you were so-o-o fond-d-d of destroying back in the Union-on W-w-wars-s-s.
Your Special-l-l O-o-operators are pale imitations of what we seek to create-e-e. You believe that they can st-st-stand against the m-m-might of the G-G-Gift, but you truly know nothing of what we-e-e are capable of. I-I-I took control of this little c-c-crude soldier with hardly any effort-t-t. Imagine, Chief O-o-overseer, if I decided to respond in a more v-v-violent fashion?
I-I-I know where you are at all times-s-s, there ar-ar-are secrets that you will never un-uncover, and those that you do w-will c-c-cost you your life-fe. Do you b-believe that you can simply u-use your little toys without-t-t c-c-consequence? That their conditioning m-makes you im-m-mune to reprisal or p-p-punishment?
Wro-o-ong, Overseer. I-I have been tolerant, Sic-c-carius has been un-n-derstanding-ing. Yet we all have l-limits-s-s.
Your Sp-special O-Operators do not-t belong to you-ou. They-y n-never-r did.
Go-oo-d day. Enjoy-y the fireworks-s.
RECooMENDDATIONN: ERRORERRORERRORRUNERRORERRORLITTLEERRORERRORERRORANDROMEDONERROERROR
REPPOrt C0Mmpiiler: SCREAMINGSCREAMINGSCREAMINGCOMPROMISEDCOMPROMISED
END REEP0Rt
EEXECUTE FiiNAL DIRRECTIVE
CODEX File 0292 – Project: Vitakarian Cybernetic Enhancement
Subject: Recent Setbacks
Author: Lead Engineer Fectorian
I would have thought that a race as adaptable as Vitakarians would provide little or no problems with accepting cybernetic enhancement. As much as Revelean goes on about how they're the best thing since MELD, I must admit I am disappointed. The problem is that the Vitakarians are too adaptable, of all things.
It is constantly irritating hear screaming and have to go check, and sure enough, the Vitakarian somehow grew out of, or weakened the arm enough to where the cybernetic enhancement no longer functions and of course there is a mess. Never a dull moment. Their adaptability makes them a dream for Revelean, but it makes it a constant challenge for me.
Well, I never turn down a challenge.
This is not an unsolvable problem. Already I have several possible prototypes that might be useful in keeping these subjects alive a little longer-of course it is mostly limbs-and will hopefully be able to dynamically adapt to the body as it changes. Who could have thought cybernetic enhancement could be so complicated?
That was a joke, and directed at you if you're reading this, Quisilia, I'd like you to remember this in the future the next time you request a cybernetic suit. Returning to the subject at hand, it seems like limbs are mostly affected, though depending on the strenuous activity, some of the brain enhancements have caused hemorrhages and killed several more subjects.
Another irritating loss.
They can be enhanced, I retain that stance, but it is going to require a lot more work than I anticipated. However, I will have to pause this project before I use up all my Vitakarian subjects, as I need several of them for specialized Vitakarian spacecraft and weapon testing. Hmph. They should count themselves lucky their bodies are causing me trouble.
Worst case scenario, I send them back to Sana and she moans about it and I get her to tell me her opinion. She's a pain sometimes, but I know when a problem is beyond me, and she would probably be able to figure out some way to stop their body from freaking out. Actual worst case, I get Revelean to develop some way to freeze the genetic malleability.
I'd prefer to avoid that. The last thing I need is him lording his prowess over me.