Ethereals: History
The Avatar Project
"They are our voice, weapon, and will. They shall be treated as we are."
- The Imperator of the Ethereal Collective
CODEX File ****
Subject: The Avatar Project
Location: Blacksite ***
Author: Geneticist Revelean
The Avatar Project, once a distant theory has now become reality.
Through countless hours of experimentation, simulation, modeling and theory, I have produced what could be considered to be our first step to emulating the power the Sovereign Ones command – which is to say nothing of those who lack the power of such a force. Such a process is costly, time consuming, and limited.
But it is possible. It can be done.
SECTION 1: Basic Overview
The Avatar Project is comprised of two main pillars – the Avatar and the Anchor.
The Avatar is the recipient of the power, and must always be weaker than the one they draw power and knowledge from. As the name implies, they are the actors of the will of the Anchor, and carry out their commands and harness the power available to them.
The Anchor is the source of the power of the Avatar, and one who can best be considered the 'superior' of the Avatar. The Anchor assists the Avatar when bonded by providing power, knowledge, and skill, and in some cases assuming direct control over the body of the Avatar themselves. They are responsible for enhancing the capabilities of the Avatar, though it comes with potential drawbacks.
The strength of the Avatar Project comes from the merging of two powerful intelligences into one whole and complete one. This is accomplished through genetic surgery which modifies the brains of both Avatar and Anchor to be accurate receptors for the eventual and artificial creation of an experimental and highly invasive psionic bond.
SECTION 2: Psionic Bond
The psionic bond created is not standard or traditional. While both Anchor and Avatar willingly consent to its creation, it is artificially created and designed specifically to enhance the goals of the Avatar Project. This results in a deep bond – but one that both parties can control or limit to an extent. When the bond is 'triggered' it results in a simulation of a deep bond which normally takes months or years to naturally develop – and can subsequently be broken again.
This provides the benefits of a psionic bond in dangerous situations and ventures, without significant drawbacks as the bond can be broken at any time. There is some inherent risk of the bond being prematurely broken or prevented, but this is unlikely to be the case as when a bond is established, it cannot be easily defeated or subverted telepathically. Targeting the mechanism is not guaranteed to break the bond either, but is certainly more reliable.
However, the psychological impact of using the bond in such a manner has been noted to cause changes, especially in the psychology of the Avatar in question. As they will always come from a weaker species in psionic power and will, they may find themselves desiring the bond more and more, as they feel incomplete without it. While unlikely, similar symptoms can manifest in the Anchor as well, though testing on Ethereal subjects was obviously limited.
In this situation undergoing psionic therapy to reduce dependence on the bond is advisable, because as much as it can make them more effective and zealous, it can also cause irreparable psychological harm if they are ever prematurely severed from the link or their personality succumbs entirely to that of the stronger-willed Anchor.
While it is theoretically possible that the inverse could be true, it is unlikely that any Ethereal would be able to be influenced to such a degree. Nonetheless I must list it as a potential side effect of the process. What is important is that both Avatar and Anchor continually communicate with each other to keep any induced desires and addictions to a minimum.
SECTION 3: Compatible Species
At this moment, the Avatar Project is conditioned to work best with Humans. Humans are more compatible with our species on an emotional, physical, and psychological level which greatly enhances the effectiveness of the Avatar. Their minds are relatively uncomplicated, and the more intelligent ones are quickly capable of adapting to the superior intellect of the Ethereal species.
In theory, the Avatar Project can be applied to multiple species who demonstrate innate psionic capability. While the experiments at Paradise may call this limit into question, the Bringer is a unique specimen whose own modifications to induce a similar effect are impossible to replicate for standard psionic species. Nonetheless, I have authorized a continued investigation into this possibility, though it is unlikely to return usable results.
There are only two species aside from Humans which could serve as Avatar candidates. The first are Sectoids, though this clearly has issues with being put into practice. The first of which is the fact that Sectoids are highly divergent from Ethereals physically and psychologically. Their minds are alien in a way that Humans are not.
A potential way to subvert this is through the design and creation of Sectoids specifically bred to be Avatars. In theory this could produce a more compatible Sectoid, though it is not a guarantee. This is an entirely new research path which would require significant time and investment to investigate, but could potentially result in an Avatar which is more focused and powerful than an emotionally compatible Human. I have begun preliminary testing.
The other species is the Zudjari, the majority of whom are still in stasis and we have little idea of their true compatibility. Psions are rare in their species, but early estimates place them as more compatible than Sectoids, and less compatible than Humans. Due to the limited pool of candidates, testing was not conducted on Zudjari for this iteration of the Avatar Project, though with permission, testing of Zudjari for future iterations is recommended to fully tap into the potential candidates at our disposal.
The Avatar Project represents the future of Ethereal control and power; a union of the most powerful species in the galaxy commanded by the apex. A turning point has been reached, and the Sovereigns will know the power we command.
Internal notation written by Fectorian following the completion of the Avatar Project
Revelean has completed his Avatar Project. More accurately, he has completed the first working iteration of the Avatar Project and will no doubt continue to refine it, as he cannot possibly be pleased with any first iteration.
Ultimately irrelevant.
Why the Imperator has pushed this project to this degree is questionable, and yet another mark against his leadership and foresight. The Avatar Project does not revolutionize any aspect of the Collective, nor will significantly alter our approach to war and conflict. More to the point, we are not achieving anything which has never been accomplished.
The Sovereigns have managed to field their own complete Avatars long before we managed to emulate them. Mosrimor, as well as the Bringer have shown this before T'Leth's own operatives appeared. I fail to understand what purpose this serves aside from to copy their own ideas poorly for the sake of it. The benefits are limited to the downsides.
Such unoriginality is perhaps to be expected. The Imperator likely believes to win a war with the Sovereigns, he has to follow certain conventions.
As if that will achieve his goal of breaking the cycles.
All it does is perpetuate them and remove him from risk.
There is only one reason the Sovereign Ones use avatars, and why the Imperator is infatuated with the concept – it is so they do not have to risk themselves to danger or mistake. Strategically smart, as they have the ability to 'be there' in a sense through their avatar, while also not risking themselves. This is smart – for staying alive.
But it is stagnant. Arguably cowardly.
It is the tool of an ineffective and apathetic leader. I know that the avatars will be given disproportionate power due to their connection to the Ethereals. They will be the true rules of the Collective while our kind continue to plot and scheme against the Sovereign Ones, blinded by their own arrogance and unoriginality.
This will not win us the war on Earth, let alone a war against the Sovereigns. Nor against the Synthesized.
It is concerning that the Imperator appears to believe that we need to emulate the Sovereigns to beat them. The war on Earth disproves this notion entirely. Humanity should have been defeated without significant difficulty, especially due to T'Leth's relative absence through most of the war. What has kept them alive has not been merely the utilization of their technology, but their application of it. They have exploited our psychological and tactical weaknesses and scored multiple victories against us because they knew that merely emulating us would fail.
Or perhaps it was an accident. Nonetheless the point still stands.
The Sovereign Ones will need to be defeated by doing something even they have not done before. Unlikely as it may seem, I suspect such a thing is possible. More likely, doing something unexpected may have the same effect. Sovereigns have avatars; they have species they control or manipulate; they have advanced technology.
And what do we have?
The similarities are disconcerting, and I dislike the growing notion that we are not, as the Imperator seems to believe, breaking this cycle of endless war, but repeating it. Too many elements are the same. Too many parallels. And leading us is an Imperator who considers himself in the right; who believes the radical actions taken are justified in the context of the greater war.
Concerning.
More so that few appear to notice or care. The Battlemaster likely suspects the same, if he was not blinded by the superficial hatred for Isomnum and Paradise. The station and the weaponization of Isomnum; the Collective itself, these are merely elements. What is truly concerning is not the content, but what such represent.
Perhaps he should have these similarities made clear to him, as the Imperator is too devoted to his plans now to change. Imperators may have been the greatest achievement of the Empire, but they exuberate all of our greatest flaws all the same. Should this not be addressed, I fear that our species will be defeated permanently; all in emulating a power that we cannot hope to match.
Unacceptable.
I did not live through the destruction of our Empire to watch us unwittingly walk to our doom again.
We must learn.
We must be smarter.
XCOM Research File 1022
Subject: The Avatar Project
Author: Aegis
Overview: Now that it has been confirmed that the Imperator has a working iteration of the Avatar Project, it is essential that we consider the implications of this discovery. While I was aware of the concept of the Avatar Project, as it was one of the earliest projects undertaken by Revelean, it was later abandoned which means that it has likely undergone significant modification since then.
Nonetheless, I suspect that the underlying concepts and theories integrated are the same, even if I cannot explain the science of the project, and I suspect that we will need the new avatars and potentially their linked Ethereals to understand their functionality on a scientific level. Knowing the inclination of Dr. Vahlen, I would strongly recommend against emulation of this concept due to the inherent risks of the project – some of which were directly responsible for why the project was abandoned the first time.
I will also use this opportunity to explain a specific utilization of psionics – the psionic bond – which is heavily tied to the underlying theory in the original Avatar Project.
Original Purpose of the Avatar Project: The original intention of the Avatar Project was simple – we were and are few in number, and risking ourselves was undesirable even if it was necessary. Thus the idea of using agents in place of us for combat, diplomatic, and management operations was seen as beneficial, which would theoretically allow us to focus on more important matters while avatars dealt with bureaucracy and simple combat missions.
I do not think – originally – that they were to be complete substitutes, but a mixture of a high-ranking position and extension of ourselves. A bridge between species, if you would. Multiple ideas were thrown around like having one avatar per subservient species, having multiple avatars each designed to handle different tasks, and even having small and specially trained units connected to a single overseeing Ethereal.
I do not know how much of this has been applied to the current iteration of Avatars, but it is likely that at least some of this original intent was preserved.
Many of these were abandoned when it was discovered that non-psionic species simply were not compatible, and would require constant telepathic concentration to maintain a useful link with an avatar. This was an issue since at the time the only species who were psionically capable were the Sectoids, which as you can understand, comes with their own issues.
The psychological implications of the Avatar Project were also becoming more apparent. There would be a required level of trust in the avatar to form an effective link, and if an avatar wasn't compatible with the Ethereal, then that could lead to instability for both of them. Also that it was looking more and more like the project would require a psionic bond to work correctly, which was highly disconcerting to the majority of us since psionic bonds were uncommon in the Empire.
I do not know if these concerns were addressed or overcome, but I find it highly unlikely that they were completely solved – assuming they were deemed important enough to be addressed at all. It is worth discussing psionic bonds in particular and why having anything that relies on them is a risky venture.
Psionic Bonds: As this is a fairly simple extrapolation of telepathic theory, it will not surprise you to know that a psionic bond is – put in as simplest terms as possible – a deep telepathic bond between two individuals. It can theoretically be developed with a non-psion (though this would likely be considered close to telepathic domination and an utter perversion of the intent of a true psionic bond), but a true and effective psionic bond can only exist between two psions.
The only instance of a psionic bond that can fade is the one that an Ethereal mother has with children she bears. She passively develops this during pregnancy, and it ensures that the Ethereal child emerged with their mind mentally stable. She maintains this bond with the child for their early years of development, and while this bond eventually fades, it is why Ethereals born naturally feel close connections with their mothers than fathers.
I suspect Humans will begin observing this when female psions become pregnant. It will be interesting to see the effects on Human children born to psionic mothers. But this is not what is considered a true psionic bond, at least not as was commonly understood in the Empire.
The vast majority of time, psionic bonds were born and formed from romantic relationships between male and female Ethereals. While there are instances of non-romantic bonds formed, those are the vast minority and to my knowledge only occurred within the Division of Shadows to enhance mission cohesion.
It is an extremely personal and intimate decision, as a psionic bond formed creates a permanent link to the other's mind which can never be subverted or blocked. It is impossible for either individual to have secrets or unknowns between them. Every single detail, memory, desire, and feeling is known to each of them. It requires a level of trust many are loathe to give.
This is not to say that each of them lose their sense of identity, but the lines do become blurred. Without proper management they can become disoriented, overwhelmed, or otherwise incapacitated due to being unable to process their own emotions, feelings, and speech independent of their partner. It was not considered safe for all Ethereals, as it has led to personality fragmentation, memory loss, and insanity culminating in mutual suicide.
As such there was a wariness around psionic bonds, the dangers of which were taught to adolescent Ethereal children. It was not so much a stigma or taboo as it was a legitimate mental health risk. I do believe that in their push to showcase the dangers of psionic bonds, the more positive aspects were overlooked.
The bond allows both partners to communicate instantly, irrespective of distance. Their intellectual capabilities are enhanced due to their partnered minds, and they have the ability to process information faster, and due to the concentration required to maintain a healthy bond, many of them were expert psions capable of mastering the most difficult aspects of the disciplines.
In more precarious situations they can provide mental fortitude and stability, which led to many bonded Ethereals lasting longer in combat and warfare than those who were not bonded. I suspect this is what prompted some bonds in the Division of Shadows, as bonded Ethereals are able to more easily resist interrogation methods and isolation techniques if captured.
However, the potential risks and side effects are also worth noting. If one of the bonded dies, this will cause significant mental trauma, as to a bonded Ethereal, it is the equivalent of having part of your identity; your personality die as well. Two things usually happened when this occurred: The Ethereal would go into a suicidal rage and try and kill as many around them as possible (most likely if they were in combat), otherwise they would simply kill themselves. Some managed to reform themselves after a bondmate died, but they were never the same and a shadow of their former self in intellect, power, and personality.
The other significant side effect of the bond is the fact that, over time, the two minds would eventually merge into an amalgamation of the two where it was essentially one mind with two bodies. This mind; this personality would not be influenced by one mind or the other, but combine elements of both. This was desirable to some, although the time needed for this to fully complete is extraordinary. In the entire history of the Empire there were only sixty-two bonded Ethereals who reached this stage.
I do not know how – or even if – the new Avatar Project has taken this into account, but it has the potential to introduce a weakness to prominent Ethereals. Their avatars are likely weaker than they are – and beatable. If it even slightly utilizes the psionic bond to function, then the Imperator, the Overmind, all of the Ethereals have created weaknesses for themselves.
We will need to see more about what this project entails before making hard judgements. But we must also be prepared to exploit this opportunity. The Avatar Project was originally abandoned for good reasons, and if the original weaknesses exist, then we will find them.