The CTC (The Center for Transformation Control)Despite their name, the CTC actually functions more as a military organization rather than a research center, although they do have a central research facility, and their ongoing research is actually still their primary focus. However, the public's primary interaction with this organization has largely been through the appearances of their various armed forces, leading most to assume they are, in fact, some kind of military unit.
The CTC's (rarely overtly stated) goal is the study of transformative effects, and the development of countermeasures and defenses against them. To this end, then, they have made an extensive effort to acquire various samples of subjects, both before and after transformations, as well as examining actual methods of transformation when it can be done safely. Most of this research work is actually carried out in heavily secured facilities, but lately the CTC has been willing to expand their horizons and work with other individuals. One notable example is the efforts they made to assist
Julia Kovacs with her own work in treating the victims of color energies. CTC troops have also often been encountered investigating some of Muffinville's abandoned Brotherhood facilities and other sites that may contain useful information regarding transformation effects.
On the other hand, they have also acted overtly to try and suppress dangerous elements, particularly those that can induce transformations. The most significant one to date was the bombardment of Muffinville with orbital and nanotech weapons, in an effort to stop a spreading wave of zombies, believed to be induced by the mysterious DrakeCorp. While their efforts had a certain effect, it also caused a fair amount of collateral damage, which left some onlookers questioning how effective the CTC actually were. While the CTC cares little for what others may think of their troops, the PR problem was something of an issue, and they've been looking to try and make more measured responses in the future, working more closely with the local 'hero' elements that may be involved in such a situation.
Physical AssetsThe CTC possesses a rather indefinite range of assets. They've been spending quite a lot of time and effort moving in forces and facilities covertly. Originally they installed a series of robot sites, including missile launch facilities that were used to counterattack Smash Daisaku at one point. These have since been expanded into manned bases.
So far, the only really known CTC facility is the
CTC Involuntary Transformation Clinic and Research Center. While a fairly pleasant and small treatment clinic on the surface, it's believed to house a much larger underground facility underneath, where most of their research into transformations is now being conducted.
Armed ForcesIn a world as violent and chaotic as Muffinville, it was inevitable that the CTC would feel the need for an armed contingent to protect themselves. For the most part, the CTC field a fairly conventional near-future army. Troops are provided with full-body armor with environmental protection, to provide at least some defense against transformation effects that work via gases or skin exposure. This armor also provides integral communcations and sensor support, so that CTC soldiers can see in the dark, as well as be in constant contact. Armament for CTC troops varies, although most are armed with a multirole electrolaser, that uses a low-powered laser to provide an ionized track for an electrical discharge. By varying the output of this discharge, the weapon can be used to either stun living beings like a taser, or deliver a powerful electrical attack. Other weapons have included grenade launchers and ballistic weapons, which can be switched between lethal and non-lethal ammunition as needed.
The CTC also possess a variety of armed vehicles, typically fielding armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles as support for the infantry. They have also deployed tilt-rotor aircraft called
vertols, which bear a certain resemblance to the Vertibirds of Fallout 3. It's likely that the CTC has access to heavier armored vehicles, but so far none have been deployed in the Muffinville area.
Other ResourcesBeyond their conventional troops, the CTC has access to other independent weapon systems that were formerly believed to be used by Mischa himself:
Nanoswarms -- Occasionally deployed in areas where combat is expected, the nanoswarms originally appear as silvery spheres. Upon command, they can disperse into a thin mist that's only faintly visible as a shimmer in the air. In this form, they act as a large-aperature sensor device, capable of detecting most energy fields (including color energy) and transmitting this information elsewhere.
Experimental Infiltration Units (XIU) -- The XIU series is a set of advanced combat robots. Built in a humanoid shape, they were modelled after the adaptive capabilities of the robot known as XAC-13, although they only possessed a fraction of its power. They typically arrive via high-altitude drop, relying on built-in booster rockets to brake their landing. They also possess chameleon camouflage systems, rendering them invisible to visual and thermal detection. Armament varies, but usually consists of various high-tech weapons.
ANGEL -- An orbital weapons platform, the ANGEL is named for its Advanced Nuclear-Generated Electron Laser. Containing a fusion reactor and a suitably supply of fuel, it's capable of delivering extremely potent laser strikes against planetary targets. The beam itself is confined to a diameter of no more than few meters, making it a relatively pinpoint weapon. It possesses an advanced sensor suite, capable of targeting man-sized or smaller targets, and detecting them through cloud cover or other obscurements. It also possesses a variety of point defenses, including lasers and railguns.
Drumfire -- An arsenal ship, is was deployed it against the Brotherhood in Muffinville. Its primary armament is a set of vertical-cell missile launchers the launch multi-role surface-to-surface missiles. Additional defenses include Phalanx and laser turrets acting as point defense. Since the defeat of the Brotherhood and the Beige Star, it has since vanished, but it is likely it could reappear if needed.
COWARDS -- short for Collapse of Observed Waveform Absolute Reality Defense System, this is a relatively compact device capable of stabilizing reality for a defined volume of space-time around itself. It apparently works by some form of quantum computer, that acts as an external 'observer', and constantly collapses the observed waveform into a preprogrammed state. While a certain leeway is designed into the system, so that the affected region doesn't become locked into stasis, it does prevent most methods of manipulating matter and energy in that volume, particularly via magic, color energy, and the like. Because of the relative expensive and difficulty involved in making COWARDS generators, they're typically deployed only when circumstances demand it, and usually to defend fixed positions. They have periodically been integrated into robotic and armored units, however, to provide them additional protection.
SIBLINGs -- Not much is known about these mysterious schoolgirls as of yet. They've shown up occasionally in support of CTC forces, usually against opponents that have proven to be too powerful for conventional tactics. They are divided up into several variant "series": The E-series can manipulate electromagnetism, the T-series can teleport matter, the P-series has psychic and precognitive abilities, and the V-series can manipulate the vectors of energy fields they come into contact with (making them practically invulnerable to attacks). They also possess a Synthetic Imagine Breaker, which can allow them to disrupt virtually any form of metanatural ability, but requires physical contact.
Known IndividualsAn organization as large as the CTC has innumerable people working for it, but a few have started to shown up regularly, at least enough to have recognizable names...
Eleanor -- Appearing at Julia's warehouse, she worked with her in an effort to learn more about color energies and transformative effects. Apparently a relatively high-ranked researcher.
Commander Katherine Pleasance -- The acting field commander of the anti-zombie operation, she's apparently around middle rank in the CTC hierarchy -- enough to be in a field command, but not enough to have a fixed command position. Apparently, she was considered to have performed well enough against the zombies to be assigned other field commands, and her increasing familiarity with the inhabitants of Muffinville might mean she'll show up regularly leading CTC troops.