So what can I say? Had a bit of free time when it was raining on Saturday, and so I threw together a story. Every great story starts with a skeleton cast of characters who have yet to be developed, and the great joy in writing the story... and hopefully reading it is seeing the characters develop to the point where we can become attached to them.

The story may yet become something more, a distraction I use to fill in the cracks between periods of more intense inspiration... or it may not. Of course, I'm not a particularly skilled writer, and I know nothing of military operations, so grin your teeth and bare it, or just ignore the series.

The format is going to be a series of short stories, each one highlighting one or two of the cast and a particular event in the dome. I apologize if some of these descriptions seem inaccurate or remotely offensive, but remember, this is a fictional story and I intend to use my creative license as I try my hand at allegory. The following is a description of each of the four present factions and their members.

The Cons- Several years ago, the cons were but a sidenote in the C Dome. Few took them seriously. However, under the leadership of General Walker, the faction saw a resurrection and continues to grow to this day… though few still take them seriously. They specialize in a clever combination of strategic attacks, utilizing a mix of psychological manipulation, blank rounds, and devastating blows that are often only employed after their opponents have been dazed and disoriented by other attacks.

General Walker- Walker is the on-again, off-again leader of the Cons. He is arguably one of the most skilled warriors in the dome, able to deflect virtually any direct attacks made against him. However, he has a terrible aim and is easily distracted. Walker’s weakness is his inability to deflect indirect attacks and shrapnel. His strong defensive maneuvers have led to many of the Cons’ opponents within the C Dome to design attacks and weapons specifically around him, hoping to expose his weaknesses.

CIO Adamsen- The chief intelligence officer of the Cons is Adamsen. Utilizing his remarkable skill with duplicating weapons he discovers on the network, he is able to quickly and easily produce an impressive arsenal. Unfortunately for the Cons, Adamsen is rather indiscriminate with choosing which weapons to duplicate, and many ultimately prove ineffective against more specialized attacks from the Con’s opponents.

Spause Isgrig- Spause is typically only unleashed by the Cons in covert operations. Employing other attacks as a distraction, the Cons will often send him in when he is least expected to land a hard-hitting blow on opponents. Whether it is his disfigured form (considering he is a fusion of two soldiers) or incredible size, he rarely faces retaliation.

Christine- Christine is involved with special ops within the Cons, traditionally serving in a supporting role for the faction’s leadership. She is specialized in the use of incendiaries and chemical weapons which have lasting effects on her opponents, though her stamina is low and she is unable to hold this role for extended periods of time. Nevertheless, her strategy is effective, earning her a crucial role in the faction.

Yaakarvo- Yaakarvo is the unstable product of genetic engineering, designed to be a weapon of mass destruction for use specifically by the Cons. Unfortunately, the lab which designed him had its funding cut prematurely, and he was released as an untested pilot project. As a result, Yaakarvo has difficulty controlling his attacks, and the Cons have even more difficulty controlling him. He expels fire from both ends of his body, causing more interruption than damage.

PFC Eck- Eck is an extraordinary, yet unpolished recruit of the Cons. Abandoning his former life as a humble Communications Specialist, he entered the C Dome with both arms swinging, dealing out and sustaining a flurry of blows. Had it not been for the quick intervention of Adamsen, Eck might have perished. Eck specializes in cobbling together primitive weapons from the scrap in the dead zone of the C Dome, but sadly, most of his creations fail to function as intended.

The Hands of Chaos- The hands of chaos, or HOC, are a motley crew of outcasts from the nether reaches of the C Dome. Long ago, these ones were cast down into unseen places, places where disturbing, terrifying things are found. When they re-emerged, they were twisted and bent, some barely even human anymore. Freed from the abyss, they now roam the Dead Zone, sowing seeds of irreverence and humor amidst the echoes of fierce battles. They have no allies, and the only thing that unites them is a love of Chaos.

Sunja Los Savos- Sunja is perhaps the most twisted, disturbed member of the HOC, which goes far in explaining why he is their leader. The first to emerge from the abyss, he did so with a cybernetic silicone-based organism in hand. Mary, as she is called, never speaks or moves in the presence of others, but for Sunja she does that and so much more. Long ago, Sunja developed a taste for metal and scrap, which in time, and under the influence of the toxic chemicals coursing through the abyss, gave him the unique ability to consume weapons deployed in the dome, rendering them harmless (until they come out the other end).

RAC-HEL- Rachel is an unstable cyborg prototype, the fusion of a story-telling robot and an energetic party girl. Given to unusual behavior, wardrobe malfunctions, and unpredictable outbursts, her wires become particularly frayed whenever anybody dares mention Greek life. She only has a tenuous connection to the combat in the C Dome, preferring to spend her days guarding the gates. Some say it’s because she just doesn’t like to fight, others say it’s because she is jealous of Mary’s relationship with Sunja.

The Chambler- The most combative of the members of the HOC, the Chambler is a grotesque equestrian abomination with a chip on his shoulder. He was human once, but when he emerged from the abyss, he had become a truly beastly creature with violent tendencies. He randomly latches onto victims, draining them of their vitality as he distracts and disheartens them. He has a particular fondness for striking out at members of the Cons, though some say that his real goal is to bring down the Dome in its entirety.

Duncan- Whether or not Duncan was ever human is not known. He emerged from the abyss only recently, spewing cloying smoke and sparking violently. Though his body vaguely holds a human form, the absence of arms and a distinguishable face renders him more alien than anything. At times he produces attacks with some limited effect, but he usually resorts to repeatedly slamming himself against anybody he comes in contact with inside the dome, yelling “KILLUMINATI!!!” as he does so.

Vazquez- Vazquez used to be one of the most skilled fighters in the dome, on par with Walker and Leach. Unfortunately, after an unexpected expedition into the abyss, he was never quite the same. Though more human than any of the other HOC, there seems to be something not quite right with him, evidenced by his frequent use of confetti bombs and pencils in place of actual implements of war.

The Psci- The Psci are a race of humanoids evolved from algae, gorillas, and land slugs. They are often highly intelligent, and seek to remake the C Dome and purge it of its unsuitable human inhabitants. They seem repulsed by humans, their wars, and filled with regret for getting involved in the Dome’s conflict, but they insist that this is necessary in order for them to liberalate, uh, liberate its inhabitants. They worship the ruler of their home planet, Obamanax, who has a long-standing feud with the Cons. As such, the Psci’s primary goal is the total assimilation, if not annihilation of the Cons.

Riley- Riley is the highly distinguished and effective leader of The Psci’s Myumb taskforce. As the project leader, he is often tied up in research and meditation, and only occasionally enters the dead zone. He instills dread in his foes and afflicts them with insanity, drawing them into conflicts they cannot win. He is virtually indestructible, though the scope of his attacks are often limited to exalting Obamanax and immobilizing the cons by dragging them into pointless disputes about evolution. Riley is proud of his origins as a land slug, and is appalled by the Con’s insistence that “they” were created.

Ngyu- Ngyu is a specialized combatant, tasked almost exclusively with striking at the leadership of the con faction. His attacks mirror those of Riley, but because he is not bogged down with the same level of responsibilities, he is able to take a more active role in combat. A psci divided, his heart remains on his home planet, in the hands of his love.

Bahn- Bahn is a the offensive coordinator for the psci, striking at any and all of the Cons as well as a choice few of the Keepers. He doesn’t hold back, fueled by inexplicable rage and intolerance for failure by both friends and foes alike. Though he is the most active and productive of the psci, he is also the most vulnerable, able to be damaged by attacks that others of his kind could easily brush off. Arguably, he at times has seemed almost human, which doubtless contributes much to his inner struggle.

Lebau- Lebau is a psci, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at him. Though The Psci’s unshod bodies are naturally resistant to attacks, Lebau went a step further by sealing himself within a power suit which makes him virtually impenetrable. He strikes with amazing celerity, and is responsible for more than a few death-dealing attacks. However, he is easily distracted, preferring to spend his days flying around the Dome rather than do anything particularly useful.

Cho- Cho is a virulent, rage-stricken Psci, driven to madness by his repulsion for the human race, and in particular, the Cons. His attacks are effective and devastating, capable of incapacitating foes and sapping their will. He has a great love for Obamanax, and becomes particularly incensed when it is attacked. Were it not for his unbridled hatred and arrogance, he could likely take down the Dome on his own.

The Keepers- The Keepers are the original inhabitants of the Dome, responsible for fostering a healthy and invigorating environment. They prefer civilized sparring matches during their lunch break, but the conflict that arose between the Psci and Cons demanded their attention, and they were forced to put down their tea and take to the dead zone. The Keepers are not like the Cons- their attacks are precise, well thought-out, and at times highly effective. At the same time, they are not given to the emotion or nationalistic tendencies of the Psci, being well-balanced and independent. In their hearts, the keepers believe that they are the rightful rulers of the Dome.

Master Leach- Leach is the de-facto ruler of The Keepers, an impressive accomplishment, considering their society is predominantly egalitarian with little need for hierarchies. Leach is highly involved in the Dome’s conflict, and focuses on diffusing the weapons produced by the various factions. At times, he counters these attacks with simple piercing strikes at the weak points in his opponents’ armor. Usually, though, his goal is to calm things down so he can return to the lounge.

Bran Donbe- Bran is The Keeper’s quartermaster, a very active combatant in the C Dome with a preference for striking out at the Cons, though at times he has carried out successful offensives against the Pscis. A battle-hardened veteran, Bran is skilled with analyzing situations and choosing for the right weapon out of a wide arsenal at his disposal. However, extended conflict has worn away at his will. He often questions the meaning behind all this fighting, asking himself why he even carries on in the Dome.

Lt. Smotherer- The long-serving gatekeeper for the C Dome who decided after many years to step into the dead zone. Perceptive and cunning, he has spent years studying the behavior of the C Dome’s inhabitants. What this has amounted to is a knowledge base that enables him to execute skillful strikes which suffocate the elements of disorder within the Dome. Despite his love for authority and procedure, he nevertheless has developed a particular fondness for the Hands of Chaos.

Travis- Indecisive and vacillating, Travis tries in vain to stay separate from the conflict in the Dome. He is a perfectionist who spends exhaustive amounts of time producing complex and multifaceted attacks which nevertheless fail to affect the situation. Years of failed attacks, however, have left his discouraged and unstable. His mind is a wasteland, and often he acts out with bouts of uncharacteristic behavior.

Dan Han- Dan Han dislikes the dead zone, and prefers spending his days relaxing and watching the combat from afar. Long ago he abandoned the rest of The Pscis when he became disillusioned with what he feels is their undue respect for Obamanax. With some skillful maneuvering, he secured a position as one of the Keepers, though nobody’s really sure what he does there. Occasionally, he executes a superficial attack against The Cons, but for the most part his role is one of inactivity.

Others- There are a great many inhabitants of the C Dome who have had their moment in the dead zone over the years, though they have yet to decide what faction, if any, they want to ally themselves with. Some are generally inactive in the arena of combat, while others are noncommittal or a little terrified at all the violence. These are just a few.

Commander Cockrell- Cockrell is the director of the C Dome, a well-paid government bureaucrat with a taste for fast food and strong liquor. As the director, he is tasked with overseeing the conditions in the dome and ensuring that they are peaceful and will not carry any legal ramifications for Myumb. Clearly then, he has failed in this capacity, though on account of the fine oversight and high standards of the government, he has been allowed to retain his position with nothing more than occasional calls for peace and respectability. Due to his status, many rumors have been generated about him. Some say he relishes the conflict and this is why he allows it to go on. Others say he has the hots for Rachel. Still others say he’s waiting for Sunja to be off’d so he can take Mary for himself. A few even suspect that he is working for The Cons. All of these rumors may be true… then again, all of them may not.

Kwokzol- Kwokzol is a rabbit that hops around the dead zone. He has a particular fondness for Disney movies and for the most part is rather harmless. He can bite, though.

Schnaubles- Schnaubles is a throwback to prehistoric times when dinosaurs walked the earth. He spends his days strolling around the dead zone, occasionally getting involved if for no other reason than for a break from his otherwise boring existence.

Ahmicub- Amicub is a fluffy soft bear with an enhanced intellectual capacity who spends his days walking around and giving combatants in the dead zone hugs. He seems harmless enough, but nobody is quite sure what happened in that lab, so many years ago. Perhaps he is just biding his time, waiting for a chance to kill the commander in his sleep.

Gord MegIntire- Gord is a recent addition to the dome, who sought his place among the keepers but had his application rejected since he didn’t meet the minimum experience requirements. Nevertheless, Gord still attempted to bring peace to the dome, but failed miserably as his BroHou Bombs were pulled for ethical reasons and the love of his life met heavy shelling in the dead zone. Unable to cope with her disappearance and his own personal traumas, he left the dome to seek a new direction. With the aid of core realignment and blast processing, he was equipped with the ability to wear different bodies while still maintaining his identity. With newfound confidence, he now returns to the dome, ready to finish what he started.

And so it begins…

Tgorle1@umbc.edu