Oceania Base

Origins/Major Influence: Das Bot (Paranoia Mission)

Description: This complex was developed by the Polity in the 2050's as a research project, to determine whether genetically modified mutants could live on the ocean floor. Due to the small population of the complex, Oceania Base's main concern was survival, although it had recently begun exploring the coastline and the ruins of cities that was flooded during the global die-off. "The denizens of Oceania have adapted to the considerable water pressures at depths of 350+ meters, and they must wear pressure suits (or rather, anti-pressure suits) to visit the comparatively shallow continental shelves."

Oceania Base is incredibly pacifist and open-minded; it would be very willing to make contact with other civilizations. The problem is that all the other civilizations are either totalitarian dictatorships or savagery, so Oceania Base has to refrain from first contact for now, lest they expose themselves to an untimely death. The citizens of Oceania Base do not have weapons, instead using their mutant powers for self-defensive purposes, and even then only to capture or disable hostile forces. Killing hostile forces is a major taboo in Oceania Base's society. These mutants are not all all-powerful though: "psionic powers are exhausting", and if you can sustain the initial barrage, a citizen of Oceania Base would probably just surrender and provide as much information as they know.

Invasion of Oceania Base would be difficult, at best. Most weapons are designed for use on land (and would be ineffective underwater). Melee weapons like knives and swords would work, but require extensive training underwater to be used effectively (and not to accidentally harm the user in the process). Even if an invasion goes off as planned, the mutants of Oceania Base likely already have evacuation plans ready that would let them flee to nearby underwater bases at a moment's notice.

Spy From Another Alpha Complex: Due to the rather expensive equipment needed for Oceania Base citizens to explore land, no actual spy from Oceania Base is sent. Instead, Oceania Base recruits "native" agents to help with a single purpose: reforming their civilization to become more pacifistic and less totalitarian so that Oceania Base can make contact with it.

• The Mystics are introducing a new drug to mellow people out and reduce psychopathic urges. Convince them to release it into the water supply.
• The Anti-Mutants are using Psion as a useful bogeyman to promote their bigotry. We must not let the Anti-Mutants take over this complex, lest they then expand and destroy our complex. Destroy Psion so that the Anti-Mutants are left without an enemy and will disband.
• The Armed Forces are considering new introducing new military techniques after their failed attack on another Complex. See if you can sway them to adopt less lethal forms of combat.
• Troubleshooter Team #4952 is being sent trying to locate one of our patrol squads, but are more likely to run into a death trap and die. Our pacifism is not merely technical; we want to save all people, even those that want to kill us. Go ahead and follow Team #4952, saving them from the death trap while at the same time protecting our patrol squads from discovery. Perhaps this mercy may convince them to defect to our complex, which would be very useful.