Science for Human Advancement and Development
Science for Human Advancement and Development (SHADe) is a rogue agency for the ascension and advancement of humanity. It is thought to have been founded some time in the late 24th century by an unknown figure (or possibly figures) suspected to be the current head of the organisation 'Mr Soter'.
NB: Terra Prime is not the same organisation as SHADe, neither is that group affiliated in any formal sense, but they are thought to share some financial backers.
Background
SHADe is the scientific and technological wing of a broader human supremacist movement with political, military and scientific divisions. It is thought that the shadowy 'Mr Soter' is the likely founder and mastermind of this movement. Groups like Terra Prime are not directly controlled by him, merely manipulated where it serves his purpose. Terra Prime appears to be a loose collection of fanatics fuelled by xenophobia and hatred. SHADe is much more professional and their aims seem more focused.
In contrast to isolationists, SHADe has shown itself quite willing to work with, and use non-humans to achieve its aims. The organisation seeks the ascension and dominance of humanity in the current political and military infrastructure of the Federation (not isolationism like Terra Prime). The long-term goals are harder to discern and may be ultimately imperialist. SHADe operatives argue that they aggressively protect human interests in a hostile galaxy, and that the end justifies any means (however brutal).
Certainly the list of SHADe activities betray a nefariousness that knows no boundaries - of legality or morality. Mass murder, assassination, torture, terrorism, sabotage, and experimentation on live and unwilling subjects have all been attributed to their operations. On the other hand, some of these activities have served the Federation's interests very well, and secretly some Federation diplomats and officials, including those in Star Fleet, are sympathisers. Indeed it is thought that SHADe has operatives in some very high places.
The Federation has officially declared SHADe an illegal terrorist group. However, there exists a number of legitimate fronts that fund and aid the group’s activities. Notable are:-
Avro-Ng Aerospace (Mars), a well respected starship manufacturer.
Prometheus Holdings (Earth: London and San Francisco, Farius Prime, Risa), asset management, full extent of business unknown
Vega Commonwealth Bank (Vega Colony), large interstellar banking corporation with commercial and investment arms
Sharparov Military Industries (Earth: Nizhny Tagil), arms manufacturer. Has a legitimate supply contract with Star Fleet. Some equipment without serial numbers produced for export elsewhere including to crime syndicates in Orion Space
PfiferSayer Pharmaceuticals (Luna), interstellar and consumer healthcare company headquartered in the Sol System. Third largest pharmaceutical group in the Federation measured by revenues; this gives some indication of the financial power behind the organisation
Media: Aquarian Times; Humbury Examiner; Stellar Broadcasting Corporation
It is believed that a large number of very prominent and wealthy individuals also contribute funding to SHADe activities through contact with Mr Soter
Highlights of known activities by year:
2380s - SHADe accumulates legitimate businesses
2390s - The infiltration of human media begins, especially outlets specialising in extra-solar news: The Aquarian Times; Humbury Examiner; Stellar Broadcasting Corporation
Early 2400s - SHADe agents infiltrate the Federation Council
- SHADe recruitment increases but stringent standards and war make growth slow
2402 - Leader of Terra Prime movement assassinated. SHADe black ops team responsible
2405 - SHADe attempts to steal experimental shield technology from a Star Fleet research facility. Assault team includes some psionic operatives but the mission is a disaster. SHADe squad fight to the death; the sole survivor divulges little information though does provide the name 'Mr Soter'
2406 - USS Smithson sabotaged when explosive catalyst is added to the warp core by timer injection. All hands are lost including a celebrated Andorian Scientist. The explosion is attributed to faulty engineering at the time
2407 - Weapons produced by Sharparov Military Industries are used to arm Orion Syndicate criminals and Tqarian separatists
- Star Fleet Intelligence Corps (SFIC) receives intel about clandestine SHADe-funded research on human augmentation in the lab of Professor Curt Myhill at the Daystrom Institute. SFIC recruit a Daystrom Ph.D student, Isabella Ekman, to infiltrate lab; Myhill and two others apprehended and the cell shut down later that year.
- SFIC learn that a SHADe cell has developed the capacity to forge realistic holovideo
2408 – SHADe Operation 'Night of the Long Knives' is initiated: assassination of 22 Federation diplomats and Star Fleet Officers - all are made to look like natural death or accident
2409 - SFIC attack a SHADe space station in the Acamar System. This results in the capture of the lab but most of the data has already been destroyed by the operatives. The cell appears to have made a breakthrough in biological weapons aimed at Vulcanoid biology
2410 - SHADe fund and augment renewed activity in the Terra Prime movement. SHADe media outlets publicise TP activities with sympathetic and biased coverage
2411 – SFIC learns that SHADe was intending to kidnap Dr Isabella Ekman at her Star Fleet graduation party. The plot was foiled by the fortuitous arrival at the party of Cdr Elizabeth Jones, there to recruit Ekman herself for the Challenger project (the kidnap plan was not known by Jones at the time).
SHADe Organisational hierarchy
HEAD - Mr Soter (a sobriquet, real identity and background unknown) Soter is the only individual with knowledge of all cells, operations and sources of funding. Therefore little about the organisation can be determined by the capture and interrogation of individual operatives or even whole splinter cells as they are unaware of the bigger picture. Soter is kept at a safe distance from SHADe operations through intermediaries including the Lieutenants.
LIEUTENANTS - there are thought to be two lieutenants working directly under Soter and acting as intermediaries between Soter and individual cells. The two agents are codenamed 'Alecto' and 'Tisiphone' but their real identities are unknown, and various people may have filled these roles at different times
INDIVIDUAL CELLS (scientific, technological, security/black ops) - each cell works completely independently and is generally unaware of the other cells. Usually each cell will have a head or commander.
Acknowledgement to the Mass Effect wiki entries relating to ‘Cerberus’ for inspiration on some aspects of SHADe background above (http://masseffect.wikia.com)
Anyone wishing to run a SHADe-related subplot should beforehand contact Isabella Ekman and the Creative Director
