"It is the job of a Gatekeeper to protect their city from the dangers of portals. If it's larger than one meter across, it can spit out some nasty bugs. With that said, it's my job to make sure you stay alive fighting those bugs. So let's get started." -Major Kisho Raferty, instructor for Gatewatch
Alternative Names
Gate Watcher, Portal Pony
Elemental's Nemesis
As realm engines became more and more prevalent, so too did the need for security. As people experimented and portals got larger, elementals were breaching more often, and the ones that did were getting bigger as well. The military and local law enforcement had been handling incidents, but decided that the cost and risk should be faced by the business. So started Gatewatch, a private security business exclusively for securing portals. The new company employed a wide variety of experienced employees including veterans, mercenaries, and technicians. They would be called Gatekeepers.
Operations
Gatekeepers typically work in one of two assignments; quick-response or point-defense. A quick-response force (QRF) will be placed at a Gatewatch forward outpost, usually located centrally in a city district. The outpost will have three or four QRFs at a time in order to respond to incidents at smaller portals that don't have a dedicated team. Point-defense Gatekeepers will be stationed at location of a larger portal.
Legal Requirements
Most cities have laws that regulate what type of security measures you must have based on size and type of portal. A portal under three feet doesn't require security. If a portal is over three feet in diameter, but under six feet, a QRF will suffice. A portal over six feet, but under 12 feet requires a point-defense team. Any portal over 12 feet requires special permitting and must be built underground with a large specialized point-defense team.
Enforcer
An enforcer specializes in offensive movements and clearing obstacles. As rare as mass breaches are, the destruction the wreak is second to none. Enforcers carry a piston-blade that can both cut down enemies and cut through debris. Their main weapon is a belt fed machine-gun. They also carry
neutralizer grenades.
Technician
Technicians focus on disabling portals and containing the fight. They carry anti-magic field generating pylons and can secure a perimeter preventing an elemental from leaving. Technicians aren't intended heavy-hitters, but carry a revolver as back up. They do however carry small explosive charges intended for collapsing a portal's supports.
Striker
Also known as a team-leader, strikers are all-round good soldiers, capable of making quick battle assessments and taking the correct course of action. Their main job is to direct their team through the conflict, but they aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. Strikers carry a shotgun for getting up close and personal.
Subjugator
Subjugators are rarely used and have a very special task; capture elementals alive. They carry different weapons and equipment depending on the elemental they are hunting, but generally use a sword for combat, to the disbelief of their comrades.
Entry for WorldEmber 2020
All work (including art, designs, names, etc.) are created by ZogMadDog (Harry Hartzog) unless otherwise stated.
All those people running around with guns and a subjugator comes along swinging a sword. I love the image. These guys sound like they're very necessary. Definitely don't want things coming through those portals without permission.