The Luminar Foundation (Loo - Mi - Nar)

Overview

Originally known as the New Frontier Research Group, the Foundation was founded as a charity organization dedicated to helping set up research grants for STEM students who were seeking to push the boundaries of Science for Humanity. The original founder was only known as the benefactor, no other information can be found on them. Its mission was to help nurture students on the pathway of the Sciences and help them transfer to institutions that would greatly benefit them. Through this process, the Foundation would then have the ability to pick from the students who graduated using their grants, hiring them on to further the Organizations own research departments and allowing it to be at the forefront of technological breakthroughs in most areas of Science and Technology. The Foundations early goals shifted, however, with the collapse of the United Nations in the 23rd century. Suddenly, Earth and the nation states it supported were thrown into chaos, threatening much of the school systems all across the planet. The Foundation rebranded itself as a non-profit security agency as well as a tech company, and began bringing under its wings the various institutions still left functioning. Everything from Elementary schools to colleges as well as research groups, laboratories, and other facilities dedicated to science were brought under the umbrella of the Luminar Foundation. It prided itself on its ability to keep raiders and corporations alike from ransacking the facilities under its care and took every precaution it needed to ensure Education remained free and open to the public through these hard times. In order to facilitate protecting facilities under the Foundations umbrella, it took to building a completely new private security force from the ground up. This Security force was well organized and had access to state of art technology and weaponry from the Foundations research teams. This had the side effect of turning education centers into military fortresses, with round the clock armed guards, fencing and walls, and military style vehicles. Students, educator's and scientists alike were safe and secure from those who wished to stifle the growth of humanity for their own personal gain. Though it does make some uncomfortable, Foundation security forces always have the best interests of those they protect at heart. When the new Directorate System was in the works of being created, the Foundation was in a unique position to force itself to be at the top of this new government. Due to its grip on almost all Education centers on Earth, Corporations worked with the Foundation in helping it maintain unfettered access to and control of the Soul Engines found in other charters as well as those within the Sol Charter. This gave the Foundation an edge above all other competition and ever since, the organization has become shrouded in mystery to even its closest allies with the identities of top security council personnel within the Foundation being top secret. Though, whenever there is a mystery or anomaly to be found, you will also find Foundation Security teams being found as first responders, being ready to protect civilians at a moments notice.

Structure

The Luminar Foundation is first and foremost a Research and Technology conglomerate with a heavy interest ancient technology known as the Soul Engines as well as the supernatural. Each Foundation research site is generally based around one of these many Soul Engines, with each Research site acting functionally independent from the whole organization. Though there is a command structure, the Foundation prefers its staff to be ready at a moments notice for things to occur, preferring its security forces to role with the punches rather than follow a strict chain of command. Each Research site is run by the Site Executive Officer who makes decisions for the whole site as well as directs operations on the ground. Each Site Executive officer then reports to a Regional Executive Officer, which is often referred to by the name of the charter due to their identity being classified. Each Regional Executive Officer is in charge of an entire regional command, such as the Synthasia REO being in charge of the Synthasia Foundation Operational command. Though there is no one above each REO, each REO sits upon a council and together they make decisions for the whole of the organization. Again, the identities of every member of this council is top secret so only their direct reports would ever know who they really are.

Branches

Metaphysical Research Department - Metaphysical Research deals with all things related to the Soul Engines and the Luminarum. They discover and explore why the Luminarum functions the way it does, how Aether might be used, how the Luminaries/Soul Engines function, and the why of it all. They are at the forefront of all Aether experimentation and discoveries related to Aether Mysticism.
Meta-Engineering Department - Meta-Engineering deals with learning how the technology side of the Luminaries function. The Meta-Engineers also work on sifting through the vast Archive within the Luminaries, searching for useful technology that could be developed for mankind. They have been at the forefront of breakthroughs such as the Key Gate Network, Space Elevators and other such technologies that have improved mankind's living conditions. There main focus is producing usable schematics from the Luminaries that can be turned into real breakthroughs.
MetaOperations Taskforce - Members of the MetaOperations taskforce are in charge of readying individuals for the process of becoming Mystics. Members of this taskforce are also responsible for investigating anomalies or mysteries that can't be easily explained through Science. They are also responsible for Securing and containing such anomalies for investigation or termination. Each MetaOps taskforce directly reports to the Regional Executive Officer, with some REO's also leading these teams in the field.
The Eternum Archive - Eternum Archivists are responsible for sifting through the vast archives in the Luminaries to discover what happened to the Eternum and any other species that may have appeared before humanity. They are also responsible for facilitating interviews with the Archive, the vast intelligence that lives within the Luminaries. Each Eternum Archivist also works to discover how they might be able to create symbols or words of power, to better help Mystics have a more streamlined control of their powers.
Counterintelligence - Counterintelligence is in charge of investigating the Foundations rivals and enemies. Counterintelligence Operatives often are in the field, infiltrating and investigating rival interest groups or corporations and discovering what secrets they might have to keep the power the Foundation has. Counterintelligence is also responsible for finding Anomalies for the MetaOps Taskforce to respond too. Lastly, Counterintelligence will often work in tandem with Directorate Intelligence Agencies on various projects that might benefit the Foundations research, as well as finding useful candidates for experiments.
Foundation Security and Defense - The Military and security arm of the Foundation, the Taskforces under FSD are often found patrolling Foundation Research sites as well as affiliated sites under the Foundation Umbrella. They are also the first to respond to direct security threats and offer their services to local governments in case a threat is particularly nasty. Finally, the Foundation also operates its own naval assets, that patrol interstellar space around Research sites that can also participate in offensive actions, such as exterminating pirate bases. Foundation ships are state of the art and no one has of yet been able to stand up to their resilience and effectiveness.