File 0.3C/171 - Invicta
It is always funny meeting others like this. Always the same goals: hope, answers, peace, anything in this deep dark void. Yet all you find is me.
- The following is a personal memo from General Director Victoria Ironside to the Global Board of Directors of the Alter Association. Date: 22nd of January 2025. –
First off, this is not an admission of guilt. I do not for a second accept that my reasons were flawed or even wrong. You put me in charge of pacifying a world turned mad, all so you can keep your hands from turning stained. I must decide how to secure any second of peace we can wring out. No matter the cost.
A New Challenger
It would be too easy to blame Ion for all of this. Before she came onto the scene, we had a system that had worked for two decades. Sure, several villains and monsters were out there giving us trouble, but we always came out on top. The Red Alliance, Endeavour Compact, Eurovengers…and don’t get me started on the Invincibles. The press can say what it wants. There was no one on Earth that could stand up to them.
And then Ion showed up. Someone powerful enough to challenge even the strongest of them. Sure, she may have been on our side. But it started a chain reaction. One after another, more threats of ever-increasing power appeared. Show me someone who does not grow more paranoid in such a situation and I will show you a psychopath. Unfortunately, it was my paranoia concerning Ion that started this mess.
The Ion Paradox
I had a bad feeling about Ion from the start. An Alter of her calibre appearing just like that? That just does not happen. And things just kept piling on. Her freakish foresight of events, the way she seemed to know so many of us already, and the energy and genetic readings…
That she was a human from another planet became clear early on. Some might consider this alone an extreme fact, but I have known many normal humans of a stranger variety. No, that fact just confirmed what we suspected about the Greys for a long time. But it didn’t explain Ion. Heh, she'd probably like that.
When she revealed that she was from an alternate timeline…everything just made sense. But it also rang my alarm bells. If her timeline was our sister timeline, then the chances that there was an Ion in our universe were high. Ask Dr. Stein to explain the underlying temporal physics. I still don't really get it.
Don’t get me wrong. I trust Ion. She has done everything to earn it, but she is a being of immense power, can rival gods and the worst our mad world can produce. That there could be another Ion, one without any of the qualities that make ours a hero, was a terrifying thought. I simply could not ignore it.
Voyager’s Mission
It was that fear which led me to break Association rules. The only thing subtle, if persistent, questioning of our planet’s various alien inhabitants yielded was a general direction. Torthan had knowledge of a species vaguely fitting the data gathered from Ion, but even he could only point vaguely at the Milky Way’s Outer Arm.
Knowing the direction, I needed a probe to investigate. And since falsifying something to launch another multi-billion-dollar mission would have been too suspicious, I decided to reactive Voyager-1. I am fully aware that I could be put to death for that single act alone, but I do not regret it. We exchanged perceived security for awareness. The possible threat of an Anti-Ion was too great to keep the Summer Protocol in effect. I fully acknowledge the consequences and am prepared to suffer any punishment you lay down.
Thankfully, Voyager-1’s modifications had remained intact even after the events of August 2012. All it required were the activation codes, a set of data on Ion from energy readings to DNA and off it went.
Discovery in the Dark
It took months, even with Voyager’s modified propulsion systems, to reach the area of suspicion. Would have taken even longer, if Voyager had not detected a faint trace of energy hailing from somewhere within the outer reaches of the galactic arm.
What it found was a region of space seemingly flooded with expansionist empires. Massed fleets and armies, energy readings indicating hundreds of superweapons, entire planets turned into weapon manufactories, it was a military complex of nightmarish scale. And somewhere near its centre, I found what I had been looking for. A planet filled with beings that matched Ion’s energy signature. Beings that were both clearly human and different. But none of them even approached the level of power I had feared to find. They were strong, but far from a threat for anyone bar maybe, maybe, the association rookies.
It was only then that I noticed that the energy signature which had drawn me hear did not originate from the planet. Instead, it came from a single source. One powerful enough to be detectable enough half-way across the galaxy. Two days later, I finally found her.
You came all this way just for me? I am flattered. Hope you are not disappointed. Then again, why should you? It is not often that one meets the closest thing to a god out here in the cosmos.
Dark Mirror
She looks so much like Ion that it is uncanny. A twin lost across universal lines. But a twisted one, every feature somehow darker, her eyes and smile predatory. There is no hint of the fun-loving free spirit I got to know. Just a dark, imperial figure, her body armour stained with strangely coloured alien blood.
She looks so much like Ion that it is uncanny. A twin lost across universal lines. But a twisted one, every feature somehow darker, her eyes and smile predatory. There is no hint of the fun-loving free spirit I got to know. Just a dark, imperial figure, her body armour stained with strangely coloured alien blood.
Interstellar Tyrant
And unlike Ion, she seemed to enjoy lording her power over others. All those factions armed to the teeth I mentioned? They were her subjects. Over a hundred systems and more, dozens of billions of souls, all chained together by her power. All chanting a single name across the interstellar void: Invicta.
And unlike Ion, she seemed to enjoy lording her power over others. All those factions armed to the teeth I mentioned? They were her subjects. Over a hundred systems and more, dozens of billions of souls, all chained together by her power. All chanting a single name across the interstellar void: Invicta.
I never planned on having a meeting with her but like with Ion my plans do not seem to thrive in her presence. She noticed the satellite at some point, played pretend for a bit and then just took it. I am not sure wherever it was the previous modifications that allowed for two-way communications or something she added, but suddenly I found myself speaking to the tyrant empress herself. What a joy.
Once again, I have to think of an image reflected in a slightly skewed mirror. It is the same, but off in the details. Like Ion she is active, even hyper at times, and never seems to dwell too long on something. A woman with a massive mouth and the power to back it up. But she lacks…light.
Her smile holds no warmth, her words are only meant to cut and rile up, to expose any possible weak point or simply venerate her own power. A like of pranks is replaced by a love for deception.
Ruling is such a boring task. Power that bores you is not something people should seek. I don’t bother with it. They have spent millennia learning how to do it so why try and reinvent the wheel? All they have to do in return is follow my one rule: fight.
Planet Buster
by KM-Artwork
Worse is that she seems comparable to Ion in terms of power. So yes, we are dealing with someone who is at minimum a planet buster. I have the footage to prove it, if you don’t believe me. She took me to a planet that had repelled one of her heralds, showed me around for ages, I didn’t realize until later that she was trying to show me that there were no tricks involved, and then simply annihilated the entire body in a single shot. Reduced it to atoms without effort.
Cosmic Strength
Her powerset is the same as Ion’s. Standard combination of high-powered offense, agility and iron defence. There is not much to describe in the strength department. From punching away small planetoids to benching mountains, it really is nothing we haven’t seen from other heavy hitters.
Her powerset is the same as Ion’s. Standard combination of high-powered offense, agility and iron defence. There is not much to describe in the strength department. From punching away small planetoids to benching mountains, it really is nothing we haven’t seen from other heavy hitters.
Light Speed
Speed seems to be similar as well, ranging from hypersonic to faster-than-light. It does not seem to translate as well to combat situations, however. She appears slower, barely able to go beyond FTL while fighting. And at top speed there appear to be problems with sharp turns. Useful.
Speed seems to be similar as well, ranging from hypersonic to faster-than-light. It does not seem to translate as well to combat situations, however. She appears slower, barely able to go beyond FTL while fighting. And at top speed there appear to be problems with sharp turns. Useful.
Endless Endurance
It is in the area of stamina where she is the most different from Ion, however. The former does like to brawl, but Invicta seems to be on a wholly different level, relishing long drawn-out fights to the degree that one might think it a fetish of hers. She barely even seems to feel hits.
It is in the area of stamina where she is the most different from Ion, however. The former does like to brawl, but Invicta seems to be on a wholly different level, relishing long drawn-out fights to the degree that one might think it a fetish of hers. She barely even seems to feel hits.
This also informs her fighting style. She does not really have one. Street brawler would be the best descriptor I could give her. She tanks hits like they are nothing but seems to have problems with more sophisticated enemies. Sadly, none have been able to overcome her sheer power yet.
What makes this analysis incomplete is that her ability to transform is currently unknown. Ion has shown the ability to transform three times by tapping into the Emotional Spectrum. Invicta has not transformed once during the time I observed her. Sadly, this is not conclusive proof that she cannot do so.
Eternal War
So, you might reasonably ask why I am even her. Other than confessing to high treason there seems no real reason. Invicta might be powerful, stupidly so even, but is just another distant galactic tyrant. We have dealt with that before.
Unfortunately, I think Invicta’s very nature makes her far more of a threat than any of the other species we have met. And it originates in something that Ion shares coincidentally: her love for battle. Ion is a nut when it comes to competition, thrives in combat and takes any occasion to test her ability against others.
But it is always good natured and with fun as the main objective. Invicta is obsessed with it. Worships the idea of fighting. Everything in life has to be fought for even if it is something as basic as food. Those who can’t, or even worse, those who don’t want to fight simply forfeit their lives. It is some mutilated form of Social Darwinism, an irony in itself. And she does apply this ideology of hers freely and without regard.
Those hundreds of systems under her rule are not armed to expand the empire, at least not solely, but to fulfil the only obligation Invicta demands from her subjects: to fight. Be it foreigners, other members of the empire or their own people, Invicta’s subjects are kept in a permanent state of war. You fight for resources, for space, for the very right to exist. If you don’t, you either get conquered by someone else or wiped out by Invicta. The entire sector is a slaughterhouse, the mere threat of her attention enough to drive people into atrocity.
A Predator Approaches
by Amino
And I have brought atrocity upon us. I fucked up. Plain and simple. I underestimated her, thought she was just another wannabe tyrant. Thought that I could fleece her for information while only giving away subtle threats and hints of Earth’s strength.
She tricked me. Used the connection to trace Voyager’s path back to Sol. And my threats? Only made her more interested. The eternal war inside her realm is not just for the sake of entertainment like I first thought. She is trying to raise herself a challenge. Trying to create either an individual or realm that can give her the fight she so desires.
And now she has Earth in her sights. Her last message originated from the very fringe of her realm. And since then, the energy reading is growing closer to Sol every day. Invicta is coming. I have brought a world ending threat upon us and in doing so committed high treason. I know that many of you would love to execute me on the spot, but you know as well as I do that that won’t help right now. I am the one who drew Invicta here, but I am also the only one you can trust to manage an adequate response.
So, what will it be?
Earth…such a neat world. Even the glimpses you and this machine have offered me show so much potential…So much power…Sounds like I will have the time of my life…I can't wait! See ya in a bit.
Children
Unknown Place of Origin
Planet Kytoria, Outer Arm, Milky Way Galaxy. Species
Kytoran Alter Type
Type 3 Alteration - Biological
Type 3A Alteration - Diaspora Human Threat Level
PX - Planetary Extinction Affiliation/s
Scarlet Empire
Legacy of the Greys
Invicta and her empire of horrors are just another entry on a long list of problems caused by the Greys. Pop culture has always shown them as kinda funny looking, but mostly harmless aliens, but the amount of suffering they have caused is astronomical. Humanity alone could call upon a hundred grievances. Abducting entire civilisations, hundreds of thousands of people, to dump them onto other planets and observe their adaptation. Modifying people to see the results. Science without ethics on a scale beyond comprehension. True, there might be a dozen civilisations comprised of Disapora Humans out there in the galaxy today. But those are the "lucky" ones. We haven't seen the Greys in decades now. They better hope we never do again.
Invicta and her empire of horrors are just another entry on a long list of problems caused by the Greys. Pop culture has always shown them as kinda funny looking, but mostly harmless aliens, but the amount of suffering they have caused is astronomical. Humanity alone could call upon a hundred grievances. Abducting entire civilisations, hundreds of thousands of people, to dump them onto other planets and observe their adaptation. Modifying people to see the results. Science without ethics on a scale beyond comprehension. True, there might be a dozen civilisations comprised of Disapora Humans out there in the galaxy today. But those are the "lucky" ones. We haven't seen the Greys in decades now. They better hope we never do again.
by Anton Fadeev
Arsenal of Hair Colours
What frustrates me to no end is that I was unable to get any information on Invicta's ability to transform. It is a massive feat, achieved only through absolute mastery of the Emotional Spectrum. And while all Kytorans seem to show an aplitude towards it, only Ion and Invicta have reached that peak of power that seems necessary to unlock that specific ability. So why hasn't Invicta done so once? One answer is that she simply can't do so. A calming option, but unfortunately not realistic. Perhaps she didn't face an enemy strong enough to make it worthwhile during my time there. Or, and this is arguably the worst option, is that she was hiding it from me. That her scarlet red hair is of a similar colour to Ion's stage two transformation opens opens another terrifying option. What do you do when your strongest heroes' highest level is merely the base of your opponent?
What frustrates me to no end is that I was unable to get any information on Invicta's ability to transform. It is a massive feat, achieved only through absolute mastery of the Emotional Spectrum. And while all Kytorans seem to show an aplitude towards it, only Ion and Invicta have reached that peak of power that seems necessary to unlock that specific ability. So why hasn't Invicta done so once? One answer is that she simply can't do so. A calming option, but unfortunately not realistic. Perhaps she didn't face an enemy strong enough to make it worthwhile during my time there. Or, and this is arguably the worst option, is that she was hiding it from me. That her scarlet red hair is of a similar colour to Ion's stage two transformation opens opens another terrifying option. What do you do when your strongest heroes' highest level is merely the base of your opponent?
Terran, Kytoran, Nemoan...It doesn't really matter. Your entire species is an annoyance to deal with.
Slave to War
Overall, Invicta's empire, sometimes referred to by the term 'Scarlet Empire' in the messages of other galactic powers, really is just a pyramid scheme. People butcher each other, get stronger, wiser, more experienced, and then get to fight the overlord herself. Failure means death. Her own people aren't exempt from this. The Kytorans are forced into ritualistic duels to become her heralds, agents sent out to secure new worlds for her basically. They are allowed to do as they please...until the fail in some form. The one that got repelled by that unfortunate planet she blew up? Reduced to atoms just an hour later. Invicta knows no family, no friends, no peace. All she has are targets.
Overall, Invicta's empire, sometimes referred to by the term 'Scarlet Empire' in the messages of other galactic powers, really is just a pyramid scheme. People butcher each other, get stronger, wiser, more experienced, and then get to fight the overlord herself. Failure means death. Her own people aren't exempt from this. The Kytorans are forced into ritualistic duels to become her heralds, agents sent out to secure new worlds for her basically. They are allowed to do as they please...until the fail in some form. The one that got repelled by that unfortunate planet she blew up? Reduced to atoms just an hour later. Invicta knows no family, no friends, no peace. All she has are targets.
Alternate Timelines
From what Dr. Stein has said, alternate timelines/universes are basically the same. They appear in pairs, siblings so to speak, where events and people have a 95% rate of similarity. Unfortunately, Invicta appears to fall into that remaining 5% range.
Worst case, we ask Chronos to take care of her. He has beaten Ion. Her dark 'sibling' should fall the same.
Potential Danger
Invicta's power appears to lie in the same range as Ion's which means that she ranks in the top 1% of Alters. Her arrival would necessesitate a full Autumn Contingency and mobilisation of the Invincibles. The biggest problem would be to prevent her from just blowing the planet to pieces. Charging a planet-destroying blast takes less than five minutes unfortunately.
Invicta's power appears to lie in the same range as Ion's which means that she ranks in the top 1% of Alters. Her arrival would necessesitate a full Autumn Contingency and mobilisation of the Invincibles. The biggest problem would be to prevent her from just blowing the planet to pieces. Charging a planet-destroying blast takes less than five minutes unfortunately.
by LordAmon12
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