The Phalanx are an offshoot of race of techno-organic beings from deep space bent on galactic conquest called the Technarch. They have evolved into a collective mind, although there are still traces of individualism, such as personal names. They are all linked to each other by a cybernet system which is so advanced that it approaches telepathy, and can be accessed by telepaths.
The "Phalanx" on Earth were a group of human mutant-haters who voluntarily infected themselves with the Transmode Virus (which is what gives tehm the power of TO[techno-organic] conversion) stolen from the deceased Warlock, transforming themselves into members of the Phalanx. Enhanced with the ability to change form, absorb energy and matter into their bodies, and with various offensive and defensive systems, these Phalanx hoped to eradicate mutantkind.
However, the Phalanx's directives were hard-wired into them by the original Technarch; soon the collective's goal became the assimilation of ALL life, not just mutants, and they began to build a giant array to signal their forbears, the original Technarch. Apparently, this sort of "Phalanx Event" is a programmed response of any organic community that gets infected with the Transmode Virus. The purpose is to convert enough of the community into techno-organic beings and then signal the Technarch, who will come and drain the energy of the Phalanx, as well as the planet.
Thus the Phalanx is an entity formed by techno-organic beings, once humans, that have been melted and included as part of a global conscience, that calls itself the Phalanx. Most of the original people were willing to join, for they thought it was the way to finish with the mutant menace. But as it's hard-wired directives took over, the Phalanx began to incorporate whoever and whatever it wanted.
The Phalanx is supposed to have its origin in the alien being Warlock's mortal remains, which were left on Doug (Cypher) Ramsey's grave, as the two were best friends. His ashen remains where stolen by some leaders of the FOH [friends of humanity] for further studies. Back in the U.S. , many members were invited to form an army of invincible soldiers. Bonding their bodies together with the "transmode-virus" that ran in Warlock's body, they formed the Phalanx, with the leadership of Stephen Lang, the man responsible for Project: Armageddon, many years before.
The Phalanx quickly organized an attack on the X-Mansion, kidnapping most of the X-Men and replacing them with themselves in disguise. Banshee, one of the few allies that weren't replaced, understood what they were. He saved the White Queen, Jubilee and Sabretooth from the beings. He then blew Cerebro's data bank, so that the Phalanx couldn't pursue the new generation of mutants, Generation X.
What made the phalanx so formidable, was their abilty to adapt to and gain resistances to mutant powers, as a result of the testing that they ran attempting to find away to absorb them. So, mutants powers suddenly stopped working as the phalanx studied them, analyzed their powers and gained resistances. However, the were not able to react to every spectrum of the powers, for example, they were only immune to Sonic attacks from Banshee if they had already had an attack on that sound wave before (same pitch, tone) and Psyclops could use a few different light spectrums before they had adapted to them all.
The Phalanx was thought vanquished by the combined effort of all the mutant teams, and two beings of the Phalanx : Douglocke, a combination of Warlock and Ramsey, and Lang, who didn't want to exterminate the whole population, but only the mutants. However, the Phalanx has now and again resurfaced and threatened the future of mutants and humans. It was largley defeated by Blink when she killed Harvest (as she trapped him in one of her spatial distortions). To do this, she had to sacrifice her own life.
The Phalanx later, in a war with the Shiar Empire, learned to assimilate mutants into themselves. The Phalanx are apparently considered an abomination by the Technarch, which despises the organic components of the Phalanx. The Technarch will follow the signal put out by a Babel Spire, but will consume the Phalanx along with the rest of the planet.
Seldomly, members of the Phalanx exist both in and outside of the central consciousness, eg. they have both their own free will as well as a connection to the group mind. Members such as Harvest, Lang, and Hodge all had this. It was generally something that belonged to the most powerful members-something like a high council for making the best choices for the phalanx hive. These entities usually had a greater degree of powers as well as more strength and ability. it is quite possible that they were former mutants or otherwise enhance humans since mutants can voluntarily submit themelves to being assimilated by the phalanx, and a number of them did.
Typical Phalanx Unit Fighting: Gd Agility: Ex Strength: Rm Endurance: Am Reason: In Intuition: RM Psyche: Ty Health: 110 Karma: 76 Resources: Gd Popularity: 0 Known Powers: -Techno-Organic Body: gives him the following abilities: -Shapechanging: mimick human forms: Am -Communicate with technology/computers: UN -Elongation: Rm -Body Armor: Rm -Transmode Virus Conversion: Regain health by converting living, organic objects into a techno-organic form. He regains health equal to the material strength or the health of the target. He does this with Mn ability. Living creatures converted now become part of the Phalanx Collective mind, what they knew, the Phalanx know. -Transmode Virus Infection: they may infect other living creatures (same as above) only the infector gains no health, but the infected organic creature becomes a member of the phalanx after 10 turns when they have been fully converted by into their new T-O body. -Adaptation: any powers that are used offensively against the phalanx will be adapted to with ShX ability and rendered ineffective. The attack may be used (if specified to be slightly altered by PC, eg, different spectrum, band width, etc.) the same number of times as the powers rank number (EX=20 times.) -Serial Teleportation: may "teleport" anywhere else in one turn as long as their is a constant Crystalline Matrix(techno-organic) connection. Example- Harvest can teleport in one turn from the outermost edge to the inside of the Phalanx hive since it all consists of T-O matter. -Sensors: Electronic sensors of Am ability. -Increase size: up to 20 feet. -Reshape into functioning machines up to AM level. Create out of himself up to In damage energy or force ray blasters. Talents: Any that the Group Mind directs it to have (takes 1 turn to learn) Weakness: Cannot assimilate Mutants or those with Mutant DNA.
Stephen Lang Fighting: RM Agility: Ex Strength: AM Endurance: Am Reason: MN Intuition: MN Psyche: UN Health: 150 Karma: 250 Resources: Gd Popularity: 0 Known Powers: -Techno-Organic Body: gives him the following abilities: -Shapechanging: mimick human forms: Am -Communicate with technology/computers: ShZ -Elongation: Rm -Body Armor: Rm -Transmode Virus Conversion: Regain health by converting living, organic objects into a techno-organic form. He regains health equal to the material strength or the health of the target. He does this with Mn ability. Living creatures converted now become part of the Phalanx Collective mind, what they knew, the Phalanx know. -Transmode Virus Infection: they may infect other living creatures (same as above) only the infector gains no health, but the infected organic creature becomes a member of the phalanx after 10 turns when they have been fully converted by into their new T-O body. -Adaptation: any powers that are used offensively against the phalanx will be adapted to with ShX ability and rendered ineffective. The attack may be used (if specified to be slightly altered by PC, eg, different spectrum, band width, etc.) the same number of times as the powers rank number (EX=20 times.) -Serial Teleportation: may "teleport" anywhere else in one turn as long as their is a constant Crystalline Matrix(techno-organic) connection. Example- Harvest can teleport in one turn from the outermost edge to the inside of the Phalanx hive since it all consists of T-O matter. -Self Projection: Lang may take over (Project himself) through any other normal member of the Phalanx. This now becomes Lang, as his consciousness is transported. -Sensors: Electronic sensors of Am ability. -Increase size: up to 20 feet. -Reshape into functioning machines up to AM level. Create out of himself up to In damage energy or force ray blasters. Talents: All talents that the Group Mind has Weakness: Cannot assimilate Mutants or those with Mutant DNA. History: When Lang was co-opted by the Phalanx he became the control center of the entire Earth-based collective, and was able not only to take techno-organic forms, but also to project himself through any member of the collective. Lang was the builder of the third wave of Sentinels, a project he undertook not quite within the bounds of the law. He was a true mutant-hater, and hoped to destroy them all with his giant robots. Actually, the true weapon of his "Project: Armageddon" was a set of androids with the bodies and powers of the original X-Men. Lang had his Sentinels capture the X-Men and bring them to an abandoned S.H.I.E.L.D. orbital platform, where he tried to have his robots kill them. The X-Men defeated the Sentinels, as well as their robot doppelgangers, and Lang was seemingly killed. It should be noted that returning from the platform during a solar flare caused the creation of the Phoenix, as Jean Grey died piloting the ship, and was cloned by the Phoenix Force. Lang survived, however, and returned with more Sentinels. This time, his Master Mold circumvented its programming and used Lang's brain as its own control center. When the Master Mold was finally defeated, Lang was left in a vegetative state. Yet, it was his intimate mental connection with cybernetic control systems that prompted the Phalanx to use him as their control center, a dispatcher of sorts. Lang cooperated with the Phalanx until he realized that they were not going to stop when mutants were eradicated, but were instead going to assimilate the entire world. Lang secretly plotted with Psylocke to free the X-Men from their captivity in the Phalanx's citadel. A battle ensued, and the collective was destroyed, presumably taking Lang with it.
Cameron Hodge Fighting: RM Agility: IN Strength: RM Endurance: MN Reason: AM Intuition: IN Psyche: IN Health: 175 Karma: 130 Resources: Gd Popularity: 0 Known Powers: -Techno-Organic Body: gives him the following abilities: -Shapechanging: mimick human forms: Am -Communicate with technology/computers: ShZ -Elongation: Rm -Body Armor: Rm -Transmode Virus Conversion: Regain health by converting living, organic objects into a techno-organic form. He regains health equal to the material strength or the health of the target. He does this with Mn ability. Living creatures converted now become part of the Phalanx Collective mind, what they knew, the Phalanx know. -Transmode Virus Infection: they may infect other living creatures (same as above) only the infector gains no health, but the infected organic creature becomes a member of the phalanx after 10 turns when they have been fully converted by into their new T-O body. -Adaptation: any powers that are used offensively against the phalanx will be adapted to with ShX ability and rendered ineffective. The attack may be used (if specified to be slightly altered by PC, eg, different spectrum, band width, etc.) the same number of times as the powers rank number (EX=20 times.) -Serial Teleportation: may "teleport" anywhere else in one turn as long as their is a constant Crystalline Matrix(techno-organic) connection. Example- Harvest can teleport in one turn from the outermost edge to the inside of the Phalanx hive since it all consists of T-O matter. -Sensors: Electronic sensors of Am ability. -Increase size: up to 20 feet. -Reshape into functioning machines up to AM level. Create out of himself up to In damage energy or force ray blasters. Immortal due to a deal with a demon. Talents: Any that the Group Mind directs it to have (takes 1 turn to learn) Weakness: Cannot assimilate Mutants or those with Mutant DNA. History: Originally, Hodge was a college buddy of Warren Worthington III (Angel) who helped run the first X-Factor, when it was operating as a mutant-hunting business. While he pretended to like his boss, Hodge was in reality a rabid mutant-hater, and was the leader of a movement called The Right, whose goal was the eradication of all mutants. Eventually, Hodge revealed his true colors, and nearly bankrupted Worthington Enterprises. He also laid a trap for Archangel using Warren's girlfriend Candy Southern as bait. Candy was killed by the booby- trap, and in a fit of rage, Archangel sliced Hodge's head off with his metallic wings. Unbeknownst to Archangel, however, Hodge had made a deal with the demon N'astirh which granted him immortality, no matter what happened to him physically, so Hodge's head lived. He was brought to Genosha, where in exchange for a new cyborg body, Hodge provided the Genoshan government with detailed information on the X-Men and X-Factor, leading to their capture and trial. However, the cyborg body, while it had many weapons and a phasing capability, was huge and grotesque, so Hodge planned to absorb Warlock's techno-organic shape-shifting ability and to use it to form a more normal-looking body. Unfortunately, while the procedure was stopped, it killed Warlock, draining him of all of his energy. Hodge engaged and was defeated by the escaped X-Teams, and was buried under the rubble of the Genoshan Citadel. Months later, Hodge reappeared in Angel's Colorado home, techno-organic at last, and much more powerful. He had become part of the Phalanx, humans who had been infected with Warlock's Transmode Virus and had become part of a collective, which they then hoped to join to the full Phalanx collective in deep space and convert all life on Earth into Phalanx. The Phalanx's efforts to contact their "progenitors" failed and the Earth-based collective was slagged. However, while Hodge has not been seen since, his immortality spell means that his return can never be ruled out.
Harvest Fighting: AM Agility: RM Strength: AM Endurance: MN Reason: AM Intuition: IN Psyche: RM Health: 205 Karma: 120 Resources: Gd Popularity: 0 Known Powers: -Techno-Organic Body: gives him the following abilities: -Shapechanging: mimick human forms: Am -Communicate with technology/computers: ShZ -Elongation: Rm -Body Armor: Rm -Transmode Virus Conversion: Regain health by converting living, organic objects into a techno-organic form. He regains health equal to the material strength or the health of the target. He does this with Mn ability. Living creatures converted now become part of the Phalanx Collective mind, what they knew, the Phalanx know. -Transmode Virus Infection: they may infect other living creatures (same as above) only the infector gains no health, but the infected organic creature becomes a member of the phalanx after 10 turns when they have been fully converted by into their new T-O body. -Adaptation: any powers that are used offensively against the phalanx will be adapted to with ShX ability and rendered ineffective. The attack may be used (if specified to be slightly altered by PC, eg, different spectrum, band width, etc.) the same number of times as the powers rank number (EX=20 times.) -Serial Teleportation: may "teleport" anywhere else in one turn as long as their is a constant Crystalline Matrix(techno-organic) connection. Example- Harvest can teleport in one turn from the outermost edge to the inside of the Phalanx hive since it all consists of T-O matter. -Sensors: Electronic sensors of Am ability. -Increase size: up to 20 feet. -Reshape into functioning machines up to AM level. Create out of himself up to In damage energy or force ray blasters. Talents: Any that the Group Mind directs it to have (takes 1 turn to learn) Weakness: Cannot assimilate Mutants or those with Mutant DNA. History: As a member of the Phalanx, Harvest could shapeshift, access computers with the speed of thought, and create plasma-firing weapons out of his body, as well as absorb organic and inorganic materials, including people, to regenerate himself. Harvest had the unique ability to absorb more than one person at a time, and to keep them from being completely assimilated so that he could use them as drones even after his link to the collective was broken. He could also reabsorb the drones to power himself up. His role in the Phalanx's attempt to colonize Earth was to watch over the young mutants the Phalanx had captured, and to see if any of them could be assimilated. Harvest was eventually trapped in one of Clarice Ferguson's ("Blink") spatial distortions, from which neither of them returned. Even if he had survived the portal, the ensuing destruction of the Phalanx's base and collective would have reduced Harvest to so much slag, so it is safe to assume that he is dead.
Typical Technarch Unit Fighting: EX Agility: Ex Strength: Rm Endurance: Am Reason: In Intuition: RM Psyche: Ty Health: 120 Karma: 76 Resources: Gd Popularity: 0 Known Powers: -Techno-Organic Body: gives him the following abilities: -Shapechanging: mimick human forms: MN -Communicate with technology/computers: UN -Elongation: Rm -Body Armor: Rm -Transmode Virus Conversion: Regain health by converting living, organic objects into a techno-organic form. He regains health equal to the material strength or the health of the target. He does this with Mn ability. Living creatures converted die, and the Technarch absorbs the beings memories into his own. -Transmode Virus Infection: they may infect other living creatures (same as above) only the infector gains no health, but the infected organic creature becomes a member of the phalanx after 10 turns when they have been fully converted by into their new T-O body. This unit will likley be destroyed as the Technarch consider it an abomination-a Technarch would not willingly use it unless he wishes to have a phalanx force that will build a bable spire and signal the homeworld (eg, if he is one of the few remaining Technarchs on the planet). -Serial Teleportation: may "teleport" anywhere else in one turn as long as their is a constant Crystalline Matrix(techno-organic) connection. -Sensors: Electronic sensors of MN ability. -Increase size: up to 200 feet. -Reshape into functioning machines up to MN level. Create out of himself up to In damage energy or force ray blasters. Talents: Any that the Technarch Group Mind directs it to have (takes 1 turn to learn)
See also:
Blink Warlock Douglock (warlockII) Bastion
this phalanx sourcebook was made by "EveL" chris schmitz:
Screamin Evel's RPG Shack
