Men in Black (MiB) and Women in Black (WiB), also known as Series P agents, are physiopharmaceutically augmented agents of Majestic 12. They appear as hostile non-player characters in Deus Ex. They are much stronger than average enemies.
Background[]
The Series P agents were the results of research conducted at VersaLife. The goal was to impart enhanced capabilities and absolute loyalty onto a human agent, while avoiding both the non-standard appearance of mechanical augmentation and unpredictability of nano-augmentation.[1]
The project utilized a novel physiopharmaceutical approach to augmentation with great success. Series P agents have above-average height[2] and the improvements were assessed to be 78% more effective in combat than a normal operative without any form of augmentation.[1] Furthermore, the agents showed a marked lack of pain response with a corresponding increase in endurance and strength, while psychological conditioning resulted in high loyalty.[3] A key feature of the P Series agents is their self-termination mechanism, a variation on the "kill-switch." The self-termination mechanism is wired into the autonomous nervous system of the agent. If the agent is mortally wounded, the mechanism will activate and explode, eliminating any evidence of the agent and damaging nearby hostiles.[1]
The process is supposed to increase intelligence, but it's impossible for the MiBs to tell the difference.[4] However, they have incredible attention to detail, noting even minor oddities in individual biometrics,[5] though the conditioning takes a severe toll. The experience of being an MiB is apparently cold and dark, going on forever.[6] Men and Women in Black also suffer from borderline paranoia, constantly tracking and monitoring everyone, even troopers under their command. Lacking a way to track everyone,[7] the MiBs rely on noticing oddities and performing constant loyalty checks based on them.[8] Anyone can be put on the list,[9] though it is not by itself a sentence, as they can be cleared just as easily.[10] The more people accompany the MiBs, the tighter their efforts to keep a firm grip on security.[11] The only way to avoid their ire is to be like them, with eyes front and an expressionless face.[12]
While Series P agents are supposed to be consistent in their loyalties and performance, there is variance in the result of the augmentation process. While most demonstrated an absence of emotion and an inhuman detachment, in particular towards wounds and corpses.[13][14][15] The detachment was intentional, and in many cases agents surrendered their original names in favor of those imposed on them by Majestic 12. The process did not suppress all emotions in certain subjects, which limited their ability to advance in the ranks, as with Adept 34501.[16] Others, like Mari Hela, retained their wry sense of humor and sarcasm, which did not stop them from working with the highest echelons of MJ12, up to Walton Simons.[17][18][19][20]
One side effect is that all Series P agents lose pigmentation in their skin, producing albino-like traits and red eyes. This has been resolved by giving them sunglasses and dark clothing.[1] MiBs also have a robotic-sounding voice, which was retained. For identification, MiBs have the Illuminati eye symbol tattooed to the back of their necks.
Within the ranks of Majestic 12, series P agents serve as field commanders and elite combat troops. They are given the latest weapons, such as the non-eutactic blade[21] and have full sanction to kill and dispose of targets as they see fit.[22] They are usually responsible for the most sensitive operations, including pursuing fugitives like JC Denton,[23] securing locations that could compromise MJ12 operations,[24] and retrieval of bodies important for research.[25][26]
Gameplay characteristics[]
Men in Black[]
Men in Black have 350 HP, the highest of any generic NPC type. Thus, they are substantially more durable than common troopers (who have 100 HP). Compared to MJ12 Commandos, MiBs have more health, but lack the latter's specialized weaponry and specialized damage resistances. MiBs have no predefined default inventory, and can be seen using a variety of weapons. MiBs will never flee, no matter how injured. Lighting them on fire e.g. with the flamethrower will cause them to panic like any other NPC, but due to their high health, the burning effect will wear off before they die unless it is re-applied.
When an MiB dies, they explode after collapsing with a blast radius of 16 feet and a base damage of 100. Killing MiBs with melee weapons will generally result in severe damage to the player unless they quickly move away using the Speed Enhancement augmentation or take cover in the second before detonation.
When an MiB explodes, his inventory is destroyed. The only way to loot is to render them unconscious using a non-lethal weapon: a riot prod, a baton, or tranquilizer darts from a mini-crossbow. The riot prod is particularly effective; with Trained skill in Low-Tech, they can be knocked out with a sneak attack to the torso.[27] Even without the damage bonus from stealth, the riot prod will stun them temporarily, allowing for follow-up attacks without retaliation. MiBs are are also susceptible to gas grenades or the pepper gun, allowing for a subsequent takedown with the baton.
With Master skill in Rifles, a single headshot from the sniper rifle can kill a MiB. The sawed-off shotgun can do the same, if all five pellets hit the head.
Women in Black[]
WiBs have the same general combat characteristics as MiBs, save for slightly faster movement and 300 HP instead of 350. The lower HP makes it possible to incapacitate a WiB with a single torso hit from the riot prod even at the untrained skill level, provided that the stealth bonus applies.
Notable MiBs and WiBs[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- When idle, MiBs may make statements that reference popular culture, such as mentioning the impossibility of separating hybrids from regular humans (X-Files)[28] or that some people are androids, judging by the way they move (?).[29]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 PROSPECTUS: SERIES P AGENTS proposal by Dr. Arthur Donovan (VersaLife/HK) (datacube)
- ↑ A collision heights of 52.25 (MiB) and 47.3 (WiB) correspond to 6.3125 feet and 5.9125 feet. The standard collision height in the game is 47.5 for male characters and 43 for female characters.
- ↑ VersaLife Level 1 labs computer, Series P agents (overview)
- ↑ Woman in Black: " They said the process would make me smarter, but I can't tell."
- ↑ Man in Black: " Something odd about his biometrics."
- ↑ Man in Black: " Cold. Cold and dark. It goes on forever."
- ↑ Man in Black: " If there were just some way of tracking all these people..."
- ↑ Woman in Black: " That one looks odd; I'll check his file."
- ↑ Woman in Black: " That one goes on the list. That one too..."
- ↑ Woman in Black: " I checked the records; he's clear. "
- ↑ Woman in Black: " This area should be more tightly controlled. Look at these people!"
- ↑ Woman in Black: " Eyes front, no expression... that's it."
- ↑ Man in Black: "A body. Interesting wounds."
- ↑ Man in Black: "I have found a human corpse."
- ↑ Man in Black: "Casualty. Marks are consistent with known attack patterns."
- ↑ Testament of Adept 34501
- ↑ Mari Hela: "Excellent work, people."
- ↑ Mari Hela: "Yes? That's right. Hotel Echo Lima Alpha."
- ↑ Mari Hela: "What a dreary place. Leave it to the French.
- ↑ Mari Hela: "Hostage tactics. What a nightmare!
- ↑ VersaLife Level 1 labs computer, RE: NEB Trials
- ↑ MiB: "Drop him. We have full sanction here."
- ↑ MiB: "Bag him. They'll want to see this."
- ↑ MiB: "Finished. Seal this place off."
- ↑ MiB: "Done here. Check the body."
- ↑ MiB: "Remember not to touch the body this time."
- ↑ The damage of the riot prod in this situation is 15 (base damage) x 1.2 (trained skill level) x 2 (torso hit) x 10 (stealth bonus) = 360.
- ↑ Man in Black: " We'll never be able to separate out the hybrids."
- ↑ Man in Black: " Some of these people are androids. Watch the way they move."
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