Editing Cyber-Dungeon Index (section)

=Faction: The Safeguard=
The Safeguard is an autonomous AI protocol responsible for protecting Netsphere, and, at a more basic level, ensuring the integrity of the OS base that operates the nanomachines that saturate the megastructure. Functioning as the antivirus program of the Netsphere, the Safeguard triggers automatically in response to percieved threats. A war between the Safeguard and Silicon Life has been waged unceasingly for a number of milennia and has significantly depleted the megastructure of basic human life.

==Safeguard Hierarchy==
There are two parallel tiers of Safeguard organization. Nonautonomous units under the direct control of the command program fall under the Exterminator protocol, of which Class One is the highest. Autonomous constructs, granted a personality and a degree of freedom to act, fall under the Agent protocol, of which level 9 is the highest. An Agent has clearance to download and control a number of Exterminator entities while on assignment.

Safeguard Exterminator Class Zero/00 (Exterminator base class-Clawed)<br>
Safeguard Exterminator Class Zero/01 (Transmission Entity, large constructs that download in response to attempts to breach Megastructure level barriers as seen in v2)<br>
Safeguard Exterminator Class Zero/02 (Large Exterminator as seen in Noise)<br>
Safeguard Exterminator Class Zero/03 (Twin Exterminator as seen in Noise, equipped with spine launcher/cutting tail)<br>
Safeguard Exterminator Class Zero/04 (Watchman)<br>
Safeguard Exterminator Class Zero/05 (Giant Exterminator/Transport/Exterminator Download Terminal unit)<br>
Safeguard Exterminator Class One (Sterilizer/Destroyer as seen in v9)

Safeguard Agent Level 1-3 (Unknown, not encountered - May be child type SG's)<br>
Safeguard Agent Level 4 (Dhomochevsky type - Basic Biped w/skinsuit - Not cleared for GBE use)<br>
Safeguard Agent Level 5 (Killy Clone - Basic Biped w/skinsuit - Cleared for GBE use)<br>
Safeguard Agent Level 6 (Sanakan type - Shapeshifter Biped - Cleared for nanite modification of own body form)<br>
Safeguard Agent Level 7 (Unknown)<br>
Safeguard Agent Level 8 (Unknown)<br>
Safeguard Level 9 (Angel - Doomsday Device - Cleared for highest level matter conversion and nanomachine manipulation)<br>

???? Little Safeguard (seen during Cibo's flashback)<br>
???? Provisional Safeguard (Dhomochevsky, Ico)<br>
???? Elevator Entity (may be an Authority entity subsequently hacked and overtaken by SG)<br>
???? Giant Safeguard (Seen in Netsphere Engineer)<br>
Net: Claw, Scissors, Henchmen

==Safeguard Units==
''Safeguard are often transmitted via Matter Conversion Towers to directly address percieved threats to the Netsphere.  However many seem capable of roaming a level and occupying locations over an extended period.''

*Exterminator: The basic quick-response assault unit of the Safeguard.  Often deployed through Structure Conversion Towers directly to a threat in large numbers.  Exclusively melee, extremely agile and capable of standing bipedally.  In extreme cases, Exterminators can show basic intelligence (such as the one that cobbles itself together after being badly damaged in v6) though they usually tend to behave in a very direct manner.  Unlikely of being capable of independent thought and receives directives straight from the Safeguard.

*Giant Exterminator (Transmission Entity): (v2p201) A large humanoid entity that possesses 4 powerful clawed arms and massive strength.  Its lower body is fused to a surface, extended by an articulated snake-like lower torso.

*Watchman: (v10p43) A type of Exterminator judging on superficial features, this safeguard is massive and quick.  In one form, it runs on all fours using its claws and mouth to attack.  However it can transform into a 50' tall humanoid with a nanite-formed protective mantle and cowl.  It possesses the ability to fire energy bursts from its hand, bearing emitters on three of its fingers.

*Exterminator First Class: (v10p136) An extremely high level safeguard, the 1st Class resembles a standard Exterminator, however it stands nearly 20' tall upright and possesses an energy core which is its only true weak point.  Its abilities are many and dangerous, it can levitate, fabricate matter (including transparent structures around threats which completely disable them), has what appear to be telekinetic powers and can launch high-level gravitational beams from its core.  Additionally any damage done to it can be repaired rapidly.  A Lv4 GBE shot to the core, point blank is sufficient to destroy it.

*Level 6: Capable of independent thought, Lv6 agents are intelligent, cunning and deadly.  Equipped with an arm-mounted GBE and a type of energy shield in their hand, they're capable of issuing and defending against GBE shots.  A hand-mounted dart launcher can infect lifeforms with safeguard data, transforming them into Exterminators.  Additionally Lv6 safeguards have a body with flexible composition that can be recombined into different shapes such as growing wings, disguising themselves as human children or quickly healing structural damage.

*Level 9: The highest level of Safeguard, it takes quite some time to download into its environment, forming a cocoon as it gestates within.  Once it deploys (hatches) it is supposedly nearly unstoppable though it can still receive damage from conventional weapons.  It has an extremely powerful regeneration ability and can even heal other entities via a strange projectile.  The Lv9 can transform its arms into some type of destructive ranged weapon.  The crowning feature of the Lv9 is its ability to project a massive area of devastation through some type of energy halo.  This ability is unparalleled in destructive capacity compared to all other known weapons in the Megastructure.

==Safeguard Weapons==
''Safeguard weapons are of some of the best quality and highest power in the Megastructure.  They will only work in the proximity of Safeguards or Silicon Life.''<br>

*Safeguard Pistol(v8p15): Semi-automatic pistol.  Fires explosive bullets.
*Safeguard Grenade Launcher (v8p15): Very different from contemporary grenade launchers in that it fires the explosive projectiles at subsonic speeds.<br>
*Safeguard Shotgun (fires hundreds of pellets, long range, unlike conventional shotguns.  Used by Killy against Pcell in V8)<br>
*Electronic Warfare Wand (v7p100): This device can be used to incapacitate electronic-dependent beings as well as deliver lethal ranged impacts. Requires understanding of Safeguard interface protocols.<br>
*Dhomochevsky's Gun: Fully automatic, fires guided explosive projectiles up to 4 at a time and contains a laser.  It must be loaded manually like a revolver and also ejects casings.<br>
*Safeguard Sword (Graviton Blade) (v10p68): This blade projects a graviton-based cutting field well beyond melee range and will shear through nearly anything with a stroke.<br>
*Gravitational Beam Emitter [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_Beam_Emitter]: "Class 1 Critical Effect Weapon" can be charged up through 4 levels of power however variants exist that have lesser or no charge-up ability.  It is powered by the bio-electricity of the user and the kick back when fired is massive.  One of the most powerful weapons known to the Megastructure, it leaves holes that are 70km long. Software in the gun interface with the local nanite environment to ensure that it cannot be fired in locations where extensive destruction would destroy or fundamentally damage the integrity of the megastructure.<br>

==Safeguard Armor==
*Safeguard-Class Skinsuits (optional properties: wings, active defense, tissue reconstruction)<br>
*Safeguard-Class Armorsuits
*Trench Coat (GA-Sanakan)<br>

==Safeguard Special Weapons and Abilities==
*Scanner (comprehensive retinal scanner, can detect metals, can detect through solid mass. A retinal scan will reveal genetic information, organizational level in SG/SL, as well as power level and energy charge amount)<br>
*Rapid Regeneration (High-level safeguards can utilize matter conversion towers to restore parts of their structure, near instantly.)<br>
*Infection Needles (Sanakan, hand-mounted projectile weapon that rapidly turns organic host into an Exterminator by infecting them with safeguard protocol nanites)<br>
*Gravitational Repulsion Unit (Sanakan, mounted in hand, can disperse GBE shots and blunt attacks from gravity swords v10p105)<br>
*Explosive Jettison (Sanakan)<br>
*Bioelectric Burst (v8p146 a desperation attack (energy projectile) used by Dhomo against Davinel.  Likely composed of pure bio-energy)<br>
*Bioelectric Transfer (v8p157 used by Iko, allows one to transfer their bioelectricity to another)
*Freeform Nanite Body (Shapeshifter, Safeguard)<br>
*Personal Anti-Intrusion Electron Space: Cloaks user from sensors, blocks hacking attempts. Extends 6m <br>
*Binary Speak (v9c53p60, access to basic megastructure OS protocols allows one to speak to sentient and manipulate non-sentient robotics

[[image:Blame_SL.jpg|right|frame|Ivy, a Silicon Life.]]