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Vigilance Press

Jack Norris

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Writer: Jack Norris

Art: Alex Williamson and Denise Jones
Layout: Ruben Byrd
Editing: Nathan Kahler

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Publisher: James Dawsey

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Thanks for your time, and happy gaming to you!

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A note about piracy: For those of you who purchased this honestly, thank you for your business. You are the reason I do this. If you obtained
this work on the sly, please consider obtaining a copy from a legit source like RPGNow.com. Every word, every image, every page that was laid
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James Dawsey
Vigilance Press Publisher and Owner

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The Bureau of Extra-Terrestrial Affairs

The Purpose of BETA

Bureau was of little help, leaving other forces to thwart the alien
invasionsmuch to the chagrin of F.D.R.

BETA is a covert government agency working in tandem with Allied

Forces to protect the Allies, humanity, and Earth from alien threats
during World War II. Primarily an American agency, the United Kingdom and Free French leadership are aware of its existence and provide
support and personnel as needed. BETAs relationship with the USSR is
more tenuous, with only one liaison officer assigned to give the Soviets
token involvement. BETA is not only the first line of defense against
alien invasions, infiltration, and encounters, but also serves as damage
control when such incidents run the risk of causing public panic.

Needing a real solution, and concerned with rumors of Hitlers efforts

to contactand even ally withvarious alien forces, the president
issued two executive orders: the first disbanded the Bureau, citing
it as an unnecessary and frivolous relic of a past administration; the
second devoted funds and personnel to re-form and revitalize BETA
as an effective deterrent to the rising alien menace. Step one was
clearthey needed real experts in a field that had no peer review or
training programs: uncovering and stopping extraterrestrial threats.

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A Brief
History of BETA

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The Bureau for Extra-Terrestrial Affairs (BETA) grew out of a need.

At the middle of the 20th Century, alien presence on Earth was
becoming a growing concern. While hardly commonplace, various
renegade alien horrors, wayward space travelers, and a few full-on
invasions made it clear that even as humanity turned its focus to
growing international tensions and mastering their own planet, the
stars would not be ignored.
Initially a line item in the Hoover administrations War Department
budget, the Bureau was understaffed, barely funded, and mostly
ignored. The occasional weirdo in residence from BETA was called
in to consult on strange lights or bizarre wreckage found on an arctic expedition, but with occult-hunting Nazis, strange cults, mad
but definitely human scientists, and other strange threats, BETA
barely registered.
This all changed in 1938, when two separate extraterrestrial incursions (one at Grovers Mill, New Jersey) made BETA suddenly relevant. American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, thankful his
government actually had an agency assigned to handle alien phenomena, called BETA in to advise; the result was less than spectacular. BETA was a paper tiger, consisting of a few aging agents, fringe
scientists, and an astounding lack of funding and equipment. The

Reaching out to various scientists, adventurers, and other government agencies, BETA assembled a list of potential recruits. Most
refused, but a handful of stalwart souls accepted. BETAs first real
success came in early 1940, when a crashed alien prison ship let
loose a number of extraterrestrial horrors in the Louisiana Bayou. A
BETA team, led by new recruit Dash Freeman, managed to capture
or destroy all the aliens while avoiding panic by keeping the whole
affair quiet. Over the early days of WWII, BETA stopped other threats,
acquired new alien technology for use and study, and expanded its
ranks to include liaison agents from the various Allied powers. Today, BETA works in secret to protect the United States and its allies
against threats from the stars and beyond. Their agents are unconventional, strange, and even potentially dangerous. However, the
Earth would not survive without them.

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BETA can be a great ally and occasional frustration for costumed heroes of the Golden Age. They do not mind help in stopping invading
alien armadas or rampaging alien beasts, but they want to keep
such things out of the newssomething antithetical to many superheroes. BETA keeps a close eye on any heroes with alien origins or
ties, and such heroes behaving suspiciously might find themselves
getting a visit from BETA operatives. BETA does not hassle obviously
heroic and helpful aliens or spacefaring heroes needlessly, but they
and PC heroes might not agree on what constitutes necessity.

BETAs Organizational
Structure
To promote secrecy and keep bureaucratic delays to a minimum,
BETA operates with a small, well-funded staff given the highest
security clearance. The current head of the Bureau is Colonel Arlo
China Bridger, a tough talking, Mississippi-born career Army officer
who spent much of his post WWI career in small military actions in
the Far East. Despite his rank, Bridger has more security clearance
and political clout than most Allied Generals and Admiralsat least
when it comes to kicking those little green bastards back to Uranus
or whatever godforsaken mud ball they come from!
BETA is well funded, especially for an agency its size. They have first
crack at any strange technology or extraterrestrial-based scientific
discoveries, and BETAs own research division has made many such
discoveries themselves. More than a few top-secret government
projects owe their progress to BETA.
Although Col. Bridger is attended by a small staff of clerks, analysts,
and other support personnel, all selected for their expertise and

THE BUREAU OF EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL AFFAIRS

loyalty, the main weapons of BETA against extraterrestrial threats

are the field agents, an eclectic group of men and women known
collectively as the BETA Men.

Benefit: BETA Membership

GMs might want to run a campaign where the heroes are

BETA Men fighting the alien menace in the shadow of
WWII, or they might want to design their own important
NPCS affiliated with the organization. In either case,
characters with ties to BETA should have this Benefit to
reflect their role in the organization and level of access to
agency resources.

The BETA Men

The BETA Men, or B-Men, are duly deputized and salaried federal
agents, though on paper more recognized and mundane institutions
technically employ them. Each agent is selected for their skills, courage, curiosity, and ability to maintain focus and sanity in the face of
the strange and unexplainable. There is no training program for BETA
Menthe agency does not take rookies and everyone is expected
to learn on the job, which results in agents of widely varying levels
of expertise and experience. However, the success of these operatives in uncovering, assessing, and neutralizing alien threats speaks
for itself. The BETA Men have dealt with dozens of potentially explosive extraterrestrial incidents without so much as a whisper of them
reaching the public or press. Higher profile operations occur, but it is
clear that BETAs presence keeps even major incidents from worsening into worldwide catastrophes.

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The following are some of the more common pieces of equipment

issued to BETA agents. All are adapted from confiscated alien technology, and are not easily mistaken for conventional weapons and
objects of the period. The agents listed in the book do not have this
Equipment listed in their stat blocks, but can be assumed to have it
when the need arises.

TITLE

RANK

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BETA Arms
& Equipment

BETA Communicator
Looking like a strange wristband with a flip up black and white
video screen, the standard issue BETA Communicator uses specially
encrypted energy pulses to communicate. These devices can communicate with each other and larger receiver units, such as the ones
at BETA headquarters.

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BETA Men are issued a variety or weapons and equipment, from conventional firearms to experimental technology developed from confiscated alien equipment. While each agent has their favorite weapons
and gear, any BETA Man can requisition other equipment as needed.

Currently only one person has the Rank 3 BETA Benefit:

Director Arlo Bridger. Should the agency expand in size
and influence, more ranks might be created at the GMs
discretion, with existing ranks being increased in cost as
needed.

BETA Communicator: Feature 2 (Encrypted Commlink) 2 Points

BETA Needle Pistol

A small, pistol-like weapon, the BETA Needle Pistol uses electromagnets to fire needlelike shards at incredible velocities. Special
sound-absorbing ammo reduces the report of the weapon to a soft
zing.

EFFECT

Support Staff

Assigned resources to accomplish a defined role.

BETA Man

Access to resources for approved field operations.

Senior Support Staff

Coordinates a department (intelligence, R&D, etc.)

Senior BETA Man

Heads field operations and commands a BETA Man team.

Director

Heads and directs agency-wide policies and operations.

THE BETA MEN

The Men from BETA

BETA Needle Pistol: Ranged Damage 4, Quirk (Treat Impervious Protection as 2 ranks higher vs. weapon), Subtle 8 points

The following section details the most prominent figures in BETA.

These are the individuals Heroes are most likely to encounter when
they cross paths with the organization, as well as being among its
more colorful members. In addition to their individual write-ups, the
relationships between these characters and common BETA tactics
are detailed as well.

BETA Electro-Net Cannon

Looking a bit like a mounted machine gun crossed with a blunderbuss, this device can fire a mesh of electrified wires that entangle
and subdue various threats. The Electro-Cannon is notoriously hard
to aim, but anything struck by it will be continuously shocked and
entangled until they succumb or escape.

Organization Dynamics
Generally BETA members get along and work well together, but
nobody is perfect. Personality conflicts, ideological differences, and
personal history influence how various individuals relate to each
other. These relationships are detailed on the chart and individual
descriptions in this section.

BETA Rocket Car

A cross between a modern sedan and something out of a sci-fi pulp,
this wheel-less vehicle uses magnets and rocket turbines to carry
itself and 4 passengers (6 if they are cozy) through the air at speeds
rivaling Allied fighter planes.

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BETA Rocket Car: SIZE: Large, STR: 5, TOU: 10, DEF: 0, Powers: Turbines (Flight 8), Feature 2 (Encrypted Communicator) 25 points

Col. Arlo Bridger

Col. Bridger expects a lot from his men, be they human, alien,
black, white, purple, or whatever. He does not much care about
superficial appearances, a fact that makes it quite easy for him to
get along with his top agent, Dash Freeman. This connection is
strengthened by Dashs courage and record of success, two things
Bridger values highly. It also makes his relationship with Professor
Trinazet tolerable, though he is not keen on having a commie as
part of BETA. He is gruff and no-nonsense with Bantam, but privately he worries about the boy as any father would and while he
understands logically Bantam is only partially his son, Danny, he
tends to ignore that reality more often than not. He was not sure
about Princess Sheenala at first, but now considers her a valued
member.

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BETA Electro-Net Cannon: Ranged Affliction 8 (Resisted by

Dodge, Overcome by Damage; Vulnerable and Hindered, Defenseless and Immobile), Extra Condition, Inaccurate, Limited
Degree, Limited: Bulky (requires two man crew, vehicle mount,
or STR 4+ to operate), Progressive 7 points

BETA Sonic Stunner

This toy-like pistol, with a parabolic dish in place of a barrel, is coated in the same sound-absorbing material as Needle Pistol ammunition. The stunner absorbs ambient sound and stores it in an internal
battery. A pull of the Stunners trigger fires a burst of concentrated
sound that can disable foes without causing lasting harm.
BETA Sonic Stunner: Ranged Cumulative Affliction 5 (Resisted by Fortitude; Impaired, Stunned, Incapacitated), Unreliable
(5 uses); Note: recharges 1 use/hour anywhere with normal
levels of ambient sound 10 points
In addition to this equipment, BETA supplies its agents with various
normal vehicles, firearms, and basic gear as needed. BETA agents can
be assumed to have about 10 points of Equipment at their disposal at
most times, ranging from flashlights to .45s.

Dash Freeman
Dash gets along fine with everyone at BETA. Any problems earlier in his career due to his race, unconventional background, or
whatever else were ironed out with a mix of personal charisma
and when necessary direct confrontation. He in particular is close
to Bantam, who he sees both as a staunch ally and a bit of a kid
brother. He and Princess Sheenala have been dancing around a
romantic relationship for some time now, though cultural differences and past romantic tragedy has made this a rocky road. He
recognizes Professor Trinazets contributions to the fight to protect
humanity from alien threats, but he finds the ape-mans cynicism,
excessive drinking, and intellectualist arrogance often off-putting.
Professor Trinazet
The Red Ape likes all his BETA comrades, most of them much more
than he likes many of his fellow Soviet communists. Despite this,
he is not completely comfortable with them. This is mostly due to
his own guilt at being ordered to spy on BETA for his Soviet superiors and the conflict and guilt this sows within him. This makes it

BETA ARMS AND EQUIPMENT

particularly hard for him to get along with Dash, whose forthright
nature is a painful contrast to Professor Trinazets own deception.

his companions for their bravery and believes in the righteousness of

their cause, but he spends most of his off-hours alone. On the other
hand, he is fantastic at acting sympathetic or friendly, and will engage
in such behavior to discourage any concerns that he is becoming too
withdrawn. However, ultimately this is just another part he is playing.

Princess Sheenala
Though she often speaks of her fathers great kingdom in the stars and
the backwardness of Earth, Princess Sheenala is actually quite fond
of her teammates, BETA, and Earth (in that order). She respects Col.
Bridger, who reminds her of a favorite uncle from her youth. Unlike
most of BETA, she is not unduly concerned with Danny Bridgers safety,
seeing him as a kindred spirittwo children of aged warriors called to
serve on the front lines of a great conflict. She is very attracted to Dash,
though the specters of past relationships haunt both of them.

Team Tactics
Col. Bridger and various BETA Men developed the following tactics for
dealing with a variety of situations involving alien threats. With a bit
of tweaking, they have also serve against the occasional mundane
Axis agent or costumed villain.

Lock it Down
Containment is a serious concern in most BETA operations. When
necessary, Dash and Bantam will engage a foe directly while Princess
Sheenala directs any field personnel to secure possible exits and avenues of escape. In the case of a known alien threat, Professor Trinazet
will often handle the use of whatever experimental tech or dangerous
substances are necessary to exploit their foes weaknesses.

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Relay, the Living Radio

Relay is much happier with BETA than on the Dawn Patrol. His lack of
offensive powers is not as much of a standout among the BETA Men,
and his noncombat abilities often prove vital to Bureau operations. He
gets along well with the whole team, even Professor Trinazet, with
whom he shares a mutual interest in quiet evenings playing chess
and smoking a strong shag. He loves his wife, Elizabeth, deeply and
despite his admiration for the rest of the team would not risk anything
to rescue her from danger. He finds Danny Bridgers hero-worship of
him both flattering and unsettling, often happy to deflect the boys
attempts to solicit stories of his past adventures onto Dash, who he
secretly believes is a greater hero than he will ever be.

BETA Men, Go
In direct combat, Princess Sheenala, Dash, and Bantam usually take
the lead. Bantam is the teams heavy hitter and his battle experience
and advanced weaponry make him a natural to directly engage powerful foes. Dash and the Princess usually deal with minions and lesser
threats first, then move to assist Bantam. The other members of the
team provide support, but generally stay out of direct combat with
more dangerous opponents. However, Relay is known to sometimes
charge in to prove he still has what it takes to be a hero, often with
varied results.

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Bantam, the Micro-Knight

Bantam is literally of two minds about BETA and its mission. As Danny
Bridger, he is excited to be helping his father and looks up to Dash, Relay, and Princess Sheenala as great heroes. As Bantam, he recognizes
their utility as allies and admires their courage, but is also ever wary
for signs that the Bureaus interests and those of Earths do not conflict
with his personal mission. He finds Professor Trinazet skilled but somewhat off-putting in both identities.

Lady Nightingale
Elizabeth sometimes feels a bit out of place in a team mostly of aliens,
brawny males, and talking apes. However, she relishes this feeling as
much as it sometimes annoys her. She particularly enjoys how much
BETA is completely unlike the garden parties and grand balls of her
youth. She respects Dash as a great leader and almost endless source of
inspiration, a fact that sometimes makes her husband, Relay, a bit jealous. She manages a close but odd friendship with Princess Sheenala, as
despite both born of privilege and responsibility they are literally from
two different worlds. She adores Col. Bridgers folksy charm, though
she often acts appropriately annoyed, as should a lady of her breeding.
Le Masque
Jean is detached from the other members of the team. The loss of his
loved ones and a natural tendency to hide his feelings behind disguises and acting means he does not get too close to anyone. He admitted

ORGANIZATION DYNAMICS

Falling Back
When escape or evasion is called for, the team will grab any civilians
or noncombatants and bug out. Dash, Relay, and Princess Sheenala
will cover the escape, while Bantam grabs Nightingale, Trinazet, and
any other non-combat types and flies to a safe distance. The rest of
the team will flee as soon as everyone else is clear, with Relay taking
up the rear due to his ability to teleport away using the nearest radio
transmitter if necessary.
Strength in Numbers
Unlike many super-teams and similar organizations, BETA can call
in a lot of manpower if needed. It is a sparsely used tactic, as large
troop movements draw unwanted attention to their operations.
However, when needed and with proper authorization, BETA can
literally call in the marines (or FBI, or local cops) to help deal with
a problem. Dash is usually in charge of large-scale field operations,
though at times Col. Bridger himself will take to the field either due
to the size of the operation or to keep myself from getting too rusty.