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HERO SYSTEM 5TH EDITION
but in the 1960s the Sentinels encountered these PAGE 95 źö ALIENS AND
aliens again and discovered they had only built THE GREATER GALAXY
a forward launching base on Mars. This base,
The information presented in the main text is
abandoned by the Sirians, is now the home of an
accurate, and represents the extent of the public s
Empyrean, Deloss, who is thought to be the only
knowledge of alien life. Some of Earth s govern-
living being on Mars at this time.
ments, primarily the United States, know consider-
The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter
ably more details gleaned from information that
was once a planet, though how it was destroyed,
hasn t been publicly released, but no one on Earth
and by whom, remains a mystery. Unbeknownst
knows the full extent of the galactic community
to the superhumans of Earth, over two million
(see the accompanying map for the current galac-
years ago this former world was once the home
topolitical state of affairs as of the Earth year 2002).
of a race of plant creatures whom the Progeni-
More importantly, no one on Earth is aware of sev-
tors nurtured and protected. Within the asteroids
eral potential alien threats to Earth s security.
themselves can be found hidden repositories of
The Hzeel
Progenitor knowledge and technology, which
The greatest of these threats is posed by the
would be invaluable to individuals powerful and
Hzeel, a humanoid species with bluish-grey skin,
wise enough to understand them.
large reddish eyes, and technology significantly
Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter, is the
more advanced than Earth s. The Hzeel control
location of our solar system s Star*Guard base.
an empire rimward of Earth, and are expansion-
The Star*Guard is an ancient order of warriors
istic. The chief threat to their aims as of 2002 is
devoted to the protection of the good and inno-
the Perseid Empire (Ironclad s people), which lies
cent, originally founded on the planet Odragar
spinward of both them and Earth. In the hope of
but now made up of representatives from dozens
outflanking the Perseids, the Hzeel are consider-
of races. Star Guardians are trained in hand-
ing a sweep into Earth s part of the galaxy, and that
to-hand combat and mental disciplines, given
would include conquering Earth for use as a for-
the powerful Star-Staff as a weapon, and then
ward base and supply station.
assigned to particular regions of space. Andre
In recent years the Hzeel have sent numer-
Almena, a Spaniard, is currently the Guardian of
ous scout ships to covertly explore Earth and learn
our region and lives on Europa with a small sup-
more about its people and technology, particularly
port team of various aliens. He rarely comes to
peoples with superhuman powers (which likewise
Earth, considering it well-protected by its own
occur among the Perseids, but are quite rare among
heroes.
the Hzeel). Most of these missions have gone
Map of Hero Universe (2002)
Velarian
Confederation
Former
Malvan
territory
Varanyi
Malva
Mon dabi
Ackalia
Galactic Core
Se ecra
Mandaaria
Xenovores
Earth
Perseids
Thorgons
Hzeel