Space Cops

[Clonus]

In 1959, DC introduced the Green Lantern Corps, a superpowered  interstellar police agency.  Later we learned they were successors to a robot police force known as the Manhunts and Marvel brought in first the Accuser Corps and then the Nova Corps.  Of course DC's Green Lanterns owe a largely unacknowledged debt to Doc Smith's Lensmen who also provided inspiration for the Jedi Order.

 

I know there's got to be a Champions universe pastiche of the Lanterns, so what is it and what's their equivalent of the rings?  

 

 

[archer]

Must...resist...ring-around-the-collar joke....

[Lord Liaden]

The Star*Guard has an entire chapter devoted to it in the book, Champions Beyond, which describes in great detail the "space" side of the Champions Universe -- alien races and civilizations, individual NPCs heroic and villainous, cosmic entities, and the like. That chapter details Star*Guard history, structure, technology, major enemies, and types of StarGuards (the term "Star*Guard" refers to the organization as a whole, while "StarGuard" designates an individual operative).

In many ways the Star*Guard is analogous to the Green Lantern Corps from DC Comics. It exists to protect sapient life in the Milky Way Galaxy from all manner of threats, to foster cooperation between civilizations, and to help integrate species into the wider galactic community; but doesn't involve itself in "local politics" (which can even include interstellar wars, depending on the circumstances). Individual StarGuards may be recruited from any sapient species in the Milky Way. They're intensively trained on the Star*Guard's home base, the planet Odrugar, and given an extraordinary technological weapon, the Star-Staff. Once their training is complete a StarGuard is assigned duties, most often as the guardian of a particular "sector" of the galaxy. The current StarGuard for Earth's sector is a Human, a Spaniard named Andre Almena. Almena is featured on the center of the cover of Champions Beyond: https://content.invisioncic.com/s285913/packages-0614345001387422035.jpg

 

A million years ago the Odrugarans were the most advanced species in the Milky Way. At that time their greatest genius and hero, Gloran, was born. Gloran used his gifts to become a superhero, battling evil both to protect his people and other worlds in the galaxy. He created an incredibly sophisticated AI computer, called CONTROL, to assist him, and recruited other heroic individuals to fight alongside him. That was the genesis of the modern Star*Guard. When Gloran died his knowledge, memories and personality were downloaded into CONTROL -- this has become the pattern for preserving other notable StarGuards and Odrugarans after death.

Over the eons Odrugaran society has shaped itself to support the work of the Star*Guard, and CONTROL became the benevolent ruler of the planet and director of the Guard, assisted by an appointed Council of Overseers (many, but not all, former Guards themselves). CONTROL possessed telepathic systems enabling it to communicate directly with StarGuards anywhere in the galaxy, and to scan minds to find worthy recruits. However, an attack on Odrugar by the treacherous former StarGuard, Mordace (more-or-less an analogue for Sinestro) in Earth year 2009 left CONTROL severely damaged, forcing the Guards to become more self-reliant. Based on the notes in Champions Beyond it may be that repair efforts on CONTROL still have not returned it to full functioning.

 

The majority of StarGuards are assigned to protect specific sectors of space, aided by one to five Marshals they recruit as assistants and companions. However, others are inducted into specialized units within the Guard and sent to wherever they're needed. These groups are the StarScouts, trained in reconnaissance and diplomacy, whose Star-Staffs and other tech are optimized for rapid travel and communication; StarAvengers, whose staffs have greater offensive powers; StarKnights, more heavily armored, whose priority is protecting threatened innocents; and Anodynes, who carry medical equipment and aid in disaster relief. If considered desirable, a new StarGuard may also complete their training by being sent to "apprentice" to a veteran Guard.

 

A standard Star-Staff can fire potent offensive blasts of energy in various configurations. It can also telekinetically manipulate large masses at a distance. It surrounds its Star-Guard with a protective force-field, and can also raise a "wall" of energy to protect other beings. The Star-Staff allows its wielder to fly very rapidly through atmosphere or across space, even to other star systems. However, a StarGuard can't use all these powers at their full strength simultaneously. The staff's reserve of energy requires direct exposure to the light of a star to recharge. A Star-Staff can also be used as a hand-to-hand weapon, and all StarGuards are trained in staff fighting techniques.

Every Star-Staff is "attuned" to its designated wielder and its powers can only be used by him/her/it. The golden alloy a Star-Staff is made from is extremely durable; and a StarGuard can mentally summon it to his hand if it is taken away, as long as it's fairly close by. Should a StarGuard die his staff will fly back to Odrugar of its own accord, to be "cleansed" and given to a new Guard. If a StarGuard's species lacks the anatomy to handle the traditional staff, the Odrugarans build its powers into a helmet, suit of armor, or whatever would be appropriate.

The standard StarGuard uniform is armored for added protection, and also allows them to survive in extreme environmental conditions including space. Star*Guard training enhances their resistance to mental control or influence.

[JmOz]

Coincidently, I am working on a Hall of Champion project right now about my universe's Space Cops (called the Star Knights) but the Champions Universe it is the Star*Guard as Lord Liaden 

[steriaca]

There are room for various "galactic justice" organizations in the CU. The Star*Guard protects the universe as a whole, welcomed or not. They are not involved in governments. Galactic empires might have their own police force, and their elite agents (much like Marvel's Sh'ar Imperial Guard or Marvel's Nova Core). Indvidual planets might be protected from invasion by a group like Marvel's SWORD. 

[Tjack]

DC comics had L.E.G.I.O.N. and the Darkstars working along side of the Green Lantern Corps.   True, the organizations pretty much hated each other but they got along well enough when on a case.

[archer]

@Lord Liaden

 

How do you pronounce Odrugar?

 

Is it Od-rugar (like odd rugby)?

O'droogar (with the emphasis on the O like some Irish name)?

O'droo-gar (with a pronounced emphasis on either the droo or the gar)?

O'drug-ar?

[steriaca]

Well, me and Major Tom has created The T.E.D. (Tempral Enforcement Directive) to be a time cop organization, policing time matters. While they are headquartered in orbit above Earth, Earth is not there only beet.

 

Here is a link to the *Paradox Timely* thread to give you some ideas. Note: while the TED are police, they are not nessisary "heroes". They are concentrating on the flow of time being 'correct', and that means disasters happen and evil events happened and they stay idol, while they might punish your player character for giving 13 cents to a homeless man. 

 

[Lord Liaden]

1 hour ago, archer said:

@Lord Liaden

 

How do you pronounce Odrugar?

 

Is it Od-rugar (like odd rugby)?

O'droogar (with the emphasis on the O like some Irish name)?

O'droo-gar (with a pronounced emphasis on either the droo or the gar)?

O'drug-ar?

 

You'd best ask Darren Watts about that. He wrote 'em, I just read 'em.

[archer]

9 minutes ago, Lord Liaden said:

 

You'd best ask Darren Watts about that. He wrote 'em, I just read 'em.

 

I didn't ask for the correct pronunciation. I was asking about how you pronounce it.

[Lord Liaden]

Oh, I thought you were using the generalized "you" as in, "anyone."

 

FWIW I've been pronouncing it, "AW-droo-gar." Its native inhabitants being "AW-droo-GAR-ans."

 

But I'd be glad to hear from Darren or Steve as to what it should be officially.

[HeroGM]

L.E.G.I.O.N 

Legion of Super-heroes

Green Lantern Corps 

The Sinestro Corps 

The Star Sapphires (plus other rings)

Darkstars

Nova Corps 

Black Nova Corps 

Guardians of the Galaxy (original)

The Shi'ar Guardsmen  (*cough* Legion*)

Darkhawks 

 

[Yes I included the Legion of Super-Heroes. They,at times, have the backing of the UFP and work with the Sci-Police]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JmOz]

3 hours ago, HeroGM said:

L.E.G.I.O.N 

Legion of Super-heroes

Green Lantern Corps 

The Sinestro Corps 

The Star Sapphires (plus other rings)

Darkstars

Nova Corps 

Black Nova Corps 

Guardians of the Galaxy (original)

The Shi'ar Guardsmen  (*cough* Legion*)

Darkhawks 

 

[Yes I included the Legion of Super-Heroes. They,at times, have the backing of the UFP and work with the Sci-Police]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weren't the darkhawks pirates (Except for the kid from earth)? 

[wcw43921]

Here's some space cops for ya--

 

Rocket Squad - Daffy Duck | SuperCartoons

[HeroGM]

They've written the Darkhawks to be the guardians of the Shi'ar in a way. They're the ones who control the empire and what happens to ir behind the scenes according to their "song"....if I'm wrong please correct me. 

 

The Reign of Kings and after has screwed so much up. 

[JmOz]

1 minute ago, HeroGM said:

They've written the Darkhawks to be the guardians of the Shi'ar in a way. They're the ones who control the empire and what happens to ir behind the scenes according to their "song"....if I'm wrong please correct me. 

 

The Reign of Kings and after has screwed so much up. 

Was out way before Reign of Kings.  I don't even know who the Dark Nova Corps are.  I was surprised to see the Sinestro Corps considered space cops, but I know the various ring slingers have been allying a lot, figured DC might be using them for a "Bad cops" type of thing or something....

 

[Major Tom 2009]

Would you say that the Galaxy Rangers (from the '80s cartoon series Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers) would qualify for the list of space cop outfits already mentioned on this thread?

 

Major Tom 4900 👽

[Rich McGee]

1 hour ago, Major Tom 2009 said:

Would you say that the Galaxy Rangers (from the '80s cartoon series Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers) would qualify for the list of space cop outfits already mentioned on this thread?

The Rangers are a (relatively small) division of the much larger Bureau of Extra-Terrestrial Affairs, which amounts to Earth's military, colonial and exploration organization.  Probably most accurate to see BETA as the parent organization and Rangers as something more akin to the Smith's Lensmen operating as a rare elite for the much broader Galactic Patrol, albeit with less of an overall "in charge of everything" role.  The Series 5 badges certainly bear a bit of a resemblance to Lenses in the way they maximize your own personal abilities rather than doing anything themselves - except in the couple of episodes where they clearly forget that.

 

The Silverhawks are pretty clearly a "space cop" organization full of cyborg officers.  The series only looks at the 'hawks that operate in the so-called "Galaxy of Limbo" (which seems to be more a very implausible star system, with the same confusion of star/galaxy/universe terms you run into in the AIP Gamera dubs) but they get reinforcements from Earth over time, suggesting a larger organization that may or may not be cyborgs as well.  Some versions of the series' murky lore claim making the FTL transit to reach Limbo requires undergoing the cybernetic conversion process to survive, but it sure isn't consistent about that.

[Christopher R Taylor]

It would be cool to imagine Space Ghost being a part of a much larger organization, one Space Ghost per system, because they are honestly really powerful.

[Lord Liaden]

Well, since this topic has been resurrected, I guess I might as well address a point or two that was raised on the thread back in the day.

 

On 12/28/2020 at 11:37 AM, steriaca said:

There are room for various "galactic justice" organizations in the CU. The Star*Guard protects the universe as a whole, welcomed or not. They are not involved in governments. Galactic empires might have their own police force, and their elite agents (much like Marvel's Sh'ar Imperial Guard or Marvel's Nova Core). Indvidual planets might be protected from invasion by a group like Marvel's SWORD. 

 

The CU does have a few interesting groups of elite operatives associated with particular races/civilizations. Most of the following are detailed in Champions Beyond.

 

The Ergons of the planet Ergath are very advanced in the biological sciences, and have created genetically modified slave sub-species suited to various tasks the Ergons consider unpleasant. Prominent among those are the Thorgons, bred for war, physically superior and engineered for aggression, discipline, and loyalty. (The Ergons will one day find that that last one only goes so far.) The Ergons have created superhumanly strong or fast Thorgons, but haven't pursued that avenue very far as they found their own success frightening.

 

The Esagites are a species with a culture valuing peace and cooperation, who nonetheless recognize that other sapients in the galaxy often don't share their ideals. Rather than creating armies or fleets to protect their world, they maintain the tradition of the ta'hrevk, a relatively small cadre of exceptionally trained and skilled assassin-saboteurs.

 

The Empress of the Ackalians (an aggressive and matriarchal society) has long maintained a corps of elite warriors serving as her personal agents and bodyguards. Known popularly as "The Sword of Ackal," the group has included super-powered members during those eras when ambient magic was high enough to allow for such powers. (The Sword of Ackal in the 30th Century CU are written up in Galactic Champions.)

 

Speaking of bodyguards, the Phazor (absolute ruler) of the Malvans is guarded by a squad of synthetic humanoids called the Shadow Guard, programmed for total loyalty to him. They're highly versed in the Malvan martial art of Haruji, as well as stealth and infiltration techniques, making them the Malvan equivalent of ninjas. However, they're also as tough and strong as Grond, and like him have four arms, but are much faster, more agile, and more intelligent. And they can turn invisible.
 

[death tribble]

Hark !

 

Did I hear someone say Space Cops ?

 

 

Captain Gorilla of the Star Patrol is here !

Edited December 26, 2023 by death tribble

[Major Tom 2009]

44 minutes ago, death tribble said:

Hark !

 

Did I hear someone say Space Cops ?

 

 

Captain Gorilla of the Star Patrol is here !

Bet the bad guys love trying to make a monkey outta him...                                                                                                                                         

 

Major Tom 4900 🤓

[Sketchpad]

12 hours ago, Christopher R Taylor said:

It would be cool to imagine Space Ghost being a part of a much larger organization, one Space Ghost per system, because they are honestly really powerful.

 

Didn't DC do something like this in the Space Ghost mini?

[Rich McGee]

22 minutes ago, Sketchpad said:

Didn't DC do something like this in the Space Ghost mini?

IIRC it was closer to a Lone Ranger origin, with the organization of "normal" space cops being wiped out except for the guy who became the Ghost, but I may be misremembering.  It was  awhile ago and I only read a friend's copy, and that partially.

[Lord Liaden]

Among the Hanna-Barbera super cartoons of the 1960s, the Galaxy Trio were agents of an interstellar law enforcement agency (the "Galactic Patrol" according to Wikipedia). I don't recall the Galaxy Trio interacting with Space Ghost, but the Ghost did cross over with the Herculoids, so a sci-fi future setting shared by all those heroes would not be improbable.