Eisner Academy Archive #8 - The Rocket Patrol
Corporal Harriet Hellgate
Background:
After World War II, it was decided that a small but elite group of soldiers and scientists would band together to defend America against threats
from space, both external and internal. They were known colloquially as 'The Rocket Patrol' and consisted of Captain Lance 'Sky' Masters, his
fiancee and former Army Nurse, Corporal Harriet Hellgate, Scientific Advisor Professor Digby Dumfries, and Ship's Mechanic Sergeant
Jeremiah 'Jets' Jefferson. For over a decade, they monitored strange signals from space and, when trouble reared its head, launched into
action aboard their experimental government Rocketship, the 'Shooting Star'.
The end came in 1958 when, while investigating the appearance of a hitherto unknown satellite in the orbit of Mars, the Shooting Star simply
vanished, only to reappear and crash-land on the surface of an interdimensional version of the Red Planet. On this strange new version of Mars,
they discovered two races seemingly at war - the fair-skinned and scientifically-advanced but physically fragile Nacera, and the ferocious and
barbarous Klosov. The Nacera lived in vast, palatial cities, but were almost constantly under threat of attack from the Klosov and, while they
had access to advanced technology, the secrets of repairing and maintaining it had been largely lost over the centuries.
The Rocket Patrol immediately offered to help and, between their Earthborne ingenuity, technical prowess, courage and determination, they
finally, after a great many battles, managed to drive the Klosov back to their mountain caves.
Following this victory, they were treated like god-kings, mostly Captain Masters, who accepted the offer of rulership over the Nacera, however,
it wasn't too long before cracks began to show in this perfect new world. Firstly, Professor Dumfries, in trying to repair some of the Nacera
technology, discovered that the writing and inscriptions more closely resembled the cave markings he'd found in Klosov Dwellings than in any
artefact of the Nacera, who didn't seem to have a system of writing at all. Corporal Hellgate felt increasingly neglected by her fiancee who kept
fobbing off her questions about when they'd finally get married by stating that, with the war over, there was so much rebuilding to do. Still, it
always seemed that a lot of that "rebuilding" involved spending time with the Nacera Generals and Warrior Caste in the company of attractive
Nacera Serving Women. When she confronted him with this, he accused her of having too much dratted feminine curiosity and suspicion, and
that she only wanted him to marry her so that she could become God-Queen.
If anything, Jefferson was even more isolated. The Nacera were pale-skinned, almost opalescent, and as a result, his dark skin was seen as
a weird curiosity to them. Like Corporal Hellgate, he was being increasingly excluded by Captain Masters and as a result, when he wasn't
assisting Professor Dumfries, he was spending days at a time exploring the vast empty ruins and corridors of the City. It was during one of
these excursions that he discovered the truth: everything in the city was the result of massive engines powered by hundreds upon hundreds
of Klosov slaves. At first, hostile, they began to communicate with him, and he discovered that the Nacera were invaders. They'd been
welcomed into the city, but betrayed their hosts, and cast them out. The Klosov attacks on the city had been attempt to free their friends
and family members who'd been captured and enslaved by the Nacera.
When confronted with this, Captain Masters admitted that he'd known for some time, but that sacrifices needed to be made to maintain
civilization. When Jefferson argued with him, he had him exiled, saying, "If you'd rather live in the caves with the animals, then you're welcome
to do so!" Before long, Corporal Hellgate and, finally, Professor Dumfries had joined him in exile. They discovered that the Klosov were
scientifically advanced, but had very little concept of military strategy, and extremely limited resources, most of which were dedicated to
keeping themselves stocked with necessary supplies to maintain survival.
There followed a period of guerilla warfare as the Klosov, under the command of Corporal Hellgate, captured supply craft, mining vessels and
cargo destined for the Nacera cities. They attacked Nacera mining complexes, freeing the slaves and blasting the shafts, denying the Nacera
access to even more resources. Professor Dumfries spent his time gradually piecing together their language, culture and history, and Jefferson
assisted by teaching the Klosov how to create usable technology without access to the lost technology still under the control of the Nacera,
and drilling the troops in covert and stealth warfare.
For almost a decade, the war raged, but finally, the Klosov gained the upper hand. On the eve of their final battle, they presented their Earthling
allies with a parting gift. The original Shooting Star, which they had recovered and at last had been able to repair. Hellgate and Dumfries climbed
back aboard, but Jefferson elected to stay, he'd already fought one war only to come back and find that he was expected to go back to being a
second-class citizen and didn't want to do that again, he explained. And with that, Corporal Hellgate and Professor Dumfries returned, over half
a century later, to their home planet, and Jefferson went on the lead the Klosov's final attack on the tyrannical Nacera warlords and their cruel
and deranged God-King.
Description:
Corporal Hellgate is a woman out of time. Having last seen Earth in 1958, she has missed over a half a century of societal, cultural,
technological and historical progress. Much of the world is foreign to her, even moreso than the interdimensional Martian World she spent
almost two thirds of her life on. Ostensibly, she is at the Eisner Academy because she is unable to contend with the 21st Century World, but
the truth is that she is here because of Professor Dumfries. Once one of the most brilliant men on Earth, he is now 50 years out of date, and
showing the ravages of age. He doesn't have many years left, and Corporal Hellgate had decided that she will stay and take care of him so that
he always has one face he can still recognize close to hand. Once a nurse, she says, always a nurse.
Once a strikingly pretty young woman, her years on the alternate Mars have tempered her like steel. She keeps her iron-grey hair cut very
short, and has a harsh, hard-bitten expression on her face at almost all times - the one exception being when she is with the Professor. She
tends to dress in men's clothing in cuts common to the 1940's and 50's (She ABSOLUTELY refuses to wear skirts) and usually has a military
demeanour. While she's very intelligent, there is much about the modern world she finds confusing and this annoys her. She has very little
patience and is very sensitive if she feels she is being patronized.
Captain Lance 'Sky' Masters
Background:
Once the Commanding Officer of a post-war defense organization called 'The Rocket Patrol' alongside Corporal Harriet Hellgate, Professor
Digby Dumfries and Sergeant Jeremiah 'Jets' Jefferson, Captain Lance Masters and the other members were launched via an interdimensional
portal into an alternate universe version of the Planet Mars. While there, they encountered several strange civilizations and helped to lead a
guerilla war against oppression.
While on the alternate version of Mars, Captain Masters was declared God-King of one race of inhabitants. Shortly after, his fellow Patrol
Members discovered a terrible secret about the 'Martians' and decided to oppose them. Captain Masters, having grown tyrannical, saw this
as a betrayal and declared them traitors. (For further details, see Corporal Harriet Hellgate's entry).
Description:
In his youth, Captain Masters was an all-American, square-jawed hero. Tall, blonde, athletic and courageous. Unfortunately, as his team
members discovered, he was also vain, self-obsessed, tyrannical and prone to terrible depths of hubris. Over the decades, he became
increasingly wracked with the effects of hedonistic living and prone to suspicion and paranoia. By the time of the final battle between the
Nacera and the Klosov, he was a haunted and hollow shadow of the man he had once been.
Jeremiah 'Jets' Jefferson
Background:
Once the chief mechanic to a post-war defense organization called 'The Rocket Patrol' alongside Captain Lance 'Sky' Masters,
Corporal Harriet Hellgate and Professor Digby Dumfries, Sergeant Jeremiah 'Jets' Jefferson and the other members were launched via an
interdimensional portal into an alternate universe version of the Planet Mars. While there, they encountered several strange civilizations and
helped to lead a guerilla war against oppression.
Recently, after over half a century, Corporal Hellgate and Professor Dumfries had the opportunity to return to Earth, however, Jefferson elected
to remain behind and help lead the final assault on Captain Masters' despotic forces. He had, he reasoned, dedicated himself to a heroic
cause once, only to return to a world which refused to give him even the dignity afforded any other man, and, as he said, "Fool me once,
shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
The outcome of the final battle between Jefferson and the Klosov against Masters and the Nacera is unknown. (For further details, see
Corporal Harriet Hellgate's entry).
Description:
'Jets' Jefferson is an accomplished mechanic and highly-decorated WWII veteran. He was also a talented pilot, however, he was forbidden to fly
by a Commanding Officer who felt that a black man could fix a plane, but couldn't be trusted to pilot one. Handsome, athletic and thoughtful, he
had always bristled beneath the command of Captain Masters, whom he could see as another white man who could only be comfortable
around a black man who "knew his place", still the chance to work with cutting edge technology and be part of one of the most advanced
vehicles on Earth was irresistable.
Jackson had a tremendous capacity for ingenuity, and was frequently able to achieve amazing results with minimal resources. He was also
able to use this talent strategically, transforming a seemingly inevitable loss into a resounding victory by maximising every resource at his
command.
During his years on 'Mars', Jefferson became even more physically and mentally powerful as the restrictions of an oppressive society fell away
and he was able to explore his full potential. By the time Corporal Hellgate and Professor Dumfries returned to earth, he was a physical Atlas,
a mental wizard, a gifted swordsman and a master strategist to dwarf Napoleon or Alexander.
Professor Digby Dumfries
Background:
Once the scientific advisor to a post-war defense organization called 'The Rocket Patrol' alongside Captain Lance 'Sky' Masters,
Corporal Harriet Hellgate and Sergeant Jeremiah 'Jets' Jefferson, Professor Digby Dumfries and the other members were launched via an
interdimensional portal into an alternate universe version of the Planet Mars. While there, they encountered several strange civilizations and
helped to lead a guerilla war against oppression.
Recently, after over half a century, he and Corporal Hellgate have returned to Earth and found it a very different place to the one they left. (For
further details, see Corporal Harriet Hellgate's entry).
Description:
Professor Dumfries is a man out of time. Having last seen Earth in 1958, he has missed over a half a century of societal, cultural, technological
and historical progress. Much of the world is foreign to him, even moreso than the interdimensional Martian World he spent almost two thirds
of his life on. Ostensibly, he is at the Eisner Academy because he is unable to contend with the 21st Century World, but the truth is that he
is here because of his advanced age and diminished physical and mental capacities. Once one of the most brilliant men on Earth, he is now
50 years out of date, and showing the ravages of extreme age. While he is still largely the man he was mentally, he is showing the very early
signs of dementia, occasionally becoming forgetful and disoriented. The only person he is really comfortable about is Corporal Hellgate, who is
currently acting as his nurse and carer.
Professor Dumfries was almost a stereotypical eccentric scientist, jovial and friendly, but with a tendency towards absent-mindedness and
getting caught up in whatever he's studying at the time. Formerly a rotund and jolly fellow, his decades on Mars have left him somewhat
shrunken and a little bedraggled. For decades, his focus was on survival, not personal presentation, and he's become used to not caring
about combing his hair, changing out of his pyjamas or getting regular meals. If left to his own devices, he's quite happy to potter about,
however, he doesn't like to be reminded that many of the 'world-changing scientific breakthroughs' of his younger years are today's workaday
mundane facts of life.
Background:
After World War II, it was decided that a small but elite group of soldiers and scientists would band together to defend America against threats
from space, both external and internal. They were known colloquially as 'The Rocket Patrol' and consisted of Captain Lance 'Sky' Masters, his
fiancee and former Army Nurse, Corporal Harriet Hellgate, Scientific Advisor Professor Digby Dumfries, and Ship's Mechanic Sergeant
Jeremiah 'Jets' Jefferson. For over a decade, they monitored strange signals from space and, when trouble reared its head, launched into
action aboard their experimental government Rocketship, the 'Shooting Star'.
The end came in 1958 when, while investigating the appearance of a hitherto unknown satellite in the orbit of Mars, the Shooting Star simply
vanished, only to reappear and crash-land on the surface of an interdimensional version of the Red Planet. On this strange new version of Mars,
they discovered two races seemingly at war - the fair-skinned and scientifically-advanced but physically fragile Nacera, and the ferocious and
barbarous Klosov. The Nacera lived in vast, palatial cities, but were almost constantly under threat of attack from the Klosov and, while they
had access to advanced technology, the secrets of repairing and maintaining it had been largely lost over the centuries.
The Rocket Patrol immediately offered to help and, between their Earthborne ingenuity, technical prowess, courage and determination, they
finally, after a great many battles, managed to drive the Klosov back to their mountain caves.
Following this victory, they were treated like god-kings, mostly Captain Masters, who accepted the offer of rulership over the Nacera, however,
it wasn't too long before cracks began to show in this perfect new world. Firstly, Professor Dumfries, in trying to repair some of the Nacera
technology, discovered that the writing and inscriptions more closely resembled the cave markings he'd found in Klosov Dwellings than in any
artefact of the Nacera, who didn't seem to have a system of writing at all. Corporal Hellgate felt increasingly neglected by her fiancee who kept
fobbing off her questions about when they'd finally get married by stating that, with the war over, there was so much rebuilding to do. Still, it
always seemed that a lot of that "rebuilding" involved spending time with the Nacera Generals and Warrior Caste in the company of attractive
Nacera Serving Women. When she confronted him with this, he accused her of having too much dratted feminine curiosity and suspicion, and
that she only wanted him to marry her so that she could become God-Queen.
If anything, Jefferson was even more isolated. The Nacera were pale-skinned, almost opalescent, and as a result, his dark skin was seen as
a weird curiosity to them. Like Corporal Hellgate, he was being increasingly excluded by Captain Masters and as a result, when he wasn't
assisting Professor Dumfries, he was spending days at a time exploring the vast empty ruins and corridors of the City. It was during one of
these excursions that he discovered the truth: everything in the city was the result of massive engines powered by hundreds upon hundreds
of Klosov slaves. At first, hostile, they began to communicate with him, and he discovered that the Nacera were invaders. They'd been
welcomed into the city, but betrayed their hosts, and cast them out. The Klosov attacks on the city had been attempt to free their friends
and family members who'd been captured and enslaved by the Nacera.
When confronted with this, Captain Masters admitted that he'd known for some time, but that sacrifices needed to be made to maintain
civilization. When Jefferson argued with him, he had him exiled, saying, "If you'd rather live in the caves with the animals, then you're welcome
to do so!" Before long, Corporal Hellgate and, finally, Professor Dumfries had joined him in exile. They discovered that the Klosov were
scientifically advanced, but had very little concept of military strategy, and extremely limited resources, most of which were dedicated to
keeping themselves stocked with necessary supplies to maintain survival.
There followed a period of guerilla warfare as the Klosov, under the command of Corporal Hellgate, captured supply craft, mining vessels and
cargo destined for the Nacera cities. They attacked Nacera mining complexes, freeing the slaves and blasting the shafts, denying the Nacera
access to even more resources. Professor Dumfries spent his time gradually piecing together their language, culture and history, and Jefferson
assisted by teaching the Klosov how to create usable technology without access to the lost technology still under the control of the Nacera,
and drilling the troops in covert and stealth warfare.
For almost a decade, the war raged, but finally, the Klosov gained the upper hand. On the eve of their final battle, they presented their Earthling
allies with a parting gift. The original Shooting Star, which they had recovered and at last had been able to repair. Hellgate and Dumfries climbed
back aboard, but Jefferson elected to stay, he'd already fought one war only to come back and find that he was expected to go back to being a
second-class citizen and didn't want to do that again, he explained. And with that, Corporal Hellgate and Professor Dumfries returned, over half
a century later, to their home planet, and Jefferson went on the lead the Klosov's final attack on the tyrannical Nacera warlords and their cruel
and deranged God-King.
Description:
Corporal Hellgate is a woman out of time. Having last seen Earth in 1958, she has missed over a half a century of societal, cultural,
technological and historical progress. Much of the world is foreign to her, even moreso than the interdimensional Martian World she spent
almost two thirds of her life on. Ostensibly, she is at the Eisner Academy because she is unable to contend with the 21st Century World, but
the truth is that she is here because of Professor Dumfries. Once one of the most brilliant men on Earth, he is now 50 years out of date, and
showing the ravages of age. He doesn't have many years left, and Corporal Hellgate had decided that she will stay and take care of him so that
he always has one face he can still recognize close to hand. Once a nurse, she says, always a nurse.
Once a strikingly pretty young woman, her years on the alternate Mars have tempered her like steel. She keeps her iron-grey hair cut very
short, and has a harsh, hard-bitten expression on her face at almost all times - the one exception being when she is with the Professor. She
tends to dress in men's clothing in cuts common to the 1940's and 50's (She ABSOLUTELY refuses to wear skirts) and usually has a military
demeanour. While she's very intelligent, there is much about the modern world she finds confusing and this annoys her. She has very little
patience and is very sensitive if she feels she is being patronized.
Captain Lance 'Sky' Masters
Background:
Once the Commanding Officer of a post-war defense organization called 'The Rocket Patrol' alongside Corporal Harriet Hellgate, Professor
Digby Dumfries and Sergeant Jeremiah 'Jets' Jefferson, Captain Lance Masters and the other members were launched via an interdimensional
portal into an alternate universe version of the Planet Mars. While there, they encountered several strange civilizations and helped to lead a
guerilla war against oppression.
While on the alternate version of Mars, Captain Masters was declared God-King of one race of inhabitants. Shortly after, his fellow Patrol
Members discovered a terrible secret about the 'Martians' and decided to oppose them. Captain Masters, having grown tyrannical, saw this
as a betrayal and declared them traitors. (For further details, see Corporal Harriet Hellgate's entry).
Description:
In his youth, Captain Masters was an all-American, square-jawed hero. Tall, blonde, athletic and courageous. Unfortunately, as his team
members discovered, he was also vain, self-obsessed, tyrannical and prone to terrible depths of hubris. Over the decades, he became
increasingly wracked with the effects of hedonistic living and prone to suspicion and paranoia. By the time of the final battle between the
Nacera and the Klosov, he was a haunted and hollow shadow of the man he had once been.
Jeremiah 'Jets' Jefferson
Background:
Once the chief mechanic to a post-war defense organization called 'The Rocket Patrol' alongside Captain Lance 'Sky' Masters,
Corporal Harriet Hellgate and Professor Digby Dumfries, Sergeant Jeremiah 'Jets' Jefferson and the other members were launched via an
interdimensional portal into an alternate universe version of the Planet Mars. While there, they encountered several strange civilizations and
helped to lead a guerilla war against oppression.
Recently, after over half a century, Corporal Hellgate and Professor Dumfries had the opportunity to return to Earth, however, Jefferson elected
to remain behind and help lead the final assault on Captain Masters' despotic forces. He had, he reasoned, dedicated himself to a heroic
cause once, only to return to a world which refused to give him even the dignity afforded any other man, and, as he said, "Fool me once,
shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
The outcome of the final battle between Jefferson and the Klosov against Masters and the Nacera is unknown. (For further details, see
Corporal Harriet Hellgate's entry).
Description:
'Jets' Jefferson is an accomplished mechanic and highly-decorated WWII veteran. He was also a talented pilot, however, he was forbidden to fly
by a Commanding Officer who felt that a black man could fix a plane, but couldn't be trusted to pilot one. Handsome, athletic and thoughtful, he
had always bristled beneath the command of Captain Masters, whom he could see as another white man who could only be comfortable
around a black man who "knew his place", still the chance to work with cutting edge technology and be part of one of the most advanced
vehicles on Earth was irresistable.
Jackson had a tremendous capacity for ingenuity, and was frequently able to achieve amazing results with minimal resources. He was also
able to use this talent strategically, transforming a seemingly inevitable loss into a resounding victory by maximising every resource at his
command.
During his years on 'Mars', Jefferson became even more physically and mentally powerful as the restrictions of an oppressive society fell away
and he was able to explore his full potential. By the time Corporal Hellgate and Professor Dumfries returned to earth, he was a physical Atlas,
a mental wizard, a gifted swordsman and a master strategist to dwarf Napoleon or Alexander.
Professor Digby Dumfries
Background:
Once the scientific advisor to a post-war defense organization called 'The Rocket Patrol' alongside Captain Lance 'Sky' Masters,
Corporal Harriet Hellgate and Sergeant Jeremiah 'Jets' Jefferson, Professor Digby Dumfries and the other members were launched via an
interdimensional portal into an alternate universe version of the Planet Mars. While there, they encountered several strange civilizations and
helped to lead a guerilla war against oppression.
Recently, after over half a century, he and Corporal Hellgate have returned to Earth and found it a very different place to the one they left. (For
further details, see Corporal Harriet Hellgate's entry).
Description:
Professor Dumfries is a man out of time. Having last seen Earth in 1958, he has missed over a half a century of societal, cultural, technological
and historical progress. Much of the world is foreign to him, even moreso than the interdimensional Martian World he spent almost two thirds
of his life on. Ostensibly, he is at the Eisner Academy because he is unable to contend with the 21st Century World, but the truth is that he
is here because of his advanced age and diminished physical and mental capacities. Once one of the most brilliant men on Earth, he is now
50 years out of date, and showing the ravages of extreme age. While he is still largely the man he was mentally, he is showing the very early
signs of dementia, occasionally becoming forgetful and disoriented. The only person he is really comfortable about is Corporal Hellgate, who is
currently acting as his nurse and carer.
Professor Dumfries was almost a stereotypical eccentric scientist, jovial and friendly, but with a tendency towards absent-mindedness and
getting caught up in whatever he's studying at the time. Formerly a rotund and jolly fellow, his decades on Mars have left him somewhat
shrunken and a little bedraggled. For decades, his focus was on survival, not personal presentation, and he's become used to not caring
about combing his hair, changing out of his pyjamas or getting regular meals. If left to his own devices, he's quite happy to potter about,
however, he doesn't like to be reminded that many of the 'world-changing scientific breakthroughs' of his younger years are today's workaday
mundane facts of life.