[UA] UA + Delta Green = ???

[Michael D. Mearls 97]

I finally picked up Delta Green this weekend. Yes, I'm about a year behind
everyone else, but I've only recently got back into gaming.

Anyway, reading through Delta Green brought some questions into my mind about
UA. Primarily, how much does the government know about the occult underground,
and what does it do with whatever information it has?

Here are my theories:

Scenario #1: The government is clueless

The government sees most cabals, cluesless or not, in much the same light as
any other radical fringe group. The FBI has dossiers on the cabals and compiles
info on their members. Manned surveillence is rare, unless events dictate
otherwise. No conclusive evidence exists that anything inexplicable is actually
going on.

Scenario #2: The government doesn't understand what's going on, but it does
know that SOMETHING is happening.

This scenario is similar to Delta Green. The government began tracking groups
as in scenario #1, except now hard evidence of magical activity has fallen into
governmental hands. Either an independant organization or a branch of the FBI
actively seeks out and investigates the paranormal. The government is aware of
the groups and creatures described in the UA rulebook, but is unable or
unwilling to devote much resources to investigation. Alex Abel has undoubtedly
bought off many burueacrats and politicians, helping keep the government out of
his turf. Concerns of public panic also keep the government at bay.

Scenario #3: The government knows whats going on

Under this scenario, governmental agents play an active role in the occult
underground. Adepts either toe the line or find themselves in jail under bogus
charges. Public hysteria over "satanic" cults is kept at a simmering boil. A
secret war rages as the government fights to control magick.

Scenario #4: The government isn't real

The natural impulse towards community building in humans has spawned bizarre
supernatural beings. These entities manifest themselves as humans who best fit
the image of conformity in society. In 20th century America, for example, they
wear business suits, are well groomed, and have a fondness for popular buzz
words such as pro-active or empowerment. Called tyrants, these beings derive
power through the systematic imposition of arbitrary order on humanity. Many
observers believe them to be a corrupted force of order, as the arbitrary rule
they bring invariably leads to chaos and upheaval. Reality bends and twists to
accomodate these creatures. All have impeccable backgrounds and are bland,
boring, and inoffensive enough to make perfect politicians. The US government
is currently rife with these creatures at all levels. They lack the charisma to
take higher office and the intelligence for high level military or judicial
duty, but are more than capable of stuffing the mid and low levels of
bureaucracy to the bursting point. Tyrants recognize each other on sight and
make an effort to help each other achieve governmental positions. NB: These
guys are not behind conspiracies or wars or anything. Rules crazy and
arbitrary, tyrants accrete in governmental structure until the government
becomes so bloated and oppressive that it is overthrown. The new government is
always free of these things, but as time passes and the status quo shifts, they
invariably gather again.

- M. Mearls