OMEGA 2119 (POW/MMA fed)

[antimony]

Coming Soon...

President Niles Kavanagh presents

[Knapik]

cool logo!

[Darth Turkish]

I quote Kent Dorfman when I say "This is gonna be great!"

[antimony]

What Has Gone Before, Part I

By most accounts, the era of the GWF known as "The Antimony Age" began some time in 2092. Antimony, for those of you who don't know, is one of the more interesting elements on the periodic table--generally harmless on its own, but utterly lethal when combined with one of many other elements.

It should surprise no one that the "other element" in the GWF came from Aethra.

The early nineties were a period of absolute dominance for the Aethran contingent. Brute and Massacre owned the tag team belts, losing them on occasion to their rivals from Kilrah, or some combination of the Horsemen or the Citadel of the Elite, but they invariably took "their" titles back within a few months. Spike was Galaxian Heavyweight Champion more often than not, and held onto the belt with an iron grip--and liberal use of disqualifications. Mayhem didn't wear gold as often as his colleagues, but he made a contribution by destroying the Gladiators' enemies in violent, hardcore matches.

By the mid-nineties, things had begun to change. The Kilrathi had already joined forces with the Aethran defector, Wolf, but they eventually persuaded the Aethran's bodyguard, Guardian, to join their camp as well. Still stinging from that loss, the Aethrans were stunned when a team from Maxxus (one of their conquered planets) arrived to challenge them as well. The seductive Marilith led Marduk and his Dog Soldiers in an assault on the perennial champions, whose golden empire finally crumbled under the pressure of constant assault from every side.

Unbeknownst to the fans of the GWF--or anyone else living peacefully on Earth or its colonies--Aethran dominance in the GWF was more than entertainment. It was a symbol of racial pride--a shining example of the Aethran Military Credo: "Get your ass kicked, or get your ass killed." When that dominance unraveled, the Aethrans responded...on an epic level.

A sinister Aethran named Vengeance made his GWF debut shortly thereafter. His shaved head was the sign of an Aethran war criminal. He was led to and from the ring in chains, under heavy guard...and for good reason, as he was a monster, in the ring and out. Under his guidance, the Aethrans began to reassert their supremacy, helped along by new recruits like Thunder, Overkill, and Thrash.

Meanwhile, the Aethran military took steps to ensure that their defeat in the GWF was not taken as a sign of weakness in any other arena. They launched a series of raids on Kilrah, disrupting their communications network and crippling their military production. They began expanding their borders aggressively, claiming one unoccupied planet after another, and deftly conquering the occasional civilization they encountered. As for Maxxus--they launched a full assault on their rebellious subjects, bombing the planet back to the stone age, and killing hundreds of millions of people in the process. Eventually, they ran afoul of another race--The Wraith--and were turned back...and they began to set their sights on Earth.

The Aethrans were not the GWF's only public relations nightmare. A competitor named Doomsayer had always surrounded himself with a bizarre cabal of followers: Matter and Antimatter, allegedly members of an alien race called Jaffa. Comrade Terror, subjected to some sort of high-tech experiments, creating the super-soldier Dreadnaught. Doomsday--a snarling, reptillian savage called an Unas.

With the threat of Aethran hostility escalating every week, the Interplanetary Parliament could not afford mysteries of that nature. They ordered an investigation into Doomsayer, and discovered that "he" was actually an "it"--a snake-like alien called a Goa'uld, living parasitically in a human host and taking control of his body. Doomsayer's secret lab was raided, revealing a host of advanced technologies--so advanced, in fact, that the IPP Science Council couldn't operate them. The IPP could not offer Doomsayer clemency--not for body theft, kidnapping of the worst kind. Without a free pass for his crimes, he refused to share his secrets; the symbiote was extracted and executed, and the Council began their efforts to decipher his secrets, filtering money into that effort by cutting funding everywhere else--and cancelling the GWF's costly tax exemption.

[antimony]

What Has Gone Before, Part II[/b]

No one in the GWF realized just how much they had depended on the IPP's financial support. Their tax bills--payroll taxes, taxes on the Deimos Arena they had purchased and refurbished, taxes on concessions and merchandise sales and ticket services--drove the company to its knees. Meanwhile, the redirection of hundreds of billions from welfare programs and small business support created a system-wide depression. Merchandise sales and live event attendance plummeted, just when the GWF needed revenue the most. Threatened with bankruptcy, the GWF was forced to seek a financial backer--one Magnus Colby, previously a manager in the GWF. His influx of capital kept the federation afloat, but he demanded so many concessions that he practically took control of the federation, securing special treatment for his private stable of wrestlers and making himself one of the most hated men in federation history. When he attempted to change the Galaxian Wrestling Federation into the Colby Wrestling Alliance, the GWF finally struck back. After nearly a decade of Colby's dominance, his team lost a vital match at Starcade 2108 and he was forced to surrender control of the Federation to the Commissioner and the Championship Committee.

One battle was over, but another was just beginning. Increasing civil unrest throughout the system was forcing the Parliament to crack down on anything they perceived as a danger to the fabric of society. With its glorification of violence, controversial storylines, and unwitting support of criminals like Doomsayer (not to mention a new generation of Aethrans, who were still building their war machine even as they sent Malice, Rush, and Sledge to compete in the Federation), the GWF was an obvious target. Cordanus--a retired member of the genetically-altered super-soldier corps, and acting member of the House of Lords--made shutting down the GWF his personal crusade, and for the better part of a year, it seemed like he would succeed.

Then, in 2110, the Earth exploded.

Or, more accurately, a Parliamentary research facility--one attempting to unlock the secrets of what they believed to be a time machine, taken from Doomsayer's lab--exploded. Its nuclear generator suffered an instantaneous, critical meltdown, and white flames were launched miles into the air, fed by an unknown source from deep within the lab. The atmosphere ignited, and what might have been an isolated tragedy spread across the entire globe, carried by a disintegrating jet stream. The surface of the entire planet became irradiated.

The death toll exceeded eleven billion. Nineteen out of every twenty people living on the planet died.

It took slightly more than three days.

An Estorian space fleet made its first appearance in the Earth system since the end of the Skaarj War, some forty years earlier. Responding to Earth's frantic distress call, the kindly Estorians launched a massive rescue effort, helping the survivors escape to the Colonies. A team of scientists remained behind when the fleet returned to its own space, sharing Estorian terraforming technology to expand colonization efforts--and in an attempt to repair the damage done to Earth, itself. That these scientists also lent a hand deciphering Doomsayer's technology does not need to be mentioned.

Unsurprisingly, the events on Earth left its survivors (and a fair number of Colonials, even though very few of them still considered themselves tied to their Terran fellows) with a dim view of technology. Some turned to organized religion, others to supernatural mysticisms, while some stopped believing in anything beyond the strength of their own hands. Struggling to remain relevant (not to mention stay in business), the GWF embraced the newly-emerging sympathies of its shrinking audience. At least two documented "sorcerers" plied their trade in the GWF in the next five years, and reports of demons and angels carrying out their eternal war in the ring were commonplace, though it was never clear how much of this was real and how much was hype.

In the end, the federation's attempts to endear itself to its audience failed. A roster featuring long-winded mystics, foul-tempered Colonial renegades, and unstable mutants with bizarre superpowers isolated more people than it attracted. The GWF filed for bankruptcy near the end of 2117, and finally closed its doors a few months later.

[antimony]

What Has Gone Before, Part III[/b]

The fall of the GWF left a huge void in the area of sports entertainment. A number of smaller wrestling organizations attempted to fill that void, but ultimately failed due to an emphasis on entertainment over sports. One erstwhile promoter attempted to capitalize on the supernatural element that dominated the GWF towards the end of its existence, but a federation of zombies, demons, and angels failed to gain mainstream popularity. As public interest in the supernatural waned and more people embraced a philosophy of self-reliance, this federation made a quiet exit from the mainstream. Rumors say that it found a home in another dimension, where it proved wildly successful.

What most wrestling organizations failed to capture was the gritty realism of the GWF--the emotional battles between men who genuinely disliked one another, expressing their dominance through physical combat. Those organizations that tried to recreate the magic of the GWF by hiring its stars soon folded due to the insane salaries commanded by former main eventers. A few pit-fighting organizations rose in answer, but unregulated bloodsports can only last so long before they are closed by the authorities or taken over by a criminal element. Either way, these groups went out of business or lost mainstream acceptance fairly quickly.

And then, one man had an idea...

Niles Kavanagh was a businessman, an entrepreneur--and an amateur martial artist (it was something of a family tradition, going back several generations). It occurred to him that professional wrestling had grown passe--there are limits to how many times the human body can rotate as it falls from the top turnbuckle to the mat, and once that limit had been reached--and witnessed a couple dozen times--it lost its allure, with no room for innovation. On the other hand, the growing Colony-wide endorsement of personal achievement suggested that a mixed martial arts organization, stripped of the acrobatics and frills of pro wrestling and based solely on straight-up, head-to-head competition, might catch on. It would need to be regulated and heavily officiated to placate the authorities and protect the organization from lawsuits, medical bills, and the need to hire and train an oversized roster of fighters.

But if the fighters were allowed to develop their own rivalries, cut their own promos... If they were allowed to push the envelope without breaking it... And if the group built its own stars, picking up a few gifted, lower-tier GWF refugees for name recognition and raiding martial arts tournaments and leading dojos for the rest... Why, under those circumstances, a fighting organization just might make it.

Heck--it might even prosper.

Kavanagh made some calls, cashed in some investments, and sought the backing of dojos and corporations that might be willing to fund his project without demanding a voice in its operation. By the end of 2118, his plans were complete, and in 2119, there was, indeed, a New Beginning.

The GWF was gone. And the Organization for Martial, Extreme, and Grappling Arts was born.

[Deleted]

All I can say bro is WOW, great story giving a in depth background on things before and the road that lies ahead...I cannot wait to see this

[antimony]

OMEGA President Niles Kavanagh has made the following announcements regarding his new MMA promotion:

There will be two sanctioned Titles: a Cruiserweight Title for competitors under 220 pounds, and a Heavyweight Title for those weighing between 220 and 280. Anyone weighing 281 pounds or more will be classified as a "Super Heavyweight," and while there are no plans for a Super Heavyweight Title at this time, it may become feasible as the roster expands. (Note: I have my own system for determining heights and weights of a competitor, which tends to result in a lighter roster than the Filsinger Games product, hence the changes here.)

The President is contemplating a Tandem Title, and may sign a match or two under Tandem Rules to gauge the response from both the fans and the fighters themselves. A Tandem match has two men on a side, engaging in a series of one-on-one contests. Whenever a man is defeated, his partner comes in and takes on the opponent. When both members of a team have been eliminated twice--or when both are deemed unfit to continue by the referee or the attending physician--they have lost the contest.

All matches will be contested within a six-sided ring. While rivalries between competitors are expected (and, in fact, encouraged), any fighter who interferes in someone else's match in any way will receive a lifetime ban from the Organization.

When asked if OMEGA was a reference to the former GWF Superstar--either a sign of respect or a slap in the face--President Kavanagh simply smirked and changed the subject.

The following competitors have been signed to exlcusive OMEGA contracts:

• Romulus and Taurine - for the past several years these former GWF superstars have been competing in smaller, independent wrestling organizations and shoot fighting leagues. What they lack in talent, they make up for in name recognition.
  
• Indigo - truth be told, President Kavanagh expects that this color-changing mutant will probably be hated by the fans, feeling that he belongs in the circus of professional wrestling, not in a "serious" MMA environment. This is exactly why he was signed--to encourage ticket sales among fans who hope to see him defeated.
  
• Thad "T.K." Killian - this religious fanatic has embraced both martial and spiritual traditions. By training with the monastic followers of the "True Way," he has become a reasonably gifted fighter.
  
• Shylock - though he had a brief run in the GWF, he left their ranks fairly quickly and made a huge name for himself on the Colonial Boxing Circuit. President Kavanagh made acquiring this man his top priority, and signed him to the largest contract of any OMEGA competitor. Most insiders feel that this was money well-spent.
  
• Pendekar - another high-priority signing, though Pendekar required much less financial incentive to join OMEGA. He claims that he is looking forward to matching his physical skills against Shylock, and his spiritual "center" against Thad Killian.
  
• Nero and Hadrian - along with their "handler," Dr, Barnabas, these two have been signed in anticipation of a Tandem Title. As an added bonus, all three of them were signed under a single low-term contract, increasing the roster size with minimal addition to payroll.
  
• Raze - a talented Cruiserweight, his long history of emotional problems made him a steal.
  
• J.J. Smooth - another low-cost acquisition, intended to offer the few Super Heavyweights on the roster at least minimal competition.
  
• Gunnar - with no GWF experience behind him, this Heavyweight comes in as a virtual unknown. However, he has been very impressive in MMA tournaments, and could be groomed into a solid competitor.
  
• Quetzal - while his initial demands made him overpriced and undesirable, his failure to land an OMEGA contract forced him to look for other options. These options were nonexistent, as the demand for masked luchadors was fairly small. Eventually, he came back to President Kavanagh with a more reasonable offer, and was signed to round out the Cruiserweight division.
  

In addition, former GWF wrestlers Brainstorm and Splatter have been signed as trainers, though their exact role in OMEGA has yet to be determined. President Kavanagh has announced that he is still interested in expanding the roster, and is receptive to offers from interested fighters or their agents.

[antimony]

Niles Kavanagh, President of the newly-formed OMEGA fighting league, heaved a sigh, drumming his fingers absently on the marble top of his desk. His brow furrowed as he studied the notes he had jotted down for his first fight card, coming up on January 28, 2119.

Four matches booked themselves--Romulus against Quetzal and Raze against Taurine to determine who would compete for the Cruiserweight Title down the road. Similarly, Shylock would be taking on Gunnar and Pendekar would face Thad Killian to determine the contenders for the first Heavyweight Title fight. Kavanagh didn't expect much from the men formally known as the Punks, but they were bodies, and fully capable of upsetting the more gifted Quetzal and Raze. As for the Heavyweights...Kavanagh fully expected to see Shylock and Pendekar squaring off for the Heavyweight Title in a month or two, and would be stunned--and a little disappointed--if either of them got upset, depriving him of his money match.

The problem was that the card was still missing something. He thought about booking Nero against Hadrian in an exhibition match, but was fairly certain their handler would refuse to let them fight one another. He could always feed J.J. Smooth to Indigo, but there was no guarantee Indigo could gain enough weight to compete as a Super-Heavy in time for the card. Maybe he could convince that idiot woman Olivia to--

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. And by "knock," we mean to say a pounding that threatened to knock the thing off its track mechanism. Before he could invite the visitor in, the door slid open. Kavanagh's eyes widened at the sight of the man who all but filled the door. Six feet, nine inches. Nearly 350 pounds. Chiseled features, a permanent scowl...and facial tattoos that Kavanagh knew had been self-crafted. It was a matter of pride.

An Aethran thing.

To call Paralyze a former GWF superstar was an understatement. He was a megastar: a multi-time champion, and here he was, sliding sideways through the door (his broad shoulders would not fit, otherwise) and entering Niles Kavanagh's office.

"I want to fight," he said, frowning down at the smaller man.

"I believe you," Kavanagh answered, trying to keep the dollar signs out of his eyes. "But this is a very different--"

"I said I want to fight." The President frowned thoughtfully. Yes, he was a GWF star, and most of them were prima donnas who wouldn't understand what he was trying to do with OMEGA. But he was also an Aethran--a legitimate fighter, trained in hand-to-hand combat from the time he could walk. Maybe even before that--it's entirely possible that an infant Paralyze bludgeoned a cribmate to death with a rattle.

Kavanagh drew in a deep breath, then let it out, pondering the organization's shaky balance sheet and wondering how he could afford someone of Paralyze's caliber. "Alright... Let's talk about terms. I can offer--"

A look of disgust flashed across the Aethran's face, and he hammered the desktop with both hands, sending a pencil cup, a stapler, and a desk lamp bouncing alarmingly. "Do I look like a merchant, to stand here and argue over pennies? I don't care about money--I want to fight!"

"Yes, but--"

Another blow to the desk. The lamp toppled over, and the pencil cup leapt to the floor, spilling its contents. "I said I don't care! I'll fight for free! Give me an opponent and let me destroy him--that is all I need from you!"

"Alright! Alright! January 28th, at the MAC on Titan. You'll be there?" Paralyze answered with a curt nod and a half-sneer, then turned without a word and headed for the door. It slid open too slowly for his tastes, so he gripped the edge and slammed it open, knocking the automated unit off its track. The mighty Aethran disappeared into the hall, leaving Niles blinking in his wake. A smile crept slowly across his face, and he reached for his personal communicator.

He knew what the card was missing.

"Hello, Colonial Interchange? Can you connect me with the Kilrathi Embassy?"

[Darth Turkish]

that Kavanagh guy sounds like a real jerk. eviler than Mr. McMahon!