Vector Control Mechanism

Lore & Background

Throughout history, this power has driven persecution against the Diclonius due to fears of their potential lethality. While often depicted as instruments of slaughter, the vectors are versatile tools capable of delicate manipulation, such as holding objects or shielding allies. However, the inability to hide these horns and the instinctive violence associated with their use have led to a cycle of isolation and conflict that defines the narrative of those who wield them.

In Their Own Story

The wind rustled through the abandoned facility as Lucy stood amidst the silence. She did not move her hands, yet the steel door before her groaned inward, crushed by an unseen force. A single vector extended from her shoulder, slicing a falling raindrop in perfect half before retracting into nothingness. There was no sound of movement, only the sudden spray of liquid and the cold realization that she could end everything with a mere thought.

Reader's Guide

The Diclonius ability functions through invisible, intangible arms called vectors that extend from their bodies. These limbs are controlled mentally via the horns atop their heads and can manipulate matter within a specific radius. While often used for brutal combat, such as slicing through steel or crushing skulls, they possess fine motor control allowing delicate tasks like holding objects without touching them. The range varies by individual, with some reaching up to twenty meters, though precision drops at maximum extension. To human observers, the vectors are completely unseen; only their effects manifest as sudden cuts or floating debris. Victims often realize they are under attack only after blood sprays from invisible wounds. This invisibility makes them terrifyingly unpredictable in battle. A key limitation is that users cannot typically use vectors against themselves, and physical barriers like thick concrete can sometimes block the force if not fully penetrated. Furthermore, maintaining concentration over a wide area causes significant mental fatigue, leaving the user vulnerable if their focus wavers during prolonged engagements or when facing multiple opponents simultaneously.

Did You Know?

• Thrust vectoring is also known as thrust vector control (TVC).
• Exhaust vanes and gimbaled engines were used in the 1930s by Robert Goddard.
• In missile literature originating from Russian sources, thrust vectoring is referred to as gas-dynamic steering or gas-dynamic control.
• The V-2 used graphite exhaust vanes and aerodynamic vanes.
• The first airship that used a control system based on pressurized air was Enrico Forlanini's Omnia Dir in the 1930s.