Network Quarantine
⚡ Protocol · First Signal · Level 35
Rules Text
Silence an enemy for 2 turns. Draw 1.
Energy
3
TECH
4
CMD
4
SUP
2
Abilities
Specifications
"Disconnected. Isolated. Neutralized."
Lore
Network Quarantine is an electronic warfare protocol that isolates a hostile unit from all external communications and command systems. The quarantined target cannot receive orders, activate special abilities, or coordinate with allies — effectively rendering it a disconnected, inert presence on the battlefield for the duration of the isolation.
Extended Lore
Network Quarantine evolved from the same electronic warfare research that produced the Override Protocol, but where Override seizes control, Quarantine simply severs it. The protocol works by projecting a localized electromagnetic cage around the target that blocks all incoming and outgoing signal traffic across every known frequency band. The cage is maintained by a continuous broadcast from the Terran relay network, requiring sustained bandwidth allocation for the duration of the isolation.
The silence effect is comprehensive and devastating. A quarantined unit cannot receive commands from its faction\'s command structure, cannot activate abilities that require external processing or coordination, and cannot communicate its status or position to allies. For units that depend on network coordination — particularly other Terran units that might be captured or corrupted — the quarantine is functionally equivalent to destruction without the cost of replacing the unit.
The intelligence yield of the Quarantine protocol comes from passive signal analysis during the isolation period. As the electromagnetic cage blocks the target\'s transmissions, the relay network captures and decodes every attempt the target makes to break free — mapping its communication frequencies, encryption protocols, and command architecture. This intelligence is compiled and delivered to the commander as actionable data, providing insights into enemy communication infrastructure that can inform subsequent electronic warfare operations.
The two-turn duration represents the maximum sustainable isolation period before the cage\'s energy requirements begin to degrade other network operations. The relay network can maintain the quarantine broadcast indefinitely in theory, but the bandwidth cost increases exponentially over time as the target\'s systems adapt and attempt to circumvent the isolation on new frequencies. After two turns, the cost-benefit analysis favors releasing the quarantine and redeploying the bandwidth to other tactical needs.