Time Variance Authority

The Time Variance Authority (TVA) wields a self-appointed responsibility for monitoring and protecting the multiverse. Their primary mandate is to ensure the stability of the multiverse and in pursuit of this mandate, they often step in to prevent others from altering the past or future. In extreme cases, the TVA will "prune" timelines deemed too dangerous to exist by removing them from the multiverse entirely. However, despite their claims, the TVA's influence over time is not absolute. The scope of their influence is bordered by several extremely powerful entities throughout the timescape and, as a non-omniscient organization, there have been numerous incidents of time travel or reality tampering in which the TVA has failed to intervene.

STRUCTURE

As an interdimensional bureaucracy with a complex network of officials and departments, the TVA follows a strict hierarchal structure starting with the Time-Keepers at the top and working down to the clerks and non-official personnel at the bottom.

At the top of the hierarchy are the Time-Keepers, a group of mysterious and powerful entities who are the ultimate arbiters of time. They are responsible for overseeing the work of the TVA and ensuring temporal stability.

Below the Time-Keepers are the committees and sections of the TVA. These include the Chronal Oversight Committee, the Temporal Analysis Department, the Chronal Analysis Division, the Temporal Investigations Division, the Chronal Security Agency, and the Temporal Enforcement Agency. Each section is designated as either a Chronal department or a Temporal department with Chronal divisions being focused on internal functions of the TVA while Temporal groups work actively with the Multiverse.

The Chronal Oversight Committee is responsible for monitoring temporal events and making policy decisions. It is chaired by the Grandmaster and consists of six Judges. The Temporal Analysis Department is responsible for analyzing temporal data and making predictions. The Chronal Analysis Division is responsible for studying the effects of time travel and other temporal events. The Temporal Investigations Division is responsible for investigating temporal anomalies. The Temporal Enforcement Agency is responsible for enforcing temporal laws and regulations. The Chronal Security Agency is responsible for ensuring TVA protocols are followed and investigating any wrongdoing.

Each department continues its own unique titles and responsibilities, as outlined in the sections below, but also employs a large number of clerks and other administrative staff, responsible for filing reports, organizing data, and maintaining the records of the organization.

RECRUITMENT & TRAINING

The TVA operations manual clearly states that the Authority only recruits people who "upon their imminent demise pose no threat to their world or any other dimensions should their absence occur." Which is a pretty nice way of saying, "people who no longer matter." Recruitment is always optional.

At the very instant before a prospect's death, a TVA Agent will create a Time Bottle which gives the Agent and the prospect a chance to speak. The Agent will, broadly and briefly, explain the TVA and their interest in the recruit. To avoid biasing the potential new employee Agents are strictly forbidden for telling the candidate why they are being chosen, no mentioning their impending demise or the insignificance of their departure is allowed.

Should the candidate agree, the Agent will transport the new recruit to the Head Office where they will undergo an extensive assessment and training program. It should be noted that the act of removing a candidate from their native dimension and converting their flesh and consciousness into a state that can survive outside of space and time does result in some genetic "scrambling."

The TVA training process is administered by current TVA employees and everyone passes through training at least twice; once as a recruit and once as a trainer. In the alpha stage of training, recruits study various facets of the TVA and its methodologies. This rigorous initiation process lasts six weeks on average, but it is self-paced with some recruits finishing early and others taking longer. An agency outside of time does not feel the pressure of swift onboarding.

The omega stage of training takes place over a second six-week period and covers the hands-on experience, starting with a mandatory two-week exam period. Those who pass are given Blue-level clearance and undergo their first "Dive" — the colloquial term for the TVA's intentional incursions into the Multiverse. Some recruits who fail to pass the exams but show other qualities are kept on with Green-level clearance or are transferred to one of the other departments.

CHRONAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

The Chronal Oversight Committee is responsible for monitoring temporal events, analyzing the data, and making policy decisions. The Committee consists of six Judges — one for each division — and is chaired by the Grandmaster. The Judges are responsible for the security of the multiverse, and they must ensure the stability of the timeline by preventing the formation of alternate timelines, or “ripples”. They also review dives and suggest policies to prevent further ripples. Every mission undertaken by the Temporal Enforcement Agency or the Temporal Investigations Division must be approved by the Chronal Oversight Committee before it can be executed.

Grandmaster

The Grandmaster is the most powerful public figure within the TVA and claims final responsibility for ensuring the stability of the multiverse. They are the only one who knows the full extent of the TVA's mission — its true purpose — and has the authority to approve or deny any mission proposed by the Chronal Oversight Committee. The Grandmaster is also the only one with direct access to the Time-Keepers, the mysterious beings responsible for maintaining the multiverse. The current Grandmaster is a mysterious figure known only as “The Watcher” and there are rumors that they possess an incredible amount of knowledge about the multiverse and its secrets.

Judges

The Judges of the Chronal Oversight Committee are responsible for evaluating missions and making policy decisions. They review all mission briefs from the Temporal Enforcement Agency and the Temporal Investigations Division and provide their recommendation to the Grandmaster. The Judges are also responsible for appointing Agents, Hunters, and Monitors to missions. They must ensure that the personnel assigned to a mission have the necessary skills and qualifications to succeed and that the mission has been briefed in full. The Judges must also be mindful of the risk posed to the multiverse by any mission they approve and be sure to consider the consequences of any action taken.

Judge Richards-31225
Head of the Chronal Oversight Committee

TEMPORAL ANALYSIS DEPARTMENT

The Temporal Analysis Department is responsible for analyzing temporal data and making predictions. They provide their findings to the Chronal Oversight Committee for consideration and, in turn, receive their direction from the Chronal Oversight Committee. Employees of the Temporal Analysis Department are not allowed on Dives in order to insulate them from bias, so they must collect data from the debriefings of the field operatives of the Temporal Enforcement Agency or the Temporal Investigations Division.

Analysts

Composed of geographers, librarians, anthropologists psychologists, and others tasked with research and analysis. Currently, there are four active Analyst groups. Alpha: Anthropological and historical studies. Alpha’s special project is to learn as much as they can about any potential multiverse-threatening event. Beta: Cartography, linguistics, graphology. Beta is currently investigating and mapping the expanse of the Multiverse. Delta: Technology and engineering. Delta also assists Beta in mapping but primarily focuses on the technology that keeps the TVA one step ahead of treats. Gamma: [REDACTED]. A defunct group, dissolved after [REDACTED]. Omega: Semiotic studies. Omega is kept physically separated from the other teams. All information delivered to Omega is kept under quarantine until cleared for use by Purple-level personnel.

Monitors

Monitors from this group track the Agents and Hunters on Dives and offer support in the form of intelligence and gear. They use the Map extensively to chart locations and to keep their coworkers apprised of situations as they arise—much like air traffic controllers. Each team has a single Monitor assigned to them for the duration of a dive. Because of the high-stress levels involved with this job, it’s not unusual for Monitors to burn out or develop weird personality quirks of their own. For organizational and security reasons, Monitors identify themselves as “Control” whenever in communication with a field team.

Judge Xavier-40659
Head of the Temporal Analysis Department

CHRONAL ANALYSIS DIVISION

The Chronal Analysis Division is responsible for studying the effects of time travel and other temporal events. Any time devices captured by the Temporal Enforcement Agency or the Temporal Investigations Division are turned over to the Chronal Analysis Division for evaluation. They use advanced technology to monitor and detect temporal anomalies and fluctuations. They also provide consulting services to the Temporal Analysis Department.

Engineers

Engineers are responsible for building and maintaining the equipment used by the Chronal Analysis Division. They use their expertise to develop new technologies to better protect the multiverse. They also maintain existing temporal facilities, are responsible for the upkeep and repair of temporal equipment, and ensure sure that all systems are functioning properly.

Scientists

Scientists are responsible for conducting research and analyzing data. They use their expertise to study temporal anomalies and fluctuations and to develop new technologies to better detect and protect against potential threats. They also consult with the Temporal Analysis Department on possible missions and provide the Temporal Enforcement Agency and the Temporal Investigations Division with data on potential threats.

Judge Von Doom-55629
Head of the Chronal Analysis Division

TEMPORAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION

The Temporal Investigations Division is responsible for investigating temporal anomalies. They are tasked with identifying potential threats to the Multiverse and resolving them before they can cause any lasting damage. The Temporal Investigations Division is composed of Agents and Operatives. Agents are trained to identify and resolve temporal anomalies, while Operatives are responsible for providing the Agents with the resources they need.

Agents

Agents are responsible for investigating temporal anomalies and making sure that any potential threats to the Multiverse are addressed. Agents are highly trained and experienced in temporal anomalies, and can use their knowledge to assess and resolve any situation. Agents are also responsible for providing the Chronal Oversight Committee with mission debriefs of any anomalies they encounter.

Operatives

Operatives are responsible for providing the Agents with the resources they need to investigate temporal anomalies. They are the “boots on the ground”, responsible for gathering intelligence, deploying resources, and providing support to the Agents. Operatives are also responsible for providing the Temporal Analysis Department with detailed reports of any anomalies they encounter.

Judge T'Challa-95833
Temporal Investigations Division

TEMPORAL ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

The Temporal Enforcement Agency is responsible for enforcing temporal laws and regulations. Based upon the findings of the Temporal Analysis Department the Judges of the Chronal Oversight Committee create and assign missions to the Temporal Enforcement Agency. It is then placed upon the Hunters and their Minutemen to execute the orders of the Judges as best they can. Some consider the Hunters to be mindless soldiers following the letter of the orders given to them, but that could not be further from the truth. While the missions are created by the Judges, the final decision for how to best resolve a potential multiverse collapsing event is left in the hands of the Hunters.

Hunters

When the Temporal Enforcement Agency uncovers a threat to the multiverse they relay all potentially relevant information to the Judges. The Judges carefully consider the scope of the threat, consulting with the Time-Keepers when necessary, and deliver a mission briefing to the Temporal Enforcement Agency. At this point, the Hunters are briefed and geared up to deploy into the multiverse. The Hunters state in close communication with their assigned Monitor during the duration of their Dive but as they are "on the ground" they are given exceptional latitude in the decision of how to execute their objectives. Hunters are often sent in small groups, with a support staff of Minutemen to ensure their safety and survival.

Minutemen

The Minutemen are responsible for a complete accounting of every dive and must ensure all TVA assets return to the TVA. Most Minutemen agree the best means of accomplishing their mandate is to protect the Hunters at all costs, but there are those among the Minutemen who follow the letter of their mandate and are more than happy to drag home a Hunter's corpse. In turn, most Hunters see the Minutemen as their most trusted allies in the field, some see them as bureaucratic nannies.

Judge Quill-81034
Head of the Temporal Enforcement Agency

CHRONAL SECURITY AGENCY

Chronal Security Agency is an internal division of the TVA responsible for ensuring TVA protocols are followed and investigating any other TVA departments suspected of wrongdoing. CSA Deputies are often also deployed with Agents and Hunters from the Temporal Enforcement Agency and the Temporal Investigations Division to ensure that the mission is being carried out according to protocol. The CSA also has the authority to shut down any mission that is deemed to be a threat to the multiverse or is not being carried out to the satisfaction of the Grandmaster.

Deputies

Deputies are tasked with ensuring that all temporal regulations are followed and that all TVA protocols are adhered to. They are also responsible for investigating any suspicious activity or potential wrongdoing by any of the Temporal Enforcement Agency, Temporal Investigations Division, or Chronal Analysis Division personnel. The Deputies are the only ones with the authority to shut down missions and make arrests.

Lawyers

Lawyers are responsible for providing legal counsel to the TVA. They are responsible for ensuring that all of the TVA’s activities are in compliance with temporal law and advise the Grandmaster and the Judges on any legal matters. They also provide advice to the Temporal Enforcement Agency, the Temporal Investigations Division, and the Chronal Analysis Division on any possible legal implications that may arise from their missions.

Judge Laufeyson-20638
Head of the Chronal Security Agency

SECURITY CLEARANCES

Across all departments, the TVA has a strict system of security clearances. Primarily, these levels denote the depth of the Dives the employee is allowed to engage in. However, the clearances can also be applied to everything from information to objects to entire rooms within the Head Office.

Red: No multiverse entry allowed. No access to TVA information or equipment. HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUAL.

Gray: No multiverse entry allowed. No access to TVA information or equipment.

White: No multiverse entry allowed. The employee is only allowed access to the most basic information and zero-risk items.

Yellow: Supervised multiverse entry only. Leisurely exploration. Authorized to carry a TemPad.

Green: Supervised multiverse entry only. Cursory exploration. The employee has access to slightly more detailed reports and commonly used TVA equipment.

Blue: Team multiverse entry allowed. Authorized to carry a TemPad and may apply for a Time Stick permit.

Purple: Team multiverse entry permitted. Reserved for Senior employees. Authorized to carry a TemPad, Time Stick, and may apply for a Reset Charge permit.

Black: Special clearance. No other information available.

Orange: [REDACTED]

RED

Red-level clearance is a highly restricted security clearance level and is reserved for personnel placed on administrative leave or discharged from the TVA. As a result, Red-level personnel are denied access to any TVA information and equipment, including TemPads, Time Sticks, and Reset Charges. They are also not allowed to enter the Multiverse and are prohibited from any contact with other TVA personnel. TVA employees should apprehend and detain any Red-level employees they encounter.

Gray

Gray-level clearance is reserved for those individuals suspended from the TVA and its operations. Gray-level clearance is usually given to individuals under investigation by the Chronal Security Agency and/or the Temporal Analysis Department. As a result, Gray-level personnel are denied access to any TVA information and equipment, including TemPads, Time Sticks, and Reset Charges. They are also not allowed to enter the Multiverse and are prohibited from any contact with other TVA personnel.

White

White-level clearance is the most basic security clearance level and is typically granted to new recruits and employees that are not yet qualified for higher levels of clearance. White-level employees are not allowed to enter the Multiverse and are only granted access to the most basic information and zero-risk items. As such, White-level personnel are not allowed access to any TVA information or equipment, including TemPads, Time Sticks, and Reset Charges.

Yellow

Yellow-level clearance is a special clearance level reserved for personnel who have retired from the TVA. Retirement from the TVA grants access to the Yellow-level clearance, which grants access to basic TVA information and equipment, as well as the ability to enter the Multiverse for leisurely exploration.

GREEN

Green-level employees differ from their Blue-level coworkers in their duties but not necessarily in importance. Green-level assignments include general research and fact-finding dives done in conjunction with Analysts from the Temporal Analysis Department and\or Scientists from the Chronal Analysis Division. Green-level agents do not carry any special TVA-issued equipment, nor are they authorized to use Time Sticks, Reset Charges, or even TemPads.

BLUE

When paired with a Green-level team, Blue-level employees supervise their missions and ensure the safety of all deployed TVA employees. When teamed together, often with a Purple-level team lead, Blue-level employees are authorized to go on dives to hunt for hostiles under the auspices of the TVA. Upon designation of Blue-level an employee is assigned a unique TemPad that is keyed to their very DNA. On a per-mission basis, Blue-level employees may petition the Chronal Oversight Committee for the use of a Time Stick.

Purple

Only the most senior employees are given Purple-level clearance. They are often paired with Blue and Green-level employees, but in truly dangerous situations an all-Purple team may be assembled. Missions are classified as Purple for any of the following situations:

The mission is part of an internal investigation conducted by the Chronal Security Agency.
The mission specifically targets Hostiles known to frequent Purple zones.
TVA employees engaged in prior missions where they experienced extreme anomalous incidents.
The reality is considered too unstable or dangerous for a normal Blue-level insertion.

It’s not unknown for temporary clearance upgrades being handed out to Blue-level employees for special assignments. These clearances typically revert once a pre-determined time period has passed or when the special assignment has reached its conclusion. Purple Agents are assigned a Time Stick and may, on a per-mission basis, petition the Chronal Oversight Committee for use of a Reset Charge.

BLACK

Black clearance is granted only to Special operators and even then, sparingly. Black-level assignments are cloaked in secrecy — a single mission could last months of time inside the multiverse. The TVA's strict policy is for Senior operators routinely assigned to Black-level to do so alone and without backup teams, and are removed from lower-clearance operations because of the risk of contamination.

Some Black-level operators are removed from their duties and placed within a Chronal Security Agency task force run by "retired" senior Black-level operatives. As part of this task force, Black-level operators may be tasked with investigating and eliminating rogue TVA employees now classified as hostile presences within the Multiverse.

Another Black-level agency is the Occupation/Protection Authority, a branch of Temporal Investigations Division staffed by operatives who maintain a constant but covert presence in the Multiverse as private citizens and government officials. They have jobs, own property, and maintain a public-facing presence in their assigned district. Some have even started families in order to establish and protect their cover identities. The exact number of agents working within Occupation/Protection Authority is unknown, even to their Temporal Analysis Department handlers. Each cell is assigned a Monitor, but cells are discouraged from contacting one another in order to maintain secrecy and individual operational autotomy. Of course, this can lead to problems.

BROWN

Brown-level clearance does not exist within the TVA.

ORANGE

Orange-level clearance is the highest level of security clearance and is reserved only for the most elite members of the TVA. Little is known about the specifics of Orange-level clearance, due to the TVA's strict policy of secrecy. It is speculated that Orange-level clearance may include access to the most advanced technologies and equipment, as well as the ability to access the Multiverse without supervision. It is also rumored that Orange-level personnel may be granted the ability to temporarily override certain laws and protocols.

The Watcher-847
Grandmaster of Time Variance Authority

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