The Spectrals from the movie 'Spectral'

’Each one is made from a real person. They're alive? They're not alive. They're not dead. They're just trapped somewhere in between.’

The main adversary in 2016’s Spectral

is not only a cool concept with some basis in science but also a new take on the supernatural enemy. How do you fight an enemy that cannot be touched and can reduce the human body to absolute zero? How can you hit an enemy that doesn’t move or obey regular of physics? Spectral is one part Poltergeist, one part Black Hawk Down and one part X-Files, and in my opinion 100% cool.

Typical Spectral

The Spectrals

Concentrated Bose-Einstein condensates

Using advanced science, the spectral forces are advanced 3-D ‘printed’ quantum energy beings who are controlled (or kept cohesive) through remote synaptic interfaces with human brains and nervous systems. The ‘spectrals’ have no immediate mass, able to pass through most solid matter (though not ceramic or iron), and are not considered truly ‘alive’. As they have no mass nor real strength to interact with their environment, they are considered ‘phased’. The unique state of the Bose-Einstein Condensates allows them several powers and abilities, listed below:

• Phased State: The spectrals are considered to have a permanent phased state at Rm (30) intensity, allowing them to move through solid matter and human in most cases. Iron and ceramic seem to prevent them from moving (and can actually cause damage). As part of their immune state, Spectrals cannot take damage in the traditional way, and are considered immune to disease, toxins, aging, poisons, fire, heat, cold, physical, mental, and emotional damage/controls with Rm (30) ability. For the purposes of checks, the spectrals treat like Rm (30) constructs and apply that rank to their FASERIP for checks. Radiation control, iron or heavier materials, and/or plasma control will destroy spectrals due to their quantum energy state. Ionic powers such as Ionization will neutralize spectrals to power rank until the 3-D printer-like systems can bring them back. (See Limitations). After 30 points of damage is done to a spectral, it dissipates for 1d10 rounds before being ‘re-printed’ near the laboratory (See Laboratory).
• Invisibility: Spectrals are invisible to the naked eye and cannot be perceived unless scanning for unusual energy patterns or waves. Due to their unique nature and the fact they are treated as ’constructs’, they cannot be perceived through  telepathic means of anything less than Am(50) intensity (Due to the location of the controlling nervous systems). Spectrals also negate Danger Sense through the weird quantum mechanical nature that they exists. That being said, anyone with energy detection abilities such as Radiation detection, Energy detection, or plasma control can detect spectrals and in the case of plasma control can actual render spectral visual. Magnetic control can not only do rank damage to spectrals but also render them visable.
• Bose-Einstein Effect: Spectrals attack by passing through enemies and objects, which reduces the temperature to near zero in seconds in many instances. Spectrals kill humans through touching them, destroying sensative equipment by simply passing through. If a spectral does pass through a human, they suffer Am (50) cold damage and must make a FEAT vs. Death or being the dying process. 
• Numbers: Spectrals roam in groups ranging from 3 – 50, but never any more than there are neuro-systems to control them. Spectrals lack a cohesive command structure, instead attack and defend key points or command points depending on the orders inputed into the central system. Spectrals operate best if they overrun targets, which is their primary means of attacking is en masse or in groups. This does not mean they possess a group mentality, it’s simply the commands given.
• Erratic movement: Spectrals do not move in a linear fashion, often moving in odd multiple-motion effects. The odd movement grants a -2cs to hitting or tracking the actual spectral, making it much harder to spot or dodge.

Equipment:

Laboratory and Power Plant operational base:

The Spectrals are part of a rogue nation’s weapons research program which was using human brains and nervous systems to control 3-D printed Bose-Einstein Condesates. As such, the Lab/Power Plant  that houses both the ’printers’, command systems, and human remains which coordinate and control the spectrals has been reinforced and protected. The Lab is considered to be heavily shielded and armored, granting it the ability to survive up to Mn (75) damage without direct breach. Life-support systems and Bose-Einstein generators are powered by a central system which can feed independently off of a nearby grid, allowing for both indefinite use and to power the stored dynamos. Advanced medical scanners and full surgeons bay are available using state of the art (and perhaps a little better) systems, which allow the removal of subject’s brain and central nervous systems. As stated in the movie, unless the power is cut, the system and life support could maintain a subject for an indefinate period. Finally the bunker is protected from detection by Mn (75) methzdods, preventing psionic or traditional detection, although any character with sufficent Reason or engineering skills can determine that the needs of the power systems would make it the most likely location.

Limitations:

Spectrals suffer several key limitations due to their nature:

• Tied to their cerebral systems: The spectrals are tied to their biological control mechanisms – their brains and nervous systems within the labratory. As such, if one was to turn off the life-support or suppress the activity of the systems, the spectrals disincorporate.
• Vulnerability to Iron: Iron particulates interefer with the unique radiation of the Bose-Einstein Condensates, and as such does +4cs damage,disrupting the spectrals and preventing them from crossing/attacking.
• Detection methods: Once the nature of the spectrals is understood, they can be detected and even revealed with modifications to standard sensors arrays.
• Power Needs: The entire operation needed for creating and maintaining the spectrals requires a Mn (75) power source, usually a city-grid or something similar. While the labratory is shielded, the requirements do remain, and as such, the chief DARPA scientist is able to determine the location based on requirements.
• Fail-Safe: The system which maintains both the spectrals and their human components have built-in failsafes which immediately terminates power first to the 3-D generators and then optionally to the life-support functions. The fail-safe is located within the labratory’s main computer system and cannot be remotely keyed in.
• Unusual looks: When seen, the spectrals are unusal looking – angry ghostly humans who seem in agony or pain.