Introduction

I am the Observer. I observe and record data unknown to most. Nevertheless, it is my hope that what is unknown will become known. It is essential that the truth be known, even if I am only able to transmit the knowledge I’ve gathered to a select few. The information you have received in this data transmission does not do justice to the richly absorbing history I have observed. However, the brief descriptions I have written should at least give a rough idea of the people involved and have recorded using transdimensional scanning equipment.

I suppose the most obvious question will be about the power grids used and what the numbers mean. Roughly speaking, I divide the categories into 10 levels. To provide a common frame of reference, I have a power grid of a normal man armed with a hand grenade.

1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9     10  INTELLIGENCE                                      STRENGTH                                      DURABILITY                                      STAMINA                                      SPEED                                      REFLEXES                                      FIGHTING SKILLS                                      ENERGY BLASTS*

The strength levels I use can be described as how much weight one can lift from the ground to above one’s head with arms fully extended. For various reasons, that doesn’t always work in recording strength levels (such as measuring only leg strength) but the analog should suffice for these purposes. Below are some of the verbal descriptions I have used from levels 1 through 10 in the physical strength attribute in addition to the measurements I use. For a more familiar frame of reference, I have also added additional descriptions (measuring in pounds and tons). For the strength factor I use a man who weighs 750 newtons under Earth's gravity at sea level (which has the mass of about 76.48 kilograms and is approximately 168.61 pounds) who is capable of lifting his own bodyweight. The levels are defined in terms of the strength factor, except the first few levels, which are defined by bodyweight. However, the strength factor denotes maximum level allowable for the first few levels. For instance, if a person can lift more than 510 pounds, the strength level is considered “parahuman” regardless of bodyweight.

• 1 strength factor = a man with the strength to lift 750 newtons (~168.61 pounds).
• 1 kSF = 1 thousand strength factor.
• 1 MSF = 1 million strength factor, 1,000 kSF.
• BW = bodyweight under Earth's gravity at sea level (9.80665 meters per second squared). 2 x BW = twice one's bodyweight.

The measurements I have used to arrive at level 1-3 are somewhat arbitrary, but I think it’s convenient to categorize them in this way nonetheless. Level 3 is that “magic” line between near-superhuman and superhuman. However, level 3 strength might be considered superhuman depending on the mass of the individual (say, if the person was only 55 kilograms but had the strength of that man who had a mass of 160 kilograms). A comparable thing could be said of level 3 durability. Using procedures similar to those I used to obtain level 3 strength I have been able to derive calculable values for the categories of durability, reflexes, speed and agility. (Note: level 3 as “peak human” only applies to the physical categories.)

One important thing to keep in mind here is that the levels are not directly proportionate. For example, level 2 strength is that of an athlete, but that does not necessarily imply that a person of level 2 strength has twice the physical strength of a normal man. As the levels advance, the rate of increase in the physical categories is somewhat slow at first, but later rapidly escalates. For example, level 9 strength is well over 500 times that of level 1 strength. Below are some of the verbal descriptions I have used from levels 1 through 10 in what I call the physical attributes (i.e. strength, durability, reflexes, speed, agility, stamina, and regeneration).

Durability is perhaps the most complicated of the physical attributes. Not only do I take into account resistance to physical injury and “toughness” in unarmed combat, but I also factor in resistance to diseases and poisons in addition to how dependent one is on food, water, oxygen, atmospheric pressures, and so forth. The energy blasts in levels 5, 6 and especially 7 refer to the intensity of a kinetic shockwave, pressures, thermal energy from extreme temperatures, corrosive and toxic effects, and radiation. One thing I neglected to mention earlier: The semicolon (;) in the level descriptions represent “and/or” (especially in level 8 durability). For example, if one is immune to nearly all forms of injury though does not possess any sort of incorporeal/semi-incorporeal durability, one would still possess level 8 durability. The energy blast levels and weapons (e.g. the non-nuclear cruise missile and heavy demolition bomb) are described later in this article. The two tables that follow the durability category are regeneration and stamina. Regeneration is the ability to heal and recover from injury. Stamina is the amount of time one can sustain peak physical exertion before fatigue weakens performance. Below are how the levels are measured:

Durability

Level 1	Normal	Resilience of a normal man.
Level 2	Athlete	Conditioned (e.g. via sufficient exercise) to withstand injury and heal at a higher rate than normal.
Level 3	Parahuman	Extraordinary amounts of body mass (or the equivalent), such as muscle mass, to cushion and protect against blunt trauma and (other factors possible, such as high bone density) resist injury to near-superhuman or lightly superhuman.
Level 4	Augmented Parahuman	Toughened further than peak human, impervious to injury to a light/moderate superhuman extent (similar to a hefty grizzly bear in resisting injury against pressures, fairly heavy blows etc.).
Level 5	Metahuman	Toughened and hardened substantially beyond peak human. Impervious to injury to a strong superhuman extent; can withstand strong pressures, temperatures and blows.
Level 5-I		Impervious to injury to a substantially superhuman extent with great resistance to strong pressures and blunt trauma that is somewhat at least equivalent to bullets in force/pressures (such as being hit with a full-powered punch from a person of level 5 strength without sustaining serious injury); possibly bullet resistant but not quite bulletproof.
Level 5-II		Bulletproof against small caliber weapons but still vulnerable to high caliber gunfire.
Level 5-III		Bulletproof against moderate-high caliber gunfire; capable of withstanding anything short of a level 3 or level 4 explosion.
Level 5-IV		Capable of withstanding anything short of armor piercing artillery.
Level 6	Enhanced Metahuman	Capable of resisting extreme temperatures and pressures, in addition to nearly all toxic and corrosive substances, punctures, and heavy blows without suffering injury.
Level 6-I		Capable of withstanding a direct hit from tank artillery (level 5 energy blast).
Level 6-II		Capable of withstanding a direct hit from heavy battleship artillery (level 6 energy blast).
Level 6-III		Capable of withstanding a direct hit from a non-nuclear cruise missile (level 7 energy blast).
Level 6-IV		Capable of withstanding a direct hit from a heavy demolition bomb (level 8 energy blast).
Level 7	Macrometahuman	Virtually indestructible; can withstand anything short of a direct hit from a nuclear weapon.
Level 7-I		Can withstand the detonation of a dozen heavy demolition bombs at point-blank range and even a direct hit from a class I (0.1 to 1 kilotons) tactical nuke (at the lower end of the class I scale).
Level 7-II		Capable of withstanding anything short of a direct hit from a class II nuke (1 to 10 kilotons).
Level 7-III		Can withstand anything short of a level 10-I nuclear blast.
Level 7-IV		Can withstand anything short of a level 10-II nuclear blast.
Level 7-V		Can withstand anything short of a level 10-III thermonuclear blast.
Level 7-VI		Can withstand anything short of a level 10-IV thermonuclear blast.
Level 8	Advanced Macrometahuman	Capable of absorbing as much physical punishment as a small moon could; immune to nearly all forms of injury; a strong incorporeal/semi-incorporeal durability; level 8 regenerative ability.
Level 9	Maximetahuman	Only one or very few things capable of sustaining physical harm, otherwise invulnerable.
Level 10	Superlative Metahuman	With the possible exception of God (if he exists), completely invulnerable.

Regeneration

Level 1	Normal	Recovery ability of a normal man.
Level 2	Athlete	Above normal, conditioned metabolism.
Level 3	Parahuman	Near-superhuman to lightly superhuman healing and recovery ability.
Level 4	Augmented Parahuman	Able to heal severe injuries by regenerating cells to a light/moderate superhuman extent.
Level 5	Metahuman	Able to heal near-lethal injuries by regenerating cells and injured tissue to a strong superhuman extent, having zero to moderate healing of brain cells, but not able to regenerate missing limbs or organs.
Level 6	Enhanced Metahuman	Able to regenerate injured or missing brain cells, tissue, limbs or organs.
Level 7	Macrometahuman	Able to recover from all injury short of a dead on nuclear blast.
Level 8	Advanced Macrometahuman	Capable of reconstituting body after total molecular disassembly
Level 9	Maximetahuman	Capable of making a total recovery from all but one or a very few things.
Level 10	Superlative Metahuman	Capable of completely recovering from literally anything.

Stamina

Level 1	Normal	(0 to 60 seconds) Able to sustain for up to a minute
Level 2	Athlete	(60 to 1,000 seconds) Able to sustain for several minutes
Level 3	Parahuman	(1,000 to 3,000 seconds) 16.67 minutes to 50 minutes
Level 4	Augmented Parahuman	(3,000 to 50,000 seconds) 0.83 to 13.89 hours
Level 5	Metahuman	(50,000 to 105seconds) 13.89 hours to 27.78 hours
Level 6	Enhanced Metahuman	(105 to 106 seconds) 1.16 days to 11.57 days
Level 7	Macrometahuman	(106 to 107 seconds) 1.65 weeks to 16.53 weeks
Level 8	Advanced macrometahuman	(107 to 108 seconds) 16.53 weeks to 165.34 weeks
Level 9	Maximetahuman	(108 seconds to almost infinity) Greater than 165.34 weeks but finite
Level 10	Superlative metahuman	Able to sustain indefinitely

I calculate speed over various ranges in three categories. I realize that terms like “supersonic” and “hypervelocity” do not actually have an upper limit in the standard usage of the words (though the lower limit is accurate in the table below), but for these purposes that is the type of terminology I use. Unless indicated otherwise, the speed levels in my power grids have the same measured value as land speed (typically they are land speed. Land speed (abbreviation = L-Speed) is defined as the ability to move over land via contact with the ground. Flight speed (abbreviation = F-Speed) is the ability to move through open air or space. Water speed (abbreviation = W-Speed) is defined as the speed in which one travels through water. All speed levels are peak ranges. The acceleration to those peak speeds is seldom instantaneous.

• Mach 1 (at standard sea level conditions) = 340 m/s (761 mph or 1,115 feet per second).

The level of intelligence was even harder to calculate than durability. Indeed, many psychologists on many worlds are still in dispute as to how one should measure intelligence. However, I think the intuitive definition as the ability to think, learn and reason should suffice for now. To a somewhat lesser extent the knowledge the individual possesses is factored in. The intellect relative to a person's age is considered as well. The phrase “non-eugenic world” denotes a planet (in this case, of six billion) that does not practice bioengineering to artificially enhance intelligence. Below is a table with verbal descriptions that I have used.

Reflexes are a measure reaction time. Reflexes can become very important in combat. Suppose level 2 (in speed) athletes engage in combat. In this case, a person of peak human reflexes (and adequate fighting skill) will be able to block/counter all or virtually all blows from his opponent. People of level 2 reflexes will only be able to do this some of the time. A person of superhuman reflexes will be able to counter blows even more effectively, becoming virtually invincible in such unarmed combat scenarios. Not surprisingly, many governments who have had the capability to do so have enhanced reflexes for their soldiers.

Fighting skills measure combat aptitude, particularly hand to hand combat. The average competent master of the martial arts (e.g. black belt in Karate) who has also much combat experience would rank level 5. The “peak human” level is incredibly high, very rarely reached among non-eugenic (those that do not practice bioengineering enhancement) human planets. I have thus decided to have in the category of “parahuman” (the region if near-superhuman to superhuman). Ethan Clay has suggested I liken this peak human level to some of the roles that Steven Segal, Jet Li, Bruce Lee, Wesley Snipes, and Jackie Chan have played in their movies, taking the best of the best fighters in such films. I've watched some of those films, but a level 6 fighting ability is far more common even in those movies. A possible historical example I like to use is Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, who raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he single handedly killed in one battle. A person with level 7 fighting skills can successfully win a fight against an army of a hundred level 5 warriors. Such a level is extremely rare among “normal” human beings.

Energy blasts often refer to explosive bursts of energy. I categorize them in to the mass of TNT detonated, but I have not lost my use of the metric system and have measured the energy equivalent in joules. Finally, a frame of reference to familiarize oneself with the amount of energy released is on the far right column. Of course, bombs, bullets, bazooka shells, large bullets, tank gun shells and the like have varying degrees of sizes, velocities, and explosive charges because they depend on the particular weapon used. As a result, I have a few specifications of what the terms mean when I use them in the frame of reference column. Those specifications can be found in the list below. Note that 1 metric ton (MT) = 1000 kilograms. Also note that 1 kilogram of TNT, when detonated, releases 4.612 million joules (4.612 MJ) of energy.

• Handgun bullet fired from a handgun.
  • Mass = 0.01 kilograms.
  • Velocity = 350 meters per second.
• Rifle bullet fired from a rifle.
  • Mass = 0.02 kilograms.
  • Velocity = 800 meters per second.
• Large bullet fired out of a heavy machine gun.
  • Mass = 0.3 kilograms.
  • Velocity = 1300 meters per second.
• Hand grenade detonation.
  • Mass of explosive = 0.2 kilograms of TNT.
• Bazooka shell fired from a bazooka.
  • Total mass = 2.5 kilograms.
  • Mass of explosive = 0.6 kilograms of TNT.
  • Velocity = 90 meters per second.
• Tank gun shell fired from a tank.
  • Total mass = 32 kilograms.
  • Mass of explosive = 3.3 kilograms of TNT.
  • Velocity = 850 meters per second.
• Heavy Battleship Artillery fired from a sea-faring warship.
  • Total mass = 1,200 kg.
  • Velocity = 740 meters per second.
• Non-nuclear cruise missile fired from a warship.
  • Total mass = 1300 kg.
  • Mass of explosive = 500 kg of TNT.
  • Velocity = 700 meters per second.
• Heavy Demolition Bomb dropped from the sky.
  • Total mass = 9,000 kg.
  • Mass of explosive = 4,500 kg of TNT.
  • Velocity = 700 meters per second.
• Tactical nuke, class I (0.1 to 1 kiloton)
  • Even 0.1 kiloton is enough to level a city block
• Tactical nuke, class II (1 to 10 kilotons)
  • Note: 1 kiloton = 4.184 terajoules
• Atom Bomb detonation. The one used here was the first one utilized in warfare on Earth. The U.S. dubbed the first bomb “Little Boy” and dropped it at Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The bomb completely destroyed 4 square miles of the city. The actual estimated energy has varied among some (for instance: 10, 12, 15, and 20 kilotons) but I believe the most accurate to be 15 kilotons.
• Hydrogen Bomb detonation. The one used here was the first one tested on Earth. That bomb, called “Mike,” was detonated in 1952 at Enewetak by the United States and had a mass of 74.4 metric tons. It's energy equivalence is approximately 10 megatons. (Note: 1 megaton = 4,184 terajoules)
• Antimatter Torpedo detonation. These weapons can be far more powerful than even thermonuclear weapons (i.e. hydrogen bombs). The antimatter torpedo used here converts 100 kilograms of matter into energy, equivalent to 1.95 gigatons of TNT.
• Large Antimatter Bomb detonation. This bomb has approximately 1.5 times the mass of the “Mike” H-bomb. The weapon converts 50 metric tons into energy, an explosion approximately equal to 1 metric teraton of TNT.
• Antimatter Supermissile detonation. This is approximately five hundred times more massive than the large antimatter bomb. The antimatter supermissile converts 10,000 metric tons into energy, a blast roughly equal to 200 metric teratons (0.2 metric petaton) of TNT.

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