Whispered
Encyclopedia
The Whispered are unique individuals in the Full Metal Panic!
universe who possess access to Black Technology
, technology that outstrips the level of technology that should exist in the world.
mechs. The devices they created led to an alteration of the world’s timeline and the continuation of the Cold War
. Because of the military capabilities of the Whispered, they are sought by any national and multi-national forces aware of their existence. Two non-state extralegal organizations appear to have discovered and acquired the most Whispereds: the Western-leaning Mithril
and Communist-allied Amalgam.
Although the possession of even a single Whispered would provide such organizations with increased advancements in military technology, each individual Whispered's abilities are specialized in one area -- while one may possess inherent knowledge in submarine technology, another will be far more knowledgeable with the Lambda Driver. Thus, Whispereds such as Kaname Chidori
are acquired and analyzed in order to determine in which area they specialize.
Besides possessing vast stores of incredible knowledge, Whispereds are also capable of telepathic “resonance” with other Whispereds. They can communicate over great distances with one another; a killed Whispered can even resonate with another Whispered for a short period after death. However, a danger lies in this resonance -- if two or more Whispereds resonate too long or too deeply, the individual personalities will merge and become inseparable. (Tessa Testarossa used the metaphor of adding milk to a cup of tea.)
The reason they are called “Whispered” -- or, “those who hear Whispers” -- is that the knowledge is transferred to them in a way that feels like they’re being whispered to from some faraway place by innumerable unidentified voices. Sometimes the Whispers can violently overtake a Whispered and lead to a breakdown
. Kaname Chidori
experienced such an attack while escaping from Gauron
in North Korea
(Siberia
in the anime), but gained control of her Whispered powers in time to help Sousuke Sagara
first utilize a Lambda Driver. The Whispered, Bani Morauta, may have been driven to insanity or depression from the Whispers and committed suicide.
Tessa Testarossa believes Whispereds are “terminals” to the future, receiving Black Technology
from an unknown source that desired to alter the history of the world from what it is in our current world, to a world where the Cold War
remains and wars between the superpowers are ongoing.
.
Before that date, Soviet scientists set up a secret city
, designated "Yamsk 11," to develop advanced technology for the Cold War
. Bringing scientists from all over the Eastern Bloc
and around the world together, they set out to work on an "Omni-sphere," a techno-mental device that would be able to cut through space and time and see into the future. It would also be able to control the minds of others. The systems utilizing the Omni-sphere were designated as "Transfer and Response Omni Sphere" (TAROS).
TAROS was created by Professor Dimitri Varov by connecting thousands of dolphins' brains together. On December 24, 1981 they managed get the TAROS working; however, there was an accident and the machine went out of control. Waves of TAROS particles erupted from the facility. Two waves were particularly powerful:
Iota particles / Iota wave : These particles are still emanating out of the facility at Yamsk 11, but dissipate over distance. They caused the “mental pollution” of the people in Yamsk 11 and led them to kill each other and destroy the complex. Anyone approaching the core of the abandoned complex and the source of the Iota particles will be struck with constant and overpowering sensations of déjà vu
and nausea
.
Tau particles / Tau wave : This wave dissipated quickly, but not over distance, hence it spread all over the world. The Tau wave had no effect on normal people, but led to creation of the Whispered –- children born on December 24, 1981 (1984 in the anime) in a three minute interval after 11:50 GMT. (Kaname Chidori
was born at 20:50 Tokyo time, which was 11:50 GMT.) Tessa Testarossa theorized that, according to the explanation of psychologist
Alice Miller
, the moment a newborn baby is born there is special activity in the basal ganglia
and occipital lobe
, and the Tau wave's impact at that moment of mental activation connected those newborns to the Omni-sphere.
-- developer of the "Fairy's Feather," a device that can negate a Lambda Driver field. The "keystone" of the Whispereds, the conduit of information from the future to other Whispereds: a "Whispering".
Tessa Testarossa -- designer of the TDD-1 Tuatha De Danaan submarine and its A.I. program, DANA.
Leonard Testarossa -- developer of Lambda Drivers for the Amalgam organization and compact "Alastor" Arm Slaves. Oversaw the development of Amalgam's Lambda Driver-equipped Arm Slaves: Codarl, Behemoth, and his personal Arm Slave, Belial. Led development of the TARTAROS system on Merida Island, after it fell to Amalgam.
Bani Morauta -- A pacifist who developed the Lambda Driver for Mithril
and the ARX series of Arm Slaves, specifically the ARX-6 Halberd and the ARX-7 Arbalest. It appears his greatest creation was Al, the A.I. program for the Arbalest and the ARX-8 Laevatein. Apparently committed suicide.
Sarah Miller -- The Whispered rescued by Mithril and Sousuke Sagara
at the opening of the series. Builder of the ARX-8 Laevatein, with the A.I. Al's help, and the Fairy's Feather from design specs provided by Kaname Chidori. The character's original name is Kudan Mira, but during translation the name was changed.
Nami -- A Southeast Asian Whispered girl who fell in love with Sousuke Sagara in the novel Burning One Man Force. Excelled at programming Arm Slave operating systems. She never fully tapped her Whispered capabilities before being killed by the Amalgam agent Kurama, but did resonate with Kaname Chidori after her death.
Sofia -- A "Whisperer" who imparts knowledge to the Whispereds, through Kaname Chidori. She existed in a crystalline form, isolated in a laboratory that was buried in the wreckage of Yamsk 11, until discovered by Kaname Chidori and Tessa Testarossa. Her physical form eroded away as she took over Kaname Chidori's mind.
Full Metal Panic!
is an ongoing series of light novels written by Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shiki Douji. The series follows Sousuke Sagara, a member of the covert anti-terrorist private military organization known as Mithril, tasked with protecting Kaname Chidori, a spirited Japanese high school girl.Individual...
universe who possess access to Black Technology
Black Technology
Black Technology is a general term used to describe fictional technology in the Japanese light novel, manga and anime series Full Metal Panic!...
, technology that outstrips the level of technology that should exist in the world.
Abilities
The Whispered are young individuals (16 to 17 years old in the course of the series) who have an innate knowledge of advanced mathematics, science, engineering, and physics capable of producing machines and devices beyond the scope of present-day human comprehension. This technology is called Black Technology. Their emergence in the mid-1980s led to the creation of the palladium reactor, ECS (Electronic Conceal System) camouflage, and most importantly, Arm SlaveArm Slave
Arm Slaves are fictional mecha from the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. These huge and tall robots are used primarily by military forces in the Full Metal Panic! universe, most especially by MITHRIL and Amalgam.-Overview:...
mechs. The devices they created led to an alteration of the world’s timeline and the continuation of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. Because of the military capabilities of the Whispered, they are sought by any national and multi-national forces aware of their existence. Two non-state extralegal organizations appear to have discovered and acquired the most Whispereds: the Western-leaning Mithril
Mithril (Full Metal Panic!)
Mithril is a fictional anti-terrorist private military company in the light novel, manga and anime series Full Metal Panic!. Many of the main characters within the series are members of this organization, among them include Sousuke Sagara, Melissa Mao, Kurz Weber and Teletha Tessa...
and Communist-allied Amalgam.
Although the possession of even a single Whispered would provide such organizations with increased advancements in military technology, each individual Whispered's abilities are specialized in one area -- while one may possess inherent knowledge in submarine technology, another will be far more knowledgeable with the Lambda Driver. Thus, Whispereds such as Kaname Chidori
Kaname Chidori
is a fictional character and the female protagonist of the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. She was voiced by Satsuki Yukino in the original Japanese anime and by Luci Christian in the English dubs by ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment.-Overview:At first glance, Kaname...
are acquired and analyzed in order to determine in which area they specialize.
Besides possessing vast stores of incredible knowledge, Whispereds are also capable of telepathic “resonance” with other Whispereds. They can communicate over great distances with one another; a killed Whispered can even resonate with another Whispered for a short period after death. However, a danger lies in this resonance -- if two or more Whispereds resonate too long or too deeply, the individual personalities will merge and become inseparable. (Tessa Testarossa used the metaphor of adding milk to a cup of tea.)
The reason they are called “Whispered” -- or, “those who hear Whispers” -- is that the knowledge is transferred to them in a way that feels like they’re being whispered to from some faraway place by innumerable unidentified voices. Sometimes the Whispers can violently overtake a Whispered and lead to a breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
. Kaname Chidori
Kaname Chidori
is a fictional character and the female protagonist of the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. She was voiced by Satsuki Yukino in the original Japanese anime and by Luci Christian in the English dubs by ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment.-Overview:At first glance, Kaname...
experienced such an attack while escaping from Gauron
Gauron
is a fictional character and one of the main villains from the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. His Japanese voice was portrayed by Masahiko Tanaka and the English voice was provided by Mike MacRae.-Overview:...
in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
(Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
in the anime), but gained control of her Whispered powers in time to help Sousuke Sagara
Sousuke Sagara
is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. He was portrayed by Tomokazu Seki in the original anime and by Chris Patton in the English dub.-Overview:...
first utilize a Lambda Driver. The Whispered, Bani Morauta, may have been driven to insanity or depression from the Whispers and committed suicide.
Tessa Testarossa believes Whispereds are “terminals” to the future, receiving Black Technology
Black Technology
Black Technology is a general term used to describe fictional technology in the Japanese light novel, manga and anime series Full Metal Panic!...
from an unknown source that desired to alter the history of the world from what it is in our current world, to a world where the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
remains and wars between the superpowers are ongoing.
Origin
The Whispered were all created on December 24, 1981 (1984 in the anime) at 11:50 Greenwich Mean TimeGreenwich Mean Time
Greenwich Mean Time is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It is arguably the same as Coordinated Universal Time and when this is viewed as a time zone the name Greenwich Mean Time is especially used by bodies connected with the United...
.
Before that date, Soviet scientists set up a secret city
Closed city
A closed city or closed town is a settlement with travel and residency restrictions in the Soviet Union and some of its successor countries. In modern Russia, such places are officially known as "closed administrative-territorial formations" ....
, designated "Yamsk 11," to develop advanced technology for the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. Bringing scientists from all over the Eastern Bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
and around the world together, they set out to work on an "Omni-sphere," a techno-mental device that would be able to cut through space and time and see into the future. It would also be able to control the minds of others. The systems utilizing the Omni-sphere were designated as "Transfer and Response Omni Sphere" (TAROS).
TAROS was created by Professor Dimitri Varov by connecting thousands of dolphins' brains together. On December 24, 1981 they managed get the TAROS working; however, there was an accident and the machine went out of control. Waves of TAROS particles erupted from the facility. Two waves were particularly powerful:
Iota particles / Iota wave : These particles are still emanating out of the facility at Yamsk 11, but dissipate over distance. They caused the “mental pollution” of the people in Yamsk 11 and led them to kill each other and destroy the complex. Anyone approaching the core of the abandoned complex and the source of the Iota particles will be struck with constant and overpowering sensations of déjà vu
Déjà vu
Déjà vu is the experience of feeling sure that one has already witnessed or experienced a current situation, even though the exact circumstances of the prior encounter are uncertain and were perhaps imagined...
and nausea
Nausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
.
Tau particles / Tau wave : This wave dissipated quickly, but not over distance, hence it spread all over the world. The Tau wave had no effect on normal people, but led to creation of the Whispered –- children born on December 24, 1981 (1984 in the anime) in a three minute interval after 11:50 GMT. (Kaname Chidori
Kaname Chidori
is a fictional character and the female protagonist of the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. She was voiced by Satsuki Yukino in the original Japanese anime and by Luci Christian in the English dubs by ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment.-Overview:At first glance, Kaname...
was born at 20:50 Tokyo time, which was 11:50 GMT.) Tessa Testarossa theorized that, according to the explanation of psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
Alice Miller
Alice Miller
Alice Miller may refer to:*Alice Miller , Polish-born Swiss psychologist*Alice Miller , American golfer...
, the moment a newborn baby is born there is special activity in the basal ganglia
Basal ganglia
The basal ganglia are a group of nuclei of varied origin in the brains of vertebrates that act as a cohesive functional unit. They are situated at the base of the forebrain and are strongly connected with the cerebral cortex, thalamus and other brain areas...
and occipital lobe
Occipital lobe
The occipital lobe is the visual processing center of the mammalian brain containing most of the anatomical region of the visual cortex. The primary visual cortex is Brodmann area 17, commonly called V1...
, and the Tau wave's impact at that moment of mental activation connected those newborns to the Omni-sphere.
Known Whispered individuals
Kaname ChidoriKaname Chidori
is a fictional character and the female protagonist of the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. She was voiced by Satsuki Yukino in the original Japanese anime and by Luci Christian in the English dubs by ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment.-Overview:At first glance, Kaname...
-- developer of the "Fairy's Feather," a device that can negate a Lambda Driver field. The "keystone" of the Whispereds, the conduit of information from the future to other Whispereds: a "Whispering".
Tessa Testarossa -- designer of the TDD-1 Tuatha De Danaan submarine and its A.I. program, DANA.
Leonard Testarossa -- developer of Lambda Drivers for the Amalgam organization and compact "Alastor" Arm Slaves. Oversaw the development of Amalgam's Lambda Driver-equipped Arm Slaves: Codarl, Behemoth, and his personal Arm Slave, Belial. Led development of the TARTAROS system on Merida Island, after it fell to Amalgam.
Bani Morauta -- A pacifist who developed the Lambda Driver for Mithril
Mithril (Full Metal Panic!)
Mithril is a fictional anti-terrorist private military company in the light novel, manga and anime series Full Metal Panic!. Many of the main characters within the series are members of this organization, among them include Sousuke Sagara, Melissa Mao, Kurz Weber and Teletha Tessa...
and the ARX series of Arm Slaves, specifically the ARX-6 Halberd and the ARX-7 Arbalest. It appears his greatest creation was Al, the A.I. program for the Arbalest and the ARX-8 Laevatein. Apparently committed suicide.
Sarah Miller -- The Whispered rescued by Mithril and Sousuke Sagara
Sousuke Sagara
is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. He was portrayed by Tomokazu Seki in the original anime and by Chris Patton in the English dub.-Overview:...
at the opening of the series. Builder of the ARX-8 Laevatein, with the A.I. Al's help, and the Fairy's Feather from design specs provided by Kaname Chidori. The character's original name is Kudan Mira, but during translation the name was changed.
Nami -- A Southeast Asian Whispered girl who fell in love with Sousuke Sagara in the novel Burning One Man Force. Excelled at programming Arm Slave operating systems. She never fully tapped her Whispered capabilities before being killed by the Amalgam agent Kurama, but did resonate with Kaname Chidori after her death.
Sofia -- A "Whisperer" who imparts knowledge to the Whispereds, through Kaname Chidori. She existed in a crystalline form, isolated in a laboratory that was buried in the wreckage of Yamsk 11, until discovered by Kaname Chidori and Tessa Testarossa. Her physical form eroded away as she took over Kaname Chidori's mind.