Revision 6

Overview

The Worheimer Index is the primary measurement system used by the Bureau of Anomaly Control to monitor and respond to anomalous activity throughout the world of Neverness to Everness. It quantifies how much an object, phenomenon, or area deviates from the baseline of normal reality. Higher readings on the Worheimer Index indicate greater instability and a higher potential danger from Anomalies. The index serves as the Bureau's early warning system, enabling response teams to detect emerging anomalies before they escalate into critical threats.

How It Works

The Worheimer Index measures the degree of deviation from reality in a given area or around a specific object. Normal, non-anomalous conditions register at a baseline reading. When an anomaly begins to form or an existing anomaly intensifies, the index in the surrounding area rises in proportion to the severity of the distortion. The Bureau maintains sensors and monitoring infrastructure across cities like Hethereau and New Helios to provide constant surveillance of Worheimer Index readings.

The index does not simply detect the presence of an anomaly; it reflects the magnitude and nature of the distortion. A minor fluctuation might indicate a low-level anomaly forming in an alley, while a massive spike could signal the emergence of a high-class threat requiring immediate ETD deployment. This graduated scale allows the Bureau to allocate resources proportionally, avoiding unnecessary mobilization for minor incidents while ensuring rapid response to major events.

Response Tiers

Different threshold levels on the Worheimer Index trigger different response protocols within the Bureau. This tiered system ensures that the appropriate level of force and expertise is deployed for each situation:

Connection to Anomaly Classification

The Worheimer Index readings correlate with the Bureau's anomaly classification system, which categorizes threats by class level (with Class VII being among the highest documented). Higher-class anomalies produce correspondingly higher Worheimer Index readings. For example, the V-class Wrath GR Cloud Crisis, a major nullification operation that Nanally participated in, would have registered strong deviations on the index. The anomaly classification informs which Bureau departments are activated and what level of response is authorized.

Anomalies are described as distortions in reality that range from strange to outright horrifying. At the lower end, they might manifest as minor environmental oddities. At the upper end, they involve entities and phenomena capable of mass destruction. The Worheimer Index captures this full spectrum, providing a numeric framework that the Bureau uses to translate observed distortions into actionable intelligence.

Surveillance Infrastructure

The Bureau maintains a network of Worheimer Index monitoring stations across its areas of operation. Hethereau, as the Bureau's primary base of operations, has the densest coverage. Other cities and regions, including New Helios prior to the Hypervortex disaster, are also monitored, though the extent of coverage varies.

Bureau personnel at various levels interact with Worheimer Index data. Containment Unit operatives use the data to identify optimal containment perimeters. ETD squad leaders reference readings when planning engagement strategies. Even Anomaly Hunters working out of independent branches like Eibon rely on Bureau-shared Worheimer Index data to prioritize which cases to pursue and how to approach investigations.

The Hypervortex Readings

The most extreme Worheimer Index readings ever recorded occurred during the Hypervortex event over New Helios. As the Class VII anomaly formed in the sky at dusk, the index spiked dramatically beyond any previously documented levels. These readings triggered maximum response protocols, leading to the immediate deployment of ETD-4 from Hethereau to the disaster site.

The Hypervortex readings demonstrated both the strengths and limitations of the Worheimer Index as an early warning system. While the index successfully flagged the anomaly's emergence, the sheer magnitude of the event exceeded the Bureau's established response framework. The disaster nearly destroyed all of New Helios before the anomaly's Nexus was identified and targeted, exposing the critical vulnerability at its core.

Operational Significance

For the Appraiser and other Anomaly Hunters, the Worheimer Index is a practical tool that guides daily operations. Fluctuations in the index across different districts of Hethereau point investigators toward active anomalies, helping them prioritize cases and allocate their limited resources. The index is particularly valuable for Eibon's small, underfunded team, as it allows them to focus on genuine threats rather than chasing false leads.

The Worheimer Index also plays a role in the Bureau's post-incident analysis. After an anomaly is contained or nullified, Bureau analysts review the index data from the area to understand the anomaly's lifecycle, from initial formation through peak intensity to resolution. This historical data helps refine response protocols and improve future detection capabilities.