The Shadows


In the interstellar void, in the vast swathes of emptiness, a mighty floating city was drifting through the stars. Like a mountainous spire sheared from the surface of some vast, continental landmass, the city was studded with light and colour, its dimensions, beyond imagining. A vast prow decorated with silver lettering easily a hundred meters in height marked one end, with gargantuan battlements and towers, each one the size of a small mountain spread out across its spine, reaching for the stars above. Engine pits, easily large enough to swallow the largest of battlecruisers, glowing with the light of a sun dotted the underside of this behemoth of human ingenuity.

Home to the Empire of the Shadow, the Nocturne was home to millions of people going about their everyday lives, laughing and crying, loving and hating.

Then it was gone.

A catastrophic failure within the anti-matter reactors consumed the ship from within, sparking off a chain reaction that broke the mighty vessels spine, splitting it in two. All was quiet for a moment, perhaps two. Then the aftershocks came rippling along the hull like a drop of water in a still lake. A flare, like the birth of a new star consumed the eight hundred year old ship and in an instant it was gone.


Two days later:


"You wait, Sieria. Father will be so pleased that we managed to negotiate a trade agreement with the Hoquim. It should keep us supplied for another fifty or so years until we move out of range." Noctis Caelum almost skipped across the bridge with delight at the prospect of returning home to the Nocturne. He had been on the Hoquim homeworld for three weeks in diplomatic discourse to arrange the purchasing of much needed materials and supplies and he longed to be walking the halls of his home again. He smiled broadly at his sister.

"Erm, Majesty, I think you need to see this." The helmsman's voice sounded strained and the look in his eyes caught Noctis' attention instantly.

"What is it?" Noctis felt his heart begin pulse harder within his chest. Instinctively he knew something was very wrong.

"It's Nocturne." He pointed to the navigational display where a blinking red icon showed the apparent location of the Nocturne. "She's gone."

Noctis stared incredulously at the helmsman. "What? What do you mean gone? You are talking nonsense, man." He shoved the helmsman out of the way, fingers running rapid calculations on the console before him.

"Sir... We should have had visual contact with her four hours ago. I didn't mention it, because I believed she may have been delayed."

"No, your wrong. Nocturne doesn't just disappear. Have you sent out recon drones?"

"Yes, Majesty. I have yet to recieve any information from them."

Standing there, his eyes drifting between the helmsman and Sieria, Noctis didn't know where to look. As if on cue, the computer began relaying data from one of the drones.

Noctis practically leapt for the console, desperately compiling the information before displaying it on screen. What he saw drained the blood from his face.

Spinning silently in opposite directions, alone in the frigid vacuum lay the two burnt out pieces of the Nocturne. Small dots of light could still be seen as ignited plasma vented into space.

"Noctis?" Sieria stumbled forward a few steps, her face questioning, her eyes glistening with the first signs of tears.

"I don't know." He watched as his sister collapsed to the floor before thumbing the activation stud for intra-ship communications. "Lord Gordian, can you come to the bridge? Please?" Noctis was at a loss. He only hoped that his bodyguard, the Praetorian, Telemachus Gordian would know what to do.

A voice like the sound of two mountains grinding together replied. "On my way, Majesty"

Reaching beneath his shirt, Noctis pulled a silver chain out and gazed at the pendant that hung from it. It was the winged sword motif that had become the crest of the Empire. Platinum wings spreading out from a crystalline sword, the pendant had been handed down to the eldest son since time immemorial. Rumour held that it was some kind of key, a compass that would lead whoever activated it to an area rich in resources, a 'new world' that would see the Empire safe and secure.

The entry hatch to the bridge hissed open and the hulking form of Telemachus Gordian stepped through. "Majesty, you requested my-" His words fell short as his vision fell upon the Nocturne's carcass hanging in space. "What?"

"It's gone. Telemachus, Nocturne is gone!" Sieria whimpered from the floor, her arms wrapped around her legs as she rocked back and forth, the shock almost too much for her.

"But that is just not possible." Replied Gordian, although the evidence was staring him squarely in the face. "Do we know what happened?" He asked the room and the helmsman responded.

"Initial reports indicate that she perhaps suffered a containment breach." Balking at the sight of the massive Praetorian coming towards him, the helmsman busied himself with analysing the data being streamed from the drone. "Confirmed. Containment in the anti-matter reactors failed and caused a cascade effect."

Telemachus grunted. "They would have died instantly." Having recovered from his initial shock, he turned toward Noctis. "You are now Emperor. What is your command?"

Noctis stepped over to the console and slid the crystal sword into a data port. Almost instantly the display came to life showing a new course and a new area of space. "How many are on board this ship?"

"Approximately, eighteen hundred, Majesty."

"Eighteen hundred from a population of millions." Noctis shook his head, the shock still apparent. "We are all that is left." He met Telemachus gaze, his eyes filled with steely resolve. "I will not let my people down. Follow the course laid out by the pendant. We shall find a new home and rebuild that which we have lost."

"Yes, Majesty." Replied the helmsman, grateful for the distraction. "Course laid in. Approximate time of arrival...36 days."

Noctis watched as the ship come about, the charred wreck of Nocturne disappearing from view. It was time to forget the past. It was time to look to the future and to what it might hold for the Empire of the Shadow.

1132 AD

During the Crusades, the Order of the Knights Templar required men to undertake the tasks that would perhaps go against their strict ethical code. The Shadow were born and underwent a campaign of intelligence gathering and assassination.


1157 AD

Over the past two and a half decades, the Shadow have grown into a powerful sect of deadly reputation. The champion of the Shadow cause, Sebastian De Caelus starts having what he believes to be hallucinations telling him that his destiny doesn't lie with following the god of the Christians. He starts to doubt his sanity and begins to lose his faith.

1163 AD

Sebastian De Caelus, after six years of tormenting visions denounces God. With an impassioned speech to the elder council, he manages to convince a majority of Shadow members to follow him. After a brief conflict with the Templars, who condemned De Caelus as a heathen and heretic, he manages to leave the Holy Land with approximately 200 followers.



1175 AD

After leading his people in a nomadic existence for over a decade, De Caelus establishes a colony deep within a hidden valley where the sun only hits the valley floor when it is highest in the sky and names it Nocturne, the twilight village. Setting up a leadership styled after the greatest empires in existence, the Romans, he changes his name to Sebastio Caelum, he begins to preach of a coming darkness that will swallow all existence. He claims that it is mankind's destiny to prevent this darkness and bring order to all existence, but they cannot do this as a fractured people.


1177 AD

Caelum begins sending agents out to infiltrate various Templar banks. Having thought their former brothers-in-arms long since gone, the Templars are caught totally off guard and lose a good proportion of their funding.


1178 AD

Sebastio Caelum's first son is born during a solar eclipse. He name's the child Noctis and claims he is heir to the Shadow Empire.


1179 AD

Caelum begins recording his visions in a tome named the Path of the Grey. In it he states that it is the duty of all Shadow to remain in the gray, the twilight between light and darkness. He maintains that only by following this path can balance be restored to humanity and final unification can be achieved.


1183 AD

Caelum declares that the Path of the Grey is complete and requires all members of his people to read, study and understand. Scouts sent out years previously return, bringing a wealth of information regarding martial skills, alchemical techniques and spiritual meditation. The Shadow begin following the tome almost religiously, honing their skills and preparing for the time when they will be sent out amongst the world to further the Shadow cause.


1204 AD

After twenty years, Nocturne has turned into a thriving township, the hidden valley providing the people with everything they need. Sebastio Caelum, now in his late sixties steps down as Emperor of the Shadow. Noctis assumes the mantle of Shadow Emperor and begins a campaign of infiltration throughout all the major empires of earth. Shadow member leave Nocturne and settle in various cities through out Europe extending the Shadows reach across the known world.


1257 AD

Sebastio Caelum dies at the age of 119. His body is preserved and sealed within the vaults beneath Nocturne. Noctis dies later in the year at the age of 79. He leaves three sons and is succeeded by eldest son, Aemilius. Agents of the Shadow have been placed in high ranking positions throughout Europe for many years, solidifying the Shadows position. An espionage network unlike anything seen before is spread across the known world. The Shadow's wealth increases as well as their numbers. They continue to do so for the next 200 years.


1297 AD

Aemilius leads the Shadow for forty years. Passing away during this year at the age of 86, the apparent longevity of the Caelum line is viewed as a symbol that the Shadow are destined for great things, as predicted by Sebastio Caelum some 115 years previously. Shadow recruitment reaches an all time high. Aemilius is succeeded by a daughter, Hilaire, the first Empress of the Shadow.


1317 AD

Hilaire's daughter, Kaila begins experiencing vivid dreams and hallucinations. In them she describes creatures that are there and yet at the same time not there. She mentions skyships that seemed to fade in and out of sight. It would seem that Kaila has the same affliction as Sebastio did. She is revered amongst the Shadow.


1476 AD

Shadow agents approach a man named Leonardo Da Vinci in Florentine and offer him a way to continue his passion for pure creative and scientific research. He eagerly agrees and the Shadow finance a laboratory for him to work from. Six years later the first Praetorian war-suit is created. It is twice as light as standard of the time, yet also stronger. He is amicably released from service (He was well imbursed). Da Vinci went on to work for the courts of Milan.


1477 AD

Praetorian Guard officially formed. An elite warrior caste, they are the bodyguard of the Emperor. They become proficient in most forms of martial combat both armed and unarmed. They follow a strict code of honor and answer only to the Emperor. By Imperial decree, they shall number no more than twenty.

1500 AD

With the help of the Shadow, the peasant republic of Dithmarschen repels an invasion from the Danish army. Dithmarschen agrees to the building of a Shadow stronghold, the first permanent Shadow presence created since the founding of Nocturne. Korbin's daughter, Leora assumes control of the Shadow after her father's death.


1516 AD

After a brief conversation with a Shadow with a loose tongue, Thomas Moore publishes Utopia. It basically outlines all the Shadow hope to accomplish with obvious tracts of poetic license. The concept of a unified humanity begins to spread through out many underground movements.


1584 AD

Sailing with Sir Walter Raleigh, a contingent of Shadow agents reach the New World, setting up in what would later become known as North Carolina. Recruitment rises as a harsh way of living takes it's toll.

Leora moves the Shadow to the New World. Dying two years later, Lucius Caelum assumes leadership of the throne.


1600-1800 AD

Very few records from this time period exist regarding the Shadow. It is believed that they may well have started the great fire of London in 1666 to prevent further spread of the bubonic plague.


1807 AD

Current leader of the Shadow, Luthando Caelum, establishes the Eclipse Trading Company as a public facing means of gathering intelligence and wealth. The ETC becomes a very wealthy and powerful entity within it's own right, eventually becoming Eclipse Dynamics in 1943.


1853 AD

The seemingly chaotic increase in violent conflict throughout the last few decades causes the Shadow to withdraw from the world. They retreat back to Nocturne and their holdings in Germany and the USA. ETC continues trading as public front.

1900 AD

ETC earnings sky rocket and the Shadows start to purchase villas in the south of Italy watching day to day activities of the locals.

2000 AD

The 100 Year silence from the wars and no trace of the Shadows were ever found.

2090 AD

Shadows come out again this time to prepare leaving Earth due to rising tensions between their own race.

Beginning of Coalition and Alliance war
Shadows left Earth on a generation ship to search the stars for a new home. Unfortunately they never installed a warp drive and had to use rapid cruise to search the new worlds.

0 A.S.

Shadows continue search for a new home only to find desolated ruins on Planets and remnants of an ancient civilization.

10 A.S.
They lay dormant in the midst of space where no man, women or child ever dared venture. They waited in confinment searching for a new home still. This lasted for over 700 years.

818 A.S.

Shadows reveal themselves to Sirius and starts Operation Flashlight which is to get stable relations in Sirius with current organizations.

Noctis Caelum

Flavius Secundus Lux

Flavius Secundus Lux is one of the most famed generals of the Shadow Empire, having almost four centuries of history behind him while not being one of the Praetorians.

At early age he began training in the art of combat with the famous virtual reality system of Valentinus Severus and quickly grasped the spirit of warriors. Later he requested very few and basic genetic modifications mostly to fill his personal tastes. The changes included the vast improvement of the endurance of his muscles and insides to ensure he has to train hard for long years to put them into use instead of doing it in mere couples of months. He was very focused on these new traits what simply gave him the ability to overcome his natural limits and nothing more, all his path was that he would need efforts, time and experience to achieve any improvements

After long decades of training with the use of melee and ranged weaponry and using the Severus Simulator for gaining combat experience he realized he was becoming older and it was something he seen as inefficient in the ever closing future. Far not as big and muscular as the praetorians, he nevertheless was just as cunning, strenuous, intelligent and able as any of them. When the genetic scientist Professor Cassus was looking for volunteers for his experiments to stop the aging of human cells, the 53 years old and already considered "war veteran through simulation experience" Flavius Secundus was among the first to enterprise, but the only one to survive the treatment

Since the reason was a failure to be uncovered, the infamous treatment was banned from further experiments due to it's critical failure and it's potential danger to keep the population of Nocturne within safe numbers. Whether the treatment was successful is not known by anybody, but so far he didn't seem to be aging further in the last centuries. It never really mattered for Flavius Secundus if he will die of old age in the possibly far future, he got what he was looking for: long years to come to continue his training of body and gathering the experience of every possible war and combat situations in the Severus Simulator

He was still very enthusiastic in experimenting more and more combat and warfare ranging from melee combat as a soldier in jungle worlds filled with enemies and dangerous wildlife to commanding fleet sized spacefaring movements in fictitius wars and crisises. He was serving Emperors of the Shadow in most of his life as a general. His exceptional experience and knowledge however is limited to the roles and talents of a warrior-quality general, and so he lacks talent for diplomacy, science, culture and most of everything else. As a warrior he had no desire to be interested whether his emperor's deeds and policies were rightful or not

He sworn to serve Noctis Lucius Caelum as well when he ascended the throne

Magistrate Aoi Shakuras

***REDIRECTING BIOGRAPHY SHELL #1359***

Commander Telemachus Gordian


I am a man of few words and I have served the King with humility and reverence for twenty of my thirty five years and wish to continue in your service after the sorrowful passing of your father.
As a skilled tactician and master swordsman I have yet to meet anyone within the Praetorian to best me and my skills as a pilot are first rate, especially behind the controls of a Wasupu fighter craft.
As a Praetorian I am honor bound to protect the royal line, even against themselves, until death and my loyalty to you is beyond question.

**Accessing Secure Archives**
**Accessing File No.Omega34237**
**Displaying: The Taking of Recon Five**


Commander Telemachus Gordian observed his men preparing for the coming assault. He watched as they checked their war-suits integrity, offering up silent prays of devotion to the Keeper of the Tears. He was proud of his warriors, their armor gleaming with black light, their visors glowing a soft malevolent green. How he wished he could shake the hand of the artificer who designed this dreadful suits, built to inspire fear and panic in their enemies.

The boarding tube shuddered violently as it clamped itself to the hull of the offending vessel, the shriek of metal against metal as the tube forced its way to the interior, audible even through the airtight suits. A timer set into the ceiling started blinking of a countdown.

"Stand ready!" Gordian barked, his voice holding a quiet menace that compelled those who heard it to obey without question. "Take none alive. This I command!"

His men formed a wedge, a tactical maneuver as old as time itself, and Gordian took his place at it's tip. He drew his sword, a gift from King Drissinia himself, and gazed at the reflection in its polished surface. It had slain countless people and would continue to do so for many years to come.

At the same time as the countdown signal the forward section of the tube fanned open revealing an opening, it's edges glowing white, then red as they cooled. Beyond that, a smoky corridor strewn with the bodies of those who had been going about their business when the tube had ruptured the inner walls of the ship. Whether they were lucky or not was a matter of opinion.

Leading the charge, he powered his way into the corridor, sword hacking at those come to investigate the commotion. With the discipline of years of training his men split and headed toward their designated areas. Already they would be forcing themselves into the engine room. He grinned at the prospect of carnage that would ensue. He headed to his target, knowing full well that the remaining warriors would be on his heels.

Rounding the corner, a barrage of small arms fire ricocheted off of his armor. Barely slowing him, he roared in defiance at the two who had the audacity to challenge him. Throwing himself at the enemy, his foot landed squarely in the chest of one fool with a sickening crunch, while his sword cleaved through the other before the first had even hit the ground. Without missing a beat he drove forward, heading for the command deck.

Gordian reached the access portal of the bridge, the whole operation having lasted no more than 10 minutes so, confusion and panic spreading quickly through out the ship. He held out his hand. Almost instantly one of his men handed him a cylinder, approximately one foot long, pressed the activation stud and rolled it into the access portal. Holding up a hand he counted down with his fingers... Five... Four... Three... Two... One...
Screams issued from the bridge, quickly replaced with sickly, gurgling sounds. Then nothing.

Gordian walked triumphantly on to the bridge. Twisted, convulsing bodies could be seen writhing through the gas, blood pouring from every orifice.

He reached up and activated the communicator built into his helmet. "My Liege. The ship is ours."

**END OF ARCHIVE**

Primary Objective: Cease the entire slavery, Inter-house wars, Extermination of the Nomadic spieces and all possible varients, destruction of personal gain pirating and to settle in sirius.

Secondary Objective: Protect the balance of life in Sirius and preserve if for generations to come.

[color=#66FF99]Friendly
The Order
The Zoners

Unfriendly
Farmers Alliance
Gallic Metal Service
Gallic Royal Navy
Gallic Royal Police
Junkers
Orbital Spa & Cruise
Corsairs

Hostile
Nomads - Primary Targets
Outcasts
Hessians
Hogosha
Lane Hackers
Liberty Rogues
Unioners
The Phantom Empire
Wilde
Xenos

Legion Members (The Legions are the military force of the Shadow)

Initiate ( I )
[font=Microsoft Sans Serif]Intiates are basically recruits, they have not received basic training nor equipment.

Myrmidon ( II-IV )
Myrmidons are the basic unit in the Shadow, they receive basic training and basic equipment.

Rafael Cicera
Dante Alerio

Legionnaire ( V-VI )
A Legionnaire is the core military unit of the shadow, they have received Intermediate Training and have been given standard equipment.

Centurion ( VII-VIII)
A Centurion is often considered a non-commissioned Officer. Centurions still fight in the thick of battle but are able to give basic commands. Centurions also have the ability to be an apprentice to a Officer member if they wish to be promoted.


Officers (Officers and above can be a master and have an apprentice):

Legate ( IXX )
Legates are the commanders and generals of the Legions. All Legates have power over councilors when in battle.

Sieria Caelum
Bladus Pontus

Councilors (Councilors are trusted with governing the Shadow and have great political power.)

Dux ( XI-XII )
Dux are considered special operatives, they are the most elite troops, they normally travel in small groups and can do whatever they need to get the job done. Due to their elite status, they have some influence in the Councils decision and are considered Minor-Councilors.

Adrastus Revane
Angelus Revane

Magistrates ( XIII- XIX )
Magistrates are the main members of the Council, at any time there can be 7 Magistrates. Magistrates are tasked with managing the government and military. 2 Magistrate spots are always reserved for members of the Caelum family.

Julia Blake
Aoi Shakuras
Flavius S. Lux

Shadow Emperor ( XX )
The Emperor of the Shadow, he is the head of both the Military and Government, he appoints Magistrates and Dux to serve in the military, as well as handles the diplomacy of the Shadow Empire

Nathan (Falcon)'s ships
Shadows|Terra's.Song - Kusari Explorer (Requesting Gaian Gunship from NLH)
Shadows|Noctis.Caelum - Eagle Fighter

Blade's Ships
Shadows|Bladus.Pontus - Eagle
Shadows|Bladus.Pontus. - Roc Bomber

Unlucky's Ships
Shadows|Sieria.Caelum - Eagle

Sly-Beetle's Ships
Shadows|Aoi.Shakuras - Sabre

Mario (Vex)'s Ships
Shadows|Julia.Blake - Eagle
Shadows|Crepusculum - Hathor

KeeperOfDarkness's Ships
Shadows|Dante.Alerio - Eagle

Riess's Possible Ships
Shadows|Raphael.Cicero - Sabre

Nebraxis's Ships
Shadows|Telemachus - Eagle

Arachnia's Ships
Shadows|-Adrastus - Border Worlds Transport
Shadows|Angelus - Ravens Talon

Garuda's Ships
Shadows|Sphryna - Corvo Cruiser
Shadows|Lisa.Mertins - Eagle

Primary Objective: Cease all Slavary, Inter-house wars, Extermination of the Nomadic spieces and all possible varients, destruction of personal gain pirating and to settle in sirius.

Secondary Objective: Protect the balance of life in Sirius and preserve if for generations to come.