01-09-2015, 07:36 PM
![[Image: B1v9IL2.png]](https://i.imgur.com/B1v9IL2.png)
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Faction History
The Hellfire Legion coalesced into existence after its founder, Drake Thastus, fled Liberty in 801 A.S. He had been placed under arrest during the post-Nomad War purge, with the charge of high treason, and was likely to be given a sentence leading to his execution. Confident of his own innocence and determined not to participate in a trial apparently rigged against him, he rallied his most loyal subordinates and commandeered the LNS-Ragnarok, an experimental Spyglass Battleship and sister ship to the original Osiris, the development of which he had been supervising.
The Siege Cruiser LNS-Antares, the gunboats LNS-Mentu and LNS-Silverfire, and several fighters joined up with the Ragnarok, and in a move that caught the Liberty Navy off-guard, they blasted their way through the perimeter and fled Liberty space. Having been immediately being flagged as deserters, it was a difficult journey to the border, as they fought off interdictors and bounty hunters in each subsequent system. Finally, the Ragnarok and its allies reached the edge of the Barrier nebula in the Magellan system, believing they had successfully escaped. To their horror, a Navy battlegroup had been waiting in ambush, catching them by surprise and stalling their movement. However, the scale of the combat caught the attention of the local Lane Hackers, who sent squadrons of small craft to take advantage of the situation and counter-attack the Navy group. This distraction bought enough time for the Ragnarok group to disengage deeper into the nebula, and with the help of the Hackers who saw a potential ally in the renegade ships, they were guided to the barren Vespucci system. Initially, the system appeared to be relatively inhospitable, but the uncharted asteroid fields presented a good opportunity to hide from prying eyes, and the untamed planet was a tantalising prospect for future plans. Over the following months and years, Thastus’ followers explored the rugged system, and pooled together their meagre resources to purchase a few basic station modules off the grey market. The first outpost in the system would later come to be known as America Base. Having begun to settle down in this frontier system, the group adopted a formal name, the Hellfire Legion.
During these early years, the Legion’s goals were not particularly ambitious, focused on making their survival more comfortable and improving their combat strength. Since there were few civilians on board the original Legion ships, the Legionnaires were forced to make some credits using the only skills they had: fighting. They gained a reputation for being ruthless mercenaries, often operating against the law alongside notorious criminals, including the 101st Outcast Squadron - an alliance with whom saw impressive Maltese-made warships join the Legion’s ranks. Individuals and small groups looking to “fight the system” eventually flocked to the Legion’s banner, drawn to their strength, including other renegades, pirates, and ex-military deserters. Several key heists provided the Legion with sufficient resources begin construction of Phoenix Shipyard, a basic but functional installation so they could properly service their larger vessels autonomously. The Legion’s biggest break which would catalyse its largest period of expansion was the reverse-engineering of the Spyglass Array. The most valuable component of the Ragnarok, it was the cutting edge in sensor and communications technology, as well as a powerful electronic warfare platform. The Ragnarok was meticulously deconstructed, and every component was recorded in detail. Thastus had contacted the Magellan branch of the Lane Hackers, who were most eager to acquire such an exquisite piece of hardware that suited their particular brand of piracy very well. In exchange for a copy of the Array blueprints, the Hackers provided the Legion with a plethora of small ships and armaments to match, bolstering their aging fleet of mismatched vessels. However, even more valuable was contact with the Order, who also purchased the plans in exchange for the OCV-Incursus, an Osiris-class Battleship. This technology became the basis for the design of the Order's Resheph Reconnaissance Cruiser.
It took many years for the Legion to build its strength and plan the starting phase of its new operations – guerrilla warfare against the Liberty Navy. No longer a disparate gang of warriors, the Legion grew into a fully-fledged rebel military force in its own right, with Vespucci as the home of its humble dominion on the fringe of the Barrier nebula. A gradual shift in the Legion’s modus operandi saw them rejecting the criminal path, condemning the use of Cardamine and turning their backs on the Outcasts and their distributors amongst the Liberty Rogues. Their relationship with the Hackers was tense but remained neutral for a time, due to their cohabitation of Vespucci. Aiming for a more patriotic objective, Thastus vowed that the Legion would replace the Liberty Navy, who were perceived as being ineffective, and then overthrow the stifling Liberty government. This shift permitted the growth of an alliance with the Xenos, who found the concept of a strong and independent Liberty compatible with their ideals. To try and convince space-faring civilians of their good intentions, the Legion openly persecuted pirates and torched the ships of smugglers and slavers. While the greater public was not yet endeared to their presence, it at least set them aside from the common scum that would prey upon the Lanes.
The Siege Cruiser LNS-Antares, the gunboats LNS-Mentu and LNS-Silverfire, and several fighters joined up with the Ragnarok, and in a move that caught the Liberty Navy off-guard, they blasted their way through the perimeter and fled Liberty space. Having been immediately being flagged as deserters, it was a difficult journey to the border, as they fought off interdictors and bounty hunters in each subsequent system. Finally, the Ragnarok and its allies reached the edge of the Barrier nebula in the Magellan system, believing they had successfully escaped. To their horror, a Navy battlegroup had been waiting in ambush, catching them by surprise and stalling their movement. However, the scale of the combat caught the attention of the local Lane Hackers, who sent squadrons of small craft to take advantage of the situation and counter-attack the Navy group. This distraction bought enough time for the Ragnarok group to disengage deeper into the nebula, and with the help of the Hackers who saw a potential ally in the renegade ships, they were guided to the barren Vespucci system. Initially, the system appeared to be relatively inhospitable, but the uncharted asteroid fields presented a good opportunity to hide from prying eyes, and the untamed planet was a tantalising prospect for future plans. Over the following months and years, Thastus’ followers explored the rugged system, and pooled together their meagre resources to purchase a few basic station modules off the grey market. The first outpost in the system would later come to be known as America Base. Having begun to settle down in this frontier system, the group adopted a formal name, the Hellfire Legion.
During these early years, the Legion’s goals were not particularly ambitious, focused on making their survival more comfortable and improving their combat strength. Since there were few civilians on board the original Legion ships, the Legionnaires were forced to make some credits using the only skills they had: fighting. They gained a reputation for being ruthless mercenaries, often operating against the law alongside notorious criminals, including the 101st Outcast Squadron - an alliance with whom saw impressive Maltese-made warships join the Legion’s ranks. Individuals and small groups looking to “fight the system” eventually flocked to the Legion’s banner, drawn to their strength, including other renegades, pirates, and ex-military deserters. Several key heists provided the Legion with sufficient resources begin construction of Phoenix Shipyard, a basic but functional installation so they could properly service their larger vessels autonomously. The Legion’s biggest break which would catalyse its largest period of expansion was the reverse-engineering of the Spyglass Array. The most valuable component of the Ragnarok, it was the cutting edge in sensor and communications technology, as well as a powerful electronic warfare platform. The Ragnarok was meticulously deconstructed, and every component was recorded in detail. Thastus had contacted the Magellan branch of the Lane Hackers, who were most eager to acquire such an exquisite piece of hardware that suited their particular brand of piracy very well. In exchange for a copy of the Array blueprints, the Hackers provided the Legion with a plethora of small ships and armaments to match, bolstering their aging fleet of mismatched vessels. However, even more valuable was contact with the Order, who also purchased the plans in exchange for the OCV-Incursus, an Osiris-class Battleship. This technology became the basis for the design of the Order's Resheph Reconnaissance Cruiser.
It took many years for the Legion to build its strength and plan the starting phase of its new operations – guerrilla warfare against the Liberty Navy. No longer a disparate gang of warriors, the Legion grew into a fully-fledged rebel military force in its own right, with Vespucci as the home of its humble dominion on the fringe of the Barrier nebula. A gradual shift in the Legion’s modus operandi saw them rejecting the criminal path, condemning the use of Cardamine and turning their backs on the Outcasts and their distributors amongst the Liberty Rogues. Their relationship with the Hackers was tense but remained neutral for a time, due to their cohabitation of Vespucci. Aiming for a more patriotic objective, Thastus vowed that the Legion would replace the Liberty Navy, who were perceived as being ineffective, and then overthrow the stifling Liberty government. This shift permitted the growth of an alliance with the Xenos, who found the concept of a strong and independent Liberty compatible with their ideals. To try and convince space-faring civilians of their good intentions, the Legion openly persecuted pirates and torched the ships of smugglers and slavers. While the greater public was not yet endeared to their presence, it at least set them aside from the common scum that would prey upon the Lanes.
Key Events
• First Battle of California Minor
• The death of Thastus
• The Sundering
• Shifting Allegiances
• Battle of New Year's Eve
• The Schism
• Current day
• The death of Thastus
• The Sundering
• Shifting Allegiances
• Battle of New Year's Eve
• The Schism
• Current day
Faction Objectives
• Protection of Liberty and civilians from foreign threat (Rheinland Military, MND, Gallic Royal Navy)
• Protection of Liberty and civilians from internal threat (Liberty Rogues, Lane Hackers, Outcasts)
• Dismantling of incompetent forces (Liberty Navy, LSF, LPI) - Replacing current Navy and goverment
• Formation of a free and independent state of Vespucci.
Zone of Influence
Zone of Influence:
Liberty (New York, Colorado, California, Texas, Ontario, Alberta, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New Hampshire)
Independent worlds (Magellan, Cortez, Bering, Hudson, Kepler, Galileo, Humboldt, Coronado, Kansas. Vespucci)
Zones of Operation:
Liberty, Independent Worlds, Out of ZOI operation varies on Special tasks/operations.
![[Image: XsN74zS.png]](http://i.imgur.com/XsN74zS.png)
Subdivisions
The Hellfire Legion is consisted by several divisions for better organizational structure and ease of information relaying. Each division has a number of personnel, a dedicated base of operations and their own command structure that reports to the High Command.
Logistics Division:
The Logistics Division is the lifeline of the Legion. A well-organized fleet consisted of freighters and transports capable of bringing in the materials needed for numerous projects and shipbuilding, Their duty is to supply the Legion with the goods to maintain their personel and ships, supplies that are bought from neutral markets and often the black market with common cargo being alloys, fuel and munitions.
The danger commonly faced is pirate raiders. To counter that problem, escort ships ranging from light fighters to the more heavy gunboats are assigned often if their mission requires it. The division's main staging point is America base, and the division is directed by a Fleet Admiral.
The danger commonly faced is pirate raiders. To counter that problem, escort ships ranging from light fighters to the more heavy gunboats are assigned often if their mission requires it. The division's main staging point is America base, and the division is directed by a Fleet Admiral.
Engineering Division:
The Engineering Division is an of utmost important division within the Legion. They keep the Legion assets in top condition that allows the legionnaires to fight knowing their ships and weapons are in full integrity. They control the research and development of the Legion's ships and weapons, keeping the technological advantage on par with that of their enemies. They are staged on Fort Leniex under the strict watch of a Fleet Admiral.
Special Operations and Armed Reconnaissance Division
The Hellfire Legion maintains a small separated division of officers that have shown exceptional performance on and off the field of battle and have gone beyond the call of duty on numerous occassions. This division is responsible for the planning and execution of the following tasks:
• Infiltration of enemy high security territory.
• Sabotage of enemy installations and capital ships.
• Acquisition of tactical data prior to combat engagements.
• Assassinations of enemy key officers.
• Armed reconnaissance on enemy forces.
• Covert reconnaissance on neutral and enemy forces.
• Field testing of new equipment and technology.
• Sabotage of enemy installations and capital ships.
• Acquisition of tactical data prior to combat engagements.
• Assassinations of enemy key officers.
• Armed reconnaissance on enemy forces.
• Covert reconnaissance on neutral and enemy forces.
• Field testing of new equipment and technology.
The Special Operations and Armed Reconnaissance Division, called SAD for short, has a seperate ranking system consisting of only two ranks:
Star Colonel
The Star Colonel possesses all the same privileges equal to the Grand Admiral of the Hellfire Legion, but only retains command authority over its members equal to a Fleet Admiral. The Star Colonel responds only to the Lord Commander.Star Captain
The Star Captain, who possesses the privileges equal to a Major in the Hellfire Legion, but retains no authority over any of its members unless noted otherwise. Star Captains respond only to the Lord Commander and the Star Colonel.Joining Requirements of the Special Operations and Armed Reconnaissance Division
To apply for the SAD one must be a member of the Hellfire Legion and must have shown an exceptional dedication to the legion's cause, as well as outstanding performances in the field of duty that pertain to the SAD's interests, on top of having at least achieved the rank of Major. Regardless, one has to apply to the High Command for a transition via the communications channel and explain one's reasoning and motivation for wishing to join the ranks of the SAD, and only the Lord Commander and Star Colonel can approve or disapprove an application.
Assault Reconnaisense Wing
Amidst the ranks of the legion and even the SAD, some pilots may stand out above others in the fields of reconnaissance in hostile territory and the gathering of strategic and tactical data. The ones who do, end up as part of the Assault Reconnaissance Wing, or AR, as it more commonly referred to. Experienced and thoroughly-trained specialists in their field of work, they are a rather secretive and highly-professional group of pilots operating from aboard the battleship Incursus. Not unlike the SAD they fulfill the following duties:
• Infiltration of enemy high security territory.
• Acquisition of tactical data prior to combat engagements.
• Armed reconnaissance on enemy forces.
• Interception of high-value targets.
• Acquisition of tactical data prior to combat engagements.
• Armed reconnaissance on enemy forces.
• Interception of high-value targets.
They are masters of interception and battlefield surveillance who only fly the lightest of fighters in order to ensue maximum survivability and flexibility while operating in all-out hostile territory. Due to the sensitivity of their work, and as requested by their current commanding officer, they are only known by their callsigns. All records pertaining to their identities are accessible by the High Command only, with a shroud of mystery surrounding the wing everywhere and all the time. Unlike the S.A.D however, there is no separate command structure, but out of respect and courtesy the most experienced member of the wing is referred to as "Recon One". He has the final say regarding AR operations, as well as having the final say when it comes to the additions of new members to the wing.