Aegis Initiative Information

[The Aegis Initiative]

1ic: @L1ght 2ic: @Novascova

Faction Information

The Aegis Initiative was first formed informally in 820 A.S. by John Easom and a few trusted friends in the Bounty Hunters Guild. They were originally a small band of experienced Hunters operating out of the Omega Border Worlds, hunting high-value or dangerous targets in packs. With the depletion of resources in the Houses from multiple on-going wars, there have been greater incentives for the Houses to expand into the Border Worlds, and an increased demand for the security services of experienced pilots to protect such efforts. This band of Hunters, wishing to market themselves to meet this demand, then called themselves the Aegis Initiative, ambitiously proclaiming itself to be a private military company registered with the Bounty Hunters Guild, and started providing security contracts for House activity not only in the Omegas, but also in other Border World sectors as well. As the Aegis Initiative's original roster started to profit immensely from the increase in demand from houses unable to fully maintain their own internal security due to events such as the Kusari Civil War and Liberty's own Insurgency, a Libertonian investor by the name of Isaiah Steffen, also suspected to have close links to the Core, used his connections and personal wealth to acquire a controlling share in the Initiative itself. This influx of capital allowed the Initiative to scale operations to an extent and throughout the late 820s and early 830s, and became a dominant force within the Bounty Hunters' guild. Despite their results, however, the Initiative's influence within the wider Guild is crippled by their unpopularity and view of other bounty hunters as competition, first and foremost. As a result, subtle hostility and dislike is hardly uncommon among the Initiative and other Hunters. While most Bounty Hunters shy away from tricky legal and political issues, the Initiative is not afraid to intervene in such matters, if the price is right. Rumours of skirted boundaries and liberal interpretations of house law aren't infrequent, and Aegis is a name that comes up in the grapevine often with relation to black market activity and acquisition of legally-dubious equipment. Such confrontation has put the Initiative at odds with house governments in the past, including notably cold relations with Rheinland after chasing a mark went awry and ended in a full-fledged engagement between Initiative hunters and the Rheinland Military itself. While relations have since been normalised to some extent, the incident remains fresh in the memories of both parties. Likewise, while some groups within the Guild are at least somewhat careful with their recruitment, the Aegis Initiative has been rumoured to turn a blind eye to, and in some cases even used a well-placed bribe or two to wipe the pasts of many of their hopeful initiates, so long as they can demonstrate their ability to get the job done and ability to restrain themselves when needed.

Sectors of Operation

The Republic of Liberty - Sector Commander: Owen "Omen" McClain The House of Liberty became a focal point of Initiative operations during the Insurgency campaign, beginning in earnest in around 829 A.S. with the Carrier Ohio's push into Vespucci. While the Initiative's engagement with Separatist forces was relatively limited, they gained a fearsome reputation within Liberty's home systems among the Rogue population in particular for their efficacy as well as willingness to chase them to any holes they were foolish enough to lead the Hunters to. Initiative Hunters would assist an overstretched LPI to hold down the home front and, although their involvement in the house has quietened down since the Navy's reallocation of resources towards internal security, Liberty remains a consistent source of work for the organisation to this day.

The Kingdom of Bretonia - Sector Commander: Anastasia "Vela" Focht Bretonia is a house with long-standing close ties to the Initiative. Initially attracted by an incredibly generous bounty rate, the Crown and the Initiative have since forged close, reliable ties with one another, and because of this the Initiative places something of a premium on their services to and relationship with Bretonia and the BAF. Because of this, they have developed a strong rivalry with bands of Corsairs that often test their luck in the relative south of the Crown's territory. Numerous incidents have been reported of Bretonian battlegroups engaging with Corsairs as initiative pilots provide a significant force multiplier, serving as the fleet's primary fighter support. Aegis pilots have also been known to conduct patrols through Dublin, assisting with the containment of separatist elements.

The Rheinland Empire - Sector Commander: None While relations have since been normalised, communications between Aegis and Rheinland are best described as practically non-existent after Initiative pilots got overeager chasing a sirius-wide mark in Rheinland territory. Military forces moved to defend vessels that were lawfully present within Rheinland space, and Initiative pilots returned fire in self defense, shattering any diplomacy between the two groups in the process. It took years for Aegis and the Rheinland Military to communicate at all beyond this point, and even now Aegis vessels seldom venture into the house beyond mundane traversal, nor is any representative assigned to handle operations within it.

The Empire of Kusari - Sector Commander: Millie "Virulent" Paige Aegis enjoys a very rare and privileged special contractor status with the Empire of Kusari, being one of the very few organisations selected through consistent service to project the Emperor's judgement sirius-wide as well as throughout Kusari home territory, and at favourable rates. The Initiative provides a valuable long arm for the Empire to reach beyond its well-protected borders, ensuring that none that have earned its ire have any place to hide in the forgotten corners of Sirius.

The Border Worlds - Sector Commander: David "Gladius" Graves The birthplace of the Initiative, they operate throughout the Omegas and Omicrons. They work most often for the Bretonian Armed Forces or the Core, the latter of whom they are rumored to have incredibly close ties with and be partially supplied by. These rumors do not go unsubstantiated, with significant amounts of Core equipment making appearances on Aegis vessels. Bounties fled from the Empire of Kusari are also often tracked down ruthlessly to the fringe worlds of Sirius. The lawless nature of the Border Worlds has been known to lead to some, albeit not all, within the initiative to show something more of their true colours than they would within civilised space. Bribery, using bounties as a medium to settle personal grudges, and sometimes outright mercenary or 'hit' work taken from ostensive enemies of the Initiative's interest against their own rivals are all whispered of occurring. Regardless of what may be said of them in bars across the Border Worlds especially, Aegis maintains a steady workflow from their more lawful contacts who oftentimes are more than happy to overlook these rumours as just that; superstitions that, even if they were to occur, hardly matter so long as the right people end up out of the picture.

Diplomacy

ALLIED - The Initiative's most reliable and long-standing partners The Core Bretonian Armed Forces Bretonian Police FRIENDLY - Cordial and productive working relationships Kusari Naval Forces Kusari State Police Liberty Navy LPI NEUTRAL House Corporations House Gallia House Intelligence Agencies Everyone else UNFRIENDLY - Through competition or distrust, these factions or organisations may sometimes spark conflict with the Initiative. Rheinland Military Rheinland Police Rheinland Corporations Junkers Hogosha Unione Corse Bounty Hunters Other Mercenaries HOSTILE - Frequent targets of opportunity for Initiative hunters. House Pirates House Terrorists Outcasts The Order The Technocracy of Auxesia Artificial Intelligence AT WAR - Some things go beyond simple bounty. The Coalition House Revolutionaries Corsairs Wild All Nomads

Notable Vessels

CV Citadel A Bustard-class vessel, the Citadel stands as the Initiative's current flagship, obtained in 833 A.S. as part of another push to expand the company's operations. An incredibly expensive investment funded in part by Isaiah Steffen, the Citadel stands fully equipped with a state of the art combat information centre as well as enhanced navigational facilities to accurately plot coordinates for its Type 4 jump drive. This grants the Initiative incredible flexibility in being able to bring their full force to bear in a reactionary manner, a novel capability which even now has yet to be fully utilised. The Citadel is equally equipped with four docking modules, with a permanently stationed bomber wing ready to deploy at a moments' notice, able to provide anti-capital firepower should it prove necessary. Likewise, its docking bays are equipped with advanced repair facilities built with the single purpose of repairing combat damage on Initiative snubcraft and making them flyable again as quickly as possible in the heat of combat. The Citadel is currently captained by Matthew Hawk. CV Vanguard and CV Bastion Two Thresher-class sister vessels purpose-built for and only just commissioned into service with the Initiative, the Vanguard and Bastion combined present the greatest single combination of firepower present anywhere in the Initiative. The vessels were built in Durban Station's drydocks, and supplied in part by the Core themselves and a variety of Kishiro subsidiaries under contract. These formidable vessels are slated to primarily escort the Citadel in the most heated of battles, as well as directly engage with Corsair elements within the Omicrons. While such vessels would traditionally be impossible to maintain by most bounty hunter companies, support from the Core in exchange for their service as well as payment by the Initiative ensures that Aegis are provided with an expensive, but unmatched threat vector to be leveraged in the most heated of scenarios. These vessels are prized by the Initiative, and are unlikely to be seen outside of where they are absolutely necessary. Vela Formerly a venerable Oakland-class Gunboat in service with the Liberty Navy, it was provided to the Initiative as a gesture of goodwill as part of the Navy's mass downsizing after the fall of the Insurgency. Following its acquisition, the once-LNS Wickerton would be rechristened Vela and retrofitted for long term endurance and easy maintenance over the Navy standard high performance, high attrition components. As such, industrial substitutes for military-grade components can often be found within the aging gunboat's hull to increase its service life where possible. Despite its on-paper lower performance than other modern Defiant-class variants, Vela has proven itself a capable, durable, and highly manoeuvrable fire support platform in its service across the Border Worlds and within Bretonia. Vela's callsign was derived from that of its captain, Anastasia Focht, and she remains at its helm since it came into the Initiative's hands.

Relevant Links

Aegis Recruitment Aegis Information Aegis Discord Contacts for inquiries: @L1ght @Novascova Shared account for RP communications & member bounty claims: @The Aegis Initiative HC RP Account: @Isaiah Steffen