"Throughout Galliose, dozens of debris fields litter the stars. Whether from battles or construction efforts, these fields all serve as a rich source of material and technology... that is the lifeblood of our organization."
-Austin Beauvais, Deauxieme Directeur, Les Ferraileurs
Since the first french sleeper ship landed on New Paris centuries ago, there have been individuals within Gallia who excel in mechanical expertise. For the first fifty years of Gallic settlement, these individuals remained seperate, scattered throughout the populace, their skills largely unfocused.
Approximately fifty-two years after the settlement of New Paris, two siblings - Bernard and Lucienne Devereaux - both mechanical geniuses and talented entrepreneurs, began a small organization which sought out and employed the most skilled mechanics and engineers of the Gallic populace. Over several decades, this organization became known as Les Ferraileurs - The Scrap Merchants - and would come to play an integral part of the Gallic economy.
The Ferraileurs started by contracting their expertise and services out to other Gallic corporations, and without them many of the corporate giants which keep Gallia running today would not exist. The Ferraileurs served as a construction force, creating everything from buildings to space stations and ships for Gallic companies. They worked as a maintenance force, utilizing mechanical expertise to repair any and all damage that could be inflicted to these vessels and structures. Further, they worked as a cleanup crew, able to dispose of industrial waste, and repurpose debris left behind by construction projects, while turning a hefty profit.
<Attached File: The Sibling Founders, Bernard and Lucienne Devereaux, and the first Ferraileur symbol>
Over time, as larger corporations rose to take charge of the construction industry, the Ferraileurs altered their specializations and trade towards the salvage and repurposing of the numerous debris fields littering the systems of Gallia. While the main product offered by salvage was smelted and reformed metals, ranging from scrap iron to durasteel, items of value could often be found amongst the debris. Everything from the cargo of wrecked and derelict vessels to supplies, equipment, and starship components supplemented the income made from selling metal to the corporations of Gallia.
It was during this time that the Ferraileurs earned a reputation as treasure-hunters. Many became obsessed with acquiring untold riches from the trash-heaps of space, and many more lost their sanity in the never-ending quest to find valuables amongst the debris. This was considered a dark time for the Ferraileurs of Gallia, as the infrastructure of the organization broke down, giving way to more independent-minded salvagers and scrap-seekers.
After nearly a decade, the second great leader of the Ferraileurs - Austin Beauvais - rose to power. As an aspiring businessman, Beauvais saw the scattered salvagers as an opportunity rather than a disappointment. Over time, and with the application of market savvy, Beauvais managed to pull the Ferraileurs back together into an organized salvage force. Focusing these employees, Beauvais regained the reputation of the Ferraileurs as master mechanics, and once more contracted their services to the Gallic Corporations. It was during this period in Gallic history when the house's borders expanded tenfold, giving rise to a strong economy and the populating of numerous new systems.
<Attached File: Austin Beauvais, Second DIrector of the Ferraileurs and the second Ferraileur symbol>
Eventually the expansion of Gallic space slowed, and new dissidents appeared within the major centers of Gallia's populace, giving rise to the first Gallic Civil War. Since the time of Austin Beauvais, the Ferraileurs had once more descended into grifting and black marketry, and were looked down upon by much of the Gallic population. At this point in time, one Gallic prince gained the throne, but another - the bastard child of the King and his illigitimate consort - was tossed aside and never given a chance at claiming the crown. This man was Prince Jacques Marceau, and despite how he had been thrown out by his father and the rest of Gallia's royalty, he remained one of the most loyal servants to the crown that Gallia had ever seen.
Forseeing the need of unrestricted pilots to deal with the dissidents and rebels within Gallic Society Marceau, a talented businessman, profiteer, and engineer himself, took charge of the Ferraileurs. Pulling together these thieves, con-artists, and treasure-seekers, Marceau created a fighting force that astonished even the Royal Navy. The Ferraileurs were not expert pilots, nor were they experienced in combat, but they had more ships scattered across Gallic space than any other nonmilitary organization. Using these numbers to his advantage, Marceau organized the Ferraileurs into a guerilla fighting force, making hit-and-run raids on seperatist supply convoys and assisting the Royal Navy in full-on assaults against the common enemy.
While the Ferraileurs gained a great deal of respect from the Crown, Corporations, and the Royal Navy during this time, they also lost much of the connections that had been created amongst the various pirates, criminals, and rebels within Gallia. This was the turning point for the Ferraileurs, the point at which it gained new enemies, and new allies. After the first civil war had finished, many went back to simple salvage operations or repair work for the Navy and Corporations, while others took up positions as escort pilots, mercenaries, and bounty hunters for the Gallic Government.
<Attached File: Prince Jacques Marceau, Third Director of the Ferraileurs and the third Ferraileur symbol>
Over the next few centuries, the Ferraileurs continued to serve the crown in varying capacities, eventually leading up to the theft of technology from Sirius, and the migration of numerous members into the Sirian houses. These members came to call themselves the Junkers, and from the time they left Gallia through the minefields, they began to forge their own culture and destiny seperate from their origins.
Only recently, the second Gallic Civil War began, and the Ferraileurs were once again given a decision to remain neutral, or to try and reclaim their position in Gallic society by aiding the crown. Under the leadership of a young mechanic calling herself Mitraille, they chose the latter - to fight, and die, for the glory of Gallia. While salvage still plays the largest role within Ferraileur society, more and more of it's members are taking up arms and flying into battle against the Council, Maquis, Unione Corse, and the Gallic Brigands. Virtually all ties with these groups have been severed in the past decade in favor of working more closely with the Gallic Corporations and military forces.
Today, Les Ferraileurs participate in pirate raids against Council supply convoys, hit and run attacks against Maquis bases, and serve as escorts for Gallic lawful shipping, alleviating the already thinly-stretched Gallic Police and Royal Navy.
<Attached File: Directeur Mitraille, Current leader of the Ferraileurs and the current Ferraileur symbol>
Currently, Les Ferraileurs fill numerous tasks within Gallic Society:
1) Salvage
Numerous debris fields litter the Gallic landscape. Raw materials such as metal salvaged from these debris fields are used in the construction of new ships for the Gallic Royal Navy, Gallic Corporations, and the Gallic Junkers themselves. The Ferraileurs serve as the top supplier of raw shipbuilding materials within Gallic space.
2) Piracy
In order to assist the Royal Navy in hindering enemy forces, the Ferraileurs frequently pirate hostile shipping. This includes Council and Council-Allied shipping, as well as any non-Gallic shipping found within Gallic Space. The Ferraileurs are not so much interested in destroying the targets, as they are in acquiring the cargo (//demand cargo first, credits as a last resort//) - supplies obtained by piracy are often re-sold to the Gallic populace in order to turn a profit.
3) Escorting
With the Gallic Police and Royal Navy stretched thin by the constant assaults of the Council and other Gallic unlawful groups, Gallic Corporations are finding many of their shipping convoys undefended. While these corporations have begun to purchase and produce their own escort fighters, they will always welcome additional escorts supplied by the Ferraileurs. Of course, we dont escort for free.
4) Assault
While the Royal Navy wages a conventional war against the Council and it's allies, the Ferraileurs further weaken seperatist forces by making assaults against military targets as well as key structures. Unlike the Royal Navy, we prefer to utilize guerilla warfare and hit-and-run attacks to strike at the enemy.
Arpenteur - Surveyor
Initiates into the Ferraileurs are referred to as Arpenteurs, or surveyors. Their primary duties include scouting debris fields - or enemy territory - to provide intel for other Ferraileurs.
Recuperateur - Scavenger
Only a step above initiates, the Recuperateurs make up the bulk of Ferraileur society. Primary duties include salvage operations and escort duty.
Mecanicien - Mechanic
Veterans of the Ferraileurs are referred to as Mecaniciens, and are tasked with assaults against enemy shipping or structures, and acquisition of nonallied cargo shipments.
Fixateur - Fixer
The leaders of the Ferraileurs are referred to as Fixateurs. These 'fixers' lead other Ferraileurs in combat, and organize raiding parties or escort squadrons.
Directeur - Director
The director of the Ferraileurs is the highest-ranking member, and there can be only one directeur at any point in time. Directeurs are rare, only five have existed since the creation of the organization. In the decades inbetween directeurs, the Ferraileurs are lead by a board of Fixers, rather than a single person. Directeurs only rise to power during dire times, such as these.
I have to say that I absolutely love the steampunk motif. The faction's ideologies seem to fit in well with the current proposals about Gallic Junker motivations; Tinkerbell made a good write-up about the different mindsets of Junkers in Sirius.
Coupled with your Gallic ship models, I foresee the potential for a very elaborate faction that can intertwine well with the other Gallic lawful groups and bridge the gap between Gallic Junkers and Sirius Junkers.
PS - When I get around to making a new account, expect to see an application from me.
Maybe some day, they'll see a hero is just a man who knowshe's free.
' Wrote:I'm attempting to resist the urge to join with you on this one. It's pure awesome.
I'm trying to conserve time, trying to cut back.
But now, this!
...
Don't send me a slightly persuasive PM regarding this faction or I'll probably break down.