Dude, I was there when the idea was formed and at first it was supposed to be 2 GBs escorting a convoy of traders. Well, they got powerhungry and turned into the capwhores we all knew and disliked.
I remember hunting one with Varyarg all the way into NY. Well, there were like 20 ppl on the server and the Hessian was assisting an OC quick strike force. Bad RP but this guy had run from Rheinland and we weren't giving up.
I have always disliked the ICO, but they had some good members, havoc and bahamut were decent. I won't mind if they return, they just have to shape up their RP and lower the capships, and of course, get better members, none that try to declare war on the LSF. hehehe
Havoc and Bahamut were good guys. The group just got out of hand and they lost control. I talked them a lot and supported them at first in my lawful character. It all went down hill when they started trying to be cops, then got a few members who really had no intention of RP and just wanted big ships. It started to turn around for a while when they formed a fighter wing and played mostly with those. That lasted for about a week. After that it just vaporized. They went away the way most groups do when they don't anchor themselves in RP and become part of the community. Yeah, i did help chase one out of Rheinland... it was oorp but he needed to know how much he wasn't welcome.
I think I was one of the few to be sorry to see some of them go... not for the way they played, but because I was friends with a few of the originals. The leaders where good guys, they just couldn't control their people.