What faction will you choose ?

When the game will comes out, what side will you choose ?

Law Enforcement Department:

Following the success of military centralization, The Law Enforcement Department was founded in 2112 in order to integrate all pre-Foundation police forces into a single entity. The organization’s introductory phase was bloody and anarchic, with many law enforcement elements deserting their posts in protest to the loss of national identity.

Whereas military power could be conceded without major changes to each region’s way of life, the centralization of police forces was a dramatic and rapid reorientation of civil liberty many found difficult to accept. While violence and bloodshed erupted in population centers, Parliament acted. Martial law was enacted for the first time in The Dominion’s history, and order was restored.

With the merger of all the individual national Police Institutions into a unified body, it was inevitable that a clash of cultures and law enforcement methodology would arise, and is seen clearly even to this date. The Law Enforcement Department strives to overcome petty differences to work towards their common cause, but from time to time, conflicts inevitably arise due to the diverse personalities of the police officers. Nevertheless, shining moments arise when such differences are put aside for a greater good, as has been demonstrated in decades past.

The law enforcement picture is now complex, with corporate security forces now overlapping on their jurisdiction, and the encroachment of the FDC with its powers to declare martial law in any zone. Now with clan activities at a historical peak, the danger to LED officers and the threat to the rule of law have never been higher.

The various Commissioners over the decades have made many structural changes to the LED, but they mostly served to add to the bureaucracy that was to be overcome with the foundation of a unified Law Enforcement Department.

Nevertheless, recent leadership changes have seen glimpses of potential for good in the Law Enforcement Department, as well as reestablishing a working relationship with the FDC. Accusations of corruption within the LED have been rife. Whether or not those accusations have a legitimate basis to them remains to be seen due to the secretive nature of the Internal and Foreign Affairs Departments.

LED officers are at the forefront of ordered society, without which the democratic rule of law would not be possible. With the institution of the Colonial Senate they protect the very halls where Colonial rule is debated by the Colonial Senators.

They have the responsibility to uphold the law so the common citizen can live out their lives in peace and safety; and they will not let the citizens down.

Freedom Defense Corp:

In 2073 regular military forces of all former Terran nations were consolidated into a single organization, forming the Freedom Defense Corps (F.D.C.). It was and still is the task of the F.D.C. to protect all inhabitants of the GD from danger whether inside and outside.

Clear guiding rules for the use of martial violence were fixed in this Codex. The F.D.C. retains the traits of military organizations from before The Foundation, i.e. they are too unwieldy a force to effectively deal with localized internal threats. The ranking structure is multi-ethnic, a purely political move to ease the transition process.

To this day, their directive remains to seek out and annihilate threats to the Global Dominion from within and without. They are known and feared as The Hammer of the Dominion. The Dominion, who taxes both Earth’s corporations and the CMG to arm itself and maintain peace through the colonies, funds the FDC. Within the FDC there is a subdivision, which makes use of these funds to contracts Corps to maintain supplies.

The F.D.C. is the military arm of the Global Dominion. It protects and defends all Dominion interests against external and internal enemies. The FDC is the only lawful military organization in the Dominion. This is a huge responsibility, one that the FDC takes great care to exercise. They are trained to fight wars, but the decision to go to war is made by the elected government of the Dominion.

When diplomacy and democracy fail, they are then asked to step in. When this happens the FDC is the only government and the only law in declared martial zones. The citizens living in these conflict zones can expect the FDC to provide them with defense, shelter, food and protection. This is the FDC mandate and there mission. One disadvantage of the Freedom Defense Corps is its high inertia, e.g. they may only use martial law, not overt action, to deal with internal enemies. The FDC is neutral to all corporations, as they are civilians in the eyes of the GD. The FDC will intervene only when they are called to do this.

The Main Responsibilities of the FDC:

* Must maintain peace and order in any zone that the LED cannot operate safely in.

* May intervene in any zone at the request of LED or the Colonial Senate.

* Must maintain the FDC at a constant state of combat readiness in order to defend the Dominion from any threat.

* Must be prepared to enforce Martial Law at all times when ordered and/or called upon.

Guardians of Mankind:

2307 - The Marketing Wars caused much civil unrest in all Dominion territories - shortage of items, price escalation to pay for the fighting and conflict, intellectuals trying to bring reason and sense, citizen protests growing into riots.

With the government evidently weakening in favor of corporate power, it seemed as if the values the Dominion had sworn to uphold would soon be forgotten as corporate concerns over profit overtook the management of the colonial communities. The Marketing Wars were truly a trying time for all of humanity.

An odd evolution soon occurred. Rioters soon begin to form into units; intellectuals begin to use some of the groups and focused their violence into specific purposeful plans of attacks instead of random hostile acts. Riots become much less and more true protest grew into political maneuvering looking for ways to elected members to office that support them. The smaller groups formed into like-minded larger groups where dynamic leaders emerge. Solernus a writer, intellect, philosopher, known for his poetry and its self rule-self doctrine headed the largest of these groups and gathered a growing following around his views. People started citing him and espousing his phrases and philosophy. Eventually they ask, and reluctantly he agrees to lead them – but anonymously and was simply known as "The Poet".

Near 50 years after the onset of the Market Wars, the Guardians emerged, under the guidance of "The Poet" and his council of advisors using all their tools to bring peace and protect the future of mankind. Recognizing the need for visible and operational leadership, they formed the faction Command Council. The council picks their successors as well as their leader or Councilor, and each role is for life or retirement. It is not a democratic process but based on the view to select the best person to do the job.

The movement grew even stronger in the aftermath of the Independence War. The Guardians remain steadfast in their resolve against uncontested rule of the colonies by a corporate dominated government and in the rights of all to self govern. They believe only colonial communities should decide their own off-world policy, and that they should have a separate parliament elected by all the colonies. The Guardians are very popular on the colonies as well as earth, gaining headway due to two policies: they are spreading a message of accountability in the Dominion and their belief in a corrupt free Dominion - they do not even tolerate known criminals within their own ranks.

With the introduction of the Colonial senate the Guardians feel their time has come; a time to speak rather than raise weapons, a time to use the senate as a means to air concerns against the Corporation as well as bringing to light corruption in the highest law of the land, the Dominion Senate.

The Guardians put respect for mankind above all other rules, protecting the citizens from the corruptions of all political bodies, and especially those that are supposed to be protecting the citizens - the LED. Their home is a sanctuary for those asking for help, and a war zone for those who seek to restrain and lock up the freedom that is the people’s right.

Brotherhood of Shadows:

Since the beginning of space travel the common citizen has always been overlooked, overshadowed by those in the Corporations as well as the Global Dominion Government. Credits, patents on new technology and science, Colonial ownership, and Colony exploration dampened the needs of people they were suppose to be responsible for. Corporations claimed the work they were doing was in the name of the people but millions suffered daily from the wars and hostile takeovers of colonies.

During the Marketing Wars in 2312 several lesser families saw the will of the people destroyed as war after war raged across their homelands. Desperation set in with some turning to the ole ways of the Mafia, breaking out on their own to support the families they felt responsible to. 13 families in all came together, pooling their resources in the areas they were knowledgeable in. The head of each family took the name of the Grand Select voting in one member deemed the Baron. Very few know the identities of the current Grand Select, the current Baron known only as the Grinning Man, his head of Intelligence Scar Maker, and overseer of the Grand Select Security organization the Guard Dog. They have a fierce reputation in Dominion law enforcement, and their identities are protected by near suicidal efforts. Any member of the Brotherhood would sacrifice to keep the Grand Select’s secrets.

The Corporations have pushed the LED to be ruthless in its persecution of the Brotherhood. They siphon off trillions in contraband and lost taxes from all the colonies each year, despite the best efforts of their enemies. They also keep illegal substances and services available wherever they exist, corrupting LED and frustrating the Dominion and Corporations.

While the Grand Select hides in the shadows completely, the Shadow Council is the ruling body of the Brotherhood to those looking in. The SC is the most trusted of those in the Brotherhood who embody the code set forth by the Grand Select, and the Harbinger sits as the head of the SC. The Shadow Council relies on the Shadow Guards to protect them. SG members are the elite fighters in the Brotherhood ready to defend against any enemy at all times. The brotherhood is broken down into sub-clans, each holding an area on earth where their business is conducted. The sub-clans stay in contact with the Shadow Council enabling a successful flow of communication back and forth between faction members. When all out war is declared against a Corp or the Global Dominion the Brotherhood is instantly ready for action.

They do their job from the shadows, striking down their enemies with a knife from the dark, and disappearing back into the night. Terrorists are not a word they use, nor how they are described. They don’t kill innocents, or bully the peaceful. The illegal activities are their way of life and what they are fighting to protect. The underground is their home, and the shadows used to hide what they truly believe in. Citizens can work with them, or against them, but they make it clear that the cost is less if they are with them.

Mercenaries of the Blood:

In 2073 when the military forces combined to create one single fighting unit, several promenade individuals in this new unit frowned upon the passive nature of the New Freedom Defense Corp. They despised the hurry up and wait attitude of the new military and saw opportunities of striking first turned down by leaders caught up in political rights.

Competition of the four multinational companies expanded into the so-called “Marketing Wars”, which started in 2307, brought forth further aggravation from a select few of FDC soldiers who saw guerilla warfare countered slowly and unsuccessfully.

A fractured coup was attempted by disgruntled members of the FDC under the leadership of a man known only as “The General.” Stuck on an outpost for years he and his men plotted and schemed to find a way to become proactive instead of reactive. As a final desperate attempt to wake up the higher ranks of the FDC “The General” had his men attempt an assassination of the current Eurocore leader. The FDC leadership discovered this plot and immediately ordered a kill on sight for the General and his staff. They escaped and hid using STS Genesis as their base of operations. Old warriors disgruntled with FDC due to “rich” families buying commissions for their sons and daughters sought out the General and his Blood Guild pledging loyalty to them. Thus the Mercenaries of the Blood were formed. The General became as illusive as the Grinning man and his staff became know as the Blood Guild.

The Corporations heard the rumors of this assassination attempt and sought to obtain the General’s attention. They loved his ruthlessness and were more than willing to pay for his services. The Mercenaries became famous and feared in the Dominion, due to their lawless and combative ways. The Corporations often hired them for work they wouldn’t do themselves. Only cash counts, and if there is sufficient available, their loyalty can be bought.

The Mercenaries of the Blood is neither criminal nor political in their own view, although many beg to differ. They have been known to work for the highest bidder, but any alliances are always temporary and only as long as they get their cut. The Mercs interrupt the law to suit their needs, in most cases there is no law. Its members are essentially vigilantes who reject all government. The clan is composed of violent minded people willing to go all the way to disrupt peace for a price. They believe that all human government is inherently corrupt and oppressive.

Due to the fact Mercs tend to have different ideas of how the faction should run, what they should believe, and what they support, the cells were a necessary addition to give each member the right to choose which path they would follow down the Merc road, they work in their groups or individually depending on the task at hand.

Through the years the Mercenaries have adapted their clans to follow the trail of money. With the recent introduction of the Colonial Senate more and more mercs are seeking the way of gathering information for a price instead of guns for hire.

Colonization and Mining Guild:

The CMG was created in 2156 with the sole task of colonizing the universe for economic growth and the expansion of human civilization to the far-reaching corners of the universe. The C.M.G. has been planning and scheduling all actions regarding space colonization, which has given the organization enormous political power. In 2159 the C.M.G. planned huge terraforming projects to take place over the next few decades. To make planets habitable, they had to ensure several objectives were achieved.

First the temperature must be regulated and clamped to within a habitable range. This change is made possible by the alteration of the planet or satellite’s atmosphere, utilizing the greenhouse effect as needed to make it warmer or blocking certain spans of the electromagnetic spectrum selectively to make it cooler as necessary. Afterwards the atmosphere had to be denser. On many planets the density of atmosphere near the ground is only at 1% compared to Earth's whereas the density needs to be at least 30%. After the Colonization and Mining Guild (CMG) established the third interstellar colony, Terra Venture I in the Gliese 876 system, it became necessary to summarize all regulations of space trade into one unitary law journal. The so-called "Charter of the Dominion" not only described interstellar laws of trade between the Earth and the colonies, but also reflected a new framework of justice for the Dominion.

In 2250 the first Vortex Gate was installed on New Haven with both CMG and Vortex Inc hosting the opening ceremony. Two years later, Project Daedalus was initiated, by the Dominion President, Mitchel DeGrood, and the CMG leadership declared Its intention during the coming years and decades, to build Vortex Gates on all established colonies.

Gradually CMG evolved into a massive organization, responsible for the lives of millions of colonists and multiple trillions of wealth. Its governors are very powerful and influential people, and many of them get elected to Dominion office when they retire from the CMG. The Corporation’s purpose is to regulate mining and colonization, set standards, prices, and investigate fraud and price fixing. This makes it probably the most important political body of all the other Dominion agencies. The CMG is a very rich corporation that is the godfather of all space exploration. The CMG has colonized many planets and moons, and supports the people who are not as fortunate as the Dominion. mine materials, produce products, and dominate the markets, believing in democracy.

There are those who blame the CMG, an easy target for many. The CMG has control of the means by which resources are found and mined. Many believe the CMG has grown too powerful too fast, and lawmakers and ministers did not anticipate this properly. Many colonists view the CMG as the de-facto government in space, and reject any jurisdiction of the Dominion.

With the addition of a new Corporation in VI the CMG has decided there is a necessity to have its own military organization within the Corporation to protect what they’ve earned, the colonies they control, and assets they have acquired.

Eurocore:

In 2295 do to the unchecked growth in power of the Colonization and Mining Guild (C.M.G.) EuroCore emerged as a corporate superpower following the absorption of Eastern European countries, and the cheap labor and production facilities they held, into the European Union in the early 21st century. Quickly becoming an internationally scaled manufacturer and a leading arms producer in the 2312 Marketing Wars, EuroCore amassed enough capital to ensure its legacy and survival for generations to come. EC continued to play a significant but passive role, winning several critical terraforming and robotics patents in the 22nd century. EC continued to control manufacturing on Earth and robotics research into the 23rd century, fueling mankind’s rapid colonization of space but playing a minor role itself.

The Euro Corporation emerged as the winner in terraforming and robotics when space colonization first began. It quickly grew into a massive super- corporation with facilities and offices spanning all of colonized space. Its main problem is its constant and ongoing power struggle with the CMG. The CMG needs EC’s terraforming super-factories in order to expand its colonies, but EC refuses to sell its manufacturing secrets or allow public shares sold in its core technologies.

Therefore they keep driving a very hard bargain with the CMG for the use of its technology. The more cynical say that this is due to the surreptitious help of the Dominion.

EC holds patents on the core technologies that make the new manufacturing technologies possible. The unprecedented levels of automation possible in the planetary condensers and factory ships are the driving force behind the exploitation of space-based resources. It offers its members incredible benefits through its corporate wholesale stores that give employees access to very cheap manufactured goods. To have a relative gain employment in EC is a major economic boost for the family.

EuroCore is a successful corporation established largely by the FDC exiles known as TSS. The TSS built the Core based on three principles, Courage, Honor, and Faction. These are the hallmarks exhibited by all ranking officials and are still in practice today.

The Heads of three families, controlling the majority stock in the Corporation, formed what is now called the Stockholders. The Stockholders allusive members, who hand down policy to the Faction leader while remaining anonymous to most people, are only known as the “Holders”. EuroCore now holds a monopoly over all manufacturing and production on Earth and satellites, which gives them the advantage of having more plants then any other faction.

“Perfection is our tradition.”

Vortex Inc.:

Examining the domains of man in the 24th century, it is impossible for even the most die hard Terran patriot to deny the shift of power favors the government less and less with each passing year, and this state of affairs has persisted for many decades, at the very least.

As the Dominion’s “glorious expansion into the stars” (to quote a Dominion President of the time) falters in the epic void and loneliness of the Outer Rim Territories Colonists find themselves dominated ever more by new masters; those of fine lunar business suits and false smiles. They are the executives. The age of the hyper-corporation has begun.

The vast majority of citizens find themselves unable to utter the word ‘corporation’ without summoning the mental image of a green letter ‘V’, interlaced by a number of jet black horizontal lines. Indeed, Vortex Incorporated’s primary area of business, the Vortex Gates that provide the human race with instant teleportation from one point to another across any distance, is regarded as the factor that holds the sprawling Dominion together. A rise in sabotage attempts targeting Vortex Gates shows that not every citizen shares the joint Dominion-VI dream of a logistically unified species. In addition, Vortex Inc. manufactured star ship drives are fitted in virtually every vessel in the Dominion Navy, just as the corporation’s firearm designs, most notably the Orbit XB Infineon, are mass produced by a multitude of organizations across colonized space.

Vortex Incorporated was originally founded in 2151, the year of the Vortex-Drive’s first official test, following the beginning of its development in 2135. The site for this historic occasion would be the Tokyo University for Mathematics and Physics. Tokyo would forever remain the throbbing heart of Vortex Inc.’s enterprise, and the leading scientists behind the momentous discovery would go on to found the company, with Kaemon Tinjuro as its first Senior Executive. The Vortex-Drive would eventually be propelled through another scientific frontier, with the development of the Vortex 4. The heavily modified drive was mounted on the GDS Calypso in 2212; although the ship’s destination, Gliese 229, was over nineteen light-years away, with the Vortex 4’s maximum velocity of 20c (twenty times the speed of light), the voyage was to take less than a year. A new age of exploration had begun. Even with the coming of public funding, Vortex Inc. remains as shadowed in intention as it always has been; undoubtedly its focus is on research, but the precise nature of study remains unknown. The company maintains a strong, well-equipped private security force. Although it is traditionally pro-Dominion due to the benefits of government manpower, it is unclear how the corporation’s political stance will shape up over the coming days.

The immense power the Corporate Board has over Vortex Inc. as a whole could be used to a number of ends, and time will tell how the situation develops.

These factors combine to make Vortex Incorporated an unknown quantity, and one that must be monitored extremely close should its unfathomable influence be twisted into a form harmful to mankind. One can only pray the human race will never have to bear the unending damnation Vortex Inc. alone has the power to grant.