Syndicate

Summary

The Syndicate is a pseudo name for various terrorist cells as defined under Space Law. They have branches in most forms of operations, and consist mainly of either one-time workers or those in debt to the Syndicate. The current 'head' of the Syndicate is not known, but intelligence has suggested that the group is run by a select group of 'boardroom executives', in a way a regular company may be. It often receives funding from corporations that are in direct competition with NanoTrasen.

Backstory

The Syndicate was first comprised at the beginning of the Orange Rush, that is, the widespread use, extraction, and selling of Plasma for industrial use. After Nanotrasen became the leader in the orange rush, opposing conglomerates, politicians, and ragtag gangs of space pirates decided to form together, in secrecy, to make what may have become Nanotrasen's #1 enemy. At the top of the murderous ladder are politicians, villainous space pirates, and even corrupt public figures.

At first, the Syndicate was fell founded financially, but had issues securing deals with arms companies to supply them. Desperate, the Syndicate geared up what they could and attacked an undisclosed Nanotrasen supply ship. The crew of the ship were taken by complete suprise, and were quickly overwhelmed. The syndicate wiped out the crew of the ship and stole all the equipment on board, making Nanotrasen aware they had a new enemy.

Over time, the Syndicate managed several other successful (and some unsuccessful) raids on other Nanotrasen vessels, stealing equipment and blueprints so the Syndicate could learn to manufacture their own weaponry. However, the typical syndicate raid team setup was becoming more and more expected and known to Nanotrasen ships, and suitable defenses were set up, raid teams often being wiped out before they could even get close.

Syndicate Executives had to make a decision. With the technology and fabricating machines they had acquired thus far, as well as a few scientists under their command, then Syndicate decided to begin opening up operations for a more.. subtle approach to ruining Nanotrasen.

Eventually, the Syndicate had become a large, clandestine, but strong force opposing Nanotrasen. There have been accusations of actual backdoor deals between the Syndicate and Nanotrasen, but those who dig too deep into the idea will soon find themselves disappearing.

Traitor Operatives

The Syndicate employs mostly low-level and dispensable agents to do their traitor objectives. Those who work for the syndicate this way are either doing it as a one-time thing due to desperately needing a sum of money, wanting to move up in the ladder, or are being blackmailed or threatened by the Syndicate into doing their work for them.

Undercover agents often have objectives to steal, kill, intimidate, or protect something the Syndicate shows interest in. While some thefts are for the Syndicate's own advancement, some thefts are purely to spite Nanotrasen. Those who find themselves in the scope of a syndicate agent have often had a hit ordered on them by someone, or show a threat to the Syndicate itself. Those who must be intimidated are most likely in debt to the Syndicate and must be reminded who owns them. Finally, those who must be protected are often people the Syndicate sees useful and must ensure they are kept alive.

Those who work as a traitor operative are often seen as disposable to some degree. While the equipment that can be provided can be dangerous if in the wrong hands, if an agent dies in the process of their objective and is not revived, few often care. That being said, those who return alive but have failed their objectives often face grave punishment.

Nuclear Operatives

When the Syndicate needs to send a message in the most explosive way possible, a team of nuclear operatives are deployed. Besides sending a message, outside parties may pay the Syndicate a great amount to ensure a station or ship is never heard from again.

Those who staff nuke teams are often experienced space pirates who have merged separate raid gangs into the Syndicate. Operatives are offered large amount of money split between surviving members should they succeed.

Unlike traitor agents, Nuclear Operatives have much time and money invested into them and therefore are expected to succeed, and those who fail are often hunted down and killed, should they not be already dead.

The bombs used by nuclear operatives are heisted from Nanotrasen ships, but unfortunately cannot come with the authentication disc, which is why the team must find the station's.

Strike Teams

The final tier of field attack units are the syndicate strike teams. Equipped with equipment rivaling a Nanotrasen Death Squad, they are sent in on only the highest profile missions, such as when a Death Squad is sent in but the Syndicate wish to recover the station for themselves. Only those who are some of the best trained and best disciplined are allowed into strike teams, the knowledge of which is unknown to even the higher people in the syndicate ladder.

Outsourcing contracts

When their amenities wont do or they wish to have someone else do their work, the Syndicate often outsources to other groups hostile to Nanotrasen to do various tasks. The Syndicate has been known to outsource to independent vampires, changelings, wizards, and sometimes even members of the Spider Clan. All payments and information are untracable, making it very difficult, if not impossible, for a standard investigation team to trace these beings back to the Syndicate.

Dealings with Nanotrasen

While Nanotrasen officially classes the Syndicate as a terrorist group, confirmed members of which receiving the most extreme of punishments, some conspiracy theorists claim that the Syndicate and Nanotrasen regularly do backdoor deals, with varying objectives. It is claimed that Nanotrasen hires the Syndicate to preform acts such as murder or theft on their own crew, for their own advancement. Both organizations have officially disagreed, Nanotrasen calling the Syndicate a 'merciless group of thugs' and the Syndicate denying any involvement whatsoever.