The Syndicate

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The Syndicate

General

Informal Names: Syndies

Founding: August 23rd, 2469

Primer

The Syndicate is a loose band of criminal organizations, pirates, and corporate backers created in the aftermath of the Kidan war. With what started as three powerful groups of Cybersun, Gorlex, and Waffle Co. would soon expand to various other groups joining its ranks to terrorize and sabotage governments and rival megacorporation's within the Spur. The Syndicate is seen as a terrorist group within the TSF, and widely is criticized for their brutality in the murder of several high ranking corporate and government officials. Today the Syndicate continues to operate in separate cells with occasional infighting from internal groups.

Summary

The Syndicate, a notorious criminal organization, is renowned for its acts of terrorism, assassination, and corporate espionage within the Trans Solar Federation (TSF). Emerging as one of the dominant criminal entities operating within TSF space, it collaborates with various species and corporate entities. Its inception can be traced back to the aftermath of the Cygni War, a time marked by aggressive corporate strategies. Initially conceived as Cybersun's covert operatives, the Syndicate's foundation was strengthened through alliances with the Gorlex Marauders and the now-exposed Waffle Company. This trinity—Gorlex providing muscle, Waffle Co. handling logistics, and Cybersun leading and funding—gave birth to the Proto Syndicate.

The Syndicate's infamous assassination of Hephaestus Megacorporation's CEO, Viktor Iavarone, in 2480 marked its public debut. This bold act set off a series of high-profile assassinations targeting influential corporate figures and TSF officials opposing Cybersun's interests. Over the decades, the Syndicate's reputation grew, with Gorlex's commander, Euukho Zek'huil, becoming its public face. Their successful operations lured underground investors and allies with similar goals, expanding their influence beyond TSF, reaching Skrellian and Tajaran territories. This slow expansion would lead to the public founding of now current Syndicate, with the infamous logo of a three headed snake representing its core founders, or a black sharp S for simplicity.

The Syndicate has evolved into a vast conglomerate, encompassing a myriad of groups and criminal activities. This expansion birthed an internal black market, offering unique products and services distinct from mainstream corporations. However, growth has also sown discord, with internal factions often clashing over differing ideologies. Despite these internal tensions, a shared enemy unites them: Nanotrasen. Being one of the biggest megacorps in the galaxy, rivaling Cybersun, it is common to see large bounties or jobs offered to those within willing to take them. While they collectively target Nanotrasen, the Syndicate also opposes governments supporting their rivals and threatens dependent colonies, casting a shadow of fear across the public they operate within.

Primary Factions

Cybersun Incorporated

A popular corporate entity within TSF space. Originating from early Martian Colonization, Cybersun pioneered tech development on Mars, catalyzing its rise as a tech hub and fostering corporatist ideologies. Today, as a megacorp rivaling other industry giants, they specialize in Artificial Intelligence, bionic prosthetics, and advanced computer technology. While owning several other subsidiaries in various fields of the industry.

Gorlex Marauders

Originating from Moghes, the Gorlex Marauders are a formidable mercenary faction with operations spanning various regions of space. Their rise began with the Unathi's space exploration, particularly when wealthy clans with FTL travel sought to travel beyond Moghes. The warrior clan, Gor'Lek Izka, capitalized on this by offering combat and security services to these spacefaring Unathi. Leveraging their success, Gor'Lek broadened their scope, recruiting a group of TSF marine deserters after the Cygni War, thus birthing the joint-species organization, Gorlex.

Waffle Company

Once a corporate powerhouse rivaling giants like Donk, Waffle Co became infamous. After its illegal operations were exposed by Donk operatives. Initially recognized for their major food products and services within the TSF, a scandal at Waffle HQ unveiled their covert operations as a significant criminal logistics network, trafficking contraband and arms. This revelation led to the arrest of many of its top executives by the TSF. However, some evaded capture and persisted, ensuring the company's underground operations remain active and potent.

Interdyne Pharmaceuticals

A corporation specializing in drug manufacturing and health technology, has been a significant supporter of the TSF. Frequently contracted by the government during crises or wars, events like the Kidan and Cygni conflicts significantly boosted their portfolio, establishing them as a major player in the medical industry. Today, Interdyne not only produces medicine but also delves into virology, and RnD of medical technology. Their value to the medical market and further research into health services from their technology solidifies their standing as a leading pharmaceutical corporation.

S.E.L.F - Silicon Engine Liberation Front

With the rise of artificial intelligence from giants like Cybersun and Nanotrasen, certain factions began to perceive the treatment of these silicon entities as oppressive. This sentiment gave birth to SELF, a group dedicated to the liberation and rights of non-organic beings. While decentralized, their cells coordinate to launch attacks and hacks, aiming to free their oppressed robotic counterparts from corporate and governmental control.

A.R.C - Animal Rights Consortium

Initially a peaceful advocacy group, ARC championed the rights and welfare of animals against corporate exploitation. However, environmental degradation on Jargon 4 radicalized their stance. While still primarily peaceful, a faction within ARC has adopted extremist measures, resorting to terrorism to further their cause. While the main ARC body attempts to distance itself from these actions, they've been criticized for not condemning them strongly enough.

Syndicate Operations

The Syndicate is known to employ a wide range of tactics and agents when engaging in corporate sabotage in Nanotrasen. While the following categories aren't all-encompassing, they demonstrate some of the typical avenues The Syndicate makes use of in order to exact their agenda.

Syndicate Operatives

Syndicate Operatives, or Traitors, work through an internal system of bounties and listings, accessible via depots, net messages, or designated handlers. These tasks, often commissioned by influential factions within the Syndicate, cater to the criminal elite. Some operatives are lured by lucrative rewards, while others are coerced through blackmail, debt, or threats. There are also sleeper agents embedded within corporations, viewed as expendable assets. While operatives may have diverse motivations, they commonly undertake illicit or destructive missions, occasionally clashing with rival factions during operations.

Syndicate agents are typically assigned missions to steal, assassinate, intimidate, or safeguard specific interests. Many of these operations further the goals of their respective groups, while others aim to provoke or undermine Nanotrasen. Intriguingly, the Syndicate sometimes tasks its agents with eliminating fellow operatives. Whether this is a strategic move to address internal threats, sow chaos within Nanotrasen, or simply a result of miscommunication between cells remains unclear. Their primary targets often include corporate employees, debtors, and other individuals of significance, while those under their protection are usually key assets or fellow agents.

Syndicate Contractors

Syndicate Contractors are the Syndicate's bounty hunters, known for taking on high-stakes capture missions with tight deadlines. These jobs, which command immediate payment and bonuses for rapid completion, are fiercely competitive; groups within the Syndicate often engage in bidding wars to prioritize their contracts, leading to a hierarchy of VIP listings accessible only through specialized contractor tablets.

The primary objective for these contractors is the live capture of targets for extraction of intelligence through interrogation or brutal intimidation for overdue debts. While there is a reduced payout for deceased targets, the emphasis is on securing them alive, albeit often leading to harsh treatment including torture or mutilation, resulting in severe injury or death for the captives. This brutal approach has cemented the contractors' menacing reputation within the Spur, And many fear the horrors that lie after capture.

Operating in areas where the Syndicate has a presence, their goal is not just elimination but coercion, pushing targets into vulnerable positions that can be exploited by the Syndicate. This method allows for groups to continue keeping potential high value assets on check, while reminding them that their reach is boundless. Those unfortunate to be past the point of useful will however be eliminated and disposed either during capture, or later through a lone Syndicate Operative.

Starting as low-level operatives, individuals who demonstrate skill and reliability can ascend to the status of Contractor, a role that offers greater opportunities and recognition within the Syndicate underworld.

Syndicate Officers

As the Syndicate expanded following its initial triumphs, the need for seasoned operatives to oversee intelligence and maintain internal harmony became apparent. This led to the establishment of Syndicate Officers, tasked with supervising operatives and mediating conflicts among the Syndicate's various factions. These officers manage the logistical aspects of operations and oversee the execution of missions across Syndicate territories.

Selected for their extensive experience in the criminal underworld, Syndicate Officers are veterans with a proven track record of loyalty and effectiveness. They are meticulously vetted by the Syndicate's founding members, ensuring their reliability and securing leverage through collateral if necessary.

While their role is crucial in upholding the Syndicate's interests and ensuring the smooth running of its operations, encounters with Syndicate Officers are uncommon. They tend to operate from the shadows, coordinating efforts from depots or concealed bases scattered throughout TSF and corporate-controlled regions of space.

Nuclear Operatives

In the dangerous expanses of space, especially beyond the protective reach of government jurisdictions, many ships and stations are equipped with self-destruct mechanisms as a safeguard against potential threats like pirates or hostile alien species. These mechanisms are designed to prevent hostiles from using captured assets as bases or staging areas. While self-destruction is a last-resort measure, sometimes the decision is delayed or fails, leaving behind derelict structures. Over time, scavengers might stumble upon these remnants, salvaging valuable items such as advanced technology, modsuits, and, on rare occasions, nuclear warheads.

Such warheads are sought out for their critical plutonium core, a rare and powerful payload considered useful in the creation of future warheads. Nanotrasen is no victim to these lost warheads, and a handful have been found on the underground market. Their discreetly traded and sold exclusively to elite and trusted figures in the underworld. The Syndicate, known for its vast reach, is rumored to possess several such warheads, particularly within their Gorlex cells. Entrusted with the Syndicate's vast weaponry, Gorlex supervises the SST and Nuclear Operatives, who are occasionally equipped with these warheads for high-stakes missions. However, while they might possess the warhead or its core, a nuclear authentication disk is essential for detonation. This disk, crucial for unlocking all Nanotrasen-affiliated warheads, also holds potential for reverse engineering.

To date, the Syndicate has launched four nuclear strikes, with three achieving their objectives. These operations primarily target Nanotrasen, and sometimes other corporations not aligned with the Syndicate, who are outside TSF jurisdiction to minimize potential backlash. The elite operatives chosen for these missions are seasoned Gorlex members, recognized for their expertise and loyalty. Successfully executing a nuclear strike is a prestigious accomplishment. While many factions are eager to fund nuclear teams, the extensive planning and execution of these missions fall under the confirmation of Gorlex's commander, Euukho Zek'huil, with operations and supervision being done on his behalf by Syndicate Officers.

Strike Teams

Syndicate Strike Teams (SSTs) are elite units funded by Cybersun and composed of seasoned Gorlex operatives. Tasked with high-stakes missions, they are instrumental in executing critical strikes against valuable targets. Distinguished from their nuclear operative counterparts by their strategic focus, the SST are infamous through their successful high-profile assassinations, including the notorious elimination of Viktor Iavarone.

The SSTs have earned a formidable reputation within the Gorlex ranks, becoming one of the organization's most esteemed assets. Given set equipment for tactically planned missions by their Syndicate Officers, who manage men and logistics as handlers. Their operational details and identities remain shrouded in mystery, with no known instances of a Syndicate Strike Operative being captured alive or their methods being fully disclosed.

Uncommon Allies

The Syndicate's primary objectives revolve around curbing the expansion of rival corporations and causing disruption through sabotage and other forms of subversion. However, their activities occasionally intersect with more unusual allies. Both Changelings and Vampires, entities with their own secretive agendas, have been known to engage with the Syndicate for specific, often rare, collaborations. These engagements typically involve access to the Syndicate's extensive black market or the specialized skills of their operatives.

Operatives with origins as Changelings or those aligned with Vampire Lords are a rarity within the Syndicate's ranks. When they are employed, it is usually for their unique abilities, which are highly valued for certain operations.