Still very much a WIP.

Faction Name: EXALT
Faction leaders: Viceroy Hugh Meier, Lord Commander of EXALT
Viscountess Nicia Severin, Lady Commander of EXALT's combat knights
Faction Description: A reactionary movement that formed in response to the Grand Duchy’s deteriorating state, EXALT seeks to ensure that no separatist movement succeeds and that a powerful monarch holds the reins of power. Outwardly EXALT seems to care little which of the great houses, if any, gain the throne so long as someone does. The organization itself is incredibly secretive, it’s very existence known by few nonmembers, and has thus far relied on espionage, secretive raids, and smoke-and-mirror operations to complete its objectives.

The culture of the organization itself is loosely based off of the knights and military orders of times long passed. Members of EXALT are considered to be, at least by fellow members, squires, knights, or lords depending on their position in EXALT and birth history. In line with this theme members commonly wear swords for ceremonial purposes when not in the field. 

History: EXALT was first formed in response to the Grand Duchy’s deteriorating state. While it was “officially” formed in ASY 3,565 its origins can be traced back almost to ASY 3,500. The minor Houses of Meier and Severin, their family heads sensing troubling times to come, made a secret alliance. Faced with far more powerful foes, the alliance of houses bid their time, drawing strength, finding like-minded allies, and gathering intelligence. Having gathered a variety of other minor houses, social and economic elites, and members from the military and DIM the two houses of Meier and Severin “officially” formed the organization of EXALT in ASY 3,565.

Even after its formation, the leaders of EXALT knew that they lacked the necessary brute force needed to openly engage their foes. A more delicate approach would be necessary, at least for the moment. Even as it extended its intelligence net EXALT gathered the materials and manpower it would need to eventually form a true fighting force of its own. By ASY 3,576 EXALT had produced a refined special forces unit, refined its intelligence network, and even made some progress in the formation of a more conventional fighting force that, while quite small, packed considerable firepower.

Organization: WIP
Military Capabilities: Where other factions in the Duchy rely on brute force, EXALT relies more on finesse. Espionage and special operations are EXALT’s primary military capabilities. The bulk of EXALT’s operations are made up of intelligence cells spread out amongst the various planets and holdings of the Grand Duchy. These cells are how EXALT gathers its intelligence, which is vital to its operation. These cells also conduct acts of espionage ranging from assassinations to counter-intelligence. It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that without its intelligence cells EXALT would be little more than a mild annoyance. 

Intelligence Knights: The intelligence knights who make up EXALT’s intelligence cells can be incredibly difficult to spot. Being intelligence agents they, naturally, don’t wear uniforms or use a specific type of weapon, instead choosing their outfits and armaments based on the assignment and location. Many intelligence knights were originally members of DIM or were trained by those who were previously employed by DIM. Outside of the field intelligence knights are responsible for analyzing any intelligence brought in, maintaining the intelligence database, preparing intelligence reports, and numerous other logistical based intelligence duties.

Special Warfare Knights: While it is the intelligence knights that do the vast majority of EXALT’s fieldwork, the special warfare (sw) knights are the ones that leave a lasting impression. SW knights are trained and equipped to perform a wide number of tasks including, but not limited to, reconnaissance and surveillance in hostile zones, training and developing of military and security forces, sabotage and demolition, hostage rescue, and direction action.

[url=http://th08.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2014/151/d/7/krow_by_sttheo-d6icwpp.jpg]Seraphim Commandos[/url]: Seraphim are special warfare operators who are deployed on operations beginning and/or ending outside of an atmosphere or airborne. Seraphim commandos were originally conceptualized and trained as a type of “orbital drop commando” that could perform battlespace preparations before a major invasion was conducted. Over time the Seraphim’s roles and responsibilities were refined and expanded to ship boarding, air/spaceborne operations, counterterrorism, direct actions, hostage rescue, mobility operations, sabotage and demolition operations, and battlespace preparations. Originally developed by House Severin, Seraphim commandos are widely used by EXALT as well as other minor houses. 

[url=http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2014/024/a/9/tracker_by_sttheo-d73he9l.jpg]Vindicator Commandos[/url]: WIP

[url=http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/362/4/e/hk_by_sttheo-d6zqkd6.jpg]Eidolon Commandos[/url]: WIP

The Knightly Battalion: The Knightly Battalion is a conventional fighting force made up of three infantry companies of 120 soldiers each (360 total) and one company of mechanized infantry (8 mechs). While few in number, the members of the Knightly Battalion are surprisingly well trained and equipped, given EXALT’s nature, and conduct itself like a veteran fighting force. It is especially well suited for defensive urban combat and digging into a position. The [url=http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/163/c/d/helldiver_by_sttheo-d3ipqjw.jpg]infantry[/url] of the Knightly Battalion are equipped with high quality armor that have built in computer, optics, and communications systems. The mechanized infantry of the Knightly Battalion make use of the either the [url=http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/151/2/9/bug_hunt_by_sttheo-d6d5aj1.jpg]Durendal-Class[/url] or [url=http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2014/109/1/c/fubar_by_sttheo-d7a97ec.jpg]Galatine-class[/url] mechanized armor. Both are notable for their excellent defenses, firepower, and mobility, but are unable to win a direct conflict with a main battle tank or similar armor.

The Knightly Space Force: The Knightly Space Force is, as its name indicates, EXALT’s space forces. While tiny in comparison to the space forces of the great houses, the Knightly Space Force is well equipped, trained, and can expect to have the advantage of surprise in most situations.

[url=http://sttheo.deviantart.com/art/Vulture-391954227]Tyrfing Fighter[/url]: The tyrfing is a multirole stealth fighter of unknown origin. Its design philosophy was obviously based on supporting special forces on the ground. Notable features of the tyrfing is its plethora of maneuvering thrusters, located all around the craft, stealthy armor, railgun armaments, and adaptive camouflage which changes the crafts basic paint schemes and patterns to best match the environment it is being used in. It is designed for use both in and out of an atmosphere and can before atmospheric reentries unassisted.

[url=http://sttheo.deviantart.com/art/helldiver-hellhound-final-179449891]Gram Gunship[/url]: The gram is a stealthy gunship of unknown origin designed to transport special forces teams into hostile environments and provide close air support during combat operations. Its stealth coating, while of good quality, isn’t completely undetectable and is especially prone to discovering from higher end sensor stations. Its heavy armaments of rockets and missiles is both a blessing and a curse, as while they provide protection and close air support capabilities they also greatly enhance the likelihood of detection. The gram is capable of unassisted atmospheric reentry and can carry up to ten soldiers into combat.

[url=http://sttheo.deviantart.com/art/Drop-343635669]Balmung Gunship[/url]: The heavier brother of the gram, the balmung gunship, while lacking less armaments and stealth capabilities than the gram, can carry up to eight mechanized infantry and a platoon of infantry into combat. Like the gram it is capable of unassisted atmospheric reentry.

[url=http://sttheo.deviantart.com/art/Carrier-288567938]Secace[/url]: The Secace-class was a large cargo ship designed to operate on the fringes of Grand Duchy space. To this end it was given surprisingly heavy armor for a civilian vessel, a good sensor suite, and craft launch facilities that could be used to launch both cargo bearing vessels or defensive fighter craft. While the origin Secace-class was only designed to be able to carry a few craft in its limited hangar bays, the one acquired by EXALT, the first of its class, has been heavily modified and is now essentially a carrier version of a Q-ship. The Secace serves as EXALT’s hub of operation.

Relations with Other Factions: WIP

WIP
Faction Name: House Severin
Faction leader: Count Madison Severin
Prominent Family Members:
Viscountess Nicia Severin
Baronetess Zara Severin
System(s): (note- please check on the details of the system you wish to occupy before naming)
Planet(s)/Territories: (btwn 1-5 planets/holdings, five being on the very high side)
Faction Desc: Minor house connected to EXALT
History: 
Government type:
Military Capabilities: (ships in faction fleets must be under 3k, though I will allow exceptions. The Ducal Navy has substantially more powerful ship designs than House or faction fleets. As for ground forces, the Duchy relies on its subfactions to provide for their own defense, so no hard limits here. The Rule of Cool and the Rule of Godmodding obtain)
Relations with Other Factions: 

WIP
Faction Name: House Meier
Faction leader: Viceroy Hugh Meier
System(s): (note- please check on the details of the system you wish to occupy before naming)
Planet(s)/Territories: (btwn 1-5 planets/holdings, five being on the very high side)
Faction Desc: Minor house connected to EXALT
History: 
Government type:
Military Capabilities: (ships in faction fleets must be under 3k, though I will allow exceptions. The Ducal Navy has substantially more powerful ship designs than House or faction fleets. As for ground forces, the Duchy relies on its subfactions to provide for their own defense, so no hard limits here. The Rule of Cool and the Rule of Godmodding obtain)
Relations with Other Factions: 

WIP
Faction Name: House Eisenburg
Faction leader(s): 
System(s): (note- please check on the details of the system you wish to occupy before naming)
Planet(s)/Territories: (btwn 1-5 planets/holdings, five being on the very high side)
Faction Desc: Minor House connected to EXALT
History: 
Government type:
Military Capabilities: (ships in faction fleets must be under 3k, though I will allow exceptions. The Ducal Navy has substantially more powerful ship designs than House or faction fleets. As for ground forces, the Duchy relies on its subfactions to provide for their own defense, so no hard limits here. The Rule of Cool and the Rule of Godmodding obtain)
Relations with Other Factions: