Still a WIP, but here you go. [center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/mWa4LY0.png?1[/img] [h2]The Visipian Collective[/h2] [b][i]"The forefront in Interstellar & Inter-Planetary Defense, Reconnaissance & Intelligence Services."[/i][/b] The Visipian Collective are the remnants of a cybernetically augmented sub-race of Humans who were almost entirely wiped out during the war against The First Empire, which included the destruction of their home world. They survive as a primarily nomadic faction that offer elite mercenary services for hire. [hider=Collective Leadership] [b]The Grey Princes[/b] These five members are descendants of the original five captains who fled their old home system. Alone, they are highly illusive and exceptionally sought after for their exemplary expertise. They each control their own mercenary enterprises within the remaining Visipian population and often find themselves on either side of a contract. Together, however, they form the Onyx Council which meet every so often, in secret, to resolve conflicts and decide upon choices that would effect the Collective as a whole. [b]Aster Javian III[/b] [/hider] [hider=Collective Territory] Following the destruction of their home world and the extinction of their Royal family, The Collective remnants survived as a predominantly nomadic faction living on whatever planet or asteroid they could. [b]New Visipia[/b] Currently dubbed [i]'New Visipia'[/i], The Collective decided that it was finally time to build a new home, or rather, buy one. With a unanimous vote from The Onyx Council, the Grey Princes pooled together their vast hidden wealth to buy a new Home System discovered by [i]Zenith Heavy Industries[/i]. They then delegated a relatively small group of the population to inhabit their new home world and begin laying the foundations to rebuild their civilization. [b]Collective Embassies[/b] Over the years, surviving as a nomadic faction meant setting up unofficial embassies upon certain planets or within certain systems that acted as a base of operations and a means of contacting The Collective for work. Where some may be as big as a countryside manor houses, others are simple safe-house apartments. Most of them were legitimately acquired, however, there are a few that are hidden well due to mercenary work being an illicit trade in some parts of the galaxy. Notable Embassies: [/hider] [hider=Collective History] The history of The Visipian Collective is far from a pretty one. Harking back to the days of The First Empire, where early expansion missions meant the spawning of many newly formed colonies, Visipia remained as one of the latter systems discovered and inhabited during these times. This system was supposed to be an example of the Empire's success at deep exploration into the northern territory of the Lesser Arm. During the Imperial year of 3123, the deep space exploratory party discovered and quickly inhabited the newly found system. Fortune had favoured their expedition it seemed, as not only did the system contain a habitable planet twice the size of Almata, but there also remained a heavy asteroid presence which, upon scanning the system, held rich amounts of ores and minerals needed to lay the foundations of their new colony. It wasn't long, however, before disaster struck. Barely a year into their colonization efforts planet side, the expeditioners had disturbed a dormant bacteria that thrived upon a certain species of the planet's vegetation. When it came across human flesh, however, the alien bacteria very suddenly and very violently attacked the new arrivals, causing widespread panic and almost killing off the humans indefinitely. It was only due to the miraculous advent of cybernetic augmentation that allowed the humans to fight back against the bacteria, eventually immunizing themselves to its infection through the use of nanotechnology, which had been in Research & Development long before the turn of the millennium. It was because of this [i]'Reaver Disease'[/i], that Cyberware became a commonality within the system and, for the next century, spear-headed the colonization efforts. 3245 marked the arrival of the Imperial Delegation. A small Imperial Fleet sent to check up on its' deep space success story, considering that the last known contact it had received was over a hundred years ago. Communications were discovered early to be nigh-on impossible due to the numerous and dense interstellar clouds that littered the space surrounding the edges of the system facing the Empire. - Delegation condemns the use of Cyberware, claiming the Colonists have tainted Humanity. - Delegation Fleet attacks the colonists who defend themselves using their augments. - Colonists steal Delegation Flagship and a few minor ships before boarding the rest of the fleet through the use of early V.I.R.U.S. tactics. - Colonists secede from the Empire, forming the Royal Visipian House. - The Colonist live undisturbed for a further 140 years after they manage to send a signal informing the Empire of their secession. - 3385. The Empire sends a larger fleet to requisition the system from the defiant Colonists. - Visipia is sacked and destroyed as the Empire manages to crush the Colonist fleet. The self-proclaimed Prince of Visipia; Rubius Javian is executed. - There are only five surviving ships, with one being the original capital ship lead by Fleet Admiral Aster Javian. - The Visipian flee to the south of the Lesser Arm and begin selling themselves as mercenaries for hire. - Several arguments between the ship crews cause them to eventually go their separate ways. - The Visipians live in separate nomadic factions for the next 247 years. - 3632. The Onyx Council is formed from the leaders of the separated Visipian factions. They are renamed; The Visipian Collective. - 4500. The Onyx Council decide to purchase a new home system after spending the last 800 years integrating into the existing galaxy. [/hider] [hider=Collective Military Capabilities] [/hider] [hider=Relations with Other Factions] [/hider] [/center]