Keeping watch and keeping you safe.
— Darkwater Inc's slogan
Darkwater Inc was an independent private military corporation based in Summerland. It was one of the largest private military forces in the Core Systems.[1]
Sometime prior to September 3306, Darkwater Inc was secretly hired by the Lords of Restoration to provide military training to members of the Neo-Marlinist Liberation Army. Darkwater's leader, Colonel Ronan Brock, oversaw the training program and reported to Senator Karl Nerva. At some point, Brock demanded to renegotiate the contract's terms when his troops found undercover agents of the Affiliated Counter-Terrorism unit among the recruits. Darkwater also kept an important captive for the Lords in a hidden bunker: Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval. ACT's Captain Saskia Landau learned of Darkwater's involvement in the Lords' conspiracy after the Omega Grid network, a secure communications system used by Imperial Intelligence, the NMLA, and the Lords, was cracked in February 3308. The Imperial Guard assaulted Summerland on February 9, 3308 and intercepted a Darkwater ship attempting to flee with the Emperor, who was safely rescued and returned to Capitol.
Expecting further hostilities, Colonel Brock rallied his troops at the Onyx Storm, a Darkwater megaship stationed above Summerland 11, and tried to takeover the Summerland system, but this was unsuccessful and caused the ruling Summerland Patron's Party faction to brand Darkwater Inc a criminal enterprise. Emperor Arissa then declared Darkwater Inc a hostile military target of the Empire on February 17, 3308, and called for the PMC's total eradication in retaliation for its involvement in the Lords' conspiracy. The Battle of Summerland concluded in a decisive Imperial victory on February 24. Colonel Brock was killed by Imperial auxiliaries while attempting to flee the Onyx Storm, and Darkwater's armada was neutralised. The Empire also placed Summerland under the control of The Praetorian Vigil, a new faction that reported directly to the Emperor and took possession of the Onyx Storm.
Timeline[]
24 FEB 3308
- *Pilots' Federation ALERT*
The Empire has carried out reprisals against the rogue faction Darkwater Inc in the Summerland system. The private military firm had trained NMLA terrorists and held Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval captive, on the orders of a cabal of senators named the Lords of Restoration. Darkwater mustered an impressive armada, but these were no match for a combination of superpower forces and independent pilots. Colonel Ronan Brock, the mercenaries' leader, was killed during the fighting when he fled from the Onyx Storm megaship and was shot down by Imperial auxiliaries. Emperor Arissa praised all those who helped destroy Darkwater, and declared: "Let the Battle of Summerland mark the victorious end of our bitter war against both the NMLA and the traitors who sought to destabilise the Empire." ACT clarified that "Although there may always be Neo-Marlinist extremists, the large-scale threat of the NMLA has finally been nullified." All data obtained from the terrorists' Omega Grid network has now been shared with the relevant security agencies. With Darkwater eliminated, the Empire has installed a new controlling faction into the Summerland system. The Praetorian Vigil will report directly to the Emperor and govern in her name. The Summerland Patron's Party will redeem combat bonds and provide other rewards at the starport Henry O'Hare's Hangar. A permit exemption allowing all independent pilots to enter the Summerland system will remain active for the next two weeks.[2]
17 FEB 3308
- *Pilots' Federation ALERT*
Darkwater Inc in the Summerland system has been declared a hostile military target for its role in abducting Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval. The private military firm, led by Colonel Ronan Brock, was secretly hired by the Lords of Restoration to train and equip the NMLA. Darkwater troops also kept the Emperor imprisoned in a concealed bunker for over a year. Once their involvement was revealed by ACT, Darkwater's forces regrouped around the megaship Pearl Mandate. Colonel Brock led an attempt to gain control of Summerland as a defensive measure but was unsuccessful. The mercenaries have now been branded as wanted criminals by the system authorities. The order to strike against Darkwater came directly from Emperor Arissa: "I call upon my loyal servants and all other warriors of honour to wipe out this nest of traitors. We remember the innocent victims of the NMLA by punishing those who enabled them." The Summerland Patron's Party will redeem combat bonds for destroyed Darkwater ships at the starport Henry O'Hare's Hangar. Although the Summerland system is typically permit locked, the Empire has arranged a total exemption for independent pilots for a three-week period. To guarantee that Darkwater is thoroughly eliminated, the Empire is offering a range of incentives to pilots. These include awarding the rank of Master in the Imperial Navy Auxiliary, discounts on Imperial ships and weapons in the Summerland system, and Imperial Hammer railguns for the ten pilots who achieve the most combat bonds.[3]
14 FEB 3308
- The Affiliated Counter-Terrorism unit has unveiled a secret cabal of Imperial senators who masterminded the NMLA's terrorist activity. The information was obtained after ACT successfully penetrated the NMLA's dark-comms network. Captain Saskia Landau provided this summary to the media: "Senators Gereon, Jourdain, Nerva, Scordato and Torquatus were at the heart of a powerful conspiracy to permanently remove the position of Emperor. They called themselves the Lords of Restoration, based on their aim to restore executive power to the Senate. The NMLA became their terroristic agents, weaponised to assassinate the Duvals and other obstacles. Its members were militarised at Darkwater training camps and provided with sophisticated equipment by corrupt Imperial Intelligence agents. But the Lords could never fully control the terrorist figurehead Theta Seven, whose attacks against non-Imperial starports were not part of their original plan. Marlinism was also exploited as a political lever. The hope was that, compared to this democratic ideology, citizens would view a senator-led Empire as a moderate compromise once the Imperial Family was gone. While this led to the establishment of the Marlinist Colonies, the Lords' later attempts to influence those systems via puppet politicians did not succeed. Following the assassinations of Prince Harold and other Duvals, the Lords abducted Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval in January 3307. She was kidnapped en route to a secure location, with Senator Nerva falsifying confirmation of her safe arrival. This allowed the Lords to engineer communications with the Senate via a virtual doppelganger, which were accepted as genuine since they were verified by Imperial Intelligence agents." ACT is working closely with Imperial security agencies to identify all those who collaborated with the Lords of Restoration.[4]
09 FEB 3308
- Emperor Arissa Lavigny-Duval has been found alive after being secretly imprisoned by the private military firm Darkwater Inc. The Imperial Herald published a special report on recent events: "The absence of the Emperor from public life for over a year has prompted much speculation. The Senate claimed that she was being kept safe from assassination attempts by the NMLA, and that they remained in contact with her. In truth, she was being held captive by the NMLA's secret benefactors. This group of Imperial senators referred to themselves as the Lords of Restoration. They were revealed only after ACT recruited independent pilots to help decipher the terrorists' dark-comms network. Chancellor Blaine immediately ordered the Imperial Guard into battle against Darkwater soldiers. A ship fleeing from the Summerland system was intercepted, aboard which was a cryogenic pod containing the Emperor herself. She was swiftly returned to Capitol, and is currently under the care of the Imperial Palace medical team. The IISS has launched a security operation based on ACT's information. This reveals that groups within the Senate, Darkwater and Imperial Intelligence formed a long-running conspiracy to fund and empower the NMLA. Senators Alberto Gereon, Karl Nerva, Ursula Torquatus and several others have been placed under arrest. ACT has stated that it will provide additional information soon."[5]
References[]
- ↑ In-game description in the Summerland system
- ↑ GalNet: Battle of Summerland Ends NMLA Threat
- ↑ GalNet: Empire Declares Reprisals Against Darkwater
- ↑ GalNet: ACT Exposes the Lords of Restoration
- ↑ GalNet: Arissa Rescued from Year-Long Captivity