Unity

From 2466 EY to 2691 EY, Unity was one of the leading organisations responsible for the development of space travel. Alongside the Intergalactic Terran Initiative (ITI) and Sol Quarter they paved the way for the future of space travel and a number of their space crafts are boasted to have been the best of their generation. Unlike the ITI and Sol Quarter, Unity benefitted from a charitable sum of public funding.

Their intentions, however, were much more sinister than the noble goals of their counterparts.

You wanna know what Unity really stands for? United in masacre - I mean, what do you think they’re gonna do when they master intergalactic travel? Wave a white flag and advocate for peace? No, they’re gonna take every scrap they can and claim it for their own, damn anyone who tries to stop them.

— Derek Lenson - December 2605 Interview with Supernova

Space travel - specifically intergalactic travel - was their immediate goal. Beyond that, it was a well kept secret between Unity board members that the ultimate goal would be conquering space, rather than exploring it. Up until 2605 EY at least.

In December that year, ex-board member Derek Lenson - who had just been removed from his position by a disgruntled rival vying for his job - revealed to the world exactly what Unity wanted. At first, people mistook it for a bitter fueled smear campaign. Then more disgruntled employees started to rise up and add their voices to the mix.

By 2681 there was public uproar and multiple protests based around getting Unity shut down. 10 years later, the public - and Derek Lenson - would get their wish, but Unity proved far more difficult to truly destroy.

A Lingering Parasite

The board members of Unity faced little consequence for their actions beyond a brief period of scathing news articles. Soon, they faded into the very same obscurity as Unity.

But they would not lie down and take the defeat.

Still in touch, the board members came up with a plan to infiltrate the ranks of the ITI. One of them even managed to get a very high up position in the ITI despite his history. The others took ex-Unity employees who were a) loyal to the cause and b) angry at the public for losing them their jobs, and helped them get into the ITI.

With the infiltration of the ITI complete, the shadows of Unity began to set in motion the gears of their grand plan. Though it took generations before the seeds of their discord were thoroughly cultivated, the shadows of Unity were willing to wait.

The Shadow of Terra Novus

When Terrans finally made their way to Osiron and replaced the ITI with the Terra Novus organisation, the shadows of Unity were eager to dig their claws in there as well. Though that task proved more difficult. Terra Novus had a more complex screening system for their applicants and would flag up the shortcomings of any of these shadow members.

A way forward would soon emerge for them. All they had to do was remain patient - and a new path did emerge. The Cerberus Fleet, what would have been the Terran’s military force had the Osiryx Federation not tried so desperately to gut it before it even had a chance to grow, was ripe with fresh anger and potential recruits. They once again began sowing the seeds, ending up with the Ravager Programme.

Now, they simply bide their time, waiting for the opportune moment to strike out against the Osiryx Federation and take what they believe to be rightfully theirs.

The Hounds Gone Rogue

Recently, a few of these shadows of the original Unity members have grown tired with the Ravager’s progress. They have deemed it far too slow and decided to take matters into their own hands.

So formed the Hounds of Chatau. A rogue group of elite Cerberus Fleet members - around 350 in number with four Fleet Spec ships.

They pose a serious threat to stragglers and small targets, but the Osiryx Federation is wary about engaging them. They know that a fair amount of Terrans believe the Hounds of Chatau to be the ‘saviours’ and that an outright assault could outright lead to conflict between the Terrans and the OF (more so than there already is). In wishing to avoid this conflict, the OF have left the matter in the hands of Terra Novus. Unfortunately, this plays right into the hands of the shadows of Unity as they have members on the Terra Novus council actively postponing any genuine attempts to stop the Hounds of Chatau.