The Aegis Initiative was first formed informally in 820 A.S. by John Easom and a few trusted friends in the Bounty Hunters Guild. They were originally a small band of experienced Hunters operating out of the Omega Border Worlds, hunting high-value or dangerous targets in packs. With the depletion of resources in the Houses from multiple on-going wars, there have been greater incentives for the Houses to expand into the Border Worlds, and an increased demand for the security services of experienced pilots to protect such efforts. This band of Hunters, wishing to market themselves to meet this demand, then called themselves the Aegis Initiative, ambitiously proclaiming itself to be a private military company registered with the Bounty Hunters Guild, and started providing security contracts for House activity not only in the Omegas, but also in other Border World sectors as well.
As the Aegis Initiative's original roster started to profit immensely from the increase in demand from houses unable to fully maintain their own internal security due to events such as the Kusari Civil War and Liberty's own Insurgency, a Libertonian investor by the name of Isaiah Steffen, also suspected to have close links to the Core, used his connections and personal wealth to acquire a controlling share in the Initiative itself. This influx of capital allowed the Initiative to scale operations to an extent and throughout the late 820s and early 830s, and became a dominant force within the Bounty Hunters' guild. Despite their results, however, the Initiative's influence within the wider Guild is crippled by their unpopularity and view of other bounty hunters as competition, first and foremost. As a result, subtle hostility and dislike is hardly uncommon among the Initiative and other Hunters.
While most Bounty Hunters shy away from tricky legal and political issues, the Initiative is not afraid to intervene in such matters, if the price is right. Rumours of skirted boundaries and liberal interpretations of house law aren't infrequent, and Aegis is a name that comes up in the grapevine often with relation to black market activity and acquisition of legally-dubious equipment. Such confrontation has put the Initiative at odds with house governments in the past, including notably cold relations with Rheinland after chasing a mark went awry and ended in a full-fledged engagement between Initiative hunters and the Rheinland Military itself. While relations have since been normalised to some extent, the incident remains fresh in the memories of both parties.
Likewise, while some groups within the Guild are at least somewhat careful with their recruitment, the Aegis Initiative has been rumoured to turn a blind eye to, and in some cases even used a well-placed bribe or two to wipe the pasts of many of their hopeful initiates, so long as they can demonstrate their ability to get the job done and ability to restrain themselves when needed.
ALLIED - The Initiative's most reliable and long-standing partners
The Core
Bretonian Armed Forces
Bretonian Police
FRIENDLY - Cordial and productive working relationships
Kusari Naval Forces
Kusari State Police
Liberty Navy
LPI
NEUTRAL
House Corporations
House Gallia
House Intelligence Agencies
Everyone else
UNFRIENDLY - Through competition or distrust, these factions or organisations may sometimes spark conflict with the Initiative.
Rheinland Military
Rheinland Police
Rheinland Corporations
Junkers
Hogosha
Unione Corse
Bounty Hunters
Other Mercenaries
HOSTILE - Frequent targets of opportunity for Initiative hunters.
House Pirates
House Terrorists
Outcasts
The Order
The Technocracy of Auxesia
Artificial Intelligence
AT WAR - Some things go beyond simple bounty.
The Coalition
House Revolutionaries
Corsairs
Wild
All Nomads
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