[b][u]Past Factions:[/u][/b] [u]- The Empire[/u] [spoiler]The most powerful and influential faction of all, the Empire was the dominant power in the Milky Way for nearly 10,000 years before it eventually decayed under internal and external threats. It raised some of the most legendary heroes and villains the Galaxy has ever seen, and will likely be the only power of its kind of millennia. Though veterans may exaggerate the Empire's might, its unrivaled strength in comparison to recent civilizations is completely unmatched. Relics of its technology are considered nigh magical. [/spoiler] [spoiler]Affiliates: Matthew Hallwinter August Phantyme Thomas Weiss Murph Freddy Vex[/spoiler] > Imperial Guard > GENESIS > CENTCOM and Command - [u]Exalin Team[/u] [spoiler]The mythical group of heroes who deployed in countless missions over the years, their fears have gone into legend. They were considered idols, almost legendary figures in their day, but now they are spoken of in the same breath as deities. [/spoiler] - [u]The Sovereignty [/u] [spoiler]A rival power of the Empire, the Sovereignty occasionally came close to all out war with their neighbors on numerous occasions. It was their efforts that created and funded the Exalin Team. [/spoiler] - [u]The Dojo[/u] (Mentioned Only) [spoiler]A training ground and hub for the best fighters in the Galaxy, it often served as a neutral ground for negotiations. [/spoiler] - [u]Del Fino Corporations[/u] [spoiler]A powerful corporation instated after the fall of the Empire, Del Fino enjoyed almost total control over several star systems with practically no jurisdiction. [/spoiler] [spoiler]Affiliates: Del Fino Hidego August Phantyme[/spoiler] - [u]ATLAS Republic and Sovereign Territories[/u] [spoiler]Distant superpowers of faraway galaxies, they rarely interfered with the "uncivilized" cultures of the Coalition. Ancient, alien cultures with oddly potent technological advancements, these galactic systems are often referred to as "The Deep" by astrosavants. The last the Galaxy had seen of these territories, they were embroiled in a massive war for supremacy. Perhaps things have changed in the Deep... [/spoiler] [spoiler]Affiliates: Matthew Hallwinter[/spoiler] - [u]The Sol Alliance[/u] [spoiler]The staunch enemies, and occasionally uneasy allies of the Coalition and the Exalin team, the Sol Alliance was a covenant of alien races bent on universal domination. [/spoiler] [spoiler]Affiliates: Ambassador Cain (Ignus Forces) Vex Lord Stratos[/spoiler] - [u]Hell's Forces/Ethereal Forces[/u] [spoiler]Forces beyond mortal comprehension, often inhabiting the darkest recesses of dimensions. [/spoiler] [spoiler]Notable Individuals: Overmind The Queen of Hell (Usurper) Kurai (Lethal)[/spoiler] - [u]The Dread[/u] [spoiler]A powerful civilization/race of warlike aliens, the Dread were one of the deadliest foes the Exalin team ever encountered. [/spoiler] [spoiler]Affiliates: The General[/spoiler] - [u]Osiris[/u] (non-canon time travel arc) [spoiler]Affiliates: Lincoln Osiris[/spoiler] - [u]Other[/u] [spoiler]Numerous, small factions that are built into backstories and are mentioned but briefly. [/spoiler] [b][u]Current Factions:[/u][/b] - [u]Galactic Federation[/u] [spoiler]The fledging power of Imperial Remnants, the Galactic Federation is still in its infancy, and must rely on the likes of Cyprus team to fight foreign threats. [/spoiler] [spoiler]Affiliates: Cyprus Team Galactic Marines Imperial Remnants[/spoiler] - [u]Echelon[/u] [spoiler]A fellow mega-corporation to Del Fino, Echelon is far more malign then their counterparts, seeking to create a private army to conquer the Galaxy. [/spoiler] [spoiler]Affiliates: Jackie Evelyn Sinclair (formerly) Ash[/spoiler] - [u]Phazon[/u] [spoiler]A strange parasitical disease turned civilization, the Phazon horde is an unyielding tide of vicious, augmented fighters controlled by a rampant AI. [/spoiler] [spoiler]Affiliates: Nova The General Consumed Dread and numerous species[/spoiler] - [u]Order of the Celestial Guard[/u] [spoiler]Centralized on Intergalactic-Scale peacekeeping through applied diplomacy and military action, they employ extremely advanced weaponry, well beyond any currently prevalent power in the Milky Way Galaxy.[/spoiler] [spoiler]Affiliates: Captain Monroe[/spoiler] - [u]Imperium of Mankind[/u] (referenced) [spoiler]Featured in the RP thread [i]Rivers of Blood[/i], the Imperium exists in an alternate reality of our galaxy. Due to causal tears, some of their technology and creatures have made that way into our universe, and vice versa. The Galactic Federation has made no effort to interact with this civilization. [/spoiler] - [u]Cyprus Team [/u](offshoot of GF Military) [spoiler]The current amalgamation of incredibly powerful beings used as a special branch of the Galactic Federation Military, though it maintains a certain sovereignty. It is the most incarnation of what was once the Exalin and Axion Fireteams. [/spoiler] - [u]The Dread[/u] [spoiler]The new Dread, humbled by their defeat at the hands of the Exalin team, have honed their military skills to the apex, and are now one of the most horrifying threats to the Galaxy. Recently, a large contingent of their forces were consumed by the Phazon infestation. [/spoiler] - [u]Coalition/Imperial Remnants[/u] [spoiler]Merely a shadow of its former glory, the Imperial Remnants still maintain influence over a few isolated star systems, and are known to help the Galactic Federation on occasion. [/spoiler] [b][u]Threat Analysis:[/u][/b] -Empire (fallen): An incredibly powerful war machine in its prime, the Empire would have been a match for almost anything, certainly any domestic threats. However, towards the time of its fall it had lost much of its former glory, and the overpowering numbers of the Sol Alliance proved superior. -Sol Alliance: Massive, powerful, and ruthless. The Sol Alliance would make a supremely powerful foe at any point in time, but after their defeat on Exalin, have mostly disappeared from the Milky Way. However, notecard their staunchest enemies believe them dead, and rue the day that this conglomerate returns. - Galactic Federation: While still in its infancy, the Galactic Federation still possesses an uneven rate of technological advancement, thanks to Imperial Artifacts. While their assets such as Cyprus give them incredible infiltration powers, they are still relatively small and weak in comparison to the civilizations that were. - Phazon: A massive horde of powerful foes, directed by consumed tactical geniuses, the forces employed by Phazon would surely have been a match for the Galactic Federation had Cyprus not intervened. - Echelon/Del Fino: With their practically unlimited resources, the potential threat of Echelon and Del Fino were unmatched at the time. They still possess powerful PMCs to defend their foundries. - Order of the Celestial Guard: Though isolated from the Milky Way civilizations of old, it is uncertain on how they stand in comparison to the Old Empire and the Sol Alliance. What is without question is that they are far more advanced than the Galactic Federation, and would crush them if they came to conquer. - ATLAS and Surrounding Civilizations: Incomparably powerful, these civilizations would have each been a match for any and all civilizations in the Local Group. Still, they have been embroiled in civil war since they were last encountered by the Empire; perhaps this has weakened them. [b]New Governments:[/b] [u]Galactic Federation:[/u] Now utterly in control of much of the Galaxy, the Galactic Federation has changed since the Death of Cyprus. Now corrupt, cruel, and absolutely powerful, the Federation has begun to turn its immense war machine upon resentful planets.