Steel Striders

The Steel Striders are all that remains of a massive nation known as the Steel Empire, who used to control most of Neter. They are a faction in From the Depths, known for their ability to respond selectively and rationally to their many foes.
== History ==
The Steel Striders are the remnants of a massive nation known as the Steel Empire, who at one time held control over most of Neter. Despite the Steel Empire's best efforts, they were unable to claim the territory of the Gray Talons, who took to the skies long ago (some sources say 200 years, others say millennia). The Gray Talons' flying battleships proved superior to the Empire's naval power and rebuffed any incursions from the Steel Empire. Some say the Gray Talons could have become the rulers of Neter, if not for their introverted tribal nature and fractious, internecine squabbling. The Empire soon learned to leave them to their in-fighting, and left them alone.
War had come to the Steel Empire due to the arrival of an alien faction, the Scarlet Dawn. They fully committed to the war with these alien invaders, but as it dragged on over the course of 50 years, the various power blocs within the Empire became restless. The rigors of war left many factions disenfranchised, as taxation, piracy, and heavy handed policies pushed the factions to the brink of secession. Had it not been for the temporary alliance with the Gray Talons, the Empire would not have prevailed against the Scarlet Dawn, pushing them back into space.
During the war with the Scarlet Dawn, the seeds of the Empire's dissolution were planted. As the war raged on, the Steel Empire began pulling more warships to the front lines, leaving fewer ships for patrol and convoy protection. Piracy became rampant, and trading corporations found their convoys under constant attack without the Empire's navy to defend them. The corporations saw little benefit of the heavy taxes they paid to support the Empire, whose navy was unable to protect the corporation's convoys and interests. They soon seceded and formed their own faction-nation, known as the Onyx Watch. Headquartered in the tundras of Cold Loch, they found their money better spent constructing their own navy, and defending their convoys and interests abroad.
Later on, sensing the weakness of the Empire, the White Flayers formed and seceded from the Empire. Located in the Empire's heartland, These religious zealots, led by the enigmatic High Priests, rebelled from the Empire and took with them several advanced warships, as well as a large portion of the Empire's population. They now reside in their chapels in High Lorham, worshipping their Flayed God.
During the White Flayers' rebellion, the top scientists and research divisions of the Empire seceded, forming the Lightning Hoods. Little is known about their motivations.
After the dissolution of the Steel Empire, the remaining power blocs and loyalists became what is now known as the Steel Striders.
== Campaign ==
The Steel Striders are situated in Normont, located to the north-northeast of the Player, northeast of Cold Loch and the Able Strait, and west of Foxmere. They start off as "Friendly" towards the player, but the relationship can deteriorate as a result of going to war with the Deepwater Guard and improving relationships with the Onyx Watch in the process.
== Leadership ==
The Steel Striders are under the command of an organization known as the Admirality, effectively a military junta led by admirals of the former Steel Empire. With various quotes from an individual named "Grand Admiral Jeffery Obertson" in the description for several ships belonging to Selachii Industries, it is possible that he is the head of the council and the faction's de-facto leader.
== Corporations ==
* Rapromium Heavy Industries - A traditionalist corporation whose creations are based mostly off of real-life ships and planes. Has a top-secret Skunkworks division. Notable creations include the Tyr, Type19, Rhea, Guernsey, Thunderchild, Iron Maiden, Spirit, and Novgorod.
* Aerodyne Incorporated - A time-tested corporation focusing on the Steel Striders' air force. Notable creations include the Spiral, XF-30 Gannet, Retribution, XB-42 Lynx, and others.
* Equilibrium Industries - A corporation focused on vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) creations such as helicopters. Notable creations include the Dromaeo, Cinder, and Icarus.
* Selachii Industries - Founded by the remaining scientists, naval architects, and weapons designers who remained loyal to the Steel Empire after the betrayal of the Lightning Hoods, Selachii Industries is responsible for many of the Steel Striders' most technologically-advanced vehicles. Their ships are named after various sharks and resemble Lightning Hoods ships more than Rapromium's more traditional hullwork. They are certainly not afraid to employ EMP weapons, particle accelerator cannons, and Laser Anti-Munition Systems on their ships. Notable creations include the Sabre, Nurseshark, Greatwhite, Basking Shark, Thresher Shark, and Megalodon.
* Subaquatic Innovations - A corporation focused on submarines that can serve a variety of roles. Notable creations include the Panther, Typhoon, Remora, and the infamous Black Current.
* OCDS Engineering - A corporation focused on the development of fighter and bomber planes. Notable creations include the XF-04 Hake and Aerotyrant.
== Aesthetics ==
Steel Striders assumes an alternative modern aesthetic. This aesthetic combines modern hull work and superstructure with some cold war aesthetic as well, which can be applied to the various ships and planes made by Rapromium Heavy Industries. The more advanced and experimental vehicles created by the Selachii corporation have a unique aesthetic which involves a horizontal bow rather than the typical vertical bow, and a hull shape that resembles a piscine shape from above. Combined with a fin like superstructure and their sleeker appearance lead them to being dubbed "sharkships".
== Combat ==
The Steel Striders have a ship, plane, or submarine for just about any purpose. Employing somewhat realistic combined arms tactics, any encounter with the Striders at sea is bound to happen either on the surface, in the air, or under the waves. Their ships are mostly made from metal and alloy, commonly equipped with advanced projectile systems, or APS, whose purposes can vary greatly. Planes are most commonly made of metal and use missiles for combat, but some such as the Retribution and Aerotyrant are known for their compact APS cannons. Meanwhile, submarines are built in ways that prioritize stealth (such as the Panther), versatility (such as the Tsunami or Blacktip Shark), or sheer, unadulterated firepower (such as the Black Current).
== Gallery ==
File:Steel Striders Battle1.png|A battle between the Steel Striders and Lightning Hoods in the Zagskrag Islands
File:Steel Striders Damascus.png|Damascus, the main installation of the Steel Striders in Normont.
Category:Video Game Heroes