Death Marks (Mercenary Company)

Tarhin

Battle of Solenos

> "*Any mercenary can kill. People come to the Death Marks when they want something apocalyptic.*"
>
> **- Kharpagh**
>
>

The Death Marks are a rogue mercenary company operating within the Aoshtai Galaxy. First rising to prominence during the First Concourse War, they have since gained a reputation for ruthlessness and disregard for life. They were previously commanded by Kharpagh. Command has since fallen to an unknown individual.

## History

### Founding

The Death Marks were first founded in -48 NAC by Hallix Forn, an Aratacian Navy captain that had turned to piracy. The company’s initial membership was made up of pirates and deserters from a number of empires who had initially banded together for survival.

Hallix Forn was later captured and imprisoned by Aratacia, and would live out the rest of his natural life in Facility 12, an advanced prison complex. He died aged 83. He was succeeded as Commander of the Death Marks by his son, Raikir.

### Second Concourse War

When the Second Concourse War broke out in 1 NAC, the Death Marks were among the first mercenary groups involved in the conflict. They were hired by a number of Amestrian planets to protect them from Khanbaqi raids.

In the middle of the Second Concourse War, at the end of 2 NAC, a former Phero Ecumene Astreid marine known as Kharpagh joined the Death Marks, quickly establishing himself as a formidable soldier.

Raikir Forn was later killed during a disastrous mission in 4 NAC, and died without naming his successor. The Death Marks fought among themselves for the right to lead the company, but Kharpagh ultimately became Commander. Once he was truly in charge, he began to reshape the Death Marks into what he considered a much more capable fighting force.

It was during the next war that the Death Marks would reveal their true character.

### Third Concourse War

In 5 NAC, the Death Marks were once again contracted to protect border worlds from Ascendancy aggression. Under Kharpagh’s leadership, the Death Marks were more than a match for the Ascendancy’s troops, and they were often found on the front lines of battles.

During the battle of Genoh, many mercenary companies were recruited by both sides to keep momentum. The Death Marks were hired by the Ascendancy for a very specific purpose; the decimation of the GCTO’s mercenary forces. To that end, the Death Marks accepted a contract with the GCTO, and began providing them with martial support.

A special division of the Death Marks, led by Kharpagh himself and including the former Stellar Hallows, later led several groups of mercenaries in an assault against an Ascendancy encampment. Unbeknownst to the mercenaries, the assault was secretly an ambush. Once they reached the encampment, the Death Marks turned on the other mercenaries and slaughtered them. Only a handful survived the ambush. Their task fulfilled, the Death Marks turned on the GCTO and joined the Ascendancy proper, destroying a GCTO base in the process.

The Death Marks also took part in the battle of Orbitrium as part of the Ascendancy’s ground forces. According to testimonies made by imprisoned Ascendancy military officers, their orders were to “slaughter every last invader”. It is believed that members of the Death Marks committed several of the more egregious acts of violence against the GCTO forces during the battle. Several members of the Death Marks, growing increasingly more disgusted with what the outfit had become, deserted and surrendered, while many others were killed and Kharpagh was seriously injured. Once the battle was over, the Death Marks abandoned the Ascendancy, recalling most of their troops and fleeing the region.

### Post-War

Now considered a renegade group by the GCTO, the Death Marks retreated to the Demise, where they consolidated power by taking over a frontier planet known as Hethas. For ten years, they went almost unnoticed, until they violently re-emerged onto the galactic stage in 20 NAC, attacking trade routes and outposts associated with the GCTO on behalf of an unknown paymaster. The mercenary company had effectively devolved into pirates and bandits, albeit highly effective ones.

### Veritas Crisis and Aftermath

When the death of Emperor Veritas III threatened to tear the Aoshanti Empire in two, the Death Marks were contracted by the Kingdom of Vigila to provide military support to their side. Captains Pauling and Cenk were dispatched with their detachments and a squad of special operatives led by special operative Greif Ranazm. Pauling and Cenk were ordered to Ur'umme, while Ranazm was told to report to Vigila.

Unbeknownst to the others, Kharpagh had accepted a second contract from Khanbaqir to kill Queen Tainatra, and had neglected to tell the others about it in order to preserve the secrecy of this mission. Vigilian intelligence discovered this plot, however, and intercepted Ranazm's team before they reached Vigila. They confronted Ranazm with the information and issued an ultimatum; capture Kharpagh, and he and his team would be spared execution.

Ranazm and his team were successful in their new mission, and delivered Kharpagh to Vigila, where he was publicly tried and executed. Consequently, nations across the galaxy denounced the Death Marks as criminals. The Death Marks began to fight among themselves over Kharpagh's capture, with most trying to secure their former Commander's position for themselves.

## Characteristics

The most striking characteristic of the Death Marks is their apparent cruelty. Many members of the company seem to take a perverse delight in torture or murder of their enemies. This is in line with Kharpagh’s belief that violence is capable of sending messages diplomacy never could. This cruelty extends to noncombatants as well. They appear to have no real moral code beyond doing what their client tells them, and even then they are not above abandoning said clients in favour of a better offer.

Internally, the Death Marks adhere to a loose hierarchy, with strength being the deciding factor in who is promoted or demoted. Advancement within the Death Marks is cutthroat, with soldiers willing to kill their superiors the moment they sense an opportunity to improve their station.

## Members

### Current

* Unknown (Commander)
* Thamaus Pauling

* PROFILE

 **Captain of the Death Marks Second Detachment** | Human

* Greif Ranazm

* PROFILE

 **Captain of the Death Marks Special Forces “Barium Lynx”** | Aoshanti

* Dorgo Cenk

* PROFILE

 **Captain of the Death Marks Fourth Detachment** | Aoshanti

### Former

* Marnix vou Kortier
* Kharpagh
* Tohska Kavraz

## Appearances

* Death Marks (Coming soon)
* The Thin Steel Line (Coming soon)
* Watch this space

## Trivia

### In-Universe

* While not an enforced tradition, new members of the Death Marks commonly tattoo the company’s emblem onto themselves

### Out-of-Universe

* The Death Marks were inspired by Star Trek’s mirror universe.