Death Vigil

Esteban Lanata

Death Vigil is one of the most prominent, if not the most prominent and oldest mercenary factions in the galaxy. Unlike many of their competitors and colleagues, they control a small portion of the galaxy under their own protectorate.

## History

### Early Years

Originally founded in 2239, the Death Vigil began as a militia force organized by the off-worlder Mordecai. The planet of Gibel had gone through a nuclear holocaust centuries ago, but its inhabitants have not only survived. but maintained small settlements harassed by raiders. Mordecai saw this as an opportunity and using his own military training, expertise, and contacts, he organized the locals into a fighting force capable of not only maintaining peace on the planet but conquering it. In a couple of decades, civilization had not only been restored in some fashion but was beginning to thrive. But in order to survive, they needed more than the irradiated wasteland could offer.

### Becoming a PMC

In the late 2270s, Mordecai had used his military contacts and few remaining friends to establish the militia as mercenaries for hire. It didn't take them long to gain control of the local market as they dominated, assimilated or destroyed their competition. Soon, all through the galactic south, the name Death Vigil could be heard as the go-to men and women when you need something done. With their newfound reputation and demand, the coffers of Gibel would begin to overflow with money and resources. But for Mordecai, that was not enough.

### Modern Day Activity

With its expanding influence, resources and manpower, the Death Vigil started to offer full-blown protection and even law enforcement to neighboring planets. Many worlds gladly accepted their protection and began to flock to the Vigil's banner. It wasn't long until the Vigil was considered a nation of its own with Gibel serving as the capital of said nation. Due to its unorthodox nature, Mordecai had adopted an unorthodox title. In 2345, he had proclaimed himself Executor for life. But as all crowns, this one came with its own burdens.

In 2357, the planet of Zverstva, located between Vigil, Upiry and Sol space was conquered by pirates. The planet was rich in resources, factories and was a strategic jumping point for many invasions. A fight to retake said planet would mean a pyrrhic victory at best for whoever decided to assault it as the pirates had started to not only converge upon it but utilize its manufacturing capabilities as well. The Death Vigil fleet amassed over the planet in early 2358 and began bombarding it once the blockade was broken through. Although their targets weren't the traditional targets one would have. The bombardment had targeted the many volcanoes that had dotted the landscape of Zverstva. Soon the planet was engulfed in molten lava, destroying anything and everyone on the surface. The following day Mordecai released a statement. "The fools on the surface of that planet thought they could make sport of me and my neighbors. Let it be known that whatever game my enemies wish to play, I will oblige, but play by my own rules. This is your first and final warning."

Mercenary action did not cease, however. Lending troops became one of the Vigil's main exports and continued to be a lucrative source of income and influence. In 2373 they signed the Trixina accords which led to the creation of the Mercenary union. However, the Union dissolved a decade later due to UGC being in no condition to maintain it. Mordecai used the chaos at the time to launch many attacks on other mercenary factions in order to show dominance as well as personally attend the battle on Zeruel before it was destroyed.

Now at this time, the Death Vigil stands as a bastion of hope for some within its territory, others feel like being hostages within their homes and for many outsiders a reason to fear the Southern quadrant or the only thing keeping it together.

### Starvis and Other Projects

Following the battle of Zeruel, the Death Vigil's activity shifted focus towards archeology. Mordecai, enamored with what Harken Saw found with his own research, began to seek out his own traces of ancient technology when copying the original failed. Vulture squadrons infiltrated and raided many dig sites through the galaxy until they found mentions of an archive. At the same time, another project started. Agents of the Death Vigil followed after the Archeius crew, but could not link up in time to aid them. Instead they found remains in their path. Among them was a new type of plasma shotgun and the memory core belonging to the mercenary, Varn Merner. The Executor's had already looked into cyborg and fully automaton soldiers, but this gave him an idea. Machine AI was sophisticated, but it lacked in certain things only an organic could do. Soon after project Lazarus had begun with Merner's memories as it's first real test subject.

In 2385, the efforts to obtain the artifacts known as the Archive tripled as more teams were send out to find them. The Vulture team lead by Archangel, a product of the Lazarus project, led an assault on a ship that contained one of those artifacts. The crew of the Muramasa would prove to be too resilient and would hold out on their own until reinforcements arrived and pushed the Vultures back.

At the same time, growing increasingly worried about Mordecai's obsessions, his ministers would organize a coup attempt, only for it to fail and prompt a violent purge. The chaos was followed by a consolidation of power as the Executor appointed new members that had proven their loyalty to him.

Soon after, the Death vigil would launch another assault towards Athens to capture one of the pieces of the Archive. The assault was led by Vulture commander Nathaniel Petrov and ended with great success for the Vigil, who now had their prize. During these events, Archangel would lead his team on a ship belonging to the Transsentience Cult, who were in the process of assimilating a ship and it's crew that belonged to the Death vigil. Archangel's team suffered heavy losses, but they took one of the cultists with them as hostage. Strangely enough, unlike the rest of his ilk, this one was not aggressive and insisted to come with them. This would lead to a meeting between the cultist and Mordecai, where it was decided that the Vigil would run experiments and further research the cult, seeing as both shared a common goal.

Later on, Mordecai would announce the reinstatement of the Mercenary union with him as the leader. The celebration on Gibel was short lived however as Argus launched an assault of their own in order to recover the lost Archive piece and to assassinate Mordecai. Both failed as the Executor now had cause to strike back, leading to the Vigil claiming a second and third piece.

The events would culminate in a battle on Starvis itself where Mordecai and his Horsemen would attempt to wake the ancient AI that shared it's name with the planet. What Mordecai had discovered from the Archives was exactly what he had been searching all this time. A way to bring organics and machine together in one.The galaxy would finally know true unity and he would be their savior. The battle would be long and brutal, ending with the death of all of them.

### Post-Starvis Crisis

With the death of Mordecai, the Death vigil was left without a leader and without a course for it's future. What semblance of government remained quickly fell apart as factions and splinter groups formed in the wake of their leader's death. The once wide borders and influence they possessed had been reduced to a fraction of their former self.

On Gibel itself an uneasy alliance has formed. The new Executor, Janet Winters has joined forces with Vulture primarch Esteban Lanata, to form a government that maintains control over the planet and act as a face to the galaxy at large. Beneath the surface however, trouble stirs. The Children of Starvis is a cult that has formed after the shock of Mordecai's death had worn off. They believe that he was a false prophet and that Starvis had liberated them from his evil. Naturally such a cult could not be allowed to exist on Gibel and was stamped out by the government and further driven off the world by the Sons of Mordecai, a counter group that had formed from the most devout zealots in his armies. The Sons are extremists and while they drove the Children off of Gibel, they view the Executor and Primarch as deviants of Mordecai's vision and as such must be purged if there is any hope to restore their former glory.

As of 2426, the struggle has divided the planet and it's remaining colonies into factions ready to strike at one another at any moment, but they are not alone. Deep within the facility that once housed the sole member of the Transsentience Cult on the planet, another faction had formed. From the scientists, security and other staff, the first members of the new chapter had formed. They were already members of many different races, which provided a fertile ground for a variety of mechanical monstrosities to come forward.

The future of Gibel as it stands right now is uncertain. Some are looking on in anticipation of where the next domino would fall, while others think it doesn't even have one.

## Organization and Additional Information

The Death Vigil have a very lax recruitment due to the only requirement is to pledge allegiance to the Executor. As such, many of the troops are considered cannon fodder by their superiors, but those who stand out climb the ranks. The Vigil maintains an organization similar to the Sol military with minor differences in the names. I.E Lieutenants are referred to as Reapers.

### Vulture Squads

The covert-ops and deniable troops of the Vigil. The Vultures exist to perform the more shady business more befitting traditional mercenary work as well as any cloak and dagger tasks. Most of the time they are required to not have any visible marking unless it cant be avoided or the mission involves total extermination and leaving behind no evidence.

Death vigil ships carry a specific naming convention as they are named after historic battles from Sol's past. Generally, the more valuable the ship, the more important the battle it's named after.