Factions

There are several factions in the Echo Universe, each working towards different goals.

## **Peaceful Factions**

When the title says peaceful, it simply means factions that drive for peace, not do things in a peaceful way. These factions tend to want peace in the world, and may be willing to do whatever it takes to do that.

### **The Squadrons**

The Squadrons are the main groups of the Squadron Universe. I mean, it's literally named after them. Although their ways of doing things are different, all the Squadrons strive for one thing. To have peace. And although Omega has betrayed the Squadrons several times, they justified it every single time as a mean that must be done to provide peace. Whether it's peace under one rule, or peace through the deaths of billions. So long as a large group is alive and capable of starting again, the Omega will consider it peace should this smaller civilization have order. By the end of the series, the Squadrons are still together, although with different leaders.

### **E.N.D**

Although a bit surprising, E.N.D does work towards the peace of the universe. Although it's a very different way from the Squadrons. Margaret Dridean and her faction, Eternal Nightless Days, or E.N.D, work to extinguish all life in the universe. However, they've created plans to recreate entire races with sampled DNA and start over again from scratch. They would repopulate already destroyed civilizations in smaller numbers to avoid overpopulation, and flush out all chaos in the world and begin anew. Of course, the Squadrons opposed of it as it would result in the deaths of all life. After the Fourth Great War and Margaret's realization that even if the world was restarted, Chaos would rise again, E.N.D was repurposed to work alongside the squads and help them maintain current order.

### **Ryezures**

Not that surprising that the Ryezures are a peaceful faction. Out of the Great Races, the Ryezures were the only ones to try and lend help to other races, despite their own race already being decimated and on the verge of extinction. The last survivors of the Ryezures work together with the squadrons, maintaining order while trying to repopulate their race. Though they will lend a helping hand here and there.

### **The S.F.C.F**

The Special Field Containment Foundation, or otherwise known to the public as the Special Forensics Core Foundation, was a major antagonist to the Squadrons. It was originally created by a immortal human known as Anata Williams, who created the organization to protect those that the alien races could not protect. However Anata would go into cryostasis, and one person would change the entire S.F.C.F to strive for creating the new human race. By their first appearance, the S.F.C.F was led by a Xenos known as Ace, the S.F.C.F wanted to destroy the squads because they were both a obstacle in their goals and none would ever rely on their new human race if the Squadrons existed. The S.F.C.F attempted to play gods, creating homunculus in a attempt to make the perfect creatures, resulting in many failures and many deaths. Backed by many nations, the S.F.C.F waged war on the Squadrons, and due to their vast numbers were impossible to wipe out completely. Instead, they killed all the pillars, including Ace herself, causing the S.F.C.F to collapse without it's leaders. After waking Anata back up, she would take control of the S.F.C.F and change it back to it's old ways, protecting the innocent who cannot protect themselves. They work with the squads constantly, backing them up whenever they can.

### **Forces of Heaven**

Although Heaven has done lots of questionable things, Heaven actively strives to make things better and more orderly. The True God doesn't really interact with Heaven despite being it's leader, but they're always watching. Celestials of Heaven have made it their goals to seek out and kill foreign threats, including the Demons who crawl out of Hell. They've worked alongside the Squads several times, as Delta is made majorly of Forces of Heaven. Because of that, the Squadrons and Heaven have been major allies through the entire series. They helped in all of the Great Wars, fighting on the Squadron's side. Despite their goals for peace, the Celestials of Heaven have done lots of shitty things, killing some demons who even wished to be better.

## **Neutral Factions**

Factions that typically stick to themselves are known as Neutral factions. Neutral Factions will also sometimes chose sides, so long as it benefits them. For example, the west joining the Squadrons in the First Great War due to Mira's desire to kill Yukong.

### **The Western Blood Kingdom**

The Western Blood Kingdom is ruled by the Cardinal Direction Mira Bloodwalker, who is known by her title, the Witch of the West. It's a kingdom of demons and humans, all working together as a monarchy. Crime here is low of the four territories, as few people want to get the attention of the West Kingdom and Mira. It makes the perfect hiding place and diplomatic meetings for people, as rarely anyone will do anything here. The Western Kingdom is very strict on order, as they will kill people without hesitance should they threaten that order. It became temporarily under the command of Karen Bloodwalker, leader of Omega, during the First Great War when Mira was captured by Yukong. Since then, it's served as a neutral faction that doesn't care about anything outside it's territory if it doesn't bother them. Mira herself governs them with power, and none dare challenge her. She's not the nicest person, but she's inspiring, determined, and most of all powerful, if not a little arrogant. it assisted the Squadrons in the battle with E.N.D due to a favor Mira owed the squads.

### **Hasinashi Clan**

The Hasinashi Clan have been on both sides several times. They are an elite clan of assassins, known for their efficiency. Almost everyone who faces a Hasinashi dies. The Hasinashi recruit members who have it's blood, even if it's just a little. They have a few dozen members, each capable of taking on a Squad Member. Ayato Hasinashi fought against the Squadrons with the S.F.C.F, and several Hasinashi members deviated from the clan and joined the Squadrons. Sera Hasinashi, the former Clan Leader, sided with Yuko and the Syndicate, turning majority of the Hasinashi against the Squadrons. Sera would be killed by Saki Yudiko, Sera's youngest daughter. Saki would become the next Clan Leader, changing their ways. Despite the change in leadership, the Clan only cares about itself, and only helps the Squadrons in exchange for favors. They fought alongside the Squadrons during the Fourth Great War, for the favor of being free of control and they became a neutral faction.

### **Kylerel's Kingdom of Hell**

When the youngest Demon Prince Kylerel took the throne from Yukong after the First Great War, he reformed it to create a nation that protects it's lands, not conquers. Kylerel's kingdom unfortunately only cares about it's well being, and typically will not fight. Although Kylerel will help out the Squadrons in their time of need, Kylerel will prioritize the lives of his people, and pull out should he suffer to many casualties.

### **Xiaochin's Kingdom of Hell**

Before Yukong took over, Xiaochin ruled over Hell as the Bloodwalker King of Demons. Xiaochin is perhaps the most dangerous and strongest of the Demon Kings (excluding Satan). Despite this, his rule was quite calm. Xiaochin enforced his borders and always, but never expanded outside of Hell due to knowing the dangers of Heaven. Xiaochin's Kingdom is neutral because it never agitated and never went to war, but also never aided anyone. Xiaochin would be killed due to Heaven fearing his power, and should he have chosen to invade, it'd be very hard to stop it.

### **Geodines**

Geodines were the most neutral of the Great Races. They liked to avoid conflicts and stayed out of battles unless they were affected. Geodines were highly looked with the other Great Races, as they were both powerful and noble. Despite this, they are on the brink of extinction due to the war with the Xenos. The new Geodine group agrees to help with the Squads now and then, but they prioritize their own recovery first.

### **The Black Sun**

The Black Sun are a PMC originating from Virginia, USA. The PMC originally was created to help host-nations and provide aid. It partook in WW3, causing it to gain popularity alongside it's sister PMC, The White Sun. Sometime in between the years 2050-2060, the two PMCs turned against each other, causing a rivalry that has lasted for centuries. The Black Sun originally had good intentions, before the CEO waged a war against the world. Turning its contractors against host-nations and allies alike. They went to war with the Squadrons, being defeated and disbanded after the war.

### **The White Sun**

The White Sun is a PMC formed in Virginia, USA, alongside the Black Sun. It worked for the Government of **██████**, eventually fighting alongside the Black Sun during WW3. During WW3, both PMCs became larger, gaining more popularity. When the Black Sun turned against the White Sun & the other nations, they helped the Squadrons defeat them. The White Sun were destroyed alongside the Black Sun during the war against Margaret & E.N.D.

### **The F.A.C.**

The Forces of the Ace Card is a PMC formed by Neo, a mysterious man who strived for order. Their ranks are organized, like a deck of cards, with abilities to cleanly play their hand. They love to play by their own games, but also love to mess in other's. For example, the PMC could latch themselves with an alliance and support their client during a conflict. Although, now their interests are busy on capturing rogue members of the group, so they remain neutral for the most part.

## **Chaotic Factions**

Chaotic factions are typically factions of pure evil or simply seek chaos in the universe. They are typically antagonists, and serve as direct enemies to the Peaceful factions. Very rarely will Chaotic Factions work with others, and almost never fight with Peaceful ones.

### **Yukong's Kingdom of Hell**

The Kingdom of Hell under Yukong's rule was much more aggressive. They sought to expand their borders out of hell and defeat their mortal enemies, the Celestials of Heaven. Yukong waited decades, building his armor and preparing them for war. When he decided to attack, he created many breaches to the mortal world. Small portals that only stay open for a short time, compared to the portals which stay open a lot longer and are much more stable. He destroyed many cities, and could've taken over the planet had the squads not intervened, since they began to overwhelm Heaven. This began the first Great War. His forces were repelled by the Squads, and his reign would end when he's killed by Lyn. Kylerel takes over the kingdom, and becomes a ally of the squads.

### **The Syndicate**

The Syndicate was a organization that wanted the world to burn for it's evils. The organization is extremely small, with only 20 members. However, each member is extremely dangerous, The four leaders are on a entirely different level. Their identities appear as unknown, and they rarely showed themselves, and always hid their identities. Because of their beliefs and power, they became a big enemy to the squads, and starting the Third Great War. The leader's codenames are Seraph, Spectre, Necromancer, and the founder, Fenris, the only one's identity known as Yuko. It is revealed that the Syndicate has infiltrated the squads, and begins killing their members. However when one of their Leaders, Seraph (who's true name is Yato, and the one tasked with killing the Echo) betrays the Syndicate, revealing the locations of the other leaders. The Echo proceeded to kill Necromancer and Spectre before confronting Yuko. After defeating Yuko, she is saved by her best friend Viola, and they both flee. The rest of the Syndicate scatters, causing the faction to disband.