Blackwatch Initiative

The **Blackwatch Initiative**, sometimes referred to as the **Blackwatch Program** or simply **Blackwatch** is a secret project started by the Ra'dam Federation to create super soldiers. While authorized and designed by the Federal Union the Initiative would not be put into play until seven years before the Avaxius Insurgency. The Blackwatch Initiative would be a thrilling success for the Federation.

After the Fall of Ra'dam and the end of the Cerberus Galactic Conflict, Blackwatch operatives continued to operate under the Federation. However, they - like most Federation personnel - were hunted down by the Orisa Empire under Vance Thaddeus and the Cybros Dominion. Some Blackwatch members survived this and fought in the Colonial Wars often training colonial militias, very few (less than 15) joined the Republic of Horizon. Records indicate all were killed.

The Blackwatch Initiative would be once more brought to life under the Unified Governments of the Republic, the UGR now controls the largest Blackwatch force since its founding.

## Development & History

The designs for the plans began 50 years after the Human Contact War and was put on hold due to the outbreak of the Federal-Enclave War however the research facility would be destroyed during the Battle of Phaeton by the Enclave of Exploration thus all development on the Blackwatch Initiative would be lost.

In 47 BEW, the Ra'dam Federation re-colonized the planet of Phaeton and discovered the ruins of the facility and with it - The Blackwatch Initiative. Federation High Command secretly worked with the Federation Research & Development to bring the designs to life. Despite their relatively old age, the designs were highly advanced even in 47 BEW.

The Federation R&D's top scientist, doctor Andrew Burke would pick up the mantle of making the program a success, having bypassed the flaws and difficulties the Federal Union had hit a wall on. Due to this within five years Doctor Burke managed to give the Federation over 50 Blackwatch soldiers. Augmentations implemented, advanced Blackwatch only armor deployed, and neural uplinks.

When the Avaxius Insurgency emerged, Blackwatch forces were deployed in teams of 5 across the Avaxius System to fight the insurgents. The first conflict the super soldiers would encounter and be regarded as one of the primary reasons the Federation was able to quell the massive uprising in such a short time. Blackwatch soldiers proved their worth and received positive reports from Federation High Command, offering additional funding the R&D branch. Which further improved the program over time.

In the years prior to the Cerberus Galactic Conflict most Blackwatch forces dealt with small bandit attacks across the outer-rim of Federation space. Putting down insurgents and crushing any who would oppose the Federation's rule.

When the Galactic Conflict erupted, Blackwatch forces once more were pivotal in dealing with the Federation's enemies, this time in the form of the alien race known as the Cybros Dominion and the might of Epsilon Alliance. Blackwatch Initiative was to serve a role that was foreign to the Federal Union and Ra'dam Federation - Special Forces. In the beginning of development the Blackwatch Program was made solely to deal with the Reterans, as their soldiers were far superior both technological wise and physically. Now they're purpose was to be fulfilled against Reteran and Cybros, a role in which they would excel in.

While Blackwatch performance was at its highest, the program would suffer heavy losses. Most Blackwatch soldiers would fall to the Cybros Dominion's warrior and the Epsilon Alliance's numerous robotic forces. While the soldiers were powerful and advanced, there was too few of them to have any major impact on the overall war.

After the Ra'dam Federation fell, survivors of the program were either missing in action, killed or hiding among the colonial planets unscathed by the xeno's purge. Most would train colonial militias and/or serve with them against invaders.

With the rise of the Orisa Empire and the beginning of Action Zero, most colonial planets fell to the Empire's wrath. Many of Blackwatch soldiers on colonial planets were killed during the initial phases of the conquest. When the Republic of Horizon declared war on the Empire, some Blackwatch members joined the Republic, seeing them as the closest thing to the Federation. When the Colonial Wars officially began, Blackwatch soldiers were used as commanders leading entire regiments of militia against the Empire and the newly formed Theron Protectorate. Most soldiers would be killed during the war, with very few living after. Some completely vanished looking to track down Andrew Burke who had been taken by the Protectorate later in the war.

in the aftermath of the Colonial Wars and formation of the Unified Governments of the Republic, the program was brought back to life under the Republic Military Research & Development. The UGR once more improved upon the program and furthered it. However, they were unable to mass produce the soldiers and increased the mortality to rate of those who underwent augmentation.

## Known Blackwatch Members

### Ra'dam Federation

* Captain Andre Damson
* Junior Operative Bryant Hiashi
* Commander Harrison Thompson

### Unified Governments of the Republic

* Lieutenant Derek Firestone
* Captain Vladimir Dechenko