Trident Initiative

The **Trident Initiative** (known simply as the **Tridents**) are a hostile faction in Leviathan Lore. Although they are considered to be antagonistic, the Trident Initiative is actually neutral, opposing the majority of the other factions, including but not limited to Task Force Zeta, Leviathan Special Forces, Iron Clad Mercenaries, etc.

## Overview

The Trident Initiative are a heavily armed military company, similar to the likes of the LSF. However, their weapons are somewhat limited, having no access to high powered, long range rifles such as sniper rifles. However, the Trident Initiative does have powerful assault rifles with enhanced bullets that are more effective at longer ranges. Unlike other irregular militaries, the Trident Initiative is split up into different roles depending on a recruit's skillset and doesn't have a ranking system. Their uniform consists of a dark gray uniform, a Sentinel MKII chest rig with a patch of the Trident logo. They have a specific emblem on their uniform that signifies their role. Members sometimes wear helmets, but the majority of them wear either skullcaps, berets, a black cap, or a balaclava, and have an earpiece in the left ear in order to communicate with each other.

## History

### Early years

The Trident Initiative was founded by Riko Windrunner after he cut off ties with Leviathan as a counter-terrorist group to combat the terrorist presence in Broken Arrow in areas where the LSF didn't operate. Despite lacking resources, the Trident Initiative was supplied by Leviathan Executive Command with weapons and armor. While the efforts of the Trident Initiative were mostly successful, one of the high ranking members, Edson Devereux, betrays and overthrows Riko, citing that his efforts to fight against terrorism were "too soft", although it was later revealed that Edson had an ulterior motive. He transforms the Trident Initiative entirely from a counter terrorist group to a private military company that sells its services to the highest bidder. Edson was then named the leader of the Trident Initiative after Riko was forcibly thrown out despite his greatest efforts to resist Edson's takeover.

### War with the Windrunners

Riko briefly came back in contact with the Windrunner Empire and told them about Edson's exploits and that he must be killed. Tora reluctantly agreed to launch an attack on the Trident Initiative, but only if Riko detached himself from any other military companies he was or still his a part of. On May 23, at exactly 4:30 PM, the Windrunners emerged and then proceeded to violently ambush patrolling Trident soldiers. Other soldiers in the area were alerted to the Windrunners' presence and proceeded to fire upon them, but were almost immediately gunned down. Watching helplessly from the security cameras, Edson demanded backup to be sent to deal with them, though one of the Deputies told him that there was nothing they could do. Angered, Edson went out to combat them but ended up revealing himself to the Windrunners, who wounded him and captured him, despite Riko's order to kill him. The Windrunners then proceed to execute the remainder of the Trident forces, with some of them locating Edson's safehouse and killed the Deputies there.

Edson then awoke in a cell with no windows or light, with his hands cuffed. Edson kept his composure and waited out until someone came to help him. He was visited by one of the Windrunners, who asked him a series of questions which he refused to answer, resulting in Edson being savagely beat until they were ordered to stop by an officer. The officer then told Edson he could either cooperate with Windrunner forces or be executed. Edson taunted the officer and told him that this was a waste of time and that Trident soldiers would locate him and capture him, as he has an emergency transponder attached to his neck that shows his location in real time when he's in trouble. However, the officer ripped it off of his neck, causing him to bleed. He suggested Edson to cooperate or the Trident soldiers will find his dead body in his cell. Edson continues to taunt the officer and insults him, causing the officer to pistol whip him in the face, knocking Edson down. He then insults Edson and leaves, locking his cell door in the process.

### Edson's rescue

After two years, the remaining Trident forces would eventually track down Edson's location to a Windrunner prison and plot to rescue him. With Stansfield serving as a de facto leader for the time being, he ordered his remaining soldiers to storm the prison and rescue Edson, despite great opposition from the majority.