Argonaut

**Key Features** | »» *Pisces* Harpoon gun»» Oil slick charges»» SCUBA Gear w/ Face Mask»» Rubber fins»» Waterproof bag for underwater finds

*"This is a great job, man. Get to dive all day and blow stuff up!"*

- Argonaut
## Tactical Analysis

* **Spear Fishing**: As most of the Syndicate’s mercenary forces (including their commando) are unable to swim, it is up to Argonauts to clear beachheads and deal with sea based structures. Their speargun allows them to fend off the other aquatic personnel as well as overly aggressive sea life and can even be used on land to harpoon infantry.

* **Oil Spill**: Against structures and ships, Argonauts can stealthly approach and plant explosive oil filled charges. These charges not only damage their targets but also leaving oil slicks that bog down any ships that sail through them. The slicks are also instant death for other divers and marine life.

* **Case of the Bends**: While hard to spot, Argonauts are not well protected and will die quickly if discovered. They are also rather slow when out of their preferred environment.

* **Poseidon Adventurer**: Veteran Argonauts, most of whom spent their ill gotten riches on both survival and luxury, are known to spend their riches on getting the Poseidon suit upgrade, allowing them to breath underwater and gain a resistance to small arms, and buying an illicit mixture, known simply as "Greek fire", which produces a great flame that can be lit anywhere, even on water, and burns pretty much anything

## Background

In the early days of the Mediterranean Syndicate, its main rival was not any corporation or government, but the Cosa Nostra of Sicily. Again and again, Romulus’s devious plans were undone by soldati sent from Sicily to prevent him from gaining too much power in the underworld, set to be a cornerstone of the Syndicate. As this was before a Syndicate “observer” sat on the Italian Council of Ministers, Romulus couldn’t simply wipe the Cosa Nostra off the face of the Earth without legal ramifications crippling his embryonic megacorporation.

They also controlled all the ports in Sicily, preventing more devious methods and allowing them free movement in all the Mediterranean. Romulus, however, was not a man to be stopped. Inspired by tales of Greek divers sinking Persian ships by swimming up to them and knocking holes in their hulls, he ordered that the newly invented “Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus” be stolen and copied for a daring plan.

A motley group of thugs, pearl divers, and veterans were assembled by the Syndicate, who armed and trained them in using a harpoon gun and explosives. Sicily was soon blockaded by these newly dubbed **“Argonauts”**, working completely underwater for hours at a time. Any ship coming and going was demolished or seized, and since Sicily was too poor to have any airfields, the island was cut off from the rest of the world.

When targets presented themselves, Argonauts would march inland to strike at vulnerable Cosa Nostra targets, from villas of Capofamiglias to fronts for illicit activities. The Italian government assumed all this was a war between Cosa Nostra families and ignored it (many of these government officials were later found to have a sudden increase in wealth). The Cosa Nostra crumbled from this assault and never fully recovered, and the Syndicate was free to dominate the Italian underground.

Argonauts still serve the Syndicate to this day, albeit in a slightly different form. Many ports and Sprawls have a lively diving underground, who scavenges sunken goods and wrecks, sabotage water operations of companies for a bounty from rivals, or just out of boredom. Minimal training is needed, and they often already have their SCUBA gear.

Many nations in debt to the Syndicate risk Argonauts harassing ports until they comply, and any navy attempting manoeuvres against the Syndicate may have their ships sinking at port. One of their chief rivals is Allied dolphins, not only in combat but in philosophy. Though dolphins like humans, they feel it improper for ground dwellers to try and emulate them. Argonauts are also known to have a fear of sharks, and going near Imperial waters.