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The Jedi were real? This article is part of the history of Clan Plagueis and isn't part of current events.
Please do not remove this tag or the contents. These articles exist for historic purposes.
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- "If you can see us, it's because we want you to."
- ―Kal Vorrac when discussing Stygium's mission statement.
Codename: Stygium is the premier Intelligence Directorate strike team within Plagueis. It was formed by Kal Vorrac in 33 ABY to perform a multitude of tasks specific to subterfuge, effectively serving as Intel's top field agents. Only a select few of the Directorate's most elite Dark Jedi will ever gain the right to hold membership and fewer yet shall ever be fortunate enough to survive their missions.
Operations taken upon by members of Stygium are nearly always in high-risque locations where death stalks as closely behind the operatives as they do their targets. Tasks for these elite bunch range from assassination, infiltration, spying, and interrogation. All information collected by the agents is relayed back to the Intel Directorate for filing following immediate review by the Directorate's respective analysts.
The Basis of Codename: Stygium
When Clan Plagueis was subsidized to a House by the Dark Council's verdict in 33 ABY, sweeping changes were instituted by its leaders Kal Vorrac and Vivackus Kavon. Completely militarized, its Dark Jedi were encouraged to join one of the four battleteams that were established as the elite of each of Plagueis's military branches: The Army, Navy, Corps, and of course, Intel.
As the Intel strike team, Codename: Stygium remains under direct authority of the Directorate and the clan leaders. However, it stands separate from the rest of the orthodox military hierarchy. A team that is reputed to be non-existent, with little public knowledge regarding them, few could ever afford the privilege of commanding them. Their missions were on exactly the same confidential policy.
Assassination, spying, infiltration, and interrogation are the darkest concerns in war, and as such remain to be the least discussed matters. However, these acts of subterfuge are the bread and butter of Codename: Stygium's mission lineup. They are sent on the most high-risk and unlikely environments, directly into the hive of Plagueis' most regarded rivals.
Oftentimes, they will remain out of contact from the rest of the House for extended periods of time to ensure objective security. This isolating procedure can be extremely detrimental on the psyche, but for these highly trained and ruthless assassins mark saboteurs, it is merely another complement of the job. Trained to endure the most physically, mentally, and emotionally strenuous atmospheres and experiences imaginable, these agents are not the sort to tangle with.
Jusadih Outposts
This enigmatic strike team maintains an outpost on every planet in the Jusadih System, except for Kapsina. It has been a growing consideration to establish a base on Kapsina's moon, Nasva. However, these plans have yet to be put into effect. Originally, the strike team was intended to remain with the rest of the Intelligence Directorate within the mammoth skyscraper on Shintera. However, further discussion led to outposts dotting every Plagueis planet in the system.
Sigil 2
On Sigil 2, the Directorate pumped resources onto refitting a ruined building and staffing it with a skeleton force of Intelligence Agents to maintain the vicinity for the sporadic, yet eventual use of it by the strike team. Due to the Yuuzhan Vong's devastation of the planet during the Eighth Great Jedi War, it serves as a perfect secret base for Codename: Stygium, fulfilling their mission statement to the period.
Nintura
As for their base on the lush jungle planet of Nintura, the location of their base is kept encrypted within the Intelligence Directorate's expansive databases due to its remote location within the jungles. Fewer Intelligence Agents than Sigil 2's outpost man this temple due to its smaller size. However, the individuals that do remain present here are full-time workers. They have homes inside the temple and may visit the cities of Nintura which are presently being rebuilt to resecure the profit tourism rendered for the planet.
Shintera
Shintera's outpost is the most luxurious of all the others. Filling two entire floors within the large skyscraper that serves as the headquarters of the entire Intel Directorate, all of the wants and needs of the team can be fulfilled here. On the first floor of their outpost is endless quarters and recreational rooms. Sports can be played here and even rest time can be held in the den which has a moderated bar and large holovision sets.
The second floor contains a massive armory filled with numerous tools, weapons, clothing, and light armour that is utilized by the team for field work. It also has training rooms, a blaster range, and its own control room for the building. From the control room, they can watch live feed of interrogations in process or perform mundane security work. In the case of a break-in, every floor of the building goes on lock down, however the two floors that Codename: Stygium reside on lock down as merely one. From there, they can analyze the situation from their own control room and react accordingly.
Morroth
The furthest planet from Kapsina, Morroth was the last planet to have its own Codename: Stygium outpost. However, the site is a prime location for their activities. Fitted in an abandoned part of the expansive military installations located on the tundric planet, they keep a keen eye on the activities and training being handled in the facilities. They have held interrogations here as well in the many empty, secured rooms that fill the large buildings.
Due to their status, and despite the military body's disgust at allowing it, Codename: Stygium agents have free access to the armories located here. They also are often seen patrolling the corridors in their unrevealing and menacing armour. The soldiers often joke that everything is "just another mission for them". However, they are not far from the truth. While many of Plagueis troops enjoy down time, it is extremely rare for Stygium operatives who are almost leaving their quarters to the armory, and the to the hangar for dispatch to their mission location. For them though, it's just another day on the job...
The Operatives
There are numerous support staff employed by the Intelligence Directorate to assist Codename: Stygium in maintaining their outposts as well as fulfilling their daily duties. However, there are never more than a dozen members in Codename: Stygium due to its elitist nature. These are the agents current listed on its roster as well as their exact roles within the strike team:
- Lead Operative/Infiltrator: Operative Voden Arjin (Human Male, Dantooine)
Background Dossier
The members of Codename: Stygium are selected by the presiding Lead Operative whenever they deem necessary. Upon establishing a proposed roster, they submit it to the Intelligence Directorate who reviews it for final approval and then begins to offer the positions to said members. Post-acceptance, Stygium prospectives are put through orientation where they are briefed on the types of missions they will regularly embark upon, as well as the estimated survival rate of the average operative.
After this, they are then put through the rigorous training regime established by the Directorate on Morroth, and then finally are preened and primmed in the coddling facilities the team maintains on Shintera. After this, the individual is officially considered a member of Codename: Stygium and is fully prepared for all engagements they will and must partake in.
Stygium Mission Statement
Stygium engages in any and all forms of unconventional military activity, including, but not limited to: Information warfare, espionage and assassination. When given an assignment, Stygium operatives are often given full discretion to handle the situation as they see fit. The team is widely considered the first defense against all external (and internal) threats to House Plagueis, tasked with assignments often designed to quell problems before they become large enough for the military at large to be obligated to handle.
Our Motto
- "We were never here."
- ―Codename: Stygium's cryptic motto.
The motto of Codename: Stygium is prided on its profoundness, yet abrupt nature. To some, it would seem mundane and almost indecipherable, however it is exactly how the individual interpreting perceives it. With enough metacognitive effort put forth, one could deign multiple meaings; just one of the many oddities of this unique motto. However, to most, it's direct meaning "We were never here." gives way to the stealthy and top secret nature of Codename: Stygium.
Equipment
Street Clothes
An example of a common Stygium disguise.
The majority of a member of Stygium's time is spent on the field. As the mobile assets of the Intelligence Directorate, they are required to be prepared for deployment to anywhere, at anytime. It is with this consideration and the prospect of their usual duties, they are often adorned in unassuming garments, from that of a smuggler, bounty hunter, mercenary, or even a businessman. The armory for these individuals is extensive, allowing for immense customization.
Generally, the members wear colorful clothing that covers their bodies for ensured protection, yet still renders a relaxing aura. Vests, gloves, and boots are not uncommon either, often serving as the main diet for the agent's attire. Miscellaneous accessories are also available to be equipped varying upon the individual agent's taste. You can always recognize the operatives that enjoy their jobs -- they are the ones who are usually flitting around with shades or other unnecessary objects.
Specific outfit prerequisites are often delivered to agents along with mission dossiers as well. For example, one who is tasked to infiltrate a mercenary guild would have a certain stereotype wardrobe specified for them. Utility belts allowing for knives, blaster pistol holsters, extra power packs, etc. would be a suggestion, as well as light armour or even a blast vest. As you can see, all outfit presets are subject to the mission at hand, as well as the taste of the agents performing said mission.
Stygium Armour
Codename: Stygium's activities, as publicly acknowledged, are on a strictly need-to-know basis, for those with top-secret security access. However, there is one trademark made visible to all within eyesight. The battleteam's armour, aptly identified as Stygium Armour, was fashioned to appear daunting, enough to inspire fear upon all those who dared lay their eyes upon its gruesome design. This eccentric, frightening armor was a subtle tactic employed by the team. The perfect armour they always donned publicly was a stark contrast to their field paraphernalia, often meager civilian clothing.
Voden donning the Stygium mask.
Voden Arjin, the house's ever present Mandalorian was pivotal in the creation of the Stygium Armour's current manifestation. Using his native knowledge of Mando'a culture armour and weaponry, he drafted a fearsome design that not only performed the aforementioned task of striking terror into the hearts of its witnesses, but proved to conceal the identities of its wearers as well. He immediately went to work, fashioning a prototype which he presented to the Quaestor, Kal.
Pleased with the design, the latter had the former commission the armour for use of all Codename: Stygium operatives during every formal gathering they attended. When the agents are not on the field in their situational civilian attire, you shall see them all together, not a single one appearing any different from the other. This allows the members to not only make their allegiance apparent, but ensure that their identities remain anonymous. As Kal Vorrac once explained to Voden during the creation process, it was a tongue-in-cheek defiance of sorts for the agents -- while their existence was evident, nothing else would ever be.
Standard Weapons
Weapons for Codename: Stygium at first, was a touchy subject. Their missions can vary considerable from being a sniper for an assassination, a knife for a silent kill, blaster pistols for general defense, or even grenades and other nefarious weapons. It is for these reasons that it was decided to allow these elite agents to utilize whatever they deemed necessary and was also available in the armory.
As aforementioned, agents usually utilize snipers, blaster pistols, or knives. The preferred sniper rifle has always been the DC-19 Stealth Carbine due to its tibanna combination with the fuel that allows the blaster bolts to be invisible and sound suppressor. Other sniper rifle designs used are generic slugthrower systems. However, the DC-19 remains to serve as the go-to long range rifle for the team.
Wrist blasters are another common technology utilized by members of Codename: Stygium in conjunction with weaker blaster pistol models. When push comes to shove though, the T-6 Heavy Blaster Pistol serves as the most powerful pistol in their arsenal. For those silent and desperate kills though, Stygium agents are always wielding a wicked knife.
Standard Equipment
Numerous technologies have been put into use exclusively for Codename: Stygium. These technologies have been purchased and tested by the Intelligence Directorate who ensure only the best equipment shall be utilized by their elite operatives. It's a common moniker employed around the Directorate "only the best for the best".
Stygium members employ a wide array of equipment, but their most favorite toy is most likely the wrist blaster. This clever technology is capable of being concealed in any location and allowed to emit a burst of blaster energy capable of killing those in its fatal path. Some agents have actually managed to have this tech combined with everyday objects allowing for even greater surprise when wielded as a weapon.
Another lovely toy adapted for Stygium use is the Fly eye. This small droid-like gadget is a remote-controlled high-imaging camera that provides live feed for the controller. It is capable even of flight, achieving heights approximately of 5 meters off the ground. Due to the tight beam antennae technology it utilizes however, transmission jamming can interfere and even jeopardize its image feeding capabilities. Efforts to find a more efficient transmitting system, such as lasers, is a work in progress.
The third common tool in a Codename: Stygium operative's arsenal is the electronic lock breaker. This gadget is capable of breaking almost all locks using an advanced algorithm encryption, allowing it to penetrate even the most capable of security systems. It is often used to override alarm systems, bypass security systems, and open computer locks. For these reasons, Stygium agents are almost discovered with one of these tools available.
Squad Roles
Lead Operative
Description
The Lead Operative is tasked with the facilitation of prospective Stygium members as well as organizing and ensuring the efficient operation of present agents. While this agents' duties seem strictly administrative, the aforementioned hardly scratches the surface of the broad requirements of a Lead Operative.
This individual is considered the most skilled and capable operative within Codename: Stygium. Due to this, the most highly ranked missions are only tasked to him unless otherwise specified. This agent's expertise supersede all others within Stygium, and therefore their leadership and performance is expected to mirror that level of professionalism.
Diverter
Description
The Diverter is a crucial back up agent for the other operatives. Oftentimes when an agent is tasked to perform a mission, another Diverter is assigned to accompany them. The reason for this is due to the necessary and potentially lifesaving and mission saving performance they're expected to fulfill. These agents are generally less sneaky than the others, as they are tasked with serving as the distraction for their stealthier counterpart.
The exact duties expected of a Diverter is to ensure the safety of their "wing-man". If the circumstance ever arises where the anonymity of an infiltrator is ever compromised or close to it, the Diverter is required to orchestrate a diversion/distraction to cast away attention to said infiltrator. By doing so, they allow the infiltrator to either escape with their lives or if possible, preferably accomplish the mission at hand.
Analyst
Description
The Analyst's duties are almost a redundant task for the purposes of both the Intelligence Directorate and Codename: Stygium strike team. However, do not allow that to discount their value to the team. All information collected by field agents is relayed to the Analysts who compile it into a report. This mission data is then used to formulate strategies based on their situation and its variables.
Codename: Stygium analysts are highly trained improvisers, often serving on a mission while fielding data and relaying sensitive information. Because of this, they are considered to be one of the most highly trained and versatile Stygium agents.
Tech Specialist
Description
The tech specialists are front-line agents who often can either provide new technology for field agents or provide repairs. They monitor all communication transmissions from the field to home base to ensure proper operation. Their training is the most expansive and anal retentive due to the requirement of understanding and handling all equipment and technologies employed by the very modern and elite agents.
Infiltrator
Description
The Infiltrator is the agent who will endure the most duress and risque during their career. When a mission requires a master of deception -- a feasible moniker for Stygium -- these agents are the first enlisted. Highly trained in use of all weaponry and equipment, these agents training is rigorous and tiring. They are not only trained to hone their physical attributes, but are also expected to be extremely diplomatic and well-versed in the various languages of the galaxy.
As an Infiltrator, you will end up coming in contact with all of the other roles of Codename: Stygium agents quicker than they will each other. This is not merely due to necessity, but a way to ensure that you're socially capable, a required trait of any Infiltrator.
Standard Operating Procedures
- "Someone is watching you. Our job is to watch them."
- ―Codename: Stygium proverb.
When on the field, agents ensure that nothing they say or have represents their allegiances to Stygium, the Directorate, or Plagueis in anyway. They act solely in the capacity expected to complete the mission; be that a bounty hunter, mercenary, smuggler, or a mere civilian. Any apparent links to their affiliations are discarded before mission deployment by the agent.
If ever captured, the operative is to either take the pill they are always granted which induces a deep coma that is only reversible by way of Intelligence Directorate trade secrets. If the pill is lost, or incapable of being administered, the agent is expected to ensure they are incapable of speaking by any other method, even if that means suicide.