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Shadow Gate is a battleteam within House Qel-Droma that was founded in 31 ABY during the "Project: Reb00t" initiative. One of three battleteams currently in service under the Qel-Droma banner, it was created and founded by Driftan Housan, primarily as a resource to test the up-and-coming Dark Jedi to find out if he is worthy of ascending the ranks of leadership within the Brotherhood.
This unique battleteam has also been tasked with overseeing and directing the economic ventures within House Qel-Droma, causing the leadership to seek out members who are less prone to jump into the fray of a battle, and more suited to working on the long-term plans and strategies of the Shadow Clan. Many look at Shadow Gate as inferior because of their unique designation, but true to the teachings of the Sith, this battleteam understands how to best use their resources for the Final Way, and allow others to be ground under foot on the path to ultimate power.
Mission
Shadow Gate has been charged with overseeing and operating the economic entities within House Qel-Droma. Specifically, Shadow Gate has its fingers in the smuggling of ancient artifacts for the traditionally Krath house, as well as working hand-in-hand with House Galeres to trade the Garconian spice with the Hutt contacts Shadow Gate has developed.
Roster
Dark Jedi
Commander: Driftan Housan
Senior: Strategos Thanatos Arconae
Members: Ruluk Okoth,
Jaysun Adumarii,
Jaecyn Kai Interm,
Earnest,
Tol Ziveri,
Vassan Rokir,
Nix Graves,
Anthetris
File:Sir Kryloth.jpgSir Hanson Kryloth III
Support Members (NPC)
Jackson Shinner – Jackson is a long-time associate of Driftan Housan’s, having served together in the Red Hawks gang back on Kuat. Shinner is renowned for his slicing abilities, and leads the team of slicers employed by Shadow Gate. Often withdrawn and untidy, Jackson nevertheless brings a set of skills and expertise that often gives Shadow Gate a strategic advantage over its competitors.
Sir Hanson Kryloth III – Kryloth is a relative newcomer to the Shadow Gate team, having been persuaded to leave his job with Seinar Fleet Systems to join the new battleteam in order to be the public face for many of the team’s public ventures. Kryloth brings with him many years of senior business leadership and provides insight into the trickier side of economic politics.
JUMBLE – JUMBLE is Shadow Gate’s administrative assistant droid. Designed primarily as a number cruncher, JUMBLE also serves as a great tool to bounce ideas off during strategic planning, as the droid is familiar with the vast majority of private and government enterprises throughout the galaxy.
History
In Character
Founding
The foundations for the creation of Shadow Gate were laid in late 31 ABY. Tension abounded in the halls of both houses of Clan Arcona. Everyone sensed that major change was on the horizon, and every Dark Jedi knew that change could spell life or death, fortune or despair for all involved. Strategos Arconae had just stepped down as Consul, and Sashar Arconae had resumed his roll as Consul, albeit in an interrim basis. The House Summits of both Galeres and Qel-Droma had been summoned to the great Citadel on Selen, and word had been sent to all members of House Qel-Droma to return to Arconae Primus at once to await word of what was to come.
Upon return from the clan headquarters, Quaestor Legorii Kryotek Entar and Aedile Sanguinius Tsucyra summoned Cethgus Kuga, Kant Lavar and Driftan Housan to a secret meeting. It was reveled to these three that they had been chosen to lead the new battleteams being created to serve the overall purpose and mission of House Qel-Droma. Cethgus would lead Wolf Guard, the muscle of the house, typically the first unit sent in when full-scale battle was necessary. Kant would lead Oblivion Brigade, the covert operations and intelligence arm of the house, renown for their ability to get the job done without leaving any traces. And, Driftan would lead Shadow Gate, the economic engine of the house, skilled at acquiring any necessary object for the house and having its hands in any number of business ventures.
Utilizing funds stashed away for such improvements to the House, Driftan commissioned an addition to be built that would house the new battleteam and act as the command center for operations of Shadow Gate. This facility is officially known as the Shadow Gate Operational Command Center (SGOCC), but is known colloquially as "The Sock". It was also during this time that Commander Housan brought in two outside specialists to aide the team in achieving their goals: an experienced business man, Sir Hanson Kryloth III; and a master slicer, Jackson Shinner.
Now, as the pieces fall into place, the members of Shadow Gate wait to be unleashed upon the foes of Qel-Droma and the galaxy at large, eager to make their mark and earn a place of honor within the hallowed halls of Clan Arcona.
Out of Character
Founding
On October 15, 2009 Proconsul Braecen Kaeth sent en email to Clan Arcona informing the clan that major changes were being made to how the clan was being organized and run. The reorganization was known as "Project: Reb00t", and the two main aspects of the reorganisation were that leaders are going to be held to a much higher standard, and that every member in the clan must be in a battle team.
The desired effects of this change are many, but the highlights included making battleteams relevant again by placing all members in a team, thus making Battleteam Leaders a position of true leadership and authority; creating a system where leaders are trained and evaluated on their performance, making Arcona known as a unit with skilled and active leaders; and most importantly, once again placing the members' needs at the forefront of leadership, where members have much more one-on-one time with their leaders, and leaders are expected to be proactive with the needs of their members.
As part of this new system, three new battleteams were created in House Qel-Droma to serve the membership. Shadow Gate is one of those teams, and Driftan Housan was chosen to lead the team because of his activity since joining the house and desire to be a leader within the clan. To balance Driftan's inexperience, former Consul Strategos Arconae was assigned as the new battleteam's Senior, a position created to give insight and guidance to new Battleteam Leaders.
Great Hunt
Not long after its creation, the battleteam was involved, alongside all other teams in the Arcona Great Hunt. This competition included several small competitions, like timed competitions (trivias, finding a url, member (Hunt the Jedi) or Who said that and What's that), fiction, poetry and graphics. Though the grand winner was Battleteam Soulfire Strike Team, from House Galeres, Shadow Gate ended in third place. From the team, there was a very good activity from Commander Driftan, Senior Strategos and member Jaecyn, and with their help the battleteam reached 103 points. This competition was run from October 27 to November 3, 2009.
Characteristics
File:Heavyweaponsarmor.jpgShadow Gate armor
Armor
Shadow Gate members use armor on those riskier missions when dealing with the hutts and powerful enterprises, delicate or expensive smuggling artifacts, and occasional struggles against space pirates. The entire armor is made up of Durasteel plates that link together over a padded jump suit. Each helmet contains a internal comlink, infrared vision, motion sensors, and targeting sights. Additionally, each suit optionally includes one “hold out” blaster pistol as a side arm and/or an E-11 blaster rifle as the main weapon. The suit has a utility belt and may carry extra power clips for both rifle and pistol. Built inside each belt there is a personal cloaking device. The cloaking device only lasts for several minutes until it has to shut down for its self-recharging period.
Base of Operations
As part of the continued expanding and organization of the House, a new structure was erected near the existing House Temple. Commissioned by Driftan Housan, this new building houses the operational command center for Shadow Gate and the myriad of support staff needed to fulfill the mandate of the new battleteam. The new facility has been dubbed “The Sock” by the members assigned to work there, a bastardized term taken from its official designation; Shadow Gate Operational Command Center (SGOCC).
Unlike other battleteams that focus primarily on the art of battle, Shadow Gate’s facilities were specifically designed with its primary mission at heart. Because of this, the SGOCC does not contain any hand-to-hand training areas or meditation centers, thus forcing the members of Shadow Gate to use the House facilities in the main base. Some may see this as a drawback and disadvantage to Shadow Gate, but the SGOCC makes up for this lack in many other ways.
Upon entering the SGOCC, one must pass through a series of security checkpoints before being granted access to the main portion of the facility. A platoon of soldiers from Division VIII within the Dajorra Defense Force have been assigned as permanent guards for the SGOCC, all thoroughly vetted to ensure their loyalty to the House due to the sensitive nature of their responsibilities.
After passing through security, one enters the main hub of command and control within the SGOCC. The center of the room is dominated by a large central processor, connected by secure and protected cables to the main Qel-Droma base, giving Shadow Gate access to the most up-to-date and secret information available to any team in the Clan. The central processor also allows members of the team away on missions to speak with anyone in the facility through a state-of-the-art hologram system that actually lets the members move and communicate from one room in the building to another.
Spread around the rest of the main room are a myriad of computer stations, communications centers and data screens, all providing up to date information on the different missions, trades, or financial institutions that Shadow Gate may be running at any given time.
At the rear of the facility is a massive conference room dedicated to the strategic planning and operational oversight of the entire enterprise. This is typically where Shadow Gate briefings are held and missions are assigned to members of the team. The conference room is also protected with state of the art electronic counter-measures and security devices, making it a virtual bunker for the team in terms of informational security.
When the Shadow Gate members can't stay in Arconae Primus, or need a base somewhere else in such a big galaxy, the BAC Shadow comes to usage. This Bothan Assault Cruiser is where Shadow Gate members meet when in need of another headquarters away from Arconae Primus. The Shadow also works as the main place where the Shadow Gate leader receives his next mission, usually given by Commanding Officer Legorii Kryotek Entar. They usually meet at the control bridge to discuss about the next orders for the battleteam. The other two battleteams, Oblivion Brigade and Wolf Guard, often receive their orders there as well.
The Shadow also is used when the Shadow Gate needs a more powerful image to convince their clients to accept a trade. However, it is only used when showing the power of the enterprise to a very powerful entity or company, such as the secret businesses of Czerka Arms, BlasTech and Merr-Sonn. But as trading with such companies is very limited because they are not interested in Garconian spices, and only few of the krath artifacts might catch their attention, the Shadow is rarely used for these missions.
The last use of the BAC Shadow for the Shadow Gate comes when times of large-scale battles happen. The Shadow becomes their base for the battle, and all the members move to their destinations from there. In few words, the BAC Shadow is Shadow Gate's mobile base.
When the Shadow is gone with the Arcona Expeditionary Force, or is on an assignment given by House Qel-Droma, the Shadow Gate members also have one Starwind-class Pleasure Yacht to replace the purposes of the Shadow. This Yacht is also their common transport when they are going for meetings on other worlds. As the battleteam is focused on the economical issues of the house, as well as some trading of special objects, they are usually out of the base, so this yacht is their main consideration unless they want something less showy, and in the latter case they just use any common ship they can find.