And so the war for Sector 1337 claims another casualty; a once mighty Corporation brought low as skirmishes over Precursor artifacts devolves into open war.
History will no doubt recall the sweeping early gains; how Dynamis led the charge into 1337, smashing aside the Imperial Army battlegroups and forcing the Raid to recoil and withdraw back into Jericho space. How close they came to total victory, and to granting the Federation the power to unite the stars under their banner.
Alas, as with so many great Empires, their sun set. In the case of Dynamis it set all too quickly. We may never know for sure why it happened; each side has its own tale to tell. The Federation curse their fortune, speaking of improbable, nigh on miraculous victories won by their aggressors. Others, those who are perhaps more interested in placing blame, are eager to throw the upper echelons of Dynamis to the wolves, decrying their tactics as reckless, poorly executed and a tragic waste of men and machinery.
There are rumours of back-biting; of defectors to the Empire and Jericho selling secrets of the Federation, and of the self-same factions plugging leaks or feeding misinformation. Perhaps the blame should lie with the Armada itself; so sure of the might of its private military elements and mercenary task forces, they failed to give sufficient official support to the theatre. History will no-doubt recount how the Jericho Techs began issuing their Houses with ever more sophisticated ships, or how the Empire dedicated the resources of the Fourth Imperial Armada and Legion-31 to the sector.
For the higher ups, this is the end. Answerable to their government and their shareholders, they must now justify and make good on their situation. Yet for the pilots on the sharp end little has changed. Some now find themselves flying under the colours of the Vanguard or the Armada; others have been absorbed by other private military squadrons within the Federation, their contracts bought wholesale along with military assets. Some defected, others deserted and turned to piracy. Ultimately, their lives are little altered; they continue to fly and fight and die for Sector 1337. They are a part of this war, and be it for loyalty, renown, cold hard cash or the thrill of the kill, they will see this war through to the end.
Dynamis shall be remembered. I admit I have few fond memories of the Corp, and took issue with more than one of its members, but they left their mark on the game’s history. I feel the least I can do is immortalise them in fiction; the great power, the tip of the lance, the force that came within a hair’s breadth of victory. I shall remember them as a worthy foe, and in some small way I shall think the game lessened for their passing.
So let me tip my wing and say “Well fought,” then go in search of new targets to crush in the Emperor’s name.
Hahah!