Cygnus Corps Operations Database
 
Colonel Ian Will Gates - Commanding Officer 
Free Company  
Iron-Clad Security  

Government Sponsor: NeoAthens   
Fortified Headquarters  

Gimmick Clothing   
Special Military Operatives  

Unlimited Equipment   
Large Loans  

Specialty Vehicles   
Unprincipled Alignment  

Advanced Weaponry   
Unknown  

Deluxe Communications   
Excellent Salary  

 
 
 
Synopsis of the Cygnus Corps 
The Cygnus Corps was founded in October 105 P.A. (2391 AD) in response to the New Coalition War Campaign as a defense for the city of NeoAthens in Maine. Initially, the Corps consisted of a five-member team (led by Colonel Gates) of special operatives that acquired technical and logistic/tactical intelligence information. After the Phase 1 operation was successfully completed, Phase 2, the design and construction of the self-defense force, initiated. During this period of time, thanks to the actions of Gates' rival, Corbin Bernson, the Coalition finally discovered NeoAthens and targeted it for destruction. NeoAthens is not only a liberal, high technology city with a strong policy of equality for all good races. It was built on the ruins of what seemed to be a failed alien colony. Such a combination was deemed unacceptable to the Coalition Secret Operations Command, headed by Brig. Gen. Bernson.  

Gates uncovered that Bernson was organizing an elite force to attack NeoAthens quietly, eliminating the threat without the Prosek family even knowing of the city's existence. The Colonel then seized command of the fledgling Cygnus Corps and declared it an autonomous mercenary company with a symbiotic relationship to NeoAthens. The Cygnus Corps would primary serve as the contracted defense force for NeoAthens (who would supply and host the Corps in return), but would be controlled and commanded independently to facilitate efficiency and effectiveness. He streamlined the operational timeline and had the entire group at Initial Operation Capability three months ahead of schedule. Exactly one week later, Bernson's assault began.  
Not aware of Gate's independent command and that the Corps base was not at NeoAthens, he pressed an attack onto the city of NeoAthens itself. While the city militia held the advancing Coalition troops at bay, Gates and the Corps moved in on Bernson's flank and attacked from the rear with a combined air, land, and sea-based counterattack. A retreat was forced with acceptable losses to the Corps and NeoAthens. Bernson's battle group suffered sixty-seven percent casualties. While the Coalition retreated, Gates regrouped the Corps to finish off Bernson and keep him from reporting back to Chi-Town and Emperor Prosek.  

 
 
The Corps' Assets and Equipment 
Reciprocity Island: Advanced Technology Operations Base 

Located off the coast of Maine, Reciprocity Island is the headquarters of the Cygnus Corps. The base itself is built into the island structure, much of the facility underground. A reinforced concrete artificial reef with ten defense towers surrounds it. The only opening in the Reef (as it is called) is the heavy guarded entrance to the naval station. The most revolutionary part of the base is its two Operations Centres.  

They consist of several metal/ceramic skyscraper-like buildings that are designed to withstand military assaults. The buildings themselves recess into a hollow (but heavily reinforced) structure under the ground that protects the Ops Centres from all but a thermonuclear weapon that would have to destroy the entire island first! The island also has five defense towers like those on the Reef. Several small islands nearby provide a weapons proving ground and sport sensor station outposts.  

Eclipse Aerospace Fighter 

Currently, there is only one Eclipse, Colonel Gates' personal craft. While in the Coalition's Special Ops ShadowForce division, he came across a recovered Crescent Moon aerospace plane and received special permission to take the craft and redesign it into a better craft. Using personal funds (from his family), Gates turned the ugly, but highly capable craft into an aesthetic fighter unmatched by any in the world.  

The Eclipse has three features that, when combined, are undefeatable. The unchallenged authority on the old USAF and its technology, Gates built into the Eclipse electrochromic panels that provide visual stealth (teal underwater, sky blue w/ white streaks for day flying, and dark gray or black for night/low visibility conditions), Air/AquaJet engines (use a Venturi to be as effective in the water as in air), and the Advanced Neural Transfer And Response System (ANTARES - provides a direct link between the pilot and the fighter's supercomputer).   

The Eclipse is armed with two NE-200 Plasma Machineguns, a recessed plasma projector, a Multi-Ordinance Weapons Bay (20 weapons stations on two rotary launchers), and a semi-recessed variable beam laser turret.  

 
 
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