Cyrenian Marine Engineering Group (C-MEG) / COLLEGIA

From Vengeance to Industry

The Fall of Virgil scarred humanity. Among those bearing the deepest wounds were the survivors, many of them children, who coalesced into the group known as the Vengeful Children of Cyrene. Driven by righteous fury, they initially sought only retribution against the Vanduul. Their early years were marked by fierce, often reckless strikes, fueled by grief and a burning need for vengeance. They earned a reputation for tenacity and ruthlessness, becoming a thorn in the side of Vanduul raiding parties.
However, the harsh realities of interstellar warfare soon became apparent. Revenge alone could not sustain them. Their ragtag fleet, cobbled together from salvaged ships and stolen supplies, was constantly on the brink of collapse. They learned a brutal lesson: vengeance required resources, and resources required a stable foundation.
A schism began to form within the Vengeful Children. While some remained committed to direct military action, a growing faction, led by a pragmatic strategist named Anya Volkov, argued for a new path. Volkov, a former engineer from Virgil, understood that long-term survival against the Vanduul required more than just anger. It demanded logistics, manufacturing, and a robust economy to support their military endeavors. She envisioned a future where the Children controlled their own destiny, not through desperate raids, but through self-sufficiency.
Volkov’s vision resonated with many, particularly those who had witnessed the devastating impact of resource shortages during the Fall of Virgil. They had seen firsthand how a lack of essential supplies could cripple even the most determined resistance. This group, believing that true vengeance lay in securing humanity’s future, broke away from the more militant faction and formed C-MEG.
C-MEG, named after the indomitable spirit of the Titans of myth, shifted its focus from direct confrontation to industrial development. They established hidden shipyards and mining operations, leveraging the skills and knowledge of their members. They became masters of salvage and reverse engineering, turning captured Vanduul technology into their own. Their initial focus was on supplying their own needs, building up a stockpile of ships, weapons, and essential resources.
However, C-MEG was not simply a manufacturing conglomerate. They understood that their industrial strength was inextricably linked to their military might. They developed advanced defensive technologies, shielding their hidden bases and protecting their vital supply lines. Their military wing, while smaller than the original Vengeful Children, was highly trained and equipped with the best technology C-MEG could produce. They specialized in defensive warfare, protecting their assets and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of resources.
Over time, C-MEG grew into a powerful force in the shadows. They became a vital, if often unseen, supplier to other anti-Vanduul groups, providing them with the resources they desperately needed. While they rarely engaged in large-scale offensives, their influence was undeniable. They became the silent backbone of the resistance, a testament to the fact that true vengeance could be forged not only in the fires of battle, but also in the forges of industry. Their history is a reminder that survival in the face of overwhelming odds requires not just courage and anger, but also foresight, strategy, and the will to build.

The Pyro Gambit (2955)

The chaos of the Fight for Pyro in 2955 presented both opportunity and peril for C-MEG. Believing that stability was the key to reviving Pyro’s ravaged industry – vital to their own interests – they aligned with the Frontier Fighters, swayed by promises of mutual benefit. In exchange for material support in Pyro, the Fighters pledged aid against Vanduul raids plaguing C-MEG’s operations elsewhere. This alliance also provided a testing ground for experimental Polaris crewing doctrines and newly acquired weaponry, funded by the Fighters’ substantial payouts.
However, C-MEG soon discovered the treacherous nature of their alliance. Limited contract intelligence, coupled with the Frontier Fighters’ insidious subversion and widespread false flag operations, led the industrial powerhouse down a path of overreach and misaligned actions. The dream of a stable, profitable Pyro system devolved into a quagmire of deception and escalating conflict, forcing C-MEG to reassess their strategies and alliances in the tumultuous crucible of the Pyro system. The lessons learned would be costly, but they would also reshape the future of the organization.

The Goldenrod Contract: Rebuilding Trust (2955)

The dust settled on the disastrous Pyro Gambit, leaving C-MEG with a bitter taste of betrayal and a need to rebuild their reputation. The organization, chastened by their miscalculations and the Frontier Fighters’ treachery, withdrew from the volatile Pyro system. Recognizing the need for stable, reliable partnerships, they accepted a contract with MT Protection Services, a move seen by many as a return to their core strengths: defense and logistics.
Their first major engagement was the defense of the Sakura Sun Goldenrod Workcenter, and other similar facilities, vital industrial hubs threatened by escalating pirate activity. Leveraging their experience in defensive warfare and their well-maintained fleet, C-MEG successfully repelled multiple attacks, securing the Workcenters and earning the gratitude of MT Protection Services. The Goldenrod contract proved to be a turning point, demonstrating C-MEG’s commitment to professionalism and reliability, and signaling their shift towards more strategic and vetted alliances. The lessons learned in Pyro had been costly, but they had also forged a more resilient and discerning organization, one determined to rebuild its legacy on a foundation of trust and competence.

The Hathor Harvest – Profiteering in the Shadow of Crisis (2955)

The Regeneration Crisis, a period of profound uncertainty and fear, gripped the ‘verse. While many organizations scrambled to aid Reyari’s vital research, C-MEG, ever pragmatic, saw an opportunity. The reactivation of the Hathor Mining Laser Mining Facilities, a boon in a time of resource scarcity, became their focus.
Instead of diverting these newfound riches towards the desperate search for solutions to the Regeneration Crisis, C-MEG chose a different path. They recognized the strategic value of these facilities, and the resources they yielded, in strengthening their own position.
First, they moved to solidify their relationship with the Banu Wikelo. The Banu, known for their shrewd trading and vast networks, were crucial for distributing the raw materials extracted from Hathor. In exchange for preferential trade agreements and access to C-MEG’s secure transport routes, the Wikelo provided vital intelligence and access to markets that would have otherwise been closed.
Simultaneously, recognizing that securing the Hathor facilities themselves would be a relatively limited endeavor, they turned their attention to leveraging their security expertise. They negotiated a lucrative contract with Hurston Dynamics, offering their services to protect valuable Hurston assets and personnel during the volatile period of the Regeneration Crisis. By dedicating their resources and manpower to Hurston’s security needs, they forged a deep and mutually beneficial relationship. This allowed them to gain access to Hurston’s advanced manufacturing technologies and establish a reliable source of income during a time of widespread economic instability.
This calculated approach, while drawing criticism from those who saw it as profiteering during a crisis, proved immensely successful. C-MEG emerged from the Regeneration Crisis stronger than ever, their coffers overflowing and their alliances solidified. They had leveraged the chaos to expand their influence, proving once again that their focus on industry and logistics could turn even the most dire circumstances into a source of power. Every resource acquired, every alliance forged, was a step towards their ultimate goal: the day they could amass the strength to strike back against the Vanduul. The Regeneration Crisis was not a distraction, but a strategic maneuver, fueling their long-term ambition to reclaim what was lost and secure humanity’s future in the face of the encroaching darkness.