Axios – We stand worthy among the stars.
CitCom
On February 16, 2712, the Orion system burned. Without warning, a massive Vanduul fleet descended on Armitage, cutting through the system’s defenses with terrifying efficiency. What should have been a thriving colony full of miners, haulers, and families became a killing field.
The UEE’s presence was minimal, a handful of patrols and local security forces. The only real resistance came from a coalition of private military contractors (PMC) and independent haulers who had made the system their home. As the first wave of the Vanduul offensive annihilated orbital platforms and settlements, survivors scrambled to organize a counter-offensive a desperate bid to hold the line until reinforcements could arrive from Sol.
The UEE promised they would return. They promised no one would be left behind.
They lied.
The counter-offensive lasted less than five minutes. Vanduul scythes and harbingers tore through UEE gunships and frigates like paper. Hundreds of lives were lost in moments. High Command, watching the slaughter unfold through real-time relays, made a cold, calculated decision: The Orion system was lost. Reinforcements were recalled. The people of Armitage were abandoned.
Stranded on the surface and surrounded by an unstoppable enemy, the remaining civilians faced a grim fate. Yet, in the chaos, a faint glimmer of hope emerged from the asteroid belts on the edge of the system a small, rag-tag fleet of haulers, mercenaries, and independent contractors led by a man who refused to accept defeat.
His name was Commander Marcus Cassius.
When the first distress calls echoed through the system, Marcus Cassius a former UEE Navy officer turned independent hauler knew there was no time to wait. Rallying a fleet of civilians, merchant captains, and retired combat pilots, he devised a reckless, almost suicidal plan. Quantum jump directly into Armitage’s atmosphere, past the Vanduul blockade, and extract as many survivors as possible.
The Vanduul, confident in their overwhelming numbers, barely noticed the approaching fleet. Cassius and his people dropped into the sky above New Armitage City, the last bastion of human life on the planet. The older ships in his fleet outdated and held together by hope and duct tape tore apart under the atmospheric pressure. They knew the risks. They came anyway.
As the ships descended, Commander Cassius stood before his crew for what would be the final time. His words, transmitted across every ship in the rescue fleet, would be remembered forever:
*“You know what I see before me?” His voice was steady, unwavering. “I see warriors. I see men and women who have fought with courage, with heart, with love for their brothers and sisters in arms. I do not see doubt. I do not see defeat. And I damn sure do not see surrender.
“You have already proven yourselves. You are the finest people I have ever served alongside, and you deserve the truth. The enemy is here. Their numbers are overwhelming. We will not be able to hold them back forever.
“Anyone who makes this stand with us today will not see another sunrise. But you will not stand alone. I will be with you, as will every soul who has ever taken up the call to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
“For every moment we hold the enemy at bay, more innocent people can escape on the Transports. More families will live to see another day. And when they do, they will carry forward the story of what we do here. You will be remembered. Not as victims, not as the forgotten, but as the warriors who stood against the storm, so that one day, our children may live without fear of this monster we call war.
“So let’s show these bastards they came to the wrong system.”*
Maneuver the pulled off, bought precious minutes for the stranded civilians. Ships packed beyond capacity lifted off, dodging Vanduul raiders while the remaining fleet held the line.
Cassius’s command ship the Axios was the last to leave orbit. As it fell under heavy fire, Cassius transmitted one final message to the surviving fleet:
“Axios.”
“I am worthy.”
Of the thirty ships that attempted the rescue, only nine made it out. But their sacrifice saved thousands. Those survivors, haunted by the faces left behind and the friends they lost, swore an oath: No one would be abandoned again.
In honor of Marcus Cassius and inspired by the ancient Roman general Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, who fell on his sword in service to his people they founded Corbulo Intergalactic. The organization became a beacon of hope along the UEE frontier, specializing in hauling and security, but more importantly, ensuring no voice calling for help would go unanswered.
Today, the members of Corbulo Intergalactic carry the weight of that legacy. Whether defending vulnerable trade routes or rushing into the heart of danger, they live by a simple creed:
“We hold the line when no one else will.”
We are a shield for the defenseless, a sword against chaos, and a sanctuary for those who seek honest work. Whether defending colonies from the Vanduul threat, escorting convoys through pirate-infested systems, or providing medical aid in warzones—we stand where others will not.
In the spirit of those who stood against impossible odds, Corbulo Intergalactic is founded as a lawful, independent organization committed to the protection of others, the pursuit of opportunity, and the defense of freedom across the stars.
We recognize and uphold the laws of the United Empire of Earth (UEE), so long as they do not prevent us from fulfilling our duty to defend the innocent and support those who cannot stand alone. While we remain loyal to the UEE and its people, we reserve the right to act where bureaucracy falls short to protect, to serve, and to make a difference.
Our purpose is clear: to be a shield against those who would bring harm, to offer a safe haven for honest work, and to stand firm when others falter. Our members come from all walks of life pilots, traders, engineers, medics, and soldiers united by a shared belief that strength means nothing if it is not used to protect others.
The Corbulo Defense Corps stands as our vanguard, charged with the defense of our people, our assets, and the communities under our care. We do not seek war, but we will not shy away from it when the innocent are in danger.
Our legacy is built on the courage of those who gave everything during the Battle of Armitage those who refused to abandon the helpless, even when the odds were against them. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. Their mission carries on through us.
*Forged in fire, bound by duty Corbulo Intergalactic rises to defend the helpless, to honor the lost, and to carry forward the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Founded in the Shadow of Armitage, 2712*