Ascent Trade & Commerce Union / ATCU

The origins of the ATCU (Ascent Trade & Commerce Union) lie in a group of ambitious and disillusioned members of Angels and Airwaves who began to question the limitations of their organization’s altruistic values. Seeing the universe’s lawless territories as ripe for profit and power, these members sought autonomy from the strict moral and ethical guidelines that defined Angels and Airwaves. Led by a charismatic and ruthless figure, they ultimately broke away, forming the ATCU as a syndicate with a dual nature: a public-facing trade network and a covert criminal empire.

Under the guise of Ascent Trade, the ATCU initially operated in gray markets, catering to high-risk, high-reward contracts, with promises of discretion and no questions asked. Behind this facade, the ATCU soon expanded its influence, engaging in black market arms dealing, smuggling, piracy, and mercenary contracts. This “trade union” became notorious for its under-the-table deals and its swift, brutal retribution against those who crossed them.

As they expanded, the ATCU gained a reputation for manipulating corporate trade routes, instigating conflicts, and seizing control of illicit resources throughout uncharted territories. Former allies in Angels and Airwaves saw the ATCU as a twisted mirror of their own values, using their knowledge of the organization’s tactics to anticipate their moves and evade retaliation. The ATCU thrives in the shadows, embracing the lawless side of space and claiming territories where Angels and Airwaves would never tread, marking their existence as a dark yet unignorable force in the universe.