Helios Mercenary and Trading Group / HMATG

The Helios Mercenary and Trading Group’s begins with it’s roots going back to several pilots of the UEE Navy. These pilots had been stationed with different fleets near the Tiber system as part of their tour of duty. As many are undoubtedly aware, the Tiber system has long been a staging area for Vanduul to launch raids against UEE systems.

As a result, these pilots had many encounters with the Vanduul. Some fights were considered victories, others, losses. While the environments and fights changed, one thing remained the same. The pilots serving would lose their friends and fellow comrades in vicious attacks by the Vanduul. All to protect the UEE and it’s citizens from the horrors of the Vanduul incursions such as those first seen on Armitage. Many of these pilots became very protective of each other.

The squadron they were with (who has requested to be left unnamed), had just completed their tour of duty and were due to be honorably discharged soon and retire from the Vanduul front. Those who wished to remain would be allowed to, and be folded into other positions within the UEE Navy. For the rest, home beckoned. Many were ready to continue on with simple lives back on their home planets, farming, retail, etc. Few were keen on returning to space after what they had seen on their tour of duty.

On their way back to the Sol system to be discharged, the squadron was refueling and picking up some supplies in the Vega system for the last leg of the journey to Sol. When they were just about complete, a weak signal was picked up from a freighter convoy. Their messages indicated that they were under heavy attack. It also indicated that their entire escort had been destroyed and they wouldn’t last much longer. Fearing Vanduul incursion, the squadron put their trip to Sol on hold and immediately moved to intercept at top speed.

Upon arriving, the sight the squadron came across angered them greatly. After all the protection they and their fallen comrades have given so close to Vanduul space, pirates had elected to use that focus of the UEE to prey on merchants and freighters. Several Starfarers and Freelancers were near crippled, some venting atmosphere and goods. The squadron decided that they’d teach the pirates a thing or two about combat, and engaged.

In the aftermath, the squadron hadn’t taken any losses, but several pirates had been destroyed, and the few left fleeing on heavily damaged ships by the time the local UEE police force arrived. The freighter convoy was able to get towed from the current location to the nearest planet to receive repairs with the help of the UEE police. However before they left, the convoy thanked their saviors endlessly and said that without the heroics of those pilots, they would no doubt, not have survived.

On the trip back to Sol, several of the pilots that were at the heart of the fight realised that they could still put the skills they honed against the Vanduul to good use. They were highly proficient in space flight and combat after years of fighting. These pilots decided to put their skills out for hire. Anybody who needed skilled help in space would find it. From security and escort services, to bounty hunting, or deep space exploration into uncharted territories, etc.

With this in mind, in 2943 these pilots formed the Helios Mercenary Group and started offering their services to great success. More recently, the group decided to start introducing it’s own trade and cargo services to provide their clients the same skill they brought to their other jobs. In 2944, the group officially renamed themselves to Helios Mercenary and Trading Group to reflect their new services.