The Spectre Initiative / SPCT

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2542 – 2546

During the First Human-Tevarin War, the UPE Navy encounters the Nauelle, a special operations unit within the Tevarin military. Specializing in stealth boarding tactics, a fully loaded Prowler dropship loaded with the Nauelle was known to be able to successfully take down capital ships, even while flying in ‘secure’ space.

2558

As a result of the experiences during the conflict with the Tevarin, the Advanced Special Operations (ASO) branch of the UEE Army is reorganized into the UEE Marines along with the Navy’s Space Combat Team and the Naval Future Weapons Office.

2603 – 2610

The Second Tevarin War. UEE Marine forces defeat Warlord Corath’Thal’s forces in every engagement where they are present. The Navy and Army cannot claim the same.

The UEE Marines begin attempting the same infiltration techniques that the Tevarin’s Nauelle employed in the first war. Initial ingress and stealth boarding is only marginally successful due to lack of appropriate technology.

2610 – 2945

For the next 300 years, the UEE Marines are limited in their options for stealthy delivery and extraction. Zero-G EVA from ship to target, while often undetectable, is a long, slow, and dangerous process, not to mention limited to static ships or installations. Space to ground infiltration are usually conducted by dropping off troops kilometers from the objective and continuing via ground vehicle or on foot.

Both options are time intensive and ill suited for rapidly changing timetables. Because of this, they rarely outperform the standard “shock and awe” insertions that the Marines are known for.

2944

A UEE Survey team begins surveying the newly discovered Kabal System. Kabal III while uninhabited, was host to old Tevarin cities and caches of weapons. Among them were intact examples of the Tevarin Prowler used exclusively by the Naeulle. Esperia is contacted and tasked by the military to collect data on the ships. Esperia soon after successfully blends Tevarin stealth and effectiveness with the reliability of modern human technology.

2945

The UEE Marines receive their first shipment of Esperia produced Prowlers and they undergo rigorous flight and endurance testing. The old stealth and reconnaissance programs are re-implemented and adapted to use this rediscovered technology.

Initial results show a considerable improvement in the UEE Marines’ ability to conduct boarding actions that are comparable to the Nauelle’s in both speed and stealth, as well as their brutal effectiveness.

Soon, the callsign of “Spectre” begins appearing in comm traffic within Marine areas of operation during anti-piracy missions. Marine dropships often land, only to find that anti-aircraft turrets, comm towers, fighter craft, and most critical infrastructure has been sabotaged prior to their arrival.

2945 – 2949

“Spectre”, within 4 years, becomes the most well known unit in the UEE Marines … that didn’t exist. No official manifest, ships, budget, chain of command, or installations are known to be associated with that callsign. Yet it continues to be heard via comms, and black ships are commonly seen leaving a LZ just prior to the arrival of the main force.

And the story is always the same. They leave their mark wherever Marines are the “first” to arrive: bombed out shells of buildings, wrecked ships on pads, and ruined bodies.

2450

The last known sighting of “Spectre” was in 2949. Reports of illegal weapons testing on a remote moon in Stanton soon brought the now familiar callsign to the system. When the frontline Marines landed at the site, they found the usual smoke and twisted metal, but this was an UEE outpost. The “illegal” testing facility was a sanctioned UEE site, and the “criminals” there were civilian scientists and contractors.

Lt. Commander Turbor, the recently promoted lead of the Marine’s Intelligence Service, soon after began a systematic purge of anything related to “Spectre”. Most remaining Prowlers within the branch were impounded, anyone suspected of knowing or dealing with “Spectre” was detained and questioned, and several people rumored to be associated with the group disappeared during the purge. The research and equipment left behind from the weapons lab had also vanished while under the commander’s jurisdiction, though both he and his staff were investigated and cleared of any wrongdoing.

For months, nothing was heard regarding “Spectre”, black ships, or pre-softened targets for any subsequent Marine landings. It was assumed that “Spectre” was either disbanded and/or its members arrested and imprisoned. Less than a year later, however, the admiral’s body was discovered by his aide. Aboard his own ship, inside his personal quarters, and seated at his desk. Papers detailing his involvement with smuggling weapons grade materials and research through UEE controlled space to parties unknown were found stacked neatly on his desk beside him. Another copy of said papers were found rolled up tightly and shoved down his throat, along with his hands removed, and his nose sliced off.

Historical documents suggests that this was a callback to ancient punishments against those branded as liars and thieves.

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