[Paradise] - Darkblades

[Ranking within the Crusade]

     While technically an Involuntary Crusade Occupational Specialization, The Darkblades have a rocky history within The Crusade or, really, within the Human Militia Structures as far back as History is recorded (and altered to omit them). Those with the Darkblade Classification forgo their normal Crusade Rank and are allowed clearance in all Ranks Intel except for The One Royal King, Sir Kent Malroye’s own. They are forces to maintain surface-level Ranks if they are currently studying another COS but may even appear to ‘Drop Out’ from the Crusade after achieving a high enough Mastery of Darkblade Certification to assist in the covert-ops.

Aside from a Darkblade, only The Nightengale Ms Lena Ortesze and The One Royal King, Sir Kent Malroye are ranked above them in the Chain of Command. Darkblades answer directly to ORK Sir Malroye in a strictly under-the-radar, zero papertrail fashion.


[Darkblade Description and Qualification]

     Darkblades may be compared to any number of prestigious analogies: Assassins, Spies, Infiltrators, Saboteurs, the Illuminati, etc. Their main and primary Objective is to pull the strings on the entire Crusade, and by extension the General Public and Foreign Affairs. They act outside of moral and legal boundaries to achieve their goals and missions, and only answer to the Top Two in the Chain of Command. Darkblades are expected to function autonomously on a single Order until instructed otherwise, and must be able to use rationality to adapt to a situation and ensure their secrecy even in the heat of battle.

To qualify for Darkblade Crusade Occupational Specialization one must meet certain Criteria:

-They must have an Above Average Physical metric, meeting and exceeding expectations on a consistent basis.

-They must have an Above Average Combat metric, meeting and exceeding expectation on a consistent basis.

-They must have an Above Average Mental Dexterity metric, meeting and exceeding expectation on a consistent basis.

-They must have an Above Average Stealth metric, meeting and exceeding expectation on a consistent basis. Bonus points if they are able to blend into the background despite their exemplary nature and are not noticed by their Squadmates as a competitive player.

-They must show propensity for problem solving and puzzle solving, as well as the ability to flawlessly recall minuscule information over a period of several months without re-instruction.

-They must show Above Average Team Leader skills, meeting and exceeding expectations on a consistent basis. This includes stepping up in situations where an established Team Leader is performing poorly without being instructed to do so, bonus points if this behavior is done discreetly and without the realization of the established Team Leader.

-The must show an intense Loyalty to the Crusade and its Cause and Above Average compliance in following instruction and completing tasks. Bonus points if they are willing to carry out morally questionable assignments without falter or resistance.

    Unless *ALL* Criteria are met to the minimum of expectation, Darkblade consideration will never progress past Observation and One will be wholly unaware of the Powers That Be watching their every move. Unlike other Crusade Occupational Specializations, one cannot simply opt-in for Darkblade Training, and may go on to learn All Additional Specializations as long as they meet proper metrics and criteria.


[History and Influence]

     It’s impossible to find public Record of Darkblade ongoings, and almost as impossible to find any Crusade or Military Historical Documents on them (especially by name). Record keeping on their feats and involvement in Crusade Matters is stored analog and on a ‘Need to Know’ basis to the top two Commanders of The Crusade. This doesn’t mean that the Darkblades don’t have their fingers in almost every Crusade matter, but it does mean that their existence remains at large a Secret to everybody and that their operations remain undisturbed.

Darkblades were the driving force behind the CityArk movement, as Crusade involvement with Governing Global Matters was at its lowest point in Human History and The United Global Alliance was seeking to abolish them entirely to adapt smaller Task Forces run on a Country by Country basis.
	Documents detailing the realities of Environmental Destruction of the Planet that had been suppressed by Large Corporations were dragged to public light by the Darkblades, politicians and members of The United Global Alliance were exposed or framed for heinous crimes over a period of 2 years and replaced with Darkblade Operatives, and eventually the CityArks were sanctioned. With Covert House Majority, it was voted that The Crusade would be the Guardians of these CityArks.

In more recent history, Darkblades were responsible for one of the most damaging blows to the Trollian Forces during the Intergalactic Trollian War. Infiltrating Trollian ranks and acquiring information that was banned to even most of the Highblooded Trollian Castes, they revealed the teaching of The Signless and orchestrated the resurgence of The Signless Sectoral through propaganda campaigns and conversion of Trollian PoW that were released back to their Homeworlds to spread the religion like a Virus.

Even current-Day, The Signless Sectoral is Rampant and largely uncontrolled leading to an uneasy tolerance by The Empress.
Darkblades and, by extension, Human Forces were never suspected as being behind this turn of tide.