Minmatar

CONCORD Biosecurity Responders are available to be dispatched on emergency call to any space stations, orbital infrastructure or other space-industrial locations in response to disease and pathogen outbreaks of all kinds. The challenges of maintaining biosecurity against infectious pathogens and other disease vectors in space-based infrastructure are multiplied by the cosmopolition and highly-interconnected nature of New Eden's space industry and trade networks. This long-recognised problem was for many decades dealt with by the empires, nations and corporations of New Eden in a rather piecemeal fashion, with disputes over jurisdiction and differing standards commonly arising. Following the Kyonoke Crisis of YC119, and the passage of the interstellar "Hope for All Act", CONCORD established Biosecurity Response Teams, and began to build up its capacity and expertise in the fields of epidemiology and disease management. To that end, CONCORD reached out to partners such as the University of Caille's Department of Epidemiology, Hedion University's School of Medicine, the Sisters of EVE, and the Society of Conscious Thought. Biosecurity Responders are a vital link in any effort to isolate and analyze infectious pathogens spreading through New Eden's space infrastructure, and crucially to prevent spread to planetary populations. Research to develop effective biosecurity methods, treatments and pathogen controls rely on the field research and data provided by the Biosecurity Reponse Teams.

The Bloody Hands of Matar is a Minmatar terrorist organization responsible for numerous attacks in both the Republic and the Amarr Empire. The group was founded in early YC109, during a period of protest and rioting at the killing of Defiants leader Karishal Muritor by Republic forces acting under the orders of Karin Midular's government. It is believed that the 'Bloody Hands' symbolism was inspired by the use of a bloody fist logo by the Ushra'Khan alliance of capsuleer freedom fighters. The Bloody Hands of Matar turned from protest to terrorism with a campaign of firebombing Amarr and Ammatar interests on Minmatar worlds. The group's violence escalated with a bomb attack on the Egbonbet Republic Parliament station that succeeded in assassinating a visiting Ammatar Mandate ambassador in mid YC109. The terror group pulled off their greatest coup in March YC112, killing thousands in the massive bombing of an Amarr Ministry of War station in Pashanai system. Although hunted by both Republic Security Services and the Amarr Ministry of Internal Order, the Bloody Hands have evaded elimination and officially remain an active threat.

The Great Rebellion was the dawn of liberation for the Minmatar tribes that once lived almost entirely under the dominion of the Amarr. When the slave revolt broke out in 20 BYC (AD 23216), it stunned an Amarr Empire already reeling from the shock of their defeat by the Jovian fleet at the Battle of Vak'Atioth. The Minmatar that rose up were quickly able to cut a swathe through the territories surrounding the Matari home worlds, aided by groups of free Minmatar who had long operated as guerilla fighters both planet-side and in space. The Minmatar Republic was founded by four of the great tribes and was invited to join in the foundation of CONCORD in 3 BYC. By the end of YC 111, the Nefantar, Starkmanir and Thukker Tribes had rejoined their Brutor, Krusual, Sebiestor and Vherokior brothers and sisters in the Minmatar's Tribal Republic.

For certain tasks, CONCORD forces will use many of the ship designs of the four empires, and the rapid emergency response vessels are usually adaptations of the advanced logistics cruisers manufactured by empire corporations. The Emergency Response Squad is an elite force within the DED that operates alongside the special forces of the SARO division. These ships are crewed by specialized rapid repair and shield stabilization engineers, and always carry a complement of elite battlefield search, rescue and resuscitate troops. The high premium that SARO places on preserving its elite operatives is such that ERS combat medics will usually be equipped with brain scanners capable of preserving the personality of a trooper even if the body is broken beyond repair.

The DED's Reserve Frontier Safeguard service, commonly known as the RFS or "Safeguarders", has its origins in a lowsec/nullsec frontier patrol operated using reservists from the member states of CONCORD. The RFS originally provided a security patrol presence in lowsec systems with planetary colonies and other orbital settlements. Since the expansion of CONCORD's mandate and permanent DED fleet capacity in YC105, the RFS has evolved into an organization focused on providing disaster relief to colonies across lowsec space. The ships of the Frontier Safeguard carry specialized personnel and equipment prepared to deal with all manner of environmental hazards. The RFS will respond to emergencies involving such challenges as super cyclones, tsunamis, continental wildfires, global duststorms, and seismic and volcanic events. Their specialized shuttles and dropsuited Safeguarders will unhesitatingly deploy from orbit into some of the most dangerous and remote environmental disaster zones in New Eden. Still funded by the CONCORD Assembly and staffed by reservists from the member empires, the Safeguarders are a welcome sight for any remote settlement desperately in need of their aid.

In the icy climes of the Northern Mikramurka on Matar there are many traditional forms of transport that take advantage of the snow and ice fields to be found there. One of the most celebrated is still found as a traditional sport around the seismically active western interior of that region. The "bladeracer" sled competitions are usually held on the relatively gentle slopes of the dormant shield volcanoes typically found in the area. The climate means that the upper reaches of the volcanoes are covered in snow and ice all year round but the lower areas remain rather fertile and are warmed by vents. The consequent profusion of heathers and mosses give the hills and slopes their characteristic purple coloration during the "warm" season.