Special Black Ops

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.

Awarded to capsuleers by CONCORD's Department for Enforcement of Restrictions on Artificial Intelligence and Life (DERAIL) for exemplary service against criminals using illegal AIs. Due to the existential risks of strong artificial intelligence, a large part of CONCORD's work involves investigating and combatting the development and use of powerful AIs by renegades and criminals in New Eden. No single division or section of CONCORD's vast apparatus is responsible for all aspects of counter-AI operations and a variety of units fight against AI threats under CONCORD's authority. DERAIL is a relatively prominent CONCORD division that focuses its efforts on illegal use of AI technology across New Eden. The department's so-called "Derailers" are organized into a number of sections specialized in combatting threats emerging from renegade use of unrestricted AI. The BlackIce Derailers are a CONCORD unit specializing in combatting the threats from illegal use of unrestricted AI in space and space-based facilities. The unit was formed by Colonel Tiko Zoar in YC105, during the explosion in space-industrial activity that followed licensing of independent capsuleers. Originally a DED police flotilla put in place to combat illegal use of AIs by capsuleers, formally the 47th DED Counterforce (AIC), the unit used to be known as "Zoar's Hunters" and took as its badge an image of the commander's faithful Syrikos Hound, Nightjack. By the time CONCORD pulled some of its experienced counter-AI units together into a dedicated command department, Colonel Tiko Zoar and his hound Nightjack were dead. The pair were killed aboard their ship during a raid, when a suspected AI-enhanced mining operation turned out to be part of a sophisticated and powerful rogue drone infestation. The name of the unit changed to the BlackIce Derailers, but the unit badge remained. As one of the elite space operations components of DERAIL, the unit continues to combat the illegal use of unrestricted AIs by criminal space-industrial corporations and renegade capsuleers.

To evaluate the implications of new cloning technology, that enabled an expanded level of skill uptake for Alpha State capsuleers, the DED established a test-flight taskforce under the codename 'Alpha Plus'. A large number of new recruits to the DED's capsuleer force were drafted from many arms of CONCORD's large military force and took part in the Alpha Plus program. Ships of the Alpha Plus Taskforce, now charged with continuing advanced training of DED personnel accepted for capsuleer duty, bear a variant DED livery of silver grey and light blue.

CONCORD's Directive Enforcement Department is one of the leading military forces of New Eden. As such, the DED is equipped with top-of-the-line ships and its ranks are filled by skilled crews and enforcement troops. The DED recruits from across New Eden and most major cities, colony outposts and space stations will have a DED recruitment and training facility commanded by a Master-at-Arms. When a DED Master-at-Arms travels they are entitled to bear the colors of their office on their ships. A Master-at-Arms is usually provided with a Pacifier-class frigate but the more senior among their ranks can call on powerful vessels such as the Enforcer-class cruiser or the formidable Marshal-class battleship.

CONCORD's Directive Enforcement Department is a significant reserve force that grew out of the original CONCORD Assembly Peacekeeping Army (CAPA). Known to most simply as the "CONCORD Army", CAPA's permanent command staff consists of career DED officers while most formations are drawn from the reserves of member states, primarily the "Big 4" core empires of New Eden. DED Army Reserve forces are primarily used for planetary and orbital operations but the division maintains a large fleet for transport, patrol and sentry duties. The fleet is most often used to transport and deploy peacekeepers or conflict monitors, while occasionally serving to enforce blockades against the importation of weapons, or the escalation of conflicts by mercenaries and other outside forces.

The Fireblade Guerillas were one of the many groups of fighters involved in the Steroyn Arcologies War on Aice III. These paramilitary forces were generally aligned with nationalist and collectivist political parties vying for control of the three arcologies of the Steroyn region colony. So-called "Blade Guerillas" were the fighting cadres of syndicalist rebels against federal control of the Steroyn colony. Infamous for uncontrolled destruction and brutality, the Steroyn Arcologies War is an episode of Federation history that many would rather forget, representing a complete failure of the Gallente democratic system to prevent a descent into all out civil war in a Colonial Union Dependency. Taking place in the Second Union period of the Federation, the Steroyn Arcologies War is believed by many Federation historians to be a direct consequence of the establishment of FTL communications network, and the first attempts to build a universal Federal democracy using this new technology. The dark irony of this brutal civil war being sparked by social and political forces unleashed by the very infrastructure of Federation democracy is not lost on those who prefer not to dwell on the episode. While one concrete outcome was the replacement of the Union Dependency system in favour of the Independent Colonies framework, the conflict is most remembered by members of a subculture that glorifies the "freedom fighter" guerilla units that variously fought Gallente Union troops, Aice III Planetary Gendarmes, corporation security forces, and inevitably one another for control of the Steroyn Arcologies.

The Iceblade Guerillas were one of the many groups of fighters involved in the Steroyn Arcologies War on Aice III. These paramilitary forces were generally aligned with nationalist and collectivist political parties vying for control of the three arcologies of the Steroyn region colony. So-called "Blade Guerillas" were the fighting cadres of syndicalist rebels against federal control of the Steroyn colony. Infamous for uncontrolled destruction and brutality, the Steroyn Arcologies War is an episode of Federation history that many would rather forget, representing a complete failure of the Gallente democratic system to prevent a descent into all out civil war in a Colonial Union Dependency. Taking place in the Second Union period of the Federation, the Steroyn Arcologies War is believed by many Federation historians to be a direct consequence of the establishment of FTL communications network, and the first attempts to build a universal Federal democracy using this new technology. The dark irony of this brutal civil war being sparked by social and political forces unleashed by the very infrastructure of Federation democracy is not lost on those who prefer not to dwell on the episode. While one concrete outcome was the replacement of the Union Dependency system in favour of the Independent Colonies framework, the conflict is most remembered by members of a subculture that glorifies the "freedom fighter" guerilla units that variously fought Gallente Union troops, Aice III Planetary Gendarmes, corporation security forces, and inevitably one another for control of the Steroyn Arcologies.

Achur spiritualism takes many forms, and influences many aspects of their culture, but aside from the monastic orders of Achura (Saisio III), it rarely approaches the level of organized religion. The Stargazers are an example of a particular form of popular Achur spiritualism that eschews supernatural revelation in favor of a philosophy that aims to understand the world through observation and contemplation of the stars. Using visionary interpretations based on a kind of "as above, so below" thinking, the Stargazers emphasize awareness of the surrounding universe and understanding of the living world beyond the self. Some seasons are traditionally considered more propitious than others for viewing certain types of stars. The season that falls early in the YC year, which can shift around relative to the standard calendar, is called the "Season of Red Stargazing" and is considered the proper time for viewing red-colored stars. This season is also one of many festivals, although the Red Stargazing festival is particularly popular.