Steel Legion

"Back then, it seemed like the Steel Legion and that bastard 8311 ruled the galaxy. Believe me, you didn't want to mess with him."

- Anonymous Black Sun thug

The Steel Legion was a highly powerful criminal organisation, based on Nar Shadda, ruled by the old CIS battle droid Unit 8311. At it's height, it had influence and presence on countless worlds in every sector in the galaxy, and was feared by many.

Formation
The Steel Legion was first formed shortly after the end of the Clone Wars, when Unit 8311, in his second incarnation, set about using a Twi'lek puppet to recruit thugs and commit minor crimes. However, shortly after, it rocketed upwards in power when 8311 transferred billions of credits from other bank accounts in his own. With that, he set up its headquarters in an old disused club house and began taking over the Nar Shadda underworld.

Reign
Quickly, the Steel Legion converted disused buildings in the lower levels of Nar Shadda into drug-houses, brothels, and other illegal venues. It purchased several old tunneling machines, used for mining, and used them to drill into a supposedly impregnable credit depot, stealing billions. Imperial forces, their hands already full with all the crime infesting Nar Shadda, could do nothing about it. Soon afterwards, Steel Legion thugs captured a freighter carrying Imperial military equipment, including AT-ATs, AT-TEs, other various walkers, and old LAATs.

Shortly afterwards, a large force of AT-ATs and other war machines attacked a large nova crystal depot, known as Fort Tox. The Imperial militia stationed at the fortress were shocked to see their own walkers approaching and offered minimal resistance. The communications centre at the facility was destroyed, so the thugs driving the walkers ransacked the depot at their leisure. After about twelve hours, every single nova crystal had been stored aboard several old CR20 troop carriers and the thugs leaved. An outcry followed, and Darth Vader himself had to cover up the incident. Hundreds of billions worth of credits of crystals had been stolen, and nobody seemed to notice 8311's bank account suddenly increase rapidly.

Within weeks, the Steel Legion subtely controlled the Nar Shadda underworld, and extended to Nal Hutta and even Coruscant. It's military capabilities were demonstrated when a large contingent of it's MZ-8 Mobile Pulse Cannons assualted an Imperial cash and nova crystal depot. A large battle ensured, and ultimately the Steel Legion tanks had to retreat, but this all proved to be a distraction whilst Legion thugs looted the depot, stealing astronomical amounts. The Empire quickly worked out that the organisation that had attacked the depot was the same as the one that had overrun the nova crystal depot, but still did not realise that it was a relatively unheard of Nar Shadda criminal organisation.

The Good Days
"This Steel Legion is a larger rival than I thought."

- Prince Xizor

By now the Steel Legion was immensely powerful, with access to much resources, a virtually unlimited amount of credits (not including 8311's personal wealth), tremendous manpower, powerful influence on countless worlds, and even a large space fleet. It was now that it attracted the attention of the Empire. Darth Vader himself asked 8311 to help manipulate the underworld in the Empire's favour.

8311 agreed (although he did not do so as extensively as Vader wanted) and ironically soon his forces raided another cash depot. Emperor Palpatine took an interest in him, and although he was almost certain that the Steel Legion was behind the depot attacks, he continued to observe 8311's activities. Sensing a potential resoruce or asset, the Emperor used false intelligence information to trick Rebel Alliance forces into attacking a Steel Legion drugs factory on Zaadja, hoping to weaken the Rebel Alliance and the Legion, weakening two potential threats.

Ultimately, that battle was a draw, and both Legion and Rebel forces retreated.

Increasing suspicion
"Heh. Soon I'll be able to buy the entire galaxy at this rate."

- 8311 checking his Legion credit account

Soon, 8311 was visited by Darth Vader and given a job in Imperial Intelligence. This was partly so that the Empire could monitor 8311 and control his resources. Quickly, 8311 began concentrating on his work with the Empire rather than running his crime syndicate, and gave more power to his more trusted underlings. However, he still co-ordinated raids on cash depots and banks, and now the Steel Legion military was one of the largest and most effective armed forces in the galaxy. 8311 then purchased some old pre-Clone Wars capital ships, and began commencing with pirate raids on merchant ships. Soon, the Legion had a considerable starfleet itself, equipped with capital ships such as Keldabe-class battleships, Venator-class star destroyers, as well as Z-95 Headhunters and Rihkxyrk Attack Ships. Shortly afterwards, 8311 had a special Keldable-class with extra modifications built for him to serve as his flagship--he christened it the Iron Harbinger.

Shortly afterwards, 8311 discovered the location of an old but powerful Mandator II-class Star Dreadnought, floating in space after being abandoned in the Clone Wars. Taking it over, he used it to cause chaos on major trade routes, stealing large amounts of credits from merchantmen, as well as destroying some pirate groups that stood in the way after the Legion. After he no longer had any use for the old ship, he sold it to both the Empire and Rebellion for an enormous amount of money, and arranged for both of them to pick it up at the same place. Rebel and Empire forces arrived at the same spot 8311 had arranged, and promptly began fighting each other. Eventually, the Empire triumphed and got the Star Dreadnaught, and then Legion ships purged the area of any valuable components which it sold on the black market. 8311 made a tremendous amount of credits from the operation, which he spent mostly on expanding the ever-growing Legion.

8311 continued to purchase old shipyards which he used to produce further space forces, and hired groups of scientists and engineers to start designing original starships exclusively for the Legion. However, the Emperor was now certain that 8311 was the head of the now very powerful Steel Legion, after carefully monitoring him.

Collapse
"I have had enough of this Steel Legion. Kill that droid 8311!"

- Palpatine giving orders to kill 8311

Finally, the Emperor was not only aware of 8311's role as head of the Steel Legion but was also aware that he was becoming too powerful. Squads of elite Imperial Stormtroopers stormed 8311's palace on Nar Shadda. 8311 escaped, but he was forced go into hiding, and the Steel Legion collapsed. The Legion armies and fleets were split amongst the various former leaders of the Legion.

Disintegration
With 8311's fall, the Steel Legion collapsed, and it's assets fell into the hands of groups like the Empire, Black Sun, the Hutt Cartel, the Zann Consortium, and the Rebellion. 8311's personal accounts were frozen. Quickly, Nar Shadda became how it was before the arrival of 8311.

Aftermath of Endor
In the aftermath of the Empire's defeat, 8311 joined in the celebration, whilst continuing to expand his droid army using the old droid factories on Hypori. However, he was beginning to focus more on expanding his political power rather than his criminal assets. The newly-reformed Steel Legion continued to be an influential crime organization on Nar Shadda, but still nowhere near as powerful as it was once. Notable acts it commited during this era of stagnation were multiple drug smuggling campaigns and expansion into piracy on the Corellian Trade Spine, but it was still nothing to what it was when in its prime.

Age of the New Republic
"It is the start of a new era for the galaxy...and the Legion."

- 8311

The Steel Legion continued to decline during the New Republic, as 8311 found out that supplying weapons to the New Republic and Imperial Remnant was more profitable than his crime organisation. Slowly, it began to collapse. Black Sun and crime cartels based on Nar Shadda decided that they had had enough of the Legion, and they began commencing assaults on the Legion's bases, destroying several casinos and brothels. 8311 was unconcerned, and eventually he decided to 'retire' and gave command to one of his second-in-commands, Ferd Swqaru. Some of the other major figures in the Legion did not approve, and either left or defected to other crime organisations. However, the Legion still remained powerful, and often turned to 8311 for guidance, and a part of 8311's wealth still came from the Legion.

The Black Sun Wars
"Will I bring the Legion to what it once was? Probably not. But I'll sure as hell get close."

- Ferd Swqaru

Ferd was quite pleased to recieve control of the Legion, and he was desperate to see it return to the 'good old days', as he put it. He began a gang war with Black Sun, destroying one of their Nar Shadda headquarters. Black Sun retaliated by commencing an all-out military assault on the Imperial Casino, the Legion's largest casino, which was also legitimate, and contained part of the Legion's funds in its vaults. Fortunately, 8311 had been using the vault to store some of his droidekas which were being manufuctured at his private droid foundry on Hypori, and they repelled the Black Sun forces. Undeterred, Black Sun successfully attacked and looted one of the Legion's cash depots.

With this dent on the Legion's financial status, Ferd put into effect Operation Steel Fist. He raided a musuem on Coruscant and stole an old SPHA-T, which he used to attack and destroy a large section of Black Sun's Nar Shadda headquarters. He also broke into its vaults, stealing most of the Nar Shadda vigo's funding. This was a major victory for Legion, and postponed the gang war.

Yuuzhan Vong war
"The Steel Legion must now focus on helping to destroy this threat if it is to survive."

- Ferd Swqaru

For the next several years, the Legion continued to deal with both legitimate and illigetimate businesses. The occassional gang war with Black Sun cropped up, but these were over quickly. 8311 had lost interest completely in his child organisation. Indeed, he had not been seen for sometime, and became an ubran myth on Nar Shadda. Ferd struggled to bring the Legion to what it once was, and he doubted that he ever would. However, he did expand the Legion's fleets to a considerable size, and put 8311's old plans of Legion-exclusive capital ships into motion, with new vessels such as Metal Fury-class cruisers being churned out of hidden Legion shipyards. These ships proved more than a match against the capital ships of major galactic governments.

However, the Yuuzhan Vong war then broke out, which would change the galaxy. Ferd feared the worst as the Vong began vongforming worlds, and relocated the Legion from Nar Shadda to his homeworld of Mon Calamari. His hunch was right, as Nar Shadda ended up being vongformed and the city destroyed. Meanwhile, Legion fleets began harassing and crippling Vong forces in many areas. Mon Calamari became the new capital of the newly-established Galactic Federation of Free Alliances.

Later years
With Ferd's death in 97 ABY, years after the Yuuzhan Vong war, the Legion would disintegrate into splinter groups, with each one's leader believing itself to be the truthful heir to the Legion. After a long dispute, the leaders turned to the original founder, 8311, who was residing at his retreat on Hypori. His answer:

"I quite frankly couldn't care less."

- Unit 8311

This did not encourage the Legion factions to unite, and they continued warring for a while. However, one of the factions purchased a large quantity of battle droids from 8311, and quickly took control of the rest of the Legion, which began to ascend back to power, but did not quite reach the levels it had once had. By the Legacy era and the rise of the New Empire, the Legion was an influential body with presence on many worlds, ruled by a council rather than a single leader, but it never quite reached the power it had under 8311.

Legion Army
"Soon, not even Black Sun will stand in our way."

- A Legion general

At its height, the Legion Army was one of the most organised, well-equipped, and largest non-government armies in the galaxy. During the early years of the Legion, most of it's manpower came from stolen vehicles, hired thugs and mercenaries, as well as some craft purchased from the black market, but over time it began to evolve into something far more formidable. The Legion army mainly focused on infantry.

When it accumulated enough power, the Legion began copying and reproducing stolen vehicles, but with improvements. Also, 8311 had all soldiers in indefinite service to the Legion conditioned to favour 8311 and the Legion above all.

Infantry

 * Various hired mercenaries and thugs


 * Legion Anti-Armour Division. These soldiers were armed with missile launchers of Legion design, and were capable of eradicating most armour with ease.


 * Legion Infiltrators. These were elite soldiers in the Legion that were equipped with tough body armour that allowed them to absorb most small-arms fire, and had intensive training.


 * Other various classes of soldiers

Vehicles

 * Stolen or reproduced AT-AAs


 * MZ-8 Mobile Pulse cannon


 * Some old GATs


 * Various stolen or reproduced walkers

Legion Fleet
"Let's see those pirates laugh at me now!"

- 8311 upon inspecting an assembled Legion fleet

As trade increase across the galaxy during the times of the Empire, 8311 sensed a rich opportunity for piracy. The Legion Fleet started off as a few hired pirates, but then it rapidly grew into a force to be reckoned with. Armed with a very large number of high-quality ships, the Legion Fleet was at its height nearly the largest and most powerful non-government navies in the galaxy. Upon 8311's purchase of various shipyards, the Legion began producing its own ships rather than buying them, although at first it reproduced ships from other parties instead of its own. When 8311 built several secret shipyards across the galaxy to which the Legion had exclusive access to, it further increased in size. Throughout its history, many different classes of ships became part of the Legion Fleet.

Fighters

 * Z-95 Headhunter. The Z-95 was the most commonly used starfighter in Legion fleets for a long time, and despite being regarded as obsolete, Legion Z-95s were often upgraded and modified to keep with the times. A number of Legion Z-95s were fitted with modified Vulture droid brains, making them even more vicious.


 * Rihkxyrk Attack ship. This was regarded as the standard bomber of the Legion, and was refitted with bombs and often with Concussion missiles.


 * ARC-170. These were rare in Legion fleets due to their high cost and the large amount of crews necessary for them. Nevertheless, 8311 kept a number of modified ARCs in Legion fleets, although he rarely deployed them.

Capital ships

 * Interceptor IV frigate. Large amounts of these frigates were used in Legion fleets, and were often outfitted with long-range missiles.


 * Venator-class star destroyer. A common sight in Legion fleets, Legion Venators were initially old Clone Wars era Venators saved from scrap piles or purchased at merchant shipyards. However, 8311 sensed potential in this ship, and as soon as the Legion had its own shipyards he began churning out large numbers of Venators, often with extra modifications. During the New Republic era, the Legion continued to use these ships, but upgraded them with extremely powerful turbolasers of Legion design.


 * Keldabe-class battleships. Manufuctured by the Legion by Mandal Hypernautics, the Legion eventually began producing its own Keldabes, which were often even more powerful than those wielded by the Zann Consortium. A small amount of these Keldabes were modified with hangar bays.


 * Metal Fury-class cruisers. Made during the New Republic era, a short while before the Yuuzhan Vong War, these ships were amongst the first Legion ships to be completely exclusive to the Legion. Equipped with enough weaponry to take on the major capital ships of the day, Metal Furys were nontheless somewhat flimsy.


 * Iron Glory-class destroyers. Made shortly after the advent of the Metal Fury, these lumbering, huge ships were the most powerful vessels in the Legion Fleet, equal--some would say surpassing--an Imperial-class star destroyer. Equipped with massive firepower, heavy shielding, and a very large complement of fighters, these were very expensive, and were not extensively produced.

Tactics and operations
"There are debates over whether the pen is truly mighter than the sword. We consider them to be equal."

- Ferd Swqaru

Being a major criminal organisation, the Legion was capable of resorting to various tactics, from brute force to scheming manipulation. It was capable of taking down various figures who defied it with its armies, but for larger bodies such as the Empire, it had to resort to other means.

Criminal operations
In order to gain funds, the Legion often simply raided banks or mines with its forces, although when this was out of the question it often bribed the appropiate figures, such as when it bribed the administrator of a stygium crystal mine to supply the Legion with 40% of the mine's output. If any individual was immune to the Legion's often irresistable promises, then it would resort to blackmail, either with threats of assassination or kidnapping.

The Legion also had plenty of friends in high places. For example, a member of 8311's inner circle was friends with a moff, whom he convinced to supply an pro-Imperial organisation with new technology and funding. Of course, this so-called organisation was the Legion, so the moff was unwittingly providing the Legion with state-of-the-art weaponry and large amounts of credits.

As well as that, the Legion also managed to set up a near-constant supply of credits for itself by siphoning money from many sources, from nova crystal mines to bank accounts of rich figures. To do this, it either hired or employed expert hackers who slowly transferred money from banks to Legion accounts, or hired smugglers and thieves to steal from mines or warehouses. Even Prince Xizor had a large amount of money slowly siphoned off his account by Legion activities.

The Legion also dealt with piracy, which was another major source of income. Raiding merchant fleets and undefended merchantmen was easy for its well-trained and large space fleets, but for larger prey, which was often guarded, it often resorted to sabotaging defenders of said prey to minimise casaulties, resulting in easy pickings.

The Legion even had exclusive control of some planets and systems, which were mainly uninhabited. For example, the deserted resource-rich world of Jui'Kle II had several Legion mines and smelting facilties built on it, which provided raw materials to Legion factories and shipyards.

Almost every form of crime was dealt with by the Legion. It dealed with drug smuggling, prostituion, credit siphonng, piracy, manipulation, and major theft, as well as other illegal deeds. Although it was not quite as powerful as Black Sun, it was considerably more aggresive and scheming, and it had a reasonably more powerful military than the Hutt Cartel.

During the New Republic's reign, Ferd Swqaru decided to increase Legion income by setting up legitimate casinos and clubs all over the galaxy. Of course, there was an illegitimate element in all of this; some games in the casinos were rigged in order to strip players of their credits, and there was a seedy element to some of the clubs.

Battle tactics
Although the Legion army was suprisingly large and well-organised, it preferred not to get into direct confrontation. In space battles, Legion fleets tended to cripple their opponents with mines and other booby traps before engaging them in order to minimise casaulties. However, in battles when the odds were in the Legion's favour, it tended just to go into a direct battle.

On the ground, the Legion tended to cripple enemies with mines and bombs, as in the space front, before attacking them. When attacking, it tended to smash the enemy with brute force in order to end the battle quickly.

The Legion army also focused much on infantry, reflected by the skill and advanced equipment of Legion soldiers such as the Legion Infiltrators. Legion infantry was often more than a match for ground troops of other crime organisations such as Black Sun and even the troops of major galactic governments, such as stormtroopers.