The Shadow Order

"If you are unlucky enough to see one of us, you either join us, or die."

- Arrak Shasta

The Shadow Order was a mysterious group of assassins, slicers, and mercenaries for hire. At its highest point, during the Cold War, it rivaled the Mandalorians in its scope and reputation. Although to the galaxy at large it was just another criminal organization, no worse than Black Sun or the Exchange, the Shadow Order actually harbored a secret agenda. The Shadow Council, the Order's ruling body, used the skills of their operatives not only to gain great wealth, but also to infiltrate the very infrastructure of their clients. By the time the Great Galactic War ended, Shadow Order members were at the highest levels of Black Sun, the Exchange, the Regulators, and a half-dozen other organizations. The Shadow Council used this influence to carry out their ambitious plans without drawing the attention of the Republic, the Empire, or the Hutts, who just saw organizations they were already fighting or helping get a little bit more pushy. By the time the organizations the Order had infiltrated grew wise to what was happening, it was too little, too late. The Order rose up, slaying the leaders of the opposing factions in a wave of assassinations and murders and throwing the entire criminal underworld into chaos. By the time the massacre was over, the Order had solidified itself as a major force in the galaxy. Strangely, the Order's ambitions stopped there. Both the Empire and the Republic were spared, and the Mandalorians became an eager ally. In fact, the Order began helping them, providing information, mercenary, and assassination services to both sides. The Order remained a powerful force for centuries afterwards.

Founding
The Order was founded in ? BBY by Arrak Shasta, a smuggler, gun-for-hire, and former Republic Army scout, and his co-pilot and partner Allisha Bak'an, a freelance assassin, slicer, and failed Jedi. After years of working small-time jobs for Black Sun and the Hutt Cartel, the two mercenaries decided to form their own organization as a way to improve profits. Drawing on Arrak's experience as a scout and Allisha's computer savvy