The Red Dawn Corporation was a galaxy-spanning conglomerate and criminal organization headquartered in Coruscant. Originally a mercenary group, it gradually expanded to virtually all industries through rapid expansion and acquisitions. Initially founded as a gang in 32 BBY, it was formally registered as a corporation with the Galactic Republic five years later in 27 BBY. The company was most known for its mercenary's deadly effectiveness and gleaming red armor, as well as their founders profound media presence. The Red Dawn would go on to become the largest corporation in the galaxy by the end of the Clone Wars. While not known among the general population at the time, evidence of unprecedented criminal activity by all levels of the corporation have been unveiled after its dissolution. These charges include but are not limited to: genocide, racketeering, tax evasion, smuggling, drug production/distribution, slavery, grand larceny, murder, torture, rape, and arson. All of these crimes had been successfully covered up during the Red Dawns existence, giving the false impression that it its dominance in the galactic market was entirely legitimate.
Early acquisitions of Czerka Arms, Kuati Bancorp, and the Ales Institute were critical in Red Dawn's expansion. They operated as subsidies while the main corporation was led by an executive board headed by a CEO. The underworld operations were conducted by what was dubbed "The Black Fleet", with its leader reporting only to the board. This fleet provided a large portion of the revenue the Red Dawn collected each year. The corporation was able to survive until 231 ABY, thirty years after the disappearance of the founders.
History[]
Founding[]
Lucien Kenston: “This planet has to be one of the most dull places in the galaxy.”
— Red Dawn's founders discussing their future on Aria
Tre Bolton: “What you mean?”
Marc Martins: “He means that this planet sucks. Don't you ever think about just getting out there and actually having some impact in this universe? No one will ever remember us if we follow the path our parents have.”
Lucien Kenston, Marc Martins, and Tre Bolton fled from their home world of Aria after completing their education to seek a life of adventure. The trio had told their family and friends that they received job offers from a banking company on Coruscant. Under this ruse they booked a trip to Nar Shadaa in the hopes of joining a gang there. The 88's initiated the three shortly after their arrival on the moon, and within two months they took control of the gang. The trio re-branded the gang as the "Reds", presumably alluding to how much blood they left behind on their jobs. Over the course of the year the Reds became a formidable gang, challenging even some of the more established gangs on Nar Shadaa. This success would prove to be short lived when one of the gang's lieutenants stole a weapons shipment from a Hutt crime lord named Jago. The Reds tricked Jago and his henchmen into showing up for a return of the weapons where they filled the crates with explosives. Jago was killed in the blast, and the Reds made off with star ships and other belongings from his Nar Shadaa hideout. The Reds were subsequently marked for death by Grand Hutt Council who were greatly angered by Jago's death. This mark forced them out of Hutt controlled space, leaving them without a base.
Lassa Rhayme suggested that they move to her home world of Rattatak. Lucien Kenston, at this point seen as the leader of the Reds with Martins and Bolton as his top two in command, agreed with her suggestion. It is believed that the gang engaged in piracy during the trip to their new base, the attack on the luxury liner Varpassi and other acts of piracy committed during that time period have been attributed to them. It would take the gang several months to set up operations as a mercenary company on Rattatak. The planet was filled with warriors who had little interest of the outside galaxy, it was only after the Reds defeated several tribes that they proved themselves to the planet's population. They were then able to set up a headquarters and start recruiting members from the local population.
Rattatak was located in a distant area of the outer rim. In order gain name recognition and the business of wealthier clients, Kenston had representatives set up expositions on inner rim and colony worlds. Branding themselves as "security services" under the new name of the "Red Dawn", clients were impressed by the exposition's professionalism, as well as their newly purchased armor. Before long, word was spreading quickly of a new mercenary group who "donned a majestic red armor and was composed of an intimidating alien crew".
Early Growth[]
As money from Core world clients started to come in, Reds leadership went for aggressive expansion in the outer rim. Spice production in the several surrounding sectors were soon taken over, smaller gangs and criminal enterprises were eliminated or driven out, and unprotected worlds were forcibly taken over. Far away from the influence of either the Republic or the Hutts, the Red Dawn held free reign over planets in the area. In need of a better way to control their assets, Kenston restructured the Red Dawn into a corporate form in 30 BBY. Naming himself as President and CEO, with Marc Martins and Tre Bolton as Vice Presidents, he would fill his board of directors with experienced individuals from across the galaxy in order to run the enterprise efficiently. Zez, Kenston's most trusted military advisor, was charged with overseeing all criminal activities. Zez would go on and make his own form of a "board of directors". All criminal aspects of the gang would eventually be dubbed the "Black Fleet", and its finances and actions were carefully isolated from legitimate business of the newly formed corporation.
Official Acknowledgement And Growing Popularity[]
The Galactic Republic granted the Reds petition to be licensed as a mercenary corporation under the name "Red Dawn" in 29 BBY. This legitamitized their business and led to a big push for clients in core worlds such as Coruscant, Alderaan, and Kuat. A flagship office was established on the founder's home planet of Aria as well. The next several years resulted in huge profits for the company. Their brand became very recognizable in the galaxy with many political leaders, including members of the Galactic Senate, purchasing mercenary protection. Diversification also became a focus for the corporation with their purchase of the dwindling but still formidable Czerka Corporation in 26 BBY. Czerka arms and armor produced after purchase by the Red Dawn would end up in the hands of not only the corporation's mercenaries, but also of numerous criminals and cartels in the galaxy thanks to the efforts of the Black Fleet. Kuati Bancorp was purchased that same year, giving the corporation control of the second largest bank on Kuat. This move was later determined to be part of their efforts to launder credits from the illegal operations of the Black Fleet in the outer rim.
Founder's Lucien Kenston and Tre Bolton took advantage of their corporation's growing popularity, becoming celebrities among the citizens of the Republic. While they had enjoyed immense fanfare on Aria because of their business successes, they only stepped onto the galaxy wide stage when they began associating themselves with many HoloFilm stars and famous musicians on Coruscant.