Vestus (Faction)

The Vestus Group, or more often just Vestus, is a cross-European private military corporation and combatant faction in the Farsight conflicts.

Starting as a German-owned industrial conglomerate, Vestus became known as a ‘Corporation turned Workers Army' after sponsoring rebel factions resisting the government seizure of industrial sites during the Mech Crises.

With operations spanning from Norway to as far south as Bulgaria, Vestus is credited with creating many of the founding concepts of late 21st century corporate militaries, such as Sponsored Citizenship and regional Safe Zones.

Pre-Mech Crises
From the late 20th century, the organisations that preceded Vestus were forming industrial co-operatives, or ‘induscos,’ around Germany and Eastern Europe, wherein workers received voting rights on company activities, as well as outsized assistance with housing and retirement.

In 2045, four of these organisations merged to become The Vestus Group, which quickly became one of the highest value indusco in Europe.

Fearing a monopoly, many European economies introduced specific competition laws for induscos, largely perceived as a coordinated effort to sabotage Vestus.

Mech Crises
As famine, pay disputes and rioting began to spread across Europe, reports of police brutality and government seizure of industrial and agricultural operations dramatically increased. In retaliation, many workers used industrial machinery and mechs to resist government action.

Multiple government leaders began to hold talks with Leon Truss, Chairman of the Vestus Group, in an effort to gain Vestus’ aid in preventing riots and the worker-led rebel factions. Four months in, talks failed, and Vestus came out backing the rebel groups, providing aid and sponsoring those involved in the rebellion.

After months of intense street conflict, Truss agreed to re-open talks with government representatives, this time to agree a ceasefire, and to establish protected communes wherein Vestus could shelter their employees. These were some of the first areas to become formal Safe Zones during the lead up to the Farsight conflicts.

Lead-up to Farsight Conflicts
In the years that followed, Vestus established a pan-European industrial monopoly (with the exception of areas of former Spanish, Italian and Greek land) that encompassed building, agriculture, manufacture, and increasingly weapons and mech production.

As part of this military expansion, Vestus made several high-profile mech blueprint purchases from the secretive Chinese group Wufei Corp.

Co-operation with Ares Corp
After establishing a far-reaching enclave of Safe Zones across Europe, Vestus began to build installations in North-West Turkey. At the time, this was the group’s southmost operation.

The use of the land was contested by Zafar, who also occupied parts of Turkey. Fearing an attack, Vestus responded by forming an alliance with Ares Corp, who held substantial military presence in the Mediterranean.

The following skirmishes were considered the first of the ongoing Farsight Conflicts.

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