Shadow Syndicate

"The Shadow Syndicate are a disease. A shadowy plague that weakens and poisons the fundamental morals and core of our universe. As they blacken more and more of the universe, and spread out further and further, it is remarkable that they haven't attempted to draw their swords for conquest. With nearly limitless resources, and a powerful army of some of the most hated and despised beings in all existence, the Syndicate remains one the masterminding heads of all things illegal at its heart, and its only our hope that groups like the Toa or even the Dark Hunters can stop them before they get out of control to the point we have to get involved. As long as their greed outweighes any lust for conquest or dominion, then everything will remain in a delicate, unsteady balance."

- Helryx, World

The Shadow Syndicate is a crime organization and a powerful guild of bounty hunters and mercenaries.

History
The Shadow Syndicate was originally founded by the freelance bounty hunter and ex-Dark Hunter Lethal, who formed the group on instruction from the mysterious cult known as the Shadow of Ages. Wishing to have a front organization which could partake in the more public and dangerous operations that would expose the Shadow of Ages to the universe, the cult's leader, Millennium, provided Lethal with the funds and support necessary to create the group.

With the intention being that the Syndicate would do the things the Shadow could not afford to, Millennium directed most of the significant actions of the Syndicate, usually having them do things such as stealing arms and equipment, gunrunning, smuggling, kidnapping certain individuals, sabotaging and/or spying on rivals and enemies. Essentially, their purposes was to help Millennium collect and amass the resources and allies he would need to further his goals. Outside of this, Millennium allowed the group to do as it pleased, and all its other operations were held in no regard.

Outside of its more secret history and origins, the Shadow Syndicate quickly rose to become one of the most influential and largest crime factions in the Matoran Universe, becoming deeply involved in many ilegal activities, and swiftly became the fiercest rivals of a fellow mercenary group named the Dark Hunters. Due to their efficiency and usefulness, they established good relations with the Brotherhood of Makuta, which were only strengthened when the Brotherhood went to war with the Syndicate's rivals, the Dark Hunters. As it gradually expanded, the Syndicate began absorbing more and more of the smaller crime groups into its ranks, and reorganized them. Before it could grow out of control, the Syndicate's expansion was violently halted by the work of countless Toa teams and other heroes throughout the universe, though this did little to stop their operations and activities.

When the war between the Order of Mata Nui and the Brotherhood of Makuta began, the Syndicate immediately sided with the Brotherhood due to their strong connections, in contrast with the Dark Hunters' siding with the Order. They supplied and aided the Brotherhood to their full capability, lending their foot soldiers in a number of attacks, invasions, and battles throughout the universe. They even joined the Brotherhood in their last-ditch invasion of Metru Nui, though midway through the battle, decided to abandon their allies to their fate when they realized the tide was against them. Even under Teridax's strict and harsh reign of the universe, the Syndicate flourished greatly, and remained a buzzing center of criminal involvement. Though forced to become more laid-back and subdued due to Teridax's imposing rule, they remained fairly active nonetheless.

After the death of Teridax, the majority of the Shadow Syndicate migrated onto the revitalized world of Spherus Magna.

Actions

 * Supplied resources and weapons to the Shadow of Ages.
 * Fulfilled missions and bounties for numerous employers.
 * Assisted the Brotherhood of Makuta in the Brotherhood of Makuta/Order of Mata Nui war.
 * Steal and raid good from numerous fortresses, islands, and factions.

Members

 * Lethal - Leader

Former Members

 * Skorr - Zeverek bounty hunter.
 * Jekart - A treacherous information broker.

Infrastructure
Spread far and wide across the universe, the Shadow Syndicate was a remarkably well-disciplined and organized faction, and maintained cells on a number of different islands. Although its ranks were not quite as disciplined and regimented as those as the Dark Hunters, the Syndicate was known for ensuring that its members were efficient, experienced, well-trained, and hand-picked for any mission, based on their specific speciality. Another thing that separated them from the Dark Hunters was that they shared out their pay fairly with its operatives, as a way of lessening the possibility of its members going rogue due to being unsatisfied. Entering into the group was also a lot more difficult than it was in other bounty hunting groups, and they only ever accepted the best of the best.

The group also kept information about itself a well-kept secret and purposefully vague, in order to prevent their enemies from predicting the nature and strategies their operations follow. Like the Dark Hunters, all members are required to have lifetime memberships, and face the punishment of death otherwise, though at least one exception was made in the form of Jekart, a rogue member who would go on to become an information broker who would supply the Syndicate with valuable intelligence.

Surprisingly, though essentially founded by the Shadow of Ages, very few inside the Syndicate know of its existence or involvement with it, and only the most trusted and elite members know of its ties to Millennium, the Syndicate's true mastermind. Having been designed to carry out the missions and tasks that would indefinitely jeopardize the Shadow's secrecy from the rest of the universe, the Syndicate takes it upon itself to provide it with its resources and weapons, do its dirty work, and spy on their enemies. In exchange, the Shadow of Ages provides the Syndicate with information, weapons, and much more.

Trivia

 * The name and whole idea of the Shadow Syndicate was originally created by, who intended them to be mercenary faction that worked as a front organization for the Legion of Shadows. When he decided to scrap the group from his storyline, Chicken Bond recycled the idea into his storyline with Toa Hydros' permission.