The Black Cross

The Black Cross is an independent terrorist group formed by Maverick, the Death Herald, for the purpose of overturning current world orders to make way for what he refers to as the New Age of Gods. This New Age derives from a vision that Maverick experienced when he became a Death Herald, shortly after the Gentex Labs catastrophe in Wolfeboro.

Originally consisting of members of the US Special Operations Unit 604, the Black Cross has expanded its roster and widened its network, adopting such talents as Electron and Ruin and partnering with organizations like S.K.U.L.L. and Nitro. The group is primarily independently funded, relying on various forms of fraud, laundering, thievery and straightforward robbery to support themselves.

While early members were only interested in participating mercenarily, Unit 604 leader Spine proved his faith and dedication to the cause during the Battle of Wolfeboro, becoming an example to his colleagues who gradually accepted the promise of the New Age as an inevitability.

Early Black Cross efforts met with surprising resistance from the Wolf-Man and his personal CTU the Wolf Pack. Skirmishes eventually progressed into all-out guerilla warfare, particularly during the Battle of Wolfeboro where the Wolf Pack were able to subdue Maverick and turn him in to the Serpentine affiliation who promptly incarcerated the Death Herald within the Serpent. The Black Cross was unofficially disbanded after the incident and unobtained members went into hiding.

Later, the humanitarian organization S.K.U.L.L. located and approached members of Unit 604 with an offer to help free Maverick. Spine accepted the offer, and the Black Cross-S.K.U.L.L. collude succeeded in breeching the Serpent and freeing Death Herald (this is to date the only instance of the Serpent facility becoming compromised). Once Maverick was unleashed, the group reformed and stole the Tachyon Shard, an artifact of Ethereal power capable of amplifying Death Herald’s supernatural abilities. The Black Cross attempted to use this power to complete their mission in overturning established world orders, but were ultimately defeated by the Peacemakers and A.R.C.H.E.R.S. Association. After what was later dubbed the Bloodmoon event, the Black Cross retreated and opted to remain below the radar.

Prominent Members

Maverick, the Death Herald

Transformed into a being capable of manipulating dark matter and energy, Maverick dedicated his life to bringing about a New Age of Gods. Responsible for assembling mercenaries from Spec-Ops Unit 604 along with independent contractors, he became the de facto leader of the Black Cross. Maverick balanced theatricality with pragmatism when convincing others to join him in his crusade, and has encouraged his constituents to dedicate themselves by faith to the same New Age he foresaw.

Spine

Leader of the mercenary group previously known as US Special Operations Unit 604, Matthew “Spine” Stone and his comrades commandeered military prototype technology before receiving an invitation from the Death Herald. Eventually convinced and compensated to join the cause, Spine became Maverick’s righthand man before confronting his own doubts and fully believing in the coming of the New Age of Gods.

Related Pages: S.K.U.L.L. / The Bloodmoon Event / The Wolf Pack / The Wolf-Man / The A.R.C.H.E.R.S. Association / The Peacemakers / The Serpentine