Act 1 — Predator and Onyx’s Origins
Era: Fractured Stars
Act 1 follows the early lives of William Grant and Michael Cross, long before the creation of the Hell Hosts and Free World Order. Beginning as two independent contractors brought together almost entirely by circumstance, the Act follows the development of their partnership, their involvement with Blackwake, and the experiences that begin shaping the men they would eventually become.
Across six Sub-Acts, William and Michael progress from reluctant allies into trusted partners and eventually members of a crew they come to consider home. At the same time, their differing attitudes toward violence, loyalty, responsibility, and survival begin to emerge—differences that would become increasingly important later in their lives.
Sub-Acts
Sub-Act 1.1 — Ship Thief
William Grant attempts to steal a military transport and unexpectedly encounters Michael Cross, an independent contractor who had previously considered hunting William for a bounty. Circumstances force the two men to cooperate, escaping aboard the stolen transport together.
Their first encounter establishes an uneasy partnership between two people who have little reason to trust one another, beginning the relationship that would eventually shape both of their lives.
Sub-Act 1.2 — Uneasy Allies
Stranded with a heavily damaged transport and mounting repair costs, William and Michael accept a recovery contract involving a hijacked Terrorism Control Agency cargo shipment near K-71.
The mission forces them to work together properly for the first time. They recover surviving crew members and the missing cargo, but tensions emerge when William nearly executes several surrendered pirates before Michael intervenes. Despite their differences, the two continue working together and become joint owners of the transport now known as the Orion.
The Sub-Act also contains early references to The Shroud and The Nameless God, presented through rumours shared by spacers on Hephaestus Station.
Sub-Act 1.3 — Blackwake
William and Michael are offered work with Blackwake, a heavily organised mercenary force operating from the carrier BWS Horizon. There they meet figures including Elias Voss, Harper Vayne, Ronan Briggs, and Sarah Vale.
Their first major Blackwake operation sends them to Halcyon Reach, where they participate in an attempted assassination of Regent, second-in-command of the Free Order Rebellion. The mission fails to kill Regent and exposes a serious difference between William and Michael when William executes a surrendered FOR officer.
During the confrontation, the dying officer calls William “a predator”, planting the name that would eventually become his identity.
Despite the failed assassination, William and Michael prove themselves during the operation and are offered permanent places within Blackwake.
Sub-Act 1.4 — No One Left Behind
Now operating alongside Blackwake, William takes part in a mission at Malgor that becomes a defining test of his loyalty toward the people fighting beside him.
When Cole is left behind at Ashpoint, William refuses to simply accept the loss and pushes for his recovery. The incident helps establish one of the principles that would remain central to William throughout his later life: people under his responsibility are not abandoned simply because recovering them is dangerous.
Sub-Act 1.5 — Old Debts
Blackwake travels to Coria-6ZNH, where William is forced to confront his history with the Iron Jackals and Rhett Calder, members of the crew that previously betrayed and abandoned him.
The confrontation brings William’s past directly into his new life and forces him to deal with people responsible for shaping his distrust and independence. His relationship with Blackwake also continues to deepen as the crew increasingly becomes something more meaningful than another temporary contract.
Sub-Act 1.6 — Home
William and Michael settle further into life aboard the BWS Horizon, with Blackwake becoming a genuine home rather than simply an employer.
William receives permanent identification marking his place among the crew, completing his progression from an isolated ship thief and contractor into someone who finally belongs somewhere.
The Sub-Act closes Act 1 while developments surrounding the growing conflict between the Terrorism Control Agency and Free Order Rebellion begin setting the stage for what follows.
Major Characters
Major Factions
Major Locations
Legacy
Act 1 establishes the relationship between William Grant and Michael Cross before they become known as Predator and Onyx. Their friendship, shared experiences, and time within Blackwake create the foundation upon which much of their later history is built.
It also establishes early differences between them. William increasingly develops a fierce and sometimes violent interpretation of loyalty and responsibility, while Michael places greater importance on restraint and distinguishing soldiers from executioners.
For the moment, however, those differences do not separate them.
At the end of Act 1, they are still partners.
And Blackwake is home.