Onyx
Real Name: Michael Cross
Codename: Onyx
Species: Human
Gender: Male
Height: 6’1”
Faction: Free World Order
Position: Leader
Former Occupation: Bounty Hunter
Status: Active
Primary Rival: Predator
Onyx is the leader of the Free World Order and one of the most influential military and political figures within the Omicron Galaxy.
Originally a bounty hunter, Onyx was once the partner and closest friend of Predator, long before either the Free World Order or Hell Hosts existed.
The two operated together for an extended period and developed reputations as highly capable bounty hunters. Their partnership eventually ended following a disastrous mission in which Onyx abandoned Predator aboard a critically damaged vessel.
Predator survived.
The event permanently destroyed their friendship and became the beginning of a rivalry that would eventually influence conflicts on a galactic scale.
Appearance
Onyx stands approximately 6’1” and is most commonly seen wearing dark, heavily enclosed combat armour.
His armour consists primarily of black and dark grey plating over a flexible protective undersuit, providing substantial protection while maintaining mobility.
His helmet completely obscures his face and incorporates an enclosed visor alongside an external respiratory system.
Onyx’s appearance beneath the armour is rarely seen, and his real name remains unknown.
He is human.
Personality
Onyx is intelligent, independent, ambitious, and highly pragmatic.
His willingness to prioritise his own objectives over personal loyalty ultimately destroyed his relationship with Predator.
Despite their later hatred for one another, Onyx possesses an extensive personal history with Predator that predates both of their respective factions.
As a result, their rivalry is considerably more personal than an ordinary conflict between opposing leaders.
Onyx is capable of patience and long-term planning, having progressed from an independent bounty hunter to the leader of one of the galaxy’s major political and military organisations.
He is not needlessly reckless and generally prefers actions that provide a clear strategic advantage.
Early Life
Little reliable information is available concerning Onyx’s early life.
His birth name, birthplace, family, and circumstances before becoming a bounty hunter remain unknown.
By the beginning of his documented history, he was already operating professionally under the name Onyx.
Bounty Hunter
Before the formation of the Free World Order, Onyx worked as a bounty hunter.
During this period, he became closely associated with Predator.
The two operated as partners and eventually became best friends.
They completed numerous contracts together and spent a significant portion of their early careers fighting alongside one another.
Their later reputations frequently obscure this period of their lives.
Before they became leaders of opposing powers, Predator and Onyx survived many of the same battles.
Betrayal of Predator
The partnership between Onyx and Predator ended following a disastrous mission.
During the operation, their vessel was critically damaged and crash-landed on a planet.
The wreck was consumed by fire and approaching catastrophic failure.
Predator became trapped or otherwise unable to immediately escape the vessel.
During the incident, Onyx received an opportunity for another job.
Rather than remain behind and risk his own life attempting to save his partner, Onyx left.
Predator was abandoned inside the wreck shortly before its destruction.
Onyx believed that Predator would die.
He did not.
Predator’s survival transformed the incident from what Onyx may have considered a necessary decision into one of the defining betrayals of both men’s lives.
Their partnership never recovered.
The exact circumstances surrounding the mission and Onyx’s decision remain incompletely documented.
Rise of the Free World Order
Following his separation from Predator, Onyx continued operating independently and gradually accumulated greater influence, resources, personnel, and power.
This period eventually contributed to the rise of the Free World Order.
Onyx became its leader and transformed what had begun with his own independent career into a major interstellar organisation.
The exact history surrounding the earliest formation of the Free World Order is documented separately within the faction’s history.
First Appearance of the Free World Order
The Free World Order first became publicly significant during the final conflict between the Terrorism Control Agency and the Free Order Rebellion.
During the battle, a Free World vessel unexpectedly entered the conflict.
The intervention marked one of the earliest major appearances of Onyx and the Free World Order within the wider political landscape of the Omicron Galaxy.
The vessel involved in the intervention would later become closely associated with the event.
Vessel name currently undocumented.
The incident occurred during a period of enormous political and military upheaval and helped establish the Free World Order as a force capable of intervening directly in major conflicts.
Rivalry with Predator
The relationship between Onyx and Predator eventually became one of the most significant personal rivalries within the Omicron Galaxy.
Their conflict predates the creation of Hell Hosts.
Predator did not become Onyx’s enemy because he founded Hell Hosts, nor did Onyx become Predator’s enemy simply because he led the Free World Order.
Their hatred began personally.
The factions and wars came afterward.
As both men accumulated greater power, their personal conflict became increasingly entangled with military and political events affecting billions of others.
Their shared history also means that each possesses an understanding of the other that few of their respective allies can replicate.
Hell Hosts
Onyx’s betrayal occurred long before the creation of Hell Hosts.
Predator would later become involved in the events surrounding Virex Prime and eventually establish Hell Hosts.
The emergence of Predator as the leader of another major power placed the former partners on opposing sides of increasingly large conflicts.
This ultimately contributed to the War Between Hell Hosts and Free World.
Combat
Onyx is an experienced combatant whose career began long before he became a faction leader.
Years spent as a bounty hunter provided extensive experience in direct combat, survival, tracking, small-unit engagements, and independent operations.
Although his later position provides access to significantly more advanced equipment and military resources, Onyx retains many of the combat habits developed during his earlier career.
He primarily uses ballistic weaponry.
Shotguns are particularly associated with him and remain among his preferred weapons.
Armour
Onyx uses a heavily protective combat suit designed around mobility, survivability, and operation within hostile environments.
The armour completely encloses his head and incorporates a dark visor and respiratory equipment.
Its predominantly black appearance has become closely associated with Onyx himself.
The exact capabilities and specifications of his current armour remain undocumented.
Legacy
Onyx’s influence extends considerably beyond the Free World Order.
His actions contributed to events that reshaped the political and military landscape of the Omicron Galaxy.
His former friendship with Predator also represents one of the most consequential personal relationships within modern galactic history.
A partnership between two bounty hunters ultimately produced two figures who would later stand at the centres of enormous opposing military powers.
Had their partnership survived, the history of the Omicron Galaxy may have developed very differently.