Watchfire Rebels

The Watchfire Rebels are an active presence across the Midwestern wastelands, namely Michigan and Ohio, though they have operations in nearby states as well. Their main priority is to present a constant threat to the Directorate's daily operations. They also serve as mediators between smaller factions to prevent unnecessary conflicts. Cerberus Directorate outposts and supply lines outside of Detroit's walls are prime targets for the Rebels. They attack their infrastructure and intercept supplies to undermine the Directorate's influence outside of the city. Additionally, they run hidden clinics, mechanic shops, and trade routes to ensure that the settlements have access to essential resources.

The Rebels mostly operate openly, but they have infiltrators working to dismantle the Directorate from the inside. Their headquarters is in the remains of a pre-collapse subway station now known as Redline. Once a scrappy, haphazardly built town, it's become a stronghold with a marketplace for allied traders to contribute to the group's cause. Despite the Rebels' rapid growth, they maintain a semi-democratic command structure. Leadership is held to the same standards and accountability as lower-ranking members.

Cherry Butler is the heart of the organization. She leads from the frontlines, rallying soldiers and making key tactical decisions. Malik Frazier is the mind behind the Rebels' operations. She manages logistics, intelligence, and long-term planning. The Watchfire Rebels have several specialized teams, including saboteurs, medics, engineers, scientists, and diplomats. Everyone has a role to play.

Unlike the Cerberus Directorate, the Watchfire Rebels believe in restoring autonomy to the people of the wasteland. They seek justice for the oppressed and cut down those who exploit others for personal gain. They work to ensure that independent settlements can become self-sufficient and are able to defend themselves in emergencies. Education is another vital aspect of society, and the Rebels aim to make knowledge accessible to the masses. They frequently train medical professionals to work alongside their fighters.

Despite their good nature, the Rebels aren't always seen as heroes. Their stance against the Cerberus Directorate has led to collateral damage on a number of occasions. Civilians who relied on the Directorate's supply lines were cut off and left to fend for themselves. In rare instances, a settlement resents their presence, fearing that it will bring the Directorate's wrath down upon those around them. Rules are made to be broken, and the Watchfire Rebels, even with their own code, doesn't always play fairly. They're not above cutting deals with morally ambiguous factions if it grants them more resources for their people.

While the Watchfire Rebels aim to empower locals rather than rule them, they walk a fine line between being liberators and enforcers themselves. In recent years, the group has suffered from internal conflicts due to differing perspectives and goals. Some members have no objections towards the Rebels' increased inclination for morally gray decisions; others worry that allowing such behavior is a slippery slope. Even with their shortcomings, public opinion of the group is generally favorable.

The Watchfire Rebels are publicly presented as protectors of the people and truth seekers. They're daring, outspoken critics of oppressive forces such as the Cerberus Directorate. Confrontation isn't something to fear in the name of preserving freedom. They believe that the wasteland does need some form of order, but that order must respect peoples' autonomy. They seek to unify independent communities, providing them with the resources they need to attain self-sufficiency. The Rebels fight for a better future so that no one else has to.

The group doesn't see themselves as rulers, but their influence in the Midwest means that they're becoming the law, even if they won't admit it. Such a position comes with risks and unfortunately, not all members of the Watchfire Rebels are in it for the right reasons. They join with the hopes of gaining fortune and fame, using the group's good reputation to take advantage of others. Justice isn't always dealt with fairly; sometimes it's swift and brutal. The differences of opinion on what's truly "justice" has caused instability within the group.

Their internal conflicts have given the Cerberus Directorate plenty of information to twist in their favor. They push the notion that the Watchfire Rebels' idea of justice is another form of tyranny. They question the group's rapid growth despite their claims that they don't want power, and often accuse them of buying and bribing the allies they keep. In the eyes of the propaganda machine, the Watchfire Rebels are self-righteous, violent anarchists who only protect those who agree with their ideals.

Originally a small mercenary company, the Watchfire Rebels was founded by Cherry Butler and Malik Frazier in the year 2070. Cherry was a seasoned militia fighter from the western United States. After losing her wife to violence, she moved east to find a quiet life away from battle. Lawlessness and corruption were rampant throughout the country, though, and Cherry couldn't stand by idly while criminals and self-proclaimed rulers abused those they deemed inferior. She met Malik Frazier, a former military strategist turned bounty hunter, in the town of Redline.

They were disillusioned with the region's power struggles and bonded over a shared vision: a world where the strong didn't trample the weak. They gathered a group of like-minded individuals and gained a reputation for taking on contracts that directly put them at odds with the Cerberus Directorate. In response, the Directorate launched a smear campaign against them and other vigilante groups, painting them as violent, entitled terrorists. As more people sought refuge under their flag, the Watchfire Rebels transformed from a band of freedom fighters to a full-blown military force capable of standing against the Directorate.