The Origins

The Bleak Lands campaigns started when Karishal Muritor, once a proud member of the Republic's Fleet, decided that the Republic could no longer simply stay and wait while the Minmatar were still slaves in the Empire. So he organized his men and they all fled, taking with them important assets of the Republic's Fleet. They named themselves The Defiants, and moved to the Bleak Lands to start their war, against the wishes of the Republic's leaders.

The First Campaign

It started right after taking the name of Defiants and moving into the Bleak Lands. They proceeded to attack Imperial installations and equipment, in order to free their people and destroy the Imperial Navy's positions in that contested ground. Soon they were backed by the strongest and most rebellious Minmatar, headed by the Ushra'Khan Alliance. In reply, the Navy moved in, and brought with them the Amarrian loyalist, namely PIE Inc., Vigilia Valeria, Aegis Militia, Manu Dei and Ordo Quaesitoris.

Battles soon followed, and both sides scored victories and defeats. Many died permanently, and many clones were activated in their cloning facilities.

Finally, Karishal got called to a personal meeting by a close friend of his, Kanth Filmir. He attended, as requested, alone, even going against the recommendations of both his men and the Ushra'Khan. Even though the meeting was supposedly a truce, Kanth murdered Muritor following orders of the Republic's government.

Interludium

With their leader dead, and with them under heavy pressure both in the Republic and in the Empire, the Defiants left known space and headed to the Great Wildlands, where they lay hidden during months, with nothing known of them. Many tried to locate them, or get in contact with them through the IGS, but nothing seemed to come out of it.

The Second Campaign

This campaign started with unclear rumors of attacks in the Bleak Lands. It was unclear who was carrying them out, but they were strong and decisive in organization and action. Planning had been done with care, and execution was clear and brilliant. It soon required the 7th Imperial Fleet to move in, en-force, to fortify all the region. Admiral Saracen was named the leader of this operation, and a large amount of powers were granted to him. But their entrance wasn't as successful as planned, and in a strong battle, the Defiants were able to destroy the Cortex that kept all amarrian installations hidden, and so the installations became vulnerable.

As a response, the Navy once more called on the amarrian loyalists, and Pie Inc., Vigilia Valeria and Ordo Quaesitoris all replied to the call. The Defiants also called on their long time friends, the Ushra'Khan, and battles followed for the security or destruction of those Advanced Defense Units. The Imperial Navy did obtain a strong victory over the Defiants, destroying multiple ships, which lead to the Ushra'Khan offering a bounty for all the Advanced Defense Units destroyed, whoever destroyed them. This made a good number of new corporations and factions move into the battle, increasing both the stakes and the death tolls. Victories followed for both sides. The first big victory was for the Imperial Navy, but just a couple weeks afterwards the Defiants scored a big victory of their own in reply.

Both sides scored victories in the following months of war, and loyalist forces on either side both defended and destroyed the ADUs. In the end, the Defiants suddenly stopped appearing with no reason given, as suddenly as they had first shown, and peace came slowly to the zone. Peace which was reinforced when, a week afterwards, Admiral Saracen was called back to Amarr Prime and condemned for high treason by Chamberlain Karsoth. The 7th Fleet was then called back as well, and peace returned (briefly) to the region.

Consequences

Both campaigns in the Bleak Lands were a sign of the Empire War that was coming. As such, the actions of the Defiants created the opportunity and gave the Minmatar the needed knowledge for their sneak attack on imperial space that ignited the war.

The Defiants themselves were finally destroyed when the Minmatarr launched their failed invasion. As their ships, full of freed slaves, coursed through the Bleak Lands on their way back home, with the Imperial Navy on their back and the soon to be Empress Jamyl I heading them, the Defiants made their last stance. They engaged the Imperial forces in an attempt to buy time for their comrades, and succeeded in that, but at the highest price. They were wiped from existence shortly before CONCORD managed to stop the fighting.