Aegis

Aegis (formally known as the "World Council for the Distribution, Conservation, and Protection of Precious Resources and Natural Wealth", and also "Dystricon") was a multinational trade conglomerate and transnational military organization that was a major combatant during the Helium War. Founded and funded by a conference of mining and energy magnates in the late 2040s under the name Dystricon, it initially served as a transport and armed escort contractor to various corporate clients which wanted to provide raw natural resources (such as helium drilled in Africa) to offsite buyers and sellers during the Helium Revolution of the 2050s and 2060s.

In 2063, Dystricon struck multiple acquisition deals with its clients and partners, as well as with several governments in African countries. The acquisition deals resulted in the absorption of the collective assets of Dystricon's partners into the conglomerate. This subsequently strengthened Dystricon's hold on Africa's supply of helium, which was even then believed by some experts to be some of the last stores of naturally-occurring helium on Earth. The new conglomerate that would form from these dealings would be rebranded as Aegis -- with a slogan that read: ''Powering our world. Powering our future.'' It was also during this process that the organization acquired and began manufacturing military-grade weapons and equipment, and began more aggressively and violently securing helium stores in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Somalia, not on behalf of their clients, but in their own interests.

The government of Kenya, threatened by the political and military power that Aegis was gaining, attempted to force Aegis to abandon their Kenyan holdings during the 2076 Raid on Fort Jesus. In response to the escalation and emerging conflict, the neighboring country of the United Congolese Republic committed itself to aiding Kenya in the dispute. The European Union (and later other emerging factions and alliances) would later become militarily involved in the subsequent Helium War, following the first military response to the conflict by an extra-continental country in the form of the United States' Intervention in Kenya.