Dark Legion

The Dark Legion is a technocratic organization formed by Dimitri's son Menniker after the Echidna society on Angel Island renounced technology. While originally the organization was continually hostile towards their other Echidna brethren, recently they have acted as the protectors of the surviving Echidnas on Angel Island from the Dr. Eggman-backed Dingoes. Recently, the Legion splintered into two factions, the Flame Legion and the Frost Legion.

Description
The Dark Legion is a technocratic society of Echidnas, which has always been lead by the descendants of Dimitri. The main identifying trait in the ranks of the Legion is their devotion to technology. These Echidnas are so obsessed with mechanics that they even replace parts of their own bodies with machine implants. They also believe themselves superior to other species. Over time, the primary goal of the Legion evolved to first dominate Angel Island, and then the rest of Mobius. (KtE: #1, #2, #3, #22, #23)

Foundations
Founded by Menniker, son of Dimitri, the Dark Legion was originally made up of a group of disgruntled Echidnas opposed to the Echidna Council's ban on excess technology and the Brotherhood of Guardians. After killing Edmund, Steppenwolf-the son of Edmund and second Guardian-and Menniker engaged in mortal combat. Before the other members of the Legion were able to act, Steppenwolf used his Chaos powers to banish Menniker and the Dark Legion to the Twilight Zone, a realm where time passed differently than on Mobius, resulting in four Mobian generations to every single Dark Legion one. (KtE: #1, #2, #3)

First Offensive
Some generations later, after the birth of the Guardians Moonwatcher, Harlan, Rembrandt, Aaron and Jordan, Menniker and a few members of the Dark Legion managed to escape the Twilight Zone. Teaming up with a group of Overlanders, Menniker procured a nuclear missile, hoping to strike down the Floating Island. Aaron, who was currently on the planet's surface, discovered Menniker and his plot. One of the Overlanders launched the missile, but Aaron leaped on and began to disable it. Menniker managed to grab a hold of Aaron before the missile took off; ordering him not to try to meddle with the bomb or it would explode. When Aaron discovered this, he deliberately set off the missile, ending its threat to the Floating Island and Menniker life at the cost of his own. (KtE: 25)

Second Offensive
Following the death of Menniker, the Dark Legion was lead by his son, Moritori Rex. The new Grandmaster devised a means to observe Mobius from the Twilight Zone, and used this knowledge to attack the vulnerable Echidnaopolis when the current Guardian Hawking was absent and his inexperienced son Tobor was acting Guardian. Although the Dark Legion's invasion was pushed back, Moritori's attack turned out to be a means to wound Tobor and himself so that Hawking would accidentally rescue him. His plan worked, and Moritori had now infiltrated the Brotherhood of Guardians and their base of operations: Haven. For many decades, Moritori provided strategic information to the Dark Legion about the Brotherhood, and managed to sabotage Haven so that his identity was not discovered. (KtE: #16, #17, #18)

Third Offensive
After Dr. Ivo Robotnik's weapon, the Ultimate Annihilator, the dimensional barriers between the Twilight Zone, Mobius and the Pocket Zone which Echidnaopolis had existed in for over 200 years ceased to exist. This enabled the Dark Legion's freedom and their current leader and Grandmaster, Kragok, began an all-out invasion of the Floating Island. The current Guardian, Knuckles, with the help of the Chaotix, managed to blunt their attack. They then proceeded to attack the Dark Legion's base of operations, the Grand Conservatory. With their main hideout discovered and their forces spread out, Kragok's planned invasion was put on hold. (KtE: #1, #2, #3)

Fourth Offensive
Due to unknown assistance from Mammoth Mogul, the rocket carrying the super being Enerjak returned to Mobius. As Kragok was preparing the Dark Legion for a renewed attack on Echidnaopolis, Enerjak appeared and revealed himself to be none other than Dimitri. Kragok then turned control of the Legion over to him, and prepared his troops for the coming invasion. Due to Enerjak's vast powers, the Dark Legion was able to plow directly into Echidnaopolis. The combined might of the Echidna Security Team (E.S.T.) and the Dingoes nearly forced them out, but Enerjak used his powered to disable his enemies' weapons. While Enerjak announced the Dark Legion's victory, Mammoth Mogul teleported him mid-sentence to somewhere high above the city. Before Enerjak knew what had happened, Mogul drained his powers using the Sword of Acorns. Without the Chaos Emeralds' powers to sustain him, Enerjak was reduced to the 400-year old Echidna scientist. He was saved by Knuckles before he fell to his death, and while Knuckles was distracted, a group of Dark Legionnaires rescued the now-dieing Dimitri. While Dimitri and a large amount of the Dark Legion managed to escape, Kragok and other Legionnaires were not as fortunate, and were imprisoned by the E.S.T. (KtE: #7, #8, #9)

Political Agenda
Some time later, Dimitri revealed that he was still alive, with the majority of his body replaced with cybernetic implants and mechanical parts. Rather than attempt to take over the city, Dimitri decided to try something new. He had a group of Legionnaires captured the High Councillor Pravda and implant a chip in his brain which would allow the Dark Legion to control him. They then had Pravda appoint their android agent Benedict as his replacement and the new candidate in the upcoming election so that the Dark Legion would have a solid place in Echidnaopolis' politics. In addition to this, Xenin, one of Dimitri's best agents, had captured Knuckles, Julie-Su and General Stryker so that they would be unable to reveal his plans to the public. Dimitri had also hoped to extract Knuckles' chaos powers to extend his life and possible restore him to his Enerjak personae. Dimitri's plans were ultimately foiled when Knuckles generated an electromagnetic pulse which destroyed Benedict. (KtE: #22, #23, #24)

The Quantum Beam
Tired of his numerous failed attempts to retake Echidnaopolis and the Floating Island, Dimitri came up with a new strategy. He used his forces at the Grand Conservatory to distract both the Brotherhood of Guardians and the Chaotix, while his heavy cruiser fired the Quantum Beam, which teleported the entire Floating Island's population to another zone. With the island now completely void of life, the Dark Legion had free reign. Dimitri spent the next few days having his troops search through the vacant city for any signs of life or resistance. (SSS: #14)

Dimitri spent the next few days having his troops search through the vacant city for any signs of life or resistance. Before he had the chance to reclaim the city however, Dimitri made a deal with Knuckles, who at this point was currently a living Chaos Emerald known as Chaos Knuckles. Knuckles would join the Dark Legion, and in exchange, Dimitri would reverse the effects of the Quantum Beam. Knuckles agreed, but just as Dimitri was preparing to restore the Echidnas back to this zone, Tobor and Kragok emerged from the Twilight Zone. The first firing of the Quantum Beam had resulted in a tearing of the fabric of space and time, which allowed the two to finally escape. However, Tobor sacrificed his life to end the threat of what he was as a Dark Legion attack, by slamming Kragok and himself into the cruiser, resulting in the temporary malfunction of the Quantum Beam. Knuckles then used his own powers to reverse the effects of the Quantum Beam, restoring all the Floating Island's inhabitants. (StH: #100, #101, #106, #107)

Change in Policy
Dimitri, having slowly regained his former mindset, which had been corrupted by the vast amount of Chaos energies he'd absorbed 400 years ago to become Enerjak, finally had a change of heart. Rather than continue the centuries-old feud between the Dark Legion and the rest of the Angel Island Echidnas, Dimitri attempted to bridge the gap between his people after Knuckles restored them to the Floating Island. He went to the Echidna Council and spoke to the Mitre, the religious leader of the Council, and attempted to arrange the merging of the splintered society. Around this time however, Dimitri's health took a turn for the worse, immobilized and forced to remain attached constantly to a life support system. Sensing that Knuckles' would use his powers to save his life, Dimitri forced his great-great-granddaughter Lien-Da to promise not to act against Knuckles or interfere. (StH: #108, #109, #114)

Before the Council had the chance to make a decision, Mammoth Mogul returned. He used Dimitri as a hostage, luring Knuckles into a trap so that he could use his own version of the Chaos Syphon to drain his powers and become omnipotent once again. Knuckles managed to save Dimitri, whose life support was terminated by Mogul, but was killed in the process. With his health still declining, Dimitri turned to the mysterious Dr. Finitevus in desperation for help. The mad scientist removed Dimitri's head from his body and preserved it in a glass ball, saving Dimitri. This was only a temporary solution, and Finitevus promised to use the Master Emerald to restore Dimitri to his Enerjak form. (StH: #117, #118, #171, #180)

New Grandmaster
With Dimitri's disappearance, Lien-Da took command of the Dark Legion. Shortly after this, the alien race known as the Xorda attacked Mobius, threatening to destroy all life on the planet. The Dark Legion teamed up with the Dingoes and the E.S.T. to combat the global threat, along with almost every other force on the planet, including the Freedom Fighters and Dr. Eggman. After the Xorda's final attack with the Quantum Dial was thwarted, the hero of Mobius, Sonic the Hedgehog, was presumed to have died. Dr. Eggman used this opportunity to re-establish a global empire. (StH: #125, #130)

Dr. Eggman made a deal with the Dingoes: in exchange for becoming his enforcers and servants, the Dingoes would receive supplies and backing from the newly formed Eggman Empire. Having loathed the Echidnas for hundreds of years, the Dingoes agreed, and managed to take over Angel Island. The Brotherhood of Guardians fought to hold off the Dingoes while the Master Emerald was hidden away by Locke. Realizing he alone could not protect the Master Emerald, Locke entrusted its protection to Lien-Da and the Dark Legion. After Locke was captured, the Dark Legion remained as the free Echidnas' defenders and the resistance against the Dingo Regime. (StH: #139, #140)

The Schism
A few months after Locke's rescue, the Dark Legion splintered into two factions, the Flame Legion, commanded by Lien-Da, and the Frost Legion, commanded by an unknown Echidna believed to be Remmington. The two factions were engaged in civil war, leaving the free Echidnas easy pray for the Dingoes. Locke was forced to accept the help of Dr. Finitevus and his new minions, the Destructix, to protect the Master Emerald and the Echidnas whilst he searched for the Brotherhood of Guardians, who had gone missing since Eggman's takeover of Angel Island. (StH: #165, #171)
 * The reason for the schism is currently unknown, though it is likely to be explained in the Enerjak: Reborn story arc

With the discovery that Dr. Finitevus was bringing about the return of Enerjak, the Flame Legion and Frost Legion put aside their dispute to combine forces and attempt to prevent Finitevus' plans from coming to fruition. Their alliance came too late, however, and Enerjak was brought back. (StH: #180)

Grandmasters
In order of leadership:
 * Menniker
 * Moritori Rex
 * Luger
 * Kragok
 * Dimitri
 * Lien-Da

Troops and Members

 * Julie-Su (formerly)
 * Dr. Finitevus (formerly)
 * Xenin
 * Simon
 * Floren-Ca
 * Merin-Da
 * Mari-Su
 * Rykor
 * Syntar

Energy Blasters
Almost every Dark Legionnaire is equipped with an energy blaster, either in the form of a pistol or rifle.

Hovercrafts
The Dark Legion's main method of long-range transportation, these crafts are typically capable of carrying up to 5 passengers.

Implants
The Dark Legion's understanding of technology is on par with, if not superior to, Dr. Eggman's. Every Dark Legionnaire has some portion of their body exchanged for a robotic replacement. Some Legionnaires go so far as to have the vast majority of themself replaced with mechanical limbs and parts, such as Xenin. Additionally, all Legionnaires have a memory chip implanted in their brains at birth, which can be used to terminate ones memories.

Mechanauts
Originally, Mechanauts were labour robots meant to serve the Echidna people. However, when Dimitri became Enerjak, he reprogrammed them into war machines with the intent of forcing his will upon the beings the Mechanauts had been intended to serve. The Mechanauts became more like SWATbots, enforcing order on those who resisted, though the majority of them were apparently placed in storage when changes in Echidna society outlawed nonessential technology. Resisting the changes to their way of life, the Dark Legion assembled their own warlike Mechanauts, and these robots came with them after the Ultimate Annihilator allowed them to make their final escape from the Twilight Zone.

Swords
The Flame Legion appears to be equipped with flame-based swords while the Frost Legion is armed with liquid nitrogen-based swords.