Constance Augustine (·𐑒𐑭𐑯𐑕𐑑𐑩𐑯𐑕 ·𐑭𐑜𐑩𐑕𐑑𐑰𐑯, born -7-1823.22, presumed deceased 18-3318.10), also known under the pseudonym C-Null (·𐑕𐑰-𐑯𐑩𐑤), was a Navarean criminal mastermind, rogue scientist, and founder of the notorious Sector C-Null faction. Once a prodigy in the field of xenobiology and prosthetic augmentation at the Navarean Academy of Applied Sciences, Augustine's brilliant career was cut short by her increasingly unethical experiments and eventual expulsion.
Born on the low-gravity colony world of Airesem, Augustine's life changed dramatically when she received a scholarship to study on the Navarean homeworld. The high gravity environment caused her constant, chronic pain, leading to an addiction to painkillers and a desperate search for a solution.
In a notorious incident that would foreshadow her future, Augustine constructed crude metal reinforcements for her legs and surgically implanted them into her own bones while fully conscious in her dorm bathtub. This act, born of desperation and scientific curiosity, is believed to have triggered her subsequent addiction to pain and her increasingly erratic behaviour.
Augustine's brilliance was undeniable, and she quickly became the youngest ever graduate in the history of the Navarean Academy. Her specialisation in biomechanical engineering led her to pursue an SX degree focusing on neural-integrated prosthetics, and she was believed to be on track for Lordship within the next five years.. However, her methods became increasingly unethical, culminating in a series of experiments that showed little regard for volunteer safety.
The final straw came when she nearly killed her roommate during an unauthorised experiment. This led to Augustine's immediate expulsion from the Academy.
Following her expulsion from the Navarean Academy of Applied Sciences, Augustine fled to the Galactic Neutral Zone. With nothing but her stolen Faraday Cargo 100T starship and her extensive scientific knowledge, she began her transformation from disgraced academic to criminal mastermind.
Augustine's first weeks in the Neutral Zone were fraught with danger. She narrowly escaped several attempts on her life by various pirate factions who saw her as an easy target. However, her breakthrough came when she encountered a badly damaged ship belonging to the notorious Crimson Nebula gang. Using her medical expertise and improvised equipment, Augustine saved the lives of several critically injured crew members.
Word of her skills spread quickly through the criminal underworld. Augustine began offering her services as a freelance medic and engineer, carefully maintaining a neutral stance among the various factions. Her policy of treating anyone, regardless of affiliation, earned her a reputation for reliability and discretion.
Recognising the chronic lack of medical care in the Neutral Zone, Augustine established a network of free clinics on various asteroid bases and derelict space stations. These clinics, while primitive, provided essential services to the region's marginalised populations. Unknown to most, these clinics also served as information gathering hubs, allowing Augustine to build a vast intelligence network.
Augustine's background in the medical field and augmentation technology gave her a unique advantage. She began developing and distributing advanced prosthetics and augmentations to key figures in various criminal organisations. These "gifts" often came with hidden features that Augustine could exploit, further expanding her influence.
As her power grew, Augustine realised the potential in uniting the fractious criminal elements of the Neutral Zone. She began brokering deals and alliances between formerly hostile factions, positioning herself as a neutral arbitrator. These efforts culminated in the formation of Sector C-Null, a loose confederation of criminal organisations united under Augustine's leadership.
The name "C-Null" was chosen to represent both Augustine's nickname and the idea of a "null sector" - a place beyond the reach of imperial law.
Augustine solidified her position through a combination of tactical genius, technological superiority, and ruthless efficiency. Key strategies included:
Within three years of her arrival in the Neutral Zone, Augustine had transformed Sector C-Null from a loose alliance into the dominant power in the region. Her organisation controlled major trade routes, held sway over numerous asteroid bases, and had infiltrated many legitimate businesses in neighbouring systems.
Throughout her rise to power, Augustine maintained a complex ideology. She portrayed Sector C-Null as a necessary counterbalance to the neglect and exploitation of colonial populations by core worlds. Her stated goal was to create a power base strong enough to force recognition and better treatment for outer colonies.
However, many observers noted that Augustine's methods often mirrored the very systems she claimed to oppose. The true nature of her long-term plans remained a subject of intense speculation until her eventual return to Airesem and subsequent arrest.
Augustine's criminal career was abruptly interrupted when she received news of a tragedy on her home colony of Airesem. An accidental atmospheric breach, caused by her parents' inability to afford proper home maintenance, resulted in their deaths and the destruction of her childhood home.
Driven by grief and anger, Augustine returned to Airesem, where she was promptly detained by local authorities. Her subsequent trial became a media sensation, marked by what many observers noted as a bias against colonists.
During the trial, Augustine was charged with numerous crimes, including:
The prosecution also brought forth evidence of numerous war crimes allegedly committed under her leadership of Sector C-Null, although these charges were harder to prove definitively.
Despite her impassioned defence, in which she argued that her actions were necessary to address the systemic neglect of colonial citizens, Augustine was found guilty on all counts. The judge, noting the severity and breadth of her crimes, handed down one of the harshest sentences in recent Navarean history.
Augustine was sentenced to multiple life terms without the possibility of parole, to be served in the Airesem Central Penitentiary Facility. This sentence was seen by many as excessively punitive, with some commentators suggesting it reflected an inherent bias against colonists in the Navarean justice system.
Two years into her sentence, Augustine became a central figure in the infamous Airesem Prison Riots of 18-3315. Reports from the time suggest that she quickly emerged as a leader among the inmates, using her charisma and scientific knowledge to coordinate their efforts.
On 18-3318.10, during a chaotic confrontation between rioting prisoners and security forces, Augustine was reportedly killed. However, her body was never recovered, leading to speculation about the actual events. Some believe she may have escaped during the confusion, potentially with the aid of her Sector C-Null allies.
Augustine's life and presumed death have become the subject of much debate and speculation. To some, she represents the tragic outcome of a system that failed to understand and accommodate the needs of its colonial citizens. To others, she remains a dangerous criminal whose actions caused untold harm.
Her work in prosthetics and augmentation, while ethically questionable, has had a lasting impact on the field. The organisation she founded, Sector C-Null, continues to operate in the Neutral Zone, though the extent of its current activities and whether it still follows Augustine's original vision remain unclear. The mystery surrounding her fate has led to numerous conspiracy theories and reported sightings across the galaxy.