Yeah it's pretty creepy. The "heads" might not even be needed. It's just there to be more human-like.
I think a faction based around integrated alien tech sounds the most interesting to me. You could even base it off the real ancient chinese fangshi. "The fangshi (方士, literally "method masters" or "masters of recipes/techniques") were a fascinating class of technical and esoteric specialists in ancient China. Fangshi were highly skilled practitioners who combined elements of what we might today call: Alchemy Medicine and pharmacology Astrology and astronomy Divination and omen interpretation Physiognomy (reading faces or bodies for fate) Geomancy Exorcism and ritual magic Techniques for achieving longevity or immortality (becoming a xian 仙, a transcendent immortal) They were often wandering experts, mystics, or occult technicians from northern regions like Qi and Yan. Many operated outside mainstream Confucian scholarship, though some gained imperial favor. Their knowledge drew from shamanistic (wu) traditions but evolved into more systematic "methods" (fang). Over time, their practices heavily influenced early religious Daoism (Taoism), traditional Chinese medicine, and even proto-scientific fields like chemistry and pharmacology."
Sounds like the Black Banner, which I believe "does not exist" in the lore, would fit the general game mechanics theme of that one. Largely responsible for black sites, ethical or otherwise research into Voodootech, security and interrogation of non-terrestial origin lifeforms (especially sites not operated by Aleph), and the likes. I can imagine a heavy lean into Holomask here to present the appearance of being conventional forces. Obviously Voodootech like plasma or nanoscreen. -- A more obvious sectorial is the Navy. Being one of the largest, if not the largest, military organisational structures in the Human Sphere, we already have at least two units from them; Haidao and Tian Gou. Think of it like a very Yu Jing take on Starmada or Corregidor. More Combat Jump than you could ever want. Potential for a new flier for sure. Less infiltration and more forward deployment (e.g. hot insertion). For the retrofuturism reasons, also Shaolin Monks (notable for conducting anti-pirate activities during the Ming dynasty) P.s. The answer to Ninja vs Pirate may be uncertain, but they do provide the answer to Shaolin vs Pirate and that answer is Shaolin by a large margin.
