In the beginning there was just a handful of people, trying to do something about the mess the Earth had become since the Invasion began. There was Mike Robinson, AKA Black Lightning. There was Isa Tharend. There was H'hodaraak Phaa. And there was Alexandra Chang.
They went around the world, trying to learn about the invaders, trying to help people and generally do what good they could manage. Some of them died. Other people joined them. They did extensive damage to the plans of Uthorion, Dr. Mobius, and Malreaux, among others.
Making contact with the German government, they found patrons; now they had a base of operations and logistical support.
Then, while on a mission in CyberFrance, they learned that their activities had gained them some attention, even notoriety. They had been labelled by the Church as 'Fugitive Group C'. (Later investigation turned up that there had been Fugitive Groups A and B, but that they had been destroyed.)
The group seized upon this name, claiming it for their own, and even began to leave messages proclaiming that "Fugitive Group C was here!" Still working with the Germans, they picked up more resources: a captured space shuttle, a battlevan, a dirigible and a tank.