The Army

[Villamvihar]

Though people would often like to forget about it, the military plays an important role in the life of a country. It is the force which prevents an invasion by another country, or the force which invades another one. Throughout the ages, armies have changed a lot; from the Greek Spartans through the Roman mercenaries and the medieval knights, right up to today's professional soldiers, the composition, training and perception of militaries changed a lot. However, there is no denying that the military is a significant defining point of a country, or even a whole culture.

Your exercise is to develop the military of a country. You can use the following questions as help or you can work on your own.

What makes up the bulk of this military? Mercenaries? Recruits? Something else entirely?

Is this military a standing army, a temporary army, or some completely new kind of an army that we have never seen before?

How does the military recieve its supplies when it is mobilised and when it is standing by?

Do the members of this military recieve training? If so, please elaborate on the way they are trained. If not, then how are the members of this army selected and for what reason?

What divisions does this military consist of? How do these divisions interact? What is the hierarchy for this military? What is the highest rank in this military?

How is the military coordinated? Do they use messengers, radio, or some other form of communication?

Is this military big on rules, protocol and disciple? Why (not)?

Does this military have a uniform? If so, please describe this uniform in detail.

How does this military differentiate the common soldier from a general? What are the signs of rank in this military?

How does promotion work in this army? How is one accepted as an officer or a higher-ranked individual in the first place? Is it plausible to become a general right after joining this army without having served in this army previously?

Is this military particularly well-known for something? If so, what is it that gives this army its fame?

What is the equipment of this military's average soldier?

Does this military obey any international treaties, and if so, what kind of international treaties is it bound by?

Does this military have a code of honour or a set of rules that they operate by when they kidnap an enemy soldier or they are on enemy land? If so, please elaborate on this question.

How does this military fight? Does it rely on brute force, stealth, information warefare or something else? What is the branch of this military that usually gets the most attention and the most focus? Is there any particular strategy or tactic that this military often uses?

Are there any famous or infamous figures in this military? If so, please elaborate on these people.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of this military?

Roughly how many members is this military composed of? Is that considered a big military?

How do the people of the country see the military?

What is the relationship between the military and the police force, presuming that both exist?

How do the members of the military see the people of the country?

Is there tension between the military and any group in the country? If so, why?

 

[Minibit]

Is this military a standing army, a temporary army, or some completely new kind of an army that we have never seen before?
It is an Enlistment army with no draft; all soldiers are willingly and knowledgeably signed up for tours of duty lasting five years.

How does the military recieve its supplies when it is mobilised and when it is standing by?
The Military purchases food from civillian suppliers in the capital region to feed troops when they are standing by or garrissoned; they are sent out by convoy. Supplies for troops on the field/in active duty are purchased similarly; from civillian vendors in the surrounding areas; if this is impossible, food is shipped from wherever available

Do the members of this military recieve training? If so, please elaborate on the way they are trained. If not, then how are the members of this army selected and for what reason?
Joining the Military is popularly considered a 'graduation' of knighthood. Many recruits come from Swordsmanship Academies and quickly become officers. Others sign up with no training; regardless of background, all new recruits go through the same basic training; referred to as Breaking Courses - named for the terminology of taming wild horses.

What divisions does this military consist of? How do these divisions interact? What is the hierarchy for this military? What is the highest rank in this military?
The military consists of mounted troops, ground troops, and mages. All troops are trained in short and long range weaponry

How is the military coordinated? Do they use messengers, radio, or some other form of communication?
Messages are usually sent from mage to mage via communication spells, as these are more difficult to intercept and decode than the carrier hawks and messengers of older days

Is this military big on rules, protocol and disciple? Why (not)?
Yes; a military's purpose is to defend and preserve order; thus the military must be the pinnacle of order, itself.

Does this military have a uniform? If so, please describe this uniform in detail.
For ground or mounted troops: Steel plate armour with leather underneath. Helm, breastplate, shoulder guards and Shield are all emblazoned with the flag's logo

How does this military differentiate the common soldier from a general? What are the signs of rank in this military?
Commanding officers are distinguished mostly by uniform; in formal dress, the officer's dress uniform is blue, whereas the average soldier's is white. On the field, he wears a short (mid-back) cloak of dark blue, and wears a line of blue paint across his nose and cheeks.

How does promotion work in this army? How is one accepted as an officer or a higher-ranked individual in the first place? Is it plausible to become a general right after joining this army without having served in this army previously?
Promotions are a reward for conduct above and beyond the call of duty, and need to be recommended and confirmed by three or more officers of the suggested rank or higher (depending how high the rank is, more recommendations may be required). A dying but still installed tradition holds that the candidate must also best one of the recommending officers in a duel

Is this military particularly well-known for something? If so, what is it that gives this army its fame?
This nation was one of the first of the colonies to develop a formal military when it was a fledgling union, and this fact is what gave this country it's strong economy and stable security in it's developing years.

What is the equipment of this military's average soldier?
An average trooper is trained in the Broadsword, Dagger, Crossbow, Longbow, and - though it is becoming obselete - the spear

Does this military obey any international treaties, and if so, what kind of international treaties is it bound by?
No, this military belongs to the strongest nation in the continent; other countries stay on THEIR good side. Which fortunately for them is not difficult.

Does this military have a code of honour or a set of rules that they operate by when they kidnap an enemy soldier or they are on enemy land? If so, please elaborate on this question.
Civillians are Civillians, regardless of affiliation. Unless a civillian presents a clear and present danger to a member of the military, he or she is to be treated as an innocent bystander.

Enemy Hostages are to be treated with dignity and humane concern. They are fed, clothed, given water, and a safe place to sleep, but if for any reason the safety of friends and allies would be compromised by allowing these humane traditions, they can be annulled without impeaching the officer's honour.

How does this military fight? Does it rely on brute force, stealth, information warefare or something else? What is the branch of this military that usually gets the most attention and the most focus? Is there any particular strategy or tactic that this military often uses?
The military is famed for it's elite soldiers. They use intelligent strategies which vary from situation to situation.

Are there any famous or infamous figures in this military? If so, please elaborate on these people.There are many heroes of wars gone by in the Colonial days, when land was being fought over and the country's borders had to be protected, but times of peace have reigned for several years and there have been no new heroes for a long time. The military is pretty good for weeding out corruption.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of this military?
Strengths: Elite soldiers, mages, and a resourcful, powerful nation backing it. Weaknesses: Tneir strategems often rely on the magical abilities of their mages, which can be nullified under certain circumstances. Their honour codes have often been used against them via spies, double agents, and militant 'refugees'

Roughly how many members is this military composed of? Is that considered a big military?
Several thousand. Yes.

How do the people of the country see the military?
Probably in much the same way you see the fence between your children in the yard and the stray, possibly sick or dangerous dogs in the street. Not an urgent need, but probably good to have there.

What is the relationship between the military and the police force, presuming that both exist?Unless it is wartime and martial law has been declared in friendly territory, the Military reports all disturbances of the peace to the police officials, who take it over

How do the members of the military see the people of the country?
Friends and family under their sworn protection

Is there tension between the military and any group in the country? If so, why?
There are occasional fears about the mages separating from the army and becoming their own force

 

[Ferril]

What makes up the bulk of this military? Mercenaries? Recruits? Something else entirely?
The army is made up almost entirely of civilians, though it is in no way a hindrance. When war comes the civilians form local mallitias based on pre determined ranks and skill.

Is this military a standing army, a temporary army, or some completely new kind of an army that we have never seen before?
There are career military men who stand ready at all times, but much of the army rouses only when needed.

How does the military receive its supplies when it is mobilized and when it is standing by?
When standing by most of the military goes about their regular business, those that are permanent soldiers merely buy supplies from the civilians. When mobilized however, the army often turns to a staple of foraging, scouts often taking secondary duty as hunters or gatherers.

Do the members of this military receive training? If so, please elaborate on the way they are trained. If not, then how are the members of this army selected and for what reason?
ALL civilians are given basic military and survival training, those who decide to take a military career however are given extensive combat training. Wilderness treks, survival tests, and mock battles are a regular routine for trainees.

What divisions does this military consist of? How do these divisions interact? What is the hierarchy for this military? What is the highest rank in this military?
The military consist of Military Police, Marines, Ground troops, Fleet troops, and Support staff. The marines are their best troops, veterans of at least 10 battles, many of the commanding officers for the military spend some time with this group. The MP watch over the other branches and make sure that they keep in line, officers consist of retired marines and veteran MP's who have been around for a long time. Ground troops consist of several Militia squads led by a small squad of Marines. Fleet troops consist of bomber and fighter pilots trained in survival and infiltration techniques in the event of the survival of a crash behind enemy lines. The fleet also consists of 'merchant' captains given control of light, fast moving cruisers... Most of these captains have spent at least some time 'privateering' in other systems. Support staff are civilians who have either shown little aptitude for battle, or merely great skill in logistics, repair or other required odd jobs. In general though the soldiers themselves can handle most situations groundside.

How is the military coordinated? Do they use messengers, radio, or some other form of communication?
Each soldiers helmet is equipped with a com, though the majority are keyed to a squad frequency with the com officer being keyed into the higher command frequencies.

Is this military big on rules, protocol and disciple? Why (not)?
The army believes in heavy discipline, going to great lengths to enforce it... though they do have a certain belief in individualism in the persuit of efficiency . Discipline is required to make certain that no mistakes are made, and in a smaller army used to facing larger foes, every mistake could be disastrous. The belief in individualism, however, is based on the idea that each soldier has his or her own niche that they can fill, and that each squads cohesiveness can benefit from such.

Does this military have a uniform? If so, please describe this uniform in detail.
The main uniform of the military is their helmet, which holds com suites and a number of visual benefits (night vision, infrared, etc) and light battle armor given to all units. The battle armor acts as balistic shielding, stopping fling debris and shrapnel that is often thrown up by their liberal use of destructive weaponry

How does this military differentiate the common soldier from a general? What are the signs of rank in this military?
Generals have very little to differentiate themselves from common soldiers, merely a few light stripes around the arm of their armor (These are merely referred to as bars). It is believed that the less there is to distinguish them the less chance of the enemy trying to take them out. Rank is signifies by the number and thickness of the bars on ones shoulder. From 1-5 are the normal, then each thick bar signifies a rank above that.

How does promotion work in this army? How is one accepted as an officer or a higher-ranked individual in the first place? Is it plausible to become a general right after joining this army without having served in this army previously?
The chances of becoming a general, or even an officer, right off the bat are very slim, soldiers are expected to go through grueling training to gain the honor of being allowed service in the military and officers are held to an even higher standard. They usually have to prove themselves in combat and then go through a very arduous weeks long training regimen to gain their rank.

Is this military particularly well-known for something? If so, what is it that gives this army its fame?
This army is well known for its sheer ferocious tenacity. It is not uncommon for squads of their army to fight to the last man when it is required, even going so far as to sacrifice themselves wholesale to take out important enemies... They also are known for heavily modified weaponry, optimized for destructive potential... Soldiers and their toys as they say.

What is the equipment of this military's average soldier?
Helmet, battle armor, about a weeks worth of rations, ammo packs, mono knife, blaster rifle, blaster pistol... these are most of those supplied by the army, though they rarely have to issue blasters... Most prefer to bring their own weapons, so some may come wielding swords, hunting rifles, heavy blasters, and any number of other weapons... be advised that the average citizen tends to be more heavily armed than most other countries standing troops.

Does this military obey any international treaties, and if so, what kind of international treaties is it bound by?
They have treatise with most of the smaller independent systems, trade agreements and non-aggression pacts for the most part, though they are known to come to the independent systems aid when needed.

Does this military have a code of honor or a set of rules that they operate by when they kidnap an enemy soldier or they are on enemy land? If so, please elaborate on this question.
Enemy troops are to be given the chance to surrender, if enemies are captured they are considered property of the state and the unauthorized harm of any is a heavily punished act. Enemy soldiers are often kept and used as social workers under heavy guard until the wars are over, though if they have critical information superior officers may have them... interrogated for the information. In general they are known for treating prisoners well and returning them (Mostly) intact. While on enemy land soldiers are expected to do what they can to survive while making as little impact as possible, that often means that they hunt the enemies lands for game to feed themselves and occasionally commondeer provisions from locals... Resistance is supposed to be dealt with delicately but... war breeds casualties.

How does this military fight? Does it rely on brute force, stealth, information warfare or something else? What is the branch of this military that usually gets the most attention and the most focus? Is there any particular strategy or tactic that this military often uses?
They believe heavily in liberal use of force, though their smaller numbers do make that difficult. They use precise strikes by elite troops to demoralize enemies, while systematically cutting enemy supply and communication chains. Once that is done the ground troops wade in with heavy weaponry designed to cause extreme destruction and fear. At the same time fighters and bombers make strikes at enemy positions or do their best to hold back the enemies own air forces if that is not possible. Demoralize and conquer.

Are there any famous or infamous figures in this military? If so, please elaborate on these people.
General Illecia Heart, made famous by singlehandedly capturing 200 enemy commandos after being trapped behind enemy lines. Using guerrilla tactics, destruction of supply lines and vicious mutilation of enemy soldiers to strike fear into the enemy troops. Her constant harassment and evasiveness over the course of several weeks managed to break the spirit of the enemy and make a breach in their lines, allowing her kinsmen to pour through and win the battle.

Captain David Anderson, known for extreme valor and quick thinking under fire. Took command of a whole battalion when the Generals bunker was hit by a lucky warhead. With the chain of command crippled and many of his own superior officers panicking Anderson took up the flag of battle and rallied nearby troops, solidifying the lines and even pushing forward. Thanks to this the other troops, who had begun to become demoralized gathered their wits once more, and followed the flag into the fray. The battle was a victory thanks to his quick action and he was rewarded handsomely... though he still has yet to be promoted. Not all appreciate individual action after all...

What are the strengths and weaknesses of this military?
The army is good at infiltration and demoralization, well known for hitting hard and fast and leaving destruction in their wake. They make excellent special forces and shock troops, however, their world is small and the sheer number of fighters they are able to muster is not as much as many other worlds. They are also known for heavily modified technologies which means they lack certain uniformity in their equipment... in return their weapons and vehicles are often more advanced than those of other armies... but they also cost more.

Roughly how many members is this military composed of? Is that considered a big military?
Overall they can field an attacking army of 900,000 or so at any one time though their numbers when defending swell considerably. Seeing as some systems are able to field armies that have more troops than this planets entire population? Not really...

How do the people of the country see the military?
The military is seen as an exceptionally honorable occupation, though not exactly one that need be considered in haste. Only after much thought and deliberation should one join the military, and only then if they are deemed worthy.

What is the relationship between the military and the police force, presuming that both exist?
The MP handle the position of civilian police as well, though it is rarely required of them as the crime rate is very low. People from other countries may not understand... at least until they see their first thief gunned down by a half dozen civilians... Crime is not advised in any situation.

How do the members of the military see the people of the country?
Civilians are often seen as soldiers on leave, the two groups mingle regularly and have a certain companionship not found in most other countries.

Is there tension between the military and any group in the country? If so, why?
The military often has tension with the more bureaucratic elements of society as they are not required to have military service. Soldiers often see any politician who was not in the military themselves as weak and unworthy of their position. The fact that politics is the way many of those who merely do not wish to fight escape military service does not help in the least.