Factions: The Army
-- Gen. Anuel Sadas
1st Duros appointed to the rank of
General of the Army
There are countless
dangers in the galaxy that threaten the security of the Republic and its many
member worlds. Standing on the line between security and the threats of unknown
anarchies is the Republic Planetary Defense Force, or as its more commonly
called, the Army. What follows is a brief summary of the army command structure
and a few notes about the nature of the army. Made as much by tradition as
by common sense, the army is an institution unique to itself. It has survived
politics and debate, war and peace. Despite all the claims made by its detractors
and enemies, the army is going nowhere. It is the protection the Republic
so desperately needs in dark times such as those chronicled in the Exis Sagas.
Enlisted Personnel
Recruit
You will undergo basic training for your first six months of service, at the
end of which you will be a confident and reliable soldier. After, you will
undergo advanced training which takes anywhere from another six weeks to six
months, depending upon your specialty.
Private
You are a trained specialist, capable of performing your duty to exacting
specifications. Assignments vary with specialty, ranging from desk jobs in
the core to small outposts in the Expansion Region. Privates make up the bulk
of the army. Droids are rare in the army and most privates prefer to keep
it that way.
Lance
Private
While you have no other soldiers under your command, you have shown a consistent
level of superiority in your specialty. As a lance private are considered
to be the one of the best in your area of expertise.
Non-Commisioned Officers
Corporal
You are most likely an assistant to a Seargant, or a ranking specialist of
some kind. Occasionally a corporal is given a small group of privates to complete
a task, and when no senior ranking individual is present, corporals are given
the authority to make tactical decisions.
Seargent
You command a small number of other soldiers, or you may be a trainer of some
skill. The command of a seargent is normally called a squad and consists of
eight to twelve privates and one or two corporals.
Warrant
Officer
You are recognized for your great proficiency in your chosen specialty. Officers
rely on your advice, and you may perform duties which are highly technical.
While considered a non-commisioned officer, you seldom have direct dealings
with the command structure. A warrant officers expertise is typically such
that they are too important an asset to relegate to a minor post in the chain
of command.
Officers
Lieutenant
You are a graduate of Army Command School. You are likely a field officer,
meaning that you may have a great number of soldiers under your personal command.
Most lieutenants are charged with leading a platoon. Platoons consist of three
to four squads.
Captain
You are a proven officer, capable of commanding large areas, or critical tactical
functions. Captains tend to lead critical aspects within any given battle.
While they don't carry the strategy of the entire engagement, they are pivotal
within the defense of flanks, leading attacks, and holding the line. Captains
are normally found commanding a company. Companies consist of three to four
platoons.
Major
Although Majors typically command only one type of unit or function, at this
level they are given some lattitude on self-direction. While still not in
command of the entire military force for a given engagement, majors coordinate
with captains to see that a particular strategy or defense is in place. A
major who has proven himself consistently is typically placed in charge of
a battalion. Battalions consist of three to four companies. Despite the number
of troops under a major's direct command, they are normally all very similar;
be it armored repulsorlifts or skirmisher infantry units.
Colonel
A Colonel is capable of both tactical and strategic decisions, if need be.
When you reach the rank of colonel the battle is quite literally yours. Charged
with leading what is called a regiment (made up of three or more battalions),
colonels are responsible for all aspects of an engagement. They are frequently
forced to calculate results and risks, starting with a single squad and extrapolating
the results out over the entire field of battle.
Brigadier
General
A Brigadier General usually commands many different types of troops over a
wide area. At this level, they are only occasionally directly in battle since
most of their duties are strategic. These officers are given command of the
brigade. The smallest brigade consists of at least two distinct companies,
while the largest are known to include almost a dozen colonels who report
to a single brigadier general.
General
Generals rarely see direct combat, except in the most critical arenas. They
are in charge of entire armies, from training to deployment. These are the
final step of military field command. The line between general and brigadier
general often becomes hazy. In theory two or more brigades report to a general,
but in practice they are primarily kept up to date and in direct command of
six or more companies. This communication directly with the colonels can cause
some friction at the higher levels of command, but the average trooper never
sees this discord.
General
of the Army
Only appointed by the Senate, Generals of the Army are rarely able to get
away from Strategic Command, their jobs are very political, and they are the
highest level of military rank in the Republic Army. Only the Chancellor of
the Senate can give them a direct order, but they are wise to heed the desires
of the Senate. The Generals under them are usually capable of working almost
independantly, because the huge size of the republic makes micromanagement
impossible.
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The
Army's Mission
One of the most controversial creations
in the early days of the Republic, the Planetary Defense Force is still a
highly debated item on the senate floor. Its purpose is to defend the member
worlds against invasion and to assist local government in times of emergency.
Unfortunately, many member worlds see the human dominated galactic army as
a potential threat to their planetary security. The General of the Army has
always given the same response, "If more non-humans were to join the
galactic army, then the overabundance of humans would no longer be an issue."
Few alien senators have been swayed by the argument. Less than a hundred years
ago this age old thorn in the side of the Republic had begun to fade away,
and might have gone away for good if not for the Prylar Revolt.
Prylar was a backwater world that was
only marginally affected by the events of the last Sith War. The local government
took it upon themselves to ration food and water to the millions of people
that called it home. There was no need for such drastic actions and the amount
given was such a pitance that people were beginning to starve and thirst was
a constant enemy of the people. When the planetary ruler stopped all supplies
from a small army outpost on the planet and issued orders for the local forces
to seize all army supplies, the colonel in charge decided to settle things
between them for good. Leading his men into battle, the colonel captured the
planetary capital in less than a week and within a month's time all rationing
had come to an end. People would no longer starve to death.
On the senate floor, a few overly
ambitious and paranoid senators highlighted only select portions of the story
and painted the military commander and his men in the most cruel colors. Soon
the less informed were convinced that the army had been responsible for the
starving of the local inhabitants and that the local lord was deposed only
because he couldn't accept direct military rule. The colonel was eventually
charged and brought up for trial. Only the intervention of 2 jedi prevented
a severe miscarriage of justice. Since that time, there has been a significant
reduction in army funding.
Army
and the Jedi Knights
Jedi have
no official, concrete ranking system, but they are usually deferred to as
officers would be, with a Padawan (or apprentice) being held at approximately
the level of a Lieutenant, A Jedi Knight as a Major, and A Jedi Master as
roughly a Brigadier General. Jedi Council members are viewed as equivalent
to Generals, while the most respected of the order are seen as the equals
to the Generals of the Army. These ranks are only guidelines though. Any given
jedi's status may change depending on his knowledge, actions, and competence.
Some Jedi request to serve in army at
some point. These young aspirants are trained and reviewed by army personnel
and the appropriate rank is determined. From this point on, the knight's military
rank depends on their performance and appraisals given by their superiors.
The knight is effectively a member of the military and under all the restrictions
and benefits gained by such allegiance. After years of service a jedi can
attain the rank of general. For some reason the senate feels more comfortable
with a jedi commanding ground troops than the naval vessels of the fleet.
The
Army Scout Corps
There is one great sticking point
that causes friction between the army and the navy, the Scout Corps. At some
point in the early days of the Republic a low key senator managed to assign
all planetary scout vessels to the army, not the navy. As a result, all scout
officers now bear an army rank instead of a naval rank. Scout assignments
are varied and seldom as glamourous as the holovids make them out to be. Most
are given small, hyperspace capable, ships and sent out into the void in search
of new worlds. Others are charged with plotting better and more detailed routes
through known space allowing for faster travel. The third duty is to act as
a transport system for small army units. When entire armies move they still
coordinate with navy and bulk transport cruisers.
During times of war, scouts often
act as ad hoc spies, information brokers, and couriers for military campaigns.
This duty is probably the most exciting work that can be done by a scout.
The scouts are in a unique position for an army officer. They work indepently
and have easy access to officers of all levels and can still walk among enlisted
personnel with almost no one noticing. Because of the importance of this position,
army intelligence is always on the look out for scouts that might have sold
out or be working for unknown foreign powers.
Still, the scouts are the most sought
after positions within the army structure and have some of the greatest influence
on Republic policy depending on their success.
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Typical
NPC's
Capt. Boesh Stenz
Lt. Maria Detwix
Sgt. Johma Vyezek
W.O. Trit Roe-Ect
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