Sic transit gloria mundi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Expand on Firemane.
Image Credit: Here. One must imagine it without the US flag.
Role: Military police.
Permissions: ARGH gear available to Firemane per this thread. Permission for all ArmaTech gear and all other subs made by Laira Darkhold's writer here. CD-X Cryptologic Key available for Firemane per this thread.
Links: Firemane General Staff.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Unit Name: Firemane Provosts.
Affiliation: Siobhan, Firemane, House Kerrigan.
Classification: Infantry. Military Police.
Description: Firemane Provosts are a uniformed law enforcement agency responsible for policing Firemane's army. Their jurisdiction also covers civilians if the civilian is in a Firemane military facility. They have responsibility for law enforcement in military installations as well as for military personnel in general. Moreover, they handle security at military facilities, run prisoner of war camps and military prisons. Provosts are not really frontline combatants, but certain assignments can result in them being close to or at the frontline. An example would be steering military convoys. Moreover, they may be deployed for rear echelon security. Moreover, they conduct patrols and handle cordon and search operations. The latter refers to cordoning off an area and searching the premises for insurgents, enemy commandos and so on. Route reconnaissance, convoy escort and the security of critical installations is also part of their portfolio.
The Provosts have broad police powers when it comes to military personnel or civilians subject to military law. They are charged with the maintenance of military discipline. To this end, they carry out regular patrols both on-site and at places commonly frequented by Firemane military personnel. Furthermore, they stand guard at large military events, conduct security checks and aid in collecting and returning stragglers and apprehended soldiers. This involves tracking down and arresting deserters. Moreover, they transport and guard prisoners of war and aid military courts. Officers receive training in police and detective work, such as simple investigation, observation, and data analysis associated with those fields.
The Provosts control and direct military traffic and participate in security operations, such as providing protection for high-ranking Firemane officers. Finally, they carry out criminal investigations, search for soldiers who have gone AWOL etc. When deployed abroad, the Provosts cooperate with other police units, monitor and police the behaviour of Firemane soldiers in the area they had been sent to. Another objective is training allied police forces, carrying out searches for illegal weapons and explosives.
While most of the Provosts are organics, the corps also has a significant number of droids. The reason for this is that droids are perfect for handling mundane tasks such as guard duty, escort and traffic control. After all, machines cannot be bribed and do not get bored. Moreover, they are available in large quantities and can be counted on to remain objective. The presence of emotionless droids who will inevitably record everything also helps keep the organic Provosts honest. However, all officers are organics because droids who are independent enough to command themselves and think creatively might get ideas about overthrowing the fleshbags.
A special branch of the Provosts is responsible for investigating felony crimes and serious violations of Firemane military law. These detectives belong to the Special Investigators. They usually wear plain clothes with a light combat suit underneath, though they may don uniforms when offworld. Their members tend to be non-commissioned or commissioned officers. Special Investigators are also dispatched when a soldier is killed in action. Essentially, they act as the coroner's representative. This also supposed to help the bereaved understand the circumstances of a loved one's death.
The police force is assisted by scene of crime officers, forensic technicians and other support personnel. The Provosts are a joint force operated by both the army and navy. However, they don army uniforms due to their origins as an army branch. Their motto is "To each their own." They wear standard Firemane infantry armour when in the field and are trained as light infantry. Access to infantry fighting vehicles and tough battle droids gives them an extra punch, but they are a support unit, not assault troops. The Provosts train just as standard infantrymen and will be embedded in regular units. The Provosts must become part of their team and fulfil any police and command duties. All Provosts hold the minimum rank of Corporal. They carry rifles, pistols, carbines and so on just like regular soldiers. As warrant-holders, Provosts receive a degree of autonomy within the units they are embedded in, but they must also work with the regular soldiers.
Pricsa Nemeth is one of the squad leaders of the Provosts. Before joining the corps, she was a shop worker who planned to one day join the police. Prisca had originally wanted to join the local police force in her home town, but she was too young. Taking the advice of a cousin who was already a member, she applied to join the Provosts instead. She came to public attention when she was commended by the Firemane Provosts after arresting seventeen insurgents in a single day, setting a new record. She was serving with the 156th Provost Company, attached to the 16th Motorised Infantry Brigade.
During a patrol in Khajwar she arrested seventeen Qadiri rebels. The insurgents had disguised themselves as Surani police and drove a stolen police vehicle. Moreover, they were carrying a large quantity of weapons and bomb making equipment. Pricsa woke up early and was told that she might have to arrest someone. It turned out that she had to make many arrests. The Corporal systematically searched all the buildings in the compound. She was the only military police officer on the scene and thus had to take command of the quick reaction force on site. She proceeded to arrest all of the alleged insurgents. They were processed and taken into custody.
Aside from setting a new record, Prisca also found herself in the line of fire during an operation in former First Order territory. When her military police squad was assigned to shadow a supply convoy, a large group of insurgents ambushed the convoy with light repeating blasters and missile launchers. Prisca and her squad moved to the side of the road to flank the attackers and cut off their escape route. During the course of the operation, Prisca led her fire team through the kill zone. Then she and the squad leader attacked and cleared the trench line. She received the Firestar for her valour and has been promoted to Sergeant.
Members of the corps are nicknamed Provos and answer to the Provost Marshal. The Provost Marshal is usually a general officer and acts as an advisor to the Great General Staff. Discipline, physical fitness, and communication skills are key traits expected of a Provost. They must also be incorruptible and have an acute understanding of Firemane's military law and police work. Provosts learn how to gather evidence, conduct interviews, apply basic forensics and look after detainees. Their job is not the most glamorous, but it is vital. The Provosts get to travel a lot, receive decent pay and their work is very varied. They might be investigating cases, specialising in crime-scene work, providing security or searching a building block for insurgents.
COMBAT INFORMATION:
Unit Size: Medium
Unit Availability: Common
Unit Experience: Trained
Equipment:
Armour:
- Sentinel Battle Armour
- Commlink uses CD-X Cryptologic Key.
Sidearms:
Droids:
Rifles:
- Magnetic Repeater
- Czerka Headbanger
- ACS-202 Vanquisher Light Repeating Blaster
- MGL-1. Usually mounted on another rifle as an under-barrel grenade launcher.
- ACS-205 Blackblade Modular Rifle
Misc:
Combat Function: The primary combat function of the Provosts is as military police. They police the behaviour of military personnel and civilians subject to military law. Moreover, they direct military traffic, handle security at military installations, protect high-ranking officers, and conduct arrests. Within an operational zone, cordon and search operations, route reconnaissance, base security and convoy escort are also part of their remit.
They also track down deserters and participate in counter-insurgency operations. They also advise regular troops on police matters. This includes making sure that a detainees' basic sentient rights are respected. They also work in forensics surety and make sure soldiers use basic police skills. An example would be ensuring that evidence is not contaminated with fingerprints and the like. Furthermore, they provide training to allied police forces. The Provosts support combat troops, secure outposts and camps and aid in security details and personal protection. They also maintain order in military prison, briggs and so on.
In short, they are primarily a support unit, not frontline combat. However, their tasks are still dangerous, such as when they come under fire by insurgents or they have to protect a military installation. They are vital in maintaining law and order in war-torn regions or disaster zones. Moreover, they conduct patrols, applying all the soldiering skills an infantryman would have learned in basic. Provosts are expected to be experts in handling prisoners. They are charged with taking care of and securing prisoners until they can be transferred to a holding facility. Controlling traffic is also of great importance during a military campaign.
Base security is another important duty, as they control who enters and leaves a military installation. In that regard the Provosts work closely with the Ironfire Division, a droid-majority unit responsible for rear echelon security, convoy escort and construction. Special investigates conduct investigations into breaches of military law. They may have to track down insurgents trying to infiltrate an installation, arrest and handcuff them, take their fingerprints and samples of DNA and bring them into custody. Provosts have access to droids called Infantry Drones, or ID for short, and armoured personnel carriers, which gives them some punch. Moreover, they have heavily armoured transport ships. They can also respond to emergencies, such as riots. The Provosts are medium sized unit, but dispersed and spread out over many areas.
Strengths:
- Capable security and policing force. They are trained in base security, basic forensics, marksmanship, investigations and police work. They are experts in investigation, policing detention, but can also fight and defend themselves.
- Available in large numbers. The combination of military training makes them good at rear echelon security, cordon and search operations, route reconnaissance and escorts. Access to Yazgids and Ghoush transports gives them extra firepower and mobility.
- Droid troops are available in large numbers, tough, durable and disciplined.
- Lightly armed and with limited heavy support. They are a dedicated support unit, not frontline assault troops with tanks, artillery and so on. Yazgids are good infantry shredders and strong against light vehicles, but cannot stand up to the main weapon of a tank. Ghoush transports are fast, but are big, obvious targets and are poorly armed-
- The droids that belong to the Provosts are available in large quantities and quite tough, but their intelligence is limited because they are drones. Rightly or wrongly, Firemane does not trust independent droids that think for themselves. IDs can follow their programming and carry out simple instructions, but they are not complex thinkers. The most extensive plan they can follow is run or walk and shoot.
- The standard banes of a machine, namely ion, electricity and EMP still affect the droid troops They have shielding to protect them, but are are a lot more vulnerable once it has been overcome.
After being severely wounded by the Sith Assassin Kaelin Isandros forced Tegaea Alcori to step down as Lady Protector, she and Siobhan Kerrigan founded Firemane Industries. It was started as an arms manufacturing and mining concern, but also branched out into Private Military Contracting. This was no surprise since both ladies had been among the founding members of Omega Pyre, a mercenary company that became a government called the Omega Protectorate. Initially, its military forces were rather modest and consisted of a mere four infantry companies, with some limited naval assets, gunships and dropships. However, they expanded as the company grew in power. A small mercenary force turned into the private army of House Kerrigan-Alcori, charged with protecting the family's manifold interests and expanding its influence.
Once it had become a megacorporation, the company was able to field larger forces and equip them well, but it was not economical to try and match the forces of an instellar government in terms of size or fleet meterage. That would have probably left even the biggest corporation bankrupt. Instead it focused on gaining an edge through advanced technology, discipline, mobility and skill of its soldiers. However, every army needs a police force to handle law enforcement, deal with disciplinary issues and be responsible for prisoners of war.
The Provosts were created to fill this niche. Initially, the Provosts relied on soldiers temporarily drawn from other formations. This was a necessity since Firemane was still a small corporation and could not sustain large forces. However, it also meant that the Provosts' manpower was inconsistent and they had trouble enforcing their authority. Things changed for the better over time and the Provosts evolved into a proper policing organisation with a separate command. One reason for this was a prisoner abuse scandal, which brought to light that detainees had been subjected to sentient rights' violations in a Firemane detention facility. Firemane insisted that the incident was an isolated excess that did not reflect its policy, but it was sufficient incentive to tighten guidelines, expand the police and impose stricter oversight.
A body of Special Investigators was founded enhance the Provosts' ability to investigate serious felonies such as murder. Following the Netherworld Event, Firemane recruited a number of former Cor-Sec officers. The devastation their homeworld suffered during the crisis as well as its subsequent annexation by the One Sith had left them adrift. Several of them left the organisation again to help with rebuilding after their homeworld reclaimed its freedom, but in the meantime they helped further professionalise the service.
Firemane often operates on fringe worlds far from the Core. Quite a few of them are underdeveloped. This means that the Provosts were often called upon to provide convoy security, guard prisoners, patrol and protect humanitarian aid workers. Moreover, they provide advice and training to allied militias and police forces. In keeping with this, they were called upon to assist the Eldorai Matriarchy and regular Firemane troops in combating Dark Eldorai insurgents in the more remote regions of Kaeshana. This exposed the Provosts to a high degree of risk, as they were liable to be targeted. Aside from being responsible for maintaining discipline within the army itself, they were also called upon to manage detainees. Moreover, they kept supply lines open during combat operations.
They were also called upon to maintain peace and order on worlds such as Arkas and Tygara and were heavily involved in the Exodus from Kaeshana. Provosts played an important role in the aftermath of the campaign against the Xioquo. In addition to assuming peacekeeping duties in the Underealm, they were also assigned to investigate war crimes. The Xioquo's new government wanted a clear break with their people's dark past. Prosecuting members of the ancien régime who had committed atrocities was part of the process. The Provosts gathered and collated criminal evidence and provided security during the war crimes tribunal. Furthermore, they have provided disaster relief and been deployed to quell prison riots.
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