Sic transit gloria mundi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Sub a location for the Arx.
Image Credit: Here. Here.
Canon: N/A.
Permissions: N/A.
Links: Firemane General Staff, Order of Fire, Qadiri Sepoys.
SETTING INFORMATION
Military Base Name: Firemane War College.
Classification: Military Academy.
Location: Arx Aeternae
Affiliation: Firemane.
Population: Moderate.
Demographics: Combination of academic staff, trainers, support staff, cadets and the garrison. The racial makeup is diverse, so both humans and members of various alien species can be found here. Examples would be Twi'leks, Mon Calamari, Qadiri, Xioquo, Eldorai and Zabrak, though the non-human population is not limited to these groups. There are also a few Kar'zun.
Accessibility: The location is well-known within Firemane's sphere of influence and not secret. It is also located on the Arx, which is the hub of Firemane's operations. However, access is only for authorised personnel. It is a military installation, and thus guarded by Firemane soldiers. People with no business at the College will not be let in. Visits are possible, but these must be arranged in advance. Visitors must carry ID, are subjected to security checks and may only visit designated areas. Civilian family members are allowed to enter the complex for special occasions such as class graduation. Families of active duty personnel may enter if they have a family ID or are being chaperoned by their military family member.
Description:
The Firemane War College is one of several military academies set up and operated by Firemane. It trains young officers for Firemane's ground forces. Officer cadets undergo general and military education training courses here. Many recruits are in their early twenties when they enter the War College. This is preceded by passing a competitive entrance examination and doing some training in the ranks. Training at the academy is supposed to turn the cadet into an effective leader and prepare them for a future leadership role in Firemane's army. More specialised training follows upon graduation. For instance, the Order of Fire maintains a mobile boot camp nicknamed the Forge, which doubles as a patrol station.
The War College is led by a Commandant. This tends to be a general officer with the rank of Brigadier or Major General. He or she is is assisted by a senior warrant officer. Each new batch of cadets is assigned to a platoon within one of two training companies. Every company is named after a predator. These names do not remain static, but change every year. All cadets are housed in dormitories on campus. Both men and women are admitted to the college.
The War College is located on the Arx Aeternae, Firemane's ginormous space station. The Arx is the hub of all Firemane operations. It features extensive residential, manufacturing and commercial areas. Moreover, the megacorp's headquarters is based here. Aside from soldiers seeking to pursue a career as Firemane officers, the College also provides training to officers from allied forces and vassals. Cadets are recruited on the basis of their performance during a competitive examination, physical training and an interview with the recruitment board. The College has rather high physical standards. Everyone is expected to improve and keep improving. The training is not strength based but endurance based. Firemane cadets get paid a salary, while foreign students are paid for by their government.
All cadets receive a commission as Lieutenants upon successful graduation. Since they are being trained to lead, academic instruction is combined with military and leadership training. Cadets learn about military strategy, tactics and theory, logistics, practice of war, physical training, marksmanship, leadership and administration. Cadets participate in training manoeuvres, mock combat, live-fire drills, war games and holo-simulations. The College offers an educational programme that takes about three years and grants the student a master's degree in management, interstellar relations, or engineering. The interior of the base has a utilitarian design. This means no saunas, hot tubs or similar frivolities.
By common consensus, the first couple weeks of training are the most gruelling, as they are designed to weed out unsuitable elements by really putting the cadets through their paces. It is supposed to break down the ego of the recruits, then build them back up. Cadets are not allowed to use their commlinks for the first couple weeks and have virtually no time off. A typical day during the initial training starts at five in the morning. The timetable is punishing and cadets will have to learn to function while getting little sleep. Discipline is harsh and sleep is a premium. Cadets can expect lots of parades, marching, room inspections and lessons in military skills such as fieldcraft, map reading, exercise and weapons' training. Cadets learn practical skills such as urban warfare and zero-G combat and movement. Things become more focused on leadership and cadets are given more responsibility amd free time as time goes by. However, their time at the academy remains challenging.
The institution uses senior non-commissioned officers to teach officer-cadets about marching, boot-polishing, weapons use and soldiering. This stands in contrast to military academies that use commissioned officers. All the NCOs have prior combat experience. In theory, the sergeants have to call their cadets 'sir' or 'ma'am', even when they are reducing them to tears by yelling at them about their shortcomings. It is a common saying among cadets, especially elf ones, that the Goddess created NCOs first, and then everyone else second. Cadets are constantly assessed, and screwups are noted.
Cadets are also taught about civil affairs. Moreover, the War College offers language courses, such as in Eldarai or Zandri. This is quite pertinent because Firemane often operates on worlds on the galactic fringe, where many natives do not speak Basic. Firemane relies heavily on native auxiliaries, such as Qadiri Sepoys, and so it is important that officers understand the language of the people who might be serving under their command. Cadets learn about how to deal with asymmetrical warfare, counter-insurgency, and NGOs as well as Imperial walkers and dark sorcerers. The College aims to foster a spirit of camaraderie, service, discipline and honour among its students.
While most of the cadets are Non-Force-Users, some are officer candidates from the Order of Fire. The Order is organised along military lines, so these adepts are subject to the same rules as their Force-blind comrades. Force adepts who thinks they merit special treatment soon learn to fear the wrath of their drill instructors. They are also not allowed to use their powers during most exercises. Disregarding this rule leads to swift and harsh punishment.
Decommissioned walkers and tanks have been placed on the campus alongside statues of soldiers. There is also a statue of Siobhan. The College shares its premises with the Firemane War Museum. Moreover, a number of regular military units are stationed here and support the college. These are a transport, logistics and signals support unit, the College's own music band and a unit of Qadiri Sepoys who act as an opposing force during mock combat. The Sepoys are drawn from all of Firemane's Qadiri units and are assigned on a rotational basis. Firemane Provosts are responsible for security and enforcing discipline. In addition, the academy has a military cemetery. It has become the final resting place for many noteworthy graduates and staff members. The academy features a nondenominated shrine that provides religious believers with a place of worship.
The College is a military installation, and so the cadets are subject to military discipline. The institution is well-known in Firemane's sphere of influence and heavily advertised, as the Kerrigan-Alcori family business has a vested interest in attracting young talents. Close to the end of their time at the College, the cadets are interviewed by a board. These talks decide where the cadets commission and will spend their military career.
A passing-out parade takes place at the end of each term for officer cadets who have completed their commissioning courses. It is a big event, with friends, family and VIPs gathering to watch the cadets' final parade. One of the traditions is granting awards to particularly outstanding cadets. The most prestigious award is a ceremonial Sarix called the blade of honour, which is awarded to the best recruit of the course. The parade is attended by Siobhan or a representative picked by her.
Siobhan or her deputy gives a short speech. There is a lot of pomp and circumstance and the successful graduates receive their commissions as lieutenants. Not every Firemane officer goes through this cursus honorum. Indeed, several are promoted from the ranks via a battlefield promotion and brevet commissions. However, once they are on a peacetime-footing again, officers promoted this way are expected to meet the normal requirements for their position. Moreover, the College is a good place for networking. Cadets may form bonds and ties of patronage that last for life. This applies to General Staff officers in particular. Like any military - or indeed any organisation - Firemane's armed forces have their cliques. One example is the Dahomian Clique.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Tassaria Building Combat Room: Firing range/training area. The advanced shooting range that uses state-of-the art holographic technology. To make things more interesting, the targets move around instead of remaining static. Moreover, if a shooter lingers in the same area for too long, stun traps are activated or turrets fire stun bolts. Named after the first Star Queen of the Eldorai. Fortunately, Tassaria ruled so long ago that she can be made to fit practically any political agenda, ranging from totalitarian, xenophobic tyranny to enlightened absolutism.
Adril Tythorin Advanced Force Studies Facility: The primary purpose of the War College is to train aspiring officers in leadership. However, a number of the cadets belong to the Order of Fire. They attend the same courses as their Force-blind counterparts and are subject to the same military discipline. But this training facility has been constructed to give them the chance to hone their Force skills. Non-Force-Users outnumber Force-Users by a significant margin, so it is rather compact.
Firemane's military utilises a mixed force model, based on which Force-Users and Non-Force-Users fight together and follow the same chain of command. Thus the need for teamwork and on how to incorporate Force use into an overall battle plan on the tactical, operational and strategic level is stressed. It also teaches Non-Force-Users techniques on to protect themselves against mind tricks and other forms of Force-based mental manipulation.
Admiral Ackbar Simulator Room: Flight and captain simulators. - complete with a holographic Admiral Ackbar, who is always there to offer advice or critique.
Princess Ariane Multimedia Centre: Multimedia rooms for presentations. The Eldorai lobby demanded one building be named after Ariane. Not because they care or would ever go there, but because it's just something to score points on. Sio named it after Anya's daughter to double troll them. The building features a large auditorium with modern audio visual effects, and state-of-the-art holographic technology.
Firemane War College Cemetery: A military cemetery and the final resting place for several alumni of the academy. Open to visitors who want to pay their respects to the fallen.
Kerrigan Momument: A statue of Siobhan Kerrigan. The bronze sculpture stands on a marble marble pedestal. Siobhan wears uniform and holds her sword with both hands in front of her. This pose is a bit ironic since Síobhan relies more on the Force than on sabreplay. During graduation one of the hats is put on the Siobhan statue for the day. Everyone's hoping Sio never finds out.
'School 'Houses': Named after various predators such as Cylix, Nexu, Reek, Kinrath, Kardok and Wampa. Members of a house are grouped together and assigned to several dorms made up of their companions. The dormitories for the cadets are located here. They are organised based on the training company they have been assigned to, as well as by rank. The quarters are utilitarian rather than luxurious. The dorms are named after famous military leaders like Raddus, Organa, Calrissian, etc.
The Stahlmann Institute: Military science, including military strategy, doctrine and logistics, is taught here. It also examines the ways military and civil society intersect. Wargames are often held. Named after one of Siobhan's former comrades in the Omega Protectorate.
General Ardashir Square: Self-explanatory. The passing-out parade takes place here. On this occasion, the grandstands are filled with the parents and other loved ones of the graduates. The most successful cadets are decorated with a variety of awards. Siobhan or a representative gives a speech and the graduates are commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant.
Anhala Hall: A place of recreation. It has a dance floor and is used for weddings, military balls and other social events. Anhala is the Qadiri word for 'freedom/liberty'.
Alcori Centre of History and Social Sciences: Social sciences and humanities are taught here. There is a special focus on civil affairs, history, management and interstellar relations. Named after Siobhan's wife. Some hilarity ensued when Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori attended classes at the academy, as she commonly goes by Alcori.
Firemane War Museum: A military history museum that records all conflicts the Omega Protectorate and Firemane have participated in. It features several exhibitions dedicated to various conflict and has an impressive archive of primary source material. This includes the papers of senior Firemane officers, but also letters, diaries and memoirs of more low-ranking military personnel and civilians as well as a collection of foreign documents. Moreover, there is an art collection, a holofilm archive and a library. Various weapons manufactured by Firemane or captured on the battlefield are on display. One prominent example is SN00001, the first Boltgun that was ever manufactured. The story goes that it was used by Tegaea during the Denon campaign.
Memorial Wall: The names of all War College who have been killed in action are engraved here. There are also five bronze statues called the Five Soldiers. They are set up in such a manner that the statues appear to be looking at the wall.
Captain Brajau Survival Course: Named after the Vashyada commander who defeated Mirza Brahdok's attempted invasion of Yarkul. Brahdok's Defeat is a well-known tale of folly to the Qadiri. Brajau lost her life during the battle, so it is also a memorial of sorts. The facility is a large obstacle and survival complex where soldiers can train and participate in mock combat. Vashyada instructors have been brought in to teach courses on irregular warfare.
Elaris Medical Centre: Named after the late Coryth Elaris, a Jedi healer, former Firemane employee and personal friend of Siobhan. In keeping with the life work of its namesake, the building is dedicated to medicine, the healing art, biology and medical research. Most of the staff are Non-Force-Users, but it has a few Force healers.
Arz'alor Memorial Research Block: Named after the great Kar'zun king Arz'alor. This is almost certainly a case of Siobhan mocking conservative Eldorai. Regardless, this is the place for engineering and hard sciences. The building has classrooms, laboratories, and workshops. The faculty member in charge is a former officer of the Disciples of the Stone, a crack unit of Kar'zun combat engineers.
Nal'Xinar Cadet Mess Hall: Named the War College's first Xioquo graduate. Xinar successfully led a mixed battalion against the Kraal, dying heroically in combat. The dedication is posthumous. The building has a large dining hall that can accommodate a substantial number of cadets. The mess is supervised by a member of the staff, but cadets are also involved in running it. The food is quite decent. The academy gets a significant number of elf cadets, who on average have a higher metabolism than humans.
Shrine of All the Spirits: A multi-denominated religious shrine that provides a place of religious worship for the believers among the base personnel. Firemane endorses freedom of religion, though hate speech, sedition and the like will not be tolerated. It is frequented primarily by elves who follow the old deities of their people, though others are welcome as well. Elpsis is a frequent visitor when she happens to be at the base.
Gymnasium: Physical education takes place here. It is a massive sports complex that, among other things, houses individual gyms for boxing, and other forms of martial arts, as well as workout facilities. One can also find a grav-ball court, a four story rock climbing wall and multiple pools, including a survival swimming facility.
Command Post: Home to the office of the Commandant and their staff. This is the administrative nerve centre of the academy. This is also where people come to meet their Adminissions representative or their cadet escort. The latter will answer any questions they might have from the point of view of a student and take them on a tour of the campus.
SECURITY
Maximum
- The cadets and staff are soldiers and the college is located on the Arx, a heavily defended space station that serves as Firemane's mobile headquarters. This means it will receive aid from Firemane's considerable on-board garrison, which among other forces includes elements of the Knights of the Rising Flame and crack infantry, if need be.
- Security measures include ray shields, military-grade scanners, auto-blasters, motion sensors, security cameras and metal detectors.
- The gate is heavily guarded. Individuals entering the base are subject to security checks and there is a camera network throughout the complex. Doors to important areas are made of Turadium.
- Aside from the cadets themselves, there is a strong contingent of Firemane Provosts and a unit of Qadiri soldiers. The instructors, cadets and security include a number of Force adepts of varying skills and abilities. This includes a few Fireguard. Valora Walkers and other armoured vehicles are there for training purposes, but can obviously also be used to defend the installation.
Firemane's roots are those of a paramilitary corporation. Though it has evolved a lot since the days when it was a humble mercenary group on Kaeshana, its essence has remained the same. Once it had become a megacorporation, the company was able to field large 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 been ruinous and probably left even the biggest corporation bankrupt. Instead it focused on gaining an edge through advanced technology, discipline, mobility and skill of its soldiers. For a corporation, it fields large, though heavily dispersed, military forces. These are supplemented by auxiliaries. It goes without saying that it requires a central institution to train the men and women who will lead its forces into battle.
Firemane's first military academy was set up on Kaeshana, not far from the capital city of Santaissa. This was logical since the company was based there and had a close relationship with the Eldorai Matriarchy. Thus Eldorai officers were allowed to attend courses to further their knowledge of modern warfare and technology. This, however, also made the institution a target of Eldorai nationalists who opposed foreign influence on Kaeshana.
Undoubtedly Firemane hoped that it would be able to influence the mind set and thinking of the Eldorai who visited the academy, and give them a positive impression of their foreign benefactor. In quite a few cases, the Eldorai graduates being exposed to foreign ideas and ideologies turned them against the Matriarchy and the humans who backed them though. For instance, Aravae Elsatra, a future insurgent leader, was one of them.
General Devotion, a career officer, from Dahomey, was appointed commandant of the academy. Devotion's background was that of a tribal leader on her homeworld. She had played a leading role in combating the foreign slavers and warlords who had exploited Dahomey. After Omega Pyre liberated her homeworld, Devotion became an important voice for modernisation. She was responsible for training Dahomey's planetary defence force and served as its chief of staff for a while, before joining the Protectorate's ground forces.
After the Battle of Valen, she became very critical of the Protectorate's policies. The Dahomian general came to regard it as stagnant and many of its decisions as ill-advised, such as the Kayri campaign. Thus she turned her eyes to other job opportunities. She built up ties with Firemane, the corporation that had been founded by Tegaea and Siobhan after they had stepped down from office. The company was based on Kaeshana, the Eldorai homeworld, but also had operations on Dahomey and Vandelhelm. Devotion saw a chance to exert influence and make a difference. When she received a job offer, she accepted.
At first she acted as a military advisor, then headed the academy. This made her responsible for the education of Firemane officers. Devotion never warmed to Firemane's Eldorai allies. In fact, she conceived a strong dislike of them and had a few cadets arrested after they were found to be in possession of seditious material. Devotion brought a cadre of Dahomian officers with her. Detractors disparaged them as the Dahomian Clique.
During her tenure, Devotion faced institutional resistance from the board. Hazing was a serious issue in these initial days. Many of the early cadets and instructors lacked knowledge of areas outside of military science. Devotion applied her energy to modernising the academy, drawing upon her experience in leading combat and peacekeeping operations. This was supposed to lead to a more wholesome education and modernise the curriculum by including civil affairs, government and economic courses, though she faced resistance. She also formalised a code of honour cadets were expected to abide by. Participation in the sports programme was made mandatory for cadets, but they were also allowed to publish their own holojournal.
Devotion was eventually promoted to a position on Firemane's fledgling general staff. Some of the most promising graduates followed her there. She continued to maintain a strong interest in the institution, and graduation became a stepping stone for a career in the army. Initially both army and naval officers were trained at the same institution, but as both grew in size this proved impractical. So the army academy was renamed the Firemane War College, while naval cadets went to the Firemane Naval Academy. Like virtually every location in the galaxy, the War College was affected by the Netherworld Event.
In the middle of an exercise, a large chunk of the academic staff and the trainees vanished. Strife broke out across Kaeshana, as rebels rose up in revolt and opportunistic elements used the opportunity to loot. The College came under attack. Some of the decommissioned tanks on the promenades were used as static emplacements to defend it. In the end, Sergeant Freya Solveig, temporarily in charge at Firemane's headquarters since everyone above her had vanished, restored order with an iron fist. The institution temporarily ceased operations, as cadets and staff were drafted. This period saw plenty of field promotions to fill vacancies. A good number of the raptured personnel could be recovered, but some were lost for good.
In the aftermath of the Netherworld Crisis, Firemane learned that Kaeshana would be destroyed by a massive asteroid within a year. Thus the corporation focused its efforts on building a massive exodus fleet to evacuate as many of the natives as possible. At the same time it evacuated most of its personnel. The War College's old premises were abandoned and students were moved to Firemane's new base on Arkas. Many recently graduated lieutenants were assigned to Firemane's Tygaran Sepoys or put to work supporting the Exodus from Kaeshana. Once things had settled down, regular education resumed on the Ashira's Light, before the modern War College was set up on the newly constructed Arx Aeternae. This is the academy in its present form.
In line with Firemane's policy of integration, the academy was opened to Tygaran recruits. Some entered the academy because they wanted to pursue a career in Firemane. But others were sent there by their superiors to learn about modern warfare so that they could apply these skills to the benefit of their home countries. Many elite Qadiri or Xioquo families sent their sons and daughters to study here. Indeed, some minor Qadiri rulers are graduates of the academy.
Needless to say this proved useful for networking, as Firemane officers would increasingly end up dealing with people who had gone to the same school as they, which helped build up a rapport. It was also useful in the field of military sales. Firemane obviously hopes that it can use this social capital to extend its influence. Of course, there the Kerrigan-Alcori family business has had to learn the hard way that there is no guarantee that foreign officers who have been trained by Firemane might not put their new-found knowledge to good use to fight their erstwhile patrons.
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