Sic transit gloria mundi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Expand on Firemane.
Image Credit: Here.
Role: Special Forces.
Permissions: ARGH gear available per this thread. Permission for all ArmaTech gear and all other subs made by Laira Darkhold's writer here and here. Permission to use Tricks of the Trade submissions here.
Links: Vashyada, Xioquo, Epicanthix, Breaking the Machine, Barabel, Eldorai, Qadiri.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Unit Name: Their official name is Special Service Groups. Their unofficial one is the Flamespires.
Affiliation: Siobhan, Firemane, House Kerrigan-Alcori.
Classification: Special Forces.
Description: Recently Firemane released a new holodrama series called Phoenix Force. In it, the titular Phoenix Force, a Firemane special forces team, battles various evils in the Galaxy, such as Imperials, Sith and fundamentalist Jedi. The team is multi-species, featuring a mix of aliens and humans. It is a band of misfits that must pull together against daunting odds, as they travel to strange worlds in their cool starship, help the downtrodden and fight arch-villains. The special effects are cool because the showrunners have been able to use actual Force-Users instead of CGI, weapons' handling and military tactics are pretty realistic for an action show. The crew also get to blow up actual military vehicles.
Of course, it is meant for entertainment. For one, the Phoenix Force sees a lot more action than an actual special forces unit would. While many missions of the team are based on actual Firemane operations, they have been overdramatised. The series is sponsored by Firemane, so it puts a positive spin on the organisation. Actual veterans are somewhat bemused by it.
Still, it is very loosely based on the actual work of the Special Service Groups. Their members are nicknamed the Flamespires. This is a reference to its emblem, a burning pillar lighting the way. They have far fewer dramatic fight scenes than their fictional counterparts. They are a special forces unit whose mission spectrum covers fields such as unconventional warfare, reconnaissance, direct action, and foreign internal defence. Aside from learning about combat tactics and reconnaissance, the Flamespires are trained in languages, culture, psychological warfare, disinformation and politics.
An operation may involve advising a Qadiri Nawab on how to consolidate her power; carrying out a quick strike on a secret Dark Eldorai or Imperial outpost, and serving as bodyguards to a Dahomian politician. They can be deployed to fight insurgents, but also to enable a rebel movement to coerce, sabotage or overthrow a hostile government or occupying power. Their direct action mission covers rapid strikes. An example would be a raid to seize, capture or destroy an enemy asset or a rescue mission. In a foreign internal defence, they train and equip allied forces to defend themselves against security threats. Special reconnaissance is carried out in hostile territory. The operators acquire or verify strategically important information. If successful, their presence is not confirmed.
Needless to say training is arduous. In addition to gruelling physical tests, recruits who have passed selection are taught about the culture, language, customs, geography and traditions of the area they will be posted in. Moreover, they are exposed to the conditions they can expect if captured by the enemy. This involves being mistreated and pushed to breaking point in mock-prisoner of war camos. It includes being exposed to a full battery of mental assaults to make sure they are prepared for enemy mentalists trying to interrogate them. They receive training in survival, evasion, resistance and escape. Likewise, they are trained in weapons, navigation, piloting, gliding, infiltration and scuba diving. Their training seeks to hone their natural talents, so that they can specialise, but they are also cross-trained. This allows individual Flamespires to fill in for one another. Each position in a team has a redundancy, allowing it to be split into two sustainable groups if the situation demands it. Successful graduates receive a black beret with the unit emblem on it.
The Flamespires may cooperate with other special operations units, such as the Eyes of the Forest, the Silencers or the Glory Hounds, but will often operate independently. This means the operators have to be highly adaptive and be able to seize the initiative. The Special Service Groups answer to the Special Warfare Command, a department of the Great General Staff that has oversight over various special purpose forces. For the most part the Flamespires are not Force-Users, though Force-Sensitives with talents such as low-grade precognition and enhanced intuition but no formal training in the classical sense can be found in their ranks. The operators receive special training to resist mind-affecting Force techniques. In terms of structure, the Special Service Groups are divided into several battalions, though they are usually deployed on a far smaller level. Each group has a support unit and a reconnaissance one. Moreover, one group is dedicated to counter-insurgency, which means training locals for combat.
There are no racial or gender barriers when it comes to recruitment. However, the unit has attracted a notable number of Vashyada and Xioquo. Both elf races are accustomed to unconventional warfare and have keen senses. Plenty of Dahomians can also be found among the Flamespires. Furthermore, they have attracted a number of Epicanthix. This is beneficial due to their inherent resistance to mental attacks and mind tricks. Zabrak, Twi'leks, Barabel and Wookiees possess survival skills that make them a good fit for the Flamespires, and so the unit makes an effort to recruit them.
One of the members of the Flamespires Baron Darus Rikar is one of the senior commanders of the Flamespires. He is essentially a mix of commando and military advisor. Darus was born into a noble family, but sought a life of adventure and danger. Thus he honed his talents in the jungles of Dxun. Driven away by one of the many political upheavals on his homeworld, he became a dedicated soldier, but retained his learning and linguistic skills.
He does not use his noble title much anymore, and just goes by his military rank of Colonel. Darus has built up a rapport with the Qadiri frontier tribes. He has made a serious effort to learn their customs and language. He was not satisfied with being fluent in Zandri, the main Qadiri language, and took the time to learn the local dialect, which diverges quite significantly. The natives have conferred the title of Sahib on him. It is a mark of respect.
Another notable member is Lin Brakka, nicknamed Spire. She is a Zabrak and holds the rank of Sergeant. Lin is a tough and direct woman, but empathic. She has a background fighting Sith and is used to operating covertly, working with a variety of groups and improvising. She has a lot of experience in special operations and has been with Firemane for a long time. Lin and Elpsis know each other from an operation on Ession, prior to the Sith Empire's occupation. There Lin led an operation to raid an Ession factory and steal a prototype plasma cannon. To this end she worked together with Essionian rebels Elpsis had befriended on an earlier mission. The mission was a success, though at a cost.
Lin has recently been assigned to Inferno Platoon, an Order of Fire special operations and shock unit. It is led by Elpsis, who was promoted to Lieutenant after the Tephrike campaign. As platoon sergeant, Lin is a rock for the junior officer to lean on when needed, but also an intermediary between the enlisted and the commander and the one who makes sure her superior is actually giving sensibe orders. Lin was a consultant for Phoenix Force, and is rather bemused by the show.
COMBAT INFORMATION:
Unit Size: Small
Unit Availability: Rare
Unit Experience: Elite.
Equipment:
Armour:
- Spectre Scout Armour.
- MN-B Infiltrator. Usually worn in combination with an SH-N Projection Helmet as well as civilian clothes to provide some protection while appearing non-threatening, allowing them to blend in.
- DC-19 Stealth Carbine
- Shatter Rifle
- MkI Bolter
- Reaper Plasma Shotgun
- ACS-205 Blackblade Modular Rifle
- ACS-204 Advanced Dual Weapon System
- ACS-202 Vanquisher Light Repeating Blaster
- Graphite Bow
- Bolt-Thrower
- Dart Rifle (variable chemical payload).
- A280 CFE Blaster
- X7-B Checkmate Holdout Disruptor
- Renegade Model 557
- Sonic Stunner
- Pinprick Needler
- Last Whisper
- Hold-out Bolter
- Shatter Pistol
- ACS-207 Aerosolblaster
- ACS-208 Wrist Ion Beamer
- ACS-207 Cryoban Gun.
- Wrist Bolter
- Under-Barrel Disruptor
- ACS-208 Wrist Tensor
Support:
- RL-40 Stun Net Launcher
- Model MGL-1
- CSPL-12 Projectile Launcher
- Lance Class Missile Launcher - served by 2 crew; a gunner and a spotter/ammunition carrier. Only available on a limited basis.
- Devastator Multi-Purpose Mine. Thermite charges (mission-specific, for demolishing structures etc.). Flex-5 Detonite Tape.
- Monofilament net. Molecular Stiletto
- Grappling Hooks, no-shows. Rifle Silencer. BCC BC-11 Comlink. Squad leader may have an Enlightenment Quantum Communicator, paired with the one used by HQ or another team.
- Laser designator to mark targets.
- Grenades.
- Firemane Force Suppression Devices.
- Taozin Amulet
- APE Boltgun Ammunition
- Wayfarer Class Surface Patrol Boats
- UT-65 U-Wings. AE-HD3 Wraith Hyperspace Intrusion Pod.
- Firedancer Landspeeder.
- Bantha Class Armoured Transport
Covert operations allow the Flamespires to blend in with the local population, gather intelligence, make contacts, and lay the foundation for other, more direct-action missions later. One of their key tasks is training and directing allied partisans and militias against the enemy. Their skills in leading guerrillas also qualify them in conducting operations against hostile guerrillas. In so doing, the Flamespires can mobilise a local population to support them. They can engage in long-range, deep-cover scouting, target enemy supply lines and infrastructure and mount raids, then disappear into the darkness.
This means that they have a skill set beyond combat ability and stealthiness, as they acquire qualifications in local languages and cultures in the area they operate in. Linguistic and cultural skills are highly valued. They also receive training in Teräs Käsi and resisting mental intrusion and manipulation. The operators are quick to seize the initiative and trained to operate independently. The nature of their work means that the Flamespires will often have to operate without the benefit of a regular supply train.
Indeed, they will have to disguise their identity as Firemane soldiers or try to pass as the enemy. Moreover, they operate in small teams, which means they are best advised to avoid open combat with superior enemy forces. Death charging would inevitably lead to mission failure. Daredevils and gloryhounds get short shrift. The Flamespires are not equipped or even meant to engage formations of heavily armoured fighting vehicles. Given their limited supplies, small unit size, and lack of supply train, they are forced in almost all situations to fight and retreat, never capable of standing toe-to-toe against mobilised QRFs. Bottom line, this is not the type of unit to take on an army and go death charging with.
Strengths:
- Highly skilled special forces operators. They excel in unconventional warfare, stealth, long-range reconnaissance and sabotage. They have a knack for blending in with their environment and the local population.
- Good at training and directing allied forces such as militias and guerrillas. Excel at assisting allied assets in armed struggles against foreign occupiers, hostile governments or insurgents.
- They are specialists, not assault troops. Operate in small units and are not suited for pitched front-line combat.
- They are lightly armed and armoured and lack integrated heavy support such as heavy combat vehicles, bombers etc.
Like many Firemane formations, the Special Service Group's roots lie in Omega Pyre and its successor, the Omega Protectorate. This is no surprise since Siobhan Kerrigan and Tegaea Alcori were among the founding members of the paramilitary megacorporation, which later evolved into the Omega Protectorate. The Pyre started out as a mercenary corporation on Fondor, bring order and security to worlds such as Dahomey, Abregado-Rae, Vandelhelm and Denon. Lacking large numbers, it focused on small elite groups of soldiers, which it hired out to governments in return for political or economic concessions. To give its mercenaries an edge against foes, especially hostile Force-Users, it developed cutting-edge technology, such as the infamous Bolters.
As the Pyre expanded across the south-western rim, it was confronted with the Bando Gora cult. Centuries ago it had been a crime syndicate among many, but it was now a serious menace. The cult was dedicated to the worship of Dark Gods from the Aether and spread its message among the downtrodden, using the narcotics trade to finance itself and gain new recruits. The Protectorate's first engagement with the Bando Gora took place on Naboo. There the Bando Gora backed a cabal of aristocrats who wanted to topple the Queen and replace her with one of her doubles. The Protectorate's leaders were ambushed, but able to fight their way out and carry out an investigation that unmasked the conspiracy.
However, the next engagement was more threatening. A Protectorate Star Destroyer was ambushed by a Bando Gora fleet. Colonel Siobhan Kerrigan carried out a boarding action to take out the Bando Gora flagship. The battle was a success, but casualties were high. Kerrigan was crippled during her duel with the Bando Gora Warlord, whose dark power had held his vessel together. She also began her eventual descent into the dark side. After this engagement, the Protectorate went on a war footing against the cultists.
However, the war could not just be fought on the frontlines but also in the shadows. The Protectorate army created a special purpose unit to carry out deep-cover reconnaissance, sabotage missions and train allied assets to fight back against the Bando Gora. One of their far less publicised missions was planting evidence that implicated Ranulf Tarkin, the fascist dictator of Eriadu, as being in league with the Bando Gora. The special purpose forces' members were nicknamed the Brazen Bulls. They helped organise resistance groups on Bespin after Bando Gora sympathisers took control and were the first on the ground on Gehenna, providing actionable intelligence. Many of the operators who set foot on this hellish world did not make it, but their actions contributed to the planet's conquest. A brief war scare towards the end of Lady Protector Tegaea Alcori's term in office led to the SSG being given the role of organising stay-behind guerrilla organisations, should the Protectorate be invaded by its neighbours.
Their focus soon shifted to operations in the Omega Neutral Zone or against the One Sith. As the Protectorate entered a period of decline, some members of the original group joined Firemane after it had set up shop on Kaeshana. There the fledgling corporation was confronted with a volatile situation, for Kaeshana's politics could be as tempestuous as its weather. Conservative as well as radical revolutionary forces opposed the new Star Queen's policy of accommodation with the off-worlders and engaging the rest of the Galaxy.
Indeed, Queen Silaqui III was murdered by traitorous bodyguards during a failed coup. Her successor Tirathana VII was a reformer who wanted to liberalise the Matriarchy. Her reforms invited opposition from reactionaries who regarded them as an abandonment of Eldorai traditions, such as feudalism, xenophobia and misandry, as well as radicals who believed they did not go far enough and were old wine in new bottles. Increasing foreign influence also led to a nationalist backlash.
As an ally of the Queen, Firemane had to contend with these insurgent groups, but this was a battle that could not purely be fought through force of arms. It also needed to win hearts and minds. The Special Service Group was conceived as one of the scalpels in its arsenal. At first it was dispatched in an advisory capacity, assisting the Eldorai's royal army. It soon became a mainstay battle force. The SSG was dispatched to the more remote provinces of western Kaeshana. Here, the royal writ did not run deep. Local matriarchs and nobles were more autonomous and insurgent groups had been gaining a foothold. Examples were the Red Eagles, a revolutionary group led by Daymana Thael, a former Angelii turned rebel leader, and Valora's Righteous Army, a fundamentalist sect.
The SSG's operations covered sabotage, intelligence gathering as well as training and advising allied forces. They helped set up local militias to fight against insurgent forces. In that regard they were 'warrior-ambassadors' for Firemane. Kaeshana has many seas and rivers, so they made heavy use of watercraft for patrols, reconnaissance and rapid assaults on insurgent bases. They also honed their skills in mountain warfare. This allowed them to score several tactical victories. Some of the SSG came into contact with the Kar'zun, the long-oppressed minority species of Kaeshana, and lobbided for their emancipation. They also engaged more pragmatic Eldorai dissident groups to separate them from the extremists. However, their presence was not without controversy.
The killing of an alleged Eldorai double agent, and the attempt to cover it up, led to the arrest of seven officers and one non-commissioned officer. Ariawyn Mirawenys had been working with an SSG unit on a secret project when the operators learned she might be a double agent. She underwent about ten days of rigorous interrogation and solitary confinement before she was shot and dumped into the sea. The press picked up on the story, which led to Eldorai protests. However, Firemane eventually dropped the charges, as its intelligence service, which may had had some involvement, could not make its personnel available as witnesses.
As Firemane expanded, so did the radius of the SSG's operations. They saw action during the One Sith conflict, Firemane's exploration efforts into Wild Space and the Eldorai Exodus. On Tygara Firemane was confronted with a similar situation to Kaeshana, but it was also very distinct. For one, the native elves did not have a unified central government. Instead the planet was a hodepodge of independent states. Moreover, the natives were split into three distinct elf races, each with their own religions and customs. Firemane and the Eldorai colonists soon found themselves at war with the Xioquo, a race of drows, while some of the Qadiri leaders were willing to work with the off-worlders in return for favours, such as access to their tech so that they could modernise their realms.
The SSG had been hit hard by the Netherworld Event, as a lot of their personnel was lost, but now found an area of operations it thrived in. Operators were dispatched to advise friendly Qadiri nobles and chieftains, help them expand their influence as well as gather intelligence on the Xioquo. This could also involve instigating or assisting slave revolts, for slavery was a fact of life on Tygara. Cultural and linguistic training assumed a higher degree of priority, as the multicultural environment of Tygara required a high degree of sensitivity for native customs. Several Flamespires acquired a reputation for going native.
Operating behind enemy lines, the operators carried out long-range reconnaissance, delivering actional intelligence to Firemane high command, and carried out acts of sabotage. Furthering their role as warrior-ambassadors, the Flamespires were often deployed to build ties with remote Qadiri and Vashyada tribes, train their warriors and advise their local Mirzas, Nawabs and chieftains. In the aftermath of the defeat of the Xioquo, the SSG conducted operations against insurgent bases in the Tygaran arctic and the deepest levels of the Underealm.
These were often conducted in concert with the new Xioquo army, which the operators helped train. This also involved unmasking Xioquo aristocrats and cults that tried to continue slaving in defiance of the new Queen's abolition of this practice. They provided intelligence on the Blood Wraiths, a radical Xioquo necromancer cult that tried to spread a deadly plague and resurrect the dark goddess Mystra. A team of Flamespires made contact with Qadiri tribes that lived in the arctic north of Tygara.
Eventually the unit started recruiting natives into its ranks. These tended to be members of minorities who had a lot to gain from working with the off-worlders. For instance, it attracted Xioquo who lived in the cold arctic of Tygara and were hostile towards the totalitarian government that held sway in the Underealm. They also recruited freed or escaped slaves. The Flamespires, as they had become known, were also involved in Firemane's Clear Seas campaign to eradicate piracy on the waterways of Tygara. Here it is pertinent to note that a good number of corsairs went legitimate and joined Firemane in order to venture into the stars. They also performed civil-military liaison and training with allied Tygaran forces.
They acted as the eyes and ears of Firemane and allied troops during many conflicts. In that capacity, they also saw action during the Galactic Alliance intervention on Atrisia and the Battle of Kaeshana. The latter was particularly interesting as the Flamespires found themselves working with rebel insurgents they had once fought. Necessity created strange alliances. The battle ended in defeat, but many Eldorai refugees could be resettled on Arkas. To monitor them and provide training, a few operators were assigned to assist the local administration and its security force.
Last edited:
