The Grand Army
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: An armed force for the Liberation War
- Image Credit: Link, Link, Link
- Role: An army dedicated to the liberation of Mandalore
- Permissions: None
- Links: Clan Australis, The Network, Mount Tantiss, Tantiss Document
- Unit Name: Grand Army of Liberation (Crusader Marines)
- Affiliation: The Network
- Classification: Clone Troopers
- Equipment: Standard : Dura-Armor, Thinsuit, Primary, Sidearm, Blade
Assault: AV-1C Combat Armor, Thinsuit, Cannon, Backup, Melee, Knife
Support: Dura-armor, Thinsuit, Rifle, Sidearm, Charges, Knife, Tools
Protectors: Dura-armor, Thinsuit, Primary, Blade - Description: Taking their visual cues, doctrine, and design aesthetic from the Grand Army of the Republic during Palpatine's era, the Liberation Army pays tribute to the bravery and honour of those ancient warriors and aims to uphold their martial tradition.
The Crusader Marines
COMBAT INFORMATION:
- Unit Size: Large
- Unit Availability: Unique
- Unit Experience: Trained
- Combat Function: Infantry, Engineer/Sapper, Auxiliaries
- Solid and disciplined infantry forces well suited to various combat roles
- Excellent standardised equipment making replacements and resupply easier
- Lack organic armoured or airborne forces, require support to be effective as an army
- Requires a significant command and control apparatus to function effectively due to the rigid hierarchy
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The army created to be the ultimate goal of the Tantiss Project was revealed to the Network by Akita Silasrune of the Cuy'Val Dar some time after the Ba'slan Shev'la which followed the Sith conquest of Manda'yaim during Operation Hammerfall. The culmnation of years of genetic manipulation and experimentation, as well as constant research and development into enhanced cloning technology, the string of successes enjoyed by the Tantiss Project pushed the project ever forward to greater heights.
The clone marines themselves are produced from a genetic template painstakingly modified and adapted to best serve as warriors. A fusion of Epicanthix and Human DNA, they are hardy, resilient, strong, agile, and intelligent; a deadly combination. This is enhanced further as they are married to the latest in cybernetic, armour and weapons technology to create a battle ready warrior. This source material, the physical specimen, is only the first part of the process. Once the body is created, the mind must then be moulded.
No warrior is complete without years of training and experience. For the Crusader, this is provided by extensive flash memory training, and holo and virtual simulators, allowing the clones to train and learn and advance as they mature. The genetic templates were perfected, and the cloning process tailored to the specific genome of the army template, codenamed by the scientists as Crusader Zero. Though the process of cloning an entire army is the work of years, it was begun long before the fall of Manda'yaim.
The marines are clad in armour plate which they recieve upon graduation from the full training course, upon growing to maturity. This begins their journey of honour. Upon recieving a commendation or promotion, the trooper is bestowed with a beskar pip, or replacement of a duraplast plate with one forged from beskar. Noncoms bear a single beskar plate. Senior commanders might possess a helm, breastplate, gauntlets or greaves. Only the commanding Generals, not part of the clone marines, are permitted to wear beskar'gam.
Simply to bear the metal, the symbol of Mandalore, is a supreme honour. The armour of those who fall is collected to be restored to be bestowed upon future warriors, the fallen crusader's name and deeds honoured in the Ledger of Liberation, a record of all deeds committed in the crusade to liberate Manda'yaim from its occupiers. Other honours might be reflected with advanced technology, or mastercrafted weapons to augment the Crusader's arsenal.
Those who have recieved at least one commendation are permitted to specialize, with divisions of Assault, Support, and Protectors.
Assault Crusaders are the teeth of the army. They fight alongside the rank and file, acting as the non commissioned officers for the infantry, leading, guiding, and setting the example, set above their fellows by right of achievement.
Support Crusaders are the heavies, specializing in breaking and destroying things. They pack heavy weapons, explosives and cutting tools, and are renowned for levelling anything that can be built.
The Protector Crusaders function as the Auxiliary forces of the Liberation Army. They function as security, pilots, escorts, military police, bodyguards, political officers and chaplains, fulfilling all of the roles a modern armed force requires. They have the most freedom of movement, often being assigned to far off or exclave sectors, either as advance forces or to guard settlements.
Functioning as one cohesive force, decicated to a singular purpose, to defeat the Sith Empire, the Grand Army is the ultimate expression of warfare, the result of years of planning, and it is hoped, a force capable of liberating the Mandalore Sector from occupation once and for all.
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