Post by Subtle Blatancy on Jan 29, 2008 4:48:15 GMT -5
'Ello everyone! It is Subtle Blatancy here with a little bit of Fluff. As you may or may not know, the Imperial Guard Army I play is of origins of my own creation.
It started when I began to write a Warhammer 40k Novel - Guard (Total 40k members would recognize me as MCPOJohn117 from this). During the course of the Story, a planet comes up - Carcatha.
After much thought, and lots of time since my original ruminations, I'd like to submit a History of the Carcathan Military, for Peer Review:
History of the Carcathan Mavericks
Carcatha is a planet roughly the size of Mars, if not slightly larger, that was discovered in 382.M37. Its size means that it does not follow TIGER (Telemetric Imperial Gravitational Environment Regulations). This did not stop Colonization of the system planet in 398.M37. Analyses of the planet showed that it was home to a vast underground system of metals that could be extracted for profit. The nearby Forgeworld of Bromine loomed over the colony's shoulder to see if they could produce metal to burn in the furnaces that sizzled with heat deep in the crust of the planet. After nearly One Thousand Years, the planet had grown in size considerably. There were massive underground mines that followed veins of ore deep underground. The surface of the planet was covered in vast oceans, rolling hills, expansive forests, and bustling metropolis.
By the time 000.M41, the dawn of a new age, the planet was quite large in size. The population of the planet grew to just over 4 Billion people. The standing Planetary Army, which was relatively small, was long overdue of an overhaul. Nearly their entire military system was torn apart, plotted out, and refashioned with the newest nuts and bolts - Mighty battalions of devastating tanks, fleets of aircraft that blackened the sky, and grand masses of troops that shook the very earth with each precisely drilled step.
With Cadia and the Eye of Terror looming so near, practically on the doorstep of this edge-of-system planet, the people began to become scared when reports of chaos raids at the outer system planets hung over their heads menacingly. News came that a planet in the near system, Epcot, came under siege from a vile chaos army. The Carcathan Military power waited for the order to attack. A freshly made army yet to have seen war, itching to gain revenge for their brethren on the sister planet, waited, so it seemed, in the wings. After a few long weeks of debate, the mandate was passed. The Carcathan Military Might was given the authority to attack. The massive Carcathan Fleet sailed through the stars toward their destination. The army made first contact with enemy troops on December 1st, 010.M41. Within half a year, the Chaos threat was eradicated from the planet.
More chaos attempts at the planetary system resulted in failure at the hands of Carcathan forces. The Prestigious 'Carcathan 1st' was a glistening example of the perfect, adapting, elite, fighting force. Nothing could stand in their way.
It was during these years of guarding the sector that the Carcathan Military evolved into its own unique fighting force.
Because of the nature of the rapid deployment required by the Imperial Guard to a given planet, Companies and Regiments were altered slightly. Modeling after the Ship-Bound Warriors of ancient times, the new Soldiers became known as the Carcathan Marine Corp. The larger structure of the Company was replaced, mostly in the more active units, with the structure of a Marine Expeditionary Unit. Here, the Structure consisted of Ground Element, Aviation Element, Logistics Combat Element, and a Command Element. Ground Elements mainly consisted of the Men and Armor, or anything that hit the dirt. The Aviation element was Air Support – either with bombing or transport, or something else entirely. The Logistics element consisted of Medical Staff, Supply Rationing, and Stationing while on foreign soil. The Command Element, naturally, headed all of these, giving the Unit a purpose and direction, and Leadership.
Generally, an MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) was limited, and in some ways defined by how much could be fit within a small fleet (Never more than two transports and an Escort) of Space-Capable ships.
In this way, many of the Marine Corp units that stayed abroad grew into a different fighting force entirely than the Units Stationed at the Carcatha. Usually, the MEU elements learned abilities in Rapid Deployment Drops, Survival, Light Infantry Adaptation, and Camouflage. Meanwhile, the planet-bound soldiers drilled Formation, Heavy Weapon Usage, Marksmanship, and, in some cases, Heavy Infantry Tactics.
The first Company to adopt this style of deployment fully was the 1st Company. The Carcathan 1st ‘Mavericks’, the largest of the MEU’s, was given their name for their Unorthodox MEU rank structure, which was soon followed by much of the CDF. By the time the MEU’s reached their height, over half of the CDF was in a Marine Expeditionary Force structure.
As the Smaller, but vastly tactically flexible MEU’s bounded through the System, thwarting Chaos invasions, sometimes with multiple MEU’s at a time, the Planet of Carcatha gained vast amounts of material wealth. Sometimes, a planet saved by the CDF (Carcathan Defense Force) would contribute or donate recourses as payment for their defense. A large part of the wealth came from the Planet itself, what with the lucrative Mining industry. With this vast wealth, the Orbital Defense Grid (Or, the DOG, switching the first two initials, as many Carcathans did as a simpler word) was built. This massive array of Orbital Stations, massive, Ship-Killing Orbital Cannons, and a constant stationing of at least two Companies of Conventional Carcathan military at all times, plus vast sensory arrays and warning systems, led DOG to become one of the most terrifying systems of its type ever created.
Soon, frustrated by the devastating efficiency of the CDF, the Chaos Lords set their evil sights on the mere destruction of the planets, rather than the capture and slow, torturous killing. Many planets throughout the system were obliterated by massive orbital bombardments, leaving no living thing in their wake. By the time any Carcathan forces arrived, all that remained of a once proud planet was a glistening glass ball, super heated until all that remained was shimmering metal and molten slag. The targeted planets grew closer and closer to Carcatha. The Orbital Defense Grid, one of the strongest in the system, sat with guns loaded and eyes peeled.
Chaos Attacked.
In a massive assault unparalleled by any the Carcathan Space Command had ever witnessed, the Orbital Defense Grid, once thought to be an Impenetrable bulwark against any threat, was cast asunder. The Chaos forces descended on the planet as the troops stationed there looked up in helpless awe at the countless tens of thousands of drop pods, landing craft, and aircraft. Two MEU stationed at Carcatha (There were two on-surface at all times on Leave) suited up and made last-second fortification and made an impromptu Chain of Command and Military Structure. In their time of need, the men and women of Carcatha united - the system wide Mafia which controlled most of the large cities with an iron hand made an uneasy truce with the government, and together with help from civilians not willing to fade silently into the night, the makeshift fighting force stood tall in the face of the Chaos Leviathan.
Slowly the planet fell to Chaos.
The quickly dwindling planetary defenders sent out desperate cries for help - but without support from nearby planets, either burned to a sizzling crisp or too small to matter, and with the rest of the MEU held at space by the massive Chaos fleet, there was no help for the seemingly doomed people.
But then, a glimmer of hope on the Horizon. A single message from a small planet, Sintridge – passed over by the Chaos forces – either accidentally, or deemed too small to be worth their time and resources. The message - Hold tight. The Cadian 7th is on their way.
Well, there you have it. It was, admittedly, rather long.
Overall, How did you like it? Do you think it is 'feasible'? Does it seem solid enough? Any ideas, suggestions, changes?
Any help is greatly appreciated, and Thanks in Advance!
-S.B.
.:EDIT:.
Also, you'll notice, if you will, that my Avatar is the symbol for the Carcathan Defense Force.
[/color]
It started when I began to write a Warhammer 40k Novel - Guard (Total 40k members would recognize me as MCPOJohn117 from this). During the course of the Story, a planet comes up - Carcatha.
After much thought, and lots of time since my original ruminations, I'd like to submit a History of the Carcathan Military, for Peer Review:
History of the Carcathan Mavericks
Carcatha is a planet roughly the size of Mars, if not slightly larger, that was discovered in 382.M37. Its size means that it does not follow TIGER (Telemetric Imperial Gravitational Environment Regulations). This did not stop Colonization of the system planet in 398.M37. Analyses of the planet showed that it was home to a vast underground system of metals that could be extracted for profit. The nearby Forgeworld of Bromine loomed over the colony's shoulder to see if they could produce metal to burn in the furnaces that sizzled with heat deep in the crust of the planet. After nearly One Thousand Years, the planet had grown in size considerably. There were massive underground mines that followed veins of ore deep underground. The surface of the planet was covered in vast oceans, rolling hills, expansive forests, and bustling metropolis.
By the time 000.M41, the dawn of a new age, the planet was quite large in size. The population of the planet grew to just over 4 Billion people. The standing Planetary Army, which was relatively small, was long overdue of an overhaul. Nearly their entire military system was torn apart, plotted out, and refashioned with the newest nuts and bolts - Mighty battalions of devastating tanks, fleets of aircraft that blackened the sky, and grand masses of troops that shook the very earth with each precisely drilled step.
With Cadia and the Eye of Terror looming so near, practically on the doorstep of this edge-of-system planet, the people began to become scared when reports of chaos raids at the outer system planets hung over their heads menacingly. News came that a planet in the near system, Epcot, came under siege from a vile chaos army. The Carcathan Military power waited for the order to attack. A freshly made army yet to have seen war, itching to gain revenge for their brethren on the sister planet, waited, so it seemed, in the wings. After a few long weeks of debate, the mandate was passed. The Carcathan Military Might was given the authority to attack. The massive Carcathan Fleet sailed through the stars toward their destination. The army made first contact with enemy troops on December 1st, 010.M41. Within half a year, the Chaos threat was eradicated from the planet.
More chaos attempts at the planetary system resulted in failure at the hands of Carcathan forces. The Prestigious 'Carcathan 1st' was a glistening example of the perfect, adapting, elite, fighting force. Nothing could stand in their way.
It was during these years of guarding the sector that the Carcathan Military evolved into its own unique fighting force.
Because of the nature of the rapid deployment required by the Imperial Guard to a given planet, Companies and Regiments were altered slightly. Modeling after the Ship-Bound Warriors of ancient times, the new Soldiers became known as the Carcathan Marine Corp. The larger structure of the Company was replaced, mostly in the more active units, with the structure of a Marine Expeditionary Unit. Here, the Structure consisted of Ground Element, Aviation Element, Logistics Combat Element, and a Command Element. Ground Elements mainly consisted of the Men and Armor, or anything that hit the dirt. The Aviation element was Air Support – either with bombing or transport, or something else entirely. The Logistics element consisted of Medical Staff, Supply Rationing, and Stationing while on foreign soil. The Command Element, naturally, headed all of these, giving the Unit a purpose and direction, and Leadership.
Generally, an MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) was limited, and in some ways defined by how much could be fit within a small fleet (Never more than two transports and an Escort) of Space-Capable ships.
In this way, many of the Marine Corp units that stayed abroad grew into a different fighting force entirely than the Units Stationed at the Carcatha. Usually, the MEU elements learned abilities in Rapid Deployment Drops, Survival, Light Infantry Adaptation, and Camouflage. Meanwhile, the planet-bound soldiers drilled Formation, Heavy Weapon Usage, Marksmanship, and, in some cases, Heavy Infantry Tactics.
The first Company to adopt this style of deployment fully was the 1st Company. The Carcathan 1st ‘Mavericks’, the largest of the MEU’s, was given their name for their Unorthodox MEU rank structure, which was soon followed by much of the CDF. By the time the MEU’s reached their height, over half of the CDF was in a Marine Expeditionary Force structure.
As the Smaller, but vastly tactically flexible MEU’s bounded through the System, thwarting Chaos invasions, sometimes with multiple MEU’s at a time, the Planet of Carcatha gained vast amounts of material wealth. Sometimes, a planet saved by the CDF (Carcathan Defense Force) would contribute or donate recourses as payment for their defense. A large part of the wealth came from the Planet itself, what with the lucrative Mining industry. With this vast wealth, the Orbital Defense Grid (Or, the DOG, switching the first two initials, as many Carcathans did as a simpler word) was built. This massive array of Orbital Stations, massive, Ship-Killing Orbital Cannons, and a constant stationing of at least two Companies of Conventional Carcathan military at all times, plus vast sensory arrays and warning systems, led DOG to become one of the most terrifying systems of its type ever created.
Soon, frustrated by the devastating efficiency of the CDF, the Chaos Lords set their evil sights on the mere destruction of the planets, rather than the capture and slow, torturous killing. Many planets throughout the system were obliterated by massive orbital bombardments, leaving no living thing in their wake. By the time any Carcathan forces arrived, all that remained of a once proud planet was a glistening glass ball, super heated until all that remained was shimmering metal and molten slag. The targeted planets grew closer and closer to Carcatha. The Orbital Defense Grid, one of the strongest in the system, sat with guns loaded and eyes peeled.
Chaos Attacked.
In a massive assault unparalleled by any the Carcathan Space Command had ever witnessed, the Orbital Defense Grid, once thought to be an Impenetrable bulwark against any threat, was cast asunder. The Chaos forces descended on the planet as the troops stationed there looked up in helpless awe at the countless tens of thousands of drop pods, landing craft, and aircraft. Two MEU stationed at Carcatha (There were two on-surface at all times on Leave) suited up and made last-second fortification and made an impromptu Chain of Command and Military Structure. In their time of need, the men and women of Carcatha united - the system wide Mafia which controlled most of the large cities with an iron hand made an uneasy truce with the government, and together with help from civilians not willing to fade silently into the night, the makeshift fighting force stood tall in the face of the Chaos Leviathan.
Slowly the planet fell to Chaos.
The quickly dwindling planetary defenders sent out desperate cries for help - but without support from nearby planets, either burned to a sizzling crisp or too small to matter, and with the rest of the MEU held at space by the massive Chaos fleet, there was no help for the seemingly doomed people.
But then, a glimmer of hope on the Horizon. A single message from a small planet, Sintridge – passed over by the Chaos forces – either accidentally, or deemed too small to be worth their time and resources. The message - Hold tight. The Cadian 7th is on their way.
Well, there you have it. It was, admittedly, rather long.
Overall, How did you like it? Do you think it is 'feasible'? Does it seem solid enough? Any ideas, suggestions, changes?
Any help is greatly appreciated, and Thanks in Advance!
-S.B.
.:EDIT:.
Also, you'll notice, if you will, that my Avatar is the symbol for the Carcathan Defense Force.
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