Gunther

Foreign Legion [First Contact/Uplift/Military Sci-Fi]

Excellent post here...

It was hot work, easy to fuck off on, and the local plant life was vivid, beautiful and very distracting at first sight, but daydreaming was not his way. Instead, he counted. Steps, features of the terrain, taking note of the ground as they passed it for future reference. When he had a good position of concealment, he took a knee and took stock of the area. And it was as they were moving through those trees with that feathery leaf type, that Danny made the signal for the entire squad to freeze.

@HeySeuss

I like this. Counting. When I was in the Infantry Officer Basic Course, we would walk a 600 meter path along a specific trail in the woods of Fort Benning, Georgia. As we walked, we would count our left steps. The purpose was to determine our “Pace Count”. This pace count is used by Infantry leaders, Officers and NCOs to determine how far they have traveled. By using the pace count as well as measuring distance on the map, the two confirmed one another or helped to tell you, you were lost. After counting one’s steps, you divide the number by six and that tells you how many left steps you take in 100 meters. For me, this number was 64.

…the signal for the entire squad to freeze, would be a clenched fist held up with the non-firing arm at a right angle. Every member of the patrol repeats the hand and arm signal and movement ceases. Do not take a knee, do not point weapons in the appropriate direction, simply stop moving. This is different from the halt hand and arm signal. When this signal is given, take a knee and point weapons out and away from the impromptu “cigar-shaped” perimeter the squad assumes when it halts.

Star Wars - Rancor Company

The doors separating the corridors they were fighting in dropped with a suddenness. Everyone stared in odd curiosity; initially taken aback by the abrupt silence. Moments ago, blasfire raced back and forth between the rebels of Rancor company and the mercenaries of the Majestic. But now, everything was quiet. Both sides stared at a black door obstructing their path from continuing their fight.

“Sergeant Duron!” Captain Karada yelled. “I believe Sergeant Paltoy needs a breach. Do you have any?”

Sergeant Duron, also immobilized by the sudden appearance of the door blocking their path stuttered to attention. The Captain’s words, brought him out of his fog. “Uh…yes….yes, sir.” He patted himself down as if looking for something. Then pulled out a small charge. He handed it to Corporal Martus. “Go make a hole, Dev,” the section leader ordered his demolitionist.

“Roger that, sergeant,” the corporal grabbed the charge, then ran forward to where second section was still crouched behind whatever cover they found.

“Sergeant Paltoy,” Corporal Martus spoke to the section leader. “I am going to blow a hole in this door, please have your people move back.”

Sergeant Paltoy also stunned, but looking for a way out of their current situation. “Yes! Will do Corporal! Thank you!” She smiled when she realized what the sapper was going to do. She turned to her section, “everyone! Get up and move back! We’re going to blow the door!”

As the section pulled back closer to the rest of the platoon, which had by now entered the ship through the boarding tube. Blast marks marred the walls and passageways around the first platoon members. A few mercenary corpses littered the corridor they hunkered down in. They were in the fight and ready to move forward. But this sudden appearance of a door halted their progress. Captain Karada was annoyed with the blockage.

Major Tavik came through the hole, taking a position to Mosh’s right. “Don’t worry Captain, the other platoons are experiencing the same problem. The third platoon has already broken through and are in a fight near the Venator’s bridge. Lieutentant Lomax has been hit and Sergeant Felidron has taken over the Sapper Platoon temporarily. I have lost contact with the second platoon leader. He has sent me no sitreps. Blow your hole and carry on.”

Major Tavik looked at the Sapper NCO, “Sergeant, how many of those charges do you have on you?”

The sergeant looked at the major, stood at attention and replied, “Sir, I have three additional charges and Corporal Martus has four. We have only the seven between us.”

“That should be sufficient for now. Carry on, sergeant.” Major Tavik then turned away from the battle and listened to a report from Captain Kruger.

His receiver crackled in his ear. Captain Karada listened as well, ”the sappers have breached the inner door. The Chakaar operators are here. They are under fire. We are backing them up. Helping to defend the hangar bay against the mercenaries.”

“Well done, Lorne,” Major Tavik answered. “Link up with Captain Besk if you can find him. Give him a status update on our progress. Tavik, out.” @HeySeuss

With these words spoken, the charge against the door impeding the first platoon’s progress detonated, leaving a rather large hole in the corridor, rendering several people in the second section temporarily deaf. Sergeant Paltoy had enough for thought to run towards the opening and toss a thermal detonator inside while lasblasts resumed their passage back and forth through the opening. The second section took up positions and continued their advancing fire.

The blast of the breaching charge and subsequent thermal detonator were enough to momentarily stun the mercenaries and hand the second section a brief opportunity to exploit the advantage. A few members ran through the door, taking covered positions along the side walls, returning fire.

Captain Karada moved closer to get a better look. He motioned for Sergeant Li Pendragon to follow him. He wanted the first section to be ready to fight through the second section. Mosh turned to his first section leader, “Sergeant, be prepared to take your section through the door. Second section will drop a few more thermals on them and then you and your people charge in, got it!?”

“Yes sir,” Sergeant Pendragon responded.

With the orders given, a lasblast hit Mosh in the side of the helmet knocking him to the ground. He was stunned, but otherwise unhurt. He rose to a kneeling position and adjusted his position so he wasn’t immediately in the line of fire again.

“Man that smarts,” Captain Karada muttered as he checked his helmet and his head. Aside from the blast marks on the side, he was otherwise unharmed.

“Keep pushing forward Mosh. We need to clear this ship,” Major Tavik spoke without asking him about his condition. The man saw the first platoon commander go down, but was just as caught up in the moment as everyone else.

“Yes sir. Will do. Yes, I am fine,” Captain Karada responded with a neutral tone. ‘Bastard!’ he thought to himself.

Major Tavik turned away from the first platoon commander. He called over the company net, “Sergeant Major, have Sergeant Dumas and Corporal Delmont bring up more breaching charges and thermal detonators. All four platoons will need a resupply before too long. The crew of the Majestic have dropped blast doors, blocking our paths. We have been able to blast our way through, but will need more explosives to continue our mission. Check with the ship’s crew. See if we can get some help pushing the charges and detonators forward, over.”

“Aye, aye, sir,” came the response from the Company Sergeant. The sailors in the Combat Information Center behind the bridge heard the transmission and were made aware of the current obstacle in front of Rancor Company’s advance.

@CaptainBritton@Lauder@POOHEAD189

Foreign Legion [First Contact/Uplift/Military Sci-Fi]

Centurion PMC spreadsheet for organizational purposes

@vietmyke

@Lord Shaxx@HeySeuss
Check the Centurion PMC organization linked above. I added a Platoon Medic to the Platoon Headquarters and added Atwater there.

Foreign Legion [First Contact/Uplift/Military Sci-Fi]

@HeySeuss and @Gunther Go ahead and put Atwater where ever you want/need him, as a CMT/EMT here I don't really know where to put him on the Spreadsheet, but as a T1 SF operator he can pretty much go anywhere here.

@Lord Shaxx

He can be an attachment. It would not be listed in this organization. The Platoon medic follows the Platoon Sergeant around. If no one wants the "Platoon Daddy" position, make an NPC of one and stick to him until someone needs attention.

Foreign Legion [First Contact/Uplift/Military Sci-Fi]

@HeySeuss and I were talking about making this a platoon instead of a "squad" or "team" sized operation. The number or RPers in here is growing large. It is better for people to have a few NPCs they can control or work with a smaller group within the larger RP.

As far as organization goes, I like to add some realism, but I think most people feel that a bit confining. How about the organization looks like this:

Platoon Headquarters
Platoon Leader
Platoon Sergeant
Asst Platoon Sergeant
Radio-Telephone Operator/Forward Observer (for calling in mortars, artillery or talking to drone pilots)

3x 13-man squads. Let the squads look like however you'd like to make them. We originally based this off a USMC rifle squad of 13 men, but even Special Operations units occasionally operate in 12-man teams that operate quite differently than the Corps.

For your edification:

USMC squad

Squad Leader
A Team Leader
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
Rifleman
B Team Leader
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
Rifleman
C Team Leader
Auto Rifleman
Grenadier
Rifleman

I would also like to add a Weapons squad containing anti-armor specialists and General Purpose Machine gun crews.

Weapons Squad
Squad Leader
Machine Gunner (GPMG)
Assistant Gunner
Machine Gunner (GPMG)
Assistant Gunner
Anti-Armor Gunner
Anti-Armor Gunner

This organization deploys a total of 50 people. We can bring in plenty of NPCs to fill in the open slots. This will help those people who may want to have their own fireteam, or those who all want to be grouped together.

NOTE: Green slots are leadership roles.

Foreign Legion [First Contact/Uplift/Military Sci-Fi]

@Therealslayer Royal Marine Commandos are BAMFs! I almost made Tony Collins a Royal Marine but stuck to Paras and SAS instead.

Foreign Legion [First Contact/Uplift/Military Sci-Fi]

Name: Anthony Collins (Nick: Tony)
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/Nationality: Welsh/British/African
Former Unit: Tony served as a Rifle Platoon Leader with Two Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 Paras) at Colchester Garrison. After three years, he trained in Special Air Services Selection. He spent ten years in SAS with 22 SAS Regiment.

Role: Platoon Leader

Physical Description:

Tony Collins is an impressive looking man at 6' 4" tall and weighing just under 250 Lbs. His body is sculpted to perfection from more than 20 years of body building and weightlifting. He is of African descent with dark skin. After leaving the army, he has taken to wearing a goatee. What is visibly noticeable about Tony is his muscular bulk.

Tony Collins

Skillset:

- Served as Rifle Platoon Leader, Mortar Platoon Leader, Troop Executive Officer, Troop Commander, Battalion Staff Officer and Regimental Staff Officer.
- Infantry Officer Basic Course
- Parachute School
- Special Air Service Selection Process
- SCUBA qualified
- HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) qualified
- Expert with his primary weapon.
- Proficient with all available small arms weapons on the planet.
- Leadership
- Land Navigation
- Small Unit Tactics
- Battalion/Brigade Operations (Heavy/Light Mix)
- Speaks Welsh, English and French

History:

Tony grew up in Birchgrove section of Cardiff, Wales. His father, Bruce worked for Arriva Trains Wales earning an honest living. He sacrificed to insure his son gained a decent education. Tony’s mother is employed as a clerk in the Welsh Treasury in Cardiff.

While in secondary school, Anthony Collins played defenseman for his school’s football team. He enjoyed sports and began lifting weights and running when he was 15 years old. He also enjoyed hiking and went on holiday hiking Brecon Beacons National Park in the summertime. His family would camp there on occasion.

When he graduated secondary school, he was accepted to the University of South Wales, School of Engineering. He graduated with a 3.5 International GPA and a 4.0 UK GPA providing him with a strong platform for which to gain employment. His degree was in computer engineering. Anthony had wanted to join the British Army since he was a young lad.

He joined the Army after graduating from the University in 2003 and attended the Infantry Training Centre at Vimy Barracks in Catterick. This is a 26-week course for which he completed in time for Christmas. He was able to go on holiday until the first of the year. Second Lieutenant Anthony Collins then attended Parachute Training at 1Parachute Training Regiment at Colchester Garrison. He eventualy graduated receiving his wings as a Paratrooper and then assignment as a Rifle Platoon Leader with B Troop, 2 Para. He held this position for 18 months and was reassigned as battalion mortar platoon leader for the combat support company of the battalion.

After three years with the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Anthony Collins was promoted to first lieutenant and volunteered for selection into the Special Air Service. SAS Selection is a most arduous and difficult training regimen. The retention rate for students entering the course and successfully completing is roughly 10 – 15%. Anthony completed the course and became a better man because of it.

He spent ten years in SAS with 22 SAS Regiment and saw many covert operations around the globe and at home in the interest of the crown. In 2010, Tony was promoted to Captain and given his own SAS Troop to command. In 2015, Tony was promoted to Major and assigned as a Battalion Operations Officer in 2nd Battalion, 22 SAS.

As an officer in 22 SAS, Tony was deployed to Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Soldiers from his Troop conducted a joint operation with US Navy SEALS in Badakhshan Province in 2010 where they rescued four international aid workers and killed 11 hostiles. No friendly soldiers were wounded during this operation.

Later in 2010 the Forward Operating Base his Troop operated out of came under attack by a mass of over three Taliban soldiers. The Troop took one casualty in the process, but inflicted over a hundred upon the enemy. The siege of their fire base lasted sixteen hours. American Apache Helicopters and A10 Warthogs were eventually brought in to suppress the enemy and relieve the British soldiers on the base.

While with 22 SAS, Tony served as a Platoon Leader, Troop Executive Officer, Troop Commander, battalion quartermaster, battalion assistant operations officer, battalion administrative officer, regimental special staff officer in the operations section and battalion operations officer. In late 2016, Tony left 22 SAS and the British Officer to join Centurion, recruiting in South America. With his experience and position in his nation’s military he was offered a position as a Platoon Leader.

Psychological Profile:

Tony is for the most part a positive upbeat individual with a pleasant sense of humor. He believes most people have good intentions and will give a bloke the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. When someone proves Tony wrong in this aspect, they receive the black mark for life. It takes a lot of good deeds to come off Tony’s black list. For enlisted soldiers, expect no positive accolades or plush assignments. For peers, he offers the silent treatment. They are banished in his eyes. Personal integrity is something that a real man must never violate. Once lost, it can never be regained.

Tony prefers to be non-confrontational. This appears to be an oxymoron for someone who has devoted much of their life to being a soldier, but it is not about enemy combatants on a battlefield. It is in regards to those individuals he has an inter-personal relationship with. He would rather avoid a conflict if possible. He is disciplined enough to know that the mission of his unit comes first. He will suck it up and do what needs to be done even if it ruffles a few feathers along the way. Sometimes it is best to beg forgiveness than to ask permission.

As a soldier, Tony is a very disciplined individual with an acute focus on the task at hand, while keeping an eye on what is coming next.

Equipment:

Items carried on person: Current British Army Uniform, black combat boots, black weight lifting gloves, a NCStar CBG2911 tactical back pack, color green, Night vision device (attaches to helmet), and Dragonscale Armor. Olive Green Combat Assault vest, two olive green canteens at the rear left and right along the waist, four pouches containing two each magazines for the HK416 Carbine, a tactical holster on the right outer thigh for the P226, a first aid kit, a butt pack attached to the rear and a camel back hydration system. Tony has a Kevlar construction helmet shaped like the German Falschirmjager helmet of WWII. In his pockets he carries a lensatic compass, a green whistle, grease pencils, black ink pens, a small notebook, protractor, binoculars (7x50mm) and three rolls of black electrical tape. In his butt pack; one MRE (Meal, Ready to Eat) broken down, cleaning rag, weapons cleaning kit, Cleaner, Lubricant & Preservative (CLP) bottle. He has nine spare magazines that are all full, four magazines for the pistol. He wears a current state of the art communication system hardened to withstand EMP. When he is not wearing his helmet, he wears his British SAS beret, Sand in color. Attached to his helmet is a set of Goggles (Sun, Wind and Dust). Tony has a Gerber Mark II Survival knife attached to his assault vest, a Gerber boot knife at the top of his right boot & a Leatherman tool on his belt.

Items carried in his pack: Three MREs, one extra set of combat fatigues, foot powder, sunscreen, four empty magazines, five Black T-shirts in zip lock bags, seven pairs of wool socks in zip lock bags, wet weather poncho, poncho liner, four bungee cords with hooks, three rolls of OD green duct tape, two hundred feet of 550 foot-Lb parachute cord, one brown towel, a two-quart bladder canteen attached to pack, Entrenching tool (E-Tool) /with carrier, a climbing harness, locking D-ring, figure eight descender, various military snap links, four small spools of trip wire with four small nails inside each spool, Nomex hood.

Foreign Legion [First Contact/Uplift/Military Sci-Fi]

Gunther is now Co-GM. His input will shape what the squad looks like and the loadout.

@HeySeuss

Thank you sir, I am most humbled.
We need more Light Machine Guns and Grenade Launchers. The More the merrier, in my opinion.

Foreign Legion [First Contact/Uplift/Military Sci-Fi]

Anthony Collins

Name: Anthony Collins (Nick: Tony)
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Ethnicity/Nationality: Welsh/British/African
Former Unit: Tony served as a Rifle Platoon Leader with Two Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 Paras) at Colchester Garrison. After three years, he trained in Special Air Services Selection. He spent six years in SAS with Air Troop, B Squadron, 22 SAS Regiment. Tony has served with 3 Para at Colchester Garrison for the past four years.

Role: Platoon Leader

Physical Description:

Tony Collins is an impressive looking man at 6' 4" tall and weighing just under 250 Lbs. His body is sculpted to perfection from more than 20 years of body building and weightlifting. He is of African descent with dark skin. After leaving the army, he has taken to wearing a goatee. What is visibly noticeable about Tony is his muscular bulk.

Tony Collins

Skillset:

- Served as Rifle Platoon Leader, Mortar Platoon Leader, Troop Executive Officer, Troop Commander, Battalion Staff Officer and Regimental Staff Officer.
- Infantry Officer Basic Course
- Parachute School
- Special Air Service Selection Process
- SCUBA qualified
- HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) qualified
- Expert with his primary weapon.
- Proficient with all available small arms weapons on the planet.
- Leadership
- Land Navigation
- Small Unit Tactics
- Battalion/Brigade Operations (Heavy/Light Mix)

History:

Tony grew up in Birchgrove section of Cardiff, Wales. His father, Bruce worked for Arriva Trains Wales earning an honest living. He sacrificed to insure his son gained a decent education. Tony’s mother is employed as a clerk in the Welsh Treasury in Cardiff.

While in secondary school, Anthony Collins played defenseman for his school’s football team. He enjoyed sports and began lifting weights and running when he was 15 years old. He also enjoyed hiking and went on holiday hiking Brecon Beacons National Park in the summertime. His family would camp there on occasion.

When he graduated secondary school, he was accepted to the University of South Wales, School of Engineering. He graduated with a 3.5 International GPA and a 4.0 UK GPA providing him with a strong platform for which to gain employment. His degree was in computer engineering. Anthony had wanted to join the British Army since he was a young lad.

He joined the Army after graduating from the University in 2003 and attended the Infantry Training Centre at Vimy Barracks in Catterick. This is a 26-week course for which he completed in time for Christmas. He was able to go on holiday until the first of the year. Second Lieutenant Anthony Collins then attended Parachute Training at 1Parachute Training Regiment at Colchester Garrison. He eventualy graduated receiving his wings as a Paratrooper and then assignment as a Rifle Platoon Leader with B Troop, 2 Para. He held this position for 18 months and was reassigned as battalion mortar platoon leader for the combat support company of the battalion.

After three years with the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Anthony Collins was promoted to first lieutenant and volunteered for selection into the Special Air Service. SAS Selection is a most arduous and difficult training regimen. The retention rate for students entering the course and successfully completing is roughly 10 – 15%. Anthony completed the course and became a better man because of it.

He spent ten years in SAS with 22 SAS Regiment and saw many covert operations around the globe and at home in the interest of the crown. In 2010, Tony was promoted to Captain and given his own SAS Troop to command. In 2015, Tony was promoted to Major and assigned as a Battalion Operations Officer in 2nd Battalion, 22 SAS.

As an officer in 22 SAS, Tony was deployed to Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Soldiers from his Troop conducted a joint operation with US Navy SEALS in Badakhshan Province in 2010 where they rescued four international aid workers and killed 11 hostiles. No friendly soldiers were wounded during this operation.

Later in 2010 the Forward Operating Base his Troop operated out of came under attack by a mass of over three Taliban soldiers. The Troop took one casualty in the process, but inflicted over a hundred upon the enemy. The siege of their fire base lasted sixteen hours. American Apache Helicopters and A10 Warthogs were eventually brought in to suppress the enemy and relieve the British soldiers on the base.

While with 22 SAS, Tony served as a Platoon Leader, Troop Executive Officer, Troop Commander, battalion quartermaster, battalion assistant operations officer, battalion administrative officer, regimental special staff officer in the operations section and battalion operations officer. In late 2016, Tony left 22 SAS and the British Officer to join Centurion, recruiting in South America. With his experience and position in his nation’s military he was offered a position as a Platoon Leader.

Psychological Profile:

Tony is for the most part a positive upbeat individual with a pleasant sense of humor. He believes most people have good intentions and will give a bloke the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. When someone proves Tony wrong in this aspect, they receive the black mark for life. It takes a lot of good deeds to come off Tony’s black list. For enlisted soldiers, expect no positive accolades or plush assignments. For peers, he offers the silent treatment. They are banished in his eyes. Personal integrity is something that a real man must never violate. Once lost, it can never be regained.

Tony prefers to be non-confrontational. This appears to be an oxymoron for someone who has devoted much of their life to being a soldier, but it is not about enemy combatants on a battlefield. It is in regards to those individuals he has an inter-personal relationship with. He would rather avoid a conflict if possible. He is disciplined enough to know that the mission of his unit comes first. He will suck it up and do what needs to be done even if it ruffles a few feathers along the way. Sometimes it is best to beg forgiveness than to ask permission.

As a soldier, Tony is a very disciplined individual with an acute focus on the task at hand, while keeping an eye on what is coming next.

Foreign Legion [First Contact/Uplift/Military Sci-Fi]

John Ambrose Lee. Love it!

A cross between General Ambrose Burnside (USA) and General Robert E. Lee (CSA). A little "Blue and Gray" action.

Hopefully, one of these days I can finish working on Anthony Collins, formerly of the British Army. Maybe this afternoon?