Scolopendran Mobile Infantry

Insignia of the Scolopendran Mobile Infantry

The Scolopendran Mobile Infantry (SMI) is the surface arm of the Scolopendran Military Services (SMS), serving to protect the Federated Segments of Scolopendra from aggressors and project its concerns beyond its borders. Even in the absence of opposition ground forces on Titan, the Ring, or any other Scolopendran holding, the SMI is still very well-equipped although it is relatively small. The Mobile Infantry are intended to serve in a front-line role whilst the Civilian Defense Corps (CDC_ take care of garrisoning Scolopendran holdings. The Scolopendran Mobile Infantry, along with the Scolopendran AeroSpace Directorate (SASD) and the CDC, is part of the Foot-to-Ass (formerly Defense) Section currently led by Advisor Lance Jason Hawke.

Why Not the "Scolopendran Army?"

It was indeed the Scolopendran Army before The Break. After The Break, only the Mobile Infantry that left to the Belter installations and on the Titan Colonization Mission survived and the structure was rebuilt from there. Even prior to The Break, the Mobile Infantry with their rapid-response drop forces were becoming synonymous with the Army in the public mind, given that they could respond to and repel enemy incursions before the regular Army could even react. In a sense, the Army mission folded into the Mobile Infantry just like the Navy mission folded into the AeroSpace Directorate.

Mission

"To defend and further the interests of the Federated Segments of Scolopendra through dominance of land and sea."

This is the more official version of the colloquial 'mission statement' used by most M.I.: "To go down, literally pull the enemy from whatever hole they're hiding, and force them to sign the surrender treaty." It is, in essence, what they do--while the SASD may have complete aerospace superiority in a conflict, it cannot actually win wars without egregious bombardment and loss of life that entails. Hostile governments, often acting out of personal safety instead of regard for their citizenry, will hole up in bunkers or go into hiding and refuse to acquiesce; the resources of the nation, however interdicted by the SASD, are still available to them. This is why it requires soldiers on the ground to physically deny these assets to an enemy in a total war situation and force leaders to capitulate either through completely separating them from their power base or physically capturing them in a total war situation.

In a limited war or a police action (into which category most Scolopendran extraction campaigns qualify), then the need for ground forces is even greater: wars cannot be "won" in the traditional sense by aerospace assets without resorting to scorched earth strategy; more delicate objectives with less enemy losses in civilians and infrastructure must be accomplished with a more delicate method. In the words of a Mobile Infantryman, this is described as "getting personal"--"the ASD is as personal as a bomb dropped on one's neighborhood. The M.I. is as personal as a punch in the face." In situations where strategic operational control needs be assured without excessive collateral damage, the Mobile Infantry are sent to achieve local ground dominance.

Like the SASD, the SMI is often rotated through the Triumvirate of Yut Combined Services in front-line ship-based Divisions, in second-line TYCS Ground Forces Armies, and in shipboard Security Marine positions. These same roles are evident within the SMI itself and as TYCS military structure is based on the Scolopendran model, rotation is a relatively simple process.

Insignia

The standard SMI insignia (seen above) both acts as an easily identifiable symbol of the Federated Segments' surface corps as well as a metaphor for service in the SMI through the symbolism of its individual parts. The large block-letter 'M' makes up the primary shape of the symbol and suggests a wall, and like the SASD's 'A' its dark red color represents the dried blood of those that have gone before. Atop that is a block-letter 'I', green for the land they fight for. Atop that is the standard steel centipede symbolizing the Federated Segments, and overall is a shield, which along with the suggested wall of the 'M' continues the symbolic theme of defense.

The shield is party per fess sable and vert, in chief with three stars Or, in base with a castle, an indented border argent between the two fields. The black and green fields represent (unsurprisingly) space and ground, with the silver indented border representing simultaneously air (the transition) and sea; together they represent where the Mobile Infantry are trained to fight (which would be "everywhere"). The three stars represent the three key values of the Mobile Infantry: Camraderie, Service, and Honor. The castle completes the overall defensive theme.

Organization

The SMI follows the same basic organizational pattern as the SASD but due to its broader range of operations is somewhat larger on the top. The Mobile Infantry are responsible for coast guard and sea projection duties as well as land combat and special operations, and despite being a military of light infantry and light armor for mobility's sake, is still not as fluid as it could possibly be due to (intentional) reliance on the SASD for theatre transport.

The SMI is technically a Directorate in the Scolopendran Federal Service hierarchy (Segment-Directorate-Office), but due to tradition refuses to use "Directorate" in its title.

Commander, SMI

Usually a Lieutenant General (O-9), the commander of the SMI is responsible for all SMI operations and reports directly to the Foot-to-Ass Advisor. He is appointed by the Foot-to-Ass Advisor from a 'short list' of candidates with requisite requirements of time in service, performance evaluations (outstanding, 1st percentile), and excellence in strategic thought. These requirements are identical to those for Commander, SASD.

Direct-Reporting Offices

These offices either support the mission of the entire SMI or are far too important to be set up as anything less than directly reporting to the Commander, SMI. Most of them are relatively low-maintenance, such as the Officer School and the Judge Advocate General, both of which are self-reliant by design, but others (especially SMISO) require careful thought and planning.

Scolopendran Mobile Infantry Officer Candidates' School (SMIOCS)

SMIOCS (usually just OCS) is responsible for training the officers that lead the Mobile Infantry in everything platoon-scale and higher. It is technically not an Academy because it does not take civilians and make them into officers; SMI doctrine demands that all officers originate as drop-qualified enlisted personnel with time in service who show the potential for greater leadership. Although the officer-enlisted relationship is far more formal in the Mobile Infantry than it is in the SASD, every Mobile Infantryman takes pride in knowing that his or her new junior officer is a tested cap trooper and not the kind of greenhorn who just happens to have a degree known in previous eras as "ninety-day wonders."

SMIOCS has both a centralized "academy" location (Central) for the cream-of-the-crop candidates and decentralized detachments at civilian universities across the Segments (Homeland) as well as a correspondence course (Away). OCS Central and Away only offer courses which are directly compatible with the SMI's mission, primarily those in technical, military history, psychology, and graphics arts fields. OCS Homeland allows troopers to obtain any degree that SMIOCS authorizes and the university they attend teaches, but is generally maligned as the source of "underwater basket-weavers."

Judge Advocate General (JAG)

The JAG is the internal legal system of the Scolopendran Mobile Infantry, directly responsible for the application of uniformed military law inside the SMI. It coordinates with the upper-echelon FtA JAG but reports directly to the Commander, SMI.

Office of Land-Sea Warfare Research (OLSWR)

OLSWR (pronounced "ol-swear") is the centralized body responsible for coordinating all non-aerospace military research in the Segments. In addition to working closely with civilian contractors from entities such as TME Industries or Garage Industrialists Combine, it also works with foreign contractors via TYCS Camp Restricted and even conducts its own in-house research. OLSWR develops new powersuits, new armored vehicles, and new infantry weapons as well as support gear ranging from packframes to rations.

Because what OLSWR develops can be found across the Federated Segments, it works closely with the OASM and the Office of the Quartermaster (OQ) to make sure what it develops matches the needs of the Scolopendran Military Services.

Office of the Quartermaster (OQ)

The OQ selects, acquires, and distributes materiel to troopers. In conjunction with WarWANCC and the Commander, SMI it submits specifications to OLSWR for new equipment. Once OLSWR replies with a new, acceptable system, OQ uses procurement funding from the SMI's budget to buy it and sends it to the units that need it most. To avoid old abuses of the quartermaster system ("I can't give you that or else we'd be out") OQ's distribution system is mostly automated and directed on the basis of most-need. If a new armor suit system needs to be distributed, the unit currently in conflict with the oldest armor gets highest priority, while the unit currently in replacement depot or on inactive standby with the newest armor gets lowest priority.

To prevent redundancy where there doesn't need to be any, the OQ is also responsible for distributing (normally used, in the case of weapons or armor) materiel to the Civilian Defense Corps.

Scolopendran Mobile Infantry Special Operators (SMISO)

SMISO are the Federated Segments' sole special forces. Split into two subsets for different missions, SMISO both supports acting military operations as well as special 'black projects' albeit never on the front line. SMISO forces are not listed as front-line combatants and by design cannot be assigned to regular combat alongside regular units or alone, although circumstances can of course press them into it. SMISO forces are always remotely deployed (except for training) and are considered always on duty. Deployment schedules and methods are state secrets, although there are rumors that they use specially-contracted civilian vessels for transport at times.

The only records SMISO officially keeps is enlistment and materials usage. SMISO operators are, unlike other special forces, allowed to freely admit their status as Special Operators as said status is a matter of record. Anything that occurs while on-duty, however (which is at any point during a five-month tour), is classified as Never Happening (NH) and is forbidden from being spread. Divulging NH secrets is considered an act of treason under Scolopendran military law.

SMISO basic training makes all surviving and passing candidates professionally proficient in surviving and fighting in all Terrestrial terrains and space as well as fighting with all known types of ranged and melee weapons in a combination of fighting styles, primarily Krav Maga and Shaolin wushu. Further specialist training in the two branches builds upon this.

Mygalomorphae Macrothele ("Wolf Spiders," SMISO-MM)

Mygalomorphae Macrothele, more commonly known as the "Wolf Spiders," are named after a type of Wikipedia:tarantula discovered on Titan after the moon was terraformed. It is a large but well-camouflaged spider that pounces quickly on prey and shows an unusual level of social interaction, with several M. macrothele working together to take down animals larger than them. This is considered an adaptation to Scolopendra's environment on Xanadu where predators must compete directly for food. Food is more easily shared between small predators than large, and so the small predators cooperate to eliminate larger predators.

These are perfect attributes for SMISO-MM, modeled very closely after the extremely successful British Special Air Service special forces regiment of times past. They are trained in "counterterrorism" operations (which primarily means close-quarters combat and SWAT tactics) and "military specialist" operations: demolitions, sniping, heavy weapons, vehicle and armor operations. If it needs to be smashed and smashed silently, -MM is sent.

Mygalomorphae Antrodiaetidae ("Trapdoor Spiders," SMISO-MA)

Mygalomorphae Antrodiaetidae is the scientific name for the folding trapdoor spider, remaining hidden underground before striking. This suits SMISO-MA well, given its penchant for digging holes in the ground and hiding in them until something important comes up.

If -MM is based on the Special Air Service, then -MA is based on the Green Berets of history. -MA operators are trained in world languages, cultures, negotiation (diplomatic and otherwise), and etiquette in addition to an emphasis on stealth tactics; weapons training continues but as a sidebar. The "Trapdoor Spiders'" missions include counterinsurgency, native insurgent/opposition training, forward-deployed reconnaissance, and foreign infiltration. It is rumored that SMISO-MA is the preferred tool for quiet assassinations in friendly cultures, especially after the disappearance of several groups of knights-errant of moderate standing known to have been planning (or simply performing) operations against Scolopendran allies.

Mobile Infantry Sea Corps (MISC)

The MISC is the self-admitted bastard child of the Mobile Infantry. Created when the Scolopendran Navy was folded into the Army as a result of the Admiral's Revolt, MISC is responsible for coastal patrol and blue-water operations on Scolopendran or shared worlds. Given that Scolopendra suffers no sea threats on Titan, Si'lat, or Bright Morning, the only places that really demand a naval presence, MISC is limited to policing trade lanes and enforcing counter-smuggling operations.

It is often joked that MISC is a good acronym for the Scolopendran sea force, as it truely contains the miscellany of the Mobile Infantry. Troopers are assigned to sea duty either as a punishment detail or as a "vacation cruise" tour, and so MISC is either despised or fully enjoyed by its contingent depending on the circumstances of their assignment. Punishment assignments only result in reassignment after achieving an Outstanding performance evaluation, which allows MISC to force troopers to shape up, and non-punishment assignments are rotated, meaning that one cannot coast through a "vacation cruise" career. This means that Scolopendra is fully lacking in 'professional' sea crews except for the very small contingent that signs up for MISC from the start. Given that MISC's largest boats are blue-water capable cutters (not counting the converted-barge nuclear aircraft carrier Aberdeen), it is not considered a serious blue-water force to begin with and so a lack of professional sailors raises no concern.

Numbered Armies

Just like the SASD is built around Numbered AeroSpace Forces, the Mobile Infantry is built around Numbered Armies. A Numbered Army is responsible for a particular theatre of operations, and self-sufficient operational divisions are assigned or rotated through Numbered Armies as needed. Numbered Armies are commanded by generals.

• First Army ("Yurtta Sulh"): Named for the Pharsi for 'peace at home,' the First Army is responsible for defense in the Saturnian System: Titan and the Ring.
• Second Army ("Ansar"): Named for the Arabic for 'helpers,' the Second Army consists of forces liasoned to other nations. This includes liason battle armor training divisions working in the Sunset and Dominion and forces seconded to the Triumvirate of Yut Combined Services. The Second Army used to be "Cihanda Sulh" for 'peace in the world,' the force projection arm of the Mobile Infantry. Since Scolopendra no longer performs offensive military actions without Triumvirate of Yut backing, its forward deployed forces with the TYCS have been folded into what used to be the Third Army. There are still contingencies for the separation of the two Numbered Armies, which is why the Third Army is still officially deactivated.
• Fourth Army ("Dar al-Amn"): Named for the Arabic for 'House of Safety,' the Third Army consists of the colonial defense forces of Si'lat, Bright Morning, and Hillary. The Third Army is notable for consisting of more light infantry divisions than battle armor divisions.
• Fifth Army ("Madrasa"): Named for the Arabic for 'school,' the Fourth Army is a purely bookkeeping measure consisting of academy cadre forces and various training facilities such as Camp Hartmann.

Divisions

The division is generally the smallest self-sufficient deployable force, meaning that it can be deployed Away from the Scolopendran homeland indefinitely if needed. The size of a division varies from 480 fighting men for battle armor and Heavy Gear divisions to 6,826 for light infantry divisions.

Divisions are, of course, built up from smaller units like so (from bottom to top):

• A Squadron consists of four armored troopers (battle armor or Gear) or eight light infantrymen and is led by a mid-level NCO (sergeant to staff sergeant).
• A Section consists of two Squadrons and is commanded by a senior NCO (master sergeant and higher) for a total of nine battle armor or 17 light infantrymen.
• A Platoon consists of two Sections and is commanded by a junior officer (lieutenant) for a total of 19 battle armor or 35 light infantrymen.
• A Company consists of three Platoons and is commanded by a senior field officer (Captain) for a total of 59 battle armor or 106 light infantry.

Here the structure diverges; battle armor goes thusly:

• A Battalion (Short) consists of two Companies and is commanded by a junior company-grade officer (Major) for a total of 119 battle armor.
• A Regiment (Short) consists of two Battalions commanded by a medium company-grade officer (Lieutenant Colonel) for a total of 239 battle armor.
• A Division (Short) consists of two Regiments commanded by a senior company-grade officer (Colonel) with an adjutant for a total of 480 battle armor.

While light infantry goes as so:

• A Battalion consists of four Companies and is commanded by a junior company-grade officer (Major) and an adjutant for a total of 426 light infantry.
• A Regiment consists of four Battalions and is commanded by a medium company-grade officer (Lieutenant Colonel) with an adjutant for a total of 1,706 light infantry.
• A Division consists of four Regiments and is commanded by a senior company-grade officer (Colonel) with an adjutant for a total of 6,826 light infantry.

The Scolopendran Mobile Infantry uses short organizational structure for two reasons: firstly, to keep fighting forces as trim (and as mobile) as possible, and secondly because the lethality of the individual infantryman (even a light infantryman) has dramatically increased from the days when a divison consisted of upwards of ten thousand fighting men. Mobile Infantry officers have far greater responsibilities than their counterparts in other militaries, especially at greater organizational levels, pointing out another reason why M.I. officer candidates are always prior-enlisted.

Ground Forces

Mobile Infantry Divisions are segregated by the kind of equipment they use. Because each battle armor or light infantry system serves different roles and has different performance characteristics, making them working directly together on the sub-squad scale difficult. Individual squads are often assigned together, though, and mixed Divisions are not necessarily uncommon when needs demand it.

Assault Armor Divisions

Mobile Infantry Assault Armor

Assault Armor Divisions are the point of the spear for the modern Scolopendran Mobile Infantry. Wearing Mobile Infantry Assault Battle Armor (MIABA), the most advanced powersuits available to the Mobile Infantry, an individual trooper is closer to a cross between a main battle tank and an assault helicopter than a traditional infantryman. Somewhat limited in intrabuilding and other constricted-space operations due to their size, Assault Armor is otherwise the first choice of any engagement no matter the terrain.

Assault Armor Divisions are considered elite and are frequently rotated through TYCS shipborne forward-deployment forces.

Standard Armor Divisions

Mobile Infantry in Standard Armor

Standard Armor are, as their name implies, is the standard for Scolopendran battle armored infantry. Slower, less armored, and less heavily armed than Assault Armor, Mobile Infantry Standard Battle Armor (MISBA) is still more nimble than its heavier cousin and thus makes it far more useful in tight-space operations such as ship defense and close-quarters building combat.

Standard Armor Divisions are slowly being phased out as their troopers are reassigned Assault Armor. However, many divisions specifically trained for close-quarters and ship marine operations will always remain for space-naval operations and urban combat. Most Standard Armor suits being replaced by Assault Armor are handed down to the Civilian Defense Corps, although some are demilitarized and sold on the open market to help augment the budget.

Heavy Gear Divisions

Gunshin Standard Heavy Gear

Heavy Gear Divisions fulfill the armor roles all modern armies need. While Assault and Standard Armor Divisions fulfill heavy and light airborne air cavalry missions, Heavy Gear mecha are equivalent to the armored vehicles used by many other militaries... except trading armor for versatility and mobility, of course. They are also the most heterogeneous divisions in the Mobile Infantry because they need to meet all the missions of a self-contained armored division.

Gunshin Heavy Gear are the most common, used in light armor and light artillery roles. Their offensive capability with weapons such as the Karmabaijani-built VHAC-677 "Orc Mulcher" autocannon is far greater than their still appreciable defensive capability; as with all mecha, their weakness lies in their joints. They are supported by lighter Hunter Gears fulfilling scout roles and heavier Mammoth Strider Mecha performing heavy armor and artillery missions.

The Mobile Infantry relies on light mecha over more conventional vehicles due to their greater versatility and easier portability.

Light Infantry Divisions

Even Standard Armor is an appreciably larger investment of resources and finances than non-battle armor infantry, and some missions are either not vital enough or not hot enough to justify their usage. Therefore, a small but still appreciable number of Mobile Infantry Divisions are classified as 'light infantry,' although this is something of a misnomer if one is used to conventional naming schemes. To the M.I. "light infantry" means anyone wearing anything lighter than Standard Armor, even such things as Scolopendran Low-Observability Powered Exoskeletons (SLOPE), Mobile Infantry Light Battle Armor (MILBA), and Mobile Infantry Minimally Powered Carapace Battle Armor (MIMPCBA) instead of just fatigues or armor padding. Light Infantry Divisions are usually motorized to some extent, relying heavily on the armored vehicles the rest of the Mobile Infantry eschews, and for that reason is considered far less flexible than battle armored infantry.

Light Infantry are primarily used as garrison liasons to the CDC and for site security across the Federated Segments, although they are also responsible for the Mobile Infantry's small but elite Scolopendran Special Armor Corps (SSAC) of main battle tanks and other heavy armored vehicles.