STGOD 2K5 OOC Thread

[Rogue 9]

Right, then. First I'll have to check and make sure all my heavies are home; some might still be in the Aquarian Union. Man, that would suck...

[Thirdfain]

Without a doubt, there will also be at least a squadron of ERTC Enforcement warships in the region, probably based in your territory...

[Rogue 9]

Well either way, it'll have to wait until tomorrow. Library's closing in half an hour and Internet in the dorms is still down.

[Thirdfain]

So, I'd like to talk about army numbers.

The modern United States has roughly 300 million people in it, of which about 65 million are males aged 18-49.

I believe that the United States armed forces contain about 1 million men and women, but we do have a volunteer rather than conscript military.

The TSC's military is coed, and essentially a conscript force (though participation is voluntary, more than half of the eligible population does enlist to recieve citizenship.)

The Commonwealth proper (not including Corneria, Azegart, Ambrosian, and Aquarian holdings) has a population of about 20 trillion; with another two trillion added by inclusion of the rest of the Commonwealth (though these segments have a far lower rate of enlistment due to their recent integration or Colony status.)

The Commonwealth has upwards of 400 worlds, 4 of which are "city worlds" far below Coruscant standards but largely covered by cities. 20 trillion sound about right?

If that's pretty OK, then the Commonwealth would, assuming the same amount of mobilization as the modern United States, have roughly 66 billion men and women in the military. Since it's a conscript force, I'd increase that by 1.5 times, to let's say 100 billion.

Considering these numbers, I figure the Commonwealth Army itself should have a total personelle of around 60 billion. Breakdown would have 15 billion in active, front-line Legions, while 45 billion would be reserves.

That sound about right?

[Captain tycho]

All I know about my army is, it's fucking huge. 6 hive worlds with populations numbering in the high hundred billions + mandatory military service for everyone for a few years...plus, damn it, it's the Imperial Guard.

[Rogue 9]

While we're at it, I just reviewed my army numbers, and out of a population of 500 billion, I have 270 million men in the Army and Marines. Mine's an all-volunteer force, and I was gunning for about the same ratio of civilian to military as the United States. Am I about right? It comes to about 0.5% of the population.

[Captain tycho]

Okay, I ran some math, averaging the population of the six hive worlds at 100 billion each, adding in the 120 million in the Granary worlds, one percent of them are military, so thats 6 billion, 12 million troops.
Of course, only a relatively small portion of them are actually able to be transported en masse offworld due to the number of transports (taking into account all support vehicles)...say what, 20 percent?
So thats about 1,202,400,000 transportable troops (if given time to board all avalible military transports.) If we're looking at troops ready to be transported within a reasonable amount of time, I'd say less than 100 million, which is still fecking huge. Anything like that would be a major operation involving the invasion of a hive world or multiple worlds across sectors of space, which would most likely need the support of foreign navies, since mine isn't exactly that large.

EDIT: So yes guys, you don't have to worry about me landing billions of troops on your worlds, only a small portion are transportable.

[Rogue 9]

EDIT: So yes guys, you don't have to worry about me landing billions of troops on your worlds, only a small portion are transportable.

They'd never all make it to ground anyway.

[Captain tycho]

EDIT: So yes guys, you don't have to worry about me landing billions of troops on your worlds, only a small portion are transportable.

They'd never all make it to ground anyway.

Yeah, not with my shitsandwich sized navy.

[Dahak]

EDIT: So yes guys, you don't have to worry about me landing billions of troops on your worlds, only a small portion are transportable.

They'd never all make it to ground anyway.

Yeah, not with my shitsandwich sized navy.

Try the Zap Brannigan approach. Clog their weapons firing at you with the bodies of your armies

[Captain tycho]

They'd never all make it to ground anyway.

Yeah, not with my shitsandwich sized navy.

Try the Zap Brannigan approach. Clog their weapons firing at you with the bodies of your armies

Yes, but will it work as they're de-orbiting?

[Rogue 9]

"What are the Imperial Guard for if not to die for their Emperor?"

[Captain tycho]

"What are the Imperial Guard for if not to die for their Emperor?"

Yes, it's about time for them to live up to that!
Soldiers, TO THE AIRLOCKS!

[consequences]

So, I'd like to talk about army numbers.

The modern United States has roughly 300 million people in it, of which about 65 million are males aged 18-49.

I believe that the United States armed forces contain about 1 million men and women, but we do have a volunteer rather than conscript military.

The TSC's military is coed, and essentially a conscript force (though participation is voluntary, more than half of the eligible population does enlist to recieve citizenship.)

The Commonwealth proper (not including Corneria, Azegart, Ambrosian, and Aquarian holdings) has a population of about 20 trillion; with another two trillion added by inclusion of the rest of the Commonwealth (though these segments have a far lower rate of enlistment due to their recent integration or Colony status.)

The Commonwealth has upwards of 400 worlds, 4 of which are "city worlds" far below Coruscant standards but largely covered by cities. 20 trillion sound about right?

If that's pretty OK, then the Commonwealth would, assuming the same amount of mobilization as the modern United States, have roughly 66 billion men and women in the military. Since it's a conscript force, I'd increase that by 1.5 times, to let's say 100 billion.

Considering these numbers, I figure the Commonwealth Army itself should have a total personelle of around 60 billion. Breakdown would have 15 billion in active, front-line Legions, while 45 billion would be reserves.

That sound about right?

I think the U.S. armed forces actually have a great deal more than a million just on active duty, but that's split between all services. I'm tempted to say that the Army itself is around 600K on active duty right now, with somewhere around that number in reserves and National Guard.

Edit: So you can probably up that number more than a little.

[SirNitram]

Time to make some ramblings about my own army, so it's more defined than just 'OMFG ROXORS'. Though, to be fair, they do rock ridicuously hard.

I've never really hammered out numbers for my holdings; there's alot of them, and should someone come in force across the Gulf, I'll oblige them with a primer of the important sites. I'm a Grand Power. I've got a shitload of resources and people. Therefore, I'd say 10 billion troops is a nice, low estimate. This doesn't count Local Militia(Too underequipped and poorly trained to count as any sort of point buy. Pretty much criminals, thugs, and gangers with whatever illegal weapons they have on hand.), or the Psykker Legion.

They're not human. They were, once. Any potent Psykker is grabbed for the Marines, though(The reasons will be expounded on if/when I detail the Psykker Legion), and flash-indoctorined deeply. Free will is left, but the individuals past is erased and replaced with false memories of an eternity in their unit. Their memories as a 'mere civilian' become a foggy dream; something that was true, once, but holds almost no sway. The unit is the family, the club, the friends. The Privateer's Guild all-holy Code is also burned into the cortex, forbidding the soldier from firing on civilians, mistreating prisoners, or any of a dozen other acts forbidden in the Alliance's strange and archaic honour.

The physical augmentation begins during this phase as well, as extensive genetic therapy, forced-regeneration, and cybernetic implantation transforms them. Adrenal glands atrophy almost out of existance, replacing the 'fight or flight' instinct with cold calculation and loyalty. Grown to between seven and eight feet(Male and female) and bulked up considerably, the new soldiers enjoy enhanced strength, stamina, and reaction times, augmented by the cybernetically-boosted and controlled combat precognition and telepathy of their psychic heritage. A certain number also bring telekinesis to battle, directed by powerful implants.

But artificial discipline and personal augmentation don't make a soldier. The powersuits they wear are also devastating, using Alliance Field technology to both shield them and propel them, should they enter a gravityless enviroment. The suits are sealed against NBC and provide protection against all but the most modern personal weaponry. They're linked through an Infraspace signal, and allow a unit to physically seperate while remaining coordinated. Besides the usual limited strength augmentation and life support features, they also feature a personal-scale Displacer; able to fling the soldier into the thick of it, using either a datalinked sensor feed, or their own line of sight.

Once indoctorined, augmented, and equipped, new units are dropped into the worst cities of the Corsair Republic's orbitals for peacekeeping and police work. This is a test of discipline; if you can keep from launching into a slaughter when surrounded by hateful, violent civilians, you're ready for prime-time. Attacking leads to 'punishment indoctorine'. Killing innocent individuals results in the complete immolation of the individual via plasma furnace.

They're pretty scary, but I emphasize they're optimized for three things, and only two of them are military. Raiding and peacekeeping. They're also damned well trained in duelling of all kinds, but this is a matter of the Guild's Honour Code, and is unlikely to show up. They've got heavy equipment for planetary assaults, but thus far it's unproven and only tested in live fire tests. Never in battle.

Final points. Though it's a lifetime commitment, once you've passed your Hell Year in the Orbitals, you're given shore leave on occasion to visit with the normal population and enjoy the pay you've racked up in all manner of extremely questionable activities. Things are relatively free in the barracks as well; it's not all that unusual to see soldiers gambling, swearing, duelling(To first blood only in recreation), screwing, and badmouthing the brass and silver(Silver being an obscure peice of Black Alliance slang for politicos; thirty peices of silver, remember?). When two units meet, it can be anything from a heartfelt reunion, a showdown between rivals in the form of multiple duels, an orgy, or a quiet game of Pyramid.

[Captain tycho]

More crap on the Auroran Imperial Guard:

Equipment is pretty much identical to the WH40K Imperial Guard. Lasrifles, lascannons, tanks, aircraft, etc, though suitably powered up to match this setting.
Tactics are much more akin to modern day ones, none of this trench warfare and human wave crap, though many less reputable regiments from the underhives tend to be thrown en masse against defensive lines (mostly criminals and heretics that need to be purged.)

The regiments of the line are highly trained, highly motivated, and very well equipped. All regiments of the line are extremely mobile, having more than enough APCs, tanks, and aerial cavalry to move about the battlefield at will, while the penal regiments are equipped with second-rate gear and lack motorized transports.
Roughly 0.005 percent (or 300,600) of the army population are sanctioned psykers that operate in specialized Psychic Warfare Groups (PWGs). These pyskers are used to destroy enemy morale, combat enemy psykers, and in large enough groups, unleash fiercesome psionic attacks on enemy formations. A single PWG (roughly company size) is attached to each regiment of the line, giving each of them sufficient anti-psyker protection during battle, while at the army level, ten or more PWGs will gather in one place to direct psyhic attacks and scry enemy movements.

Space Marines don't usually take place in ground battles at all; they exist soley as special forces responsible for rapid storm-attacks against critical locations, assassinations, and as the point of a mobile spearhead (usually in only platoon size).
When actually moving in company or Chapter strength during battle (which is extremely rare), Space Marines are always stiffened by regiments of Imperial Guard.

[consequences]

So, since we're on a ground forces kick:

The Shi Combine ground arm is a relatively small force of 160 million, heavily augmented by combat droids of all classes. Entirely volunteer force, and while the general caliber of individual is higher than whatever passes for the galactic average, the truly bad-ass have signed up with the fighter corps or various Special Forces groups until quite recently. Power armor is the order of the day except when circumstances specifically make it a bad idea.

The exception to this the new Army Group that was just formed as a proof of concept, which concentrates the finest of equipment and highest caliber of soldiers that can be found or made from the regular ground forces. Pound for pound, once they get the kinks out, it is hoped that they can dance with the Kzinti on a one for one basis(which doesn't do that much about the fact that the Kzin army probably outnumbers them a hundred to one or so). Both because they are still working the kinks out, and because it would really suck for them to be effortlessly obliterated in space before the new series of assault transports comes on line in about two years, this formation is likely to be held in a defensive posture. Currently at three million strong, with 3 million more in training.

Then of course, there's the various Special Forces groups. The Grammaton Cleric and the Shi Assassination Squads tend to get all the publicity, and that's just the way the other groups like it.

[Rogue 9]

Well, upon review, it turns out that my recollection of having ships in the Aquarian Union was just when I took over Frigid's forces after he left the board, to finish out their current ops before we retired his nation. So, the gang's all here.

[SirNitram]

Opening your gunports is a well-known sign of friendship.

[Rogue 9]

All I recall doing is raising shields and panicking. Those destroyers and frigates wouldn't even dream of engaging a full capital battle group.

Edit:

*Reads your post.* I see.

So you know, the station we're currently at is a joint effort of the governments of the Aglatarian Hub, Tycho's empire, and my own nation. The station isn't completed yet; that convoy is delivering the last of the components needed for construction. And what's with it is simply standard escort. So far, anyway.

[SirNitram]

All I recall doing is raising shields and panicking. Those destroyers and frigates wouldn't even dream of engaging a full capital battle group.

I know. It's me what is opening gunports.

[Thirdfain]

Quick reference to place before the ERTC members, for their perusal

So far, there are 6 Enforcement Division designs, 3 cruisr and 3 escort.

-"Enforcer" Light Cruiser (1 cruiser pt)
Fast, maneuverable, and possessing a powerful hyperdrive, the Enforcer is designed to respond rapidly to a distress call, or hunt down fleeing enemies. It is armed with a moderate mix of guns and missiles.

- "Justicar" C3 Cruiser (2 cruiser pts per)
A large, well armed and armored cruiser. The Justicar is designed to act as the "big guns" for a raid on a base, and as a precinct command ship. These expensive warships are to be deployed in fairly small numbers, as their role is not in huge demand within the Enforcement Division.

- "Paladin" Light Carrier (2 cruiser pts per)
This bare-bones light carrier mounts decent shielding, but is essentially designed to deploy hyperspace-capable fighters as a rapid reaction force. It includes launch bays sufficient in size to carry heavy attack craft, for the purpose of threatening pirate strongholds.

- "Peacekeeper" Destroyers (3 escort pts. per)
A basic fast destroyer, the Peacekeeper is the primary enforcement vessel of the ERTC.

- "Brilliance" EW Destroyers (3 escort pts. per)
The Brilliance-class EW Destroyer mounts powerful sensor and countermeasure systems capable of tracking down even cloaked vessels in some circumstances, as well as a multipurpose FTL interdiction projector.

- "Guardian" Frigate (1 escort pt. per)
The Guardian is a basic escort and enforcement frigate, mounting a mix of light gun and missile armament.

Commonwealth-fundedERTC Ships:
Cruisers:

4 "Enforcer" Light Cruisers (1 crusier pt. per)
2 "Justicar" C3 Cruisers (2 crusier pts per)
1 "Paladin" Light Carrier (2 crusier pts. per)

-10 cruiser pts

10 "Peacekeeper" Destroyers (3 escort pts. per)
5 "Brilliance" EW Destroyers (3 escort pts. per)
25 "Guardian" Frigates (1 escort pt. per)
- 75 escort pts

This is the current size of the Commonwealth contribution to the ERTC Enforcement Division. I know at least some other members contributed build points over the hiatus to ERTC vessels...

[Thirdfain]

Oh, and after reading Consequence's post, I'm doubling my fielded numbers, putting total numbers at 30 billion active duty Legionnaires and 90 billion reserves. Total military personelle are then 160 billion, or 1 person out of 125 in the Commonwealth. This sounds about right for what is essentially a conscript military.

[Vanas]

I am mildly amused that the armies of the Grand Powers are somewhat larger than my entire population. hmm.
Time to break our isolationism, perhaps.

[Dahak]

My take on my army...
Every 'citizen' is potentially useable. Every Stuartian is highly geneered and cybernetically enhanced, making them faster, stronger and more durable than the average human.
Those, who chose to go into the army (or more precise: being chosen by the greater group mind) have received additional changes to their bodies to make them more suitable for their role. Training is non-existant, as they simply get experience, knowledge and everything related as quick re-writes of their minds.

In absolute emergency cases, all people can potentially become 'soldiers' in the way that their normal minds get replaced by specific military minds, either by copying an existing one or using of a constructed mind.

After all, the physical body is just a tool, and the individual mind a figment of imagination.

Additionally, the use of client races and specifically geneered races for ground warfare, allows to use even more expendable biological resources.