{"data":{"id":16748,"title":"Portfolio: Bremen Defense Force","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/spectrum-dispatch\/16748-Portfolio-Bremen-Defense-Force","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/16748","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/16748","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"Portfolio","images":[{"id":26463,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/weozjmuuh3hwh\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":843046,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2019-09-19T15:49:32+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463\/similar"}],"images_count":7,"translations":{"en_EN":"Writer\u2019s Note: This portfolio was originally published in Jump Point 4.10.\nWith the launch of the UEE\u2019s \u201cMilitia Mobilization Initiative,\u201d the role that militias play in protecting the Empire has come front and center. The current directive aims to help arm civilian militias, so they can protect their homeworld and system against Vanduul incursions and outlaws. One system where militias have played a prominent role for centuries is Bremen \u2014 home to the famous Bremen Defense Force, which is the longest constantly active militia in the UEE.\n\nBremen was a relatively quiet and safe frontier system following its discovery in 2441. That all changed with the onset of the Second Tevarin War. The armadas of Corath\u2019Thal utilized insurgency tactics to wage an unpredictable and shifting war against Humanity. With little idea as to where or when they might attack next, the UEE needed to raise a massive and expanding force in order to protect the populace, one that they struggled to properly feed. It was then that the fertile soil of Rytif (Bremen II) became the main producer of rations for UEE forces.\n\nWith this responsibility came both great wealth and an unexpected degree of danger. Bremen\u2019s location meant the chance of a Tevarin attack was relatively low, but residents still noticed an uptick in Human threats. These outlaws were smart enough to avoid targeting military convoys, instead concentrating their attacks on civilians enriched by the system\u2019s booming economy.\n\nPhilippe Lattimore almost lost his life in one such outlaw attack. The spry octogenarian was a veteran of the First Tevarin War who attempted to reenlist in the Navy when the second one began. After his application was politely denied, Lattimore took it upon himself to patrol the system. He spent his days responding to distress calls and meticulously documenting his experience. One day he answered a distress call only to be overwhelmed by outlaws still picking apart their latest catch. He barely survived the attack and although it was a close call, it didn\u2019t deter him. In fact, it only made him more resolute to stop what was happening in Bremen, and he realized one thing: he wasn\u2019t going to be able to do this alone.\n\nIn 2605, Lattimore met with Arcturus Koerner, Rytif\u2019s largest landowner and de facto governor, to ask for funds to create the Bremen Defense Force (BDF). Legend has it that Lattimore spoke, uninterrupted, for over an hour about his recent experiences. He presented the detailed reports he had compiled while on patrol, highlighted the system\u2019s current crime stats, and argued that it was vital for the people of Bremen to stand together to keep their system safe. Once done, Koerner only had one question, \u201cHow much do you need?\u201d\n\nWeeks later, the Bremen Defense Force was up and running. Under Lattimore\u2019s leadership, the system\u2019s crime rate was quickly cut in half and remained that way for years to come. Being a member of the Bremen Defense Force became a major point of pride for those ineligible or unable to fight for the UEE Navy during the war. A proud tradition that carries over to this day.\n\nPeacetime Problems\nFollowing the end of the Second Tevarin War, the UEE armed forces\u2019 demand for foodstuffs from Rytif was greatly reduced, yet the landowner collective known as Bremen Mills didn\u2019t slow production. They had become an economic powerhouse in the Empire\u2019s grain market, and had quickly shifted their focus to supplying food for the public. Security for these food shipments were of the utmost importance, and Bremen Mills quickly realized that subsidizing the Bremen Defense Force was cheaper than hiring full time private security forces.\n\nThis arrangement worked relatively well until the grain market crashed in 2640. Bremen Mills suffered a severe financial hit and was forced to cut funds to the BDF. In addition, millions of jobs related to the grain market were lost, and Bremen saw its population dwindle. Suddenly, the BDF was on a precipice. Lacking funding and losing members, many thought it didn\u2019t have a chance to survive.\n\nThough he had stepped away from running the militia\u2019s day-to-day operations due to failing health, Philippe Lattimore once again got heavily involved to save the BDF. He made appeals to private citizens to donate time or equipment and called upon local businesses to provide financial support. Now, more than ever, he argued, Bremen was in need of a strong militia to protect its people during the insecurity of these tough economic times.\n\nMany resisted until in 2642 the Advocacy\u2019s Travel Safety Advisory System (TSAS) upgraded the system\u2019s threat level to \u201cMedium,\u201d its highest threat level to date. Worried that Bremen\u2019s safe reputation was on the line, the public and private sector rededicated themselves to ensuring the system\u2019s security. Since the Bremen Defense Force was already so deeply ingrained, the powers that be figured it would be quicker and cheaper to get it running at full capacity rather than expanding Rytif\u2019s anemic police force.\n\nPublic and private funds once again were funneled to the BDF and a widespread ad campaign to recruit volunteers was kicked off.\n\nSome balked at the system\u2019s main defense force not being a wholly government-run operation, but it was impossible to argue with the results, as the system\u2019s threat level soon dropped back to its previous level. This action also reinforced the tradition of Bremen relying on militias instead of normal police forces for their security. This was a unique practice when compared to other systems, and one that revolutionaries would eventually take advantage of to help bring down the Messer regime.\n\nRevolutionary Road\nOver the years, a number of other militias rose to prominence in Bremen, though none ever achieved the sophistication of the BDF. The system\u2019s reputation for being relatively safe persisted and remained a point of pride. It was only because of this that the Messer regime didn\u2019t insist that a more centralized, and controllable, security apparatus be installed. With the rising Vanduul threat on one front and the cold war with the Xi\u2019an on another, the Messer regime didn\u2019t see a reason to change a system that was working for them. Yet, it was the Bremen Defense Force\u2019s decentralized nature that allowed anti-Messer activists to exploit it to their benefit.\n\nAccording to reports released during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Messers ran several concurrent operations that implanted loyal agents into the militia to monitor its activity. The militia stayed non-committal to Messer regime policies and deflected pressure to take sides on anything not directly related to Bremen. They changed their motto to \u201cBremen Above All,\u201d and instructed volunteers to not discuss Empire-wide politics while on duty. To avoid like-minded individuals consistently pairing up, patrol partners were randomly selected at roll call.\n\nActions like this helped the militia maintain their autonomy through the centuries of Messer rule. As the tide of public opinion turned against the despotic rulers, a brave faction within the BDF, unbeknownst to other volunteers, began to use the cover of the militia to smuggle anti-Messer activists through the system. This activity reached a fever pitch following the Massacre of Garron II in 2792.\n\nThe events of this time in the militia\u2019s history were captured in The Bremen Beltway, a harrowing account of what it was like to work this part of \u201crevolutionary road.\u201d The book compiled interviews with former militia members and anti-Messer activists, journal excerpts, and declassified government documents to paint a picture of the extreme danger involved with smuggling revolutionaries through the system. Most of the activists were first smuggled from their system of origin into Xi\u2019an territory and eventually into Nyx. That made Bremen the port of reentry into UEE, and a particularly perilous part of the journey. Without this secure gateway back into the Empire, many believe the overthrow of Imperator Linton Messer XI would not have happened nearly as quickly as it did. This only highlights the importance of high ranking BDF officials guaranteeing the revolutionaries safe passage through the system.\n\nFor nearly three and a half centuries, the Bremen Defense Force has been the standard that all other militias are held up to. Comprising a coalition of dedicated volunteers and funded by both public and private interests, the BDF has placed the security of their system above all else. When RSI looked to include militias in the design process of the Polaris, the BDF was their first call. Militia members consulted on the design and were among the first to purchase the new capital ship for their fleet. BDF officials can\u2019t wait to put the Polaris to use, in the defense of the system they believe is their responsibility over anyone else to protect","de_DE":"Anmerkung des Autors: Dieses Portfolio wurde urspr\u00fcnglich in Jump Point 4.10 ver\u00f6ffentlicht.\nMit dem Start der \"Militia Mobilization Initiative\" der UEE hat sich die Rolle der Milizen beim Schutz des Imperiums in den Vordergrund gestellt. Die aktuelle Richtlinie zielt darauf ab, zivile Milizen zu unterst\u00fctzen, damit sie ihre Heimatwelt und ihr System vor \u00dcbergriffen und Gesetzlosen der Vandule sch\u00fctzen k\u00f6nnen. Ein System, in dem Milizen seit Jahrhunderten eine herausragende Rolle spielen, ist Bremen - Heimat der ber\u00fchmten Bremer Verteidigungskr\u00e4fte, der l\u00e4ngsten st\u00e4ndig aktiven Miliz in der UEE.\n\nBremen war nach seiner Entdeckung im Jahr 2441 ein relativ ruhiges und sicheres Grenzgebiet. Das \u00e4nderte sich mit Beginn des Zweiten Tevarin-Krieges. Die Armadas von Corath'Thal nutzten die Taktik der Aufst\u00e4ndischen, um einen unvorhersehbaren und wechselnden Krieg gegen die Menschheit zu f\u00fchren. Mit wenig Ahnung, wo oder wann sie als n\u00e4chstes angreifen k\u00f6nnten, musste die UEE eine massive und wachsende Kraft aufbringen, um die Bev\u00f6lkerung zu sch\u00fctzen, eine, um die sie sich schwer tat, richtig zu ern\u00e4hren. Damals wurde der fruchtbare Boden von Rytif (Bremen II) zum Hauptproduzenten von Rationen f\u00fcr die UEE-Truppen.\n\nMit dieser Verantwortung kamen sowohl gro\u00dfer Reichtum als auch ein unerwartetes Ma\u00df an Gefahr. Durch die Lage Bremens war die Chance auf einen Tevarin-Angriff relativ gering, aber die Bewohner bemerkten immer noch einen Anstieg der menschlichen Bedrohungen. Diese Gesetzlosen waren klug genug, um nicht auf Milit\u00e4rkonvois zu zielen, sondern ihre Angriffe auf Zivilisten zu konzentrieren, die durch die boomende Wirtschaft des Systems bereichert wurden.\n\nPhilippe Lattimore h\u00e4tte bei einem solchen Gesetzlosenang fast sein Leben verloren. Der spritzige Oktogenarier war ein Veteran des Ersten Tevarin-Krieges, der versuchte, sich bei der Marine wieder zu engagieren, als der zweite begann. Nachdem seine Bewerbung h\u00f6flich abgelehnt wurde, nahm Lattimore es auf sich, das System zu \u00fcberwachen. Er verbrachte seine Tage damit, auf Notrufe zu reagieren und seine Erfahrungen akribisch zu dokumentieren. Eines Tages beantwortete er einen Notruf, nur um von Gesetzlosen \u00fcberw\u00e4ltigt zu werden, die immer noch ihren letzten Fang auseinandernehmen. Er \u00fcberlebte den Angriff kaum, und obwohl es eine knappe Entscheidung war, hielt ihn das nicht ab. Tats\u00e4chlich wurde er nur entschlossener, das Geschehen in Bremen zu stoppen, und er erkannte eines: Er w\u00fcrde das nicht allein schaffen.\n\n2605 traf sich Lattimore mit Arcturus Koerner, dem gr\u00f6\u00dften Grundbesitzer und De-facto-Gouverneur von Rytif, um nach Mitteln f\u00fcr die Gr\u00fcndung der Bremer Verteidigungsmacht (BDF) zu fragen. Die Legende besagt, dass Lattimore ununterbrochen \u00fcber eine Stunde lang \u00fcber seine j\u00fcngsten Erfahrungen sprach. Er pr\u00e4sentierte die detaillierten Berichte, die er w\u00e4hrend der Patrouille erstellt hatte, hob die aktuellen Kriminalit\u00e4tsstatistiken des Systems hervor und argumentierte, dass es f\u00fcr die Bremer wichtig sei, zusammenzuhalten, um ihr System sicher zu halten. Einmal erledigt, hatte Koerner nur noch eine Frage: \"Wie viel brauchst du?\"\n\nWochen sp\u00e4ter war die Bremer Wehrmacht in Betrieb. Unter Lattimores F\u00fchrung wurde die Kriminalit\u00e4tsrate des Systems schnell halbiert und blieb f\u00fcr die n\u00e4chsten Jahre so. Die Zugeh\u00f6rigkeit zur Bremer Verteidigungsmacht wurde zu einem wichtigen Punkt des Stolzes f\u00fcr diejenigen, die w\u00e4hrend des Krieges nicht f\u00fcr die UEE-Marine k\u00e4mpfen konnten oder konnten. Eine stolze Tradition, die bis heute anh\u00e4lt.\n\nFriedensprobleme\nNach dem Ende des Zweiten Tevarin-Krieges wurde die Nachfrage der UEE-Streitkr\u00e4fte nach Nahrungsmitteln aus Rytif stark reduziert, doch die Grundbesitzergemeinschaft Bremen Mills bremste die Produktion nicht. Sie waren zu einem wirtschaftlichen Kraftpaket auf dem Getreidemarkt des Imperiums geworden und hatten sich schnell auf die Versorgung der \u00d6ffentlichkeit mit Lebensmitteln konzentriert. Die Sicherheit f\u00fcr diese Lebensmitteltransporte war von gr\u00f6\u00dfter Bedeutung, und die Bremer Werke erkannten schnell, dass die Subventionierung der Bremer Streitkr\u00e4fte billiger war als die Einstellung privater Vollzeitkr\u00e4fte.\n\nDiese Regelung funktionierte relativ gut, bis der Getreidemarkt 2640 zusammenbrach. Die Bremer Werke litten unter schweren finanziellen Problemen und sahen sich gezwungen, die Mittel f\u00fcr den BDF zu k\u00fcrzen. Dar\u00fcber hinaus gingen Millionen von Arbeitspl\u00e4tzen im Zusammenhang mit dem Getreidemarkt verloren, und die Bev\u00f6lkerung Bremens schrumpfte. Pl\u00f6tzlich befand sich der BDF auf einem Abgrund. Fehlende Finanzierung und der Verlust von Mitgliedern, dachten viele, es h\u00e4tte keine Chance zu \u00fcberleben.\n\nObwohl er sich aufgrund gesundheitlicher Probleme vom laufenden Betrieb der Miliz zur\u00fcckgezogen hatte, engagierte sich Philippe Lattimore erneut intensiv f\u00fcr die Rettung des BDF. Er appellierte an Privatpersonen, Zeit oder Ausr\u00fcstung zu spenden und forderte die lokalen Unternehmen auf, finanzielle Unterst\u00fctzung zu leisten. Bremen brauche mehr denn je eine starke Miliz, um seine Bev\u00f6lkerung in der Unsicherheit dieser wirtschaftlich schwierigen Zeiten zu sch\u00fctzen.\n\nViele widersetzten sich, bis das Travel Safety Advisory System (TSAS) der Advocacy im Jahr 2642 die Bedrohungsstufe des Systems auf \"Mittel\", die bisher h\u00f6chste Bedrohungsstufe, erh\u00f6hte. Aus Sorge, dass der sichere Ruf Bremens auf dem Spiel steht, haben sich der \u00f6ffentliche und der private Sektor neu ausgerichtet, um die Sicherheit des Systems zu gew\u00e4hrleisten. Da die Bremer Verteidigungskr\u00e4fte bereits so tief verwurzelt waren, w\u00e4ren die Kr\u00e4fte, von denen man annimmt, dass es schneller und billiger w\u00e4re, sie mit voller Kapazit\u00e4t laufen zu lassen, als die an\u00e4mische Polizei von Rytif zu erweitern.\n\nWieder einmal wurden \u00f6ffentliche und private Gelder an den BDF weitergeleitet und eine umfangreiche Werbekampagne zur Gewinnung von Freiwilligen gestartet.\n\nEinige str\u00e4ubten sich, dass die Hauptverteidigungstruppe des Systems keine vollst\u00e4ndig von der Regierung gef\u00fchrte Operation war, aber es war unm\u00f6glich, mit den Ergebnissen zu argumentieren, da die Bedrohungslage des Systems bald wieder auf das vorherige Niveau zur\u00fcckfiel. Diese Aktion st\u00e4rkte auch die Tradition Bremens, sich zur Sicherheit auf Milizen statt auf normale Polizeikr\u00e4fte zu verlassen. Dies war eine einzigartige Praxis im Vergleich zu anderen Systemen, die Revolution\u00e4re schlie\u00dflich nutzen w\u00fcrden, um das Messer-Regime zu st\u00fcrzen.\n\nRevolution\u00e4re Stra\u00dfe\nIm Laufe der Jahre stiegen in Bremen eine Reihe anderer Milizen auf, die jedoch nie die Raffinesse des BDF erreichten. Der Ruf des Systems, relativ sicher zu sein, blieb bestehen und blieb ein Punkt des Stolzes. Nur deshalb bestand das Messer-Regime nicht darauf, dass ein zentralisierter und kontrollierbarer Sicherheitsapparat installiert wurde. Mit der zunehmenden Vanduul-Bedrohung an der einen Seite und dem Kalten Krieg mit den Xi'an an der anderen Seite sah das Messer-Regime keinen Grund, ein System zu \u00e4ndern, das f\u00fcr sie arbeitete. Doch es war der dezentrale Charakter der Bremer Streitkr\u00e4fte, der es den Anti-Messer-Aktivisten erm\u00f6glichte, sie zu ihrem Vorteil zu nutzen.\n\nNach Berichten, die w\u00e4hrend der Wahrheits- und Vers\u00f6hnungskommission ver\u00f6ffentlicht wurden, f\u00fchrten die Messers mehrere gleichzeitige Operationen durch, bei denen loyale Agenten in die Miliz eingesetzt wurden, um ihre Aktivit\u00e4ten zu \u00fcberwachen. Die Miliz blieb unverbindlich gegen\u00fcber der Politik des Messer-Regimes und lenkte den Druck ab, bei allem, was nicht direkt mit Bremen zu tun hatte, Partei zu ergreifen. Sie \u00e4nderten ihr Motto in \"Bremen Above All\" und befahlen den Freiwilligen, im Dienst nicht \u00fcber die kaiserliche Politik zu diskutieren. Um zu vermeiden, dass sich Gleichgesinnte st\u00e4ndig zusammenschlie\u00dfen, wurden die Patrouillenpartner bei namentlicher Abstimmung zuf\u00e4llig ausgew\u00e4hlt.\n\nSolche Aktionen halfen der Miliz, ihre Autonomie \u00fcber die Jahrhunderte der Messerherrschaft hinweg zu bewahren. Als sich die \u00f6ffentliche Meinung gegen die despotischen Herrscher wandte, begann eine mutige Fraktion innerhalb des BDF, ohne es zu wissen, die Tarnung der Miliz zu nutzen, um Anti-Messer-Aktivisten durch das System zu schmuggeln. Diese Aktivit\u00e4t erreichte nach dem Massaker von Garron II im Jahr 2792 eine Fieberh\u00f6he.\n\nDie Ereignisse dieser Zeit in der Geschichte der Miliz wurden im Bremer Ring festgehalten, ein ersch\u00fctternder Bericht dar\u00fcber, wie es war, diesen Teil der \"revolution\u00e4ren Stra\u00dfe\" zu bearbeiten. Das Buch enth\u00e4lt Interviews mit ehemaligen Milizion\u00e4ren und Anti-Messer-Aktivisten, Zeitschriftenausz\u00fcge und deklassierte Regierungsdokumente, um ein Bild von der extremen Gefahr zu zeichnen, die mit dem Schmuggel von Revolution\u00e4ren durch das System verbunden ist. Die meisten Aktivisten wurden zun\u00e4chst aus ihrem Herkunftssystem nach Xi'an und schlie\u00dflich nach Nyx geschmuggelt. Damit war Bremen der Hafen der Wiedereinreise in die UEE und ein besonders gef\u00e4hrlicher Teil der Reise. Ohne dieses sichere Tor zur\u00fcck ins Imperium glauben viele, dass der Sturz von Imperator Linton Messer XI nicht ann\u00e4hernd so schnell stattgefunden h\u00e4tte wie er. Dies unterstreicht nur die Bedeutung hochrangiger BDF-Beamter, die den Revolution\u00e4ren einen sicheren Durchgang durch das System garantieren.\n\nSeit fast dreieinhalb Jahrhunderten ist die Bremer Wehrmacht der Standard, dem alle anderen Milizen verpflichtet sind. Der BDF, der sich aus einer Koalition engagierter Freiwilliger zusammensetzt und sowohl von \u00f6ffentlichen als auch von privaten Interessen finanziert wird, hat die Sicherheit ihres Systems \u00fcber alles andere gestellt. Als RSI versuchte, Milizen in den Designprozess der Polaris einzubeziehen, war die BDF ihre erste Wahl. Milizangeh\u00f6rige berieten sich \u00fcber den Entwurf und geh\u00f6rten zu den ersten, die das neue Gro\u00dfschiff f\u00fcr ihre Flotte kauften. BDF-Beamte k\u00f6nnen es kaum erwarten, die Polaris zu nutzen, zur Verteidigung des Systems, von dem sie glauben, dass es ihre Verantwortung \u00fcber jeden anderen zu sch\u00fctzen ist.","zh_CN":"Writer\u2019s Note: This portfolio was originally published in Jump Point 4.10.\nWith the launch of the UEE\u2019s \u201cMilitia Mobilization Initiative,\u201d the role that militias play in protecting the Empire has come front and center. The current directive aims to help arm civilian militias, so they can protect their homeworld and system against Vanduul incursions and outlaws. One system where militias have played a prominent role for centuries is Bremen \u2014 home to the famous Bremen Defense Force, which is the longest constantly active militia in the UEE.\n\nBremen was a relatively quiet and safe frontier system following its discovery in 2441. That all changed with the onset of the Second Tevarin War. The armadas of Corath\u2019Thal utilized insurgency tactics to wage an unpredictable and shifting war against Humanity. With little idea as to where or when they might attack next, the UEE needed to raise a massive and expanding force in order to protect the populace, one that they struggled to properly feed. It was then that the fertile soil of Rytif (Bremen II) became the main producer of rations for UEE forces.\n\nWith this responsibility came both great wealth and an unexpected degree of danger. Bremen\u2019s location meant the chance of a Tevarin attack was relatively low, but residents still noticed an uptick in Human threats. These outlaws were smart enough to avoid targeting military convoys, instead concentrating their attacks on civilians enriched by the system\u2019s booming economy.\n\nPhilippe Lattimore almost lost his life in one such outlaw attack. The spry octogenarian was a veteran of the First Tevarin War who attempted to reenlist in the Navy when the second one began. After his application was politely denied, Lattimore took it upon himself to patrol the system. He spent his days responding to distress calls and meticulously documenting his experience. One day he answered a distress call only to be overwhelmed by outlaws still picking apart their latest catch. He barely survived the attack and although it was a close call, it didn\u2019t deter him. In fact, it only made him more resolute to stop what was happening in Bremen, and he realized one thing: he wasn\u2019t going to be able to do this alone.\n\nIn 2605, Lattimore met with Arcturus Koerner, Rytif\u2019s largest landowner and de facto governor, to ask for funds to create the Bremen Defense Force (BDF). Legend has it that Lattimore spoke, uninterrupted, for over an hour about his recent experiences. He presented the detailed reports he had compiled while on patrol, highlighted the system\u2019s current crime stats, and argued that it was vital for the people of Bremen to stand together to keep their system safe. Once done, Koerner only had one question, \u201cHow much do you need?\u201d\n\nWeeks later, the Bremen Defense Force was up and running. Under Lattimore\u2019s leadership, the system\u2019s crime rate was quickly cut in half and remained that way for years to come. Being a member of the Bremen Defense Force became a major point of pride for those ineligible or unable to fight for the UEE Navy during the war. A proud tradition that carries over to this day.\n\nPeacetime Problems\nFollowing the end of the Second Tevarin War, the UEE armed forces\u2019 demand for foodstuffs from Rytif was greatly reduced, yet the landowner collective known as Bremen Mills didn\u2019t slow production. They had become an economic powerhouse in the Empire\u2019s grain market, and had quickly shifted their focus to supplying food for the public. Security for these food shipments were of the utmost importance, and Bremen Mills quickly realized that subsidizing the Bremen Defense Force was cheaper than hiring full time private security forces.\n\nThis arrangement worked relatively well until the grain market crashed in 2640. Bremen Mills suffered a severe financial hit and was forced to cut funds to the BDF. In addition, millions of jobs related to the grain market were lost, and Bremen saw its population dwindle. Suddenly, the BDF was on a precipice. Lacking funding and losing members, many thought it didn\u2019t have a chance to survive.\n\nThough he had stepped away from running the militia\u2019s day-to-day operations due to failing health, Philippe Lattimore once again got heavily involved to save the BDF. He made appeals to private citizens to donate time or equipment and called upon local businesses to provide financial support. Now, more than ever, he argued, Bremen was in need of a strong militia to protect its people during the insecurity of these tough economic times.\n\nMany resisted until in 2642 the Advocacy\u2019s Travel Safety Advisory System (TSAS) upgraded the system\u2019s threat level to \u201cMedium,\u201d its highest threat level to date. Worried that Bremen\u2019s safe reputation was on the line, the public and private sector rededicated themselves to ensuring the system\u2019s security. Since the Bremen Defense Force was already so deeply ingrained, the powers that be figured it would be quicker and cheaper to get it running at full capacity rather than expanding Rytif\u2019s anemic police force.\n\nPublic and private funds once again were funneled to the BDF and a widespread ad campaign to recruit volunteers was kicked off.\n\nSome balked at the system\u2019s main defense force not being a wholly government-run operation, but it was impossible to argue with the results, as the system\u2019s threat level soon dropped back to its previous level. This action also reinforced the tradition of Bremen relying on militias instead of normal police forces for their security. This was a unique practice when compared to other systems, and one that revolutionaries would eventually take advantage of to help bring down the Messer regime.\n\nRevolutionary Road\nOver the years, a number of other militias rose to prominence in Bremen, though none ever achieved the sophistication of the BDF. The system\u2019s reputation for being relatively safe persisted and remained a point of pride. It was only because of this that the Messer regime didn\u2019t insist that a more centralized, and controllable, security apparatus be installed. With the rising Vanduul threat on one front and the cold war with the Xi\u2019an on another, the Messer regime didn\u2019t see a reason to change a system that was working for them. Yet, it was the Bremen Defense Force\u2019s decentralized nature that allowed anti-Messer activists to exploit it to their benefit.\n\nAccording to reports released during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Messers ran several concurrent operations that implanted loyal agents into the militia to monitor its activity. The militia stayed non-committal to Messer regime policies and deflected pressure to take sides on anything not directly related to Bremen. They changed their motto to \u201cBremen Above All,\u201d and instructed volunteers to not discuss Empire-wide politics while on duty. To avoid like-minded individuals consistently pairing up, patrol partners were randomly selected at roll call.\n\nActions like this helped the militia maintain their autonomy through the centuries of Messer rule. As the tide of public opinion turned against the despotic rulers, a brave faction within the BDF, unbeknownst to other volunteers, began to use the cover of the militia to smuggle anti-Messer activists through the system. This activity reached a fever pitch following the Massacre of Garron II in 2792.\n\nThe events of this time in the militia\u2019s history were captured in The Bremen Beltway, a harrowing account of what it was like to work this part of \u201crevolutionary road.\u201d The book compiled interviews with former militia members and anti-Messer activists, journal excerpts, and declassified government documents to paint a picture of the extreme danger involved with smuggling revolutionaries through the system. Most of the activists were first smuggled from their system of origin into Xi\u2019an territory and eventually into Nyx. That made Bremen the port of reentry into UEE, and a particularly perilous part of the journey. Without this secure gateway back into the Empire, many believe the overthrow of Imperator Linton Messer XI would not have happened nearly as quickly as it did. This only highlights the importance of high ranking BDF officials guaranteeing the revolutionaries safe passage through the system.\n\nFor nearly three and a half centuries, the Bremen Defense Force has been the standard that all other militias are held up to. Comprising a coalition of dedicated volunteers and funded by both public and private interests, the BDF has placed the security of their system above all else. When RSI looked to include militias in the design process of the Polaris, the BDF was their first call. Militia members consulted on the design and were among the first to purchase the new capital ship for their fleet. BDF officials can\u2019t wait to put the Polaris to use, in the defense of the system they believe is their responsibility over anyone else to protect"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":20,"created_at":"2018-09-12T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"7 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-04-26 01:13:08","valid_relations":["images","links","translations"],"prev_id":16747,"next_id":16749}}