Portfolio: 6th Platoon

Writer’s Note: Portfolio: 6th Platoon was published originally as a Subscriber Exclusive on October 17, 2018.
When it comes to the UEE Marine Corps, history and myth mix freely. While much is known about the most elite branch of the UEE military, other aspects remain a fixture of public speculation and imagination, such as their famously secretive recruitment process. As Lieutenant Colonel Marcus Estes wrote in his history of the branch, Always Forward, “No one applies to be a Marine”. Instead, recruits are culled from Army and Navy ranks based on an elusive criteria of attributes and skills. Remarkably, the full operational directives of the Marines remain a mystery to most. While most of the public knows that Marines are deployed aboard Navy vessels to provide protection and others train extensively in planetary invasion operations, mission specifics aren’t common knowledge. Only the duties of the 1st Marine Battalion, which is charged with protecting the Imperator, has pierced the public consciousness. Truth be told, Marine commanders probably prefer it that way.

Then came the ‘Historical Truth Act’ of 2941. Originally intended to shed light on how the Messer regime abused government power, it also revealed previously unknown information about the Marines and their operations. Within this vast trove of information, a previously unheralded platoon quickly caught the attention of historians. As a part of the ‘Special Operation Force, 2nd Battalion, Bravo Company’, the ‘6th Platoon’ repeatedly distinguished itself. Whether as part of major operations during the Second Tevarin War or completing highly-classified missions, the 6th Platoon ‘Phantoms’ proved themselves to be an elite unit consistently called upon when the Empire needed them most.

Into the Fire
The UEE military separated the Marines from under the Army’s supervision into their own branch following a 2558 study that showed their specialized skills were severely underutilized during the First Tevarin War. Decades later, this theory was put into practice with the outbreak of the Second Tevarin War. Warlord Corath’Thal employed asymmetrical warfare against the larger and better equipped UEE military to gain an advantage. Their forces remained mobile and often attacked unsuspecting civilian settlements and ships far from the frontlines, spreading fear and forcing the UEE to deploy their military over larger areas to be able to react with any kind of effectiveness. This was both a smart strategy and a necessity. The Tevarin had lost their homeworld of Kaleeth, now known as Elysium, in the First Tevarin War, and lacked a planetside location from which to coordinate their operations. Yet, they might have gained one early in the war were it not for the 6th Platoon.

In 2604, the UEE military struggled to counteract the Tevarin’s guerrilla tactics. Amidst the disarray, militia members spotted a Tevarin force approaching Hyperion and sent scans to the Navy. Without any kind of military presence in the Fora system, High Command feared the worst, only to grow curious when no attack happened. Suspecting that this was potentially a diversionary tactic, High Command deployed the 6th Platoon to covertly investigate. They discovered that a Tevarin force had discreetly set up a staging post on the planet far away from Shoel to avoid detection. The 6th monitored transmissions and realized that this command center was being used to plan and coordinate operations across the Empire. Fearful that sending a message to command might alert the Tevarin to their presence, the 6th ordered comm-silence and waited for the next large HyperClay storm to sweep through the area. As these were fairly common in the area, they didn’t have long to wait. Using the storm to cover their approach, the 6th quickly took control of the base and eliminated all Tevarin enemies without a single loss of Marine life. Thanks to their lethal efficiency, they were able to seize massive amounts of Tevarin intelligence including hideout locations, weapon caches, and personnel manifests. High Command was able to use this intel to thwart numerous upcoming attacks on the UEE.

From this operation, the platoon took the nickname that’s still with them to this day: the Phantoms. They also became High Command’s most trusted unit for delicate operations. When the Vanduul threat first presented itself, the 6th was again called into action. The Phantoms rotated through various systems that were suffering raids and repeatedly distinguished itself. For centuries, the 6th’s seizure of the Tevarin base remained their most famous engagement, even though the Historical Truth Act would later reveal many other operations that were just as, if not more, incredible.

Covert Ops
While the Phantoms’ bravery when facing down bloodthirsty enemies is unquestioned, the platoon has also proven capable of pulling off the most sensitive clandestine operations. The full extent of their covert operations remains classified today, but one never before acknowledged mission was recently revealed.

On May 3rd, 2812, a brilliant but disturbed scientist named Dr. Fayel declared the planet Leir II would sever all connection with the wider universe. Originally hired by the terraforming firm Hatfield & Harding to make the planet habitable, he became obsessed with keeping the planet ‘pure’ and convinced the workers to join his cause and reject anything or anyone not of the world they now called Mya.

Hatfield & Harding were furious and insisted that the UEE government intervene. The UEE refused, noting that Leir was still an unclaimed system and not under their legal jurisdiction. Still conscious of the recently deposed Messer regime’s legacy, the new government was reluctant to push their agenda on those not under its authority. Yet, the UEE had a problem that might force its hand: a government survey team had been dispatched to Leir II to appraise the terraforming operation as part of Hatfield & Harding’s push to make the system an official part of the UEE, and they were now trapped planetside unable to communicate with the outside universe.

While publicly insisting that they wouldn’t get involved, the UEE government secretly enlisted the Phantoms to locate and extract the survey team. The 6th Platoon knew that a situation with so many variables required a versatile ship, so they launched using the Valkyrie, a state of the art Anvil ship that had only recently been introduced to the UEE fleet. It was a wise decision that paid off once they discovered that the situation on Leir II was far worse than expected.

A bloody conflict had erupted between Hatfield & Harding security forces and Fayel’s loyalists, who had begun to call themselves ‘Outsiders’. Upon approaching the planet surface, the 6th Platoon’s Valkyries came under fire from both sides of the conflict. They quickly diverted their flight path, unwilling to engage with either side. Instead, the Phantoms discreetly dropped Tumbril C-series vehicles to sweep through the survey sites and help ascertain the team’s position.

Unbeknownst to the Marines, the survey team had been hiding inside an illegal mine opened by Dr. Fayel. After days of trying, the survey team figured out how to hack the comm system to send an emergency message. The 6th Platoon picked up the signal and raced to their position, but they weren’t the only ones – the Outsiders and the Hatfield & Harding security forces had also heard it. All three forces converged at the outpost, with the 6th Platoon managing to safely extract the entire team while under heavy fire from all sides.

Since the mission records were declassified, historians have studied every last detail of the Leir II engagement. From the impressively low casualty rate to the improvised tactical response, the incredible rescue has captured the imagination of thousands. Many wonder how many more daring covert ops the Phantoms have completed but the government continues to keep classified. Already, numerous additional petitions have been sent requesting the release of further records to allow a full telling of their history.

The 6th Platoon is currently deployed to the Vanduul front, though the government won’t disclose what their specific operational theater is. Considering the 6th’s past activity and illustrious history, it’s fair to say their mission is an important one. The Phantoms may not be as famous as Squadron 42 or even the 1st Marine Battalion, but history has shown that they have been instrumental in protecting the Empire. Simply, the 6th Platoon embodies the Marines’ ethos to serve the greater good and provide protection without requiring recognition.

Wenn es um das UEE Marine Corps geht, mischen sich Geschichte und Mythos frei. Während viel über den elitärsten Zweig des UEE-Militärs bekannt ist, bleiben andere Aspekte ein fester Bestandteil der öffentlichen Spekulation und Phantasie, wie zum Beispiel ihr berühmter geheimnisvoller Rekrutierungsprozess. Wie Oberstleutnant Marcus Estes in seiner Geschichte des Zweigs schrieb: "Niemand bewirbt sich, ein Marine zu sein". Stattdessen werden Rekruten aus den Reihen der Armee und der Marine ausgewählt, die auf einem schwer fassbaren Kriterium der Attribute und Fähigkeiten basieren. Bemerkenswert ist, dass die vollständigen Betriebsrichtlinien der Marinesoldaten für die meisten ein Rätsel bleiben. Während die meisten der Öffentlichkeit wissen, dass Marines an Bord von Marineschiffen eingesetzt werden, um Schutz zu bieten, und andere umfassend in planetarischen Invasionsoperationen trainieren, sind Missionsspezifika nicht allgemein bekannt. Nur die Aufgaben des 1. Marinebataillons, das mit dem Schutz des Imperators beauftragt ist, haben das öffentliche Bewusstsein durchbrochen. Um ehrlich zu sein, Marine-Kommandanten bevorzugen es wahrscheinlich so.

Dann kam das "Historical Truth Act" von 2941. Ursprünglich dazu gedacht, Aufschluss darüber zu geben, wie das Messer-Regime die Regierungsgewalt missbraucht hat, enthüllte es aber auch bisher unbekannte Informationen über die Marines und ihre Operationen. Innerhalb dieses riesigen Fundus an Informationen erregte ein bisher unangekündigter Zug schnell die Aufmerksamkeit der Historiker. Als Teil der "Special Operation Force, 2nd Battalion, Bravo Company", zeichnete sich der "6. Zug" wiederholt aus. Ob im Rahmen von Großoperationen während des Zweiten Tevarin-Krieges oder bei der Durchführung hochklassifizierter Missionen, der sechste Zug "Phantoms" erwies sich als eine Eliteeinheit, die konsequent in Anspruch genommen wurde, als das Imperium sie am meisten brauchte.

In das Feuer
Das UEE-Militär trennte die Marinen von der Aufsicht der Armee in ihren eigenen Zweig, nachdem eine Studie von 2558 gezeigt hatte, dass ihre speziellen Fähigkeiten während des Ersten Tevarin-Krieges stark unterausgelastet waren. Jahrzehnte später wurde diese Theorie mit dem Ausbruch des Zweiten Tevarin-Krieges in die Praxis umgesetzt. Kriegsherr Corath'Thal führte einen asymmetrischen Krieg gegen das größere und besser ausgestattete UEE-Militär, um sich einen Vorteil zu verschaffen. Ihre Streitkräfte blieben mobil und griffen oft ahnungslose Zivilsiedlungen und Schiffe fernab der Frontlinien an, verbreiteten Angst und zwangen die UEE, ihr Militär über größere Gebiete zu verlegen, um mit jeglicher Effektivität reagieren zu können. Dies war sowohl eine intelligente Strategie als auch eine Notwendigkeit. Die Tevarins hatten ihre Heimatwelt Kaleeth, das heutige Elysium, im Ersten Tevarinkrieg verloren und verfügten nicht über einen Planetenstandort, von dem aus sie ihre Operationen koordinieren konnten. Dennoch könnten sie zu Beginn des Krieges einen gewonnen haben, wenn es nicht den 6. Zug gegeben hätte.

Im Jahr 2604 kämpfte das UEE-Militär, um der Guerillataktik der Tevarin entgegenzuwirken. Inmitten der Unordnung entdeckten Milizangehörige eine Tevarin-Truppe, die sich Hyperion näherte, und schickten Scans an die Marine. Ohne jegliche militärische Präsenz im Forensystem fürchtete das Oberkommando umso mehr, nur um neugierig zu werden, wenn kein Angriff stattfand. In dem Verdacht, dass dies möglicherweise eine Ablenkungsmanöver war, setzte das Oberkommando den sechsten Zug ein, um heimlich zu ermitteln. Sie entdeckten, dass eine Tevarin-Truppe diskret einen Aufenthaltsort auf dem Planeten weit weg von Shoel eingerichtet hatte, um einer Entdeckung zu entgehen. Die 6. überwachte Übertragungen und erkannte, dass diese Kommandozentrale zur Planung und Koordination der Operationen im gesamten Imperium eingesetzt wurde. Aus Angst, dass das Senden einer Nachricht an den Kommandanten die Tevarin auf ihre Anwesenheit aufmerksam machen könnte, befahl die 6. Komm-Stille und wartete darauf, dass der nächste große HyperClay-Sturm durch das Gebiet zieht. Da diese in der Gegend recht häufig waren, brauchten sie nicht lange zu warten. Mit dem Sturm, um ihre Annäherung zu verdecken, übernahm die 6. schnell die Kontrolle über die Basis und eliminierte alle Feinde von Tevarin, ohne einen einzigen Verlust an Meeresleben. Dank ihrer tödlichen Effizienz waren sie in der Lage, riesige Mengen an Tevarin-Informationen zu beschlagnahmen, darunter Versteckplätze, Waffenlager und Personalmanifeste. Das Oberkommando konnte diese Informationen nutzen, um zahlreiche bevorstehende Angriffe auf die UEE zu verhindern.

Von dieser Operation nahm der Zug den Spitznamen, der bis heute bei ihnen ist: die Phantome. Sie wurden auch zur vertrauenswürdigsten Einheit des Oberkommandos für sensible Einsätze. Als sich die Vanduul-Drohung zum ersten Mal präsentierte, wurde die 6. erneut in Aktion gesetzt. Die Phantome drehten sich durch verschiedene Systeme, die unter Überfällen litten und sich immer wieder hervorhoben. Jahrhundertelang blieb die Beschlagnahme der Basis von Tevarin durch den 6. Mai ihr berühmtestes Engagement, auch wenn das Historical Truth Act später viele andere Operationen enthüllen würde, die genauso, wenn nicht sogar noch mehr, unglaublich waren.

Verdeckte Operationen
Während der Mut der Phantome, wenn sie blutrünstige Feinde bekämpfen, unbestritten ist, hat sich der Zug auch als fähig erwiesen, die sensibelsten geheimen Operationen durchzuführen. Das volle Ausmaß ihrer verdeckten Operationen bleibt auch heute noch geheim, aber eine nie zuvor anerkannte Mission wurde kürzlich enthüllt.

Am 3. Mai 2812 erklärte ein brillanter, aber beunruhigter Wissenschaftler namens Dr. Fayel, dass der Planet Leir II jede Verbindung mit dem weiteren Universum trennen würde. Ursprünglich von der Terrassenfirma Hatfield & Harding angeheuert, um den Planeten bewohnbar zu machen, wurde er besessen davon, den Planeten "rein" zu halten, und überzeugte die Arbeiter, sich seiner Sache anzuschließen und alles oder jeden abzulehnen, der nicht von der Welt war, die sie jetzt Mya nannten.

Hatfield & Harding waren wütend und bestanden darauf, dass die UEE-Regierung eingreift. Die UEE weigerte sich und stellte fest, dass Leir immer noch ein nicht beanspruchtes System war und nicht unter ihrer Gerichtsbarkeit stand. Die neue Regierung, die sich des Vermächtnisses des kürzlich abgesetzten Messer-Regimes bewusst war, zögerte, ihre Agenda auf diejenigen zu übertragen, die nicht unter ihrer Aufsicht standen. Doch die UEE hatte ein Problem, das sie vielleicht in die Enge treiben könnte: Ein staatliches Vermessungsteam war nach Leir II entsandt worden, um den Terraforming-Betrieb als Teil des Vorhabens von Hatfield & Harding zu bewerten, das System zu einem offiziellen Teil der UEE zu machen, und sie waren nun auf dem Planeten nicht mehr in der Lage, mit dem äußeren Universum zu kommunizieren.

Während die UEE-Regierung öffentlich darauf bestand, dass sie sich nicht einmischen würden, beauftragte sie heimlich die Phantoms, das Umfrageteam zu lokalisieren und zu extrahieren. Der 6. Zug wusste, dass eine Situation mit so vielen Variablen ein vielseitiges Schiff erforderte, und so startete er mit der Valkyrie, einem hochmodernen Anvil-Schiff, das erst kürzlich in die UEE-Flotte eingeführt wurde. Es war eine weise Entscheidung, die sich auszahlt, als sie feststellten, dass die Situation bei Leir II weitaus schlechter war als erwartet.

Ein blutiger Konflikt war ausgebrochen zwischen Hatfield & Harding Sicherheitskräften und Fayels Loyalisten, die sich begonnen hatten, sich "Outsiders" zu nennen. Als sie sich der Planetenoberfläche näherten, gerieten die Walküren des 6. Zuges von beiden Seiten des Konflikts unter Beschuss. Sie lenkten schnell ihre Flugbahn um und waren nicht bereit, sich mit beiden Seiten zu befassen. Stattdessen ließen die Phantoms diskret Fahrzeuge der Tumbril C-Serie fallen, um die Vermessungsstandorte zu durchsuchen und die Position des Teams zu ermitteln.

Ohne Wissen der Marines hatte sich das Untersuchungsteam in einer illegalen Mine versteckt, die von Dr. Fayel eröffnet wurde. Nach tagelangem Ausprobieren fand das Umfrageteam heraus, wie man das Kommunikationssystem hackt, um eine Notfallmeldung zu senden. Der sechste Zug nahm das Signal auf und raste zu ihrer Position, aber sie waren nicht die einzigen - die Außenseiter und die Hatfield & Harding Sicherheitskräfte hatten es auch gehört. Alle drei Streitkräfte trafen am Außenposten zusammen, wobei es dem sechsten Zug gelang, das gesamte Team unter schwerem Beschuss von allen Seiten sicher herauszuholen.

Seitdem die Missionsaufzeichnungen freigegeben wurden, haben Historiker jedes letzte Detail des Leir II-Engagements untersucht. Von der beeindruckend niedrigen Verlustrate bis hin zur improvisierten taktischen Reaktion hat die unglaubliche Rettung die Phantasie Tausender angezogen. Viele fragen sich, wie viele weitere mutige verdeckte Operationen die Phantome abgeschlossen haben, aber die Regierung hält sich weiterhin geheim. Es wurden bereits zahlreiche zusätzliche Petitionen eingereicht, in denen um die Freigabe weiterer Aufzeichnungen gebeten wurde, um eine vollständige Darstellung ihrer Geschichte zu ermöglichen.

Der sechste Zug ist derzeit an der Vanduul-Front stationiert, obwohl die Regierung nicht verraten wird, was ihr spezifisches Operationssaal ist. In Anbetracht der vergangenen Aktivitäten und der glanzvollen Geschichte des 6. Jahrhunderts ist es fair zu sagen, dass ihre Mission eine wichtige ist. Die Phantome mögen nicht so berühmt sein wie die Staffel 42 oder sogar das 1. Marine-Bataillon, aber die Geschichte hat gezeigt, dass sie zum Schutz des Imperiums beigetragen haben. Der 6. Zug verkörpert einfach das Ethos der Marines, dem Wohl der Allgemeinheit zu dienen und Schutz zu bieten, ohne Anerkennung zu benötigen.

Writer’s Note: Portfolio: 6th Platoon was published originally as a Subscriber Exclusive on October 17, 2018.
When it comes to the UEE Marine Corps, history and myth mix freely. While much is known about the most elite branch of the UEE military, other aspects remain a fixture of public speculation and imagination, such as their famously secretive recruitment process. As Lieutenant Colonel Marcus Estes wrote in his history of the branch, Always Forward, “No one applies to be a Marine”. Instead, recruits are culled from Army and Navy ranks based on an elusive criteria of attributes and skills. Remarkably, the full operational directives of the Marines remain a mystery to most. While most of the public knows that Marines are deployed aboard Navy vessels to provide protection and others train extensively in planetary invasion operations, mission specifics aren’t common knowledge. Only the duties of the 1st Marine Battalion, which is charged with protecting the Imperator, has pierced the public consciousness. Truth be told, Marine commanders probably prefer it that way.

Then came the ‘Historical Truth Act’ of 2941. Originally intended to shed light on how the Messer regime abused government power, it also revealed previously unknown information about the Marines and their operations. Within this vast trove of information, a previously unheralded platoon quickly caught the attention of historians. As a part of the ‘Special Operation Force, 2nd Battalion, Bravo Company’, the ‘6th Platoon’ repeatedly distinguished itself. Whether as part of major operations during the Second Tevarin War or completing highly-classified missions, the 6th Platoon ‘Phantoms’ proved themselves to be an elite unit consistently called upon when the Empire needed them most.

Into the Fire
The UEE military separated the Marines from under the Army’s supervision into their own branch following a 2558 study that showed their specialized skills were severely underutilized during the First Tevarin War. Decades later, this theory was put into practice with the outbreak of the Second Tevarin War. Warlord Corath’Thal employed asymmetrical warfare against the larger and better equipped UEE military to gain an advantage. Their forces remained mobile and often attacked unsuspecting civilian settlements and ships far from the frontlines, spreading fear and forcing the UEE to deploy their military over larger areas to be able to react with any kind of effectiveness. This was both a smart strategy and a necessity. The Tevarin had lost their homeworld of Kaleeth, now known as Elysium, in the First Tevarin War, and lacked a planetside location from which to coordinate their operations. Yet, they might have gained one early in the war were it not for the 6th Platoon.

In 2604, the UEE military struggled to counteract the Tevarin’s guerrilla tactics. Amidst the disarray, militia members spotted a Tevarin force approaching Hyperion and sent scans to the Navy. Without any kind of military presence in the Fora system, High Command feared the worst, only to grow curious when no attack happened. Suspecting that this was potentially a diversionary tactic, High Command deployed the 6th Platoon to covertly investigate. They discovered that a Tevarin force had discreetly set up a staging post on the planet far away from Shoel to avoid detection. The 6th monitored transmissions and realized that this command center was being used to plan and coordinate operations across the Empire. Fearful that sending a message to command might alert the Tevarin to their presence, the 6th ordered comm-silence and waited for the next large HyperClay storm to sweep through the area. As these were fairly common in the area, they didn’t have long to wait. Using the storm to cover their approach, the 6th quickly took control of the base and eliminated all Tevarin enemies without a single loss of Marine life. Thanks to their lethal efficiency, they were able to seize massive amounts of Tevarin intelligence including hideout locations, weapon caches, and personnel manifests. High Command was able to use this intel to thwart numerous upcoming attacks on the UEE.

From this operation, the platoon took the nickname that’s still with them to this day: the Phantoms. They also became High Command’s most trusted unit for delicate operations. When the Vanduul threat first presented itself, the 6th was again called into action. The Phantoms rotated through various systems that were suffering raids and repeatedly distinguished itself. For centuries, the 6th’s seizure of the Tevarin base remained their most famous engagement, even though the Historical Truth Act would later reveal many other operations that were just as, if not more, incredible.

Covert Ops
While the Phantoms’ bravery when facing down bloodthirsty enemies is unquestioned, the platoon has also proven capable of pulling off the most sensitive clandestine operations. The full extent of their covert operations remains classified today, but one never before acknowledged mission was recently revealed.

On May 3rd, 2812, a brilliant but disturbed scientist named Dr. Fayel declared the planet Leir II would sever all connection with the wider universe. Originally hired by the terraforming firm Hatfield & Harding to make the planet habitable, he became obsessed with keeping the planet ‘pure’ and convinced the workers to join his cause and reject anything or anyone not of the world they now called Mya.

Hatfield & Harding were furious and insisted that the UEE government intervene. The UEE refused, noting that Leir was still an unclaimed system and not under their legal jurisdiction. Still conscious of the recently deposed Messer regime’s legacy, the new government was reluctant to push their agenda on those not under its authority. Yet, the UEE had a problem that might force its hand: a government survey team had been dispatched to Leir II to appraise the terraforming operation as part of Hatfield & Harding’s push to make the system an official part of the UEE, and they were now trapped planetside unable to communicate with the outside universe.

While publicly insisting that they wouldn’t get involved, the UEE government secretly enlisted the Phantoms to locate and extract the survey team. The 6th Platoon knew that a situation with so many variables required a versatile ship, so they launched using the Valkyrie, a state of the art Anvil ship that had only recently been introduced to the UEE fleet. It was a wise decision that paid off once they discovered that the situation on Leir II was far worse than expected.

A bloody conflict had erupted between Hatfield & Harding security forces and Fayel’s loyalists, who had begun to call themselves ‘Outsiders’. Upon approaching the planet surface, the 6th Platoon’s Valkyries came under fire from both sides of the conflict. They quickly diverted their flight path, unwilling to engage with either side. Instead, the Phantoms discreetly dropped Tumbril C-series vehicles to sweep through the survey sites and help ascertain the team’s position.

Unbeknownst to the Marines, the survey team had been hiding inside an illegal mine opened by Dr. Fayel. After days of trying, the survey team figured out how to hack the comm system to send an emergency message. The 6th Platoon picked up the signal and raced to their position, but they weren’t the only ones – the Outsiders and the Hatfield & Harding security forces had also heard it. All three forces converged at the outpost, with the 6th Platoon managing to safely extract the entire team while under heavy fire from all sides.

Since the mission records were declassified, historians have studied every last detail of the Leir II engagement. From the impressively low casualty rate to the improvised tactical response, the incredible rescue has captured the imagination of thousands. Many wonder how many more daring covert ops the Phantoms have completed but the government continues to keep classified. Already, numerous additional petitions have been sent requesting the release of further records to allow a full telling of their history.

The 6th Platoon is currently deployed to the Vanduul front, though the government won’t disclose what their specific operational theater is. Considering the 6th’s past activity and illustrious history, it’s fair to say their mission is an important one. The Phantoms may not be as famous as Squadron 42 or even the 1st Marine Battalion, but history has shown that they have been instrumental in protecting the Empire. Simply, the 6th Platoon embodies the Marines’ ethos to serve the greater good and provide protection without requiring recognition.