FD COM – RIMWARD THEATRE

 

by A. Gubler

 

Introduction

 

Australia has a large frontier presence locating in the Rimward Arm, which it shares with America. Security for these vulnerable planets is a prime responsibility of the ADF and FD COM maintains local forces on all Australian worlds. Recent events with the Kafer War and the possible opening of a “back door” to Kafer space from the Rimward Arm have boosted a sense of vulnerability in the area. Many local governments have formed militia units not formally affiliated with the ADF and the ADF itself is struggling to establish viable defensive plans for the Arm.

 

Narrative

 

Join the Defence Force and see the worlds they say but no one was thinking about Erie and Murray Settlement when they spun that line. Erie is tidally locked to the primary star of this system and every day is well there aren't any days it's just a never ending red dusk. If that weren't disconcerting enough there is no normal weather on this planet except for high gusts of wind from the hot-side over us in the canal to the cold side. At the last count it was 36 hours, 29 minutes between gusts, close to the average 35 hours, 51 minutes. The of course there is almost nothing alive on this planet, just lots of moss on the every present rocks and weeds growing between them. Some of the drop-shorts from some artillery battery claimed they saw a mouse-type but I don't believe them.

 

I certainly hadn't bunkered on going to Erie when I accepted the ADF's offer of command candidature and signed up for a professional hitch after my national service. Back then staying in the New Canberra Light Infantry seemed so much better than a clip on tie job back in Mount Macca's never ending office complexes. I had a fun job, snappy uniform, even getting a free trip to Earth and then to Botany Bay at the end of the Rimward Arm of space. Now here I was with 10,000 other Australian and American soldiers as humanities speed bump if the Kafers ever discovered this mysterious back door we were meant to be protecting.

 

Of course I had Chief Leading Defender Arief Sunardi to keep me company in 99-Bravo's quartermaster section. He was positively eager to be out here away from the barracks, away from having to reconcile every item that passes through our shop. Sunardi was the stereotypical New Canberran from the projects of Rum Jungle who had leapt at the chance to leave the rest of his family's safe but boring union jobs in the Sumatro Fabrique robo-facs. Now don't read too much into this, we don't steal from the ADF and certainly not the 99th Battalion. Sunardi was just able to convince me in a little side trade.

 

Part of a rifle company's Q-Store's task list is to keep all our equipment in order, which was quite a list of machineguns, lasers, battlesuits, sensors, one person flying platform Whirligigs, etc. But with being essentially in a static role we had plenty of spare capacity. Then of course there was the principle maintenance depot of the United States Army's 225th Forward Support Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade (Light Mechanized) that was located not far from 99-Bravo. Most importantly their "dump", which was cliff lined inlet with very shallow water near Point Disappointment was just a few quarters away. The things the Americans would through away…

 

Well Sunardi and I and a few rifleman with the skills we needed just had to go set up a nice little collective to well, keep us busy more than anything. Commandos from one of the recce outposts would tip us off when the Americans were on the way to dump. We would set out not long after in a Walaroo-Repair with a 15-ton crane to see what we could find. Anyway we soon had a roaring trade in repaired, cleaned and re-packaged ex-US Army material: everything from Songbird hovercraft through to water filterers and cold proof jumpsuits.

 

The Erians, a bunch of ground-breaker colonists trying to seed this planet with Terran life and maybe some kind of atmosphere (the type that doesn't come in pressurised bottles), were our number one customers. They looked on with undisguised greed at the lander load after lander load of brand new equipment destined for the "Tropic Lightning Brigade". Of course we provided them that very same kit just as soon as the Yanks broke it and we fixed it. But the American's with all their green-backs were a market we just couldn't bust.

 

It took until Corps of Operations distributed a new e-circular detailing the living habits of Kafers before we worked out how to crack open the charge cards of the "seppos". You see a dinted, busted carbon fibre M17 APC right rear blower cover with a bit of grinding and coating work can turn into a pretty passable Kafer T-handle combat knife. Of course we also made officer's gorgets (Cummins tank primary turbine fans), combat harness (a complex redo of busted pallet strapping), meathooks (hovercraft grab handles) and so on. We sold every one we made and even heard they were re-sold at highly inflated prices to the new arrivals of the 197th Infantry Brigade.

 

Sunardi and I would be able to retire and live like kings with the money we made. To keep it all legal we had kept the 99th battalion's head-shed happy with skim offs to the battalion's messes and the regimental foundation. Of course if only we could get of this damn rock to somewhere, anywhere, where you could have a good time…

 

[Ed: Names and identities in this article may have been changed to protect the author.]

 

As printed in the Mount MacDonald Herald, attributed to Leader (Command Candidate) Marco Jensen, 74th Defence Brigade, DM +5 3409, 2303

 

Index

5th Corps

13th Division

73rd (Tracked Armoured) Brigade

74th (Defence) Brigade

76th (Defence) Brigade

77th (Defence) Brigade

78th (Defence) Brigade

Independent Units

 

5th Corps

5th Corps is responsible for defending the Australian colonies in the Rimward Arm. However the corps is primarily an administrative force and is under the command of only a two-star officer: Division Commandant Jay Anderson. The corps headquarters has recently received a draft of new personnel from the core to boost its capability to develop plans to actually defend the area from outside attack. The HQ of 5th Corps is based on Cook Island, Botany Bay.

 

Corps Troops

Corps troops comprise a number of independent specialist units providing capabiities not found in 5th Corps formations. These units come directly under the command of HQ 5th Corps but are sometimes assigned to other commands as needed. The independent units consist of weapons of mass destruction defence engineers, intelligence, electronic warfare, civil affairs and special forces. The company sized special forces uni (“X” Special Unit) of the SAS operates primarily as the back-up to FEDPOL’s anti-piracy operations in the Rimward Arm. However the unit is still competent and ready for its primary role as 5th Corp’s combat reconnaissance force.

 

Corps Engineering (NBCE Defence) 155, Corps of Engineers
Corps Operations (Intelligence) 139, Corps of Operations
Corps Operations (Electronic Warfare) 140, Corps of Operations
Corps Operations (Civil Affairs) 141, Corps of Operations
XSU, Special Air Service Regiment

 

13th Division

13th Division is the rapid deployment formation for Rimward Theatre and the main manoeuvre formation of 5th Corps. The division is ready to deploy anywhere across the Australian sphere of colonial planets or into other space, however they do not train to seriously deploy onto King. Based around the failed colony at Cook Island, Botany Bay which it uses as a rough and tumble training area the division also maintains a brigade on Kingsland. 13th Brigade was under control of this formation but has been detached to the Australian Expeditionary Forces. The division was originally formed as the 2nd Armoured Division for the World War and during the Recovery War but was renamed the 13th in the late 21st century as part of an ADF wide simplification of formation nomenclature. The 13th is known as the Norman Division after its first major battle when it reclaimed Normanton in Queensland from the far north Queensland separatists in 2013.

 

138th (Operational) Battery, Regiment of Australian Artillery
152nd (Operational) Battery, Regiment of Australian Artillery
173rd (Air Defence) Battery, Regiment of Australian Artillery
55th (Reconnaissance) Squadron, New Canberra Guides
6th (Assault) Battalion, New Canberra Regiment
Division Engineer Unit 113, Corps of Engineers
Division Operations Unit 113, Corps of Operations
Division Aviation Unit 113, Corps of Aviation <

6th (Infantry) Brigade

The Hard-Shell Brigade is a rapid deployment mechanised infantry formation based at Hogan City on the Australian colony of Kingsland. The brigade is of regular quality and is equipped with the latest Australian issue weapons. The brigade isn’t equipped with the standard Wallaroo hovercraft of an infantry brigade but with Wombat tracked armoured personnel carriers plus a large number of militarised “rock-buggy” ATVs.

9th (Airmobile Infantry) Brigade

This Taipan Brigade is a rapid deployment airmobile infantry formation based at ADB Cook Island on the Australian colony world of Botany Bay. The brigade is of veteran quality and is equipped with Tanakan VTOL aircraft and the latest small arms and infantry equipment.

 

25th Battery, Regiment of Australian Artillery
91st Battalion, Silver Regiment
206th Battalion, Huntslander Guards
207th Battalion, Huntslander Guards
208th Battalion, Governor Montgomery’s Own Guards
Brigade Engineer Unit 9, Corps of Engineers
Brigade Operations Unit 9, Corps of Operations
Brigade Aviation Unit 9, Corps of Aviation

40th (Armoured) Brigade

This Victory Brigade is a rapid deployment armoured hovercraft formation based at Montgomery City on the Australian colony world of Botany Bay. The brigade is of regular quality and is equipped with Darrago and Nantawarra hovercraft and modern infantry equipment.

 

8th Battery, Regiment of Australian Artillery
3rd Squadron, Cavalry Regiment of Australia
1st Squadron, New South Wales Lancers
56th Squadron, New Canberra Guides
58th Squadron, New Canberra Guides
Brigade Engineer Unit 40, Corps of Engineers
Brigade Operations Unit 40, Corps of Operations
Brigade Aviation Unit 40, Corps of Aviation

48th (Armoured) Brigade

The Dragon Brigade is a rapid deployment armoured hovercraft formation based at ADB Cook Island on the Australian colony world of Botany Bay. The brigade is of veteran quality and is equipped with Gatto and Nantawarra hovercraft and modern infantry equipment.

 

70th Battery, Regiment of Australian Artillery
41st Squadron, Armour Regiment of New Canberra
42nd Squadron, Armour Regiment of New Canberra
53rd Squadron, Armour Regiment of New Canberra
59th Squadron, Armour Regiment of New Canberra
Brigade Engineer Unit 48, Corps of Engineers
Brigade Operations Unit 48, Corps of Operations
Brigade Aviation Unit 48, Corps of Aviation

 

73rd (Tracked Armoured) Brigade

The Fire Brigade is a tracked tank armoured formation based at ADB John Hunt on the Australian colony world of King. The brigade is made up of Huntsland locals and is quite professional in its operation. The 73rd is of regular quality and is being equipped with remanufactured Crocodile-III main battle tanks and the latest infantry equipment. The brigade is the principal defence force for the mineral riches of Australia’s Huntsland colony. Even though the Huntslander Guards regiment is considered part of the Australian Infantry Corps some of its battalions, including all those of the 73rd Brigade, are organised, equipped and trained as Armoured Corps units.

 

74th (Defence) Brigade

The Hopper Brigade is a newly reinforced brigade originally formed to be another orbital assault formation like the 13th Brigade. The 74th is based at Murray Settlement on the new Australian and American colony world of Erie. The brigade is part of the Joint Erie Defence Command that has been established by Australia and America with support from Germany. The mission of the JEDC is to protect the Erie star system and the “backdoor” into Kafer space, which extends in a tenuous chain of links to the Ylii home world. The brigade is oversized with specialist units detached from HQ 5th Corps and is of veteran quality, equipped with the latest equipment but lacking formation manoeuvre experience.

 

15th (Air Defence) Battery, Regiment of Australian Artillery
122nd (Tactical) Battery, Regiment of Australian Artillery
139th (Operational) Battery, Regiment of Australian Artillery
23rd Squadron, Tank Regiment of Australia
7th Battalion, Commando Regiment of Australia
99th Battalion, New Canberra Light Infantry
101st Battalion, New Canberra Light Infantry
142nd Battalion, Sikh Regiment of Australia
Brigade Engineer Unit 74, Corps of Engineers
Corps Engineering (Amphibious) Unit 152, Corps of Engineers
Corps Engineering (Construction) Unit 153, Corps of Engineers
Corps Engineering (Terminal) 154, Corps of Engineers
Brigade Operations Unit 74, Corps of Operations
Brigade Aviation Unit 74, Corps of Aviation

 

76th (Defence) Brigade

The Kingsland Brigade is the regional force for Australian colony of Kingsland in the Zeta Herculis star system; the brigade is based in Hogan City, Kingsland. The brigade is of regular quality and like the Hard-Shell Brigade is equipped with Wombat tracked armoured personnel carriers and militarised “rock-buggy” ATVs.

 

77th (Defence) Brigade

The Huntsland Brigade is the regional force for Australian colony of Huntsland on the massive planet King in the DM + 2 3312 star system. The personnel of the 74th and all Huntsland based forces are DNAM genetically modified humans. They all have much higher levels of strength and endurance to survive on the very high gravity of King. The brigade headquarters is located at ADB John Hunt near Windslow the capital of Huntsland. The brigade has some full-time units, including the headquarters, but is mostly part-time. The 74th is of regular quality, equipped with Wombat armoured personnel carriers and the latest infantry equipment.

 

158th (Air Defence) Battery, Regiment of Australian Artillery
174th (Tactical) Battery (Reserve), Regiment of Australian Artillery
180th (Operational) Battery (Reserve), Regiment of Australian Artillery
201st Battalion, Huntslander Guards
202nd (Reconnaissance) Battalion (Reserve), Huntslander Guards
203rd Battalion (Reserve), Huntslander Guards
204th Battalion (Reserve), Huntslander Guards
Brigade Engineer Unit 77, Corps of Engineers
Brigade Operations Unit 77, Corps of Operations
Brigade Aviation Unit 77, Corps of Aviation

 

78th (Defence) Brigade

The Botany Bay Brigade (or just “BB” brigade) is the regional force for Australian colony of Botany Bay in the DM + 33 2277 star system, the brigade is based in Montgomery City, Botany Bay. The brigade is of inferior quality and very rarely trains as a manoeuvre formation.

 

78th (Air Defence) Battery, Regiment of Australian Artillery
178th (Tactical) Battery (Reserve), Regiment of Australian Artillery
179th (Operational) Battery (Reserve), Regiment of Australian Artillery
209th (Reconnaissance) Battalion (Reserve), Governor Montgomery’s Guards
210th Battalion, Governor Montgomery’s Guards
211th Battalion (Reserve), Governor Montgomery’s Guards
Brigade Engineer Unit 78, Corps of Engineers
Brigade Operations Unit 78, Corps of Operations
Brigade Aviation Unit 78, Corps of Aviation

 

Independent Units

7th Battalion, Parachute Regiment of Australia

This battalion is attached to Space Force Command’s forces in Rimward Theatre where they serve as extra muscle backing up the dedicated zero and low gravity fighters of Australian Spacewalker Squadron. These troops also provide the bulk of any landing force attached to individual space ships and can be expected to operate very much alone and without support.