The Shepherd’s primary combat arm is the Order of Saint Michael (OSM). The fundamental building block of the OSM is the regiment. Above a regiment is the division, which is less of a combat unit more of an administrative element that oversees operation within a certain region of New Jerusalem. Each division contains a core of support assets like artillery and air support, as well as at least one regiment. The regiments themselves are composed of four “line battalions’’, which are the combat arm, and two support battalions. A full-size regiment has nearly 4,000 personnel.  Regiments are numbered based on the order in which they were activated, and each one is also named after a biblical angel.

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The WFP is the poorest league in the northern hemisphere. Because of this, the Protectorate has needed to be economical with its purchases and acquisitions. This frugality has led to a number of highly rugged designs and Westerners hold as a point of pride the ingenuity needed to keep many of them in service far longer than then expected. One major area of cost is in main battle tanks. The WFP, like its northern neighbors uses the Norlight Aller tank and supplements with its own unique designs as needed. The cost of a full tank and the advanced weapons have always put a strain on the Protectorates limited resources. The WFP looked to Western Armories to produce a cheap tank/siege vehicle that could be used in place of Allers or in support of them. Western Armories started with the basic Aller hull and made an extensive set of changes which resulted in the Victor self-propelled gun. The Victor, named after Cristobal Victor, a historic clan head from the Cristobal clan, was the answer. The cost savings on forgoing the use of a turret and several other features makes this tank cheap while its reputation against much more advanced tanks makes it popular. Brok Enterprises has been somewhat quiet about the use of the chassis for this new design. The fact that Western Armories buys the chassis from Brok before modification has somewhat soothed any ruffled feathers.

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The Shepherds’ society is organized into three orders, which are then divided into smaller sub-orders. Each order specializes in a group of related tasks. The first of the three main orders is the Order of Saint Joseph, which oversees the day-to-day operations of Sanctuary. Under their purview are things like construction, food production and distribution, administration, and cleaning services. The Order of Saint Marcellin covers anything that requires significant training and education such as medicine, education, academics, research, record keeping, and engineering. The final order is the Order of Saint Adrian, which covers security and military forces. Each of these three orders is lead by a Grand Marshal, and the three Grand Marshals collectively form the ruling body of the Shepherds.

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Nothing stays secret forever. Despite attempts at secrecy, the Shepherds’ activities became more and more well known. Eventually credible survivors from encounters appeared, evidence of travel and sightings of aircraft occurred, and it became obvious that some military force was operating beyond the authority of any nation on the planet. Some despaired at this new threat while others resented the attackers, and still others saw a potential advantage.

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Via the aesome power of Extended Content, the CEF has gained access to the Type 81-12 and F99 Frames. [Read More]

Word traveled fast of this “Miracle,” and those in leadership positions blew it off as nothing more than an overblown story. A whole assault force wiped out by “angels from heaven?” It had to be a joke. The destruction of the force was attributed to “bandits and highwaymen.” Two weeks later it happened again. And then it happened again, and again. Authorities initially tried to hide these attacks, but rumors spread of the “angels’’ and their wrath. Soon, all attempts to hide the existence of these attacks were abandoned. Efforts to identify the attackers were met with failure, with only a few eyewitness reports whose testimony was ultimately deemed unbelievable. Massive bipedal and multipedal combat walkers dropping from the sky? Advanced laser weapons? Cannons that could melt tanks and their crews? All of this with no trace of their arrival or departure, aside from the carnage left in their wake.

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On 2 Shvat 454 (Christmas Eve 5871, a day chosen for its symbolism), a strike force of combat vehicles from the Collective of a New Canaan was dispatched towards a small hamlet. Their intent was to destroy the town and slaughter its inhabitants in retaliation for a dubious ‘crime’. Unknown to the strike force, Sanctuary command deemed this assault the first victim of their interventions. When the convoy was spotted by the locals on Christmas morning, panic ensued. There was no question in their minds what the assault force’s intent was, and the town had no means to stop the impending massacre. Just before the lead vehicle could move into range of the town and fire its first shot, it exploded in a ball of fire. Caught off guard, the convoy began to shoot in all directions, unsure of what direction they were taking fire from. Within a few seconds, two more vehicles went up in flames before they realized the fire was coming from above them. Looking up into the sky the attackers were horrified. Sanctuary combat walkers landed in and amongst the strike force, trashing vehicles left and right. The survivors tried to flee in terror, only to walk into the waiting guns of infantry and heavier assets positioned for just such an eventuality. There were no survivors, no townsfolk were injured, and the only Sanctuary ‘casualty’ was a corporal with a sprained ankle. The Sanctuary forces pulled out almost as fast as they arrived and quickly disappeared, leaving the bewildered townsfolk to clean up. [Read More]

PA-02LG/ST-01C Stalker

With the polar forces deploying increasingly more sophisticated reconnaissance and stealth Gears, the PRDF High Command became concerned that their current crop of recon Gears would not be up to the task of penetrating enemy areas of operation and reporting back to base. In the Summer of TN 1927 the High Command ordered a new series of stealth/recon vehicles to be built for the PRDF. In the Winter of TN 1930, Paxton Arms rolled out the first prototype of the Stalker.

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The decades that followed the arrival at Sanctuary were a blur of activity. The facility was slowly turned into a settlement, then eventually to a full-fledged city-state. New generations were born and came of age, not just in Sanctuary but across the whole planet. New nations and societies formed in the vacuum left after the destruction of the Church.

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The fall of the Jerusalemite Church would be labeled ‘The Collapse’ by subsequent generations. Once a unified planet, New Jerusalem fractured without the centralized guidance of the Church. This led not only to a massive loss of technology, but also the creation of nations where none existed before. Many of the initial divisions formed due to geography, but the tone of the ensuing conflicts was largely religious for many decades. These nations would come to be referred to as the ‘Post-Collapse States’. During this time, personnel for Sanctuary would covertly travel across the Post-Collapse States. These missions served many purposes including fact-finding, making local connections, recruitment, and acquisition of resources. Sanctuary agents quickly developed a subtle code through careful phrasing that allowed them and their allies to communicate right under the nose of authorities. When pressed for their identities, it became common for them to reply they were simple shepherds, as many would masquerade as traders or farmers. These field agents observed and documented a number of new nations, which are listed below.

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