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The Shepherds use the term “angel" to refer to any legged combat platform or derivatives thereof. The origin of the design of the angels dates to the Later Crusades and the fall of Kir Arya. The Prime Knights of Kir Arya used combat walkers called Paladins as their primary mechanized combat unit. According to historical records, Paladins were large, fast, heavily armed, and well armored, which allowed them to engage all types of foes in nearly any type of terrain. After the fall of Kir Arya, wrecked Paladins were taken and analyzed by both the Council and Compact nations that took part in the invasion. They all came to the same conclusion, however, about the design’s long term viability. Paladins were technologically feasible but would be prohibitively expensive, and would need massive overhauls to be usable by pilots who were not Prime Knights.

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The Jerusalemite religion is an amalgamation of all the various Abrahamic faiths that existed prior to the Second Ice Age. The main cause of their merging was the threat to the holy land by forces of the Compact of Revelation. The nations dominated by Abrahamic religions formed a military alliance to protect the holy land against this threat. As the centuries wore on, this military alliance became something more. Terminology, ideas, and various aspects of each faith crossed over into each other, further blurring the line between the various religions. It became perfectly normal for a group of nuns led by an Imam to celebrate Hanukkah. When the glaciers receded over a millennia later, those divides had largely disappeared. The adherents of these various faiths considered themselves Jerusalemites. 

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It should come as no surprise that religion is common and flourishing in Sanctuary. However, the topic of religion is considered very private and overt displays of faith outside of the actual act of worship are quite rare. The Shepherds do not consider themselves a religious organization. Any member is free to believe in whatever religion they want, or none at all should they choose. Due to the nature of the colony’s history, it is almost unheard of for someone to not be Jerusalemite, but that fact is considered just another aspect of a person like their hair or eye color. For most people, though, their faith is a major component of their life. Religious services for all sects are common and readily available for those seeking them. The nature of someone’s practice of their faith is considered highly personal, and criticizing it is seen as one of the highest forms of disrespect.

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The Order of Saint Martin oversees the infantry formations of the Shepherds. These units operate as mechanized infantry, either in direct combat roles or as combat engineers. Infantry often fulfill security roles in urban areas. Typical units are mounted in Tenet APCs with a command vehicle for the platoon and company command elements. Doctrinally, these units favor fire and maneuver, and include a selection of heavy weapons to deal with a variety of targets.

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New Jerusalem’s isolation lasted until 728 NJ (6136 AD)l when a mysterious fleet of ships identifying themselves as the CEF 7th fleet gated into the system. The CEF observed the primitive armies of the various powers on the planet and judged them to be a non-threat. The Shepherds remained hidden, using centuries of experience to keep their strength unseen by these new visitors. Shepherds’ leadership set up a mission to contact the new arrivals. This diplomatic mission met with the CEF commanders’ multiple times, though what exactly transpired remains unknown to all not involved. When the last meeting was over, the CEF Admiral left and ordered his fleet to withdraw from the system, declaring he would no longer support the NEC. A brief power struggle saw him and some 75% of the fleet, including almost all the warships, break contact and jump out of the system. The remaining forces were stranded aboard their troop transports, now short on supplies and equipment, and were forced to make a decision. Seeing the pathetic nature of the defenders, they opted to continue their assault on the planet. They concentrated their landing zone in one largely uninhabited region to maximize their limited forces’ effect. As their units made landfall, Shepherd space forces struck. The remaining CEF ships in orbit were destroyed or captured, cutting off the ground forces who then found themselves attacked by an enemy far more advanced than they had anticipated. The initial landing zones, concentrated in forested regions to prevent observation, soon turned into furnaces as local forces lit them ablaze. The unique silicon-based composition of the trees burned off into ash which clogged CEF combat vehicles and caused breathing problems for infantry. Without the ability to take in air, hovertanks essentially became slow, static defenses. Frames fared better, but the failure of their hover systems put them at a mobility disadvantage against angels. The Shepherds struck repeatedly. and within weeks had functionally annihilated the invaders’ command structure. The CEF was reduced to a handful of highly fortified bases set up in the landing zone. Cut off from any hope of escape, the remaining forces fought much more ferociously than would typically be expected from the CEF on the defensive. By the time these pockets were liquidated, over 20% of the Shepherds’ pre-invasion combat strength had become casualties. Despite the Shepherds’ best efforts, a small significant portion of the invasion force managed to evade capture and would go in to form holdout cells across the planet.

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The aftermath of the Revelation saw the Shepherds begin to openly work with the various nations on the planet. Some proved to be willing allies in the fight against CEF holdouts, while others not only directly opposed the Shepherds but actively courted the support of the CEF remnants.

This period of conflict was used by the Shepherds as a chance to reorganize and better prepare for further aggression from Earth. Unit organization was changed with a heavier emphasis on sustainment elements. Mobile bases that could be used by company sized units were developed to allow smaller forces more strategic freedom from supply hubs. Airborne and orbital assets were expanded, and new satellites and warships were commissioned to create an early warning system against new threats. Defected 7th fleet personnel were tasked with drafting and quantifying CEF combat doctrine, and Shepherds line units were rotated through rigorous drills and training to learn the ins and outs of this style of warfare. Allied forces underwent similar training to operate alongside the Shepherds’ units as auxiliaries, although this training fell short of integrating the forces involved. New developments, techniques and attempts at coordination were used to combat the CEF forces still on the planet and those allied to them, ensuring that anything adopted was battle tested.

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The relief force for the 7th fleet went in with a much larger number of warships compared to the first invasion force. While some in CEF command were concerned with land resistance, most considered the renegade 7th fleet assets the major concern. The second invasion force arrived in the Nereus system 735 NJ to a cold welcome. The exit point for the gate was surrounded by a minefield of nuclear ordnance and armed warships. CEF forces pushed on and eventually cleared the field, forcing the Shepherds’ forces to withdraw or face annihilation. As the Shepherds’ space forces fell back the CEF commanders, sensing an opportunity, quickly began pursuit with a portion of their fleet. The rest was sent after the planet to begin the invasion proper. As the relief fleet extended itself, they were caught by complete surprise as the 7th Fleet jumped in from HO-03/5409.4 and took the gate point.  With no place to fall back to, the surviving troop-ships disgorged their cargo on the planet as the scattered CEF warships were picked off or captured by their former comrades.

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The Shepherds’ plan to launch a counterattack against the CEF consisted of two major offensive operations. The bulk of the 7th Fleet’s ground assets would deploy for an assault on Home, with the aim of opening a second front against the CEF. Home is a priority strategic target, and the 7th Fleet under Admiral Untide, with personal oversight from Grand Marshal Lucius Albrecht, is best suited for full-scale planetary assaults. Given their capacity to operate independently, though, many of the 7th Fleet’s ships are earmarked for the second prong of the counteroffensive.

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The Order of the Divine Crescent, often just shortened to ODC, is almost the equivalent of an honor society amongst the Shepherds. It is composed of the best and brightest of Sanctuary,  and is not an official order within the Shepherds organizational structure. However, nearly every high ranking member of the Shepherds is a part, and for many joining is the aspiration of a lifetime. As with most similar societies in history, the ODC is open to members by invitation only. The exact entrance requirements and the process for being invited are not shared outside the ODC. On the whole, the ODC is composed only of exceptional individuals. From the military orders, high ranking commanders and elite aces are almost always members. From the civilian orders, outstanding logisticians, engineers, and scientists are invited into this prestigious organization. Theories about the entrance criteria are varied, and there is some inconsistency in who is allowed to join. Many people can point to seemingly deserving members who never get inducted while other notable but comparatively unremarkable members do get in. The method of invitation is simple, an envelope with the inductees name and the order’s crescent logo is left in their accommodations. The intrusion of privacy is bothersome to some but the reward is worth it.

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Antoine Maillaux felt somewhat out of his element. The whole Black Talon team on New Jerusalem had been spread thin since their arrival. Field operations, training exercises alongside local forces, and briefings on equipment and tactics had meant few opportunities for rest. Exhaustion wasn’t the real issue here, though. Maillaux’s entire career, from his time as a smuggler, rover, Legion Noire member and now Black Talon operative, had conditioned him to a constant fight-and-fade style of operation. Despite that, here he was assisting with planning an assault on a fortified city. He had spoken with Wallis about his lack of experience with direct assaults, but the team leader didn’t relent. Wallis assured him their new allies would be able to take care of that part, and what they needed was an expert on the city of Ashanti. Maillaux had been through the city many times during his travels, a fact Wallis had quickly pointed out. That made Maillaux the best man for the job, even if it went against many of his own preferences.

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