The King County Militia

== The King County Militia ==
"I have had — a revelation. Last night, a new group of recruits joined our ranks and have already been sworn in. They have traveled far, from the east, west, south, and north. Their coming to this place, at this time, is no accident. They bring word of more camps, like the one to the south, which we have purged, camps filled with degenerates, thieves, rapists, drug addicts, and murderers. We are threatened! All of us! Every day we live in the shadow of death. But that shadow is not cast by rabid humans that surround us. They are part of God's plan. They are part of God's punishment. No! No, it is not the infected beings who threaten to destroy us. It is our fellow man. Like Noah before us, we have built an ark, to save mankind. To save all the knowledge so that when the flood waters recede, we may rebuild. But in this age, here at the end of the world — God is not sending the oceans from their beds to rise and sweep away the damned. There will be no baptism of water. No. In this last age, we are the flood. We are sent forth, to baptize the world — with fire! Today, we begin a Holy War against those who have brought down the wrath of God. We will move north! Seek out the depraved and cleanse them — from the world. We will move south, find the enclaves of the degenerate, and destroy them. We will head east — uncover the obscene and purge them. We will head west, cast light upon these sinners, and show them God's true strength for good!!!!! -" - Copeland's villainous breakdown and final speech declaring war against human encampments
The King County Militia, also known as KCM, is the main antagonistic faction of the Raider of the Dead series, serving as the primary antagonist in the second chapter of the series.
Despite being mostly made up of ordinary survivors with just a small number of ex-soldiers who served in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, the KCM operates like that of the American military and does not belong to any recognized military branch. In the early days of the outbreak, Colonel Matthew Copeland established the KCM to action, whose mission is to destroy the infected and recover human civilization.
== History ==
Created in 2035, Colonel Matthew Copeland founded the King County Militia early in the Georgia outbreak. The Militia had been attacking and raiding government research sites, and capturing scientists. A witness, an AWOL Militia soldier, said to have seen them going so far as Arrowood, looting houses and confiscating all civilian weaponry.
Within two years, Colonel Copeland has been forcibly recruiting survivors with the stated goals of eliminating the Infected and the acquisition of human data and knowledge to be preserved within Buck Island, which Copeland dubbed "the ark." Copeland assigned researchers to develop new weapons to eradicate the Infected.
== Background ==
The Militiamen wear various types of repurposed military fatigues with no official uniform due to the lack of necessary supplies. Their ranks are distinguished by their red armbands. They make use of weapons, equipment, and vehicles left behind by the National Guard and FEMA. They also have a munition factory and a work camp on Wizard Island.
They have a very literal 'scorched earth' tactic. They cut down the trees and used the timber to construct walls around their outposts. With the trees cut down, it gives them a greater range of sight for warnings against Infected hordes and other threats. They also burned down any buildings so that the Infected had no place to dwell. They also locate and destroy FEMA mass grave sites to deter Hordes.
The official numbers of the Militia are heavily disputed by several different characters. Their outpost in Victory Lake had over 100 members, while Colonel Copeland claims "hundreds" of soldiers are stationed at their main base on Buck Island. Despite the large amount of people in the Militia, very few are affiliated with the military, most simply joined for food and secure shelter. Colonel Copeland allowed almost anyone to join, claiming that everyone still alive had a part to play. Those with a criminal record, however, are declared "unfit to serve" and forced to work duty. Fraternization is discouraged. Any soldier or officer found guilty of any transgression regardless of severity is sentenced to be hung.
By the time Jay joined the Militia, many soldiers had begun to go AWOL. Dialogue with several characters reveals that a large portion of the soldiers serving the Militia don't genuinely believe Colonel Copeland's vision for the future, and especially do not care for the military aspect of the organization.
Those civilians deemed apt were invited to join the militia. But in reality, it was more an order than an offering. Former soldiers were especially appreciated, but Colonel Copeland personally decided who was apt or not. Those with a criminal past were sent to the work camp forcibly. Those deemed acceptable were made to take a loyalty swearing before receiving uniforms. The recruits had to give up all their personal belongings, though they could retain their vehicle and weaponry if they had one. Though some soldiers were seen doing training, the former US soldiers were considered already fully formed.
== Members ==
Colonel Matthew Copeland is the founder and Leader of the Militia, and he holds ultimate authority over Militia personnel and resources. However, the Militia has three separate parts. The first are the Officers, who range from Sergeant to Captain and are in charge of Military and Reconnaissance Operations for the Militia. The second is the research division, headed by several Officers up to the rank of Captain and having its enlisted personnel of the rank Corporal. The final one is the infantry, going from Private up to the rank of Sergeant, who is in charge of Military operations, training, and resource gathering.
A fourth part is where those recruits are declared unfit to serve. They were sent into a work camp, apparently, as de facto slaves, like Lexi Adkins.
Officers
* Captain Kenneth Wilcox - Military Operations Leader, leader of the Victory Lake Militia outpost, (AWOL, came back)
* Captain Michael Jones - Head Militia Physician (deceased)
* Captain Justin Ray - second-in-command after the departure of Kenneth Wilcox, Military Operations (deceased)
* Captain Jackson - Reconnaissance Operations Leader
* Lieutenant Jennifer Norwood - Reconnaissance Operations (deceased)
Research Division Personnel
* Captain Rawlins - Agriculture and Hydroponics Expert
* Lieutenant Raymond Weaver - Chemical Engineer, later leader of Buck Island.
* Lieutenant Kayla Whitaker - Biological Engineer
* Sergeant Caleb Tomlinson - Mechanical and Construction Engineer
* Corporal Jay Roberts - Research and Materials procurement specialist.
* Private Thomas - Materials procurement specialist, defected. (Deceased)
Infantry Personnel
* Sergeant Julie Foster - Military Operations, Victory Lake
* Sergeant Stan Anderson - Militia Sergeant exposed as Raider (deceased)
* Corporal Weaver - Military Operations, later second-in-command of Victory Lake
* Private Rick Reynolds - Military Operations, Victory Lake
* Private Lewis Taylor - Military Operations (deceased)
* Private Wade - Military Operations (deceased)
* Private Ramirez - Military Operations
== Vehicles, Weaponry, and Equipment ==
== Trivia ==