5th Cavalry Corps

## The 5th Vestrines Cavalry Corps (WIP)

### Origins

Formed in 1899, the 5th Cavalry Corps was the first Corps sized unit raised in the colony. The number 5th marks it as the 5th Colonial Corps under Aeduai Colonial Command, not the 5th Corps of Vestrines. Having taken the Eagle as it's symbol, the Corps was raised to be mobile to respond to any upheaval in the flourishing colony, whilst expansion was commonly handled by professional troops from the homeland.

It's organization was handled largely internally by the squabbling members of the Colonial Officers Corps, selected mainly by their parent's sacks of cash rather than their ability to lead. At the beginning of The Tearing, however, this quickly changed. As the country tore itself apart, many of these officers of nepotism found themselves threatened out of their positions by soldiers fighting to keep their families safe. Whilst initially the Aeduai forces present tried to crack down on this behavior, the officers, after being re-instated, quickly showed just how ineffective they were. Not long after, a blind eye was turned as many of these officers, ensured they were being protected by homeland troops, found themselves dead in ditches along the frontlines, with more hardened proven officers rapidly climbing up the ranks.

Being the largest force to refuse the Aeduai demands for withdrawal, the 5th took general command over the remaining forces after The Betrayal, but after The Consolidation, they now operate as an independent force, not loyal to any authority but it's own. Were it not for the necessity of these soldiers in the defense of the last city, this state of affairs would never be accepted, as many in the CAC already dislike the military's meddling in local matters, even if it's done in the name of survival.

In the modern period, the leadership of the Corps is the most dedicated section of the population to the idea of National Salvation, and bear the strongest resentment out of all towards the Aeduai Republic. Most of them are direct descendants of former leaders, but due to the hardships of life, the lack of proper education and a simple lack of alternatives, these children of generals were taught by their parents to become generals in their own right. With all three members of the Military Council being descendants of former members of said council.

### Leadership

Whilst the existence of a Corps and a full General would imply centralized power over the military, the decades of solitude have forced the necessity of allowing individual units more freedom to operate independently, with the lack of communications equipment, most Divisions, and some Brigades, often make their own decisions on how to deal with any issues that may appear. Whilst officially the General of the Corps has the final say, disagreements between Divisional commanders can lead to the disregarding of such orders, and there is not much that can be done about this, due to the often deep-rooted loyalties of soldiers to their lower-level commanders and officers.

The currently most notable members of High Command are General Achille Forest, Major General Rickshaw, Brigadier General Granger and Brigadier General Lavalle. The first three of these also make up the Military Council, which is the highest body of the National Conservation Authority, that effectively rules the Free State of Vestrines.

### Organization

Whilst initially organized according to Aeduai standards, the necessity of modern scarcity, understrength divisions and the nature of having large amounts of weird equipment, the current organization of the Corps is a messy one. Despite the naming conventions, none of the current formations operate in the same way, having developed their own doctrines and strategies as time has gone on.

The only consistent metric is ranks, as all units maintain these minimum ranks for different levels of command.

* General - Corps
* Brigadier General - Division
* Colonel - Brigade
* Major - Battalion
* Captain - Company

#### 1st Vestrines Cavalry Division

Led by Major General Rickshaw, the 1st Cavalry is 2.712 Soldiers strong. These are the primary troops patrolling the wider region, taking the fight to raiding parties before they can come at the city.

The Division is made up out of the following sub-units.

* 2 Cavalry Regiments - 821 Soldiers
* 1 Artillery Regiment - 350 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Recon Battalion - 250 Soldiers (Horse-Based)
* 1 Engineer Battalion - 100 Soldiers
* 1 Supply Company - 80 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Supply Management Company - 140 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Medical Company - 160 Soldiers (On Foot)
* 1 Veterinary Company - 280 Soldiers (On Foot)

#### 2nd Vestrines Cavalry Division

Led by Brigadier General Granger, the 2nd Cavalry is 2.676 Soldiers strong. This unit primarily focuses on the protection of farms and staffs the majority of outposts outside the city boundaries

The Division is made up out of the following sub-units

* 1 Cavalry Regiment - 641 Soldiers
* 1 Infantry Regiment - 745 Soldiers
* 1 Artillery Regiment - 350 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Recon Battalion - 200 Soldiers (Horse-Based)
* 1 Engineer Battalion - 150 Soldiers
* 1 Supply Company - 80 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Supply Management Company - 130 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Medical Company - 170 Soldiers (On Foot)
* 1 Veterinary Company - 210 Soldiers (On Foot)

#### 1st Vestrines Infantry Division

Led by Brigadier General Lavalle, the 1st Infantry is 3.161 Soldiers strong. The primarily serve in the defense of the city and the keeping of order.

The Division is made up out of the following sub-units

* 2 Infantry Regiments - 2.291 Soldiers
* 1 Recon Battalion - 260 Soldiers (Horse-Based)
* 1 Engineer Battalion - 70 Soldiers
* 1 Supply Company - 90 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Supply Management Company - 160 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Medical Company - 190 Soldiers (On Foot)
* 1 Veterinary Company - 100 Soldiers (On Foot)

#### Vestrines Mobile Expeditionary Brigade

Led by Colonel Jaime, the Mobile Expeditionary Brigade is 1.741 Soldiers strong. They are the main "away" force of the State, collecting tribute from and pacifying natives outside the Marinoit region.

The Brigade is made up out of the following sub-units

* 1 Infantry Regiment - 921 Soldiers
* 1 Recon Battalion - 220 Soldiers (Horse-Based)
* 1 Engineer Battalion - 100 Soldiers
* 1 Fire Support Company - 120 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Supply Company - 60 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Supply Management Company - 120 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Medical Company - 120 Soldiers (On Foot)
* 1 Veterinary Company - 80 Soldiers (On Foot)

#### Vestrines Mixed Support Brigade

Led by Colonel Jacques, the Mixed Support Brigade is 905 Soldiers strong. They are the primary force for holding new areas, or for reinforcing units during particularly harsh battles. Also responsible for the inner defenses of the city's center.

The Brigade is made up out of the following sub-units

* 1 Heavy Infantry Battalion - 155 Soldiers
* 1 Engineer Battalion - 140 Soldiers
* 1 Armored Support Company - 150 Soldiers
* 1 Heavy Artillery Company - 120 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Fire Support Company - 100 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Supply Company - 50 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Supply Management Company - 80 Soldiers (Horse-Drawn)
* 1 Medical Company - 60 Soldiers (On Foot)
* 1 Veterinary Company - 50 Soldiers (On Foot)

#### Vestrinian High Command

Led by General Achille Forest, the Vestrinian High Command is 231 Soldiers strong. They form the command staff of the Vestrines armed forces, along with their attached guard detachment

The Formation is made up out of the following sub-units

* 1 Guards Company - 141 Soldiers
* 1 Fire Support Platoon - 30 Soldiers
* 1 Communications High Command - 20 Soldiers
* 1 Supply Company - 20 Soldiers
* 1 General Staff - 12 Soldiers
* 1 Medical Squad - 10 Soldiers

### Equipment

Whilst the 5th Cavalry Corps may have been originally issued standardized equipment when it was formed in 1899, domestic production of more modern firearms and the trickle of newer weapons from Aeduai already started to muddy up the table of organization well before The Tearing. During The Tearing however, heavy losses, scavenged equipment, ammunition shortage and improvised weapons, the table of organization after The Consolidation resembles a scene similar to 500 packs of playing cards dumped into a pile of mud. Regardless, the 5th Corps maintains accurate data and stringent control over every weapon lost, repaired and recovered.

Over the years after The Consolidation, the original names and designations of the weapons were phased out in favor of names created by the CAC during the purging of Aeduai terms, ideas and other things that may remind us of our history with the former host nation of betrayers. In official documents, the original designations of the weapons are entirely erased and any mention of where the weapons originated rewritten to be domestic. However, the military high command does keep note of the origins of the weapons for practical reason and these values will be shown below.

All weapons below are organized according to how common the weapon is. Exact numbers of any weapons can be found in the Stockpile section.

#### Rifles

The primary weapon of most Vestrines soldiers, and often their only one. Rifles remain the primary workhorse of the Corps, though their quality and quantity may vary.

##### Allegiance Pattern Bolt Action Rifles and Carbines

The Allegiance pattern is one of the oldest Aeduai design in the Vestrines arsenal. Most of these were produced between 1884 and 1902. These were the initially issued rifles for the Vestrines Cavalry Corps. All variants of the rifle present in Vestrines are chambered in 8mm Legionary.

--- Allegiance '84 Rifle ---

The Allegiance '84 is the earliest version of the Allegiance Pattern, it is 1,3 meters long, have 3-round internal magazines, fed only by hand. Despite being the most numerous (standardized) weapon in the whole of the colony, it is now less commonly used by the Corps, more often being issued to militia or civil guard units due to it's age. Many have also been taken apart for replacement parts in more modern variants of the rifle.

--- Allegiance '97 Rifle ---

The Allegiance '97 is a lighter, easier to handle and maintain version of the Allegiance Pattern of rifles, 1,1 meters long, still popular among various units due to it's ease of use, the rifle's 3-round internal magazine accepts clips as well as hand feeding, though these clips are rare after all this time. The sights are also improved, being wider than those of the Allegiance '84.

--- Allegiance '98 Carbine ---

The Allegiance '98, also known as the "Little Ally" among some Cavalry units, is 0,9 meters long, with a short 450mm barrel. This results in a somewhat lower muzzle velocity than that of the full-sized rifles. However, for mounted troops the rifles are lighter, easier to handle on horseback and featuring a 5 round magazine, both hand and clip-fed, giving them more firepower than their infantry counterparts. The carbine is also considered the most reliable out of the Allegiance pattern line, which is likely the reason it remains as the main weapon of the 5th Corps. Limited stock however means that these are often only issued to cavalry, rather than the infantry, despite their fondness for the carbine over their rifles.

--- Allegiance '00 Carbine ---

The Allegiance '00 "Double Zero" is the rarest of the Allegiance pattern of weapons, but despite the rarity, the improvements over the '98 are minimal, most records do not bother distinguishing the two carbines, and the troops call both weapons the "Allegiance Carbine".

##### Vestrines Fusil Pattern Bolt Action Rifle

The Vestrines Fusil Pattern is a unique rifle of Aeduai origins, practically ancient, it's design originating from 1875. Despite this, the rifle was domestically produced between 1881 and 1902, yet domestically produced Fusil Patterns make up a small fraction of these weapons present in the colony, with most being brought in by Persadian Colonial troops pulled into the colony by Aeduai during The Tearing, when they still tried to salvage the colony. Due to this background, the weapon is somewhat controversial, but the state does not have the luxury to pass up on any weapons, no matter their origins. The rifles are unpopular for other reasons as well, difficult to use sights, an awkward chambering mechanism causing slow reloads and the lack of a wooden handguard on the top of the barrel which caused soldier's hands to burn after prolonged shooting caused the weapon to fall out of favor for many. Despite these shortcoming and it's history, the rifle is reliable and most importantly, made out of many easily replaceable parts. It shares many features with various civilian hunting rifles and has therefor remained a staple in the Vestrines military and militias. It fires the same 8mm Legionary cartridge as the Allegiance Pattern, which further influenced it's continued use. It features a much larger 8 round magazine, which has to be hand fed, it can also hold an additional round in the elevator and chamber, but the latter is discouraged due to the danger of accidental discharges. The rifle is heavier than most Allegiance Patterns as well as longer, at 1,3 meters long.

##### Griever Pattern Semi-Automatic Rifle

The Griever Pattern Rifle is a rare but exceptional weapon in the Vestrinian arsenal. These prestigious rifles are passed down by soldiers to their children or chosen soldiers upon retirement. Chambered in 8mm Legionary and featuring a 5 round internal box magazine, which is loaded by clip or hand. The rifle is 1.3 meters long, like the Vestrines Fusil pattern, and weighs noticeably more. Despite this, the ability to fire rounds in quick succession and without the need for manual chambering, the weapon is beloved regardless of it's downsides. Due to it's rarity, even in the Aeduai homeland at the time, no production equipment is present in Vestrines, hence the rifle is slowly decrease in it's numbers. The tradition of handing the rifle down however means these are often well-maintained as family possessions, which has improved the lifetime of these weapons.

#### Machine Guns

Machine Guns are lauded by some officers as the only reason for the continued existence of Marinoit and the survival of the Vestrinian people. Which may be more true than some believe. These rare machine guns were either issued by Aeduai authorities before the great war, or salvaged from Aeduai troops during The Tearing, making most machine guns rare. Due to the nature of the retreat from Saulogne, any heavy machine guns were left behind during The Consolidation, but most medium and light machine were taken with the troops during the retreat to Marinoit.

##### "Reckoning" Light Machine Gun

The Reckoning Light Machine Gun is the most common machine gun used by the Vestrinian forces. Designed in 1901 by Aeduai, it is 1,1 meters long and fires 8mm Legionary cartridges out of a 20 round magazine(Which is often only loaded with up to 16 rounds). It weighs only 9 kilograms, which makes it the only Vestrinian machine gun to not require a 2 man crew(An ammunition bearer/assistant is however often present). It is commonly mixed into various units for additional firepower. Despite being a useful force multiplier and often the only automatic firearm in a platoon, the Reckoning is not particularly well liked. The 20 round magazine has openings on both sides, allowing all kinds of debris to get inside the magazine, causing feeding issues. It is common practice to oil up the insides of the magazine to try and account for this, but stoppages are still a constant and persistent problem for the weapon.

Poor ergonomic and a flimsy bipod cause much instability whilst firing, which necessitates the gunner to only fire in short bursts in order to stay on target, diminishing the weapon's effectiveness. The weapon is prone to overheating after continuous fire of a few magazines. With many soldiers calling the weapon the "Reckoner rifle" rather than a machine gun due to all the issues of the weapon decreasing the effective firing rate.

##### "The Judge" 1898 Medium Machine Gun

The Judge was the primary machine gun issued to Vestrinian colonial infantry before the Great War. Due to the nature of the 5th Corps being a cavalry focused unit however, not many of these were issued. Unlike the Reckoning, the Judge necessitates a 2-3 man crew due to it's tripod design and feeding mechanism. One man to carry the gun, another to carry the tri-pod and another for the ammunition, who was also the assistant gunner. With a total weight of 26 kilograms The Judge is a rather heavy piece of equipment, often carried around on horse drawn carts on the way to the combat zone. Due to the inflexible nature of the weapon, many are used for static defense, mounted in the watchtowers in the outskirts of the state or mounted in key locations in and around Marinoit itself.

The major reason for it's limited deployment outside of the city is the ammunition. Unlike most weapons in Vestrines, The Judge fires 7.5mm Vestrinian, which is easier to recycle in the factories, but due to the limited amount of casings, the weapon is used primarily in places where these casings are guaranteed to be reclaimed. The Judge can be loaded with either a 25 round strip or a 300 round belt, the strips were discontinued and reused for other purposes, with the belts now being the only method of loading the gun. As wear and tear eventually destroyed many of the original belts, new belts were made in the city, but these are of lesser quality and are often smaller, ranging from 100 to 250 rounds each. The weapon's firing rate is noticeably lower than the Reckoning, yet it suffers similar issues to it, with The Judge also frequently experiencing jams and feeding problems.

##### "Line Breaker" Light Machine Gun

The Line Breaker is the machine most favored and liked by the Vestrinian military, used only by the Mobile Expeditionary Brigade, despite it's popularity due to it's rarity. These weapons were recovered from Aeduai homeland troops during The Tearing, making them one of the most advanced weapons in the arsenal. Weighing almost the same as the Reckoning, yet somewhat shorter at 1 meter. Featuring 25 round detachable box magazines, which are notably enclosed, rather than open, largely fixing the stoppage problem. Unfortunately the weapon fires 7.5mm Vestrinian, which can cause ammunition shortages in extended operations. It's lower fire rate proved to be a boon, as in conjunction with the stabler design and improved bipod over the Reckoning, the Line Breaker is far more capable at extended firing. Operated either by a single soldier or with an assistant, the weapon is easier to handle as well as many times more reliable. Overheating is less of an issue as well, as the Line Breaker is able to fire up to 400 rounds consecutively without overheating, where it needs up to 15 minutes of rest to fully cool down.

##### "Dassalt" Medium Machine Gun

Named after Premier Davy Dassault, the Dassalt Machine Gun was a very recent addition to the state arsenal. During an expedition to a known military stockpile not too far from Marinoit, 20 Dassalt Machine Guns were found, among the collapsed depot, the structure itself seems to have been collapsed by a local tribe trying to get their hands on weapons, and only the Dassalts were left behind, likely because they were too heavy, or according to one report, simply too complicated to use for their primitive minds. The Dassalt fires 8mm Legionary out of 30 round metal belts, weighing in on 23 kilograms, the weapon requires a 3 man team just like The Judge. It fires faster than the Line Breaker, but the biggest advantage of the Dassalt is it's ability to fire essentially indefinitely without overheating, making it the superior weapon. Yet due to the small number in the state's control, the weapon is primarily used for the defense of critical positions and mounted on vehicles and tanks in favor of the original, more primitive weapons mounted on them.

#### Mortars and Artillery

Indirect fire has a special place in the hearts of many Vestrinian soldiers. Mortars and especially artillery are the only ways to suppress natives without the need for a fight, a single large explosion seemingly out of nowhere is often enough to cause a rout before the fighting even begins. Despite that however, the ammunition for these weapons is rare and cannot be recycled, so usage of these weapons has become rarer and rarer as time went on in the city, to conserve ammunition in case of emergency.