Sikh

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## Tactical Analysis

* **Technically pacifists:** Armed with obsolete, disposable, panzerfaust rocket launchers, the Commonwealth's Sikhs act as anti-armor infantry, using their lifelong training to back up their fellow soldiers.

* **Clear the house:** When ordered, Sikhs can also throw a high explosive stick grenade, clearing out enemy garrisons with frightening efficiency and stun vehicles. But are otherwise inneffective when used on open terrain.

* **Do I look like I have room:** The Sikhs are proud men, and will not betray their basic principles. As such, all attempts to get the Sikhs to even carry a holdout pistol have failed miserably. And when compared to similar anti-tank infantry both their range and damage are much lower (the former enough to risk gettin run over and/or get attacked in melee) and are unable to attack aircraft, relying on numbers to deal real damage to tanks.

* **Two out of five Ks:** All Sikh soldiers carry a kara and kirpan as symbols of their faith, but enough time on the battlefield reminds them how to use both effectively, letting them take down enemy infantry who gets too close.

## Background

*"Human life is as valuable as a diamond. Tanks, on the other hand..."*

-A Sikh trooper
The **Sikh** people are not widely known around the world, or if they are they're mistaken for just being another person from India. In fact, the Sikh people have a long history in India, with their own empire in the Punjab region of the north. A monotheistic people, the Sikhs were no strangers to the realities of the world. Based around the belief of equality of all, the Sikhs have had some rocky relations with the Hindu majority over the caste system and Muslim rulers for an astounding number of conversions from Islam to their faith, but have generally been ignored for most of India's history. Then came the partition, and suddenly it felt like every Sikh with a signboard was campaigning against their land being taken and given to the nascent Pakistan. This problem inadvertently found a solution during the formation of the Commonwealth. Knowing that they had to at least put on a show for the Allies, the Indian government quickly formed a new committee for the transition to create Khalistan as a show of good faith. Jovial Sikhs felt that the Commonwealth had shown them respect where none had before, though the educated leaders of the new "nation" at least knew better.

This has shown little issue in the Commonwealth's Frontier Corps, primarily in the massive numbers of Sikh men joining up. Coming from a culture that believes in defending those who are oppressed as a holy duty, the Sikhs see the evils in the world as reason enough to join. From the GLA spreading across the Middle East to the cloned hordes in the north, Sikhs fight on every front for the Commonwealth as part of what they believe is a sacred task. It is this iron-willed determination that has placed many Sikhs in one of the least desired positions in the Frontier Corps; handling high explosives.

In truth, few Sepoys feel comfortable handing rockets or bombs. They know that an enemy vehicle will lock on them instantly and fire, whereas a man with a rifle can at least have the chance of being captured and living another day (except in China of course). The Sikhs see no problem with facing down an enemy tank, however, and are more than willing to stop their enemies from continuing their oppression. The Commonwealth has come to encourage this since it ensures a steady supply of men willing to handle the rockets. This has even been extended to the clearing of enemy garrisons, with Sikh soldiers given special high explosive grenades (essentially taping five grenades to a single stick grenade), based on the German (improvised) WW1 anti-tank grenades*,* to use on enemy-occupied buildings that would tear their fellow soldiers to shreds.

To most armies, the Sikhs must make a sight on the field. Carrying their five Ks (kesh, kanga, katchera, kara, and kirpan) on the field, many GLA rebel leaders and Kingdom noble officers have mistaken them for easy targets. After their vehicles start burning, they usually change their minds.