White Knights

Magnhild

Bergen Trade (2122)

First Oslo Expedition (2124)

Second Oslo Expedition (2126)

First Aid

Survival

Stealth

 **The White Knights** are the squad of elite soldiers in Acadia. Comprised entirely of albino people of Acadia, the White Knights is the only Acadian squad that operates independently on their own missions. Since their exile from Acadia in 2055 for the murder of Eliyahu Rotem, the White Knights have lived outside the Acadian megastructure.

All White Knights start their training along with their normal education, making them them the most knowledgeable and skilled soldiers in Europe. Since the Liberation of Faroe Islands, the White Knights have participated in countless skirmishes and expeditions and their ability to win a skirmish even when outnumbered 5 to 1 has earned them fame across the continent.

## Background

The first albino person in Acadia, Jasper Hawking, was a social outcast who aimed to be a member of Acadian SDF but was not given the chance to. When James Connacht started training him at the age of 11, Hawking dedicated himself to becoming better than all members of the SDF. When he was allowed to participate in the expedition independently at the age of 14, his wit and technical knowledge brought him a degree of fame which even Eliyahu Rotem could not achieve.

With strong support from James Connacht, the White Knights was established as a squad in 2052. Around the same time, ANN started her research on albinism and more than 20 albino babies were born between the years 2053 and 2063. As parents got pressured by the Acadian community to give up these babies, Hawking and Connacht became the caregivers of these babies, eventually raising and training them to be the first generation of White Knights.

The public opposition to White Knights was so strong in its first years that ANN's direct intervention was required to keep the members alive and the squad functional. When the leading critic of the White Knights, Eliyahu Rotem, was murdered, ANN was unable prevent the riots which ended with the exile of White Knights of all albinos from Acadia. After their exile, the White Knights took over the observation deck located on top of Acadia. Because the structure was located outside, its temperature could only be regulated by the heat output of ANN's computer cores, which was mainly dissipated inside the structure to keep it warm.

The first White Knights started operating in 2066 and they fought among other squads during the defense of Iceland. Their success in Iceland allowed them to operate independently in Faroe islands. Magnhild, current leader of White Knights, achieved the highest kill count on the Acadian side, bringing her fame and respect from all squads in Acadia.

Since 2092, the White Knight Aquila Ezra has become the caregiver of children born to couples from squads. All of these children receive White Knight training and join their squads at the age of 16; most of these children regard her as their sole parent.

As ANN's most trusted soldiers, the White Knights led the expedition to Bergen in 2122 and established diplomatic links with EF and Russian governments. As of 2126, the White Knights are the only Acadians trusted with the care and deployment of Acadia's nuclear weapons stockpile.

## Roles

The White Knights do not have any specific roles, but everyone must pass the basic tests to be eligible for operation. Any member who cannot pass the tests by the age of 16 becomes a "useless eater" and is reclaimed by ANN. Those who pass have already proven that they are more skilled than most other people in Europe, and they immediately start going on expeditions and missions to get better in their job while supporting Acadia financially.

White Knights have a very simple hierarchy; all members are ranked based on their confirmed kill count, and they only take orders from White Knights with higher ranks, the leaders of other squads, or ANN herself. All White Knights are indoctrinated from childhood to follow any order without question or delay, and anyone who disobeys an order is immediately reclaimed.

All White Knights must have extensive medical skills in order to minimize the casualties in expeditions. In an expedition, they take the role of medic. They are fit to serve in any form of combat and they commonly choose their equipment to be used in any situation.