Special Weapons Recon Division

> "*Find, fix, finish." - S.W.R.D. motto.*
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The Special Weapons Recon Division, [S.W.R.D.] was the espionage organization of the Grand Army of the New Order. Colloquially known as Sword Troopers, S.W.R.D. works in independent cells, performing dangerous missions such as counterterrorism, infiltration, reconnaissance, assassination, and sabotage. They are chosen & trained by former ARC Trooper & current Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces Alpha-17. S.W.R.D. operates as the descendants of the Republic's ARC Troopers.

## Capabilities

The S.W.R.D. play a significant role of the Grand Army of the New Order due to their heavy focus on gathering intelligence before making a move, & the unwillingness of cooperation between Imperial intelligence & G.A.N.O. Forces. They are used to monitor "developing situations" because they tend to attract less attention than more prominent figures, such as Imperial intelligence. This also allows them to quietly "handle" troublesome individuals. S.W.R.D. troopers are brutally practical, devoted to accomplishing their mission regardless of the cost involved to others or themselves. Nevertheless, S.W.R.D. troopers are highly flexible, accustomed to carrying out their missions on shoestring resources and changing their tactics when necessary.

The records of S.W.R.D. missions are all sealed therefore a majority of information around S.W.R.D. is mostly conjecture & rumors from within the G.A.N.O. & without rather than stated fact. Even the most well-known troopers are only known by codenames. These include Vibro-489, who was said to have kept armies at bay with hidden facts; another, known as the Lance-525, was said to have been successful he once defeated a planetary government with a single shot. The validity of these claims are still a heavily debated topic within Imperial circles, & Hutt Cartel members believed them to be mere Imperial propaganda.

Nonetheless, due to the brutality of S.W.R.D. recruitment, humans (with the exception of Jango Fett clones) ranked as a minority within S.W.R.D. A majority of S.W.R.D. troopers were often Jango Fett Clones, Echani, Kiffar or on occasion Chiss.

## Recruitment

Former Clone Troopers of the G.A.R. & the highest qualified Stormtroopers were among the first candidates of S.W.R.D. & they were all personally chosen by Alpha-17 himself. In order to qualify for candidacy, an enlisted man needed at least one tour of duty served during a time of conflict.

The training of S.W.R.D. was a daunting task, candidates had to partake in grueling courses at Imperial Fort Malcom, Boz Pity. The trainees undergo brutal courses, content varied depending on how many times they have trained at the school. Due to the graveworld nature of Boz Pity, trainees that are killed under exercises are often left for their bodies to rot.

If this is their first time at the school, trainees participate in scenarios experienced by the elite units of most land-based armies; a typical candidate may be in training more than 20 hours a day, leading small units into combat over hostile terrain with little sleep or food. Trainees who do well are awarded an accolade for passing class 1 and are invited to return. Those who return to the school focus on their combat class.

Subsequent courses--classes 1-5--are often held off-planet and include instruction in zero-G combat, military free-fall (parachuting), jetboot/jetpack flight, combat diver qualification (combat diving), close-quarter combatives instructor courses (combat instruction), linguistics, frontline trauma care for human and alien biology (first responder/combat lifesaver training), and assault procedures. Those with specializations may also attend specialized schools related to their field; forward observers may attend naval gunfire training and close air support courses; pilots and mechanized soldiers learn how to drive, maintain, and shoot from several types of vehicles and powered armor; communications specialists attend joint communications courses. Some known off-school training locations are Centax-2 & Coruscant facilities.

The highest class of training, class 5, provides actual combat experience in conflict zones throughout the galaxy. From day one, invitees are given basic gear, then separated and stranded on an asteroid with no nav data. The test ends when the last person runs out of oxygen. The first few are out of the program. If the trainee survives these scenarios in "admirable and effective fashion," they finally receive the S.W.R.D. designation.

There is little shame in failing a S.W.R.D. course--the training is so extreme that even qualifying for class 1 elevates anybody to a position of respect. The universal prestige of merely attending the academy helps to restrain trainees from taking excessive risks in pursuit of higher honors.