Squads and Armed Forces

In the post-Winter Europe, military strength is most commonly regarded as the only measure of power between nations. To assert their demands on one another, each nation maintains a strong military force capable of defending their nation from any foreign aggression. The Winter War showed that the military formations of the pre-Winter era were mostly ineffective in the new Winter environment, and most European nations adapted their forces in the past century.

The equipment used by the European nations were also modified to give their users the upper hand on the battlefield.

The Acadian military was restructured to reflect the new political movements among the people. A majority of the population is now a part of a squad and serve Acadia's war effort in some way.

## Acadia

### Acadian Self-Defence Force (2039-2048)

The Acadian SDF was established shortly after the destruction of HMCS St. John's by an American air assault. As there were survivors from HMCS St. John's inside Acadia at the time of incident, training new members for the SDF was not too difficult. When the artisans of Acadia started producing firearms, the small band of 19 members quickly turned to a formidable force of 120 soldiers. Unlike the people of HMCS St. John's, the Acadians weren't accustomed to serving in the military, so a majority of the recruits were people with prior combat experience.
Although the Acadian SDF was supposed to lead the Acadian expedition to Greenland, the SDF was dissolved when the Snow Trolls squad was established. The Snow Trolls led the Greenland expedition instead.

### The Snow Trolls

*Main article: Acadian Snow Trolls*

The Snow Trolls were established in 2048 by James Connacht and Eliyahu Rotem, two respected members of the Acadian SDF. The two believed that the structure of Acadian SDF was not suitable enough for the expedition that was planned, and ANN allowed them to start their own squad with an initial member count of 16. After months of rigorous training, Connacht and Rotem trained a new generation of soldiers who were able to defeat the Acadian SDF in most of battle simulations and they were allowed to continue their operations while the Acadian SDF was disbanded and integrated into the Snow Trolls. With a member count of 617, the Snow Trolls is the largest squad in Acadia.

The Snow Trolls have a flat organization; only one leader exists and everyone else is treated equally outside of combat. Training of new members starts at the age of 16, when they finish their 11th year of education. Their first two years of training is an intense period that runs from 6:30 to 23:30 every day. All members who wish to become a part of the military force must pass the training, those who do not pass the training are only given support roles inside Acadia. Starting at the age of 18, the members are either sent to expeditions on pre-Winter settlements to recover materials or transferred to Iceland for further training.

The Snow Trolls have varying roles in the expeditions. They can specialize in specific combat skills (Hunters, Heavies), have general combat knowledge (Strikers) or specialize mainly in technical skills (Technician). They have access to some of the best equipment available in Acadia, and many members use the ANNlet, a specialized awareness and communications enhancement unit.

### The White Knights

*Main article: White Knights*

The White Knights was established as a squad when ANN's experiment on albinism created a significant population of albino people in Acadia. Socially isolated from the rest of Acadian population, the albino people became increasingly violent towards the others since they were mistreated by everyone.

Under James Connacht's advocacy, the White Knights was established in 2052. The public opposition to the squad grew in size until 2055, when the leader of opposition, Eliyahu Rotem, was found dead in his room. A massive mob then exiled the White Knights from Acadia and they set up their living quarters in a makeshift shed located on top of Acadia.

The White Knights membership is only open to the albino people of Acadia. Every individual that meets this single requirement is treated as a member of the squad at birth. Unlike the members of other squads, the White Knights get their combat training at the same time as their regular education. Mainly because of this training schedule, most White Knights become formidable soldiers at the age of 17. Because they spend their entire lives above the ground, the White Knights never have problems with cold weather. Their equipment is designed for maximum concealment and long range performance. Mainly because of their effectiveness, the White Knights are the most feared soldiers in Europe.

The White Knights are loyal to no one but ANN. All White Knights are indoctrinated to follow orders immediately and without question. When anyone superior to them (either ANN or the leaders of Acadia's major squads) issues an order starting with "Command:", they must follow it or die trying.

### The Acadian Mounted Support Unit

*Main article: Acadian Mounted Support Unit*

Established during the Defence of Iceland, the Acadian Mounted Support Unit (or Mounties / AMSU) members were trained to fly the American V-22 aircraft recovered from Iceland. With these aircraft, the Mounties were able to provide logistical support to the Acadian and Icelandic forces during the conflict. Before 2096, the Mounties were the only squad that could provide heavy fire support on the battlefield.

When the British attacks on Iceland were repelled in 2096, ANN decided that the role of AMSU could be distributed to larger squads in order to avoid bureaucracy and diversify skills in the Acadian military. As of November 2096, no new members were taken to the squad. Out of 29 AMSU members in 2096, only 8 are in active service now.

### The Foreign Legion

*Main article: Acadian Foreign Legion*

The Foreign Legion is a squad of soldiers from various European countries and independent cities. All members willing to take part in this squad must complete a long journey to Acadia and take part in a long interview and testing process. Less than 5% of the applicants pass the tests, and they immediately start their two-year training process to fit in with the Acadian tactics. Because the Foreign Legion has very high entry requirements, their members are more capable than the Snow Trolls. Because they have extensive knowledge over the geography, culture and language of their home regions, their help is greatly appreciated by both ANN and the Acadians.

Being a member of the Foreign Legion does not give a person the right to claim Acadian citizenship. Though the members get benefits such as healthcare, increased pay rate and guaranteed security, they do not have most civil rights that the Acadians do and many legionaries live under fear of being reclaimed for their mistakes.

The Foreign Legion has only two roles: the heavy legionary and the light legionary. Light legionaries are the members with prior technical or medical skills who are given support roles in their teams. Heavy legionaries, however, are the members who do not have the technical skills required to qualify as a light legionary.

### Knights of St. John's

*Main article: Knights Of St. John's*

The Knights of St. John's are the people of HMCS St. John's who were in Acadia when their home ship was destroyed. Although the squad members claim that their squad was established during the Exodus  at 2032, they became an Acadian faction in 2039, when their 19 members had nowhere to go. Since then, they became an elitist squad only open to the direct relatives of the 19 founding members.

Training of Knights of St. John's is different from all other squads in Acadia. At the age of 8, each member is paired with a squad member of the opposite sex around the same age; after that point, the members are held responsible for the training and well-being of each other. If one member of the pair dies in combat, the other must also follow them to death. Because of their unforgiving requirements, the squad has only 43 members.

The Knights of St. John's are committed to excellence and constant pressure from their peers drive the squad members to improve themselves whenever they can. Their equipment is also crafted or improved by the master artisans of Acadia, giving them an advantage in most situations.

### Acadian Vikings

*Main article: Akadische Wikinger*

The Acadian Vikings (*Die Akadische Wikinger*) are the 8 Teutons who have surrendered and later defected to Acadia in 2125 and 2126. The members are still not fully integrated into the Acadian community and they are hated by most Acadians, but the advantages of having Teutons serving Acadia make them a very useful addition to the Acadian squads.

Unlike what their current (Acadian Vikings) or past (Teutons) names suggest, the Wikinger are of German origin and they only speak German and Swedish, so they need an Acadian who can speak either of the two languages when they join an expedition.

The Wikinger commonly use the equipment they had when they surrendered to Acadia, most of which are pre-Winter equipment from the Winter War. They are proficient with the use of most pre-Winter firearms and equipment, and they rarely use modern equipment.