From mccrarje@cherokee.nsuok.edu Wed Nov 5 21:51:54 1997 Date: Wed, 05 Nov 1997 18:14:53 -0600 From: Jack McCrary Reply-To: mccrarje@cherokee.nsuok.edu To: gurpsnet-files@IO.COM Subject: Campaign Ideas: The "Federal" X-press 1st Joint Forces Hostage Rescue Battalion. motto-"Guardians from the Stars" nickname-"The 'Federal' X-press" unofficial motto-"Uncle Sam's Shooting Stars" The JFHRB was formed in 2037 after the kidnaping and assassination of the Vice President of the United States. Comprised of Army and Navy Anti-terrorism specialist and Air Force aircrews, the unit was initially transported by conventional aircraft such as the Osprey and Combat Talon. After the botching of operation "Secure King" led to the loss of seven Osprey's and crew, it was decided that conventional aircraft were no longer suitable. In 2041 Congress allocated money to a black program intended to produce the next-generation Spec. Ops. aircraft. That program monies was disguised as payment for overnight delivery services, and that is were the JFHRB gained its nickname. The result of the program was the SO-01 Scrambler. Powered by massive SCRAM-jet engines, the Scrambler was capable of reaching any point in the world in 45 minutes. The only variant of the Scrambler was the Disruptor, a Scrambler that traded passenger capacity for armament. These two aircraft, combined with the new "Guardian" powered armor suits gave the JFHRB unparalleled flexibility. Sample JFHRB Platoon 2nd Platoon "The Centurions" The 2nd is a standard platoon, consisting of 30 troopers, 4 Scramblers, and 2 Disruptors. To avoid confusion in multi-platoon missions, squads bear a unique designation number that is a combination of their platoon and squad. The second squad in 3rd company is known as 32nd squad, while the first squad of 1st company is known as 11th squad. This organization is carried down to individual trooper who has a two digit number that is appended to his squad number. These numbers range from 1 to 30 with 29 always being platoon sergeant and the platoon Lt. always being 30. Corporal Jones is third man in 11th squad therefore he is trooper #1103 while his squad sergeant is trooper #1129. Like the rest of 1st company, 2nd platoon fosters a strong "esprit de corps" among its troops. This carries down to the individual squad level. The 2nd's pride is tempered with a large dollop of irreverence. This is tolerated by the brass due to the 2nd's impeccable record. 21st Squad Nickname: The Arc-Angels Motto: "Pickup by 4 pm. Or the next rescue's free" Organization: Standard 7 man tactical squad + Platoon Lt. Dropship: JFSO-03 "Cool Jalapeno" Notable Personalities: Roxanna "Spice" Torres The Angels get their nickname from the long suborbital arc the dropships fly. 22nd Squad. The ‘03's nickname is from the it's primary pilot Roxanna "Spice" Torres first mission. Torres was forced to make an extraction under heavy fire. Battle damage had vented waste heat into the cockpit. Despite temperatures in excess of 130 degrees and a minor on-board fire, Torres kept a level head and brought all her dismounts back home. The grateful troopers wanted to give Torres the nickname for staying so cool, in a hot situation, while being totally green. The SO pilots wouldn't hear of it, since Torres already had a "call sign". A compromise was reached and the 03 was forever after known as the "Cool Jalapeno". Now before every mission, each member of the 22nd eats a frozen jalapeno before boarding the 03. 22nd Squad Nickname: Payloads Motto: "A day early and a dollar flush" Organization: Standard 7 man tactical squad Dropship: JFSO-03 "Battle Taxi" Notable Personalities: Cpl. Mike Alsten The Payloads get their name from a deal between their SO's pilot and Mike Alsten the 22nd's sniper. On approach to an extraction LZ the SO found a ZSU-43 filling the air with fire. Prepared to land in spite of the ZSU, the SO's pilot jokingly bet the squad that the squad sniper couldn't take out the ZSU with just his rifle. Alsten met the challenge, blowing the ZSU's fuel tank with an extremely well-placed shot. The pilot suddenly found himself forced he couldn't pay. He had left his wallet was with the rest of his "civies" back at base. On the flight back, he managed to bum enough money to pay Alsten. Now before every mission, each member of the squad presents the pilot with a quarter in case he has to pay-up for Alsten. The name Payloads comes from trooper's good natured grumbling about the 22nd being the only unit in the world that has to pay for a ride to the fight. 23rd Squad Nickname: The Warheads Motto: "Insane in the wild blue yonder" Organization: Standard 7 man tactical squad + Platoon Sgt. Dropship: JFSO-05 "Bad Moon Fallin' " People of Note: platoon Sgt. Rob Morrison Second platoon's reputation or excellence and irreverence is largely due to the exploits of the 23rd. The rest of 1st Company has a saying, "There's the crazy, the eccentric, and then there is the 23rd. In a unit noted for the mental stability of its members, the 23rd sticks out like a sore thumb. The 23rd revels in this dubious reputation, gleefully pointing out that the 23rd has had more section 22's than the rest of 1st company combined. This is mainly due to three factors. When the 23rd was first created, it's SO had a very bad habit of flaming-out engines in mid-flight. This proved highly unnerving to the crew, and more than a few members left the squad due to mental health issues. This was the beginning of the 23rd's reputation. The 23rd's morale began to suffer and was made worse by the company CO. Seeing the 23rd as a"write off", the CO began to assign "trouble cases" to the 23rd. This drove morale in to the ground, turning the 23rd from an elite unit to a collection of eccentrics and misfits. Things turned around for the 23rd when Platoon Sgt. Rob Morrison requested transfer to the 23rd. In a feat of leadership no less than phenomenal, Morrison convinced the 23rd that the unit's quirkiness was not a handicap but an asset. Turning their eccentrism into unorthodox tactics, Morrison drilled the men until they had regained their confidence and edge. August 7th is a squad holiday, for it was on that day in 2051 that, buoyed by Morrison's dynamic leadership, the 23rd won backs its place as an active duty squad. Since then, the 23rd has fought long and hard. Utilizing Morrison's unorthodox tactics, the 23rd now has the distinction of being the best squad in 1st Company. The Warheads get their name from an anonymous member's quip. "You know the only other thing dumb enough to strap a rocket to its ass is a warhead." With it's, now fixed, engine trouble, the units SO bears the less than illustrious nickname of "Bad Moon Fallin'". Now before any mission, a ceremonial tank of helium is loaded on the 05 to guard against engine failure. 24th Squad Nickname: "The Gypsies" Motto: "Hey, it wasn't bolted down." Organization: Standard 7 man Tactical Squad Dropship: JFSO-07 "U-Haul" People of Note: Corporal Shaunda Tonsen In a company of "Jack's of All Trades", the 24th is one of the few specialist squads. The 24thspecialize in retrieval of sensitive information and equipment. Secret compartments can be hidden in near anything. Because of this, when on an op., the 24th tends to take anything that's not bolted down. The rest of 1st company jokingly adds that if the unit is given a wrench, nothings safe from the 24th. This combined with Corporal Tonsen's ability to scrounge near anything, has lead to the unit's nickname. The unit's SO get's its moniker from the fact that after missions it tends to resemble a moving van rather than a state of the art suborbital dropship.