Grand Army of Antarctica
The Grand Army of Antarctica is an alliance organization in the region of Antarctica. Strictly a defensive organization, the Grand Army actually contains both naval and air defense as well. It is charged with protecting the sovereign borders of all participating Antarctic nations.
Organization
All nations within the Antarctic region are invited to become a participating member of the Grand Army. Participation is not mandatory, but currently nearly all Antarctican nations are members. All members supply manpower to the Army, with the amount dependent on population. This manpower is not stationed at any one place, but is "on call" for any mobilization of the Army in the defense of any member nation. Coastal countries are usually leaders in the naval arm, while landlocked countries supply marine regiments and air force defense.
Currently, there are six staging points for the Grand Army. They exist in the nations of Hobbitat, Joop, The Voltarum, Piedra Negra, and Vastiva, with the sixth being around the international territory of the South Pole.
Orbital Laser Cannon
One other weapon the Grand Army of Antarctica has at their disposal is the Antarctic Orbital Laser Canon, or ANORLAC. A marvel of aeronautic and mechanical engineering, ANORLAC was a joint venture between a dozen major Antarctic nations. The cannon is in a geosynchronous orbit directly over the south pole. This means that the cannon can fire anywhere on or near the entire region, and cannot fire at any other nation outside the region. Originally, the cannon was under the control of the nation of Drakma. With the creation of the Grand Army, the operation of the cannon passed to that new organization.
The orbital cannon has been rarely used, but its deadly accuracy and effectiveness is a major deterrent to invading forces. The firing of the cannon is usually a last resort. Antarctican Polar Bears have been known to survive a hit by the cannon, despite being in the blast radius.
Leadership
A triumvirate controls and mobilizes the Grand Army and has ultimate control of ANORLAC. The founder of Antarctica, Joop, along with the current World Assembly delegate and the elected military leader (usually called "General") of the Army are in charge of all Army decisions. Currently, the World Assembly delegate is The Voltarum. The current general of the Grand Army is General Rico Meridius of Penguvia.
There have been only three other Generals of the Grand Army. Prior to General Meridius, General Sir White-Flipper of Pengwiniah held the position for nearly 10 years. Before him Commander Tiberius of the Republic Consular Guard of Thallos held the leadership of the army. The first general was Grand Admiral Gunnar Stiklestad of Calorom.
Past Mobilizations
Given the might of the nations of Antarctica, and its natural and climatic built-in defenses, the Grand Army has had little action since its founding. The greatest and most serious threat came during a time of great instability in the region: Thallos was overcome by polar bears, and Joop shut its borders and fell silent. The enemies of Antarctica saw this as a weakness and attacked almost immediately. The Voltarum, Pengwiniah, and others such as Sup with Bates led the Grand Army in defense of the region. Despite multiple attempts over several months, no one was successful in touching Antarctic shores.
With Joop re-opening its borders, and the leadership safely in the hands of General Meridius, the regional defense has been quiet as of late.
