Vulture Sword
 "Veterane sonder Regerings" (Veterans without Governments) | |
| Type | Private Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Private Security Services, Contractor |
| Founded | July 15, 1975 |
| Founder(s) | Elias Sutton |
| Headquarters | N/A, N/A |
| Number of locations | Various |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Key people | Daniel Johansson, Gerald Ubule, John Savart, Patrick O'Keev, Titus Beryl |
| Products | Logistics, Military & Law Enforcement Training |
| Services | Security & Military Consulting, Risk Management |
| Owner(s) | N/A |
| Employees | N/A |
| Divisions | Research & Armaments, Development & Support, Combat & Training, Command & Intelligence, and Medical |
Vulture Sword, abbreviated as VS and also known as Veterans without Governments, is a private military company founded by Elias Sutton in 1975. Because of their mercenary status, their questionable tactics on the battlefield, and their usage of an off-shore forward operating base in the Atlantic, they are frequently referred to by their enemies as pirates.
Contents
History
Origins
After leaving the Veridian Union Force Recon in 1975, Elias Sutton formed Vulture Sword so as to provide military force for anyone who needs them, regardless of nations or ideologies. As such, the VS also specializes in providing the full range of military services, including combat, logistics, training, weapons, outfitting, and R&D. In addition, it was also designed to merge the small footprint and exceptional performance of Special Forces groups and the full military might of a full regular army, as a means to fully break free of nation-states. Employed by Owha, Elias and the VS fought an opposing military unit led by Titus Beryl as their contract in Rallia. Titus was designated the leader of Operation Sandsnake, to prep a potential Veridian Union-led invasion around the Gondwana Demilitarized Zone separating Owha from Toloria and Genosha. After Vulture Sword defeated the enemy force, Elias offered Titus a place in the group, which he eventually accepted, later becoming its second-in-command. During this time, Titus also viewed VS as being a "new kind of business" regarding guns-for-hire, that is neither tied to mercenaries nor to a foreign legion, and also intended to help Elias succeed in his goals for Vulture Sword. In addition, between its founding and its employment under the Owha government, it often relocated in order to avoid the Veridian Union's State Concerns Task Force.
Maxtopian Crisis
On November 4, 1978, Vulture Sword were stationed in Owha when they were first approached by SCTF Agents Yvonne Bor and Harold Gold, representing the Veridian Union. The two requested that the group assist the Bigtopian Government in Exile because of a mysterious military group that had recently overtaken their country, presumably for Laiatan. In return, Yvonne offered the group an offshore plant to use as a base off the coast of Walaca and Unata.
The VS then commenced operations against the occupying force in Bigtopia, later identified as Overseers, who were attempting to develop a staging ground for Long Range Patrols deep into Oynenyua. The VS's existence was threatened toward the end of their mission, when Laiatan's SOG lead an assault on the offshore base. The assault was repelled with losses, but it was the final effort that doomed the Overseers' existance in Bigtopia.
During their mission, Vulture Sword also dispatched several of its forces into other war zones for income, in order to increase its numbers and resources (namely small arms, missiles, and uniforms) as well as to feed its personnel, in the fight against the Overseers. In addition, after capturing territory from the enemy forces, the organization temporarily used them as training grounds for their troops in various weapons and fighting styles. Vulture Sword captured a Laiatan nuclear warhead to act as a deterrent against enemies.
Rallian Insurgency
The VS were later to be dispatched to Rallia for their services in helping local tribes fight against a Veridian Union land invasion. The Union-Rallian War lasted over nine years, from December 1984 to February 1993. Insurgent groups known as the صراع (Sirae) fought against the Veridian Union and it's puppets, Toloria and Genosha. Between 562,000–2 million civilians were killed and millions of Rallians fled the country as refugees, mostly to Owha and Eblina.
Prior to the arrival of Union troops, the People's Nationalist Party of Rallia took power after a 1983 coup, installing Alawi el-Siddiqui as president. The party initiated a series of radical modernization reforms throughout the country that were deeply unpopular, particularly among the more Caliph rural population and the established traditional power structures. The government vigorously suppressed any opposition and arrested thousands, executing as many as 27,000 political prisoners. Anti-government armed groups were formed, and by April 1984 large parts of the country were in open rebellion. The government itself was highly unstable with in-party rivalry, and in September 1984 the president was deposed by followers of Saleet el-Sylla, who then became president. Deteriorating relations and worsening rebellions led the Veridian Union to deploy the 4th Marine Task Force on December 24, 1984. Arriving in the capital Zerzura, they staged a coup, killing president el-Sylla and installing Union loyalist Saleema el-Sayed from a rival faction. The forced installation of a female leader further outraged the Caliph groups.
In January 1985, Rallian insurgents began to receive massive amounts of aid and military training in neighboring Owha and Eblina, paid and equipped primarily by the Caliphate of Pax Draconica. As documented by the State Concerns Task Force, "the Pax Intelligence Agencies played a significant role in asserting Pax influence in Rallia by funding military operations designed to frustrate the Union invasion of that country. Pax covert action worked through Owha intelligence services to reach Rallian rebel groups." Union troops occupied the cities and main arteries of communication, while the Sirae waged guerrilla war in small groups operating in the almost 80 percent of the country that was outside government and Union control. The Union used its air power to deal harshly with both rebels and civilians, leveling villages to deny safe haven to the Sirae, destroying vital irrigation ditches, and laying millions of land mines.
By the late-1980s, the Veridian contingent was increased to 108,800 and fighting increased throughout the country, but the military and diplomatic cost of the war to the USSR was negligible. By mid-1992 the Veridian Union announced it would start increasing its forces until the Sirae's eventual exile into neighboring Caliph-leaning nations.
Logo & Slogan
Vulture Sword's emblem design was based on the Tolorian Vulture. This represented Elias Sutton's take on his organization, "A vulture that travels from battle to battle, picking upon the carcasses of war led by the political elite." It was his dream of a united world, where veterans and soldiers were not thrown away for political convenience. However, Elias believed that the home is always on the battlefield and that soldiers never do recover from war. He further stated, "In all of us, there exists a war. It is in our nature, and through our experience, we have become closer to that war that exists. We can never leave the battlefield without pain from ourselves or civilians."
Military Resources
Personnel
During their actions in Rallia, Vulture Sword was composed of former Veridian Union soldiers who ended up joining due to personal connections to Elias. In addition, they ended up convincing Veridian and Pro-VU Rallian soldiers who had previously been part of Operation Sandsnake.
Some of the personnel who joined up during the Bigtopian Crisis were former Veridian Union Marines who fought in Oynenyua, while others claimed to be former Bigtopian, South Hills, United Abakamoso Democratic Front, and Matamban soldiers. In addition, the organization managed to recruit several Pax Caliphate and Prussian soldiers. Pilots, both fighter jets and helicopter, joined. This lead to the eventual purchase of a scrapped aircraft carrier and integrating it into their offshore base.
Every month, the Vulture Sword held birthday parties for their soldiers. It primarily consisted of drinking large amounts of alcohol and acting crudely, although any real fights were surprisingly rare.
Although Rallian Insurgents weren't technically members of MSF, they acted as allies. They were eventually relocated to Owha following the nation's shift in allegiances to the Veridian Union. Most signed up to fight under Vulture Sword in remembrance of Elias Sutton.
List of Known Members:
- Elias Sutton (KIA, Rallian Insurgency)
- Titus Beryl
- Daniel Johansson
- Gerald Ubule
- John Savart
- Patrick O'Keev
Base of Operations
Vulture Swords's camp near the Owha-Rallia border was not their first encampment, as they had previously relocated several times, to avoid the SCTF's presence.
Shortly after being assigned to Bigtopia, the group was provided with an offshore plant on the Gondwanan Bay to use as their base of operations. The plant, dubbed Command One, had three struts positioned in a way that resembled a triangle, as well as a tower in the center, although throughout the course of their operations in Bigtopia, and later Rallia, it was further expanded as its personnel and equipment grew. The Owhan camp was still used for entrance exams, however, which composed of the recruits wishing to join Vulture Sword. In addition, after neutralizing the Overseer's presence in Bigtopia, temporarily used Bigtopian locations as training locations for medium-range target shooting, long-range shooting, urban combat, medium-range target shooting, and long-range target shooting, respectively.
Sections
There were five sections within Command One:
Combat & Training: The main fighting/sneaking/training force of Vulture Sword. An air wing exists under this section to provide aerial support in operations abroad. It is a major source of notoriety and income for the group.
Research & Armaments: Tasked with the manufacturing of arms, munitions, and military equipment for Vulture Sword or customers.
Development & Support: Responsible for providing food, infrastructure, repairs, and equipment. Expeditionary Teams of the D&S Section are sent to Disaster-Stricken Areas upon contract to build or repair housing, roads, hospitals, and various other structures.
Medical: Responsible for the healing of any personnel requiring medical attention due to sickness, injury or PTSD. They are also involved with R&D in regards to the development of pharmaceuticals. Expeditionary Teams of the Medical Section exist for foreign contracts in Disaster-Stricken Areas. It wasn't uncommon for said teams to pair up with Development & Support Expeditionary teams.
Command & Intelligence: Responsible for providing intel in regards to enemy activity or a weakness of the enemy that could be exploited as well as offering support and direction from Command One or nearby FOBs for soldiers on field missions.
Recruitment Policy
The exact methods of recruitment are unknown. Vulture Sword recruits through capturing enemy soldiers or rescuing prisoners, with the military soldiers either being convinced immediately upon arriving at Mother Base, or having to spend time in the brig before they could decide to join. Some time afterward, however, because of it's growing size making it similar to a corporation, a voluntary recruitment program was enacted, with several soldiers joining up. Many volunteers, however, have very poor skills. Members that join include infantries, commandos, mechanics, nutritionists, doctors/medics, scouts, small-time celebrities, and voice actors.
Training
As a military organization, Vulture Sword adopted a training regimen for instructing new personnel. Physical Training is considered the first step of training. The second step of training included, but not limited to, mastering the use of lethal and non-lethal weapons, unarmed combat, movement, survival, evasion, and building field-expediated equipment. Additionally, full-fledged members have the opportunity to spar with the elite soldiers as to prove their worth not in skills, but dedication.
