OCC- Note that while I have been playing Major Max, he is not my character, per se. Just one of a number of characters in this story. As a military operation, he is dealing only with his immediate subordinates. He may deal with newcomers, but only after they have proven themselves. THe reasons are not for rudeness, but a character such as a BOS Major would probably not fraternize with non-BOS members, especially those he thinks will probably die.
Also, keeping the numbers large. If players want to be BOS members or just regular guys, there are plenty of potential opportunities.
Remember take the initiative to tell this story. Don't be lazy and expect someone else to do the work for you.
ICC-
Max was looking South, as he often did, when Arco found him. The Major was tense and impatient.
Even with his back turned the Major could hear Arco behind him, as if he sensed the junior officer.
"Every day we wait they grow stronger, Captain." Said the Major in a quiet voice.
"There have been no mutant sightings for days." Said Arco. In his hand was a list of the men as the Major had requested.
"When they come, they will be in strength. They will have learned from past mistakes and won't repeat them. And they will lack remorse." Said the Major, as if thinking to himself.
If they come again, thought Arco, there will be little Hub left to conquer. For years the Hub had been the center of commerce. Now it was in ruins. But as the center, it had drawn volunteers, and together they had stood and died against the Mutants.
After it had been retaken and the Mutants had fallen the human victors had been too exhausted to continue. There were too many to bury. Slowly those who had gathered and slipped away, returning home to rebuild their lives. Now few remained to carry on the war.
"What are our numbers?" Asked the Major.
"We have been able to pull together what is left of the three companies of BOS that remain. All told, about 27 BOS. Irregulars, less than three times that." Reported Arco. "Not many."
"No, But we will gather more as we go South." Said the Major, still looking to where the future battle lay. "Weapons."
"Among the BOS, there is armor and mix of heavy weapons, chain guns, rocket launchers, energy weapons. Among the irregulars, a few suits of combat armor, but most have leather if any. Weapons, mostly small arms."
The Major nodded. "The BOS has found itself incapable of further supply, so we will take what we have and use it to our advantage. What is your take on the men."
"The Company" In which Arco meant Max's own company, the Grey Wolves, "is in good shape. Their armor is clean, weapons ready. They can go to battle tomorrow. What's left of them."
Arco didn't mention there were only near 20 members left of the original company.
"The other BOS men are fitting in well enough and getting sorted. They should be ready soon." Said Arco.
"They needed to be given purpose, direction, to remember that the brotherhood stands above company affiliation." Said Max. "Go on."
"The irregulars, well, they are a rabble. Undisciplined adventurers or fortune hunters. They are not dependable. The BOS doubts they will hold up in battle." Said Arco, who found it more profitable to speak truth to the Major.
The Major nodded, and finally turned to speak to the young captain. The captain had been a platoon leader in another company, one which had nearly been destroyed, one of the first to join the great battle. The captain still had the scars, and the Major was confident of his second.
"Then we will have to make them into more than what they are." Said the Major.
"They will not be members of the BOS." Said Arco.
"No matter, they can still be proud. We are few Captain, and the battle we take to the enemy will not be in pitched battles, but in small skirmishes. We will use subterfuge and sabotage. To destroy his bases in his territory, and so deprive him of the ability to attack us. We will be the cancer that kills him. We need soldiers capable of that."
Arco nodded. "True they are travelers and country dwellers. They can survive in the wastes, and have a history of fighting alone. But men with small arms and leather armor against Mutants with chainguns?"
"They would break. As any rational man would. So we must give them courage that is irrational." Said the Major. "And we leave in the morning. There can be no delay."
The captain noted it. This would keep him busy, but that was the nature of command. To lead meant to be responsible, to take the initiative.
The Major continued. "We will reform into a company. At the heart will be Wolves, as the central firepower. But we will move the best BOS leaders into positions of platoon and squad leaders. Will will break up the 60 odd irregulars into three platoons, each with two squad of about ten men, and each of these divisible into two teams of 5."
The captain nodded. The five men team was the basic combat unit, the building block, of the BOS, espcially for long range recon. Each platoon could cover a geographical area and each team could support the others.
THe Major continued. "I will retain Wolf company, now really a platoon, individually. The others will be divided up based on experience. We march South tomorrow, and when we stop we shall drill. We will need to arrange a recon ahead of us. It is time to bring the battle to the enemy."
