The phoenix legion

Hinc illae lacrimae "Hence these tears"

Introduction

The Phoenix legion is a Multi-functional Armed legion of the United Kingdom armed forces.

Their motto was introduced quite late. It is thought to come from the fact that the long-lived Legionnaire has lost so many in their lives. Other unofficial mottos and slang names include;

  • The old folks club
  • Debout Les Morts "The Dead Get Up"
  • The Zombie Brigade

History

The United Kingdom 2030’s

With the retirement age already set at 76 years and unemployment at an all time low. Society didn’t want even more OAPs claiming state benefits. Even though most of these OAPs had paid a lot of money in to their pensions.
Society had been breeding a generation of people that relied on state handouts and were not used to hard work. Quite happy to blame the old for claiming their pensions for longer and longer and preventing them for gaining employment. Companies were continually automating manufacturing requiring less staff. The people all ready in work just couldn’t leave as their pensions were constantly being degraded and although they had a decent pension it was often tied up in red tape, or worse still, fraudulently spent by their companies and their CEOs.
Voluntary euthanasia was introduced but medical advancements meant that many people were still fit and healthy well into their 90s and quite capable of all of the activities a 30 year old could do. Aging really only started to show in the last few years of life at 110 plus.

British Army

The military had been struggling for years with lack-lustre  recruitment. The young were unused to hard labour and more suited to an office role. Many had played on FPS computer games that made them forget the value of life. And many believed that they were highly trained special forces and commonly failed basic training.
With tensions in the middle east at an all time high. NATO forces were called upon more and more for policing roles. Military action became difficult to the extreme. Soldiers were expect to fulfil a difficult role with no real backing from their politicians. Unable to fire unless fired upon meant that someone needed to be killed before the soldiers could retaliate.
To help relive this medical treatments in the field, and later at cape Bastion have evolved to give the average soldier a much greater chance of survival. The British Army Scientific  Corps spent a lot of time increasing the Soldiers abilities; Nano-tech, cyber-tech, and Bio-tech played a major role in this.
What the military needed was a soldier who could cope with hard work and was used to working for a living.

Doctor Chapman

Born in 2014 at home in Gravesend, Kent. Alfred was the son of Royston Chapman, a former Major in 33 Engineer Regiment EOD and Melinda Harris, a Personal Assistant.
Doctor Alfred Chapman developed effective anti-aging treatments in 2042. Although this was seen as a scientific breakthrough the ramifications for society were deemed unacceptable. Alfred was not interested in this as he had plan. He offered his anti-aging treatment, Nu-life, to a specific set of people - Those that had worked for a living all of their lives. Alfred was not interested in financial gain so the rich were by-passed. He also believed that the ‘benefit scrounges’ were a waste-of-space. No Alfred wanted to look after the hard working individual who had given their life to improving society. He also wanted to solve the military’s manning issue.
Alfred spent many years in the Army reserve in 101 Royal Engineers Regiment EOD, like his father. And felt a lot of respect for serving soldiers. On retirement they were all offered Nu-life free of charge. He also offered Nu-life to those who had retired from a life of work. His only caveat was that they enlisted in the British Army’s newly formed regiment – The Phoenix Legion.

The last thing I expected to receive on my 80th birthday was an offer to re-enlist in the military!

The 2040’s

The development of the crossover drive saw a period of exploration and inevitably colonisation of many star systems. Due to the long travel times between these worlds their military protection would fall to the only force that already lived outside of normal time. The Phoenix Legion was ideally placed to carry out these duties.

Enlistment

Enlistment to the Phoenix Legion is only open to retirees. They sign on for a 25 subjective years term of enlistment. Upon  entering the Legion the recruits are put through the Nu-life process making them effectively immortal. Although the life expectancy in the Legion is not that long! This process takes around 6 weeks and is carried out at Porton Down the UK’s Military Science Park.
At the end of this 6 weeks the new recruits now look as though they are in their 30’s with the fitness and vitality of a 20 year old. Their skeletal structure, musculature, and internal organs have been strengthened and improved. There are also a variety of hard wired improvements such as an eyes up display, in-head communications, and weapons/data palm reader installed but are not yet activated.

Recruitment and Training

The Long March

This week long activity at the very beginning of a Legionnaires training serves a variety of purposes; it gets the recruit used to their new body forgetting the old and frail one that they used to have, It gives them the opportunity to drop out at any time, it serves as a full detox, improving musculature, stamina and fitness to the desired level.
The Long March is a roundabout route from Porton Down to ITC Catterick. It is designed to separate the wheat from the chaff and ensures that only those dedicated to completing their training pass through.
The route is not a direct one but encompasses many activities including orienting, pot holing, mountaineering, aquatic, and hill walking. The recruits do not sleep much in these 16 days but their new body does not require much in the way of sleep.
Should a recruit decide to leave they need to just simply walk away. No questions asked. After about a week their enhancements switch to a normal human lifespan and they can continue to the end of their life fit and healthy until their natural death.
Upon arrival at ITC Catterick the Recruits undergo their final initiation in to the UK Foreign Legion – Phoenix Legion. Their physic is ‘locked in’ meaning that the way they are now is fixed for the rest of their life. They can develop more muscle but they will not hold any more fat. And after the Long March a recruit doesn’t have much in the way of fat! Their military augments are activated and coded to The Legion.
They are now ready to complete phase 1 of their training.

Phase 1

Phase 1 training is carried out at ITC Catterick and lasts 15 weeks. Phase 1 training produces fit, motivated individuals capable of carrying out local protection tasks in any operational environment.
• Initial training of 4 weeks – this first month is designed to allow the Legionnaires to become accustomed to their new bodies and modern military lifestyle.
• Technical and practical training (alternating with barracks and field training). This brings the Recruit up to spec with modern military equipment – 3 weeks.
• Mountain training in Wales – 1 week
• Technical and practical training (alternating barracks and field training) 4 weeks.
• Examinations - 1 week.
• Light vehicle and truck training - 1 week.
• Final training - 1 week.
Once Phase 1 training is completed the Legionnaire transfers to Camp Olympus on Mars and start phase 2 training.

Phase 1 was more like a holiday. I loved climbing in my youth and now I have got to do it again. I can hardly wait to go to Mars!

Phase 2

Phase 2 training conditions the new Legionnaires in low and high gravity operations, space combat, hazardous environments, and scraft operations.
• Exo-Suit operations – 4 weeks.
• Scraft familiarisation and operations – 6 weeks.
• Dropcraft operations including; HALO, LALO, HAHO qualifications – 2 weeks.
• Field training and Operation ‘Fierce Lion’ – 4 weeks.
• Final examinations and biological modifications – 1 week.
• Pass out week.

I don't think the RSF instructors liked us much. Mars was like a dream come true. A bunch of 80 years olds bouncing around like kids!

Phase 3

Phase 3 is specialist training with the Legionnaires training in Armour, Aviation, Engineering, Electro-engineering, Weapons, Aquatic, space, or Artillery, amongst others. Phase 3 is carried out in unit as required. Many Legionnaires carryout all specialist training over their operational term.

Officers

Legionnaires of rank Chief are sent through Officer training. This was originally completed at Sandhurst, the British Army’s Officer training school. But, typically of The Legion, the Legionnaires could not put up with the pomp and ceremony associated with a typical British Army Officer. Phoenix Legion picked the best and most important bits of Officer training and now carry out their own, in-house officer training. More akin to a SNCO’s course with a hint of the Academy about it.
It is not common practice within the Legion to salute, but it is more commonly used as a mark of respect to anyone who deserves it. The lowest level of a salute is a simple bow of the head. The Legionnaire keeps eye contact at all times. The next level is more formal. The right hand is raised sharply to the centre of the chest with the hand vertical and the fingers splayed. The highest level of the Legion salute combines both of these.

Code of Honour

Unlike many armed forces the UK Phoenix Legion doesn’t swear allegiance to the crown or country, but rather to a code of honour to their fellow Legionnaire and to the Legion.

Be without fear

In the face of your enemies

Stand brave and upright

Speak the truth always

Even if it means your death

Protect the helpless

And do no wrong

Believe me. We don't get called in to win hearts and minds!

Ranks

Initially Officers were seconded to Phoenix Legion from the regular British Army. But within a year there were issues. The regular officers resented the Legionnaires enhancements and their laid back attitude. The Legionnaires resented the Officers lack of life experience and attitudes. Within a year the Legion had its own rank structure and officers.
The Legions rank structure is far simpler than any other military force. It is assumed that a Legionnaire has far more life experience than any other soldier and is quite capable of making the decisions required whilst honouring the Legion code.

  • High Chief
  • Chief
  • Leader
  • Legionnaire
  • Recruit


This looks simple enough but in practice there are far more rank levels than this. There are senior Legionnaires, squad, team, and Legion Leaders, a multitude of chiefs and high chiefs. To confuse the outsider even more, Legionnaires, no matter what their grade, are commonly referred to by either their warname, or simply as Legionnaire.

You never want to get on the wrong side of a Legionnaire. You never know quite who they are. I remember one of the Sergeants picking a fight with a Legionnaire in a pub. Only to find out that the guy was a Chief and CO of our new company!

Warname

A Legionnaires warname is essentially their nickname. It is usually given during their basic training.

Everyone assumes a warname will be something good like Rambo or Rottweiler. But , being old school it is more likely to be something offensive like Cock or Spaz.

Organisation

The smallest unit of organisation in the Phoenix Legion is the Lance, a 12-man unit typically consisting of a Lance Leader, and Assistant Lance Leader, 8 Legionnaires and 2 Support Weapons Specialists. For operational purposes the Lance can be further sub-divided in to two 6-man teams, three 4-man teams, or six 2-man teams.

Two Lances plus an HQ Lance form a Banner. Traditionally a formation of 10-20 Knights plus their entourage. The HQ Lance consists of the Banner Commander, the Banner Sub-Commander, 4 Drivers and 2 Support Weapons Specialists.

8-10 Banners plus a company HQ form a Company. The Company HQ is atypical Banner consisting of the Company Commander and the Company Sub-Commander and composed of support staff trained in parallel roles to their battle brethren. A full Company consists of roughly 360 Legionnaires.

4-8 Companies form a the largest of the Legions divisions of organisation, the Squadron. The Squadron HQ is a Company, typically the 1st headed by the Company Commander and a Company Sub-Commander.

A Legion is formed of 8 Squadrons. These Squadrons carry out a variety of roles enabling a Legion to be independent from other armed forces.

  • Alpha
    • 4 Companies. Alpha Squadron has traditionally been considered something of an elitist Squadron. The first formed when the Legion was born. The 1st Battle squadron.
  • Beta
    • 4 Companies. Beta Squadrons primary role within the Legion tends to be of the intelligence sort. Providing the majority of intelligence through its network of spies and infiltrators.
  • Gamma
    • 4 Companies. Gamma Squadron is the vanguard of the Legion and has been involved in nearly every Legion operation. Gamma Squadron provides the main fighting force of the Legion.
  • Delta
    • 4 Companies. A standard Battle squadron specialising in armour and engineering.
  • Epsilon
    • 2 Companies. Epsilon Squadron varies greatly in size and consists of 2 minimal Companies. Epsilon Squadron is the boot camp of the Legion.
  • Zeta
    • 4-8 Companies. A standard Battle Squadron specialising in artillery and space defence.
  • Eta
    • 2 Companies. Eta Squadron is the legions technical and research branch and rarely participates in combat. As such it maintains only 2 non-standard Companies. One of which is the Legions research branch. The other consists of the technical and support branch which is typically deployed with other Squadrons in the form of technical Lances.
  • Theta
    • 2 Companies. Theta is another odd ball Squadron with only 2 Companies. Theta Squadron is the Legions Special Operations Arm and is kept small. Often deployed in Lances of 4 alongside survey and exploration craft.

The Phoenix Legion is split into numbered Legions. Phoenix Legion is commonly referred to as ‘The Legion’ where as each individual legion is usually referred to by its number.

The 1st Legion is the original Legion. It was only when more and more people choose to join the Legion that an additional legion was required. Each Legion has its own support staff and Headquarters that deal with the everyday work and administration. The 1st Legion also has the Phoenix Legion Headquarters that takes primacy over all of the legions.

As the Legion expanded further they encompassed some of the RSF orbital and heavy lift craft, fighters, and other orbital Scraft making each Legion independent from other UK military armed forces.

Legion Headquarters is based on RSF Sol alongside the RSF headquarters. Although the Legion also has link legionnaires in Army and Navy headquarters on Earth and other settled solar systems. Later a secondary headquarters is based upon LSC Inferno.

Uniform

Phoenix Legion has an entirely different uniform compared to the rest of the British Military. This is due to their non-conformist organisation and no parade responsibility.

No5 Battledress

This is the standard combat equipment of the Phoenix Legionnaire. It is a full body, armored Exo-suit known as the Segomo Hard-Suit.

No6 Battledress

Lightweight Lancer Hard Suit.

No13 Temperate Barrack Dress

This is the standard working uniform of the Legion. It consists of;

  • Lightweight cargo trouser - black
  • Tee shirt - black
  • Softshell jacket - black
  • Field cap - black
  • High-leg combat boots - black

No14 Operational Barrack dress

This uniform is worn when on operational duties. It is not meant as a combat system like the British Army FIST system. It consists of;

  • Segomo hard-suit under armour vac suit
  • Combat jacket and trousers
  • High-leg combat boots
  • Mk. 9 Helmet
  • Combat gloves

The standard British Army Combat suit has active DPM with thermal /IR disruption making the combat suit difficult to detect.

Belt kit includes;

  • General service Respirator 3 including forced air supply if required.
  • Ammunition and power backups as required.
  • Field medical kits.
  • 48 hour ration packs.
  • Water bottle

Deployment

The Phoenix Legion is a highly mobile force. Not tied to parades and a home base makes a lean fighting force. The entire Legion is based in ‘Battleboxes’ and is capable of deploying at a moments notice. This Battlebox deployment ensures that a Legion has everything that it could need.

These Legionnaires are a weird lot. Making fists and tapping them to their chests. Drawing smiling mouths in front of their visors. What on Earth do they mean?

Command

In 2168 the Phoenix Legion brought construction time on the Ceres nano works. They constructed a smaller version of a Sol station. This station - Inferno will house the Legion command and control as well as act as a base for recreation and recuperation for the Legionnaires.

The interior is has one large open area measuring 20km in diameter. Large lakes and four circular islands span the interior. The outside has accommodation and recreation facilities. The middle has the military complexes, and the center island has the Legion Head Quarters.

Construction facilities within the station are capable of large nano-constructions enabling the Legion to be fully self-sufficient.

"So just how good are these Legionnaires of yours General?"

"Better than anything you Army boys could throw at them!"

"Then maybe we should have a small wager then?"

"Excellent idea Sir. Lets say a squadron of yours against, maybe a Lance of mine."

"30 against 12! Are you having a laugh! They will be slaughtered!"

"Yes I think that your boys will be"

"Preposterous!

Battlebox

The Battlebox is a mainstay of the Legion. Every other nations armed forces live in a base with barracks, training room, parade squares, and vehicle pools. When it comes to deploy the unit it takes many weeks to pack the equipment, and to load it on to a ship or starcraft. It then takes more time to unload the equipment, locate to a base of operation, and unpack the equipment. The base is commonly a building that the force was fighting to return to the people, and now they supposedly conquering force is occupying the same building.
Battleboxes are 6m long, 2.5m wide, and 2.5m high containers. There are also 12m long versions. They can be moved by fork lift, APC, trailer, aircraft, ship, and starcraft, amongst others. They have twist locks on all 8 corners enabling them to be connected together for storage and movement. A Legion Battlebox is based on the 2020 ISO container design providing uniformity amongst cargo movement on ships, rail, and trucks.
Each accommodation Battlebox has bunks for 4 Legionnaires (a standard patrol), storage and lockers, fresh water, power generation, and environments, washing and toilet facilities, Armour deployment slots, and food preparation.
Other Battleboxes are designed as command boxes, storage, maintenance, specialised laboratories and research labs, and medical facilities . They can be readily changed to meet the needs of the legions deployment.
Each Battlebox is armoured and capable of supporting the Legionnaires inside for up to 10 days unassisted. When there is access to sunlight and water this can be increased drastically.
Battle boxes can be linked together side-by-side, and stacked, forming larger structures. If required portable airlocks can be used to maintain a habitable atmosphere.
Using this Battlebox system means that The Legion can deploy anywhere at a moments notice. All they need to do is pack a few items, shut themselves in their boxes and wait to be picked up. This can take less than an hour in some cases.
On-board the scraft the Battleboxes are used for accommodation allowing the Legion to use a variety of cargo and transport craft.
On arrival at the deployment zone, and once a secure beachhead has been organised the Battleboxes can be deployed to the landing zone and arranged providing protection to the new base. As the teams move out they can take their Battleboxes with them to make their new marching fort. This not only provides the deployed Legion with all of its facilities it needs. But also better protection from any insurgents. Plus by not moving in to any local buildings it causes less stress to the local population.

A lack of personal possessions is quite common nowadays. Pretty much anything can be nano-manufactured and printed as required. This does mean that many people travel much lighter than before. Only carrying items of sentimental value.

Retirement

After their term of service a Legionnaire can chose to either continue with the Legion, a common choice, or retire, usually on one of Earth’s colony worlds.
Another option is semi-retirement. The Legionnaire drops from active duties and takes on a more permanent role in a job outside of the Legion. This is usually something like a deep space pilot, local law enforcement, or an advisor. These semi-retired legionnaires still consider themselves as part of the Legion and will do all that they can to assist the Legion.

Although a Legionnaire is meant to give up all personal property on enlistment. Many of them transferred the deeds to holding trusts  and premium bonds. It is quite common for Legionnaires to retire as multi-millionaires. Capable of purchasing their own starcraft.

Post 2268

Over the  years the Earth and the Commonwealth have come to despise the Phoenix Legion They don't like their old ways, their attitude, nor their inappropriate behaviour. Conflict on Earth has virtually ceased with everything described as 'Policing actions'.

With this in mind the Legion decided to find a new place to base themselves. They settled on a planet around the distant star, Zeta Virginis, at 75 lightyears distance. Far too far for standard Homo Sapiens to complete, even in crossover. Zeta Virginis e, now known as Fenix, is a small Earth-like world with two large continents and numerous islands in its large oceans, A gravity of 1.18g and a temperate mean temperature. Fenix was found to have a multitude of marine life and flora but no land based life. It was perfect for the Legion to colonize.

Their main base, Atlantis, was set up on an island near the equator. A large variety of life forms from Earth were brought in to populate the main lands, Artic poles, and large islands. This wildlife will be left to find their own niche on the planet.

It is hoped that by transporting the animals to Fenix will prevent the mass extinction of species on Earth, caused by the exponential growth in human population.

Retired legionnaires have taken on their old skills and become farmers, rangers, scientists, Engineers, and all of the other myriad of careers required for a distant colony.  

Fenix is one of the smallest colonies and is completely unknown to the Terran Commonwealth.

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