[OOC] - Squad 914: Beyond - Rebooted

[Jeep Wrangler]

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World War II should've ended with the defeat of the Third Reich by the Soviet Union, and the dropping of two nuclear payloads onto Japan. That's how the world should've been left, where the course of the entire future of Earth would remain, changed forever to learn from its mistakes of mass war. However, this never happened. At least not in the way many expected.

The year is now 1948. The Third Reich and its Fuhrer have already defeated all but one single enemy. Germany was assisted by an array of much needed help given from the Spanish after their Civil War outcome left a Fascist ruler on top. By 1942, Germany, Italy and Spain amassed a large-scale invasion of Southern England. The Italians landed in Portsmouth, the Spanish invaded Norfolk and Germany desperately landed in London, causing a few desperate months of fighting that led to the surrender of Great Britain, now split into two halves: that of an installed German-governed area in the south, and a puppet government in the north. Before the Americans could make a move into retaking Germany, the Imperialist Japanese forces somehow sprung into action, landing thousands of troops onto several wide-spread landing zones on the West Coast of America, keeping them busy and at bay. As for now, all eyes rest on the Soviet Union, the last standing force against the Axis.

Technology has developed only for the war efforts, and the new inventions of both German and Russian war machines have excelled at an alarming rate. By late 1946, the German production line sought the first Wandertank, or 'Walking Tank', and the Russians retaliated with the first armoured bipedal unit.. Naval ships grow bigger by the day, and aircraft become faster, deadlier and larger than before. The German forces and Russian forces have clashed more than enough times to create a stalemate across the border, not too far from Moscow. With their dictator evacuated from the Capital and moved further East, the Russians hold for what seems to be a second rendition of Stalingrad, where Moscow stands on the brink of ending in a bloody siege that will drain the life out of both sides.

In a desperate attempt to both test newfound equipment and to cause a distraction across this Eastern Front, known now as the Final Front, the government conscripted those young and possibly considered fit enough to fight of both genders, hoping to create Squad 914, the 'Eksperimental'nyy otryad', experimental squad.

State of the World

In the time of need, now only a few allies are left standing against the might of the Third Reich. Their mettle was put to the test when taking out the main contenders, the so-called allies of Europe and beyond, when they struck hard and fast in a campaign of blitzkrieg and aerial superiority. Within years, Europe was within their control and the focus on the rest of the world was now imminent. Three main fronts were now open, and several smaller areas lurking with its conflict, the Fuhrer’s clutches on the world were tightening with every growing day. With his allies, all was coming up sunshine for the Reich whilst a dark and gloomy age of war engulfed the surviving members of the free world.

Europe and Africa

Europe had succumbed to a great tragedy alongside the first few years of the war. As expected, the invasions of Poland and the Baltics resulted in the outburst of the second world war, leading to the French and British alliance to target their newfound enemy once more. However, with blitzkrieg tactics unlike any other, Germany were able to push into France, sweep through Belgium and pursue a strong chain of victories until they now annexed and occupied most of the mainland Europe. Fighting on land ceased for a few months before the invasion of the Balkans was set into motion, swiftly driving their Yugoslavian, Bulgarian, Greek, Albanian and Romanian adversaries off the face of Europe’s map without remorse. All former ties between the Reich and the Balkans were defied under the Fuhrer’s ever growing egotistical mindset of the war. Onto the border of the one allied Turkish homeland, Italian and German troops focused their attention on suppressing major areas of resistance. And when Portugal were pressured into joining an unorthodox reformation into the Nationalist Spanish homeland, soon enough the Axis grew one times larger than before. The Mediterranean was secured and the final battle was afoot.

Eventually, the final operation to claim Europe under an iron cage was afoot. Operation Sealion. The official invasion of Germany’s largest threat. Britain were not fought within Europe on land that much since the failure at Dunkirk. Here, the Italians took the opportunity with the German Afrika-Korps to secure the Suez and other major colonies in Northern Africa. Erwin Rommel was praised with his success in driving the British from Tobruk, giving some much-needed relief of pressure in the deserts. Italy were then tasked with pursuing and hunting down a large French army lurking in the shadows of Western Africa. Becoming some of the harshest zones of fighting during 1941, they were eventually cornered outside of the Belgian Congo before marking their last stand and dying out. It wasn’t the only French Remnant Army to exist, as there was still one within Canada, Britain and several reports about some in Indochina, but this was the only one of concern during that time. Gains in Africa were ceased around that time, becoming a powerhouse of oil and rubber for the Axis war-machine. South Africa halted its position and heightened its defences to the greatest of their ability, hoping that the upcoming storm would someday die off and leave them be.

1942 came around, and the plans for Operation Sealion were now being set into motion. The largest naval and aviation encounter for the entirety of the war came in the form of the Battle for the English Channel. Hundreds of ships were clashed against one another. The superiority of the Royal Navy’s might was heavily thrown against the strong will of the Italian, Spanish and German fleets, all of which were also stocked up with excess vessels recovered from their conquest of Europe. British Intelligence also stated that Scandinavian ships were also spotted in the fleets, but confirmation was never shown. Either way, the overall clash of ships eventually came to an end when the combined might of Europe’s assaulting vessels left an opening to the British homeland, temporarily. Italy landed their forces in Portsmouth. Spain and Germany combined their efforts into Folkstone and the Fallschirmjager, reinforced with Bulgarian volunteers, were dropped into London during a vicious bombardment. Street fighting ensued, and many German paratroopers lost their lives in the course of the battle. It wasn’t until the German and Spanish army took control of Folkstone and Dover where the urban hell that was the Battle for London was relieved of its pressure. Panzer divisions accompanied by heavy aerial bombardment swiftly stormed the Capital, taking out Buckingham Palace and Parliament in its wake. News of Britain’s leaders were left uncertain, as some were reported to have fled to the Dominion of Canada whilst others opted to stay behind and go down with their nation.

Weeks after the fall of London, Britain called its surrender. Fearful of the storm, Ireland too followed. It was the final day of Europe’s security being rehabilitated under the Fascist ways. Many areas of concentration were largely cut off. Austrian, Czechoslovakian, Hungarian and Netherlandic volunteers were primarily used as Hitler’s Gestapo for Britain’s major cities whilst the Wermacht went on their witch-hunt for British resistance groups propping up everywhere. It wasn’t until the Battle of Edinburgh were the final remaining troops of the British Army were evacuated to several of its dominions and colonial settlements. Keeping them under control proved to be a tough challenge and cost many German lives as large influxes of civilians were imported into the cities to undermine and oust the natives of the empire’s heart.

1942 was coming to an end, and finally the Germans could focus on what their next two objectives were. When the United States of America, seeing the threat as out of control and beyond all statures of liberty, formally announced their declaration of war against the Nazi German occupation, promising to back their neighbours without hesitation from now on, the Reich sought to make ties with its newfound allies in Asia, who too were planning on dealing with the Giant of the Pacific. On top of that, Germany still had to concentrate a large amount of forces on the largest adversary of all, the Soviet Union of Russia. Following the defeat of Britain, Sweden, Norway and Finland all joined together in unison and agreed to Hitler’s demands.

Northern and Southern America

The United States of America remained neutral, despite their support of equipment towards the Canadian and British troops, until the eventual fall of Great Britain. Many of its allies slandered America’s leaders and prompted them as incompetent and ignorant towards the danger Germany showed, stating that their involvement in the war was far too late. Refugees from France, Belgium, Greece and Britain began to run small riots and protests in major cities weeks before they declared war on Germany. Even with the results coming in, the refugees were not happy. America thus struggled with convincing the European Remnant Armies stationed within its borders to cooperate. A small state of disorder broke out amongst the ranks and the armies fell into small splinter groups. Some generals decided to section themselves off and report only to themselves and certain members of congress before they would eventually join back together.

Douglas MacArthur was the leading figurehead into reunifying the American Army when they discovered the Mexican Fascist coup that slipped beneath their radar. In their own internal affairs, they were unaware of the German influence of their neighbour, giving birth to the Synarchist Mexican States. Equally, several countries who had already adopted these extremist views, such as Venezuela, Columbia and Ecuador, were also starting to compromise with America’s enemies. MacArthur saw this as a major threat to the nation and rallied his forces, along with the reformed American Army, to defend the borders, arriving days before Mexico launched an attack of its own. Holding the front wasn’t too difficult, seeing the Mexicans as slightly inferior by weapons and equipment until successfully supplied by the Italian and Spanish forces nearby. The Spanish worked closely with the Mexican uprising and sent large expeditionary forces into their land to coexist and provide large-scale support, occupying them for the rest, if not the majority of the war.

In 1945, after years of fighting on the Mexican front, the German, Italian, Scandinavian and Spanish Armadas were spotted on the Eastern Coast before bombarding many of its coastal cities. The Atlantic Scourge indefinitely drew more than two thirds of the American Navy over to combat this unequally huge fleet. They still composed themselves of British ships that had been left in dockyards as well, which were in construction when the invasion occurred and completed when their occupation began. Though Germany hadn’t intended on it, these British Mock-ships were the reason the attack began so well. It caught the Americans off by surprise, thinking it was yet another remnant ship or two at first. The Battle for the Atlantic lasted for about 2 weeks at its peak before the American Navy was forced to retract a portion of its fighting forces to the Pacific. Unaware of the cooperation, though expectant of their arrival, the Japanese launched a naval campaign throughout their land, sinking masses of ships whilst encountering losses of their own. And somehow, with luck and strength on their side, a successful beach landing at Alaska was finally settled after the fall of Pearl Harbour and Hawaii. One by one, certain areas on the Western Coast were attacked by Japanese forces, marking the stalemate that would last the next four years. German marines landed in Newfoundland and Labrador to draw the Canadians away from the American frontlines, eventually leading into the forests of Quebec. However, when pressures on the Russian front continued, Italy were tasked with handling the Canadian push up to the present day, seeing almost all Wermacht troops as vital to the defeat of the Soviet Union. Eventually, after the first few months of attacks and counter-assaults, the frontline would result in a stalemate. The Japanese claimed most of the north-western parts of North America, linking the Alaskan invasion point to their Portland frontline. Here, America stood still, fighting with large scale battles sometimes reminiscent of the first Great War.

Asia and Oceania

The invasion of Manchuria and formation of Manchuko left China at a small disadvantage. When civil war broke out in the Chinese states, fracturing it into a series of warlords and reformed governments, the battle between Communist and Republican forces was ceased when Japan eventually began its invasion following the incident at Marco-Polo Bridge. Fighting was brutal, but Japan made use of the mountains, jungles and cities it had to pass through as their long-term rival began to collapse. By 1940, to everyone’s unsurprising expectancy, China fell into the hands of Japan, creating the Reformed Government of China. A nationalist mindset was planted into the minds of those who opposed both the Communist and Republican government that previously fought for land. One by one, the warlords of Yunnan, Guangxi, Shanxi and so forth were swallowed into the empire’s embrace. However, it didn’t spell out the end of the war for Japan.

Large imports of resistance followed the annexation of China. Those who were unable to flee to neighbouring countries resorted to hiding out in rural towns, settlements and strongholds to oppose their new occupants. Bombings, shootings that resulted in the deaths of civilians and many other ruthless tactics to belittle the Japanese were carried out, though were ultimately used as a statement of propaganda towards the Chinese conscripts. A new anti-resistance sentiment covered the nation and a tale of guerrilla warfare and unequivocal espionage took place. Several members of the British S.O.E. were deploy to help these resistance groups, much like they had been in Poland and France. Some of the Chinese Resistance Groups were considered morally sound in comparison to their counterparts, though were undermined by the ruthless battle between the apparent good and evil that had been painted in the newspapers. Groups like the Shān shīzi were considered to be genuine fighters for freedom, whilst other groups were considered to be terrorists that put only a bad name for the fallen nation.

Japanese Troops were then finally in agreement to joining German plans and secretly aligned themselves with the Axis. Emperor Hirohito spoke to the his officers in a strange campaign that hinted towards the alliance, as he feared that American or Russian spies may be lurking around his nation. Eventually, they were tasked with the campaign against Indochina and the British Raj.

Vietnam, previously under French control, was forced to seek independent governmental figures after the fall of their master nation. However, whilst a few political battles resulting in internal bloodshed broke out, the arrival of the French Remnant suddenly reinstated order and balance to the nation. When installing their military democracy to prepare Vietnam for any possible invasions, the French and Vietnamese grew a strong relationship to one another. Eventually, the Viet-French National Army was born, splitting half and half between both enlistees of the nation and survivors of the European annexation. However, despite this, the Soviet Union were somewhat eager to poke their nose into its internal affairs. Sending several diplomats of their own, they offered to assist in the reformation of Vietnam’s army and government for the next few years they had to spare. France, still heavily influential to the communist agenda before the war, were quite accepting of their allies’ help. Vietnam’s natives were sceptical at first but heard about the tragedies of China and how the USSR were offering refuge to many of its citizens, seeing them as a true ally. With this positive mindset, the Soviet Union were quick to press their own ideological matters into the war. This was a plan that had been going on since prior to the war, where many Soviet teachers had been sent into schools in Indochina to simply teach Russian to those attending regular school hours. The bonds were tightly enclosed, and eventually the Remnant learned of Japan’s involvement with German affairs.

1945 came close, and Japan were edging their forces closer and closer towards their border than the year crept. In February, Russian military advisors were requested the Indochinese-French Minister of Defence, Jeán Petra, for the possibility to strike against Japan before they could invade Vietnam. It was a decisive plan, one that was risky in all terms. Codenamed: Libération du Tigre, the Soviet advisors approved of the plan and supplied the French with much-needed landing craft. Their target was Nanning, capital of the former Guangxi Clique. Over 600,000 troops, compromising of the 400,000 French Remnant Army and 200,000 Vietnamese soldiers, were called into action and embarked on the 5th May, 1945. The initial beach-landing took the Japanese by surprise, as their coastal defence at the time compromised of a single garrison and several divisions of Chinese Conscripts. But when the news of the naval spearhead towards Nanning came about, Hirohito saw the threat of an uprising. The news of the French and Vietnamese landing could not reach the rest of China as they could see it as a spark of rebellion. And so, the Imperial Army and Navy were quick to cut off the entrance route to their naval invasion and trap all 600,000 troops between the Southern Chinese Sea and Nanning. Fourteen days of fighting occurred before it ceased. As far as reports go, only 3 soldiers managed to return to their homes. Two French privates and Corporal Sih Bao. Bao, who was commended for his ability to escort these two French soldiers back to the Soviet Union after finding out Vietnam had been attacked, was later recruited to be an officer of a project called: 'Eksperimental'nyy otryad'.

Once Vietnam fell, Laos, Cambodia, Siam and Burma also fell quickly. However, whilst their occupation was swift, resistance reached a new height. Japan could not successfully push its way into the British Raj, who’d been holding on dearly to the nations in between the Imperial Giant and itself, as these resistance cells were forcing the army to slow down. It is still said that in 1948, the British Raj still has only lost a small fraction of its land due to the constant rises of rebellion in these countries. Japanese intelligence suggests that the Soviet Union has something to do with the Burmese rebellions.

The Soviet Union had been a major player since 1942. Russia left itself largely out of the war after the losses they received in the first Great War. Stalin saw that fighting them was once again useless and decided to try and compromise with Adolf Hitler in the earlier days of the war. However, their pact of truce was broken during these years, shortly after the fall of Britain. It was here that the largest graveyards of the war formed. Kursk saw the biggest armoured conflict of the war thus far, seeing huge defensive strategies that managed to hold onto Moscow dearly. For years, Russia lost only a partial amount of its great land, refusing to fight Japan under the conditions of both suffering with their own issues. Many criticized the military staff who agreed to lay unaggressive to their Japanese counterparts, but Stalin argued that the German threat had to be conquered first.

For years, the Russians held out. Yards became soaked in blood and drowned out one another. Russian intelligence spent most of its time supporting nearby nations whilst holding the stalemate against the Germans. With their forces spread all across the world, Germany couldn’t get the overall edge they desired over their counterparts and settled nicely for their immovable wall of manpower. They even conscripted large amounts of women and young boys into their army to overpower the German war-machine that attempted to push in every day. Yet in 1947, everything changed.

The Second Battle of Kursk once again began when Germany stormed the Eastern Front with more men than they had ever used before. Conscripts from all European walks of life were suddenly being used in this offensive. However, as the war had progressed longer than expected, new technology also found its way onto the frontline. The Walking Panzer, developed formally by German Scientists, marched onto the battle and overcame the harsh terrain that their previous panzers struggled with. The Russian’s were now being forced into a bloody brawl against their adversary, eventually having to rethink their plans of defence to a far more obedient and formal formation. However, when the Scandinavian Reich joined the Axis and made easy gains in Northern Russia, Leningrad was threatened once more, calling for a large detachment of troops to its calling. Infamously known as the tragedy at Leningrad, very few soldiers survived what happened next.

Many soldiers went into Leningrad with the hopes of taking a break from Kursk. The Stalin-Line around Moscow was where almost all of the army was currently posted, as almost all of the fighting took place there. Leningrad was a change in scenery and pace that they thought they could exploit against the Scandinavians, but a mismanagement of logistical support resulted in the entire city of Leningrad being surrounded and brought to its knees, resulting in a few months of fighting. Very few soldiers managed to escape the city alive and were reigned heroes. Some say that the viciousness of Leningrad surpassed the previous encounters at Stalingrad years before. The mental torture that many of its few survivors were heavily wounded with were given a rehabilitation programme off the frontlines. Many saw the Walking Panzers as a technological threat to the Union, and Stalin established the URD, Union Research Department, who were in charge of creating newly inventive designs that were previously shown earlier in the war. These drawings dates back as early as 1940, but now Stalin had accepted their construction and testing, which would eventually lead to the formation of Squad 914 in 1948. And it was here, during the start of 1948, that Moscow fell, pushing the Russian forces into Siberia where the final ultimatum was to be decided. Russia, having only one trick left up its sleeve, sought to recruiting many of its refugees, allies beyond its borders and implement the new designs for technological warfare to surpass the Reich’s presence.

In Oceania, however, Australia and New-Zealand were eager to keep up the fight. Japan had always been a threat to their nation, having their eyes peeled upon them at all times. When they invaded America, the ANZACs were relieved of some of the pressure and managed to secure naval superiority around their nation. Finally, they were safe, to some degree. Now, they coexist with the Russian Research departments and conduct many of their experiments in the desert wastes of Australia where civilisation does not flourish. Working hand-in-hand with their Soviet Allies, finding it difficult to reunite with their Canadian counterparts, the ANZACs have taken part in many Asian campaigns. Currently, Australian and New-Zealander special forces are the driving force for the liberation of Burma and Siam. They have currently reclaimed Malaysia and the Dutch-East Indies from the Japanese occupation. Some ANZAC troops were even transported to the Eastern Front and have proven themselves battle worthy…

Technological Advancements

As the war exceeded expected dates, new countries involved in this worldwide conflict began to experiment further than ever before. On the forefront of this technological revolution, the German Reich utilised its very best in scientific discoveries to further replicate the future of modern conflict. Everything improved. Weapons became more reliable and equipment became more advanced than the last. New and outlandish pieces of technology were outfitted into the ranks of all armies and a second arms race began, trying to pressure each army into creating the ultimate machine of war. Though Germany was in the lead, there were definitely some nations that had brought some interesting technology to their tables…

German Technology

Germany were obviously ahead of the game. With their rivals from the United Kingdom defeated, they had little competition for the second arms race. The United States of America were now busy with its own invasion that slowed down their progressive advancements in creating the ultimate weapon. Instead of focusing on weapons to end the war in one swoop, the Fuhrer approved the doctrine of war mongering machines that could continue their steady progress. And the greatest asset to improve was their Panzer divisions…

With the war dragging on far longer, the first major advancement was in 1946 during the Battle of Kursk where May saw the first deployment of the Super-Heavy Tank variant. They had their flaws, indefinitely, and suffered massively from their weight and lack of speed but made up for it with layers upon layers of armour. Fourteen were deployed to the Russian front where seven were destroyed, two were captured and five were safely returned to Berlin and reconstructed into a mobile defence platform that could be deployed in irregular FOBs. German scientists, most prominently one under the name of Arthur Von Brandebarg, looked for creating an alternative to the Super Heavy Tank. His designs for a Gehhilfe, nicknamed the “Walking Panzer”, were already under construction as part of the Berlin Research and Development Division under the alias of Projekt Wunderwaffe, but Arthur wanted to see his designs mass produced and thrown into different variants. Tests conducted in 1945 for Walking Panzers were successful but largely overshadowed by the size of the Super-Heavy tanks the Fuhrer had once desired. Now he had plans to implement these walking tanks, able to maintain armour and defence alongside mobility, into the Russian fields of war to test their combat credibility. Fifty were constructed by November and deployed into Kursk, where they proved successful in breaking through 4 defensive lines previously unbreakable by normal panzer divisions. Arthur was credited as a national hero and promoted to chief of Projekt Wunderwaffe after this success, creating his own divisional army of Walking Panzers for the Wermacht. They saw their peak achievements in Leningrad during the final weeks of the siege, tearing most of the city down into rubble. Following this victory, German scientists then showed designs off to its allies, even given them a few walkers of their own to design from, where Japanese, Spanish, Mexican and Italian variants of the walking tank were employed into their army.

As for the Luftwaffe, the Reich’s aircraft was loosely balanced between propeller and experimental jet-based aircraft. Fighters were usually kept with the more orthodox engines to keep up mobility, agility and performance whilst bombers and CAS variants of aircraft became the leading front for Jet-Propelled aircraft. The Luftwaffe now sits amongst some of the most technologically advanced air-forces in the world, contested only by the viciously talented Australian Air Force.

The Soviet Union's Technology

The Soviets, however, didn’t start their progression of technology until the fall of Leningrad. The URD were slightly late to the party and played the role of advancing infantry tactics over armoured specialisation. This proved effective in the Battle for Moscow, early 1948, when many variants of experimental anti-vehicular and anti-personnel weaponry was supplied to its troops. They were used right up until the fall of the Kremlin. And so, a wide variety of scientists from both within the USSR and defects from Republican Spain, Britain and Italy found their way into the URD. Though limited in their designs, the first official tests for outlandish equipment deemed too uncertain to produce was placed in the hands of the newly formed Squad 914. With a mission more suicidal than the rest, these troops, new and old, were to deploy and utilise this newfound equipment to test its efficiency and potentially change the course of the war.

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This Roleplay focuses around an alternative outcome to the Second World War where the Fascist European and Imperial Asian nations became dominant. The Third Reich is only faced with a single enemy, the Soviet Union. Whilst Japan has to maintain its gains in both a broken China and the new front on United States soil, the European states face huge odds which clash out for years longer than the war should have. Russia held its ground, and still has, but has been pushed back from its borders, soon to make a stand in Moscow. However, with the war taking longer, newfound technology has shaped the battle to a more...interesting state.

The thread itself takes technological inspiration from things like Wolfenstein, where some gadgets are tested in the field from both sides. As I will explain later, the idea of experimenting with technology in a dieselpunk fashion is important for the roleplayers, as it will play a part for individualising their characters amongst the class system the Roleplay will follow. Now, more specifically, I must talk about the characters in question.

For this Roleplay, each player will take up one, or the option of a few side characters aside, leading role of a sole Russian individual. We focus on a group of individuals, of either gender, brought into the world of conflict via conscription or transfer. Several from the Reserves away from the combat, as well as a majority of fresh faces in the military, are brought together to train and fight for what the Soviet Union call their Black Project. A more informal term would be Squad 914. As previously discussed, this fighting group, whatever their final size, are dependent on the use of experimental warfare and equipment. Their mission, however, is to be eventually dropped into the heart of the Frontier's command zones, where they are told to draw attention away from the front lines to give the main Armed Services the breakthrough they need into China.

This Roleplay will be split into a few arcs. The only revealed arcs I can give are the Training Arc and the Battle of Hanoi Arc. Past that comes the Beyond Arc, where the main objective of these soldiers and misfits will come into play.

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For the creation of the characters, there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration. These include: the characters themselves, the classification of the character and the specialised equipment. Firstly, the characters themselves would be looked at. This isn't anything special, just the regular Character Sheet you'd find in any other Roleplay. I do ask, however, for a moderately detailed description for the character, but all of that in particular will be explained and shown in the CS at the end of this section.

As for the classification of the Character, I'd need to introduce the character class system. These decide on the standard equipment and weaponry that they would face, also giving the individuality and abilities they would be trained under. Whilst most of them are given standardised weaponry and set pieces of equipment, primaries and secondaries can be changed depending on the experimental equipment assigned to the character. However, most of the equipment would likely be tertiary equipment, which will not result in the replacement of the standard weaponry. Any questions as to if they wish to change the assigned weaponry. Full-on realism isn't required for the weaponry, though, so some inaccuracies may occur to fit the dieselpunk setting.

Character Classes

Rifleman

Rifleman
The common rifleman is the most frequent class of soldier throughout the entire Russian Army, however due to the diversity of Squad 914 they are not the bulk of the warfare group. However, what remains the same of this type of trainee is that they both use the same equipment and remain as one of the most adaptable of all the classifications chosen throughout their training. The Rifleman usually is issued the Mosin Nagant or SVT-40 if the resources are available. Like most, they are usually equipped with several explosives and a Tokarev TT-32 sidearm. Some grenades can be swapped out for the Diakonov rifle-grenade attachment.

Specialist

Specialist
Commonly known as the 'Specialist' throughout the authorities of Squad 914, this infantry unit follows tactics of adaptability, following orders of suppression, shock tactics and breakthrough movement in order to support their fellow comrades. A favoured unit throughout the Squad and their particular set of fighting skills, the Specialist provides all the assistance they can. Alongside the TT-32 sidearm, the Specialist is normally supplied with the infamous PPSH-41, which provides impressive firepower for one single unit. Though any soldier can provide makeshift versions, the authorities of Squad 914 supply specialists with conditioned Molotov Cocktails.

Support

Support
Whilst the term 'Support' is very widespread amongst all military branches, Squad 914 designates their Light Machine gunners and suppression units as Supportive units, where they cover and pin down as many forces as they can. The most common weapon for this unit would be the DP-28 LMG, alongside a standard TT-32 sidearm. When it comes to equipment, sometimes the Support is categorised for those whose experimental weaponry acts as a heavy primary, replacing the DP-28. Support specialists sometimes use small amounts of fragmentation grenades to clear out rooms and advantaged areas in order to gain the perfect emplacement position. Support members can also be different by using Anti-Armour weaponry, such as the PTRS-41.

Combat Medic

Combat Medic
The Combat Medic does exactly what it says on the tin. It fights, and it heals. Being given different types of medical equipment, some experimental, these crucial members are aimed towards caring for their comrades with both compassion and determination, however that isn't a fixed trait for them. Squad 914 treats Medics as VIPs, where they are to be swerved away from the most dangerous path. That doesn't mean they join their comrades up on the front, as they need to be there when they need to do their job. A standard Combat Medic in Squad 914 contains a AVS-36 rifle with an automatic configuration, as well as the standard TT-32 sidearm. Their experimental equipment sometimes varies from being supportive to weaponised, depending on what the superiors of Squad 914 decide.

Marksman

Marksman
The Marksmen of the Soviet Union military are granted by all for their skills in taking out the oppositions. Squad 914's training staff hope to create a marksman who can adapt to both long-ranged and close-quartered firefights, where they can support their team without having to sit miles away from them (Though that tactic still can be done). Depending on their choice of scouting equipment and attachments, the Marksman would genuinely have a Mosin-Nagant retrofitted with optics or the semi-automatic SVT-40 rifle, which is preferred to most closer marksmen. Their sidearm consists usually of the Korovin Pistol for its concealment size.

Combat Engineer

Combat Engineer
The Combat Engineer is what makes the weaponry work. Each chosen Combat Engineer is trained and given all the details for each experimental weapon or gadget prior to their first deployment in Moscow. This is to give them a sharp knowledge of how to maintain these equipment pieces if they were to become faulty out in their deployment, without the need of the designers or production teams themselves. This is what allows everything to work perfectly. They are treated similarly to Combat Medics by their comrades, or at least are told to be treated in such a way. They are armed, usually, with the compact PPS-43 and the TT-32 as a sidearm.

These classes will not restrict the characters completely of their abilities in combat, as the physical and mental capabilities of the characters will mostly effect how they act and function both on the frontlines and behind the lines of their enemy. Now, for the Character Sheet. I ask for you to at least get all of the necessary details, which you should be able to identify, down into your CS, but the rest you can customise, decorate and add to with good intention. I intend to allow character relationships to be an important factor in this alternate and dieselpunk historical setting. The relationships between each character will need to be tracked as the Roleplay goes on, making sure that the characters' ability to survive will depend on how they like, love, dislike or hate another comrade. However, if you wish to use your own classes, seeing these as only guidelines, then by all means request such.

Character Sheet

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*An image of some sorts may be helpful, if not, go for a description of the character's appearance later on in detail.*

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Name
Self-explanatory

Age
Self-explanatory

Gender
Male or female. Sexually identifying as an Attack Helicopter is forbidden in the USSR

Birth-date / Location
Self-explanatory

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Appearance
Describe what the image chosen does not; if not image is given then make this detailed highly

Personality
Self-Explanatory

Relationships
This can be simple as each character eventually interacts with them, but this will be updated more in detail as the RP goes along.

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Classification
What classification does the Soldier fall under? Include equipment or add its own section for it

Experimental Gear
This will be thoroughly checked by me to see if it is plausible, but you can be creative with what you see. Requests for tweaks in its design may be asked for. Provide an image if possible, if not a good description of it.

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Background
The biography of your character. Keep fairly well made, making sure that enough is known about the character. Large details is optional.
This can be updated as the RP develops on more.

Experience
For those who are a previous reserve, that would only cover 'Military Training'. Myself and another user (Upon request) who have a little bit of fighting experience will add a tad more to it

Family
Self-explanatory

Theme Song
Just a bit of fun, really. Optional at most.

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And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the roleplay at most. If there are any questions as such regarding the lore, the equipment, the dieselpunk technology or the general roleplay, please feel free to ask me. I may elect or request for a co-GM or two to assist in helping the Roleplay. They will be tasked with suggestions and management assistance, making my busy life a little bit more easier. Either way, I thank you for reading this, and for those interested who have not already stated, get yourself in my radar before any drastic decisions or events happen, just so we can include you. I may be accepting players throughout the Roleplay.

[mickilennial]

Ei Yu, Chinese Liberation Front

“When one man is ready to risk his life, ten thousand men cannot defeat him.”

Ei Yu, reciting a Chinese idiom

Personal Dossier

---

_Name

Ei Yu

_Age

29

_{Date of Birth}

December 28th, 1919

_Gender

Female

_Origin

Nanjing, Republic of China

_Appearance

Ei Yu can slip into a Chinese crowd with little difficulty – her appearance being that of a common poor Chinese woman of adult age. She stands at a full 5’2”, the stock average of her gender among her fellow eastern and southeastern Asians. She’s well-toned after a decade of fighting and conditioning against Japanese Imperialists and keeps up a martial arts regimen in order to keep herself “centered” and ready for anything. Her hair is a dark brown-black and she has brown eyes with an unassuming appearance that is often made even moreso with the choice of clothing that is more reminiscent of a dǒulì-toting rice farmer than the resistance soldier that she is.

_Personality

Ei Yu inherited a broad intelligence and self-oriented philosophy from her father, often believing strongly that despite her role in traditional Chinese society the only way things were going to be done correctly was with her directing them. Given her particular struggles as a member of the Chinese Resistance this has been a trait that has only been affirmed throughout nearly eleven years of struggle and experience. This isn’t to say Yu thinks people are incompetent, but rather they lack the emotional stability to think logically and efficiently when it comes to a problem. In many conflicts this has arisen to Yu maintaining a level head and subverting her own emotions to get the most optimal result. It’s hard to disagree with Yu when she’s survived as long as she has against the Japanese forces that intend to dominate her culture, people, and the Chinese way of being. But at the end of the day, Yu isn’t as emotionally mute as she would lead her comrades to believe.

The Rape of Nanjing has scarred the deepest, oldest memories of Yu’s mind; the event causing an emotional instability that leads to huge waves of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, guilt, hatred, fear, and obsession. Yu’s focus is only to cope with the dark emotions that remain deep within her heart and soul. From her perspective it is a productive thing to ignore her feelings, especially considering the traditions she was born with consist of quiet resilience and stoicism as primary values. Sometimes she is candidly blunt and othertimes she is simply being “objective” regarding her hatred and concerns, but in the end she’d rather swallow a bullet than admit her own anxieties, fears, and speak of the guilt she has on surviving Nanjing.

_Background

Ei Yu was born to a small Chinese family in Nanjing in 1923 during a perilous time in the Republic of China.

Yu’s father, Ei Zhong, was a Chinese Capitalist and Nationalist who served as one of the most influential men in Nanjing prior to his death at the hands of the Japanese when the Sino-Japanese War reached its climax as foreign soldiers sacked the capital of the Republic of China. Ultimately, what this meant for Yu was that her life was built to inherit great wealth and to propagate alliances throughout the capitalists who both opposed the fascist beliefs of Chiang Jieshi and the socialist contemporaries that opposed him. Those who knew Zhong often warned him that the “American” and “French” sensibilities he believed in would be his undoing if the civil war that was brewing didn’t create a casualty out of him first. It is only ironic that his death was not from his politics or from civil unrest but rather a Japanese bullet.

Yu’s mother died in childbirth and was effectively raised by her extended family including her father’s second wife, Qiao Xuefeng. Given Yu lacked significant knowledge of her mother this didn’t effect much of her perspective growing up, though she often felt like her father valued her less for being born the “wrong” gender as many female Chinese often did. Yu kept her discontent to herself, though there was often an unspoken, quiet ambition in her since she was a young girl. This was clear enough when Yu decided to study at the Jinling Women's College in 1936. Unfortunately, this admittance to a higher education would be temporary as one year later Yu found herself hiding in the college as Japanese machine-guns echoed in the streets of Nanjing; The invasion of Nanjing had begun. The American missionary and educator who ran Ginling College, Wilhelmina Vautrin, attempted her very best to keep the safety of her students in mind and Yu would go on to remember the American fondly due to her efforts to protect the Chinese women who looked at the school like a sanctuary and safe haven against the Japanese soldiers that had begun occupying Nanjing.

As much as Yu wanted to find her way home, she knew it was ideal for her to stay at the college; her time there did not end how she wanted it to.

When Japanese soldiers stormed into the college and demanded “comfort women”, Yu saw a side of the Japanese she had only heard about from the other women who were using the college as a safe place away from the fighting. Yu saw firsthand an experience that made her uncomfortable, swearing that she would rather die than meet such a fate. Fortunately, several women offered themselves – sex workers of Nanjing who had taken refuge – instead of the students and children that sat in the school wondering in fear. A situation that Yu appreciated to an extent but at the same time realized the so-called honor of the Japanese was circumstantial and the longer she stayed at the college the sooner she’d be waiting to wonder when the school would run out of enough “comfort women” for the Japanese. She decided she would leave [and carefully so] the first chance she got. She didn’t realize at the time it would be her genesis of becoming a member of the Chinese Resistance.

When Yu found her way home through the war-tattered streets of Nanjing she came home to an empty household. Her father’s body cold alongside her half-brother, Ei Ruiyuan. Her family had been as she feared and she did the most impulsive thing she could think of, swiping the pistol from her father’s dead hands and sought out trouble. A few hours later she was looking down the barrel of an Arisaka 38 and would’ve joined her family in heaven if not for the intervention of a man she would come to know as her mentor and friend, a man named Liu Jingyi. Jingyi would “foster” the young Chinese girl and soon he would introduce her to the movement to oppose Japan. The rest is history.

Attributes & Other Information

---

_{Classification}

Designated Marksman

_Equipment

Arisaka 38 Bolt-Action Rifle
Model 26 Hammerless Revolver

Writer's Note: Alternative loadouts are relatively likely for Yu once she gets supplied by coalition forces held by the Soviets and remaining Allies in British Raj. She will most likely find the Lee Enfield and Mosin-Nagant as superior rifles to the Arisaka 38 she has grown used to using. In combination with her experimental equipment, this suggests Yu is flexible and holds no favoritism toward her weapons.

_{Experimental Equipment}

In addition to the standard experimental equipment provided, Yu has been issued a filterable scope based on the Zielgerät 1229, a prototype acquired by the Soviets after a German laboratory was seized in Eastern Europe. Named the Хельсинг as a joke by soviet scientists, the name has stuck though Yu herself has no idea what it means.

To explain the Хельсинг is pretty simple. The filtered scope can be applied to any rifle (or even a machine gun) with little issue or detrimental weight. Much like the Zielgerät 1229, the Хельсинг allows the shooter to have a multiple range of options when approaching a firefight including night vision, infrared vision, and electromagnetic vision. The development of such a weapon can turn the tide of a battle, though only a small handful have been developed since the prototype was developed. It is likely that the one issued to Yu is one of the only models designated to the Asian Theatre. Such things will allow the 914 better awareness and mobility in their missions throughout Eastern, Southern, and Southeastern Asia.

_Experience

Yu was nearing her eighteenth birthday when the Imperial Japanese Army attacked Nanjing, an event that she considers the one thing that changed her life. Eventually she found herself involved within the Chinese Liberation Movement, a group of freedom fighters that represented China much like how the French Resistance had done so for France [albeit unsuccessfully]. The date she “officially” joined is hard to say, but it would have to have occurred at the earliest in 1941, around four years after the massacre. Though Yu herself considers Nanjing as the day of her “recruitment”.

Her induction into the cross-faction “experimental” squadron, the 914, has come from a decade of experience, though most veteran soldiers would consider Yu’s experience as representing more of skirmishes and ambushes rather than a true field of battle. There are exceptions with a decade of fighting, of course, but being a female soldier comes with its share of prejudices and misconceptions.

▪ Chinese Liberation Movement (1938- )
▪ Coalition Against Imperial Japan (1948- )

_Relations

Ei Zhong (1895-1937)
Yu’s father and a victim of the Rape of Nanjing.

Liu Jingyi (1874-1943)
A survivor of Nanjing and a former member of the Chinese Resistance – Jingyi was probably the closest thing to family that Yu has left. The two are unrelated, but Jingyi’s fostering of Yu can be said to have been that of a second father. A veteran of the Dungan Revolt, the Boxer Rebellion, and a multitude of other conflicts, Jingyi would direct Yu’s life within the Chinese Liberation Movement. Due to his involvement in the Soviet Invasion of Xinjiang he had a strong distaste for communists and Russians in general; a trait that has influenced Yu’s way of thinking.

Liao Xuefeng (1921- )
A male soldier within the Chinese Resistance and a close friend.

_Theme

San Nien by Li Xiang Lan

[Spriggs27]

If nobody picked combat medic I'd make'em.

[Jeep Wrangler]

If nobody picked combat medic I'd make'em.

@Spriggs27

Got for it. Would love to have you on-board.

[Spriggs27]

Quick question can I have a shotgun primary instead a rifle

And have we rped together before? because I don't think we know each other.

[Jeep Wrangler]

Quick question can I have a shotgun primary instead a rifle

And have we rped together before? because I don't think we know each other.

@Spriggs27

We do not know one another, no. Nice to meet you.

Go for a shotgun if you wish. The "Classification" area is just a guideline for those who are unsure of what to make their character as. Go for it!

[Spriggs27]

@LetMeDoStuff oh okay, and thank you.

[LordVoldemort]

Grenadier incoming.

[Jeep Wrangler]

Grenadier incoming.

@LordVoldemort

Polski Grenade man

[Carlyle]

<Snipped quote by LordVoldemort>

Polski Grenade man

@LetMeDoStuff

Polski?

[Jeep Wrangler]

<Snipped quote by LetMeDoStuff>

Polski?

@Sola

Polish. Hard. Bass

[Supermaxx]

Yosef Kaganavich

---

---

Yosef Kaganavich

He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels.

Psalm 78:49

---

---

Age:
21

Gender:
Male

Birth-date / Location:
June 4th, 1927 - Moscow, USSR

---

---

Appearance:
Yosef always stood out because of his height. He was a head taller than his father by the time he was sixteen, and he'd continue to grow until he was a good four inches over the average at five feet and nine inches.

Much to the chagrin of his brothers, their mother chose to feed Yosef an extra portion at every meal; "My boy's already the biggest, so he'll be the strongest, too!" she'd cry when his siblings inevitably protested. Being so well fed, in combination with his back-breaking work in Moscow's automotive factory, Kaganavich developed a strong frame to compliment his height.

Yosef possesses many of his people's identifying physical traits. His complexion is darker, though not quite matching the brown of his eyes and messy, impossible-to-manage hair. The aquiline nose that sits upon his face has oft been the target of jabs from both friend and foe alike. Once, such teasing had bothered him. Recent events have turned his worries toward other, more grim matters.

As a matter of faith, Kaganavich sports a sparse set of whiskers on his face. He'd never been quite as hairy as the rest of his family for reasons he couldn't explain. His sorely lacking facial hair was often mocked by his younger brothers, and even his father expressed his disappointment on more than one occasion.

Personality:
Kaganavich's upbringing was a traditional one. His father instilled in him values of integrity, honor and courage; his mother tempered him with gentleness, kindness and selflessness. Being the eldest son, Yosef was favored to become the next head of the family when his father passed on. This came with a great deal of responsibility, and he took to it excellently. From a young age, Yosef loved helping people. He helped deliver milk with his father. He helped his mother with the cooking and cleaning- often doing the tasks meant for his younger sister. Yosef expected little in return, save for a ruffle of his hair and a 'That's my boy' from the father and mother he idolized.

As he grew and came into his own, Yosef found his virtues tested. More than one delinquent neighbor or schoolhouse bully took advantage of Kaganavich's unwillingness to fight them. That was one thing Yosef had always detested: violence. In any form. Even when Yosef should've protected himself or even another, he wouldn't raise a hand to the attacker. More than once he'd come home with a black eye and a quiet smile on his face because he'd used his face to occupy someone long enough for the original intended victim to skitter away.

War doesn't care for values or idealism, however; when it came for the Kaganavich family, Yosef was forced to confront his feelings. He was forced to make a choice. Either he could hold fast to his beliefs and sit idly by as the Wermacht consumed his homeland and his people, or Yosef could turn aside from them and take up arms. It wasn't an easy thing, and he still wrestles with the brutality of it all constantly, but in the end Yosef made his decision. Yosef chose to fight.

Relationships:
TBD

---

---

Classification:
Combat Engineer, Standard Equipment

Experimental Gear:
With the advent of the technological revolution, the influx of increasingly intricate vehicles and equipment has increased the number of mechanical failings and problems dramatically. More experimental tech has a habit of breaking down, and in a unit full of such tech, the ability to bring it back online quickly is vital. Compounded on the fact that a good engineer is hard to come by, the invention of the Utility Assistance Unit (UAU) was inevitable.

The Utility Assistance Unit is a powered exoskeleton that increases the carrying strength of the wearer exponentially, with the suit alone possessing near one hundred pounds of lifting capability. This is necessary not only to compensate for the added weight of it's many attachments and tools, but also to allow the engineer to move construction material without aid.

Heavy power tools are attached to each arm, with a set of rotators in place to allow seamless switching between them. On the right limb it has: a welding torch, chainsaw and a jackhammer. Upon the left, it has: a nail/screw gun, automated entrenching tool, and a mine detector.

While construction and repair are both vital functions of any combat engineer, they aren't simply technicians; any engineer worth his salt is just as well-versed in demolitions. The UAU was designed as well with this other role in mind. TNT, anti-infantry and anti-armor mines, as well as- depending on the deployment- a Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher.

A number of design flaws and issues keep the Utility Assistance Unit firmly in the experimental category. The many tools it has to accomplish a wide breadth of tasks make the suit heavy and cumbersome to utilize. The wearer is slower on the battlefield, and weighed down during long marches and campaigns. It also relies on having a steady supply of diesel fuel for it's many powered tools; without something to power it's engine, the UAU is little more than a very large, very heavy paperweight.

These are just the expected drawbacks, however. The design also suffers from issues of overheating when used for an extended period of time. The UAU requires breaks to cool down; not exactly an issue in the cool Russian air, but less than ideal in the humidity of southern Asia. Overheating can lead to parts being damaged and needing either repair or maintenance, and the intricate design of each specific tool makes it difficult to put back together even for a skilled engineer or technician.

---

---

Background:
Born in the bustling capital of Russia to two bright-eyed Hebrew parents- Abram and Miriam- Yosef always felt he was meant for great things. Even when he was small, when he was still learning how to read and write, he would picture himself standing in the old times alongside the mythical heroes of the Torah. He wanted so desperately to be like them- like King David and Judah Maccabee. His father always insisted that Yosef could be, too; if he was a good man who feared God and did what was right, then greatness would find him. Kaganavich thrust himself into his studies of scripture the moment he was able, taking to heart the tales of the Judges and kings.

He wasn't the only boy running around the Kaganavich household for very long. His first brother, Jonah, came into the world when Yosef was only five, and another, Elisha, followed the year after that. Another two years passed when his sister, Dinah, joined them.

He loved his siblings, even if they were terribly loud and interrupted his reading much too often for his liking. His parents taught him that treating his family well was an important step in becoming a great man. So, as always, he did.

Yosef learned from his brothers something that would stick with him until he became an adult: he hated fighting. He'd watch those two wrestle and wail on each other constantly, and it left a sour taste in his mouth. Despite being bigger and stronger than both by a noticeable margin, Yosef would always lose when they inevitably roped him into their games- his reluctance to hurt them was easily taken advantage of.

Surprisingly, Yosef found himself getting along better with Dinah than either of his brothers. Though eight years his junior, Dinah held a similar fascination for books and stories. He couldn't count the number of nights he spent reading aloud to Dinah while she was curled up in his lap, trying desperately to stay awake until the end.

In 1942, when Yosef was just fifteen, the war a world away arrived at his doorstep in a military uniform and with a letter of conscription for Abram. A tearful Miriam held tight to Dinah as her child sobbed in her chest, crying that her father couldn't go. Yosef had to drag both Elisha and Jonah to the back room to keep them from tearing into the Russian officer. Abram embraced his family, promising to write to them as much as he could before he was whisked away.

They never saw him again.

Another letter came in the mail for Yosef only a few weeks later, informing him that he was to report to the nearby factory for work. It was an Armored Repair Facility, he'd come to learn. Where once they built cars, they now put tanks and armored cars back together. Kaganavich thrived there. Something about the way the machines worked just clicked in his head. His earlier hunger for learning came back with a vengeance. Yosef attached himself to the oldest and most skillful workers and engineers, pestering them with a constant barrage of questions and inquiries about the work they were doing.

That willingness to learn earned him the attention of the officers in charge of production. Yosef was taken aside at the age of seventeen and given additional training. He was soon leading teams of workers, directing them through the repair process. Yosef's technical skill was the only reason he wasn't drafted like many men his age. He served the Union better here- not that he would ever complain. Though he desperately missed Abram, Yosef never wanted to fight on the frontline, for he still desperately hated violence.

Some cosmic force decided that if Yosef refused to go to the frontline then the only option left was to bring the frontline to him. The Wermacht descended on Moscow like a steel legion from the pits of hell. Armored monstrosities and inhuman Nazi soldiers besieged that city Yosef held so dearly. He could hear the shells exploding even as he worked to salvage the many burned out husks of armor the Red Army was dropping in his factory line. He received a letter from Dinah telling him that both Jonah and Elisha had been conscripted to defend Moscow, despite their age.

When Moscow fell, Yosef and the other technical experts were evacuated. He made sure Dinah and his mother were safely out of the city, though he had no word on what happened to Elisha and Jonah...Miriam feared the worst, but Yosef never gave up hope; those two were the toughest boys he'd ever known. If anyone could survive that hell, it'd be them. Abram's letters stopped coming in, though Yosef was sure that was just due to the broken line between where his father was stationed and the refugee camps.

Before he could be transferred to another factory, Yosef received another letter from the Red Army. He was being drafted into a specialized unit he'd never heard of before. Reluctantly he left behind his mother and sister, taking what little belongings he had left and leaving with the conscription officer. Yosef was fearful, and apprehensive, but he still held strong to hope. He would not let this war break him as it did so many others.

Experience:
Standard Basic Training

Specialized Technical Training

Six years of vehicular and equipment repair

Family:
Abram Kaganavich - Unknown
Miriam Kaganavich - Alive
Jonah Kaganavich - Unknown
Elisha Kaganavich - Unknown
Dinah Kaganavich - Alive

Theme Song:
Through The Valley

---

---

[Jeep Wrangler]

Yosef Kaganavich

---

---

Yosef Kaganavich

He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels.

Psalm 78:49

---

---

Age:
21

Gender:
Male

Birth-date / Location:
June 4th, 1927 - Moscow, USSR

---

---

Appearance:
Yosef always stood out because of his height. He was a head taller than his father by the time he was sixteen, and he'd continue to grow until he was a good four inches over the average at five feet and nine inches.

Much to the chagrin of his brothers, their mother chose to feed Yosef an extra portion at every meal; "My boy's already the biggest, so he'll be the strongest, too!" she'd cry when his siblings inevitably protested. Being so well fed, in combination with his back-breaking work in Moscow's automotive factory, Kaganavich developed a strong frame to compliment his height.

Yosef possesses many of his people's identifying physical traits. His complexion is darker, though not quite matching the brown of his eyes and messy, impossible-to-manage hair. The aquiline nose that sits upon his face has oft been the target of jabs from both friend and foe alike. Once, such teasing had bothered him. Recent events have turned his worries toward other, more grim matters.

As a matter of faith, Kaganavich sports a sparse set of whiskers on his face. He'd never been quite as hairy as the rest of his family for reasons he couldn't explain. His sorely lacking facial hair was often mocked by his younger brothers, and even his father expressed his disappointment on more than one occasion.

Personality:
Kaganavich's upbringing was a traditional one. His father instilled in him values of integrity, honor and courage; his mother tempered him with gentleness, kindness and selflessness. Being the eldest son, Yosef was favored to become the next head of the family when his father passed on. This came with a great deal of responsibility, and he took to it excellently. From a young age, Yosef loved helping people. He helped deliver milk with his father. He helped his mother with the cooking and cleaning- often doing the tasks meant for his younger sister. Yosef expected little in return, save for a ruffle of his hair and a 'That's my boy' from the father and mother he idolized.

As he grew and came into his own, Yosef found his virtues tested. More than one delinquent neighbor or schoolhouse bully took advantage of Kaganavich's unwillingness to fight them. That was one thing Yosef had always detested: violence. In any form. Even when Yosef should've protected himself or even another, he wouldn't raise a hand to the attacker. More than once he'd come home with a black eye and a quiet smile on his face because he'd used his face to occupy someone long enough for the original intended victim to skitter away.

War doesn't care for values or idealism, however; when it came for the Kaganavich family, Yosef was forced to confront his feelings. He was forced to make a choice. Either he could hold fast to his beliefs and sit idly by as the Wermacht consumed his homeland and his people, or Yosef could turn aside from them and take up arms. It wasn't an easy thing, and he still wrestles with the brutality of it all constantly, but in the end Yosef made his decision. Yosef chose to fight.

Relationships:
TBD

---

---

Classification:
Combat Engineer, Standard Equipment

Experimental Gear:
With the advent of the technological revolution, the influx of increasingly intricate vehicles and equipment has increased the number of mechanical failings and problems dramatically. More experimental tech has a habit of breaking down, and in a unit full of such tech, the ability to bring it back online quickly is vital. Compounded on the fact that a good engineer is hard to come by, the invention of the Utility Assistance Unit (UAU) was inevitable.

The Utility Assistance Unit is a powered exoskeleton that increases the carrying strength of the wearer exponentially, with the suit alone possessing near one hundred pounds of lifting capability. This is necessary not only to compensate for the added weight of it's many attachments and tools, but also to allow the engineer to move construction material without aid.

Heavy power tools are attached to each arm, with a set of rotators in place to allow seamless switching between them. On the right limb it has: a welding torch, chainsaw and a jackhammer. Upon the left, it has: a nail/screw gun, automated entrenching tool, and a mine detector.

While construction and repair are both vital functions of any combat engineer, they aren't simply technicians; any engineer worth his salt is just as well-versed in demolitions. The UAU was designed as well with this other role in mind. TNT, anti-infantry and anti-armor mines, as well as- depending on the deployment- a Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher.

---

---

Background:
Born in the bustling capital of Russia to two bright-eyed Hebrew parents- Abram and Miriam- Yosef always felt he was meant for great things. Even when he was small, when he was still learning how to read and write, he would picture himself standing in the old times alongside the mythical heroes of the Torah. He wanted so desperately to be like them- like King David and Judah Maccabee. His father always insisted that Yosef could be, too; if he was a good man who feared God and did what was right, then greatness would find him. Kaganavich thrust himself into his studies of scripture the moment he was able, taking to heart the tales of the Judges and kings.

He wasn't the only boy running around the Kaganavich household for very long. His first brother, Jonah, came into the world when Yosef was only five, and another, Elisha, followed the year after that. Another two years passed when his sister, Dinah, joined them.

He loved his siblings, even if they were terribly loud and interrupted his reading much too often for his liking. His parents taught him that treating his family well was an important step in becoming a great man. So, as always, he did.

Yosef learned from his brothers something that would stick with him until he became an adult: he hated fighting. He'd watch those two wrestle and wail on each other constantly, and it left a sour taste in his mouth. Despite being bigger and stronger than both by a noticeable margin, Yosef would always lose when they inevitably roped him into their games- his reluctance to hurt them was easily taken advantage of.

Surprisingly, Yosef found himself getting along better with Dinah than either of his brothers. Though eight years his junior, Dinah held a similar fascination for books and stories. He couldn't count the number of nights he spent reading aloud to Dinah while she was curled up in his lap, trying desperately to stay awake until the end.

In 1942, when Yosef was just fifteen, the war a world away arrived at his doorstep in a military uniform and with a letter of conscription for Abram. A tearful Miriam held tight to Dinah as her child sobbed in her chest, crying that her father couldn't go. Yosef had to drag both Elisha and Jonah to the back room to keep them from tearing into the Russian officer. Abram embraced his family, promising to write to them as much as he could before he was whisked away.

They never saw him again.

Another letter came in the mail for Yosef only a few weeks later, informing him that he was to report to the nearby factory for work. It was an Armored Repair Facility, he'd come to learn. Where once they built cars, they now put tanks and armored cars back together. Kaganavich thrived there. Something about the way the machines worked just clicked in his head. His earlier hunger for learning came back with a vengeance. Yosef attached himself to the oldest and most skillful workers and engineers, pestering them with a constant barrage of questions and inquiries about the work they were doing.

That willingness to learn earned him the attention of the officers in charge of production. Yosef was taken aside at the age of seventeen and given additional training. He was soon leading teams of workers, directing them through the repair process. Yosef's technical skill was the only reason he wasn't drafted like many men his age. He served the Union better here- not that he would ever complain. Though he desperately missed Abram, Yosef never wanted to fight on the frontline, for he still desperately hated violence.

Some cosmic force decided that if Yosef refused to go to the frontline then the only option left was to bring the frontline to him. The Wermacht descended on Moscow like a steel legion from the pits of hell. Armored monstrosities and inhuman Nazi soldiers besieged that city Yosef held so dearly. He could hear the shells exploding even as he worked to salvage the many burned out husks of armor the Red Army was dropping in his factory line. He received a letter from Dinah telling him that both Jonah and Elisha had been conscripted to defend Moscow, despite their age.

When Moscow fell, Yosef and the other technical experts were evacuated. He made sure Dinah and his mother were safely out of the city, though he had no word on what happened to Elisha and Jonah...Miriam feared the worst, but Yosef never gave up hope; those two were the toughest boys he'd ever known. If anyone could survive that hell, it'd be them. Abram's letters stopped coming in, though Yosef was sure that was just due to the broken line between where his father was stationed and the refugee camps.

Before he could be transferred to another factory, Yosef received another letter from the Red Army. He was being drafted into a specialized unit he'd never heard of before. Reluctantly he left behind his mother and sister, taking what little belongings he had left and leaving with the conscription officer. Yosef was fearful, and apprehensive, but he still held strong to hope. He would not let this war break him as it did so many others.

Experience:
Standard Basic Training

Specialized Technical Training

Six years of vehicular and equipment repair

Family:
Abram Kaganavich - Unknown
Miriam Kaganavich - Alive
Jonah Kaganavich - Unknown
Elisha Kaganavich - Unknown
Dinah Kaganavich - Alive

Theme Song:
Through The Valley

---

---

@Superboy

Place that sheet into the tab, my boy.

[Jeep Wrangler]

Yosef Kaganavich

---

---

Yosef Kaganavich

He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels.

Psalm 78:49

---

---

Age:
21

Gender:
Male

Birth-date / Location:
June 4th, 1927 - Moscow, USSR

---

---

Appearance:
Yosef always stood out because of his height. He was a head taller than his father by the time he was sixteen, and he'd continue to grow until he was a good four inches over the average at five feet and nine inches.

Much to the chagrin of his brothers, their mother chose to feed Yosef an extra portion at every meal; "My boy's already the biggest, so he'll be the strongest, too!" she'd cry when his siblings inevitably protested. Being so well fed, in combination with his back-breaking work in Moscow's automotive factory, Kaganavich developed a strong frame to compliment his height.

Yosef possesses many of his people's identifying physical traits. His complexion is darker, though not quite matching the brown of his eyes and messy, impossible-to-manage hair. The aquiline nose that sits upon his face has oft been the target of jabs from both friend and foe alike. Once, such teasing had bothered him. Recent events have turned his worries toward other, more grim matters.

As a matter of faith, Kaganavich sports a sparse set of whiskers on his face. He'd never been quite as hairy as the rest of his family for reasons he couldn't explain. His sorely lacking facial hair was often mocked by his younger brothers, and even his father expressed his disappointment on more than one occasion.

Personality:
Kaganavich's upbringing was a traditional one. His father instilled in him values of integrity, honor and courage; his mother tempered him with gentleness, kindness and selflessness. Being the eldest son, Yosef was favored to become the next head of the family when his father passed on. This came with a great deal of responsibility, and he took to it excellently. From a young age, Yosef loved helping people. He helped deliver milk with his father. He helped his mother with the cooking and cleaning- often doing the tasks meant for his younger sister. Yosef expected little in return, save for a ruffle of his hair and a 'That's my boy' from the father and mother he idolized.

As he grew and came into his own, Yosef found his virtues tested. More than one delinquent neighbor or schoolhouse bully took advantage of Kaganavich's unwillingness to fight them. That was one thing Yosef had always detested: violence. In any form. Even when Yosef should've protected himself or even another, he wouldn't raise a hand to the attacker. More than once he'd come home with a black eye and a quiet smile on his face because he'd used his face to occupy someone long enough for the original intended victim to skitter away.

War doesn't care for values or idealism, however; when it came for the Kaganavich family, Yosef was forced to confront his feelings. He was forced to make a choice. Either he could hold fast to his beliefs and sit idly by as the Wermacht consumed his homeland and his people, or Yosef could turn aside from them and take up arms. It wasn't an easy thing, and he still wrestles with the brutality of it all constantly, but in the end Yosef made his decision. Yosef chose to fight.

Relationships:
TBD

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Classification:
Combat Engineer, Standard Equipment

Experimental Gear:
With the advent of the technological revolution, the influx of increasingly intricate vehicles and equipment has increased the number of mechanical failings and problems dramatically. More experimental tech has a habit of breaking down, and in a unit full of such tech, the ability to bring it back online quickly is vital. Compounded on the fact that a good engineer is hard to come by, the invention of the Utility Assistance Unit (UAU) was inevitable.

The Utility Assistance Unit is a powered exoskeleton that increases the carrying strength of the wearer exponentially, with the suit alone possessing near one hundred pounds of lifting capability. This is necessary not only to compensate for the added weight of it's many attachments and tools, but also to allow the engineer to move construction material without aid.

Heavy power tools are attached to each arm, with a set of rotators in place to allow seamless switching between them. On the right limb it has: a welding torch, chainsaw and a jackhammer. Upon the left, it has: a nail/screw gun, automated entrenching tool, and a mine detector.

While construction and repair are both vital functions of any combat engineer, they aren't simply technicians; any engineer worth his salt is just as well-versed in demolitions. The UAU was designed as well with this other role in mind. TNT, anti-infantry and anti-armor mines, as well as- depending on the deployment- a Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher.

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Background:
Born in the bustling capital of Russia to two bright-eyed Hebrew parents- Abram and Miriam- Yosef always felt he was meant for great things. Even when he was small, when he was still learning how to read and write, he would picture himself standing in the old times alongside the mythical heroes of the Torah. He wanted so desperately to be like them- like King David and Judah Maccabee. His father always insisted that Yosef could be, too; if he was a good man who feared God and did what was right, then greatness would find him. Kaganavich thrust himself into his studies of scripture the moment he was able, taking to heart the tales of the Judges and kings.

He wasn't the only boy running around the Kaganavich household for very long. His first brother, Jonah, came into the world when Yosef was only five, and another, Elisha, followed the year after that. Another two years passed when his sister, Dinah, joined them.

He loved his siblings, even if they were terribly loud and interrupted his reading much too often for his liking. His parents taught him that treating his family well was an important step in becoming a great man. So, as always, he did.

Yosef learned from his brothers something that would stick with him until he became an adult: he hated fighting. He'd watch those two wrestle and wail on each other constantly, and it left a sour taste in his mouth. Despite being bigger and stronger than both by a noticeable margin, Yosef would always lose when they inevitably roped him into their games- his reluctance to hurt them was easily taken advantage of.

Surprisingly, Yosef found himself getting along better with Dinah than either of his brothers. Though eight years his junior, Dinah held a similar fascination for books and stories. He couldn't count the number of nights he spent reading aloud to Dinah while she was curled up in his lap, trying desperately to stay awake until the end.

In 1942, when Yosef was just fifteen, the war a world away arrived at his doorstep in a military uniform and with a letter of conscription for Abram. A tearful Miriam held tight to Dinah as her child sobbed in her chest, crying that her father couldn't go. Yosef had to drag both Elisha and Jonah to the back room to keep them from tearing into the Russian officer. Abram embraced his family, promising to write to them as much as he could before he was whisked away.

They never saw him again.

Another letter came in the mail for Yosef only a few weeks later, informing him that he was to report to the nearby factory for work. It was an Armored Repair Facility, he'd come to learn. Where once they built cars, they now put tanks and armored cars back together. Kaganavich thrived there. Something about the way the machines worked just clicked in his head. His earlier hunger for learning came back with a vengeance. Yosef attached himself to the oldest and most skillful workers and engineers, pestering them with a constant barrage of questions and inquiries about the work they were doing.

That willingness to learn earned him the attention of the officers in charge of production. Yosef was taken aside at the age of seventeen and given additional training. He was soon leading teams of workers, directing them through the repair process. Yosef's technical skill was the only reason he wasn't drafted like many men his age. He served the Union better here- not that he would ever complain. Though he desperately missed Abram, Yosef never wanted to fight on the frontline, for he still desperately hated violence.

Some cosmic force decided that if Yosef refused to go to the frontline then the only option left was to bring the frontline to him. The Wermacht descended on Moscow like a steel legion from the pits of hell. Armored monstrosities and inhuman Nazi soldiers besieged that city Yosef held so dearly. He could hear the shells exploding even as he worked to salvage the many burned out husks of armor the Red Army was dropping in his factory line. He received a letter from Dinah telling him that both Jonah and Elisha had been conscripted to defend Moscow, despite their age.

When Moscow fell, Yosef and the other technical experts were evacuated. He made sure Dinah and his mother were safely out of the city, though he had no word on what happened to Elisha and Jonah...Miriam feared the worst, but Yosef never gave up hope; those two were the toughest boys he'd ever known. If anyone could survive that hell, it'd be them. Abram's letters stopped coming in, though Yosef was sure that was just due to the broken line between where his father was stationed and the refugee camps.

Before he could be transferred to another factory, Yosef received another letter from the Red Army. He was being drafted into a specialized unit he'd never heard of before. Reluctantly he left behind his mother and sister, taking what little belongings he had left and leaving with the conscription officer. Yosef was fearful, and apprehensive, but he still held strong to hope. He would not let this war break him as it did so many others.

Experience:
Standard Basic Training

Specialized Technical Training

Six years of vehicular and equipment repair

Family:
Abram Kaganavich - Unknown
Miriam Kaganavich - Alive
Jonah Kaganavich - Unknown
Elisha Kaganavich - Unknown
Dinah Kaganavich - Alive

Theme Song:
Through The Valley

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@Superboy

Actually, one piece of criticism. Whilst your suit works well with the role of a combat engineer, a list of disadvantages would be likely. We need to make sure everything is balanced, especially for something as grand as that gear.

[Xandrya]

Expect my medic soon.

[Jeep Wrangler]

Expect my medic soon.

@Xandrya

AYYYYYYY YOU ARE BACK.

[Avanhelsing]

Wow this seems really interesting! I was thinking a medic or a sharpshooter. Probably an American volunteer who is going to fight back on the Russian front.

[SunsetWanderer]

This looks super neat. I had an idea in my head for perhaps an Australian Fighter Ace who's now making the transition into 'Special Forces', picked up for their initial reputation and skill in the skies. They'd probably be closest to the 'Rifleman' class in terms of loadout, I imagine.

[Supermaxx]

@LetMeDoStuff Added a blurb about disadvantages/weaknesses. Lemme know if those are sufficient.

[Jeep Wrangler]

@SunsetWandererRecent changes in plans mean that Aussies will be far more involved as mostly, if not all, of the focus is set to be in Asia. I would love to have an Aussie aboard.

Wow this seems really interesting! I was thinking a medic or a sharpshooter. Probably an American volunteer who is going to fight back on the Russian front.

@Avanhelsing

I do like the idea and appreciate you having interest. My only slight concern is having an American leave their land when their homeland is being invaded. I would suggest, to make it easier for you, that you pick another nation, but if you can justify them then be my guest and make me a CS!