Knight Operations

Knight Operations, also referred to as the Knight Branch or simply the Knights, is the sixth and newest military branch of the United Space Command, organized under both USC High Command and the Unified Ground Command. The branch is responsible for the command of special operations undertaken by all Knights integrated into their ranks. Knight Operations has autonomy from the other six branches of the USC, the Knights closely collaborate with the USC Air Force and share assets with the Marine Corps and Army.

Mission

Knight Operations was created to serve as the most elite infantry force used by the United Space Command, serving as a joint special operations branch that often undertakes missions involving unconventional warfare. The primary mission of the branch is to secure peace throughout human space using elite soldiers to quell threats and other hostile factors.
With the branch's activation in 2701, some of the USC's most prominent and effective personnel have been assigned to specialized combat and intelligence gathering teams. These teams are composed of highly proficient operators with varied skills to provide them with significant flexibility in carrying out their assigned missions. Such teams carry out challenging operations directly under the USC High Command.

History

Origins and formation

The production of Knight supersoldiers did not become possible in practice for the United Space Command until the end of the Second Energy War. Despite this, optimistic projections in 2696 suggested that two dozen Knights might be created in just eight months. Between 2701 and 2721, nearly one hundred Knights have been trained, augmented, and graduated as part of the Knight program, masterminded by Army veteran and Office of Space Intelligence confidant Colonel Harriet Riley.

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Outer Colonies Civil War

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Structure

Knight Operations is an independent, and the most recently established, branch of the United Space Command. As is the state of the USC Marine Corps, the Knight branch is organized under both the Unified Ground Command and USC High Command. Although originally under the jurisdiction of the Tactical Orbital Defense Troopers, particularly the Office of Space Intelligence, Knights quickly evolved into an organization of its own, until then-Commander Anders Lane went before a board of officers and proposed the branch's autonomy. The recent success of the Knights led to USC leadership accepting Anders' proposal. The branch's independence offers them more freedom with its operations. Knight Operations, while technically autonomous, maintains close relationships and often works in collaboration with the Air Force and other branches when needed, most often in administrative capacities. OSI has the ability to requisition the service of Knight personnel for specific, high-importance operations. The branch is headed by the Commander of Knight Operations; the office is currently held by Rear Admiral Melissa Donalson.
Knight personnel are typically organized into fireteams, consisting of five or four Knights, led by a Knight designated as team leader. Most Knight combat units are composed of personnel which would complement each other's skillsets and abilities, mitigating any individual deficiencies. Some Knights operate in smaller or even individual units. All detachments of Knights operate under a Knight Commander.

Operating Forces

The operating forces of Knight Operations are composed of highly skilled individuals, trained in a variety of tactics and missions. These elite soldiers are known as Knights and undergo extensive training and augmentation to become the ultimate fighting force. The Knights are organized into specialized combat and intelligence-gathering teams, each with a specific set of skills and abilities. These teams work together to carry out complex and dangerous missions, usually in hostile territory.
There are several types of Knight teams, including reconnaissance, assault, and sabotage. Each team is led by a team leader who is responsible for the overall success of the mission. In addition to combat forces, Knight Operations also has a large support staff consisting of engineers, technicians, and other specialists. These individuals provide logistical support and ensure that the Knights have the equipment they need to carry out their missions.

Special Operations

The Knights of Knight Operations are renowned for their impressive combat skills and their ability to undertake some of the most daring missions across human space. They are the most elite force of the United Space Command Armed Forces, and they are feared by their enemies and revered by their allies. Their training is extensive and their equipment is state-of-the-art, allowing them to operate effectively in any environment.
One of the most important roles of the Knights is to undertake special operations missions. These missions range from sabotage and assassination to infiltration and extraction. The Knights are often tasked with carrying out these missions in hostile territory, and they are required to complete their objectives with maximum discretion and minimal collateral damage.

Personnel

Personnel of Knight Operations are biologically and cybernetically enhanced, heavily armored human supersoldiers. The Knight branch recruits adult men and women from across all of the United Nations Federation's colonies.

Leadership

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Women

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Minorities

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LGBT

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Selection and recruitment

Individuals are recruited into the branch based on their achievements and skills as soldiers in other branches of service. Knight candidate recommendations are made from commanding officers directly to recruiter Anders. Each candidate for the Knight branch is heavily screened, both career military veterans and younger soldiers who demonstrate promising careers. After passing a rigorous series of tests, the candidate is given the non-compulsory option of enlisting in the branch and undergoing Knight augmentations. Each recommended candidate is meticulously examined by Anders and Melissa with the aid of a dedicated, cutting-edge artificial intelligence, as well as a thorough background check and a physiological evaluation. The candidate's communications records and past associations are also examined.

Training

Directly after augmentations, Knight personnel immediately begin their training. One of the training facilities used by the branch is a secret, dedicated space station orbiting an otherwise unimportant dwarf planet. In training, an important emphasis is placed on breaking the bad habits the older or more experienced personnel may have built over the years of their service, as well as giving the Knights practice with their newly acquired augmentations. The training also serves to teach the Knights to work together among each other as equals. The Knights are trained by drill instructors hand-picked by OSI. Major Connie Sorenson is the drill instructor that trains the second class of Knights. As part of the training, the Knights compete in War Games simulations and are pitted against automated weaponry—that utilize non-lethal, yet still painful, ammunition—guided by the USC's sharpest combat veterans. All Knights receive training on how to use jetpacks in-atmosphere. Knights of the first class also faced off against USC Marines armed with weapons using stun rounds, in which the Knights have to navigate and complete an obstacle course. After the Knights completed training, they were then allowed to select their armor. The training of the Knights is overseen by the branch's Knight Training and Education department.
After the initial training, Knights are expected to continue practicing and remain combat-ready by participating in War Games, competitive combat training simulations that utilize holography and millions of pneumatic risers. Wars Games allows Knights to compete among each other in various gamemodes and simulations based off of numerous locations or events, thus allowing the Knights to train and prepare for similar situations.

Rank structure

Unlike the other five branches of the USC, which maintain hierarchical rank structures, all personnel of Knight Operations are considered equal and lack formal ranks, a view especially emphasized by Rear Admiral Melissa Donalson. However, some personnel within the branch wield far more authority than others, with Melissa herself a rear admiral and considered the commander of the Knights. Standing and specialization within the Knight branch is also determined by the personal skill of the individual alone, demonstrated both in combat in the field and in training exercises. This skill is reflected by "Knight Rank", which has an alphanumeric value between KR1 and KR130. Knights who meet or exceed KR50 are allowed to join one of eight wings of the branch known simply as "specializations"; a Knight's choice of specialization ideally reflects the participant's Military Occupational Specialty, such as engineering or vehicle operation.
With no formal rank structure, each Knight of the branch is given the informal rank of "Knight". Each Knight detachment is under the authority of a Knight Commander. However, some knights will continue to use the last rank they held from their former branch, merely for personal satisfaction, unfortunately they no longer share any similarities or benefits of said rank in Knight Operations.

Equipment

Knights of the branch are equipped with a specialized varient of the second generation of the EXCALIBER Powered Assault Armor. This varient of the GEN2 Excaliber integrates the vast majority of the armor's vital hardware systems within the inner techsuit itself, allowing for more streamlined production and easier implementation of specialized subsystems and armatures. The armor is built to incorporate many attachments, such as jetpacks and active camouflage. As the Knights don't have too extensive biological augmentations, the GEN2 armor boosts its operator's reactions, speed, and strength to a greater degree than the TODT varients. Knights are occasionally entrusted and deployed with advanced Office of Space Intelligence technology, such as the Arthur Tracking System.
Knights do not have their own armored vehicles, aerospace craft, or hyperspace-capable transports; they rely on the USC Air Force for interstellar deployment and have arrangements with the Marine Corps and Army to loan their assets when necessary. However, several weapons have been specifically designed for use within Knight Operations and are rarely seen outside the branch, such as Northern Defense Corporation's Javlin MK4. The A475 DMR carbine is also manufactured specifically for use within the Knight branch, though the rifle has also sees use among other USC branches.

Relationship with other services

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USC Navy

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USC Marine Corps

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USC Army

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USC Air Force

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Tactical Orbital Defense Troopers

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Founded

November 17, 2701

Origin

Project: Arthur

KNIGHT Project

Affiliation

United Nations Federation

United Space Command

Type

Special Forces

Role

Joint special operations

Size

109 Active Knights

76 in training

Part of

United Space Command Armed Forces

• Office of Space Intelligence

Headquarters

Classified

Motto(s)

[coming soon]

Engagements

Outer Colonies Civil War

Human-Hivivian War

Commanders

Commander-in-Chief President Brandon Carter

Secretary of Defense Lauren Campbell

Commander of Knight Operations RADM Melissa Donalson

Assistant Commander of Knight Operations CAPT Anders Lane

Knight Operations OSI liaison Col Harriet Riley