Post by Nephill on Mar 1, 2013 23:28:20 GMT -5
The Sub-Factions of the Second Mandalorian Civil War
Read detailed information about the sub-factions of the Second Mandalorian Civil War - the conflict that has emerged from the Warring Clans Period.
The Darasuum Confederation
Vision
The Darasuum Confederation seeks to establish a new Mandalorian order that incorporates foreign ideas and concepts in claims of making the Mandalorians stronger. They desire the reunification of the clans into one, but this time into a government modeled on foreign governments. They would also open Mandalorian culture and space to foreign interests.
The Darasuum would do away with the "autocratic" and "obsolete" role of Mand'alor, deeming it a quaint position that has done more trouble than good. They would replace Mand’alor with an elected head heading a council of aliit'alors - basically a form of constitutional monarchy, instituting a bureaucracy under this ruling council.
Already, this system is being created for corruption. Most of these aliit'alors and their immediate subordinates are powerful warlords of their own little fiefdoms carved out on various worlds - fiefdoms where natives are enslaved with Mandalorian overlords who rule like kings, showering their wealth and power ostentatiously. Even worse, some radical political thinkers are vigorously advocating for a democracy to be implemented under a loose "confederation" - to incorporate this small minority group into the faction, the founders of the Darasuum movement included this term even if it is not implemented in practice - although theoretically, all clans are "independent nation-states" even though the Council Head is fast becoming an autocrat in his own right.
Thus, the clans’ individual independence is emphasized – a relic from the long clans’ war. Some clans within the Confederation don’t even trust each other.
By incorporating new, “modern” ideas into Mandalorian culture, the Darasuum proclaim an everlasting society, thus the name, and promote this new "Eternal Society,” taking "good" elements from aruetii society and weaving it into Mandalorian culture to strengthen themselves. These ideas are even more radical than Cuyan's, but their power and allure of riches beyond imagine has drawn many to their cause.
That being said, although being relatively youthful, the Darasuum draw upon well-established groups that have both wealth, numbers, and equipment. Thus, the Darasuum essentially unites these forces under one cohesive cause for glory and riches for all in the pursuit of preserving this new way of life.
Darasuum refer to themselves as Vencuyot or Confederates, and use the pejorative Shuk’la when referring to the Vencuyanir.
Culture
This Confederation would do away with Mand'alor and conform to aruetiise customs - they call traditionalists "Shuk'la", derived from the concept that the traditionalists would break down Mandalorian society with their old-fashioned and out of date ideas. Ironically, members of the Darasuum Confederation refer to themselves as Vencuyot, or "the future."
Vencuyot paint their armor with the distinctive Darasuum logo (shown above), although it is usually of moderate size and painted on the right corner of their breastplate and sometime also on the buy’ce (helmet).
Vencuyot view surrender as an acceptable option – as preservation of valuable warriors precedes perceived wasting of lives.
Vencuyot also advocate a specialized society, meaning warriors work full-time as soldiers, with specialized trades becoming more important and full-time for such trades such as engineering, smithing, ship construction, politician/administrator, etc. They interpret the tenet of Ara’nov in the Resol’nare more loosely, requiring basic combat training, but accepting that in the pursuit of the greater good, specialists may place this military training second. As a result, a variety of aruetiise have been able to “integrate” into Darasuum society, reinforcing the role of foreigners and foreign ideas.
Vencuyot view themselves as true Mandalorians, and as such still retain some traditional ideas and concepts. The radical changes are justified through need for adaptation, and Vencuyot fiercely deny any allegations of deviating from the Resol’nare. In fact, they believe that they are the saviors of the Mandalorian culture – that without them, the clans would still be warring and hopelessly backward as the rest of the galaxy moves on, leaving the Mandalorians in the dust.
Darasuum planets are in various stages of conversion to Darasuum ideology, with urban areas and urbanization being promoted, and traditionalist ways of decentralization and a relatively nomadic tradition regarded as “quaint.” However, implementation of this political rhetoric varies vastly; several Darasuum cities have been built, in the image of worlds like Coruscant, and already are attracting considerable foreign attention and interest while expanding quickly. Onthe flip end, some of the looser worlds maintain continuity of tradition while claiming Darasuum ideology – this situation being both intentional and unintentional.
The Leadership – Command Structure & Leaders
Kebiin Loras, aliit’alor of Aliit Loras, heads the Darasuum leadership and his clan is the “ruling clan.” Under him are the aliit’alors of the six major clans in the Confederation: Aliit Korack (Harswee),Aliit Chaav (Hrthging, nomadic), Aliit Varad, Aliit Awaud, Aliit Rodarch, and Aliit Evaar.
The army is divided into distinct military units, with a defined chain of command based on other militaries. However, social status plays a role in this ranking system, as the rich and powerful clans secure the top positions while the humbler clans fill the rank and file. Some units are exclusively one clan or another and receive the benefits of “special” funding – in the form of more advanced weapons or tastier food, or a camp of servants to attend to their needs. Units are divided using a traditional structure, and are named by clan, role, and order of establishment(i.e. Loras 3rd Infantry Division).
Equipment, “Kit”
The Darasuum follow a more standardized and structured military structure. Their soldiers fight using mass-produced weapons for logistical purposes – it’s much easier to resupply your troops when they all are using the same rifle.
Most Darasuum are offered the Confederation’s adopted rifle of choice, the S-35 Weapons System to use at their own discretion. Alongside the rifle, they are all supplied with regular equipment and supplies via a freshly established logistics network.
Additional weapons, equipment, and vehicles vary by clan, as the Confederation does not have significant funds to supply their entire army – individual clans must support themselves. However, the uniformity of equipment in the Confederation is unprecedented and mimic aruetiise militaries. This format has the benefit of ease of resupply and reduced costs. The Vencuyanir view this as “losing tradition” and “losing identity.”
Tactics
Darasuum have numbers on their side, as well as being more well-established and stabler than the Vencuyanir. Thus, they are more equipped to fight a war of attrition.
They also have incorporated many elements of foreign military doctrine – mainly from the main factions. Strategy varies from heavy handed and grandiose, borne out of Imperial influence, or subversive and evasive. The Confederation is more well equipped for conventional military operations, and always seeks a direct engagement with the more subversive Vencuyanir. They have the capability to crush the Vencuyanir’s main army easily, as their own army is about 3x bigger and better equipped. However, their forces are spread out over more territory, with only one force that is slightly larger than the Vencuyanir’s army able to undertake expeditionary operations. The rest of the Darasuum military operates as a garrison against almost constant Vencuyanir guerrilla attacks, and stand ready to repel the Vencuyanir main army should they attempt to invade.
Troops are recruited to serve one year enlistments and are paid a salary. Some soldiers are in the military just to receive battle experience and return home to their plantations, meaning that they lack the fanatical dedication of the traditionalists.
The Darasuum also maintain that clandestine operations are an honorable way to conduct battle, and thus have modeled foreign organizations to create an emerging clandestine service. Due to its youth, the Darasuum Clandestine Services Agency (DCSA) mostly operates turncoats and networks of bandits. Their crowning achievement was the attack on the Vencuyanir staging camp on Ordo, a series of terrorist bomb attacks caused by several cells of moles – every mole fought to the last man or committed suicide before being taken alive to be interrogated. The damages inflicted by this attack were both in kit and men. However, the key objective of this operation, the destruction of the newly arrived fleet of starships and gunships, failed when the bombs malfunctioned.
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Vision
A traditionalist movement under the man known as Cuyan, the Survivor, has emerged and is calling itself the Vencuyanir Movement, to "preserve." This movement emphasizes Mandalorian tradition and seeks to install Cuyan as Mand'alor - even though he himself hasn't declared himself as the new leader of the Mandalorian nation just yet.
Vencuyanir operate under Cuyan as leader, with the aliit’alors under him in a military hierarchy while also serving as his confidants and advisors.
The movement has revived interest in even ancient tradition, and allegories to the ancient mythology of the destroyer god Kad Ha’rangir have been brought back, and has found a role in battlefield culture. Old organizations such as the Mandalorian Protectors and SuperCommandoes have also been reestablished, as well as new orders
The Vencuyanir seek to reestablish a unified Mandalorian nation under traditionalist ideals, and isolate such a nation from destructive foreign influence. Many in the movement, but not all, seek a return to the days where Mandalorians maintained a strong, independent nation, and spread out throughout the galaxy plying their trade as honorable and brave mercenaries who would return to the call of Mand’alor when needed. They also liken themselves to the Crusaders of the ancient age.
Vencuyanir refer to themselves as Naast, and use the pejorative Dar’mane when referring to Darasuum forces.
Examples of Vencuyanir soldiers with the popular Mythosaur adorned beskar’gam - th04.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2011/040/f/8/mandalorian_warrior_by_art_dewhill-d397hpp.jpg
img152.imageshack.us/img152/2497/rszmandaloriancolorbyli.jpg
Culture
The members of this group call themselves Naast, or destroyers of what is perceived as sacrilegious ideas on the part of the Confederation. They refer to Darasuum members as "Dar'mane", derived from Dar'manda, or the state of one who has lost the ideals of Mandalorian culture. This word carries many negative connotations and Darasuum members take heavy offense to this word.
Naast distinguish themselves by painting a mythosaur skull logo somewhere on their armor in either Red or Black to symbolize determination and crusade. Locations for this skull include the helmet or for even more prominent display on the breastplate.
Naast fight to the death – and surrender only when their deaths would accomplish nothing, and the possibility they will survive and rejoin the ranks of their brothers and sisters is greater than the loss of life that will come out of no surrender.
Naast society remains traditional, meaning that all members of the movement maintain constant combat readiness, regardless of social position, occupation, or gender, and maintain a strict decentralization of government and economy and acknowledge the nomadic tradition.
The Leadership – Command Structure & Leaders
Vencuyanir structure is informal and does not adhere to any recorded system. Cuyan exercises authority as de facto leader, and has the final say on all decisions. An advisory council made of all aliit’alors and other important leaders confer with Cuyan and operate in the field as his lieutenants. This inner circle is secretive and made up of Mando’ade that Cuyan trusts with his life.
There is no formal military structure, but there is an acknowledged ranking system. Typical Vencuyanir units operate with a unit leader, his lieutenant, squad leaders, assistant squad leaders, and ground troops.
Many major and minor clans make up the Vencuyanir, as well as members of clans that claim allegiance to the Darasuum. These clans include Aliit Ordo, Aliit Fett, Aliit Chur, Aliit Verbur (of the Protectors), Aliit Goran (of the Watchmen), Aliit Carid, Aliit Beviin, Aliit Vevut, and others.
Equipment, “Kit”
Vencuyanir equipment remains essentially grassroots. The organization does not provide anything for their troops besides basic amenities; Vencuyanir are expected to provide for themselves as Mandalorians traditionally have for generations. Thus, there is little uniformity outside of family units or groups with history, and Vencuyanir utilize many different models of blasters and exotic weapons from all over the galaxy. They also supply their own ships and vehicles, as the Vencuyanir lack any type of central bank to fund the army.
That being said, Cuyan has headed an operation to refit the Vencuyanir with superior tech to challenge the more well equipped Darasuum. His campaign to restore MandalMotors has been a success, and Vencuyanir forces have received the first few batches of Jorir-class Heavy Transports, Tor-class Starfighters, Haran-class Gunships, R-30 Iviin-class Interceptors, T-75 Werda-class Stealth Scout Starfighters, and Jurkad-class Assault Tanks. MandalMotors assembly lines continue to churn out these vehicles with as much speed as possible, but it will be many months before these vehicles will be considered anything other than pure gold over the traditional battered collection of ships the Vencuyanir have been forced to use.
Tactics
The Vencuyanir began as a small, underequipped, and outmanned rabble against the larger and more well developed Darasuum. As a result, their tactics were hit-and-run and sabotage, and in fact could do little to directly combat Confederation invasion forces. Only now, as the movement begins to gain momentum, do they have the manpower to form up regular units.
Although they are outmanned by the Darasuum, they make up for this discrepancy in numbers through motivation. Every Mandalorian fighting with the Vencuyanir is an unpaid volunteer, in it for the duration of the war, usually a veteran, and most likely has lost family members to the Darasuum. They will fight with fanatical dedication to destroy the Confederation, and have a strong pride in their Mandalorian identity.
Their specialty remains these elusive guerrilla tactics, and their primary strategy is to disrupt Darasuum operations on all the worlds they hold, scouting out and softening up the targets before a main invasion force can arrive to liberate the world. These main invasion forces are taking the shape of regular army units, with divisions of infantry supported by armor and a navy, and are slowly gaining the capacity to fight traditional battles.
That being said, the traditionalists by nature use a very decentralized military structure, with each unit expected to operate independently and complete their individually. Only recently has Cuyan led the restructuring of this system into a clear chain of command, with him as head, his aliit’alors as his lieutenants, leading divisions, and down to squad leaders. This decentralized structure lives on in the individual units spread out throughout Mandalorian space, holding the traditionalist lines even against the worst odds. These loose units operate how the Vencuyanir was structured in its genesis – as loose militia fighting desperately and in the most ferocious combat, almost always in a fighting retreat and living to avoid death or capture.
In short, there is one main battle group containing thousands of soldiers supported by vehicles, that Cuyan personally leads and recruits Mandalorians from all over the galaxy into. This force has the capability to go toes with the more numerous and well equipped Darasuum troops. The rest of the Vencuyanir forces are spread out in Darasuum space and operate as guerrillas. On worlds in disputed territory, they operate as defensive militia to defend traditionalist territory.
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