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UC Vanguard

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The UC Vanguard is the civilian fleet of the United Colonies and a branch of the UC Navy.[1] Members of the Vanguard are civilians who use their personal ships to protect the United Colonies and its interests,[2] initially serving in security, logistical, and reconnaissance roles.[1]

Vanguard members can earn UC citizenship through their service[2][1], with the length of service depending on certain factors such as their performance during their initial assessment upon joining.[3]

Background[]

In the final days of the Colony War, the UC Navy's blockade of Akila became the site of a massive fleet engagement. Later dubbed the Battle of Cheyenne, the Freestar Collective's regular Navy attempted to break the blockade in a direct attack, but the superior numbers and ships of the UC Navy fought the Freestar Navy to near defeat. The tide turned in favor of the Freestar Collective by the timely aid of Freestar Civilians piloting their own armed ships and rendering assistance. While the Freestar Collective celebrated this as a joint effort to rout the UC from its territory, the UC Naval commanders were dismayed at both the arrival of additional firepower and the questionable ethics of firing on civilian ships. This, combined with the notification of the escalating crisis on Londinion, forced the UC Navy to abandon the blockade.[4] As such, it became a pyrrhic victory for the Freestar Collective: they won the engagement, but only through a significant loss of ships and sacrifices made by civilian captains. .[2][5] While controversial, the addition of the Freestar Civilian ships undeniably turned the tide of the Battle of Cheyenne in favor of the Collective, leaving the UC Navy looking for options on how to match or exceed such an addition in future conflicts.

From this, the UC approved the creation of their own civilian fleet in 2315 to support their regular Navy, with two major differences: Captains would need to voluntarily enlist, thereby becoming an extension of the official UC Military, and second, that the entirety of the Vanguard would become its own branch of the UC Military structure.[2] With these conditions in place, the UC Navy Vanguard is a privateer force with less direct support than the regular Navy but also fewer restrictions and greater autonomy than the regular military. Additionally, in exchange for service, Vanguard Captains could earn UC citizenship as well as considerable bonuses upon enlistment, mission completion, and meritorious award.

Composition and Missions[]

In keeping with Naval tradition, Vanguard officers receive the initial title of "Captain" as the commanding officer of their vessel, though career Vanguards may attain higher, official ranks in the UC Navy command structure.

The Vanguard is tasked with various duties, including taking the fight to the Crimson Fleet after its great rise in power.[6] For the most part, the duties of the Vanguard are "as needed", ranging from taking down hostile spacecraft,[7] to aiding the Science division of MAST with an invasive species,[3] to filling in the gaps which the UC Navy itself cannot fill.[8] UC Vanguard Recruits are sometimes also tasked with checking in on abandoned military structures.[9]

As of 2330, the fastest and simplest way to earn UC citizenship was through service in the Vanguard,[10] where one could earn citizenship after as fast as three years, to as late as twenty years of service.[3] New recruits are tasked with passing a flight simulator, after which they have to swear an oath and are sent out on a probationary mission.[11] After completion of the mission, the aspirant officially joins the Vanguard and is awarded their uniform.[12]

Operations with UC Systems Defense (SysDef)[]

The Vanguard is unusual among UC military branches for looking outside of its own territory to gather the best pilots to come fly for the UC,[13] even including former criminals such as pirates.[3]

The Vanguard enjoys a developing relationship with UC System Defense. SysDef faces constant shortages of budget and manpower and relies heavily on the Vanguard supplement their operations against the Crimson Fleet; talented pilots from the Vanguard selected for recommissioning into the UC Navy will often be assigned to SysDef.[13] Due to the Vanguard recruiting both foreign pilots and former criminals, SysDef also may employ Vanguards as undercover operatives in intelligence-gathering efforts.

UC Terrormorph Management Division[]

Upon the formation of the UC Terrormorph Management Division (TMD), the UC Vanguard started cooperating with the newly formed division, escorting Aceles to sites where Terrormorphs had been sighted,[14] or being sent out to eliminate Terrormorphs outright.[15]

Oath[]

"The motto of the Vanguard is "Supra et Ultra" — above and beyond. That is where we serve — beyond the furthest reaches of the United Colonies military, and with honor and duty above reproach. Do you swear to protect and defend the citizens of the United Colonies, to the best of your abilities and to uphold the values of the Vanguard — honor, loyalty, self-reliance — in all your actions as a member of the United Colonies Navy?"[3]

Characteristics[]

The UC Vanguard is an organization with high aspirations but a low prestige among the other UC service branches, stemming from the same qualities that give the Vanguard its strengths:

  • Immediate service: Vanguard Captains may serve immediately, starting with a probationary mission.[3] Other UC branches see this as a lack of formal training rather than leveraging existing experience.[16] Vanguard pilots demonstrate flight combat proficiency as part of their entrance exam but do not receive additional training in ship-to-ship combat outside of mission engagements. Training in traditional military small arms use and unit tactics is waived in favor of experience in space flight.[1] As such, Vanguards are viewed as 'wildcards' who may exhibit any level of competence and therefore perceived as unreliable by regular military.[16][17]
  • Honorary rank: Members of the Vanguard initially carry the title of "Captain," a distinction made to recognize experience in piloting but also carrying on a long-standing Naval tradition: the commander of any vessel is referred to as its "Captain" regardless of title or rank.[1] Other UC branches view this as a meritless, rather than a distinction of the role's responsibility in the success and safety of operating a starship. As such, Vanguard Captains cannot issue orders to anyone outside their own ship's compliment; however, Vanguard Captains are still considered qualified to command and may do so when assigned UC personnel, such as taking command of a squad of UC Security forces in defense of a spaceport.[18] Vanguard Captains who serve with distinction or show impressive skills are sometimes recommissioned into the UC Navy; this often maintains the perception that the Vanguard is for lesser-qualified or lesser-talented personnel.[16][19]
  • Civilian vessels: Vanguard Captains pilot their own civilian vessels, creating the impression that their fleet is underpowered compared to formal Military vessels -- a bias likely carried in spite of the success of the Freestar Republic engaging similar tactics against the UC in the Colony Wars.[1][20] On the contrary, Vanguard Captains gain early access to advanced weapon systems upon completion of their probationary mission, granting their craft a significant tactical edge against similar vessels.[21] It also ignores that many Vanguard Captains with the means sometimes purchase new vessels from UC Military suppliers.[22][23]
  • Mission parameters: Vanguards primarily serve at the edges of UC Colony space, tending to the needs of remote colonies such as repairing transmitters, transporting vital supplies, and engaging raiding parties from Spacers or the Crimson Fleet.[21][24] Vanguards may also patrol shipping lanes and scan for illegal activity or for ships in distress.[25] The regular UC military views these activities as little more than being a glorified repair technician or cargo hauler compared to systematic engagement of enemy forces, such as in the Colony War or Serpent's Crusade. However, the colonies and rescued ship captains themselves hold Vanguards in high regard for providing necessary services and for being a resource lifeline.[26] [25] What the main military views as "fetch-and-carry" roles are often missions of mercy with the Vanguard acting as the 'face' of the UC to the border colonies.[24][27]
  • Necessary resourcefulness: Unlike the regular UC military, the Vanguard do not show up in overwhelming force and operate on the edges of UC territory, requiring the Vanguard Captains to use different tactics when engaging the enemy (often at a disadvantage in odds) and scrounging for supplies to repair battle damage.[28] While salvaging parts after battle engagements is necessary for career space travel, the UC military sees this as opportunistic at best and parasitic at worst.[29] However, this bias rarely extends to the front lines of actual combat, as UC Navy personnel will often express gratitude to Vanguards and other civilian vessels who assist in engagements against Crimson Fleet, Spacers, or Va'ruun Zealots while on patrol, offering credits or salvage rights out of gratitude.[30]
  • Diverse backgrounds: As part of the organization's high aspirations, the UC Vanguard is both open to foreigners and former criminals wishing to gain (or regain) UC Citizenship. This subjects many Vanguard Captains to the same biases for immigrants and criminals found in most cultures, with a general belief that they do not treasure the values and institutions of the UC.[31] However, this perception is often misguided, as Vanguard Captains frequently serve communities on the outskirts of UC territory and the same free colonies that tend to be sympathetic to the UC. As such, the Vanguard often represents the best traits of the UC to the areas that need them most.[24][26] UC SysDef, particularly Commander Kibwe Ikande, regards this as an asset in covert operations and intelligence-gathering efforts.[32]

In general, the formal UC military and civilian command structure have low expectations of Vanguard Captains; however, the player character's actions can significantly raise the esteem of the organization as a whole and distinguish service in the Vanguard more broadly.[33] During the UC questline, the player serves numerous military, diplomatic, and investigative functions, with each success earning praise from various UC authorities.[34] Several major policy and political decisions will also rest on the player's decisions based on experiences as a Vanguard Captain, showing both a high degree of trust for the player in particular but rising reliance on the firsthand experience involved.[35] Should the player character complete the UC questline and join SysDef in pursuing the Crimson Fleet, members of SysDef will already be aware of the player's actions in stopping the Terrormorph threat and express gratitude.[36] Additionally, these actions will embed the Vanguard as an essential operations arm of the fledgling TMD organization, as well as create a true partnership and increased camaraderie with SysDef in addressing pirate threats.[35][37]

Members[]

Missions[]

There are a number of missions involving the UC Vanguard.

Main Missions[]

Side Missions[]

Repeatable missions[]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "The Vanguard is Born" - Vanguard Orientation Hall
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Story So Far... - Bethesda.net
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Dialogue with John Tuala during "Supra et Ultra"
  4. ↑ See, The Battle of Cheyenne
  5. ↑ Dialogue with François Sanon after "A Legacy Forged"
  6. ↑ Urgent Communique - Into the Starfield: The Journey Begins
  7. ↑ Events of "Vanguard: Safer Skies"
  8. ↑ Dialogue with Rayna Marquez
  9. ↑ Random Encounters
  10. ↑ "Citizenship" - New Atlantis Information
  11. ↑ Dialogue with Zinaida Kuipers
  12. ↑ Events of "Supra et Ultra"
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Dialogue with John Tuala
  14. ↑ Random Encounters
  15. ↑ Events of "Vanguard: Safer Skies"
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Dialogue with Alex Vong
  17. ↑ Dialogue with Com. Kibwe Ikande during "Deep Cover". When the player indicates that being a Vanguard Captain means being expendable, Ikande indicates that he considers the player to be SysDef now.
  18. ↑ Dialogue with Jeremiah Sarkin, "Eyewitness"
  19. ↑ Dialogue with Bastien Graff
  20. ↑ Vanguard Orientation Hall - "History of the Narion War"
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Dialogue with John Tuala, "Grunt Work"
  22. ↑ Vanguard Captain Moara Otero pilots a UCN-Vanguard Longsword, built and sold at the Deimos shipyards, the UC Navy top supplier.
  23. ↑ Dialogue with Nikau Henderson at the Deimos Staryards. While Deimos is the chief supplier for the UC Navy, they allow and welcome purchases for civilian use.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Dialogue with Crew Chief Herath, "Grunt Work"
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Dialogue with Gideon Aker. Aker was rescued by patrolling Vanguards after his ship was disabled and raided by spacers.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Dialogue with Sarah Morgan, "The Old Neighborhood"
  27. ↑ Dialogue with Maj. Hadrian Sanon, "Grunt Work"; "Eyewitness"
  28. ↑ Flight simulator during "Supra et Ultra" uses escalating tiers of difficulty. Both Lt. Tuala and the test proctor express surprise if the player passes level three or higher.
  29. ↑ Information screen: The Vanguard is a privateer Navy. By definition, Captains may extract payment for services from salvage and spoils, serving in exchange for citizenship.
  30. ↑ Random encounters with UC Navy ships under attack have an option for the player to assist, with credits or salvage offered as a possible reward.
  31. ↑ Dialogue with Gualter Azevedo.
  32. ↑ Dialogue with Lt. Jillian Toft, "Deep Cover"; "Burden of Proof"
  33. ↑ Dialogue with Lt. John Tuala, "A Legacy Forged"
  34. ↑ Mission objectives: "Grunt Work"
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Council dialogue, "A Legacy Forged". The player, as Vanguard Captain, must offer an opinion on Capital punishment for Vae Victus, diplomacy with the Freestar Republic in managing the Lazarus plant, and initiate a policy for Terrormorph management.
  36. ↑ UC SysDef Crew, "Deep Cover"
  37. ↑ Dialogue with Com. Kibwe Ikande after "Legacy's End"
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