A Primer on the United Planetary Federation Marine Corps

The United Planetary Federation Marine Corps (UPFMC) was formed a few years prior to Sathar War II, it was modeled after the Clarion Royal Marines of the White Light system. Their primary role at the time was to act as security detail and boarding crew for UPFS vessels and UPF Forts and Space Stations. During the Clarion Uprisings, under UPF Security Council directive 89, ordered  a detachment of Space fleet starships (only two brand new Thunderbolt class assault scouts arrived with no crew) to assist the Clarion Royal Marines in patrolling their system.

Training

A Primer on the United Planetary Federation Marine Corps

The United Planetary Federation Marine Corps (UPFMC) was formed a few years prior to Sathar War II, it was modeled after the Clarion Royal Marines of the White Light system. Their primary role at the time was to act as security detail and boarding crew for UPFS vessels and UPF Forts and Space Stations. During the Clarion Uprisings, under UPF Security Council directive 89, ordered  a detachment of Space fleet starships (only two brand new Thunderbolt class assault scouts arrived with no crew) to assist the Clarion Royal Marines in patrolling their system.

History

During the Clarion Uprisings an attack occurred aboard Clarion Station. Following the attack, the UPF Security Council responded to the request of Clarion monarchy for assistance. All four Marine Regiments were brought planet side to conduct COIN operations. Within two years,  the insurgents were crushed. The Coprs gained a great deal of experience in low-intensity conflicts and special operations.

With the threat of SW II coming, the White Light sector requested that a new White Light fleet be formed to help cover that part of the UPF. With Prenglar and Cassidine being more likely targets Spacefleet assigned a rag tag group of ships to White Llight, the largest vessel being a light cruiser, the UPFS Aegis.

Since the UPF had no standing army, and with planetary militias being the only defense against an invasion, Marine regiments were deployed to strategic locations across the Frontier. The 1^st Marine Regiment was assigned to Prenglar, 2^nd Marine Regiment was assigned to Cassidine, and the 3^rd Marine Regiment was assigned to Truane's Star. The 4^th Marine Regiment remained in the White Light Sector.

In FY91 a Satharfleet arrived in White Light. The small UPF fleet together with Royal Marine ships mounted a valiant defense against the invasion force. Despite this, a few Sathar drop ships were able to land on Clarion with a unit approximately a regiment in size. Sathar spies had sabotaged planetary defenses and assassinated all of the high-ranking command officers, leaving the militia in disarray.

The 4^th Marines, being the only remaining organized fighting unit planet-side, were able to respond quickly to the attack. As the unit's CO was a former Clarion Royal Marines, he knew the planet very well, and was able to organize a counter attack with the remaining Royal Clarion Guards that decimated the Sathar force. During the fighting, King Leotus XIX of Clarion being killed. A small extraction team of UPF Force Recon Marines and elements of the Clarion Royal Guards were able to evacuate his daughter Leotia XX to safety preserving the royal line.

The Sathar fleet was destroyed in White Light, but had succeeded in taking smaller systems where there was little or no resistance, leaving the Frontier on the brink of collapse. The Security Council ordered the formation of the UPF Landlfeet, to be the new, standing army of the UPF. As a result, the Corps would be restricted in terms of size, but would keep its role in anti-sathar operations while Landfleet was still being mustered.

White Light-based company Eversafe Enterprises developed a new weapon system called Powered Assault Armor (PAA) based on an exoskeleton currently in use by Corps. The Security Council authorized the formation of PAA units, with Eversafe dictating that only UPFMC units would have access to use the armor.

The Corps formed two elite units specially trained for global assault missions. All veteran UPF marines and Spec Ops personnel were ordered to attend a new training school at Camp David for Space Marine Raider training. The 1^st Space Marine Raider battalion and 2^nd Space Marine Raider battalions were organized under the command of a Colonel. These units would lead the way in liberating those systems that were taken by the Sathar.

The UPFMC was now four divisions in size. Each was assigned a sector in the Frontier. The 1^st Space Marine Raider battalion was assigned to the White Light sector and would attempt to liberate Theseus. That would be where they found intelligence about the existence of Outpost 1.

With Landfleet 90% combat ready, it was decided to have the ^them spearhead the global assault on Outpost 1. The Corps was ordered to sit the engagement out, except for the 1^st and 2^nd Space Marine Raider battalions. Their mission was to insert into Outpost 1 and destroy planetary defenses standing in the way of Landfleet's landing zones. Landfleet succeeded in landing 80% of their forces while the Raiders took 60% casualties. The Raiders were send back to White Light for refit but were no longer reassigned to Outpost 1.

After SW II all Marine divisions were reorganized to regiment-sized units with battalion sized expeditionary forces scattered iacrossf the Frontier. All will use Powered Assault Armor. There are three types, the Command Suit, the Marauder Suit, and the Scout Suit are being built. Only Marines from MEU Force Recon (SOC) will be initially trained on these suits.

Overview

The United Planetary Federation Marine Corps (UPFMC) was formed in a few years before the Second Sathar War (SWII). Modeled after the Clarion Royal Marines of the White Light System, the UPF Marines’ primary role at the time of its inception was to act as security detail and boarding crew for UPFS vessels, UPF Forts and Space Stations.

Since the Second Sathar War, the marines have been deployed throughout the Frontier. It is organized to rapidly respond to developing crisis – faster than the Landfleet.

Origins

The genesis of the UPFMC dates back to just before the Clarion Uprisings. Realizing the need for a specialized force for Spacefleet vessels, the UPF Security Council issued directive 89, which ordered a detachment of Space Fleet starships, consisting of two brand new Thunderbolt Class Assault Scouts plus crews of handpicked junior lieutenants from Gollwin Academy, to White Light to train with the Clarion Royal Marine Space Command on Clarion Station.  

These Spacefleet officers would form the nucleus of the UPFMC. They attended 20 days of Marine Combat Training which was composed of Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBBS), Personal Security Detail (PDS), Hostage Rescue (HR), Close Quarter Combat (CQB), Zero G Combat (ZGC), PGS and Beam Weapons Training plus Martial Arts Training.

After training, these officers were sent on their first assignment on CMS Osprey, a famed Clarion Militia Ship before SWII. After completing almost a month of duty and learning from the royal marine officer in charge, Spacefleet officers were aboard the CMS Osprey when it began what initially appeared to be a routine cargo inspection; instead, the mission turned into a Sathar attempt to board the assault scout.

After the crew successfully repelled the Sathar attack, the UPF Security Council decided to create its own version of the Clarion Royal Marines. It authorized the formation of the UPF Marine Corps.

Originally the UPFMC had four regiments plus various marine detachments for security aboard UPF Spacefleet (UPFSF) vessels and space stations. Placed under Spacefleet Command, the marines were assigned to White Light as their headquarters (HQ) and mustering facility.

Training

All marines attend 32 weeks of Basic Marine Training and 3 weeks Advanced Training. It is the longest basic infantry training course in the entire Frontier with the Clarion Royal Marines running second. They are trained to operate in the many different environments of the Frontier.

Once they completed 20 days Marine Space Combat training at Clarion Station, midshipmen from the Academy had a choice between going into the Spacefleet or the Marine Corps after their graduation.

Disappointingly, the many members of the first few classes of midshipmen opted to join the Spacefleet rather than the UPFMC. It seems the promise of being a commander of a starship in eight years was more appealing.

Most of the UPFMC’s first commissioned officers came from its ranks of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) who attended the Marine Officer Command School (OCS).

Clarion Uprisings

During the Clarion Uprisings, rebels attacked Clarion Station. UPF Marines and Royal Marines fought side by side and thwarted the planned takeover of space station. As the situation in White Light grew tense, the Clarion monarchy asked the UPF for help. The Security Council answered the request by sending in all four UPFMC regiments to Clarion to conduct counterinsurgency (COIN) operations.

Within two years, the insurgents were crushed. During the conflict, the UPFMC gained much experience in low Intensity conflicts and special operations during their stay in Clarion.

With the threat of SWII coming, planets in the White Light Sector requested the UPF to form a new fleet to help cover that region. Although Spacefleet command deemed Prenglar and Cassidine to be the more likely targets of a Sathar strike, White Light also seemed vulnerable.

The UPFSF assigned a ragtag group of ships to White Light with its largest vessel being the light cruiser, the UPFS Aegis. Since the UPF had no standing army until the creation of the Landfleet, planetary militias and the marines were the only defense against a land invasion.

The UPFMC Regiments were deployed other important sectors of the Frontier. The 1^st Marine Regiment was assigned to Prenglar, 2^nd Marine Regiment was assigned to Cassidine, the 3^rd Marine Regiment to Truane’s Star and the 4^th Marines remained in the White Light Sector.

Second Sathar War

In FY91 a Sathar fleet arrived in White Light which turned out to be an invasion force. The small UPF fleet together with the Royal Marine ships put a valiant fight against the invading worms, yet the Sathar landed a regiment sized force on Clarion. Later it was learned that Sathar spies had sabotaged Clarion Defenses and assassinated all its high command officers, leaving its planetary militia in disarray.

The 4^th Marines were the only organized fighting unit planet side and they responded quickly to the attack. The marines’ CO was formerly of the Clarion Royal Marines and he knew the planet very well. He organized a counter attack with the remaining Royal Clarion Guards, decimating the Sathar assault force but at cost of the King Leotus XIX of Clarion being killed.

A small extraction team of UPF Force Recon Marines with elements of the Clarion Royal Guards sprinted Princes Leotia XX (King Leotus’ daughter) to safety thus preserving the royal line.

Although the Sathar fleet was destroyed in White Light, the worms conquered smaller systems where there was little or no resistance. With the Frontier was on a brink of destruction, the UPF Security Council ordered the formation of the UPF Landfleet as its standing army. The UPFMC was restricted in size but kept its role to conduct anti-Satharian operations in the Frontier.

A White Light-based company – Eversafe – developed a new weapon system called powered assault armor (PAA) based off an exoskeleton used by UPF Marines. The UPF Security Council then authorized the formation of PAA units, but Eversafe insisted that only UPFMC units would use it.

The UPFMC formed two elite units that were specially trained for global assault missions. All veteran UPF marines and Spec Ops personnel were reassigned to attend a new training school Camp David for Space Marine Raider training. The 1^st Space Marine Raider battalion and 2^nd Space Marine Raider battalions were placed under the command of a colonel. These units lead the way in liberating the small systems that were taken by the Sathar.

During SW II, the UPFMC grew to four divisions in size and its units were assigned each a sector in the Frontier. The 1^st Space Marine Raider battalion was assigned to the White Light Sector to liberate the Theseus system. During that operation, they discovered the intel about the Sathar forces on Outpost 1.

Once the Landfleet reported it was 90 percent combat ready, its leadership decided to spearhead the assault on Outpost 1. UPFMC was ordered to sit back except for the 1st and 2nd Space Marine Raider battalions. The raiders’ mission was to insert into Outpost 1 and destroy any planetary batteries and other defenses around the Landfleet’s landing zones.

Although the Landfleet succeeded in landing 80 percent of its forces, the Raiders took 60 percent casualties. The marine raiders were send back to White Light for refit but were not reassigned to Outpost 1.

Postwar Developments

After the SW II all marine divisions were downsized to regiment size with battalion expeditionary units scattered in different sectors of the Frontier.

The marines now have three basic types of PAAs, the Command Suit, the Marauder Suit and the Scout Suit. Only Marines from Force Recon from MEU (SOC) will be the first trained with these new powered armor suits.

You could delve into the Spacefleet Security (FleetSec) issue to explain why a UPF Marine Corps would be different.

It’s one of simple function: the UPF and its constituent worlds are not like the US and its states; each world is its own sovereign nation; Spacefleet was created in order to have a force independent of any planetary government in order to protect the Frontier as a whole from the Sathar threat. Note that Spacefleet’s authority ends at a planet’s orbit (usually at space stations); this means that Spacefleet, by its own charter, cannot field a ground-based force.

Spacefleet is also chartered with defending the Frontier from external threats, meaning that generally speaking, they don’t regularly perform Board & Search duties on merchant ships. Keep in mind that due to the nature of space travel in the Frontier, the only logical place to board an inbound ship is when it is already in orbit; something that is generally done by planetary militia personnel (either from a space station or from the surface), or the ship is searched after it docks or lands.

Since Sathar ships don’t allow for boarding actions, the only real job for marines is to provide internal security for Spacefleet ships and facilities; anti-boarding actions, and keeping the enlisted ranks in line.

Considering the small size of Spacefleet (officers number in the low hundreds, while the enlisted ranks number around 2,000), the fact that gunnery officers (Energy and Rocket) are expert marksmen with small arms (Energy Gunners automatically have Beam Weapons – 6, while Rocket Gunners automatically have Projectile Weapons – 4 and Gyrojet Weapons – 2), and that it is not feasible to keep large numbers of non-spacer-skilled personnel on board for extended periods, it only makes sense that any “marines” on board are drawn from the ranks of gunnery officers, supplemented by “dual-purpose” enlisted ranks who commonly perform other duties on board. Personnel dedicated to this function are part of FleetSec; Fleetsec officers are “backup gunners” and enlisted personnel are also able bodies on board.

The low numbers mean that Gollwin Academy is a small institution; the requirements alone mean that very few candidates are accepted, and the limited number of billets available upon graduation mean that only enough officers are commissioned to replace those retiring or leaving Spacefleet for the more lucrative private sector.

A “space marine”—as mentioned in the Alpha Dawn rule book – could just be a slang term for an NPC with a beam weapons skill. This does not preclude the later creation of a UPF Marine Corps. Much like a “mall cop” doesn’t prevent a city from having a police force.

Indeed, it is a slang term for individuals hired for their skill with personal Beam Weapons, but where does the slang term come from?

Planetary Militias and Corporate Forces likely used the term long before the creation of the UPF; beam-armed forces working in space were called “Space Marines”, while ground-assault troopers armed with gyrojet weapons were called “Star Soldiers”. Possibly the names became popular through popular trideo serials or films featuring units (real or fictional) going by such monikers.

In Zero-G situations, such as those commonly encountered aboard ships in space (remember, there is no “grav-plate technology” in Star Frontiers: all artificial gravity is generated by acceleration or centrifugal force), beam weapons are ideal, since they have no recoil. Gyrojet weapons (well… most of them) are also great for the same reason. It is only natural that troops armed with such weapons are employed as marines or “star soldiers”.

On the surface, the creation of the Landfleet may seem to make a Marine Corps redundant, but we can look at real life to see that isn’t necessarily the case. The US Marine Corps does many functions that the US Army does, but it specializes in certain types of combat missions. The same could be true for a UPF Marine Corps.

Landfleet was created specifically to do what Spacefleet cannot do. Landfleet is, in practical terms, works much in the same manner as the US military… if the US military were composed exclusively of the National Guard and Reserve units (with no regular standing units): each world provides military units (usually from their militias) that can be called on for deployment wherever needed, all under a full-time administrative HQ unit that responds to the Council of Worlds.

Within Landfleet, individual units might be specifically trained as Space Marines; some might even be designated as such, but these are not a federally-funded Marine Corps; they are specialized units within Landfleet.

One could argue that a UPF Marine Corps for boarding actions isn’t necessary because the Sathar tend to blow up their ships. Except the UPF faces other space borne threats, such as pirates, the Zuraqqor and the Clikk where a specialized boarding force might come in useful.

The UPF faces pirates, but Spacefleet (generally) does not: that is the jurisdiction of the Star Law Rangers and planetary/corporate militias. The Clikk are canonically known only in a historical context, so the UPF does not face them at all. The Zuraqquor are allies of the Sathar, so it can be argued that the Sathar will make sure that no Zuraqquor ship is boarded, and the canonicity of the Zuroqquor is debatable.

In other words; there is no practical reason to maintain a dedicated unit of Marines aboard a Spacefleet vessel.

Now for some questions to ponder. What would the status of the UPF Marine Corps be after the Second Sathar War? If the marines distinguished themselves well during the war, would they still be under the Spacefleet or might they not be given their own separate command structure?

Assuming that a UPFMC does exist, either could work, though considering the tight budget of Spacefleet, they might actually prefer to unload the whole MC onto Landfleet, which might force a reorganization of Landfleet, as the UPFMC becomes the backbone of the standing military and the point of the spear of the UPF.

What kind of ranking system would they use? Would it be the Spacefleet’s naval-type ranks such as Admiral, Captain, etc. or the more typical General, Colonel, Major, etc. I would tend toward the ground pounder ranking system.

This would depend entirely on the flavor desired. If it were me, I’d use the same pay grades as Spacefleet for the officers, but using slightly different names for each grade.

Note that they don’t give any rank structure for enlisted Spacefleet personnel; this is because they use specific positions as the rank name (e.g. Engineer’s Mate, Mess Specialist, Chief Robotics Technician, etc.), but using specific pay grades (similar to those in the NPC Wages table) independent of position. Those who do not have a specific position are either “Crewperson” or “Able Crewperson”. Using this system, you might see "Recruit", "Marine", "Specialist 1-6", and a short hierarchy of NCOs (Corporal, Sergeant, [Specialist] Sergeant, Master Sergeant, etc.) as ranks, with their own system of pay grades based on rank (not skill level, like Spacefleet Officers).