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The Third Regiment

2026-04-04T16:55:01Z

Harrysno: Release me

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Michael Calhoun to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-
![[File:viceadmiral.png]] Brigadier General | BGen
|A Flag Officer and member of the High Command for the USCMC's 4th Combat Division. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for coordinating actions between the various regiments falling under the division's umbrella. They are chiefly tasked with advising the overall commander of the 4th Combat Division on the strategic direction that the organization should take, and then disseminating that information to regimental commanders as required.
|Whitelist Overseer
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of both former Regimental Commander Maverick and former Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.

Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS - Visit, Board, Search, Seizure) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha. Presently, the Battalion Executor Officer position is vacant, following the promotion of its former XO, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel Lopits.

Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.

The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Operations
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.

'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'

'''Operation Royal Flush''' was a joint operation with the 4th Battalion, formerly known as the Steel Phantoms, during an open rebellion of the border colony at LV-912 “Sarnia’s Star”, supported by the CLF and UPP (suspected). While the 4th landed on the planet and began combat operations with its armored complement, the Lucky First remained in orbit and stopped, seized, and/or raided over 100 craft attempting to flee or enter the colony, resulting in numerous hostile elements killed or captured, and the complete disruption of the supply lines of the rebels.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion
!Introduction
|-
|The supporting heart of the regiment, Fourth Battalion’s primary mission is centered around maintaining regimental readiness and ensuring the combat arms elements are supplied and made capable of engaging and destroying the enemies of the United Americas. Secondary to these responsibilities, 4th battalion is frequently called upon to assist with colonial development and civil engineering projects. Working with official government colonization projects or for private organizations such as Weyland Yutani, 4th Battalion’s engineering units are used to clear space for infrastructure, build roadways, or set up prefabricated structures for arriving settlers.
|-
!Command
|-
|Organic to the Battalion and ensuring their mission goals are achieved are several transportation, maintenance, sustainment, and supply companies as well as a unit of horizontal and vertical engineers. These units fall directly beneath Battalion Headquarters and fleet structure and are assigned to the many depots, supply ships, and workshops that the Battalion maintains through the sector.
Secondary to the organic elements and their objectives, 4th Battalion serves to reconstitute and retrain understrength line units coming from the rest of the regiment. These units are temporarily taken into the Battalion's official TO&E and shifted to posts where close proximity to sustainment units and clear supply lines allow for steady access to recruits, maintenance personnel, and fresh materiel. This of course means that the Battalion roster is extremely eclectic and frequently changing, leading to a variety of unofficial and semi-derisive nicknames from the combat personnel cycling through its ranks including “The Circus” and “FOBbiton
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|Fourth Battalion’s primary base of operations is “Wilson Station”, a large supply and logistics hub located to the galactic southwest of Chinook Station within the American Corridor. Due to their role as a sustainment unit, the Fourth operates several other small orbital supply dumps, dockyards, and repair stations scattered throughout the border between UA and UPP space and maintains a larger than average fleet to support both combat and peacetime operations.
|-
!Operations
|-
|Operating in the background of any larger operations, 4th Battalion serves anywhere where one of the line battalion’s organic elements prove insufficient to sustain operations and hold an impressive list of campaigns to their name, though the Regiment’s combat arms may not exactly view their record in high acclaim.
In peacetime the 4th Battalion maintains close relations with both private and civil government colonial projects. The large contingent of engineers and reserves of heavy equipment are often used to aid in establishing and improving colonies, giving them a close and friendly relationship to many private organizations.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Close relations with Weyland-Yutani’s colonial development and corporate logistics departments naturally lead much of the Fourth into the Magpie camp, leaving many of their officers and personnel sympathetic to the idea that they truly are “Building Better Worlds” alongside the corporation.
Even in less prominent circles where the massive influence of the corporation is viewed with distrust or outright hostility, the mission and objectives of the Battalion leave little space for warmongers or hot-heads, leaving most of the command-staff divided between the Doves and Magpies.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Argent Doves'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Divison of the MSF-3 is headed by Lieutenant Colonel Marcus Springfield as of 2182. During the preparations for Operation Tychon Tackle, USCM High Command saw it fit to ensure a proper Quick Reaction Force was prepared to answer the call of any Companies (or even Battalions) facing heavier-than-anticipated resistance to military operations anywhere in the Neroid Sector.

Fifth Battalion - also known as the 'Argent Doves' quickly formed around the ideals of Marine Air-Ground Task Force structures, blending rapid airborne deployment with a pre-planned supply chain and hardened bases across the Sector to evacuate casualties from both their own ranks and those who called for aid.

This Quick Reaction Force structure allows for quick transfer of the most critical cases to US Naval Doctors stationed behind the lines of battle, turning a possibly pyrrhic victory into something more stable and palatable to the American public.
|-
!Command
|-
|Lieutenant Colonel Marcus Springfield's background as a Combat Pararescue Officer has led to a complete refactor of the USCM's traige operations in the Neroid Sector. The issue of casualties and Murphy's Law was now something that could be directly tackled - and LtCol Springfield made it his personal goal to ensure he could get a seat at as many tables and planning meetings as possible.

Fifth Battalion's main strength lies in the varying specialties of its Companies. Each one tends to tackle a different aspect of the combat to casualty pipeline - from hardened operational logistics to frontline expeditionary corpsman to experienced combat veterans focused on quickly infiling and exfiling beleaguered USCM forces.
|-
!Headqurters
|-
|The main Command Headquarters of the Fifth Battalion is Ausrine Station above LV-402. Using the time-tested hub and spoke method, Fifth Battalion works to place its Companies in a stratgic web of Ships, Stations, and Marine Expeditionary Bases to better serve the needs of the USCM across the Neroid Sector. When possible, the upper Officer corps attempts to push junior Officers to work as "detailees" to other Battalions to better connect the Third Regiment to the Fifth's QRF capabilities. This has led to the term "Lost Puppy Battalion" being thrown around Officer Messes and hallways when said Junior Officers bite off a bit more than they can chew.
|-
!Operations
|-
|WIP
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The USCM is no stranger to hardened logistics. However, when the opportunity arose to cloak a wide-reaching supply chain in the trappings of casualty assistance and rapid mobility, the Military Organization for Development and Innovation (MODI) leapt at the chance. The Modernisation and Development Organization (MDO) sunk its teeth in first, ensuring a pipeline for back channel procurement from various smaller companies to avoid the ever watchful eye of the megacorporations. While the MDO is the most prominent of the MODI factions to operate within the Fifth's network, other sub-factions are slowly testing the waters of a new artery into the USCM's functions.

Outside of the shadowy political skirmishes of the Magpies, there is a smattering of Hawks and Doves, with the Doves mostly focusing on the medical and hardened logistical aspects of the QRF framework, while the Hawks push for more involvement on the ever-increasing operational tempo of the USCM.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Clashing Thunder'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion 'Clashing Thunder' is a uniquely structured logistical battalion whose primary focus is sustaining high-demand combat zones throughout Neroid and, when required, responding swiftly to emergency requests from neighboring sectors. Beyond its logistical mandate, however, the Sixth distinguishes itself through the maintenance of a broad and formidable arsenal of artillery weapons. This dual nature grants the battalion exceptional versatility, allowing it to secure and hold strategically critical planets and sustain its operations while delivering decisive, overwhelming firepower through the undeniable authority of the King of Battle. Supported by a well developed and self sustaining logistical network, the Sixth remains capable of prolonged independent operations under extreme conditions.

Interest in the battalion extends beyond the sheer destructive power of its guns. Many are drawn by the presence of its Battalion Commander, the Hero of Sadimia and auxiliary designer of the Chinook Station at Georgia, whose reputation alone lends the unit a distinct prestige.
While some formations thrive on direct confrontation and swift frontal assaults, the Sixth excels in shaping the battlefield through calculated, deliberate application of SUPERIOR firepower, striking precisely when the enemy falters, hesitates, or attempts to lie in pray for the better. Where lives would be too costly to spend, shells are deployed instead, often enabling the first decisive movements of the Colonial Marines. For those who believe that a well executed attack begins with an unbreakable defense composed of countless artillery pieces, the choice of battalion is unmistakable.

The battalion’s name, “Clashing Thunder,” is drawn from the first conflict of a violent operation and relentless dance of countless lightning bombardments that happened on LV-599, unseen even by the enemy until it was too late. It reflects the aftermath of a full artillery barrage unleashed by the full might of a single company, a song of thunder that does not cease until the battlefield itself is reduced to ruin, leaving only echoes carried in distant whispers as testimony to its passage.

The Sixth Battalion also maintains a strong connection to its past leadership. The current Battalion Commander holds the retired Lieutenant Colonel Stanford in the highest regard. A close friend to both her and Logistical Adjunct Booker Peralta, both are frequently seen together in both social settings and strategic deliberations at Firebase Elysium, those meetings shaped the battalion’s future. While much of the Sixth's structure remains rooted in its long standing, multi-purpose doctrine, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel Lopits elected to preserve this foundation while placing emphasis on artillery dominance. Stanford plays a significant role in supporting the newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel and continues to act as a trusted collaborator, working alongside her to fully realize the vision of Clashing Thunder to this day.
|-
!Command
|-
|The command philosophy of the Sixth is defined by pragmatism, restraint, and calculated authority rather than corruption or self interest. Lieutenant Colonel Lopits, is not corrupt in the conventional sense. The actions she has undertaken have been directed toward the preservation of the regiment and the protection of lawful civilian populations, always in pursuit of what she has deemed a greater and necessary good. The assigned missions of the Battalion also follow this pragmatism and are often hand picked by the Regiment Commander.

In support of the battalion's command position at Sadimia, Lopits established formal political ties with Governess Reddy of the Three World Empire, securing stability and strategic backing for the battalion’s continued operations. Within the battalion itself, Isabel’s command style emphasizes delegation & trust. Her confirmed support for Major Alan Jones, the Battalion Executive Officer is well shown during the artillery operations. Though a relatively recent addition to the battalion's circle, Jones has consistently demonstrated extreme reliability and skill. During direct engagements, Jones frequently assumes the role of action commander, leading forces at the point of the spear when ordnance is called in for use, while the Lieutenant Colonel retains control of scheming strategy, logistics, and operational coordination from the rear. Chosing instead to let the BXO take charge.

Given the extensive operational reach of the Sixth Battalion, significant authority is also vested in its Company Commanders. These officers are expected to compensate for logistical gaps across designated sectors of Neroid, with some overseeing multiple planets and active theaters of combat, while others personally supervise large scale artillery operations (Mainly Hawks). At least two Company Commanders are permanently assigned to assist the Batallion Commander with administrative and strategic responsibilities at the Sadimiam Firebase Elysium, ensuring continuity of Logistical efficiency through Neroid.

The battalion’s relationship with Weyland-Yutani is deliberately controlled and carefully managed, often kept in secret.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The headquarters of the Sixth Battalion is established on LV-599 Sadimia, within the Alpha Linna System on GL300. Though some authorities classify Linna as part of the Tartarus Sector, the effective frontier lies directly upon Sadimia itself, rendering the planet a persistent political gray zone. This ambiguity has divised a sustained and significant military presence, with IASF elements operating alongside forces of the Third Regiment, ensuring stability at the crossing of competing spheres of influence.

Sadimia has endured two major military campaigns, both culminating in decisive and overwhelming victory. The first was spearheaded by the United States Colonial Marines, whose forces distinguished themselves under the direct command of then Captain Lopits, who was promoted to Major during the opening phases of planetary reclamation. Following this victory, she continued to lead the effort to restore order in cooperation with the reconstituted planetary council. A Joint Staff was formed between the USCM, IASF, and RMC, conducting a planet wide campaign across the tropical regions and dense jungles of LV-599 with the explicit objective of eradicating the insurgent presence in its entirety. Among the final operations were the deployment of the synthetic Helena and promotion of the Executive Officer Oswald Aalto who served under Major Lopits.

In the aftermath of planetary reclamation and the indomitable victory achieved by the Joint Staff, Sadimia was designated a strategic priority within the American sphere of influence, while simultaneously becoming a critical logistical outpost for the advancing western arm of the Three World Empire. Recognizing its importance, sector authorities decided to place renewed emphasis on the planet’s previously incomplete reconstruction efforts, transforming Sadimia from a contested battleground into a cornerstone of regional stability.

Firebase Elysium was among the earliest installations established following the initial strike, constructed at a time when significant portions of the planet remained under insurgent control. Over the ensuing years, the firebase underwent continuous expansion, ultimately growing into a vast depot and listening post for Marine operations. Today, it functions as the primary refueling and rearming hub for the majority of patrolling vessels in the region, as well as a prominent symbol of attraction within Weyland Yutani propaganda. This symbolic status, however, generated substantial challenges, particularly an uncontrolled influx of colonists drawn by the promise of security and opportunity.

Through its standing, Firebase Elysium has endured repeated attacks and sustained prolonged pressure during successive operations. Time and again, it was tested under fire, yet it never fell. Its survival and continued operation stand as a testament to the resilience of the forces stationed there and form a central pillar of the Sixth Battalion’s enduring presence on Sadimia.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The Sixth Battalion and its foundational doctrine were shaped by the experience gained through continuous combat operations on Sadimia and the sustained support provided to secondary operations in adjacent sectors. Operation Jungle Hearts and Operation Dragon Tiger both made extensive use of heavy artillery assets and highly destructive methods, the consequences of which continue to exert political pressure due to the scale of infrastructure damage incurred during the occupation. Regimental Command deemed this intensive employment of firepower a necessary measure and consequently dismissed the majority of claims for corporate damages raised by Weyland Yutani. These matters were subsequently addressed discreetly in the months following the planetary reclamation and the complete victory on LV-599.

Operation Jungle Hearts was a desperate undertaking by the United States Colonial Marines, commanded by then unexperienced Captain Isabel Lopits in the absence of Major Michael Calhoun, aimed at securing an initial foothold on Sadimia. In order to preserve Marine combat effectiveness and avoid direct engagement with well entrenched insurgent forces, Captain Lopits elected to employ indirect fire and supportive measures. This approach focused on forcing enemy elements from caves and fortified positions within urban areas across the colonies, rather than engaging in costly frontal assaults. While tactically effective, the operation resulted in extensive devastation to Weyland Yutani facilities and much of the planet’s civilian infrastructure, collateral damage was not brought up despite certain rumours.

Operation Dragon Tiger constituted the final large scale offensive planned by the Joint Staff. Unlike earlier actions, it was meticulously prepared and executed with sufficient time to mitigate unnecessary destruction. Notably, this operation marked the first deployment of twelve simultaneous M292A2 self propelled guns by a single company. The overwhelming concentration of firepower led to the rapid collapse of insurgent resistance, securing Operation Dragon Tiger’s reputation as one of the most precisely executed campaigns supported by heavy ordnance.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The precise aspirations of the majority of the battalion’s personnel remain largely undefined, as many got re-assigned for new Battalions upon the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Lopits. However, both Major Jones and Lieutenant Colonel Isabel are, by conviction, firmly aligned with the Hawk philosophy and are intent on preserving that orientation within the battalion. Doves and Unaligned Senior Commanders are still offered certain positions, but only after a deliberate and intensive research.

Outside the Sixth Battalion, factional affiliation is regarded as a matter beyond concern. Within the direct command, however, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel makes a deliberate effort to limit the influence of Doves and to exclude Magpies from sensitive logistical channels, searching to minimize opportunities for corruption, mismanagement, or embezzlement. Doves are generally assigned to secondary or supportive logistical roles, while Hawks are entrusted with direct coordination of artillery deployments and ground command. Magpies, however, are openly distrusted and held in contempt by Isabel, as she considers any loyalty motivated by personal gain to be inherently unreliable.

The effect is straightforward and deliberate. The Hawks cannot afford to fall behind in the broader contest for dominance. And the Sixth Battalion shows itself as a cornerstone to pave this way of mind. Many officers under the structure of the Sixth come from Hawk based influential battalions and companies. This experience enables a good part of Senior Command to significantly reform and improve the efficiency of heavy materiel management and overall logistical reception across the colonies and rear echelon structures. As long as she sustains the Sixth Battalion’s record of victories and maintains sufficient propaganda momentum, operational stability is assured even with the HMM's backlash.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Sweeping Seventh'
!Introduction
|-
|The 7th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto as of the year 2182. After the restructuring of the regiment under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir, the recent rise of Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto has led to further attempts to maintain order in the colonies aboard. The regiment employs the use of specialised assault teams armed with both lethal and non lethal means of pacification to establish temporary governments and administrations in pacified regions.
Nicknamed the ''“Sweeping Seventh”'' for their effective usage of crowd control to handle colonial uprisings, the regiment has found itself the butt of the joke from enlisted of the First through the 6th for their ‘missing of the action’, assigned to clean up duty. Many have jokingly referred to the Seventh as the ‘Clean up crew’ or ‘Janitors’ with a suggestion that the only sweeping the Seventh takes part in is the sweeping up the dust and ashes of hard earned victories.

In the culture of the regiments, Officers of the Seventh have been characterised as often bored and unfulfilled by their work. This boredom is often cited as the reason for the more open nature of political disagreements between members of the Officer corps.
|-
!Operations
|-
|Operation '''Sulking Phoenix''' was a failed attempt to reorganise the administration of Gilbert’s Gambit after successful recovery of the TWE colony from CLF forces. The colony’s ultimate downfall was caused through political infighting among officers within the Seventh that led to minor skirmishing between marine forces before the colony was ultimately deemed unviable for human habitation and struck from the record.
Operation '''Wheezing Warrior''' was an incredibly successful rehabilitation of a colony undergoing a viral outbreak. The Seventh battalion was sent in as an occupying force, having enforced a quarantine of the population at gunpoint. It is noted that only minor breaches of the quarantine occurred, and were not repeated after a strict embargo of supplies to rebelling sectors of the colony.

Operation '''Jumping Joy''' was one of the more recent operations undertaken by the Seventh, in which a union of mine workers refused to comply with the demands of the Weyland Yutani corporation, who had been reinstalled into the colonial administration of the colony following the advice of several MODI aligned officers. The union was successfully quashed after a two month long guerilla campaign to bring them back under corporate control.
|-
|'''Factional Tension'''
|-
|As of recent times the '''HMM''' have lost favour within the Seventh as a result of a rise in guerrilla activity from the supposed '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''', leading to a rise in tensions between officers aligned with either the '''CPO''' or '''MODI''' often leading to all out arguments between commanding officers regarding the best means of restructuring regained colonies. Supporters of the '''MODI''', often aligning with powerful mega corporations such as '''W-Y''' have argued in favour of rebuilding the colonies with closer ties to company administration - criticising the ruined state '''CPO''' aligned officers have left reconquered colonies in.
Contrastingly, '''CPO''' aligned officers have argued in favour of removing the armed capabilities of some particularly rebellious colonies in order to permanently place them under occupation until such a time that the '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''' has been put to a stop. This has been heavily criticised by remaining HMM support within the Seventh who argue in favour of self governance and close cooperation with the '''Colonial Marshal Bureau.''' While factional tensions are nothing unique to the Seventh, it is notable that the battalion’s officers have been known to organise ''‘War Games’'' between their men and the men of their political opponents. Officially these games are for the sake of training, however have been known to spill over into violence, leading to harsh reprimanding from their superiors.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Michael Calhoun has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" role="presentation"
|'''REGIMENTAL REPORT (As of 11/24/2182)'''
|-
|
Doves: 25.9%

Hawks: 37.0%

Magpies: 22.2%

Other/Non-Aligned: 14.8%

[[File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png|300x300px]]
|}

=Current Crises=

===The War on Insurgency===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

===The Cold War===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

The Third Regiment

2026-03-22T01:11:00Z

Harrysno:

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Michael Calhoun to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-
![[File:viceadmiral.png]] Brigadier General | BGen
|A Flag Officer and member of the High Command for the USCMC's 4th Combat Division. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for coordinating actions between the various regiments falling under the division's umbrella. They are chiefly tasked with advising the overall commander of the 4th Combat Division on the strategic direction that the organization should take, and then disseminating that information to regimental commanders as required.
|Whitelist Overseer
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of both former Regimental Commander Maverick and former Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.

Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS - Visit, Board, Search, Seizure) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha. Presently, the Battalion Executor Officer position is vacant, following the promotion of its former XO, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel Lopits.

Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.

The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Operations
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.

'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'

'''Operation Royal Flush''' was a joint operation with the 4th Battalion, formerly known as the Steel Phantoms, during an open rebellion of the border colony at LV-912 “Sarnia’s Star”, supported by the CLF and UPP (suspected). While the 4th landed on the planet and began combat operations with its armored complement, the Lucky First remained in orbit and stopped, seized, and/or raided over 100 craft attempting to flee or enter the colony, resulting in numerous hostile elements killed or captured, and the complete disruption of the supply lines of the rebels.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion
!Introduction
|-
|The supporting heart of the regiment, Fourth Battalion’s primary mission is centered around maintaining regimental readiness and ensuring the combat arms elements are supplied and made capable of engaging and destroying the enemies of the United Americas. Secondary to these responsibilities, 4th battalion is frequently called upon to assist with colonial development and civil engineering projects. Working with official government colonization projects or for private organizations such as Weyland Yutani, 4th Battalion’s engineering units are used to clear space for infrastructure, build roadways, or set up prefabricated structures for arriving settlers.
|-
!Command
|-
|Organic to the Battalion and ensuring their mission goals are achieved are several transportation, maintenance, sustainment, and supply companies as well as a unit of horizontal and vertical engineers. These units fall directly beneath Battalion Headquarters and fleet structure and are assigned to the many depots, supply ships, and workshops that the Battalion maintains through the sector.
Secondary to the organic elements and their objectives, 4th Battalion serves to reconstitute and retrain understrength line units coming from the rest of the regiment. These units are temporarily taken into the Battalion's official TO&E and shifted to posts where close proximity to sustainment units and clear supply lines allow for steady access to recruits, maintenance personnel, and fresh materiel. This of course means that the Battalion roster is extremely eclectic and frequently changing, leading to a variety of unofficial and semi-derisive nicknames from the combat personnel cycling through its ranks including “The Circus” and “FOBbiton
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|Fourth Battalion’s primary base of operations is “Wilson Station”, a large supply and logistics hub located to the galactic southwest of Chinook Station within the American Corridor. Due to their role as a sustainment unit, the Fourth operates several other small orbital supply dumps, dockyards, and repair stations scattered throughout the border between UA and UPP space and maintains a larger than average fleet to support both combat and peacetime operations.
|-
!Operations
|-
|Operating in the background of any larger operations, 4th Battalion serves anywhere where one of the line battalion’s organic elements prove insufficient to sustain operations and hold an impressive list of campaigns to their name, though the Regiment’s combat arms may not exactly view their record in high acclaim.
In peacetime the 4th Battalion maintains close relations with both private and civil government colonial projects. The large contingent of engineers and reserves of heavy equipment are often used to aid in establishing and improving colonies, giving them a close and friendly relationship to many private organizations.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Close relations with Weyland-Yutani’s colonial development and corporate logistics departments naturally lead much of the Fourth into the Magpie camp, leaving many of their officers and personnel sympathetic to the idea that they truly are “Building Better Worlds” alongside the corporation.
Even in less prominent circles where the massive influence of the corporation is viewed with distrust or outright hostility, the mission and objectives of the Battalion leave little space for warmongers or hot-heads, leaving most of the command-staff divided between the Doves and Magpies.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion
!Introduction
|-
|Under Construction
|-
!Command
|-
|
|-
!Headqurters
|-
|
|-
!Opertions
|-
|
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Clashing Thunder'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion 'Clashing Thunder' is a uniquely structured logistical battalion whose primary focus is sustaining high-demand combat zones throughout Neroid and, when required, responding swiftly to emergency requests from neighboring sectors. Beyond its logistical mandate, however, the Sixth distinguishes itself through the maintenance of a broad and formidable arsenal of artillery weapons. This dual nature grants the battalion exceptional versatility, allowing it to secure and hold strategically critical planets and sustain its operations while delivering decisive, overwhelming firepower through the undeniable authority of the King of Battle. Supported by a well developed and self sustaining logistical network, the Sixth remains capable of prolonged independent operations under extreme conditions.

Interest in the battalion extends beyond the sheer destructive power of its guns. Many are drawn by the presence of its Battalion Commander, the Hero of Sadimia and auxiliary designer of the Chinook Station at Georgia, whose reputation alone lends the unit a distinct prestige.
While some formations thrive on direct confrontation and swift frontal assaults, the Sixth excels in shaping the battlefield through calculated, deliberate application of SUPERIOR firepower, striking precisely when the enemy falters, hesitates, or attempts to lie in pray for the better. Where lives would be too costly to spend, shells are deployed instead, often enabling the first decisive movements of the Colonial Marines. For those who believe that a well executed attack begins with an unbreakable defense composed of countless artillery pieces, the choice of battalion is unmistakable.

The battalion’s name, “Clashing Thunder,” is drawn from the first conflict of a violent operation and relentless dance of countless lightning bombardments that happened on LV-599, unseen even by the enemy until it was too late. It reflects the aftermath of a full artillery barrage unleashed by the full might of a single company, a song of thunder that does not cease until the battlefield itself is reduced to ruin, leaving only echoes carried in distant whispers as testimony to its passage.

The Sixth Battalion also maintains a strong connection to its past leadership. The current Battalion Commander holds the retired Lieutenant Colonel Stanford in the highest regard. A close friend to both her and Logistical Adjunct Booker Peralta, both are frequently seen together in both social settings and strategic deliberations at Firebase Elysium, those meetings shaped the battalion’s future. While much of the Sixth's structure remains rooted in its long standing, multi-purpose doctrine, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel Lopits elected to preserve this foundation while placing emphasis on artillery dominance. Stanford plays a significant role in supporting the newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel and continues to act as a trusted collaborator, working alongside her to fully realize the vision of Clashing Thunder to this day.
|-
!Command
|-
|The command philosophy of the Sixth is defined by pragmatism, restraint, and calculated authority rather than corruption or self interest. Lieutenant Colonel Lopits, is not corrupt in the conventional sense. The actions she has undertaken have been directed toward the preservation of the regiment and the protection of lawful civilian populations, always in pursuit of what she has deemed a greater and necessary good. The assigned missions of the Battalion also follow this pragmatism and are often hand picked by the Regiment Commander.

In support of the battalion's command position at Sadimia, Lopits established formal political ties with Governess Reddy of the Three World Empire, securing stability and strategic backing for the battalion’s continued operations. Within the battalion itself, Isabel’s command style emphasizes delegation & trust. Her confirmed support for Major Alan Jones, the Battalion Executive Officer is well shown during the artillery operations. Though a relatively recent addition to the battalion's circle, Jones has consistently demonstrated extreme reliability and skill. During direct engagements, Jones frequently assumes the role of action commander, leading forces at the point of the spear when ordnance is called in for use, while the Lieutenant Colonel retains control of scheming strategy, logistics, and operational coordination from the rear. Chosing instead to let the BXO take charge.

Given the extensive operational reach of the Sixth Battalion, significant authority is also vested in its Company Commanders. These officers are expected to compensate for logistical gaps across designated sectors of Neroid, with some overseeing multiple planets and active theaters of combat, while others personally supervise large scale artillery operations (Mainly Hawks). At least two Company Commanders are permanently assigned to assist the Batallion Commander with administrative and strategic responsibilities at the Sadimiam Firebase Elysium, ensuring continuity of Logistical efficiency through Neroid.

The battalion’s relationship with Weyland-Yutani is deliberately controlled and carefully managed, often kept in secret.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The headquarters of the Sixth Battalion is established on LV-599 Sadimia, within the Alpha Linna System on GL300. Though some authorities classify Linna as part of the Tartarus Sector, the effective frontier lies directly upon Sadimia itself, rendering the planet a persistent political gray zone. This ambiguity has divised a sustained and significant military presence, with IASF elements operating alongside forces of the Third Regiment, ensuring stability at the crossing of competing spheres of influence.

Sadimia has endured two major military campaigns, both culminating in decisive and overwhelming victory. The first was spearheaded by the United States Colonial Marines, whose forces distinguished themselves under the direct command of then Captain Lopits, who was promoted to Major during the opening phases of planetary reclamation. Following this victory, she continued to lead the effort to restore order in cooperation with the reconstituted planetary council. A Joint Staff was formed between the USCM, IASF, and RMC, conducting a planet wide campaign across the tropical regions and dense jungles of LV-599 with the explicit objective of eradicating the insurgent presence in its entirety. Among the final operations were the deployment of the synthetic Helena and promotion of the Executive Officer Oswald Aalto who served under Major Lopits.

In the aftermath of planetary reclamation and the indomitable victory achieved by the Joint Staff, Sadimia was designated a strategic priority within the American sphere of influence, while simultaneously becoming a critical logistical outpost for the advancing western arm of the Three World Empire. Recognizing its importance, sector authorities decided to place renewed emphasis on the planet’s previously incomplete reconstruction efforts, transforming Sadimia from a contested battleground into a cornerstone of regional stability.

Firebase Elysium was among the earliest installations established following the initial strike, constructed at a time when significant portions of the planet remained under insurgent control. Over the ensuing years, the firebase underwent continuous expansion, ultimately growing into a vast depot and listening post for Marine operations. Today, it functions as the primary refueling and rearming hub for the majority of patrolling vessels in the region, as well as a prominent symbol of attraction within Weyland Yutani propaganda. This symbolic status, however, generated substantial challenges, particularly an uncontrolled influx of colonists drawn by the promise of security and opportunity.

Through its standing, Firebase Elysium has endured repeated attacks and sustained prolonged pressure during successive operations. Time and again, it was tested under fire, yet it never fell. Its survival and continued operation stand as a testament to the resilience of the forces stationed there and form a central pillar of the Sixth Battalion’s enduring presence on Sadimia.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The Sixth Battalion and its foundational doctrine were shaped by the experience gained through continuous combat operations on Sadimia and the sustained support provided to secondary operations in adjacent sectors. Operation Jungle Hearts and Operation Dragon Tiger both made extensive use of heavy artillery assets and highly destructive methods, the consequences of which continue to exert political pressure due to the scale of infrastructure damage incurred during the occupation. Regimental Command deemed this intensive employment of firepower a necessary measure and consequently dismissed the majority of claims for corporate damages raised by Weyland Yutani. These matters were subsequently addressed discreetly in the months following the planetary reclamation and the complete victory on LV-599.

Operation Jungle Hearts was a desperate undertaking by the United States Colonial Marines, commanded by then unexperienced Captain Isabel Lopits in the absence of Major Michael Calhoun, aimed at securing an initial foothold on Sadimia. In order to preserve Marine combat effectiveness and avoid direct engagement with well entrenched insurgent forces, Captain Lopits elected to employ indirect fire and supportive measures. This approach focused on forcing enemy elements from caves and fortified positions within urban areas across the colonies, rather than engaging in costly frontal assaults. While tactically effective, the operation resulted in extensive devastation to Weyland Yutani facilities and much of the planet’s civilian infrastructure, collateral damage was not brought up despite certain rumours.

Operation Dragon Tiger constituted the final large scale offensive planned by the Joint Staff. Unlike earlier actions, it was meticulously prepared and executed with sufficient time to mitigate unnecessary destruction. Notably, this operation marked the first deployment of twelve simultaneous M292A2 self propelled guns by a single company. The overwhelming concentration of firepower led to the rapid collapse of insurgent resistance, securing Operation Dragon Tiger’s reputation as one of the most precisely executed campaigns supported by heavy ordnance.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The precise aspirations of the majority of the battalion’s personnel remain largely undefined, as many got re-assigned for new Battalions upon the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Lopits. However, both Major Jones and Lieutenant Colonel Isabel are, by conviction, firmly aligned with the Hawk philosophy and are intent on preserving that orientation within the battalion. Doves and Unaligned Senior Commanders are still offered certain positions, but only after a deliberate and intensive research.

Outside the Sixth Battalion, factional affiliation is regarded as a matter beyond concern. Within the direct command, however, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel makes a deliberate effort to limit the influence of Doves and to exclude Magpies from sensitive logistical channels, searching to minimize opportunities for corruption, mismanagement, or embezzlement. Doves are generally assigned to secondary or supportive logistical roles, while Hawks are entrusted with direct coordination of artillery deployments and ground command. Magpies, however, are openly distrusted and held in contempt by Isabel, as she considers any loyalty motivated by personal gain to be inherently unreliable.

The effect is straightforward and deliberate. The Hawks cannot afford to fall behind in the broader contest for dominance. And the Sixth Battalion shows itself as a cornerstone to pave this way of mind. Many officers under the structure of the Sixth come from Hawk based influential battalions and companies. This experience enables a good part of Senior Command to significantly reform and improve the efficiency of heavy materiel management and overall logistical reception across the colonies and rear echelon structures. As long as she sustains the Sixth Battalion’s record of victories and maintains sufficient propaganda momentum, operational stability is assured even with the HMM's backlash.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Sweeping Seventh'
!Introduction
|-
|The 7th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto as of the year 2182. After the restructuring of the regiment under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir, the recent rise of Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto has led to further attempts to maintain order in the colonies aboard. The regiment employs the use of specialised assault teams armed with both lethal and non lethal means of pacification to establish temporary governments and administrations in pacified regions.
Nicknamed the ''“Sweeping Seventh”'' for their effective usage of crowd control to handle colonial uprisings, the regiment has found itself the butt of the joke from enlisted of the First through the 6th for their ‘missing of the action’, assigned to clean up duty. Many have jokingly referred to the Seventh as the ‘Clean up crew’ or ‘Janitors’ with a suggestion that the only sweeping the Seventh takes part in is the sweeping up the dust and ashes of hard earned victories.

In the culture of the regiments, Officers of the Seventh have been characterised as often bored and unfulfilled by their work. This boredom is often cited as the reason for the more open nature of political disagreements between members of the Officer corps.
|-
!Operations
|-
|Operation '''Sulking Phoenix''' was a failed attempt to reorganise the administration of Gilbert’s Gambit after successful recovery of the TWE colony from CLF forces. The colony’s ultimate downfall was caused through political infighting among officers within the Seventh that led to minor skirmishing between marine forces before the colony was ultimately deemed unviable for human habitation and struck from the record.
Operation '''Wheezing Warrior''' was an incredibly successful rehabilitation of a colony undergoing a viral outbreak. The Seventh battalion was sent in as an occupying force, having enforced a quarantine of the population at gunpoint. It is noted that only minor breaches of the quarantine occurred, and were not repeated after a strict embargo of supplies to rebelling sectors of the colony.

Operation '''Jumping Joy''' was one of the more recent operations undertaken by the Seventh, in which a union of mine workers refused to comply with the demands of the Weyland Yutani corporation, who had been reinstalled into the colonial administration of the colony following the advice of several MODI aligned officers. The union was successfully quashed after a two month long guerilla campaign to bring them back under corporate control.
|-
|'''Factional Tension'''
|-
|As of recent times the '''HMM''' have lost favour within the Seventh as a result of a rise in guerrilla activity from the supposed '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''', leading to a rise in tensions between officers aligned with either the '''CPO''' or '''MODI''' often leading to all out arguments between commanding officers regarding the best means of restructuring regained colonies. Supporters of the '''MODI''', often aligning with powerful mega corporations such as '''W-Y''' have argued in favour of rebuilding the colonies with closer ties to company administration - criticising the ruined state '''CPO''' aligned officers have left reconquered colonies in.
Contrastingly, '''CPO''' aligned officers have argued in favour of removing the armed capabilities of some particularly rebellious colonies in order to permanently place them under occupation until such a time that the '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''' has been put to a stop. This has been heavily criticised by remaining HMM support within the Seventh who argue in favour of self governance and close cooperation with the '''Colonial Marshal Bureau.''' While factional tensions are nothing unique to the Seventh, it is notable that the battalion’s officers have been known to organise ''‘War Games’'' between their men and the men of their political opponents. Officially these games are for the sake of training, however have been known to spill over into violence, leading to harsh reprimanding from their superiors.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Michael Calhoun has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" role="presentation"
|'''REGIMENTAL REPORT (As of 11/24/2182)'''
|-
|
Doves: 25.9%

Hawks: 37.0%

Magpies: 22.2%

Other/Non-Aligned: 14.8%

[[File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png|300x300px]]
|}

=Current Crises=

===The War on Insurgency===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

===The Cold War===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

The Third Regiment

2026-03-12T16:50:38Z

Harrysno: 1st Battalion

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Michael Calhoun to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-
![[File:viceadmiral.png]] Brigadier General | BGen
|A Flag Officer and member of the High Command for the USCMC's 4th Combat Division. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for coordinating actions between the various regiments falling under the division's umbrella. They are chiefly tasked with advising the overall commander of the 4th Combat Division on the strategic direction that the organization should take, and then disseminating that information to regimental commanders as required.
|Whitelist Overseer
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of both former Regimental Commander Maverick and former Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.

Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS - Visit, Board, Search, Seizure) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha. Presently, the Battalion Executor Officer position is vacant, following the promotion of its former XO, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel Lopits.

Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.

The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Operations
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.

'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'

'''Operation Royal Flush''' was a joint operation with the 4th Battalion, formerly known as the Steel Phantoms, during an open rebellion of the border colony at LV-912 “Sarnia’s Star”, supported by the CLF and UPP (suspected). While the 4th landed on the planet and began combat operations with its armored complement, the Lucky First remained in orbit and stopped, seized, and/or raided over 100 craft attempting to flee or enter the colony, resulting in numerous hostile elements killed or captured, and the complete disruption of the supply lines of the rebels.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion
!Introduction
|-
|The supporting heart of the regiment, Fourth Battalion’s primary mission is centered around maintaining regimental readiness and ensuring the combat arms elements are supplied and made capable of engaging and destroying the enemies of the United Americas. Secondary to these responsibilities, 4th battalion is frequently called upon to assist with colonial development and civil engineering projects. Working with official government colonization projects or for private organizations such as Weyland Yutani, 4th Battalion’s engineering units are used to clear space for infrastructure, build roadways, or set up prefabricated structures for arriving settlers.
|-
!Command
|-
|Organic to the Battalion and ensuring their mission goals are achieved are several transportation, maintenance, sustainment, and supply companies as well as a unit of horizontal and vertical engineers. These units fall directly beneath Battalion Headquarters and fleet structure and are assigned to the many depots, supply ships, and workshops that the Battalion maintains through the sector.
Secondary to the organic elements and their objectives, 4th Battalion serves to reconstitute and retrain understrength line units coming from the rest of the regiment. These units are temporarily taken into the Battalion's official TO&E and shifted to posts where close proximity to sustainment units and clear supply lines allow for steady access to recruits, maintenance personnel, and fresh materiel. This of course means that the Battalion roster is extremely eclectic and frequently changing, leading to a variety of unofficial and semi-derisive nicknames from the combat personnel cycling through its ranks including “The Circus” and “FOBbiton
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|Fourth Battalion’s primary base of operations is “Wilson Station”, a large supply and logistics hub located to the galactic southwest of Chinook Station within the American Corridor. Due to their role as a sustainment unit, the Fourth operates several other small orbital supply dumps, dockyards, and repair stations scattered throughout the border between UA and UPP space and maintains a larger than average fleet to support both combat and peacetime operations.
|-
!Operations
|-
|Operating in the background of any larger operations, 4th Battalion serves anywhere where one of the line battalion’s organic elements prove insufficient to sustain operations and hold an impressive list of campaigns to their name, though the Regiment’s combat arms may not exactly view their record in high acclaim.
In peacetime the 4th Battalion maintains close relations with both private and civil government colonial projects. The large contingent of engineers and reserves of heavy equipment are often used to aid in establishing and improving colonies, giving them a close and friendly relationship to many private organizations.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Close relations with Weyland-Yutani’s colonial development and corporate logistics departments naturally lead much of the Fourth into the Magpie camp, leaving many of their officers and personnel sympathetic to the idea that they truly are “Building Better Worlds” alongside the corporation.
Even in less prominent circles where the massive influence of the corporation is viewed with distrust or outright hostility, the mission and objectives of the Battalion leave little space for warmongers or hot-heads, leaving most of the command-staff divided between the Doves and Magpies.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion
!Introduction
|-
|Under Construction
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Clashing Thunder'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion 'Clashing Thunder' is a uniquely structured logistical battalion whose primary focus is sustaining high-demand combat zones throughout Neroid and, when required, responding swiftly to emergency requests from neighboring sectors. Beyond its logistical mandate, however, the Sixth distinguishes itself through the maintenance of a broad and formidable arsenal of artillery weapons. This dual nature grants the battalion exceptional versatility, allowing it to secure and hold strategically critical planets and sustain its operations while delivering decisive, overwhelming firepower through the undeniable authority of the King of Battle. Supported by a well developed and self sustaining logistical network, the Sixth remains capable of prolonged independent operations under extreme conditions.

Interest in the battalion extends beyond the sheer destructive power of its guns. Many are drawn by the presence of its Battalion Commander, the Hero of Sadimia and auxiliary designer of the Chinook Station at Georgia, whose reputation alone lends the unit a distinct prestige.
While some formations thrive on direct confrontation and swift frontal assaults, the Sixth excels in shaping the battlefield through calculated, deliberate application of SUPERIOR firepower, striking precisely when the enemy falters, hesitates, or attempts to lie in pray for the better. Where lives would be too costly to spend, shells are deployed instead, often enabling the first decisive movements of the Colonial Marines. For those who believe that a well executed attack begins with an unbreakable defense composed of countless artillery pieces, the choice of battalion is unmistakable.

The battalion’s name, “Clashing Thunder,” is drawn from the first conflict of a violent operation and relentless dance of countless lightning bombardments that happened on LV-599, unseen even by the enemy until it was too late. It reflects the aftermath of a full artillery barrage unleashed by the full might of a single company, a song of thunder that does not cease until the battlefield itself is reduced to ruin, leaving only echoes carried in distant whispers as testimony to its passage.

The Sixth Battalion also maintains a strong connection to its past leadership. The current Battalion Commander holds the retired Lieutenant Colonel Stanford in the highest regard. A close friend to both her and Logistical Adjunct Booker Peralta, both are frequently seen together in both social settings and strategic deliberations at Firebase Elysium, those meetings shaped the battalion’s future. While much of the Sixth's structure remains rooted in its long standing, multi-purpose doctrine, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel Lopits elected to preserve this foundation while placing emphasis on artillery dominance. Stanford plays a significant role in supporting the newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel and continues to act as a trusted collaborator, working alongside her to fully realize the vision of Clashing Thunder to this day.
|-
!Command
|-
|The command philosophy of the Sixth is defined by pragmatism, restraint, and calculated authority rather than corruption or self interest. Lieutenant Colonel Lopits, is not corrupt in the conventional sense. The actions she has undertaken have been directed toward the preservation of the regiment and the protection of lawful civilian populations, always in pursuit of what she has deemed a greater and necessary good. The assigned missions of the Battalion also follow this pragmatism and are often hand picked by the Regiment Commander.

In support of the battalion's command position at Sadimia, Lopits established formal political ties with Governess Reddy of the Three World Empire, securing stability and strategic backing for the battalion’s continued operations. Within the battalion itself, Isabel’s command style emphasizes delegation & trust. Her confirmed support for Major Alan Jones, the Battalion Executive Officer is well shown during the artillery operations. Though a relatively recent addition to the battalion's circle, Jones has consistently demonstrated extreme reliability and skill. During direct engagements, Jones frequently assumes the role of action commander, leading forces at the point of the spear when ordnance is called in for use, while the Lieutenant Colonel retains control of scheming strategy, logistics, and operational coordination from the rear. Chosing instead to let the BXO take charge.

Given the extensive operational reach of the Sixth Battalion, significant authority is also vested in its Company Commanders. These officers are expected to compensate for logistical gaps across designated sectors of Neroid, with some overseeing multiple planets and active theaters of combat, while others personally supervise large scale artillery operations (Mainly Hawks). At least two Company Commanders are permanently assigned to assist the Batallion Commander with administrative and strategic responsibilities at the Sadimiam Firebase Elysium, ensuring continuity of Logistical efficiency through Neroid.

The battalion’s relationship with Weyland-Yutani is deliberately controlled and carefully managed, often kept in secret.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The headquarters of the Sixth Battalion is established on LV-599 Sadimia, within the Alpha Linna System on GL300. Though some authorities classify Linna as part of the Tartarus Sector, the effective frontier lies directly upon Sadimia itself, rendering the planet a persistent political gray zone. This ambiguity has divised a sustained and significant military presence, with IASF elements operating alongside forces of the Third Regiment, ensuring stability at the crossing of competing spheres of influence.

Sadimia has endured two major military campaigns, both culminating in decisive and overwhelming victory. The first was spearheaded by the United States Colonial Marines, whose forces distinguished themselves under the direct command of then Captain Lopits, who was promoted to Major during the opening phases of planetary reclamation. Following this victory, she continued to lead the effort to restore order in cooperation with the reconstituted planetary council. A Joint Staff was formed between the USCM, IASF, and RMC, conducting a planet wide campaign across the tropical regions and dense jungles of LV-599 with the explicit objective of eradicating the insurgent presence in its entirety. Among the final operations were the deployment of the synthetic Helena and promotion of the Executive Officer Oswald Aalto who served under Major Lopits.

In the aftermath of planetary reclamation and the indomitable victory achieved by the Joint Staff, Sadimia was designated a strategic priority within the American sphere of influence, while simultaneously becoming a critical logistical outpost for the advancing western arm of the Three World Empire. Recognizing its importance, sector authorities decided to place renewed emphasis on the planet’s previously incomplete reconstruction efforts, transforming Sadimia from a contested battleground into a cornerstone of regional stability.

Firebase Elysium was among the earliest installations established following the initial strike, constructed at a time when significant portions of the planet remained under insurgent control. Over the ensuing years, the firebase underwent continuous expansion, ultimately growing into a vast depot and listening post for Marine operations. Today, it functions as the primary refueling and rearming hub for the majority of patrolling vessels in the region, as well as a prominent symbol of attraction within Weyland Yutani propaganda. This symbolic status, however, generated substantial challenges, particularly an uncontrolled influx of colonists drawn by the promise of security and opportunity.

Through its standing, Firebase Elysium has endured repeated attacks and sustained prolonged pressure during successive operations. Time and again, it was tested under fire, yet it never fell. Its survival and continued operation stand as a testament to the resilience of the forces stationed there and form a central pillar of the Sixth Battalion’s enduring presence on Sadimia.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The Sixth Battalion and its foundational doctrine were shaped by the experience gained through continuous combat operations on Sadimia and the sustained support provided to secondary operations in adjacent sectors. Operation Jungle Hearts and Operation Dragon Tiger both made extensive use of heavy artillery assets and highly destructive methods, the consequences of which continue to exert political pressure due to the scale of infrastructure damage incurred during the occupation. Regimental Command deemed this intensive employment of firepower a necessary measure and consequently dismissed the majority of claims for corporate damages raised by Weyland Yutani. These matters were subsequently addressed discreetly in the months following the planetary reclamation and the complete victory on LV-599.

Operation Jungle Hearts was a desperate undertaking by the United States Colonial Marines, commanded by then unexperienced Captain Isabel Lopits in the absence of Major Michael Calhoun, aimed at securing an initial foothold on Sadimia. In order to preserve Marine combat effectiveness and avoid direct engagement with well entrenched insurgent forces, Captain Lopits elected to employ indirect fire and supportive measures. This approach focused on forcing enemy elements from caves and fortified positions within urban areas across the colonies, rather than engaging in costly frontal assaults. While tactically effective, the operation resulted in extensive devastation to Weyland Yutani facilities and much of the planet’s civilian infrastructure, collateral damage was not brought up despite certain rumours.

Operation Dragon Tiger constituted the final large scale offensive planned by the Joint Staff. Unlike earlier actions, it was meticulously prepared and executed with sufficient time to mitigate unnecessary destruction. Notably, this operation marked the first deployment of twelve simultaneous M292A2 self propelled guns by a single company. The overwhelming concentration of firepower led to the rapid collapse of insurgent resistance, securing Operation Dragon Tiger’s reputation as one of the most precisely executed campaigns supported by heavy ordnance.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The precise aspirations of the majority of the battalion’s personnel remain largely undefined, as many got re-assigned for new Battalions upon the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Lopits. However, both Major Jones and Lieutenant Colonel Isabel are, by conviction, firmly aligned with the Hawk philosophy and are intent on preserving that orientation within the battalion. Doves and Unaligned Senior Commanders are still offered certain positions, but only after a deliberate and intensive research.

Outside the Sixth Battalion, factional affiliation is regarded as a matter beyond concern. Within the direct command, however, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel makes a deliberate effort to limit the influence of Doves and to exclude Magpies from sensitive logistical channels, searching to minimize opportunities for corruption, mismanagement, or embezzlement. Doves are generally assigned to secondary or supportive logistical roles, while Hawks are entrusted with direct coordination of artillery deployments and ground command. Magpies, however, are openly distrusted and held in contempt by Isabel, as she considers any loyalty motivated by personal gain to be inherently unreliable.

The effect is straightforward and deliberate. The Hawks cannot afford to fall behind in the broader contest for dominance. And the Sixth Battalion shows itself as a cornerstone to pave this way of mind. Many officers under the structure of the Sixth come from Hawk based influential battalions and companies. This experience enables a good part of Senior Command to significantly reform and improve the efficiency of heavy materiel management and overall logistical reception across the colonies and rear echelon structures. As long as she sustains the Sixth Battalion’s record of victories and maintains sufficient propaganda momentum, operational stability is assured even with the HMM's backlash.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Sweeping Seventh'
!Introduction
|-
|The 7th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto as of the year 2182. After the restructuring of the regiment under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir, the recent rise of Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto has led to further attempts to maintain order in the colonies aboard. The regiment employs the use of specialised assault teams armed with both lethal and non lethal means of pacification to establish temporary governments and administrations in pacified regions.
Nicknamed the ''“Sweeping Seventh”'' for their effective usage of crowd control to handle colonial uprisings, the regiment has found itself the butt of the joke from enlisted of the First through the 6th for their ‘missing of the action’, assigned to clean up duty. Many have jokingly referred to the Seventh as the ‘Clean up crew’ or ‘Janitors’ with a suggestion that the only sweeping the Seventh takes part in is the sweeping up the dust and ashes of hard earned victories.

In the culture of the regiments, Officers of the Seventh have been characterised as often bored and unfulfilled by their work. This boredom is often cited as the reason for the more open nature of political disagreements between members of the Officer corps.
|-
!Operations
|-
|Operation '''Sulking Phoenix''' was a failed attempt to reorganise the administration of Gilbert’s Gambit after successful recovery of the TWE colony from CLF forces. The colony’s ultimate downfall was caused through political infighting among officers within the Seventh that led to minor skirmishing between marine forces before the colony was ultimately deemed unviable for human habitation and struck from the record.
Operation '''Wheezing Warrior''' was an incredibly successful rehabilitation of a colony undergoing a viral outbreak. The Seventh battalion was sent in as an occupying force, having enforced a quarantine of the population at gunpoint. It is noted that only minor breaches of the quarantine occurred, and were not repeated after a strict embargo of supplies to rebelling sectors of the colony.

Operation '''Jumping Joy''' was one of the more recent operations undertaken by the Seventh, in which a union of mine workers refused to comply with the demands of the Weyland Yutani corporation, who had been reinstalled into the colonial administration of the colony following the advice of several MODI aligned officers. The union was successfully quashed after a two month long guerilla campaign to bring them back under corporate control.
|-
|'''Factional Tension'''
|-
|As of recent times the '''HMM''' have lost favour within the Seventh as a result of a rise in guerrilla activity from the supposed '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''', leading to a rise in tensions between officers aligned with either the '''CPO''' or '''MODI''' often leading to all out arguments between commanding officers regarding the best means of restructuring regained colonies. Supporters of the '''MODI''', often aligning with powerful mega corporations such as '''W-Y''' have argued in favour of rebuilding the colonies with closer ties to company administration - criticising the ruined state '''CPO''' aligned officers have left reconquered colonies in.
Contrastingly, '''CPO''' aligned officers have argued in favour of removing the armed capabilities of some particularly rebellious colonies in order to permanently place them under occupation until such a time that the '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''' has been put to a stop. This has been heavily criticised by remaining HMM support within the Seventh who argue in favour of self governance and close cooperation with the '''Colonial Marshal Bureau.''' While factional tensions are nothing unique to the Seventh, it is notable that the battalion’s officers have been known to organise ''‘War Games’'' between their men and the men of their political opponents. Officially these games are for the sake of training, however have been known to spill over into violence, leading to harsh reprimanding from their superiors.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Michael Calhoun has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" role="presentation"
|'''REGIMENTAL REPORT (As of 11/24/2182)'''
|-
|
Doves: 25.9%

Hawks: 37.0%

Magpies: 22.2%

Other/Non-Aligned: 14.8%

[[File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png|300x300px]]
|}

=Current Crises=

===The War on Insurgency===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

===The Cold War===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

File:The Third Regiment.png

2026-03-09T19:26:34Z

Harrysno: Harrysno uploaded a new version of File:The Third Regiment.png

The current structure of the Third Regiment. Regimental and Battalion Commanders included.

The Third Regiment

2026-01-30T20:54:42Z

Harrysno:

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Michael Calhoun to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-
![[File:viceadmiral.png]] Brigadier General | BGen
|A Flag Officer and member of the High Command for the USCMC's 4th Combat Division. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for coordinating actions between the various regiments falling under the division's umbrella. They are chiefly tasked with advising the overall commander of the 4th Combat Division on the strategic direction that the organization should take, and then disseminating that information to regimental commanders as required.
|Whitelist Overseer
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commanders Maverick and Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major Isabel Lopits, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion
!Introduction
!
|-
|The supporting heart of the regiment, Fourth Battalion’s primary mission is centered around maintaining regimental readiness and ensuring the combat arms elements are supplied and made capable of engaging and destroying the enemies of the United Americas. Secondary to these responsibilities, 4th battalion is frequently called upon to assist with colonial development and civil engineering projects. Working with official government colonization projects or for private organizations such as Weyland Yutani, 4th Battalion’s engineering units are used to clear space for foundations, build roadways, or set up prefabricated structures for arriving settlers.

Organic to the Battalion and ensuring their mission goals are achieved are several transportation, maintenance, sustainment, and supply companies as well as a unit of horizontal and vertical engineers. These units fall directly beneath Battalion Headquarters and fleet structure and are assigned to the many depots, supply ships, and workshops that the Battalion maintains through the sector.

Secondary to the organic elements and their objectives, 4th Battalion serves to reconstitute and retrain understrength line units coming from the rest of the regiment. These units are temporarily taken into the Battalion's official TO&E and shifted to posts where close proximity to sustainment units and clear supply lines allow for steady access to recruits, maintenance personnel, and fresh materiel. This of course means that the Battalion roster is extremely eclectic and frequently changing, leading to a variety of unofficial and semi-derisive nicknames from the combat personnel cycling through its ranks including “The Circus” and “FOBbiton.”

Currently in the aftermath of Tychon Tackle, the 4th has been working overtime reorganizing and repairing the damage done to the regiment. The entire battalion is subject to long days and short nights and the space around their transports and above their depots are filled with cargo landers and dropships.

!
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion
!Introduction
|-
|Under Construction
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Clashing Thunder'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion 'Clashing Thunder' is a uniquely structured logistical battalion whose primary focus is sustaining high-demand combat zones throughout Neroid and, when required, responding swiftly to emergency requests from neighboring sectors. Beyond its logistical mandate, however, the Sixth distinguishes itself through the maintenance of a broad and formidable arsenal of artillery weapons. This dual nature grants the battalion exceptional versatility, allowing it to secure and hold strategically critical planets and sustain its operations while delivering decisive, overwhelming firepower through the undeniable authority of the King of Battle. Supported by a well developed and self sustaining logistical network, the Sixth remains capable of prolonged independent operations under extreme conditions.

Interest in the battalion extends beyond the sheer destructive power of its guns. Many are drawn by the presence of its Battalion Commander, the Hero of Sadimia and auxiliary designer of the Chinook Station at Georgia, whose reputation alone lends the unit a distinct prestige.
While some formations thrive on direct confrontation and swift frontal assaults, the Sixth excels in shaping the battlefield through calculated, deliberate application of SUPERIOR firepower, striking precisely when the enemy falters, hesitates, or attempts to lie in pray for the better. Where lives would be too costly to spend, shells are deployed instead, often enabling the first decisive movements of the Colonial Marines. For those who believe that a well executed attack begins with an unbreakable defense composed of countless artillery pieces, the choice of battalion is unmistakable.

The battalion’s name, “Clashing Thunder,” is drawn from the first conflict of a violent operation and relentless dance of countless lightning bombardments that happened on LV-599, unseen even by the enemy until it was too late. It reflects the aftermath of a full artillery barrage unleashed by the full might of a single company, a song of thunder that does not cease until the battlefield itself is reduced to ruin, leaving only echoes carried in distant whispers as testimony to its passage.

The Sixth Battalion also maintains a strong connection to its past leadership. The current Battalion Commander holds the retired Lieutenant Colonel Stanford in the highest regard. A close friend to both her and Logistical Adjunct Booker Peralta, both are frequently seen together in both social settings and strategic deliberations at Firebase Elysium, those meetings shaped the battalion’s future. While much of the Sixth's structure remains rooted in its long standing, multi-purpose doctrine, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel Lopits elected to preserve this foundation while placing emphasis on artillery dominance. Stanford plays a significant role in supporting the newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel and continues to act as a trusted collaborator, working alongside her to fully realize the vision of Clashing Thunder to this day.
|-
!Command
|-
|The command philosophy of the Sixth is defined by pragmatism, restraint, and calculated authority rather than corruption or self interest. Lieutenant Colonel Lopits, is not corrupt in the conventional sense. The actions she has undertaken have been directed toward the preservation of the regiment and the protection of lawful civilian populations, always in pursuit of what she has deemed a greater and necessary good. The assigned missions of the Battalion also follow this pragmatism and are often hand picked by the Regiment Commander.

In support of the battalion's command position at Sadimia, Lopits established formal political ties with Governess Reddy of the Three World Empire, securing stability and strategic backing for the battalion’s continued operations. Within the battalion itself, Isabel’s command style emphasizes delegation & trust. Her confirmed support for Major Alan Jones, the Battalion Executive Officer is well shown during the artillery operations. Though a relatively recent addition to the battalion's circle, Jones has consistently demonstrated extreme reliability and skill. During direct engagements, Jones frequently assumes the role of action commander, leading forces at the point of the spear when ordnance is called in for use, while the Lieutenant Colonel retains control of scheming strategy, logistics, and operational coordination from the rear. Chosing instead to let the BXO take charge.

Given the extensive operational reach of the Sixth Battalion, significant authority is also vested in its Company Commanders. These officers are expected to compensate for logistical gaps across designated sectors of Neroid, with some overseeing multiple planets and active theaters of combat, while others personally supervise large scale artillery operations (Mainly Hawks). At least two Company Commanders are permanently assigned to assist the Batallion Commander with administrative and strategic responsibilities at the Sadimiam Firebase Elysium, ensuring continuity of Logistical efficiency through Neroid.

The battalion’s relationship with Weyland-Yutani is deliberately controlled and carefully managed, often kept in secret.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The headquarters of the Sixth Battalion is established on LV-599 Sadimia, within the Alpha Linna System on GL300. Though some authorities classify Linna as part of the Tartarus Sector, the effective frontier lies directly upon Sadimia itself, rendering the planet a persistent political gray zone. This ambiguity has divised a sustained and significant military presence, with IASF elements operating alongside forces of the Third Regiment, ensuring stability at the crossing of competing spheres of influence.

Sadimia has endured two major military campaigns, both culminating in decisive and overwhelming victory. The first was spearheaded by the United States Colonial Marines, whose forces distinguished themselves under the direct command of then Captain Lopits, who was promoted to Major during the opening phases of planetary reclamation. Following this victory, she continued to lead the effort to restore order in cooperation with the reconstituted planetary council. A Joint Staff was formed between the USCM, IASF, and RMC, conducting a planet wide campaign across the tropical regions and dense jungles of LV-599 with the explicit objective of eradicating the insurgent presence in its entirety. Among the final operations were the deployment of the synthetic Helena and promotion of the Executive Officer Oswald Aalto who served under Major Lopits.

In the aftermath of planetary reclamation and the indomitable victory achieved by the Joint Staff, Sadimia was designated a strategic priority within the American sphere of influence, while simultaneously becoming a critical logistical outpost for the advancing western arm of the Three World Empire. Recognizing its importance, sector authorities decided to place renewed emphasis on the planet’s previously incomplete reconstruction efforts, transforming Sadimia from a contested battleground into a cornerstone of regional stability.

Firebase Elysium was among the earliest installations established following the initial strike, constructed at a time when significant portions of the planet remained under insurgent control. Over the ensuing years, the firebase underwent continuous expansion, ultimately growing into a vast depot and listening post for Marine operations. Today, it functions as the primary refueling and rearming hub for the majority of patrolling vessels in the region, as well as a prominent symbol of attraction within Weyland Yutani propaganda. This symbolic status, however, generated substantial challenges, particularly an uncontrolled influx of colonists drawn by the promise of security and opportunity.

Through its standing, Firebase Elysium has endured repeated attacks and sustained prolonged pressure during successive operations. Time and again, it was tested under fire, yet it never fell. Its survival and continued operation stand as a testament to the resilience of the forces stationed there and form a central pillar of the Sixth Battalion’s enduring presence on Sadimia.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The Sixth Battalion and its foundational doctrine were shaped by the experience gained through continuous combat operations on Sadimia and the sustained support provided to secondary operations in adjacent sectors. Operation Jungle Hearts and Operation Dragon Tiger both made extensive use of heavy artillery assets and highly destructive methods, the consequences of which continue to exert political pressure due to the scale of infrastructure damage incurred during the occupation. Regimental Command deemed this intensive employment of firepower a necessary measure and consequently dismissed the majority of claims for corporate damages raised by Weyland Yutani. These matters were subsequently addressed discreetly in the months following the planetary reclamation and the complete victory on LV-599.

Operation Jungle Hearts was a desperate undertaking by the United States Colonial Marines, commanded by then unexperienced Captain Isabel Lopits in the absence of Major Michael Calhoun, aimed at securing an initial foothold on Sadimia. In order to preserve Marine combat effectiveness and avoid direct engagement with well entrenched insurgent forces, Captain Lopits elected to employ indirect fire and supportive measures. This approach focused on forcing enemy elements from caves and fortified positions within urban areas across the colonies, rather than engaging in costly frontal assaults. While tactically effective, the operation resulted in extensive devastation to Weyland Yutani facilities and much of the planet’s civilian infrastructure, collateral damage was not brought up despite certain rumours.

Operation Dragon Tiger constituted the final large scale offensive planned by the Joint Staff. Unlike earlier actions, it was meticulously prepared and executed with sufficient time to mitigate unnecessary destruction. Notably, this operation marked the first deployment of twelve simultaneous M292A2 self propelled guns by a single company. The overwhelming concentration of firepower led to the rapid collapse of insurgent resistance, securing Operation Dragon Tiger’s reputation as one of the most precisely executed campaigns supported by heavy ordnance.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The precise aspirations of the majority of the battalion’s personnel remain largely undefined, as many got re-assigned for new Battalions upon the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Lopits. However, both Major Jones and Lieutenant Colonel Isabel are, by conviction, firmly aligned with the Hawk philosophy and are intent on preserving that orientation within the battalion. Doves and Unaligned Senior Commanders are still offered certain positions, but only after a deliberate and intensive research.

Outside the Sixth Battalion, factional affiliation is regarded as a matter beyond concern. Within the direct command, however, Lieutenant Colonel Isabel makes a deliberate effort to limit the influence of Doves and to exclude Magpies from sensitive logistical channels, searching to minimize opportunities for corruption, mismanagement, or embezzlement. Doves are generally assigned to secondary or supportive logistical roles, while Hawks are entrusted with direct coordination of artillery deployments and ground command. Magpies, however, are openly distrusted and held in contempt by Isabel, as she considers any loyalty motivated by personal gain to be inherently unreliable.

The effect is straightforward and deliberate. The Hawks cannot afford to fall behind in the broader contest for dominance. And the Sixth Battalion shows itself as a cornerstone to pave this way of mind. Many officers under the structure of the Sixth come from Hawk based influential battalions and companies. This experience enables a good part of Senior Command to significantly reform and improve the efficiency of heavy materiel management and overall logistical reception across the colonies and rear echelon structures. As long as she sustains the Sixth Battalion’s record of victories and maintains sufficient propaganda momentum, operational stability is assured even with the HMM's backlash.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Sweeping Seventh'
!Introduction
|-
|The 7th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto as of the year 2182. After the restructuring of the regiment under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir, the recent rise of Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto has led to further attempts to maintain order in the colonies aboard. The regiment employs the use of specialised assault teams armed with both lethal and non lethal means of pacification to establish temporary governments and administrations in pacified regions.
Nicknamed the ''“Sweeping Seventh”'' for their effective usage of crowd control to handle colonial uprisings, the regiment has found itself the butt of the joke from enlisted of the First through the 6th for their ‘missing of the action’, assigned to clean up duty. Many have jokingly referred to the Seventh as the ‘Clean up crew’ or ‘Janitors’ with a suggestion that the only sweeping the Seventh takes part in is the sweeping up the dust and ashes of hard earned victories.

In the culture of the regiments, Officers of the Seventh have been characterised as often bored and unfulfilled by their work. This boredom is often cited as the reason for the more open nature of political disagreements between members of the Officer corps.
|-
!Operations
|-
|Operation '''Sulking Phoenix''' was a failed attempt to reorganise the administration of Gilbert’s Gambit after successful recovery of the TWE colony from CLF forces. The colony’s ultimate downfall was caused through political infighting among officers within the Seventh that led to minor skirmishing between marine forces before the colony was ultimately deemed unviable for human habitation and struck from the record.
Operation '''Wheezing Warrior''' was an incredibly successful rehabilitation of a colony undergoing a viral outbreak. The Seventh battalion was sent in as an occupying force, having enforced a quarantine of the population at gunpoint. It is noted that only minor breaches of the quarantine occurred, and were not repeated after a strict embargo of supplies to rebelling sectors of the colony.

Operation '''Jumping Joy''' was one of the more recent operations undertaken by the Seventh, in which a union of mine workers refused to comply with the demands of the Weyland Yutani corporation, who had been reinstalled into the colonial administration of the colony following the advice of several MODI aligned officers. The union was successfully quashed after a two month long guerilla campaign to bring them back under corporate control.
|-
|'''Factional Tension'''
|-
|As of recent times the '''HMM''' have lost favour within the Seventh as a result of a rise in guerrilla activity from the supposed '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''', leading to a rise in tensions between officers aligned with either the '''CPO''' or '''MODI''' often leading to all out arguments between commanding officers regarding the best means of restructuring regained colonies. Supporters of the '''MODI''', often aligning with powerful mega corporations such as '''W-Y''' have argued in favour of rebuilding the colonies with closer ties to company administration - criticising the ruined state '''CPO''' aligned officers have left reconquered colonies in.
Contrastingly, '''CPO''' aligned officers have argued in favour of removing the armed capabilities of some particularly rebellious colonies in order to permanently place them under occupation until such a time that the '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''' has been put to a stop. This has been heavily criticised by remaining HMM support within the Seventh who argue in favour of self governance and close cooperation with the '''Colonial Marshal Bureau.''' While factional tensions are nothing unique to the Seventh, it is notable that the battalion’s officers have been known to organise ''‘War Games’'' between their men and the men of their political opponents. Officially these games are for the sake of training, however have been known to spill over into violence, leading to harsh reprimanding from their superiors.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Michael Calhoun has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" role="presentation"
|'''REGIMENTAL REPORT (As of 11/24/2182)'''
|-
|
Doves: 25.9%

Hawks: 37.0%

Magpies: 22.2%

Other/Non-Aligned: 14.8%

[[File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png|300x300px]]
|}

=Current Crises=

===The War on Insurgency===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

===The Cold War===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

The Third Regiment

2026-01-21T18:58:40Z

Harrysno:

File:The Third Regiment.png

2025-12-28T16:20:29Z

Harrysno: Harrysno uploaded a new version of File:The Third Regiment.png

The current structure of the Third Regiment. Regimental and Battalion Commanders included.

The Third Regiment

2025-12-28T16:17:49Z

Harrysno:

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Michael Calhoun to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-
![[File:viceadmiral.png]] Brigadier General | BGen
|A Flag Officer and member of the High Command for the USCMC's 4th Combat Division. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for coordinating actions between the various regiments falling under the division's umbrella. They are chiefly tasked with advising the overall commander of the 4th Combat Division on the strategic direction that the organization should take, and then disseminating that information to regimental commanders as required.
|Whitelist Overseer
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commanders Maverick and Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major Isabel Lopits, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion
!Introduction
!
|-
|The supporting heart of the regiment, Fourth Battalion’s primary mission is centered around maintaining regimental readiness and ensuring the combat arms elements are supplied and made capable of engaging and destroying the enemies of the United Americas. Secondary to these responsibilities, 4th battalion is frequently called upon to assist with colonial development and civil engineering projects. Working with official government colonization projects or for private organizations such as Weyland Yutani, 4th Battalion’s engineering units are used to clear space for foundations, build roadways, or set up prefabricated structures for arriving settlers.

Organic to the Battalion and ensuring their mission goals are achieved are several transportation, maintenance, sustainment, and supply companies as well as a unit of horizontal and vertical engineers. These units fall directly beneath Battalion Headquarters and fleet structure and are assigned to the many depots, supply ships, and workshops that the Battalion maintains through the sector.

Secondary to the organic elements and their objectives, 4th Battalion serves to reconstitute and retrain understrength line units coming from the rest of the regiment. These units are temporarily taken into the Battalion's official TO&E and shifted to posts where close proximity to sustainment units and clear supply lines allow for steady access to recruits, maintenance personnel, and fresh materiel. This of course means that the Battalion roster is extremely eclectic and frequently changing, leading to a variety of unofficial and semi-derisive nicknames from the combat personnel cycling through its ranks including “The Circus” and “FOBbiton.”

Currently in the aftermath of Tychon Tackle, the 4th has been working overtime reorganizing and repairing the damage done to the regiment. The entire battalion is subject to long days and short nights and the space around their transports and above their depots are filled with cargo landers and dropships.

!
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion
!Introduction
|-
|Under Construction
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Michael Calhoun and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Sweeping Seventh'
!Introduction
|-
|The 7th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto as of the year 2182. After the restructuring of the regiment under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir, the recent rise of Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto has led to further attempts to maintain order in the colonies aboard. The regiment employs the use of specialised assault teams armed with both lethal and non lethal means of pacification to establish temporary governments and administrations in pacified regions.
Nicknamed the ''“Sweeping Seventh”'' for their effective usage of crowd control to handle colonial uprisings, the regiment has found itself the butt of the joke from enlisted of the First through the 6th for their ‘missing of the action’, assigned to clean up duty. Many have jokingly referred to the Seventh as the ‘Clean up crew’ or ‘Janitors’ with a suggestion that the only sweeping the Seventh takes part in is the sweeping up the dust and ashes of hard earned victories.

In the culture of the regiments, Officers of the Seventh have been characterised as often bored and unfulfilled by their work. This boredom is often cited as the reason for the more open nature of political disagreements between members of the Officer corps.
|-
!Operations
|-
|Operation '''Sulking Phoenix''' was a failed attempt to reorganise the administration of Gilbert’s Gambit after successful recovery of the TWE colony from CLF forces. The colony’s ultimate downfall was caused through political infighting among officers within the Seventh that led to minor skirmishing between marine forces before the colony was ultimately deemed unviable for human habitation and struck from the record.
Operation '''Wheezing Warrior''' was an incredibly successful rehabilitation of a colony undergoing a viral outbreak. The Seventh battalion was sent in as an occupying force, having enforced a quarantine of the population at gunpoint. It is noted that only minor breaches of the quarantine occurred, and were not repeated after a strict embargo of supplies to rebelling sectors of the colony.

Operation '''Jumping Joy''' was one of the more recent operations undertaken by the Seventh, in which a union of mine workers refused to comply with the demands of the Weyland Yutani corporation, who had been reinstalled into the colonial administration of the colony following the advice of several MODI aligned officers. The union was successfully quashed after a two month long guerilla campaign to bring them back under corporate control.
|-
|'''Factional Tension'''
|-
|As of recent times the '''HMM''' have lost favour within the Seventh as a result of a rise in guerrilla activity from the supposed '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''', leading to a rise in tensions between officers aligned with either the '''CPO''' or '''MODI''' often leading to all out arguments between commanding officers regarding the best means of restructuring regained colonies. Supporters of the '''MODI''', often aligning with powerful mega corporations such as '''Weyland-Yutani''' have argued in favour of rebuilding the colonies with closer ties to company administration - criticising the ruined state '''CPO''' aligned officers have left reconquered colonies in.
Contrastingly, '''CPO''' aligned officers have argued in favour of removing the armed capabilities of some particularly rebellious colonies in order to permanently place them under occupation until such a time that the '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''' has been put to a stop. This has been heavily criticised by remaining HMM support within the Seventh who argue in favour of self governance and close cooperation with the '''Colonial Marshal Bureau.''' While factional tensions are nothing unique to the Seventh, it is notable that the battalion’s officers have been known to organise ''‘War Games’'' between their men and the men of their political opponents. Officially these games are for the sake of training, however have been known to spill over into violence, leading to harsh reprimanding from their superiors.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Michael Calhoun has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" role="presentation"
|'''REGIMENTAL REPORT (As of 11/24/2182)'''
|-
|
Doves: 25.9%

Hawks: 37.0%

Magpies: 22.2%

Other/Non-Aligned: 14.8%

[[File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png|300x300px]]
|}

=Current Crises=

===The War on Insurgency===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

===The Cold War===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

The Third Regiment

2025-12-28T16:16:53Z

Harrysno: Reformatted 4th Batt. Updated Ideology.

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Michael Calhoun to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-
![[File:viceadmiral.png]] Brigadier General | BGen
|A Flag Officer and member of the High Command for the USCMC's 4th Combat Division. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for coordinating actions between the various regiments falling under the division's umbrella. They are chiefly tasked with advising the overall commander of the 4th Combat Division on the strategic direction that the organization should take, and then disseminating that information to regimental commanders as required.
|Whitelist Overseer
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commanders Maverick and Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major Isabel Lopits, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion
!Introduction
!
|-
|The supporting heart of the regiment, Fourth Battalion’s primary mission is centered around maintaining regimental readiness and ensuring the combat arms elements are supplied and made capable of engaging and destroying the enemies of the United Americas. Secondary to these responsibilities, 4th battalion is frequently called upon to assist with colonial development and civil engineering projects. Working with official government colonization projects or for private organizations such as Weyland Yutani, 4th Battalion’s engineering units are used to clear space for foundations, build roadways, or set up prefabricated structures for arriving settlers.

Organic to the Battalion and ensuring their mission goals are achieved are several transportation, maintenance, sustainment, and supply companies as well as a unit of horizontal and vertical engineers. These units fall directly beneath Battalion Headquarters and fleet structure and are assigned to the many depots, supply ships, and workshops that the Battalion maintains through the sector.

Secondary to the organic elements and their objectives, 4th Battalion serves to reconstitute and retrain understrength line units coming from the rest of the regiment. These units are temporarily taken into the Battalion's official TO&E and shifted to posts where close proximity to sustainment units and clear supply lines allow for steady access to recruits, maintenance personnel, and fresh materiel. This of course means that the Battalion roster is extremely eclectic and frequently changing, leading to a variety of unofficial and semi-derisive nicknames from the combat personnel cycling through its ranks including “The Circus” and “FOBbiton.”

Currently in the aftermath of Tychon Tackle, the 4th has been working overtime reorganizing and repairing the damage done to the regiment. The entire battalion is subject to long days and short nights and the space around their transports and above their depots are filled with cargo landers and dropships.

!
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion
!Introduction
|-
|Under Construction
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Michael Calhoun and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Sweeping Seventh'
!Introduction
|-
|The 7th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto as of the year 2182. After the restructuring of the regiment under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir, the recent rise of Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto has led to further attempts to maintain order in the colonies aboard. The regiment employs the use of specialised assault teams armed with both lethal and non lethal means of pacification to establish temporary governments and administrations in pacified regions.
Nicknamed the ''“Sweeping Seventh”'' for their effective usage of crowd control to handle colonial uprisings, the regiment has found itself the butt of the joke from enlisted of the First through the 6th for their ‘missing of the action’, assigned to clean up duty. Many have jokingly referred to the Seventh as the ‘Clean up crew’ or ‘Janitors’ with a suggestion that the only sweeping the Seventh takes part in is the sweeping up the dust and ashes of hard earned victories.

In the culture of the regiments, Officers of the Seventh have been characterised as often bored and unfulfilled by their work. This boredom is often cited as the reason for the more open nature of political disagreements between members of the Officer corps.
|-
!Operations
|-
|Operation '''Sulking Phoenix''' was a failed attempt to reorganise the administration of Gilbert’s Gambit after successful recovery of the TWE colony from CLF forces. The colony’s ultimate downfall was caused through political infighting among officers within the Seventh that led to minor skirmishing between marine forces before the colony was ultimately deemed unviable for human habitation and struck from the record.
Operation '''Wheezing Warrior''' was an incredibly successful rehabilitation of a colony undergoing a viral outbreak. The Seventh battalion was sent in as an occupying force, having enforced a quarantine of the population at gunpoint. It is noted that only minor breaches of the quarantine occurred, and were not repeated after a strict embargo of supplies to rebelling sectors of the colony.

Operation '''Jumping Joy''' was one of the more recent operations undertaken by the Seventh, in which a union of mine workers refused to comply with the demands of the Weyland Yutani corporation, who had been reinstalled into the colonial administration of the colony following the advice of several MODI aligned officers. The union was successfully quashed after a two month long guerilla campaign to bring them back under corporate control.
|-
|'''Factional Tension'''
|-
|As of recent times the '''HMM''' have lost favour within the Seventh as a result of a rise in guerrilla activity from the supposed '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''', leading to a rise in tensions between officers aligned with either the '''CPO''' or '''MODI''' often leading to all out arguments between commanding officers regarding the best means of restructuring regained colonies. Supporters of the '''MODI''', often aligning with powerful mega corporations such as '''Weyland-Yutani''' have argued in favour of rebuilding the colonies with closer ties to company administration - criticising the ruined state '''CPO''' aligned officers have left reconquered colonies in.
Contrastingly, '''CPO''' aligned officers have argued in favour of removing the armed capabilities of some particularly rebellious colonies in order to permanently place them under occupation until such a time that the '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''' has been put to a stop. This has been heavily criticised by remaining HMM support within the Seventh who argue in favour of self governance and close cooperation with the '''Colonial Marshal Bureau.''' While factional tensions are nothing unique to the Seventh, it is notable that the battalion’s officers have been known to organise ''‘War Games’'' between their men and the men of their political opponents. Officially these games are for the sake of training, however have been known to spill over into violence, leading to harsh reprimanding from their superiors.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Michael Calhoun has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" role="presentation"
|'''REGIMENTAL REPORT (As of 11/24/2182)'''
|-
|
Doves: 25.0%

Hawks: 36.1%

Magpies: 19.4%

Other/Non-Aligned: 19.4%

[[File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png|300x300px]]
|}

=Current Crises=

===The War on Insurgency===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

===The Cold War===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png

2025-12-28T16:15:21Z

Harrysno: Harrysno uploaded a new version of File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png

pie chart showing the overall ideological alignment of COs

The Third Regiment

2025-12-28T16:08:55Z

Harrysno: Fifth Battalion under construction

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Michael Calhoun to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-
![[File:viceadmiral.png]] Brigadier General | BGen
|A Flag Officer and member of the High Command for the USCMC's 4th Combat Division. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for coordinating actions between the various regiments falling under the division's umbrella. They are chiefly tasked with advising the overall commander of the 4th Combat Division on the strategic direction that the organization should take, and then disseminating that information to regimental commanders as required.
|Whitelist Overseer
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commanders Maverick and Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major Isabel Lopits, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion
!The supporting heart of the regiment, Fourth Battalion’s primary mission is centered around maintaining regimental readiness and ensuring the combat arms elements are supplied and made capable of engaging and destroying the enemies of the United Americas. Secondary to these responsibilities, 4th battalion is frequently called upon to assist with colonial development and civil engineering projects. Working with official government colonization projects or for private organizations such as Weyland Yutani, 4th Battalion’s engineering units are used to clear space for foundations, build roadways, or set up prefabricated structures for arriving settlers.

Organic to the Battalion and ensuring their mission goals are achieved are several transportation, maintenance, sustainment, and supply companies as well as a unit of horizontal and vertical engineers. These units fall directly beneath Battalion Headquarters and fleet structure and are assigned to the many depots, supply ships, and workshops that the Battalion maintains through the sector.

Secondary to the organic elements and their objectives, 4th Battalion serves to reconstitute and retrain understrength line units coming from the rest of the regiment. These units are temporarily taken into the Battalion's official TO&E and shifted to posts where close proximity to sustainment units and clear supply lines allow for steady access to recruits, maintenance personnel, and fresh materiel. This of course means that the Battalion roster is extremely eclectic and frequently changing, leading to a variety of unofficial and semi-derisive nicknames from the combat personnel cycling through its ranks including “The Circus” and “FOBbiton.”

Currently in the aftermath of Tychon Tackle, the 4th has been working overtime reorganizing and repairing the damage done to the regiment. The entire battalion is subject to long days and short nights and the space around their transports and above their depots are filled with cargo landers and dropships.

!
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion
!Introduction
|-
|Under Construction
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Michael Calhoun and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Sweeping Seventh'
!Introduction
|-
|The 7th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto as of the year 2182. After the restructuring of the regiment under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir, the recent rise of Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto has led to further attempts to maintain order in the colonies aboard. The regiment employs the use of specialised assault teams armed with both lethal and non lethal means of pacification to establish temporary governments and administrations in pacified regions.
Nicknamed the ''“Sweeping Seventh”'' for their effective usage of crowd control to handle colonial uprisings, the regiment has found itself the butt of the joke from enlisted of the First through the 6th for their ‘missing of the action’, assigned to clean up duty. Many have jokingly referred to the Seventh as the ‘Clean up crew’ or ‘Janitors’ with a suggestion that the only sweeping the Seventh takes part in is the sweeping up the dust and ashes of hard earned victories.

In the culture of the regiments, Officers of the Seventh have been characterised as often bored and unfulfilled by their work. This boredom is often cited as the reason for the more open nature of political disagreements between members of the Officer corps.
|-
!Operations
|-
|Operation '''Sulking Phoenix''' was a failed attempt to reorganise the administration of Gilbert’s Gambit after successful recovery of the TWE colony from CLF forces. The colony’s ultimate downfall was caused through political infighting among officers within the Seventh that led to minor skirmishing between marine forces before the colony was ultimately deemed unviable for human habitation and struck from the record.
Operation '''Wheezing Warrior''' was an incredibly successful rehabilitation of a colony undergoing a viral outbreak. The Seventh battalion was sent in as an occupying force, having enforced a quarantine of the population at gunpoint. It is noted that only minor breaches of the quarantine occurred, and were not repeated after a strict embargo of supplies to rebelling sectors of the colony.

Operation '''Jumping Joy''' was one of the more recent operations undertaken by the Seventh, in which a union of mine workers refused to comply with the demands of the Weyland Yutani corporation, who had been reinstalled into the colonial administration of the colony following the advice of several MODI aligned officers. The union was successfully quashed after a two month long guerilla campaign to bring them back under corporate control.
|-
|'''Factional Tension'''
|-
|As of recent times the '''HMM''' have lost favour within the Seventh as a result of a rise in guerrilla activity from the supposed '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''', leading to a rise in tensions between officers aligned with either the '''CPO''' or '''MODI''' often leading to all out arguments between commanding officers regarding the best means of restructuring regained colonies. Supporters of the '''MODI''', often aligning with powerful mega corporations such as '''Weyland-Yutani''' have argued in favour of rebuilding the colonies with closer ties to company administration - criticising the ruined state '''CPO''' aligned officers have left reconquered colonies in.
Contrastingly, '''CPO''' aligned officers have argued in favour of removing the armed capabilities of some particularly rebellious colonies in order to permanently place them under occupation until such a time that the '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''' has been put to a stop. This has been heavily criticised by remaining HMM support within the Seventh who argue in favour of self governance and close cooperation with the '''Colonial Marshal Bureau.''' While factional tensions are nothing unique to the Seventh, it is notable that the battalion’s officers have been known to organise ''‘War Games’'' between their men and the men of their political opponents. Officially these games are for the sake of training, however have been known to spill over into violence, leading to harsh reprimanding from their superiors.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Michael Calhoun has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" role="presentation"
|'''REGIMENTAL REPORT (As of 04/18/2182)'''
|-
|
Doves: 34.8%

Hawks: 26.1%

Magpies: 26.1%

Other/Non-Aligned: 13.0%

[[File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png|300x300px]]
|}

=Current Crises=

===The War on Insurgency===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

===The Cold War===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

File:The Third Regiment.png

2025-12-28T16:07:28Z

Harrysno: Harrysno uploaded a new version of File:The Third Regiment.png

The current structure of the Third Regiment. Regimental and Battalion Commanders included.

File:The Third Regiment.png

2025-08-10T16:30:36Z

Harrysno: Harrysno uploaded a new version of File:The Third Regiment.png

The current structure of the Third Regiment. Regimental and Battalion Commanders included.

The Third Regiment

2025-08-10T16:27:11Z

Harrysno: New Senator = New Colonel, 4th Battalion changed to WIP.

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Michael Calhoun to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-
![[File:viceadmiral.png]] Brigadier General | BGen
|A Flag Officer and member of the High Command for the USCMC's 4th Combat Division. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for coordinating actions between the various regiments falling under the division's umbrella. They are chiefly tasked with advising the overall commander of the 4th Combat Division on the strategic direction that the organization should take, and then disseminating that information to regimental commanders as required.
|Whitelist Overseer
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commanders Maverick and Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major Isabel Lopits, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'XXX'
!UNDER CONSTRUCTION
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Michael Calhoun and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Sweeping Seventh'
!Introduction
|-
|The 7th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto as of the year 2182. After the restructuring of the regiment under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir, the recent rise of Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Aalto has led to further attempts to maintain order in the colonies aboard. The regiment employs the use of specialised assault teams armed with both lethal and non lethal means of pacification to establish temporary governments and administrations in pacified regions.
Nicknamed the ''“Sweeping Seventh”'' for their effective usage of crowd control to handle colonial uprisings, the regiment has found itself the butt of the joke from enlisted of the First through the 6th for their ‘missing of the action’, assigned to clean up duty. Many have jokingly referred to the Seventh as the ‘Clean up crew’ or ‘Janitors’ with a suggestion that the only sweeping the Seventh takes part in is the sweeping up the dust and ashes of hard earned victories.

In the culture of the regiments, Officers of the Seventh have been characterised as often bored and unfulfilled by their work. This boredom is often cited as the reason for the more open nature of political disagreements between members of the Officer corps.
|-
!Operations
|-
|Operation '''Sulking Phoenix''' was a failed attempt to reorganise the administration of Gilbert’s Gambit after successful recovery of the TWE colony from CLF forces. The colony’s ultimate downfall was caused through political infighting among officers within the Seventh that led to minor skirmishing between marine forces before the colony was ultimately deemed unviable for human habitation and struck from the record.
Operation '''Wheezing Warrior''' was an incredibly successful rehabilitation of a colony undergoing a viral outbreak. The Seventh battalion was sent in as an occupying force, having enforced a quarantine of the population at gunpoint. It is noted that only minor breaches of the quarantine occurred, and were not repeated after a strict embargo of supplies to rebelling sectors of the colony.

Operation '''Jumping Joy''' was one of the more recent operations undertaken by the Seventh, in which a union of mine workers refused to comply with the demands of the Weyland Yutani corporation, who had been reinstalled into the colonial administration of the colony following the advice of several MODI aligned officers. The union was successfully quashed after a two month long guerilla campaign to bring them back under corporate control.
|-
|'''Factional Tension'''
|-
|As of recent times the '''HMM''' have lost favour within the Seventh as a result of a rise in guerrilla activity from the supposed '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''', leading to a rise in tensions between officers aligned with either the '''CPO''' or '''MODI''' often leading to all out arguments between commanding officers regarding the best means of restructuring regained colonies. Supporters of the '''MODI''', often aligning with powerful mega corporations such as '''Weyland-Yutani''' have argued in favour of rebuilding the colonies with closer ties to company administration - criticising the ruined state '''CPO''' aligned officers have left reconquered colonies in.
Contrastingly, '''CPO''' aligned officers have argued in favour of removing the armed capabilities of some particularly rebellious colonies in order to permanently place them under occupation until such a time that the '''‘Colonial Liberation Front’''' has been put to a stop. This has been heavily criticised by remaining HMM support within the Seventh who argue in favour of self governance and close cooperation with the '''Colonial Marshal Bureau.''' While factional tensions are nothing unique to the Seventh, it is notable that the battalion’s officers have been known to organise ''‘War Games’'' between their men and the men of their political opponents. Officially these games are for the sake of training, however have been known to spill over into violence, leading to harsh reprimanding from their superiors.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Michael Calhoun has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" role="presentation"
|'''REGIMENTAL REPORT (As of 04/18/2182)'''
|-
|
Doves: 34.8%

Hawks: 26.1%

Magpies: 26.1%

Other/Non-Aligned: 13.0%

[[File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png|300x300px]]
|}

=Current Crises=

===The War on Insurgency===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

===The Cold War===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

File:The Third Regiment.png

2025-08-10T16:23:28Z

Harrysno: Harrysno uploaded a new version of File:The Third Regiment.png

The current structure of the Third Regiment. Regimental and Battalion Commanders included.

The Third Regiment

2025-06-09T16:52:47Z

Harrysno: Fixed typo

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-
![[File:viceadmiral.png]] Brigadier General | BGen
|A Flag Officer and member of the High Command for the USCMC's 4th Combat Division. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for coordinating actions between the various regiments falling under the division's umbrella. They are chiefly tasked with advising the overall commander of the 4th Combat Division on the strategic direction that the organization should take, and then disseminating that information to regimental commanders as required.
|Whitelist Overseer
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commander Maverick and current Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major Isabel Lopits, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" role="presentation"
|'''REGIMENTAL REPORT (As of 04/18/2182)'''
|-
|
Doves: 34.8%

Hawks: 26.1%

Magpies: 26.1%

Other/Non-Aligned: 13.0%

[[File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png|300x300px]]
|}

=Current Crises=

===The War on Insurgency===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

===The Cold War===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

File:The Third Regiment.png

2025-04-21T02:30:20Z

Harrysno: Harrysno uploaded a new version of File:The Third Regiment.png

The current structure of the Third Regiment. Regimental and Battalion Commanders included.

File:The Third Regiment.png

2025-04-18T20:17:45Z

Harrysno: Harrysno uploaded a new version of File:The Third Regiment.png

The current structure of the Third Regiment. Regimental and Battalion Commanders included.

The Third Regiment

2025-04-18T20:07:16Z

Harrysno: added a pie chart showing the ideological makeup of COs

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-
![[File:viceadmiral.png]] Brigadier General | BGen
|A Flag Officer and member of the High Command for the USCMC's 4th Combat Division. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for coordinating actions between the various regiments falling under the division's umbrella. They are chiefly tasked with advising the overall commander of the 4th Combat Division on the strategic direction that the organization should take, and then disseminating that information to regimental commanders as required.
|Whitelist Overseer
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commander Maverick and current Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major Isabel Lopits, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" role="presentation"
|'''REGIMENTAL REPORT (As of 04/18/2182)'''
|-
|
Doves: 34.8%

Doves: 26.1%

Magpies: 26.1%

Other/Non-Aligned: 13.0%

[[File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png|300x300px]]
|}

=Current Crises=

===The War on Insurgency===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

===The Cold War===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

File:Ideologyoftheregiment.png

2025-04-18T19:51:40Z

Harrysno:

pie chart showing the overall ideological alignment of COs

The Third Regiment

2025-04-18T17:01:47Z

Harrysno: Added a section for the Chief of Joint Operations, clarifying the in-lore responsibilities of the position.

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-
![[File:viceadmiral.png]] Brigadier General | BGen
|A Flag Officer and member of the High Command for the USCMC's 4th Combat Division. The Chief of Joint Operations is responsible for coordinating actions between the various regiments falling under the division's umbrella. They are chiefly tasked with advising the overall commander of the 4th Combat Division on the strategic direction that the organization should take, and then disseminating that information to regimental commanders as required.
|Whitelist Overseer
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commander Maverick and current Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major Isabel Lopits, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}

= Current Crises =

=== The War on Insurgency ===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

=== The Cold War ===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

File:The Third Regiment.png

2025-04-18T16:47:06Z

Harrysno: Harrysno uploaded a new version of File:The Third Regiment.png

The current structure of the Third Regiment. Regimental and Battalion Commanders included.

CO Faction: The "Doves"

2025-04-18T16:32:11Z

Harrysno: formatting

A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization names.
== The Hearts and Minds Movement ==
'''Faction Leader:''' UA Secretary of Defense Joelle De La Cruz, former LACN Fleet Admiral.

'''Local Leader:''' USCM Provost Marshal, Colonel Adrian Blackburn.

The Hearts and Minds Movement originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.

The HMM has spread to other governmental bodies outside of the military, and has become a considerable force within the USCM itself. Following the involvement of De La Cruz within the organization, the HMM has gained even more influence within the USCM and UA government as a whole, in no small part due to De La Cruz’s popularity within the USCM and other military branches, seen as a leader who emphasizes cooperation between governmental entities and negotiations to resolve conflicts. However, De La Cruz’s attempts to align the faction’s ideology towards some of her more controversial policies - like a single federal military force - have garnered little approval from the HMM’s old guard.

The local leader around the events of the Neroid Sector, Provost Marshal Colonel Adrian Blackburn, came to her position following a vigorous anti-corruption campaign and her assistance in establishing the USCM War Correspondent Programme. The programme tried to enable accountability of USCM operations to civilian scrutiny through stationing war correspondents with major USCM operations, and Blackburn ensured some level of freedom of speech for war correspondents from the alleged wrath of overzealous or hawkish military police.

However, Blackburn has gained few friends throughout these processes. Her anti-corruption campaign has been criticized heavily by those within USCM Requisitions and Procurement, along with those within the Corporate Cooperative for heavily delaying multiple USCM weapons from entering standard service - like the VP-78 and the SU-6. Her work in creating the USCM War Correspondent Programme has similarly been criticized, with her emphasis on freedom of speech for war correspondents having been reported to result in heavily demoralized troops as a result of press pieces that are more emotional than fact, painting the USCM as the bad guys.

=== Ideology ===
''Note: These points reflect the general overarching attitudes of the faction as a whole. Individual members may or may not only reflect certain portions of the faction's ideologies, have their own beliefs that are not listed here, or even disagree with some but agree with others.''

* '''Alignments:''' Politically Progressive, Humanitarian, Anti-War, Peacekeeping. Non-Corporate.
* Attempt a diplomatic solution whenever possible.
* Minimize civilian casualties. Indiscriminate bombardment and heavy collateral damage to civilians and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable.
* Encourage cooperation from locals, such as interpreters, informants, or even elevating and arming cooperative militias.
* Provide humanitarian aid both in supplies and construction work. Carry and provide spare water treatment systems, rations, etc.
* The duty of the USCM is to keep peace, not wage war. Sometimes this may require violence to resolve, but even in such cases care must be taken to only remove those who are impeding the wellbeing of the general populace.

=== Infighting and Sub-Factionalism ===
Unlike both the CPO and MODI, the Hearts and Minds Movement thrives on ideological plurality and decentralization. However, the source of its strength and what makes it unique also presents the HMM with its greatest vulnerability as the movement has quietly split along ideological lines between the old guard–founded in reaction to the horrors of the Tientsin Campaign–and a new wave of reformist recruits under the direction of Secretary of Defense Joelle de la Cruz.

The old guard remains deeply committed to the belief that the true strength of the USCM lies not in its firepower, but in its restraint when using it. Acting instead as a peacekeeping force which intervenes in conflicts to restore order and prevent civilian casualties rather than a conquering force which proactively acts to maintain the so-called "security" of the United Americas. De la Cruz remains true to these foundational beliefs, but she herself favors many controversial programs (like the creation of a single, unified federal military force) that have served to alienate many within the movement.

=== Popularity ===
The Hearts and Minds Movement has generally earned favor among colonies where it carries out humanitarian operations. To the many people aided by these operations, especially those in resource-starved and conflict-ridden regions, the HMM presents a rare face of compassion within the otherwise militarized presence of the USCM. Popular programs put into place by the HMM like water purification, food and medical air drops, and civil engineering support have been seen to visibly improve the quality of life in several outer rim colonies.

However, reception of the HMM has been far from glowing. Many government officials within the United Americas and the upper echelons of UAAC and USCM command have voiced concerns that the HMM's impact, while clearly well-intentioned, is far too small-scale and slow to make a meaningful strategic difference in the constantly shifting galactic landscape. Critics have argued many of the movement's projects amount to nothing more than "band-aid fixes," essentially calling them temporary relief efforts that both fail to address any of the deeper systemic issues plaguing far-out settlements and provide sustainable long-term changes.

An issue that further complicates the HMM's standing is the lack of any concrete data to suggest the overall effectiveness of the movement's programs. While De la Cruz and HMM-aligned officials claim success in several sectors, hard statistics are difficult to gather in any meaningful way due to the chaotic nature of colonial conflicts, inconsistent efforts to keep records, and the lack of any long-term follow up in many of the affected regions. The best available information estimates an approximate 17% increase in well-being among affected colonies, but this statistic is both vague and hard to verify.

==== Successes ====
The implementation of the HMM's less violent policies has caused a noticeable shift in attitudes among affected colonial populations, particularly those in outer territories where trust in UA governance and the USCM has eroded due to decades of heavy-handedness and neglect.

Central to this change are the movement's many investments in basic infrastructure and civil support programs. HMM-aligned forces across the frontier have worked diligently to rebuild water treatment systems destroyed through any number of conflicts, restock failing clinics and retrain the doctors and medics working within them, and distribute survival gear, food rations, and sanitation supplies to far-out outposts. These initiatives don't just alleviate the immediate suffering of colonists and colonial populations, they send a clear message that the USCM isn't just a machine of mindless destruction but a force of compassion and positive change.

Another area critical to the movement's success has been the protection of trade routes in sectors often plagued by piracy. HMM-organized patrols have proven to be highly effective at restoring commercial activity to poverty-stricken regions under the UA's control, offering safe lanes for merchant vessels and civilian traffic that haven't existed for decades in some of the hardest hit areas. Critically, these patrols operate under strict engagement protocols where pirates are to be captured where possible rather than killed and where local traffic is to be contacted respectfully rather than interrogated or detained without due cause.

The result of these efforts has been an overall warming of relations in many frontier regions. Surveys conducted by UA-affiliated observers show that in select territories civilian trust in the USCM has increased by as much as 20%. Governors and regional officials in these same territories report that crime rates have declined, that trade has stabilized, and emergency distress signals and requests for USCM intervention have decreased.

==== Controversies ====
With the Colonial Liberation Front expanding its presence across the Neroid Sector, scrutiny of the HMM's pacifist policies has intensified. What was once seen as compassionate efforts to stabilize the frontier are now being called "dangerously naive" by many of the more pragmatic and conservative elements of United American Allied Command.

A string of failed humanitarian missions, including supply drops and aid convoys, have reportedly been intercepted or exploited by the CLF and various CLF-aligned groups who then repackage USCM-funded materials for use in their own black markets or strongholds. Several investigations have suggested that pirates, insurrectionists, and terrorists were able to seize or reroute HMM aid, diverting everything from medical kits to food rations away from their intended recipients.

Though HMM leadership maintains that these incidents are outliers and under intense scrutiny, the damage to their credibility in regions like the hard-hit Neroid Sector is growing. Calls for tighter security procedures, more aggressive screening protocols, and temporary suspension of aid programs in heavily contested zones are gaining significant traction among many members of the USCM.

== Relations With Other Factions ==
Doves and Hawks conflict over the handling of colonies and insurgents present on those colonies.
* Doves believe that the Hawks’ actions are actively detrimental to the their ideology and ultimate goal of reaching the hearts and minds of colonists.
* Doves often try to seek court martials, war crime tribunals, etc. against Hawks, both prominent and small-time members, but the evidence is often weak or intentionally unavailable.

Doves disagree with the majority of Corporate influences by MODI.
* Doves are not wholly against corporations - those that provide humanitarian equipment and supplies are vital to their mission- but MODI-aligned corporations generally focus on more lethal and effective warfare.
* Doves do align partially with Hawks on this: MODI-corporate influence on the USCM is dangerous, but while Doves believe this because it’s moving the USCM towards warmongers, the Hawks believe this because it’s at least partially putting control of USCM equipment into the hands of foreign corporations. WY in particular is 3WE aligned, which is a significant foreign superpower.

Doves have connections with minor MODI factions, particularly those serving in producing survival and humanitarian equipment. MRE companies, water purification tablets and systems, etc.
* In addition, Doves are not blind to the attrition of carefully and slowly clearing colonies, and avoiding collateral damage. Improving marine survivability is something they look to corporations for, where possible. Foreign influence isn’t as much of a concern for them compared to the Hawks’ fears.

CO Faction: The "Magpies"

2025-04-18T16:27:53Z

Harrysno: formatting

A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization names.
== The Military Organization for Development and Innovation ==
'''Faction Leader:''' UAAC Procurement & Requisition Adjutant, Lieutenant-General Kurt Schmidt.

'''Local Leader:''' USCM Division Logistics Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Lamdem.

Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.
Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.

Average support amongst high-ranking requisitions officers for the MODI has been invariably strong throughout its existence, with requisitions almost always being the first to become aware of the integral role many R&D industries play in the USCM’s strong position. As a result, MODI’s leaders have often been those high-ranking requisition officers who are undoubtedly convinced of the effectiveness of MODI’s ideological cause.
Despite this, MODI is inherently fractured by the nature of corporatism and competition. With aligned entities including foreign corporations, mega-conglomerates, ancient MIC developers, and even various government-contracted companies, it’s little wonder that individual members of MODI often tend towards certain sponsors more so than others. While the faction’s overarching goals remains the same, and the upper echelon generally ignores the individual squabblings to work towards maintaining the USCM’s technological edge, the vast majority of common MODI members typically accused of being in it for themselves or whoever is supporting them, whether that’s for the sake of easier promotions, generous benefits, or a cushy retirement plan after service. Yet is it generally impossible to say how common this practice is, with such cases usually being hyperbolized by the organization’s opponents.

Currently, the leader of the overall organization is UAAC Procurement & Requisition Adjutant Kurt Schmidt. He came to prominence in the faction after spearheading the practicalities of the Marine 70 programme and has been the leader of the MODI ever since. He has garnered very strong respect in the organization due to his discerning personality, and his focus on innovative weaponry gives the UA the edge in skirmishes, yet he is an aging man. Due to the little time he spends in cryosleep, and a job that has demanded much of him in the over 12 years he has been in the position, he has begun to be seen as someone stuck in the fighting style of the Dog Wars. Because of this, and some controversies related to him, some people within MODI have begun looking for his deposement.

USCM Division Logistics Commander Geoffery Lamden is a similar story. His tenureship under Colonel A.W. Shanks onboard the USS Arrow of Gold has led to an impressive level of military technological supremacy within his command in spite of his budget and supply being cut year on year. His policy of requisitions officers being granted all of the technologically advanced gear, so they may distribute it to the correct troops instead of conscripts or other wasteful troops, has led to a maximization of the effectiveness of the important gear he has to give out. Yet his command has also been criticized: his love of the M4A1 MK1 has led to the aging weapon still being in service (in a limited role) onboard most of his ships he has supplies; the supply of NVGs to troops under his command has been notoriously low, leading to rationing; and his emphasis on over-stocking of HEAP ammo has often lead to incidents with exploding cargo storages. Supporters within the MODI argue this is simply a man making the most out of a poor situation: MK1s have to be stocked because the attachment advantages of the MK2 aren’t realized with an attachment shortage; NVGs are being prioritized to FORECON to maximize their effectiveness and flare supplies are being increased to compensate for standard infantry; HEAP is required to be overstocked because of a shortage of fire support ammunition that means the standard infantry has to do more work.

=== Ideology ===
''Note: These points reflect the general overarching attitudes of the faction as a whole. Individual members may or may not only reflect certain portions of the faction's ideologies, have their own beliefs that are not listed here, or even disagree with some but agree with others.''

* '''Alignment:''' Politically varied, individuals are aligned by potential personal gain. Corporate. Internally diverse; corporate interests may conflict.
** Megacorp alignments, MIC alignments, UA-government alignments, etc.
* When acting in the capacity of a USCM member, maintaining the reputation and corporate secrets of MODI-aligned entities is paramount. Obscure and destroy physical evidence.
* Everyone has their own connections. Don’t look too closely at someone else’s connections, or we will not protect you from the consequences.
* Disputes between different interests are not the responsibility of MODI to resolve. Should conflicting individuals draw outside attention, MODI will disavow them all and move on.
* Repeatedly proving your dedication towards MODI-aligned entities’ interests may provide financial, career, or other benefits.

=== Infighting and Sub-Factionalism ===
Magpies have the most internal factions, to the point where most ‘fourth factions’ fall under its banner tangentially.

Primarily, conflicts lie between the different major interests. Megacorporations naturally compete with one another, individual MIC companies want their own pieces without being conglomerated, and the UA Government has its own fingers in the pie with directly-associated companies attempting to maintain influence against technically foreign actors (i.e. W/Y) without overt intervention from the government.

Known Sub-Factions of MODI are:
* The Modernisation and Development Organization (MDO)
* The Conglomerate Cooperative (CC)
* The Industry and Development Cooperative (IDC)
* The Industry and Manufacturing Cooperative (IMC)
* The Corporate Cooperative (CC)

=== Popularity ===
The Military Organization for Development and Innovation commands respect and resentment in equal measure. Positioned at the lucrative intersection of military logistics, corporate R&D, and high-level procurement, MODI's influence is undeniable but far from universally welcomed.

Among requisitions officers, logistics commanders, and career-officers with an eye on advancement, MODI enjoys broad support. Its champions point to the technological superiority of the USCM as the cornerstone of its survival and effectiveness in the increasingly hostile era that it exists in. Its promises of fast-tracked promotions, generous benefits, and cushy post-service careers have a tendency to attract ambitious officers who have grown disillusioned with the ideological rigidity of both the CPO and HMM. However, this pragmatism breeds a very deep distrust among those not not directly benefiting from what MODI has to offer.

Among many frontline marines and traditionalist officers MODI is seen as self-serving, disloyal, and dangerously compromised. Its critics argue that MODI's connections with foreign megacorporations, and Weyland-Yutani in particular, undermine the sovereignty of not only the USCM but the United Americas as a whole, placing battlefield control and strategic assets in the hands of entities with agendas far removed from the interests of the United Americas.

==== Successes ====
MODI has contributed greatly to transforming the United States Colonial Marine Corps into one of the most heavily armed and professional fighting forces in the galaxy. They've achieved this not just through contributing to doctrine or battlefield strategizing, but through a relentless pursuit of cutting-edge military technology. Backed by corporate mega donors, MIC lobbyists, and a well-cultivated presence in Congress, MODI has secured a substantial defense budget earmarked specifically for R&D.

This has been achieved through the acceleration of the classically lengthy procurement cycle. MODI has made moves to expedite a process where weapons traditionally undergo years of development, testing, and bureaucratic hoop-jumping before being considered for active use in the field. Through a combination of aggressive lobbying tactics, internal political leveraging, and cooperation with MODI-aligned logistics personnel, the organization has all but ensured that many of its prototype weapons see combat testing long before they receive approval.

A prime example of this is the XM88 Heavy Rifle, a high-caliber, high-velocity marksman weapon that blends the stopping power of anti-material weapons with the portability of standard infantry arms. Originally developed as a corporate experiment without any confirmed buyer, the XM88 was pushed into combat usage by MODI during the Favela Wars in Greater Brazil where it proved to be exceptionally effective against lightly armored vehicles and mechanized infantry.

However, this philosophy has come at a cost. MODI's approach has led to uneven equipment distribution where favored units receive cutting edge technology while other marines are forced to rely on older and increasingly outdated arms. Nevertheless, MODI's results have proven difficult to argue with. Reports indicate that units equipped with MODI-backed gear demonstrate a 30-40% increase in survivability and mission complete rates. MODI officials also point to the broader strategic gains their weapons provide, being that faster cycles provide stronger deterrents against insurgents and foreign militaries.

==== Controversies ====
While MODI has contributed heavily to the technological edge possessed by the USCM, its deep ties to corporate interests have sparked several controversies within oversight committees and among military ranks. The organization's close ties with megacorporations like Weyland-Yutani has raised serious concerns about sovereignty and security within the USCM.

Critics, especially within the CPO and HMM, argue that MODI's influence too often places corporate profit above the welfare of marine personnel and the strategic integrity of the USCM, allowing private interests to shape its priorities, testing protocols, and even combat doctrine. There are ongoing fears that MODi's favoritism for certain contractors will or already has created a pipeline for corruption within the Colonial Marines, with promotions and resources distributed on the basis of corporate alignment rather than competency.

MODI's drive to deploy more experimental weapons for active field testing has proven to be both a blessing and a liability. While such advancements offer marines superiority in their firepower, field testing of unproven technology in live combat has led to major operational mishaps and unnecessary casualties. The experimental nature of these pieces of equipment also mean that maintenance and logistics training often lag far behind deployment, creating gaps in readiness that more traditional factions view as incredibly reckless.

== Relations With Other Factions ==
Distinct from the Hawks and the Doves, the nature of the Magpies means that two individual members may have opposing viewpoints on the same matter. The perspectives listed here are the upper MODI leadership’s personal stances or opinions, but may not broadly reflect the majority of members unlike those belonging to the other two factions. Similarly, the other two factions refer to the upper leadership/uniting principles when referencing MODI, with the understanding that individual ‘Magpies’ may have significantly varying attitudes.
* MODI does not outwardly concern itself with the other two major factions in the USCM, due to its ideological state being on a different axis altogether; it has members that reflect both Hawk and Dove ideologies, as well as various others.
* MODI does understand that large portions of its ideology concern the Hawks and Doves, despite not inherently being politically incompatible; the prevalent presence of foreign entities such as WY being a concern for the Hawks, the constant development of weapon technologies for the Doves, and the influence MODI exerts over military matters being a concern for both the Hawks and the Doves.
* MODI also understands that both the Hawks and the Doves still have things they do approve of or want from MODI, such as non-weapon technologies to aid in the Doves’ causes, and constant cutting-edge developments to maintain the USCM’s armament superiority for the Hawks.
* As such, MODI essentially plays both sides with each other faction individually; it is difficult to consider it as a singular faction with its many facets, but it still retains the influence and size of a unified faction.

This status quo is accepted because MODI cannot afford to attempt to actively subsume the others; it is already teeming with infighting and individual motivations as-is, despite its outwards monolithic appearance.

The Third Regiment

2025-04-18T16:26:56Z

Harrysno: formatting

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commander Maverick and current Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major Isabel Lopits, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}

= Current Crises =

=== The War on Insurgency ===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

=== The Cold War ===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

CO Faction: The "Doves"

2025-04-18T16:26:00Z

Harrysno: fixed a typo

A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization names.
== The Hearts and Minds Movement==
'''Faction Leader:''' UA Secretary of Defense Joelle De La Cruz, former LACN Fleet Admiral.

'''Local Leader:''' USCM Provost Marshal, Colonel Adrian Blackburn.

The Hearts and Minds Movement originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.

The HMM has spread to other governmental bodies outside of the military, and has become a considerable force within the USCM itself. Following the involvement of De La Cruz within the organization, the HMM has gained even more influence within the USCM and UA government as a whole, in no small part due to De La Cruz’s popularity within the USCM and other military branches, seen as a leader who emphasizes cooperation between governmental entities and negotiations to resolve conflicts. However, De La Cruz’s attempts to align the faction’s ideology towards some of her more controversial policies - like a single federal military force - have garnered little approval from the HMM’s old guard.

The local leader around the events of the Neroid Sector, Provost Marshal Colonel Adrian Blackburn, came to her position following a vigorous anti-corruption campaign and her assistance in establishing the USCM War Correspondent Programme. The programme tried to enable accountability of USCM operations to civilian scrutiny through stationing war correspondents with major USCM operations, and Blackburn ensured some level of freedom of speech for war correspondents from the alleged wrath of overzealous or hawkish military police.

However, Blackburn has gained few friends throughout these processes. Her anti-corruption campaign has been criticized heavily by those within USCM Requisitions and Procurement, along with those within the Corporate Cooperative for heavily delaying multiple USCM weapons from entering standard service - like the VP-78 and the SU-6. Her work in creating the USCM War Correspondent Programme has similarly been criticized, with her emphasis on freedom of speech for war correspondents having been reported to result in heavily demoralized troops as a result of press pieces that are more emotional than fact, painting the USCM as the bad guys.

=== Ideology ===
''Note: These points reflect the general overarching attitudes of the faction as a whole. Individual members may or may not only reflect certain portions of the faction's ideologies, have their own beliefs that are not listed here, or even disagree with some but agree with others.''

* '''Alignments:''' Politically Progressive, Humanitarian, Anti-War, Peacekeeping. Non-Corporate.
* Attempt a diplomatic solution whenever possible.
* Minimize civilian casualties. Indiscriminate bombardment and heavy collateral damage to civilians and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable.
* Encourage cooperation from locals, such as interpreters, informants, or even elevating and arming cooperative militias.
* Provide humanitarian aid both in supplies and construction work. Carry and provide spare water treatment systems, rations, etc.
* The duty of the USCM is to keep peace, not wage war. Sometimes this may require violence to resolve, but even in such cases care must be taken to only remove those who are impeding the wellbeing of the general populace.

=== Infighting and Sub-Factionalism ===
Unlike both the CPO and MODI, the Hearts and Minds Movement thrives on ideological plurality and decentralization. However, the source of its strength and what makes it unique also presents the HMM with its greatest vulnerability as the movement has quietly split along ideological lines between the old guard–founded in reaction to the horrors of the Tientsin Campaign–and a new wave of reformist recruits under the direction of Secretary of Defense Joelle de la Cruz.

The old guard remains deeply committed to the belief that the true strength of the USCM lies not in its firepower, but in its restraint when using it. Acting instead as a peacekeeping force which intervenes in conflicts to restore order and prevent civilian casualties rather than a conquering force which proactively acts to maintain the so-called "security" of the United Americas. De la Cruz remains true to these foundational beliefs, but she herself favors many controversial programs (like the creation of a single, unified federal military force) that have served to alienate many within the movement.

=== Popularity ===
The Hearts and Minds Movement has generally earned favor among colonies where it carries out humanitarian operations. To the many people aided by these operations, especially those in resource-starved and conflict-ridden regions, the HMM presents a rare face of compassion within the otherwise militarized presence of the USCM. Popular programs put into place by the HMM like water purification, food and medical air drops, and civil engineering support have been seen to visibly improve the quality of life in several outer rim colonies.

However, reception of the HMM has been far from glowing. Many government officials within the United Americas and the upper echelons of UAAC and USCM command have voiced concerns that the HMM's impact, while clearly well-intentioned, is far too small-scale and slow to make a meaningful strategic difference in the constantly shifting galactic landscape. Critics have argued many of the movement's projects amount to nothing more than "band-aid fixes," essentially calling them temporary relief efforts that both fail to address any of the deeper systemic issues plaguing far-out settlements and provide sustainable long-term changes.

An issue that further complicates the HMM's standing is the lack of any concrete data to suggest the overall effectiveness of the movement's programs. While De la Cruz and HMM-aligned officials claim success in several sectors, hard statistics are difficult to gather in any meaningful way due to the chaotic nature of colonial conflicts, inconsistent efforts to keep records, and the lack of any long-term follow up in many of the affected regions. The best available information estimates an approximate 17% increase in well-being among affected colonies, but this statistic is both vague and hard to verify.

==== Successes ====
The implementation of the HMM's less violent policies has caused a noticeable shift in attitudes among affected colonial populations, particularly those in outer territories where trust in UA governance and the USCM has eroded due to decades of heavy-handedness and neglect.

Central to this change are the movement's many investments in basic infrastructure and civil support programs. HMM-aligned forces across the frontier have worked diligently to rebuild water treatment systems destroyed through any number of conflicts, restock failing clinics and retrain the doctors and medics working within them, and distribute survival gear, food rations, and sanitation supplies to far-out outposts. These initiatives don't just alleviate the immediate suffering of colonists and colonial populations, they send a clear message that the USCM isn't just a machine of mindless destruction but a force of compassion and positive change.

Another area critical to the movement's success has been the protection of trade routes in sectors often plagued by piracy. HMM-organized patrols have proven to be highly effective at restoring commercial activity to poverty-stricken regions under the UA's control, offering safe lanes for merchant vessels and civilian traffic that haven't existed for decades in some of the hardest hit areas. Critically, these patrols operate under strict engagement protocols where pirates are to be captured where possible rather than killed and where local traffic is to be contacted respectfully rather than interrogated or detained without due cause.

The result of these efforts has been an overall warming of relations in many frontier regions. Surveys conducted by UA-affiliated observers show that in select territories civilian trust in the USCM has increased by as much as 20%. Governors and regional officials in these same territories report that crime rates have declined, that trade has stabilized, and emergency distress signals and requests for USCM intervention have decreased.

==== Controversies ====
With the Colonial Liberation Front expanding its presence across the Neroid Sector, scrutiny of the HMM's pacifist policies has intensified. What was once seen as compassionate efforts to stabilize the frontier are now being called "dangerously naive" by many of the more pragmatic and conservative elements of United American Allied Command.

A string of failed humanitarian missions, including supply drops and aid convoys, have reportedly been intercepted or exploited by the CLF and various CLF-aligned groups who then repackage USCM-funded materials for use in their own black markets or strongholds. Several investigations have suggested that pirates, insurrectionists, and terrorists were able to seize or reroute HMM aid, diverting everything from medical kits to food rations away from their intended recipients.

Though HMM leadership maintains that these incidents are outliers and under intense scrutiny, the damage to their credibility in regions like the hard-hit Neroid Sector is growing. Calls for tighter security procedures, more aggressive screening protocols, and temporary suspension of aid programs in heavily contested zones are gaining significant traction among many members of the USCM.

== Relations With Other Factions ==
Doves and Hawks conflict over the handling of colonies and insurgents present on those colonies.
* Doves believe that the Hawks’ actions are actively detrimental to the their ideology and ultimate goal of reaching the hearts and minds of colonists.
* Doves often try to seek court martials, war crime tribunals, etc. against Hawks, both prominent and small-time members, but the evidence is often weak or intentionally unavailable.

Doves disagree with the majority of Corporate influences by MODI.
* Doves are not wholly against corporations - those that provide humanitarian equipment and supplies are vital to their mission- but MODI-aligned corporations generally focus on more lethal and effective warfare.
* Doves do align partially with Hawks on this: MODI-corporate influence on the USCM is dangerous, but while Doves believe this because it’s moving the USCM towards warmongers, the Hawks believe this because it’s at least partially putting control of USCM equipment into the hands of foreign corporations. WY in particular is 3WE aligned, which is a significant foreign superpower.

Doves have connections with minor MODI factions, particularly those serving in producing survival and humanitarian equipment. MRE companies, water purification tablets and systems, etc.
* In addition, Doves are not blind to the attrition of carefully and slowly clearing colonies, and avoiding collateral damage. Improving marine survivability is something they look to corporations for, where possible. Foreign influence isn’t as much of a concern for them compared to the Hawks’ fears.

CO Faction: The "Magpies"

2025-04-18T16:21:23Z

Harrysno: Complete re-write of the magpies faction, reshaping it into the Military Organization for Development and Innovation and adding a significantly increased level of content.

A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization names.
== The Military Organization for Development and Innovation ==
'''Faction Leader:''' UAAC Procurement & Requisition Adjutant, Lieutenant-General Kurt Schmidt.

'''Local Leader:''' USCM Division Logistics Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Lamdem.

Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.
Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.

Average support amongst high-ranking requisitions officers for the MODI has been invariably strong throughout its existence, with requisitions almost always being the first to become aware of the integral role many R&D industries play in the USCM’s strong position. As a result, MODI’s leaders have often been those high-ranking requisition officers who are undoubtedly convinced of the effectiveness of MODI’s ideological cause.
Despite this, MODI is inherently fractured by the nature of corporatism and competition. With aligned entities including foreign corporations, mega-conglomerates, ancient MIC developers, and even various government-contracted companies, it’s little wonder that individual members of MODI often tend towards certain sponsors more so than others. While the faction’s overarching goals remains the same, and the upper echelon generally ignores the individual squabblings to work towards maintaining the USCM’s technological edge, the vast majority of common MODI members typically accused of being in it for themselves or whoever is supporting them, whether that’s for the sake of easier promotions, generous benefits, or a cushy retirement plan after service. Yet is it generally impossible to say how common this practice is, with such cases usually being hyperbolized by the organization’s opponents.

Currently, the leader of the overall organization is UAAC Procurement & Requisition Adjutant Kurt Schmidt. He came to prominence in the faction after spearheading the practicalities of the Marine 70 programme and has been the leader of the MODI ever since. He has garnered very strong respect in the organization due to his discerning personality, and his focus on innovative weaponry gives the UA the edge in skirmishes, yet he is an aging man. Due to the little time he spends in cryosleep, and a job that has demanded much of him in the over 12 years he has been in the position, he has begun to be seen as someone stuck in the fighting style of the Dog Wars. Because of this, and some controversies related to him, some people within MODI have begun looking for his deposement.

USCM Division Logistics Commander Geoffery Lamden is a similar story. His tenureship under Colonel A.W. Shanks onboard the USS Arrow of Gold has led to an impressive level of military technological supremacy within his command in spite of his budget and supply being cut year on year. His policy of requisitions officers being granted all of the technologically advanced gear, so they may distribute it to the correct troops instead of conscripts or other wasteful troops, has led to a maximization of the effectiveness of the important gear he has to give out. Yet his command has also been criticized: his love of the M4A1 MK1 has led to the aging weapon still being in service (in a limited role) onboard most of his ships he has supplies; the supply of NVGs to troops under his command has been notoriously low, leading to rationing; and his emphasis on over-stocking of HEAP ammo has often lead to incidents with exploding cargo storages. Supporters within the MODI argue this is simply a man making the most out of a poor situation: MK1s have to be stocked because the attachment advantages of the MK2 aren’t realized with an attachment shortage; NVGs are being prioritized to FORECON to maximize their effectiveness and flare supplies are being increased to compensate for standard infantry; HEAP is required to be overstocked because of a shortage of fire support ammunition that means the standard infantry has to do more work.

=== Ideology ===
''Note: These points reflect the general overarching attitudes of the faction as a whole. Individual members may or may not only reflect certain portions of the faction's ideologies, have their own beliefs that are not listed here, or even disagree with some but agree with others.''

* '''Alignment:''' Politically varied, individuals are aligned by potential personal gain. Corporate. Internally diverse; corporate interests may conflict.
** Megacorp alignments, MIC alignments, UA-government alignments, etc.
* When acting in the capacity of a USCM member, maintaining the reputation and corporate secrets of MODI-aligned entities is paramount. Obscure and destroy physical evidence.
* Everyone has their own connections. Don’t look too closely at someone else’s connections, or we will not protect you from the consequences.
Disputes between different interests are not the responsibility of MODI to resolve. Should conflicting individuals draw outside attention, MODI will disavow them all and move on.
* Repeatedly proving your dedication towards MODI-aligned entities’ interests may provide financial, career, or other benefits.

=== Infighting and Sub-Factionalism ===
Magpies have the most internal factions, to the point where most ‘fourth factions’ fall under its banner tangentially.

Primarily, conflicts lie between the different major interests. Megacorporations naturally compete with one another, individual MIC companies want their own pieces without being conglomerated, and the UA Government has its own fingers in the pie with directly-associated companies attempting to maintain influence against technically foreign actors (i.e. W/Y) without overt intervention from the government.

Known Sub-Factions of MODI are:
* The Modernisation and Development Organization (MDO)
* The Conglomerate Cooperative (CC)
* The Industry and Development Cooperative (IDC)
* The Industry and Manufacturing Cooperative (IMC)
* The Corporate Cooperative (CC)

=== Popularity ===
The Military Organization for Development and Innovation commands respect and resentment in equal measure. Positioned at the lucrative intersection of military logistics, corporate R&D, and high-level procurement, MODI's influence is undeniable but far from universally welcomed.

Among requisitions officers, logistics commanders, and career-officers with an eye on advancement, MODI enjoys broad support. Its champions point to the technological superiority of the USCM as the cornerstone of its survival and effectiveness in the increasingly hostile era that it exists in. Its promises of fast-tracked promotions, generous benefits, and cushy post-service careers have a tendency to attract ambitious officers who have grown disillusioned with the ideological rigidity of both the CPO and HMM. However, this pragmatism breeds a very deep distrust among those not not directly benefiting from what MODI has to offer.

Among many frontline marines and traditionalist officers MODI is seen as self-serving, disloyal, and dangerously compromised. Its critics argue that MODI's connections with foreign megacorporations, and Weyland-Yutani in particular, undermine the sovereignty of not only the USCM but the United Americas as a whole, placing battlefield control and strategic assets in the hands of entities with agendas far removed from the interests of the United Americas.

==== Successes ====
MODI has contributed greatly to transforming the United States Colonial Marine Corps into one of the most heavily armed and professional fighting forces in the galaxy. They've achieved this not just through contributing to doctrine or battlefield strategizing, but through a relentless pursuit of cutting-edge military technology. Backed by corporate mega donors, MIC lobbyists, and a well-cultivated presence in Congress, MODI has secured a substantial defense budget earmarked specifically for R&D.

This has been achieved through the acceleration of the classically lengthy procurement cycle. MODI has made moves to expedite a process where weapons traditionally undergo years of development, testing, and bureaucratic hoop-jumping before being considered for active use in the field. Through a combination of aggressive lobbying tactics, internal political leveraging, and cooperation with MODI-aligned logistics personnel, the organization has all but ensured that many of its prototype weapons see combat testing long before they receive approval.

A prime example of this is the XM88 Heavy Rifle, a high-caliber, high-velocity marksman weapon that blends the stopping power of anti-material weapons with the portability of standard infantry arms. Originally developed as a corporate experiment without any confirmed buyer, the XM88 was pushed into combat usage by MODI during the Favela Wars in Greater Brazil where it proved to be exceptionally effective against lightly armored vehicles and mechanized infantry.

However, this philosophy has come at a cost. MODI's approach has led to uneven equipment distribution where favored units receive cutting edge technology while other marines are forced to rely on older and increasingly outdated arms. Nevertheless, MODI's results have proven difficult to argue with. Reports indicate that units equipped with MODI-backed gear demonstrate a 30-40% increase in survivability and mission complete rates. MODI officials also point to the broader strategic gains their weapons provide, being that faster cycles provide stronger deterrents against insurgents and foreign militaries.

==== Controversies ====
While MODI has contributed heavily to the technological edge possessed by the USCM, its deep ties to corporate interests have sparked several controversies within oversight committees and among military ranks. The organization's close ties with megacorporations like Weyland-Yutani has raised serious concerns about sovereignty and security within the USCM.

Critics, especially within the CPO and HMM, argue that MODI's influence too often places corporate profit above the welfare of marine personnel and the strategic integrity of the USCM, allowing private interests to shape its priorities, testing protocols, and even combat doctrine. There are ongoing fears that MODi's favoritism for certain contractors will or already has created a pipeline for corruption within the Colonial Marines, with promotions and resources distributed on the basis of corporate alignment rather than competency.

MODI's drive to deploy more experimental weapons for active field testing has proven to be both a blessing and a liability. While such advancements offer marines superiority in their firepower, field testing of unproven technology in live combat has led to major operational mishaps and unnecessary casualties. The experimental nature of these pieces of equipment also mean that maintenance and logistics training often lag far behind deployment, creating gaps in readiness that more traditional factions view as incredibly reckless.

== Relations With Other Factions ==
Distinct from the Hawks and the Doves, the nature of the Magpies means that two individual members may have opposing viewpoints on the same matter. The perspectives listed here are the upper MODI leadership’s personal stances or opinions, but may not broadly reflect the majority of members unlike those belonging to the other two factions. Similarly, the other two factions refer to the upper leadership/uniting principles when referencing MODI, with the understanding that individual ‘Magpies’ may have significantly varying attitudes.
* MODI does not outwardly concern itself with the other two major factions in the USCM, due to its ideological state being on a different axis altogether; it has members that reflect both Hawk and Dove ideologies, as well as various others.
* MODI does understand that large portions of its ideology concern the Hawks and Doves, despite not inherently being politically incompatible; the prevalent presence of foreign entities such as WY being a concern for the Hawks, the constant development of weapon technologies for the Doves, and the influence MODI exerts over military matters being a concern for both the Hawks and the Doves.
* MODI also understands that both the Hawks and the Doves still have things they do approve of or want from MODI, such as non-weapon technologies to aid in the Doves’ causes, and constant cutting-edge developments to maintain the USCM’s armament superiority for the Hawks.
* As such, MODI essentially plays both sides with each other faction individually; it is difficult to consider it as a singular faction with its many facets, but it still retains the influence and size of a unified faction.

This status quo is accepted because MODI cannot afford to attempt to actively subsume the others; it is already teeming with infighting and individual motivations as-is, despite its outwards monolithic appearance.

CO Faction: The "Hawks"

2025-04-18T16:20:31Z

Harrysno: fixed a typo

A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization names.
== The Colonial Protection Organization ==
'''Faction Leader:''' Assistant Commandant of the USCM, General Delyla S. Vaughn.

'''Local Leader:''' USCM Colonel Margaret A.W. Shanks.

The Colonial Protection Organization was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.

The CPO is, similarly to the HMM, an organization that has roots in other government organizations, and has considerable support in the USCM. Yet, following the massive PR victory for the organization after the Fallen Archangel Fiasco, and the inbuilt support from AWs following the creation of the AW programme in 2110, the CPO fell into dormancy during the inter-war decades of the 2110s-2140s due to poor leadership of the faction and a lack of military success stories or failures to rally a strong-arm attitude.

Then, the wars over 3WE colonies and the Dog War managed to pull the CPO back into limelight. Furthermore, following the battle at the Red Line during the Dog War and the ensuing peace treaty in 2163, Delyla S. Vaughn was furious (along with much of the CPO) at the UAAC’s willingness to abandon attempts to pierce the Red Line and became one of the most effective and well-respected leaders of the CPO since its founding: being the one-lady-army leader that promoted a push to the less centrist parts of the organization and some (especially AWs) to strong devotion to the CPO. However, her USCM focus has alienated much of the CPO’s support in other government organizations, with CPO support falling rapidly in the LACN and the CANC as HMM support in both of the organizations was flourishing.

USCM Colonel Margaret A.W. Shanks, in an organization dominated so much by the single seminal personality of Vaughn, came to her position as local leader of the Neroid sector’s CPO mainly through her relation to Vaughn and little else. She is a matter-of-fact leader, unsurprisingly so with her being an AW, and the fact she holds little pretense has made her quite capable at garnering political support through simply being incredibly clear and dedicated in her rhetoric. Her push for AW acceptance under her command has resulted in less AW prejudice than in any other command. Her critics say this is mainly because none wants to criticize their commanders (for fear of charges), and commanders under her area of influence are disproportionately AW.

=== Ideology ===
''Note: These points reflect the general overarching attitudes of the faction as a whole. Individual members may or may not only reflect certain portions of the faction's ideologies, have their own beliefs that are not listed here, or even disagree with some but agree with others.''

* '''Alignments:''' Politically Traditional, Force Projection, Military Dominance, Glory. Non-Corporate.
* A marine’s life is worth more than an entire colony’s. Ammunition, supplies, and uncooperative civilians are all expendable. Your fellow marines are not.
* Sacrifices must be made for tangible progress, but sacrificing marines should only be considered once all other resources have been expended, including local populaces.
* If locals will not cooperate, burn the entire structure down to smoke out the rats.
* Shock and awe tactics are an opposing force’s one and only opportunity to learn to cooperate.
* Victories are necessary to maintain the USCM’s presence and position within the UAAC. Do not shy away from an encounter.

=== Infighting and Sub-Factionalism ===
On the surface the Colonial Protection Organization appears monolithic, upheld by a shared belief in overwhelming military force and operational decisiveness. However, beneath this outward image of unity there exists a subtle simmering of tension revolving around its leadership and internal structure.

At the heart of the CPO's unity is General Delyla S. Vaughn, whose titanic presence and notoriously forceful personality keep the organization in line through sheer force of will and shrewd political maneuvering. This top-down form of control has fomented a quieter variety of division in the form of resentment among regional commanders and marines who feel stifled by Vaughn's overwhelming presence or otherwise alienated by her focus on the USCM at the cost of broader support from the government. Generally, this has created an unspoken divide within the faction: those who rally themselves behind Vaughn's hardline vision, and those who feel the organization is overly centralized and stagnant.

=== Popularity ===
Much of the Colonial Protection Organization's admiration within the UA stems from its unabashedly aggressive stance on foreign and domestic security threats. In the increasingly unstable existence that is life on the UA's frontier, the CPO's rhetoric of strength, control, and swift retribution has struck home with a wide spectrum of officials, both military and civilian, that are eager for clear and defined leadership in otherwise chaotic times.

This support is not always overt, however, as while some officials openly back the CPO and cite its successful efforts at pacifying hostile colonies and reducing insurgent activity others offer their support in a more quiet manner, citing fear of backlash from more moderate or humanitarian-focused branches of the government. Within the USCM, officers aligned with the CPO often form tight-knit cliques that share intelligence, assets, and back one another politically to further their objectives without formally declaring an allegiance to the organization.

However, this growing admiration carries alongside it a handful of risks. The CPO's ever increasing prominence has begun to polarize the internal politics of the Colonial Marine Corps, drawing criticism from the HMM who view its methods as classical military overreach and from MODI leaders concerned that uncontrolled CPO operations might destabilize delicate corporate interests. Yet these criticisms only serve to further validate the belief of CPO members, being that of an uncompromising approach in a galaxy that increasingly favors force over finesse.

==== Successes ====
The Colonial Protection Organization's hardline approach to security in frontier territories has shown undeniable results in several strategic areas, though this has come at the clear cost of subtlety, public approval, and long-term diplomatic considerations. In regions where diplomacy has faltered and piracy has flourished, the CPO's counter terrorism and anti-piracy operations have brought a form of stability that the CPO claims only military supremacy can achieve.

Operating under the doctrine that proactive violence can and will save more lives than the reactionary traditions of the HMM, CPO-aligned commanders have authorized broad operations across historically unstable sectors. These missions are often labeled as "containment directives" or "insurgency denial actions" and typically involve the rapid deployment of heavily armed marine platoons to target insurgent hotspots, pirate strongholds, and suspected safehouses belonging to terror organizations like the CLF before they are able to mobilize and coordinate attacks of their own. Entire settlements suspected of harboring dissidents have been flattened and spaceborne pirate fleets eradicated with overwhelming force regardless of attempts to surrender and with no regard for non-combatant casualties.

Critics call these operations "indiscriminate and inhumane," but to many within the CPO and an increasing number of government officials who value safety and security over diplomacy they are a necessary evil. CPO methods have a proven track record of success as in several frontier regions pirate activity has dropped by over 60%. Colonial governors report increased stability and a significantly reduced volume of distress signals, even if the local populations of these regions remain as resentful and fearful of the USCM as they ever have.

What's more surprising, however, is the CPO's increasing shift towards covert warfare, an area that many consider antithetical to their straightforward doctrine of overwhelming force. In response to more elusive threats, including CLF cells deeply embedded into otherwise loyal colonies and UPP-sponsored networks of saboteurs, certain CPO-aligned forces have begun to form black ops teams specialized for the task of pre-emptively eliminating threats before they can strike.

==== Controversies ====
Though counter terrorism and anti-piracy operations spearheaded by the CPO have seen great successes in securing many frontier territories, the tactics employed by associated units have generated no insignificant amount of controversy. Their doctrine prioritizes marine lives and operational successes over civilian preservation in almost all situations, a fact that has led to multiple instances of significant collateral damage, especially in densely populated colonial regions where insurgency groups like the CLF have embedded themselves among non-combatants.

The general belief among members of the CPO that civilian casualties are an acceptable cost for rapid and decisive victories has alienated an increasing portion of the colonial population, especially among work-class individuals who often bear the brunt of the damage inflicted by these operations. Many of these colonists have historically been skeptical of the authority of the United Americas, but as a result of these operations they've begun to view the USCM and wider UA as more of an occupying force than a protective one, fueling local resentment to new heights and complicating any future operations.

Compounding these issues is the overall public image of the CPO. While hardliners within the USCM and other military circles praise the CPO for its strength and clarity of purpose, particularly when it comes to repelling UPP border incursions and the dismantling of CLF cells, the broader public and several government agencies have levied significant criticisms against the organization. The tendency to disregard the welfare of civilians and breach many protocols surrounding ethical warfare have prompted several investigations into the CPO.

== Relations With Other Factions ==
Doves and Hawks conflict over the handling of colonies and insurgents present on those colonies.
* Hawks believe that the Doves are not only wasting marine lives in exchange for potentially hostile civilians, they are also enabling future insurgencies and deeper movements that will require even more effort to remove.
* Hawks consider Doves to be naive, irresponsible, and morally incorrect; they believe the Doves’ efforts will only lead to worse outcomes, meaning more civilian and marine losses.
* Outside of the moral considerations, Hawks also consider the Doves to be endangering overall USCM funding. Humanitarian aid is significantly cheaper in terms of equipment and does not usually lead to advancements or RnD.
** Not only that, but victories and visible results bring in funding from the higher-ups. Even if the Doves’ rhetoric of hearts and minds is somehow correct, the effects won’t be seen for years and the return of hostilities is inevitable so long as it’s not crushed.
** Every bit of lost funding as a result might mean more marine casualties from inferior equipment, insufficient supplies, etc. This is not a risk that the Hawks wish to deal with.

Hawks disagree with MODI’s corporate connections, mainly because of the massive prevalence of foreign entities and uncontrollable factors.
*The biggest example of this is WY, who has so much influence in the UAAC/USCM that they can independently station executives on board USCM combat vessels, have separate agreements for corporate access to military vessels with the USCM, have funded, built, and provided entire vessels that are currently active-duty in the USCM, and so on… All while being a national mega-conglomerate aligned with the 3WE.
* On the other hand, they do approve of smaller entities such as UA Government companies. The larger ones that are aligned with the UA/UAAC are still concerning, due to their potential meddling in the military and essentially taking agency away from the military itself, but the concern of foreign influence is far above that in terms of priorities for the Hawks.

CO Faction: The "Hawks"

2025-04-18T15:44:30Z

Harrysno: fixed typo

A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization names.
== The Colonial Protection Organization ==
'''Faction Leader:''' Assistant Commandant of the USCM, General Delyla S. Vaughn

'''Local Leader:''' USCM Colonel Margaret A.W. Shanks.

The Colonial Protection Organization was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.

The CPO is, similarly to the HMM, an organization that has roots in other government organizations, and has considerable support in the USCM. Yet, following the massive PR victory for the organization after the Fallen Archangel Fiasco, and the inbuilt support from AWs following the creation of the AW programme in 2110, the CPO fell into dormancy during the inter-war decades of the 2110s-2140s due to poor leadership of the faction and a lack of military success stories or failures to rally a strong-arm attitude.

Then, the wars over 3WE colonies and the Dog War managed to pull the CPO back into limelight. Furthermore, following the battle at the Red Line during the Dog War and the ensuing peace treaty in 2163, Delyla S. Vaughn was furious (along with much of the CPO) at the UAAC’s willingness to abandon attempts to pierce the Red Line and became one of the most effective and well-respected leaders of the CPO since its founding: being the one-lady-army leader that promoted a push to the less centrist parts of the organization and some (especially AWs) to strong devotion to the CPO. However, her USCM focus has alienated much of the CPO’s support in other government organizations, with CPO support falling rapidly in the LACN and the CANC as HMM support in both of the organizations was flourishing.

USCM Colonel Margaret A.W. Shanks, in an organization dominated so much by the single seminal personality of Vaughn, came to her position as local leader of the Neroid sector’s CPO mainly through her relation to Vaughn and little else. She is a matter-of-fact leader, unsurprisingly so with her being an AW, and the fact she holds little pretense has made her quite capable at garnering political support through simply being incredibly clear and dedicated in her rhetoric. Her push for AW acceptance under her command has resulted in less AW prejudice than in any other command. Her critics say this is mainly because none wants to criticize their commanders (for fear of charges), and commanders under her area of influence are disproportionately AW.

=== Ideology ===
''Note: These points reflect the general overarching attitudes of the faction as a whole. Individual members may or may not only reflect certain portions of the faction's ideologies, have their own beliefs that are not listed here, or even disagree with some but agree with others.''

* '''Alignments:''' Politically Traditional, Force Projection, Military Dominance, Glory. Non-Corporate.
* A marine’s life is worth more than an entire colony’s. Ammunition, supplies, and uncooperative civilians are all expendable. Your fellow marines are not.
* Sacrifices must be made for tangible progress, but sacrificing marines should only be considered once all other resources have been expended, including local populaces.
* If locals will not cooperate, burn the entire structure down to smoke out the rats.
* Shock and awe tactics are an opposing force’s one and only opportunity to learn to cooperate.
* Victories are necessary to maintain the USCM’s presence and position within the UAAC. Do not shy away from an encounter.

=== Infighting and Sub-Factionalism ===
On the surface the Colonial Protection Organization appears monolithic, upheld by a shared belief in overwhelming military force and operational decisiveness. However, beneath this outward image of unity there exists a subtle simmering of tension revolving around its leadership and internal structure.

At the heart of the CPO's unity is General Delyla S. Vaughn, whose titanic presence and notoriously forceful personality keep the organization in line through sheer force of will and shrewd political maneuvering. This top-down form of control has fomented a quieter variety of division in the form of resentment among regional commanders and marines who feel stifled by Vaughn's overwhelming presence or otherwise alienated by her focus on the USCM at the cost of broader support from the government. Generally, this has created an unspoken divide within the faction: those who rally themselves behind Vaughn's hardline vision, and those who feel the organization is overly centralized and stagnant.

=== Popularity ===
Much of the Colonial Protection Organization's admiration within the UA stems from its unabashedly aggressive stance on foreign and domestic security threats. In the increasingly unstable existence that is life on the UA's frontier, the CPO's rhetoric of strength, control, and swift retribution has struck home with a wide spectrum of officials, both military and civilian, that are eager for clear and defined leadership in otherwise chaotic times.

This support is not always overt, however, as while some officials openly back the CPO and cite its successful efforts at pacifying hostile colonies and reducing insurgent activity others offer their support in a more quiet manner, citing fear of backlash from more moderate or humanitarian-focused branches of the government. Within the USCM, officers aligned with the CPO often form tight-knit cliques that share intelligence, assets, and back one another politically to further their objectives without formally declaring an allegiance to the organization.

However, this growing admiration carries alongside it a handful of risks. The CPO's ever increasing prominence has begun to polarize the internal politics of the Colonial Marine Corps, drawing criticism from the HMM who view its methods as classical military overreach and from MODI leaders concerned that uncontrolled CPO operations might destabilize delicate corporate interests. Yet these criticisms only serve to further validate the belief of CPO members, being that of an uncompromising approach in a galaxy that increasingly favors force over finesse.

==== Successes ====
The Colonial Protection Organization's hardline approach to security in frontier territories has shown undeniable results in several strategic areas, though this has come at the clear cost of subtlety, public approval, and long-term diplomatic considerations. In regions where diplomacy has faltered and piracy has flourished, the CPO's counter terrorism and anti-piracy operations have brought a form of stability that the CPO claims only military supremacy can achieve.

Operating under the doctrine that proactive violence can and will save more lives than the reactionary traditions of the HMM, CPO-aligned commanders have authorized broad operations across historically unstable sectors. These missions are often labeled as "containment directives" or "insurgency denial actions" and typically involve the rapid deployment of heavily armed marine platoons to target insurgent hotspots, pirate strongholds, and suspected safehouses belonging to terror organizations like the CLF before they are able to mobilize and coordinate attacks of their own. Entire settlements suspected of harboring dissidents have been flattened and spaceborne pirate fleets eradicated with overwhelming force regardless of attempts to surrender and with no regard for non-combatant casualties.

Critics call these operations "indiscriminate and inhumane," but to many within the CPO and an increasing number of government officials who value safety and security over diplomacy they are a necessary evil. CPO methods have a proven track record of success as in several frontier regions pirate activity has dropped by over 60%. Colonial governors report increased stability and a significantly reduced volume of distress signals, even if the local populations of these regions remain as resentful and fearful of the USCM as they ever have.

What's more surprising, however, is the CPO's increasing shift towards covert warfare, an area that many consider antithetical to their straightforward doctrine of overwhelming force. In response to more elusive threats, including CLF cells deeply embedded into otherwise loyal colonies and UPP-sponsored networks of saboteurs, certain CPO-aligned forces have begun to form black ops teams specialized for the task of pre-emptively eliminating threats before they can strike.

==== Controversies ====
Though counter terrorism and anti-piracy operations spearheaded by the CPO have seen great successes in securing many frontier territories, the tactics employed by associated units have generated no insignificant amount of controversy. Their doctrine prioritizes marine lives and operational successes over civilian preservation in almost all situations, a fact that has led to multiple instances of significant collateral damage, especially in densely populated colonial regions where insurgency groups like the CLF have embedded themselves among non-combatants.

The general belief among members of the CPO that civilian casualties are an acceptable cost for rapid and decisive victories has alienated an increasing portion of the colonial population, especially among work-class individuals who often bear the brunt of the damage inflicted by these operations. Many of these colonists have historically been skeptical of the authority of the United Americas, but as a result of these operations they've begun to view the USCM and wider UA as more of an occupying force than a protective one, fueling local resentment to new heights and complicating any future operations.

Compounding these issues is the overall public image of the CPO. While hardliners within the USCM and other military circles praise the CPO for its strength and clarity of purpose, particularly when it comes to repelling UPP border incursions and the dismantling of CLF cells, the broader public and several government agencies have levied significant criticisms against the organization. The tendency to disregard the welfare of civilians and breach many protocols surrounding ethical warfare have prompted several investigations into the CPO.

== Relations With Other Factions ==
Doves and Hawks conflict over the handling of colonies and insurgents present on those colonies.
* Hawks believe that the Doves are not only wasting marine lives in exchange for potentially hostile civilians, they are also enabling future insurgencies and deeper movements that will require even more effort to remove.
* Hawks consider Doves to be naive, irresponsible, and morally incorrect; they believe the Doves’ efforts will only lead to worse outcomes, meaning more civilian and marine losses.
* Outside of the moral considerations, Hawks also consider the Doves to be endangering overall USCM funding. Humanitarian aid is significantly cheaper in terms of equipment and does not usually lead to advancements or RnD.
** Not only that, but victories and visible results bring in funding from the higher-ups. Even if the Doves’ rhetoric of hearts and minds is somehow correct, the effects won’t be seen for years and the return of hostilities is inevitable so long as it’s not crushed.
** Every bit of lost funding as a result might mean more marine casualties from inferior equipment, insufficient supplies, etc. This is not a risk that the Hawks wish to deal with.

Hawks disagree with MODI’s corporate connections, mainly because of the massive prevalence of foreign entities and uncontrollable factors.
*The biggest example of this is WY, who has so much influence in the UAAC/USCM that they can independently station executives on board USCM combat vessels, have separate agreements for corporate access to military vessels with the USCM, have funded, built, and provided entire vessels that are currently active-duty in the USCM, and so on… All while being a national mega-conglomerate aligned with the 3WE.
* On the other hand, they do approve of smaller entities such as UA Government companies. The larger ones that are aligned with the UA/UAAC are still concerning, due to their potential meddling in the military and essentially taking agency away from the military itself, but the concern of foreign influence is far above that in terms of priorities for the Hawks.

CO Faction: The "Hawks"

2025-04-18T15:42:19Z

Harrysno: Complete re-write of the hawks faction, reshaping it into the colonial protection organization and adding a significantly increased level of content.

A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization names.
== The Colonial Protection Organization ==
'''Faction Leader:''' Assistant Commandant of the USCM, General Delyla S. Vaughn, former LACN Fleet Admiral.

'''Local Leader:''' USCM Colonel Margaret A.W. Shanks.

The Colonial Protection Organization was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.

The CPO is, similarly to the HMM, an organization that has roots in other government organizations, and has considerable support in the USCM. Yet, following the massive PR victory for the organization after the Fallen Archangel Fiasco, and the inbuilt support from AWs following the creation of the AW programme in 2110, the CPO fell into dormancy during the inter-war decades of the 2110s-2140s due to poor leadership of the faction and a lack of military success stories or failures to rally a strong-arm attitude.

Then, the wars over 3WE colonies and the Dog War managed to pull the CPO back into limelight. Furthermore, following the battle at the Red Line during the Dog War and the ensuing peace treaty in 2163, Delyla S. Vaughn was furious (along with much of the CPO) at the UAAC’s willingness to abandon attempts to pierce the Red Line and became one of the most effective and well-respected leaders of the CPO since its founding: being the one-lady-army leader that promoted a push to the less centrist parts of the organization and some (especially AWs) to strong devotion to the CPO. However, her USCM focus has alienated much of the CPO’s support in other government organizations, with CPO support falling rapidly in the LACN and the CANC as HMM support in both of the organizations was flourishing.

USCM Colonel Margaret A.W. Shanks, in an organization dominated so much by the single seminal personality of Vaughn, came to her position as local leader of the Neroid sector’s CPO mainly through her relation to Vaughn and little else. She is a matter-of-fact leader, unsurprisingly so with her being an AW, and the fact she holds little pretense has made her quite capable at garnering political support through simply being incredibly clear and dedicated in her rhetoric. Her push for AW acceptance under her command has resulted in less AW prejudice than in any other command. Her critics say this is mainly because none wants to criticize their commanders (for fear of charges), and commanders under her area of influence are disproportionately AW.

=== Ideology ===
''Note: These points reflect the general overarching attitudes of the faction as a whole. Individual members may or may not only reflect certain portions of the faction's ideologies, have their own beliefs that are not listed here, or even disagree with some but agree with others.''

* '''Alignments:''' Politically Traditional, Force Projection, Military Dominance, Glory. Non-Corporate.
* A marine’s life is worth more than an entire colony’s. Ammunition, supplies, and uncooperative civilians are all expendable. Your fellow marines are not.
* Sacrifices must be made for tangible progress, but sacrificing marines should only be considered once all other resources have been expended, including local populaces.
* If locals will not cooperate, burn the entire structure down to smoke out the rats.
* Shock and awe tactics are an opposing force’s one and only opportunity to learn to cooperate.
* Victories are necessary to maintain the USCM’s presence and position within the UAAC. Do not shy away from an encounter.

=== Infighting and Sub-Factionalism ===
On the surface the Colonial Protection Organization appears monolithic, upheld by a shared belief in overwhelming military force and operational decisiveness. However, beneath this outward image of unity there exists a subtle simmering of tension revolving around its leadership and internal structure.

At the heart of the CPO's unity is General Delyla S. Vaughn, whose titanic presence and notoriously forceful personality keep the organization in line through sheer force of will and shrewd political maneuvering. This top-down form of control has fomented a quieter variety of division in the form of resentment among regional commanders and marines who feel stifled by Vaughn's overwhelming presence or otherwise alienated by her focus on the USCM at the cost of broader support from the government. Generally, this has created an unspoken divide within the faction: those who rally themselves behind Vaughn's hardline vision, and those who feel the organization is overly centralized and stagnant.

=== Popularity ===
Much of the Colonial Protection Organization's admiration within the UA stems from its unabashedly aggressive stance on foreign and domestic security threats. In the increasingly unstable existence that is life on the UA's frontier, the CPO's rhetoric of strength, control, and swift retribution has struck home with a wide spectrum of officials, both military and civilian, that are eager for clear and defined leadership in otherwise chaotic times.

This support is not always overt, however, as while some officials openly back the CPO and cite its successful efforts at pacifying hostile colonies and reducing insurgent activity others offer their support in a more quiet manner, citing fear of backlash from more moderate or humanitarian-focused branches of the government. Within the USCM, officers aligned with the CPO often form tight-knit cliques that share intelligence, assets, and back one another politically to further their objectives without formally declaring an allegiance to the organization.

However, this growing admiration carries alongside it a handful of risks. The CPO's ever increasing prominence has begun to polarize the internal politics of the Colonial Marine Corps, drawing criticism from the HMM who view its methods as classical military overreach and from MODI leaders concerned that uncontrolled CPO operations might destabilize delicate corporate interests. Yet these criticisms only serve to further validate the belief of CPO members, being that of an uncompromising approach in a galaxy that increasingly favors force over finesse.

==== Successes ====
The Colonial Protection Organization's hardline approach to security in frontier territories has shown undeniable results in several strategic areas, though this has come at the clear cost of subtlety, public approval, and long-term diplomatic considerations. In regions where diplomacy has faltered and piracy has flourished, the CPO's counter terrorism and anti-piracy operations have brought a form of stability that the CPO claims only military supremacy can achieve.

Operating under the doctrine that proactive violence can and will save more lives than the reactionary traditions of the HMM, CPO-aligned commanders have authorized broad operations across historically unstable sectors. These missions are often labeled as "containment directives" or "insurgency denial actions" and typically involve the rapid deployment of heavily armed marine platoons to target insurgent hotspots, pirate strongholds, and suspected safehouses belonging to terror organizations like the CLF before they are able to mobilize and coordinate attacks of their own. Entire settlements suspected of harboring dissidents have been flattened and spaceborne pirate fleets eradicated with overwhelming force regardless of attempts to surrender and with no regard for non-combatant casualties.

Critics call these operations "indiscriminate and inhumane," but to many within the CPO and an increasing number of government officials who value safety and security over diplomacy they are a necessary evil. CPO methods have a proven track record of success as in several frontier regions pirate activity has dropped by over 60%. Colonial governors report increased stability and a significantly reduced volume of distress signals, even if the local populations of these regions remain as resentful and fearful of the USCM as they ever have.

What's more surprising, however, is the CPO's increasing shift towards covert warfare, an area that many consider antithetical to their straightforward doctrine of overwhelming force. In response to more elusive threats, including CLF cells deeply embedded into otherwise loyal colonies and UPP-sponsored networks of saboteurs, certain CPO-aligned forces have begun to form black ops teams specialized for the task of pre-emptively eliminating threats before they can strike.

==== Controversies ====
Though counter terrorism and anti-piracy operations spearheaded by the CPO have seen great successes in securing many frontier territories, the tactics employed by associated units have generated no insignificant amount of controversy. Their doctrine prioritizes marine lives and operational successes over civilian preservation in almost all situations, a fact that has led to multiple instances of significant collateral damage, especially in densely populated colonial regions where insurgency groups like the CLF have embedded themselves among non-combatants.

The general belief among members of the CPO that civilian casualties are an acceptable cost for rapid and decisive victories has alienated an increasing portion of the colonial population, especially among work-class individuals who often bear the brunt of the damage inflicted by these operations. Many of these colonists have historically been skeptical of the authority of the United Americas, but as a result of these operations they've begun to view the USCM and wider UA as more of an occupying force than a protective one, fueling local resentment to new heights and complicating any future operations.

Compounding these issues is the overall public image of the CPO. While hardliners within the USCM and other military circles praise the CPO for its strength and clarity of purpose, particularly when it comes to repelling UPP border incursions and the dismantling of CLF cells, the broader public and several government agencies have levied significant criticisms against the organization. The tendency to disregard the welfare of civilians and breach many protocols surrounding ethical warfare have prompted several investigations into the CPO.

== Relations With Other Factions ==
Doves and Hawks conflict over the handling of colonies and insurgents present on those colonies.
* Hawks believe that the Doves are not only wasting marine lives in exchange for potentially hostile civilians, they are also enabling future insurgencies and deeper movements that will require even more effort to remove.
* Hawks consider Doves to be naive, irresponsible, and morally incorrect; they believe the Doves’ efforts will only lead to worse outcomes, meaning more civilian and marine losses.
* Outside of the moral considerations, Hawks also consider the Doves to be endangering overall USCM funding. Humanitarian aid is significantly cheaper in terms of equipment and does not usually lead to advancements or RnD.
** Not only that, but victories and visible results bring in funding from the higher-ups. Even if the Doves’ rhetoric of hearts and minds is somehow correct, the effects won’t be seen for years and the return of hostilities is inevitable so long as it’s not crushed.
** Every bit of lost funding as a result might mean more marine casualties from inferior equipment, insufficient supplies, etc. This is not a risk that the Hawks wish to deal with.

Hawks disagree with MODI’s corporate connections, mainly because of the massive prevalence of foreign entities and uncontrollable factors.
*The biggest example of this is WY, who has so much influence in the UAAC/USCM that they can independently station executives on board USCM combat vessels, have separate agreements for corporate access to military vessels with the USCM, have funded, built, and provided entire vessels that are currently active-duty in the USCM, and so on… All while being a national mega-conglomerate aligned with the 3WE.
* On the other hand, they do approve of smaller entities such as UA Government companies. The larger ones that are aligned with the UA/UAAC are still concerning, due to their potential meddling in the military and essentially taking agency away from the military itself, but the concern of foreign influence is far above that in terms of priorities for the Hawks.

CO Faction: The "Doves"

2025-04-18T15:33:22Z

Harrysno: Complete re-write of the doves faction, reshaping it into the Hearts and Minds Movement and adding a significantly increased level of content.

A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization names.
== The Hearts and Minds Movement==
'''Faction Leader:''' UA Secretary of Defense Joelle De La Cruz, former LACN Fleet Admiral.

'''Local Leader:''' USCM Provost Marshal Colonel Adrian Blackburn.

The Hearts and Minds Movement originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.

The HMM has spread to other governmental bodies outside of the military, and has become a considerable force within the USCM itself. Following the involvement of De La Cruz within the organization, the HMM has gained even more influence within the USCM and UA government as a whole, in no small part due to De La Cruz’s popularity within the USCM and other military branches, seen as a leader who emphasizes cooperation between governmental entities and negotiations to resolve conflicts. However, De La Cruz’s attempts to align the faction’s ideology towards some of her more controversial policies - like a single federal military force - have garnered little approval from the HMM’s old guard.

The local leader around the events of the Neroid Sector, Provost Marshal Colonel Adrian Blackburn, came to her position following a vigorous anti-corruption campaign and her assistance in establishing the USCM War Correspondent Programme. The programme tried to enable accountability of USCM operations to civilian scrutiny through stationing war correspondents with major USCM operations, and Blackburn ensured some level of freedom of speech for war correspondents from the alleged wrath of overzealous or hawkish military police.

However, Blackburn has gained few friends throughout these processes. Her anti-corruption campaign has been criticized heavily by those within USCM Requisitions and Procurement, along with those within the Corporate Cooperative for heavily delaying multiple USCM weapons from entering standard service - like the VP-78 and the SU-6. Her work in creating the USCM War Correspondent Programme has similarly been criticized, with her emphasis on freedom of speech for war correspondents having been reported to result in heavily demoralized troops as a result of press pieces that are more emotional than fact, painting the USCM as the bad guys.

=== Ideology ===
''Note: These points reflect the general overarching attitudes of the faction as a whole. Individual members may or may not only reflect certain portions of the faction's ideologies, have their own beliefs that are not listed here, or even disagree with some but agree with others.''

* '''Alignments:''' Politically Progressive, Humanitarian, Anti-War, Peacekeeping. Non-Corporate.
* Attempt a diplomatic solution whenever possible.
* Minimize civilian casualties. Indiscriminate bombardment and heavy collateral damage to civilians and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable.
* Encourage cooperation from locals, such as interpreters, informants, or even elevating and arming cooperative militias.
* Provide humanitarian aid both in supplies and construction work. Carry and provide spare water treatment systems, rations, etc.
* The duty of the USCM is to keep peace, not wage war. Sometimes this may require violence to resolve, but even in such cases care must be taken to only remove those who are impeding the wellbeing of the general populace.

=== Infighting and Sub-Factionalism ===
Unlike both the CPO and MODI, the Hearts and Minds Movement thrives on ideological plurality and decentralization. However, the source of its strength and what makes it unique also presents the HMM with its greatest vulnerability as the movement has quietly split along ideological lines between the old guard–founded in reaction to the horrors of the Tientsin Campaign–and a new wave of reformist recruits under the direction of Secretary of Defense Joelle de la Cruz.

The old guard remains deeply committed to the belief that the true strength of the USCM lies not in its firepower, but in its restraint when using it. Acting instead as a peacekeeping force which intervenes in conflicts to restore order and prevent civilian casualties rather than a conquering force which proactively acts to maintain the so-called "security" of the United Americas. De la Cruz remains true to these foundational beliefs, but she herself favors many controversial programs (like the creation of a single, unified federal military force) that have served to alienate many within the movement.

=== Popularity ===
The Hearts and Minds Movement has generally earned favor among colonies where it carries out humanitarian operations. To the many people aided by these operations, especially those in resource-starved and conflict-ridden regions, the HMM presents a rare face of compassion within the otherwise militarized presence of the USCM. Popular programs put into place by the HMM like water purification, food and medical air drops, and civil engineering support have been seen to visibly improve the quality of life in several outer rim colonies.

However, reception of the HMM has been far from glowing. Many government officials within the United Americas and the upper echelons of UAAC and USCM command have voiced concerns that the HMM's impact, while clearly well-intentioned, is far too small-scale and slow to make a meaningful strategic difference in the constantly shifting galactic landscape. Critics have argued many of the movement's projects amount to nothing more than "band-aid fixes," essentially calling them temporary relief efforts that both fail to address any of the deeper systemic issues plaguing far-out settlements and provide sustainable long-term changes.

An issue that further complicates the HMM's standing is the lack of any concrete data to suggest the overall effectiveness of the movement's programs. While De la Cruz and HMM-aligned officials claim success in several sectors, hard statistics are difficult to gather in any meaningful way due to the chaotic nature of colonial conflicts, inconsistent efforts to keep records, and the lack of any long-term follow up in many of the affected regions. The best available information estimates an approximate 17% increase in well-being among affected colonies, but this statistic is both vague and hard to verify.

==== Successes ====
The implementation of the HMM's less violent policies has caused a noticeable shift in attitudes among affected colonial populations, particularly those in outer territories where trust in UA governance and the USCM has eroded due to decades of heavy-handedness and neglect.

Central to this change are the movement's many investments in basic infrastructure and civil support programs. HMM-aligned forces across the frontier have worked diligently to rebuild water treatment systems destroyed through any number of conflicts, restock failing clinics and retrain the doctors and medics working within them, and distribute survival gear, food rations, and sanitation supplies to far-out outposts. These initiatives don't just alleviate the immediate suffering of colonists and colonial populations, they send a clear message that the USCM isn't just a machine of mindless destruction but a force of compassion and positive change.

Another area critical to the movement's success has been the protection of trade routes in sectors often plagued by piracy. HMM-organized patrols have proven to be highly effective at restoring commercial activity to poverty-stricken regions under the UA's control, offering safe lanes for merchant vessels and civilian traffic that haven't existed for decades in some of the hardest hit areas. Critically, these patrols operate under strict engagement protocols where pirates are to be captured where possible rather than killed and where local traffic is to be contacted respectfully rather than interrogated or detained without due cause.

The result of these efforts has been an overall warming of relations in many frontier regions. Surveys conducted by UA-affiliated observers show that in select territories civilian trust in the USCM has increased by as much as 20%. Governors and regional officials in these same territories report that crime rates have declined, that trade has stabilized, and emergency distress signals and requests for USCM intervention have decreased.

==== Controversies ====
With the Colonial Liberation Front expanding its presence across the Neroid Sector, scrutiny of the HMM's pacifist policies has intensified. What was once seen as compassionate efforts to stabilize the frontier are now being called "dangerously naive" by many of the more pragmatic and conservative elements of United American Allied Command.

A string of failed humanitarian missions, including supply drops and aid convoys, have reportedly been intercepted or exploited by the CLF and various CLF-aligned groups who then repackage USCM-funded materials for use in their own black markets or strongholds. Several investigations have suggested that pirates, insurrectionists, and terrorists were able to seize or reroute HMM aid, diverting everything from medical kits to food rations away from their intended recipients.

Though HMM leadership maintains that these incidents are outliers and under intense scrutiny, the damage to their credibility in regions like the hard-hit Neroid Sector is growing. Calls for tighter security procedures, more aggressive screening protocols, and temporary suspension of aid programs in heavily contested zones are gaining significant traction among many members of the USCM.

== Relations With Other Factions ==
Doves and Hawks conflict over the handling of colonies and insurgents present on those colonies.
* Doves believe that the Hawks’ actions are actively detrimental to the their ideology and ultimate goal of reaching the hearts and minds of colonists.
* Doves often try to seek court martials, war crime tribunals, etc. against Hawks, both prominent and small-time members, but the evidence is often weak or intentionally unavailable.

Doves disagree with the majority of Corporate influences by MODI.
* Doves are not wholly against corporations - those that provide humanitarian equipment and supplies are vital to their mission- but MODI-aligned corporations generally focus on more lethal and effective warfare.
* Doves do align partially with Hawks on this: MODI-corporate influence on the USCM is dangerous, but while Doves believe this because it’s moving the USCM towards warmongers, the Hawks believe this because it’s at least partially putting control of USCM equipment into the hands of foreign corporations. WY in particular is 3WE aligned, which is a significant foreign superpower.

Doves have connections with minor MODI factions, particularly those serving in producing survival and humanitarian equipment. MRE companies, water purification tablets and systems, etc.
* In addition, Doves are not blind to the attrition of carefully and slowly clearing colonies, and avoiding collateral damage. Improving marine survivability is something they look to corporations for, where possible. Foreign influence isn’t as much of a concern for them compared to the Hawks’ fears.

The Third Regiment

2025-04-18T15:19:49Z

Harrysno: Re-wrote section on ideology and factionalism + added links to the standalone pages for hawks, doves, and magpies

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commander Maverick and current Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major Isabel Lopits, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
A well-organized and functional military force does not tend to encourage factionalism within its ranks, but such developments inevitably occur even at the highest levels so long as there are differences in mindsets and approaches. The USCM is no exception to this rule, and has seen three primary schools of thought become prevalent throughout its ranks. The paradoxically peaceable ‘Doves’ avoiding their nature as a fighting force to focus on humanitarian aid, the warmongering ‘Hawks’ seeking to crush all resistance on active fronts and bring back glory through victory, and the loose coalition of self-centered opportunists united under the banner of ‘Magpies’ for the sake of profit or personal opportunity.

These are not the formal titles for their associated political entities, as the bird terminology comes from long before these particular incarnations. Nonetheless, referring to a faction by its respective bird is more likely to spark recognition from the everyday marine than its official organization name.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Doves%22 Doves (HMM)]
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Hearts and Minds Movement, also known as the "Doves," originated from a UA federal-level political organization following the Tienstein Campaign of 2162-2165 and the ensuing tactical nuclear deployment between UPP and USCM forces on 8 Eta Bootis A III. The organization’s founders were disgusted with the level of civilian casualties in a military front that ultimately resulted in nothing gained. They favored a diplomatic approach, even after the destruction of the USCSS Endeavour by UPP forces, claiming that negotiating with the UPP as well as trying to win the “hearts and minds” of the 8 Eta Bootis A III populace would’ve brought a swift end to the conflict.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Hawks%22 Hawks (CPO)]
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Colonial Protection Organization, also known as the "Hawks," was founded only a few years after the foundation of the UA itself in 2108. The CPO’s founders were enraged by the handling of the Paraguayan Colony of Torin Prime and the J’Har Rebel Insurgency. The Outer Rim Defense Force’s unwillingness to destroy J’Har headquarters, due to fears of civilian casualties, was widely regarded by the CPO to have allowed such a rebellious insurgency to take much stronger root than they had any right in doing. This result was further argued to actually have led to more civilian casualties than if the J’Har insurgency was dealt with swiftly regardless of collateral damage. The CPO argued, instead, for an end to the ORDF’s push for expansion and a strong boot style to stamp out any seditious embers swiftly before they become infernos.
|-
![https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Faction:_The_%22Magpies%22 Magpies (MODI)]
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
|Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, it was created as an organization that wanted to secure the USCM's future through establishing favorable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, invariably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments.

Unlike the other factions, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA militaries. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by the HMM, CPO, and MODI to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}

= Current Crises =

=== The War on Insurgency ===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

=== The Cold War ===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

Commanding Officer

2025-04-07T00:55:48Z

Harrysno:

{{JobPageHeader
|headerbgcolor = darkblue
|headerfontcolor = white
|stafftype = COMMAND
|imagebgcolor = lightblue
|img = Commander.png
|jobtitle = Commanding Officer
|difficulty = Very Hard
|rank = Major / Lieutenant Colonel [CO Council] / Colonel [CO Senator]
|superior = [[Marine Law]], USCM High Command
|unlock = [https://forum.cm-ss13.com/w/commanding-officer-application Commanding Officer Whitelist].
|duties = Lead your company and complete the mission.
|guides = [[Marine Law]] ; [[Commanding Officer Code of Conduct]]
|description = You are the Commanding Officer of the USS Almayer and the Commanding Officer of the operation. Your goal is to lead the Marines on their mission as well as protect and command the ship and her crew. Your job involves heavy roleplay and requires you to behave like a high-ranking officer and to stay in character at all times. As the Commanding Officer your only superior is High Command itself. You must abide by the [[Commanding_Officer_Code_of_Conduct|Commanding Officer's Code of Conduct]]. Failure to do so may result in punitive action against you.. Godspeed, Major !
}}
''"How many drops is this for you, Lieutenant?"''

''"Thirty-eight. Simulated."''

''"How many combat drops?"''

''"Uh, two... Including this one."''

― Ripley, Lt. Gorman and Pvt. Vasquez, ''Aliens''


=Your History=
During a typical round, the [[USS Almayer]] has been tasked with investigating an automated distress beacon from a colony in the Neroid Sector. Your mission is to command the Marines during a Search and Rescue operation, as well as eradicate any hostiles on the colony.

During the events of a typical round of Colonial Marines, you are a recently-assigned Commanding Officer of the USS Almayer as of August 25, 2182, for less than an year.

Whether you were the previous Executive Officer of the [[USS Almayer]], a disgraced officer assigned to a backwater transport, or the most recent unfortunate 'shoe-in for what some might' consider a cursed position; for whatever reason you are now in charge of the lives of everyone onboard.

Good luck.
=Your Personnel=

As Commanding Officer, your most significant tools are not weapons, but the leadership and all military structure under your command:

*'''The Command staff''': These are the direct successors of the command if you are away and have the primary mission of helping the squads down below. They operate by using the overwatch consoles to support the squads and by micromanaging them so you won't have to concentrate on four squads at the same time

* '''The Marines''': you have four squads under your command, each formed by 1 '''[[Squad Leader]]''', 2 to 4 '''[[Hospital Corpsman|Hospital Corpsmen]]''', 2 to 4 '''[[Combat Technician|Combat Technicians]]''', 1 '''[[Smartgunner]]''', 1 well equipped '''[[Weapons Specialist]]''', 2 '''[[Fireteam Leader|Fireteam Leaders]]''' and numerous '''[[Rifleman|Riflemen]]'''.

*'''The Military Police''': A handful of '''[[Military Police]]''' and their leader, the '''[[Chief MP]]''' that answer directly to you. They are assigned the duty to perform arrests on those that break [[Marine Law]] and to protect you and your crew from any hostile threats.

*'''Medical staff''': Surgeons, researchers and nurses, their tasks include providing extensive medical assistance aboard the Almayer or in the FOB, creating custom medicine for deploying corpsmen on request, and researching and developing potentially very powerful new medicine, stimulants or lethal chemicals. They are led by a '''[[Chief Medical Officer]]''' and composed of '''[[Doctor|Doctors]]'''.

*'''Engineering''': The shipside engineers' primary concern will be fabricating custom explosives for your grunts, squad engineers and squad specialists, loading the Orbital Bombardment Cannon, then fixing any broken thing on Almayer. It's important to note that you can authorize the '''[[Ordnance Technician]] and [[Maintenance_Technician|Maintenance Technicians]]''' to go down planetside to assist in the construction of the FOB and/or the distribution of their custom explosives should it be absolutely necessary,

*'''Supply''': Supply is an important part of the Almayer. They provide weapons, equipment, supplies, medicine, chemicals for your Ordnance Technicians, and ammo for your ship and marines. You should always have direct contact with the '''[[Requisitions Officer]]''' to coordinate supply drops and what to order. Make sure to be explicit and direct on what you order and for which squads.

*'''Synthetic''': A stronger version of a human, made from silicone and science, they're programmed to assist the Almayer in various supporting tasks and are not meant for combat situations. Remember, they completely understand Marine Law and never break it, so as long as your orders are sensible and do not contradict Marine Law, they will be followed through with efficiency



You also have the incredibly useful '''communications console''', with the various abilities of:

*'''Making a general announcement''': a general announcement will be heard by all marines that are awake. It's highly useful for making sure all marines are aware of any updated orders and the general situation of the battle, aka whether or not an area has been lost or gained or if an area is being flanked or surrounded.

*'''Sending a message to USCM High Command''': Even the boss has a boss. Sometimes in times of need, you need to contact the High Command to ask for their support or to inform them of something important. This system is used only for emergencies, for less pressing matters, you have a fax machine within your private office.

*'''Send a distress signal''': Sending a signal will spawn a crew of [[Responders]], this can only be activated during a Delta Alert Scenario such as a hostile boarding.

*'''Setting Primary Landing Zone''': Allows you to select a primary landing zone, if one isn't chosen 25 minutes into the round the primary LZ is defaulted as LZ one. Setting a primary landing zone means that the other landing zone computer cannot be hijacked.

*'''Initiate the Almayer's escape pods''': When everything goes haywire, you can always use this option to attempt to preserve the lives of your Marines and escape like a coward. The escape pods will take 10 minutes to launch. Note that you can only occupy three people inside the pod; otherwise, the pod's thrusters will blow up due to overload capacity.

*'''Award Medal''': Commanding Officers can award medals for various marines for their heroic acts. See [[Commanding Officer#Medals|below]] for more information.

= Your Equipment =
As the Commanding Officer, you have access to a few unique items to set you apart from the rank and file.

You spawn with either a special issue [[Marine_Equipment#Mateba Autorevolver Special|Mateba]], an extremely powerful auto-revolver, or a [[Marine_Equipment#Vintage Desert Eagle|Desert Eagle]], both powerful enough to knock a Human off their feet. The Commanding Officer also has access to two special prototype weapons the '''[[Marine_Equipment#M46C Pulse Rifle|M46C Pulse Rifle]]''' and the M56C Cavalier Smartgun both of which can be found in the Commanding Officers Vendor. Additionally, you have your '''[[Marine_Equipment#Command Tablet|Command Tablet]]''' which is a portable communication console on the go. It can be found in a wall locker north of the CIC bubble. Finally, you spawn with a pair of laser designators.

<tabs>
<tab name="Standard Equipment">
{| style="border: 2px solid black;
! style="background-color:#4D86B2; width:130px;"|'''Equipment:'''
! style="background-color:#4D86B2;"|'''Description:'''

|-
{{Template:Autowiki/Content/Gun/Mateba autorevolver custom}}This version of the Mateba revolver is a limited edition produced for the USCM, and issued in extremely small amounts. Was a mail-order item back in 2172, and is highly sought after by officers across many different battalions. It comes with a customization kit to change to one of the three specialized barrels if the commander sees fit.
|-
{{Template:Autowiki/Content/Gun/polished_vintage_Desert_Eagle}}|-
{{Template:Autowiki/Content/Gun/M56C 'Cavalier' smartgun}}{{Template:Smartgun Abilities}}
|-
{{Template:Autowiki/Content/Gun/M46C pulse rifle}}{{Template:M46C Abilities}}
|-
|}
</tab>
</tabs>

== [[File:Cotablet.png]]The Command Tablet[[File:Cotablet.png]] ==

The command tablet currently has five available functions to its user. These five functions are the following:

#'''Make an Announcement''' - Allows the commander to issue announcements away from CIC.
#'''Award a medal''' - [[#Medals| Allows the commander to issue medals away from CIC]].
#'''Tactical Map''' - [[Staff_Officer#Tactical_Map|Allows the commander to see a tactical map of the current operation]].
#'''Initiate Emergency Evacuation''' - Triggers the emergency evacuation, only available on red alert
#'''Send a Distress Beacon''' - Sends an SOS signal from the Almayer that can be received by [[Responders]], only available on red alert

= Provisions =
As the Commanding Officer of the USS Almayer, you have special provisions the typical Commissioned Officer or Enlisted Personnel do not possess, these include:
#[[Marine Law#Executions|Battlefield Execute]] personnel under your command if they have committed crimes that threaten other Marine Personnel, the ship or the operation.
#*: This can be achieved by using your chosen special issue side-arm and it's special ammo. To initiate a Battlefield Execution aim at the head and [[Space Station 13 Guide#Marine Interface|fire point blank]] into a human target, after a small wind up they will be executed, they will need to stay in point blank range for the wind up to complete.
# Pardon personnel who have committed Major or Minor crimes from the brig.
#Demote personnel who have committed Major crimes to a junior position in their department
#Deputise Command Staff or the synthetic to perform arrests if Military Police are not avaliable.
More Information can be found on [[Marine_Law#Commanding_Officer_Provisions|CO Provisions]]

= Expectations =
All Commanding Officers of the USCM are expected to abide by the [[Commanding_Officer_Code_of_Conduct|Code Of Conduct]] and [[Marine_Law|Marine Law]] failure to meet these expectations can result in being detained by the Almayers Military Police or a possible demotion

=Mutinies=
'''Mutinies''' can happen for many reasons, but it's mostly due to the marines not liking something you did. this could be for a multitude of reasons. Whatever the case may be, you have two options of handling it. Conceding to their demands and stepping down or fighting them off.

Taking on the mutiny head-on can be scary at first but remember that you've got an always loyal crew of MPs and possibly CIC staff, and an easily defendable location. You'll be able to funnel them in and hopefully taser them down, arresting them in progress. If it comes to guns, you'll be ready to fight them off if the mutiny is relatively small.

Of course, the best course of action is to prevent the mutiny outright. Make sure you treat your marines right, and they'll treat you right.

=Abilities: Orders=
{{Issue-Orders}}

=Medals=

To show that a member of the Almayer's crew has gone above and beyond during the mission you can log into the communications computer and use it to submit an award. This award then appears after the round, and it will also print-out an actual award that can be pinned onto the deserving Marine.

'''<big>Medal System</big>'''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Medal Name !! Medal Sprite !! When is it Awarded !! Example
|-
| Medal Of Valor || [[File:medal of valor.PNG|500px]] || A silver medal awarded for acts of exceptional valor. Normally given to those who outstand themselves from the ranks, either it be in Leadership skills or actions crucial to the mission success. || For actions above and beyond the call of duty, and exhibiting exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind, or an unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save and protect human life against a hostile, boarding alien force.
Issued by Major XX 8/25/2182. USS Almayer; 2nd Company, 2nd Battalion "Falling Falcons", 4th Brigade, 4th United States Colonial Marine Division.
|-
| Medal of Distinguished Conduct || [[File:medal of distinguished Conduct.PNG|500px]] || A bronze medal awarded for distinguished conduct. Whilst a great honor, this is the most basic award given by the USCM. || For distinguished, gallant and good conduct in the field.
Issued by Major XX 8/25/2182. USS Almayer; 2nd Company, 2nd Battalion “Falling Falcons”, 4th Brigade, 4th United States Colonial Marine Division.
|-
| Medal of Exceptional Heroism || [[File:medal of exceptional heroism.PNG|500px]] || An extremely rare golden medal awarded only by the USCM. To receive such a medal is the highest honor and as such, very few exist. || For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their life above and beyond the call of duty against an opposing force. Normally received for actions that surpass the Call of Duty.
Issued by Major XX 8/25/2182. USS Almayer; 2nd Company, 2nd Battalion “Falling Falcons”, 4th Brigade, 4th United States Colonial Marine Division.
|-
| Bronze Heart Medal || [[File:bronze heart medal.PNG|500px]] || A bronze heart-shaped medal awarded for sacrifice. It is often awarded posthumously or for severe injury in the line of duty. ||
Awarded for being wounded or killed while serving with the United States Colonial Marines on Solaris Ridge in the name of the U.S President or U.A Security Council on or after April 1st, 2101.
Issued by Major XX 8/25/2182. USS Almayer; 2nd Company, 2nd Battalion “Falling Falcons”, 4th Brigade, 4th United States Colonial Marine Division.
|}

{{M540-B ARC}}

=The Tech Tree=

You can access the techtree by using the consoles in the Combat Information center - both are near the overwatch consoles.

{| style="border: 2px solid black; width:60%"
! style="background-color:#84987A;"|'''Tech:'''
! style="background-color:#84987A;"|'''Description:'''
! style="background-color:#84987A;"|'''Cost:'''
|-
|style="width:125px; border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |[[File:Tech tier1.png]]
[[#Tech Tier 1|'''Tech Tier 1''']]
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |Enables the first tier of the tech tree, usually is already unlocked at operation start. Tier 1 techs include: an increase in dropship fabricator points and an increase in the requisition budget.
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" | '''Free (one time purchase)'''
|-
|style="width:125px; border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |[[File:Tech tier1 dropship.png]]
[[#Dropship Budget Increase|'''Dropship Budget Increase''']]
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |This tier 1 tech supplies 2500 points to the dropship fabricator. (For what they can fabricate with these points see [[Pilot_Officer#Dropship_Part_Fabricator|the dropship fabricator list in the PO's page.]])
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" | '''12 (+1 every purchase)'''
|-
|style="width:125px; border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 4px solid black; padding: 5px;" |[[File:Tech tier1 dropship.png]]
[[#Requisitions Budget Increase|'''Requisitions Budget Increase''']]
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 4px solid black; padding: 5px;" |This tier 1 tech supplies (roughly) 10,000 requisition points for every 30 marines as it varies depending on marine count during an operation. For what it can buy see [https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/Requisitions#Supply_Crates|the supply crates buy list in the requisitions page.]
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 4px solid black; padding: 5px;" | '''15 (+1 every purchase)'''
|-
|style="width:125px; border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |[[File:Tech tier1.png]]
[[#ARC Acquisition|'''ARC Acquisition''']]
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |Requisitions the [[#M540-B Armored Recon Carrier|'''M540-B Armored Recon Carrier''']]. A lightly armored reconnaissance and intelligence vehicle.
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" | '''5 (one time purchase)'''
|-
|style="width:125px; border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |[[File:Tech tier2.png]]
[[#Tech Tier 2|'''Tech Tier 2''']]
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |Enables the second tier of the tech tree. The only tier 2 techs are for resupplying any and all OB warheads.
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" | '''5 (one time purchase)'''
|-
|style="width:125px; border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |[[File:Tech tier2 warhead inc.png]]
[[#Additonal OB Projectiles - Incendiary|'''Additional OB Projectiles - Incendiary''']]
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |This tier 2 tech supplies the USS Almayer with an incendiary orbital cannon warhead.
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" | '''10 (+2 every purchase)'''
|-
|style="width:125px; border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |[[File:Tech tier2 warhead cluster.png]]
[[#Additonal OB Projectiles - Cluster|'''Additional OB Projectiles - Cluster''']]
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |This tier 2 tech supplies the USS Almayer with a cluster orbital cannon warhead.
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" | '''10 (+2 every purchase)'''

|-
|style="width:125px; border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |[[File:Tech tier2 warhead he.png]]
[[#Additonal OB Projectiles - HE|'''Additional OB Projectiles - HE''']]
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |This tier 2 tech supplies the USS Almayer with a high explosive orbital cannon warhead.
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" | '''10 (+2 every purchase)'''

|-
|style="width:125px; border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |[[File:Tech Tier3.png]]
[[#Tech Tier 3|'''Tech Tier 3''']]
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |Enables the third tier of the tech tree. The only tier 3 techs are for awakening additional marines out of cryogenics.
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" | '''5 (one time purchase)'''
|-

|-
|style="width:125px; border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |[[File:Cryorines.png]]
[[#Wake up Additional Troops|'''Wake up Additional Troops''']]
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" |Wakes up additional troops to fight any threat. Includes a squad leader, combat technicians, corpsmen, and riflemen, scaling off population and number of ghosts who said yes.
|style="border: 2px solid black; border-bottom: 2px solid black; padding: 5px;" | '''10 (+5 per purchase)'''
|-

|}

=Your Skillset=
{{MarineSkills
|cqc=2
|firearms=1
|endurance=2
|engineering=2
|construction=2
|leadership=3
|medical=3
|surgery=1
|police=2
|powerloader=2
|jtac=4
|intel=2
|fireman=2
|execution=1|navigation=1|vehicles=2}}

To find out about how the skill system works head over to the [http://cm-ss13.com/wiki/The_Skill_System skills system page].

=Sources and Reading=
* [http://cm-ss13.com/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=4631 Marine Combat Guide (General Tactics and Strategies)]
* [http://cm-ss13.com/viewtopic.php?f=135&t=11342 Commanding Officer Discussion Thread (Tactics, tips, and tricks)]
* [https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/CO_Council_Rulings Commanding Officer Council Rulings and Clarifications]
* [https://cm-ss13.com/wiki/The_Third_Regiment Commanding Officer Lore Page, The Third Regiment]

Commanding Officer

2025-04-07T00:33:32Z

Harrysno: Added a link to the 3rd Regiment CO Lore page

The Third Regiment

2025-04-05T00:08:29Z

Harrysno: fixed a typo

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third Regiment.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commander Maverick and current Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major Isabel Lopits, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
!Hawks
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Hawks are a far-right leaning faction that emerged following the end of the Sol Campaign, holding the belief that colonist uprisings can only be halted with iron and blood. Their main support dwindled following the ending of the Tientsin Campaign which led to the outlawing of nuclear weapons being used against colonies due to the humanitarian disaster that had emerged in the wake of the conflict. However, with the War on Insurgency dragging on and casualties mounting, the upper-brass of the USCM has once again begun to reconsider the option of more ''forceful measures''. This would potentially include once again permitting the use of nuclear weaponry on colonial worlds, the suspension of colonial governments, and enactment of martial law through the sector.
|-
! Doves
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Doves are a left-leaning faction that rose to prominence following the humanitarian crisis on Mars after the Sol Campaign had been waged and won. Their firm belief is that the only way to unite colonies with the Earth Government is by fighting and winning the ‘War of Hearts’ through negotiation, humanitarian aid, and less usage of military assets. Following the Tientsin Campaign the Doves saw a major increase in popularity among the officer corps and successfully pressed the government to outlaw the use of nuclear weapons against colonial worlds. However, the War on Insurgency has wounded the belief that the ‘War of Hearts’ can still be won. Many now pointing to the relentless years of war crimes, casualties, and growing distrust of the USCM by CLF-aligned colonies. Yet there is still hope that the colonies and Sol can be reunified through compassion and unity.
|-
!Magpies
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
| The Magpies are military industrial complex supporters who lean heavily towards policies pushed for and supported by major corporations such as Weyland-Yutani. Officers who align themselves as Magpies echo that the corporations are strong allies and that it would be harmful to push or restrict purchasing and contracts with them. It’s rumored that Magpies are among the wealthiest of officers in the USCM primarily due to bribes likely received to ‘overlook’ certain incidents that might be damaging to Weyland-Yutani or other corporations possessing active contracts with the USCM. Their interest aligns with the Hawks or Doves on specific issues and falls most readily on the cost and benefits. To them, money is power and a path to greater standing.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by both the Doves, Hawks, and Magpies to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}

= Current Crises =

=== The War on Insurgency ===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

=== The Cold War ===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

File:The Third Regiment.png

2025-04-05T00:06:08Z

Harrysno: Harrysno uploaded a new version of File:The Third Regiment.png

The current structure of the Third Regiment. Regimental and Battalion Commanders included.

The Third Regiment

2025-02-20T18:02:38Z

Harrysno:

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third RegimentV3.8.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commander Maverick and current Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major James Parker, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
!Hawks
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Hawks are a far-right leaning faction that emerged following the end of the Sol Campaign, holding the belief that colonist uprisings can only be halted with iron and blood. Their main support dwindled following the ending of the Tientsin Campaign which led to the outlawing of nuclear weapons being used against colonies due to the humanitarian disaster that had emerged in the wake of the conflict. However, with the War on Insurgency dragging on and casualties mounting, the upper-brass of the USCM has once again begun to reconsider the option of more ''forceful measures''. This would potentially include once again permitting the use of nuclear weaponry on colonial worlds, the suspension of colonial governments, and enactment of martial law through the sector.
|-
! Doves
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Doves are a left-leaning faction that rose to prominence following the humanitarian crisis on Mars after the Sol Campaign had been waged and won. Their firm belief is that the only way to unite colonies with the Earth Government is by fighting and winning the ‘War of Hearts’ through negotiation, humanitarian aid, and less usage of military assets. Following the Tientsin Campaign the Doves saw a major increase in popularity among the officer corps and successfully pressed the government to outlaw the use of nuclear weapons against colonial worlds. However, the War on Insurgency has wounded the belief that the ‘War of Hearts’ can still be won. Many now pointing to the relentless years of war crimes, casualties, and growing distrust of the USCM by CLF-aligned colonies. Yet there is still hope that the colonies and Sol can be reunified through compassion and unity.
|-
!Magpies
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
| The Magpies are military industrial complex supporters who lean heavily towards policies pushed for and supported by major corporations such as Weyland-Yutani. Officers who align themselves as Magpies echo that the corporations are strong allies and that it would be harmful to push or restrict purchasing and contracts with them. It’s rumored that Magpies are among the wealthiest of officers in the USCM primarily due to bribes likely received to ‘overlook’ certain incidents that might be damaging to Weyland-Yutani or other corporations possessing active contracts with the USCM. Their interest aligns with the Hawks or Doves on specific issues and falls most readily on the cost and benefits. To them, money is power and a path to greater standing.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by both the Doves, Hawks, and Magpies to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}

= Current Crises =

=== The War on Insurgency ===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

=== The Cold War ===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

The Third Regiment

2025-01-16T23:45:09Z

Harrysno:

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third RegimentV3.7.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples. And worst of all are the increasingly common number of human rights violations, a reality that only serves to paint the USCM in a worse light for the people it claims to serve and protect.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commander Maverick and current Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major James Parker, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
!Hawks
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Hawks are a far-right leaning faction that emerged following the end of the Sol Campaign, holding the belief that colonist uprisings can only be halted with iron and blood. Their main support dwindled following the ending of the Tientsin Campaign which led to the outlawing of nuclear weapons being used against colonies due to the humanitarian disaster that had emerged in the wake of the conflict. However, with the War on Insurgency dragging on and casualties mounting, the upper-brass of the USCM has once again begun to reconsider the option of more ''forceful measures''. This would potentially include once again permitting the use of nuclear weaponry on colonial worlds, the suspension of colonial governments, and enactment of martial law through the sector.
|-
! Doves
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Doves are a left-leaning faction that rose to prominence following the humanitarian crisis on Mars after the Sol Campaign had been waged and won. Their firm belief is that the only way to unite colonies with the Earth Government is by fighting and winning the ‘War of Hearts’ through negotiation, humanitarian aid, and less usage of military assets. Following the Tientsin Campaign the Doves saw a major increase in popularity among the officer corps and successfully pressed the government to outlaw the use of nuclear weapons against colonial worlds. However, the War on Insurgency has wounded the belief that the ‘War of Hearts’ can still be won. Many now pointing to the relentless years of war crimes, casualties, and growing distrust of the USCM by CLF-aligned colonies. Yet there is still hope that the colonies and Sol can be reunified through compassion and unity.
|-
!Magpies
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
| The Magpies are military industrial complex supporters who lean heavily towards policies pushed for and supported by major corporations such as Weyland-Yutani. Officers who align themselves as Magpies echo that the corporations are strong allies and that it would be harmful to push or restrict purchasing and contracts with them. It’s rumored that Magpies are among the wealthiest of officers in the USCM primarily due to bribes likely received to ‘overlook’ certain incidents that might be damaging to Weyland-Yutani or other corporations possessing active contracts with the USCM. Their interest aligns with the Hawks or Doves on specific issues and falls most readily on the cost and benefits. To them, money is power and a path to greater standing.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by both the Doves, Hawks, and Magpies to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}

= Current Crises =

=== The War on Insurgency ===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

=== The Cold War ===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

The Third Regiment

2025-01-16T23:39:40Z

Harrysno: Updated 1st Battalion, WIP Battalion introductions

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third RegimentV3.7.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

==== Battalions & Operations ====
The 3rd Regiment employs somewhere in the range of 9,800 active, combat capable personnel spread across its seven battalions. Though the size of each battalion varies depending on several factors (the type of mission it is designed for, the inclusion of specialized support units, current operational environment, and changes in force structure) generally each maintains somewhere in the range of 1000-1400 personnel. While these seven battalions are designed to supplement one another in times of war and conflict, the reality is that the vast distance they are credited with patrolling combined with the difficulties of long-distance communication make each unit significantly more independent than would otherwise be standard. As such, the commanders of each battalion are able to exercise a significant degree of autonomy when it comes to specializing their command towards a certain aim or goal.

While the general autonomy available to commanders within the regiment does offer several benefits - faster decision-making in critical situations, increased situational awareness, and improved adaptability to changing circumstances - it brings alongside it several major difficulties that only serve to cripple the total operational ability of the regiment. Reduced oversight has lead to startling levels of corruption and nepotism among its officers, with many appointments being made on arbitrary or fabricated grounds to serve the political/economic goals of external parties. Lack of a consistent strategy has lead to a disjointed and counterproductive response to attacks by the Colonial Liberation Front and encroachment from the Union of Progressive Peoples.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of former Regimental Commander Maverick and current Regimental Commander Ji-Yeon, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman has continued reforms to combat this stigma. Ljungman has focused on imposing the rigid structure and effective training necessary for the battalion to operate at its maximum potential. This, coupled with the wholesale purge of corrupt elements of the battalion (some of whom were simply Magpies unluckily caught up in the event), has drawn the ire of many. With her own background as a Hawk of the regiment’s Fourth Battalion, Ljungman has instituted a similar culture within the First; this is especially present in the overwhelming force used in raids. Doves are also present in significant numbers, with the battalion’s interdiction role appealing to those of a more restrained approach.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids (VBSS) of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting anti-colonial sentimentalism generated by 'boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation Tychon Tackle and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|First Battalion is headquartered on the USS Ganesha, a Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship. Being the ‘flagship’ for the battalion, the Ganesha is outfitted differently than the rest of the unit. Interior modules that would normally be reserved for a company of marines are instead replaced by offices and bunking for the battalion’s command staff and headquarters unit, an expanded Combat Information Center, and an enhanced communications and intelligence suite.
The Ganesha still carries the requisite modules for the First’s operations, including an auxiliary hangar with specialized craft for her interdiction operations, as well as a somewhat expanded brig. Due to the necessary weaponry and modules for interdiction operations and the battalion headquarters, the ship only carries an (understrength) company of marine infantry, though she does have a slightly larger Military Police detachment.

Despite her understrength marine force, the vessel features the standard complement of weaponry for the class, with the addition of smaller weapons designed to disable ships that attempt to flee from the Ganesha during interdiction operations:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines
|-
!Command
|-
|First Battalion and, by extension, the USS Ganesha, are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Caroline A.W. Ljungman as of 2182. Given the required size of an infantry battalion, the First has several dozen other officers and senior enlisted personnel spread across its patrol zone in other vessels assigned to the battalion. Senior battalion staff, including headquarters staff, remain on the Ganesha, and include Major James Parker, the Battalion Executive Officer.
Individual company commanders are granted an immense amount of leeway and control over their individual commands, given the vast amount of area the First is expected to cover at any given time. Commanding officers are given a significant amount of trust in executing interdiction operations faithfully and in an above-board manner, though battalion staff periodically check in on operations in person.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|The First is no stranger to the ideological struggles that occur within the Corps, with supporters of all sorts of ideologies present within the battalion. The vast majority of battalion headquarters staff are Hawks. Some whisper, privately, that it is due to the appointment of an AW as the battalion commander; publicly, however, LtCol Ljungman’s Hawk attitude is well-documented. There is also a significant contingent of Doves within the battalion, mainly owing to the interdiction role that the battalion plays, allowing for more ‘hearts and minds’ interactions, as opposed to deployments in the dirt. Magpies were virtually purged from the First after Ljungman took over, mostly in relation to the corruption fight, whether they were involved or not. Some, however, have managed to avoid the ire of the battalion commander.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.
'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Major Caroline A.W. Ljungman, Battalion Executive Officer; and Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Yi Ji-Yeon has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
!Hawks
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Hawks are a far-right leaning faction that emerged following the end of the Sol Campaign, holding the belief that colonist uprisings can only be halted with iron and blood. Their main support dwindled following the ending of the Tientsin Campaign which led to the outlawing of nuclear weapons being used against colonies due to the humanitarian disaster that had emerged in the wake of the conflict. However, with the War on Insurgency dragging on and casualties mounting, the upper-brass of the USCM has once again begun to reconsider the option of more ''forceful measures''. This would potentially include once again permitting the use of nuclear weaponry on colonial worlds, the suspension of colonial governments, and enactment of martial law through the sector.
|-
! Doves
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Doves are a left-leaning faction that rose to prominence following the humanitarian crisis on Mars after the Sol Campaign had been waged and won. Their firm belief is that the only way to unite colonies with the Earth Government is by fighting and winning the ‘War of Hearts’ through negotiation, humanitarian aid, and less usage of military assets. Following the Tientsin Campaign the Doves saw a major increase in popularity among the officer corps and successfully pressed the government to outlaw the use of nuclear weapons against colonial worlds. However, the War on Insurgency has wounded the belief that the ‘War of Hearts’ can still be won. Many now pointing to the relentless years of war crimes, casualties, and growing distrust of the USCM by CLF-aligned colonies. Yet there is still hope that the colonies and Sol can be reunified through compassion and unity.
|-
!Magpies
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
| The Magpies are military industrial complex supporters who lean heavily towards policies pushed for and supported by major corporations such as Weyland-Yutani. Officers who align themselves as Magpies echo that the corporations are strong allies and that it would be harmful to push or restrict purchasing and contracts with them. It’s rumored that Magpies are among the wealthiest of officers in the USCM primarily due to bribes likely received to ‘overlook’ certain incidents that might be damaging to Weyland-Yutani or other corporations possessing active contracts with the USCM. Their interest aligns with the Hawks or Doves on specific issues and falls most readily on the cost and benefits. To them, money is power and a path to greater standing.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by both the Doves, Hawks, and Magpies to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}

= Current Crises =

=== The War on Insurgency ===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

=== The Cold War ===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

The Third Regiment

2025-01-16T04:03:26Z

Harrysno: Correctly references CO Senator and updates 1st Batt. as now WIP

The Third Regiment

2025-01-14T01:07:31Z

Harrysno:

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Samantha Maverick to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third RegimentV3.7.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

===Individual Battalions===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of Regimental Commander Maverick herself, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.

In order to combat this stigma, '''Lieutenant Colonel Li Ji-Yeon''' was assigned from the Inner Sol Systems as the Head of Relations to former CANC colonies that have been annexed by the United Americas to the first fleet by USCM HI-COM. Ji-Yeon has seen numerous reforms to the structure of the Battalion, ensuring it has become more 'structured' to that of the Sol Systems hierarchy, keeping a short leash on her subordinates and reforming the Old Guard of the Battalion into an effective fighting force. Which has drawn the ire of many.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting Anti-Colonial sentimentalism generated by 'Boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation 'Tychon Tackle' and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.

'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Samantha Maverick.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Major Caroline A.W. Ljungman, Battalion Executive Officer; and Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Maverick and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Maverick has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
!Hawks
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Hawks are a far-right leaning faction that emerged following the end of the Sol Campaign, holding the belief that colonist uprisings can only be halted with iron and blood. Their main support dwindled following the ending of the Tientsin Campaign which led to the outlawing of nuclear weapons being used against colonies due to the humanitarian disaster that had emerged in the wake of the conflict. However, with the War on Insurgency dragging on and casualties mounting, the upper-brass of the USCM has once again begun to reconsider the option of more ''forceful measures''. This would potentially include once again permitting the use of nuclear weaponry on colonial worlds, the suspension of colonial governments, and enactment of martial law through the sector.
|-
! Doves
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Doves are a left-leaning faction that rose to prominence following the humanitarian crisis on Mars after the Sol Campaign had been waged and won. Their firm belief is that the only way to unite colonies with the Earth Government is by fighting and winning the ‘War of Hearts’ through negotiation, humanitarian aid, and less usage of military assets. Following the Tientsin Campaign the Doves saw a major increase in popularity among the officer corps and successfully pressed the government to outlaw the use of nuclear weapons against colonial worlds. However, the War on Insurgency has wounded the belief that the ‘War of Hearts’ can still be won. Many now pointing to the relentless years of war crimes, casualties, and growing distrust of the USCM by CLF-aligned colonies. Yet there is still hope that the colonies and Sol can be reunified through compassion and unity.
|-
!Magpies
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
| The Magpies are military industrial complex supporters who lean heavily towards policies pushed for and supported by major corporations such as Weyland-Yutani. Officers who align themselves as Magpies echo that the corporations are strong allies and that it would be harmful to push or restrict purchasing and contracts with them. It’s rumored that Magpies are among the wealthiest of officers in the USCM primarily due to bribes likely received to ‘overlook’ certain incidents that might be damaging to Weyland-Yutani or other corporations possessing active contracts with the USCM. Their interest aligns with the Hawks or Doves on specific issues and falls most readily on the cost and benefits. To them, money is power and a path to greater standing.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by both the Doves, Hawks, and Magpies to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}

= Current Crises =

=== The War on Insurgency ===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

=== The Cold War ===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

The Third Regiment

2025-01-12T22:43:16Z

Harrysno:

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Samantha Maverick to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third RegimentV3.5.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

===Individual Battalions===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of Regimental Commander Maverick herself, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.

In order to combat this stigma, '''Lieutenant Colonel Li Ji-Yeon''' was assigned from the Inner Sol Systems as the Head of Relations to former CANC colonies that have been annexed by the United Americas to the first fleet by USCM HI-COM. Ji-Yeon has seen numerous reforms to the structure of the Battalion, ensuring it has become more 'structured' to that of the Sol Systems hierarchy, keeping a short leash on her subordinates and reforming the Old Guard of the Battalion into an effective fighting force. Which has drawn the ire of many.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting Anti-Colonial sentimentalism generated by 'Boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation 'Tychon Tackle' and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.

'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Samantha Maverick.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Major Caroline A.W. Ljungman, Battalion Executive Officer; and Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Maverick and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Maverick has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
!Hawks
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Hawks are a far-right leaning faction that emerged following the end of the Sol Campaign, holding the belief that colonist uprisings can only be halted with iron and blood. Their main support dwindled following the ending of the Tientsin Campaign which led to the outlawing of nuclear weapons being used against colonies due to the humanitarian disaster that had emerged in the wake of the conflict. However, with the War on Insurgency dragging on and casualties mounting, the upper-brass of the USCM has once again begun to reconsider the option of more ''forceful measures''. This would potentially include once again permitting the use of nuclear weaponry on colonial worlds, the suspension of colonial governments, and enactment of martial law through the sector.
|-
! Doves
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Doves are a left-leaning faction that rose to prominence following the humanitarian crisis on Mars after the Sol Campaign had been waged and won. Their firm belief is that the only way to unite colonies with the Earth Government is by fighting and winning the ‘War of Hearts’ through negotiation, humanitarian aid, and less usage of military assets. Following the Tientsin Campaign the Doves saw a major increase in popularity among the officer corps and successfully pressed the government to outlaw the use of nuclear weapons against colonial worlds. However, the War on Insurgency has wounded the belief that the ‘War of Hearts’ can still be won. Many now pointing to the relentless years of war crimes, casualties, and growing distrust of the USCM by CLF-aligned colonies. Yet there is still hope that the colonies and Sol can be reunified through compassion and unity.
|-
!Magpies
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
| The Magpies are military industrial complex supporters who lean heavily towards policies pushed for and supported by major corporations such as Weyland-Yutani. Officers who align themselves as Magpies echo that the corporations are strong allies and that it would be harmful to push or restrict purchasing and contracts with them. It’s rumored that Magpies are among the wealthiest of officers in the USCM primarily due to bribes likely received to ‘overlook’ certain incidents that might be damaging to Weyland-Yutani or other corporations possessing active contracts with the USCM. Their interest aligns with the Hawks or Doves on specific issues and falls most readily on the cost and benefits. To them, money is power and a path to greater standing.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by both the Doves, Hawks, and Magpies to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}

= Current Crises =

=== The War on Insurgency ===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

=== The Cold War ===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

The Third Regiment

2025-01-12T22:42:06Z

Harrysno:

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Samantha Maverick to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third RegimentV3.5.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

===Individual Battalions===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of Regimental Commander Maverick herself, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.

In order to combat this stigma, '''Lieutenant Colonel Li Ji-Yeon''' was assigned from the Inner Sol Systems as the Head of Relations to former CANC colonies that have been annexed by the United Americas to the first fleet by USCM HI-COM. Ji-Yeon has seen numerous reforms to the structure of the Battalion, ensuring it has become more 'structured' to that of the Sol Systems hierarchy, keeping a short leash on her subordinates and reforming the Old Guard of the Battalion into an effective fighting force. Which has drawn the ire of many.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting Anti-Colonial sentimentalism generated by 'Boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation 'Tychon Tackle' and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.

'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Samantha Maverick.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Major Caroline A.W. Ljungman, Battalion Executive Officer; and Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Maverick and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.

Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.

While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.

The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Maverick has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
!Hawks
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Hawks are a far-right leaning faction that emerged following the end of the Sol Campaign, holding the belief that colonist uprisings can only be halted with iron and blood. Their main support dwindled following the ending of the Tientsin Campaign which led to the outlawing of nuclear weapons being used against colonies due to the humanitarian disaster that had emerged in the wake of the conflict. However, with the War on Insurgency dragging on and casualties mounting, the upper-brass of the USCM has once again begun to reconsider the option of more ''forceful measures''. This would potentially include once again permitting the use of nuclear weaponry on colonial worlds, the suspension of colonial governments, and enactment of martial law through the sector.
|-
! Doves
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Doves are a left-leaning faction that rose to prominence following the humanitarian crisis on Mars after the Sol Campaign had been waged and won. Their firm belief is that the only way to unite colonies with the Earth Government is by fighting and winning the ‘War of Hearts’ through negotiation, humanitarian aid, and less usage of military assets. Following the Tientsin Campaign the Doves saw a major increase in popularity among the officer corps and successfully pressed the government to outlaw the use of nuclear weapons against colonial worlds. However, the War on Insurgency has wounded the belief that the ‘War of Hearts’ can still be won. Many now pointing to the relentless years of war crimes, casualties, and growing distrust of the USCM by CLF-aligned colonies. Yet there is still hope that the colonies and Sol can be reunified through compassion and unity.
|-
!Magpies
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
| The Magpies are military industrial complex supporters who lean heavily towards policies pushed for and supported by major corporations such as Weyland-Yutani. Officers who align themselves as Magpies echo that the corporations are strong allies and that it would be harmful to push or restrict purchasing and contracts with them. It’s rumored that Magpies are among the wealthiest of officers in the USCM primarily due to bribes likely received to ‘overlook’ certain incidents that might be damaging to Weyland-Yutani or other corporations possessing active contracts with the USCM. Their interest aligns with the Hawks or Doves on specific issues and falls most readily on the cost and benefits. To them, money is power and a path to greater standing.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by both the Doves, Hawks, and Magpies to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}

= Current Crises =

=== The War on Insurgency ===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

=== The Cold War ===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

The Third Regiment

2025-01-12T22:38:56Z

Harrysno: Ship Hulls & Retrofitting. Expanded Mission

=Overview=
The 3rd Regiment of the 4th Combat Division, attached to Marine Space Force 3 'Herculis', was established in 2170 following the close of Operation Canton and the establishment of a cease fire between the United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples. It was created during the reorganization of USCM forces necessitated by the shifting geopolitical landscape which emerged in the wake of the devastating colonial conflict. In its original state the Regiment consisted of a mishmashed smattering of outdated transport vessels that had seen service as far back as the Sol Campaign, a variety of commanders with misaligned and conflicting ideologies as well as goals, and a severe lack of functional and easily maintained equipment to be used in ongoing conflicts within the Herculis Theater.

Following the ascension of Colonel Samantha Maverick to the position of Regimental Commander, the 3rd Regiment has begun to resemble a fighting force that the United Americas could grow to become proud of. In 2182 the Regiment still experiences issues surrounding corruption, a dwindling budget, and an all-around lack of qualified personnel to hold positions of importance, it is no longer the hopelessly outdated and disorganized organization it was at the outset of its founding.

= Organization =
===Regimental Structure===
[[File:The Third RegimentV3.5.png|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==== Rank Structure ====
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="80%";" class="wikitable"
! scope="col";" width=200|Role
! scope="col";" |Description
! scope="col";" |Eligibility
|-.
![[File:rearadmiral.png]] Colonel | Col
|Leads the 3rd Regiment of the USCMC's 4th Combat Division, assigned to Marine Space Force 3 (MSF-3) 'Herculis', operating out of Chinook 91 GSO Station. The Regimental Commander acts as the highest instance of authority to all Marines within their Regiment, with their own superiors usually not being immediately present due to distances of space and time of travel. As such, the Colonel has a large degree of authority.
| CO Senator
|-
![[File:commodore.png]] Lieutenant Colonel | LtCol
| Leaders of the Regiment’s different battalions. Different Commanders act as the intermediate authority figure to their subordinate officers (Company Commanders).

It is the duty of a Battalion Commander to organise, supply and supervise their respective battalions, while ensuring its resources are put to good use. Due to this, Lieutenant Colonels have the authority to specialise their Battalions towards specific purposes to ensure the integrity of their forces and of the Regiment as a whole.
| CO Council
|-
![[File:Commander.png]] Major | Maj
| COs within the Regiment at the rank of Major will be in command of usually at least one Company of Marines. This can vary, however, and there are certainly niche scenarios, especially out in the Neroid Sector at the fringes of civilized space.

All Companies and their Commanders are placed within specific Battalions, and are thus subordinate to the Battalion’s Commander. However, as space is vast and the Neroid Sector is especially so, it is not unheard of to see only a handful of ships - or even completely isolated, lone ships - being sent out to patrol or investigate distress calls, due to travel times and manpower shortages. This means that even at the Company level, COs retain a fair amount of individual authority, though when present, they are to follow the orders of their Lieutenant Colonel to act as a unified force of a Battalion.
| CO Whitelist
|}

===Individual Battalions===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+First Battalion 'Lucky First'
!Introduction
|-
|The First Battalion, mockingly dubbed the 'Lucky First' - originally under the command of Regimental Commander Maverick herself, has long been subject to scandals due to the disappearances of their Commanders, seemingly at the drop of a hat, leading some to speculate that this battalion is cursed in one way or another. A saying among its commanders being those that are assigned to oversee it will meet an unceremonious end.

In order to combat this stigma, '''Lieutenant Colonel Li Ji-Yeon''' was assigned from the Inner Sol Systems as the Head of Relations to former CANC colonies that have been annexed by the United Americas to the first fleet by USCM HI-COM. Ji-Yeon has seen numerous reforms to the structure of the Battalion, ensuring it has become more 'structured' to that of the Sol Systems hierarchy, keeping a short leash on her subordinates and reforming the Old Guard of the Battalion into an effective fighting force. Which has drawn the ire of many.

The First Battalion specializes in boarding raids of other spaceborne vessels, mimicking that of the ICSC contraband removal parties aimed at disrupting Anti-Colonial sentimentalism generated by 'Boots on the ground' tactics. The battalion has served most notably during Operation 'Tychon Tackle' and has been of great effect in quelling CLF movement in the Neroid Sector.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Operation Holdfast''' aimed to maintain a perimeter of the World of New Kingston after a coup against and the death of the Governor-Elect. Ultimately ensuring that no subversive elements fled and that peace was restored to the Colony with minimal loss of Civilian Life.

'''Operation Candlewick''' involved a joint action between the Lucky First and a Three World Empire Peacekeeping Battalion monikered 'Hokkaido Lads.' Resulted in the successful elimination of a secessionist force from the Three World Empire lead by guerilla Mark Ishii and secured the destruction of the secessionist Flagship 'Haliday' with only one Battalion Frigate Casualty - The USS 'Secret Agent.'
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fourth Battalion 'Steel Phantoms'
!Introduction
|-
|The 4th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, 4th Combat Division of the MSF-3 (alternatively known as the “Steel Phantoms”) is led and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. At present they function as the Regiment’s premier spearhead force due to their high concentration of heavy equipment: tanks, self-propelled artillery, and armored recon. It is currently headquartered out of its flagship vessel, a Conestoga-Class ship known as the USS Renascent. The USS Renascent is subordinate to 3rd Regiment Command and Colonel Samantha Maverick.
|-
!Operations
|-
|The 4th Battalion operates as the 3rd Regiment’s breakthrough force, being tasked with the destruction of heavily fortified enemy positions across the entirety of the Neroid Sector. As such, it finds itself out of active use during times of peace - most readily operating as a supplementary force during small-scale operations within the region.
In the absence of large-scale conflicts, the ships of the 4th Battalion operate as patrol vessels in the more tumultuous portions of the sector. This is primarily due to the need for quick responses of a heavier ordinance in these regions, owing to both the frequency of and nature of most beacons sent out into the dead of space.

Where the 4th Battalion goes it is not uncommon to see abject devastation follow, owing to the tendency of many of its commanders to pursue victory at the detriment of other, secondary objectives. This directly translates to a near-total disregard for collateral as commanders complete their duties.
|-
!Headquarters
|-
|The 4th Battalion is based out of the Conestoga Class Light Assault Starship, the USS Renascent. As the functional command-nexus for the 4th Battalion, the Renascent is compartmentalized towards bureaucracy and intelligence gathering more than it is towards the transport of troops or vessel-to-vessel combat.

This does not mean that the Renascent is defenseless, however, as it is equipped with the full-standard cohort of armaments available to Light Assault Starships of its class:

* 8x XIM-28A Long Lance ASAT Missiles
* Twin 800-megavolt Particle Beams
* Twin Railguns in Dorsal and Ventral Turrets
* Twin 80-megawatt Infrared Lasers
* 60 Orbital Mines

The Renascent additionally carries a fully armored company of marines on board in order to provide supplementary combat services to its allies and to complete its standard patrol duties within the Neroid Sector. Said company is equipped with 2 M40 Ridgeway Heavy Tanks, 4 M22A3 Jackson Medium Tanks, 6 M43A2 Longstreet Light Tanks, and 2 M292 Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, and is usually only deployed to assist in medium to large-scale operations rather than standard emergency responses.

The Command Center on board the USS Renascent contains the offices of Battalion Commander Calhoun and his immediate support staff, as well as spare offices for high-ranking battalion staff when receiving assignments or conducting necessary paperwork away from individual vessels.
|-
!Command
|-
|The 4th Battalion and USS Renascent are both commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Calhoun as of the year 2182. Battalion staff is generally split across several vessels on active patrol within the 3rd Regiment’s operating theater, but consists of a few dozen officers and enlisted personnel, including: Major Caroline A.W. Ljungman, Battalion Executive Officer; and Sergeant Major Ryan Goodman, Chief Enlisted Advisor.

Though the majority of the battalion’s command staff are located within the USS Renascent, company commanders are granted greater leeway and independence when stationed on separate vessels due to the sheer distance covered within the Neroid Sector. Additionally, due to the valuable armored cargo carried onboard most vessels within the 4th, commanders are generally trusted to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and care a step above the standard in order to avoid the unnecessary loss of such critical materials.
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|As with every military organization, the 4th Battalion does see its fair share of conflicting ideologies and methods of conducting business. However, the command structure of the battalion has seen the vast majority of its senior positions staffed by members of the Colonial Protection Organisation (CPO), more commonly known as ’Hawks’. Many allege this state of affairs to have come about due to Lt. Col. Calhoun’s status as a stalwart ’Hawk’, though complaints are often shut down as the battalion is not entirely devoid of ’Doves’ and ‘Magpies’.
|-
!Background
|-
|The 4th was originally under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Karl Philip Walz, for whom the Battalion’s long-standing reputation as an astoundingly capable cohort is entirely owed. However, after a series of events surrounding [REDACTED], involving [REDACTED], and ultimately resulting in [REDACTED], Commander Walz would be transferred from his position as Chief Officer of the 4th Battalion to a position in the core systems where it was believed he could be of more use.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun’s assumption of command over the 4th Battalion it was stunningly revealed to both the Office of the Provost and High Command that the 4th was marred with a combination of corruption and fraudulent record-keeping maintained solely by nepotistic practices. This discovery prompted a complete reorganization of the Battalion, necessarily including the filing of criminal charges against many key personnel present within the Battalion’s command structure and the discharge of several more from service within the USCMC. This sweeping wave of firings prompted the 4th Battalion to adopt the moniker “Steel Phantoms,” owing to its status as an armored cohort and the fact that Battalion Headquarters appeared as a ghost town due to the large quantity of vacated office space.

* '''Operation Iron Rain''' was a planned invasion of a colony world lost to CLF forces. A coordinated first-strike between 3 separate against known strongholds crippled the ability of OPFOR to fight back against USCM Forces. Minimal civilian casualties reported. Extreme levels of property damage reported.
* '''Operation Hangover''' took place after Sergeant [REDACTED] commiserated with locals present at a bar on LV-724 and learned of the presence of a CLF Cell on the planet. This information was recalled when the Sergeant woke up hungover the following day and informed their commander, prompting a swift response. No Civilian casualties reported.
* '''Operation Swamp Ghost''' was the planned pacification of a sparsely populated region of [REDACTED] occupied by rebellious colonists. Scouting revealed terrain to consist of swathes of swamps and bogs. The areas surrounding known colonist holdouts were flattened via a lengthy artillery barrage prior to heavily-armored components rolling forward. Colonists surrendered on contact with forward elements.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Fifth Battalion 'Iron Eagles'
!Introduction
|-
|The Fifth Battalion, AKA the Iron Eagles, bears responsibility for long-range recon following air, sea, ground, and space. The Battalion itself is robustly equipped with various odds and ends, likely tactically acquired from other operations and put to use. Each eagle receives high-end medical and engineering training and additional training on non-standard UA equipment. They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Braden Stephenson.

While some of their members play loose with expectations of SOP. They possess a modus operandi, using smaller groups moving ahead of battle groups to slip in past enemy lines to provide allied forces with the location of critical buildings and enemy placements and disrupt the enemy supply lines where they can. One of the most significant services this Battalion provides towards the efforts is their counter operations to well-known CLF guerilla cells and with their training making them a natural predator to the ill-equipped terrorist movement.

Their second largest contribution is working with the logistics branch, usually providing early warnings of hostile movement to the supply ships.

Membership of the Iron Eagles is usually considered a silent service as members are not known to publicly speak about what each other is doing, keeping information closely linked to the chain of command. Active rumors exist, but the Battalion itself neither confirms nor denies such.
|-
!Background
|-
|'''Exercise Iron Blood''' was a joint training exercise between 1st Battalion ‘Lucky First’ and the 5th Battalion involving an initial recon mission by 5th Battalion elements who set up a forward base from which other units, including companies of the 1st, would aim to to reinforce. Acceptable performance was noted after joint analysis.

During '''Operation Pale Horse''' the Iron Eagles deployed to the jungle-covered LV-889. UAAC-TIS intelligence couriers informed Battalion Command that the planet was infested with four active CLF cells, as well as a guerilla training camp designed to turn out elite fighters for the wider terrorist network. First, Seventh, and Fourth Companies deployed to the planet, and while most details of this operation are redacted after thirty days, the Eagles had reported: "We came, we saw, we removed terrorists from the AO."

'''Operation New Dawn''' was a large-scale battle between a CLF cell and the UA peackeeping forces on LV-518, with the CLF using the planet's naturally hazardous environment to prevent a USCM armored division from advancing. A small team of Eagles led by one Lieutenant Matthews plotted a safe course despite sustaining multiple losses to the unit.
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Sixth Battalion 'Silver Sparrows'
!Introduction
|-
|The Sixth Battalion, of the Third Regiment, Fourth Marine Division of Marine Space Force Three, ‘Herculis’, also known by the moniker “Silver Sparrows” is led and commanded by '''Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Stanford'''. Having been created in 21XX as a result of the deactivation of 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ and merging of Battalions XXX and XXX, the Silver Sparrow’s mission is to conduct and assist with the pacification of the Neroid sector, although officially worded as “Assisting with specialized operations in frontier colonial locales of the UA and TWE.”
Much like its predecessor the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’, the Silver Sparrows are now highly mobile in nature and assignment, and Company Commanders of the Sixth Battalion often see themselves on their ship more often than not, going from planet to planet, one region of space to another, and taking long haul patrol assignments like those often assigned to the USS Almayer. The Silver Sparrows also have retained, at least comparably to other battalions in the Neroid, a high number of Infantry-focused companies.

More infamously, the Sixth Battalion has also seen in recent times a reputation of underhandedness, not much unlike its predecessor, the 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’. It is an open secret in the USCMC that 3rd Battalion, ‘Rattlesnakes’ was deactivated under pressure from various press, humanitarian, Provost, and internal pressures on USCMC High Command for drastic actions to curtail the brutality inflicted on everything from rare planetary fauna to civilian populations. While officially listed as deactivated for combat reorganization purposes, large remnants of the ‘Rattlesnakes’ live on in the Sixth Battalion.

The first Sixth Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gabriela Orchiz was placed in charge of the newly formed Sixth in an effort to appease the aforementioned pressures to ensure a ‘proper’ USCM fighting force. Personally, Gabriela Orchiz possessed a reputation of strict discipline, management, and overall success. Lt. Col. Gabriela Orchiz would lead effectively until 21XX and their own promotion and reassignment elsewhere. During Gabriela Orchiz ’s short leadership, the Sixth saw several new introductions of Company Commanders, new Bougainville ships, Conestoga retrofits, and decommissioning of old Arikaras.

Lt. Col. Hunter Stanford, the current and second commander of the Sixth Battalion, has undone much of Gabriela Orchiz’s ‘progress’. Stanford was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Silver Sparrows in 21XX. Stanford was highly popular within the ranks of the Sixth and outside, possessing large amounts of experience and connections within the Neroid sector, which the Sixth found itself increasingly operating inside. Stanford’s popularity notably excluded Gabriela Orchiz, who had regularly assigned them to especially unwanted duties and disparaged him in private circles with accusations of being a ‘yes-man, crony, and overall brown noser’.

Under Stanford’s command, and alleged lack of command to some, the Silver Sparrows have been entirely relegated to the Neroid and placed under command of Colonel Maverick and the Third Regiment. In the Neroid they gained the aforementioned reputation of underhandedness and brutality in some cases. In the latest example, Operation Roost Rustle, or the joint CMB-USCM seizure of weapons and stolen goods from CLF aligned smugglers along the XXX Route, CMB officials alleged mishandling of precious seized cargo by the Silver Sparrows. This incident is one amongst a history of many similar such cases.

While Stanford himself has never been implicated or directly involved and routinely takes part in efforts to root out the recurring problem of mishandling operations, many have alleged accusations of malice, incompetence, and mismanagement against him, and his popularity has dropped sharply in recent times. He personally lists the lack of resources given to him, remoteness of the Neroid, incompetency of the Provost Marshal office, and efforts of subversive elements from inside and out of the USCM as reasons for the poor performance of the Silver Sparrows.
Under Stanford, the Sixth Battalion is a loosely organized unit offering commanders great autonomy in conducting their orders. It is a rare sight to see multiple Sixth Battalion Companies working in tandem or even inside the same AO, exceptions being the relatively few bases, camps, and forts in various space stations and planets assigned to the Sixth. This is due to Stanford’s personal preferences on leadership style as he styles it ‘the best tactical approach to handling the Neroid.’
|-
!Factionalism
|-
|Factionalism amongst senior officers in the USCM is widespread, and is no less true in the Silver Sparrows in recent times.
The ‘Doves’ are ever present in the remnants of Gabriela Orchiz’s introduction of new Company Commanders from the more ‘sophisticated’ MSF1 and MSF2 forces where she held sway, and her overall era of disciplined leadership.

The ‘Warhawks’ stand strong in the senior most echelons of the Sixth’s officers and senior enlisted, many coming from the ‘Rattlesnakes’.

The ‘Magpies’, while less prominent in the Sixth and more covert than the Doves or Warhawks, hold a small but impactful presence from the outside and inside of the Sixth, largely represented by opportunist and self serving officers like Stanford, with company men and women here and there.

Finally there are those ‘Unaligned’ with any faction still present. A number of Company Commanders, including Stanford in the now far past, request or arrange transfer to the Silver Sparrows to get away from micromanaging superiors, factionalism, and to get some action in the heating up combat AO’s of the Neroid. After all, who doesn’t want to see exotic, far off planets, and serve their country while doing so?
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Seventh Battalion 'Blazing Orchids'
!Introduction
|-
|The Seventh Battalion, ''the Blazing Orchids'', is an Infantry Battalion with Crowd & Riot Control Capability with a special intelligence network, a large number of specially trained Military Police & Infantry personnel and equipment to suppress the rebellions and riots encouraged and funded by the Colonial Liberation Front, which increased its activities in the sector especially as a result of the Canton Operation. In addition to its Crowd & Riot Control responsibility, the Battalion is recorded as occasionally conducting joint investigations with the Provost Office on the colonies. Known for her closeness to the Doves and her experience and success in anti-CLF operations, Lieutenant Colonel Gökçen Demir was appointed as the commander of the Seventh Battalion.
|-
!Background
|-
|The objective of '''Operation Scarlet Wall''' was to secure LV-331 after a coordinated CLF assault aimed to seize control of vital hydroponic facilities critical to the colony's survival. The CLF infiltrated LV-331, using a civilian worker strike as a cover to initiate an armed rebellion. The Blazing Orchids established a defensive perimeter around the hydroponics complex, deploying barricades and tear gas to prevent protesters from breaching critical zones. Simultaneously, a strike team led by Major Lorraine neutralized key insurgent leaders holed up in the colony, severing their ability to coordinate.
|}

=== Starship Hulls ===
As the United States Colonial Marine Corps is an independent arm of the Armed Forces, separate from the United States AeroSpace Force, those officers employed by the USCMC and the Third Regiment of Marine Space Force 3 are not placed in command of vessels primarily designed for space combat. Instead, commissioned officers of sufficient rank and ability are on occasion granted command of troop transport vessels that, in addition to transporting personnel across vast distances of space, act as carriers for rapid deployment of UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropships as well as other vehicles and equipment commonly employed by marine companies.

Due to the distance between the United America's core colonies and the Neroid sector of the Herculis Theater, the transport vessels of the Third Regiment often travel alone through the vastness of space to respond to distress signals and any other of the numerous situations that may require the attention of the armed forces. If an officer of the Third Regiment is granted command of one of these vessels it will almost always be one of three available hulls.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Available Starship Hulls
!Arikara-class Landing Patrol Vessel
|-
|The Arikara is the oldest of the three marine transport hulls within the Regiment’s arsenal, originally devised in the 2150s and first produced in the 2160s. Classified as a Patrol Transport capable of self-sustained efforts, the Arikara was a classic, stop-gap production for when the UA required a new vessel for deep space patrols, with at least a few hulls being built or retrofitted in conjunction with WY. Said contributions often came with expanded research and AI systems, yet with the added caveat of a corporate presence onboard.
Smaller than the much more popular and common Conestoga-class, Arikara-class transports generally carry no more than two companies, and can be relatively easily piloted by a skeleton crew with the aid of the ship AI. In a baseline configuration, it can serve several roles decently, but does not excel at any. For example, the inclusion of a small garage for mechanized support and a hangar for deployments of UD-4 or UD-25 drops, yet with only limited amounts of both air support and armored vehicles available, alongside the ammunition and equipment necessary for each.

As expected from this jack-of-all-trades style, an Arikara has basic capabilities for both self-defence and offense, though will handily lose any fight against a more modern counterpart, let alone any larger starship properly built for space combat.
|-
!Conestoga-class Light Assault Starship
|-
|The Conestoga Light Assault Starship is the hull class that has largely replaced the earlier Arikara, due primarily to its superior performance in the Arikara's primary role as isolated deep-space patrol vessel capable of ferrying troops to far off locations. The Conestoga is much larger, capable of carrying far more equipment and personnel (dependent on configuration and usage), as well as being better armored and armed overall.
While originally designed to be a practical, dedicated troop transport staying entirely within USASF battlegroups, the nature of the Cold War with the UPP and War on Insurgency meant that patrol vessels were in demand. This led to a gradual shift for the Conestoga into the role of the Arikara, which they have proven to be significantly better at overall, even with their slightly increased crew and logistical requirements. Despite excelling at its main tasks of troop transport, patrols, and general self-sufficiency in combat aspects, Conestoga-class hulls have poor auxiliary utilities in their baseline configuration. and often require retrofits into specialized designs dependent on their assignments and roles.

A dedicated Conestoga can hold as many as eight full companies of marines theoretically, yet in practice they usually hold no more than 2, as with the Arikara. Enough to handle nearly any combat situation encountered on a patrol that a single transport is meant to tackle, while providing them with superior support in the form of vehicles, fire support, and logistics.
|-
!Bougainville-class Light Attack Transport
|-
|The Bougainville is the newest evolution of the troop transport concept following the Conestoga and Arikara hulls, considered top-of-the-line for its purpose within the USCMC. Building on the lessons learned from the Arikara and taking the improvements in design from the Conestoga-class, the Bougainville is slated to become the new premier hull design employed by the Third Regiment.
The Bougainville features a vaguely hammerhead-shaped design towards its front, giving it a unique shape, which is also where its Bridge is located. Though it is smaller than the Conestoga, its modernized systems and design allow it to carry systems and weapons that outclass and outperform the ones fitted on prior hulls, giving them increased combat effectiveness at a price far below what it would cost to fully retrofit and modernize prior designs. However, the Bougainville's one unavoidable weakness is that of its size. It is undeniably smaller, and if not for its modern efficiencies, would be far worse overall than the others in almost every aspect, both combat and transport. Even with said modernity, a Bougainville will often only hold one, or two undersized companies, with very little in the way of vehicles and greatly diminished autonomy.

This, however, is a completely intentional design choice. Bougainvilles are generally afforded with improved equipment that requires less space for similar effectiveness, reducing the space needed for auxiliary modules like a medbay, and have most of a company's fire support requirements offloaded to multipurpose mounts on the ship itself, rather than individual equipment or vehicles. Thus, the class has much of the multi-role capability of the Arikaras for use on patrols alongside combat effectiveness near that of the Conestogas, at a far smaller size and price.

The poor autonomy is a known and expected factor, as fears of the Cold War with the UPP going hot have steadily grown over time. Bougainvilles only need to be 'good enough' for extended and distant patrols, as in the event a full-scale war breaks out, much of the largely-empty territory of present-day patrols would be abandoned. Instead, they would generally remain within the proximity of allied battlegroups, patrolling around a collection of ships that could easily resupply them while still serving in its primary capacity as orbital landing ships. Such a situation would negate every potential downside of the class compared to the Conestoga, further adding onto the benefits of its greatly reduced logistical and economic costs.
|}

==== Starship Retrofits & Specializations ====
In the event an officer is placed in charge of one of the above hulls, they are presented with the option to augment or otherwise retrofit their vessel to serve the desires and needs of their assignment. For a humanitarian assignment or one anticipating high casualty levels, part of a vessel's cryobay may be converted into additional medical facilities and for protracted assignments and logistics oriented vessels this may involve converting large swathes of hangar space into munitions storage or vehicle bays to store MUTT-4M7 Multipurpose Trucks. While augments to a vessel's outer hull are possible they are significantly more expensive, and considering that the Third Regiment already operates with a decreased budget and strained supply lines it is increasingly uncommon to see the addition of new weapons systems - such as railguns, missiles, or countermeasures - to any vessel's hull.

Officers of the Third Regiment are granted relatively free-reign to augment their vessels as they see fit, provided the funding and materials are present, though there are certain functionalities that each vessel are expected and required to maintain. All vessels are expected to maintain the ability to conduct landings and transport marine personnel, as is their primary function, and must be capable of rendering medical aid and treatment to wounded or ailing marines. Any undertaking that would be required to retain a vessel's ability to operate on its own in the void of space for long periods of time cannot and may not be removed the vessel.

This does not exclude vessels from pursuing specializations toward certain types of patrol duties, however. The First Battalion often maintains vessels equipped with weaponry capable of disabling vessels to aid its personnel when conducting boarding operations and the Fourth Battalion maintains vessels with significantly larger vehicle bays to store and conduct maintenance on armored vehicles. Other vessels operating within the Third Regiment contain significantly increased temporary housing for civilians when conducting evacuations and upscaled medical bays for advanced surgeries and treatment protocols.

=Mission=
The Third Regiment is primarily tasked with search-and-destroy missions within the Herculis Theater - under the purview of the Third Fleet. And the majority of its operations and response programs are conducted within the sector of Neroid due to an influx of colonial rebellions and an increasing number of requests from local marshals for reinforcements to aid in putting down insurrections. However, in recent years the Regiment has begun to face an increasingly large number of issues when completing their duties: strained logistical supply lanes bogged down by distance, guerilla attacks from varying factions, poor maintenance of equipment, and low manpower due to a strained budget. With attrition slowly eating away at the Regiment, it has become clear that any hope of victory lies with new, unexplored methods.

As of 2182 the Third Regiment operates out of Chinook 91 GSO station, a military space station in geosynchronous orbit around the colony world Georgia 525 (70 Ophiuchi A V). Due to to increasing security concerns, Colonel Maverick has begun detaching the regiment's reserve troops to defend the military space station from any potential threat that may target the heart of the Third Regiment.
=Ideology=
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ideology
!Symbol
!Description
|-
!Hawks
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (1).png|thumb|center|81x81px]]
|The Hawks are a far-right leaning faction that emerged following the end of the Sol Campaign, holding the belief that colonist uprisings can only be halted with iron and blood. Their main support dwindled following the ending of the Tientsin Campaign which led to the outlawing of nuclear weapons being used against colonies due to the humanitarian disaster that had emerged in the wake of the conflict. However, with the War on Insurgency dragging on and casualties mounting, the upper-brass of the USCM has once again begun to reconsider the option of more ''forceful measures''. This would potentially include once again permitting the use of nuclear weaponry on colonial worlds, the suspension of colonial governments, and enactment of martial law through the sector.
|-
! Doves
|[[File:Pngwing.com (2).png|thumb|center|73x73px]]
|The Doves are a left-leaning faction that rose to prominence following the humanitarian crisis on Mars after the Sol Campaign had been waged and won. Their firm belief is that the only way to unite colonies with the Earth Government is by fighting and winning the ‘War of Hearts’ through negotiation, humanitarian aid, and less usage of military assets. Following the Tientsin Campaign the Doves saw a major increase in popularity among the officer corps and successfully pressed the government to outlaw the use of nuclear weapons against colonial worlds. However, the War on Insurgency has wounded the belief that the ‘War of Hearts’ can still be won. Many now pointing to the relentless years of war crimes, casualties, and growing distrust of the USCM by CLF-aligned colonies. Yet there is still hope that the colonies and Sol can be reunified through compassion and unity.
|-
!Magpies
|[[File:8czrbxe6i.png|thumb|center|85x85px]]
| The Magpies are military industrial complex supporters who lean heavily towards policies pushed for and supported by major corporations such as Weyland-Yutani. Officers who align themselves as Magpies echo that the corporations are strong allies and that it would be harmful to push or restrict purchasing and contracts with them. It’s rumored that Magpies are among the wealthiest of officers in the USCM primarily due to bribes likely received to ‘overlook’ certain incidents that might be damaging to Weyland-Yutani or other corporations possessing active contracts with the USCM. Their interest aligns with the Hawks or Doves on specific issues and falls most readily on the cost and benefits. To them, money is power and a path to greater standing.
|-
! Unaligned
|[[File:Pngfuel.com (2).png|thumb|center|100x100px]]
|It is not uncommon for officers both new and old to distance themselves from the politics that surround their careers and missions to serve the USCM. Some often develop their own opinions far different from the main ideologies on how the issues the USCM faces should be dealt with, and thus find themselves often supporting one of the big three if it aligns with their own beliefs. Lobbying by both the Doves, Hawks, and Magpies to gain the support of these officers is not uncommon within the USCM.
|}

= Current Crises =

=== The War on Insurgency ===
The [[CLF|Colonial Liberation Front]] (CLF) are the United States Colonial Marine Corps' primary enemy in the Neroid Sector. A status primarily credited to their ideology, one opposing the government of the United Americas which they believe have long since abandoned the colonies. As a result, they wage a fierce guerrilla war on any UA-aligned forces, most readily the USCM. Although under-equipped and undermanned compared to their enemies, they have made up for such with strategic hit-and-run tactics which prove devastating in the war of attrition against under-manned USCM forces in the sector.

The ongoing fight against the CLF in the Neroid Sector and various other small cells appearing in other sectors has been ongoing for over a decade with no end in sight. Having an estimated manpower in the range of 150,000, the Colonial Liberation Front heavily outnumber local USCM forces despite their shoddy equipment. Casualties and losses continue to accumulate by the day with guerilla fighting taking its toll on USCM forces. Bickering between the various tactics and styles of command between those in charge of the 3rd Regiment have rendered any meaningful progress against the CLF impossible, and a decision must be made soon if there is to be any hope of success.

=== The Cold War ===
The [[UPP|Union of Progressive People]] and the United Americas have been locked in a Cold War for decades. Since the end of the Great Space Race and hostilities such as the Core Conflicts and the Tientsin Campaign, movement and amassing of military forces along borders has not been uncommon. As a matter of fact, various skirmishes between the two are growing increasingly common as tensions continue to rise. However, since the Tientsin Campaign these skirmishes have been kept undisclosed to the public, as the result could escalate into a full-scale nuclear war.

Lobbying from various factions within the 3rd Regiment and the wider USCM, most notably those with a hawkish attitude, have resulted in the United Americas adopting an increasingly aggressive stance towards the Union of Progressive Peoples. Hopes of a thawing of relations between the two Superpowers appears a distant dream as each continues their military buildup along the borders of the other.

The Third Regiment

2025-01-12T21:02:37Z

Harrysno: Porting info from my user page to a standalone wiki page

User:Harrysno

2025-01-12T20:46:44Z

Harrysno: ship hulls

User:Harrysno

2024-12-30T22:04:31Z

Harrysno:

User:Harrysno

2024-12-11T18:32:39Z

Harrysno:

User:Harrysno

2024-09-11T19:41:47Z

Harrysno:

User:Harrysno

2024-09-11T19:41:33Z

Harrysno: /* Individual Battalions */