BARD PAPER: DANI5004

Rose Brotherhood

by Pete Gray

Headquarters

Aerfor/Millions/Deneb

History

The Rose Brotherhood was originally the Roseheart Brigade, a combination star/ground merc unit that was operating against Vargr corsairs and raiders in Millions subsector during the Civil War period. The unit suffered heavy losses when Vargr forces overran Aerfor in 1120, being reduced to a single damaged Shaar Muzaandi class heavy transport. During the retreat the transport misjumped into empty space about six thousand AUs outside of Aerfor, and the surviving crew and soldiers spent the next twenty one years in cold sleep while the vessel coasted towards the system on what residual velocity it had left.

When the occupants of the vessel awakened in 1141, they found that Aerfor was under the control of several Vargr warlords, some possessing armed spacecraft of their own. The survivors used their remaining fuel to land on Daleth, near the ruins of the old research station. Using their vessels remaining pinnace, the Roses landed on Aerfor, reconnoitering the world for items that they could either steal or salvage. On one of these missions they discovered that top Vargr warlord had an Aezadhon Emissary Cruiser that he kept in hiding to safeguard against his subordinates and vassals. In a raid that is now legendary in Millions and the Regency Wilds, two mixed platoons of Roseheart space and ground troopers made a drop landing in the middle of "King" Knaedzaeng palace grounds, and while one platoon launched a diversionary attack on the main palace, the other platoon overwhelmed the troops guarding the Aezadhon, seized the ship, and used its weapons to all but level the place. With his seat of power destroyed, it was only a few months before the other warlords removed him from both power, and this life.

Renaming themselves the Rose Brotherhood, they used their newly acquired ship to rebuild their arsenal, including several other ships, and to recruit new members. The Roses have silently sworn a blood oath against the Vargr warlords and corsairs that plague this corner of the Wilds, and they have used a war of terror and assassination against them and the occasional Pack group operating in Millions. Since 1145 nearly eighty percent of the Pack and corsair infrastructure has been destroyed, aided in large part by the Roses' alliances with local insurgents and legitimate governments.

Organisational Data

The Rose Brotherhood is organised along the lines of an ancient knightly order. The group is commanded by Grand Master elected for his competence and charisma. The Grand Master commands the entire Brotherhood, and his word is life and death, though he is subject to the recall vote of the entire Brotherhood should his actions be interpreted as being contrary to the bylaws and spirit of the Brotherhood's Charter. Below him are Chevaliers, who command lagers comprising 20-40 members each, either scattered throughout Millions in covert groupings or found at the main base. Individual Sergeants are under the Chevaliers, controlling units of 6-12 humans or Vargr. The Brotherhoods ships and heavy military hardware are kept at the main base on Daleth in the Aerfor system, though these are often seconded to individual lagers. Their exist seperate lagers for training, diplomacy, logistics and intelligence gathering outside of Millions.

Joining the Brotherhood is a lifetime commitment. Most join the group as teenagers, and can be of either sex or any local species. These squires are apprenticed to a lager until they either demonstrate full maturity and skill, or reach the customary adult age of their homeworld. After a final initiation ceremony they recieve the distinctive black body armor, goggled face mask, and weapons and are knighted as full Brothers. Discipline is harsh, and indoctrination in the groups mission is all encompassing, so that by the time a Squire is made a Brother, he or she is fanatically loyal to it and its Charter.

Relations between the Regency of Deneb and the Brotherhood have been relatively good, with qualifications. Being originally composed of Denebian military personnel, and the recognition of the Regency's commitment to preserving civilisation has cemented the Roses loyalty. But they disdain RQS and the less than honest dealings of their Souk allies; preferring to deal directly with the Regency military or diplomatic agencies. The Brotherhood prefers the role of an ally rather than a subordinate, and does not take orders from Denebian forces except when they consider it in their best interest.

Ships

1300 ton Shaar Muzaandi Transport: RBS Black Rose
800 ton Ukhernedae Missle Frigate: RBS China Rose
600 ton Aezadhon Emissary Cruiser: RBS Damask Rose
2x440 ton Type P Corsairs: RBS Compass Rose & RBS Sun Rose
200 ton Far Trader: RBS Heartbreaker Rose
2x100 ton Suleiman Scouts: Steelthorn Rose & Blood Rose

Range

The Rose Brotherhood is largely confined to Millions Subsector. Lacking normal merchant ships, as they are not a Free Trader collective, they rarely journey out of the Millions Bisector except on missions of great importance, such as resupply trips to Antra subsector. They do have intelligence gathering groups in Antra and Atsah, and have made rare forays into both Tuglikki and Corridor in the past.