Imperial Marines

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Isn't this simply the difference between field and garrison duties? I'd think Soldier should handle both.

My point was that some perfectly good combat soldiers would make lousy ceremonial guard soldiers, at least partly for lack of Housekeeping skill.

The Marines, being generalists, are both the guys in the field and those standing in immaculate dress uniforms behind high Imperial officials. Sometimes with a very short period of time in between.

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

EDIT: Why Shortsword?

Cruncheon. Stun baton.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Icelander

The Marines, being generalists, are both the guys in the field and those standing in immaculate dress uniforms behind high Imperial officials. Sometimes with a very short period of time in between.

Is the same not true of my branch?

Cruncheon. Stun baton.

Ah, yes I recall.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Is the same not true of my branch?

During the same day?

If you're assigned to embassy security somewhere, you should have at least moderate confidence that you won't be required to mount an amphibious operations somewhere off the coast, kill a band of desperate pirates and rescue Imperial hostages and return for a high-level diplomatic meeting in the evening which discusses these events.

In our world, if the US has a presence in some country where such things are estimated as being likely to happen, they'll have more forces in-theater than the small complement of ceremonial marine guards that the Embassy here in Iceland used to have (might still be a few, I don't know).

In Flat Black, the Marines (company if you're lucky, otherwise, a platoon maybe?) in the Residence might be the only marines to cover a whole planet. The US can send a dedicated hostage rescue team after the pirates and when those have performed their operation, they don't have to spit-shine their bloody ops gear to appear as an honour guard with the Ambassador before the President of Bum-Squeak and listen to him explain that these weren't his pirates.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Icelander

During the same day?

Didn't embassy guard Marines assist in the defense of the embassy in Nanking China in '49 (wasn't Dan Daly a guard at the embassy when he won his first MoH)? With the evacuation of Saigon in '75? The protection of the embassy in Manila, Philippines in '89?

Then there is the US Embassy to Liberia. The embassy in Monrovia has been at or near evacuation in '90, '96, '98, and '03. IIRC the embassy guards engaged in a protracted firefight with rebels in '90.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Didn't embassy guard marines assist in the defense of the embassy in Nanking China in '49 (wasn't Dan Daly a guard at the embassy when he won his first MoH)? With the evacuation of Saigon in '75? The protection of the embassy in Manila, Philippines in '89?

Then there is the US Embassy to Liberia. The embassy in Monrovia has been at or near evacuation in '90, '96, '98, and '03. IIRC the embassy guards engaged in a protracted firefight with rebels in '90.

Absolutely.

But in these cases, normal business at the embassies stopped. The embattled marines and the diplomats they protected weren't expected to carry on regardless.

On a colony, however, a situation can flare up pretty far form the Residence and require Marine attention, but the day-to-day business of the Residence goes on. That's the primary difference that I see here.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Icelander

But in these cases, normal business at the embassies stopped. The embattled marines and the diplomats they protected weren't expected to carry on regardless.

At some point though on the same day Marines were in dress uniforms at one point and changed into full battle rattle. Which is what you were asking, wasn't it?

At any rate it's rather moot now, as you've made Housekeeping optional. Yay!

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

At some point though on the same day Marines were in dress uniforms at one point and changed into full battle rattle. Which is what you were asking, wasn't it?

At any rate it's rather moot now, as you've made Housekeeping optional. Yay!

I agree it's moot, but the point I was making was that Housekeeping really came into play when changing from battle posture to dress uniforms again. And making up for lost time.

Especially if they have to reuse some part of their gear, such as weapons, load-carrying gear, etc. And make the aircars that they made the tactical approach in fit to escort dignitaries again. And so on.

[sir_pudding]

Shouldn't Sense of Duty (Comrades in Arms) be only -5?

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Shouldn't Sense of Duty (Comrades in Arms) be only -5?

Not if it covers more than your fireteam or section.

I mean it to cover 'anyone fighting by my side', which can be a pretty large group.

[sir_pudding]

Why Urban Survival? Would an Imperial Marine be a skilled bum if forced to live on the streets? Is this in case they try to live on their pensions alone on one of the Suite worlds? :)