Sixth Fleet Ranger Platoon
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[edit] Mission
The Sixth Fleet Ranger Platoon is a Marine Special Forces Unit. It is comprised of elite soldiers tasked with long range reconnaissance and interdiction patrols, trailblazing (pathfinding), and raids. Rangers operate within enemy territory to corrupt the enemy’s will and ability to fight. They accomplish their goals through the use of techniques adapted from early frontiersmen.
[edit] Creed
The Ranger Creed is as old as the Rangers themselves. The current creed used by Sixth Fleet was written by First Lieutenant Skorn under the advisement of Fleet Sergeant Marcinko. They act as guidelines for all Ranger troops, and strengthen the esprit de corps which accompanies the name. The creed is as follows:
Readily will I go forth into battle for the good of the Federation. I will use any and all means at my disposal to protect the United Federation of Planets and its inhabitants. As a Ranger, I will use the land, sea, air, and space to my tactical advantage. I will condition my body and my mind for the rigors of combat and remain prepared to deploy at a moment’s notice.
A Ranger is a part of a brotherhood. I will conduct myself in a manner befitting the prestige, honor, and integrity of that brotherhood.
Never will I leave a fellow Ranger behind, no matter what the odds or the enemy.
Gone are the heroes of yesterday, but not forgotten. I will remember my Ranger roots and forever give credence to those who have gone before me. The heroism and sacrifices of these pathfinders have created the legend which I am now a part of.
Ever will I stand ready to defend those who cannot defend themselves.
Remember, the mission will always come first. I will accomplish my objective even if I’m the only one left of my unit who can. I will never quit; never surrender. The word defeat is not in my vocabulary.
So be it, and let the Ranger name forever live on as the benchmark of courage and professionalism.
[edit] Motto
Along with the creed, the Ranger Platoon also lives by the motto “How high how far?”
[edit] Modus Operandi
Rangers are a rarity amongst the Special Forces, being one of the few units designed to infiltrate, evaluate, and in some cases, disrupt. However, Rangers tend to avoid conflict whenever possible. As such, it is desirable for the Rangers to blend in to their surroundings and leave as little sign of their passing as possible. To achieve this, Rangers have developed unconventional methods to keep their missions secretive and successful.
By trade, Rangers are experts in living off of the land. In somewhat hospitable conditions, Rangers can remain on patrol for months or even years at a time. Tracking, trapping, and hunting are aspects of their training.
Arguably, a Ranger’s best weapon is stealth. A ranger will use the terrain and vegetation to conceal himself and his passing. Since a Ranger may need to stay on site for prolonged periods of time, his survival is desperately linked with his ability to remain undetected by his enemies. This dependence is what makes the Rangers unique amongst the SpecWar community.
Rangers operate in small, squad sized teams in an effort to remain better hidden. As a result, direct attacks are best avoided. Instead, Rangers prefer to use ambushes and traps to assault. It isn’t the Ranger’s job to engage the enemy directly, opting instead to disable, disrupt, and confuse to make them more vulnerable to the real offensive. Rangers navigate the best way through enemy territory and leave markers for the main force to follow.
[edit] Units
[edit] Skorn's Rangers
Skorn’s Rangers are the first, and currently only, Ranger unit to be fielded by Starfleet. When the Marine Corps decided in 2384 that specialized units were a necessity for the ever-shifting theaters of war, the battalion assigned to the U.S.S. Cambrian was divided by platoons and each was given a certain niche to fill. It fell to then 1LT. Skorn, a Gorn exchange officer, to create a long range reconnaissance platoon.
Perplexed, Skorn turned to the experienced Gunnery Sergeant Richard Marcinko for help. Marcinko, who was one of the first volunteers for the Marine service and had previously commanded a group of unconventional Marines called the ‘Rogue Warriors’ during the Dominion War, in turn looked to the traditions of the Ranger units of Earth which had became all but extinct following WWIII. Marcinko filled an advisory role for Skorn, instructing the Gorn in the traditions and histories of the various Ranger units of Earth. From there, Skorn pieced together an understanding of the Rangers and formed an elite fighting force.
[edit] Gear
[edit] Uniforms
During regular duties, the Rangers wear the standard duty or dress uniform. On their collar, Rangers wear a specialized tab of crossed tomahawks opposite of their ranks. When deployed, the Rangers wear the camouflaged fatigues of the Marines which they may modify to better suit their environment when they reach their destination (see Ghillie Suit). Standard issued armor is not used by the Rangers, however load bearing vests, tactical webbing, and open faced helmets are occasionally worn.
[edit] Weapons
To sow confusion and create plausible deniability, the more common Klingon disruptor takes the place of the Federation phaser as the Ranger’s weapon of choice. Its detachable stock gives the weapon versatility unmatched by most Federation weapons, fulfilling both the role of sidearm and carbine. The disruptor’s more simplistic design makes it easy to clean and maintain during deployment.
In lieu of the combat knives carried by mainstream Marines, the Rangers are issued a reproduction of the traditional tomahawks that Ranger units have carried since the seventeenth century. The tomahawk is the trademark of the platoon, given to recruits upon the completion of their training. As a combat implement it is versatile, as a tool it is invaluable. Though manufactured with contemporary materials, its design parallels the tomahawks used by early Native Americans, with a faux pipe bowl opposing the blade. They are powerful symbols of the choice Rangers and hostiles face whenever they meet: one end is the pipe of peace, the other the axe of war.
Most of the gear used by Rangers is left to personal taste, with only a few guidelines which must be met. Many of the tools found in a Ranger’s arsenal are improvised or stolen from the enemy. In a pinch, Rangers have been taught on how to survive with nothing but their tomahawks.
[edit] Notable Rangers
MCPT. Skorn, Creator and Comanding Officer
SSgt. Torna Jimsam, Senior Sergeant and XO
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