- ""Tempered in shadow; wrought of pain.""
- ― Dark Forge Battleteam Moto
History
Dark Forge is a Battleteam within House Galeres of Clan Arcona. It was founded in 36 ABY, shortly following the outbreak of the Horizon Plague. Dark Forge is not the “shock and awe” Battleteam of House Galeres. The unit is designed to be supported by a base of fire to flank and destroy key targets which have been chosen by the Summit. In short the team is a quick, lethal, indiscriminate unit which are specialists in lightsaber combat.
Beyond the Horizon (36ABY)
Battleteam Dark Forge's first combat action was when House Plagueis requested assistance from Clan Arcona to defeat the forces that remained from Zoraan's assault on the Jusadih System during the Horizon Vendetta. Dark Forge was tasked to assist with securing Plagueis' Nebula-Class Star Destroyer, Ascendancy, with Spectre Cell.
Purpose in Sanctioned SCEPTER Operations
Members of Dark Forge officially work in either the Future Operations or Intelligence Departments of SCEPTER, with the Battleteam Leader serving as Director of Operations within SCEPTER. These positions provide access to review target information and assemble tactical strategies for operations the Battleteam conducts.
The Battleteam occasionally functions as front people for SCEPTER, meeting with potential employers to elaborate on “solutions” the Private Military Contractor can offer. This provides a cover for travel to new locales that House Galeres would like to develop additional intelligence on, or may already have some vested interest in. During these operations the unit typically functions in 2-4 person units.
Purpose in House or Clan Operations
The Dark Forge Battleteam specializes in Lightsaber combat and demolitions. This provides a direct contrast to the long range reconnaissance capability of Spectre Cell.
In large scale engagements the Team is typically used as a Flanking Force while a base of fire pins down enemy targets, members often utilize speeders or other means of transportation to quickly close distance with the enemy before engaging. Dark Forge is also capable of infiltrating and eliminating key enemy facilities using their demolitions expertise.
Equipment
During official SCEPTER Negotiations Team members typically wear tailored suits or species appropriate clothing. This presents a professional appearance as they are meeting with potential clients. The clothing is cut specifically to allow a lightsaber to be concealed, if the Team member desires. A sidearm is also typically carried in a drop holster on the thigh, however several members are known to prefer an under arm sling holster instead.
On all other missions the equipment used is generally left up to each individual Team member's discretion. However, there are several unique items to Dark Forge Battleteam which are available.
DF-1s Armored Vest
A variant of the AV-1s Scout Armor, Dark Forge's armor is significantly lighter than the original design by produced by GTU. Removing armoring on all but the Torso area reduces the armor's weight to 9 Kg without the helmet, the helmet adds an additional 1.5 Kg of weight if worn. Reducing the bulk of the armor from the extremities allows for increased dexterity, which is conducive to multiple lightsaber techniques and Dark Forge's speed focused style of assaulting objectives.
Several items are noticeably absent on the DF-1s Vest when compared with its parent AV-1s counterpart. The servomotors which are used in the AV-1s Power Armor to amplify the wearers strength have been removed, with no armoring or external support structure on the wearer's extremities there was no benefit to include the devices. The power lamp is an optional piece of the Vest, at the user's choosing. Many members of Dark Forge will forgo the power lamp, instead using the Vest's helmet or their innate Force abilities to assist in low light environments.
The repulsorlift engine remains fitted to the back of the Vest, although it also has been modified. The standard 100m flight ceiling has been reduced to 60m. The gain from this modification is increased flight speed. The total amount of power cells within the vest have been reduced to one. The only functions which consume this cell are use of the repulsorlift engine, and powerlamp. The repulsorlift engine, in particular, is a significant drain on the power cell. The vest is only able to support ten 30 second flight periods from the engine, at maximum speed. Periods of flight greater than 30 seconds will rapidly drain the power supply. Testing of the vest shows that from a full charge it can support a total of 120 seconds of uninterrupted flight at maximum speed before power reaches levels which are inoperable for the repulsorlift engines.
The helmet to the DF-1s Armored Vest is an optional piece of equipment. All functions standard to the AV-1s helmet are included. Specifically long range thermal imaging (200m range), low light imaging, environmental scanner, integrated macrobinoculars, multi-channel comm unit with encoder and a 50 kilometer range, external voice amplifier, and bio-med readout/med sensor which displays the status of the wearer's vitals to themselves and the remainder of the Team, who are wearing the DF-1s Helmet. If the helmet is worn an insignificant amount of power is used to operate its systems as well. Allowing it's systems to continue to function even after the previously mentioned 120 second flight testing.
Transportation
Requirements to Join
Currently the only requirement to join the Dark Forge Battleteam is that the applicant be at the Acolyte Rank or higher.
Awards
Shoulder Guard with Dark Forge Insignia
File:Dark Forge Sith.jpegSith Shoulder Guard Insignia
A specific piece of the equipment issued to Dark Forge Team members is a Shoulder Guard with the Dark Forge Insignia on it. Individual members typically customize the insignia to the color of their specific Order.
Combat Designator
Members of Dark Forge Battle Team who have served on the Team during House, Clan, or Brotherhood sanctioned combat operations are permitted to add a Combat Designator to their Dark Forge pauldron after reaching certain benchmarks.
The Combat Designator consists of a colored stripe running along the edges of the pauldron. Approved color scheme is as follows:
- 1 Combat Tours: Bronze Edging
- 5 Combat Tours: Silver Edging
- 10 Combat Tours: Gold Edging
- 15 Combat Tours: Platinum Edging
Distinguished Service Designator
In times of conflict a member often rises above what is expected of them and demonstrates courageous conduct in the face of great adversity. When these singular individuals step beyond the typical expectations of a Battle Team member Dark Forge shows its gratitude for their shining example and daring achievements with a Distinguished Service Designator.
The Distinguished Service Designator is shown by a change in the depiction of the Galeres insignia on the pauldron. Typically the insignia is shown as a matte black. Members who have been recognized for their distinguished service may recolor the Galeres insignia to Platinum.