- "“Spectre Cell is not a group for heroes. We do not valiantly charge at the enemy no matter the odds. We avoid fighting, so that our presence may remain undetected, so that we can do our job. Our job is to cover Arcona’s ass, to make sure they know what they are up against and to identify priority targets. If you want to shoot bad guys, I suggest you go elsewhere.”"
- ― Etah to the first group of recruits under his command.
History
After the decommission of Battleteam Revenance Virtuom, the Summit of House Galeres spent several weeks deliberating with the High Summit of the Clan Arcona on whether a new Battleteam should be opened, which like Revenance Virtuom would function with the Arconan Military, or whether at new Battle Team should have a different kind of relevance to Arcona. In the end decision was reached and the Summit appointed Dark Jedi Knight Celevon Edraven with the responsibility of creating a new Battle Team.
Celevon sought to train a group of scouts and snipers to partake in Covert Operations. He based his ideas off of watching a holovid about the Sith Assassins during the Jedi Civil War Era, which followed the Mandalorian Wars. The young Dark Jedi decided Spectre Cell would operate similarly, but instead of using retractable staves, the members of Spectre Cell would primarily use daggers and rifles.
Following the Rite of Supremacy Horizons there was a shakeup in the Arconan Summit that saw Legorii retiring as Aedile of the House Galeres and Cethgus Entar replacing him. Spectre member Valhavoc was promoted to Battle Team Leader and charged with creating a new Battleteam within the House Galeres. Obelisk Prelate Etah d’Tana, a longtime member of Galeres, was given leadership of Spectre Cell.
Etah decided on a different mission set than Mandalorian type special operations, which sounded good on paper but in practice provided little utility and squandered the Dark Jedi’s force abilities in petty fisticuffs. Instead, Etah decided that what Galeres and the Arconan Army Corps needed most on the battlefield was effective, real time reconnaissance and call for fire.
Training
There is no formal entry level training in the manner of a Special Forces pipeline, because Spectre Cell only recruits those with infantry and special operations backgrounds, luckily there is no shortage of that particular skill set in the Clan Arcona. Spectre Cell does however train relentlessly, both at Kurs’kranak and in the field. Etah drills the Cell on infiltrating the planet of interest, moving to the target, occupying the area of operations, equipment set up, scanning and communication, equipment breakdown, exfiltration and worst case scenarios.
Mission Profile and Organization
Etah and the Summit of the House Galeres decided that Spectre should be retooled for real time battlefield reconnaissance. Special Operations, they decided, can be performed by skilled non-force sensitives nearly as well as Dark Jedi. True covert operations however would greatly benefit from the variety of force powers possessed by Dark Jedi, both in the approach and the exit. Several force powers can aid the Stealth Unit in approaching the Area of Operations and if the tandem is attacked by enemy forces they can use force powers to survive, evade and escape.
Spectre Cell operates out of the Clan Arcona’s Lambda Class T4 Shuttle. Spectre spends most of its time in the field, but between missions Spectre Cell resides at Kurs’kranak where they train. Spectre Cell is made of multiple tandem pairs, which include an experienced member and a less experienced member, are all organized by a Principle tandem which includes the Spectre Commander.
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Each tandem pair is expected to carry the appropriate equipment to the area of interest, between the two of them. Both members of the tandem work together for setup and break down, all other times the two work in a work rest pattern. If the teams are attacked, the tandems will pretend to try to destroy the equipment, but in reality, the only information that would still be present in the machines is whatever the Spectre Commander wants the enemy to see.
Spectre Cell has a number of different mission types. The primary consideration is whether the target planet is a populated planet with a civilian space port. The secondary consideration is whether this is a general planetary recon or the spearhead of military action. The tertiary consideration is whether the Tandem pairs will be sent to cover the same place at different angles, or whether each team will set up in a different area.
In the case of a target planet with a civilian space port, Spectre Cell lands with a set of cover and parks in the spaceport and each tandem pair separates and moves toward their assigned area of interest. If there is no civilian presence on the planet or accessible space port, the Lambda T4 Shuttle will land the teams in a central area, near their points of interest. This has the liability of an increased chance of possible detection.
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In a general reconnaissance, Spectre Cell lands, moves toward their point of interest, set ups, scans, communicates, breaks down and the Spectre Commander will write the intelligence reports on the ship ride back to Arconan space. When spearheading a military assault, the teams emplace themselves, and stay in place to facilitate battlefield communication and to identify targets of opportunity for Naval, air and artillery assets. Spectre Commander would write on the spot intelligence reports for the Arcona Summits consumption. The intelligence reports that can be published by Spectre Cell include troop numbers, enemy locations, enemy armament, possible armament, priority targets, terrain analysis and tactical advice.
The tandem pairs of Spectre Cell can be deployed individually or the tandem pairs can be deployed to the same location. When deployed individually, the Spectre Cell tandem pairs are less likely to be detected and can cover a wider area. But scattered about, the pairs are less organized and their information is less reliable. Deployed around the same target location, organization is much stronger, and each team would have overlapping fields of observation, making their information more reliable. The latter deployment is advisable for call for fire missions. Deployed individually, each team would identify targets. Deployed collectively the Spectre Commander would identify priority targets based on information gathered by all the teams.
Gear
Provisions
Along with the standard equipment, each member of Spectre is expected to pack some sort of sleeping bag and possibly a tent or shelter half that will protect them from the elements. In addition they are expected to pack foodstuff that will provide a sufficient amount of calories and require a minimum amount of preparation. Other personal effects are optional.
Uniform
Since direct action would indicate mission failure, Etah determined that wearing heavy armor would be a detriment to their mission profile as would wearing any sort of uniform. So each member of Spectre wears clothing appropriate for their cover. Etah generally wears his Swooper leathers.
Weapons
Since their primary mission is not direct action, their armament is for self-defense only. Etah generally carries his personal weapons: a DL-44 Heavy Blaster pistol and an EE-3 Carbine. The rest of Spectre is expected to equip themselves similarly for self-defense.
Equipment
The equipment described below is uniform for every tandem pair. Each piece is divvied up between the two members of the tandem to carry from their point of entry to their point of interest.
Shadesworn Ruggedized Datapad
The Datapad has two user levels, director and operator. The director user level is for the Spectre Commander and can slice, and has additional communication options in addition to the operator level functions. The operator user level is for the regular tandem pairs and can receive and process information from the Multi-Optics Communication Device and the Stealth Scanner and communicate with other tandem pairs and other Arcona assets. The datapad weighs about two pounds and is about thirty inches squared. There is one datapad per tandem.
Shadesworn Multi-Optics Communication Device
The Multi-Optics Communication Device is a revolutionary piece of technology that provides a verity of different functions. The devices optics functions allow the user to see in low light conditions, to see in the ultraviolet range, allows for heat vision and to magnify their vision. The device can record what it sees and can message both videos and text generated messages to other Device users and any team Datapads. This device is designed to be manipulated by the force rather than physical controls. It weighs less than a pound and extends out roughly nine inches. Every member of Spectre Cell wears these devices.
Shadesworn Multi-Tool
The multi-tool is similar to tools that can be found in any Army, anywhere in the galaxy. The tool is made from a metal alloy, it has a sharp edge and it is used primarily to dig fighting positions. The alloy is made from the same metal the solar panels are, and as such does not disrupt the stealth field the tandem operates within. The tool is about three feet in length when fully extended. They fold up, to be quite small and so most teams bring one for each member to assist in the set up of the Observation Point.
Shadesworn Solar Panel
The shadesworn solar panel is used for extended operations, to provide continuous energy. Though the cord is 30 feet long and the panel generally sits outside of the stealth field, the panel is made from an alloy that makes most forms of detection difficult if not impossible. The solar panel is about three feet, by two feet and weighs less than a pound. The team only brings a solar panel if it is thought necessary, and when brought they only need one per team.
Shadesworn Stealth Scanner
The Stealth Scanner really is the star of the show. It breaks down into three parts, which are the lens, the tripod and the processor. The datapad connects straight into the scanner. It is a powerful industrial strength scanner and can operate in both active and passive modes. Passive mode is impossible to detect, but isn’t a very detailed scan. Active scans are very detailed, but do provide a momentary blip on detection equipment, if the region that tandem is in is specifically being monitored. Furthermore, the scanner acts like a shotgun transceiver, sending messages and reports with a hard to detect ferocity. The scanner stands about four feet high and has a profile about two feet wide. There is only one Stealth Scanner per team.
Shadesworn Stealth Unit
The stealth unit is key to Spectre units’ success in remaining hidden. It creates a stealth field that is able to manipulate different kinds of waves and fields, including light, sound, and magnetic to keep whatever is within the stealth field totally hidden from view and detection. It can also raise and lower emoting temperatures in order to match its surroundings. The Stealth Unit can function at 50% when the wearer is moving, but keeps the wearer nearly 100% undetectable and invisible when not moving. Two devices combine to create an even more effective, overlapping stealth field. The device weighs about a pound and it’s about two feet by one foot. Each team member carries one.
Award(s)
Spectre Beret and Unit Patch
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The blue beret is issued to members upon entry into Spectre. It can be worn with the formal Arconan Army Corps uniform while assigned to Spectre Cell. The unit patch is identical to the combat patch and can be worn on the left shoulder while assigned to Spectre Cell.
Spectre Cord
The Spectre Cord a blue uniform cord worn around the right shoulder which is issued to members upon entry into Spectre. It can be worn with the formal Arconan Army Corps uniform for the rest of the recipients’ Arconan military career.
Recipients:
Etah d’Tana
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Spectre Combat Patch
The Spectre Cell Combat patch is given to those members of Spectre Cell who have served through a period of combat. The patch can be worn on their right shoulder for the rest of their career.
Spectre Valor Cord
The valor cord is white uniform cord that is worn over the right breast pocket and is awarded for acts of valor in the face of the enemy, while in the performance of assigned duties. It can be worn with the formal Arconan Army Corps uniform for the rest of the recipients’ Arconan military career.
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Spectre Wings
The Spectre Wings are given only to the most respected members of Spectre. It is awarded for long time service, in multiple campaigns. It can be worn with the formal Arconan Army Corps uniform for the rest of the recipients’ Arconan military career.
Out of Character
The outline of the craft in the Specre Insignia is of the AC-130H Spectre Gunship which US Air Force Special Forces use in call for fire missions.