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You must unlearn what you have learned. This article contains obsolete data. It reflects a Dark Brotherhood policy, position, or object that has been removed or replaced. It is preserved here for historical purposes only and should not be used/referenced.
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The Spike is located several kilometers away from the Iron Throne, serving as a command center for the Iron Thrones' Military, but also as the training ground for the Army of the Iron Throne and GMRG.
History
Shortly after the return of the Dark Brotherhood to Antei, construction began on the The Spike. Ground work began in 31 ABY and was finished in 35 ABY. Originally used as the training grounds for the Army of the Iron Throne under the Fist of the Brotherhood, Fremoc Pepoi made the decision to move the Grand Master's Royal Guard's training grounds from Atrophos to the The Spike as well.
Layout
The Garrison
The garrison is the actual base and houses the Army of the Iron Throne and their accommodations. The secured area is approximately ten kilometers around with several unsecured ranges on the outskirts which are used for weapon familiarity training. Within the garrison, several runways and landing points can be found as well as hangers and bunkers for the host aviation element as well as visiting dignitaries from the various units in the Dark Brotherhood. New trainee's of the Royal Guard are brought to the Spike through a hangar specifically for the GMRG, where they are given their Training Armor before being allowed to exit the building. In addition to the air and ground elements that defend the garrison, there also is a network of air defense artillery, which is equipped with anti-air and anti-space weaponry.
Barracks are divided between the military units for enlisted personnel with officers and noncommissioned officers receiving quarters on other parts of the garrison. On their free time, soldiers spend time in three state of the art gyms, which contains weight resistant equipment, pools, and battle circles. There is also a running trail that goes around the perimeter of the garrison. Throughout the garrison there are dining halls, clubs, and various other commodities for the soldiers to live there.
The Spire
First Floor - Cafeteria
The ground floor contains the cafeteria as well as a bookstore and several vendors. While no security clearance is required to access this level, everyone is required to go through a body scan for explosives and weapons. The cafeteria is nowhere the size of the dining halls and clubs on the garrison, accommodating the smaller number of people who work in the top two floors of the Spire, as well as those who chose in the garrison to eat here. It remains open twenty-four hours a day due to the continuous amount of work that day-to-day operations take within the Brotherhood.
Second Floor - Operations
The second floor is literally the brain of the Military of the Iron Throne. All information collected in the field will travel back to this floor of the Spire and handled by the appropriate people. There are several divisions(D) located on this floor, keeping the military's wheels spinning. Amongst themselves, once assigned a problem from either the field or from upstairs, they will define the problem, create a solution, and if necessary, assign troops to carry it out.
D1: Personnel and Administration
D2: Intelligence and Security
D3: Operations
D4: Logistics
D5: Plans
D6: Communications
D7: Training
In addition to overseeing the entire military on this level, members of the Garrison are attached to the Spire to oversee flight control around The Spike for security and training purposes.
Third Floor - Command
The third floor is one of the most prestigious places in the Military, allowing them a view above the clouds looking down at the troops on the ground. It is reserved for some of the most senior officers in the Military as well as the FIST and Master at Arms and their staff. Security at this level is tight and those who have entered it have found a single set of accommodations for the officers to be worth the yearly budget for an entire infantry company.
The Grand Master's Royal Guard reside in the highly classified sub levels of the Spire. The sub-levels are only accessible to those with the appropriate rank. For example, first echelon members are only allowed to sub-level one, where as third echelon members have access to sub levels one, two, and three. There are no niceties in this area. The area is only filled with the necessities of living and training. Members will not be able to leave this area without their armor on.
Sub Level One
Sub Level One contains the cafeteria for the GMRG, First Echelon quarters and Training Grounds. Access to this level and the levels below it, is allowed to only those in the GMRG. Unlike the cafeteria on the ground level, the cafeteria area does away with all of the niceties that can be found above ground. This floor is completely devoid of any influences with the exception of fighting and dying for the Iron Throne. The floors and walls are barren and the quarters barracks-like and Spartan. Students are to focus on their studies and gain proficiency as Guardsmen. Students spend several hours a day fighting one another on the Training Grounds. Mentally and physically challenging, 40% will washout in the first week.
Sub Level Two
Sub Level Two contains the quarters and Training Grounds for Second Echelon. The level has more accommodations as a whole and the quarters contain two to a room and much nicer accommodations then the Spartan accommodations of First Echelon. These Guardsmen have earned that right. The training is as tough on this level, if not tougher, but the Guardsmen are more proficient and some are trusted to protect the Magistrates of the Dark Summit.
Sub Level Three
Sub Level Three contains the Training Grounds for Third and Fourth Echelons, as well as quarters for both the Echelons and the FIST and his Staff. This floor has a very classy and polished look and the quarters are individuals. The Training Grounds on this level is larger and up to date then the two floors above it because it was recognized that the basics have been mastered and to allow the Guardsmen the flexibility of training under what conditions they feel is needed. There are few Guardsmen at this level as they are responsible for the protection of some of the most important members of the Brotherhood. While they are given the privilege of decorating their rooms, most prefer the Spartan, bare bones look over a more refined and polished look.
Sub Level Four
Sub Level Four is a secured, reinforced and classified level of this facility. Should the Dark Hall ever come under attack, the Dark Council and Dark Summit will be brought to this level using the passage way connecting Sub Levels Three and Four to the Attachment Base to wait it out. They will be able to work out of here for two weeks. The quarters are very lavish on this level, sparing no unrefined detail. This floor's quarters accommodate the Council and Summit with a room to each member.
Attachment Base
Located in the basement of the Dark Hall, it is where Guardsmen spend their time when not protecting the member they are assigned. The floors in this base are comparable to Sub Level Three of the Spike. However, there is a small Training Grounds instead of the larger ones found on Sub Levels one through three. There is also a passageway from this base to Sub Level Three and Four in the Spike to escort the Dark Council away from the Dark Hall if needed.