From: Laserlight <laserlight@q...>
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 22:42:49 -0400
Subject: Re: Stargrunt III? BDS? (long)
From: Owen Glover <oglover@bigpond.net.au> > Which organisation are you using for the Kra'Vak? Kra'Vak Order Of Battle The Kra'Vak is a space faring race discovered encountered by humans as the began to expand around the end of the 22nd century. Most contact with this race has occurred several dozen light years from Earth in the direction of the galactic centre. They are a highly mobile race preferring not to settle for long periods or develop planetary infrastructure. (They lack terra-forming technology like humans). Humans battle with Kra'Vak forces has predominately occurred in space, with Kra'Vak clearly holding the upper hand in technology and tactics. However, on few occasions where ground forces have engaged the situation has been more balanced. As was discovered after the Ross 149 incident, the Kra'Vak have an uncommon social structure resulting form the phenomena that Kra'Vak change from a "mainly" male juvenile to "mostly" female adult over their life. This is the single biggest factor in Kra'Vak social structure, having no separate military organisations or armies. Instead the society is the military, and the military is the society. A veteran matriarch dominates a clan of several hundred members. The other senior Kra'Vak take the role of protecting the matriarch and keeping the younger clan member disciplined. Beyond the clan are loosely aligned Kra'Vak War Bands and meta-clans over which an ancient matriarch has loose control. Juveniles (juves) are not highly valued by the Kra'Vak, being used almost like slaves until their social potential is demonstrated. As the juvenile approaches puberty and becomes a warrior around 40 human years, good performers tend to be promoted to positions of trust. To ensure her political position in the family, the Matriarch strictly controls who is promoted at what powers are delegated. The Kra'Vak have a ritual and inflexible order of battle. The use of this fixed structure allows juves to quickly be trained for war and their social place from the moment of birth. Although much fewer in number a Kra'Vak clan is generally considered to be equivalent to a human battalion in terms of hitting power. However its structure is much flatter and many of the social aspects than support a Kra'Vak warfighting are not able to be represented in a conventional Orbat. Kra'Vak like heavy weapons and will prefer to take a few hard hitters rather than a large number of squads (aka. claws). Direct orbital support fire from the homeship railguns is extensively used in battle, however this is strictly controlled by the Matriarch. Ortillery support is complicated because the a Matriarch will only ever leave ineffective troops on the Homeship if she is dirtside (to prevent any double crosses or plots). As a result Ortillery is often ineffective. If Ortillery is critical to a battle she may stay on the homeship to personally direct the fire. This unfortunately may mean that ground forces are less effective. Often the matriarch will try to take use one of the Fangs instead of replying on ineffective Ortillery. Compared to humans a Kra'Vak Clan contains no GMS or indirect fire support and very little Electronic Warfare capability. Instead Kra'Vak warfare relies on warrior speed, stealth and a heavier emphasis support weapons. At the heart of the Clan is the SKULL which is the equivalent of the Battalion command unit. The STRIKE ARMS provide the bulk of the infantry units supported by heavy fire from the FANGS. For recon and sniper mission the EYES are tasked. The LEGS provide raiding parties, additional transport units, and co-ordinate Ortillery fire. Within each of the organs we find the CLAWS each of which is a squad sized unit which traditionally has six members, although 3 is the usual number for command Claws. Eyes Each eye consist of a Commander and 3 Warriors (sniper qualified) using KV130 Laser Railguns, 1 KV60 support and a comms warrior. The unit has Sensor suites (d10). The 1st eye is traditionally lead by the 2nd most senior Kra'Vak of the Clan and is usually an Elite unit. The 2nd eye is usually a veteran unit. Fangs Each fang provides heavy hitting power through the use of KV900s and KV88s. Each squad consist of 6 warriors. 2 KV900s and 4 KV60s. These units are usually veteran or line troops. Strike Arms Standard Infantry weapons of the Kra'Vak include and Advanced Combat Railgun designations 'KV1' and a heavy Railgun used as a Support Weapon; designations the 'KV6'. The KV1 is a semi-automatic which fires a conventional 8mm sabot round. The KV60 also fires 8mm sabot but is fully automatic. KRA'VAK infantry have no IAVR or GMS instead they use a shoulder launched armour killer railgun; designations the KV88. The KV88 which uses a 15mm sabot, in a three shot magazine. The Strike Arm has a simple structure 3 claws each with six members and 1 command claw. The command claw (sometimes called the wrist) has six members; commander, comms, and 4 warriors usually with a mix of KV60 or KV88. The rifle team have only KV1 or KV4s, lacking any form of support weapon. The 1st Strike Arm is usually lead by a senior female, whereas the 2nd is usually lead by a regular warrior. The 2nd arm is often holds a mixture or juves and warriors in training. It is a matter of clan pride to ensure that its the 1st Strike Arm is always staffed by warriors or better. Legs Within the 1st Leg uses all the non-traditional and weapons such as flamers, GMS and mines. Traditionally juves are assigned to use these non-traditional weapons, considered as ineffective by the Kra'Vak. The support Legs also maintain raiding parties for collecting bounty or other material that needs recovery from the surface. While on dirtside missions the 2nd Leg also maintain communications between the ground and home ship run Ortillery, and provide aerospace support. Note: As smaller Kra'Vak ships are atmospheric, they provide direct surface landing and aerospace support to Kra'Vak Strike Arms. The Kra' Vak do not make a distinction aerospace and infantry combat like human forces. KRA'VAK Infantry Weapons and Equipment: The emphasis on KRA'VAK weapons development has been on advanced Railgun technology(inc. Gauss or SHPK). This is highly reliable in all environments. Kra'Vak have an aversion to equipment that does not uses high velocity projectiles as a basis. Weapons KV1 - Advanced Combat Railrifle TYPE: Advanced Assault Railrifle FIREPOWER:3 IMPACT: d12. Standard Infantry small arm firing conventional 8mm sabot round Like all Kra'Vak weapons it is of a extremely solid and heavy construction. It has no electronic sights, relying on the users natural marksmanship to score a hit. Humans using this weapon describe it as worse than useless. In the hands of a Kra'Vak warrior it is deadly. KV4 - Advanced Assault Railrifle TYPE: Advanced Assault Railrifle FIREPOWER:4 IMPACT: d12. As the KV2 but firing a 10mm shredder round. KV60 - Railgun Support Weapon TYPE: Light Rail Gun FIREPOWER: d8 IMPACT: d10. A fully automatic version of the KV1 usually with a belt/magazine feeding 8mm sabot. Juves usually require a Gyro Mount to wield this weapon. Kra'Vak warriors prefer to use it freehand. to obtain better fire positions. KV88: Railgun Support Weapon TYPE: Heavy Rail Gun IMPACT: d12 GUIDANCE: superior (d12). The shoulder launched KV88 system is used by Kra'Vak strike arms as a armour killer (use GMS rules). The heavy railgun used to fires a 15mm railgun sabot with explosive tip. Only warriors are able to carry the weapon, but it is also fixed to Support Vehicle. KV900 TYPE: Heavy Rail Gun (HKP/2) IMPACT: d12 x 2 GUIDANCE: superior (d12). The KV900 is a enormous weapon that can only be free hand carried by veterans. Warriors require Gyro Mount to wield this weapon, but it is also fixed to Support Vehicle. KV130 Sniper Railgun TYPE: Sniper Railgun FIREPOWER: d12 The KV130 is only wielded by senior elite or veterans (i.e. the older females). The advanced UV sights enhance the already keen Kra'Vak eyesight. When used in a jungle and urban operations this is a terror weapon against human troops. Armour, Speed and Sensors: UV and IR resistant ballistic cloth has been augmented with kelvar-ceramics to produce a light weight but effective body armour designed to stop HVP type weapons. Kra'Vak do not wear helmets and avoid using sophisticated communications equipment. However, Kra'Vak do have exceptional vision allowing them to detect hidden targets, snipers and mines etc. As the Kra'Vak avoid carrying additional equipment they can move more quickly than humans when carrying light weapons. The older Kra 'Vak (females) can move at tremendous speed even when carrying heavier railguns, making these seniors deadly adversaries. Kra'Vak Troop Armour Movement(unencumbered) Sensor Juves Green Troops d6 6" d4 Warriors Regular or Line Troops d6 8" d6 Senior Warriors Veteran or Elite d8 10" d8 Kra'Vak Biology The ancestors of the Kra'Vak emerged from a nocturnal tropical estuary environment as crocodilian style predators, and evolved into a pack hunting animal, preying along the shorelines. Kra'Vak are carbon based, oxygen breathing and warm blooded organisms, having body chemistry essentially the same as Earth lifeforms. They average 198 centimetres in height with an endoskeleton, arms and legs are jointed like those of primates. Their necks, spine and pelvis have a maximum load bearing at least 15% above humans. The feet have two clawed toes each, between which is a retractable flap of skin. The hands have three digits, the outside digits are both opposable, giving the creature two thumbs and one finger on each hand. Kra'Vak are covered in a thick dermis, which is a tan colour freckled with green and brown similar in appearance to that of new-born crocodile. However, the skin is not scaled, with a tensile strength around that of a bovines or pachyderm. They have no body hair, but do have several dozen soft hair-like strings attached to the rear of the skull. These structures have thin tubes which are linked to the lungs, acting as additional oxygen storage. They can stay submerged, or survive without atmosphere, for several minutes longer than natural born humans. The Kra'Vak skull is heavy ridged, with thick bones protecting the eyes and nose. On each side of the jaws are tusks or upward facing mandibles attached to the face with large muscles. All teeth are simplex tearing cones, no grinding or specialist teeth except for the mandibles are evident. With age, they appear to gain more teeth. 20 incisors were found in the youngest, while 40 teeth were found in the oldest specimen". Kra'Vak eyes are complex, providing binocular vision, a little more sensitive in low light, than humans. They are also sensitive to ultraviolet allowing these creatures to see unaided, deep into the ultraviolet band. The eyes are set in deep socket, giving poor vision at under 15cm, however at long distances they appear to have exceptional vision". Internally, they have membranes which create compartments, similar to those found in some crabs. Running from the mouth to anus there are six corridors, each containing duplicate organs for breathing, digestion and reproduction. This provides a form of organ redundancy that is uncommon among other vertebrates. These creatures do not have a male and a female form. The main difference being the wombs, (of which there are six) which are not fully formed in the juvenile creatures. The young are born fairly mature, at two years they are probably able to function at full capacity. The gene string is several hundred pairs longer than natural human DNA. Assuming the same mutation rate as DNA on Earth, would suggest the species are similar in age to humanity, on the galactic scale. However, this still means they have been space-faring for thousands of years before humans.