Crimson Blade

The mercenary corps of the Gudersnipe Foundation, they are the main fighting force. While students from Gudersnipe School sometimes go into combat, the bulk of fighting is carried out by the Blade.

Very few crimson blade soldiers will actually see combat, hwoever. The blade has an extensive support-system in place to ensure constant supply lines, materials, and equipment. Only about 1 out of every 5 soldiers who sign up for the Blade will see actual combat.

Crimson Blade Regulars

The regulars can be used as a blanket term for all members of the Blade, but specifically refers to the normal combat troops. E.G.: the troops who have not recieved special or expanded training and for whom combat, while a probability, is not typically the primary role.

An example of a "combat" role filled by the Regulars would be border patrol. Combat is unlikely and not anticipated, however a fighting force is a requirement. The Regulars usually come in second and serve as a peace-keeping force or take on battles not anticipated to be difficult.

Crimson Blade Elite

The elites have monkies. The Crimson Blade Elite are the primary combat forces of the Gudersnipe Foundation, deployed specifically to situations where combat is expected. The elites train rigorously and are considered the finest soldiers in the whole Foundation, more highly regaurded than the student forces of the school.

The Elite are always the combat forces deployed on ships, though some ships are crewed entirely by elites. Only the combat soldiers are strictly considered Elites in this case, though the rest of the crew are still the finest the Blade can muster.

Crimson Blade Elite Raiders

Within the Elites lies a further elite force exists. Known officially as the Crimson Blade Elite Raiders, but typically abreviated to just "raiders", they are the very best soldiers the Blade can produce. Often Raider teams are led by Gudersnipe School graduates. They are always strictly combat-oriented teams, though are trained to operate vessels and all manner of equipment when the need arises.

The Foundation's mech assualt forces are organized among the Raider teams.

The "Space Marine" Question

Nowhere in the Gudersnipe Foundation is the term "Space Marine" ever used officially. Some combat soldiers stationed aboard wet-navy task forces have used the term Marine at various times during the Foundation's history, but as of the Fourth Age all extensions of the Blade use the same organizational structure and terminology.

Within Gudersnipe School, combat-role assignments aboard student-run ships have been jokingly reffered to as Space Marines. When these jokes make it into the official report, it leads to the mistaken conclusion that the school does operate teams of Space Marines.