Re: Stargrunt III? BDS? (long)

From: Owen Glover <oglover@bigpond.net.au>

> Which organisation are you using for the Kra'Vak?
>
> About 18 months ago Robert Deakin; one of our gaming group, came up
with an
> orbat for the Kra'Vak that was totally unlike any of the human
approaches. I
> can't find a soft copy at the moment; Robert came up with an approach
of
> Claw, Eye etc for each of the tactical components

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.