The Pychekan Military.

While said to be the largest army in the world, with an unrecorded number of conscripts and riflemen, it is by far the poorest in terms of strategy, tactics, modern equipment, and training. The army is an inevitable path for many under the rule of Pycheko, either by blood traditions, forced conscription, or for the meager pay. Formed in 737, 6 years after the end of the revolution, it was formed to replace the People's Defense Corps, a small force of former revolutionary soldiers. It was made an official army after the threat of bandit raiders to the south territories and blight casters to the north.

At first the army was a small and rather well trained militia force led by aging generals of the revolutionary war. The army was not largely incorporated into life in its early stages at it is today, and was merely a border patrol force for the first decade of Pycheko's history. Then, in 745, the Great Blight Purge of Pycheko was enacted. Recruiting benefits doubled, pro-enlistment propaganda spread everywhere. As the country's government took more drastic, darker measures of getting things done, so did the army. The infamous ruthless nature of the Pychekan army arose in the Great Blight Purge.

The newly formed Pychekan Inquisition had a military branch of Inquisitors incorporated into the military. Though they stood as advisers and co-leaders to Blight-hunter detachments, they were really pulling the strings when the hunt went into effect. Hand picked for undoubted loyalty and cold, tactical thinking, they were perfect for the Blight Purge. The army, with the help of the Inquisitors, hunted down several blight casters and slew them. The Blight Purge was not subject to just Blight-casters however. While many innocents died in false accusations of being blight-casters, or surely to ensure that they weren't, people who spoke against the Republic were also killed. Often times they were simply dragged from their homes and taken into an alley not too far off, and executed for treason. If not killed, they were taken away to military prisons.

After the Great Blight Purge, the Inquisition dug its roots even deeper into the military. Inquisitors now had official positions in the military, to monitor loyalty and test people for being blight-casters. The army grew further as its indoctrination into daily life became stronger every day. As its ranks grew, so did the diversity. Giants began to be recruited higher in number, as well as few elves and tieflings. They were usually put into specialized units with designations fitting their natural abilities. For years the army grew, but had no real reason to it seemed. There was no war being waged on Pycheko. But from a closer look, there was. In the north, in the Waste-lands, reports of the blight and blight casters became stronger. Under the cloak of "border patrol", the army waged a silent war against the Wastes and its blight casters. The army tracks down blight casters and quarantines off small villages for years, hunting them down in a very surgical and precise matter, as opposed to the Great Purge.

To further combat the Blight-caster situation in the north, the Wastes Exclusionary Territory is designated. All along the northern fringes of Pychekan control, villages and towns are evacuated. The army creates a semi-effective seal against new blight-casters entering the nation. Even still, there are thousands upon thousands hiding further inland, in the general population. This is not the army's job to hunt them down however, it is the newly reformed Commissariat's designation. The army by now, around 763, had completely quelled the bandit force in the southern plains area, and was much less of a problem.

In 765, a major addition to the military was made. Knowing full well that the over all army was large in numbers, but extremely poor in terms of training, a special forces unit had to be created to deal with things that required more "finesse". Thus, the Buriczyka was formed in a small town on the edge of the Wastes Exclusionary Territory. It had incredibly high fitness, intelligence, and combat requirements. Training was brutal and often ended up in dead recruits. Today, only 50,000 some Buriczyka Shock Troopers stand in the midst of the uncountable Pychekan army, the best of the best their commanders say.

Another change is made to the military, in 769 the right for the Military to conscript any and all males over the age of 17 is granted by the Governor-General Council. The military uses this to reinforce the northern border against the Wastes threats, but other than that does not over use it as it does today. The army's doctrine and designation for protection of the northern wastes is static for the next decade. Until 2 more Governor-General Council decisions are made. Forced slavery and conscription of "militarily applicable" non-human races is enforced as "higher opportunity". Giants, tieflings, elves, and sparse numbers of other races are indoctrinated. They all find their niches in all branches of the military, especially in the frontline.

Penal Units formed from the mass of political prisoners and criminal scum are formed, equipped even less than the average soldier and given harsh, inhumane assignments. They are usually used as suicide waves to demoralize the enemy or test their defenses for weak points. From the order to force labor and military service on masters of enchantment and magic, the secret Golemskaya is produced in limited number. They are the ultimate war golem, and are instructed on military structure, tactics, and rank. There are under 100 of these large, iron clad golems in service today. Females are also permitted to front line duty in the Military, though conscription is not forced on them. If not in the front lines, they are in administrative and logistical positions.

In 785, the army finally gets a taste of real war. The Minotaur War is started in the swamps to the southeast, and the legion throws its men into the fray. The large, unexplored swamp presents many issues however. The thick swamp prevents movement from getting to much above a hurried trudge. Fog reduces visibility to 30 or 40 meters. Matches on matchlock rifles and muskets dampen and refuse to light in the thick swamp fog. There is also the mysterious "swamp gas", a murky brown, poisonous gas that travels with the fog. It can choke soldiers and cripple them, while it has no effect on the Minotaur. To combat this, some units are given mass produced gas masks, based off of Occitanian design. No real beach head can be made into the inner swamps, as there is little solid ground. The minotaurs have control of the only solid land in the middle of the swamp, and refuse to let the army set foot on it.

The minotaurs themselves are 7-8 foot tall beasts that can take much damage to their thick hides. With the failure of ranged weaponry, most units are forced into melee combat with the brutes, whose powerful leg muscles allow them to move through the muck easier than the humans. The use of prototype golemskayas, giants, tiefling flame-units, and masses of conscripts usually counters their advantage, but morale is low. The war seems pointless to most, but they dare not voice it. The Commissars have a firm control on the unit of their designation, and will shoot commanding officers ordering a retreat before they take a step backward. Still, there are many who try to run and flee in sheer terror, they are often shot.

Today, the army is attempting to drain the swamps and destroy the natural habitat with tiefling flame soldiers and hundreds of conscripts given hatches. But the Minotaur war drags on fruitlessly.

In 739 the Pychekan Navy is formed, 2 years after the army. It is formed from the anti-pirate and coastal defense boats of the former coastal Kingdoms. It was made up of merchant ships converted for combat and out-dated battle ships from the last century. It was little more than just that, an anti-piracy force for it's first few decades.

There aren't any projects to add modernized battleships until after the Great Blight Purge of 745, and even then its still limited. The Navy was considered of far less importance than the Army for the first few decades of its existence. With the Blight on everyone's mind and keeping the army and the Commissariat strong being the main focus, the Navy fell out of priorities.

After pushing for several years, the Navy High Command was able to get the Governor-General Council to re prioritize. With the argument that the 3 jewel cities of Pycheko, including the capital, were on the sea or just miles from it, it was imperative that Pycheko's Navy was amply supplied. The Navy was given 7 new warships in the next decade, and 10 more in the next two. By 790, its fleet of merchant ships and cruisers were now accompanied by modernized warships. However, the Navy today is still seen as a lesser priority than that of the Army.

In 765, the Buriczyka are formed in the town of Sercza, just below the Wastes Exclusionary Territory. It is made up of hardened soldiers who have survived combat with many blight-casters. General Yurik Petrenko, founder of the Commissariat, sees much use in a highly trained elite troop. He thinks to the Occitanian Legionnaires and the Talibarian Knights, and sees an opportunity to create his own modernized elite caste of soldiers.

The soldiers construct a brutal training course under Petrenko's specifications, and within the year they draw in transfers and volunteers for this elite unit. Usually soldiers who had seen combat in the W.E.T, not excluding non-human soldiers. The Commissariat headed the training course under Petrenko's directions as well. They were just as unforgiving as the courses. Running for miles and miles, swimming through freezing lakes, fighting each other hand to hand and with all sorts of blades. They were given the best equipment and weapons that regulars in the army could only dream of seeing. The Commissars were not unused to cruel punishments and disciplinary action. The soldiers were to be unthinking and loyal to the end, those were Petrenko's specifications. Certain soldiers were given training in the magical arts, and usually were set to learn a certain element or form of weave. The few Tiefling elites that were recruited became masters of fire magic, for example.

The Buriczyka is also unique because it is directly integrated into the Commissariat.

By 768, 5,000 soldiers were in the elite force, conducting operations around the Wastes. Their numbers grew gradually, as did the army, over the years. Today there is an estimated 50,000 of them, most of them deployed in the Minotaur war.

Strategy

The Army's strategy consists of softening up the enemy with waves and waves of soldiers, until the enemy lines break under the innumerable strength of the Army.

First, a barrage of cannons on the enemy positions.

Then a wave of penal unit suicide-squads and distraction.

The next waves are conscripts lead by experienced sergeants, and Commissars with a pistol to their backs.

Followed by repeated waves of conscripts and regulars, with Tiefling fire-squads and Giant heavy weapons units to break down the enemy's already wavering morale.

Finally, if necessary, a deployment of a Buriczyka shock trooper unit to do whatever the Army is having trouble with.

All with forced charges, and little lenience for a retreat. With artillery barrages inbetween waves.

Military Doctrines.

Governor-General Council Order No. 72 - The northern territory of Pycheko will now be referred to as the Wastes Exclusionary Territory. Villages on the northern fringe of Pychekan territory are evacuated and military posts are set up to patrol the cold north and keep unwanted entities out.

Governor-General Council Order No. 93 - All males at the age of 17 and above are liable to be called to the aide of their country and conscripted into the military at any time.

Governor-General Council Order No. 117 - Under the euphemism of "working in specialized positions fit for their race to help the people", almost 80% of all non-human population in Pycheko are relocated to places that are fit for their traits. Adept users of magic are lured in with a promise of a hire standard of life, and are put to work in the army or in enchantment/achemy workshops.

Governor General Council Order No. 207 - By order of the Czar, no retreat without order from a Commanding officer! Officers and Commissars are given the right to execute traitors and deserters without trial.

Equipment and ranks.

Penal-Regular: Seen as scum and sub-soldier trash, they are thrown first into almost every encounter to test the enemy. If they do not charge fast enough or attack they are shot in the back by Commissars and their loyal anti-retreat squads.
Equipment: Armed with nothing more than simple melee weapons and ragged uniforms.

Conscript: Freshly recruited, poorly trained, and uncertain of their leadership. They are the masses of the Pychekan army, and make up half of the offensive force. They are lead by stalwart veterans and "inspired" to fight by Commissars.
Equipment: Crossbows, swords, Pychekan banners. Sometimes rifles if they're picked up off the dead. They wear uniforms with very light, almost useless padding.

Regular/Rifleman: The slightly more experienced soldier with minimal training and better equipment.
Equipment: Crossbows, Arquebus rifles and pistols, banners. Wearing buff coats or cloth uniform.

Shocktrooper: This is a specialized soldier armed with the heavy musket and little else. Usually Giants fall into this category, using enlarged muskets.

Tiefling Ognemets-Otryad: The Tiefling fire squads, the only specialization where a non-human race dominates. They are usually sent in with Conscripts to burn out enemy positions and lower their morale
Equipment: Buffcoats, crossbow pistol/crossbow.

NCOs and veteran soldiers: They are few in number and are usually given squad leadership positions, most of them being inexperienced and only being promoted because their last squad leader died.
Equipment: Arquebus rifles, half-armor. Sometimes a side arm.

Commissar: These nasty men and women lead the charge from behind, with pistols to everyone's backs. They are notorious for their intimidation tactics, and shooting retreating men without a second thought. They are backed by an escort squad of 5 loyal soldiers. They will also replace fallen NCOs (or those executed for cowardice) and lead squads.
Equipment: Flintlock pistol, Commissariat combat armor.

Commanding Officers: While most choose to hide behind lines, there are the lower ranks and the morale inspiring COs that lead at the front. They are accompanied by Lieutenant-Commissars, who act as their "advisors". The ones who choose to lead at the front usually are experienced in combat themselves.
Equipment: Flintlock pistol, half armor/Officer's uniform.

Lieutenant-Commissar: They accompany COs to detect any traces of treason or plots against the Czar, as well as infiltrated Blight-casters on the commanding level. They are known to often shoot Commanding Officers who disagree with them and take command, if the CO is doing something like a full retreat.
Equipment: Flintlock pistol, weave/half armor.

Buriczyka Shock Troopers: The elite of the elite. They are lead by their own Commanding structure and answer only to those on the General level. They do not know disloyalty or fear, and are highly experienced and trained.
Equipment: Buriczyka Shocktrooper uniform, with half/heavy armor, gasmask, Flintlock rifle/Arquebus rifle.