O P E R A T I O NDROP BEARS DIVE!

DP9-9175DP9-9175

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IntroductIon

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Welcome to theCrazy Eights!

IntroductIon

Every league has units with distinguished histories and brave soldiers. In the WFPA, the 08th Airborne Regiment has been serving the league and its Maderan allies for nearly three centuries. The unit has consistently distinguished itself as one of the most daring airborne units on the planet, though on occasion their boldness has been heavily levied in the blood of their troops.

This book provides insight into the Western Frontier Protectorate's military from the standpoint of one of their best units. The 08th's unit history, traditions, and organization are presented along with an insight into some of the personalities that influence the regiment.

In addition to ten new campaign scenarios for Heavy Gear Blitz!, the book introduces a new optional rule for game play by introducing characters onto the battlefield. Rules for fielding the 08th and the new type of squad they pioneered, the Airborne Dragoon Squad, are also found within the book.

The HACS-01HG-PARA/AST Koala, the latest weapon added to the Northern arsenal during the Interpolar War, is also introduced and described in great detail. Both Blitz! and RPG materials are provided. Blitz! rules are indicated by the HG Blitz! logo at the top of the page.

the Legend of the drop Bear"Jeez mate," a voice called out, "you're not going walk-about in the bush like that are ya?" There was an air of urgency in the voice, a warning tone that made the two young tourists stop and take note of the speaker. The young man and his female companion stepped closer to the local to hear what he had to say.

The tourists looked down at themselves and wondered what was wrong. They were well prepared for a weekend hike through the native bush. "Um, why?" the young man asked. "What's wrong?" The leathery-looking local shook his head as though he was dealing with a couple of small children, naive to the dangers of the world. "Don't tell me nobody's warned you about drop bears?" The tourists looked at each other, confused, then back at the local man, "Drop bears?"

"Drop bears," the local repeated. Hooking his finger he beckoned them in to hear more. "Crikey, they really should warn tourists in advance... Lucky for you I spotted you before you rocked up to the bush completely unprepared. Drop bears, bloody dangerous little buggers I can tell you. Rare breed of carnivorous koala bear they are. Lounge around in trees waiting for unsuspecting passersby."

He frowned, his face a mask of serious concern, "A tourist was eaten alive not far from here. Would'a been less'n two months ago I reckon." The local noticed the tourists' doubting faces and held up a hand, "I know how it sounds." He held his hand to his heart, "But prophet's honest truth, this is fair dinkum. I'd just hate to see a nice young couple like the two of you suffer such an awful fate. Terrible tragic it were." He shook his head sadly,

"Yeah, just terrible..."

He could see that he had their full attention now, "Look, just to be on the safe side, here's a couple of tips, right. You got some toothpaste in your packs, forks?" They both nodded. "Good, drop bears hate toothpaste, hate it. You gotta smear lots of it behind both ears. Works good as a repellent ya see. But to be really safe, you gotta put forks in your hair and if you've got a pocket-knife then hold it above your head pointing upwards. If one of the little sods drops on you to attack he'll get skewered good an' proper, ready to throw on the barbie even."

"Now don't forget what I told you, ok?" The local warned the tourists. "Oh, one last tip, you can detect drop bears before they pounce. Stand under a tree and spit directly up at the branches above. If one of the little sods is up there he'll spit back."

"Wow, we had no idea, appreciate the warning!" The tourists now armed with knowledge of the ferocious creatures busily set about preparing themselves with toothpaste, forks, and pocket knives from their packs, then walked into the bush ready to confront any lurking drop bears.

Behind them the local waited until they were out of ear-shot before laughing out loud.

"Welcome to the 08th Western Frontier Protectorate Army Airborne Regiment, ladies and gentlemen. By embarking on this course, you have taken the first step towards joining one of our oldest and most honored military institutions. We only allow the best in our ranks and only the bravest know what it means to sacrifice for our clans and our league. Today, you are no longer simply a soldier. Today you are airborne."

Excerpt from the induction speech presented by Major Maderas Julio to the TN 1933 class

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taBLe of contents

iiii Project Manager / Senior Editor Robert Dubois

Line Developer Jason Dickerson

Blitz! Concept Phillipe F. LeClerc

Silhouette Blitz! Designers John Buckmaster Nick Pilon

Silhouette System Designers Marc-Alexandre Vézina Gene Marcil Stephane I. Matis

Writing Jason Dickerson Sean Callaway Andrew MacIntyre

Military Advisor Sean Callaway Brandon Fero

Koala Concept Sean Callaway Greg Perkins

Copy Editor Andrew MacIntyre

Additional Editing Brandon Fero Jason Dickerson Greg Perkins Daniel Hinds-Bond

Layout, Graphics and Datacards Daniel Hinds-Bond

Cover Artwork Greg Perkins

Additional Artwork Mariko Shimamoto Greg Perkins Alex Perkins Matt Moylan Ghislaine Barbe

Miniature Sculpting Phillipe F. LeClerc

Miniature Painting Greg Perkins Leif Raiha

Photos and Photo Editing Greg Perkins

Playtesters Brad Bellows Hugh Brown Sr. Francis Charland Craig Engle Joseph Johnson Scott Kunian Gareth Lazelle Marcus Lindner Michael Onsrud Jeremy Ortiz Patrick Sizemore Paul Workoff

All of us would like to dedicate this book to the men and women serving in 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. We hope you're safe out there, Sean.

Jason: To the real Charlie, thanks for being an inspiration in my life. Greg: Big thanks to the Drop Bears team, everyone at the Pod, and “Panzer.”Daniel: To everyone who worked so hard to make this such a high quality book.Mariko: この素敵なプロジェクトに貢献する機会を作ってくれたブライアンに、

また、今までの私の支えとなってくれた家族に私のアートワークを捧げます。

同時に、私の参入を快く受け入れてくれたDream Pod 9の皆さんに感謝します。

credIts

dedIcatIon and specIaL thanks

Art & Designs copyright 2010, Dream Pod 9, Inc. & High Gear Productions. Dream Pod 9, Heavy Gear Blitz! and other names, specific game terms, and logos are copyright 2010, Dream Pod 9, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except for datacards for game play and short excerpts for review purposes. Any similarities to actual characters, situations, institutions, corporations, etc. (without satirical intent) are strictly coincidental.

Legal Deposit: June, 2010Bibliothèque Nationale du QuébecNational Library of CanadaStock Number DP9-9175ISBN 978-1-926790-14-5

www.dp9.com www.dp9forum.com

Produced and Published byDream Pod 9, Inc.5000 Iberville, Suite 328Montréal, Québec, H2H 2S6CANADA

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1table of contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2weird But tasty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3memorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

chapter 1 - too heavy to handLehistory of the drop Bears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6drop Bear regiment organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8squad Breakdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9uniforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

rank Insignia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12awards & honors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Insignia placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

crazy eights traditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Induction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14duelist and regiment honor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14unoff icial rites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15reunions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Lexicon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

major npcs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16colonel cristobal alta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16optional rule: using characters In Blitz! . . . . . . . . . . . . 17senior sergeant ‘chief ’ massimilliano gregorio. . . . . . . 18Lieutenant James karen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20wallace Jane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22senior ranger vale derrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

generic npcs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Junior off icer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26paratrooper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26heavy gear pilot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27terran koala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

rpg hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

chapter 2 - BuILdIng a Better Bearmad dingos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30development history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31spec sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

koala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32command koala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34killer koala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36dingo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

special character vehicle conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40how kiki got her yellow hair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

chapter 3 - drop and roLLadditional Blitz! rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44fielding a drop Bear regiment in Blitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

rules for northern forces in the war of the alliance. . . 44rules for cef forces in the war of the alliance . . . . . . . 45southern city milit ia defense force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

combat groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47city milit ia defense cadre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47airborne dragoon squad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48vale's squad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Blitz! scenarios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50prologue: gates of fire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50northern wargames: drop Bears dive! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51northern wargames: Bear at the Ball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Badlands engagement: red rover, red rover. . . . . . . . . 53southern campaign I: asps, very dangerous . . . . . . . . . 54southern campaign II: the unforgiven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55pak skirmish: old wounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56cef Invasion: dark skies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57cef Invasion: ride of the valkyries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58cef Invasion: red dawn, false sun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

datacards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

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weIrd But tasty

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memorIaL

iviv memorIaLThe sounds of ratcheting and welding echoed through the hangar, where Massimilliano was sitting with his dinner. The contents of the Weird but Tasty take out box sat half-eaten on the table next to the blueprints of his design. The strange fungus meal never settled well in his stomach, but it reminded him of times gone by. Today was his anniversary. He usually celebrated by drinking a bottle of Fort James Best, sometimes two bottles when the pain was too much to bear. Twenty cycles and the wounds of Barrington Gate hadn't fully healed and probably never would.

Charlie tugged at Massimilliano's pant leg and reached up to the rugged engineer. The grey marsupial had been a gift from the 117th MILICIA, a unit that he had served next to in Baja for over a season. The commandant of the unit had helped him get through the worst of his self destructive habits and a strong friendship had been won that cycle in addition to retribution against the CEF-ers that dared attack their planet.

Reaching over, Massimilliano picked up the koala from the floor and set it on his lap. Almost immediately, Charlie grabbed the shiny paratrooper badge off the table and the small creature began turning the green and brass pin over in his claws. He looked up to the mechanic before extending his paw and handing it back to him. "So much like a child," Massimilliano thought to himself. He grinned and took the badge offered to him. Charlie leaned forward and grabbed the Weird but Tasty box to help himself to its contents. The mechanic rubbed the koala's head and let it enjoy the brown, sauce-infused fungus.

Massimilliano's eyes drifted towards the picture that was partially hidden under the blueprint and he felt a sadness well up inside him. He had lost so many friends and fellow soldiers over the cycles. "Never again," he told himself. His design would save lives in his regiment; it would bring firepower to where they needed it at the front. Tomorrow's field-test would prove to the proconsul that her faith in his work was justified. Tomorrow, he would prove to himself that he could still make a difference. "I'm still here, protecting them, Kat," the mechanic prayed silently hoping his wife would hear him. Massimilliano's eyes looked over at the glass of whiskey he'd poured for himself, but hadn't started on yet. "Not this cycle," he thought. "No, never again..."

"Come on Charlie, we need to get a good night's rest. We have to be at our best when we show off your species' namesake tomorrow." The koala looked up at the mechanic, its paw stuffed in its mouth. The webbled animal nodded, hopped off the chair, and walked a few paces before turning around. Massimilliano gathered the blueprints and pictures into the leather folio and turned to walk out of the hangar. His gaze fell on the massive Gear at the far end. Tomorrow, the Bear would drop from the skies.

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too heavy to handLe

11too heavy to handLe

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unIt hIstory

11 tn 1670 The 08th Air Assault Regiment is founded in Fort Henry by the Cristobal Clan.

tn 1689 After the WFPA raid on the UMFA, Hunter Gear technology becomes available to the army. The 08th receives their first Hunters.

tn 1723 St. Vincent's War draws the Western Frontier Protectorate into an intense conflict. The 08th is mobilized for repeated deep assaults into the Southern Republic and the Mekong Dominion.

tn 1725 The 08th completes a successful raid into the Albigen region of the Southern Republic. The unit utilizes parachute rigged skids to deliver their Hunters into the area marking the first attempt in the history of the WFPA to deliver Gears in such a method. Following the action, the unit is nicknamed the Crazy Eights.

tn 1729 St. Vincent's War concludes, though the wounds from the conflict leave the population of the WFP dissatisfied. Pin point raids into the South continue well after the war concludes. The 08th continues to develop their airborne Gear tactics in these missions.

tn 1771 The Crazy Eights under the lackluster leadership of Colonel Tiggs Malcolm disastrously attacks Aquitaine's MILICIA base in the Southern Republic. Significant civilian casualties turns this black ops mission into an international incident. Tiggs is stripped of command and the 08th is placed on reserve status for nearly a decade.

tn 1790 Produced by Northco a few cycles earlier, the Hunter Commando replaces the aging Hunters used by the regiment.

tn 1896-1905 The series of engagements that would be known as the Sandstorm Strikes hones the skills of the 08th's pilots and new commander, Colonel Maderas Jose. The unit met with mixed success during the conflict, but learned valuable lessons.

tn 1914 Colonial Expeditionary Forces move towards blockading Fort William. The 08th performs a daring raid deep behind enemy lines to harass the CEF forces. Their actions buy the city state valuable time, but cost nearly half the 08th's equipment and manpower.

tn 1915 20 Spring marks a dark day for the 08th. The CEF assaults Fort William at the Barrington Gate. The 08th along with the 42nd Northern Guard Gear Regiment bog down the CEF forces long enough for reinforcements to arrive. The regiment is reduced to barely one company in size.

tn 1917 Surviving members of the Crazy Eights are rolled into the 76th Northern Guard Provisional Gear Regiment serving under Lang Regina's 2nd Armored Division. The unit is present at the fierce fighting in Baja.

tn 1921 Postwar cycles leave the 08th Airborne Assault Gear Regiment in a decommissioned state. The surviving company is sent to the Northern Guard as a training unit.

tn 1926 In order to combat the rising influence of the Zuccite Faction, the Maderans have the decorated 08th reactivated. Brigadier General Maderas Jose hand picks a former officer under his command during the War of the Alliance to lead the unit.

tn 1928 Colonel Cristobal Alta spends these cycles rebuilding the league and her unit. The war has left massive gaps in the WFPA's armory and the 08th is woefully under equipped. The unit is barely serviceable as an airborne unit as the majority of the unit's Gears are older Bears, Den Mothers, first generation Hunter Commandos, and Mad Dogs.

tn 1930 The regiment's chief technician, Massimilliano Gregorio, searches for ways to make the large number of Bears lighter for airborne skid drops.

tn 1931 Gregorio completes a variety of tests on the Drop Bear upgrade and finds support on the project from Colonel Cristobal. Colonel Cristobal approaches Lang Regina and the Maderan faction for funding on the development. Riley Weapons Systems works closely with the regiment and develops a variety of new weapons systems.

hIstory of the drop Bears

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unIt hIstory

11tn 1932 Project Drop Bear catches the attention of the Northern Guard high command and Northco. The massive corporation makes improvements on Gregorio's solid design.

tn 1935 Project Drop Bear enters into late prototype development. The 08th's Bears and Den Mothers are refitted with upgrade kits and tested at the Fort Henry Testing Range during that cycle's CNCS joint war games.

tn 1936 The Koala is officially rolled off the retooled Bear factory lines in Fort Henry. The 08th is deployed into the Badlands with their new Gears after the assassination of Thor Hutchinson.

tn 1936 In support of the Vigilance's operations on the Southern Republic's border, the Crazy Eights drop into Aquitaine to create chaos with the defending forces. The new Koala performs admirably and the 08th crushes the city's militia and bruises the 44th MILICIA regiment stationed there.

tn 1937 After the attack on Fort Henry, the 08th is deployed to retaliate and harass any Southern forces near the WFP's border. Colonel Cristobal is given autonomy in the region to eliminate the rover incursion and Southern enemies for nearly a season before being called back.

tn 1938 With the bombing of Peace River and the growing resentment of the war by the leagues' populations, the Interpolar war concludes and the polar nations move towards an uneasy peace. Lang Regina and Cristobal Santiago of the Northern Guard Space Service approach Colonel Cristobal Alta with a proposal to test advanced weapons systems and vehicles for a top secret program called the Aurora Project. Various systems that would be incorporated into the Dark Kodiak are utilized in the Koalas to test their functionality. The unit tests the prototype of the Fury Assault Shuttle in a number of airborne strikes against rover encampments in the Badlands.

tn 1941 The 08th receives five Kodiaks equipped with the Aurora drop system and stealth material to test in the field. Senior Ranger Vale Derrick and his section are given the units to use.

tn 1943 While hunting rovers in the Badlands, the 08th encounters a PAK patrol. After Sergeant Torrez Blake, a veteran of the War of the Alliance, fires on the PAK forces without authorization from his superiors, the two forces engage in a short, but deadly firefight. Torrez's section loses one third of their units and his actions lead to a court martial and a dishonorable discharge from the WFPA for he and two other survivors under his command.

tn 1945 Vale Derrick and four other members of his section form the core of the Black Talon's Force 8, which is deployed to Utopia.

tn 1948-1949 The 08th is placed on reserve during the tumultuous period of the WFP's government restructuring. The unit's War of the Alliance veterans have largely retired, though a few of the die-hard NCO's remain with the regiment to train new recruits.

tn 1950 The CEF launches the second invasion of Terra Nova. The 08th is mobilized at Fort Henry and awaits its destiny...

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