CLANS OF THE AFS: The Rank and File

So, you want to know about us Rank and File, do you?

I could talk forever about our startling good looks, the black on black missions you’ll never know about, or nearly any one of my Rank comrades. But I see you think you're special; you want to know about everything.

Squids, think they can swim with sharks, eh? Sit, and listen.

The foundations of the Rank and File go back to the World Wars. The top brass needed small, resourceful, expendable units to work off the radar causing chaos behind enemy lines. Not simply spies, but riflemen, sappers, medics, soldiers of every talent, and a Captain to lead them. Separate from the chain of command, these units were authorized to use any means necessary, not to simply succeed in their mission, but to survive. During the great wars, men of talent, resolve, and ambition would be assigned to these “Special Task Force” companies, and sent off on a damned suicide mission. The few who managed to complete the mission and come back alive, would get the honor of doing it all again, with a thumbs-up from some smug, clean shaven, flat-arsed general, and a few new faces to replace the fallen.

And, if you didn't make it back? Well ... I hear they sent flowers to your ma' and a nice shiny metal to compliment 'em.

The survivors of these missions formed a close-knit band, and working together has kept them alive through all the wars since. The Rank and File was the Company with no name. Savage, proud, true men fought and died for their integrity, honor and beliefs.
As the great wars ended, The Company no longer followed a flag. Instead they fought for all mankind, fought for an Ideal: Freedom, Integrity, Valor, and Fraternity
They became more then military elites and black operation squads; they became a tradition.

The Rank and File is that Tradition, a breeding ground for the best humanity has to offer. No one here stands, without scars bearing mute witness to the Reaper’s ride, kicking death in the rocks and com'n back to drink something cold for those who didn’t. Each and everyone of us knows the tragedies of war...

Ghost-Hack, he’s our captain now … Leading us where no one wants to go, and where Bane don’t want to follow. They say he’s blind and can’t see a thing … But then they said all that stuff I just told you, so who knows for sure, it’s all just rumor, okay?!

The only thing I know for sure is that we always hold true to one goal: To find the enemies of freedom, valor, and brotherhood, and put them face down in the dirt. Not only for our own sakes, but also that of our children, and their children.

We’ve got our watchwords … Hell, I been say’n them already ... we say, “When you got a job to do, you do it. Do it right, and when things get bad, stick your neck out so your brothers can make it out alive."

I could tell you stories... about the missions, the raids, nose to nose with some of the nastiest the Bane have to offer, Infiltrating bases, dropping relief to enslaved sentients, cutting supply lines, recon on occupied worlds, Heck, half the time I don’t even know were we are, just another god forsaken, Bane-infested rock ... We like to call it “Life behind the lines”.

Each and everyone one of us is out there fighting for not only our own lives, but the lives of people like you. Better to fight with friends that no one at all, right? That, is the Rank and File.

So, either stand in line and die like the rest, or step up and live a legend!