Astro-Landing Force
"I can’t afford to trust in hope, in treaties, or in the future. I trust in the Marines of the ALF. When the drums start, it’s not diplomacy that answers—it’s them. They are the spearhead of civilization, and the shield behind it."
Origins in Crisis: The Founding of the Force
The Astro-Landing Force was formally established in the Year 133 to answer threats that neither fleet crews nor planetary militias could handle alone. Prior to its creation, the role of mobile infantry in space-based operations was loosely filled by security detachments aboard Solar Defense Fleet (SDF) ships—forces trained more like Planetary Defense Forces (PDF) than expeditionary troops. This system proved dangerously inadequate during two simultaneous emergencies: the Bogler pirate incursions, which sapped SDF personnel reserves, and the sudden uprising of the Independent Colonial Destiny (ICD), a separatist movement backed covertly by House Godunov. In one night, ICD forces executed a coordinated surprise attack across numerous core worlds, overwhelming defense networks using synthetic battalions and elite shock troops. To counter this existential threat, the Speaker for Mankind initiated a quiet military build-up under the guise of diplomacy. Over the next year, an elite new fighting force was forged—trained, equipped, and distributed throughout the fleet. When the ALF finally deployed, the tide turned. The ICD never won another battle, and its remnants fled into the shadows, eventually founding the radical Coalition of Rebels.
The Campaign That Sealed Their Fate (and Fame)
While their origin lay in suppressing separatists, the ALF's place in human mythos was secured during the Croon Invasion of 160 YAC—a total-war scenario known as Operation Sigma Dogstar. With no communicable language, no visible diplomacy, and no tolerance for civilian life, the Croon proved to be an utterly alien threat. Their immense capital ship, the Pinnacle Rise, was both fortress and enigma, and it was ALF that breached its hull and waged the most grueling ground campaign in human history. The corridor-to-corridor conquest of the Pinnacle forged a new cultural identity for the ALF: one built on grit, resolve, and a shared crucible of suffering that continues in the form of their training program. The battle not only saved the Solar System from annihilation but marked the transition of the ALF from experimental strike force to legendary institution. Since then, they’ve been the cornerstone of human military operations—present in every major conflict, from first contact wars to planetary insurrections and beyond.
Logistics, Doctrine, and the Backbone of the Consortium
Today, the ALF is the Pan-Solar Consortium’s premier expeditionary ground force, structured for rapid deployment, extreme resilience, and total adaptability. Each Marine is trained across all standard weapons systems and armored loadouts, with sub-specialties covering Vehicles, exo-operations, and joint-species warfare. They coordinate frequently with PDF forces, the Solar Clone Corps, and even allied species like the Cygnians and Cryoavi. Strategically, the ALF emphasizes logistical sustainability through two primary methods: mobile, fortified supply depots that serve as both bait and bulwark, and self-contained field operations. Every Marine carries a month’s worth of compact C-Rations, wears a battle suit capable of water reclamation from any bodily source, and operates alongside squads equipped with portable Fabricators—machines capable of manufacturing ammunition and tools from locally sourced carbon. They can establish a forward presence in hours and hold ground for weeks, all without external support. To the Speaker and the people of Sol, the ALF is more than a fighting force—it’s the line between order and oblivion.
Comments