The Grey Watch

The Grey Watch (Modern Artarian: Mamujle Elkaeg) is the common name given to the permanent garrison corps of the Şejşoş-R̂ojşu Lines. Since their inception with the construction of the fortifications they have been charged with guarding the Twelve Colonies against any hostile action from beyond the borders. They do this through guarding and maintainance of the fortifications and defensive weapon systems, by patrols into the Colonial Exclusion Zone and, perhaps most famously, by conducting near constant aerial bombings on points of interest in the CEZ, such as potential hideouts and lookouts, the so-called Doormat Doctrine (şanloz hea).  

The Doormat Doctrine

The Doormat Doctrine is the Grey Watch's most controversial and effective strategic policy. It is a calculated and unyielding campaign of aerial bombings designed to create an uninhabitable buffer zone between the colonies and the native Polymedians. The name itself, "Doormat," is a grim testament to the doctrine's purpose: to "cleanse" and deter. The targets are not just overt threats but any sign of native presence, from temporary shelters to traditional gathering spots. This policy is a clear and constant assertion of colonial power, a message etched into the very soil of the CEZ with every detonation. While it has been effective in preventing large-scale incursions, it has also solidified the Grey Watch’s reputation as an unforgiving, aggressive force in the eyes of the native Cixusians and Ewuxi.  

The Internal Economy

The Grey Watch is a self-sufficient military machine. Due to its isolated location and the nature of its duty, it has developed an internal economy that is both a result of necessity and a symbol of its autonomy. Supplies are ferried from the inner cities, but the Grey Watch also produces many of its own essentials, from manufactured goods in the Line's extensive workshops to cultivated food within the fortified city-bases. The border city of Akkathlempi, which houses the Western Military Airport, and the eastern city of Shfazagus, home to the Eastern Military Airport, serve as crucial logistical hubs. This internal economy and the isolation of the garrison have fostered a unique, hardened culture that is distinct from the more urbanized population of the Twelve Colonies.  

Structure

The Grey Watch is divided into several specialized brigades, each with a distinct role in maintaining the security of the Şejşoş-R̂ojşu Lines.

The Sentry Brigade

Often referred to as "The Eyes of the Wall", the Sentry Corps is composed of the watchmen and women who man the perimeter. Their primary duty is to monitor the vast expanse of the CEZ from atop fortified watchtowers. They are responsible for operating the sophisticated network of turrets, motion sensors, and early warning systems integrated into the Lines. Recruits for the Sentry Corps are highly trained in surveillance, data analysis, and long-range engagement, making them the first line of defense against any incursion. However, they also serve as the last line, as they demonstrated during the First Massacre at the Şejşoş Line in the year 515 SC, which saw the Sentry Corps manning machine gun nests in the second line after the assaulting Ewuxian foe blew a massive hole in the main wall.

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The Artillery Brigade

This corps operates the heavy, long-range defensive systems. Integrated into the heart of the Lines' fortifications, the artillery batteries are capable of striking targets deep within the CEZ. Their personnel are rigorously trained in ballistics, fire coordination, and the maintenance of the massive, custom-built cannons and missile launchers. Their role is to provide overwhelming firepower and a psychological deterrent, ensuring that any native force attempting a direct assault on the Lines would be met with catastrophic resistance.

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The Air Brigade

The Air Corps is the most visible manifestation of the Doormat Doctrine. Its members pilot a fleet of custom-built, heavily armed aircrafts, conducting relentless bombing runs and reconnaissance flights over the CEZ. Further divided into various squadrons of various types, such as airlifts, strategic bombers/transportation and fighter-bombers, it was the latter of those; nicknamed the "Grey Vultures", who were the most feared element of the Grey Watch by the native populations. Their pilots are selected for their tactical acumen and are responsible for identifying and neutralizing potential threats before they can even approach the Line.

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The Ranger Brigade

While the other corps are focused on static defense or aerial bombardment, the Rangers are the Grey Watch's boots on the ground. They are an elite unit of light infantrymen who conduct deep patrols into the CEZ. Their missions range from mapping native settlements and tracking migration patterns to setting up forward observation posts and engaging small-scale threats. The Rangers are masters of survival, guerrilla warfare, and exobiology, as they must navigate the dangerous flora and fauna of the CEZ while avoiding both hostile natives and the collateral damage from their own Air Corps' bombings. One of the most dangerous duties lies in the destruction of underground insurgent activity, as the vast cave systems under the Equatorial Ridge are often too deep to be effectively bombed.