Ŝḥenĉeł'yhe
The Ŝḥenĉeł'yh, commonly misspelled Shenchely, were a division-sized military force in the service of Salome as Duchess of Brookshire. It initially formed as a mercenary group contracted to provide services in Brookshire. The Ŝḥenĉeł'yhe were multiethnic and multilingual, but were dominated by Laqs, who formed its backbone of hardened fighters and leadership. As such, the group conducted itself primarily in a special variety of the Red Laqi language, Dolorbze.
In 1711 AN, the Ŝḥenĉeł'yh was absorbed into the Imperial Forces proper and restructured into the Evagati Corps.
Organization
Has
Ŝḥenĉeł'yh operations were directed by the Has (RL. "Council"). Each of the seven Hasešyšeh (RL. "Council Members") had served as Standard Bearers on various Imperial Expeditions, including the Kaiseress herself.
Formations
- Myćiereh (RL. "The Nonsleepers")
- 1st Myćiereh
- 2nd Myćiereh
- 3rd Myćiereh
- 4th Myćiereh
- Ġogwonek'wnyrł'yh (RL. "The Journeymen") [Founded as Ġ°eg°yuenek°'ynyrł'yh]
- 1st Ġogwonek'wnyrł'yh
- 2nd Ġogwonek'wnyrł'yh
- 3rd Ġogwonek'wnyrł'yh
- Pesyk'oś'wyc'eh (RL. "The Black Watchmen") [Founded as Pesyk'°ehe F'yc'ehe]
- 1st Pesyk'oś'wc'eh
- 2nd Pesyk'oś'w'yc'eh
- 3rd Pesyk'oś'w'yc'eh
- 4th Pesyk'oś'w'yc'eh
- 5th Pesyk'oś'w'yc'eh
- 6th Pesyk'oś'w'yc'eh
- 7th Pesyk'oś'w'yc'eh
- Łym y Śyh (RL. "The Brothers of The Blood")
- 1st Łym y Śyh
- 2nd Łym y Śyh
- Tyġoryġwh (RL. "The Eagle-Owls")
- Tyġoryġu Pesak'oh — independent company, life guards for Mamyr Aslanpxu
- 1st Tyġoryġwh
- 2nd Tyġoryġwh
- Ć'eleiedźak'o'azeh (RL. "The Apt Pupils") [Founded as Ć'eleiedźak'°eh 'Azeh]
- 1st Ć'eleiedźak'o'azeh
- 2nd Ć'eleiedźak'o'azeh
- 3rd Ć'eleiedźak'o'azeh
- Pxepceh Txežyreh (RL. "The Happy Woodspirits")
- 1st Pxepceh Txežyreh
- 2nd Pxepceh Txežyreh
- 3rd Pxepceh Txežyreh
- Neip-ie-Neušy (RL. "The Today-or-Tomorrow")
- 1st Neip-ie-Neušy
- Žauś'enĉe (RL. "The Without-Refuge"
- 1st Žauś'enĉe
- 2nd Žauś'enĉe
Authorized Composition
In IV.1683 AN, as part of an effort to systematize and expand the Ŝḥenĉeł'y ranks, the Duchess-in-Kehl issued directives detailing the authorized number and rank of owners and fighters for a correctly-organized and fully-staffed fighting company:
- 1 Tḥemat as commander;
- 5 Bysymeh, numbered according to seniority, with the first as second-in-command, and the remainder it command of each fighting Kort;
- 1 Ẑyŝypq, to enforce discipline and provide advice to the commander;
- 19 Feġzek'oh, to command each Kwp;
- 48 'Epe'as, to assist their Feġzeko' in command of the Kwp; and
- 96 Zoak'oh, to do what they must.
| Unit | Commander | Translation | Number | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xwrei | Tḥemat | "Circle, Company" | 6;156 | ||
|
Bysym Apere | "Middle Troop" | 1;8 | ||
|
Ẑyŝypq | "Middlest Team" | 2 (+4) | Ẑyŝypq, Commander's Manservant, and a disciplinarian from each troop | |
|
Feġzek'u | "Assets Team" | 2 (+4) | Quartermaster, Quartermaster's assistant, and a supply supervisor from each troop | |
|
Feġzek'u | "Cooking Team" | 2 (+4) | Cook, Cook's assistant, and a mess distributor from each troop | |
|
Feġzek'u | "Extraordinary Arms Team" | 2+ | Weapons master, Weapons master's assistant; additional as necessary to use and maintain nonstandard equipment | |
|
Bysym Iat'wner-Iatfyner | "Troop" | 1;37 [4;148] | ||
|
Feġzek'u | "Middle Team" | 10 | Heavy Weapons Section | |
|
'Epe'as | "Tank-striking Arm" | 3 | Anti-Tank Group | |
|
'Epe'as | "Mortar-throwing Arm" | 3 | Mortar Group | |
|
'Epe'as | "Well-aimed Arm" | 3 | Sniper Group | |
|
Feġzek'u | "Team" | 9 [27] | ||
|
Feġzek'u | "Scouting Arm" | 3 | Scout Group | |
|
'Epe'as | "Rifle Arm" | 3 | Rifle Group | |
|
C'eraxoł'y | "Gun Arm" | 3 | Machine Gun Group |
The fighting company, or Xwrai (RL. "circle"), is to have one Kort in the middle as its headquarters, with Kwpeh to supervise assets, cooking, and exceptional arms, as well as to oversee attached medical, engineer, logistics, and other units. It shall also have four fighting Korteh.
A fighting troop, or Kort, shall have one Kwp in the middle as its headquarters, with 'Eh armed and trained for anti-tank, mortar, and sniper duties. It shall also have three fighting Kwpeh.
A fighting section, or Kwr, shall have three "arms", 'Eh, each tasked with a distinct duty. The 'E Źeheć'otyre, or Scouting Arm, is led by the Kwr's commander and identifies the location and disposition of the enemy. The Śhonć 'E, or Rifle Arm, is led by the Kwr's second-in-command, and is its primary maneuver team. The C'eraxu 'E, or Gun Arm, is led by the Kwr's third-in-command, and is its muscle, unloading with the power of a general purpose machine gun.
In its original iteration, Ŝḥenĉeł'yh fighting companies operated as independent maneuvering units, with higher formations developed ad hoc as necessary for a particular campaign. Since the 1680s, as part of its major restructuring, these fighting companies were permanently made organic components of battalion-sized units (RL. Tam "wings"). These consist of three fighting companies, a wing headquarters, and wing support.
In the Wing Headquarters, staff officers handle communications, intelligence, planning, logistics, manpower, and training. In the Wing Support, staff officers oversee medical and engineering detachments, as well as others as necessary for a particular campaign.
Ĉ'yfenĉeł'yh
The Ĉ'yfenĉeł'yh (RL. "debtless men") are a special forces formation within the Ŝḥenĉeł'yh, notable for being composed solely of fighters who furnished their own equipment and training, chose not to buy in as a shareholder, and otherwise have no debts to resolve through their service.
As such, they effectively function as subcontractors to the greater organization, and each unit of Ĉ'yfenĉeł'yh is organized independently to that of the main organization.
Ranks
Rank and position within the Ŝḥenĉeł'yh were dictated by financial status as well as fighting and command skill. Those who had been wealthy enough to buy into the organization to become a shareholder were called Bysymeh (RL. "Owners"). Those who had signed on to provide their services to the organization to cover debts and had to be furnished with equipment and training are called Zoak'oh (RL. "Fighters").
Ŝḥenĉeł'y rank insignia were marked on sapphire blue shoulder tabs, which were only earned by successfully completing all rounds of training. For soldiers, advancement was marked with buttons; for officers, it was marked by ribbons of varying width and number. Nypḥyk'u was an appointment conferred on tamtḥemats when serving as a field commander, especially when commanding a mixed force. Bysym had two levels, with Bysym Naḥyš'e ("Younger Officer") serving as an aid or command over a lower-ranking troop, and Bysym for senior company-grade roles, such as commanding a senior troop or as company 2i/c.
| Bysymeh ("Officers") | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Translation | Equivalent to Imperial Army | Role | Insignia |
| Nypḥyk'u | RL. "Standard Bearer" | Salbnan | Field Commander | 
|
| Tamtḥemat | RL. "Wing Boss" | Ahmst / Tribune | Battalion Commander | 
|
| Tḥemat | RL. "Boss" | Company Commander | 
| |
| Bysym | RL. "Owner, Host" | Golsapbir / Draconary | Subaltern (various) | 
|
| ||||
| Zoak'oh ("Soldiers") | ||||
| Rank | Translation | Equivalent to Imperial Army | Role | Insignia |
| Ẑyŝypq | RL. "Really Old" | Opratzan / Ordinate | Senior Fighter Lead Disciplinarian Advisor to Company Commander |
|
| Feġzek'u | RL. "Director" | Frum / Prime | Section Leader | 
|
| 'Epe'as | RL. "Skillful (Fighter)" | Chosen Man | Team Leader | 
|
| Zoak'u | RL. "Fighter" | Streïak | Trained Fighter | 
|
| Ć'ale | RL. "Boy, lit. New Meat" | Nuïak | Recruit | none |
Uniform & Equipment
All Ŝḥenĉeł'y were issued both pistol and rifle as part of standard gear. The M1525 semi-automatic pistol, with some units instead using the M1486 revolver, served as a short-range defensive firearm. Being a Laq military formation, all Ŝḥenĉeł'y were also equipped with their personal dagger.
The M1610 semi-automatic rifle functioned as the Ŝḥenĉeł'y primary offensive weapon, a significant upgrade from civilian-type or stolen M1568 and M1591 bolt-action rifles that many Laqi had been accustomed to for the past century. The M1610L, a variant developed in coordination with Laqi marksmen to meet their demands, was the most common type in use.
Each fighting team was issued one Wren LMG, while heavy weapons teams were issued recoilless rifles, mortars, and sniper-variant M1591s to fulfill their specialized roles. Other firearms, such as submachine guns, anti-materiel rifles, MPADS, etc, were deployed from company stores according to mission.
For rudimentary CBRN protection, beginning in 1694 AN, Ŝḥenĉeł'y began to be issued the RL-2 durable half-mask respirator, with the appropriate filter cartridge loaded into the front of the respirator.
Tactics
Ŝḥenĉeł'y units employed Laqi-style guerrilla tactics, which preferentially avoided conventional open battlefield engagements in favor of concealed movement, infiltration and envelopment, targeted focus, and defeat in detail in order to wear down the enemy and disrupt its ability to operate and hold territory. The actual acquisition of territory was seen as relatively unimportant in comparison to undermining the enemy's sense of safety and control.
A standard Ŝḥenĉeł'y offensive can be summarized as "Absolutely Ready but Triply Quick/Nimble" (RL. Iqwġebz au Šere Psynć'e).
This involved a reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering phase, to adequately assess the value of a target towards the overall operational mission (or to identify a means of circumventing it), evaluating the target's strongpoints and weaknesses, establishing forward deployment and retreat positions in order to monitor and assault from and to withdraw safely, and rehearsing the particular maneuvers of the attack.
An attack needed to have a quick/nimble advance, maneuvering in small, discrete units as much as possible and taking circuitous, indirect paths, before arriving at their forward deployment position. It also needed a quick/nimble assault, focusing overwhelming firepower on an identified pressure point within a narrow timeframe. Finally, it needed a quick/nimble withdrawal, with an attack's discrete units dispersing and regrouping towards their retreat positions, allowing the enemy's post-attack reaction to be monitored and managed.
