Origins/Major Influence: The Thin Green Line (Paranoia supplement)
Description: If there is one entity that could overthrow The Computer, it would have to be the Armed Forces. They have the firepower to suppress any dissent, and the weaponry to conquer and reprogram any CompNode. The only thing keeping the Armed Forces in line is its obsession with external enemies, its internal paranoia, and the constant increase in funding. But there are times when perhaps "rogue" Armed Forces generals can try their luck.
AFCOM, short for Armed Forces Command, was originally in charge of the Alpha Complexian Armed Forces, and has the main purpose of coordinating the the war against Communism. However, the coalition of generals in charge of AFCOM soon became sidetracked from this important task, interested in gaining political power, promoting their agenda of their secret societies, rooting out spies from other service groups, weakening Internal Security and pursuing inter-service rivalries, acquiring more wealth to line their pockets, and claiming credit for any victories Alpha Complex actually had over Communists. "Civil wars" within AFCOM became alarmingly common, and orders from AFCOM became increasingly erratic and eccentric.
Then...one day, AFCOM made a public announcement: communists have covertly seized control over Alpha Complex, and that it is now up to the loyal elements of the Armed Forces to retaliate and liberate the Complex. After a few quick battles however, AFCOM found out the awful truth: most of the Armed Forces disagreed with AFCOM's assessment (or subverted by communists, according to AFCOM propaganda), and decided to stay loyal to Alpha Complex. The attempted coup was a complete failure. However, AFCOM has already evacuated their most loyal men over to a secret, underground complex, complete with a AF-friendly Computer and functioning clone vats. The complex was prepared to last indefinitely, and its citizens were ready to wage a war of attrition against the Complex they once led, using the trillions of credits and massive weaponry they stockpiled for in previous years to fight this glorious war against Alpha Complex.
There is still debate over the Subnets over why this great treason occurred in the first place: perhaps AFCOM grew paranoid, possibly AFCOM became too greedy for power and overreached, or maybe AFCOM was subverted by Communists or the Complex Laser Association. Whatever the reason, AFCOM soon became yet another hated enemy of the Alpha Complex, and the Alpha Complex Armed Forces is sent on constant missions to battle AFCOM.
AFCOM Complex has an entirely parallel bureaucracy that serves the purposes of the AFCOM Armed Forces' war against Alpha Complex's Armed Forces: Command (CPU), Barracks Housing and Morale (HPD&MC), Commissary and Supply (PLC), Military R&D (R&D), Armed Forces Political Organization (Internal Security), etc. These service groups are similar to that of Alpha Complex's service groups with one exception...they all have military units ready to defend their interests against the other service groups. These service groups would rather use their military units to defend their position in the AFCOM hierarchy than use it to defend AFCOM itself.
Spy From Another Alpha Complex: Though AFCOM prefers a heroic triumph over Alpha Complex, this may prove improbable in the short-term. So "patrol" groups are sent into Alpha Complex to gather intelligence for the day when AFCOM will heroically triumph over the traitorous complex.