THE 17TH ROYAL
ENGINEERS
"BASTIONS OF THE BRAVE"

“Where Right and Glory Lead.”

Motto of the Royal Engineering Corps

PLACEHOLDER

17TH ROYAL ENGINEERS

"BASTIONS OF THE BRAVE"

INFORMATION

Garrisons: Fort Navsta, Lakeview Administrative District

Fort Huxley, Sunrise Isles

Service History: War of 2162 (February 2162 – June 2162)
Second Canadian War (August 2164 – December 2164) Sunrise Isles Theater (June 2165 - PRESENT)

Activated: May 2162

Commanding Officer: Major Edmund Grandstaffe (Lakeview)

THE 17TH ROYAL ENGINEERS

The 17th Royal Engineers are one of the many former CAF units that find themselves largely intact after their dissolution into the Canadian Auxiliary Corps. After integrating into the Midwestern Union and under the New Model Army, the 17th was headquartered at Fort Navsta for reassignment, orientation, and retraining with the New Model Army. Due to the nature of the unit's experience in the First and Second Canadian Wars, they do not follow the standard doctrine of the New Model Army, where instead of specializing in naval and land-based "Tidal Warfare", the 17th focuses on engineering and defensive-based tactics. While the majority of the company is made up of prior Royal Engineering Corps Servicemen, that number is slowly decreasing. Members from other CAF units that were considered too diminished or even destroyed have begun to fill in the holes in the 17th's numbers, the 17th even housing former RCMP constables. The 17th Royal Engineers have been sent to the Sunrise Isles to support the 25th in their efforts to capture Bargetown, providing them better security to secure a foothold on the isles.

While the strategy behind the New Model Army is a rapid, unyielding advance dubbed "Tidal Warfare" By Army Command, the 17th Royal Engineers are one of the very few units that do not follow this doctrine. Given the 17th's supportive and defensive role in the NMA, they are more heavily equipped than their NMA counterparts in terms of engineering equipment and armor to fulfill the role of the NMA's proper defensive infantry. While the 17th is equipped for defensive warfare in terms of experience and equipment at its disposal, it relies on the 25th for any offensive situations. The 17th Royal Engineers cover a handful of bases for the NMA, with those included being a defensive infantry, explosive specialists, fortifiers, and technical experts on defenses. Due to the nature of the location of the Sunrise Campaign, the 17th's primary objective is to assist in the 25th's mission by fortifying and solidifying a permanent presence on the Sunrise Isles until the 25th's mission is complete.

Unlike a handful of other CAC Companies who still believe in the CPA and the Monarchy, the 17th is one of the many units that have been "revived" since the fall of Canada. Since the start of the Second Canadian War, the 17th had experienced an unfortunate series of events that cost the unit dearly, to the loss of Parliament Hill, where many members of the 17th felt like they were abandoned by the royalist government of Canada. However, after being recovered by the Midwestern Government following a deal with the NEU, a small but growing resurgence of morale has spread among those in the unit, believing that they will have a chance once more under the Midwestern Union. Oddly enough, while the 17th Royal Engineers are not fanatical about monarchs like other Canadian Units they still hold military figures such as the now Major Edmund Grandstaffe in high regard, whose quote from the Fall of Parliament Hill has become the unit's motto and is still used to rally the 17th to this day. "We are the Bastions of the Brave."

PRIMARY ROLES OF THE 17TH

The combat roles of the 17th Royal Engineers

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SECONDARY ROLES OF THE 17TH

The non-combat, passive jobs of the 17th Royal Engineers

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Members of the 17th Royal Engineers holding a street in Sunrise City, 2165.

TYPES OF SOLDIERS
The 17th is a highly diverse unit when it comes to training, having been one of the many units in the NMA that under went reorganization. Due to this the 17th has a highly diverse degree of prior training as it has received members from all over the former CAF. While they may have came from other backgrounds, all infantrymen have received retraining at Fort Navsta about the general purposes of the 17th Royal Engineers.

ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE 17TH "GROVER'S LAMENT"

Members of the 17th before its indoctrination into the Midwestern Union are considered the core of what makes the 17th Royal Engineers what it is. They are the best equipped and best trained for their job, having their experiences range from the First Canadian War onward through their peacekeeping missions in Quebec. Having the best knowledge when it comes to their job, their main focus is on fortification, bomb and obstacle removal, and general upkeep of military installations. Infantrymen of the 17th Royal Engineers have taken up an impromptu mentor role, often taking time to teach the former CAF and RCMP about their roles.

FORMER CANADIAN ARMED FORCES

Former CAF who were unfortunate enough to be a part of a unit that was virtually destroyed, or were plucked from a lesser unit to bolster the numbers of the 17th Royal Engineers, these former CAF have been retrained in the Midwestern Union by the CAC. While they may not be as knowledgeable or experienced in the engineering aspect of their unit, these infantrymen still carry their experiences from their time in the CAF. They tend to act more in a heavy infantry role, usually handling explosives, defending military installations, or protecting the proper 17th from threats outside the wire. However, they are still expected to serve in their engineering role if required. Former CAF are the most diverse in terms of experience in the 17th, consisting of either hastily recruited conscripts or decently experienced soldiers; however, all ex-CAF in the 17th were present in the majority of battles in the Second Canadian War.

FORMER ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE

While initially considered a terrible idea by the Canadian Auxiliary Corps due to the RCMP training being far from that of the Royal Engineering Corps, the inclusion and involvement of former RCMP constables within the 17th has seen a boost in morale. What the RCMP may lack in military and strategic knowledge, they make up for with their high spirits and highly disciplined manner. Former RCMP in the 17th have taken the unspoken role of morale officers with then seeing that their fellow infantrymen stay in line, oftentimes handling disputes and making internal confrontations end before others get involved. They also serve as the unit's main negotiators and sentries due to their prior training with policing in the RCMP and have experience with more close-quarters fighting. While they may be considered the least experienced of the 17th Royal Engineers, the presence of these men and women is respected and crucial to the successful internal working of this unit.

Members of the 17th Royal Engineers handling unexploded ordinance from the War of Ashes, Duluth 2165.

HISTORY OF THE 17TH ROYAL ENGINEERS IN THE CANADIAN FEDERATION
THE ROYAL ENGINEERING CORPS

The Royal Engineering Corps was not but an idea for most of the Canadian Federation's lifespan, before they relied on squad-level combat engineering; however, with the onset of the 1CW (First Canadian War), it was decided change was needed, especially with tensions in Quebec rising. The then Major General Edmund Grandstaffe proposed the REC Concept to parliament, and while there were doubts, ultimately he was given authorization.

The REC began to pluck the Combat Engineers from their squads and reorganized them into one cohesive structure with units underneath it. While their intention was the construction and removal of fortifications, early on, they gained a repertoire for peacekeeping missions within Quebec. As they gained experience with peacekeeping missions, the tensions with the Northeast Union were undeniable, and they were pulled from Quebec to the Southern border. While there was no winning this war, it is often seen that the reorganization and cohesive strength of the Corps allowed Canada to keep its sovereignty, shaken, but not beaten.

After the war, Canada was hanging on by a thread. Grandstaffe was given a new task, which was the secret rearmament of Canada. After the 1CW, the Northeast Union had given certain quotas and limits to the Canadian government, in hopes they'd never rise again. To the contrary, the REC, under the oversight of Grandstaffe, began work on a system dubbed LIFERAFT. Which would implement secret rearmament through several storage bunker complexes intended to store Canadian equipment not accounted for, hidden from the eyes of the South. This was all in preparation for the 2CW, which became more and more obvious with the overthrow of the Triumvirate, and Dubois' presidency. This war was again completely unwinnable; however, thanks to their dedicated hard work and manpower, Canada was given enough leeway to move to the Midwest.

THE 17TH "GROVER'S LAMENT" ROYAL ENGINEERS

The 17th was a unit from the earliest days of the REC, composed mostly of military engineers, and formed under the personal request of General Grandstaffe. They also held several 'Heavy Infantry' units that specialized in defense against large numbers. They fielded a retinue of weaponry but were not poised correctly for offensive operations; thus, they were stationed in Quebec alongside many other units. Even throughout the 1CW ( First Canadian War), most of their fighting was within the urban sprawl of Quebec and eastern Canada; many battles that were known only as meatgrinders, there was a constant influx of soldiers in and out of the 17th; they had a life expectancy of a few days. As the war came to a close, the 17th was reassigned to help construct the LIFERAFT bunkers.

As the 2CW (Second Canadian War) came into existence, HQ decided the 17th would serve better as reserves, held in towns unlikely to be attacked, to cover retreats of the line that'd be moving miles an hour. However, this seemed to work against them, whether it was poor luck or the Northern Division military intelligence, it seemed the 17th had always been attacked. From Trois-Rivieres to Montreal, it was a constant of being attacked and needing to defend from the Northern Division. this came to a head on Parliament Hill, defending to nearly the last man as officials were relocated, eventually surrendering completely to the Northern Division.

After the surrender, the 17th was officially handed off to the Midwest to improve relations between both Unions, much to the dismay of the Quebecois who'd wished for their trial because of their peacekeeping actions in Quebec. Assigned under the CPA, and later the CAC, they retained their name but were not exempt from the reorganization many units went through, leading to an influx of members from all reaches of the CAF. The 17th was the only intact REC unit, which was disbanded alongside the CAF, and the unit was officially put under the New Model Army Corps of Engineers. Remnants of other REC units were transferred into the 17th alongside other ex-CAF and even RCMP to bolster its numbers. Grandstaffe himself would choose to continue his service in the CAC and was given the rank of Major as well as total command of the 17th.

Currently the 17th holds a portion of ex-REC members that increasingly gets smaller, even less original members of the 17th, most of their soldiers come from a retinue of CAF, including former police Mounties. Despite this, it is one of the larger CAC units in service due to its diversity.

With the Canadian Provisional Authority organizing the Canadian Resettlement Initiative, the 17th Royal Engineers were among the many CAC units assigned to help with the construction effort.

MISCELLANEOUS FACTS

The Maple Leaf Flag, flown by the 17th Royal Engineers instead of the Red Ensign of Canada.

NOTABLE ACTIONS OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS

THE BATTLE OF OTTAWA

"Do not forget, Canada is more than just a political border defined on some map. It is more than just a nation. Each of you, the People, carry a piece of Canada inside of you."

- Canadian Prime Minister Wilfred Pahl.

The Battle of Ottawa was the largest engagement of their entire history as a unit that the 17th "Grover's Lament" fought in. The 17th had up to this point engaged in frequent skirmishes with Quebecois militants and NEAF troops during their steady retreat since the Battle of Three Rivers, greatly reducing their morale and overall strength until they reached Ottawa. Despite their losses, the 17th was one of the more combat-effective formations in the capital city, consisting of five companies.

The battle would begin in earnest on the morning of November 28th, 2164, as NEAF rocket and artillery bombardments hit the city in a blitz, causing widespread infrastructure damage plus civilian and military casualties, and a push was orchestrated into the city. The 17th was focused mainly on the Northeast and Central districts of Ottawa, constructing rudimentary defenses to slow down the NEAF. 4th Company would come under attack immediately at Ottawa Train Station and would face down a much larger NEAF force, the skirmish there lasted for up to 7 hours before the 4th Company was effectively routed and forced to retreat, with remnants integrating with the nearby 1st Company.

2nd and 3rd Companies with partisan support came under attack in the Northeast district by NEAF forces on the night of the 28th, pushing from down the St. Lawrence River. The 17th would struggle to hold the district due to persistent aerial bombardments from NEAF aircraft as well as ground assaults until they were relieved by other CAF units, as well as the 5th Company. The CAF, including the 17th, would hold the district until a mass offensive by NEAF forces on the 29th, destroying the 3rd Company, and the CAF to retreat to Downtown Ottawa. Central Ottawa by the 29th wasn't doing well either, despite valiant CAF resistance, resulting in 1st Company being reduced to half-strength.

The main NEAF assault came on the 30th, with the 17th having completely lost two companies and the remaining units being diminished in some way or another. The NEAF tore through the city and overwhelmed the southern and eastern halves of it in a matter of hours. The 5th Company was forced to surrender to the NEAF after an hour-long battle in the Ottawa Hospital. By the closing hours of the battle, the 17th was the most "intact" formation remaining in Ottawa, as the remainder had retreated to the Midwestern Union. General Grandstaffe himself would take full command of the 17th and famously declared, "We are the Bastions of the Brave!" he focused the 17th purely on the evacuation of remaining civilians. Despite this, the remaining 17th would continue to fight off the NEAF mainly in Downtown Ottawa, with 1st and 2nd Companies being at the forefront after absorbing survivors of other units, but would run critically low on ammunition and supplies in the final hours of the battle. 1st Company and Grandstaffe would be forced to surrender to the NEAF after being defeated in their defense of the Canadian History Museum.

2nd Company, being the most intact of all units in the 17th, would receive an order from Grandstaffe before the loss of communications to retreat out of the city down the evacuation route, which the majority did. However, a group of 30 to 40 men and women who were cut off would choose to make a final stand at Parliament Hill alongside the Princess Kathleen's Commandos. The group would defend the courtyard of the building with surprisingly low casualties against numerically superior NEAF forces until they were forced to surrender to volunteers of the USRF's Lakeside Division.

ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE 17TH, FORMER CAF AND FORMER RCMP WOULD HAVE PARTICIPATED TO VARYING DEGREES IN THE BATTLE OF OTTAWA, WHETHER THAT BE FRONTLINE COMBAT, OR EVACUATING CIVILIANS.

ACTIVITIES IN THE UNION

"The people of Canada arrive in our Union in search of a new purpose, which we shall dearly provide."

- Anonymous Great Lakes Congress Representative

The majority of the remaining 17th were placed in POW Camps across the Northeast Union for weeks in varying conditions, with only remnants of 2nd Company making it to the Midwestern Union. However, a stroke of luck would come upon them, as the NEU chose to release ex-CAF prisoners to the Midwestern Union. The 17th was officially reformed in the city of Thunder Bay by the Canadian Auxiliary Corps as all remaining soldiers of the 17th would be reassigned to it, with the now Major Grandstaffe being at its head completely. The 17th would be fully integrated into the command structure of the New Model Army and would be reassigned to the Corps of Engineers, where they were put to work.

The Canadian Provisional Authority would organize the Canadian Resettlement Initiative, effectively repairing the former Great Lakes Coalition West infrastructure as well as constructing more residences to house Canadian refugees in the frontier of the Midwest Union. The 17th would be mobilized for this exact purpose, working with NMA and civilian engineers to construct housing and infrastructure in cities such as Duluth, Thunder Bay, and Winnipeg. This effort would ensure that Canadian refugees managed to get housing as well as jobs in the newly reinvigorated territories of the Midwestern frontier.

The reorganization of the 17th would prompt it to be turned into an 'all-in-one' unit and would result in the transfer of remnants of the REC who either successfully escaped into the MWU or were captured and transferred over to the Union by the NEU, which would greatly bolster the numbers of the 17th to continue their infrastructure projects. The 17th would later be sent to Duluth to clear unexploded ordinance and dig up unaccounted for bodies from the War of Ashes, due to reported instances of civilians being injured while walking in the surrounding woods due to explosions from UXO.

The 17th would then be sent to Fort Navsta after the successful mine-clearing operation and would undergo combat retraining by NMA advisors, with the base becoming their formal garrison. Former RCMP would be integrated into the unit to boost morale as well as resolve disputes within the unit. The 17th would receive greatly needed R&R within the Fort as well as nearby Lakeview, until they were called for deployment.

CHARACTERS EXCLUDING THE FORMER RCMP WOULD HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE RESETTLEMENT INITIATIVE AND THE MINE-CLEARING OPERATION.

DEMOGRAPHICS AND CULTURE OF CANADA

The demographics of Canada and its descendant nations have historically been very culturally and ethnically diverse, and that remains to be the case to this day, even with the everlasting devastation from the events of the Flash. After the 'reunification' of Canada, many cultural changes occurred due to the Flash, the Canadian society afterwards, and the embracing of British customs and identity. All of this would forge a unique Canadian cultural identity that would unite the diverse people of Canada, which would persist despite hardship.

The Canadian states, specifically Ontario, would experience a wave of immigration from the United Kingdom due to the social upheavals of the mid-21st century, as well as the Third World War, which would greatly influence the government and society of Canada and upset the balance between the Anglophone Canadians and the Francophone Quebecois. The majority of the population of the Canadian Federation, after the regaining of Quebec and Newfoundland's independence after the War of 2162, would consist mainly of Anglophone Canadians, indigenous peoples, other ethnic minorities, and small communities of Quebecois. Mutants emerged in Canada around the same time as the rest of the continent, and the Canadian Government quickly relegated them to areas far away from population centers, mainly due to fears of eldritchification, and many mutants migrated southward throughout the years. Due to this, mutants were a rare sight in Canada; however, eldritch mutants were an immense threat within and outside the borders of the country, which worsened the reputation of mutants in the view of the Canadian people.

Within Canada's anglophone community, the Language would be mostly English, with accents being the main differences. Many Canadians post-flash speak with a derivative of the British English accent, with the more American-sounding original Canadian English accent still being widely spoken, but in smaller quantities. The Scottish English accent is also spoken amongst Scottish descendant communities and indigenous and minority languages. In terms of Religion, the majority would identify as Christian or Non-Religious, with Indigenous religions, Hinduism, and Islam being practiced amongst minority groups.

Culturally, Canada was mainly known for its works in Literature, Media, Sports, and Scientific achievements, with a variety of books, films, and such that have gained fame and notoriety around the nations of North America being of Canadian origin. Famous examples include the writer, Tyler Burbank, and filmmaker Lewis Almayer. Canada was also known for having the most reliable news stations in post-flash North America, albeit with a low to medium range in comparison to others in the Unions to the south. Hockey and Lacrosse were the most-watched sports in Canada, playing a big part in keeping up national morale. The Royal Hockey League and the Canadian Lacrosse League would be the two main organizations representing each sport. Canadian scientific achievements included pioneering the way to preventing and curing post-flash diseases, which devastated populations early on, as well as post-flash computing technology.

LOYALTIES OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS

The people of Canada for decades up to this point have had a high reverence for the pre-flash British Monarchy, with the final monarch confirmed as of present to be King Grover I, as well the heir-apparent, Princess Kathleen. This is due to the British Commonwealth being considered the time when Canada was fully unified, as during the Second Cold War pre-flash the Dominion of Canada was dissolved and either split into independent states or joined the United States. While originally being used to boost the morale of the Canadian people, the monarchy has been idealized to a near-religious degree, with King Grover being referred to in a godly tone, and photos of the royal family are kept up in most Canadian homes and military installations. Many of Canada's politicians, magnates, and nobility claimed some relation to the Royal Family to gain power and the support of the people, which led to the Canadian Parliament being effectively dominated by self-proclaimed descendants of the pre-flash Canadian and British governmental and royalist systems.

However, faith in the vacant monarchy and by extension the Canadian government began to decline sharply after the War of 2162, as Canadian morale declined due to near-constant conflict with wastelanders, Quebecois militants, and now the Northeastern Union. It would come to a head after the Second Canadian War. Units such as the 17th Royal Engineers felt abandoned and betrayed by their government, as they fled while they remained in Ottawa. Due to this, most members of the 17th felt that the royalist system of Canada was a symbol of failure, especially now that the majority of Canadian leadership had lost their power. Due to this, the 17th does not fly the Red Ensign of Canada on any occasion, instead, the Maple Leaf Flag is flown due to it being temporarily flown by the CPA as well as being a representation of a truly independent Canadian heritage.

The 17th Royal Engineers, upon being recovered by the Midwestern Union, quickly adapted to knowing Midwestern customs and culture during their retraining process. Due to this, many members of the unit view the Union as a chance to start anew and build a new Canada free of subjugation and false prophets, a notion that has begun to be encouraged more readily amongst the CAC. The 17th held people like the Royal Engineering Corps Commander, former Major General Edmund Grandstaffe in extremely high regard, as he proclaimed that their fight was ultimately for the continued survival of the Canadian people rather than cowardly politicians and a long-dead king.

LEGAL DIVISIONS: WHERE DO YOU COME FROM?

Unlike the social classes of most pre-flash societies, Canada had a unique, interesting legal system. Each sector of society in Canada was equal in a social hierarchy, existing solely to divide its people for easier application of laws. Canadian society was split up into three social divisions: the Financial, Agricultural, and Industrial. Legal Divisions are not practiced in the Midwestern Union, but serve as a basis for the social standing of people of Canadian descent.

Financial Division

Considered the posh elite, the Financial Division makes up the majority of business owners and politicians. Unlike the other two, its specifications do not come from zoning - instead applied to an individual after they pass an income threshold. This practice has its origins in the formation of the Divisions system, as those considered within the Financial Division were mandated to regularly make payments for the country's well-being. Members of the Financial Division of the former nation can still be found within the ranks of the New Model Army. Oftentimes, these well-off, generally educated members of Canadian society take up roles in skilled professions: logistical, leadership, and medical roles. People from the Financial Division are diverse but well off, with backgrounds including (but not limited to): sons and daughters of politicians, bond babies, and the rare land baron's child. While they no longer hold social power, they command respect with their philanthropic ideals, with many finding themselves in leadership.

Agricultural Division

In contrast to the well-educated, top-down lifestyle of the Financial Division, members of the Agricultural Division were viewed as the backbone of Canada and her ambitions. Notable for their efforts in taming the Northernmost parts of the country, zoning laws were applied to vast swathes of Canada. Those people who lived within the zones became members of the holding legal rights to untamed parts of Canada. In addition to these land grants, these same people received a lesser monetary tax in return for a percentage of their crops to be used nationally. Agricultural Division members are second only to the Industrial Division in population within the ranks of the CAC. The farmhands, hunters, and nomads of the north were all put under the Division's zoning before being brought into the CAC formally. As a result, members of this rural group can adapt to the demands of any role within the Army. Given their particular skill set, however, leadership often recognizes the abilities of members of the Agricultural Division, assigning them sharpshooter and scout roles.

Industrial Division

The most diverse of the 3 sectors, the Industrial Division is comprised of those who live within Canada's cities. Occupations of this social unit include factory laborers, construction workers, and even businessmen who failed to meet the Financial Division's criteria. The Industrial sector was always viewed by the Canadian government as a source of military manpower, and it served its role well. Laws enacted mandatory service for at least 2 years, militarizing city populations to combat foreign invasions. The relationship between the government and the Industrial Division was symbiotic: former soldiers were allowed to apply for a retinue of benefits to compensate them for their help. The majority of soldiers with Canadian roots hail from the Industrial Division. Be it the CAF pre-2CW or the CAC, the Industrial Division has and will continue to be the main body of fighting men and women within Canadian units. Given the diversity of the sector due to its inclusive criteria, the soldiers of the cities can fill just about any role. Many know urban battle spaces and tactics, given their industrial backgrounds. This often lands soldiers from this sector in shocktrooper or autorifleman positions.

THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS WITHIN THE 17TH ROYAL ENGINEERS ORIGINATE FROM THE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL DIVISIONS, WITH THOSE FROM THE FINANCIAL DIVISION BEING A NOTABLE MINORITY.

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THE 17TH ROYAL ENGINEERS"BASTIONS OF THE BRAVE"