On January 14th, 2133 (if using the Sol Calendar), a small mining drone went missing. This was not noted with any particular irregularity, as this happened often. It was attributed to an undetected asteroid field. Several months later, an advance team was sent to evaluate the possibility of a permanent base in the mineral-rich Freja asteroid field. They stumbled upon the missing mining drone, designation AMD-0238. What they found was an almost completely intact drone, save for missing cargo containers and reactors stripped of their refined uranium. This is considered the first act of space piracy. Several decades later, the colonized universe is vast, with space piracy growing proportionally. Thus, the Arrow Guard was born. After several mining corporations faced the growing problem of raided convoys and dead miners, they decided to organize some sort of defensive force. However, the mining giants could not come to an agreement on pretty much anything. All of them saw economic benefit to be gained from creating a line of defensive vehicles, so none could agree on who exactly would be producing them. A receptionist sitting in on the meetings saw a business opportunity. He created the Arrow Guard. Using his connections in the various mining companies, he secured investments as he was independent and would not directly benefit the competition. This man became one of the most powerful men in the universe. His name is Carl Marks.

Timeline of the Arrow Guard here[docs.google.com]

Obviously, the first task upon the Arrow Guard was the events that formed it. Space Piracy was a growing problem in mining bases, as static turrets could only protect vehicles within the base, and even then were subject to hit and run attacks by space pirate vehicles. They had begun capturing mining and supply vehicles and converting them into lightly armored and heavily armed fighting vehicles. Marks looked back to the successes of the tank in the 20th century, and designed a tank after it. One of the problems was creating a rotating turret that could carry an armored turret and weaponry. The first tank was the HT-01 Ferrum.

After the devastating failure of the Ferrum, the investors in the Arrow Guard and even some high command were skeptical about the future of the company. However, Carl Marks decided to model his tanks even further after the successful cruisers of the 20th century. Two divisions were made, the Light-Tank Research division and the Heavy-Tank Research Division. The LRD was tasked with making tanks under 100 thousand kilograms, and the HRD was tasked with anything greater. The LRD made several tanks designed to be quick, agile, and ready for a multitude of situations, including engaging light and medium targets, as well as potential anti-aircraft roles. The HRD developed a heavy line of large crews, thick armor, and multiple turrets to engage any sort of enemy.

The LRD was tasked with making tanks under 100k kilograms. The first light tanks were bulky and oddly shaped, but over time, became more streamlined and made a smaller target. The tanks evolved, from abnormal, slow shapes, to streamlined, narrow, and stealthy tanks.

• LT-01 Elephant
  
• LT-02 Risus
  
• LT-03 Celeritas
  
• LT-04 Chimera
  
• LT-05 Mautehuala
  
• LT-06 Amtrak

Obviously, heavy and light tanks cannot comprise the entire force of a ground army. There is a need for dedicated Armored Personnel Carriers (APC-X), Anti-Aircraft Vehicles (AA-X), Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV-X), and Armored Supply Vehicles (ASV-X).

• AA-01 Shredder
  
• AA-02 Flail
  
• AA-03 Venus
  
• AA-04 Amfispo

• AFV-01 Delta

• APC-01 Juggernaut
• APC-02 Yellowjacket

• ASV-01 Jekyll

Tanks will never replace front-line infantry on the battlefield. However, the Arrow Guard is not a military. It is a defense company. As a defense company, Arrow Guard infantry activity is limited. The Arrow Guard definition of a squad is 5 men. Clients of the Arrow Guard may define it differently, but within Arrow Guard terminology, it remains 5. For example, the Delta can carry a squad - meaning it has a carrying capacity of 5 men. Clients of the Arrow Guard are recommended to keep within this definition to avoid confusion, as a squad of 6 or 7 may complicate battle manuevers when their Squad Fighting Vehicle has a carrying capacity of 5. Arrow Guard ground infantry is limited to specialists. A specialist is one man. For example, a vehicle capable of carrying 2 squads and 2 specialists can carry 12 men. A specialist takes many roles, and is specially trained. A tank operator is the most common specialty within the Arrow Guard.

• Tank Operator
  The most common specialist, a tank operator is a soldier certified to operate a tank. Tank operations course lasts 10 weeks at Camp Whistler in the Ridley system. Within this course, operator cadets learn to drive, fire, and repair any sort of ground vehicle from all three research divisions. Their Holotabs will be upkept with up-to-date blueprints in the event of a field repair from high damage. At the end of the course, operator cadets are assigned a random vehicle damaged by munitions at the Overseer's discretion. As each 8-week course only consists of 40 cadets per Overseer, each Overseer is expected to know and understand the individual strengths and weaknesses of each cadet, and to use this knowledge in their final exam and vehicle assignment. At the end of the course, an average of 31.4 cadets are assigned to their vehicle specialty, a single model. Typically, they are assigned in pairs, as camaraderie is built during the course and crucial to tank efficiency. As there are 50 Overseers in the camp, and with a completion rate of 78.5%, Camp Whistler produces, on average, 10,233 combat ready tank operators per Sol year.
  
• Anti-Tank Munitions Officer
  An ATMO oversees the deployment and proper usage of the LRT-4412 Anti-Material rifle and the Albatross anti-tank missile. These are deployed within their assigned squad and are expected to be returned to the ATMO after the contract is expired. An ATMO trains for 5 weeks at Camp Calitraz in the Ridley system, learning proper usage in their rifles and missiles. As ATMOs are selected from the high echelon of the universe's many military forces, all ATMOs complete their training course.
  
• Demolitions Expert
  Demolitions Experts are armed with explosives for the tactical destruction of enemy supplies and vehicles. They are typically assigned in pairs with Stealth/Recon Operatives (see below) for maximum destructive capabiltiy. A DE trains for 3 weeks at Camp Opti in the Ridley system with S/R Ops in the art of maximizing destruction using their warheads.
  
• Stealth/Recon Operative
  Stealth/Recon Operatives are trained with DEs at Camp Opti in the Ridley system, though they train for 10 weeks. Their job is the most delicate and sensitive within the Arrow Guard, as they are often dropped behind enemy lines to perform assassination missions and recon enemy forces. They are often paired with DEs to perform recon and tactical destruction of enemy infastructure and vehicles.

"A light tank is a tank designed for rapid movement primarily employed in the reconnaissance role or in support of expeditionary forces..." -Wikipedia, 2077

A light tank must be fast. A light tank must be agile. A light tank must be deadly. The missions carried out by a light tank are not typically undertaken by a heavy. These include reconnaissance missions, hit-and-run missions, infantry support and attack, civil unrest, escort missions, and supply runs where an unarmed ASV would be at risk. Drivers are to navigate focus on the terrain immediately in the path of the tank, and gunners are to reconnoiter the area and warn the driver of dangers or obstacles.

Light tanks are to work in platoons of four tanks, with a platoon command tank having a stripe down the turret. The color varies with company. Each company will have 3 platoons of tanks. In a non-combat situation, a company of tanks will be assigned to guard each major military base under the control of the Arrow Guard. A platoon will be assigned to major research or mineral bases under the control of the Arrow Guard. A single light tank may be dispatched to outposts at particularly high risk under the control of the Arrow Guard. This organization is not mandatory when the tanks are owned by clients of the Arrow Guard, but is recommended for the preservation of Arrow Guard assets and operators.

A light tank platoon must always be in contact with one another. Visual is preferred, but if visual contact is broken, a hot radio must be maintained. This involves leaving the radio constantly on, so even if the entire crew is in combat or killed and the radio is unmanned, they can be heard by the platoon. This is also to make sure that if a few injured crewmembers cannot reach the radio, they can signal for help.

Light tanks, on escort missions, can escort vehicles as follows.

• APCs can be escorted with one platoon of tanks and two APCs. The two APCs will drive side by side. The platoon commander will drive in the front. One tank will drive on each side. One tank will drive in the rear.
  
• ASVs can be escorted with one platoon of tanks and four ASVs. The ASVs will drive in a block of 4, 2x2. Two tanks, including the platoon commander, will drive in front, and two tanks will drive in the rear.
  
• AAs can be escorted with one platoon of tanks and two AAs. The AAs will drive side by side. Two tanks, including the platoon commander, will drive in front, and two tanks will drive in the rear.