Naming: [RHA]SOA-Firstname.Lastname or [RHA]SOA-Callsign
IFF: Red Hessians
ID: Red Hessians ID

The Department of Special Operations (Spezialoperationsabteilung) or SOA is a relatively small group within the Red Hessian Army founded by Director Friedrich Dresner. It has been commissioned in 816 A.S. on the eve of the declaration of cooperation between the Sirius Coalition Revolutionary Army and the Rheinland Revolutionary Alliance, in order to support the Coalition in their research and development. The department was since called to assume command over RHA anti-Nomad operations as well as unconventional warfare operations, including (but not limited to) espionage and funding foreign revolutionary groups.

Currently the main task of the SOA is research into specialist warfare against Wilde mind control in an attempt to immunise all Hessian and allied forces to the effects of Wilde psychic weapons, hoping to reduce significantly the amount of victims the Wilde use as cannon fodder against the Hessian forces in the Omega systems. The SOA has notably been able to strike significant breakthroughs in research around the start of 817 A.S., however an intelligence leak allowed the then Outcast Reapers of Sirius to react to the situation, and a large part of the research was destroyed in a Reaper attack against the Hessian convoy carrying the goods to Omega-52. The repercussions of this attack can be felt in the Red Hessian Army to this day, with the leadership emphasizing complete awareness of and pre-emptive hostility toward any Outcasts that might be encountered by the movement. As of this day, the SOA continues their work on recovering the lost research as well as trying to gain new information on Wilde weapons and abilities.

Since the beginning of 818 A.S. with Planet Tangier coming under Hessian control the SOA has set up their main laboratories on Planet Tangier deep below the surface as well as keeping a considerable amount of their resources back in the Omega-54 system at Northeim base for advanced training. Since 820 A.S. with the conflict in the Omegas growing. Anna Heinrich has put more resources and funding into the SOA to further the Army's control and research in the Omega systems. The SOA has become the elite combatant branch of the Red Hessian Army as well as the Intelligence branch. Most of the Army's elite pilots that aren't on the front lines can be found in the SOA.

Spezialoperationsabteilung was formed on the eve of the declaration of cooperation between the Sirius Coalition Revolutionary Army and the Rheinland Revolutionary Alliance, in order to support the Coalition in their research and development. The department was since called to assume command over RHA anti-Nomad operations as well as unconventional warfare operations, including (but not limited to) espionage and funding foreign revolutionary groups. To this date, SOA has established a position within the Red Hessian Army to fulfill three main objectives:

• To handle foreign relations of the Red Hessian Army, coordinating joint operations with close allies, handling all the relations with major groups throughout Sirius and also monitoring the activity of less-trustworthy allied groups to assure their activities falling within the standards and expectations of Red Hessian movement.
  
  
• Administrating the Red Hessian R&D division, establishing research into alien technology and Nomad mind control, and furthermore developing new gear and upgrading the existing ones to allow SOA and any other group under Volksrevolution to have a more effective stance against any threats, foreign or domestic.
  
  
• Act as the front line of Red Hessians battle against Wilde and other alien forces, corresponding with similar groups throughout Sirius (Namely The Order and Blood Dragons), organizing assault into Wilde territory and adjusting and updating the Omega defense plans according to latest changes in Wilde attack patterns.
  

Due to unforeseen circumstances on the home front, the infamous Hessian Tears squadron was integrated as a wing into the Red Hessian Army in early 816 A.S. It has served as a special operations force for the next year, successfully providing cover for several RHA operations behind enemy lines and assisting the main force in their day to day operations. Constant leadership problems however thinned out its membership, and the remaining members were reassigned to intelligence ops centred around known Wilde infested areas.

The group remained until late 818 A.S. when it was reassigned under the command of Karl Leitner and reformed into an elite covert operations wing operating as a mercenary group outside of Rheinland. The Hessian Tears' first task was to establish a presence in the three core houses and their adjoining border worlds, to ensure safe points and set up basic intelligence networks after which they would continue working under cover as mercenaries for any party designated as friendly to the Red Hessian cause. This was later revealed to be one of the many preparations necessary to allow the Spezialoperationsabteilung to expand their operations to critical regions of space, under influence of friendly forces, and to gain support of forces friendly to Volksrevolution.

As of today, the Hessian Tears squadron is merged with the Spezialoperationsabteilung and the two groups are continuing their activities against Wilde and other alien forces under the command structure of Red Hessian Army and Spezialoperationsabteilung.

Spezialoperationsabteilung is in charge of monitoring, regulating and managing all the activities of Red Hessian Army Research & Development division. With the steady income of credits and resources, provided by Diamond export and often supplied by Red Hessians allies, the Red Hessian Army R&D has managed to develop all of the modern technologies currently in use by the pilots of Volksrevolution, and continues to work on designing and producing equipment and vessels on par to the technology used by Rheinland lawful forces and Corsairs, to help the revolution continue its fight on both fronts.

Ever since the Nomad wars, Red Hessians have been the main force fighting Das Wilde and Nomads in Omega systems, and being the only faction standing between infected forces and Rheinland space, the Hessians consider themselves the main reason for the survival of Rheinland to this date. With their never-ending conflict against the alien forces deep within Omegas, the Spezialoperationsabteilung operatives have dedicated their lives fighting and hopefully altogether annihilating the alien threat from Rheinland and Omegas.

With years of experience fighting against the unique warfare techniques and tactics employed by the alien forces, higher ranking Spezialoperationsabteilung officers and combat advisors have been known for their flexibility in critical combat situations, even those happening in remote corners of Omegas and far from any friendly installation, and therefor, are a trusted group within the Red Hessian Army when it comes to repelling the alien attacks and also organizing and performing counterattacks when required.

Despite focusing their main efforts on fighting the Wilde within Omegas and Rheinland, Spezialoperationsabteilung as always shown interest in matters of foreign relations, especially those of the similar groups who have been battling the remnants of the aliens ever since the Nomad War. Using the Hessian Tears squadron, SOA managed to establish a friendly-enough stance with various factions around Sirius to be permitted docking rights on various bases which had proved to be effective staging points for any possible operations within those regions, either in order to investigate suspicious activities of groups who are known to have ties to Nomads (Such as but not limited to, Outcasts and Liberty Security Force) or to assist like-minded groups in their fight against the aliens when necessary (Groups such as The Order and Blood Dragons), also, with recent reports regarding the increased sightings of Das Wilde ships in Bretonia region, Spezialoperationsabteilung is planing various joint operations with Mollys against these alien-infested humans.

As the revolutionary hammer of the people of Rheinland, the Red Hessian Army prefers to use all the tools at its disposal to hurt the enemy forces in any way possible. This includes:

• Offensive and defensive actions against immediate threats to the Fatherland and its people, from the outside as well as within
  
  
• Indiscriminately attacking enemy targets of opportunity with the goal of inflicting maximum damage at a minimum cost
  
  
• Humiliating the enemy in the public eye by decisive victories
  
  
• Developing more effective tactics and equipment to counter the Wilde attacks in Omegas
  
  
• Assisting close allies in their area of operation to gather more support and resources for anti-alien research
  

To achieve these goals, self-discipline and knowledge of tactics is as important as any other skill. Those are the two key factors which bring swift victory to the movement.

Ever since it's discovery in the days following the catastrophe of Valhalla, the S.O.A has begun to note down several entry points to the system and potential hostile entities that could approach - the foremost being the Corsairs. With this, the S.O.A also monitors mining efforts within the system, and is currently beginning to survey the Hadean-era planet known as "Leisi" in the hopes of gathering more resources.


With the destruction of the nomad jumpgate within the system, the system has been completely encompassed in dark matter with some areas being more potent than others. The Neutron star prevents deep long term exploration by smaller craft. However the S.O.A still keeps tabs on the system in the event anything unusual should move through, especially after witnessing some active Alien vessels within the system.


While the bulk of the system is under the control of the People's Republic, the system is still heavily monitored due to the high Alien presence within the system and it's direct border to both Omicron Gamma and Dresden. Many joint operations are conducted within the system alongside the People's Republic and now potentially - the Order.


The S.O.A operates at large in the system with their HQ being located on Planet Tangier as well as several of their facilities. With the S.O.A operating with near limitless power in the Omegas, most of the trespassers regardless of affiliation are killed without question for entering the system. The S.O.A monitors every ounce of the immediate area surrounding tangier in force. With their lead vessel the R.H.C-Yggdrasil serving as a main staging point for fighter patrols and as a first response system.