Balder

Founding of the Federal Defense Forces

As a bastion of liberty, the Sovereign Federation of Cordya is a testament to liberty, justice, faith, and amity. Where religions are freely practiced (bar anything that involves a ritualistic sacrifice of another person) and people are pleased to do with their lives, it is no wonder many seek a new life within the nation. However, such a pearl in the sea must be defended, and no one such people are more proud to defend it than the Federal Defense Forces.

The beginnings of the current F.D.F. can be traced back to the end of the Last Crusade. The horrors of the Last Crusade sat in the minds of many a soldiers, no matter the rank. None held this to be more true than Simon Bradshaw Fansent. A general of the Cordyan Army, Fansent saw the mental trauma his soldiers dealt with, especially when it came to shellshock and combat stress. After an eventual investigation and testimonies from several soldiers, he concluded that Cordya was waging too much war (a reasonable and not incorrect assumption).

Simon Bradshaw Fansent

While Fansent still stayed with the military, he became a notable anti-war advocate, an action that got him in trouble with both the military brass and Chancellor Henry Hershey. Luckily he was saved due to his popularity among many military units and the populace, though he was demoted and assigned to tedious paperwork. That did not stop Fansent, who later pursued a political career as a Chamberlain for his home state of Millest.

The World War boosted Fansent’s career and popularity. Chancellor Isham Taggart resigned over heavy protests, bringing in his much more popular Deputy Silas Greaves to reign as Chancellor with Fansent as a deputy. With the unification of the entirety of the Ansgeir continent, Fansent collaborated with Greaves to form a more manageable fighting force for Cordya, resulting in the “Defense Forces Act” of 1948 that truly formed the modern F.D.F. Fansent eventually passed away in 1959, but his legacy lives on in the Federal Defense Forces, who still revere him with respect.

The Federal Defense Forces

In modern times, the Federal Defense Forces is headed by the Chancellor, who also acts as Supreme Commander of the F.D.F. in wartime, while the Secretary of Defense acts as Vice Commander. As of right now, these two positions are headed by John Eleazarsson Stirling and Nathan Visarius Wilmington.

Secretary of Defense, Nathan Visarius Wilmington

As a millions-strong military, the Federal Defense Forces, sometimes the Cordyan Defense Forces, arguably posed one the largest and best armies in the world of Balder. With mandatory military service divided into three branches, the F.D.F. did not have similar or as many problems with interservice rivalry as other nations sometimes have, though it would be false to say it did not exist. But this proves how powerful the F.D.F. are, to have units that support each other.
Despite being a defense force, Cordya has not renounced its right to declare war, with at least 1/5th of the F.D.F. authorized to operate overseas, whether it be in embassies, overseas bases, or in training exercises.

The Ground Defense Forces

The Ground Defense Forces are the main ground branch of the Federal Defense Forces. The oldest and most senior, as well as successors to the Imperial Army and the Cordyan Sovereign Army, the F.G.D.F. under Chief General Henry Ayon are also the most numerous among the Defense Forces and stand proudly as defenders of the Cordyan people. Many Cordyans often choose the Ground Defense Forces for their mandatory service, as it is considered relatively easier than the other branches of the military. Despite this, soldiers are drilled harshly with military discipline and draconic training.

Since 1911, there have always been at least seven field armies (≥ 50k soldiers), with one or two occasionally operating overseas, rotating every year. Similar to the Aero Defense Forces, the Ground Defense Forces utilize a mix of old and modern equipment, mainly due to legitimate personnel problems (they had more troops than the equipment to equip them) and a stubborn desire by the high brass to extend the lifeline of this older technology.

Pixelized art of the Ground Defense Forces

On a different note, one cannot stop talking about the Ground Defense Forces without the “Hird” battalions, the 33rd Rangers, and the Foreign Legions.

The Hird Battalions referred to units within the F.G.D.F. that were sourced from the federal states (not constituent states, those are different), consisting of ethnic minorities who were lawfully citizens, but refused to identify culturally. Due to their citizen status, they were free to enlist into any units they desired, though due to tensions, the Hird battalions were created as an alternative, especially if they were more comfortable around their kinsmen.

A Hird Battalion, consisting of Murakami soldiers

The 33rd Rangers Regiment is perhaps one of the more distinguished units of the Federal Defense Forces. Heirs to the Orlonese “Equestrios” and Hutch’s “Cowboys”, these soldiers were the best of the best, the most daring of all. The 33rd has long since surpassed their original duties, instead taking up a myriad of honors, most notably and commonly, the personal defense of the Chancellor themselves.

The 33rd Rangers Regiment, circa 1977.

Pixelized art of the 33rd Rangers Regiment

Last but not least, the Cordyan Foreign Legions. The Foreign Legions consisted of foreigners incentivized by offers of guaranteed citizenship, food, or other motives, whether it be personal glory or career purposes. Each of the Foreign Legions is either led by a former Legionnaire, a foreigner who had higher eligibility, or simply a native Cordyan interested in such leadership. Despite misgivings and concerns, the Foreign Legions have defied all expectations and often display loyalty to the Sovereign Federation.

Of personal note are the most distinguished of the Foreign Legions

1st Prussian Stormtroopers FL (“Firstborn”)
7th Prussian Stormtroopers FL (“Iron Battalion”)
9th Prussian Armor FL (“Ol’Willy’s Hammer”)
13th Aelyrian Assault FL (“Mudjumpers”)
14th Aelyrian Armored FL (“Mad Men”)
19th Aelyrian Mechanized Infantry FL (“Gas Guzzlers”)
21st Westphalian Armored FL (“Rough Riders”)
22nd Westphalian Infantry FL (“Bad Company”)
39th Mongolianian Mechanized Infantry FL (“Stampeding Oxes”)

13th Aelyrian Assault Foreign Legion, nicknamed the "Mudjumpers", resting after an exercise.

Small Note on Foreign Legions Designations
Prussians: 1-9
Aelyrians: 10-19
Westphalians: 20-29
Mongolianians: 30-39

The Maritime Defense Forces

The Maritime Defense Forces refer to the naval military capability of the Federal Defense Forces. Due to Cordya’s past of exploration via the sea, it has often come into clashes with the F.G.D.F. in its claims as the oldest of the Cordyan military. Regardless, the Maritime Defense Forces fiercely protect the waters that surround the continental nation. Various naval fleets prowl on the hunt for pirates, fugitives, or foreign forces who dare challenge the Cordyan armada.

Under the tutelage of Chief Admiral Felix Robert Trupov, the F.M.D.F. became a force to be reckoned with. Whether it be patrolling the cold Southern Arctic Ocean or defending the seas in the Oriental Ocean, the Maritime Defense Forces are guaranteed to protect whoever they can. International observers, even from Cordya’s nominal enemies, made positive receptions of the F.M.D.F.’s conduct and honor, something that has aggravated the Ground Defense Forces at times.

A Cordyan fleet patrolling the South Oriental Ocean.

Unlike the Aero Defense Forces or the Ground Defense Forces, the Maritime Defense Forces do not easily retrofit old technology. Simply put, when modern warfare made a significant portion of naval ships obsolete, the F.M.D.F. simply scrapped those ships (save for a select number made to be museum ships) and built new ones that could compete with rapidly progressing military technology.

Another note was the Cordyan Marine Corps, the naval infantry of the Maritime Defense Forces. The Marine Corps is responsible for any expeditionary and amphibious operations, following a unique combined arms doctrine. At times, the Marines have cooperated with the Ground Defense Forces in certain areas such as peacekeeping and scouting, especially during international interventions.

The Marine Corps in a peacekeeping operation.

The Aero Defense Forces

There was the land and the sea, now comes the knights of the air. The Aero Defense Forces represents the aviation branch of the Federal Defense Forces. The youngest of the three branches, the F.A.D.F. defends the skies over Cordya and beyond, dancing among the clouds in epic dogfights. Headed by Chief Marshal Simron Gundy, the Aero Defense Forces are dedicated to ensuring the skies of Cordya remain safe from foreign forces. Compared to the other two, the F.A.D.F. has more experience in collaboration than anything, often as support to the joy of many F.D.F. soldiers.

The Aero Defense Forces are often more well-known among the public, not least due to a surge of popularity from movies and propaganda films depicting the titular branch. This of course created the desired effect of an uptick in recruitment, though not to the extent of the Maritime Defense Forces. Training is considered draconic, but necessary as these pilots risk much for their lives and nation.

212th Attack Squadron, "Bandit Squadron".

Just like the Ground Defense Forces, the Aero Defense Forces retrofit many of their older technologies to extend their lifelines. An interesting note here is the prevalence of drone technology, where lower-tier fighter planes were equipped with computer-operated machinery, while the higher-end planes were conventionally manned (The Ground Defense Forces have something similar when it comes to armored forces, though this was a smaller subject and many were reluctant). The reverse occurred with bombers; older planes were manned, while newer ones were implemented with drone technology. Regardless, this has not prevented the effectiveness of the Aero Defense Forces, especially when the AIs of these drones were consistently updated with flight data from human pilots.

An example of an AI-operated jet fighter, used on a Ma-21 jet fighter.

The last thing to note was the presence of the Foreign and infamous Penal Squadrons. While semi-similar, both are treated with less respect than the Cordyan Foreign Legions, with some even saying that there is little difference between the Foreign Squadrons and the Penal Squadrons. Despite this rampant discrimination among the Aero Defense Forces (As well as collaborative efforts to get rid of this), there still remains a quite clear disparity: both still get older aircraft, sometimes with questionable functionality, however, the Foreign Squadrons could at the very least expect their somewhat outdated aircraft to be at maximum operational, especially when they have full supplies, reliable repair systems, and decent reputation. The Penal Squadrons had no such luxuries, for they were the scumbags of the Sovereign Federation, the lowest of the low, the undesirables of the nation. Due to this, they are often considered expendable, with their aircraft barely functional and sparsely loaded at best. Regardless, this does not stop the Penal Squadrons from fighting for Cordya, even if is for the purpose of freedom.

The 444th Penal Squadron, "Bandogs". The white marks dictate the severity of the crime these pilots have committed.