Peace Brigade

The Peace Brigade is a paramilitary force of the Republic of Corumm, formed in 1995 as a shock unit at the initiative of Prib Dodd and staffed almost exclusively by Corummese Muslims. It is under the command of the Bureau of State Protection. While called a brigade its combat strength is much closer to a regular division. Since its formation it has participated in all of Corumm's wars, serving not only as a combat unit but also as a psychological tool to discourage resistance and is one of the most prominent symbols of Corummese terror.

History
The origins of the Peace Brigade lie with the leftist unrest of the 90's in the western regions and the use of gangs of undocumented Rusanis by Party officials to break up protests and terrorize dissidents. A system of patronage developed between these gangs and local Party bosses who employed them as hired muscle to help them advance their business interests or resolve local disputes through shocking violence. Eventually the central government came to object to the existence of such private fiefdoms and correspondent miniature armies. The Bureau of State Protection then under the control of Prib Dodd proceeded to disarm the gangs and conscripted its members into a new unified force. The Peace Brigade has been extensively deployed in combat as part of the Army of Conquest during the Republic's wars in North Crona. Unconfirmed reports point to it as one of the units most responsible for committing extensive war crimes and abuses.

Its first combat operation was as one of the units involved in the suppression of the Army of Common Men at the Battle of Khov precipitated by the capture of the city by the communist rebels of the Army of Common Men. For three months the Peace Brigade was set loose on Khov, fighting brutally to evict the rebels. After the ACM's defeat, the Peace Brigade stayed on as part of the garrison, committing numerous atrocities on the remaining population of the city, setting up checkpoints to extort motorists, arbitrary killing civilians and abducting community leaders. After the successful pacification of Khov and with tensions flaring at the border with Rusana, the brigade was suddenly sent into combat alongside regular army units. Outfitted with surplus army equipment and ill prepared for the harsh conditions of frontline combat, the Peace Brigade suffered from tremendous attrition and were soon relegated to rear guard duties. It was during this time that it cemented its reputation for brutality and the general disregard for the rules of war. In the aftermath of Khov the brigade played a part in the ongoing hunt of the remaining cells of the ACM until the organization's final destruction.

The brigade next saw combat in the Corummese invasion of Ixa'Taka in western Nanseetucket as one of the vanguard units deployed there. Military records show that this was one of the most destructive and brutal campaigns ever waged by the Corummese military, with the Peace brigade destroying dozens of towns and indiscriminately liquidating up to a million people, with at least half of those killings taking place in the capital city of Mezro. Reports indicate the stench of burning flesh lingered in the city for six months after the conquest was done.

Functions
The Peace Brigade was originally conceived to server in peacekeeping duties and rearguard security in conflict areas where the Republic is involved to free up Corummese regular forces from such tasks. However after its debut during the Battle of Khov its also frequently deployed to participate in urban assaults, which in military theory tend to favor the defenders. Critics of the unit argue that one of its unstated missions could be to serve as a foreign born praetorian guard and last ditch force to quell an uprising against the Party in opposition to native Corummese units that could theoretically turn on the government.



Recruitment
The Peace Brigade recruits Muslim males between the ages of 16 to 45. With the exception of the ethnically Corummese upper echelon, 95% of the Peace Brigade members are drawn from the muslim population mostly from Rusani extraction. The active discrimination of non ethnically Corummese citizens and the lack of quality employment opportunities makes joining the brigade a very attractive choice, since it offers a decent salary and social advancement. Many muslim families even see serving the Brigade and 'taking the Blue' not just as a financial lifeline but also as an honorable tradition for their sons. The patrons of the brigade in the Bureau of State Protection have also cultivated a curious relationship with poor Rusani townships and slums, at times facilitating state funds and aid in exchange for a continued flow of willing warm bodies. However the attrition based tactics employed by the Peace Brigade also mean that when losses are too high, it may resort to forcefully conscripting civilians into its ranks, or even illegal immigrants who would otherwise simply be arrested and deported. Following the Cronan wars, some cronan muslim converts have also started to be inducted into the unit.

Operations

 * 1996 Battle of Khov
 * Ixa'Taka Campaign
 * Nanseetucket War
 * Alpachnee War
 * Final War of the Deluge