The 76th Independent Battalion (part 7)
POSTED BY: Tristan
UPDATED: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 13:53
VIEWED: 14409
PAGE 6 of 12
They really do blend in and are unobtrusive. We'll bring a bunch with us, just in case. 
BoomerGoodheart
Renegade Military Supplier
"I love my Captain."
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Sounds like a plan. I will hunt down some of the black ones myself as they tend not to stand out as bad as the white ones. I will try to pick up several packs so I have extras for those that need them.
Be warned 76th, if you have blades DC security will make you peace bond them if they are not already. This is a requirement & you can be ejected or denied entry into events if it is not done.
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Holding the line since December '02!
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Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:
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Sergeant
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Thank you, Boomer, and thank you BrownCoat1.
We will have a weapons check at the rally point (the Hilton Bar, I think) before the march.
______________________________________
Commanding Officer of the 76th Independent Battalion 
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I'm wondering that with this backstory, we are moving away from the model of ACW and more towards Ireland from Easter 1916 to 'the troubles' of the 1920s. Are the former members of the 76th part of a clandestine IRB (Independent Republic Brotherhood)?
To an earlier point - during the ACW, brigades in the Union service were numbered, but in the CS did take on the names of their commanders - some times the original name was retained even after the commander moved on, most famously the 'Stonewall' brigade.
Seperate question - can any one recommend a source for scarves? I'm wondering to what extent we can offer a easy way to acheive a common look and feel. One service that an organizational construct can offer is economics - can our S-whatever supply office look into this? I'm also hoping that said officer can also help on on central sourcing of other items. Just a thought, not trying to tack on beauracracy to what is supposed to be the fun of a faux army.
Regards all,
Q
Similarly,
"The Spirit of 76"
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Quandom, we will be waiting to see what Doc has to say on the subject. We have a good start on the origins and actions of the 76th so far. I do want to point out again that we are coming into the story about midway into our history...after some minor actions, but before the main battles. So, we would be perpetually in that "zone", if that makes sense. This will allow us to keep out clean, relatively fresh look for the Cons of the future.
I do think, however, that our history can be based on just about anything we choose so far as "models" go...the goal is not to follow a set path; either the Civil War or the Irish Rebellion. This is a future unit, in a 'Verse we all love to play in, so our history can be what we make it. But because of the numerous possible interpretations, one person, DocJubal, has been chosen to figure this all out, and that wil be the accepted history.
As for the naming, that is still in BWTP's court. He said he would come up with something for us all to look at, and we should wait to see what he has.
To address the "S-whatever" supply officer, I guess that falls into my court, as I am designing the vest, coat, and smock. I am also looking at cloth types for scarves, and will be posting possibilities as they present themselves. The one I used in the photos above is actually a raw silk remnant...while it looks good, it is also quite heavy and will prove to be warm for Atlanta. So, I am thinking of crepe-like material, or a light-weight cotton. I am going as fast as I can to get all of this together so that we can have a common look and feel. By having one type of vest, coat, smock, helmet, weapon, etc., we get closer to the uniform look we'd like to have. I don't want it to cost an arm and a leg to be part of the 76th, but I also don't want to have anyone that throws on a long brownish coat and grabs a toy gun to call themselves a member of the 76th. I am not trying to make us elitist. Well, maybe a little bit, but that attitude will make us look good, and that is the over-all goal. To as faithfully as possible represent a facet of this beloved series of ours.
Central sourcing. Hmm. I know that I will be a source for coat, vests, smocks, and a few other items, but I do not have the capital to purchase several sets of pants, helmets, and other things we will all need. I don't mean that to sound sarcastic, but it is true. But giving links to places to find the things I/we cannot make is the best thing to central sourcing that we can do. That is why all of the relevant, up-to-date info is put in the first post of each 76th thread.
Oy. I hope that answers yours and others' questions. Thank you for bringing that up and letting me ramble for a little while.
If there are any questions along these lines, let me know!
______________________________________
Commanding Officer of the 76th Independent Battalion
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Alright a few quick things to add before I go to work.
First, regarding the slogan/nickname/et al. Here are a couple things. The 57th Overlanders (notice Overlanders isn't in quotes) was a ground pounding unit based on what we've seen of the series. Therefore I believe that Overlander is the Independent version of Infantry. It isn't a nickname, it's an actual designation like the 1st Infantry Division in the US Army. That being said, before we have a designation, if we even want that (as we expand it could get difficult as we may need to be redesignated), we have to figure out exactly what we are. As to the slogan, I've been so busy as of late that I haven't had time to dedicate to the board, let alone comeing up with a slogan. So I hereby put it to the masses. Come up with some ideas for a slogan, post them on the other board (or email them to me if the board won't let you join) by let's say the 15th of January and we'll hold a vote. The person that submits the winning slogan gets a free 76th patch when they're made.
Second, history. DocJubal is writing our history, and as Tristan mentioned, there is no model we're working off of. It's a completely ficticious history, based on no current war model, as told from the perspective of the Alliance after the War. Though we are a unit formed at the beginning of the war, and will look like it at the parade, our history is being written as if school children are reading about us in their history books 50 years after the fact.
Third, scarves. This is pretty much an open-ended avenue. The only requirements are that the red match the red of the vest, and the green and the blue match the colors in the patch. Obviously it won't be perfect, but try and be close. If we do find a good supplier, than we will post it here.
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I'll be in my bunk.
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Quote:
Originally posted by babywiththepower:
Alright a few quick things to add before I go to work. ...
The 57th Overlanders (notice Overlanders isn't in quotes) was a ground pounding unit based on what we've seen of the series. Therefore I believe that Overlander is the Independent version of Infantry. It isn't a nickname, it's an actual designation like the 1st Infantry Division in the US Army. That being said, before we have a designation, if we even want that (as we expand it could get difficult as we may need to be redesignated), we have to figure out exactly what we are. ...
Second, history... There is no model we're working off of. It's a completely ficticious history, based on no current war model, as told from the perspective of the Alliance after the War. Though we are a unit formed at the beginning of the war, and will look like it at the parade, our history is being written as if school children are reading about us in their history books 50 years after the fact.
Let me tell y'all my inspirations, sources, notions.
-- Joss Whedon started thinking about the Sereniverse after reading The Killer Angels, about Gettysburg and the Civil War.
-- The Civil War is a major model for the recent history of the 'Verse. Not the ONLY one, but a major one, which seeps into the art direction, costuming, etc.
-- In the American Civil War, individual states and cities raised formations, which were locally supplied, then folded into the national formations.
-- Canon appears to indicate that the Independent Worlds were even LESS organized than the CSA. Closer to the situation in Italy in the 13th-15th centuries, or the Germanies of the 13th-17th centuries -- fractious, fragmented. Not especially Unified.
Given the above, I then looked at our name -- the 76th Independent Battalion. No planetary name was attached; we're... just Independent.
I looked at how we were "raised"... not by a club, or a group, but by the efforts of two individuals.
And I got to thinking.
If the Independent Worlds were as fractious as they're portrayed, it's certainly possible that individuals with wealth might have raised units on their own. Happened occasionally even in the Civil War; happened all the time in the Germanies.
Hence, we're an Independent Battalion, not just because we are browncoats, but because we weren't raised by a planetary government. Allows people who like to do characters the most leeway -- you can come from anywhere. You can even be a "Corewards gentleman of Independent sympathy."
The 76th? Obviously had some emotional significance to our CO. One of these days I'll uncover why, as I research.
As far as Overlander being the browncoat usage for Infantry -- don't know whether that's glued down in canon, or a reasonable interpretation. I know the 76th is what we currently think of as "infantry"... hence the emphasis on everyone having a G36 (variant)... but we're also capable of independent deployment against a wide variety of threats. Modern man-portable weapons make life a lot less pleasant for air and armor; those trends will only continue. We'll never have to "redesignate" as "overlander", "roller", whatever; as an independent formation, if the CO "acquires" a couple of rollers, we have a roller platoon. Heh heh heh...
I kinda have Jerry Pournelle's 42nd, under John Christian Falkenberg, in mind. Good reading, from a gentleman who Was There and Done That.
That's what's in the story stew.
Comments, feedback, additions, observations?
--------------------
"Jubal 'Doc' Harris" // Bill Ernoehazy
SGT, 76th Independent Battalion
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I stand corrected. So there is a model. My appologies. But there is one thing I do want to get across, to everyone. Do not get so wrapped up in the minutiae that is sours the idea of the unit for you. Everyone here has some great ideas, and all of them will be taken into consideration (unless something opposing that has already been posted), but if something you suggest doesn't get taken as canon, or if something doesn't make total sense, or something isn't explained to your liking, remember this is all for fun. It's just a bunch of fans getting together to march at parades and walk around in costume. It's not as in depth as war reenactment groups or LARP. It's just people having fun. Flesh out a character if you want, or don't, just show up and march at the con.
Sorry I'm rambling, but I'm just seeing a trend forming that I've seen tear similar groups apart. If everyone continues to take this too seriously (and I think everyone here knows what I mean) than we're going to come to a point where people are leaving us based on principal over some piece of fiction that didn't mold perfectly with their idea of what they feel the unit should be, or not joining us at all because there's just too much going on for it to be any fun. I don't want to see that. I want to see 50+ like-minded people marching together with smiles on their faces because we did it. And Tristan, if you disagree, please chime in, but having fun is first and foremost, the rest is just filler.
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I'll be in my bunk.
XO of the 76th Battalion http://76thbattalion.homestead.com/index.html
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DocJubal, thank you for that explanation. I like the way you think, and I like the direction this is going. I look forward to reading more!
76 having some significance? Maybe. 
Roller platoon....hehehe.
Seriously, I really do like the way that Doc has thrown everything together to come up with a history.
BWTP, I concur totally. The main idea was to have fun, and to look good doing it. I could have asked if there were people planning on marching as soldiers and left it at "Shiny! I'll meet you there!"...but it turns out there are quite a few people interested in doing this...so the idea of an "army" of soldiers that looked the same quickly popped into my mind. Yes, this is for fun and for our love of the show, and I agree with BWTP...in the end, it's for fun. I do think we can balance form and function, though, and I think we are so far doing that pretty well.
I have also been involved in groups that destory themselves before they even get started because of very, very minor things. I do not want that to happen to us, and I think the way to prevent that is with a strong leadership...and not to blow my own horn, but we have that right now...BWTP and myself, who both have our own special areas of organizational skill, are working to make this a fun, good-looking group that will last long after we are gone. We are finding help all over the place in all of you. If we can keep it together, this will be the shiniest way to show our love for the show.
So, again, thank you all for sharing a dream...and thanks for working together to achieve it!
______________________________________
Commanding Officer of the 76th Independent Battalion
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Quote:
Originally posted by Tristan:
...
BWTP, I concur totally. The main idea was to have fun, and to look good doing it.
Have Fun.
Look Good.
Ain't bad goals, folks.
I've been very very careful not to pin down
too much. Iff'n you go and read that
historical excerpt again, there's a LOT of room
in the five years of the 76th's existence
to imagine your story.
I haven't even said how we survived Serenity
Valley, or how many survived.
I don't want to.
I want our "history" to be a framework, not a straitjacket.
I am the kind of guy who makes a good DM; I like backstory
and intricacy. But I want our 76th to be a welcoming place for
all browncoats, even the ones who could care
less about RPGing or LARPing or fanfic writing.
If all your heart desires is to wear the uniform and march...
that's enough to march with. After that? I reckon your dreams are yours.
--------------------
"Jubal 'Doc' Harris" // Bill Ernoehazy
SGT, 76th Independent Battalion
Ever marched with the Independents?
Wanna?
Sign up and info here:
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