ADVENT: Organizations

The Lancer Corps

"Imagine an army of SEALs or SAS operatives. Then make them invincible. You have the Lancer Corps."

- ADVENT Officer Vincent Rallen

Proposal 0043

Latest Revision: 10/17/2016

Program Name: Lancer Corps

Program Type: Military Special Forces

Authors: Kursalin Yuliy Petrovich, Spetsnaz Commander of Russia; Helion Weekes, USSOCOM Commander of the United States of America; Barak Merton, Shayetet 13 Commander of Israel

INITIAL PROPOSAL: Due to the formation of ADVENT and the ultimate goal of the homogenization of all allied member nations in civilian, military, and law enforcement capacities, we propose a similar unification of the various special forces units employed by current member nation countries, currently designated as the LANCER CORPS.

The LANCER CORPS will serve as the elite special forces of ADVENT, and the world at large, for the purposes of defending ADVENT and Humanity from both foreign and extra-terrestrial enemies. The primary roles of the LANCER CORPS will be special and sensitive military operations in hostile territory, the targeting and elimination of designated threats by ADVENT, ground support during ADVENT military operations, and capture of hostile foreign elements as identified by ADVENT Intelligence, as well as support for ADVENT Intelligence operations.

The LANCER CORPS will only answer to ADVENT, and no other foreign or international authority. Information on LANCER operations is to be kept at a confidential level, only available to ADVENT MILITARY COMMAND, which is composed of the following members:

- The COMMANDER of the ADVENT Military

- The GENERAL of the Army Division

- The CHIEF ADMIRAL of the Navy Division

- The WING COMMANDER of the Air and Space Division

- The CHIEF RESPONDER of the Special Response Division

- The CHIEF OVERSEER of the Oversight Division

- The CHANCELLOR of ADVENT

- The CHIEF of Peacekeeper Operations

- The DIRECTOR of ADVENT Intelligence

- The COMMANDER of XCOM

- The SPEAKER of the Congress of Nations

The LANCER CORPS will be directly overseen by a designated CHIEF OF LANCER OPERATIONS, who is under the direction of the CHIEF OPERATOR of the Special Forces Division, both of whom will be appointed by the CHANCELLOR of ADVENT and approved by the CONGRESS OF NATIONS.

UNIT COMPOSITION: Squads within the LANCER CORPS will vary depending on the parameters of various operations. The MINIMUM squad size will be FOUR; the AVERAGE squad size will be EIGHT; the MAXIMUM squad size will be TWELVE. Each LANCER UNIT is composed of TWELVE Lancers, though the full unit will not be used at the same time except in open combat operations.

Within the units themselves, there will be THREE primary specializations:

LANCER SNIPERS: These Lancers will specialize in LONG-RANGE combat and strategic target neutralization and elimination as identified by other Lancers or allied forces. In addition, they will also be proficient in medium-ranged traditional combat so as to not hinder their utility.

LANCER PREDATORS: These Lancers will be the primary operatives of the LANCER CORPS, and be fully proficient in multiple weapon types, close-quarters combat, and marksmanship. They will engage hostile targets at CLOSE or MEDIUM range.

LANCER EXECUTORS: The XCOM TEMPLAR Program has demonstrated the effectiveness of utilizing melee combat against a primarily ranged opponent, and we have the capability to train our own Lancers to perform in similar capacities. EXECUTORS will primarily wield a melee weapon of their choice from a pre-approved selection, and an SMG or sidearm, and engage enemies at CLOSE RANGE.

Each unit of the LANCER CORPS will be composed of FOUR EXECUTORS, TWO SNIPERS, and SIX PREDATORS. This can be modified if circumstances demand it.

RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING: The LANCER CORPS is to be the ultimate elite special forces unit in the world, and the Human species itself, and in practice will be open to those who are capable of meeting the requirements. As of this point, all current special forces units have received invitations to participate in qualifying for the LANCER CORPS.

While requiring potential applicants to participate in qualification tests may temporarily slow our time of deployment, we cannot simply rely that every soldier is qualified simply because they were in a special forces unit beforehand. The varying standards in the member countries forces us to ensure that all LANCERS are equally qualified.

Please note that this does not exclude soldiers who fail initial qualification from joining the LANCER CORPS at a future date. Candidates will be identified for LANCER training in the future if they perform well, but not well enough to qualify for immediate recruitment. In the future, all future recruits will only be allowed to join the LANCER CORPS via special selection for LANCER training.

Also note that soldiers who fail to meet the requirements will not be returned to the general ADVENT military, but will either be placed in the HUSSAR, DRAGOON, or CUIRASSIER Programs, also under the SPECIAL FORCES DIVISION. In addition, the LANCER CORPS also does not discriminate on the basis of gender or age, provided the applicants can pass the required training.

In the pursuit of developing the most elite special forces unit in the world, the LANCER CORPS training regime is deliberately designed to be incapable for any outside the most resilient, determined, and intelligent to complete. Training is broken into FOUR different stages, which can be completed in any order by prospective Lancers. This has been designed in conjunction with multiple member nation special forces, including the Navy SEALS, Russian GRU, the Israeli Shayetet and Kidon, with consultation from the British SAS (Special Air Service) as well as others.

COMBAT: This tests proficiency with a multitude of ranged weapons consisting of traditional ballistics, laser, gauss, in addition to utilizing heavier weapons and armored vehicles. This will also include training in melee weapons and CQC tactics. Prospective Lancers will perform a variety of activities in multiple climates and multiple times of day in locations across the world. Several scenarios will include live-fire situations. Passing is contingent on a combination of test situation accuracy as well as weapon knowledge and utilization.

ENDURANCE: This will test both the mental and physical endurance of prospective Lancers through a series of exercises designed to exhaust and break them. Prospective Lancers will be subject to a series of potentially lethal conditions (Those in danger of death will be removed) in various climates, in addition to carrying varying weights of gear or clothing. This stage is the shortest at two weeks, and there are no scores. Those who reach the end automatically pass.

INTELLIGENCE: This is the longest stage, and will teach and test Lancers on cryptology, electronics, computer science, bomb defusing, reading and writing comprehension, chemistry, and mathematics. Passing is contingent on acceptable scores on all subjects. Failing to pass even one is grounds for dismissal.

CRISIS RESPONSE: This is a stage where tactics against Human, Alien, and Psionic opponents is taught and tested, in addition to training various scenarios such as hostage situations. Prospective Lancers are also taught emergency interrogation techniques, and are also taught interrogation resistance training which is deliberately omitted from the stage description. Passing is contingent on a majority of training operations being successful, successfully resisting mock interrogations and performing them to achieve desired results, and passing an exam on appropriate tactics for various situations.

I will repeat that a Lancer has to successfully complete each stage to join. Should that happen, their specialization will be contingent on their performances in the various stages.

SNIPERS will be designated if they have overall better scores on the COMBAT and INTELLIGENCE stages.

PREDATORS will be designated if they have overall better scores on the INTELLIGENCE and CRISIS RESPONSE stages.

EXECUTORS will be designated if they have overall better results on the COMBAT and ENDURANCE stages.

In the event that a prospective lancer does NOT complete all four stages, but does complete at least one, they will have the opportunity to join a different unit in the Special Forces Division. The more they complete, the more options are available to them:

Those who pass the COMBAT Stage will be authorized to be recruited into the HUSSAR Unit.

Those who pass the ENDURANCE and CRISIS RESPONSE Stages will be authorized to be recruited into the CUIRASSIER Unit.

Those who pass the INTELLIGENCE and CRISIS RESPONSE Stages will be authorized to be recruited into the SSR (State Special Response).

Those who pass the ENDURANCE and COMBAT Stages will be authorized to be recruited into the DRAGOON Unit.

RETRAINING AND RETAKING STAGES: The following stages must be retaken in their entirety if the prospective Lancer wishes to be recognized for passing them:

- ENDURANCE; CRISIS RESPONSE

The following can be retaken with a far shorter series of tests (written and physical) simply testing knowledge and skill:

- INTELLIGENCE; COMBAT

Also note that the prospective Lancer can choose to take the stages in their entirety even if they do not have to. In addition, continued service in the LANCER CORPS requires taking the ENDURANCE stage in its entirety every FIVE years, and the INTELLIGENCE and CRISIS RESPONSE stages every ten. Depending on Lancer performance, the retaking of stages can be required if certain criteria are met.

POST-TRAINING: Upon successful and full completion of LANCER training, the Lancer recruit will immediately undergo genetic modification and have the IRON SKIN, ENHANCED EYESIGHT, DISEASE RESISTANCE and MUSCLE-FIBER DENSITY modifications applied to them. Immediately afterwards they will undergo a brief period of training which will acclimate them to their enhanced abilities. Once this is complete, and they are fully aware of current LANCER operations, they will be deployed as full Lancers.

CONCLUSION: This represents a full and working elite special forces program for ADVENT that will be sufficient to combat threats on and beyond Earth. We cannot simply be content with the current status-quo, and must push our standards and requirements higher as the fate of our species is on the line. I trust that this proposal be carefully considered, and ultimately implemented.

For more information on the HUSSAR, DRAGOON, and CUIRASSIER Units, please refer to the attached documents.

"I thought the soldiers were XCOM at first, since they looked absolutely nothing like anything we already had out there. None of us had really heard that much about them to begin with, so when three guys in black armor that's somehow thicker than a Shieldbearer's show up, one of them carrying some kind of warhammer, I first thought they were XCOM."

"No, it didn't last long. Took a few seconds to remember that XCOM has colored armor, and they aren't standardized for whatever reason. But these Lancers just came out of nowhere without even giving a warning and just charged the alien line that was holding us back. Mostly Mutons and Vitakara; maybe a little more of the latter."

"I think the aliens were as surprised as us, I mean, we had called for backup, but ADVENT Command hadn't said exactly what would be coming. So the Lancers charge into the open, directly getting hit but it didn't seem to actually hurt them. Three shots, and three aliens fall to the ground. The guy with the hammer smashes a Muton in the head, and my Officer is yelling for us to get moving."

"It was pretty [Censored] unbelievable just how lethal these Lancers were. They fought like machines, I am not kidding. I swear they used those gauss rifles like [Censored] sniper rifles, they were that accurate. So think on that: in about five minutes they'd essentially taken a complete city block by themselves, and I'm going to be honest, we didn't do nearly as much compared to them."

"Yes, they did stay with us until the end of taking Salem. Even learned their names, though I can't say them here, not even to you. Lancers are touchy about the privacy of their operatives, I think. All nice people, they definitely aren't normal, but considering what they can do, I'd say that's an acceptable trade-off."

"Oh, why do I think that? You've seen pictures right? The yellow-rimmed eyes and skin things? I think that's a side effect of injecting that MELD stuff into them. A literal super-serum. [Laughs]. But that's one thing I'm never going to forget. If we don't get XCOM coming to reinforce us, a Lancer is the next best thing."

- ADVENT Soldier Adam Christos, in an sanctioned interview with Journalist Jessica Wong

Interview transcript between BBC Anchor Greyson Soto and ADVENT Lancer Dannon Cohen

Greyson Soto: "Good evening, tonight we have a special guest from ADVENT, one of the now-famous Lancers from the ADVENT Lancer Corps. Would you care to introduce yourself?"

Dannon Cohen: "Dannon Cohen, or if you would prefer my call sign, Predator 03, or just Predator Cohen, of the Lancer Corps of course. A pleasure to be with you tonight."

GS: "Certainly. I am sure there are many who are curious about the Lancer Corps, since ADVENT is sometimes less than forthcoming about the many divisions they oversee. Is there anything you can share with us tonight?"

DC: "Well, ADVENT has a lot to keep track of, and there are certain things that just work better without public knowledge. But that is a different topic altogether, I can at least say what the Lancer Corps are. The short version is that we are the elite special forces of ADVENT, and are tasked with completing high-risk, and highly sensitive missions against designated enemies and threats to ADVENT, in both a foreign or alien nature."

GS: "An answer that gets straight to the point, thank you. So this isn't simply a military unit reserved for fighting the aliens?"

DC: "Just because we're being invaded sadly does not change the fact that there are still nations who stand opposed to ADVENT, and it is our duty to deal with these threats as ADVENT sees fit. While I cannot speak to any operations that may or may not be happening, one example I can give is the Middle East, which we did participate in in order to bring them fully into ADVENT."

GS: "I see. Though what ADVENT designates as a threat is-"

DC: "The majority of our targets are alien, if that makes you feel better. I assure you, we don't act unless the need is dire. Very rarely are we needed for foreign affairs."

GS: "I suppose that is reassuring. If that is the case, I would expect the majority of your work to be supporting the resistance movements in the Oceanic nations?"

DC: "That is classified, unfortunately, but I can say that we are continuously working to remove the aliens from this world. Every day, more of them die. Baby steps, but it's progress."

GS: "Let's talk more about the Lancers specifically. You seem to have undergone some procedures, which, if I understand, are improvements?"

DC: "Ah, yes. The exact nature of the procedures is classified, but in essence it makes me physically capable of performing feats that I would not be able to do otherwise. It is a kind of genetic modification, and a successful one at that. I would not be surprised if we see civilian applications of this in the near future."

GS: "You support ADVENT genetically modifying its citizens? Is there not a risk in that?"

DC: "Mr. Soto, ADVENT doesn't use us a guinea pigs. If we're getting these procedures, they've been extensively tested and tinkered with. Do you honestly believe ADVENT would not ensure the same care is given to their own citizens?"

GS: "While I'm certain your own experience is-"

DC: "And I am more inclined to believe a government who is working to ensure our species isn't wiped out. Which is sadly in contrast to a few select countries in the world."

GS: "You have to admit there is some bias in your personal view, Lancer Cohen."

DC: "As there is in yours, but I think we've gone off-topic."

GS: "Indeed. Now one last question: You were a former Shayetet 13 operative, correct? How does the Lancer Corps compare to your previous position?"

DC: "Yes I was, and it's more different than I honestly expected. The first thing is that the training to actually be approved to join the Lancer Corps in the first place is much stricter. I, and every other current Lancer was 'grandfathered in' so to speak, but we all had to take qualification tests, and quite a few people didn't do well enough on them to join. And these men and women were the elite soldiers of the world. You don't get to become a Lancer unless you really are the best."

GS: "So is recruiting invitation-only, or can any soldier join?"

DC: "There are two primary ways. The most reliable is being selected as a recruit by a superior of any rank, which greatly speeds the process and chances of you getting selected to join the training. Alternately, any soldier can manually submit a form requesting permission to undertake Lancer training. But unless what you put down is exceptionally good, you won't even be looked at for a while."

GS: "Merit-based, then. That's understandable of ADVENT. I'm curious if you know how the gender breakdowns are? Special forces has almost always been exclusively male-dominated."

DC: "Biologically, there are reasons for that. But I can personally attest to some excellent women in the Lancer Corps. They aren't as common in this branch, but each and every one of them earned the right to be here."

GS: "Inspiring to hear. Thank you for your time tonight, Lancer Cohen, and I wish you all the best in this war against the aliens."

DC: "Appreciated. Please also pass that sentiment along to your government. The only way we win this is as a united species."

GS: "I wouldn't worry about that, I think they're well aware of what ADVENT wants."

THREAT ANALYSIS: 11001010

ANALYSIS COMPILER: COLLECTIVE ANDROMEDON COMMANDER J'LORAN

RESTRICTION: COLLECTIVE MILITARY COMMAND; ANDROMEDON MILITARY COMMAND

UNIT OF INTEREST: ADVENT LANCER CORPS

SPECIES: HUMAN

INFORMATION OF NOTE: THREE UNIQUE SPECIALIZATIONS

INFORMATION OF NOTE: ELITE ADVENT SPECIAL FORCES

INFORMATION OF NOTE: CURRENT CHIEF OF LANCER OPERATIONS IS HELION WEEKES

INFORMATION OF NOTE: HEAVILY GENETICALLY MODIFIED

INFORMATION OF NOTE: UTILIZES MELEE AND RANGED WEAPONRY

ADDITIONAL MANUAL COMMENT: The Lancer Corps is a part of the ADVENT Military that has been unusually quiet from the beginning, a sentiment that can also be applied to the entire ADVENT Special Forces Division as a whole, and the reasons for this, while currently still unknown, can be extrapolated to some degree, especially as a result of the recent conflict.

Prior to their first major deployment, we were previously unaware of their capabilities, although we were aware that they were drawn from the special forces units of the countries which had existed prior to the formation of ADVENT and had already considered them a potential threat to our operations. This was officially proven and now we know what they can do.

WEAPONRY: Lancers appear to primarily use gauss weapons, and have not been currently noted to wield laser or potential firearms, although there were several instances of them handling stationary turrets and carrying them into combat, and others who assumed control of turrets or vehicles where the original pilots had died. It should be assumed that they are highly knowledgeable about most or all Human weaponry developed.

Another interesting development is the usage of melee weapons, which appears to have been directly inspired by the XCOM Templar program. There are very few bladed weapons, and the vast majority used by Lancers are blunt weapons; primarily hammers and maces. This appears to have been largely successful against a high number of Collective Units, including Andromedons. Additional tactics will need to be devised to combat this unexpected development.

ARMOR: The Lancers wear armor that can be compared to Shieldbearer or SSR armor, in context of density and protection. Each Lancer, even Snipers, are heavily armored to withstand multiple plasma shots, which implies that each Lancer is a not-insubstantial investment by ADVENT. They are most recognizable because of their domed helmets, which originally arose as the result of an experimental Israeli program, which I can only assume was repurposed for the Lancer Corps.

MODIFICATION: During the course of the observed battles, it became apparent that the Lancers were acting with unnatural accuracy and survivability. While corpses were unable to be recovered, it can be speculated that most, if not all of the Lancers have undergone genetic modification that improves eyesight, speed, and hardens the skin against damage.

This lines up with several intercepted documents by the Zararch months ago. The Chief of Lancer Operations Helion Weekes appears to have been pushing for mass modification since the beginning, and this could very well explain why the Lancers have not appeared in any meaningful capacity before now, and perhaps it could explain this for the other operations undertaken by the secretive Special Forces Division.

The genetic modification also does not appear to have been always implemented, and indeed seems to be a recent development. The rare encounters with the Lancers before today were often lethal for defending alien forces, but they did die during attacks. This is not the case now.

GOALS AND PURPOSE: The Lancer Corps appears to be a standard special forces unit, only enhanced and composed of the elite of the Human race. A logical step for ADVENT to take, but one that we can deal with in the future with the correct analysis and planning. To that end, it can be surmised that the Lancers primarily participate in scaled combat operations from small-scale raids to large-scale battles.

This is not to be confused with the SSR, even though at a brief analysis of the two, they appear similar. The difference is that the Lancers act in a military capacity and work beyond the borders of ADVENT, as well as their operations being more secretive. In contrast, the SSR only works within ADVENT jurisdiction and has been openly active even if they aren't as recognized in military planning.

Based on the latest attacks, it is extremely likely that ADVENT will continue deploying the Lancers in combat and elsewhere. Our primary objectives for dealing with them must first involve determining how to reliably kill them, and then learn where they are currently operating in Collective-controlled territory.

END REPORT

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