ADVENT: Organizations

The Order of Terra

"We are not a ceremonial unit. By the end of this war the aliens will fear our standards just as they fear the sight of the soldiers of XCOM."

- Jamie Foster, Lord Commander of the Order of Terra

Proposal 0293

Latest Revision: 1/17/2017

Designation: The Order of Terra

Program Type: Close-Combat; Extermination Tactics

Authors: Jamie Foster, Lord Commander; Saudia Vyandar, Chancellor of ADVENT; Elizabeth Falka, Director of ADVENT Intelligence; Kyong Suk-Chul, Minister of ADVENT Public Relations; Keith Watkins, Chief Overseer of the Oversight Division; Prince Mason, of the British Royal Family

INITIAL PROPOSAL: Throughout the course of this conflict, the battle has primarily taken place over distances with weapons of range, as all modern conflicts have been conducted as such. However, there have been developments in the ranks of our enemy which put forward units to which we have few or little counters. For those who argue that melee combat is of a bygone era, there is much showing otherwise.

We only need to look to the past itself to see that our guns can only protect our soldiers so much when the combat becomes close and personal. In the trenches soldiers once fought with spades, shovels, bayonets, hands and teeth to survive. The brutality of close quarters combat in war is not something that can ever be eliminated, no matter how much it appears to be sanitized. Modern soldiers simply are not trained for an enemy that understands the weaknesses of close quarters combat – and actively works to counter them.

We see this principle no clearer than in the Battlemaster himself, who is widely recognized for his dangerous capabilities and considered one of the deadliest combatants to ever walk on the face of this Earth. Yet this alien only carries a sword, and while he is certainly augmented with his psionics, that does not mean he does not use the weapon he carries.

But also look beyond the Battlemaster to the infamous Oyariah Titans, who are incapable of the psionic feats and yet simultaneously still pose significant threat to our soldiers as they actively train to subvert our soldiers who become reliant on their guns, and then become further reliant on psionics and special forces to ensure their survival.

The Ethereal Collective has correctly identified a weakness in our military, as we have units and legions for almost every aspect of combat – except this one. Close-quarters units are lacking in ADVENT, and even XCOM has realized the benefits of a melee-oriented unit as their own Templars prove. The Collective itself remains primarily oriented towards ranged combat, of course, but unlike us, they have elected to plug this notable gap where we have not.

This must change, and we have an opportunity to do it better.

BATTLE ROLE: It must be made abundantly clear that the Order of Terra is not, and should not be used in all circumstances. This is a specialized unit which should only be called in when certain conditions are met. These are soldiers who do not belong in the trenches or in purely open battlefields. They are designed to be most effective in choke points, close-quarters, and other areas where their kit and weapons can be leveraged for maximum effectiveness.

They should primarily be used for operations which would normally pose a higher risk to soldiers performing them – such as clearing buildings of hostiles, advancing down streets filled with hostile soldiers, and engaging melee-oriented alien units. They are especially effective if utilized against alien forces in close-quarters or for flanking operations as the aliens will no doubt be unable to properly defend themselves in most circumstances.

Yet understand that these soldiers are likewise not invincible. They cannot simply be thrown at the enemy without proper planning in usage. They, like every other aspect of ADVENT, are a tool, and tools have specific functions and uses – and are not to be used in every single situation and circumstance. The Order of Terra will not be the most dangerous unit, have the most soldiers, or participate in the most battles.

But for doing the job they have been structured to perform, you will find none who can do it better.

FRONT-LINE SOLDIERS: On the front of the line, these will be the soldiers to assume the most risk and will be properly equipped to face it with maximum survivability. This is the first category where soldiers of the Order will fall into, and they are the following:

SQUIRE OF TERRA: These soldiers make up the front line of any Order unit, and they are distinguished by being equipped with shields designed to withstand all modern weapons including physical rounds, laser, and plasma. Their shields have been designed with charge coils which additionally act as a means of further mitigating damage caused by plasma fire.

Their weapons consist of gauss carbines which they will fire while moving towards opposing enemy lines, as we do not intend for them to not have any way to defend themselves before this point. The shields will have places to brace the weapons and properly hold them as well as being quickly and safely removed when necessary. They have also been provided with a sidearm of their choice, between a pistol or SMG. These are only to be used if the primary weapons fail.

Their melee weapons are twofold. The first is a short melee weapon based on the Roman gladius which provides more mobility and flexibility, as well as being enhanced to stab and penetrate. The other weapon is a collapsible and enhanced spear which provides exceptional range with little fear of immediate retaliation.

Their armor has been designed to be among the toughest in the ADVENT military; this has the effect of making them slower and less flexible than others, but in return they are extremely difficult to kill even in the event that they lose their shield. This soldier will not die to even multiple direct hits. In combat they will fight side-by-side and form a near-impenetrable wall which will clear a path for ADVENT to follow behind.

KNIGHT OF TERRA: The Knights are intended to be more flexible front-line soldiers, who protect the flanks and engage faster opponents in close-combat, as while they are still heavily armored, they have been equipped in such a way as to be able to move faster and quicker than their slower counterparts.

Their armor is lighter, though still capable of withstanding multiple direct attacks, and designed in a way reminiscent of knights of the medieval period minus any superfluous additions, of course. They are similarly equipped with a shield which will be offered in several different types, chosen by the Knight themselves, though it will be lighter than the shield carried by the Squires.

Knights will be equipped with two or three weapons, depending on their choices. They will usually be equipped with a gauss or ETC-powered rifle to provide support at range until they are in a position to initiate close combat. However, they may also choose to carry a shotgun or merely a sidearm which they can more easily use in conjunction with their shield.

Their melee weapon is an enhanced longsword, which has been adapted from technology provided by XCOM to their Templars. It will have some additional features, such as the ability to detach the pommel of the sword and use it as a backup MELD-grenade, which will be able to be replaced at the conclusion of battles.

In addition, Knights will be allowed to use and train their own Molosser Hounds, which will further assist them in combat and provide an additional intimidation factor for the Knights, as aliens appear to view the Molosser Hounds much more fearfully than many Human operatives. We expect this to continue here.

SUPPORT SOLDIERS: These are soldiers of the Order who primarily provide support or reconnaissance roles to the remainder of the Order Unit. Currently there is only one designated unit, but should additional positions be created, it could greatly expand.

SAMURAI OF TERRA: Samurai units are designated the target elimination role, and their kit is designed to carry this out. They are responsible for identifying and removing targets of interest through whatever means are available. These targets also include those designated by Commander personnel. Samurai are not equipped for front-line combat and their armor is far lighter and more flexible to enable faster mobility.

They are equipped with sniper rifles as well as allowed access to specialized ammunition, and are also equipped with a sidearm should the need arise to use one. Their melee weapon is an enhanced katana which they will use in close-quarters and if they take a more direct approach in acquiring information behind enemy lines. They can also fulfill the role of scout or spy, though they are not specialized as such.

They also have access to equipment no other soldier in the Order has, most prominently a grappling hook and retraction system which allows them to achieve crucial vantage points at irregular angles to take out or otherwise reach targets. Manual and automatic methods for this utilization are provided, and in some cases the grappling hook can be modified to perform offensive functions.

COMMAND SOLDIERS: There are a number of units who will be less common, but exceptionally important to ensuring that the Order is operating in the most effective manner possible, and leading the Order of Terra to continued victories. This will cover all major management roles, of which there are currently three.

STANDARDBEARER OF TERRA: These fulfill the roles of officers for each Order unit, and they are expected to lead their own, as well as coordinate with other nearby Order units quickly and effectively to maximize the effectiveness of all nearby units in proximity to their own. They are responsible for giving orders to their subordinate Squires and Knights, as well as coordinating with their respective commanding Lord on deployment areas.

They are equipped with a sidearm, as that is a weapon that can be effectively wielded while also maintaining the standard they also carry. This standard will bear a design by the unit in question, and serve as a rallying point and as it has also incorporated Shieldbearer technology, will provide an additional defense against enemy plasma fire.

Due to the vulnerability of their position, they are equipped in armor heavy enough to be compared to the Squires, which reduces their speed and flexibility, but they will be sufficiently protected, and should not be unaccompanied while on the battlefield, even if they are close to the front lines. This is a position with high risk, but also among the most important.

LORD OF TERRA: These individuals are responsible for managing multiple Order Units, and planning the overall strategy for assaults and operations. While they have a notable strategic role, they are expected to personally participate on the battlefield itself to ensure that they are worthy of their position by taking part in plans of their own design.

While the predominant title given is "Lord", there is of course the option for females of this rank to assume the title of "Lady of Terra" instead. This decision will be made personally by each appointee to this rank, and cannot easily be changed afterwards. For the sake of this document, this position will continue to be referred to by the default title.

The Lord is equipped with weapons of their choosing, and unlike the previous roles, they are not locked into specific types of weapons. Multiple combinations and styles can be assumed, so long as they are appropriately trained and effective with them. These are typically suited to the combat style of the Lord in question, and as such there is a notable amount of variance between them.

The Lords are also armored similarly to Knights, although with more ornate helmets and red capes which are intended to showcase their presence on the battlefield. They are intended to be noticed and seen, as they are to provide an inspiring presence on the battlefield and attract the attention of enemy forces. They are also permitted to have a Molosser Hound at their side as well.

Due to the more intense nature of this position, as well as the responsibility and symbolic importance, Lords undergo genetic modification to increase their natural attributes.

LORD COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF TERRA: The leader of the Order of Terra, the Lord Commander is the final authority for all operations and has a significant amount of responsibility to ensure that the Order is being utilized correctly, and to its fullest extent. Chosen from existing Lords, they have many of the same expectations in participation in combat.

While they are not necessarily expected to participate in every battle, they are expected to have a presence in major ones and continue to show that they are worthy of holding the title of Lord Commander. In many respects, much of their gear, attire, and enhancement is similar to the Lords, with the exception that the cape they wear is black instead of red.

A final notation is that for enemies of note, the Lord Commander is expected to personally fight them, either through dueling or otherwise leading the charge against them with no exceptions – Ethereals included. All Lord Commanders understand the heavy risks of their position, and the expectations. No one is promoted to such a level otherwise.

Lord Commanders who fail to meet these requirements will be stripped of their title and dismissed.

RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING: The Order of Terra will recruit through military and civilian vectors. Information about the Order will be properly circulated through military channels and there will be regular rotating visits to various bases and military stations to both integrate the Order more fully into the ADVENT military forces and to attract potential interest.

Civilian recruitment will focus on online and event-based recruiting. Medieval-based events in particular will be targeted for advertisement and we are looking into holding events showcasing the skills and capabilities of our soldiers, either through duels or other organized tournaments. Coordination with leagues who host certain similar events should be approached.

In addition, there will be targeted online advertisement spearheaded by ADVENT Intelligence, we will utilize all relevant social media personalities and channels to showcase the Order and attract additional interest in closed and private events. Thanks to the success of previous similar endeavors, we are confident that recruitment will spike as a result.

Once candidates have applied, they will be screened and selected based on certain criteria. This will primarily be physically-based as this is an exceptionally physically demanding institution, and while training will certainly ensure improvement, we should not focus on completely starting from scratch. Other factors such as melee or close-combat skills, or previous military service will also be taken into consideration.

When the individuals have joined, they will undergo a minimum of one month of physical training to determine what position they are best suited for. When this has been achieved by instructors, they will enter into specialized training for their particular position, and when this has been concluded, they will be placed into a unit and begin coordination training as well as further personal training. This will continue as long as necessary or when they are needed. We expect the initial process to ultimately take no more than three to five months before a unit can be properly considered combat-ready.

CEREMONY AND PROMOTION: Unlike some other aspects of ADVENT, we have taken the step of incorporating additional ceremonial – and optional – aspects to the Order of Terra on the suggestion of Prince Mason who initially pioneered this concept. The medieval period was one that had certain ceremony, especially in regards to certain roles which are incorporated today. This presents an opportunity to pay homage to the past while modernizing it for this era.

Today, while the monarchies and royal families of the world have little to no power, their symbolic and historical importance should be recognized, and instead of merely condemning it to fade away, properly utilized for the betterment of ADVENT and humanity as a whole. Thus, in certain instances if such a royal family exists and there is a soldier of that country, it would be prudent to allow an official promotion conducted by the monarch or leading member in question as it was in the days of old.

While such an event would be ceremonial, it would legitimize the remaining royalty in the world in a way that ultimately showed their subservience to ADVENT, as well as such ceremonies of promotion providing a morale boost to those in attendance. This would be completely optional of course, and dependent on the nationality of the soldier in question, but it nonetheless is something which can and should be offered and supported.

However, due to the scale of the Order, it is advised that such knightings or promotions be reserved only for promotion to Lord, or the Lord Commander of the Order of Terra. This will ensure that numbers are kept at a manageable level.

TECHNOLOGY AND ENHANCEMENT: Much of the weaponry has been based off of designs utilized by XCOM for their Templars which enable melee weapons to be far more dangerous and usable than they would be otherwise. Enhanced by MELD, these weapons have an overlay of nanites which can be altered into different states at the press of a button or switch.

Those incorporated into the weapons of the Order of Terra are a 'default' state where the weapon is hardened to a razor-sharp edge which is extremely difficult to chip or break. The other state is a 'heated' state which is caused by nanites vibrating together to create friction and emanates a 'glowing' orange effect which has been observed to melt through most substances after direct exposure – including the armor of the Battlemaster.

The downside to such weapons is that nanites do occasionally need to be replaced for the weapons to function correctly, but we do not expect this to be a significant issue, as all Order soldiers are equipped with extra MELD cells and we have an established surplus to prevent any such shortage. In the future we are looking to add additional states or further increase the effectiveness of the ones which already exist.

AUTHORITY AND LIMITATIONS: Members of the Order of Terra are expected to follow protocol and rank. Squires, Samurai, and Knights are only answerable to their respective Standardbearer, although if they have none they are expected to follow the directions of the nearest superior – which can include the nearest ADVENT Officer. Standardbearers have no direct authority over other ADVENT military personnel of lesser rank unless there are none of similar rank in the immediate vicinity.

Lords have limited authority over non-Order personnel, though it is advised that it be coordinated through Officers and the Lord can be overridden if certain commands are deemed too dangerous or questionable enough. This requires a majority of Officers, or an intervention by the Lord Commander. The Lord Commander has much greater authority over local ADVENT military forces, and those in the vicinity are expected to follow them completely.

CONCLUSION: With the development of the Order of Terra, we will be fixing a weakness in our armed forces which has been in existence since the formation of ADVENT. Furthermore, this is only the first iteration of the Order, and we expect to expand on it as the war continues and additional roles are designated and ultimately filled.

We will have an army which will be yet another tool to achieve our objectives with increased efficiency and safety to our soldiers, and it will be superior to that of our enemies. In that, you can be assured.

Memo sent to Chancellor Saudia Vyandar following the Battle of Beijing

Chancellor,

Now that the fighting has largely calmed down and operations are continuing within expected parameters, I, along with my staff in conjunction with ADVENT Intelligence, have conducted a review of the performance of the fledgling Order of Terra to determine the strengths, weaknesses, and if they succeeded or failed to meet our expectations.

The good news is that they succeeded and performed well within expectations.

Further elaboration is as follows:

FRONT LINE COMBAT: As expected, the Order performed well in front-line combat utilizing the Squire units effectively, and the equipment in conjunction with the technology incorporated in the Standardbearers was enough to ensure that there could be a continuous and steady march forward regardless of enemy forces composition.

This was additionally facilitated with the ability for Order units to have limited ranged capabilities which assisted in preventing indefensible mob rushes or mitigating them to a manageable level. When combat reached into close-range, the melee weapons provided proved more than sufficient in defending the line and ultimately defeating whatever was standing in their way.

DURABILITY AGAINST PSIONICS: Psions proved to be the biggest challenge to the Order of Terra, as it is to most ADVENT military units who are not sufficiently protected through allied or friendly psions. They were capable of resisting many minor uses of Dynamo psionics, though direct concentrations of destructive energy were often too much for them to overcome. This was however mitigated through the use of shields and armor.

Defenses against telepathy cannot be properly measured, as there was notable allied telepathic protection which mitigated the worst of such attacks, though there were cases where direct attacks had the effect of driving Order soldiers insane or otherwise forcing them to commit acts against their allies or themselves. They performed similarly to the majority of ADVENT military forces in this regard.

Aegii psionics were not heavily utilized offensively against the Order of Terra, and cannot be properly measured.

Additionally, like standard military forces, the Order of Terra is vulnerable to concentrated and broad telekinetic attacks, and there is little viable measures which can be taken. It is estimated that Order soldiers are potentially more difficult to kill telekinetically in certain ways to due to the construction and composition of their armor, though this has not been confirmed.

MOB DURABILITY: While we did not expect the Order to be specifically tested in the face of mob rushes and attacks, they were forced to adapt to one here and performed exceptionally well. Their ranged capabilities damaged the effectiveness of mobs before reaching the shield lines deployed, and once on the line, were almost never broken solely through force as they were killed efficiently and quickly using short-range melee weapons and sidearms.

This stonewalling of mobs additionally allowed the mobs to be thinned from allied fire from behind, further lowering the chances of the line being broken. As a result, there were very few instances of the line breaking and subsequently leading to additional and potentially preventable soldier deaths. However, this should be quantified by the fact that these were unarmored (if psionically enhanced in some cases) human civilians, who did not utilize any complex tactics. This may not be the result if attempted by smarter or more dangerous mobs.

OVERALL DURABILITY: In general, the Order of Terra proved to be durable and capable of effectively holding their own in battle. While this cannot be exactly used as a baseline battle, it is fair to say that it was far more mentally taxing and dangerous than the average military operation, regardless of how far off baseline it is from normal engagements. Facing a primarily psionic army is an additional point in their favor.

The equipment, weapons, and tactics worked as expected, or exceeded expectations in some cases, and proved that there is a place for the Order of Terra within ADVENT military strategy, especially given their effectiveness in clearing operations and managing front-line attacks which will provide us with more tactical opportunities in the future.

CLEARING TACTICS: We expected the Order of Terra to perform well in clearing operations, and they exceeded them by their effectiveness and speed. Due to the heavier armor of the Order soldiers, as well as the utilization of damage mitigating tools like shields, this gives the soldiers significantly more confidence and safety assurance than standard breaching gear.

Eliminations with melee weapons and sidearms in quick and efficient manners were carried out with notable lack of hesitation, which reflects the training they have undertaken. This had a compounding effect on future clearing operations, due to the sheer number, multiple successful ones cascaded into a rhythm where entire skyscrapers were cleared in under four hours.

Notably, there were no casualties in these clearing operations, which is an achievement in and of itself.

SYNERGY WITH OTHER ARMED FORCES: The Order of Terra synergized better than expected with standard armed forces, and allowed them additional flexibility and safety where none had existed before. Previously when faced with hostile enemy fire, they would be stuck in certain positions and could only move when enemies were defeated or gone, or risked charging to a forward position. Now they simply had to move behind Order shield lines and fire between them as the line consistently and steadily advanced.

This had the further advantage of ensuring that everything behind the shield lines was safe (barring grenades or other forms of artillery), and allowing near-unrestricted movement. They also provided snipers with cover as the enemy was almost exclusively focusing on the oncoming Order soldiers, and not at possible snipers or other ADVENT personnel. Tanks surprisingly worked quite well, as they could fire over the shield lines, and served as mobile sniping nests for ADVENT and Order personnel to contribute downrange.

We intend to continue using them in urban environments.

TACTICAL SYNERGY: Tactically the Order of Terra provides us with additional flexibility, especially in urban environments. We now have a reliable means of securing streets and choke points as well as continuing to advance through them with more mitigated risk to our soldiers. This draws focus where we want it, and enables potentially more successful deployments of flanking squads and special forces.

Upon the deployment of the Stormtroopers, we expect them to synergize exceptionally well with the opportunities the Order of Terra provides.

We also now have a far safer method of clearing buildings and other dangerous locations, as well as properly countering melee-focused alien units. While the Order has not faced such yet, we are now very confident that they will be able to face them and emerge victorious again and again. We still maintain that the Order will be of limited use in open areas and non-urban environments, but they will prove exceptionally important in the fights to come which can best take advantage of what they offer.

Prince Mason had a good idea here, and he should be recognized for it properly.

- Commander Laura Christiaens.

Battlemaster,

In addition to the deployment of special forces units, we have also become aware of the fact that ADVENT has utilized this battle to unveil an entirely new military division that has apparently been in development for some time. This division is recognized as the "Order of Terra" and appears to primarily specialize in close quarters combat.

Further research appears to confirm that both the name and general purpose has been heavily inspired by the Human medieval period, with some inspirations taken from older Japanese history. The period is among the most popular historical periods among Humans as well as the most well-known, which is quite curious as many people will tend to know about this period as well as Human history in the past century.

Curious priorities.

The name itself is a mixture of English and Latin, as "Terra" is the Latin word for "Earth" according to most translations. If you are wondering why the languages have been combined, it is because this is a noticeable Human tendency and they particularly have a fondness for using Latin in places where normal words would be too 'boring'.

Questionable naming conventions aside, the Order of Terra is a curious development and one we should watch closely, especially as they are likely going to be utilized directly against us following the successful deployment in Beijing.

We have been aware that ADVENT has been developing a division or unit designed to fulfill a close-quarters combat role, though until now we were unsure of the designation, equipment, or numbers. We estimated that they would be a fairly small and situational unit to counter the Titans, although they would have gear and weapons of high quality, based on the types utilized by the XCOM Templars.

This latest extrapolation was correct, as all of the weaponry is clearly taken from the original XCOM Templar designs and applied to multiple weapon types. However, the division appears to be far larger than we intended, and thanks to the tactics employed during the Battle of Beijing, we were able to determine more accurately how ADVENT intends to utilize this new division.

To put it clearly, the Order of Terra has not been developed as an exclusive anti-Titan or anti-melee unit, but has utility beyond it. While they can fulfill these roles, and in all likelihood will, that does not appear to be what they have been conceptualized for. ADVENT instead designed them around exploiting the same weakness that all modern military units have – an overreliance on ranged weapons.

The "Squire" unit in particular is egregious, as it is deceptively simple, but effective. It incorporates a hardened shield which takes the brunt of any ranged fire and allows the soldier – and anyone behind them – to advance forward in relatively safety. In large numbers these form moving walls against entrenchments, made more irritating by the fact that ADVENT also elected to provide mounts on the shields to hold rifles to not deprive them of the advantage of ranged weapons, while allowing them to safely transition when in close-range.

Looking over the Titans, there are enough similarities to think that they took some obvious inspirations from their own tactics, which tells me that we should be deploying the Titans in more combat situations.

There are obviously ways to mitigate these tactics. Explosives and grenades are the most obvious, as those can be thrown over the shield lines or under the shields of the Order soldiers. The majority of these soldiers are slower than the average ADVENT soldier, and they can potentially be outflanked and killed with lethal wounds, although their armor is heavy enough that anything short of dedicated snipers will allow them at least some kind of chance to respond.

It remains to be seen if ADVENT will deploy them in open fields or outside urban environments. At this moment it remains unlikely as even ADVENT wouldn't be confident enough in them to throw them against our Heralds, Sectopods, and Executors. Not when they fulfill a far better role as a specialized division for urban conquest or trench defense.

While we do know that their numbers are higher than we speculated, they are fairly small in the context of the greater ADVENT military. They will be involved in major military operations, and utilization for major defensive points should also be expected, as well as hard counters against deployments of Titans and potentially Berserkers.

There is also the distinct possibility that the Order of Terra leadership intends to target you specifically, as they seem to want to be the ones to ultimately kill you. The Lord Commander himself has stated that he will fight the Battlemaster should they ever meet on the battlefield. I highly doubt he would fight you alone, though this is an opportunity to discuss the modifications the Order potentially uses.

Curiously, it appears that the majority of the Order of Terra is not genetically modified, but only use advanced weaponry and armor. None of the Squires, Knights, and Samurai are modified, although some use modified animals as companions (primarily the Molosser Hounds). However, the commanding officers – the Lords – appear to have undergone genetic modification to some unspecified degree, and should be treated as if they are Lancers or XCOM soldiers. This applies to the Lord Commander as well.

The other unit of note is another officer-type, the Standardbearer which would seem to be a useless ceremonial unit, aside from the fact that the 'standard' incorporates Shieldbearer technology and has the ability to deflect plasma bolts for a limited time. We are currently not clear on the exact length the Standardbearer can maintain this field, and are actively investigating it now.

A final weakness of the Order appears to be psionics, specifically of the telekinetic and telepathic disciplines as those were both utilized to some effectiveness during the battle, and of which there is very little defense against them, as it does not appear that the Order soldiers have been subjected to mental conditioning to mitigate telepathic attacks.

Overall, we should be aware that this division is active and that we will likely see them utilized in major offensives. They fill a notable hole in ADVENT military strategy, but they are capable of being defeated like all other divisions. A complete report has been commissioned, and it should be expected in the coming weeks. For now, this overview shall suffice.

- Zar'Chon'ravarian'vitiary

"No, contrary to what appears to be popular belief, the idea was not mine. You can thank Prince Mason for that, as I am fairly sure the concept was his originally. Though I do believe I was one of the first called to bring everything together."

"Yes, it was something of an uphill battle to get everything approved. As you might expect, it's not a simple task to get a bunch of modern military generals and officers to see the benefits of a close-quarters focused combat unit. Oh, I should say that they see it, but all the extra stuff, and the size? More difficult to justify."

"Ironically, it was the aliens who ultimately sold the idea. We already have plenty of combat data on how effective the Oyariah Titans have been against ADVENT lines, as well as certain Ethereals such as the Battlemaster and Guardians. Selling them on the concept switched from hypotheticals on how the division would function to 'This is what the aliens do, and this is how we'll do it better'. Suffice to say, that approach went over much better."

"Inspirations? You'd have to ask Mason about that, though I think it's fairly obvious that he was fascinated by the medieval period, and if you ask anyone who knows him well, they'll say the same things. No, this isn't a vanity project for him, I know him better than that. But did it inspire him? Absolutely."

"It did go through several iterative processes. It was originally completely Eurocentric. Someone else pointed out that knights weren't the only ones to have their own orders and there are other cultures and parts of history to draw from. That's where the Samurai concept was born from, and I know for a fact that as the Order of Terra continues to expand, you'll see more unique designations."

"No, this division is not 'incomplete', though I will certainly say that it is at what I consider minimum effectiveness. There is enough to effectively support ADVENT, and that was the original goal. But we have plans, Miss Wong, and right now it is only a matter of time. This entire division has come together in a matter of months, and there are many who want to see if the concept works before devoting additional resources to it."

"I'm afraid I can't give specifics. Domestic security measures, of which I do not think you're currently cleared to learn or disseminate. Although personally, if you keep up this pace, I expect ADVENT will be giving you a basic one shortly. Don't quote me on that."

"Ah, the process. Simpler than you might expect. We gathered a number of historians, artists, recreationists, and armor smiths and let them design everything together with our oversight. Yes, armor smiths exist, even if it's more of a hobby than a profession nowadays. It was certainly an interesting dynamic, with the historians giving input to the artists, to the smiths clashing and saying it wasn't feasible and impossible to design. It led to some heated moments, but I believe the results speak for themselves."

"Ah, the various unit designations were the result of myself and other military officials to utilize hypothetical close-combat units to their greatest effectiveness. It's why all of them have multiple weapons and mixture of melee and ranged. Mason originally wanted the Order to be purely melee, and everyone else pointed out how that was a ridiculous and unnecessary restriction. Our goal was to modernize a division around melee combat, not recreate it with no improvements."

"I mean, I can see where he was coming from. It does sort of ruin the purity of a legion of shining knights when they also carry guns. But ultimately, we want the Order to be effective – and as safe as possible for the soldiers within it – so making things difficult for ADVENT and them was simply out of the question. I think he is satisfied with the results though."

"The weapons technology was the result of modifying weaponry XCOM kindly provided to us. Can't give specifics, unfortunately, but I can assure you that it will be effective. After all, it would be rather pointless if a primary component of a melee-oriented division was completely ineffective, wouldn't it?"

"My own role is twofold, Miss Wong. I am responsible for overall strategy and deployment of the Order of Terra, and I ultimately answer to Commander Christiaens and Chief Overseer Watkins. I spend a good part of my time coordinating with the top strategists and tacticians in the ADVENT military on most levels, and disseminating the crucial information to the Lords below me who then disseminate this information to their own units."

"However, I also will be on the battlefield personally when major operations take place. This is not a role that is without risk, and this risk I fully accept as any Lord Commander after me will similarly accept. If I consider my own plans and strategies good enough for those under me to follow, I should have little hesitation to participate myself. You can thank Mason for that requirement; he was adamant that there be no level where the leadership did not similarly risk themselves along with their soldiers. I suspect his time in the British military inspired this particular caveat, and I cannot say I disapprove."

"Mmm, yes, if the Battlemaster so happens to appear, I will be obligated to face him. Although there is nothing saying that I cannot be adequately supported when it happens. While I certainly encourage bravery from the Lords under me, that does not mean I support suicide missions, and I am well aware that I alone would likely pose little threat to the Battlemaster directly. But in conjunction with allies, he can be beaten. I've studied him, I've read everything we have collected on him. He is not infallible as everyone believes, and he has been forced to flee multiple times. He can be beaten, he is simply smart enough to know when to attack, when to leave, and how to leave a high body count."

"I am most certainly not saying that his reputation is unearned, and in fact have some professional respect for him as an enemy leader, and perhaps the only one to wage a conflict with some degree of normalcy. But he is not perfect, and one day he will be defeated and be unable to run. It may be at my hand, or that of someone else, but I am confident he will be defeated – and sooner than you may expect."

"You can quote me on that."

- Interview between Lord Commander of the Order of Terra, Jamie Foster, and sanctioned journalist Jessica Wong