Brotherhood of Steel Operations Manual

OOC Preface - Must read
I won't congratulate you on joining the Brotherhood. But I will thank you. Together, we are all building through our RP a larger picture of the Fallout universe for all of us to enjoy. That said, there are some things you should know out of character before you delve into the IC reality of your role.

This "Operations Manual". It looks overwhelming doesn't it? It's not. MOST of it is offered to enhance immersion, and allow you to learn back story and deeper details of the setting. Parts of this manual may be appropriate for the role you have chosen, while other parts are not something you'd ever need to be concerned with unless you feel like reading it.

Any section of this manual marked as OOC is a must read for everyone. Remember; when you report to the quartermaster, be it an NPC or player, not only will they give you some of the equipment listed under Section 6, appropriate weapons and armor befitting your role, they will also provide a copy of this Operations Handbook for your use. As well, if the Brotherhood has in-character gained access to a radio system, which you will be informed of, you will be provided a short-wave radio, granting you access to the use of  in the Brotherhood group chat for emergency IC communication. Without access to a radio system, the Brotherhood will issue you emergency flares, which will act as our distress call. Use these in RP, and in the BoS group, write something to the effect of .
 * Section 2, will teach you the identity of the Brotherhood; its goals and ideals. It's valuable reading, and would be some of the core concepts you are taught about the Brotherhood.
 * Section 3, will teach you the history of the Brotherhood and its different chapters. This is something that will greatly help historian Scribes, BUT is excellent background reading for anyone and not required.
 * Section 4 will help familiarize you with the structure of this group. In order to pick which group you wish to join, and their function, this is required reading.
 * Section 5 outlines duties you might be assigned. This is vital reading, as it will give you further information into those duties.
 * Section 6 outlines any and all weapons, armors, uniforms and equipment you will have access to, and the times you will, and criteria required for use of them.
 * Section 7 is a must read. We are playing a military, and as such, information must be shared. While, from an IC perspective there should be far more report types, I have intentionally minimized the amount of paperwork you need to do. Further details are inside this chapter.
 * Section 8 is really only for Scribes who focus on history and the Brotherhood itself, AND the members who want to be truly fanatical to the Brotherhood and it's ideals. Higher ranks are encouraged to know this information.

At all times remember; All command staff of the Brotherhood are here to help you in two ways. IC, we will be your commanders, protecting you as we make you better able to survive as we all work to keep humanity alive. And OOC, where we will always be available to help you have the most fun you can, so long as it is in line with the reality available to the Brotherhood. Always, we are available to be IM'd and we're here to work together.

Introduction to the Brotherhood
Welcome to the Brotherhood of Steel. Either you are joining us as an adult and enlisting as an Initiate, or you are recently promoted to Initiate after you've aged out of your Squires youth training. Either way, congratulations on choosing to do more than just say you want a better world; you are now going to be part of the force that makes that better world.

Before you can get into a suit of power armor, and out into the field though, there are certain things you must know. In this Operations Handbook, we will attempt to go over as many facets of what it means to be a member of our Brotherhood as we can; the rest of it you will learn with these core foundations in place, as you stand along side your Brothers and Sisters in our order.

Again, welcome to the Brotherhood of Steel. Ad Victoriam!

Purpose of the Brotherhood
Our world was once thriving. Vibrant. Alive. The unbridled and irresponsible development of unnecessary technology was the cause of the war that has forever shaped not only our world, but our lives.

This is why we exist. The Brotherhood derives its purpose from this. We are here on a two fold mission. To clean up after the mistakes of our forefathers. And to prevent a repeat of their mistakes. We will ensure the survival of our species, humanity itself, by doing a job no one will thank us for. Many will hate us for. A job that must be done, or else all future for humanity is lost.

Ideals of the Brotherhood
The ideals of the Brotherhood are simple, and have been passed to us from the founders of our order. We are first and foremost, a military. And one of the last remaining from before the bombs fell. We have strict structure, total loyalty and obedience, and back this up with dedication, determination, and integrity. Take this raw blade of a soldier and temper it through the heat of intense and vigorous training to make it the best it can be, gird it with the best of equipment available, and no fires of war shall ever dull our edges or our convictions.

For us, the cry of 'Ad Victoriam!' is more than a battle cry. It is a victory cry, a rallying call, and a promise to each other. It comes from an ancient language now long lost to but a few, and translates as 'Toward Victory'. For all we do, is to move us forward, towards victory that we know is beyond the reach of any one of us; the protection of all humanity. This is a task that all of us must work together for, a task that has been a goal since long before we were born, and will be a goal long after we are gone. So I say to you, Brothers and Sisters, Ad Victoriam.

Our Enemies
The enemies of the Brotherhood are many. Some are obvious, but the majority are not. The only true allies of our order, are our order itself. But let us break down the enemies our order faces, to help you better understand the world you have entered.

Supermutants, Centaurs, Feral Ghouls, Deathclaws, Radscorpions. All monsters created from the effects of rampant and reckless use of technology. All of these are frequently too much for the average wasteland dweller to overcome safely. Thus, our soldiers kill these whenever they can, indiscriminately for these creatures, if you do not kill them, they will kill you.

Ghouls. Not to be confused with Feral Ghouls. Ghouls are humans who's body has been ravaged by radiation. As such, their appearance and many of their bodily functions have been warped. In a way, they are victims of technology. Feral Ghouls are these again, but their brains have rotted due to the radiation. As a result, it is often impossible to tell a Ghoul from a Feral Ghoul given the right circumstances. Ghouls are not enemies we kill on sight. But given that we cannot always trust they are not Feral, we do our best to keep Ghouls at arms length, and do not trust them. They are beings who have been made impure, and cannot become members of our Order.

Generation 1 and 2 Synths. These are abominations created by the Institute. By and large, they posess no free will, but are designed in the Institutes attempt to eventually replace humanity. As such, these automatons are often turned to one purpose; killing humanity. And as such, given their advanced technological state, it is our DUTY to hunt these down and destroy every single one of them we find.

Generation 3 Synths. Products of technology, we cannot deny. But due to a level of sentience rivaling our own, and the fact they are utterly indistinguishable from humanity, these are not abominations that we can indiscriminately slaughter because identifying them versus any other human is almost utterly impossible. Because of this, we afford some degree of distance, allowing them to exist, much like Ghouls, but keep them at arms length and do not trust them. Being artificial beings, we cannot and will never allow them into our order.

Raiders. Humans, whom we would rather not kill. But their violent, psychopathic and unpredictable ways result in us being forced to frequently engage them. Considered the worst among humanity, we will only take action to defend these if such an action will eliminate a larger threat.

Humanity. Yes, the very thing we seek to protect. All human life outside of our order refuses to acknowledge the purity of our cause. They chose to see us as oppressive, restricting, tyrannical, and a threat to them. They are so short sighted in their own lives that they care nothing for the risks they would chose to create, the threats they chose to have in their lives, and the protection we provide. We do not kill them needlessly. But we will not allow individuals, or groups, to threaten us, or our mission.

History of the Brotherhood
The history of the Brotherhood is long, and frankly, over two hundred years of survival in a word gripped in chaos, is a lot of history to record.This is also a field some of our Scribes live for.What we will present here is not a complete history of the Brotherhood, but the major points, so you are better able to know where we have come from, what has forged us, and know the dedication of every soldier to come before us.

Founding Chapter
The original headquarters of the Brotherhood is the Lost Hills bunker in California, the original seat of the Brotherhood's High Elder and its ruling council, and the place where the organization was founded. It is also the center of our research and military activities. However, by 2242, the Brotherhood was spread across the wastes of California in small bunkers and installations hidden from the eyes of common folk, and finding them all and wiping them out would be a difficult and dangerous task.

Their installations include bunkers in the Den, San Francisco, and Shady Sands (capital of the New California Republic). All Brotherhood outposts are formally subject to the Lost Hills' ruling council's authority, even if they sometimes tend to act independently, especially if they are located far from California and contact with the headquarters is rare. The Lost Hills bunker is surrounded by the town

of Maxson, which, while named after the founder of the Brotherhood, is officially outside Brotherhood rule and is a state of the New California Republic. The later conflict between the Republic and the Brotherhood most likely resulted in the loss of many of the Brotherhood's bunkers in New California.

In recent years, this chapter has gone mostly silent, choosing to hide itself from its immediate neighbors although it does maintain contact with the various Chapters.

Mojave Chapter
The Brotherhood's bunker is located in Hidden Valley, directly east of the settlement of Goodsprings in the Mojave Wasteland. It is surrounded by powerful underground fans that serve as a high-tech defense system, creating artificial sandstorms which allow the inhabitants to travel to and from the bunker under cover. It also serves as a kind of electronic disturbance to any and all outside factions' targeting sensors, therefore rendering the bunker safe from detection.

Prior to 2276 the Mojave Brotherhood had been very active in the region before their crippling defeat at HELIOS One by NCR Forces and were forced underground on the orders of their new leader Elder McNamara. Due to a complete lockdown ordered to preserve what remaining soldiers he had, McNamara relies solely on teams that were trapped outside of the bunker for intel and trusted undercover operatives to bring food and supplies back to those trapped inside.

Like the Founding Chapter, this one has also gone silent. If it survives is unknown.

Midwest Chapter
The Midwestern branch, a splinter faction which lost contact with the Brotherhood leadership at Lost Hills has been an independent organization since the 2160s, when the airships of its founders crashed near Chicago. Unlike the original, isolationist Brotherhood, this faction rules over a large part of the area between the former states of Illinois and Kansas and drafts tribals from villages under Brotherhood protection into its ranks.

While more open to the outside world, this faction of the Brotherhood is by no means altruistic - the villagers under Brotherhood rule, while protected from raiders and mutants, live in fear of the infamous Brotherhood Inquisitors. The Midwestern Brotherhood's main bases were bunkers that were probably pre-Great War military bunkers that were found, taken, and rebuilt. In accordance with the Brotherhood's military roots, they were renamed Bunkers Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon. The Midwestern Brotherhood power armor is very similar to the advanced power armor Mk II, and may be a variant of it, very likely looted from these bunkers.

Texas Chapter
After the death of John Maxson, Rhombus, the head of the Brotherhood's Paladins, became the new High Elder. After the death of the Master, the Brotherhood of Steel helped the other human outposts of New California drive the mutant armies away with minimal loss of life on both sides of the conflict. However, a super mutant faction under the leadership of Attis moved east and attempted to recreate the mutant army in Texas using the Secret Vault. Rhombus, despite some criticism from the ruling council of the West Coast Brotherhood of Steel, started a crusade against the still existent threat of the super mutant army, now led by Attis. They traveled eastward to Texas. There, he discovered a prototype Vault which was abandoned and installed the Brotherhood's main base of operation in this area. Their principal mission was to eradicate the menace of all super mutants. For this reason, they created a new Texas Brotherhood icon, which featured a pair of wings, topped by dual pistols, all of a red color.

During the course of this Crusade, as a result of several tactical blunders by High Elder Rhombus, this chapter was all but wiped out, with a single Initiate surviving.Over time, the now former Initiate was able to slowly begin rebuilding the chapter, but progress was slow.After the victory of the Capital Wastelands Chapter over the Institute, High Elder Maxson personally arrived in Texas.The Initiate, Amilia Rhyse, was promoted to Elder for her efforts, and many personnel from many chapters and detachments would be reassigned to the re-founded Texas Chapter.Now Elder Rhyse, she would lead a reformation of the Chapter and a reorganization.Many of the groups practices would lean towards the practices of former Elder Lyons of the Capital Wastelands Chapter out of a need for survival, but also in an effort to gain support from the local populace.

Following up on rumors of a pre-war military vault, Recon Squad Deimos, was sent to Fort Jackson just outside the ruins of New Orleans.This squad, building itself into a fully fledged Detachment under the flag of the Texas Chapter, has established its base of operations and several outreach programs in accordance with the Chapters standard procedure.

Capital Wasteland Chapter
On the East Coast, the East Coast division of the Brotherhood established a base called the Citadel, built into and beneath the ruins of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. This faction was led by the idealistic Elder Owyn Lyons who decided to make the protection of the human inhabitants of the Capital Wasteland from super mutants and other threats his top priority, instead of the acquisition and preservation of technology. While Lyons was officially recognized by the ruling council at Lost Hills as the leader of a Brotherhood faction, because of his changed priorities he received no support from California and his faction, for all intents and purposes, was independent. Without reinforcements from the West Coast, Lyons was forced to recruit locally, but, as most new wastelander conscripts are overeager, unskilled, or both, the survival rate of these local members was atrocious. Elder Lyons’ daughter Sarah commanded her own elite squad, Lyons' Pride. These soldiers help preserve the Capital Wasteland by holding back the super mutants, who tend to remain in the urban ruins of Washington, D.C.

As the war with the super mutants intensified, the Enclave returns in the flesh after relocating from New California several years prior. Their radio broadcasts had been heard for years on Wasteland radios. In a bold first move they seized the Jefferson Memorial's "Project Purity" (a project intended to provide clean water to the wasteland), and subsequently consolidated their power throughout the Capital Wasteland. At first favoring caution, Elder Lyons soon changed his mind, engaging the Enclave in a full-scale battle after the Enclave acquires possession of Vault 87's G.E.C.K. and nearly activating Project Purity. With the aid of Liberty Prime, the Enclave was ousted from the Jefferson Memorial and into uncertain disarray. After the events of Broken Steel, the East Coast chapter had become as powerful and well-equipped as their fellow chapters back west, possibly even more so.

There are members of Lyons' expeditionary force to the East Coast who preferred to stay faithful to the Brotherhood's original goals of locating and preserving technology and knowledge. These members of the Brotherhood left the Citadel to take up residence in Fort Independence, and stylized themselves as the Brotherhood Outcasts. In addition to carrying out Lyon's original orders, the Outcasts are also trying to re-establish contact with the western Elders, and have Lyons placed in front of a firing squad.

Between 2277 and 2287, Elder Lyons died and, after a series of other Elders, the chapter came under the leadership of Elder Arthur Maxson. They spent years developing the Prydwen, a large airship to act as a mobile base, and acquired large quantities of Vertibirds and T-60 power armor, as well as energy weapons. They also spent years sending recon teams, such as Recon Squad Gladius, to the Commonwealth to investigate the region. Some time later, the rest of the Brotherhood's main force arrived in the Commonwealth aboard the Prydwen, and began their offensive against the Institute. Once they arrived, the Brotherhood conducted an air assault on the feral ghouls occupying Boston Airport, and established their main base of operations there. They are capable of and frequently conduct air assault operations, especially when inserting patrol teams and assaulting objectives such as Bunker Hill.

After his success, Elder Maxson would be promoted to High Elder, and subsequently move the operating headquarters of the Brotherhood to the Citadel in the Capital Wastelands. From this point onwards, the east coast would be not only the power center for the Brotherhood, but its primary point of operations.

Colorado Detachment
While not necessarily a separate chapter, a fairly large group of Brotherhood soldiers and staff were sent to the Maxson Bunker in southern Colorado.

In the year 2231, High Elder Jeremy Maxson decided that it was time to expand Brotherhood operations into the east, and he sent an expeditionary force composed of five Paladins to confirm the location of pre-war Senator Todd Peterson's bunker. The expedition leader, Andrea Brixley, discovered the bunker, disabled its security, and opened it for habitation. For over a decade, she and her fellow Paladins explored the east, and forged relationships with many of the local tribes that inhabited the area.

In the year 2242, Jeremy Maxson renamed the bunker after his famous ancestor, Roger Maxson, and later sent a full complement of troops for occupation there. Andrea Brixley was promoted to Elder, and was placed in charge of the bunker. The remainder of her exploratory team were given the title of Elder as well. It was not long afterward that the war with the New California Republic was announced, and the bunker was re-suited for war.It's current status is unknown.

Montana Detachment
Not much is known of this detachment other than the location of its mission was set in the former state of Montana, specifically a bunker there, and included Elder Patrocolus.

New Orleans Detachment
Officially, this is the only recognized detachment to be dispatched from a chapter, and not the official headquarters of the Brotherhood or its founding chapter. Following rumors of an ancient, pre-war military vault, the Elder Rhyse of the Texas Chapter dispatched Recon Squad Deimos to New Orleans to investigate.The vault was found inside Fort Jackson, where the squad would establish a headquarters, and between reinforcements sent from elsewhere, and local recruitment as a result of the outreach programs the detachment would continue in line with their Chapters ideals, the recon squad would grow to become a full detachment.

Historical High Elders
Note; information may be incomplete.
 * High Elder Maxson (2077 — 2135)
 * High Elder Maxson II (2135 — 2155)
 * High Elder Maxson III (2155 —? )
 * High Elder Rhombus (after High Elder Maxson III - 2231)
 * High Elder Maxson IV (2231 — before 2277)
 * High Elder Arthur Maxson (some time after 2287 - present)

Organization of the Brotherhood
The Brotherhood of Steel is first and foremost a military organization. As such, its structure is designed and laid out to serve many purposes. Some of these include creating an efficient chain of command, a smooth flow of information up the chain of command while orders flow downwards, ensuring that duties are delegated properly, and because history has shown that certain organizational structure allows military entities such as our Brotherhood to function more efficiently, effectively, and decisively.

The Order of Scribes
The Scribes of the Brotherhood are enlisted personnel who often, but not always, serve a purpose that does not include combat. In general, the Scribes are the Brotherhoods scientists, historians, engineers, doctors, repair and maintenance personnel, manufacturing specialists, and a large number of other vital services. Despite all these possibilities, Scribes are are assigned duties befitting their field and their skills. Some remain stationed at Brotherhood facilities while those able to handle potentially heavy combat situations and the hard lifestyle of the wasteland, are assigned to combat squads as field Scribes. And finally, the Scribes have within them, sub-orders. Each of these have specific duties and purpose, and help organize the Scribes into an internal hierarchy that allows them to work within their field, with others who also understand that field. That is to say, a Scribe of the Order of the Sword, would not only be engaging in assignments befitting that Order, but would be assigned to and answer to a more senior Scribe or even a Proctor, within that Order. As of the writing of this manual, the Scribe Orders are as follows.

Order of the Sword
In the simplest terms, the Order of the Sword are the Scribes who prefer the manufacture, maintenance, repair, and development of weapons and other offensive technologies. Often in the Brotherhoods missions, they are called on to identify ancient dangerous technologies, requiring they render them harmless, and aiding in the obtaining and isolation of such. Scribes of the Order of the Sword are the ones designing and manufacturing new weapons, they are the ones who go out into the field to help salvage materials for weapons or even repair them away from base, and they are the ones who work very heavily on projects like the historical robot, Liberty Prime.

Order of the Shield
One of the most iconic things regarding the Brotherhood is our use of power armor. But such needs a dedicated team of Scribes to maintain. To do that, Scribes of the Order of the Shield are the members of the Brotherhood who handle the development, manufacture, maintenance, and salvage of all defensive technologies. This can range from the massive power armors our Knights and Paladins use, to simple combat armors for our other members, the establishment of defenses around bases and outposts, and even defensive systems of our airships like the Prydwyn.

Order of the Quill
Weapons and armor may be the front line tools of the Brotherhood, but they are far from the only tools at our disposal Scribes of the Order of the Quill are the ones who handle all other scientific pursuits not specifically considered an offensive or defensive technology. Doctors and surgeons dealing with the health and well being of the Brotherhood, scientists researching and studying any number of fields, historians specializing in either pre-war, the history of the Brotherhood or chronicling the history of the wasteland, or any engineer that deals with technology to feed, provide clean water, or otherwise provide for the Brotherhood and citizens of the waste, all of these belong to this order.

The Knighthood
This branch of the Brotherhood is by far, the largest and most populated branch. The Knights and Paladins make up the military force of the Brotherhood. They are soldiers, plain and simple. Highly trained and conditioned, these soldiers are trained to be an elite combat force using training methods the Brotherhood has maintained from the pre-war American military. While this branch is called the Knighthood, it is comprised not just of Knights, but also Paladins. While the Knights are the troops and may command smaller fire teams, the Paladins take command roles, leading squads with individualized mission objective. This branch, being the military branch, comprises soldiers, scouts, and the Paladins commanding them. Within the Knighthood, troops have specialized mission profiles. These are;
 * Tech squad troops, who while not Scribes themselves, have some technological understanding. Tech squads often contain field scribes and the missions this squad undertake tend to include the hunting, acquisition, repair of technological devices.
 * Shock troops, are those trained to handle heavy assaults that often see them practicing advanced mobility maneuvers in the field, penetrating enemy lines, and leading the charge of Brotherhood advances.
 * Standard troops, are combat troops just as highly trained as any other, but serve more secure and hold purposes, often acting defensively but able to be deployed as mainline battle troops supporting the advance of shock troops.

Rangers
Deviating from standard Brotherhood operations, the Texas Chapter has instituted a sub-order within the Knighthood. These troops, called Rangers, specialize in reconnaissance, long range observation and information gathering, and very frequently operate alone or in very small squads of solely Rangers. The rangers train extensively in how to act solo, including how to be undetected and how to escape situations they cannot stand against alone. These troops also train in survival techniques, as their long ranging missions frequently require they supplement what resources they have with food, water and supplies obtained from the land or locals. When closer to home, Rangers may act as snipers, saboteurs, and eyes and ears in assistance to other troops. In practice, the Rangers can serve as scouts, saboteurs, snipers, long range patrol units, and quick response units.

Lancers
When one things of the Brotherhood of Steel, the first image is always of a power armor clad soldier. But with them always, is air support in the form of vertibirds or great airships like the Prydwyn. Historically, the Lancers of the order have been the crew and pilots of this air force. But this is not their only duty. Since the reformation begun by High Elder Maxson, Lancers have taken on additional duties that were formerly assigned to Scribes. Now, Lancers are not just pilots and air force crew, but also manage all logistics of the order, as well as act as support personnel throughout our bases.

Because the Lancers are pilots of our air force, it is them who supply various outposts and bases, as well as delivering troops and heavy equipment over long distances. Due of this, all logistical duties were assigned to them. They oversee supplies, act as quartermasters, track resources and distribution of all supplies to order personnel. As well, in the course of these duties, they may be called on to sell off lower quality technology in an effort to ensure the order is able to obtain required supplies elsewhere, a task also undertaken by the Lancers. All of this, leads the Lancers into support roles around Brotherhood bases, frequently keeping them visible in the public eye and requiring a secondary use of the Lancers as public relations by virtue of their involvement with non-Brotherhood persons who might have resources or technology the Brotherhood requires or simply selling off supplies the Brotherhood does not need.

Ranks
Ranks in the Brotherhood are straight forward, but do take two branches. While the two branches have their own internal chain of command, when matters of combat arise, the Scribes are required to defer to soldiers of rank Knight Sergeant or higher.

Initiate: A prospective member that has been accepted by the Brotherhood and is in the initial stages of their training. During this stage, they chose if they are pursuing a career with the Knights, or the Scribes. According to this decision, they further decides which mission profile they wish to pursue within their chosen branch.

Junior Scribe, Scribe, Senior Scribe: the rank and file of the Scribal branch. Assigned to one of the Scribal Orders, they can be assigned to Brotherhood facilities or field work according to the needs of their chosen field.

Proctor: Senior most Scribes, often overseeing all Scribe personnel in regions or even overseeing areas of focus within a given area for their different Scribal Orders when enough Scribes are present to warrant the need of more oversight. IE: A proctor overseeing all medical operations at a given base, a proctor overseeing all aspects of weapon production and maintenance in a given region, etc. The mission details of the Proctor are assigned to them individually.

High Scribe: When required due to the presence of a large amount of Scribes, particularly multiple branches requiring in turn, multiple Proctors, a High Scribe will be named to oversee all fields and all Scribe staff. They are command staff, and often act as a governing member in any large scale deployments.

Lancer-Initiate, Lancer-Knight, Lancer-Sergeant: These ranks are the ranks members of the Lancers branch of the Brotherhood may obtain. Higher ranks will have leadership over lower ranked Lancers, commanding trading endeavours, flights of vertibirds, or even having command over sections of airships.

Lancer-Captain: The head of the Lancers within a given region, or on an airship. On an airship, the Lancer-Captains word is law; they outrank any other officers present except for Elders or the High Elder. On the ground, they will oversee and manage all Lancer duties and assignments, and often act as one of the commanding officers at all times.

Knight Aspirant, Knight, Knight Sergeant: The ranks members of the Knighthood can progress through. The upper ranks may be assigned additional duties overseeing lower ranking Knights or locations, but for the most part the Knights serve as the general soldiers.

Paladin, Paladin Commander: The Paladins serve as beacons of the might and greatness of the Brotherhood. Paragons of our ideals, these commanders lead squads with individual mission profiles, with Paladin Commanders leading larger or even multiple Squads in turn led by junior level Paladins.

Sentinel: A unique position, only three people have held the title of Sentinel in the entire history of the Brotherhood. The Sentinels are outside of the chain of command; they answer only to Elders and the High Elder, and have no specified command. They are often considered rogue agents, able to act at will undertaking missions of their own discretion, and can be assigned missions with temporary commands.

Star Paladin: While technically a rank within the Paladin rank chain, the Star Paladin is considered separate because they function as the second in command for a Chapter. As such, they do not have a single squad under their authority, but all personnel; both soldier and Scribe.

Elder: Any Paladin or Proctor who has served the Brotherhood with distinction, dedication and loyalty may be appointed by the sitting High Elder to serve as an Elder. The Council of Elders select new High Elders should it become necessary, and often work together on decisions of policy and decisions not specifically under the jurisdiction of the High Elder. Traditionally, Chapters were commanded by a single, senior Elder, though it could potentially contain several junior Elders under them.

High Elder: The commanding officer of all Brotherhood forces. Their position is historically at the hidden bunker of Lost Hills, but the current High Elder has relocated his command to the Citadel in the Capital Wastelands, they oversee and direct the Brotherhood in all matters. Their word is law.

Positions
Within the Brotherhood, position and rank are not always synonymous. Rank makes one eligible for specific positions within the the Brotherhood. Many outposts or bases have individualized positions according to their needs, but some of the basics include, but are not limited to:

Initiate: One of the few ranks that doubles as a position. The Initiates purpose is to train and learn what it means to be a member of the Brotherhood. They will be assigned to a squad according to their skills and desired mission profile.

Soldier: Standard soldiers are any combat troop assigned to a squad.

Field Scribe: A field Scribe is self explanatory; a Scribe assigned to a combat squad. Their purpose is individual and dependent on the mission profile of the squad assigned to. Can serve as combat medic, tech specialist, or any need that fulfills the squads purpose. Usually Junior or intermediate Scribes in rank.

Fire team leader: An optional role within larger squads. Minimum rank is Knight Sergeant. They command a small group of soldiers within the larger squad.

Squad Commander: Minimum rank of Paladin. This position oversees and commands a squad in pursuit of the squads mission profile. The Paladin is assigned the squad based on the Paladins own skills and abilities.

Proctor: Another rank which doubles as position. The Proctors oversee given fields within the area of control the Chapter has. Thus, a Proctor of Medicine, a Proctor of Arms, a Proctor of Agriculture, a Proctor of Armor, etc. For the Scribes, this position is one of the few command options beyond promotion to High Scribe or Elder.

Chain of Command
Chain of command refers to the path by which information is passed upwards from the rank and file to the commanding officers, and by which commands are passed down in reverse. Depending on ones position or rank within the Brotherhood, the chain of command they follow will differ. Please see below to know where your place in the chain of command is. With the below chains, the first position listed is of lowest importance, progressing to higher importance as the chain progresses. This method applies as written for passing information upwards, and in reverse for passing commands down.

Overall Rank Progression

Chain of Command For Squads, Including Field Scribes Field Scribe > Soldiers/Rangers > Fire-team Leader > Squad Leader > Paladin Commander > Star Paladin > Elder > High Elder

Chain of Command for Scribes not assigned to a Squad Junior Scribe > Scribe > Senior Scribe > Proctor > Star Paladin > High Scribe > Elder > High Elder

Chain of Command on an Airship Soldier/Scribe/Ranger > Squad Leader/Proctor > Star Paladin/Ranger General/High Scribe > Lancer-Captain > Elder > High Elder

Chain of Command when on a Base Ranger/Soldier/Scribe > Lancer > Squad Lead > Proctor > Highest Ranking Lancer > Base Command Staff > Elder > High Elder

Chain of Command for Solo Rangers in Field Ranger

Duties
The Brotherhood of Steel is a military, with both enlisted and un-enlisted personnel. As such, the function of the group as an entirety requires that different ranks and position have specific duties to perform. This chapter will outline some basic ideals and goals of each of the duties you might be assigned and attempt to prepare you to perform that duty to the best of your ability. Please note, your chapter or detachment may have more potential duties than are listed here, or may not include all of these duties due to a lack of necessity. These are listed to provide as broad a spectrum as possible to provide a general idea of what duties you might be assigned.

Guard Duties
Perhaps one of the Brotherhoods simplest duties, but by far one of the most vital. Brothers and Sisters assigned guard duty are the troops who will be protecting us while we train, sleep and rest, and go about our duties. Guards will be responsible for protecting the various outposts, bases, installations and air-ships of the Brotherhood. This will include perimeter defense, ensuring only authorized personnel are granted access to appropriate areas, acting in defensive situations, and raising an alarm when the base is under threat. Individual guard assignments may require the soldier be assigned to a specific location, as in guarding a rooms entrance, or patrolling in a limited area, as in perimeter defense. As a guard, you are the Brotherhoods last line of defense, and your work is vital to the survival of us and our order.

Patrol Duties
Patrolling is one of our more risk prone endeavours. But it is vital. Our patrols provide stability and security to the areas we operate in. When raiders posess advanced technology, they will use it. This ends up our easiest method for obtaining technology, simply taking it from them after they have attacked us. As well, the security such patrolls provide make local populaces more likely to accept our presence, or even teach them the value of our presence and mission. But many in the wastelands refuse to accept us and our ideals, and our patrols are the easiest way for them to strike out. Do not tolerate the Blind who refuse to have their eyes opened Brothers and Sisters. Defend yourselves always. Because of this, no patrol shall ever have less than 2 members, but larger squads are far more preferable. Patrols will focus on simply moving through areas, watching individuals encountered for any advanced technology. Any assaults on the patrol are to be defeated, as such will help rid the wasteland of the threat posed to it from those most likely to attack us; mutants, raiders, and those declared enemies of humanity. But we are not police, and we cannot be. We are the soldiers who will stand against the greatest threats that will seek to tear apart humanity from the inside, and in defense of this, our patrols are onf our most important tools. Squad Duties Members of the Brotherhood, be they Soldier, Ranger or Scribe, will be assigned to a Squad when they meet the criteria necessary for inclusion in the mission profile the Squad has been assembled for. Lancers may also be assigned to a squad, although their assignments tend to be far more specific. Squads may serve the purpose of technology troops, shock troops, or standard troops, with each type playing important roles in the survival of the Brotherhood and humanity itself.


 * Members of the Brotherhood assigned to technology squads, will themselves have basic knowledge about the safe deactivation and neutralization of technology.  Field Scribes are most likely to be assigned to this type of squad, as its primary focus will be the hunting of, neutralizaiton of, and acquisition of technology.  These are the squads we are most famous for, for these are the ones who will remove potential technological threats from the world, and bring them home for our Scribes to properly study.
 * Troops assigned to shock squads, will serve as heavy front lines combat troops.  Assaults on super mutant lairs, dens of feral ghoul activity, outposts of technological threats akin to the defeated Enclave or Institute are all targets for these troops.  As such, they work in groups of multiple squads, each one having individual objectives.  These squads undergo the most rigerous combat training to not only ensure their surival in these hostile situations, but ensure their total victory over those who would destroy the lives of every human being.
 * Standard squads, despite their humble name, are the most numerous and most important of all the squad types.  These squads have, as well, the most broad assignment potential.  Entire squads may be assigned patrols over specific areas, including reconnaissance, patrol, and pacification of their given area.  They may be assigned defensive duties over outposts or entire bases, and will often work along side other squads in the execution of this assignment.  When a squad is assigned as a long range recon squad, like the squads famous for uncovering the existence of the Enclave, or pursuing the sueprmutant threat into Texas, will be this type of squad.  These are general purpose, adaptable, effecient, and make up the backbone of everythign the Brotherhood is.

Workshop Duties
Most often, only Scribes will be assigned workshop duties, but other branches of the Brotherhood, depending on skills, will be assigned to support the Scribes in these duties. Both manufacture of technology and weapons, as well as the maintenance and repair of such, all fall under these duties. Maintaining our iconic power armor or weapons, the construction and upkeep of installations including airships like the Prydwyn, these all fall under this asignment profile. As well, Field Scribes may be called on to perform these duties in the field, where the work involves not only scavanging for materials to perform field repairs or even manufacture of necessary items, but also the potential repair, maintenance, or destruction of things encountered in the wastelands at large. Infrastructure such as bridges or tunnels may need attention, be it to repair or destroy for strategic purposes, and this would fall under the field of workshop duties.

Science Duties
Scribes performing scientific research and study, as only Scribes are authorized for this field, are not commonly seen by outsiders. This is because by and large, these duties are performed in safe, secure locations. While field duties under this assignment will include search and retrieval of technology, this is but a tiny portion of what the duties fully entail. Once the technology is returned to a safe location, perferably a well fortified base, it will be secured in a labratory. This is where our Scribes will study the device, to ensure its neutralization as a threat, ensure that it is not a threat to the survival of humanity, and will determine if the technology can be utilized by the Brotherhood, made available to the general populace, or if it should be sealed away or outright destroyed. In light of this, Scribes assigned these duties cary a great burden, and embody the spirit of our core ideal; protecting humanity from the destructive effects of needless technology.

Logistics Duties
When one thinks of Logistics, they think soley of the supply chain that is vital for the effecient function of our order. This is but a single aspect of these duties. Primarily, but not exclusively, it is the Lancers assigned these duties as their primary duties are the supply of the Brotherhood and function of its bases and installations. Logistics assignments will include the work of quartermasters issuing supplies to our members, selling off unneeded or unwanted supplies to civilians, purchase of needed supplies or vital technology from those same civilians. It will include providing transport for moving supplies between our bases and outposts be it via land routes, or by air should vertibird travel be available and the logistics work be assigned to a Lancer whos primary duty is piloting. And finally, logistics duties will include general base support in a broad spectrum of support positions. This aspect will result in standard base or outpost staff being those assigned these duties; receptionists, personal assitants, cafeteria staff, and the like. The soldiers may be our front line of defense, the Rangers our eyes, the Scribes our soul, but Lancers assigned to logistics are our lifes blood.

Report Procedures
Filling out reports is never a process many people enjoy. But there are things that command must know from the front lines that may not otherwise be reported to them. And so too, is there information that may not be orders, that will need to be passed down. The following sections in this chapter will outline the types of reports used within the Brotherhood and when to use them, although your detachment or chapter may modify these or even add some. As well, each section will include a suggested template for use when filing out the report.

Incident Report
The incident report will be the most common report filed. Be it you are on patrol, and a situation arises that bears information deemed by the patrol leader as being important, or while on guard duty something goes wrong at the perimeter. Or even within a science department, a new discovery is made regarding technology or some such. Anything of these natures are to be recorded, and submitted to your direct superior. In the case of multiple members of the Brotherhood being present for the situation, either the person in command in the case of situations such as a patrol or scientific discovery, or the highest ranking officer present in situations that require multiple groups be present, will either file the report themselves, or designate who should be filing the report to be submitted.

The suggested format for an Incident Report should be as follows:
 * Date of Incident: ______
 * Rank and name of person filing report: ______
 * Rank and name of all Brotherhood personnel presnet: _____
 * Known Identities and Affiliations of Non-Brotherhood peronnel presnet: ______
 * Summary of Events: ______

Intelligence Report
Technically, an incident report is intelligence information. But sometimes Intelligence can be obtained through subtly, infiltration, or simply overhearing. Intelligence may be rumors, or fact, but regardless they are deemed important enough to be listened to. It could be talk of potential plans, whispers of something that occured that is important to know, a hint towards potential alliances of the various factions of the wasteland. Intelligence reports, like incident reports, are to be passed to your direct superior.

The suggested format for an Intelligence Report should be as follows:
 * Date Intelligence was gathered: _____
 * Rank and name of person filing report: _____
 * Rank and names of all Brotherhood personnel present: ______
 * Source of Intelligence: ______
 * Details of Intelligence: ______

Official Memo
Sometimes, information needs to be spread by those in command positions to everyone under their command. It can be a promotion, a simple commendation, advising of new policy, warnings of any naure, or anything at all that a person in a command position, feels needs to be relayed. As a result, these types of reports are the simplest, and are sent to whoever they are applicable to. Note that a memo may be classified to recipients only so there is no discussion of it, to a specific group only meaning conversation is internal to the group in question, branch, to the detachment, chapter, or entire Brotherhood. They may also be unclassified, meaning there is no limitation on discussion on them.

The suggested format for an Official Memo should be as follows:
 * Date of Memo: ______
 * Rank and name of person issuing memo: ______
 * List of names, and ranks, of all people recieving memo: ______
 * Level of Classification: ______
 * Body of Memo: _______

Weekly Activity Report
To track eligability for promotion, as much as serving as regular performance report, it is required that you report in to your superior officer each week with a record of your activities for that reporting period. These reports are to include all activities you partake in, while on duty, during the week. The report is to be handed in to your direct superior. They should be submitted sometime before, but no later than sunday evenings.((OOC: We know not everyone is able ot get into a major RP worthy of a report each week just due to schedualing. For those people, simply turning in a report saying you did guard duty, or generic research or something similar of inspecific background level work, shows your commanding officers that you ARE active and ARE part of the Brotherhood, so we know you arent inactive and haven't forgotten about us))

The suggested format for a Weekly Activity Report should be as follows:
 * Date Report is Submitted: ______
 * Rank and name of person reporting: ______
 * Rank and name of superior officer: _____
 * Period of time covered in report: _____
 * List of activities over given period of time: _____
 * A copy of any reports submitted over the reporting period: _____

The Oath
''By blood have I been born. By fire have I been forged. By trial have I been tempered. And by steel shall I serve.''

I swear that by my hand, the abominations created by the reckless use of science shall be slain, that those who would seek to destroy the sanctity of humanity shall be ended, and those who would seek to harm my Brothers and Sisters shall I defend against.

''I shall be the beacon by which humanity shall find its way in the darkness. Though I be hated by the Blind, by those who refuse to see what I fight for, I will stand firm knowing that I fight to bring humanity into the future.''

''When enemies rise to threaten humanity, I shall be the weapon by which they are struck down. When battle threatens the lives of my Brothers, my Sisters, and all of humanity, I shall be the shield by which they shall survive.''

''I, state your name here, do swear that by my blood, by my sweat, and by my steel that I shall uphold all tenets, doctrines and goals of the Brotherhood of Steel. That I shall serve these until age or death take me. And should I ever falter, should I ever fail, may dishonor claim my name.''

Ad Victoriam.