Back story - for Hopper.

[Chopper]

TOP SECRET

Subject: ACTION FORCE, Historical.

Date: December 1983

This brief dossier is a description of events and circumstances leading to the formation of The Action Force.

In 1941 after David Stirling’s formation of the SAS it was noted that a force was needed to combat home grown partisan movements. Not all were too unhappy about the idea of Axis control of their respective nations. Members of specialist units were recruited and underwent SAS training in an effort to combat this new, direct threat. Troops were drawn directly from the SAS and also from the Australian, Canadian, Rhodesian, New Zealand SAS as well as other specialist international units. There was need to maintain specialty troops above and beyond just Special Forces and further troops were inducted from Paratroopers, Commando units, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

In 1945 the SAS was officially disbanded, however they were maintained unofficially till 1947 as a counter to the IRA. The IRA had been supplied weapons by the German military, contrary to what had been reported by the media and official intelligence sources. IRA soldiers took part in several actions against the British military in the United Kingdom and it was decided that Ireland would be the perfect proving ground for the new Action Force. At this point the SAS induction program was, in part, a cover for Action Force recruiting. Action Force SAS trained troops were effective in combating the IRA and the majority of skirmishes they were involved in were covered up in an effort to maintain their effectiveness. As the IRA stepped up its campaign in the 1960’s so too did Action Force. The regular SAS were also utilised and ran in conjunction with the covert Action Force units in several operations in Northern Ireland.

Action Force was also involved in other campaigns besides Northern Ireland, of particular note, the location, termination and control of Nazi’s in South America. The Nazi’s were far more organised post 1945 than has ever been revealed officially. Small armies were raised in South America and because of the large amount of resources involved in the IRA conflict, some went largely undetected for years. It was always felt that even after the South American Nazi’s demise the ring leaders were never captured or neutralised. The Red Shadow threat was first noticed in South America at this time.

Action Force is an official unit with independent masters but with both Warsaw pact and NATO members. If this had been known by the general public at the time it could have been damaging to the governments involved and thus their secrecy was maintained. Because the Action Force is an international unit it was required to participate in several missions involving its member countries. Up until the Vietnam and Falklands War’s Action Force’s existence was on a need to know basis only. Not many needed to know. In 1983 they were organised into 4 distinct units comprising air defence, Infantry, naval operations and Special Forces. Because Action Force is comprised of Warsaw and NATO pact members and is designed to support the countries it represents, Action Force cannot enter into conflict with any member nation. This does not mean they cannot enter a war zone, it means they cannot engage combatants from Action Force backed nations. It would not be unusual for Action Force to be tracking terrorists in war zones. This requirement is supported by all member nations to date and is not negotiable.

Like their SAS forefathers, Action Force do not recognise rank in the traditional military sense. Command of a unit is purely down to ability and operational requirements. Further, due to their covert nature, Action Force members will be given unique codenames. This will act as a measure against reprisals of Action Force family members as well as making it difficult to track operational members.

During the development years several scientists were recruited by Action Force in a civilian capacity to develop equipment and weaponry, most already had military backgrounds due to WWII operations. Most notable was Codename “Boffin”. Boffin’s ideas were shunned by the British military after WWII, largely due to the fact that England and most other allied nations had succumbed to a huge unrecoverable dept during the war. Boffin’s idea’s far outstripped their ability to be financially backed. Action Force recognised his talents and offered a way for his idea’s to be developed. His brilliance can be tied into several key pieces of equipment still used today. The Mobile Missile system, Attack cannon, Panther, AF3 Jeep and AF5 multi mission vehicle. Unfortunately the designs for the AF5 were stolen and all copies destroyed in a daring raid. Also at this time a group of unknown terrorists (suspected to be the Red Shadows) attacked and destroyed all remaining AF5 vehicles at Action Force HQ. This wasn’t a major concern as they were due to be retired and no plans to rebuild the fleet have been entered into since.

From this point on, Action Force’s four branches will serve as the first defence against terrorists in all its member countries and also in countries known to have ties or support of such organisations. Action Force will remain covert and will continue to draw strength from its independent control and unilateral support. Assistance will be given to any country that requires anti-terrorist support unless they are known to back these said terrorists. Action Force’s commander and chief is Codenamed “Major Flagg”, he will be a direct liaison with military leaders of the free countries of the world and member nations. He is also available to the United Nations Security Council, should that be required.

Several key members of Action Force are listed below.

Australian Jungle fighter
Codename “Digger”
Primary Military Speciality: Jungle warfare
Secondary Military Speciality: Waterborne assault
Birthplace: Australia
Previous unit: Australian SAS

2 Para
Codename “Goose”
Primary Military Speciality: Parachute assault
Secondary Military Speciality: Infantry
Birthplace: United Kingdom
Previous unit: 2nd Parachute regiment

Arctic Assault
Codename “Husky”
Primary Military Speciality: Winter warfare
Secondary Military Speciality: Infantry
Birthplace: United Kingdom
Previous unit: Royal Marine Commando’s

British marine
Codename “Buff”
Primary Military Speciality: Infantry
Secondary Military Speciality: Explosives
Birthplace: United Kingdom
Previous unit: Royal Marine Commando’s

Commando
Codename “Pegasus”
Primary Military Speciality: Guerrilla warfare
Secondary Military Speciality: Communications
Birthplace: United Kingdom
Previous unit: Royal Marine Commando’s

Deep Sea Diver
Codename “Proteus”
Primary Military Speciality: Naval Battle Tactics
Secondary Military Speciality: Gunnery
Birthplace: Scotland
Previous unit: Royal Navy

Desert Rat
Codename “Crusader”
Primary Military Speciality: Desert warfare
Secondary Military Speciality: Armoured warfare
Birthplace: New Zealand
Previous unit: 2nd New Zealand Division

Frogman
Codename “Crab”
Primary Military Speciality: Underwater sabotage
Secondary Military Speciality: Explosives
Birthplace: United Kingdom
Previous unit: Royal Navy

Ground Assault
Codename “Bullpup”
Primary Military Speciality: Ground Assault
Secondary Military Speciality: Infantry
Birthplace: Canada
Previous unit: Canadian SAS

Helicopter Pilot
Codename “Puma”
Primary Military Speciality: Helicopter Pilot
Secondary Military Speciality: Tactical operations
Birthplace: West Germany
Previous unit: Luftwaffe

Mission Pilot
Codename “Sabre”
Primary Military Speciality: AF5 Pilot
Secondary Military Speciality: Test pilot
Birthplace: United States
Previous unit: USAF

Mountain and Arctic
Codename “Wolf”
Primary Military Speciality: Arctic Infantry
Secondary Military Speciality: Sniper
Birthplace: Finland
Previous unit: Infantry Regiment 34

Naval Assault
Codename “Griffon”
Primary Military Speciality: Amphibious warfare
Secondary Military Speciality: Heavy weapons
Birthplace: United Kingdom
Previous unit: Royal Marines

Night Patrol
Codename “Seal’
Primary Military Speciality: HALO Jumping
Secondary Military Speciality: Guerrilla warfare
Birthplace: United States
Previous unit: SEAL team 6

SAS
Codename “Osprey”
Primary Military Speciality: Guerrilla Warfare
Secondary Military Speciality: Commando Assault
Birthplace: United Kingdom
Previous unit: 22 SAS Regiment

SAS Frogman
Codename “Gemini”
Primary Military Speciality: Seaborne assault
Secondary Military Speciality: Commando Assault
Birthplace: United Kingdom
Previous unit: C Squadron SBS

US Paratrooper
Codename “Shifty”
Primary Military Speciality: Parachute assault
Secondary Military Speciality: Infantry
Birthplace: United States
Previous unit: 101st Airborne Division

Real names of Action Force members are classified as is their backgrounds. For more information please contact F.B.R. Munro Deighton (Major).


Addendum;

In the mid 1980’s the terrorist threat known as the Red Shadows all but disintegrated with the loss of several key leaders, including Baron Ironblood. At this time an organisation known as COBRA emerged to fill the void left behind. The 4 forces of Action Force needed to act more independently and with more autonomy from each other in the face of the emerging Cobra threat. A fifth force known simply as Action Force was created to allow for this. The other 4 teams still provide solid support units, as they have done in the past and focus more on other terrorist activities around the world, not just Cobra.

Due to the way Action Force rank is structured Top Sgt Duke is currently in command of operational Action Force units. Effectively he holds the same rank as the other Action Force units, Campbell, Buckingham, Connors, Maclaren and Deighton.

[Chopper]

I guess this went AWOL in the last purge. Anyway, this is how I made the AF back story to fit Series 1 and 3.

[The Baron]

Sweet.

[Chopper]

Even ties in BFTB for you.

[Lethal Katana]

This is really great work, a really enjoyable read! I still think it sad they moved on from the Red Shadows and 4 Forces of Action Force. But to be fair the new Action Force did introduce us to some cool characters.
Thanks chopper!

[Chopper]

Thanks. I always figured it was like Star Trek, there are lots of ships saving the universe, not just the Enterprise. So Series 1 and 2 AF still exist, we just didn't get all the stories.