» Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:27 am The Bappie
"Rule Brittania!"
-Common Bappie battlecry
ORIGINS:
Pre-War:
When development into Powered Armour began, the British military invested considerably in producing the Armoured Corps. Initially working with the Americans, the British eventually cut their ties and began an independent project, using the early-stage American designs. The result was the formation of the British Army Powered Infantry (or "Bappie" as they became known). Equipped with British Army Powered Armour (BAPA), the BAPI divisions saw very little action prior to the fall of the bombs, save for a few skirmishes in Dover. However, in the post-apocalyptic world that remained, the remants of the Bappie would prove highly influential in Britain and beyond.
Post-War:
When the nuclear armageddon was unleashed, much of Britain was lost. The Government and major military leaders, secure in the London Vault, were killed instantly from a direct hit from a communist bunker-buster. Other key personnel in other locations survived to varying degrees, but for the most part it was every man for himself.
In this climate, the remains of the armed forces turned to their BAPI divisions for guidance - equipped with BAPA, the scavengers and desperate raiders that emerged from the nuclear armageddon were no match for these warriors, and soon the military had established three key strongholds; Camelot, Dover and Sealand. Though other outposts existed, only these three had access to Powered Armour, and thus they alone retained the military elite who had been trained in its use.
For many years, these three groups had no idea of the other's existance, as nuclear fallout made long-range communications impossible, and as such it was almost a century before the scattered divisions were reunited. Each offered the others something vital - Sealand offered unequalled production capabilities, Dover boasted the mightiest arsenal, whilst Camelot boasted a vast motor pool and a veritable legion of auxiliaries to man it. Though the process took many years, the Bappie factions eventually declared themselves a unified political and military body, and turned to the task of rebuilding. As other communities were contacted and brought into the fold, it was decided that Camelot, being the most 'central' of the three primary Bappie bases, would be their new capital.
The Battle of Sealand:
As the Bappie rose in power, outsiders began to take interest. The Enclave, a clandestine force from the former USA, took interest in the Bappie and began to send spies to the British mainland. They discovered that Sealand Base, the original R&D station for the BAPA program, still possessed the means to produce new suits of Powered Armour, and it was only a lack of resources that had thus far prevented them from doing so. Unwilling to allow any other to have this technology, the Enclave began a mass invasion of Britain, seeking to claim Sealand and the technology therein.
Some say it was fate that the Enclave chose to strike the Bappie as they were preparing for an assault on Ireland. When the Enclave landed upon the British mainland, they found the Bappie army waiting within striking distance, and two great armies clashed in a series of running battles. The superior technology of the Enclave forced the Bappie back time and again, but every metre of ground was bought with blood. The final battle was fought on the grounds of Sealand Base itself, with the Bappie triumphing by the narrowest of margins. Denied their prize, the Enclave withdrew to plot anew. The Bappie, however, had no intention of waiting for the Enclave to strike again, and plans for a counter-invasion began.
Coming to America:
The invasion of America was instigated using a salvaged warship found in the Royal Docks - the HMS Queen Elizabeth. This nuclear powered aircraft carrier provided the Bappie everything they needed for their operations, and they began retrofitting the ship and its aircraft. A vast crew of sailors, Marines, BAPA and civilian volunteers was gathered, and when the Queen Elizabeth slipped its moorings it did so with enough men and materials to construct and defend a new colony.
Not knowing the Enclave's base of operations, the Bappie chose to strike at the most likely target - Washington DC. Establishing a Beachhead in Atlantic City, the Bappie began their march inland...
EQUIPMENT:
The Bappie use a variety of standardised weapons, mostly drawn from British Army stock.
Their primary weapon is the SAK-90 bullpup assault rifle, chambered for 5.56mm NATO rounds. Popular energy weapons include the LAR-IV Laser Rifle, the LP-II Laser Pistol and "BPC" series of Plasma weapons, all of which were chosen due to being compatable with the ammunition commonly used by American forces, thus making resupply in the field a much simpler affair.
Defensively, the Bappie use a wide variety of armour types - as well as conventional Combat Armour, the Bappie have a significant stock of Power Armour, albeit in varying conditions. Suits of T-45d and T-51b exist, primarly taken from defeated enemies, and even a few suits of the Enclave's Advanced Power Armour have fallen into Bappie hands. However, their most common and most distinctive armour models are their "BAPA" armour series.
BAPA-6:
BAPA-6 is the best armour the British Army ever developed. It is also, sadly, a relatively uncommon suit of armour. Based loosely upon the original T-51b, BAPA-6 has the best combination of personal protection and ease of movement. However, most BAPA-6 suits are falling into disrepair, and most include parts salvaged from looted T-51b suits, or BAPA-6 suits damaged beyond repair.
BAPA-5:
BAPA-5 is something of a 'stop-gap' armour. It is the only armour the Bappie can still produce in their Sealand base, and even then they do so in pitifully small quantities. Modelled on the T-51b blueprints, BAPA-5 is mid-way between T45-d and T-51b in performance. It is the most common "native" Power Armour used by the Bappie.
BAPA-4:
Almost identical to BAPA-5, save that it has slightly weaker armour and an inferior power plant. Troopers equipped with BAPA-4 are often known as "windups", since they continually need to stop and replace their armour's power cells. Some models of BAPA-4 have been retro-fitted to carry a superior power plant.
Early models:
BAPA-3 is little more than a rip-off of the original T-45d, save that it uses inferior servo mechanisms. The result is a suit that grants less strength augmentation, making it harder and more tiring to use. It also has the same power cell issues as BAPA-4. Very few suits of BAPA-3 were ever actually built, and none were brought on the expedition.
Note that BAPA-1 and BAPA-2 never moved beyond the prototype stage, and as such no longer exist.
