Played a long running (70 hours, no where near finished) game of Civilization IV today, and started envisioning how the little identical soldiers would look in the -very- wierd future Europe that resulted from the game.
So, here are some soldiers of Europa AD 2178
Algoth Björnsson: Berserker. Died in action during the siege of Rome in 2148.
Even though tanks form the backbone of the Norse armies the half-crazed berserkers are often used as shock troops during trench warfare where they form the vanguard, clearing the way for the rest of the Viking infantry. While life as a berserker is prestigious it is rarely long. If the enemy doesn’t kill you outright, then the combat-enhancing drugs most certainly will.
Jeroen Houtman: Border patrol near Vattnajökull, wearing winter gear.
The Dutch don’t have many soldiers, but they are expertly trained for the Icelandic environment. Many consider the Dutch alpine troops to be the best in the world.
Janis Michaelides: Armoured hoplite of the second Knossos phalanx.
After the Ottoman invasion the Greeks realized that they had a great need for defensive troops in their cities. Thus the ancient hoplites were reinstated. Though their equippment has been greatly updated the tactical use of the phalanx remains practically the same. It’s unwieldy, but very few soldiers would even attempt to attack it head on.
Oleg Sergeyevich Yozhin: Hussar of the fourteenth Novgorod detachment, veteran from the Battle for Donau 2174. Dismounted.
While cavalry may seem like an outdated concept in an age where the battlefields are dominated by landships, machineguns and rocket launchers, one would be wise not to underestimate the ferocity of a cavalry charge by the slavic hussars. Their skills have been passed down and perfected through the generations for thousands of years, and they can ruin any generals day with their razor sharp sabres and colossal steeds.
Hernando Velez Guerra: Cardinal inquisitor of the Order of the Holy Blood.
Religion has always been a touchy subject to the Hispanic people, and having to live next to the islamic Arabs has not alleviated this. Luckily they can comfort themselves with their inquisitors, who deal with heretics using fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.
Gnaeus Pescenius: Praetorian captain of the Jasmine Guard.
The Roman legions may be all but dead and gone but the few soldiers that remain are concentrated to a tiny area. Consequently; Damascus is udoubtedly the most well guarded city in the World. The praetorians stationed outside of the senate would gladly give their lives rather than let the last vestige of the Roman Empire get destroyed.
Prescot Radley: Marksman of the Queen’s Guard.
The English armies are – although well trained and equipped – very small. Not many standing troops are needed when you’ve got the defensible position of an island, and an Empire the size of half of Europe backing you up. English marksmen, however, are famed for their skills and finely crafted rifles.
Paschal Deschampes: Franc-tireur of the Parisian Musketeers. Killed during the Siege of Paris AD 2162
The French musketeers were wiped out in the fall of Paris, and have yet to be reinstated, as they are considered too old fashioned by the French army brass. The fact remains though, that they forced the Viking invaders to reconstruct four thousand tanks, as the French snipers made a habit out of shooting their pilots through vision slits and open hatches.
Alexandrina Araújo: Inspetor #14, New Faro.
The concept of the inspetores is a fairly new invention, instated in 2168. They fill a number of purposes, including but not limited to, intelligence gatherers, secret police officers, military officers, body guards, interrogators and detectors of enemy spies. The training of an inspetor takes ten years, meaning that the first graduates are only now being released upon the New Portuguese population.
Haimo Amsel: ANSIGAR gunner of the Saarbrücken trench.
The ANSIGAR heavy machine gun is a wonder of Germanic engineering, capable of eradicating an enemy platoon in a few bursts, or punch holes straight through a landship. It is common in the trenches around the German-Viking borders.
Iriz Demir: Royal janissary guard of the Istanbul (not Constantinople) regiment.
The janissaries have guarded the Ottoman sultans for over eight hundred years. Trained from childhood to be expert marksmen and fanatically loyal to their lord, these elite soldiers are a force to be reckoned with.
Karim ibn Saidi ibn Abdul al-Suriyah: Syrian mercenary, employed by the caliph.
The immense wealth of the Arabian nation allows its generals to hire highly skilled mercenaries. These are often members of Bedouin or Berber tribes; expert desert warriors, who have held off invading armies for over six thousand years.
