The Umbrian Replubic Army
The pride of the Republic's military establishment, the Umbrian Republic Army, often abbreviated as the URA, is the largest branch of the service and is responsible for all terrestrial combat operations. Formed in the immediate aftermath of Umbrian unification and the formation of the Republic, the URA has a long and storied history which it has maintained for nearly a millennia.
In the immediate aftermath of the Republic's formation, the Umbrians' natural cohesion and strong sense of cultural identity left few internal threats for a military organization to focus on, and for nearly two hundred years it lapsed into a primarily ceremonial function. Traditions were maintained, but overall readiness and the ability to defend Umbria herself were largely sacrificed as the new global government sought to find its footing.
That would change with the development of faster than light travel. Rapid advances in the Umbrians' understanding of the physical universe suddenly opened up untold opportunity in the vast expanse of their galaxy. From far out on the rim of the galaxy, they could travel inwards, seeking out life sustaining worlds and new opportunities.
But with these opportunities came risks. Umbrians have long presumed the existence of extra-terrestrials; probability demands that somewhere else intelligent life had formed. More worrisome, of the Umbrians could master supra-luminal travel, then surely others would pass that threshold as well. The further the Republic expanded, the more likely it would be that they would encounter another race, and theorists predicted that a hostile encounter was at least as likely as a peaceful one.
With a growing sense of uncertainty, the military would receive a renewed emphasis. The primary recipient of this focus would be the Army, which was quickly expanded. The goal was to create a force capable of resisting any adversary long enough to allow the rest of the Republic to mobilize.
To ensure the Army was up to the challenge, drilling and exercises were a regular part of army life, and the newly established War Council encouraged ambitious young officers to question established dogma and press the envelop regarding what their soldiers and equipment were capable of.
Through the regular cadence of exercises, the URA’s default organizational units, or legions, were formed into cohesive and highly effective teams. The legionary structure also allowed for an almost endless combination of specialized units, but it was quickly determined that a complete lack of homogeny was counterproductive. Instead, the legions would focus on mobile infantry, supplemented with other specialized soldiers as needed for given campaigns or specific scenarios.
This preparation would pay off with the onset of the brutal alien invasion of the Republic.
Prior to the war with the Ascomanni, the Army consisted of four army groups, each with thirty legions each. These active formations were supported by the same number of reserve formations, whose members could be called up as needed, giving the organization an effective strength of over two and a half million soldiers once fully mobilized.
As the first battle of the war intensified on the distant world of Battipaglia, the URA rushed to activate its reserves. Initial successes gave a glimmer of hope, but soon it became apparent that the Ascomanni were better able to reinforce and resupply their forces on the world.
Facing defeat, the URA withdrew, intent on holding adjacent worlds while new recruits could be hammered into fighting shape. A brief pause following the fall of Battipaglia once again kindled hope that they'd secured a respite, but a second wave of Ascomanni assaults would quickly follow, demonstrating the belligerent alien race’s overwhelming power.
New leaders have begun to emerge amongst the Army brass, individuals who have seen firsthand the dangerous and aggressive nature of the enemy, and who are willing to pursue any and all avenues to turn around the conflict. Enhanced political support, especially from Triumvir Publius Decius, has helped swell the URA's ranks, and some minor victories have shown the Ascomanni aren't invincible.
By early 31155, the URA had expanded to six army groups of eighty legions or more each. Dozens more legions were scattered throughout the Republic, either in various states of training and fitting out, or in permanent assignment to strategically important systems.
These developments have led many to believe that the Army had reached a critical mass sufficient to resist the Ascomanni's continued assault. That must now be translated into sustained success on the battlefields of the Frontier.