Internal Troops (Barrayar)

Internal Troops Command
Lesser Coat of Arms of the Imperial Military Service
Active	2951 - Present
Country	Barrayar
Type	Gendarmerie
Role	Counter-insurgency and law enforcement
Size	1,800,100
Part of	Ground Forces Command
Garrison/HQ	Imperial Service Headquarters, Vorbarr Sultana
Engagements	2960s Crisis
Commanders
Chief Commander	General Xavier Vorsoisson
Deputy Chief Commander	Lieutenant General Aral Albert Vorpeter
Insignia
Coat of Arms

The Internal Troops of the Ministry of Interior is a military force, the youngest part of the Imperial Service but operationally subordinated to the Interior ministry. They are designed to be used to support and reinforce the various police forces, deal with large-scale crowd control, internal armed conflicts, prison security and safeguarding of highly-important facilities. They are responsible for guarding government buildings at all levels, including state mass organisations, foreign embassies, consulates and spaceports. As such, the force was involved in all conflicts and violent disturbances, as the line between military operations against foreign elements and operations of internal security are often blurred; therefore they are designed to be the main bulwark against foreign-led revolts and revolutions. During wartime, the Internal Troops falls under the Imperial Service military command and fulfil the missions of local defence and rear area security. Although they could, in case of necessity, act as special teams, they are intended, designed, equipped and trained for urban and security combat.
While the police forces remain focused on day-to-day policing, the Internal Troops act as a rapid-and-heavy reaction force and in support of the civilian authorities. However, as the Internal Troops's mandate include the security of the government, they could commandeer necessary resources from police: in case of major unrest, they were given primacy on all investigations and police activity (though they were few in number the ITs are supported by the Service Security).
Alongside the units devoted to act as internal security forces, which are the by far majority, Internal Troops include also forces guarding mines, forests, ground-based electricity supply, and communications, ass well as security guard forces. The latter ones are differently trained contingents, but if necessary they can join the "ordinary" Internal Troops in order to assist them.
The use of Internal Troops instead of the Ground Forces in these situations helps to preserve the favourable image of the latter with the population. In addition to these peacetime roles, in time of war they would support front line operations by providing rear security against enemy sabotage, defending supply and communications lines, and operating prisoner-of-war and penal Regiments. There are 146 Regiments of Internal Troops plus several other units, for a total of almost 2 million soldiers. Internal Troop organizational elements include operational formations and units (regiments and separate battalions), motorized units which support public order in most of Barrayaran large cities and units for guarding important facilities, including nuclear weapons, power plants and special cargo. In addition to these tasks, the Internal Troops have to provide surveillance personnel to all courts and prosecution offices of the Empire, including military ones (albeit in conjunction with the Service Security). Information/intelligence activities are to be carried out with the support of the Service Security.
The Internal Troops have one Chief Commander, one first political officer, and several political officers attached to the various units. The current Chief Commander is General Xavier Vorsoisson.
The IT soldier is the symbol of order and of its solidity, perceived as superior, rigid, unforgiving; he is the soldier to admire for the elegance of his uniform, the guardian of justice, the gendarme to fear for his severity, shaped in turn by the popular consciousness according to the needs of the moment, but always caught as armed arm of the monarchy and power. As all other soldiers, Internal Troops soldiers are expected to exhibit impassivity, detachment from any kind of event, even of patriotic character. The image of aloofness, sobriety and composure can not be tarnished, even minimally, even expressing patriotism.
When in presence of a difficult environment (i.e. in unstable regions) it is not uncommon that Internal Troops battalions or even Regiments are formed with armed-and-trained supporters of local prominent loyal personalities (more often than not appointed in local government roles). This has the very negative effect to form and maintain an actual private militia; however, the relevant Command almost always succeeds in displacing "private" forces in other areas after some time. This option was actually adopted after the great republican uprisings, and indeed the Internal Troops were established in order to take away private militias from the hands of their founders, but in severe crisis periods the practice can be resurrected.

Mission

The Internal Troops are charged with the task of safeguarding national security, supporting the maintenance of law and order and the carrying out of military police services, as well as maintaining social stability.
In addition, the Internal Troops implement the government’s control over the observance of the Barrayaran legislation in the field of arms trafficking and over the field of private security. The Law Establishing Internal Troops explicitly prescribes to them to "strive to make themselves a powerful, disciplined and reliable force". As an exception from the ordinary Imperial Service ways, the jurisdiction for Internal Troops law violations against civilians is within civilian courts.

Wartime duties

In wartime, the Internal Troops assist the Service Security: this means supporting or, through the overall direction and supervision of the Service Security exercised over Internal Troops commanders, even replacing the latter in ensuring the operation of the controls, in controlling the communication routes to and from the front, preventing the disbanded departments in combat, giving security to the soldiers on the march and during the stops.
In wartime, the control of the occupied areas (as part of the Service Security-led apparatus) and the prevention and repression of espionage is the task that best suits the Internal Troops, who keep a special "Register of persons suspected of espionage". Having to provide for the internal security of the country, the Internal Troops face a series of tasks that ranged from normal police control to the search of the many renitents, to that of neutral foreigners.

Rules of employ

Basic organizational chart of the Internal Troops of Barrayar.

The commanders of the Internal Troops confer daily with local governors and police authorities, unless it is not allowed by reason of service, and with judicial and military authority whenever the interest of the service would recommend so. In these meetings the authorities and commanders will exchange the necessary communications for all that relates to the performance of public order. During public order services, the units of the Internal Troops, despite the rules on their subordination to civilian police authority, act maintaining greater autonomy than the Police Riot units, using the butts of their rifles as batons.
Requests from the governors and police authorities to the Internal Troops is exercised in writing and in the form of demand. In cases where there is absolute urgency of the armed forces, the concerned commander of the Internal Troops is required to meet the verbal requests. The amount of reinforcement should always be agreed between the governor and the Internal Troops of the official concerned; these requests are always directed to the local commander of the Internal Troops of the place where must be carried out and, in case of refusal, to the officer immediately above.
Requests must include the quality of the applicant authority, the object of the request, the date and the signature and can not contain mandatory terms; any defect in the required form does not give Internal Troops the right to refuse. The commander who, for reasons other emergency services or to deficiency of staff is unable to perform the request must promptly inform the requiring authority or office. If military detachments or isolated soldiers who are in transit for service reasons are in need of assistance, this should be "most thoughtful", while the assistance required by legitimate authority must be met by the interests of the public service.
When the Internal Troops are threatened or attacked in the exercise of their duties, or when they deem to not be able to execute an order of authority without the help of a greater force, they may request in writing, and also orally in an emergency, other troops, police and any other member of the public force, and those citizens that are present, to give assistance.

Internal defence of the territory

The "internal defence of the territory" is the complex of preparations, measures and actions, by which certain forces of the Imperial Service, with the support of other State armed forces, allow quick and safe implementation of the mobilization, the defence of the nerve centres of the whole country and ensure, as far as possible, the integrity of the area of communications from enemy attacks and, finally, help to maintain the 'internal order.
In first days of the emergency, and that is during the most critical stage and sensitive procedures to ensure the civil and military mobilization, the defence of the nerve centres and preventive occupation of important places is mainly entrusted to the Internal Troops.

Relationship with military authorities

Commanders of the Internal Troops must, with the most prompt means, inform the relevant military authorities of all the events or findings made about people or things, which may affect them, as well as of all the extraordinary facts in which the intervention of the troops or of said military authority may be necessary, or useful and convenient; Internal Troops commanders must also report on what is related to service operations, in which soldiers belonging to the Internal Troops have nevertheless participated, or have been killed or injured.
On the other hand, commanders of the Internal Troops must provide the military authorities with all the news or information, even outside the special service of the Corps, which may be of interest to them or requested.

Operational Techniques

From a general point of view, Internal Troops units (mainly Regiments) are trained in order to act in support of a wide range of allied forces types. The most common employment is in support directly to ordinary police forces, when ITs are deployed against reactions of powerful and/or violent criminal cartels or to belt the commando police units. When they are deployed to contain massive rallies or demonstrations, they usually provide integration and reinforcement to riot police Regiments. In such cases, training and operational techniques are very similar, and when IT units act in support of police forces they are under the authority of police officials.
A more rare form of deployment is that in solitary or in IT-led operations: when the IT act without the supervision of police officials they usually have to crack down a rebellion which has gone far beyond the violent rally or demonstration but it is still below the open civil war. In such cases, ITs operate alone or supported by riot police and/or other ground units, the latter ones more oriented to pure combat.
The most rare and, after the 2970s, almost unoccurred form of intervention is the deployment of Internal Troops under the authority of combat ground forces commanders. This hypothesis can entry into force only when talking about a peaceful stabilization is completely unrealistic.
Operational techniques include dispatching 5-8 man patrols to problem localities and using maneuver groups to help maintain stability by disarming groups and restoring order in emergency areas. Purportedly the Internal Troops use few heavy armaments and mostly defensive weapons. The declared goal of the ITs is not to use force but to help motivate conflicting sides toward a peaceful restoration of harmony. The IT's Rules of Engagement are to return fire when fired upon, except for declared state of emergency. Rules of Engagement are used for states of emergency, to combat illegal formations, and to maintain law and order. Operationally, Internal Troops forces employ communications, psychological operations, and crowd control vehicles in addition to its normal hand held and crew served weapons. In ordinary police support activities, without large-scale insurgency concerns, Internal Troops deployment is divided into three parts: Baton, Gas, and Armed. The basic unit formation of the Internal Troops is a company commanded by a Captain. A Lieutenant is usually second-in-command. A IT company consists of approximately 200 personnel and is composed of four Platoons: one Baton Platoon, a Gas Platoon and two Armed Platoons. Each Platoon is commanded by a Lieutenant or by an Ensign, with a Sergeant Major as second-in-command. The Baton Platoon is equipped with batons and shields, the Gas Platoon is responsible for the deployment of tear-gas and the Armed Platoons carry assault rifles. However, all units and personnel can be easily equipped with firearms. Additional equipment includes other unit weapons for counter-insurgency operations.

Exceptional public order services

The use of Imperial Service units other than Internal Troops in the service of public order is limited to cases of exceptional gravity, and only after that the authorities responsible for public order have exhausted all available police and Internal Troops. The military assigned to public order services must be acquainted of the fact that their action only responds to the need to safeguard the public from disorder and violence.
Fundamental and paramount task of the troops, in case of disturbance of public order, is the defence of military plants and factories (commands, barracks, stores, ammunition, stores, etc.); only forces left over after the protection and defence of plants and factories can be made available to law enforcement authorities for the use in public order services. Military units must be essentially used for defence or protection of certain important points (public buildings, communications centers, road junctions etc.). in adhering to the requirements of a civil authority, the military commander must keep territorial able to satisfy the requests included in the territory of their jurisdiction.
When, in the case of exceptionally serious disturbances, the Emperor declares the state of war, all the powers of the civil authorities pass to the military authorities, including police forces.

Operational approach

The forces scattering is a mistake that must be avoided at all costs and troops must be deployed en masse. Troops in public order service remains under the exclusive and direct command of military officers that, in relation to the task entrusted to them by the civil authority, have the widest powers and the consequent responsibility to establish the terms of execution. As a rule to deal with unarmed protesters, troops employ personal weapons. Unit weapons, held in reserve, are used only when they meet armed resistance. The basic criterion is that the equipment of those called to restore order must always be superion to that used by those who have upset the order; armoured vehicles and tanks are particularly suitable for the dissolution of meetings or gatherings.
The Unit Commander, received the express order by the police officer, or decided on their own to open fire, decides which weapons are to be used, order to fire and regulates the conduct of the unit. Weapons fire is to be directed against individuals who appear most dangerous, inciting violence and, possibly, against the leaders of the protesters, trying to avoid to fire indiscriminately on the crowd. When troops over persons under arrest, must be vigilant to prevent by all means, including the use of weapons, they can escape.

Training

Since Internal Troops must be able to handle a variety of functions, its officers and soldiers receive special training at the Interior and military academies, where they receive a higher education. Officers receive a law and middle military education at military schools. The education in law allows officers to understand concepts such as a temporary administration or a state of emergency, the legal use of force, the types of force and operations that are and are not allowed, and the use of force in a security zone or other situations. Officers also receive training in such diverse topics as the history of the various regions of the Empire and the basis for national cooperation.
At training locations, soldiers conduct simulated raids to free hostages from buses, air-planes, apartments, and boats. Training also includes running through assault courses against a simulated opponent while explosions, smoke, and automatic fire are directed against their assault. The Internal Troops conduct simulated peace operations exercises as well. One such exercise begins with troops in armoured personnel carriers defending a convoy of buses carrying refugees. The bus comes under sniper or other types of hostile fire and the Internal Troops convoy must respond with the appropriate action to stop the assault.
The Internal Troops also conduct live-fire exercises which include fire by propelled grenades, recoilless rifles, anti-aircraft guns, grenade launchers, and other weapons. The firing concludes with a mad minute of all systems. The Internal Troops also train on a small calibre pistol range, where troops must fire a variety of pistols (from stunners to plasma pistols) from a variety of unstable positions and after crashing through windows or doors.
It is 6-7 months before a private can be deployed from the time he starts training. Hand to hand combat is taught to recruits only six months in service and follows the model of SAMBO. With 24 total months in service for conscripts, the Internal Troops probably has some relatively green cadre among forces doing crowd control with batons and shields. A soldier normally gets a revered "beret" after one year. Recruits perform ranger type training at the end of their schooling, finishing their training with a live boxing activity in front of other IT personnel. Officers are ready to be deployed immediately out of school.
In an emergency situation zone, one day of service counts as two for recruits and they receive double pay as well.

Appearance

Internal Troops do not bring moustache or beard; sideburns must not cross the line of the lower end of the ear at the corner of the mouth; hair should not go beyond the front or cover your ears, and be in line of the uniform collar. For officers different rules apply; the hair is dressed smooth, and must be cut so that the face and ears are uncovered, and the collar of his uniform is not touched by them. Officers can bring moustache: moustache may not protrude beyond the lip, or join with sideburns.

Auxiliary Internal Troopers

The "Auxiliary Internal Soldiers" are conscripted Soldiers and Corporals that, as a result of their application or by order, are assigned to the Internal Troops service, for the aid of the Internal Troops until the end of conscription with public order duties. They give up the rank, which was confirmed at the end of the service.
They must be of robust physique, capable of withstanding the rigors of public order services, smarter than average. On service they are always accompanied by "Auxiliary Internal Troopers".

Esprit de Corps

Internal Troops, beyond organic and naming mutations, have their specific culture and resulted in a special "unit climate", which is the pride of soldiers who have been involved over time, and further develops a strong sense of membership.
The core values are values of the Corps including the military values of courage, honour and loyalty to the fatherland, but also include the civic values of men, fathers, husbands and sons. The service in the Internal Troops is viewed as an exhilarating experience if done properly.

Specialities and units nomenclature

The organization of the Internal Troops comprises headquarters, general information structures, military units, military training institutions and the institutions for Internal Troops activities, as well as logistic, maintenance and administration bodies. The largest units are located in all major cities. There are eight Districts or territorial commands; each District has certain units assigned directly to it which are identified by a four digit number: first digit identifies the District, second digit identifies the Speciality, last two digits identify the ordinal number of the Regiment. Beside that there are several units directly subordinated, following the principle of high specialization and relatively small size.

Second digit:

• x0xx: default and multi-purpose Regiment
• x1xx: security facilities protection Regiment
• x2xx: diplomatic guards Regiment
• x3xx: high risk and large crime-fighting operations support Regiment
• x4xx: mountain counter-insurgency Regiment
• x5xx: economic facilities protection Regiment

Default and multi-purpose Regiment

The purpose for which the Internal Troops are established is to ensure effective support for the police to carry out the institutional tasks and those connected with the protection of public order. For purposes of territorial defence and reserve operation to the needs of protecting public order, standard Regiments (second digit: "0") and their constitutive Battalions have the value of a mechanized complex. Each Regiment consists of a Command-and-Support Company, a communications and signals Company and of 5 Battalions. The commander is a Colonel, while Battalion commanders are Majors. The organization of a Mechanized Battalion is that of a mechanized unit supplemented by tanks and characterized by powerful firepower. In general terms, it appears composed as follows:

• 1 Scouts Platoon, fit to carry out their own exploration close in favour of the Battalion. to guarantee it by enemy surprise;
• 2 Mechanized companies, suitable to carry on the various acts of combat on their own or in cooperation with the tanks; personnel is embarked into Belykaban-class vehicles.
• 1 Mortars company, able to ensure the delivery of adequate volume of fire to the Mechanized companies in the various phases of the action;
• 1 Tank squadron, able to intervene in the fight with the maneuver and fire power needed for decisive action. Tanks are mainly Represser-class vehicles, although some Regiments may be equipped with main battle tanks.

The single Battalion therefore is a robust tactical complex, powerfully armed and capable of acting quickly and decisively in an emergency situation. The power characteristics of the battalion so configured do not conflict with the demands of the service of public order but give a strong ability to intervene in the actions of decisive force. The Regiment is used as a resolution unit in both tasks of public order and tactical actions, of course with different means and methods, to be used in mass, normally in tactical complexes at Battalion or Company level; however, the Regiment is fully capable to form an unitary tactical unit.
When used to deal with riot control services, all Companies are deployed on foot with riot equipment, while the Scout Platoon uses the reconnaissance vehicles in order to monitor the crowd.

Diplomatic guards Regiment

Coat of Arms of the 1206th Internal Troops Regiment "Izba"

In international/interstellar relations, the host country is held traditionally responsible for providing security and protection to foreign embassies and Barrayar makes no exception. The branch tasked with guarding foreign embassies is the Diplomatic guards Regiment of the Internal Troops; indeed the task is carried out alongside the Imperial Security, due to the obvious security/intelligence implications. In addition to the task of protecting foreign embassies in Vorbarr Sultana, the 1206th Regiment also provides security for the Barrayaran Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Barrayaran embassies abroad. Currently there is only one such regiment, the 1206th Regiment "Izba" (second digit: "2").
The Regiments has an unique organization: the Regimental Command has a command and control role, while the operational pawns are the four Battalion-level Units: Internal Prevention Unit; Foreign Embassies Security Unit; Ministry Security Unit; Foreign Security and Surveillance Unit:

• Internal Prevention Unit: the Internal Prevention Unit is an investigative/information organization, tasked to avoid any avoidable harm to the foreign diplomatic facilities, and it works in strict coordination with the Domestic Affairs Department of the Imperial Security. It is organized on "thematic" basis.
• Foreign Embassies Security Unit: The Foreign Embassies Security Unit is tasked with providing patrols and checkpoints around the embassy buildings. Being concentrated in a Vorbarr Sultana borough, the security is mostly provided in a comprehensive and cumulative way, in order to not disperse manpower and to be able to have a reserve. The Unit consists of four Companies: a reserve and intervention Company, two Companies assigned to patrol individual Embassies and a Company tasked to patrol the borough.
• Ministry Security Unit: the Ministry Security Unit is solely devoted to the protection of the Ministry buildings and premises, including dependencies and separate buildings within the Empire, whereas they cannot be guarded by other forces or units. The Unit is divided into a Capitol Company and other three "territorial" Companies.
• Foreign Security and Surveillance Unit: the Foreign Security and Surveillance Unit is tasked to protect Barrayaran embassies abroad and it consists of in a Command Platoon and a Protection Battalion. Each Embassy is protected by an handful soldiers.

High-risk and large crime-fighting operations support Regiment

High-risk and large crime-fighting operations support regiments (second digit: "3", often shortened as "Police support regiments") are tasked with providing assistance on high-risk warrants and obtaining evidence of criminal acts during large events such as soccer games or demonstrations. Such units, staffed by senior-ranking police officers, receive better training than the members of regular Riot police units: they carry out snatch arrests and SWAT-type special operations, including the apprehension of dangerous criminals, high-profile raids, long-term searches, manhunt operations, etc.
The typical police support regiment is organized on four Battalions and the regular Command-and-Support Company. Each Battalion is subdivided into sixteen Support Platoons, which are grouped only for administrative purposes into four Companies. Differently from other Regiments, each Company is posted in a different District. The Support Platoon organization is:

• Command: four officers
• Technical support: four officers
• Securing evidence: six officers
• Six arrest teams: five officers per team

Mountain counter-insurgency Regiment

Mountain counter-insurgency regiments (second digit: "4") unify military counterinsurgency procedures and police procedures in the fight against organized crime and against insurgents (or demonstrators) in mountain areas and regions. Methods include infiltration and day and night sudden, rapid raids, deep in the heart of the mountain bumps, stalking surveillance of places and people suspected, the wait and the capture of their prey. The high professional profile stems from a training that provides for the implementation of counterinsurgency techniques. In support of this it is also provided the use of aircraft and dogs, and the availability of equipment to advanced technology.
Each Regiment consists of a Command-and-Support Battalion, of an Air Support Squadron Group and of three to four Light Infantry Battalions. Each Battalion is made up of three identical Companies. In turn, each company is made up of a Captain, the Command Team and fifteen Teams, responsible for its own area of operation and enter into two Platoons (A and B). Within the A-Platoon there is a team composed entirely of rock climbers; within the B-Platoon there is a team of rock climbers enabled to mountain rescue. The Air Squadron Group is an helijet-equipped battalion-sized unit which provides aircraft to the other Battalions and therefore consists of 3 to 4 Squadrons (company-level unit). In practice, each Air Squadron is assigned with its own Light Infantry Battalion and the higher level serves as an administrative support unit, with its command lying with the Regimental command itself.

Economic facilities protection Regiment

Economic facilities protection regiments (second digit: "5") are responsible for providing law enforcement and security at or within 5 km of any relevant civilian nuclear site and for nuclear materials in transit within the Empire of Barrayar by guarding power stations, research centres and other facilities against terrorist attacks. These Regiments, in cooperation with the relevant law enforcement agencies, also escort nuclear materials in transit. Economic Regiments are deployed on a range of security tasks: their soldiers man fixed point guard stations, carry out foot and vehicle patrols in and around nuclear facilities. They also man armed response teams which are on standby to react to a security breach; dog handlers are used on patrols and to sniff out explosives. The Speciality runs its own firearms training cadre, which includes counter terrorism firearms training.
Each Regiment is organized on two Groups, the Strategic Escort Group (usually 3 Battalions) tasked with protecting nuclear materials while in transit, and the Information Group (usually a company-sized unit), a substantial intelligence section working in liasion with other information services in order to uncover and detail threats against the civil nuclear sector.

Chief Command

Coat of Arms of the Chief Command of the Internal Troops

Despite being subordinated to a civilian police authority, Internal Troops are part of the Imperial Service with centralized system of ranks, command and services. The Chief Command, the Chief Commander and the Chief Staff of the Internal Troops report operationally only to Ministry of Interior, but they maintain their separate chain of command under the Chief of Ground Staff; subordinated to the Chief Commander there are the three Planetary Deputy Commanders, the Deputy Commander Barrayar serving also as Deputy Chief Commander. In turn, Planetary Deputy Commanders are subordinated to the relevant GROFOR Component Command. IT units are predominantly formed up of conscripts drafted by the same system as for the rest of the Imperial Service, while officers are trained in both IT's own special academies and Imperial Service's military academies. The Internal Troops Chief Command is the leading and commanding organ that directs and administers the Internal Troops (both internal security force and forces guarding gold mine, forest, water and electricity, and communications, etc.), and provides guidance to all forces subordinate to the Command itself.
The main kinds of Internal Troops are field units, prison security units, various facility-guarding units and some special forces units to deal with serious terrorism and hostage crises. Field units are essentially light motorized infantry, similar to respective ground forces regular units by their organization and weapons.

Support commands

Despite being a part of the GROFORCOM, the Internal Troops Command does has some subordinate commands for its own needs. These commands are mainly intended to oversee very specific needs. Under the Chief Commander there are:

• Internal Troops General Staff (led by the Deputy Chief Commander);
  • Operations Division;
  • Police Division;
• Internal Troops Schools Command;
• Internal Troops Logistics Command (part of the Logistics Command);
• Internal Trops Communications Command;
• Internal Troops Administration Directorate;
  • Internal Troops Finance Division;
  • Internal Troops Personnel Division;
  • Support Services Liaison Office;
• Internal Troops Special Forces Command (separate from the other Special Forces)
• Internal Troops Civil Defence Directorate;
• Internal Troops General Information Directorate;
  • General Information Division;
  • Criminal Information Division (linked with the S.O.C.A.);
  • Private Security Division;
• Intelligence Protection Directorate: tasked with IT personnel surveillance and combating espionage inside Internal Troops (subordinated to the Military Intelligence Service);
• Institute of Security Studies.

Internal Special Forces Command

Counter-terrorism forces of the Internal Troops usually wear a green fatigue to distinghuish themselves from the civilian police counter-terrorism forces.

The Internal Troops have several special units (formally "Special Purpose Forces of the Internal Troops"), in order to deal with peculiar tasks which are not carried out by units belonging to the various Specialities. These units are grouped under the Internal Special Forces Command, in order to provide them a cohesive and uniform training, organization and guidance. The Command is led by a Major General and it is depenedent on the Chief Commander, via the Deputy Chief Commander. Such units have an unique three-digits identification number.

603rd Special Prison Security Regiment

The Special Prison Security Regiment deals with preventing crimes in detention facilities, anti-riot actions in detention facilities in serious situations and hostage rescue in detention facilities, as well as counter-terrorism actions in detention facilities. The Regiment deploys four Battalions, assigned to the Chief Command and to Planetary Garrisons. This produces the presence of two Battalions on Barrayar.

604th Special Purpose Unit "Knights"

The 604th Special Purpose Unit "Knights" is one of the Barrayaran special forces units of the Internal Troops under the Internal Special Forces Command. It is assigned specifically to urban counter-terrorism duties, but is trained to deal with serious civil unrest, prison rebellions and mutinies of regular ground forces units. The "Knights" was created on 05/05/2981, formed on the basis of the pre-existing 6th detachment. This unit was involved in a variety of operations and incidents. Approximately 75 members of the Unit have been awarded the title Hero of the Barrayaran Empire for their bravery.

605th Special Purpose Unit "Eagles"

The 605th Special Purpose Unit "Eagles" is a Internal Troops unit, responsible for counter-terrorism, VIP protection and special operations. Due to the nature of crime in urban poor boroughs, "Eagle" unit have extensive experience in urban warfare as well as progression in confined and restricted environments. The Battalion carries out duties as special maneuver force of the Ministry of Interior, in charge of insuring order and security for citizens in the times war and peace, escorting public demonstrations and gatherings at particular risk of insurrections.
The 605th Unit is currently organized as a three-Battalions Regiment: a Support Battalion deals with planification and coordination of the operations and with training; the other two Battalions ("North" and "South") are in turn organized on four Companies, each dealing with one tasks: neutralization of armed elements, air mobility, explosive devices and negotiation.

Surveillance Forces

The Surveillance Forces are Internal Troops units specifically trained in order to watch and protect facilities of significant economic relevance. Alongside the standard physical surveillance and combat defence training, they receive also training focused on detection and interception of hostile actions before they reach facilities themselves. Surveillance Forces Regiment are grouped within a Regiment, separate from "regular" Internal Troops units and dependent on the relevant Planetary Garrison Commander.

Central Command

Coat of Arms of the Central Command of the Internal Troops

The Central Command of the Internal Troops, subordinated to the Chief Command, provides training, support and management of certain special units. The Central Command also handles communications and support facilities used exclusively for IT duties: Internal Troops use both police and Imperial Service facilities. The Central Command includes the CC Staff and two Divisions:

• General Support Division;
• Special Purpose Division

General Support Division

The General Support Division (led by Major General Lev Davideviç) provides, as its name states, support services for all the three Garrisons including training and medical services. Being mainly administrative and support formations, subordinate brigades contain multi-battalion Regiments:

• Training Brigade
  • 3 General Training Regiments (3 Battalions each)
  • Naval Training Regiment (3 Battalions each)
  • Medical Training Regiment (3 Battalions each)
  • Protection Training Regiment (3 Batalions each)
• Technical Support Command (Brigade level)
  • Central Communications Centre
  • Engineering Centre
  • Refurbishment Centre
• IT Medical Services Centre

Special Purpose Division

The Special Purpose Division exists in order to provide combat potential against organized and dangerous crime, as well as against serious uprisings. Given the staffing levels, the logistics and the level of combat training of personnel, the division is able to independently carry out a single task.
The Division is in constant combat readiness and within a week and half it can be transferred from Barrayar to Sergyar in order to meet unexpected problems, although it is highly focused on Barrayar. When the Special Purpose Division is involved, usually it is deployed alongside operational line units of the Ground Forces or of the Landing Forces, in order to conduct an integrated asymmetric warfare: this because the SPD is the last resource before the deployment of full combat forces.
The peculiarity of the Division, also with respect to the generality of the Internal Troops, is to be a formation characterized by a double nature: a military part, but also that of a formation which can perform vast police tasks, and therefore able to keep alive that value He added so useful in hybrid conflict scenarios. Military missions can be summarized inpreventive occupatio and in the defence of particularly important positions and sites, often located in non-permissive or hostile territory, but also the guerrilla and counter-guerrilla. Its characteristic of dual-purpose formation puts the Division in a privileged position with regard to the relationship with the police or gendarmerie realities that need help in instructional terms or in improvement of their public order know-how.
The Special Purpose Division is commanded by Major General Xavier Vortaine and includes:

• 1st "Snow Leopard" Armoured Grenadiers Regiment - equipped with CV-MBT-12 tanks
• 1st "Tiger" Counter Terrorist Regiment (Special Forces)
• 1st Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Protection Regiment (3 Battalions)
• 1st "Quasar" Special Prison Security Regiment (Special Forces, 3 Battalions)
• 1st "Baba Yaga" Airborne Intervention Regiment (3 Battalions)
• 1st "Dorca's Sword" Stay Behind Regiment (3 Battalions)
• 1st "Emperor Xian" Peace Enforcement Regiment (3 Battalions)
• 2nd "Jaguar" Mechanized Combat Bipods Squadron Group - equipped with light urban combat MCBs with lethal weapons
• 3rd "Cheetah" Regiment (3 Battalions) - Tasked with the protection of central offices of the Department of Public Security
• 4th "Cobra" Regiment (3 Battalions) - a mountain-rifle Regiment of special operations, head-quartered in Hassadar (Vorkosigan District - Special Forces)
• "Scorpion" Regiment - Arctic unit
• "Shadows" Reconnaissance Regiment (3 Battalions): anti-terrorist unit, tasked with gathering information and conducting deep reconnaissance.
• "Vyvern" Mechanized Artillery Regiment (3 Battalions)
• "Basylisk" Autonomous Mountain Regiment (3 Battalions)
• Explosive Artefacts Defuse and CBRNE Defence Regiment (3 Battalions)
• "Aries" Special Intervention Brigade

1st "Snow Leopard" Armoured Grenadiers Regiment

The 1st "Snow Leopard" Armoured Grenadiers Regiment (also known as "1st Tanks") is an Internal Troops armoured unit, equipped with the newest vehicles and weapons of the Imperial Service, including CV-MBT-12 tanks: the need to be met is to be provided with a device to oppose a possible invasion or an unrest of exceptional gravity: Internal Troops Battalions offer guarantees because they are largely made up of highly motivated young auxiliary (chosen conscripts) and effective personnel, while the rest of Imperial Service consists largely of young conscripts on which one can not objectively count for various reasons, not least of which is linked to the fact that this is a generation heavily contaminated by ideological point of view.
The 1st Tanks is a drilled and competent Regiment, whose members undergo an accurate selection in order to ensure above-than-average reliability and quality; in action they are specifically trained to show no remorse, no retreat, no fear. Their status is carefully enhanced: the regiment soldiers are encouraged to believe themselves to be elite and constantly strive to prove their claim.
The Regiment traces its origins back to the two Internal Troops Armoured Brigades, which were formed in order to crush the most severe uprisings during the worst moments of the 2960s crisis: these brigades were Ground Command formations transferred to the newly-established Internal Troops Command. After the crushing of the emergency, the 1st an the 3rd Brigades were kept within the new Command, and were completed with the 2nd Mechanized Brigade in the Southern Division. During the 2980s, the Internal Troops began to be scaled down; in 2989 the Armoured Brigades were merged in the 1st Enhanced Armoured Brigade, while the 2nd Mechanized Brigade was outright disbanded in 2995. In 2994 the Enhanced Armoured Armoured was reduced to an Armoured Brigade, and in 2998 the 1st Armoured Brigade was also dissolved. The 1st "Snow Leopard" Armoured Grenadiers Regiment was formed immediately after the dissolution of the Armoured Brigade, keeping its legacy, its standard and its traditions, but significantly reduced in size.
Nowadays, the 1st Tanks is organized on the Command and Support Battalion and on four Armoured Battalion: Armoured Battalions in turn consist of two Tank Squadrons and two Mechanized Infantry Companies.

"Scorpion" Grenadiers Arctic Infantry Regiment

The "Scorpion" Grenadiers Internal Troops Arctic Infantry Regiment is a Regiment of Internal Troops permanently assigned to guard the North Pole and dependent on the Chief Command, via the Special Purpose Division. It is formed with average or above-average citizens recruited and conscripted from all levels of the Barrayaran society and its primary speciality is to conduct urban armoured assaults from the sky. The tactical specialization determines the joint training with the Landing Forces Command. Soldiers of the regiment are equipped with specialized weapons patterns and special heavy weapons. The Regiment deploys its own Command Company and four Battalions, each with three 200-strong companies.
The Regiment is noted among Service Security for the mixture of nationalism and loyalism and a relaxed attitude, and more than once they were excluded from important parades. A consequence of the relaxed attitudes is that disgraced soldiers and officers are frequently assigned to this unit. Their twinned unit is the 45th Lancers, a Cavalry Regiment.

"Shadows" Reconnaissance Regiment

The "Shadows" Regiment is an elite forces regiment of the Internal Troops. Their motto is "forward together". The charter of the Shadows Regiment directs them to the elimination of terrorists and terrorism within the country: their primary mission is operating deep in insurgent-controlled territory and waging war on the enemy's rear through irregular warfare.
The unit consists of around 2,400 men. Differently from the vast majority of Internal Troops units, it conscripts soldiers from other infantry regiments of the Imperial Service, who were then instructed in equestrianism. Craftsmen such as farriers, horse breeders, smiths and manufacturers are all employed internally. The Reconnaissance Force is trained as mounted infantry in order to be able to penetrate areas where an air vehicle can be easily spotted.

"Aries" Special Intervention Brigade

The "Aries" Special Intervention Brigade is a counter insurgency unit, being composed of three infantry Regiments and a Command and Support Battalion. The Brigade undergoes a training program focused on their role, including three months of advanced training courses based on urban combat, land navigation, Team rapid response and improvised/handmade explosive disposals tactics. This strategy is aimed at asymmetric warfare.
The Brigade Regiments are structured in order to present a "modular" nature, i.e. in order to be able to disassemble and reassemble into its basic elements. The Brigade personnel is capable of interacting with any other tactical element that can be called into question based on the contingent needs - K9 units, armoured vehicles, air vehicles - to form extremely flexible and versatile small combat groups. For this reason, the Regiment is equipped with highly sophisticated communication systems to guarantee an high degree of autonomy and capacity.

Special Communications Network

The Internal Troops have formed a special network of transmissions in order not to depend on the network transmissions in the event of civil unrest. It is also distinct from the military network, in order not to clog up the traffic.
The Special Communications Network is reserved to the police, the security agencies and the Imperial Service. The Special Network is structured on three levels:

• Interplanetary Network: for connections between the three planets of the Empire and space bases.
• Planetary Network: for links between the General Headquarters and controls central and local employees directly;
• Territorial Network: to allow the connections of the individual commands with territorial commands employees.

Barrayar

Coat of Arms of Barrayaran Garrison of the Internal Troops

The Internal Troops Barrayaran Garrison is subordinated to the President of the Police Headquarters in charge of the Imperial Police Force for operational matters, to the GROFORBAR Commander for territorial matters and to the Chief Commander for organizational matters. Within the Staff, the Garrison Command has also a liaison office of the Imperial Security Domestic Affairs Department. At the IT District level, the relationship is complex: the Commander of Vorbarr Sultana District is subordinated to the relevant IPF Group Commander (Vorbarra District, IPF Group and Internal Troops District coincides); in the three IT Districts on the Northern Continent (NW, NE, Dendarii) the local police forces are in charge of the public security apparatus, and intervention is strictly limited to Counts' request or to exceptional matters, and the intervention itself is usually integrated with District Militias. In the Southern Continent, IPF Group Commands are exactly included within the two IT Districts (Southern and Black Mountains) and one IPF Group Commander for each IT District is in charge of directing police activities. Moreover, when operating in a given administrative District, Internal Troops are subordinated to the relevant District Director of Public Security.
The overall strength of the Barrayaran Garrison is of 72 Regiments; Regiments assigned to Barrayar Garrison sometimes bear the name of a dangerous native plant. The current Internal Troops Barrayaran Garrison Commander - Deputy Chief Commander is Lieutenant General Aral Albert Vorpeter:

• Communications Regiment
• Barrayar General Information Division (non combatant, in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
• Vorbarr Sultana District (Code: 1000): its area of responsibility includes only the Vorbarra District.
  • Vorbarr Sultana Information Office (in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
  • 1001st Regiment "Relight";
  • 1002nd Regiment "Fang";
  • 1103rd Regiment "Bellow", which protects courts;
  • 1504th Regiment "Dragon", responsible for protecting high priority power plants
  • 1206th Regiment "Izba", largely responsible for guarding embassies.
• Barrayar Northern Continent - Eastern District (Code: 2000): its area of responsibility includes 25 Northern Districts
  • Northern-Eastern Information Office (in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
    • 5 Information Sections
  • 2512th Regiment "Scrubwire", in charge for the major power plants on the Eastern Coast.
• Barrayar Northern Continent - Western District (Code: 3000): its area of responsibility includes 27 Northern Districts
  • Northern/Western Information Office (in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
    • 3 Information Sections (in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
  • 3517st Regiment "Dame Blanche", responsible for protecting high priority power plants
• Barrayar Southern Continent (Code: 4000): its area of responsibility includes 57 Southern Districts
  • Southern Information Office (in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
    • 12 Information Sections (in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
  • 4025th Regiment "Cyclone"
  • 4326th Regiment "Typhoon": focused on crashing criminal armed groups
• Dendarii Mountains District (Code: 5000): its area of responsibility includes 7 Northern Districts
  • Dendarii Mountains Information Office (in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
  • 5438th Regiment "Mountain Herbkiller"
  • 5439th Regiment "Deerslayer Vine"
• Black Mountains District (Code: 6000): its area of responsibility includes 7 Southern Districts and it is a sensitive area, due to the past uprisings.
  • Black Mountains Information Office (in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
    • 2 Information Sections (in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
  • 6443rd Regiment "Chanteuse"
  • 6444th Regiment "Vóreios"
  • 6445th Regiment "Nótos"
  • 6446th Regiment "Anatol"
  • 6447th Regiment "Dys"
  • 6548th Regiment "Atmopol"
  • 6149th Regiment "Colossus"

Each District, alongside 10 regular Regiments, deploys an Internal Troops Special Intervention Company, belonging to the 1st and to 2nd Special Intervention Regiments, as well as two Rapid Reaction Companies. The District Commanders are always Brigadier Generals. It is not uncommon for Regiments deployed far from urban centres to conduct patrols in assistance of the Imperial Police Force.

Barrayar Central Brigade

Members of the Garrison Central Brigade wear blue urban camouflage and maroon berets. Their prime and backstop role is in public order duties. Soldiers who apply disproportionately served in the Landing Forces. In fairness they are pretty good: they know how to pick the right kinds of recruits, train them well and keep them at a good level of physical and moral conditioning.

• 2nd Counter Terrorist Regiment
• 2nd Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Protection Regiment
• 2nd "Nova" Special Prison Security Regiment
• 2nd "Koshchey" Airborne Intervention Regiment
• 1st and 2nd Marine Battalions

Barrayar Facilities Protection Brigade

The Barrayar Facilities Protection Brigade consists of a Command Battalion, a Communications Battalion and 5 Regiments, tasked with the protection of about 40 facilities of relevant economic significance. Detached to each facility there is a force consisting up to a Company, in addition to the Imperial Police Force garrison or even to the conventional infantry detachment. In such posts the operational command is assigned to the Internal Troops commander, while police officials are in charge for investigations.

Rapid Response Brigade

The Rapid Response Brigade is tasked with SWAT type special operations under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including apprehension of dangerous criminals, high-profile raids and so on. On Barrayar there are 100 Special Rapid Response Units composing the Brigade, organized into 10 Battalions (10 SRRUs per Battalion) and counting 8,000 additional soldiers stationed in major cities.

Komarr

Coat of Arms of Komarran Garrison of the Internal Troops

The Internal Troops Komarran Garrison is subordinated to the Director General of Police Services Komarr in charge of the Komarr Security Forces for operational matters, to the GROFORKOM Commander for territorial matters and to the Chief Commander for organizational matters. The current Internal Troops Komarran Garrison Commander is Major General David Vorsoisson, which leads a total force of 25 Regiments. Each Regiment is subordinated to the Head of Sectoral Police Service, while each unit deployed in Dome service is subordinated to the Head of Dome Police Service.
The Komarran Garrison is somewhat peculiar, because its Commander has, within the Staff, three liaison offices: not only of the Imperial Security - Komarr, but also of the Service Security and of the Police Tactical Groups. Due to the peculiar nature of Komarran urban centres, the Komarran tactical units are tasked with the protection of power plants: therefore, the Komarran Garrison - Komarr District (Code: 7000) - deploys 20 Regiments (one per Komarran Sector and one dedicated to Solstice Dome City): 7049th to 7067th, the 7168th Regiment guards main power plants, the Komarr General Information Division (non combatant, in charge for political/sensitive intelligence, with a Detachment in each domed city) and the Communications Regiment handles communications security.

Komarr Central Brigade

The Komarr Central Brigade groups the special units tasked of high profile operational roles. Soldiers who apply disproportionately served in the Landing Forces. In order to strengthen the social and political inclusion of Komarrans within the Empire, they are pretty good in operational "fairness": they know how to pick the right kinds of recruits, train them well and keep them at a good level of physical and moral conditioning.

• 3rd Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Protection Regiment
• 3rd Special Intervention Regiment
• 3rd "Blazar" Special Prison Security Regiment
• 3rd "Chernobog" Airborne Intervention Regiment
• 1st Autonomous Counter Terrorist Battalion

Komarr Facilities Protection Brigade

The Komarr Facilities Protection Regiment consists of a Command Battalion, a Communications Battalion and 5 Regiments, tasked with the protection of about 50 facilities of relevant economic or terraforming significance outside domed cities. Detached to each facility there is a force consisting up to a Platoon, in addition to the Komarran Security Forces garrison or even to the conventional infantry detachment. In such posts the operational command is assigned to the Internal Troops commander, while police officials are in charge for investigations.

Sergyar

Coat of Arms of Sergyaran Garrison of the Internal Troops

The Internal Troops Sergyaran Garrison is subordinated to the Director General of Police Services Sergyar for operational matters, to the GROFORSER Commander for territorial matters and to the Chief Commander for organizational matters. The current Internal Troops Sergyaran Garrison Commander - Deputy Chief Commander is Major General Patrick Massiotsi. Regiments are attached to each Chancery Command and subordinate to the relevant Gendarmerie commander.
The Sergyaran Garrison - Sergyar District (Code: 8000) deploys:

• Communications Brigade
• Sergyar General Information Division (non combatant, in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
  • 5 Information Offices (in charge for political/sensitive intelligence)
• 15 Regiments (8069th to 8083th)
• Sergyaran Central Brigade
  • 2nd Autonomous Counter Terrorist Battalion
  • 3rd Marine detachment
  • 4th Special Intervention Regiment
  • 4th Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Protection Regiment
  • 4th "Nebula" Special Prison Security Regiment
  • 4th "Hors" Airborne Intervention Regiment
  • 47th Internal Troops Regiment

Sergyar Facilities Protection Brigade

The Sergyar Facilities Protection Regiment consists of a Command Battalion, a Communications Battalion and 5 Regiments, tasked with the protection of about 40 facilities of relevant economic or terraforming significance. Detached to each facility there is a force consisting up to a Company, in addition to the Sergyaran Police Service garrison or even to the conventional infantry detachment. In such posts the operational command is assigned to the Internal Troops commander, while police officials are in charge for investigations.

Equipment

Internal Troops have some personal and unit equipment specific to them, not available to the civilian and paramilitary police forces nor to the rest of the Imperial Service.

W-5 riot control baton

The W-5 riot control baton is a non-lethal weapon, comprised of a central shaft terminating in two highly resistant contact conductor vanes. These collapsible vanes spark with electric currents while in use, and deliver a stunning shock against opponents. The weapon is held via an adhesion grip that is capable of being magnatomically paired with the tactical gloves and it is used in pair with a LCB-6 Riot Shield.

Vehicles

Internal Troops are a branch of the Imperial Service, and therefore they are equipped with the standard combat armoured vehicles issued to all infantry branches. Being a rear services branch, most of vehicles issued are armoured personnel carriers, the Belykaban class being the most widespread. However, due to their peculiar duties, the Internal Troops deploy also vehicles specifically intended for urban unrest and riot quelling. These types are often shared with the various riot police forces, but some are unique to the Internal Troops.
As of 3003, Internal Troops use the following vehicles:

• CT-6 Represser Infantry Tank
• SNL-59 Personnel Carrier
• LSV-9 Spitfire Anti-Tank Vehicle
• ANJ2-4X Drake Self-Propelled Gun
• E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle
• COK-9 Stupka Infantry Fighting Vehicle

CT-6 Represser Infantry Tank tank

The CT-6 Represser Infantry Tank is an armoured personnel carrier based on the standard Belykaban chassis. The Represser is used by the Internal Troops as a riot control and crowd suppression vehicle and as an infantry transport during intense urban revolts. The Represser uses an extensively converted Belykaban chassis; the transport compartment has been greatly expanded upon, a raised roof featuring firing slits for the passenger's weapons has been added, a large dozer blade used to push away debris and rioting mobs is attached to the front of the vehicle, and the vehicle possesses a small forward cupola-mounted turret. This vehicle has a standard armament of non-lethal weaponry such as water cannons, super-stunners and grenade launchers; however such devices can be easily replaced with plasma guns and heavy neural disruptors.

• 

  Internal Troops operational vehicles are based on the standard Belykaban-class armoured personnel carrier. As a rule, they are Police Blue and marked with the local Internal Troops acronym.

• 

  Represser-class armoured vehicle. The CT-6 Represser Infantry Tank is a variation of the Belykaban-class chassis.

E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle

The E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle is a lightweight, bipedal walker used by the ground forces and by Internal Troops of the Barrayaran Empire. The E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle is designed to be a recon, hit-and-run vehicle. It can withstand standard/personnel plasma fire, but is vulnerable to heavy plasma fire and missiles, as well as physical attacks to the legs and the side of the head. E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicles are often fielded in squadrons as scouts or infantry fire support vehicles. They can carry a variety of heavy weapons and bring high levels of power and maneuverability together in one highly mobile unit.
The E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle is piloted by a crew of one to two pilots and carries 200 kilograms of cargo. An advanced gyro system, located beneath the command module, provides the balance needed to the E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle to proceed. The articulated legs of the E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle allow the walker to stalk quietly through urban ruins or dense undergrowth while still allowing it to achieve an impressive speed over open ground.
The stock model is equipped with a chin-mounted, double plasma cannon, a light plasma cannon on the port side, a grenade launcher on the starboard side of its head, two clawed feet, and was encased with durasteel, impervious to small-arms fire. The E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle's chin cannons have an effective range of two kilometers and are used for anti-vehicle attacks, while the armor-shielded cannon and grenade launcher provided close-range protection against infantry and light emplacements. However, the E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle can be armed with a wide variety of weapons. The most common armament variant of the E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle carries a multi-plasma arc, with a partially armoured canopy. E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicles can also be equipped with automatic cannons, plasma cannons, rocket and missile launchers, heavy flamethrowers, heavy machineguns and even heavy stunners. Heavy fire support variants can be equipped with a multi-rocket Pod or even an additional missile launcher pod. The E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle utilizes a holographic targeting system.
All E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicles can be outfitted with camouflage nets, searchlights, and smoke launchers. E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicles have noise-reduction modifications applied to their power-plants to reduce the possibility of their movements being heard by the enemy. The crews of E-L6L squads can easily adapt their vehicles for all sorts of operating environments.
The bipedal locomotion afforded by the E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle gives it a unique ability to advance into terrain that other tracked armoured vehicles with tracks could not achieve. This allows it to stalk through dense terrains to locate and wipe out pockets of enemy resistance. Because E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicles typically operate far ahead of the main Imperial force, they tend to operate autonomously in squadrons of one to three Sentinels or as part of a larger recon troop. As such, pilots often use their own initiative with regard to their orders. When they are not used in a scouting role they are deployed on the flanks of the army to harry enemy formations or act as mobile anti-armour units.
In a civil unrest context, E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicles are used or as intimidating force, able to psychologically and operationally dominate mobs, or as anti-infantry units in an urban guerilla warfare environment. In all cases they are used in sections of three vehicles, usually grouped to form larger squadrons.
There are eight variants and patterns of the E-L6L, and each one presents a different combination of primary weapon, pilot protection, and operational role on the battlefield. The known variants include:

• Scout E-L6L (SC E-L6L): the Scout E-L6L has a partially armoured canopy and is used mainly for scouting and reconnaissance purposes.
• Anti-Infantry E-L6L (AI E-L6L).
• Fire Support E-L6L (FS E-L6L): Support E-L6Ls are used as support units for armoured companies and fire support for infantry regiments.
• Armoured E-L6L (AR E-L6L): the Armoured E-L6L has a fully enclosed, heavily-armoured canopy and is equipped with additional gyro-stabilizers in order to carry and fire heavier weapons. Armoured E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle units are used as roving hunter-killer resources.
• Anti-Tank E-L6L (AT E-L6L): the Anti-Tank E-L6L is used in an anti-armour role. The canopy is also fully enclosed with armour plating. Anti-Tank E-L6L Reconnaissance Vehicle units are used as roving hunter-killer resources.
• Logistics E-L6L (LO E-L6L): the Sentinel Logistics E-L6L is a logistics platform and is equipped with two large power claws that are used to grip and hold heavy objects like missiles and other ordnance and transport them short distances or lift them into place; it also can be equipped with two small but powerful tractor beam generators used to lift large materials. However, the power claws can be used as extremely effective melee weapons against enemy infantry in extreme circumstances.
• Crowd Suppression E-L6L (CS E-L6L): The canopy of the Crowd Suppression E-L6L is only partially armoured. it is highly effective at decimating lightly armoured troops. The Internal Troops use mainly CR E-L6L and RC E-L6L variants.
• Riot Control E-L6L (RC E-L6L): it is armed with an heavy stunner and a tangle launcher device. The Internal Troops use mainly CR E-L6L and RC E-L6L variants.

Officers service cars

The Regiment commanders and detachments commanders not equipped with service vehicles are supplied a personal vehicle of the type stated by the military administration. The car, assigned to the officer for exclusive service use, is owned by the Administration and has a service life of at least five years. For journeys is due to the officer a bonus of 5 marks per kilometre to cover maintenance costs. Officers are authorized to use, on request, a their own car in place of that provided by the military Administration.

Related voices

• Law enforcement in Barrayar
• Imperial Police Force (Barrayar)
• 47th Internal Troops Regiment