While debate rages on about who fired the first shots of the war between the Soviet Union and the Allied nations, there is little denying that the Allied nations are now on the defensive. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Allies' employ of its peacekeeper divisions, who resemble heavily armored riot police more so than conventional soldiers. This is no coincidence, as the peacekeepers once were responsible for bringing order to war-torn nations, as their moniker suggests. However, these men are now on the front lines of war against the Soviet Union. Peacekeepers may be relatively few in number, yet they are outfitted with superior equipment and given excellent training before they're sent to risk their lives in the name of putting a stop to the Soviet Union's inhumane expansionist agenda.
The peacekeeper program was jointly developed in the United States by top-ranking New York City police officials, the U.S. Army, and a panel of Allied top aides and strategists. The results of the program were controversial at first: The Allies green-lighted the full-scale training of forces suitably armed for heavy close-quarters combat, rather than for open battle, yet began deploying the peacekeepers in frontline encounters versus Soviet conscript divisions. Mind you, only when faced with such enemies are the peacekeepers authorized to use deadly force, and the Allies have committed to strictly enforcing this yet never had to. After all, peacekeepers all undergo the same strict regimen and ultimately swear the same oath in support of those in need of their protection. In keeping with their mandate, peacekeepers' accessories are highly protective in nature, allowing them to effectively guard civilians--or one another.
The results of initial combat encounters silenced critics of the peacekeeper program, while incensing the Soviets. The peacekeepers' heavy shields provided them with ample protection against Soviet small-arms fire, while their Belgian-made shotguns proved remarkably effective against the conscripts' superior numbers. This, then, was the Allies' daring strategy. By adopting a thoroughly defensive posture against the reckless Soviet advances, the Allies' frontline fighters could dam the flow of Soviet forces across international borders. The peacekeepers soon proved even more effective when working alongside the Allies' other infantry forces, ranging from its German-bred attack dogs to Javelin-class heavy-weapons specialists.
Clearly, however, the peacekeepers have not yet lived up to their name. Nevertheless, they have prevailed in many hostile encounters since they were formally introduced into the Allied arsenal. They tend to work best in small squads, huddling behind one of their shield-bearing brethren, all while steadily closing the distance with their foes--where one good shot from a Grummond-8 can send even a strong, well-armored man teetering head over heels. Through it all, the men behind the visors remain virtually anonymous, at least while on duty. While the peacekeeper program is still fairly new, peacekeepers have exemplified highly appropriate battlefield conduct, and present themselves bravely and modestly during the few interviews Allied brass has cleared. Among their many dangerous responsibilities, peacekeepers are also tasked with clearing urban areas of civilian presence when the Allies have reasonable suspicion that war is on its way.
)
