Thursday, June 9, 2011

Exterminators



The Federal Defence Forces are static army units which defend far-flung worlds from alien attack or infestation, and preserve government control on planets subject to unrest or separatism. They wear some body armour, though less extensive than in the first-line Federal Army divisions, and it is of simpler design and tech. Their weapons are the older rifles firing caseless CPR but each one mounts a grenade launcher and this affords the FDF troops with considerable close range firepower.

Due to infestation either by Space Demons or Parasachnids, units of the FDF stationed in infested zones have become proficient at eradicating such "xeno-hazards." These units are called, with some dark humour, "Exterminators," and they are the only units of the FDF to be actively posted to foreign worlds, but only long enough to put in place a programme of eradication (POE) so that the local forces can then maintain the xeno-hazard.

One typical unit is the 1/2/469FDF (first battalion, second division, 469th FDF Division), a unit raised on Earth, in the FUSA (Former United States of America). Although raised in the Mid-West of the FUSA, the unit has been stationed for some years in the Florida Quarantine Zone, which was rendered uninhabitable by Parasachnid infestation after the First Pelagic War. It being eventually recognised that these infested zones would be difficult if not impossible to fully cleanse, the emphasis is instead placed on population control, planned and executed by the FDF division in the zone, in this case the 469th.

The most effective bug-hunting battalion in the division is the first battalion of the second brigade, a designated Exterminator unit self-dubbed the "Pointy Toed Shoes" because there is no place the bugs can hide once the second battalion is gunning for them.

Because of their Exterminator status the PTS are periodically deployed to other worlds as well, and they were eventually called in to implement a POE for the Parasachnid population after the Sepulvedan War was over. During this time they also had many battles with holdover Control Battalion Death Squads surviving in remoter outposts of the planet.

We are pleased to sneak preview the first three of nine poses of 15mm Exterminators which will be released shortly. The pack will be a typical squad, split into two four-soldier fireteams and led by a sergeant. Each fireteam will have a MLMG (mobile light machine gunner); one team has three riflemen as support for the MLMG, the other team having two riflemen and a flamethrower operator. These should be released in a few weeks.

16 comments:

  1. Excellent stuff! These are just the troops I have been waiting for for ages. I bet the 15mm Hammers Slammers guys eat these up too.

    -Eli

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  2. Nice, I'll have to check those out

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  3. Damn you Jon, I was going to order from CMG next, OMG why didn't you release these 12 months ago? I am using the excellent NAC as Colonial Marines, I would have used them for something else, what to do? I just have to buy these, damn damn damn, I presume there will be a range of poses/equipment? These are excellent by the way.

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  4. I'm loving these, very nice.

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  5. Very good looking first peek.

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  6. Really nice, these will sell by the bucket I think.

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  7. Awesome!

    Marines! We are leeeeeaving!

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  8. Precious! I would like some Vasquez's Exterminator. [Hoping mode] ;)

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  9. Looking good Jon! Looking good! some real mean grunts there. Great paint job too. Very atmospheric!

    Cheers
    Mark

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  10. AWESOME!!! Well, except for the news about my home state becoming quarantined...other than that AWESOME!!!


    Looking forward to them!

    Brian

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  11. Wonderful! I anticipate having some proper ground-pounders to replace those green Colonial Garrison troops.

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  12. Any chance this range will have additional support weapons (autoguns, anti-armor rocket launchers, snipers..etc.)...I was thinking of some of the support weapons listed in the Colonial Marines Technical Manual...heck even some of the tanks listed would be cool.

    Still, looking forward to this range of figures!

    Thanks!
    Brian

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  13. HI Apone, this first set was created for an obvious purpose, and based on your web handle, I suspect you know what that is! :-)

    The first set cost about a thousand dollars to make. No small investment, and although the reception so far has been good, you never know! I do this with most of my lines, test the waters and see if people respond, and if they do I'm guaranteed to do more. If these are a big hit I'm 100% certain to reinforce them. I don't have that manual you are writing about -- what are these "colonial marines" of which you speak? :-) -- but if people want support troopsinspired by some of those in the book I'd be all ears.

    Meanwhile these will be delayed, very frustrating! It turns out there were some errors in the mouldmaking and I've only just noticed them, but they matter -- the RTO's motion tracker and your -- erm, Sarge's -- helmet sensor. So the moulds have to be remade. I'll keep everyone updated on status.

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  14. LOL...I apologize, I must've...ummm..been thinking of another book, yeah that's it! I got a bit excited when you posted about this range!!! I'll take another look at any "references" I have!

    I hope you get things cleared up with the molds! I can't wait for this range to be released!

    Have a good one!

    Thanks!
    "Alright Sweethearts, you heard the man..."

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