How to write out problems in a military unit realistically.

I'll keep it short: This unit is extremely unconventional - half of them are mercs and other non-government personnel, and it's almost entirely made out of Bunny Ears Lawyers. There's quite a few battle couples in it (which leads to fraternization), a lot of the unit is infighting (this eventually gets solved, but there are still tensions), the unit's individuals have varying levels of experience (ranging from "has run small armies effectively in wartime before" to "just out of boot".

There's going to be rampant insubordination, or at least, casual talk that would infuriate any officer worth his/her salt, and personality conflicts, but that wouldn't make sense with the fact this unit is competent in battle.

Yes, there is a reason why it hasn't been entirely Section Eighted, and the CO can't actually charge anyone with insubordination (yes, it's stupid, but it's part of an experiment).

I'd add more, but that's all I can think of right now.

( Why, yes, it is unrealistic, why do you say that? )

You want to do...what, exactly?

Is curious as well

You want to figure out how to write an Omega Company — a dumping ground for the misfits and others that every other commanding officer got rid of. Read Robert Asprin's Phules Company and ignore the fact that the CO is so disgustingly wealthy that "throw money at it" is a viable solution to a number of problems that come up.

edited 19th Jan '11 10:55:45 PM by Madrugada

I always mention The Dirty Dozen if the problem is creating chemistry in a Ragtag Bunch of Misfits.

That too. And even better is The Devils Brigade.

no page. Clearly, I'm going to have to watch it again and make one. Sometime.

edited 19th Jan '11 11:07:23 PM by Madrugada

Correct me if I'm misreading this but it sounds sorta like the protagonists of Battlefield Bad Company. Full of people who fucked up in the regular army for one reason or another (one soldier/pilot who accidentally landed on a general's car, a demolitions guy who went a bit too crazy and destroyed an ammo dump, a techie who uploaded a virus into a secure server at the Pentagon by "accident") and led by a guy whose biggest motivation is a faster track to retirement so he can get his pension and not have to deal with these people.

I'd say make it one-half Kelly's Heroes and one half Metal Gear Solid. Have some folks in the unit be over-specialized in something, and realizing the mistake the brass decides to hire some "independent contractors" to balance it out, even though the mandatory psyche screenings don't seem to apply. Throw in a CO who has just become jaded to the war and/or is dancing on a knife's edge with the brass due to some incident the military doesn't want to get out.

If you stick with this idea, have the unit on the verge of accomplishing something only to have the military disavow the unit due to unintended consequences of the mission. From there, you can decide whether they want to get back in the military's good graces, or whether they want to chase after some other treasure and the military grudgingly supports them. Kojima-esque monologues about nanomachines and data control optional.

I hope this sounds coherent as I'm writing it right now.

edited 19th Jan '11 11:53:11 PM by DocHaus

Well, it's far, far more coherent than I was. :p

But, it's only a small percent of trying to get rid of problem troopers, it's also got actual soldiers that aren't wackos. It'll work well enough, though, especially since Marlowe was normal enough until that joyride. >_>

Oh, and there are some minor language barriers.

(And yes, it's also partially Metal Gear inspired.)