Special Supplement: The Hitler Bomb Plot Near the Rhine from the Norican mountains will be born a great man of the people, come too late. He will fight in Poland and Hungary, and they will never know what became of him. Beasts wild with hunger will cross the rivers, the greater part of the battlefield will be against Hitler. He will drag the leader in a cage of iron, when the child of Germany observes no law. -- Nostradamus, Quatrain 58 and 24, Century II False Prophet How could a cultured people -- a people who gave the world Goethe and Beethoven, Bach and Heine -- follow so perverse a prophet and plunge headlong into a demonic orgy of destruction? Through they mystic attractions of the occult. Germany of the 1930s had become a perfect breeding ground for dissent, national pride and heretical belief. World War I, the Great Depression, its status as the "outcast" of Europe and a sense of lost greatness combined to make ordinary Germans feel hard done by. Nazism cleverly crossed all these concerns. It had a political element, economic element -- and a mystic attraction that activated religious impulses from the German people, uniting hearts and minds under a common goal. It was the occult element of Nazism that inspired the hysterical fanaticism, the demonic energy and ferocity that outshone other totalitarian governments in Italy and Spain. This did not accidentally "happen." It was a carefully contrived and meticulously orchestrated plan -- enacted by Adolf Hitler with the aid of Heinrich Himmler, Rudolf Hess and other committed Nazi party members. The Nazi party embodied many of religion's most ancient and successful techniques -- elaborate ceremonies, chanting, rhythmic repetition, incantatory speeches, colour, contrast and light. The Nuremberg rallies were cunningly stage-managed theatre -- full of colours, uniforms, flags, spotlights, night and precise timing. People intoxicated themselves, chanting themselves into a state of rapture with the mantra "Sig Heil!". Impose upon this Hitler's venomous energy, a rhythmic pulse as hypnotic as a drumbeat. With the pressure of thousands of people packed together in a confined area, each and every one of them were open to the wildest and most outrageous suggestions. It was not long before the people elevated their "Fuhrer" to an occult status: here was their messiah, sent to bring their once-great nation out of the wilderness. An associate of the Teutonic Knights, Herman Rauschining, was one of the Nazi party's first supporters. But Rauschining saw the world through open eyes, and rapidly recognised what Hitler was up to. By 1935 he was severely alarmed by the power this little man wielded. Fleeing to the United States, he published two books before the outbreak of World War II recounting his conversations with Hitler. In them he related how Hitler was fully aware of the techniques necessary to fire up a crowd with religious furvor. He revealed how Hitler was deliberately putting himself in a messianic position to exploit the devotion and fervour often associated with religion. This effort to warn the world fell on deaf ears. The New Germanic Order "Their hierararchical organisation and the initiation through symbolic rites, that is to say without bothering the brains but by working on the imagination through magic and the symbols of a cult -- all this is the dangerous element and the element I have taken over. Don't you see that our party must be of this character? . . An Order, that is what it has to be -- and Order, the hierarchical Order of a secular priesthood." -- Adolf Hitler, Mien Kampf The new Germanic religion became on based on sacred blood -- German blood. This was expressed through the belief in the purity of the Aryan bloodline and the "worship" of the first Nazi flag -- Blutfahne -- stained with the blood of the first Nazi martyrs. Part of the creed of the Nazi party reads: "To German Faith the blood is holy, in the course of the centuries, to creative sacred of inherited blood gives itself the form of the race." Christian festivals such as those of Easter and Christmas were rejected and given other meaning -- often similar to the old Sol Invictus sun cult. This new philosophy was particularly strong among the SS boy's training camps. The SS Hitler saw the SS as a reconstituted Deutschritter -- a modern equivalent of the white-mantled knights with black crosses who, seven hundred years before, had spearheaded an earlier Germanic "drive into the East". The pre-war SS was strictly recruited, organised and ritualised in order to establish this parallel. The elaborate and mystical induction ceremony was obviously reminiscent of the Teutones chivalric investiture. Candidates had to show a pure Aryan family tree dating back at least 250 years for general recruits, 300 years for officers. Each candidate had to undergo a religious-style novitiate before he was accepted into the Order. Much of the SS insignia and runic inscriptions were based on masonic and Teutone patterns. SS itself was meant to be based on the Sig rune, the rune of power used to denote the lightning-bolt of the storm gods. Apart from genocidal racist behaviour, the SS's ritual so included conceiving children on the gravestones of prominent historical figures, marriages which were little more than Aryan orgies, and other mystical ceremonies. These were supposed to ensure the spirit of significant people of Germany's past would be reborn into the new Reich. Himmler instigated an Order of the Round Table with 12 knight officers -- SS Obergruppenfuhrer (lieutenant generals). This group of quasi-mystical "knights" was deliberately reminiscent of the 12 Apostles with Jesus at their head. Its headquarters was in Wewelsburg, near Paderborn, in West Germany. Although never completed, this town (centred on a modern castle) was supposed to become the SS capital. The town and castle's architecture was based on the numbers 3 and 12, the significance of which is not known. Its street plan was an unusual two-thirds circle, with a "spear-shaped" main road and central castle complex piercing to its centre. Himmler often spoke of Sacred Geometry, "earth magic" -- and there is no doubt these philosophies were applied to Wewelsburg's design. Symbolism was crucial: around the castle, and centred on a secret crypt, the planned town and streetscape was to radiate outward in meticulously plotted concentric circles. At the centre of this geometric arrangement was the bastion or castle. In the centre of this castle was a large half-globe shaped crypt, with 13 suites branching from it. Here were the quarters of the "Round Table," the globe-room being the "centre of the universe" where they would meet in conference. At its precise centre was an eternal flame, reached by three steps, and about the room's walls were 12 columns -- all with lost significance. The project was never completed. Assassination Attempt* "The assasination must be attempted, at any cost. Even should that fail, the attempt to seize power in the capital must be undertaken. We must prove to the world and to future generations that the men of the German resistance movement dared to take the decisive step to hazard their lives upon it. Compared with this, nothing else matters." -- Henning von Tresckow, June 10, 1944 *Adapted from The World At War, volume 12 The Setting By 1944 the scattered groups of anti-Nazi's within Hitler's Germany had lost hope in their efforts to bring about the Fuhrer's downfall. The last hope of the resistance lay within the Wehrmacht: German army officers with noble family backgrounds and ideals of freedom and democracy. Though the Teutonic Order had all but been shattered in the 16th century, strong traditions remained within the German aristocracy -- Particularly those that lived on the borders of Poland and the Danzig corridor. The Teutonic Knights still existed as a small group of 24 knights and sergeants who met secretly to conduct their traditional services and ceremonies. These knights, and their families, held strong military positions within the German Army. Proud and protective of their heritage, these officers grew concerned with the Waffen SS' claim to be the successor of the ancient Militant Order's. During the 1930s, the SS stylised itself as the new Deutschritter -- twisting perceptions of the Teutonic Knights achievements into propaganda. However, the Teutonic families supported Hitler's quest to restore the northern provinces of Poland to the Germanic empire -- these lands had previously been their own. Danzig and Konigzberg were two major cities that owed their foundation to the Order. Hitler's ambitions soon proved to be more than recovering lost Germanic lands. The tactics used to bring Czechoslovakia and Austria under the Third Reich's yoke were brutal. The Fuhrer's dictatorial traits were coming to the fore. His unhealthy obsession with the occult also became a cause for concern. The Fuhrer was quite open about finding "any means" to help establish his 1000 year Reich. The Order tried in vain to keep his SS and special agents from seeking out supernaturals. Some suspect he had actually already found them. The army officers who planned the so-called "General's Plot" of July 1944 counted members of the Teutonic Knights among their ranks. Others had Teutonic family backgrounds. This common history, and the common-held beliefs related to the Order, drew the Generals together in one last bid to free Germany from tyranny. The Teutonic nursing orders in Amsterdam and Vienna (both subject to the Third Reich) contributed their support -- mostly in intelligence gathering and financial aid. Hitler proved hard to get. Not only did he drive around in armoured cars; he became increasingly difficult to locate and made fewer and fewer public appearances. He spent much of his time in his Chancellery in Berlin or in his Berchtesgaden mountain retreat. His war headquarters was constantly changing, but always encircled by camps of SS or loyal army troops. In 1944 his headquarters were at the Wolfsschanze "Wolf's Lair," deep in the forests of Rastenburg, East Prussia. The men and women in daily contact with the Fuhrer were all unhesitatingly loyal. All had to be weaponless in his presence. The Plotters Many thousands of German citizens opposed Hitler -- facing torture, imprisonment and death. They were members of the churches, trade union movements and surviving opposition political parties. Resistance was almost entirely a matter of individual protests at terrible personal cost -- organised militant resistance was simply impossible within the Fatherland. The decision to assassinate Hitler was not a light one. All recruits to the armed forces had to swear an oath of personal allegiance to the "Leader." This oath was a serious matter and made it difficult for many dissatisfied -- but honourable -- officers to take the final step. The following were the principal men behind the bomb plot. Each one was a devout Christian (both Catholic and Protestant). While most of this small group knew each other or had close mutual friends who kept the grapevine going, they tended to operate in semi-independent groups or individually. Ludwig Beck A former general, nominated to be Head of State on Hitler's downfall. Age 64. In 1938 Beck had tried to force the High Command to arrest Hitler on counts of treason. He was a "great gentleman" of refined nature, a military historian and scholar whom everyone respected. He was in a poor state of health when the time of the bomb plot came, but his association gave the conspirators a good reputation. Few people -- even among the knights -- knew that he was the Teutonic Knight's Ordensmarschall. Wilhelm Canaris An admiral but now head of Military Intelligence (Abwehr) and a secret supporter of the conspiracy. Aged 57. Hans Oster Major General and deputy to Canaris. An active organiser of the plot. Age 49. Helmuth Count von Moltke Legal advisor to Canaris and the leader of the so called "Kreisau circle" which advocated a non-violent overthrow of Hitler. Aged 37. Only Moltke, an aristocrat (of Teutonic background) and land owner of idealistic views, kept himself aloof from any violence. He, and most of his friends, expressed their opposition in soley moral terms. But when they were caught up in the arrests after the coup attempt, they faced their trials with dignity and courage. Heinrich von Stulpnagel General and Military Governor of France. Leader of the coup d'etat in Paris. Aged 58. A man of distinction and sensitivity, but also capable of great resolution. Carl Gordeler Former mayor of Leipzig and Price Control Commissioner in Hitler's government. Aged 60. Gordeler, a tough man of tireless energy, expressed his mind in a ceaseless round of secret meetings and memoranda. He was a prominent civilian, and made himself the conspirators "travelling advocate." His conversations became more and more indiscreet and open association with him became dangerous. The Gestapo most certainly had him under surveillance. Friedrich Olbricht Colonel General, head of the Supply Section of the Reserve Army and principal administrator of the attempt. Aged 58. Henning von Tresckow Major General and Chief-of-Staff for the Central Army Group on the Eastern Front. Aged 43. Tresckow was a knight-captain of the Teutonic Knights. Count Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg Colonel and Chief-of-Staff, Reserve Army. This is who took the bomb to Rastenburg on July 20. Aged 37. A brilliant, handsome and carefree man full of quick, nervous energy and with a mischievous sense of humour. He was a Catholic of excellent family and a knight lieutenant in the Hospitaller Order. He was highly educated and a fluent speaker of English. By training he was a career officer, and had served in the Polish campaign, Western European and African fronts. He never concealed his contempt for Hitler, constantly embarrassing his fellow officers. In April 1943, he received serious injuries from a strafing aircraft. He lost his right hand and forearm and all but three fingers on his left hand. His right eye was shot away and his left eye damaged. He is reported to have told his wife as he lay recuperating in hospital :"I feel I must do something now to save Germany. We General Staff officers must all accept our share of responsibility." After the failure of the bomb plot, Hitler ordered the revenge killing of a further 12 knights from the Hospitaller Bailiwick of Brandenburg. The SS and Gestapo The Gestapo were well aware that a state of conspiracy against the regime was likely to exist. They therefore kept continuous watch upon suspects of every kind. But this did not mean that all those under suspicion were arrested. The Gestapo's attitude towards German conspirators was to leave them at large where they may expose further members of their plot. Action was only taken once the conspirators actually came up with a workable plan. Heinrich Himmler, head of the Waffen SS, took a central role in uncovering the bomb plot. While personally concerned about Hitler's deteriorating mental and physical health, Himmler remained fanatically loyal. He was generally considered second in succession to the Fuhrer. Civilian conspirators Johannes Popitz and Carl Langbehn had appealed to Himmler to take action to save Germany from impending defeat and the lunacy of Hitler's command. They were arrested for their efforts. Conspiracy The core of the actual plot to bomb Hitler was within the Abwehr -- Admiral Canaris' department. But by the time of the coup many conspirators had been arrested -- including key civilian members needed to ensure its success. These included Dohnanyi (legal mind behind the coup), famous pastor Dietrich Bonhoffer, and Catholic lawyer Joseph Muller (who had been trying to get the Vatican to negotiate peace between the allies and Germany). Major General Oster was kept inactive by surveillance. Even Gordeler, tireless in his efforts, was becoming a danger to the plot through growing Gestapo suspicions about his activities. Canaris's Abwher department was broken up by Heinrich Himmler in February 1944, its operations integrated into the SS intelligence service. This action was taken to destroy what had become a hotbed for dissent against the Fuhrer -- without having to make mass arrests. The plot appeared to be failing. Bonhoffer, Dohnanyi and Muller were arrested in April 1943. Johannes Popitz and Carl Langbehn (a civilian who worked for Himmler) was arrested in September, Moltke in January 1944. Himmler, in a conversation with Canaris, mentioned that Beck and Gordeler were being watched by the Gestapo. With all civilians out of the picture, the job was left on the shoulders of the army. Unsuccessful Attempts On March 13, 1943, Baron Henning von Tresckow, a staff officer serving on the Eastern Front and Dr Fabian von Schlabrendorff, a recruited lawyer, determined to take matters into their own hands. Their commanding general Kluge, sympathetic to the resistance, refused Treschow's urges to arrest Hitler at an upcoming inspection. Gordeler also approached the general (a testimony to this civilian's ability to move about freely), also to no effect. Tresckow, acting in communication with Beck in Berlin, sent a delayed action bomb disguised as a package containing brandy bottles to a friend at Hitler's Rastenburg headquarters. Schlabrendorf armed the fuse just before giving the bomb to one of Hitler's aides as he boarded the Fuhrer's plane for the flight back to East Prussia. The bomb failed to explode. Schlabrendorff had to fly to Rastenburg in a frantic (but successful) attempt to intercept the package before it was opened. Later, two young soldiers volunteered to sacrifice their lives in a bomb attempt. The opportunity presented itself in a personal demonstration to the Fuhrer of a newly designed great coat for use on the Eastern Front. The Abwher supplied the explosives, taken from captured British stocks. The demonstration was delayed, then cancelled. The conspirators then realised the only way to ensure success was to personally detonate a bomb in Hitler's presence -- at a staff meeting. Code name Valkyrie Stauffenberg took over responsibility for the attempt at this stage. He was the kind of man who would undertake such a mission with no more than a laugh, yet with careful calculation of movements. He had succeeded in his determination to overcome his disabilities -- even to the extent of being able to knot a bow tie with only three fingers. Once released from hospital, he was appointed (by the conspirators) as Chief of Staff to Olbricht, Head of Supply Section of the Reserve Army. This was based in the War Office in Berlin. Stauffenberg was promoted again in June 1944 to the office of full Colonel and appointed as Reserve Army's Chief of Staff. It was now necessary for him to attend staff conferences at Hitlers Headquarters. He met him on June 7, 1944 -- the day after D-Day. He looked the Fuhrer in the eye -- and discovered he did not fear him. D-Day had come too early. The chance to administer a political coup had been shattered. But Tresckow sent him a message from the eastern front to continue with the plot. In coordination with Beck in Berlin and with Stieff and Fellgiebel -- the Army Chief of Signals at Rastenburg, Stauffenberg took action. Stauffenberg's injuries drew sympathy and respect among the Fuhrer's staff and bodyguards and his high True Faith protected him from vampiric analysis of his intentions. No one ever checked him for arms -- he was considered above suspicion because of the sacrifices he had already made. An attempt on July 15 was aborted because Goering and Himmler were not present. Facing exposure of the mission, the decision was made to set off the device at the next staff meeting -- one o'clock, July 20 -- regardless of Goering's and Himmler's presence. Stauffenberg joked with his secretary about the strange package in his briefcase. On his way home on the eve of the attack, he asked his staff driver to stop at a Catholic church in Dahlem so he could go in and pray. The staff meeting was re-scheduled to 12.30pm as Mussolini was expected to visit that afternoon. The conference was to take place in a long wooden hut -- temporary accommodation while work was taken place within the complex. Setting the detonator as he walked toward the hall, Stauffenberg followed Keitel into the room where Hitler was already receiving a staff report. He realised that the blast would not kill Hitler if placed too far away -- the windows and doors were open because of a hot day. Goering and Himmler were not there. The briefcase was slipped to the floor alongside Hitler -- with Stauffenberg murmuring an apology about having to take a phone call from Berlin and leaving the room. He walked to his staff car and was opening the door as the blast went off. The car was able to get past the two check-points only through Stauffenberg's ability to bluff an emergency mission and his previous reputation. At the scene of the explosion, men were injured and dazed. Four men were dead -- but Hitler was not among them. He had been protected by the thick oak table as he leant forward to examine a chart. An officer had moved the bomb aside, out of Hitler's foot reach as a courtesy. This officer saved the Fuhrer's life -- but not his own. Aftermath In the chaos that followed, the conspirators attempted their political coup. It failed. Hitler -- was still alive. Stauffenberg, Olbricht, Haften (Stauffenberg's driver) and Mertz von Quirnheim (the officer responsible for the conspiracy's communications) were sentenced to immediate death by shooting before a firing squad. Carl Gordeler was executed in February 1945. Pastor Dietrich Bonhoffer was executed in April 1945. Ulrich von Halssell was executed in February 1945. General Beck committed suicide on July 20, 1944. Major General von Tresckow committed suicide on July 21, 1944. Admiral Canaris, executed April 1945. Count Helmutch von Moltke, executed January 1945. Retaliations for the bombing was widespread. Among the victims were 12 Knights Hospitaller of the German Langue and many members of their family. Many known members of the Deutschritter were either executed, imprisoned or closely watched. Insert: Who was Responsible? The pressing question to come out of World War II was: who caused it, and why? The Teutonic Order has given the mission to find out these details the highest priority. These shadowy puppetmasters have struck once. They will undoubtedly strike again. Many supernatural and pagan organisations have claimed affiliation with the Nazi party and its key leaders -- mostly through embracing people such as Heinrich Himmler and Joseph Gobells after they had established their power. But none claim responsibility for originating the concept. The Tremere associated with the Sabbat claim Himmler to be one of their own. The Camarilla's Malkavians claim Goering. A smattering of other, less significant, names have appeared among the ranks of many Clans. All of these claims have been rigorously investigated during the past 50 years -- with little success. Most mysterious is the nature, and identity, of those pulling Adolf Hitler's strings. However, the plot may not be as simple as it appears on the surface. The murky tangle of powerplays between the Camarilla, the Sabbat, Shapechanger interests and associations of Mages hints heavily toward another explanation: perhaps they are themselves dancing to someone else's tune. Knights investigating the forces behind the Nazi party are no longer concentrating on vampires, ghouls or were creatures. Instead, they are attempting to trace the subtle threads that may point to Demonic influences. Demonic activity would go a long way to explain how so many people could be affected in such a way for so long. Mere vampiric disciplines such as Presence and Dominate cannot accommodate the "hijacking" of an entire nations spirit. The Darkness is still there: and it is growing. Insert: An Order's Shame "The service of Germany appears to us to be genuine and sincere service of God; the banner of the Third Reich appears to us to be His banner; and the Fuhrer of the people is the saviour whom He sent to rescue us" -- Hitler Youth Leader "The fuhrer is not only a secular Kaiser, who carries out in the state the task of government; he is at the same time the Messiah who is able to announce a millennial kingdom." -- Swiss Evangelical Press Service "The totalitarian National Socialist Weltanschauung is a pagan faith that cannot but regard Christianity as alien and antagonistic." -- Catholic Press, 1939 The creation of a tyrannical secret society of thugs in the image of the Deutschritter -- the SS -- was the source of great shame to the Order after the war. The pride in which the SS presented themselves as superior beings, granted the Divine right to do as they please was held up to the Teutonic Order as a mirror: there were few crimes the Waffen-SS had committed that the Teutones had not. The Teutones remembered their heavy-handed tactics of the Baltic Crusade: slaughtering whole villages because they refused to convert instantly to Christianity, destroying cultures merely because they were different -- not because they were evil. The Order had served the purposes of land-hungry German nobles and not the higher purpose of their Lord. The scattered remnants of the once-great Deutschritter gathered in secret a few years after the war, collectively agreeing that the Order's downfall had been its own pride and arrogance. If the Order was to rise again, these sins had to be stamped out. Just before the gathering had finished, the then Hochmeister Karl Weber paused and asked the assembled knights if they could hear an old man singing in a strange tongue . . . Insert: the Nazi Legacy The voice of Adolf Hitler has carried its message of hate and depravity over the intervening decades, casting its corruptive influence over successive generations of youth. Many groups of anarchists, racists and reactionaries have rallied to the Nazi banner as a means of expressing their hate. In recent years, Germany has seen a resurgence of popularity of National Socialism among its youth -- extending as far as thinly disguised Nazi's being elected into parliament. Murders of foreigners -- especially African and Asia-Minor peoples -- is a frequent occurrence. German special forces and special investigative teams appear on the surface to be attempting to stamp out this behaviour. But this often appears merely to be assisting one group to gain ascendancy over another. The integrity of many public officials is increasingly suspect. More and more are associating themselves with the angry youth on the streets. Reunification of East and West Germany has not been as smooth as initially promised. The Eastern provinces have yet to see great benefit from the West's much touted rich industries. As unemployment rises and the Government finds itself increasingly hard pressed to fund public welfare and housing, more and more people are looking back upon the unity Germany once had under Hitler. This is an ideal setting for rival supernatural groups to exert their control. The Ventrue are hard pressed to maintain their sense of law and order. Anarch groups -- Brujah and even the Sabbat -- are making great inroads into areas once thought to be impenetrable Camarilla strongholds. Book Six: Monastic War Machine So they are seen to be a strange and bewildering breed, meeker than lambs, fiercer than lions. I do not know whether to call them monks or knights because though both names are correct one lacks a monk's gentleness and the other a knight's pugnacity. -- St Bernard of Clairvaux, De Laude Novae Militiae In many ways the Teutonic Knights are considered the "shock troops" of the Militant Orders. East Germany, Poland, Austria and the Latvian States were all subject to compulsory conscription during the years of Soviet rule. Almost all males underwent compulsory military training and a high percentage went on to serve second terms if they displayed signs of being mildly competent. As a result most of the members of the Order drawn from these East European States are already militarily competent. They have had, in effect, a head start in their training. Much of the Order's combat doctrine is drawn from GSG-9 and Spetnatz procedures as a number of their best knights served in the universally feared units before passing their training on to their brother monks. The Teutones often supply the firepower in combined operations between the Orders. Not only in the form of warrior-monks, but also in the form of equipment. The Order holds a substantial stake in Heckler & Koch, one of the world's finest firearm engineering firms. It also obtained a controlling interest in a German facility that developed individually moulded body armour for specialist police. The sterotype of trigger-happy gunheads is an unfortunate one. Like any other Order, the Teutonic Order is a balanced institution comprising investigation, research and support arms. It just happens to be very good at "cleansing" operations. Counter Terrorism The world is not a peaceful place. International police reports indicate there are at least 1200 active terrorist organisations around the world. Some groups struggle for political power: others attest to more ideological goals such as the destruction of capitalism or eliminating the "great Satan" -- otherwise known as the United States. Whatever their stated purpose, there is almost always one or more of the Kindred or Garou behind such a group -- manipulating them to their own purposes. These terrorist organisations come in all shapes and sizes: some are small "green" extremist squads seeking the elimination of capitalist industrialist pigs. Others are international organisations on the scale of Islamic Jyhad, seeking to impose upon an unwilling world the strictures of their religion. This diversity makes them particularly difficult to penetrate. Unravelling the many layers of command and control to expose the Kindred influence behind them is a time and resource consuming task. Generally, this is a task mostly undertaken by Templars and Hospitallers. The Teutonic Knights consider themselves the ones who go in and clean the mess up once it has been uncovered. Unfortunately for the Orders, matters are rarely this simple. The Militant Organisations, irrespective of religious backgrounds, need to cooperate with each other -- sharing intelligence, expertise and technology. This is being achieved. Urban Combat The vast majority of modern Militant Order combat is in an urban environment. Vampires prefer towns and cities because they provide a ready supply of blood and the size of such places help conceal their activities. These same conditions make it very difficult for the Militant Orders to conduct cleansing operations. Innocent civilians almost always stand in the way of a "clean" raid. Prolific gunfire will cause casualties among people simply "passing by" -- even at ranges of more than a kilometre! The only way to counter-act this is through well-disciplined knights engaging in well-planned actions with as many contingencies allowed for as possible. Any raid must, by definition, be short, sharp and effective. At the first sign of major trouble, the team will usually pull out in order to avoid complications. Fighting in Built-up Areas One 12-man chapter of Knights of the Teutonic Order is on constant stand-by in Marienburg Castle, ready to respond instantly to incidents anywhere in the world. But this team is only considered to be a backup: the knights on the scene are expected to handle most situations themselves. Successful cleansing operations are quick, violent and devastating. With the highly trained knights at Marienburg at a local commander's disposal after only the briefest of delays, even the hardest of supernatural "nests" can be breached. Numerous drills ensure all specialist equipment and weapons of all knights are always prepared and ready to use. Assessment and Analysis Once a supernatural has been exposed, a combat team will be deployed to the scene as quickly as possible. The combat team commander will conduct an immediate assessment of the situation in conjunction with the investigative team responsible for the discovery. A command "cell" is usually established within a kilometre of the scene: often in a hotel room or even a large van. The commander of the combat team controls the forces on the ground though the Order's Marshal and the local Preceptory must make the final decision upon whether to "engage" the creature or not. Such approval is not always possible. In these situations, discretion is left to the scene comander. There are many considerations that need to be taken into account, not least among them the chance of "collateral damage." If the investigative team believes the creature to be a sufficiently strong lead to more senior members of its kind, the operation will also be called off. An extensive checklist has been compiled that commanders must go through before deciding upon action. It includes how many innocent people are in the vicinity and in close contact with the creature; what type of creature is involved and how many; what sort of building is it; what style of air-conditioning does it have. . . All this information is necessary for an accurate assessment of the chances of success and what forces will be needed to conduct the operation. The Assault Plan Once the necessary approval has been gained, the commander must set about planning the actions of his knights. The investigative team at this point takes on the role of intelligence analysts, gathering and processing information for the commander. Detailed intelligence is assessed to reveal the options open to the pagan creatures within the building. This will often include photos taken by the investigative team and detailed descriptions, right down to the style of clothing they are currently wearing. Psychological profiles are distributed and analysed as are physiological details and speculative supernatural attributes. Simple information like this can reduce a knight's response times by vital fractions of a second. Details of the weapons likely to be encountered are distributed among the combat team and analysis of the haven's defenses -- often involving poison gases, grenades or demolition charges -- is of great importance. During all this time the scene will be under surveillance from several sniping positions. The observations of these knights are a vital component of the commanders available intelligence pool. All is collated by the investigative team into an overall picture of the situation. Investigative team knights will attempt to get close to the target and make first-hand observations of the likely entry points and the position of any sentries. Eavesdropping equipment (possibly previously deployed by the investigative team) and equipment such as infrared and image intensifying scopes can be used to clarify the picture of the immediate situation -- such as where the targets are at any particular moment. Computerised models of the scene will be drawn, if possible, to "test" any assault plan for omissions and errors. These models are also used to show members of the combat team what to expect once inside the building -- giving them a degree of much needed familiarity. Local novices are also likely to be called in and given the task of surveying and staking-out the surrounding streets to catch or trail any suspicious escapees. When the commander is ready, he will notify the Knight Marshal of the preparations to move against the targets. A second approval is needed before the assault is actually launched. The commander will give the order to attack once the combined forces of the investigative and combat team knights are in position. Storming a Building The most common techniques for entering a building involves grappling hooks or ropes to enter higher windows. Drain pipes, ledges and fire-escapes are also convenient means of access to the roof. Attacking from a "high" position is a well established advantage in combat -- allowing grenades and explosives to be easily tossed down to clear lower rooms. With this method, a building can be cleared room by room, from the top down. However, this can often be too slow, noisy and dangerous. In a penetration of a vampire's haven, the bulk of the work needs to be done quickly, quietly and without the vampire's knowledge. Sewers, air-conditioning ducts, service shafts, neighbouring rooftops -- all are convenient highways for an approach. Blowing a hole in a wall may seem less subtle but it achieves the main goal: quick access to the main or desired location. Once the dust has cleared, its generally too late for the vampire to react. The good thing about combat in urban environments is that it is relatively easy to approach the site covertly. Combat teams can move through the sewers -- though this can be as dangerous as attacking the building itself -- and streets into positions close-by but still out of sight. High-tension wires can be slung between the rooftops of buildings allowing knights to cross over to the top of the target site. Knights can abseil off the tops of these buildings, smashing through windows to gain entry to the target areas. Doors can be taken down by a minimum of three men: one with a personal battering ram, another protecting him with a shield and the third armed and ready. Another more dramatic means of entry is blowing a hole through walls. A distraction will be organised if possible to draw the target's attention away from the immediate vicinity of the initial break-in. This may involve a false attack, a staged car accident, a small fire etc. Entry techniques are many and varied, depending specifically upon the location involved. Doors can be blown in through the use of small lumps of plastic explosives known as frame charges. At other times, shotguns using powdered shot can blast out door hinges or locks. Windows can be blown out in similar ways. Demolition charges are rarely used because of the injuries they are likely to cause to nearby people. But when they are used, it often involves carefully judged portions of plastic explosives placed against walls. More covert means of entry can also be used, such as taking out the screws from doors and windows so they can be simply pushed in. Moments before the knights burst into a building, stun grenades are tossed in to disorient any opposition. These grenades are used frequently. While upsetting, they do little harm to unfortunate bystanders. Tear gas and other non-lethal grenades will also be used, depending on likely opposition. The knights, dressed in their black fire-resistant suits, balaclavas, body armour and combined respirator/helmet/communications systems, storm into the building protected by the pre-arranged confusion. Their first objective is to reach the target as quickly as possible so as to limit the chances of hostage taking and escape. Knights will usually work in pairs ehen clearing a building, each pair assigned a specific area to cover and clear. The knights enter a room simultaneously and should identify and neutralise any hostiles within two seconds. When the threat has been removed the senior knight will radio that the room is clear -- their progress recorded on the commanders computerised representation of the building. Fighting in built-up area (FIBA) doctrine involves throwing grenades into rooms before spraying them with submachine gun fire. However, this is not appropriate in areas with many innocent civilians nearby. Instead, a knight's reflexes are carefully trained to identify threats and supernaturals and his weapons skills highly trained so that he/she can instantly pump the target full of bullets. Room clearing requirements should be achieved in under four seconds. Once all opposition has been suppressed, a methodical sweep of the building is conducted to ensure no supernaturals are missed. Blocking Escape Routes Teutonic doctrine calls for all supernaturals to be shot unless they surrender unconditionally. First and foremost upon a knights mind must be minimisation of risk: if in doubt shoot it out is an unofficial motto of most combat teams. When a commander believes the building is clear, he/she will move in with the command team to help clear out any bodies or other useful evidence. Any knights with medical training that can be spared are assigned to finding and assisting any civilians. Knights are in great danger as long as they remain at the scene of the ordeal. Delayed action explosives, fires and the local authorities are all likely to complicate matters. In this confusion it is possible for a supernatural may try to escape by hiding among innocent civilians attempting to escape the scene. At this point the snipers, who have been watching the building and responding to requested fire-support from the attacking knights, take over. All people leaving the building in the open are scrutinised through their scopes and special training. Any "leakers" will be tackled by back-up forces if available, trailed by supporting novices, or assigned to combat team knights still in the building. If necessary, the sniper will attempt to "slow down" the supernatural with a few well-aimed shots. The final act of the commander is to declare all knights and targets accounted for. Arms and Equipment "There are secular soldiers and there are soldiers of Christ; but secular soldiers bear feeble and perilous arms, while those of the soldiers of Christ are most powerful and excellent." -- Smaragdus, abbot of Saint-Mihiel, 890s Keeping one step ahead of supernatural tactics and techniques is a constant struggle. Knights must be armed and equipped with the best that is available. This can include assault ladders, harnesses, rope, specialised explosives and ammunition, refined firesuits and armour, reliable weapons and effective technology. To maintain this high standard of technical ability, the Teutonic Knights have become closely associated with several leading German companies. At the top of the list is small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch. Long recognised as one of the world's best handgun and submachinegun manufacturers, the influence of the Teutonic Order ensures weapons suited to the rigors of their specialised form of combat are produced. Also under the influence of the Teutones is the firm Armorfit which produces the worlds lightest but strongest body-armour. The radical process of producing this armour involves making a plastic mould of an individual knight, from which articulated armour plates are then pressed. This allows the armour to fit comfortably on the body, reducing its effects on movement and profile. More detailed descriptions of the companies and their products follow: Heckler & Koch While not owned by the Teutonic Knights, several senior executives and engineers are either associates or Novices within the Order. When funding for a particular development project falls in doubt, the Deutschritter has been known to contribute towards the cost if the weapon is considered useful. Several plants are scattered about Germany, though its main offices and plant are at Oberndorf. Special Operations Handgun Program In August 1991, Heckler & Koch, Inc. and Colt's Manufacturing Company were awarded contracts with the US Special Operations Command for the development of an Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS). USSOCOM directs the activities of some of America's most elite military units, including the Navy SEALs, Air Force Special Operations Wing, and the Army Green Berets, Rangers, and Special Operations Aviation. The "OHWS" consists of three components: a .45 caliber pistol, a laser aiming module (LAM), and a sound and flash suppressor. Testing was completed in March 1993 and two companies submitted final technical and cost proposals. In January 1994, the HK system was selected and a contract was awarded. Heckler & Koch GmbH developed the pistol and suppressor components and Insight Technology, Inc. (ITI) of Londonberry, NH developed the laser module, a combination flashlight and visible and invisible laser sight. Heckler & Koch continued the development of the pistol and Knight's Armament Company of Vero Beach, Florida, a world leader in suppressor technology, joined the project to design and develop the suppressor component. In November 1994, 30 pre-production pistols and suppressors were delivered to the US Navy for final developmental and operational testing. At the same time several examples were handed over the the Teutonic Knights. Testing was complete in April 1995 and a production contract was exercised in July 1995. The Special Operations Forces (SOF) Offensive Handgun (as it is now termed) will meet some of the most stringent operational requirements ever demanded of a combat handgun -- with Olympic match grade accuracy (2.5 inch maximum extreme spread in a 5-round shot group at 25 meters) in all operational environments and endurance and reliability providing a service life of over 30,000 rounds of +P ammunition. Beginning around August 1996, the SOF pistol will be made available for civilian and law enforcement purchase. This will include the threaded barrel, but will not include the laser sighting system or suppressor. Prices are projected to be around $US2000 for civilians and $US1600 for law enforcement. Specifications Caliber .45 ACP Action type linkless Weight 2.30 lbs Length 9.6 inches Length (w/suppressor) 16.65 inches Width 1.50 inches Trigger pull (D/A) ~4.50 lbs Trigger pull (S/A) ~11 lbs Heckler & Koch MP5 Variants The Heckler and Koch MP5 Submachine gun is a lightweight, air-cooled, magazine-fed, delayed blowback operated, select-fire weapon that can be shouldered or hand fired. The H&K MP5 submachine gun is chambered for various pistol cartridges to include 9x19mm Luger, .40 S&W, and 10mm Auto. It fires from a closed-bolt position in semi-automatic, 2 or 3-round burst, and sustained fire modes. The weapon utilises the unique H&K roller-locked bolt system used commonly throughout the H&K family of small arms. The unique features of the H&K MP5 submachine gun include a free floating cold hammer-forged barrel, stamped sheet steel receiver, fluted chamber, straight-line stock and a pistol grip with an ambidextrous safety/selector lever. The modular design of the weapon consists of six assembly groups, not including the carry sling. This design provides an unmatched degree of flexibility as these groups can be manipulated to create various styles of weapons for numerous operational requirements -- thus the high number of variant designations. This design also allows assemblies to be repaired separately from the weapon which can be fitted with a new component and immediately returned to service. The bare metal surfaces of the MP5 are phosphated and coated with a black lacquer paint. This dry lacquer coating is applied with a magnetic charge and then baked onto the metal in an oven. The resulting finish is highly resistant to salt water corrosion and surface wear. The H&K MP5 was first produced in the mid 1960s as the HK54. H&K's internal Protocol Department established the acronym for its first 9mm submachine gun based on the following code: First Character Type of Weapon 1 Box-fed light machine gun 2 Belt-fed machine gun 3 Select-fire assault rifle 4 Paramilitary rifle (German) 5 Submachine gun 6 Grenade launcher, complete 7 Grenade launcher, add-on 8 (not used) 9 Semi-automatic rifle Second Character Caliber 1 7.62 x 51 mm 2 7.62 x 39 mm 3 5.56 x 45 mm 4 9 x 19 mm 5 (not used) 6 4.6 x 36 mm 7 (not used) 8 (not used) 9 40 mm The H&K HK54 received it's current acronym "MP5" when it was officially adopted by the West German government for use by its Police and Border Guard as the "Machine Pistol 5", or MP5. The first MP5s were imported into the U.S. in the very early 1970s. All 23 or more of the officially recognised variants of the MP5 submachine gun have been imported into the U.S. The MP5 is used in the U.S. exclusively for law enforcement and military sale. The standard 4x24 Heckler & Koch detachable scope fits the MP5 including the MP5/10 as do the company's "1003 Aiming Projector" which creates a narrow beam of intense light along the line of fire from the gun. The 55-watt Halogen lamp is energised by a 12-volt battery coupled to a button, permitting locating and identifying targets; the manufacturer claims that an experienced shooter using the spot for aiming can hit targets of about four inches in diameter at distances of 75 meters. The bright light can also be employed to dazzle targets by switching the light on for a short period during which several single shots or bursts are fired. The light is then switched off briefly, after which the procedure is repeated, the dazzling effect giving advantage to the user. In the early 1990s, Heckler & Koch introduced a small laser sight for its MP5s. Designated the "HK 100 Laser Aimer," this sight mounts in the front of the charging lever tube, just below the front sight. A momentary switch is placed on the handguard, permitting switching the laser on briefly to acquire a target. For those using night vision goggles, the company's "INKAS" infrared laser sight might also be employed on the MP5. Adapter mounts to place military night vision scopes are also available for use with the MP5 submachine guns. Type: MP5K MP5SD Calibre: 9mm 9mm Weight: 2kg 2.9kg Length: 325mm 550mm Range: 200m 200m Rate of Fire: 900rpm -- 375m/s 800rpm -- 285m/s Feed: 15 or 30 round 15 or 30 round Heckler & Koch MP5/10 [EDITOR NOTE: REMOVED DUE TO COPYRIGHT VIOLATION] Heckler & Koch 53 This gun is classified as a light machinegun even though it fires the more lethal 5.56mm round -- effectively making it a sub-assault rifle. Based on the MP5 in almost every way, the gun is larger and heavier than its 9mm cousin. Calibre: 5.56mm Weight: 3.05kg Length: 563mm (butt retracted) Range: 250m Rate of Fire: 700rpm -- 750m/sec Feed: 25 round box magazine Heckler and Koch's Sniper and Target Rifles The task of a military sniper is to combat and neutralise highly important specific pinpoint targets. Sniping, however, does no longer mean sniping merely at picked out living targets. The sniper's task includes more and more the combating of very important technical facilities such as generators, radar directing centres, radio direction-finding stations, electronic installations and other similar objects. Such technical facilities are rated more and more important under tactical aspects. The sniper being in action depends completely on himself, and therefore he must be flexible in any situation. So he needs a special weapon which has a high accuracy and does not affect his mobility (a weapon as light as possible.) The military sniper needs a semi-automatic rifle of high fire power which enables the user to defend himself if he has been located by enemy shooters. These and some other perceptions and experience gained from the development and production of the PSG1 high performance marksman's rifle served as the basis for the development of the MSG3 and the MSG90 military sniper rifles. MSG 90 o Caliber: 7.62mm x 51 o Semi-automatic rifle for single fire o Recoil-operated delayed blowback bolt system, firing from closed bolt position o Cold-forged, quenched and tempered barrel, 600mm long o Standard trigger with a constant trigger pull, approx 15 N o Vertically adjustable trigger shoe for widening the trigger o Butt stock with lengthwise adjustable butt cap and vertically adjustable cheek-piece o Telescopic sight mount for different types of daylight and night sight featuring STANAG fitting dimensions o 5-round or 20-round magazines at option o Handguard with T-way for fixing a firing sling or mounting the bipod G3 SG/1 o Caliber: 7.62mm x 51 o Trigger pull with set trigger varies between 12N and 15N o Set trigger operation doesn't affect trigger functions, including sustained fire o Special aiming system with ranging reticle to ascertain distance when knowing target size HK 33 SG/1 o Caliber: 5.56mm x 45 PSG 1 o Caliber: 7.62mm x 51 The PSG-1 high precision marksman's rifle is developed specifically for police and military sniping -- unlike most other adaptations. The PSG-1 disproved the impressively widespread prejudice according to which an optimal firing accuracy can only be achieved with single loaders. The PSG-1 fires exactly those dispersion diameters which are warranted in the acceptance specifications of highly reputed ammunition manufacturers. Hence this is a weapon which equals at least with the accuracy of single loaders, and also features the advantages of a self-loading firearm. Heckler & Koch G11 Assault Rifle This remarkable weapon was developed during the late 1980s as the new standard-issue assault rifle for the West German Army. However, the unexpected collapse of the Soviet Union brought new demands upon the unified German Army: a new surplus of assault weapons (brought about by left-over Russian stock in the East German divisions) and a desperate need for funds elsewhere saw the G11 project cancelled. However, several hundred examples of the gun were covertly produced for use by the Teutonic Knights. The main drawback of the weapon is actually its greatest asset: caseless ammunition. This ammunition, where the propellant acts as the binder for the bullet and primer, is produced nowhere else other than in the Teutones own armouries at Marienburg Castle. Thus, the ammunition a knight takes with him will be the only ammunition he will be able to use. But the remarkable abilities of this gun are currently believed to outweigh this disadvantage. The gun has a maximum firing rate of 2000rpm, with a three round controlled burst leaving the gun so fast that the last round has left the barrel before the recoil jolts the firer. This produces an unprecedented high accuracy rate -- the same for a 3 round burst as if it was a single shot. When full-automatic mode is selected, the gun spits out its rounds at a of 600rpm. Eliminating the casing about the ammunition eliminates the need for a weighty extraction and ejection system, as well as the reduced weight of ammunition itself. The firing mechanism is centred around a cylindrical breech block that rotates to align the round with the barrel. The cross-section allows the rounds to be closely packed with no wasted space into the 50 round in-line magazine, set along the top of the gun in line with the barrel. A grip is positioned under the barrel for a bayonet and a multi-mode scope and nightsight is fitted as standard. Type: G11 Calibre: 4.7mm Magazine: 50 round Weight: 4.2kg Length: 75cm Rate: 3 round burst, 40rpm, 200rpm, 600rpm Heckler & Koch G3 This rifle has been standard issue within the German army for the past 30 years largely because of its reliability in bad conditions. Calibre: 7.62 Weight: 4.4kg Length: 102cm Range: 400m -- 800m/sec Rate of fire: 500/600rpm Feed: 20 round Heckler & Koch G8 This rifle has been given a three-round burst ability as well as a semi-automatic mode. It can fire from either a belt or magazine feed and has a telescopic sight as standard. The rifle was designed for counter-insurgency work. Calibre: 7.62 Weight: 8.15kg Length: 103cm Range: 800m -- 800m/sec Rate of fire: 800rpm Feed: 20 round, 50 round, belt Heckler & Koch G41 This gun is a version of the G3 that fires a 5.56mm shell -- a lighter and more lethal round. It has low noise, is reliable in all conditions and can be fitted with various butts. Calibre: 7.62 Weight: 8.15kg Length: 103cm Range: 800m / 800m/sec Rate of fire: 800rpm Feed: 20 round, 50 round, belt H&K CAWS This weapon is more than simply a shotgun. It is a Close Assault Weapon System -- a designation ideal for Church Knight operations in close and built-up areas. Looking similar in arrangement to the G11, the CAWS is equally as advanced as its assault-rifle cousin. It's bullpup layout gives it a short, maneuverable size while providing decent barrel length for high-velocity shells. The weapon's firing system has been designed to be dirt-resistant, increasing its reliability tenfold. The 10-round magazine is behind the pistol grip, and a selector switch for single, three round and full automatic is within reach of the firing hand's thumb. The gun is semi-automatic in its primary configuration, though full-automatic is available. A specialised 12 gauge brass shell has been developed for the gun, allowing greater range and velocity (150m for buckshot). It also fires solid shot and freely available ammunition. Armorfit This company was originally established by the German Government to produce body armour for the nation's police force and counter terrorism unit. Privatised late in the 1980s, key personnel hold allegiance with the Teutonic order and ensure a ready supply of high quality material. Some technology has even been transferred to Marienburg castle which will begin production of Bodymould armour within the next two years. Armourshield GPV25 This armoured vest was built manufactured under license from Armourshield by Armorfit is currently the most wide-spread armour in use within the Militant Orders. However, Bodymould is becoming increasingly common among the Teutonic Knights as more vats and moulds are produced. The GPV25 provides multiple layers of protection. It is 18mm thick in total. A strong ballistic cloth provides wrap-around protection and ease of fitting through velcro straps. Shaped plates lie underneath, providing protection from both high velocity shells and blunt trauma. While armour may stop a bullet, it can still cause a deep depression in the armour and therefore transfer a large amount of shock into the body. Thus the need for rigid plates: these disperse the shock over a wider area -- reducing injury considerably. The hard armour plates are made of ceramic -- effective against most high velocity rounds, but heavy. Some of the plates can weigh up to 4kg each. Newer plates of ceramic with a laminate covering and rubberised foam backing weigh 3kg each. These can also defeat high velocity rounds. The vest also has high underarm covers to provide protection while the wearer is shooting back. Headgear Flash hoods -- commonly worn by knights -- offer protection from heat, dust and smoke, but are useless against bullets and fragments. Bullet stopping headgear is therefore essential. But normal helmets are not suitable -- they are too large and cumbersome. New helmets were designed specifically for counter terrorism and hostage rescue operations. These were made of plastic and could be worn by a user also using a gas mask and personal communications equipment. The AC100/1 is made of layers of ballistic resistant composite materials, protecting the wearer from small arms ammunition. An integral high impact trauma absorber is built into the helmet's inner lining to dissipate the energy of any blow. Wearers are not likely to be rendered unconscious. BattleArmour While Bodymould armour is a highly effective and concealable form of protection, and Armorshield offers strong protection and portability, the Teutones also make use of a bulkier armoured suit. Called BattleArmour, this highly effective armour covers virtually the whole body with a series of interlocking, rigid, composite material plates held together with fire and ballistic resistant cloth. It offers much greater protection than the other available forms of armour, though it is extremely difficult to conceal during transport and impossible to do so while wearing. Very similar in concept to full plate metal armour of old, it is almost as difficult to wear. While it conforms with body shape and movement to a much greater degree, both the armour slabs and heavy ballistic cloth weigh down a knight considerably. But in certain combat situations -- usually against Lycanthropes in remote and wild terrain -- this bulky armour is a virtual necessity. Personal Sensors and Telemetry Relay Knights have built into the shoulder-plates of their body armour a data collection and relay unit. In its most basic form it produces irregular burst-transmissions of the Knight's key physical signs and precise location determined by a built-in GPS sensor. When combined with a personal sensor head unit, with miniature video-camera's and microphones, all visual and sound data is relayed to a microwave receiver unit up to 4km away if in a normal building. The sensor unit's monocle can provide heads-up displays of superimposed Infra Red, Ultra Violet and Low-light imaging. Conformal battery packs allows operation of a combined Telemetry and Sensor system for two hours. The basic Telemetry unit can operate for up to 48 hours. This device aids the hunters by letting them make Alertness rolls as if they had one dot of Auspex, as well as Heightened Senses. Weapon Accessories Standard Torch: A simple, heavy duty flashlight is a highly effective means of illuminating dark areas quickly and efficiently. While carrying a torch in one hand reduces the effectiveness of aiming and firing a weapon -- especially larger weapons -- integrating the two is an effective alternative. This can be achieved by bracing the torch via a sight mount on top of the gun. Though reliable and simple, these torches are bulky and heavy -- unsettling delicately balanced weapons. High-Intensity Lights: Modern versions of the flashlight are much more effective. The Sure-Fire tactical lights produced by Laser Products are a variety of small, powerful torches designed to fit under the barrel of various types of weapon. More powerful than conventional torches, they can be fitted to shotguns, handguns, submachineguns and rifles. They have a lithium battery providing an advertised life of up to five hours, but under real conditions this tends to be only three hours. These high-intensity lights have very flat and unobtrusive wiring that can stick to the stock or structure of a gun, leading to a switch on or near the stock or trigger. Mounted Laser Sights: The red-dot aiming system is a very popular means of getting an indication of where a bullet will end its flight. The laser does not illuminate the target, merely mark it. Such systems help greatly for rapid-response firing, or shooting accurately from the hip -- a great boon for close-environment combat. The LEI-100 is one of the most powerful red-dot systems available, and is often mounted on the MP5. It has a range of 600m. The projector is large, but its aluminium construction makes it light. A smaller red-dot system is the EPC. It can be fitted to almost anly weapon because of their small size (similar to that of a .357 magnum cartridge). It is usually positioned under the barrel. It has a range of about 80m. Such laser aiming modules (LAMs) are now commercially available, with many large pistol owners opting to buy them because of their affordability and effectiveness. The down-side of these sights is that they can also be visible to the target, allowing them to react. New modules on the market contain both a high intensity light and a laser-dot aimer. Infrared Sights: These sights work from radiation in the infrared wavelength. A common misconception is that a target has to be exuding heat itself. While this does apply, another powerful source of infrared radiation can "illuminate" an area -- such as a fire or infrared spotlight. The latest thermal imaging sights are generally passive (without an infrared illuminator), but their ability to discern differences in infrared radiation is much greater. These sights tend to be bulky and used only on sniper rifles, and occassionally assault rifles. Image Intensifying Sights: These sights are much more complicated than simple "magnifiers" of available light. In fact, many need virtually no light at all to be effective. Their technical complexity makes them both very expensive, and of questionable reliability. The Orion 80 passive sight can be fitted to the MP5, providing a 4x magnification. Specialised Ammunition Arcane: This is a solid copper bullet with a pointed cone. It is usually paired with a high-velocity charge to make it more effective in pistols and revolvers. It can penetrate significant armor without deformation of the bullet itself. This actually reduces the amount of damage it inflicts on the target. Calibre Dam Armor Range 9mm -2 -3 KTW: This brand of bullet has one purpose only: armor penetration. It is a lump of brass coated in a green colored teflon aerodynamic skin. This ammunition is not greatly effective against modern body armor. Calibre Dam Armor Range 9mm -1 -2 THV: This is an expensive shaped composite bullet providing both high armor penetration and greater soft tissue damage. It is very rare, requiring high tech construction equipment, and carefully issued. Calibre Dam Armor Range 9mm +3 -3 9mm Action Safety Bullet: This is a bullet with a hole in its core filled with a plastic plug. This plug prevents jams, but is "blown" out of the bullet, allowing the mushroom effect. Calibre Dam Armor Range 9mm +2 +2 The following bullets have a high failure rate if used in rugged conditions, have travelled a lot or been bashed about. Very high failure rate if home-made. Hydra-Shok: Lead bullet with a recess in its centre to allow the shell to flatten when it strikes an object. This mushrooming effect produces a hydraulic compression "shockwave" of body fluids from the point of impact to damage surrounding tissue. Calibre Dam Armor Range 9mm +1 +2 HSA: This is an open-nosed bullet with fletchettes contained within. They stay together in flight, breaking open only on impact. Calibre Dam Armor Range 9mm +3 +1 Glaser Safety Slug: This is a bullet that has a thin aerodynamic jacket, looking much like a normal bullet head. It is filled with a moderately compressed birdshot. This compression and the jacket allow the bullet to penetrate light armor or material before breaking up on impact with soft tissue. The slugs fragment outward, transferring Hydrostatic shock into the target. Calibre Dam Armor Range 9mm +2 -1 CBX: Especially designed for hostage rescue, these bullets are intended to do the maximum possible damage through their flat-faced projectile. Calibre Dam Armor Range 9mm +3 +3 WoD Weapon Statistics Weapon DifCal Dam Rn RtCp Con3/F Cs Notes Pistols H&K P7M10 7 .40 5 20 3 10 P 1160 H&K P7M13 7 9mm 4 20 4 13 P 1220 H&K USP 7 9mm 4 25 4 15 J 950 H&K SOHP 6 .45 5 25 4 15 J 3 1600 LAM & suppressor Submachineguns H&K MP-5 7 9mm 4 40 2130 T 3/F 750 H&K MP-5 K 6 9mm 4 25 2330 T 3/F 2500 H&K MP-5 SD 7 9mm 4 30 2030 N 3/F 3800 Built-in silencer H&K MP2000 7 9mm 4 40 2130/60 T 3/F 4000 Optional suppressor H&K MP-5 / 40 7 .40 5 40 1930 T 3/F 1200 H&K MP-5 / 10 7 10mm 5 40 1830 T 3/F 1200 H&K MP53 7 5.56 7 60 1725 T 3/F 2900 L/FAM module Rifles H&H .600 Nitro 8 .600 9 275 1 2 N 800 H&K 33 SG/1 7 5.56 7 300 1025 N F 3000 Full-automatic H&K G3 SG/1 7 7.62 8 300 1020 N F 3000 Full-automatic H&K MSG90 7 7.62 8 800 6 20 N 5000 Semi-automatic H&K PSG1 7 7.62 8 10004 20 N 5000 Self-loading Assault Rifles H&K G3 8 7.62 8 300 1020 N F 1120 H&K G8 8 7.62 8 600 2030 N 3/F 1800 H&K G11* 6 4.7mm6 300 2050 T 3/F 4400 3rnd as 1 shot H&K G41 7 5.56 7 200 2030 N 3/F 2100 Shotguns H&K CAWS 7 12ga 8* 60* 7 10 T F 820 *Various ammo Heavy Weapons H&K 21 6 7.62 8 350 2350 N F 3500 H&K 23 6 5.56 7 300 2550 N F 3500