Shogun Guard

Overview

Natives of Tokko, the Shogun Guard are renowned defensive regiments of the Imperial Guard, famed for multiple stalwart defenses of the Gateworlds. Each Shogun Guard regiment carry the Tokkon book of war, "Hagekari - Hidden by the Leaves, Resolute as the Root", which carries a collection of defensive military tactics and spiritual affirmations tailored for the Tokken soldier, and each soldier is as familiar with it as their copy of the Infantryman's Uplifting Primer. Tokken regiments are far better at defending than offensive actions, with the skilled Eternum commander taking advantage of their drilling to hold difficult ground. While more inexperienced or careless commanders will throw Shogun Guard at the enemy in human waves, the more elite Shogun Guard are reserved for more experienced commanders assigned to hold difficult fronts, and it is a common sight to see Tokkenese manning the most critical fortresses on the Gate worlds. Shogun Guard are recognized by their unique flak helmets that incorporate a plated neck guard, along with their ritualistic shortswords called Tannos. A mix of Tokkon culture and reputation has led to the Shogun Guard almost always fighting to the death, and if overwhelmed and certain of failure, ritualistic suicide to maintain their family honor. Such is the ferocity of this belief, that Shogun Guard have killed their own commissars in the past - not for enforcing morale but for ordering a retreat instead of fighting and holding to the death. The more hardliner commissars fight for assignment to Shogun Guard, while those more interested in survival (or legally executing individuals) try to get reassigned to less suicidal minded regiments. The Shogun Guard wear light olive colored fatigues, with white armor.