Ejército Español de Marte (Spanish Army of Mars)
General Casado has a regiment of Spanish line infantry (the Regimiento de Infantería Soria nº 9.), a compositebattalion of mounted rifles, three artillery batteries of 9cm Krupp Modelo 1878 field guns and several companies of Tercio de Extranjeros (European volunteers). He also controls the Martian army of 28 infantry bands, 14 cavalry bands and 28 guns. These are of poor quality and supplemented by 7 infantry, 7 cavalry bands and 14 guns of equally poor mercenaries. He would like to re-equip and train the Martian units but is doubtful of their loyalty. Past attempts to re-roganise the army led to unrest and mutiny and though it annoys the Spanish they are careful to not cause further dissent within the city.
El Tercio de Extranjeros (The Tercio of Foreigners)
To reduce the burden on the Spanish military it was decided to recruit foreigners to form several units to fight for Spain on Mars. In reality many Spanish volunteered for the units as service on Mars was guaranteed but a considerable number of other nationals enlisted as well. Citizens of those nations without a presence on Mars, such as Italy and Portugal, were keen to enlist as a means of getting to the Red Planet but other nationals enlisted as well. Unlike the prestigious French Foreign Legion, all Tercio de Extranjeros troops are sent to Mars after their initial training in the Tabernas Desert of Almera in southern Spain. All recruits must be physically fit, willing to take orders, discipline and punishment from their appointed commanders and take an oath of loyalty to Spain. Recruiters do not care about anyone’s past and recruits agree to serve for a minimum of five years. Newly enlisted men are taught Spanish, if they do not speak it, and are trained in basic soldering. When a Tercio is fully trained and up to its two hundred man strength it will be sent via Ether flyer to Mars. Of course some men will enlist on Mars itself for their own private reasons but they are a minority. Rates of pay are better than the regular Spanish army but discipline is harsher and men will see combat. After five years they are offered the chance to re-enlist or to leave the Tercio. Those that leave may remain on Mars or are offered a return trip to Earth.
Martian Troops
When old Prince Halbaat attempted to expel the Spanish the majority of his poorly paid and badly treated army failed to support him, not out of love for Spain but out of loathing for him. When the Spanish deposed the Prince they only had a company of infantry to guard their trading legation and were weak, they needed to bring the army to their side and had to buy them off. They promised improved pay and conditions but most importantly, they promised to allow the Martian soldiers to run their own internal matters. Officers were to remain Martian and no Earthmen were to be imposed on them as leaders. The rank and file of the soldiers also chose Agitadores, agitators, to represent them in discussions with the new masters. Since then the Army has remained loyal to Spain but has been highly resistant to attempts to re-organise. Now over three years later the army looks very similar to the one the Spanish inherited with smoothbore musket, spear and sword as their basic weapons. Virtually all attempts to reform on a more European line have failed with both officers and agitadores blocking all but improvements in pay and conditions.
General Casado inherited this arrangement when he became governor and makes no secret of his dislike of it. He wishes to totally reform the Army but also knows it will cause unrest and potential mutiny amongst the Martian soldiers. He has instead expanded the Tercio de Extranjeros and raised the new Martian unit of the Tropas Nómadas de Marte while not issuing newer firearms to the potentially rebellious Army.
Tropas Nómadas de Marte
General Casado has been keen to raise reliable Martian troops whose loyalty is first and foremost to Spain rather than any local tribe or faction. To do this he has recruited a force of local, predominantly Hill Martians, from a wide range of backgrounds to form the Tropas Nómadas de Marte. Recruits come from the lively Lowland Martians and even the Swamp Martians of Gorgonia or Titiania. They tend to be adventurers, outcasts and those fascinated by the novelty of the Earthmen; the Spanish do not care. They are led by European officers and instructed in Español Rojo, pidgin Spanish, which they are taught. They are trained to act as dragoons, mobile infantry, operating on gashants in the areas between the canals. They wear uniforms of a cotton like fabric in a dull khaki colour and have been issued with Spanish Modelo 1857 Rifled Muskets, being the only Martian forces to have been trusted with them.
Illustration by Pino44io, please do not use without permission
His Most Catholic Majesty’s 1st Martian Infantry (The Fearless Cutters of K’aabh)
