(This is going to be an anthology of sorts, chronicling the history of the Qunits via short pieces told in different ways. I may not end up finishing it up to the modern era, but it’ll serve as a place for me to dump the stuff I write when I’m bored.)
Excerpt from “In Unequal Measure, a study on AW-VI” by Rei’shi Kolaar
The third siege of Yubhanj will go down in history as the first combat deployment of genetically enhanced soldiery. As a refresher on Yubhanj, the port city had served as a smaller shipyard and logistics center prior to the war. Not long after the outbreak did Vif’Ream forces seize the city, using it as one of their many beacheads into the northern continents. Over the course of the war, Karrash had attempted not once but twice to wrestle back control of the city when the opportunity presented itself, thereby cutting a major supply line of their enemy, but both times had ended in failure so far.
This latest siege was enabled by several successive victories at sea, allowing Karrashian forces to blockade the port and cut them off from reinforcements. Furthermore, this domination of the sea allowed assault landing craft to be brought in. The first waves of attack began on 13.5.’33 at around 17:00, consisting of two primary fronts; a land assault from the east spearheaded by the 65th Armoured Cavalry, and armoured landing craft belonging to the 12th Seaborne Infantry landing at the beaches just west of the city. The 12th were also supported by close air support courtesy of the nearby KNS Davsban.
Among the 65th’s infantry elements were 48 examples of Karrash’s still experimental supersoldier program. What would later be dubbed the F1 series of Qunits were volunteer soldiers who’d been augmented with genetic modification and potent combat stimulants to drastically increase their stamina and agility while lowering their reaction time. These early examples, while powerful, were rife with teething problems such as mental deterioration, muscle degradation, and stimulant addiction, all of which only grew more pronounced with time. Just over 1,000 F1s would be created before the F2s began to supersede them.
Going back to Yubhanj, the siege this time would be a success ultimately. After 2 months of fighting, Cmdr Tajiir Ebr’Vas would ultimately give the order to stand down, surrendering to the Karrashian forces. Low casualty rates among the present F1s as well as testimonies from those on the frontlines of the battle have lead to many to believe these first Qunits were the key to the success of the battle, and Karrashian propaganda on the matter did not help in that regard. A more likely interpretation of events, however, suggests the position of the Vif’Ream forces was an untenable one, especially with the strength of the forces amassed against them. Their capitulation was all but a foregone conclusion, whether the Qunits were present or not.
