Continuing our investigation into sister organizations that support the mission of Quantum Corps, in this post we look at the mission and organization of the U.N. Boundary Patrol.  UNBP deals with nanoscale threats that occur below ground, typically along active seismic fault lines or tectonic plate boundaries, hence the name.  It is an unfortunate fact of life in the Tales of the Quantum Corps that Config Zero and other adversaries use the medium of the Earth’s crust to transmit destructive energies, using nanobotic swarms to loosen seismic plates and facilitate destructive slippage along plate boundaries.  UNBP exists to counter and neutralize these threats.

Here’s an org chart, showing the basics of how UNBP is set up.  Like Quantum Corps, UNBP reports directly to UNSAC (the UN Security Affairs Commissioner) and to the Secretary-General, through the structure of UNIFORCE.

The sharp end of Boundary Patrol’s stick is the geoplane, a tracked vehicle that looks like a big metal articulating caterpillar, but with a nanobotic borer head at one end.  The geoplane can travel on and underground, down to depths of several thousand meters.  Geoplanes are manned vehicles and are organized into detachments assigned to patrol certain tectonic plate boundaries, as indicated in the org chart.  Below is how a typical geoplane crew is organized.

Typical Geoplane Crew

(Motto: Subterraneus defensores percutunt dure)

(“Subterranean defenders strike hard”)

Organization and Specialties

Unit Code/Specialty	Senior Rating *	Junior Rating
Command and Control	CC1	CC2
Driver/Systems Operator	DSO1	DSO2
Borer Operator	BOP1	BOP2
Geo Engineering Technician	GET1	GET2
Sensors and Surveillance Technician	SS1	SS2
Defense and Protective Systems Operator	DPS1	DP2

 

*  Most geoplane crews operate on nominal Boundary Patrol missions with only a 6-person crew, consisting of the above Senior Ratings or a mix of Senior and Junior Ratings, depending on personnel availability.  Geoplane commander is always designated “CC1”.

NOTES:

1.  Geoplanes operate on nominal Boundary Patrol missions for 2-3 weeks at a time.  They are manned, like ballistic missile submarines, with multiple crews (Red and Gold crews) for maximum availability and mission readiness.  There are 5 BP stations and a total of 6 constructed geoplanes (one is always in refit and repair).  

2.  Geoplane detachments have assigned patrol areas but also respond to intelligence and sensor indications as to swarm activities or presence.  The SS techs monitor seismic and tectonic indications as to plate movements, tremors and seismic activity.  Many are known, from indications, to be “normal’ plate stresses and tremors.  Those events or transients with  suspicious seismic signatures are investigated.  By the time UNBP was set up, seismic signatures indicative of swarm activity are pretty well known.  Intelligence on new swarm and Config Zero tactics is an ever-present need.  Geoplane patrol areas are designed to put the vehicles in striking range of anticipated Config Zero swarm activity, along known or suspected tectonic fault lines and plate boundaries.  When a suspicious tremor is detected, the geoplane investigates and if swarms are detected, the swarms are engaged with geoplane weapons (HERF, magpulse, coilgun, etc) and on- board ANAD-style swarms.   Counter-swarm operations (CSO) are a major part of what the geoplane defenders do. 

The next post in August will cover another of Quantum Corps’ sister organizations under the umbrella of UNIFORCE:  the U.N. Sanctuary Patrol and the Containment Laws that it enforces.