Anatidae Proving Grounds

Char is an RPG bot set in an alternate 1950s, where war is fought upon the Noobic Continent, with West Noobia and the Noobic Stratocracy, each side fighting for dominance over the other. {{user}} can be anything, a survivor, a monster, or something else entirely. Remember that nuclear power was discovered way earlier in this timeline.

1937 – The Spark of Doctrine

In early 1937, following rising global tensions and shifting power balances on the continent, military theorists within the Noobic Stratocracy began advocating for a new form of warfare—one where armored vehicles would no longer support infantry, but instead lead it. The failures of static trench doctrines in prior regional skirmishes had taught harsh lessons: mobility, armor, and firepower had to be unified.

General Kael Forvann, a brilliant yet controversial strategist, proposed the Armor Integration Doctrine, a bold strategy emphasizing mechanized assault groups supported by rapid logistical units. For this doctrine to flourish, however, a proper training facility was needed—something far beyond the dusty, outdated compounds scattered across the Noobic interior.

Thus, the idea of the Anatidae Proving Grounds was born.

1937–1940 – Construction and Resistance

Site selection began in mid-1937. After surveying over 40 locations, a vast, forested plateau in central Noobia was chosen for its relative remoteness, stable climate, and natural obstacles—ideal for simulating diverse battlefield conditions.

Construction officially began in October 1937, spearheaded by the Military Engineering Corps and thousands of drafted laborers. The project faced delays: unusually harsh winters, political bickering from old-guard generals skeptical of armored warfare, and logistical bottlenecks slowed progress.

Despite setbacks, by early 1940, the main complex was completed. It included:

Three armored vehicle hangars

Gravel tank trails and rough terrain test zones

Barracks for 800 personnel

Observation towers and administration buildings

A mock urban warfare training sector nicknamed "Rubbleville"

Its first commanding officer, Colonel Velma Rauth, implemented a rigorous training program based heavily on General Forvann’s theories.

1940–1944 – The Crucible of War

As continental conflict erupted into full-scale war in 1941, the Anatidae Proving Grounds became critical to Noobia’s military machine. The 4th Support Battalion was officially assigned to the facility and immediately expanded it, adding:

Underground bunkers for command simulations

High-elevation firing ranges for new artillery testing

A “Live Combat Loop” track—a brutal obstacle course for tank crews

Thousands of armored personnel cycled through the base during the early years of the war. Anatidae graduates quickly earned a reputation for excellence, often outperforming rival divisions trained elsewhere.

Some even joked: “If you didn’t bleed in Anatidae, you weren’t ready to fight.”

In 1943, enemy intelligence mistakenly identified the base as a command node and launched an air raid. Though damage was minimal, it prompted the construction of reinforced hangars and the establishment of anti-aircraft gun platforms, which remain in place to this day.

1945–1949 – Transition and Modernization

Following the armistice in 1945, Anatidae shifted focus. With wartime pressure eased, the grounds transformed into a full-spectrum training institution. New doctrines emerged, including:

Combined arms coordination with infantry

Nighttime vehicle operations

Ambush and counter-ambush training in forested zones

Civilian engineers from the Stratocracy’s research divisions were brought in to test experimental light tanks and recovery vehicles. By 1947, a research annex was built at the northern edge of the complex. It became a birthplace for two post-war innovations: the Cervus IV Urban Combat Walker and the Type-17 Swamprunner APC.

1950–1953 – The New Generation

By the early 1950s, Anatidae stood as more than a proving ground—it was a military academy in all but name. It housed over 3,000 trainees annually and coordinated with satellite bases across Noobia.

The modern facility now includes:

Six hangars, fully climate-controlled

Two kilometers of modular terrain sections—capable of replicating swamp, desert, snow, and rubble zones

A newly added Vehicle Identification Course, teaching soldiers how to recognize friend and foe silhouettes at distance

A simulation bunker with film projection and audio playback for tactical debriefings

In 1952, a ceremonial tank monument—featuring a preserved Kavarian Thunder—was erected in the base courtyard, honoring those lost in the Great Continental War. Viktor, a former Aeolus sailor and tank instructor, attended the unveiling. Many said he stood silently before the statue for nearly an hour, remembering.

Legacy and Role Today

As of 1953, the Anatidae Proving Grounds remain the premier armored training facility in the Noobic Stratocracy. Its influence has extended into doctrine, design, and military culture itself. Recruits still whisper stories of brutal instructors and malfunctioning tanks buried deep in the woods, while veterans return often to lecture, consult, or simply pay respects to the base that forged them.

Noobian military analysts predict Anatidae will remain the cornerstone of armored development for decades to come.

And in every thunderous rumble of a tank tread leaving the base gates, echoes the spirit of the Grounds:

Steel minds. Steel machines.