E X A R C H
IMPERATOR CORPS, SECTION UMBRA 17TH COMPANY -
THE BULLFROGS
THE BULLFROGS
- Intent: To create a special forces unit around a cool art I found and to add lore to the Imperial Army.
- Image Credit: Soldiers, Logo - Alternate Navy SEAL Emblem
- Role: This unit is a special forces unit of the regular Imperial Army. Similar to how the Navy SEALs operate.
- Permissions:
- Olympian Armorsmiths (Permission)
- Aresian Naval Engineering (Permission)
- First United Astral Engineering (See Special Permissions)
- HPI Consortium
- Links: Imperial Volunteer Army
- Unit Name: Imperial Designation: 17th Company | Colloquially Called: The Bullfrogs
- Affiliation:
- Current:
- The Imperial Confederation - Imperator Corps, Section Umbra
- Previously:
- Current:
- Classification: Special Forces
- Description: The Bullfrogs are a smaller, nimble military unit used for unconventional warfare. They are used for what a politicking General would consider dirty work. The Army created this unit as an alternative to the NISB and its similar squads. They have a saying: "No matter the mission, no matter the target. For the Empire." Their emblem reflects their name. See Below
- Unit Size: Small - Each squad is only ten soldiers.
- Unit Availability: Rare - The Bullfrogs comprise a compact yet elite force: a single company consisting of four platoons, each made up of four squads, totaling exactly 160 soldiers, never more. Command structure is lean but disciplined, with six officers leading the platoons, all under the direct oversight of a Captain and a Major who command the company as a whole.
<Major of the FROGs> | 17th Company | The Bullfrogs | <Captain of the FROGs> |
First Platoon - Lt. | Second Platoon - Lt. | Third Platoon - Lt. | Fourth Platoon - Lt. |
FROG Team 1 FROG Team 2 FROG Team 3 FROG Team 4 -A Sergeant leads each team | FROG Team 5 FROG Team 6 FROG Team 7 FROG Team 8 | FROG Team 9 FROG Team 10 FROG Team 11 FROG Team 12 | FROG Team 13 FROG Team 14 FROG Team 15 FROG Team 16 |
- Unit Experience: Elite - Drawn from the finest ranks of the Imperator Corps, the Bullfrogs are selected only from soldiers who have demonstrated exceptional loyalty, courage, and battlefield resolve. Their training takes them across Imperial space, acclimating them to operate in every conceivable planetary environment. Those who prove themselves are handpicked by the unit's Major and Captain to undergo an additional 70 weeks of grueling instruction, transforming them into specialists in unconventional warfare.
- Equipment: As a Special Forces unit, the Bullfrogs are granted the flexibility to use nonstandard loadouts, though these must be self-financed. Even so, all gear must meet a minimum threshold of Limited production quality or higher. That said, the Empire provides them with an enhanced standard kit (marked with an asterisk) at no cost, ensuring they are always better equipped than the average trooper.
- Primary:
- Secondary/Melee:
- Armor:
- FAE/A-12 Imperial Army Trooper Combat Armor*
- Added a Kaldrweave helmet net
- Optional Kaldrweave chest rig
- FAE/A-12 Imperial Army Trooper Combat Armor*
- Equipment:
- MP-042s "Skjöldr" Energy Shield (Personal)*
- Blinding Dust Grenade
- Bouncing Multi-Purpose Grenade
- Multi-Purpose Cluster Grenade (One per Soldier)*
- Missile Launchers
- Explosive Charges
- Thermal Detonators
- Other traditional Army equipment*
- Vehicles:
- Combat Function:
- Tactics:
- Unconventional Warfare
- Infiltration/Exfiltration
- Search and Rescue/Recover
- Capture
- Demolition
- Sabotage
- Slicing
- Direct Action (Small-scale offensive actions)
- Raids
- Ambushes
- Anti-Terrorism
- Reconnaissance
- Security Assistance
- Combat Diving
- Assassination
- Habits and Interactions:
- Bullfrogs often refer to new recruits as "Tadpoles," a nickname that sticks even after completing their training, until they prove themselves on a live mission. Each FROG team is tightly knit, both within their squad and the broader 17th Company. Members commonly go by informal nicknames, usually derived from shortened versions of their first or last names. Despite wearing similar armor, they refer to standard Bulwark troopers as "Regs." Due to their operational style resembling that of NISB agents, they've also coined the nickname "Opies" (or "Oppy" in singular form), blending the words operative and spy. At formal gatherings or public events, Bullfrogs tend to slip into the background, taking up overwatch positions; a blaster or knife always close at hand, even while off duty.
- Tactics:
- Force Abilities (Force User Units Only): N/A
(Left: Bullfrog fully suited for mission, Right: Bullfrog Squad Lead without helmet or netting)
(Notice: This picture displays white and red paint on their armor; their actual armor does not have this.)
- Multi-Role: The Bullfrogs are trained in many different roles and abilities to be effective in whatever situation they find themselves in.
- Elite: As the best of the best, most enemies they would face are no match for them. As such, their scorecard doesn't have many losses.
- Long Training Time: If a Bullfrog is killed, it takes a minimum of 70 weeks to replace them. This means that the FROG team has to complete missions with one less person for the duration of their training.
- Small Units: Bullfrogs are only sent out as squads; they seldom work together with others unless it is a very large mission. This means that there are ten Bullfrogs on one given mission against numerous foes.
Empire of the Lost:
The Bullfrogs were established by Army Command as an internal alternative to the NISB: an elite special forces unit under direct Army oversight. Their training is exhaustive and rigorous, designed to forge soldiers capable of enduring any operation, no matter how covert or dangerous. The unit itself consists of a single company: 144 soldiers organized into sixteen FROG Teams. Each FROG Team is composed of nine operators, led by a sergeant, regardless of whether they're a Staff, Gunnery, or standard Sergeant. The remaining eight members are of equal or lesser rank, but the chain of command is absolute: the squad leader gives the orders, and rank parity does not override leadership. Rank insignias are intentionally omitted for operational anonymity, but it's an unspoken rule that the team lead is often the one carrying the comms pack.
Four FROG Teams form a platoon, overseen by a 1st or 2nd Lieutenant. These platoon leaders act as mission coordinators and liaisons, matching squads to assignments and relaying communications up the chain. At the top of the Bullfrogs' hierarchy are a Captain and a Major. Though unusual for a Major to command a single company, Army Command deemed it necessary for a unit of this nature, ensuring strong leadership at the highest level. The decision has proven effective, and the current command structure has received full approval from Army brass.
In terms of equipment, Bullfrogs are authorized to utilize the full arsenal of the Imperial Army. While standardized loadouts are issued, featuring the latest in military hardware, operators are permitted to purchase additional weapons and gear to tailor their kits. However, the Army is not liable for the loss or destruction of personally acquired equipment. Each FROG Platoon is also assigned a TIE Furiosa, a corvette retrofitted with stealth polymer coatings to reduce sensor signatures. Though not invisible to the naked eye, it's elusive enough for most insertions. These vessels are piloted by members of the Imperial Navy, typically drawn from the Starfighter Corps.
The Bullfrogs exist to handle the missions that the generals back on Lianna prefer to ignore. They work in the shadows—disavowed, deniable, and indispensable. Their creed is simple: No matter the mission, no matter the target. For the Empire.
The Imperial Confederation:
The 17th Company hasn't had too many major changes since the fall of the Empire of the Lost. When the Imperial military was reformed into the Imperator Corps, and its three distinctive divisions, the Bullfrogs found themselves under the purview of its special forces branch known as Section Umbra. Under the Marshal of the Special Forces, the 17th company was slightly expanded to fit with the Imperator Corps standard of ten soldier squads. This increased each squad by one soldier, and the overall company by sixteen members. Additionally, the company was upgraded to standard TIC weapons and hardware, and has begun slowly phasing out older EOTL equipment.
6/16/25 - v2.0
Fixed header image
Updated affiliation
Updated squad count and overall soldier counts
Refined language
Updated Equipment to TIC standards
Added TIC section to description
Fixed header image
- Note: The image artist deleted the image I had for a header; luckily, someone had it saved. So I uploaded the picture to Imgur privately but still credited the original artist.
Updated affiliation
Updated squad count and overall soldier counts
Refined language
Updated Equipment to TIC standards
Added TIC section to description
Last edited:
