Military in the field - ID issues

[rusquen]

This is a fantasy story set in a secondary world. The army in question is vaguely reminiscent of the Napoleonic army, but the country it belongs to is definitely and defiantly a republic (so - no nobles pulling rank

Comments

[rusquen]

Hey, thanks for responding!

So... what kind of regulations would those be? I'm just completely failing at finding or designing them. The best I can think of is some sort of password exchange, but passwords would need to be changed often for security, and these guys don't have fast long-distance communication beyond pigeon post. I somehow don't see pigeons being regularly sent to every single little outpost with the message of "today's password for recognizing random superior officers is swordfish".

Re punting... I'm afraid Lt.S would have to make some sort of decision on his own. It's not that the general is trying to make any trouble - he's pretty much incoherent by this point. And, in theory, Lt.S could just bring him inside the fortress on the basis of common humanity and then let the garrison commander and medic figure out how real is the general and his health issues. The problem is, he did see the general perform a major magical stunt while fighting off the assassins. If it turns out the general's actually an enemy pulling off a wounded gazelle gambit, bringing him inside pretty much equals giving up the fortress without a fight. But then, if he's a real general with a genuine medical emergency who just got nearly assassinated (by some mutinous troops?) on the territory Lt.S is technically responsible for, leaving him out in the cold with minimal protection while Lt.S goes back to the fortress for instructions seems like a really bad idea. Even if the general doesn't die from his health thing, the assassins might come back. For that same reason, bringing the garrison commander or the medic outside, or even keeping the gate of the fortress open for too long, doesn't seem like a great plan either.

So it sounds like I really need some well-established way of ascertaining the general's credentials so Lt.S can go "yep, I'm reasonably sure he's our general" and get inside fast. I just can't think of what would that way be :(

[marycatelli]

How necessary is actually being in the post for treatment of the injuries?

Also remember that if they are not what they claim to be, he wants them as prisoners.

[green_grrl]

Maybe the general is also wearing the military’s ornate signet ring identifiable from the wax impression on sealed orders. Between the uniform and the ring, Lt. S can be 80-98% sure this is who he thinks it is, depending on the counterfeiting skill and tactical style of the enemy. On that, he can at least get them just inside the fortress and call the commander to come down and take over.

[rusquen]

To green_girl
Ha, a signet ring! I din't think of that. Might try it, thanks!

[rusquen]

To marycatelli
Well, actually being in the post isn't strictly speaking necessary, but the doctor is necessary, and the doctor is in the post. And inviting the doctor to come out, considering the suspicious circumstances, is probably not a good idea?
Re prisoners - the only way to hold a magician of this kind prisoner is to drug him with a magic-suppressing potion. Which has some side effects. So even if Lt.S happened to have the potion on hand, which he doesn't, he wouldn't risk administering it without a doctor. So he'd still have to bring an unrestrained magician inside the fortress or get the doctor to come out to assess him.

[xolo]

Okay... If it were me: The lieutenant isn't out on patrol alone, or at least I hope not. He'll have a sergeant, and several enlisted men with him. His patrol has just been in an unexpected fight, so he's entirely justified in having his men load and prime their muskets, and possibly fix bayonets as well, if that won't interfere with firing the muskets (some bayonet designs did). Depending on how dense the trees are, and how closely an enemy can approach from cover, bayonets may be a better weapon anyway.

I'd start immediately back for the fort with the general in custody. The purpose of a patrol is to find out if anything untoward is happening nearby, and meeting enemy troops and finding a stray general needs to be reported at once. The general occupies a status between being under arrest and being given a protective escort, which everyone understands, but everyone will pretend that it's very much the latter.

When we get within sight of the fort (and a fort should have a clear-cut killing zone around it, so no-one can approach under cover), I'd send a runner ahead to alert the officer in charge of the watch, and ask for instructions and the doctor. We'd wait outside the fort, (under the walls, where an enemy would have to be prepared to take serious casualties to get at us), and wait for instructions.

In European armies, in the late 18th / early 19th centuries, an officer was also considered a gentleman, and a general was usually nobility. Since he's not recognized, it would not be out of line to politely ask him to give his word that he has no hostile intent.

Edit for afterthought:

Or, if I've misconstrued the situation, and the lieutenant sallied out of the fort because he noticed fighting outside: He'll have made his comrades aware of what's happening before he goes out. 100% guaranteed. If there's any danger, sounding the alarm is his #1 priority, before mounting a rescue. That's going to be pretty much universal, no matter what army. If that's the case, then the doctor, the Watch Officer or Officer of the Day, and everyone else will be aware of the situation, probably before the fight ends. The lieutenant won't have to worry about what to do, because a senior officer will take charge.