Hopeless Battle Syndrome

Hopeless Battle Syndrome was a mental and behavioral disorder, associated with the reign of Chancellor Romano Liao in the Capellan Confederation, which caused soldiers and others to prefer suicidal last stands rather than facing the risk of extreme punishment for failure which Romano Liao commonly imposed.

History

While Hopeless Battle Syndrome was mostly known to have impacted the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces under Romano Liao, it continued during the rule of her successor Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao, despite the disdain he held for the policies which had made it common, such as court martials and executions for defeat or insufficiently decisive victories.

Sun-Tzu's Xin Sheng policies, which reversed Romano's approach, were in part designed to help eliminate Hopeless Battle Syndrome. Another protection against Hopeless Battle Syndrome which was instituted by Sun-Tzu, was granting a mandate to the Huang Di Yi Zhi division of the Maskirovka to watch for signs of the Syndrome in military personnel. Any located with symptoms where removed from their position, ideally before they could harm their unit's effectiveness, and sent for treatment.

By the time of Chancellor Daoshen Liao in 3147, Hopeless Battle Syndrome was considered a thing of the past, a relic from times when the Capellan state were more frivolous with the lives of its troops.

While mainly associated with the Capellan Confederation, Hopeless Battle Syndrome was also known in other nations, for example being recognized in the samurai of the Draconis Combine.

Treatment

The treatment for Hopeless Battle Syndrome included therapy and counseling.

Notable Sufferers

A notable sufferer of Hopeless Battle Syndrome was Sang-shao Petyr Oravey of the 3rd Confederation Reserve Cavalry, who fought his hopeless battle to the death on Denbar in 3062, against the Blackwind Lancers during the Capellan-St. Ives War.

Bibliography

• Era Report: 3062
• A Guide to Covert Ops
• Handbook: House Liao
• The Killing Fields
• A Splinter of Hope