Limitanei and Comitatenses

The Limitanei are usually recruited or otherwise conscripted from a planets local populace in areas expected to be hot zones of conflict. A Tribune of Aquila is often sent to a planet with the specific objective of raising a legion of Limitanei troops, training them to be combat ready and preparing the planet for war in advance of the conflict.

They work alongside the planet's own local defense and spend most of their time building fortification, preparing supply depots and training for an upcoming battle. While usually considered to be more 'elite' than local planetary militia, they are shunned by the Comitatenses and the rest of aquila for not being 'true' soldiers as Limitanei usually disband after the threat has passed and usually don't see conflict. That being said they, on occasion, need to fight and in such time their role is to hold their position and survive until the Comitatenses arrive in force to defeat the enemy. There many accounts detailing the heroic efforts of Limitanei forces in holding back impossible numbers of synths and sometimes dying to a man defending their world.

The Comitatenses are the main branch of Aquila's legions and often are what is referred to when talking about the Aqulian Legions, under the umbrella of Comitatenses nearly every unit lies. The Comitatenses represent the true fighting force of Aquila. Going from planet to planet and fighting to eradicate the enemies of the empire. No matter the odds they Comitatenses are expected to win once deployed. Comitatenses don't defend, they strike and almost exclusively are used as an attacking force. They are organized into legions, each with its own Commander, Legionaries and Lorica Mechs.

A strong martial tradition exists within every Legion. In Aquilan fashion, many of the soldiers are raised from birth to be a part of a specific legion, learning the particular lore and mythos of each legion and more often than not a legionnaire serves for life. The recent loss of the Synths and the extreme casualties of the war have taken a toll on the legions and now are critically undermanned.