Territory: Calw

Summary

The Kommando Spezialkräfte is Germany’s primary special forces command. Within KSK, the Kampfschwimmer (combat swimmers) are the naval special forces element — Germany’s equivalent of the British SBS or US Navy SEALs. They specialise in maritime counter-terrorism, underwater demolitions, harbour approach, and ship assault.

Jens Hartmann served as a Kampfschwimmer and combat engineer. Unlike the other PCs, Jens wasn’t sent to the contractor program as a punishment or to get rid of him — KSK command actively selected their best maritime demolitions operator for the assignment. Jens also volunteered because the meteor fragments fascinated him. Materials that grant superhuman abilities and violate known physics? He couldn’t resist.

Role in Campaign

Background faction. KSK represents Jens’s professional identity — methodical German engineering applied to the art of blowing things up underwater. His relationship with KSK is the healthiest of any PC’s relationship with their parent unit. He wasn’t scapegoated (Guy), shipped out as a problem (Ronnie), or operating under a cloud of disturbing reputation (Sammy). He was chosen.

Needs

• Jens’s chain of command at KSK
• Other KSK operators on the contractor program
• KSK’s specific interest in meteor-fragment research
• Jens’s Kampfschwimmer selection class — any old friends or rivals?

Known Members

• Jens Hartmann (seconded to contractor program)

Appearances

• Backstory reference in Jens Hartmann

Relationships

• Part of Bundeswehr — KSK is Germany's tier-one special operations command within the Bundeswehr
• Member of NATO — Operates under NATO framework through the German Armed Forces
• Former employer of Jens Hartmann — Jens served as a Kampfschwimmer (combat swimmer) and combat engineer — KSK command selected him for the contractor program as their best maritime demolitions operator
• Seconded to The Defense Contractor — NATO contributing nation — Germany assigned KSK operators to the contractor's fragment-response program