Rapid Deployment and Special Operations [RDSO]

Sixth Division

Specialty: Rapid Deployment and Special Operations [RDSO]

Symbol: A daisho set.
Motto: "Together, any opponent is no more than a babe, any situation is no more than a play date, and any hardship is no more than a day in the sun."

In the past, the Gotei's Sixth Division has taken on many guises, almost all of which have been centered around the idea of a specific fighting-path or methodology. The new Sixth Division, however, is something completely new and relatively unseen in the Gotei. If we were to compare Divisions to weapons, many of them, such as the 11th Divisions, could be considered to be 'Claymores' or 'Spears' - massive weapons which, for all intents and purposes, exist solely to destroy. Others, such as the 2nd, 9th, and 12th, are daggers - weapons that remain hidden until just before they strike. The new Sixth Division, then, could be compared to a pair of 'Daisho' - the 'wakizashi' exists to parry attacks and the 'katana' exists to slice down enemies.

That is to say that they exist to perform both offensive and defensive functions with high speed and accuracy. Sixth Division Shinigami, unlike their other Gotei counter-parts, are rarely, if ever, put on to patrol in Rukongai or the Living Realm. Rather, they are constantly on stand-by, waiting to respond to any situation that needs a quick and efficient response. The situations to which they respond can be anything, ranging from emergency back-up against Hollows, to assisting in emergency non-combat situations, or to heading off an assault on Seireitei or Rukongai - anything which requires quick response. There are often several patrols on stand-by by each gate as well as at the Taihonbu proper.

It is, in fact, due to their very nature as the first Shinigami on a particularly hazardous scene that members of the Sixth Division also are considered part of 'Special Operations'. Many of the opponents which cause emergency situations often have unique and difficult abilities - thus, members of the Sixth Division need to be capable of dealing with these threats quickly and effectively. As a result, they are among the best suited men and women to deal with 'Operations' that require a degree of finesse to properly execute.

In times of notable peace, the Sixth Division still functions in much the same way, specializing in providing back-up to other Divisions or in dealing with Hollows with particularly difficult abilities, as well as patrolling the first ten to fifteen Districts in Rukongai and Seireitei's border. This is not accomplished because Sixth Division Shinigami are inherently superior to others; no, the key to their success lies in one of their most fundamental principles - Teamwork. Unlike most of the Gotei where Division-mates merely are grouped into squads, the men and women of the Sixth Division are trained specifically to fight in sync with each other. Their capacity for overwhelming teamwork is, in fact, so large that it isn't uncommon for them to be able to fight just as well with men and women they've only known for a few moments.

In a large combat operation, their role often greatly varies. Many of their lower-ranked members often serve as runners, helping divisions to communicate orders between each other. They can also serve, in some capacity, as part of the advanced guard, helping scout out the situation and holding back the onslaught until the main force arrives. Additionally, the Sixth Division can be utilized to outflank the opponent, using speed and skill to move around and help tear through the enemy's sides.

The men and women of the Sixth Division are a unique breed - they are typically skilled in Hohou, as well as in either or both Zanjutsu and Kidou, though some with a notable degree of skill in Hakuda do exist. In order to properly carry out their role, members of the Sixth must be both fast in body and in mind - they must be able to analyze a situation and recommend a course of action in a small window of time. To signify their membership in the Sixth Division, all members carry a 'Daisho' set - that is, their Zanpakutou is required to be sealed as 'katana', or a reasonable variant thereof, and they are given a special division 'wakizashi' upon induction. Because they carry around the symbol of traditional Samurai, the men and women are encouraged to act in a manner that would be becoming of such. Gentle and kind to those who deserve it, they are also monsters capable of horrible acts if necessary. They are also encouraged to be idealists - people who believe in some higher ideal for which they strive.