The Companions, men loyal to General Whitehall, form the "de facto" overall command group of Whitehall's Expeditionary Forces, as the Army does not have a structure of command higher than battalion level. Most of them are of the "Messer" class, the nobility of the Civil Government. The Companions are formed in "The Forge" when Whitehall is called to an incident in a farmstead during the march to Komar, and Staenbridge, Foley, the Gruders, M'brust, and M'lewis volunteer to accompany him. Captain Stanson calls them "The Loyal Companions" in a half-serious jest, and the name sticks.