Military of Allech-Atreus
The Military of Allech-Atreus is the large, technologically advanced force used by the Great Star Empire of Allech-Atreus to maintain its interstellar Empire. Divided into the Army and the Fleet, the military of Allech-Atreus is a massive force, comprising thousands of ships with bases in every part of the Empire.
Contents
Overview
The Empire's military forces are divided into the Fleet and the Army, but within the Imperial Military apparatus there are the forces of the various regional, provincial, planetary, and municipal power. Though these forces fall outside the direct jurisdiction of the Imperial High Command, they are beholden to the commands of Imperial officers and the Emperor's law.
The Fleet
"The might of the Empire lies in the Fleet. Without the thousands of starships and hundreds of commanders, the Emperor's authority would be usurped, and chaos would consume the galaxy."
-General Aviram Vezaad, "First Treatise on the Fleet"
Comprised of thousand of spacefaring ships and warcruisers, the Fleet is directly under the command of several semiautonomous officials.
In command of the Fleet are five Grand Admirals. They administer the entire fleet, and are theoretically the most experienced and veteran of all officers. The rank below them is occupied by the Lord High Admirals, 12 in number. Each Lord High Admiral is responsible for overseeing one of the 12 Fleet Sectors, comrpised of different planets and overlapping regional borders. Under the Lords Admiral are 54 Lord Admirals, and beneath them somewhere around 220 Admirals of the Fleet, or Fleet Admirals.
Beneath the Fleet Admirals are the Fleet Captains, commanders of the ships. Unlike previous fleets, however, the Fleet Admiral posesses his own ship, and commanders from there. Many admirals are in retirement or of active duty, and as such their ships are not the best.
Organization of the Fleet can be divided according to who is in command or by how many ships are in the assembley. Technically, any fleet which is commanded by a Grand Admiral is a "Grand Imperial Warfleet," but this title is simply honorific. A fleet comprised of 100 or less ships if considered a Flotilla, 500 or less a Fleet, 1000 or less a High Fleet, and 2000 or less a Grand Fleet. The only higher designation is the Supreme Imperial Fleet, theoretically consisting of all the ships in the Fleet. Naturally, this has never been assembled becaus of the sheer magnitude of the force.
The Emperor holds the title "First Fleet Lord Grand Admiral," and any fleet with him in command is a "Grand Imperial Fleet of the Imperial Throne." Only three Emperors have ever led one of these: The Jeddawan Emperor, Alastar I Khoomsai, and Allech-Atreus I.
Technically, all seafaring ships are under a seperate command, but many Admirals in the fleet command sea ships as well. Imperial Army units are usually beholden to the Fleet, but oftentimes an army general can outrank and command a spacefleet.
The ships of the fleet are classified according to size and firepower. Th largest ship crews about 1000 souls, and the smallest only 5. Each class of ship is defined by the Foundry Ship, the ship of that class with themost prestige and advancement, the preeminent vessel of that class. All capital ships are named in Gaddam.
Capital Classes
1. Walanda Class
Foundry Ship - Ikh Yur (Infinite Heaven), Lord Admiral Bezah Khim Turnukh
The most powerful ships in the fleet, the "battleships" of the Empire. Each ship has a crew of somewhere around 1000 men, not including soldiers and marines, and the ships have the power to destroy whole swaths of land in a single barrage. Loaded with missiles, projectile weapons, and engery lances, these ships are massive, armored gun platforms. Their design is simple, a long hull plated in black metal, with the engines at the aft and the bridge reaching out over the ship's midsection. Designed by the late Hethman Ur In Urthman, the number of ships in this class is only 5, with one to defend Imperia Prime at all times. Lord Admiral Turnukh's Ikh Yur is the best of its class, the best trained, the best outfitted, and the most distinguished.
2. Kol Kathan Class
Foundry Ship - Than Yur (Aeon), Lord Admiral Thay Duamuh
The Kol Kathan class are the immediate predecessors to the Walandas, smaller is size and lesser in armament, but still powerful and strong. Crewing about 700 souls, the ships are outfitted in the same manner as the Walanda class. Their design is similar to the Walanda class, only smaller, and with the exception of the bridge. Whereas the Walanda's bridge begins at the aft of the ship and extends forward in an arch, connecting with the midsection, the Kol Kathan's bridge does not connect, and simply hangs in space. The ship is also armored more lightly and is painted, rather than pitch-black. Lord Admiral Duamuh gained distinction for the Than Yur at Rengazii, putting down a rebellion by Imperial governor Sapuldaram Yujang.
3. Ushman Class
Foundry Ship - Ran (Purity), Lord Admiral Orpulash Patrick Wergenshih
4. Jeddawan Class
Foundry Ship - Tesh Am In Han (Legendary Strength), Lord Admiral Hu-en Fashodan
5. Bargyzash Class
Foundry Ship - Rugh In Juy (Exalted Disk), Lord Admiral Yutef Jacob Werengshih
Non-Capital Classes
The Fleet boasts many non-capital class ships that are used for support, scouting, and other military-related endeavors.
Technology
The Empire utilizes a variety of weapons, many of them energy-based. The most common weapon is the Rengazaan Fleet WorksX-25 Plasma Cannon.
Imperial ships have two lines of defense: an energy shielding, and their armor shielding. The amount of hits that energy shields can withstand is generally dictated by the make of the shielding unit.
Energy Shields
Most shielding units operate on the Kerrick Principle, devised by Professor Brinkman Kerrick of Imperial University. Kerrick Shields project an energy field around the target, drawing energy from the engine. As projectiles strike the field, energy from the surrounding field is drawn into what is termed an "energy callus" and disperses the projectile. The "callus" then disperses back to it's previous state, ready to take another hit. Kerrick Shields are very energy efficient and adept at defending against energy weapons, however, they are very weak against projectile weapons, serving only to slow the projectile before impact.
Another common shield unit is the Rengazaan Fleet WorksMirumath Shield System. Operating on the Energy Systems Theory, this shield uses huge amounts of energy to project a powerful, limited shield in a specific area. Often compared to an ancient hand-shield by scientists, this type of shield operates in sectors on a ship's hull, often requiring individual generators to supply power. These shields are notoriously energy-inefficient, but extremely resilient and capable of stopping anything thrown at it. Many large capital ships use these shields because of their extreme durability.
Despite their excellent defense, all shield types can fail under too much pressure. Weapon energy knocks shields out through overheating, as is common with the Mirumath System, and Kerrick Shields can be taken down by focusing firepower on small areas, overloading the generator. Currently, there are rumours that producers of Kerrick Shield units are working with Rengazaan Fleet Works to produce a working combination of the Mirumath System and the Kerrick.
Cloaking
The largest Imperial ships are equipped with cloaking devices that allow them to remain unseen for small periods of time. The longest any ship can remain cloaked is one hour with shields up, three hours shields down. Since the cloaking device requires huge amounts of energy to power, use of the cloaking device while in combat can result in overheating, or damage the cloak itself.
Small scanning probes are also equipped with cloaking devices. Because they are unarmed and contain only a propulsion system and a scanning package, these probes can remain cloaked almost indefinitely.
Propulsion
Imperial ships generally travel at sublight speeds on a sort of impulse power. While at sublight speed they are capable of fast maneuvering, and can enter an atmosphere.
Travel between planets is completed by using subspace travel. Esentially phasing out of normal space and into "subspace," where distances between planets are compressed, the ships can travel incredible distances that would take years in normal space. Many long-range transmissions are sent through subspace, which are recieved by subspace com nodes, set to phase in and out of subspace in order to facilitate communication.
Subspace travel only functions in space at a certain distance from a planet. Brinkman Kerrick theorized that subspace is created by the gravity wells of planets and stars, and that subspace cannot function around planets because of the intense gravity. Indeed, although travel in subspace appears similar to normal space, there are no planets and helmsmen must be wary not to travel into a black hole or energy well.
Armoring
Heavy plate armoring is common on all large capital ships, used in tandem with energy shields. Especially with Kerrick Shields, which have difficulty stopping projectile weapons, strong armor alloys are necessary. Secondarily, thick shielding aids in pressurization and atmospheric travel.
Support Craft
Most large Imperial craft have hangars and are capable of supporting fighter craft. The largest ships can support somewhere around 200 fighters. Most fighter designs are basic and small, armed with a single energy lance or a pair of blasters. Most Imperial fighters are outfitted with Kerrick shields. Their armor is not highly rated.
Critical Systems
the following information is considered classified military information, and is only reproduced here for reference purposes
All Imperial ships are equipped with an Astropath, a psychic cyborg human that is hooked into the ship's communication, battle, and subspace systems. The larger the ship, the more Astropaths it has.
The Astropath is a support system that plots course in subspace, establishes communications with incompatible systems, and draws battle plans. They are linked in an unknown way with the ship's "nervous system," lending an almost magical quality to the ship itself. Some ship captains with cyborg implants may link into the Astropath's system and command the ship directly.
Astropaths are housed in a Sanctum in the heart of the ship, a heavily armored, shielded room that is connected to all the vital systems of the ship through an Artery, a pylon of cables, plaz transducers, and other connexions. They are usually organized in banks of three, their heads facing inward in a perfect circle. Their physical forms are tended to by ministrants, religious adherents in training for the Astropathy itself.
Imperial battle systems are largely secret, as are communications. Ships travel by realspace and subspace, and while only larger ships are equipped with subspace drives, smaller ships make use of subspace relay gates to travel.
Terrestrial Forces
Commands
Each section of the Terrestrial Forces has their own command organization, responsible for the various subdivisions within the Force. Land forces are under the Ground Command, and sea forces are under the Sea Command. Both commands are headed by a High Command, and report to the Supreme Command for the entire Empire.
Ground Command
The Ground Command oversees all operations of the Imperial Ground Force, which is divided into several different subsections. Under the banner of the Ground Force, there are three main infantry organizations: the Imperial Army, and Imperial Guard, and the Pulsar Guard.
Imperial Army
The Imperial Army is the workhorse of the military. There are millions of soldiers in the Army, all equipped and ready for war. Army bases dot each planet in the Empire, ready to enforce order, and many Fleet ships have their own contingents of Army units ready for immediate deployment.
Because of the sheer manpower involved with the Army, there have been criticisms that soldiers are nothing more than cannon fodder. Indeed, it is true that Armymen are lighter trained and armed than the Imperial Guard, but the average Army soldier is a hardy and tough soldiers, run through rigorous training. All Imperial citizens are required to give a year of their lives to the Army.
The Army Command is headed by Army Marshal Revan Leth Gertisch.
Imperial Guard
If the Imperial Guard is the backbone of the ground forces, then the Guard would be the arms and legs. The Guard is made up of volunteers who have gone through some of the toughest military training known, and outfitted with some of the best equipment. Imperial Guards are considered elite units, and often lead attacks with Army units. Many Guardsmen began as Armymen, and showed great prowess and dedication to the Empire. Imperial Guard soldiers are equipped with active camoflage, which covers most of their body.
Guard bases are fewer than Army bases, and only select ships have contingencies of Guardsmen. Guardsmen are often used as bodyguards by high-ranking officials or important people, and one can usually tell the rank of a person by the number of Imperial Guards he has with him.
The Guard are outfitted with the best weaponry and armor in the galaxy, and the Guard Command is vigorous in procuring newew and better equipment for their men. The Command is headed by Guard Marshal Havet Iton.
Pulsar Guard
The Pulsar Guards are the elite of the elite, the chosen few who defend the Emperor's person and grounds, the legendary soldiers whose feats reach mythic proportions. The Pulsar Guards are rarely seen in public, and are mysterious and silent. Their actualy numbers are unknown, but it is known that they are drastically fewer in number than the Guard. They have almost no bases except for their training grounds on Istan Khoy and Kum Kale, and thay are rarely used in combat.
The Pulsar Guards recieve the best of the best of the best equipment, and their training is harder and more intense than any other. The Pulsar Guards are almost always raised from birth, knowing only their brother Pulsars. Usually genetically enhanced, they are also implanted with electronics and machines to improve their combat ability and strength.
The Pulsars defend the Emperor at all times, in all places he is. The Imperial Royal Family also recieves their protection, and only the most important functionaries, such as the Grand Privy Councillors, might recieve an escort of Pulsar Guards.
The Pulsars are rarely incombat, but when they enter the fray they devastate. Guardsmen and Armymen are inspired by their presence on the battlefield, and the sight of their commanders is something awesome.
The Pulsar Command is shadowy and mysterious, but the public face of the Pulsars is Lord Pulsar Marshal Tebrak.
Equipment
Regional/Independent Forces
Each regional government has their own garrisons and livery forces, largely dedicated to defending the planets under the region's jurisdiction. These forces are usually quite numerous, but are inferior in fighting strength to the Imperial forces.
Several planets and systems have developed very capable specialized forces.
Special Forces
Hunters
Orginally a tribe of humans from the planet Second Tell, the Hunters developed a highly specialized tracking and hunting culture in the harsh climate of the Tell. Once they acquired the advanced technology of the modern world, they became even more deadly, adapting active camoflage and laser weaponry to become highly effective stalk-trackers. During the Second Valten dynasty, they were recruited into the forces of the Aarmy, and were used to form the first Commando corps, who take the name Hunters. For missions, they are organized into groups of five, called a Pack, with four Hunters and one Hunt Captain, but on solitary assignments and during training, they are solitary.
Honorguard
Technically a part of the Imperial Guard Legions, the Honorguard are elite bodyguard and shock units who operate with the Guard. They usually form the bodyguard contingents of important officials, Admirals, and high-ranking Inquisitors.
Cham-sha
The Cham-sha are mysterious and enigmatic. Some say they are spies, some say they are assasins, some say they are both, and thos ewho really know the truth and most likely dead or getting there.
Cham-sha is a Gaddam word that references an ancient Bizan legend. The legend says a young man named Cham-sha was in love, and his love was killed by the vindictive fire demon Utu-sher-waan. Seeking vengeance, Cham-sha sought the help of all the gods in his revenge, and the only one who would listen was the shadow-god, Zin-teaj. Zin-teaj warned Cham-sha that his gift of vengeance would haunt Cham-sha forever, and would not restore his love, but the young man took the gift anyway.
Cham-sha, the legend saysm, was given the powers of the shadows-god, and sought out the lair of Utu-she-waan, where he exstinguished the demons' fires to get his revenge. When he went back to his home, he was reviled and cast out, and found that he no longer resembled his old self. He discovered that he could take the shape of any human he wished, and well up the shadows at his command, and was a master of bringing death. He wandered the land, lonely, killing those that requested his help.
It is from this legend that the mysterious Cham-sha get their name.
Military Philosophy
"You want to know why we have never lost, why we will never lose? We know what needs to be done, and we do it. Somewhere along the way our enemies lost sight of the fact that war is about killing, that people will die, and that there is brutality in life. We never have.
And we are still alive." -Duke Vezzar Innti, excerpt from Osebion Pelt's "Abdian Dialogues"
