Skeelzanian Navy

==Like the Skeelzanian article proper, this one is sadly out of date. I have since focused my efforts on the ESUSWiki pages, one of which is a Naval Page. I invite anyone interested in the Skeelzanian navy to visit this page: http://wiki.esusalliance.co.uk/index.php?title=Skeelzanian_Navy

The Skeelzanian Sternmarine

The Sternmarine of Skeelzania is the largest and most politically important branch of the Skeelzanian Armed Forces. Employing several million sentient bodies, its numbers are only dwarfed by those of the Army. Politically it is the most important and influential branch, as most foreign policy decisions (read: deployment of military force) are carried out through it. Its multitude of warships serve as a bargaining chip in any negotiations conducted by Skeelzania, and help keep the far-flung Empire together. With the demise of Arenumberg and Bandalok, the Skeelzanian Navy is considered, if not the largest, than at least one of the most powerful in the Gamma Quadrant.

The Three Navies

Technically, there are three Naval forces within Skeelzania. Along with the Imperial Navy proper, there are the space assets of the Fürstentum-Schützt, the Royal Guards/paramilitary enforcers of the Empire. There is also the Directorate of the Interior, Enforcement Division (DIED), which for a breif period was a more visible internal policing force than the FS. Since then, they have declined in position and have been almost entirely absorbed into the Navy Proper. These three branches all come together to make up the Sternmarine.

History

The Sternmarine has historically played the largest part in Skeelzanian expansion and warfare. It has been the deciding factor in all of Skeelzania's interstellar conflicts, as well as the country's one civil war. The branch's history is generally characterized by the ruler then in power.

The reign of Baad Skeelzot

The first Grand Prince of Skeelzania, by all accounts, was not a navy man. Rather it was his younger brother, Ianos, who was instrumental in the development and early direction of the Naval Service. He established both the Royal Navy and the FS Space Divsion, holding the rank of Grand Admiral in both organizations. Negotiations were carried out at his behest with the Empire of Corpsac, which resulted in the construction of 5 light cruisers in that country's yards. These ships were the first of the Draco class and served as the nucleus for the Royal Navy. Within thirty years over 75% of all Skeelzanian ships were produced in local yards, with most of these being Wyrm-class destroyers. Towards the middle of his reign Baad Skeelzot saw the introduction of the Tiamat battleships, Skeelzanians first "super ships".

During his reign the Royal Navy participated in the New Xanthal conflict, fighting with Xanthal in the Two Day War and breaking the Kechan blockade of New Xanthal. Ianos Skeelzot personally led the Skeelzanian Battlefleet, consisting of 15 craft, into battle against the Kechan armada. Thirty years later (44 O.E.) the Navy and FS forces fought a pitched battle against a rogue Bandalok fleet in the Spoot System. A few years before the death of Baad Skeelzot, the Royal Navy retreated from the Western Frontier in order to better concentrate military assets, giving rise to a period of lawlessness in that region which has never fully abated.

The reign of Dmitri Skeelzot (61 O.E to 176 O.E)

Dmitri inherited from his father a sizeable but aging space force that spent most of its time at moorings or on exercise. Ianos Skeelzot, who had retired to his Solomon estate, was brought back by his nephew to oversee a massive development program, 'Project M'. Starting in year 80, the Project saw a huge increase in both ship design and construction. The ultimate symbol of this buildup was the massive Skeelzot class battleships, three kilometer-long behemoths designed to assure galactic superiority in any potential war within the Quadrant. Cruisers, gunships, and large wings of fighters also made their appearance. New doctrines were developed, most of them focusing on fast attacks from multiple vectors.

The reign of Vladimir (176 O.E. to 252 O.E.)

Vladimir at first followed policies similar to that of his father. However, with the arrival of the Ork raiders the Navy underwent a dramatic policy shift. Instead of an offensive, expansionist force, the Navy began to adopt a more defensive posture. Heavier warships were built to counter the Ork's equally heavy designs, leading to massive slugfests fought between the two Empires on the eastern and southern frontiers. However, these changes would not be enough; for in 252 Grand Prince Vladimir was killed by Ork raiders while on an inspection tour with his daughter. This event sparked the Skeelzanian War of Succession which saw the Navy torn apart as various commanders sided for the two claimants.

The Reign of Arkady (253 O.E. to 508 O.E.)

Although the disastrous civil war devestated the Navy, along with every other Armed Forces branch, the Empress was quick to implement reconstruction measures. However it still took several decades to build up the Battlefleet, allowing the Orks improve their position. Although Arkady continued the construction of heavy warships, she shifted the Navy's focus to lighter, long-range vessels for covert missions in the Alpha Quadrant. Skeelzanian expansion towards Sol eventually drew the wrath of several Solar nations, who financed a coup against the Skeelzot Family.

The Democracy (509 O.E. to 549 O.E.)

During its thirty years of rule, the Democracy managed to carry its scheme to disarm Skeelzania and eventually turn it into a Solar puppet-state. The Navy's budget suffered serious cuts, and morale on the few remaining ships plummeted. In fact, the only real naval presence left in Skeelzania were the Grenzmarines, private fleets financed by various House Majors. It was with these that Hamlicar Skeelzot, heir to the Imperial Throne and grandson of Arkady, seized power from the Democrats and brought about the Imperial Restoration.

The Reign of Hamilcar (553 O.E. onwards)

Under Hamilcar's rule, the Navy has obtained a level of strength unsurpassed in Skeelzanian history. Super-heavy capital ships are built at a frigtening rate, and the number of smaller vessels is in the hundreds or even thousands. A massive campaign of conquest has enabled Skeelzania to maintain this furious rate of construction, although some drastic measures were required.

Today's Sternmarine

The Imperial Navy today is one desiged to aggresively confront and destroy and fleet that might possibly be put against it, and to faciliate Skeelzanian expansion throughout the Quadrant and, ultimately, the galaxy. Its tactics are typically brutal and direct, and thanks to the ships' heavy armor and weaponry they are usually succesful.

The Sternmarine has two competing goals: to protect Skeelzania and foreign Imperial interests from piracy and attack, and to aggressively assault enemy nations to bring about a favorable settlement.