Nothing's Like Before
COMMONWEALTH ARMED FORCES
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create the armed forces of the Commonwealth and elaborate on them for my own rp purposes. This is really just defining the different branches and hierarchies.
- Image Credit: ChatGPT
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: Ministry of Defence, Joint Chiefs of Staff, UCMJ, Military Courts UK
- Organization Name: Commonwealth Armed Forces
- Classification: Organization
- Affiliation: The Imperial Commonwealth of Dosuun
- Organization Symbol: A crown and laurel resting inside of the first order’s old hexagon, along with a defense tower in the center. While small ‘sun rays’ are on the outside of the hexagon.
- Description: The Commonwealth Armed Forces is the standing military of the Commonwealth. This includes an army, navy, starfighter corps, as well as commando corps, and territorial defense forces. Member worlds of the Commonwealth offer a contribution to the overall funding of the Commonwealth Armed Forces. The CAF answers to the Divan of Military and Defense, and through the Grand Vizier ultimately to the High Basileus.
- Headquarters: Dosuun*
- Domain:
- Notable Assets: Includes but are not limited to the following:
- Dosuun:
- Mephout
- Needan
- Seoul:
- Hierarchy: The Commonwealth Armed Forces (CAF) answer ultimately to the High Basileus (also styled Sultan), the supreme authority of the Imperial Commonwealth and the office colloquially known as the Crown. Beneath the Crown, executive direction of the state, including its military, runs through the Grand Vizier (also styled Pasha), who governs through the Imperial Divan, the Commonwealth's Council of Ministers.
Within the Divan, the Divan of Military and Defense holds strategic command of the Armed Forces, overseeing military strategy, defense coordination, procurement, and collaboration with allied powers. The older offices of military administration, recruitment, retention, veterans' and service-family affairs, defense procurement, ceremonies, and resource allocation, all sit beneath this Ministry.
Reporting to the Divan Minister of Military and Defense are the Chiefs of Defence Staff, the highest-ranking officers of their respective branches and the senior military advisors to the Minister, the Grand Vizier, and ultimately the Crown. The Chiefs are responsible for the day-to-day command of their branches; the Ministry is responsible for overarching funding, planning, and policy. When the two convene jointly, the body is informally called the Council of Defense, or COD.
Chiefs of Defence Staff: The Chiefs of Defence Staff command the Commonwealth's three line services and their constituent sub-branches:
- Chief of the General Staff — head of the Commonwealth Army, the bulk of the land military, known for its armored, mechanized, artillery, and atmospheric rotary-aviation forces, tasked with seizing and holding ground.
- Chief of the Territorial Defense Force — the Army's reserve and national-guard component. Recognized as a distinct entity within the Army, the TDF is celebrated for rapid mobilization and homeland defense, earning the affectionate nickname "the Minutemen."
- Chief of the Naval Staff — head of the Commonwealth Navy, masters of the void, fielding the Commonwealth's capital fleets and their carrier-launched aviation, and increasingly its deep-space exploration and scientific-reconnaissance missions.
- First Lord of the Territorial Maritime Guard — the Commonwealth's waterborne coast guard: maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement, maintaining surface, subsurface, and atmospheric craft.
- Commandant of the Marine Commando Corps — the Commonwealth's marines and the tip of the spear, protecting naval bases and embassies and deployable anywhere in the galaxy. Part of the Navy, but widely recognized as a distinct branch in its own right.
- Chief of the Starfighter Corps — head of the Commonwealth Starfighter Corps, the Commonwealth's independent aerospace service. The Corps owns aerospace doctrine across the armed forces, training all military pilots and aerospace personnel and parceling them out to fleet, planetary, and strategic-defense missions.
- Aerospace Guard — the reserve and territorial component of the Starfighter Corps, providing planetary defense and homeland aerospace security.
Affiliated Forces (Outside the Line Services) - Two organizations operate alongside the Armed Forces without sitting under the Chiefs of Defence Staff:
- The Imperial Guard — the elite military and intelligence force of the Commonwealth, operating directly under the authority of the Grand Vizier and answering to the Crown. Tasked with internal order, law enforcement, protection of dignitaries and key assets, and covert operations, the Guard is the sovereign's own instrument and deliberately stands apart from the regular military chain. (See the Imperial Guards of the Commonwealth submission.)
- The Commonwealth Merchant Marines— a civilian-military hybrid trade and maritime-defense force established under the Divan Ministry. The Merchant Marines secure the Commonwealth's trade lanes and serve as its strategic supply network in wartime, coordinating closely with the Commonwealth Navy's logistics elements while maintaining their own command structure under a Commodore-General. (See the Commonwealth Merchant Marines submission.)
- Membership: [IC] Typically those wishing to join CAF can do so by either, going to the nearest recruitment office for the branch of their choice and enlisting. Or, they can work to earn a commission by either enrolling in a four-year military academy. Or, joining a university that has a reserve officer training program. The bulk of the armed forces is made of enlisted personnel. [OOC] Be familiar with CAF’ history, its legacy as part of the old First Order, and bada bing, bada boom. This is more or less for my own sake as keeping track of different groups within the Commonwealth. Slide me a DM, I am happy to write with those who choose to write with/as a member of the Commonwealth Armed Forces.
- Climate: The Commonwealth Armed Forces are at times, still associated with their predecessors. However; they do fret about the comparisons rather they leave such comparisons to the wayside. Still, this can carry its own problems when they’re wishing to work with neighbors and other governments. While from the outside they’re seen with mixed opinions. Working within the CAF is its own ‘unique’ experience as any member of the military might tell you. It has its positive moments and negative moments, while some in the CAF joke at their own expense.
- Reputation: While they do their best to be seen as transformed from their First Imperial days. There are many callbacks to such an era from the way their commandos look, to the similar designs in their navy, and starfighter corps. It can be hard to break from such a reputation, but it seems rather than fight detractors. The CAF has chosen to ignore them, and will continue to work however it pleases the CAF and ultimately the High Basileus (Sultan).
- Curios: There are many curios that veterans and members of the CAF may have. From rings, signets, and hats to medals, and uniforms that are kept after service. Each branch has its own unique sword or dagger, and some may even have an antiquated gun that is used for ceremonial purposes.
- Rules: Those in the CAF must follow the Commonwealth Armed Forces Code of Law. Contained within the Code of Law are all the uniformed codes of military justice that all members of the armed forces are expected to follow. These are a complete set of criminal laws, including crimes that are punishable by civilian law but it does also punish other conduct that affects the order and discipline within the armed forces.
- Goals: The Goals of the CAF are to provide peace, security and order to the Commonwealth and its territories. To keep up with the latest in technology, innovations and strategies. To maintain good relations with the Commonwealth’s nations. Expansion is not its primary goal, however, if ordered by the Divan and/or the High Basileus (Sultan) to do so. Then the CAF will march on their orders to expand the Commonwealth’s borders.
Technically, Aerys Fortan likely transferred from the NIO to FO, later the Commonwealth. Iaacen Fortan certainly holds his own commission, as do his niece and nephew Zola and Drianos Yvarro [they’ll likely be PCs later]. Also, maybe Gideon Pavanos sort of depends on how things go with the Kainites.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The successor to the First Imperial Military, or the First Order Military. The Commonwealth Armed Forces are the standing military of the Commonwealth. Each member world contributes financially to the CAF’s upkeep. This upkeep is ‘optional’ for member worlds, but most are heavily encouraged to contribute. Member worlds are allowed to maintain their own planetary defense and may receive equipment from the CAF. This is typically second-hand equipment that would otherwise be scrapped, or sold to others.
The Commonwealth Armed Forces are broken down into its Army, Navy, Starfighter Corps, Commando Corps, and Territorial Defense Force. The Territorial Defense Force can be thought of as both an army reserve as well as a militia. The TDF developed a reputation for arriving almost ‘within the minute’ being summoned. Because of such tenacity and rapid deployment, they’ve been nicknamed, “the Minutemen.” Leaving them to suffer as the butt of jokes, and playful elbow ribbing from the other branches of the Commonwealth Armed Forces.
Nicknames aside, the Commonwealth Armed Forces grew from the old First Order military. When Ariel Yvarro’s Pax Imperialis regime had fallen. Many wondered what would become of them, however; encouraged by the Supreme Leader and transitional staff to remain with them during the hard times. As time moved on and Dosuun transformed itself, so too did the military transform. This also meant a break away from all Primo Victorian-designed ships for the Navy, and any equipment from the past in favor of new state-approved designs.
During the more transitional phase, in the late 870s, the Eternal Empire crept closer and closer toward Dosuun. Having taken several of the old First Order’s worlds. It meant that the military had to be ready, there and then. Emboldened by Dosuun’s lead, many of the other worlds that would later make up both the founding generation and new additions to the Commonwealth began to speak to one another again. They were ready to return to their First Imperial roots to defend what they felt was another nation trespassing on their borders.
Thankfully, the Eternal Empire would not come any closer to Dosuun and its allies. Nevertheless, its presence gave room for their member worlds to not only create for themselves a new identity in the Commonwealth. It gave them a reason to unite and remain united, it was then agreed that all member worlds should (although it is optional), contribute to a standing military while maintaining their own planetary forces. Scars from not just the collapse of Yvarro’s regime, but from the Ssi-Ruuk, along with Seiger Ren’s own abandonment of the systems.
By the mid-880s, both Dosuun and the Commonwealth had emerged better. Primo Victorian’s influence waned as the company reduced its holdings, and the military with new uniforms, new equipment, and new staff. Restored their allegiances to the High Basileus (Sultan). The Commonwealth Armed Forces hope to never be needed, however; they continuously train for when such a day might arrive.
Edit Log: Updated naming conventions, formerly read Commonwealth Commando Corps, now read as Commonwealth Marine Commando Corps. Formerly read Commonwealth Territorial Sea Guard, now reads for the Territorial Maritime Guard. 07/24/24 | updated text to reflect modern Commonwealth language i.e. swapping High Queen for High Basileus, and updating Secretariat and Secretary-General to Divan. Updated logo. 06/07/26
Last edited:
