N-7

N7 is the highest vocational code in the United Federation of Nations (UFN) military’s special forces designation. The "N" denotes special operations personnel, while the "7" represents the pinnacle of proficiency. This elite distinction applies to UFN personnel who successfully graduate from the grueling Interplanetary Combatives Training (ICT) program. N7 operators are among the most respected and lethal warriors in the UFN armed forces, excelling in multi-environment combat, strategic leadership, and specialized warfare techniques.
Legacy and Impact

While there is no shame in failing an N-course—merely attending ICT training confers significant prestige—completing the full program elevates a soldier to near-mythic status within the UFN military. ICT qualification alone does not guarantee promotion, but many N7 operatives advance into high-command roles due to their leadership, combat expertise, and adaptability.
In select cases, UFN military forces form specialized regiments composed entirely of ICT-qualified personnel to handle high-risk, unconventional warfare scenarios. These elite units operate in planetary engagements, deep-space conflicts, and covert special operations missions across the galaxy. The N7 designation remains an enduring symbol of elite military prowess, representing the absolute best of the United Federation of Nations armed forces.

Composition

Training

Interplanetary Combatives Academy (ICA)
The training pipeline for N7 personnel begins at the Interplanetary Combatives Academy, colloquially known as "N-School" or "the villa," located at Vila Militar in Rio de Janeiro. The ICA recruits officers from all branches of the UFN military, subjecting them to a punishing curriculum designed to test their endurance, adaptability, and tactical acumen. The training is considered among the most rigorous in known space.
Training Progression (N1-N6)
The ICT program is divided into six progressive levels (N1 through N6), with each stage introducing increasingly specialized and extreme training regimens.
N1 (Initial Qualification): First-time candidates are subjected to high-intensity, land-based combat scenarios similar to the training of elite terrestrial special forces. A typical training day exceeds 20 hours, including high-stress leadership evaluations, combat simulations, and survival exercises with limited food and sleep.
N2-N6 (Advanced Specializations): Returning candidates advance to higher-level training across different operational theaters, including off-world environments. These courses include:
Zero-G combat and maneuvering
Military free-fall parachuting
Jetboot and jetpack flight operations
Combat diving and underwater demolitions
Close-quarters combat instructor training
Alien and human trauma care (combat lifesaver training)
Tactical linguistics and cryptography
Assault procedures for orbital insertions and planetary engagements
Specialized field training, such as forward observer artillery guidance and mechanized combat
Training locations for advanced courses include:
Europa (Jupiter’s Moon): Harsh environmental survival and extreme cold-weather combat
Reach (Sirius System): Simulated planetary operations, urban warfare, and advanced flight training
Fort Anvil (Barnard Star System): Experimental combat habitat training, EVA combat, and live-fire orbital boarding operations
N7 Qualification

The final stage of ICT training, N6, requires actual combat experience in an active conflict zone. The last and most infamous test is a solo survival challenge: candidates are separated, given basic survival gear, and abandoned on an asteroid with no navigational data. The exercise ends when the last participant's oxygen reserves deplete. Trainees must demonstrate exceptional resourcefulness, combat effectiveness, and endurance to pass. Those who succeed receive the prestigious N7 designation.
N7 is the only ICT qualification permitted for display on both field and dress uniforms, symbolizing the pinnacle of special operations excellence within the UFN military.

Type

Special Forces

Overall training Level

Elite

Assumed Veterancy

Decorated/Honored

Used by

• Armed Forces of the United Federation of Nations