Union Naval Corps
The Union Naval Corps are the primary military arm of the Solar Union, responsible for most of the vast fleets patrolling human space. The Naval Corps includes one major sub-branch, the elite Orbital Guard responsible for boarding actions, both offensive and defensive.
Personnel of the Naval Corps
The Naval Corps' personnel are overwhelmingly selected from residents of Sol, though Luyten II contributes a small but significant fraction from its orbital shipyard complexes. Notably, the Naval Corps have a much larger discrepancy in demographics than any other government institution in the Union; over 80% of Naval Corps personnel are female. In the days of chemical rockets, this selection bias reduced penalty weight on vessels, vital for efficiency; at the present day, with functional Gray drives and high-efficiency nuclear thrusters employed universally, the ratio is maintained by weight of tradition. Men from outlying systems, more than any other group, commonly face discrimination in postings and promotions. Potential enlistees to the Naval Corps and Orbital Guard can begin cadetships as soon as 16, though full enlistment only comes at the age of 18.Crew Structure
Smaller ships often combine ranks and tasks for lack of personnel, but large ships such as battleships can maintain a full complement of single-task workers. * Commanding Officer - The Commanding Officer is the final word aboard her own ship. Subordinate only to the Fleet Commander of her fleet, the Commanding Officer ensures all areas of her ship are capable of carrying out their mission. The job is one of delegation and politics in large part, rather than hands-on work, but on smaller vessels the Commanding Officer often takes a more active position. One Commanding Officer per vessel. * Executive Officer - If the Commanding Officer is the brain of the vessel, the Executive Officer is her hands. Under normal circumstances, the Executive Officer commands the departments not grouped into larger categories, relays the word of the Commanding Officer to the ship, and generally manages the day-to-day work; essentially, an administrator with clout. One Executive Officer per watch. * Communications Crew - The communications crew handles all inbound and outbound transmissions. Couriers typically report to the comms crew as well as the SCAD crew. * Small Craft and Docking Crew - SCAD handles all vessels stored aboard the ship, from the smallest maintenance pod up to massive transport ferries. Far more often, the SCAD crew handle docking and (if possible) landing procedures. * Quartermaster and Logistics Crew - The logistics crew is in control of all supplies and cargo that enter or exit the vessel. * Payload Operations - Aboard military vessels, Payload Operations is separate from the Logistics crew and is responsible for the weapons and active defenses of the vessel. * Medical Operations - Medical Operations controls injury and disease aboard the vessel. * Flight Officer - The Flight Officer directs the ship's motion and that of any autonomous fighter units it carries. One per watch. * Helm - The typical "pilot" position, the team in control of the vessel itself. On small ships, the helm may be the only position actively filled by a dedicated user, though they typically double for navigation in such cases. Most post-Contact vessels work on a system using paired pilots in a shared Iris space. * Navigation - Navigation on Union ships is largely automated, but crew members remain on staff to ensure correct calculations and make corrections where systems fail, such as in the vicinity of space-time anomalies (though no Union vessel should be near a black hole or the like, accidents happen). Navigation also handles plotting Grey Drive courses. * Sensor Operations - Coordinating with Communications, Sensor Operations handles passive and active sensors throughout the vessel, internally and externally. Sensors for system maintenance are instead handled by their relevant engineering crew. * Drone Operations - Remote pilots for drones carried by larger vessels. Onboard robots are occasionally handled by this unit as well. * Chief Engineer - The Chief Engineer is responsible for all systems aboard the vessel working as planned, so the Commanding Officer can count on all departments being able to work as planned. One per watch, though sometimes a hierarchy informally forms around the most senior regardless of rank, and even off of their watch she may be consulted if appropriate. * Propulsion Engineer - Propulsion engineers manage the drive systems, both for realspace and FTL travel. * Electrical Engineer - Electrical engineers control the reactors, solar systems, and most electrical systems aboard the vessel. * Thermal Engineer - Droplet radiators are hardly maintenance-free, and they occupy much of the thermal engineers' time. Other heat regulation systems are under the thermal engineers' purview as well. * Data Systems Engineer - Euphemistic as usual, data systems engineers are not only responsible for the maintenance of shipboard computer systems, but are usually trained in cyberwarfare for offensive usage. *Life Support Engineer - The lords of air, water, and food, and typically the most important people aboard a ship to please, whether the commanding officer agrees or not. * Auxiliary Systems Engineer - Auxiliary systems include, essentially, all systems not directly managed by another crew. In practice, ASEs are general handymen and maintenance crew. * Orbital Guard Officer - On ships with an Orbital Guard contingent, the chief officer of their contingent will report to the Commanding Officer directly.Uniforms
Combat Operations Suit
All shipboard uniforms for the Naval Corps use the Combat Operations Suit as their base layer. The Suit is a counterpressure vacuum suit, similar to the now-retired Exo-Activity Suit. These suits are typically all-over silver with trimmings of orange for visibility. In expected close-quarters combat, the Combat Operations Suit can be fitted with hard plating for ballistic protection and a degree of defense against energy weapons; this typically precludes wear of a normal uniform. The suit itself uses similar protective measures to the Army Corps' battle dress, providing significant small-arms protection and stabilization. Identification is provided via Link overlay, though each suit is labeled with its owner's name and rank on the center front. The Combat Operations Suit, and optional armor, is the sole uniform layer utilized by small-craft pilots and other vacuum operators, as well as by Naval personnel expecting to engage in personal combat.Service Uniform
The standard Naval Corps service uniform consists of a paired two-tone silver shirt and black trousers. The shirt zipper is concealed beneath a secured flap, presenting a seamless, slightly asymmetrical appearance. It also features two breast pockets and a Mandarin collar. Rank insignia is worn on the collar, ship insignia and name are worn on the upper arm, and a name tag is worn over the right breast pocket. Ribbons, when applicable, are worn over the left breast. Most personnel aboard UNC ships wear the service uniform for day-to-day operations, including junior officers.Utility Uniform
The utility uniform is essentially a modified fire-resistant service uniform, more suited to engineers, its most common wearers. The uniform's trousers incorporate cargo pockets on the upper thigh, and its shirt includes an integral webbing belt. Knee and elbow areas are reinforced for comfort and durability.Dress Uniform
The dress uniform is the only uniform not worn over the Combat Operations Suit, and is almost never worn aboard ships. In fact, the dress uniform is almost exclusively used by planetside admirals and visiting captains, as shipboard culture places far less importance on uniform stylings and more on their practicality. The uniform consists of a black double-breasted jacket, trimmed in gold, over a silver shirt and black trousers. A white web belt and black shoes complete the uniform. Certain higher-ranking officials wear more elaborate designs, particularly those in political power.Shipboard Culture
Type
Military, Space navy
Parent Organization
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Related Items
Organization Vehicles
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