Commonwealth Navy: Difference between revisions

The [[Idarast#Ankon|City-state of Ankon]] was especially quick to establish shipyards and a professional navy and soon rivalled that of Beorgan and the vessels they had inherited from the House of Ida. To this day the city of [[Idarast#Ankon|Ankon]] is heavily invested in shipbuilding and has extremely close ties with the navy.

Outnumbered, the joint task force relied on superior tactics and positioning against the attempt to invade Asta. While victorious, the battle was a close-run thing. Losses for the joint task force were high. Commanding one of the vessels was the then, Aetharing Uriele. To this day his actions while breaking the enemy lines are taught in the naval academy. Uriele is remembered as one of the Commonwealth’s greatest naval heroes. [[Asta#Uriele Anchorage|The Uriele Naval Anchorage]] is named in his honour.

The following decades saw the Commonwealth Navy involved in several skirmishes and a series of campaigns to thwart any more incursions. But it wasn’t only foreign powers the Navy had to contend with. Domestic groups opposed to the formation of the Commonwealth had taken up arms and began a small insurgency. Based mostly in the [[Asta#Vale belt|Vale belt]] the Commonwealth Navy was tasked with rooting the insurgents out and protecting the vital trade routes in and out of Asta. After a series of bombings on Idarast, a major campaign was undertaken to root out the insurgent’s bases. Dozens of vessels combed the vast Vale belt, while marines were deployed on Idarast to occupy several suspected insurgent bases. The insurgency was declared defeated but it is rumoured that several cells survived and simply continued their efforts against Commonwealth traders, fueling the rise of piracy in the Vale belt.

As the situation in Beacon Space calmed down, and relative peace returned to the sector, the Commonwealth Navy was tasked with securing the rapidly expanding trade routes. Fueled by the formation and successes of the [[Assembled Commonwealth# The Guilds|guilds]], Commonwealth goods could now be found on the extreme edges of known Beacon Space. The Navy was required to make all effort possible to protect those guilds. The fleet became stretched thin. Vessels were on constant patrol. Shipbuilding continued at a significant pace. Competition between the guilds became fierce, each bidding for rich trade routes and precious charters. This led to several altercations between different Guilds. This animosity eventually escalated, leading to some unscrupulous guild masters hiring criminals and pirates to interfere with their competitors' routes. The Commonwealth Navy was overwhelmed by this new development, and droves of vessels simply disappeared. Unsatisfied with the efforts of the Commonwealth Navy some guilds turned to mercenaries to protect their cargoes. These private militaries would eventually become known as Guild Corsairs. Open warfare had been declared by the largest guilds upon each other. At the height of the Guild Corsairs, the number of vessels almost outnumbered the entirety of the Commonwealth Navy.

The events of the [[Assembled Commonwealth#Era of peace 33 (PA) (101)|Idari Crisis]] are well known; the catastrophic failures that led to the Atlas event, the slow reaction by the Aetharcy, and the disastrous consequences faced by the Idari people. The Commonwealth Navy was heavily involved in rescue efforts in the short days after the Asteroid hit. The endeavours were severely hampered by the delayed response from the Aetharchy. Requests to deploy the marines on Idarast went unanswered for days. Emergency powers were not announced until the First Space Lord met with the Aetharch in person and stressed the importance of allowing the navy to utilise all its resources in handling the disaster.

The majority of naval vessels were recalled to Idarast. Naval stores were opened and released to the city-state authorities for distribution. Marine engineers were dispatched to [[Idarast#Ankon|City-state of Ankon]], the hardest hit of the city-states, to search for survivors. When the high level of radiation was discovered in the atmosphere naval bases were opened to shelter refugees. Some of the largest vessels in the Navy allowed refugees to shelter onboard while more permanent solutions could be arranged. The Guilds and the Navy coordinated quickly, bypassing the Aetharch entirely, relief convoys were organised bringing food and medical supplies from nearby systems and heavily escorted by navy vessels.

A year passed and events had stabilised, most refugees had permanent shelter on Idarast or within the [[Asta#Baldr belt|Baldr belt]]. Efforts were ongoing to shield the [[Assembled Commonwealth#The City-States|city-states]] from the high levels of radiation now present in the atmosphere. Military engineers had begun to adapt the already present filters and erect more resistant domes over large portions of the city-states, though work would continue for many years before being complete. The Aetharch had been secluded in the verdant palace since the early days of the crisis. Matters of state had fallen to members of the bureaucracy and the navy. It was clear to the Admiralty that the Aetharch had abandoned his duty and a change was needed.

After the events of the Idari Crisis, the navy underwent a wide-ranging reform. Recruitment requirements were relaxed, officers no longer had to fund their education and instead, cadets were chosen on merit from the general recruitment pool. The training was modified so all branches were combined during basic training, helping to forge bonds across the branches and ensuring a base level of competency in certain areas. An influx in recruits followed the crisis, with the newfound desire to contribute to the [[Assembled Commonwealth#Common good|common good]] and the introduction of national service. The navy began to expand and overhaul its vessels, new classes of cruisers and destroyers were developed that favoured long-range exploration and commerce defence.

A large number of enlisted personnel are in the navy to complete their [[Assembled Commonwealth#National Service|National Service]], and therefore, only have to serve for two years. However, it's not unusual for this to be voluntarily extended to a full five-year tour or even a full Naval Career.

Basic training is delivered to all recruits from all branches at CNB Rally near [[Idarast#Ankon|Ankon]] on [[Idarast]]. Recruits from all branches are combined into a single programme in mixed companies. It consists of a 3-month course, recruits undergo a strenuous fitness regime and are instilled a level of military discipline. Recruits also complete basic weapons drills, emergency drills and are taught basic survival skills.

The Commonwealth Navy is dispersed throughout [[Assembled Commonwealth]]-controlled space and beyond. The vast majority of the Navy's strength is located in [[Asta]], Red Fleet maintains its position as Home Defence, providing security to [[Idarast]] and the various settlements throughout Asta. Elements of the Blue Fleet have recently been deployed to [[Mankira Niti]] as well as small detachments sent to [[Astynar]] and [[Vaddonia]], Blue Fleet’s presence in the Aether reach, is expected to vastly increase in the following months. The white fleet has several task forces deployed within Asta but the majority of the fleet is on operations outside of Commonwealth-controlled space, touring Commonwealth allied space, visiting Commonwealth concerns and operations as well as patrolling the various trade routes ensuring Commonwealth traders can proceed without hindrances. The survey Flotilla buoyed by recent discoveries in Astynar and Vaddonia are focusing their attention on the area known as The Chain.

The Majority of Marine formations remain on Idarast or settlements within the [[Asta]] system. However, the 3rd Marine Division has been deployed to Mankira Niti to assist in training the Mankiran defence force. The 21st Brigade and 18th Brigade have been deployed to Peleus and Koritas, to provide defence of the burgeoning colonies and assist in developing basic Infrastructure.

'''Admiralty House:''' The Administrative centre of the Commonwealth Navy and the Headquarters of the First Space Lord. Admiralty House was relocated from [[Idarast#Beorgan|Beorgan]] to [[Idarast#Nyhavn|Nyhavn]] fifty years ago and is built within the [[Assembled Commonwealth #The_Assembly|Assembly]] compound. The building contains offices for every department in the Commonwealth Navy and employs nearly 30,000 military and civilian personnel. Rumour has it that a vast command centre was built underneath Admiralty house that would allow the First Space Lord to coordinate Idarasts defences in the event of a planetary invasion.

'''Vulcan Slipways:''' The Vulcan Slipways are owned and operated by the Commonwealth Navy, located at Idarasts L1 Lagrange point alongside other facilities that make up the [[Asta#Lagrange Yards|Lagrange Yards]]. It is considered the preeminent shipyard in Commonwealth space, not only producing vessels but housing dozens of laboratory spaces for research and development of military technologies. The Vulcan Slipways boasts over a dozen large slipways for the production of capital class naval vessels, able even to accommodate the production of classes such as Battleships and Fleet carriers.

'''Point Astynar:'''To support the newly founded colony on [[Peleus]] a small naval outpost that has been developed alongside Brahms Core. Point Astynar can support a small squadron of Commonwealth naval vessels and houses a squadron of CNAC strike craft.

The Superintendent of the Commonwealth Navy Yards is responsible for the operation of the various Naval yards owned by the Commonwealth Navy, chiefly those located as part of the Lagrange yards and some smaller operations within the [[Idarast#Ankon|City-State of Ankon]].

The Two flotillas- the Picket Flotilla and the survey flotilla, are vastly smaller than any of the Line Fleets. The Survey flotilla is currently commanded by Commodore Renae Auer and has its headquarters at The Aether Institute in the City-state of Montar. The Picket Flotilla is currently commanded by Rear Admiral Emidio Von Essen and headquartered at Admiralty house in Nyhavn. The Picket Flotilla is subordinate to Asta system Command which has authority over the naval stations and outposts in [[Asta]], it is commanded by Vice Admiral Farhan Garret and Headquartered at Uriele Anchorage.