Terra Alpha Merchant Guard

The Terra Alpha Merchant Guard (TAMG) is one of three uniformed services of the Terra Alpha Alliance which include: Terra Alpha Navy and Terra Alpha Marine Corps. The service is often referred to simply as the "Guard". 
The Merchant Guard is an interstellar, military, multi-mission service uniquely tasked with having the responsibility of the interstellar law enforcement and search and rescue. 
The Merchant Guard operates under the Department of Commerce during peacetime, but in times of conflict the President can transfer the Merchant Guard under the authority of the Department of Defense. This happened once during the Imperium War.
Created by Congress on 28 November 2418 at the request of the Secretary the Navy Jenny Nichols. Alexander Hamilton served as the branch's first secretary until the end of the war in 2420.
The Merchant Guard has 308,456 active military and civilian members making the service the second largest in the Alliance. The bulk of the service's members are in the Civilian Merchant Fleet made up of civilian cargo vessels, and crews.
The Merchant Guard maintains are large fleet of 200 military grade Guard ships, known as "Merchant Guard Cutters", and 1,000 smaller craft including a shuttle division used for search and rescue operations.
== Mission ==
The Merchant guard carries out five basic roles, which can depend on the Guard's "ready" status. Each role can often be broken down into smaller sub-categories.
* Interstellar safety
* Interstellar security
* Interstellar stewardship
* Merchant convoy escort
* Merchant convoy readiness
== Merchant Guard ==
== Merchant Navy ==
During peacetime the civilian men and women of the Merchant Guard carry out interstellar commerce. In times of war this civilian fleet can be attached as an auxiliary of the Terra Alpha Navy to transport soldiers and supplies. 
The Interstellar War Activities Treaty of 2189 stipulates that merchant fleet members are uniformed service members, and cannot be treated as spies. This protects these civilian members under the conventions of war.Category:Military Units