The Ether Institute

*The Ether Institute,* commonly referred to as just *The Institute* or *Institute*, is an multi-dimensional mega-organization consisting of multiple branches of military, many internal institutes complete with a justice system, and its own independent land.

In many ways, the Institute works as a government, with its own laws, its own police to enforce those laws, and its own internal and external policies. It acts as a humanitarian support and or an intervention force in many areas.

While being extremely powerful with their military might, technological edge and political power, they are known to be somewhat sluggish due to their strict internal laws, mostly regarding limitations to what they can do and cannot, which was installed by the High Temple in order to keep the Institute in line with their goals. Most public of these internal limitations is the Humanitarian Declaration, which is a set of rules regarding keeping the Institute ethical.

## Internal Structure

### High Ranking Departments

#### The High Church

The High Church consists of 7 different gods, 1 being the founder Kyrios, and other 6 being chosen by Kyrios. These have the final say on every action of the Institute, They generally do not take serious action, and their main goal and purpose is to keep the Institute in line with Kyrios' vision. It is generally a big deal whenever they release an order.

#### The Council

The Council is the main governing body, mainly passes internal laws, manages land, etc. This is made out of two parts, the Higher Council, and the Lower Council. The Higher Council is selected by the High Church, and the Lower Council is selected by election from the land that the Institution Controls, including the Navi'Albah Orbital Station. The two parts make propositions and they work together and vote together to pass laws. They are also overseen by the Ethics Board. The ethics board is managed by the high church also.

### The Internal Departments

The Internal Departments are a group of departments that have tasks regarding internal issues in the Institute. They are all managed by the Office of Internal Departments.

#### Department of Logistics

Department of Logistics manages all of the traffic for the properties owned by the Institute, and the transportation of personnel employed by the Institute. They oversee the Ether Institute Postal Service (EPOS) and the Institute Space Leauge (ISAL).

#### Department of Development

Department of Development manages all of the land owned by the Institute. Not to be confused by the local governments. The Department of Development only manages the land publicly owned the Institute, and does not touch the land owned by the local governments (IE: Manages Military Bases, Manages Government Buildings BUT Does not manage Roads, Does not manage private property).

#### Department of Research and Manufacturing

Department of Research and Manufacturing (also referred to as R&M Department) is the governmental body that manages many subcontractors and nationalized companies that deal with Research and Manufacturing of goods and technologies for the Institute. Their main company is ARMIS.

#### Department of InfoSec and Communication

Department of InfoSec and Communication is the IT department of the Institute. They manage all of the electronic networks of the Institute and make sure they are safe for usage. One of their main goals is cyber security.

#### Department of the Internal Tribunal

The Department of the Internal Tribunal is the department responsible for the management of the internal courts, and international courts. They generally have the least dependency to the Office of Internal Departments as their status as a court grants them extra freedoms from the rest of the departments to help with transparency.

#### Institute Garrison Army

The only military body under the Office of Internal Departments. They consist of an institute police force, a coast guard, a gendermerie, and a guard army. The guard army is the equivelent to the U.S. National Guard. The Institute Police force acts as a federal police force, generally dealing with areas which are not capable of having their own police force or with cases that extend beyond the limits of a single local government.

### The External Departments

The External Departments deal with all of the issues that may interest the Institute that is outside of the Institute. They are all managed by the Office of External Departments.

#### Department of Information

Department of Information, is the intellegence agency of the Institute. They are responsible for gathering information about potential hazards to the institute.

#### Department of Ether Armed Forces

EAF, or Ether Armed Forces is the main army of the Institute, apart from the Garrison Army, they oversee all of the armed personnel of the Institute that is not private and is not part of the Special Units. EAF not only reports to the Office of External Departments, but also to the Council and even in some cases, the High Church.

##### The Army

The army is the base fighting force ot the EAF. Generally mediocre training, and makes up the bulk of the manpower for the EAF.

##### The Marines

The Marines, or better known as the Institute Marines, are the group of elite soldiers, generally used as a relief or a task force by the EAF. While significantly smaller compared to the Army, they have better equipment, training and experience under their belt.

##### The Navy

The Navy, despite its name, does not operate in the water. It is the space force of the Institute. The water defense is made by the Coast Guard. The Navy operates all of the military spaceships the Institute has to offer. Not to be confused with the ISAL, as ISAL is a civilian force.

#### Department of Special Units

The Department of Special Units consists of a bunch of highly elite military forces which are more suitable to deal with a singular strong enemy or an issue that requires a strong magician, or similar to deal with rather than a full on war or a conflict. Sometimes reports directly to the council and even to the High Church.

##### Ether's Knights

Ether's Knights are a group of elite members, who are used as a task force to deal with issues that the Army cannot deal with.

##### Ether's Warriors

Ether's warriors is a mix of small squads made up of untrustworthy, no-training or even arrested criminals who are strong enough to serve as a soldier. These units generally have a way of restraining and preventing an AWOL. They are generally used to get criminals better prison sentences, or a way to earn money for poor, but strong magicians.

##### TU-90

TU-90, or na'Tunguçav f'Ubakna (in Fudii), was originally a Ether's Warriors unit, made up of a bunch of extremely strong contractors from the Fudii Tribes in Navi'Albah. They called themselves "na'Tunguçav f'Ubakna", "The Guardians of the Institute". They were the most free of Ether's Warrios, and due to their power, the Department of Special Units granted them the rank of a seperate branch. They generally try to keep their member count at 90, hence the name. They are the strongest warriors within the Institute. These can only be given orders by the Council or the High Church.