Imperial Military

The Astorum Imperium Military known as the: "Pillar of sword and shield" Officially. Is divided into two main Branches which themselves have several constituent branches. All of which are led ultimately by the "Grand Prefect of the Armorium", who serves as the de facto commander of the entire imperial military short of the senate and the emperor themself.

The grand prefect is assisted by two ruling councils originating from the two primary branches of the Military. One council comprised of 5 Grand Admirals hailing from the Imperial Navy and another comprised of 5 Ultra Legates from the Imperial Legion. These councils assist in the governance of the Imperial military, and in the day to day oversight of their constituent bodies. Their positions are appointed by either the Senate or the Grand Prefect should the senate be unable to come to a decision.

## Imperial Navy

The Imperial Navy consists of the personnel and ships that comprise the "Space Superiority" section of imperial naval ships, and is a relatively new addition to the Imperium Military. Only having been formed after the highly destructive Corpo Wars where many of its ships were commissioned and first saw action.

Superiority ships are designated as ships bearing the class of Heavy cruiser, Battlecruiser, Battleship, and Super Battleship, and unlike other imperial ships receive the prefix I.N.S.S as a marker of their role. These ships serve entirely in a space combat role and are otherwise unsuited to the transport of troops and equipment or for supporting ground related operations. Such vessels are frequently found acting in a defensive role of important star systems or alternatively protecting or accompanying vulnerable imperial space assets. However are occasionally also deployed in military operations to secure the space above hostile worlds or in hostile star systems. Their immense firepower is frequently unrivaled by anything short of an equivalent vessel, and they specialize in dominating the space in a given star system locking it down so that other less powerful warships can operate unimpeded.

The command structure of this branch follows more closely to an old earth nations style of military hierarchy. With specialized ranks of officers suited to specific classes of ships or their internal systems including such ranks as: captains, Admirals, Fleet Admirals, and Grand Admirals.

Compared to the other branches of the imperial military the navy is somewhat small in size with only a few million personnel. However this is due more so to the lack of numbers of its types of warships.

## Imperial Legion

The Imperial Legion serves as the other main branch of the Imperial Military which contains four constituent branches including the Corpus Auxilium, Legio Navalis, Legion, and Praetorians. In terms of inter branch rank each branch is organized in a caste style hierarchy. Which allows for quick and easy transfer of leadership in inter branch operations. The hierarchy descending as follows: Praetorians, Stellar Legion, Legio Navalis, Corpus Auxilium.

### Corpus Auxilium

The Corpus Auxilium known more commonly as "Imperial Auxiliaries" function as the largest force in the imperial military and as the main security forces on imperial worlds, They are also lowest in terms of caste hierarchy. Its troops can be identified by their lack of power armor and high tech weaponry frequently reserved for the other higher castes. Many of the soldiers in the Auxilium are also not citizens, rather serving in the corpus to earn such status within the Imperium. However there are some noble families within the imperium such as the Knights who are pushing for this process to be repealed, and instead offer citizenship to an auxilium soldier as soon as they have completed basic training.

Despite their lower status Auxilium troops remain an effective fighting force none the less. One of the largest advantages they are afforded being the sheer numbers they employ. Auxilium divisions can be comprised of up to 500,000 personnel each. Though numbers per division can vary slightly depending on the sector they are deployed to. In addition while not being as heavily trained as legionaries or Praetorians. Auxiliaries are still afforded a fairly decent regimen well suited to preparing them for their primary task of planetary defense. With the following boons auxiliaries are well suited to fighting rebellions, pirates, and any other small scale threat that would dare tread un sanctioned on imperial worlds.

### Legio Navalis

The Legio Navalis ranks above the Corpus Auxilium in the hierarchy and is comprised of only citizen soldiers in line with the Legion and Praetorians respectively. The Legio Navalis constitutes the branch of the military responsible for warships not designated as Space Superiority including ships like: Corvettes, Frigates, Destroyers, Cruisers, Carriers, Super Carriers, Fleet carriers, and many others. It serves both as the wide majority of the Imperial Naval arsenal and the primary transportation and space combat infrastructure for the other branches of the Imperial Legion. Unlike the Imperial Navy its ships are all prefixed by L.N.S and are commanded by a wide variety of "Prefects"

In addition the Legio Navalis is supported by a specialized Legion called the: "Meteorite Legion" This Legion despite being from the Legion Caste has a presence aboard virtually all imperial warships and is significantly larger than a standard legion's allowed strength. Primarily serving as marines and otherwise part of the ship's crew, Meteorite Legionaries specialize in EVA combat and boarding other ships. Though can also be deployed to a planet's surface should the need arise. While Meteorite Legion commanders usually delegate space battle command to their host ship's prefect's. They can at any time, as their caste position dictates, countermand their orders and take command of the vessel a precaution instituted for a variety of reasons.

### Stellar Legion

Arguably the most iconic amongst all Imperial military forces. The Stellar Legion hosts the light power armor clad general purpose ground troops of the empire, which are divided into two main categories Sector Oversight Legions, and Specialized Legions. Legionares receive significantly more training than imperial auxiliaries, and are afforded a far more impressive selection of equipment, along with Lorica VII Infantry Power Armor.

The more common type of the two are Sector Oversight Legions known more affectionately as S.O.L Legions. Which are as their name suggests are attached to a given sector of the empire. Such legions bear the brunt of military issues in the empire and unlike Auxilium troops are not stationed on a specific planet, instead remaining stationed aboard warships to be deployed to any sector issue. Their armor is frequently unchanging in design from sector to sector instead maintaining the standard Lorica VII infantry power armor virtually everywhere you find them. Though the color pattern can shift somewhat depending on the sector.

Specialized Legions however, operate significantly differently from their S.O.L brothers, and are far less numerous. Specialized legions can sometimes vary significantly in armor shape and operations role often training in specific fields or operations types. The EVA Meteorite Legion is one such example though others also exist. Such as the Oxide Legion which specializes in underground fighting in caves or tunnel networks and possesses modifications to their Lorica VII, and special equipment for such operations. Specialized Legions normally are not assigned a sector but rather are either assigned specific missions or otherwise remain on standby for when their specific talents are called for. Often small units of their legion may be deployed in conjunction with S.O.L Legions if specific situations arise where their expertise is needed.

Legions typically serve well in virtually any military task given to them, and field a huge variety of equipment from aerospace assets to tanks.

### Praetorians

The final and highest ranking caste in the Imperial Legion are the Venerable and elite Praetorians. Praetorian forces receive easily the highest training and most powerful equipment in the Empire including the P.R.D-005 Elite Infantry Power Armor. Similar to Specialized Legions Praetorian troops are not assigned a given sector to oversee but rather maintain small forces all across the Imperium, including a special personal fleet Comprised of Stealth Strike Cruisers and Heavy Stealth Strike Cruisers. The instances that they are called upon are rare, however, they frequently oversee the destruction of the empires most dangerous enemies or most sensitive operations.

Most Praetorian units are specialized towards orbital drop shock operations or boarding tactics from their specialized stealth warships. Using rapid assault tactics once on the ground or inside an enemy ship to quickly break through sundered or unprepared enemy defenses and achieve their mission objectives. Frequently for large scale operations they will be paired with Legions, who follow up Praetorian drop's as relief or primary assault forces. Using their heavier firepower and larger numbers to support the elite troops.

The ships operated by the praetorian branch are specifically designed for stealth and orbital drop operations, though they also possess immense individual firepower as well and can face down virtually any foe within their tonnage range.

## Doctrine

### Strategic Doctrine

The Imperial Military primarily follows a doctrine referred to as: "Fortress Doctrine" which emphasizes a focus on defending key "fortress worlds" throughout the empire who in turn deploy forces out to their sector to defend its holdings. Each sector has at least one such world, and these world's specialize in the production of military equipment and training of new military units, as well as being the primary headquarters for all imperial military assets in a sector. While not always the case they occasionally serve as the capital world for a sector and new sectors frequently follow this practice.

Being the anchor for all military forces in a sector, fortress worlds have so far proven a highly effective strategy for imperial defense. Should any enemy decide to try and cut off the imperial military to a sector they would have to blockade or conquer such a world which due to its extreme specialization towards military power is incredibly difficult if not virtually impossible.

### Ground Doctrine

When fighting on worlds. Imperial battle doctrine tends to emphasize one of two strategy's for offense. The first being a kind of methodical assault doctrine. Slowly grinding enemies down with heavy firepower and advancing in ways to ensure enemy hideouts or ambushes are unable to find themselves inside or behind imperial forces. Or that if flanked imperial forces can quickly shift into a defensive formation to repel their attackers.

Alternatively Imperial forces may employ a rapid assault doctrine focusing on breaking through enemy defenses and establishing heavily reinforced fronts inside an enemy's forces. Causing them to divert their units away from other areas and allowing similar breakthroughs to multiply. With each such breakthrough causing enemy forces to gradually become more and more disorganized and disconnected until their units can no longer function and collapse.

When in a defensive situation Imperial forces will employ a type of miniature fortress doctrine focusing their defense on key strongpoints, which will in turn distribute units amongst each other as is needed to repel enemy forces. Should an enemy attempt to breakthrough the lines between these strongpoints, the strongpoints will allow them through, before then cutting such units off behind imperial lines. Encircling them away from their supplies or reinforcement's, before proceeding to destroy them with assaults from all sides.

### Naval Doctrine

Imperial Naval doctrine centers around two strategies, mostly employed with a dependence on whether a fleet possesses superiority ships.

Should they be present Imperial naval doctrine will focus around attempting to destroy enemy vessels from medium to long range with the heavy firepower of superiority ships. While other ships provide support in picket or escort duties, using their weapons and assets to defend the combat ships or otherwise support them however possible.

However if such ships are not present Imperial vessels will focus on aggressive distance closing and attempting to close with and if possible board an enemy ship. Efforts will be made to target and disable an enemy ship's close range or point defense weapons and engines. Once close enough Imperial ships will then deploy EVA troops, board with Aerospace assets, or even ram the enemy ship. Should Meteorite troops make it aboard the enemy ship they will proceed to destroy and mangle the ship as best as possible from the inside. Targeting core systems such as life support, engines, weapons, etc... Along with securing a hangar if one is present for additional troops to board faster. Due to the constant training undertaken, Meteorite Legionaries are known to complete these tasks exceptionally quickly and even in small numbers. Should an enemy ship not respond rapidly it can find itself disabled or destroyed in only a few short minutes. Meteorite Legionaries are also trained to commandeer an enemy vessel if possible and turn it against an enemy fleet.