The Elect

The Elect is the reserve army of the Kingdom of Worlds, serving as the primary fighting force for the galaxy during the Thousand Years' War. The army is governed by a ruling body known as the Election Council and has its headquarters on the planet of Elysium.

## Ranks

### The Called

The Called is the first rank of a three-part intiation into the Elect in which one is still not officially affiliated with the Elect itself, but is rather a prospective member. Potential Elect can apply to beome one of The Called by appealing to the Election Council directly, being invited by one of the high-ranking members of the Elect, or by special decree by a representative of the Kingdom of Worlds. The Called must pass through a series of trials known as the Troubles in order to be officially accepted as a member of the Elect.

### The Chosen

The Chosen is the second of the three-rank intitiation into the Elect, which is bestowed upon two groups: 1. Those who were once part of the Called, but have passed the Troubles and are ready to being their training, 2. The children of the Elect. The latter of these two groups is considered "Chosen" from birth, but does not begin official training until the age of 12, and does not see combat until the age of 18.

Those who are Chosen are officially assigned to a Legion, Battalion, and Squad, and begin a period of intensive training for six months before being sent into battle. During this training period, trainees are assessed by their mentors and high-ranking commanders as to whether or not they are fit for battle. Those who are seen as unfit are weeded out and sent home, while those who prove themselves are officially promoted into the army of the Elect.

### The Faithful

The Faithful is the final of the three-rank initiation into the Elect, which denotes that one has been deemed ready for battle. This group serves as the footsoldiers of the Elect. Most do not rise above this rank, but function within their Squad throughout their career.

### Herald

A Herald is tihe first rank of distinction in the Elect army, denoting that one has proven their usefulness and skill in battle. They serve as the right hand to their Squad Leader, carrying out their orders directly.

The Herald is denoted with a golden imprint of a bugle on one's shoulder plating and red streaks throughout their armor.

A Squad typically has no more than one or two heralds at any given time, though, on occassion, there has been known to have been up to five serving together at once.

### Squad Leader

Squad Leader is the first commanders' rank in the Army of the Elect, in which one has served dutifully as a Herald for at least five years, proving that they are capable of leading their own team. The soldier is then honorably dismissed from their Squad of origin and reassigned to command their own team of twenty soldiers.

Squad Leaders are given their own quarters on Elysium and wear all-red armor with golden streaks throughout, distinctive from the grey of footsoldiers. Leaders also wield the Blade of Truth.

### Captain

In the Army of the Elect, Captains have command over fifty Squads, with each Squad Leader reporting directly to them. In order to achieve the rank of Captain, an Elect must pass the Officer's Exam.

Captains are denoted by their golden armor with white streaks throughout, and are given their own Baslisk for transportation.

### Commandant

When a Captain has been proven to be a loyal and mighty fighter and commander and deemed worthy of promotion by an Enforcer, they are given the rank of Commandant. Twenty Captains report directly to one Commandant, meaning that, at all times, a Commandant is in command of 1000 Squads.

At the rank of Commandant, one receives the Suit of the Spirit, an all-white suit of armor that is meant to represent the purity and candor of he or she who wears it. They are given the Sword of Truth, a Shi'al weapon ten times stronger than plasma, though this is mostly for show, as Commandants rarely choose to fight alongside their armies.

### General

The rank of General is bestowed on any Commandant that has served at least twenty years in the Army of the Elect, including at least five years as a Commandant. In order to be promoted to General, one must successfully complete the Trial of Fire, a top-secret test conducted by the Enforcers themselves to prove if a potential general has the mettle to lead their armies.

There are at any given time no more and no less than fifty generals in the Army of the Elect. Each general is assigned command over fifty Commandants and wear all-black armor with red streaks throughout. Those under the command of a General are collectively referred to as a Legion. Generals do not engage in battle, but command from a mobile HQ, or sometimes from Elysium itself.

### Enforcer

The Enforcer is one of the highest ranks one can achieve in the Army of the Elect. Not concerned with the everyday issues of the army, the job of the Enforcers is to strategize the army's next moves, attempting to defeat the enemy before the next battle has even begun. Enforcers are also tasked with "enforcing" the commands of the Election Council.

One can only become an Enforcer is hand-chosen by the Election Council. There are only ever four Enforcers at any given time, and the position is for life. Only when an Enforcer dies is another chosen. Each of the four Enforcers have command over thirty Legions, referred to as Battalions.

Enforcers do not engage in battle and therefore do not wear armor. Instead, they each wear purple robes with golden outlines, delineating a royal calling.

### Chief Enforcer

The only instance in which an Enforcer may exit their position as such is if they are promoted to Chief Enforcer, a title that is sometimes referred to as "The Mouthpiece." It is the Chief Enforcer's role to communicate decisions of the Election Council to the Enforcers, who then pass this information on to their Battalions. Like the position of Enforcer, the role of Chief Enforcer is for life.

The Chief Enforcer is elected from within the group of four Enforcers by the members of the Council after their predecessor's death. They then go through the Rising Ceremony, in which their purple robes are set ablaze, revealing the fireproof gray undercloak, which becomes their new uniform.

### Council Member

The Election Council is a governing body over the Army of the Elect comprised of twelve members that reports directly to the Kingdom of Worlds. Though not officially a military position, the Council has complete control over the matters of the Army and all of its commanders. Many members of the Council are former soldiers in the Army, but this is not a prerequisite for becoming a member. Since its founding, the Council has conferred among itself each time it requires a new member. There are, in essence, no prerequisites for joining the council, so long as the majority remaining members assent to one's promotion.

When one is made a part of the Election Council, they swear an oath to protect the Creed and serve the members of the Elect to their dying breath. Unlike the other ranks, there is no distinctive garb for council members, giving them a way to relate to the common man, dressing like him.

The Election Council has its chambers on Elysium, with a secondary meeting chamber on Gratia-Dei, the capital planet of the Kingdom of Planets.

### Council Leader

The council leader is the head member of the Election Council, a position which is held for life. This councilman oversees the rest of the council and, in matters of voting, carries a doubly-weighted vote. At the time of the Council Leader's death, they appoint their own replacement, who will then serve for the rest of their life.