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Sol Central Government Fleet

2024-07-24T12:57:47Z

Joey: names 3rd fleet HQ

[[File:Logo fleet.png|200x180px|thumb|SCGF Insignia]]
The Sol Central Government Fleet is the [[Sol Central Government]]'s primary component of the Defence Forces. It consists of a huge assortment of vessels of varying sizes broken up into a number of smaller "Fleets", each with their own areas of responsibility. The Fleet is the oldest component of the DF and has long been the backbone of the SCG. The Fleet, being the large, sprawling organisation it is, is made up of thousands and thousands of men and women (and more recently, a number of Sol [[Positronics|IPC]]'s) spread across a variety of duties, tasks, and postings.

The oldest component of the Defence Forces, the Fleet considers itself the pinnacle of human military accomplishment. It is well funded, but seen as complacent and bloated. Until recently, the Fleet have not had a serious enemy to deal with, but is generally respected by the populace due to their work keeping away pirates, putting down insurrections, destroying smugglers, and taking potshots at the occasional [[Vox]]. Major overhauls are currently ongoing to improve efficiency and capabilities, ostensibly to counter encroachment by the [[Gilgamesh Colonial Confederation]].

== Recruitment ==
Being a large organisation with military objectives, and the need to support and man thousands of vessels and installations, the Fleet spends vast amounts of money and resources on recruitment and long term retention of its skilled personnel. Fleet enlistment periods are for a minimum of five years, with an option of renewal at the end. Service in the Fleet is restricted to humans and IPC's from within SCG space, and is barred to those who have served in a foreign military service (notably blocking most adult former ICCG citizens, for whom military conscription was mandatory), or members of the Positronic Union.

As a uniformed service, the Fleet has two routes of entry: Enlisted and Officer.

=== Enlisted ===
[[File:Fleet Enlisted.png|thumb|Fleet Enlisted]]
Enlisted persons have minimal skill requirements, being able to join with only the minimum of secondary education, with no degree or advanced learning requirements. Many Enlisted are straight out of education, wide eyed and eager to learn a valuable set of skills, with most joining at eighteen or nineteen years of age.

Fleet basic training, known colloquially as "boot camp" is ten weeks long, during which recruits are taught the fundamentals of life in the Fleet, ceremony, drill and all the basic requirements for service. This is concluded with basic EVA training, weapons handling, and how to conduct themselves during an emergency.

Following the conclusion of this training, all Crewmen Recruits are promoted to Crewman Apprentice and go onto advanced schools related to their job specific training and qualification, where they are trained to "earn their rate," referring to an Enlisted Person's Rating, that being their job specialisation E.G. Damage Control Technician, Engineer, Corpsman or Master at Arms.

The length of time in advanced training varies from Rating to Rating, but is generally at least fourteen weeks in length for various "average" occupations such as maintenance, sanitation, and damage control and upward of fifty two weeks for advanced occupations, such as Corpsman.

Outside of advanced professions and qualifications, most training is done "on the job" for lower ranking ratings, with experience being gained on assignment with tutoring by more experienced ratings.

A key difference to other branches: only Petty Officers Third Class and above are considered to have "earned their rating." Crewmen and below are learners, getting field experience or new to their job speciality and are not yet fully qualified for the rating they strive to achieve. This importance on rating means that the Fleet has far higher numbers of NCO's compared to the Army or Expeditionary Corps, though less importance is placed on leadership at the E-4 PO3 level, it instead being a sign of baseline competency and experience. That being said, they are still responsible for the training and education of new Crewmen.
{| class="wikitable"
!Grade
!Insignia
!Rank
!Role
!Usual Age
!Description
|-
!E1
|[[File:Fe1.png|center|frameless]]
|Crewman Recruit
|Fresh Recruit.
|18
|As a Crewman Recruit you've been sent to one of many enlisted training facilities where you're being run through the Fleet's own boot camp. You're being taught the basics and prepared for tougher things to come. You don't know a lot yet, but you're learning.
|-
!E2
|[[File:Fe2.png|center|frameless]]
|Crewman Apprentice
|Basic Crewman.
|18-19
|As a Crewman Apprentice, you know the basics and you may be being sent out for practical experience in a proper environment; you've yet to earn your rating but you're working hard. You know the basics of your specialisation as well as the Fleet in general, but you're green as grass.
|-
!E3
|[[File:Fe3.png|center|frameless]]
|Crewman
|Unrated learner.
|19-20
|As a Crewman you've passed a couple of exams related to your chosen specialisation and gotten some experience in. You're almost there — you can see that all important Petty Officer shoulder board — but you have some additional learning, training, and experience to get before you're finally considered a fully fledged rating.
|-
!E4
|[[File:Fe4.png|center|frameless]]
|Petty Officer Third Class
|Standard rating. Junior NCO.
|20-23
|As a Petty Officer Third Class, you've finally earned your rating and are fully qualified, competent, and skilled in the job specialisation you originally chose; it's taken you a long time to get here but here you are. You're finally expected to be able to act independently and teach junior crewmen.
|-
!E5
|[[File:Fe5.png|center|frameless]]
|Petty Officer Second Class
|Skilled rating. Junior NCO.
|23-26
|As a Petty Officer Second Class, you've gotten a couple more years experience under your belt and you've been sent off for additional training, both in leadership and your area of expertise. You may find you're in more advanced positions within your area of work and are expected to handle a variety of tasks that you were not before, but you welcome the challenge!
|-
!E6
|[[File:Fe6.png|center|frameless]]
|Petty Officer First Class
|Experienced rating. Junior NCO.
|26-30
|As a Petty Officer First Class, you are the pinnacle of JNCO's. You are experienced, skilled, independent, a leader, and someone who is highly qualified in their area of work. You may be responsible for a small team or assigned to highly skilled posting that require an experienced enlisted person. You are a professional soldier at this point, heavily invested in time and learning.
|-
!E7
|[[File:Fe7.png|center|frameless]]
|Chief Petty Officer
|Senior NCO, leader and educator.
|30-36
|As a Chief Petty Officer, you've successfully gone before a board of Master Chiefs and sat a number of competitive examinations and training courses in order to be rated as a "Chief." This is the first, baseline Senior Non-Commissioned Officer and you are highly experienced at this point, with a minimum of a decade of long service to the Fleet. You are an expert in your area and are responsible for the oversight, education, and discipline of a large team, or are assigned to a high risk/high skill posting. Chief Petty Officers are the backbone of the Fleet and are widely respected for their experience, dedication, and skill. On small stations and vessels, you may be the Senior Enlisted Advisor.
|-
!E8
|[[File:Fe8.png|center|frameless]]
|Senior Chief Petty Officer
|Senior NCO, leader, advisor, trainer.
|35-40
|As a Senior Chief Petty Officer you are one of the most senior NCO's the Fleet has, responsible for all the duties of a Chief Petty Officer as well as the education, instruction, and training of junior officers. A force to be reckoned with, you are a master of your job specialisation and may be involved in the coordination of multiple teams or the advisement of Senior Officers on vessel matters and enlisted concerns. On mid-sized vessels and stations, you may be the Senior Enlisted Advisor.
|-
!E9
|[[File:Fe9.png|center|frameless]]
|Master Chief Petty Officer
|Senior NCO, advisor and leader.
|38-50
|As a Master Chief Petty Officer (Or one of various equivalent rank titles) you are the pinnacle of Enlisted personnel. You may be responsible for assisting a Flag Officer, functioning as a Senior Enlisted Advisor, teaching at the Fleet's Officer Academy, or performing a myriad of high-level tasks and duties for senior officers. You are a long term member of the Fleet with a wealth of experience, expertise and knowledge which you regularly impart to both your senior officers, the junior officers you are meant to train, and the Chief Petty Officers you advise.
|}

=== Officer ===
[[File:Fleet Officer.png|thumb|Fleet Officer]]
Officers of the Fleet go through a very different process to their enlisted counterparts. Officer positions in the Fleet require a candidate to possess a university degree at the bachelor level. Most Officer candidates sign up for a period of seven years service with the Fleet, with options to renew afterwards.

Prospective Officers, upon passing an interview and entry examinations, are sent to the Sol Fleet Base (SFB) Walter Raleigh (located in Alberta, Canada) for a thirty-week Officer Candidate School. Here they undergo training in leadership, drill, Fleet and naval history, life on a vessel, weapons training, navigation, and basic vessel handling. They are further schooled in Fleet leadership in space, naval tactics and strategy. After this, they spend the final three weeks on board a proper Fleet vessel putting their skills to use and demonstrating their knowledge in a live environment. At the end of this, successful candidates pass out of OCS and go onto advanced, specialised training which can last anywhere from fourteen to thirty weeks.

Those officers who go on to command vessels additionally attend Fleet Warfare School, where they are taught vessel command practices, vessel leadership, coordination and are put through their paces to be rigorously qualified for the decision making necessary to run a vessel. Officers who pass warfare school go onto further learn and refine their skills as command crew on other vessels in a non-departmental capacity. Only those graduates of warfare school can hope to attain a position as an executive or commanding officer aboard a vessel.

The process is different for Medical Corps Officers, Chaplains and legal experts who have a separate process, not attending Officer Candidate School. Instead, they are provided with their commission and rank on the merit of their professional skills in medicine, mental health, or religious areas. These officers then attend Officer Introductory School, where they are taught Fleet history, basic command, leadership, minor drill and military etiquette for life in the Fleet. Officer Introductory School lasts approximately twelve weeks, after which they go onto their initial postings, receiving further on the job training and experience. Unlike OCS commissioned officers these are not eligible for warfare school or the command of a vessel, and are instead locked into their relevant professional career path.
{| class="wikitable"
!Grade
!Insignia
!Rank
!Role
!Usual Age
!Description
|-
!O1
|[[File:Fo1.png|center|frameless]]
|Ensign
|Junior Officer.
|22+
|As an Ensign, you have a degree in any number of fields of study, though it is likely relevant to your area of specialisation. You are freshly out of Officer Candidate School and will generally be at this rank for another year while you learn the ropes of life in the Fleet and your job.
|-
!O2
|[[File:Fo2.png|center|frameless]]
|Sub-Lieutenant
|Leader of a team on a small vessel or assigned to various duties. Junior Officer.
|23-25
|As a Sub-Lieutenant, you are still a junior officer, but you're now trusted with small independent tasks or duties; you are generally competent enough to handle most things on your own, but you still don't have a lot of experience.
|-
!O3
|[[File:Fo3.png|center|frameless]]
|Lieutenant
|Leader of a team or responsible for a small shuttle craft. Junior Officer.
|25-30
|As a Lieutenant, you're now trusted to be fully independent. With a few years of experience under your belt and the competency to match, you may be in charge of a section of a vessel, responsible for a number of servicemen and women, and expected to carry out your duties autonomously. You may also be in command of a very small vessel, with a crew no bigger than twenty.
|-
!O4
|[[File:Fo4.png|center|frameless]]
|Lieutenant Commander
|Responsible for a large team, small vessel or station, or the Executive Officer on a number of vessels. Junior Officer.
|30-36
|As a Lieutenant Commander, you are a senior department officer on a large vessel or the executive officer on a number of slightly smaller vessels. A Lieutenant Commander may serve as the Commanding Officer of a Corvette-size vessel in the Fleet and on larger vessels is usually in charge of a large department, critical station or serves as part of the senior bridge staff in the position of Navigation Officer. An experienced Officer, Lieutenant Commanders are fully capable and are expected to function with a high degree of skill and effectiveness in any position they occupy.
|-
!O5
|[[File:Fo5.png|center|frameless]]
|Commander
|Executive Officer on numerous vessels, Commanding Officer on mid-size ships or responsible for a space station/gateway outpost. Senior Officer.
|36-44
|As a Commander, you may be responsible for a wide variety of posts, serving as the Commanding Officer of a Frigate or Destroyer, or serving as the Executive Officer to a Captain on a larger vessel, Commanders are highly experienced Fleet officers with years of service to back up their authority. Fleet Commanders are trusted with many postings and are meant to be highly capable. You should possess unparalleled organisational skills and be an expert administrator, if nothing else.
|-
!O6
|[[File:Fo6.png|center|frameless]]
|Captain
|Vessel Commanding Officer, Base Commanding Officer. Senior Officer
|44-60
|As a Captain, you have been given a wide degree of autonomy; you are responsible for either a base or a large vessel — generally a cruiser, battlecruiser, or carrier. You may also serve as the Flag Captain for an Admiral's Flagship. If in control of a base, you are generally responsible for a high-level Fleet project, a large garrison, a training facility, or an engineering facility.
|-
!O7
|[[File:Fo7.png|center|frameless]]
|Commodore
|Leader of a Fleet Assault, Special or Support Group.
|48+
|As a Commodore, you are in charge of multiple vessels and are responsible for one of the "junior" groups within a Fleet, consisting of either support or aggressive vessels. Commodores are required to have a sound knowledge of both tactics and large battle strategy in order to coordinate some of the more vital or rapid components of any Fleet.
|-
!O8
|[[File:Fo8.png|center|frameless]]
|Rear Admiral
|Leader of a Carrier Group or Battle group. Flag Officer.
|55+
|As a Rear Admiral, you are responsible for one of the largest, most powerful components of any Fleet — a Battlegroup or a Carrier Group. The amount of force projection a Rear Admiral is capable of bringing to bear is a sight to behold. Rear Admirals are old, experienced and, career Fleet officers who know their business.
|-
!O9
|[[File:Fo9.png|center|frameless]]
|Vice Admiral
|Leader of a Fleet Flag Group. Flag Officer
|60+
|Vice Admirals are responsible for an entire Fleet, which they command from their personal Flag Group. There are four Vice Admirals in the entire Fleet and they are given great autonomy in the operation, execution, and organisation of the Fleets under their command. They are assisted by a Commodore, who serves as their Flag Captain.
|-
!O10
|[[File:Fo10.png|center|frameless]]
|Admiral of the Fleet
|Leader of the entire Fleet. Flag Officer.
|65+
|The Admiral of the Fleet (in its entirety) and the Flag Officer of the First Fleet, which they personally command with a Rear Admiral serving as their personal Flag Captain. The Admiral of the Fleet is responsible for setting Fleet and general DF policy, advising the secretary general on matters of defence and war, and the handling and administration of the Fleet at large.
|}

== History ==

* 2230: The Sol Central Government Fleet is established — along with the rest of the Sol Central Government — from the reorganisation of the Naval forces of the former Terran Commonwealth.
* 2255: The Fleet undergoes a number of widespread overhauls and reorganises into the four Fleet separation common until after the Gaia Campaign.
* 2270: The Fleet replaces a number of its older vessels, including the ill-suited Mako-class Corvettes and Terra-class Supercarriers.
* 2292: The [[Gaia Conflict]] begins and the Fleet is called into action for the first time in its history against a major foreign power. The First Fleet is decimated over Gaia in a failed relief effort; the Fourth Fleet is almost completely destroyed in its infamous last stand at the Helios Gateway installation; the Second Fleet spend three long years holding the line.
* 2293: Tales of the SFV Sugihara Chiune, an Orca-class carrier of the Fourth thought to have been destroyed the year before, make their way back to Sol. Rumours of their constant harassment of the Terran supply lines motivate Fleeties everywhere.
* 2294: The border of Sol space defended by the Third Fleet falls into lawlessness as the Third rushes to Gaia; insurrections abound, sparking a sharp decline in Sol authority and general safety along the border.
* 2295: The Third Fleet finally regroups fully in [[Tau Ceti]] and prepares for a mass push toward Gaia, the symbolic heart of the conflict and the logistical and strategic staging area of the Terran Navy.
* 2296: The Third take Gaia after a costly and near pyrrhic victory. The entire Fleet, exhausted, slowly begins to spread out and reclaim lost territory from the [[Gilgamesh Colonial Navy|ICCG Navy]].
* 2297: The Gaia Conflict ends in a stalemate with neither side being in a position to continue, following heavy losses. The Fleet, finding itself devastated, worn down, and lacking in a number of areas, withdraws to its normal dispersion before finding itself under rapid modernisation, including the establishment of the Fifth Fleet.

== Current Organization ==
The SCG Fleet consists of a wide variety of ships, from small shuttlecraft to huge battlecruisers. See [[Vessels of the SCG Fleet]] for descriptions of ship classes.

=== 1st Fleet (Reserve) ===
[[File:Logo 1stfleet.png|120x140px|thumb|First Fleet Insignia]]
A mainly ceremonial force after the creation of the Home Guard and Second Fleet, the First Fleet is permanently garrisoned in Sol and headquartered on Mars, and is where all new Fleet vessels are assigned until they are sent to another unit. The First Fleet occasionally sends individual vessels or groups of vessels for Public Relations missions, ceremonies, or to escort dignitaries between Sol and other systems. The First Fleet has seen little action in the entirety of its lifetime, with the exception of a number of highly publicized diplomatic escort incidents. Its main, notable exception to this was its use as a reserve force to relieve the overwhelmed Fourth Fleet at the beginning of the Gaia Conflict, during which it failed utterly to stabilize the situation and ultimately routed, leaving Gaia in the hands of the Terrans for four long years. The action, known as The Second Fall of Gaia, saw roughly half of the First Fleet, including then-Admiral of the Fleet Thomas Beckham, utterly destroyed in a pincer attack sprung by the Terran Navy while the rest fled for home via Helios and Tau Ceti, leaving the pursuing Terrans to fight it out with the Second and the remnants of the Fourth. The retreat left the reputation of the First tarnished with them gaining the nickname of "The Fleeing First."
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
!1st Fleet Composition
|-
|
* 1st Flag Group
** SFV Amazon (Admiral of the Fleet Christopher Hernandez)
** 1x Nefertari-class Carrier
** 1x Waterloo-class Cruiser
** 6x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 2x Somme-class Frigates
** 4x Nuum-class Missile Frigates
* Ceremonial Group Terra
** SFV Terra (Historic Vessel)
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 8x Cobra-class Patrol Craft
** 2x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 1x Somme-class Frigate
* Carrier Group Alpha
** SFV Anne Boleyn (Aldrin-class)
** 1x Midway-class Battlecruiser
** 2x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 4x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 8x Somme-class Frigates
** 16x Lexington-class Corvettes
* Battle Group Alpha
** SFV Spartacus (Midway-class)
** 2x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 4x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 1x Yari-class Destroyer
** 8x Somme-class Frigates
** 16x Lexington-class Corvettes
** 10x Cobra-class Patrol Craft
* Assault Group Alpha
** SFV Aryabhata (Charles De Gaulle-class)
** 3x Charles De Gaulle-class Battlecruisers
** 4x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 2x Orca-class Escort Carriers
** 2x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 4x Somme-class Frigates
** 4x Cartwheel-class Assault Corvettes
* Support Group Alpha
** SFV Lazarus (Nefertari-class)
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 1x Antietam-class Destroyer
** 2x Somme-class Frigates
** 2x Nuum-class Missile Frigates
** 8x Dromedary-class Support Craft
** 2x Lubna-class Medical Craft
* Complement
** 1st Naval Armsman Division (Elements)
** 20x Fleet Strike Squadrons
** 5x Fleet Recon Squadrons
** 5x Fleet Support Squadrons
|}

=== 2nd Fleet ===
[[File:Logo 2ndfleet.png|120x140px|thumb|Second Fleet Insignia]]
The largest of the SGDF's fleets, and headquartered in [[Ceti Epsilon|Tau Ceti]], the Second Fleet is responsible for the direct security of the SCG's interior territories, especially the systems closest to Sol. In order to cover so much space, the Second Fleet includes four carrier strike groups and a large armsman complement. Its duties as the Fleet responsible for the defence and security of the interior territories, mean it is often used in police actions as opposed to purely military ones. Primarily based around planets of import or gateway installations, the Second Fleet generally handles some of the more well equipped pirates, terrorists, smugglers, and hostile criminal elements in the space between planets.

During the Gaia Conflict, the Second Fleet formed the bulwark of Sol, protecting and holding much Sol territory from the advances of the Terran Navy. For three years, the Second Fleet enforced a slow and gradual staggered retreat from the Terran occupied border, ensuring each win by the Terran Navy was costly. This action brought Sol time to rally, reorganize, and ultimately retake Gaia and. The Second Fleet's resilience earned them the reputation as the shield of Sol. Its reputation has become a point of pride and many new recruits hope to live up to the reputation of "The Stony Second."
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
!2nd Fleet Composition
|-
|
* 2nd Flag Group (Vice Admiral Yamato Akito)
** SFV Resolution
** 2x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 8x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 4x Somme-class Frigates
** 2x Nuum-class Missile Frigates
* Carrier Group Alpha
** SFV New Benin (Aldrin-class)
** 2x Nefertari-class Carriers
** 1x Waterloo-class Cruiser
** 8x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 3x Somme-class Frigates
* Carrier Group Bravo
** SFV James Gideon (Scorpio-class)
** 1x Nefertari-class Carrier
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 8x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 3x Somme-class Frigates
* Carrier Group Charlie
** SFV StephenHawking (Nefertari-class)
** 2x Nefertari-class Carriers
** 2x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 6x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 6x Somme-class Frigates
* Carrier Group Delta
** SFV James Monroe (Aldrin-class)
** 3x Nefertari-class Carriers
** 1x Waterloo-class Cruiser
** 6x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 7x Somme-class Frigates
* Battle Group Alpha
** SFV Plato (Midway-class)
** 3x Midway-class Battlecruisers
** 6x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 10x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 14x Somme-class Frigates
** 20x Lexington-class Corvettes
** 10x Cobra-class Patrol Craft
* Battle Group Bravo
** SFV Voltaire (Midway-class)
** 2x Midway-class Battlecruisers
** 1x Charles De Gaulle-class Battlecruiser
** 2x Orca-class Escort Carriers
** 6x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 10x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 4x Yari-class Destroyers
** 14x Somme-class Frigates
** 20x Lexington-class Corvettes
** 10x Cobra-class Patrol Craft
* Support Group Alpha
** SFV Napoleon Bonaparte (Waterloo-class)
** 2x Orca-class Escort Carriers
** 1x Antietam-class Destroyer
** 8x Somme-class Frigates
** 10x Dromedary-class Support Craft
* Support Group Bravo
** SFV Kirov (Orca-class)
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 3x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 15x Somme-class Frigates
** 10x Dromedary-class Support Craft
** 4x Lubna-class Medical Craft
* Complement
** 2nd Naval Armsman Division (Elements)
** 60x Fleet Strike Squadrons
** 15x Fleet Recon Squadrons
** 15x Fleet Support Squadrons
|}

=== 3rd Fleet ===
[[File:Logo 3rdfleet.png|120x140px|thumb|Third Fleet Insignia]]
Headquartered in Theia at SFB Halvarstrand and assigned to border security along with Fourth Fleet, the Third Fleet is considered one of the most experienced Fleets. Its operation on the more loosely controlled, less unified side of Sol space often forces it to deal with a myriad of rebels, pirates, smugglers, and the cleaning up the aftermath of the occasional Vox raid. Battle-hardened, most Third Fleet ships and crews are not without their scars. Long responsible for the vast, underpopulated, and unfriendly parts of the Sol border, the Third Fleet has had little interaction with the of alien races that the Fourth Fleet encounters, instead mainly dealing with the aftermath of Vox scavenger runs and rampant piracy that has become a staple of frontier life on this section of the Sol border. As a consequence of the struggles and destruction that routinely impact smaller colonies, the Third Fleet has a wealth of experience establishing, fortifying, and providing aid to fledgling colonies. Third Fleet hospital ships are well known for their medical experience and a number of ground construction battalions are present with the Third Fleet, focused on the maintenance, construction, and provision of vital ground works needed for these colonies to survive.

During the Gaia Conflict, the Third Fleet, far from the fighting and spread out over a great distance, was in no position to render any immediate aid. Though they reorganised, it would be a full three years before the Third Fleet in all its might was in a position to act as the spear of Sol. When they hit, however, they hit hard, forcing their way through the Terran lines and retaking great swathes of territory, though not without cost; a great many of the Third gave their lives for Sol in the effort to retake Gaia, though their sacrifice was not in vain. Eventually, with the Third Fleet in orbit around Gaia, the planet fell back into Sol control and the war concluded in a stalemate shortly thereafter.

However, this action cost the Third dearly; as much of their part of the border was left under-defended and under-patrolled for the duration of the conflict, many border worlds, colonies, and stations fell into rampant piracy and hostile hands, leaving the Third with a long cleanup and peacekeeping mission that persists even to this day. However, Sol remembers the Third as the sword to the Second's shield, and the Third enjoy a great reputation among the wider populace for the sacrifice and bravery of "The Fighting Third."
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
!3rd Fleet Composition
|-
|
* 3rd Flag Group
** SFV Warspite (Resolution-class) (Vice Admiral Rebecca Mountbatten)
** 3x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 6x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 10x Somme-class Frigates
** 4x Nuum-class Missile Frigates
* Carrier Group Alpha
** SFV Damascus (Aldrin-class)
** 2x Nefertari-class Carriers
** 1x Waterloo-class Cruiser
** 8x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 5x Somme-class Frigates
** 1x Nuum-class Missile Frigate
* Carrier Group Bravo
** SFV Rasputin (Scorpio-class)
** 2x Nefertari-class Carriers
** 8x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 10x Somme-class Frigates
** 1x Nuum-class Missile Frigate
* Battle Group Alpha
** SFV Mannerheim (Midway-class)
** 2x Midway-class Battlecruisers
** 1x Charles De Gaulle-class Battlecruiser
** 4x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 8x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 2x Yari-class Destroyers
** 12x Somme-class Frigates
** 6x Nuum-class Missile Frigates
** 16x Lexington-class Corvettes
** 20x Cobra-class Patrol Craft
* Battle Group Bravo
** SFV Peter Romanov (Midway-class)
** 2x Midway-class Battlecruisers
** 6x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 6x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 3x Yari-class Destroyers
** 10x Somme-class Frigates
** 6x Nuum-class Missile Frigates
** 14x Lexington-class Corvettes
** 20x Cobra-class Patrol Craft
* Assault Group Alpha
** SFV Pella (Charles De Gaulle-class)
** 2x Charles De Gaulle-class Battlecruisers
** 4x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 4x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 8x Somme-class Frigates
** 8x Cartwheel-class Assault Corvettes
* Assault Group Bravo
** SFV Rattling (Charles De Gaulle-class)
** 1x Charles De Gaulle-class Battlecruiser
** 2x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 2x Orca-class Escort Carriers
** 1x Antietam-class Destroyer
** 5x Somme-class Frigates
** 12x Cartwheel-class Assault Corvettes
* Special Group Alpha
** SFV Tomoe Gozen (Scorpio-class)
** 2x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 4x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 8x Somme-class Frigates
** 2x Nuum-class Missile Frigates
** 2x Cartwheel-class Assault Corvettes
** 12x Rockfish-class Stealth Craft
* Support Group Alpha
** SFV Winston Churchill (Scorpio-class)
** 3x Orca-class Escort Carriers
** 1x Antietam-class Destroyer
** 11x Somme-class Frigates
** 8x Dromedary-class Support Craft
** 1x Lubna-class Medical Craft
* Support Group Bravo
** SFV Typhoon (Waterloo-class)
** 2x Orca-class Escort Carriers
** 3x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 9x Somme-class Frigates
** 12x Dromedary-class Support Craft
** 2x Lubna-class Medical Craft
* Complement
** 3rd Naval Armsman Division (Elements)
** 50x Fleet Strike Squadrons
** 7x Fleet Recon Squadrons
** 7x Fleet Support Squadrons
|}

=== 4th Fleet ===
[[File:Logo 4thfleet.png|120x140px|thumb|Fourth Fleet Insignia]]
Headquartered in Helios and specifically assigned to secure the border of Skrell and Terran space, the Fourth Fleet has historically been considered the place where slackers are sent to languish, as officially they are only protecting the [[Skrell]] and Terran border (a location that, prior to the Gaia Conflict, was not expected to be a major source of hostilities). Not anticipating a war between the two powers, the Fourth Fleet was caught unawares and decimated by the superior Terran Navy in the early stages of the war. Having been found wanting and not fit for its duties, the Fourth Fleet has been undergoing rapid modernisation and improvement.

During the Gaia Conflict, the Fourth Fleet took the brunt of the initial fighting following a surprise attack by the Terran Navy. This led to their decimation as they were unprepared to fight a foe with a technologically and numerically superior fleet to their own. Suffering massive losses as they tried to rally in the face of an ongoing invasion, the Fourth lost control of Gaia early on before fighting a brutal, swift, and humiliating retreat to the Helios system where the core of what remained of the Fourth Fleet — lead by Rear Admiral Diwalli — fought a last stand against the Terran Navy before ultimately blowing up the system's Gateway, cutting themselves — and more importantly the Terrans — off from Sol and many other frontier systems. This action is still controversial even today; while it guaranteed the safety of the core systems from immediate Terran aggression, it also doomed much of the Frontier to languish under harsh Terran control for the next four years.

The remainder of the Fourth Fleet, scattered, broken, and mostly without a way home, surrendered, their vessels held in Terran drydocks until the end of the war, when they were returned to Sol as part of the peace treaty. A few vessels did limp back to Sol via Tau Ceti, where they were absorbed into the Second and fewer still — mainly Orca Class vessels — continued to operate behind enemy lines, striking weak points and under-defended areas in the Terran occupation zone. The current Admiral of the Fourth Fleet, Lee Kyung, was one such Orca Captain during the Conflict who gained a reputation for the feats of his wolfpack in crippling raids against the Terran supply lines.

Their conduct in the Gaia campaign has begun reversing their less than stellar reputation. In order to make it ready for the defence of a now more-contested section of space in the wake of the Gaia conflict, many incompetent or ineffective officers have been shown the door, with those that remain being either brand new or exceptionally battle-hardened, having faced the horrors of war head on. The new Fourth Fleet may have to prove its mettle before long.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
!4th Fleet Composition
|-
|
* 4th Flag Group
** SFV Renown (Resolution-class) (Vice Admiral Lee Kyung)
** 1x Waterloo-class Cruiser
** 4x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 1x Somme-class Frigate
* Carrier Group Alpha
** SFV Kalakaua (Nefertari-class)
** 1x Waterloo-class Cruiser
** 2x Nefertari-class Carriers
** 6x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 2x Somme-class Frigates
* Carrier Group Bravo
** SFV Caesar Agustus (Nefertari-class)
** 1x Waterloo-class Cruiser
** 1x Nefertari-class Carrier
** 2x Orca-class Escort Carriers
** 7x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 1x Somme-class Frigate
* Battle Group Alpha
** SFV Bismarck (Scorpio-class)
** 2x Midway-class Battlecruisers
** 3x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 6x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 8x Somme-class Frigates
** 14x Lexington-class Corvettes
** 5x Cobra-class Patrol Craft
* Battle Group Bravo
** SFV Blackbeard (Midway-class)
** 2x Charles De Gaulle-class Battlecruisers
** 3x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 6x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 8x Somme-class Frigates
** 14x Lexington-class Corvettes
** 5x Cobra-class Patrol Craft
* Support Group Alpha
** SFV Chiang Kai-shek (Orca-class)
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 2x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 4x Somme-class Frigates
** 8x Dromedary-class Support Craft
** 1x Lubna-class Medical Craft
* Complement
** 4th Naval Armsman Division (Elements)
** 38x Fleet Strike Squadrons
** 3x Fleet Recon Squadrons
** 3x Fleet Support Squadrons
|}

=== 5th Fleet ===
[[File:Logo 5thfleet.png|120x140px|thumb|Fifth Fleet Insignia]]
A recent creation headquartered in Sirius, still being organized and modified, the Fifth Fleet was created in 2297 by the Assemblies in order to act as a Quick Reaction Force. While it is still small, the Fifth Fleet is being staffed with some of the brightest minds of the Defence Forces and equipped with the latest technology. The Fifth Fleet finds itself regularly handling insurrections and incidents past the edge of Sol space when required, though most of the Fleet has seen little action outside of simulations, of which the Fifth Fleet has been trained extensively, using the latest virtual reality technology. As the newest Fleet, they have little going for them — no heritage and little to be proud of — though they enjoy the perks of being issued the latest equipment. They tend to be looked down upon by those in the Second and Third, and even many Fourth Fleet veterans. While the bulk of its junior officers and enlisted are new, the core of this new Fleet was taken from some of the best of the Second and Third, and was developed and built with the lessons and tactics learned by the wolfpack fleets of the Fourth during the Gaia Conflict. It has no clear mission, but it stands ready and firm to respond to any calls to arms that may come.

Recently, the Fifth Fleet has had trouble with [[Timeline of Canon Events|radicalism and defection]]. In 2310, the SFV Nathan Hale of the Fifth Fleet's Special Group Alpha went rogue, firing on the [[SEV Torch]] before disappearing along with several other Special Group Alpha vessels. Several months later, these ships reappeared under the banner of the [[Frontier Alliance]]. While these defectors made up a tiny portion of the Fifth Fleet overall, the incident has cast suspicion on the Fifth from both other fleets and from Sol at large, much to the chagrin of loyal Fifth Fleet service-people.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
!5th Fleet Composition
|-
|
* 5th Flag Group
** SFV Victorious (Amazon-class) (Vice Admiral Kiri Turei)
** 4x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 7x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 6x Somme-class Frigates
** 4x Nuum-class Missile Frigates
* Carrier Group Alpha
** SFV Crusader (Scorpio-class)
** 2x Nefertari-class Carriers
** 8x Cartwheel-class Assault Corvettes
** 6x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 4x Somme-class Frigates
** 2x Nuum-class Missile Frigates
* Battle Group Alpha
** SFV Cunning (Midway-class)
** 1x Midway-class Battlecruisers
** 4x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 7x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 3x Yari-class Destroyers
** 10x Somme-class Frigates
** 2x Nuum-class Missile Frigates
** 14x Lexington-class Corvettes
** 8x Cobra-class Patrol Craft
* Battle Group Bravo
** SFV Old Riga (Resolution-class)
** 1x Midway-class Battlecruisers
** 4x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 6x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 1x Yari-class Destroyer
** 12x Somme-class Frigates
** 2x Nuum-class Missile Frigates
** 14x Lexington-class Corvettes
** 5x Cobra-class Patrol Craft
* Assault Group Alpha
** SFV Nanjing (Charles De Gaulle-class)
** 2x Charles De Gaulle-class Battlecruisers
** 3x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 2x Orca-class Escort Carriers
** 4x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 7x Somme-class Frigates
** 8x Cartwheel-class Assault Corvettes
* Special Group Alpha
** SFV Nathan Hale (Scorpio-class)
** 2x Waterloo-class Cruisers
** 4x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 8x Somme-class Frigates
** x Rockfish-class Stealth Craft
* Support Group Alpha
** SFV Tigris (Waterloo-class)
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 4x Antietam-class Destroyers
** 5x Somme-class Frigates
** 1x Nuum-class Missile Frigate
** 6x Dromedary-class Support Craft
** 1x Lubna-class Medical Craft
* Support Group Bravo
** SFV Euphrates (Waterloo-class)
** 1x Orca-class Escort Carrier
** 10x Somme-class Frigates
** 1x Nuum-class Missile Frigate
** 11x Dromedary-class Support Craft
** 1x Lubna-class Medical Craft
* Complement
** 5th Naval Armsman Division (Elements)
** 28x Fleet Strike Squadrons
** 2x Fleet Recon Squadrons
** 2x Fleet Support Squadrons
|}
----
{{Navbox Lore}}
[[index.php?title=Category:Lore]]

Expeditionary Corps

2024-07-24T12:46:58Z

Joey: adds Outpost Guyasuta and E-14b to the list of expeditionary locations

[[File:Logo ec.png|200x200px|thumb|SCGEC Insignia]]
The '''Expeditionary Corps''' is a [[Sol Central Government]] scientific agency tasked with exploration of uncharted space and worlds, mineralogy surveys and xenoarchaeological studies and, more recently, making contact with undiscovered sapient life.

The EC performs a variety of tasks: discovering and cataloging stellar objects in Observatory, initial surveys of prospective colony sites and space anomalies, in-depth exploration of uncharted worlds, staffing long-term scientific outposts, and studying anomalies and xenoarcheological sites.

While not military, it was modeled in a naval style, with employees having ranks and uniforms, along with falling under the jurisdiction of the [[Sol Code of Uniform Justice]]. It consists of uniformed personnel (enlisted and commissioned officers) and corporate contractors hired on a per mission basis. Corpsmen are often highly specialized for the roles they take on their missions, and they are known for their experimental nature and ability to improvise.

==Expeditionary Directives==
The Expeditionary Corps' Directives are the cornerstone of all operations done by the organization, the mission statement and motto rolled in one. They are as follows:

*'''Exploring the unknown is your Primary Mission'''. You are to look for land and resources that can be used by Humanity to advance and prosper. Explore. Document. Explain. Knowledge is the most valuable resource.
*'''Every member of the Expeditionary Corps is an explorer'''. Some are Explorers by rank or position, but everyone has to be one when duty calls. You should always expect being assigned to an expedition if needed. You have already volunteered when you signed up.
*'''Danger is a part of the mission – avoid, not run away'''. Keep your crew alive and hull intact, but remember – you are not here to sight-see. Dangers are obstacles to be cleared, not the roadblocks. Weigh risks carefully and keep your Primary Mission in mind.

While important, these should not be taken literally – exercise common sense. For example, even if Second Directive can be interpreted in such way, dragging ship's only physician to an asteroid survey is not a good idea. Remember that 'expedition' is bigger than just the away team, the ship crew is part of it, and they have their role. Third Directive is about taking calculated risks, not cavalier charging into danger. There's little point in getting expedition to some place if you're just going to lose it there.

==Operations ==
[[File:Logo ec observatory.png|110x110px|left|thumb|Observatory Insignia]]
[[File:Logo ec fieldops.png|110x110px|left|thumb|Field Operations Insignia]]
The Expeditionary Corps is a uniformed civilian service of the Sol Central Government, tasked with exploring the unknown for the advancement of humanity. However, it had a long period of decline, operating on a greatly reduced budget prior to the beginning of the Helios mission. The Corps consists of enlisted personnel, commissioned officers, and corporate contractors. The uniformed members form the core of expeditions and facilities, with specialists contracted from various corporate and academic entities on a per-mission basis for the more niche tasks.

The Expeditionary Corps are commanded from the SCG EC Observatory in Sol, with personnel organized in two major sections, focusing on the different parts of EC operations. Personnel from both sections are assigned to Programs (Helios Program being an example).

Before the funding increase and renewed interest in exploration, the EC only had a dozen vessels that were operational. Three of these were ancient, Slower-Than-Light (STL) craft, from the Expeditionary Corps' founding days and were reliant on Gateway travel. Most of the personnel are stationed at various outposts, with passage secured by chartering a private vessel or requesting transport from the Fleet.

The Observatory has two methods of handling the investigation of the valuable intelligence it gathers; Post a bounty with all relevant data to be claimed by any private enterprises which is the most commonly used method, or, if the data points to a nearby target or one that shows great value or something of scientific import, a proper EC Expedition is assembled and sent to investigate personally.

The head of an independent EC exploration team is the [[Pathfinder]], a mid-level officer of the Expeditionary Corps who often operates with great leeway and minimal oversight when it comes to how their teams conduct themselves in the field. This is an inevitable consequence of the nature of their exploration missions, often conducted outside of communications range and in harsh conditions.

====Field Operations ====
The Field Operations section of the Expeditionary Corps is what people see in EC recruitment posters and ads – gruff machos hacking apart aliens on exotic worlds with the iconic machete. That being said, the actual work carried out by the EC's exploration teams features far less glamour and machismo, being focused instead on mineral surveys, planet habitability reports and collecting samples of xenolife. Corpsmen from this section specialize in xenobotany and handling xenofauna, along with support skills like field medicine or structural engineering.

====Observatory====
The Observatory section was originally in charge of manning their namesake, but now corpsmen from that section are often found at EC science outposts or spaceships, working more delicate machinery and running complex scientific experiments. Observatory corpsmen staff the infirmaries on EC facilities, and handle complex engineering tasks like power cores and communications. Scientists who join EC full-time are assigned to this section.

== History==
[[File:Logo ec bluespace.png|230x230px|thumb|EC Bluespace Exploration badge. Recovered from a wreck of SEV Titov, which broke up in a bluespace rift.]]
'''2130's:''' The Expeditionary Corps established early in Terran Commonwealth history by consolidating various national agencies for space exploration. It is tasked with surveying lesser explored Sol bodies like outer planets' satellites and Kuiper Belt, and accompanying the colonization vessels.

'''2170's:''' Rising tensions in Sol between Terran Commonwealth and Ares Confederation, combined with the rapid decline of Earth's ecosystem prompt creation of what press dubbed 'Extinction Countermeasures Committee'. As a part of its activities, long-range EC exploration missions are launched via Pluto Sling, decades of cryo-frozen STL travel, on a quest to find habitable worlds to evacuate humanity to if such need arises.mes. Early missions were small crews, cryo-frozen, with automated systems rigged to wake them up at the destination or for the course correction. They had no way to get assistance or resupply once underway, so the culture of making do and cutting off unnecessary parts was formed.

'''2230's:''' As a part of the reorganization of Terran Commonwealth into the Sol Central Government, Expeditionary Corps is placed under the Committee for Economic Development. With fears of an extinction event alleviated by the number of colonies and promise of lasting peace in Sol, the officials aren't considering space exploration a high-priority area. With the proliferation of FTL travel via gateways, public support for STL missions was failing too. Bluespace rift exploration is still an option, but almost prohibitively dangerous for government operation, requiring a mountain of waivers and volunteer crews. A lot of EC personnel is shifted to research outposts, studying various anomalies in the proximity of gateway-reachable systems.

'''2302:''' Funds starting flowing into the revitalized Expeditionary Corps and the Helios program. What followed was a large-scale publicity campaign, corporate sponsorship. And a change of ownership – The EC was moved under the Committee for Diplomatic Relations, to reflect a new stated objective of the Helios mission – making contact with undiscovered sapient life.

==Vessels and Installations==
The EC has a number of vessels and installations, with the latter mostly being on the edge of Sol territory.

===Observatory===
The Observatory or the SCGECO (Sol Central Government Expeditionary Corps Observatory) is the nerve center of the Expeditionary Corps. It is located at Jupiter-Sun L2 Lagrange point and is home to the most advanced high power radio telescope array in the Sol system. It was established in 2130 by Terran Commonwealth as a part of colonization effort, to look for possibly habitable exoplanets without the interference of Sol inner asteroid belt. Due to its location it was also used as a base for survey expedition to Jovian moons and Kuiper belt objects, and over time grew to house majority of EC support facilities. Now it serves as EC headquarters, with both high command (just referred to as Observatory) and EC Academy located here, with a token presence on Mars and Earth.

===SEV Torch===
The [[SEV Torch]], originally christened as the Sol Fleet Vessel Arrow, is a Mako-class exploratory corvette launched in 2307. The vessel is the result of a deep space exploration program (The Helios Project) overseen by the Sol Central Government (SCG) and involving multiple corporate investors, primarily the [[Expeditionary Corps Organisation|Expeditionary Corps Organisation (EXO)]] and certain [[Skrell|Skrellian]] organizations. The Torch engages in numerous routine expeditions year-round, and is somewhat less-famous than the other ships in the program, with a lower media profile. In spite of this, it has made a number of accomplishments and has a reputation as a reliable survey vessel.

Notably, the Torch was the only one of the five Helios Project vessels to receive a [[Guide to Supermatter|Supermatter Engine]], courtesy of [[NanoTrasen]].

===SEV Magnus===
The SEV Magnus is (or was) an Expeditionary Corps Corvette, a sister ship of sorts to the Torch before various overhauls and refits rendered the Torch a wildly different vessel. The SEV Magnus was an original three-deck Mako Class Corvette, commissioned in service as the SFV Tornado before being mothballed along with all other Mako class corvettes in 2265. It then entered service with the Expeditionary Corps from 2270 as the SEV Magnus. During its time in service the Magnus was a reliable, if unremarkable vessel that served as the Expeditionary Corps flagship before it was replaced in this capacity by the SEV Helios, a time during which it was also placed into the Helios Project as one of the four vessels, where it remained until 2304 when it went missing while conducting a survey mission in B. Wendigo. Efforts to locate the Magnus have failed thus far and its fate is shrouded in mystery. It was a sister ship to the SEV Sagan.

===SEV Icarus===
A former Lexington-Class Corvette acquired by the expeditionary corps for the Helios Project, the SEV Icarus (Formerly the SFV Reliable) had a somewhat famed history as a vessel of the Third Fleet during the Gaia conflict before being retired from active service and handed over to the Expeditionary Corps as part of an asset sharing program between government departments. The SEV Icarus was refitted from the ground up as an exploration vessel, though notably kept its forward facing cannons from its time in fleet service. The Icarus was last seen in mid-2306 after being sent to investigate gathered probe data. It was supposedly off-course and no evidence has shown that it reached its intended destination.

As of [[Timeline of Canon Events#June 26th 2310|June 26th, 2310]], the wreckage of the SEV Icarus were discovered by the SEV Torch on a remote exoplanet in the Luyten 545 system. An analysis of digital logs recovered from the ship is currently underway – efforts to recover the SEV Icarus itself have so far been stymied.

===SEV Sagan===
The Sagan is the third and final of the Mako-class corvettes in EC service, and a sister ship to the SEV Magnus. It is a vessel attached to the Helios Project. Formerly the SEV Whirlwind it entered service in 2278 with the EC and has had a solid, reliable and somewhat interesting career since, being notable for the cataloguing and surveying of over forty five star systems before being issued a reliable jump-drive in 2303. The Sagan is, notably from the rest of the Helios Project vessels, equipped with an extensive sensor suite, with some of its newer systems being highly classified and (reportedly, but unconfirmed) possessing systems designed for use with the Rockfish-class stealth craft. The Sagan spends a great deal of its time being called for requests for service from various SCG entities in the scanning of nearby locations of interest.

=== SEV Helios ===
The Flagship vessel of the Helios Project, and the largest of the EC's vessels, being a refit of the SFV Yi Sun-Shin, an Antietam-class Destroyer. The Helios is expensively outfitted, well equipped, and considered one of the most prestigious postings in the Expeditionary Corps thanks to its numerous references in the media and its dominance of Expeditionary Corps recruitment campaigns, the Helios does, as a result, do relatively little actual exploration, being used instead to showcase the Expeditionary Corps and its mission to the people of Sol. When it does embark on expeditions, however, they are almost always high profile and with a great deal of pre-planning and intelligence on the systems it will be visiting. Despite its prestige and political flash, many older members of the Expeditionary Corps resent the Helios and its lack of focus on what they consider to be "real work."

===SEV Buzz Aldrin===
The SEV Buzz Aldrin is one of the EC's many specialist vessels. A heavily modified Cartwheel-Class dropship, the Buzz Aldrin is refitted into a dedicated mobile laboratory. Instead of relying on shuttlecraft for travel to the surface, it can deploy planetside directly, turning into a field lab. The Buzz Aldrin isn't used for initial scouting and survey, it is deployed when there's a long-term scientific mission to do in a hostile environment, but building a new outpost isn't feasible. As a result, the ship is known for its lengthy follow-up work, long deployments on dangerous planets carrying out a multitude of scientific experiments and survey missions.

===SEV Komarov===
The SEV Komarov is a bluespace exploration vessel boasting the longest record – over 50 rift jumps without catastrophic system failures. Unlike most EC vessels and installations, you have to volunteer to be considered for a posting on the Komarov, due to the inherent danger of unshielded bluespace exploration. The Komarov itself is a curious feat of engineering, featuring multiple layers of redundancy to offset the inevitable post-jump failures. Engineers serving on it claim that as long as they get at least 30% of the ship through the rift, they can make the trip back. The Komarov is used on time-sensitive missions by Observatory, recording time-limited events in deep space up close, and sometimes assisting with rescue missions if no bluespace drive vessels can make it in time.

=== SEV James Cook===
The SEV James Cook is one of the oldest active service vessels in the Expeditionary Corps, having entered service in 2150 and kept in service through a multitude of refits and overhauls, the Cook is a testament and reminder of the resourcefulness and determination shown by Expeditionary Corpsmen to keep waste low and to make do with what they have. A Newfoundland class vessel which, at the time, was built exclusively by the Terran Commonwealth for the Expeditionary Corps, it remains one of the few EC purpose built vessels and is equipped with a deployable radio telescope array and mounted observatory. The Cook is still a source of great value for the EC despite its reliance on dated and somewhat ancient technology as well as the use of older STL drives.

===Outpost Guyasuta===
Outpost Guyasuta is an Expeditionary Corps outpost established on the Pirx in 2289 as a shuttle maintenance yard and waystation. The location was selected for multiple reasons: The flat land of the plateau made an excellent location for shuttles to take off and land, as well as making construction of the facilities relatively easy, and the site's proximity to the space elevator made it a safe place to dock ships with relative ease, and several very important points of interest are much more easily reached from here than from the observatory.

===E-14b===
Maxim’s World is a cold planet occupied predominantly by Expeditionary Corps Outpost E-14b, the home of a joint survey and research operation between the [[Expeditionary Corps]] and the Colonial Pioneer Corps. This cooperative effort was established by the crew of the [[SEV Torch]] in the summer of 2310, just before the [[Timeline of Canon Events|Nathan Hale attack]]. It’s noteworthy for the presence of an underground mycelium network that displays early signs of sapience.

===Listening Post 42-B===
Listening Post 42-B is one of the three remaining Expeditionary Corps Observation Outposts located on the frontier of Sol space, equipped with all manner of observation equipment and far away from the usual trade-lanes, commercial hubs and population centers. Posts such as these tend to be long-term assignments with minimal contact with others. Small stations, comparatively speaking, they usually possess a crew of no more than thirty, and assignments are usually year-long. 42-B is notable among the three for having picked up a mysterious signal, only to lose it minutes after. It also has the dubious honour of being the only post outside of SCG borders, orbiting Sinclair's Star. Some outside entities have speculated that it is used to spy the Skrell, though so far these claims have been unfounded.

==Helios Project Controversy==
[[File:Logo torch.png|left|thumb|Torch mission patch]]
The decision to restart the deep space exploration sounded just too good to be true. The sudden change in course and the insistence with which Secretary General Barros pushed this decision spawned a lot of conspiracy theories on just what sort of secret agenda the government had for the Helios mission.

*The main sponsor and participant of the Helios mission was [[NanoTrasen]]. An odd move for a greedy trans-stellar corporation that maintains a sizeable fleet itself, including prospector vessels of their own.
** ''What were they promised for participation?''
*A [[Skrell]] corporation, Krri'gli, agreed to provide a prototype bluespace drive after just a token negotiation, under the condition of priority access to the mission’s findings.
**''Are Skrell using the EC to poke at something they’d avoid?''
*The Government initially tried to staff the mission entirely with government employees and personnel from the four megacorps, opting not to contract outside companies. It was later relaxed due to personnel requirements and public outrage, to the point where even independent observers and journalists were tentatively allowed to join the expeditions.
**''What did they want to hide from the public?''

==Getting in==
The media noise generated by the Helios mission attracted new recruits, the curious, the glory hounds, and even few people who genuinely wanted to explore space but believed that the EC was done for. Some disillusioned EC veterans came out of retirement, bringing much-needed experience. Any eligible personnel could request a transfer from Defence Forces into EC for the duration of the mission. For the Fleet, this is a temporary reassignment aboard the Torch, and only applies to Crewmen up to the rank of Commander on a positional basis. Private contractors filled the gaps as they did for many other EC missions.

All new recruits and most Defence Forces transferred personnel are put through a 6 month Expeditionary Academy. The core facilities are located on the Observatory, with a few smaller ones for specialized training programs scattered around SCG territory.

Candidates must renounce any state or corporate citizenship they hold for the duration of their service in EC, becoming solely citizens of the SCG.

The training is split into two parts, Basic Skills taking 2 months, and Specialty Training taking 4 months.

===Basic Skills and Orientation===
The first '''2 months''' are focused mostly on instilling some discipline and basic functional adult skills into fresh recruits. Skill-wise, it's the basics – EVA, first aid, living on a space vessel. Recruits are given a rundown on the way EC operates, its mission and priorities.

Recruits are monitored to weed out those who won't be able to cope with life on a space vessel. It's an open secret that troublemakers from all over the SCG use the EC as a last resort for escaping the troubles on their planet, so instructors take this part of the Academy very seriously – you either shape up or ship out.

Most of Defence Forces transfers skip this part, aside from the orientation course on the way EC operates.

=== Specialty Training===
The next '''4 months''' are the specialized training. The recruits settle on the division they want to join – Observatory or Field Operations and their specialty. Those who have applicable training and experience can opt to pass the certifications and skip this part entirely if they are so inclined.

Observatory recruits are trained to run their namesake, Observatory, or the ships the EC has. The engineers, the data analysts, the infirmary staff, the logistics specialists. They tend to have more in-depth technical training on their specialization.

Field Operations recruits learn more hands-on skills, useful when operating as a part of expedition outside the facilities. The explorers (the job), the field medics, the ‘sapper’ kind of engineers. They tend to be more of generalists, having to juggle the field skills, their specialty, and field science basics.

Ultimately, the decision made in the Academy doesn't seal your career path – there’s plenty of chances for additional training along the way, and often personnel from either branch is picked for the mission depending on the skills needed. At the end of the day, everyone receives the baseline training needed to be a part of an expedition.

After successfully graduating, all recruits are taken on a mock 3-day long Expedition in rural Mars, which often just turns into a celebration party with instructors turning a blind eye. It marks the start of your 2-year tour of duty/contract.

It is however, not uncommon for further pre-posting training to be provided to personnel, related to their assignment. This may sit within the range of a couple of weeks, at best.

==Enlisted==
[[File:EC enlisted.png|thumb|Expeditionary Corpsman]]
So, you’ve made it through the Academy. Explored countless worlds in the simulator, learned to navigate by map, shot hundreds of toothy aliens in the holodeck. You know which end of the sample bag opens, you learned not to eat the berries off the bushes on exoplanets. Now you've worked off the hangover from the Martian Expedition and pinned on your shields. It’s time to get to that exciting work you’ve seen in the recruitment ads.

First of all, you're lucky to even be on an EC-operated vessel. Most likely you're piggybacking on some Fleet patrol vessel that passes closest to your destination and is fine with taking a detour. Sometimes you have to hop several vessels along the way. After long and uneventful travel, you’ll have to load up all needed supplies and equipment yourself. Unless you have an EC shuttle docked, the best you would have is a cramped general utility pod. Once planetside, you are in for a mind-numbing routine of mapping out significant features, mineral deposits, taking notes of /everything/, and taking samples of anything you can get your hands on. Machete does come out at this point, except for its actual role – getting through thick vegetation. Then it’s time to get back shipside to pack, label and categorize every single thing you brought back from the planet. And then it’s back to the cryopod for the trip back.

If it was a very important and urgent expedition, and you signed every waiver the Corps threw at you, you could've been a part of a bluespace tear run. Even with all modern advances, traveling without a bluespace engine is very risky, and SCG doesn't approve these missions lightly. Possible sentient life signals that are fading, or a natural phenomena promising fundamental breakthroughs, that must be observed close before it disappears.

Now, contrary to what Expeditionary Directives claim, not everyone in the Corps, or even in the Field Operations, actually go down to the exoplanets to wrestle with alien wildlife. While the EC doesn’t maintain a lot of ships, those that are still around need someone to keep the power running, to make sure air is flowing, to cook the meals. A lot of personnel is also serving on various remote research installations, studying curious xeno-ecologies, alien ruins, or natural anomalies.

Outside of the Torch and the Helios, enlisted of the Expeditionary Corps do not hold ranks akin to that of the Fleet or the Army; a consideration made for organisational compatibility with the Fleet. They are considered government personnel with seniority and pay-bands. As such, the pay-grades below are in line with how they would appear for Expeditionary Corps personnel on the Torch.
{| class="wikitable"
!Grade
! Insignia
!Rank
!Role
! Usual Age
!Description
|-
!E1
|[[File:Ec e1.png|center|frameless]]
|Explorer Apprentice
|Trainee
|18
|You're in the Expeditionary Academy, being nagged at by old men about how they know the best, and not listening to your team leader on the expedition is a great way to get everyone killed or worse. You didn't go on any expeditions outside of simulators, and you have a lot to learn before you're sent to a real one. Apparently, there's one right on graduation, prepare!
|-
!E3
|[[File:Ec e3.png|center|frameless]]
|Explorer
|Rank and file
|18-25
|You can do your job to a satisfactory standard, though you might be not familiar with the finer details. You'll get better with experience. A lot of Corps personnel spend quite some time in this rank compared to similar paygrades in Defence Forces.
|-
!E5
|[[File:Ec e5.png|center|frameless]]
| Senior Explorer
|Specialist and/or a team leader
|20-30
|You either took some leadership courses or technical specialty qualifications. At this point, you're trusted with more sensitive equipment, and you can be put in charge of a small team.
|-
!E7
|[[File:Ec e7.png|center|frameless]]
|Chief Explorer
|Veteran team leader
|30-60
|You're one of the few on the top of rank ladder of EC. You've seen and done the things. You might not have the leadership or scientific training of the commissioned officers, but your technical skills and vast experience make you invaluable to the Corps. You can be trusted to run an expedition as second-in-command, or a large team on a space facility.
|}

==Officers==
[[File:EC officer.png|thumb|Expeditionary Officer]]
Despite the somewhat lax hiring standards for EC enlisted, the requirements for the officers have not been relaxed since the creation of the Corps. The applicant must hold a university degree in a related field – astrogation, engineering, physics, biology, medicine, etc. With the recently stated mission of establishing contact with alien species, political science and xenodiplomacy degrees are accepted too.

There are several reasons for this relative strictness. Expeditions are often operating outside the communications range, and the officer in charge has to make the calls on site without consulting the higher command. EC officers are granted a commission on behalf of the Secretary-General, have the right to stake an official claim on unclaimed stellar bodies and have the capacity to represent the SCG in first contact scenarios if no dedicated diplomatic personnel are present.

The Expeditionary Corps Officer corps is, relatively speaking, a small, professional body. Most of its members have a passing familiarity with one another due to the size, the rotation between one of a few facilities and ships and general tight knit nature of EC culture. Officers have, likely, served with one another in some capacity at some point in time. The competitive and professional nature of the EC officer cadre means that they tend to favour internal promotion over external hires and transfers, with the latter being impossible for most command positions, typically being limited to entry level officers and medical staff.

Since candidates already come in with the knowledge, the Academy for officers concentrates mostly on deep space operations and leadership. They also learn a lot about legal matters – teams in the field are given a lot of leeway, and the EC wants to be sure the leaders understand not to abuse it.

Another thing that seems odd to the Defense Forces personnel is that EC officers stay for longer in seemingly unfitting 'paygrades'. Due to small scale of most EC operations, most positions are filled with Ensigns, Lieutenants and above posted only on bigger projects that require a great amount of coordination. Watch officers of same rank can have drastically different experience and pay, which is based on their qualifications and actual posting more than on the rank.

Aside from poaching the people with degrees, anyone in the Expeditionary Corps that fulfills the criteria to be an officer can apply for a commission after completion of the mandatory 6 month officer training course.
{| class="wikitable"
!Grade
!Insignia
!Rank
!Role
! Usual Age
!Description
|-
! O1
|[[File:Ec o1.png|center|frameless]]
|Ensign
|Specialist with a degree in his field, leader of an expedition team
|25+
|You had some sort of university degree related to your field, and the Academy brought you up to the speed on the Corps-specific skills. At this rank, you're either leading a small expedition team or you work as a staff in a facility that needs your skillset.
|-
!O3
|[[File:Ec o3.png|center|frameless]]
|Lieutenant
| Leader of a department or a bigger autonomous expedition team
|30-45
|You are a leader. You've had some additional training and experience with leadership, and you're in charge of an expedition team or a department aboard a space vessel or facility.
|-
!O5
|[[File:Ec o5.png|center|frameless]]
|Commander
|Ship/facility commanding officer or second-in-command.
|40-50
|At this point, you're eligible for a ship command. Though with the number of EC ships, you're more likely to work as the executive officer of a space vessel or facility.
|-
!O6
| [[File:Ec o6.png|center|frameless]]
| Captain
|Ship/facility commanding officer.
|48-70
|You're in charge of a ship or a facility. You've given a lot to the Corps, and Corps let you run things your way, to a reasonable extent.
|-
!O8
|[[File:Ec o8.png|center|frameless]]
|Admiral
|Leader of an EC division or a special Mission
|60-90
|You're in charge of large-spanning Missions that consist of various expeditions and facilities, e.g. Helios Project. Heads of Observatory and Field Operations divisions hold this rank for example. You do not go in the field anymore, operating out of Observatory.
|-
!O10
|[[File:Ec o8 alt.png|center|frameless]]
|Commandant of the Expeditionary Corps
|The Big Boss
|60-90
|The Boss. Not much to be said, you're the top. You spend most of your time arguing with politicians rather than doing the science. Maybe you miss wresting alien wildlife when faced with vicious creatures of SCG political scene, but someone has to do this job.
|}
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