Introduction
The Imperial War Office (more commonly known as the Imperial Military) is the combined armed forces of the New Frenco Empire, and oversees any and all armed conflict between the Empire and any belligerents. It was originally formed from the remnants of Hightower's mercenary forces, the pro-Frenkish rebels, and the surviving U.S. military units who had chosen to submit to Hightower during the Council of 2081 not long after the Empire itself was formed, creating an entity to "see to the general defense of and obtainment of Imperial interests abroad." Drawing from a huge pool of over two billion fit for duty at any given time, the Imperial Military is a gargantuan entity of over eight million personnel (seconded only to the UDAP's twenty-five million).
The Imperial Military is a traditional entity, structured much like old world militaries (primarily the United States) and consisting of paid volunteers, professional contractors, and career officers. Combat-wise, while the average Imperial Army Corpsman (the bulk of any given ground engagement) is generally regarded as "inferior" in a man-for-man situation against other forces (such as Mecharussia), this is typically more than made up for with sheer numbers, large amounts of elite support units (such as the Vanguards) on standby, air supremacy, well-groomed logistical systems, heavy integration of intelligence and counter-intelligence, and mobility-focused tactics. The Imperial Military is typically built for waging complex wars of attrition, with the extreme amounts of manpower, resources, and intelligence at the Empire's disposal typically fit to outlast any other in a total war scenario. To top it off, the Imperial Military remains unmatched in the field of power projection (due to a large and reliable wet navy on Earth, Imperial dominance of trade routes, and the constant readiness of the Imperial Space Force) allowing Imperial forces to strike anywhere in the solar system in a manner of days, hours, and even just minutes.
Branches
The Imperial Military consists of six independent (yet heavily coordinated) branches that cover all areas of operation. When the Imperial Military was first formed in 2081, there were only three; the Army Corps, Navy, and Air Corps. Since then, however, three more have split apart from the existing branches to create their own to cover more strategic ground. The Rangers split from the Army Corps in 2090 after it was determined that the Rangers were much more suitable as a cross-branch asset rather than being tied to the Army. The Space Force split from the Air Corps shortly after the commissioning of the FIS Isaac Asimov-class Battlecarrier in 2117 after it was clear that a more traditional Navy-like structure and command would be necessary for continued operations in space. The Vanguards are the newest branch, formed just twenty years earlier in 2130 from the Space Force (which was, in-turn, a fairly new branch in the first place). The Vanguards secured their own supreme command when Vanguard officers successfully petitioned the government for such, arguing that the current command situation wasn't working out due to Space Force leadership hindering Vanguard operations on the ground.
- Imperial Army Corps - The largest branch of the Imperial Military, with roughly three million enlisted and officers. The Army are typically the ones responsible for any and all land operations. They are currently commanded by Marshal Lucas Hill.
- Imperial Navy - The second largest branch, with a little over two million enlisted and officers. The Navy is pretty self-explanatory, being responsible for the maintaining and deployment of Imperial fleets, oceanic operations, and power projection across the Earth's surface. The Navy is also responsible for sufficient air dominance, and is seconded only by the Imperial Air Corps for the title of "world's largest air force". The Navy also manages a smaller division known as the Naval Infantry Corps, who serve as the land spearhead for most overseas conflict. The Navy is currently commanded by Fleet Admiral Gerard Wright.
- Imperial Air Corps - At about one and a half million personnel, the Air Corps is the third largest branch. As expected, the Air Corps is tasked with most things related to warfare in the skies, on top of it's duties in aiding with power projection, intelligence-gathering, and management of the nuclear weapons array. It is currently led by Marshal Patricia Gadston.
- Imperial Space Force - Coming in at just under a million, the Space Force is the fourth largest, and is notorious for it's entry requirements due to the difficult technical and mental acuity tests required for entry. The Space Force handles all matters relating to warfare in space, from operating the Battlecarrier fleets, overseeing solar logistics, maintaining the orbital bomber wings, and protection of extraterrestrial interests (Moon, Mars, Asteroid Belt, etc) among many other things. They work closely with the Vanguard Corps, who serve as the unofficial "ground arm" of the Space Force and rely almost entirely on the Space Force for transport, logistics, and other various support services. The Space Force is currently commanded by Star Admiral Ingrid Rayne.
- Imperial Vanguard Corps - The fifth largest branch at almost half a million, the Vanguards are considered a heavy-duty combat "marine" division. They are responsible for almost all land warfare outside of Earth's orbit, security of government facilities, and they often serve as shock troops to complement Army and/or Naval Infantry offensives. They are notable for more intensive and effective training regimens than most other combat units barring special forces and for issuing advanced weaponry and suits of heavy power armor to their infantry, making them a formidable foe against even the advanced Mecharussian forces. They are currently commanded by Marshal Hugh Roves.
- Imperial Ranger Corps - Not even touching a hundred thousand, the Rangers are by far the smallest branch of the Military. The Rangers are responsible for almost all forms of special operations, and as a result, works in-tandem with the IIA. The Rangers are also considered the advance recon of the Military. The Rangers are led by Chief Sam Henshaw.
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