Fiction:Clanden Admiralty

"We may wander, but by no means are we lost."

- Admiral Valence Na'var, on the creation of the Clanden Admiralty.

The Clanden Admiralty is a nomadic, spacefaring nation of Clanden, Grick, and Jaylar who fled the ravaging of their worlds at the hands of the Grox.

History
The Clanden Admiralty traces its origins back to the Clanden Homeworld, Cicero. It was one of the many planets to be overrun by the Grox Empire in its many years of conquest and expansion. In an attempt to save their homeworld, the Merchant Republic of Cicero, along with several other surrounding nations, tried to mount a valiant defense, only to be overrun by the Grox's superior numbers and firepower. Being closer to the Grox's borders than any of the coalition planets, the Clanden were left exposed when many of their allies withdrew their forces to evacuate their own worlds. Cicero was quickly lost to the Grox, leaving the fleet no other choice than to evacuate the outlying colonies and flee that quadrant of the galaxy to seek asylum elsewhere.

Times were hard as the Clanden were turned away, time and time again by nations that were themselves beginning to prepare to meet the Grox advance. The Clanden Fleet then retreated into deep space to lick their wounds. Many like to think that they found an inhabited planet somewhere and settled down; but no, the Clanden kept going. At the end of his life, the captain of the Defiant, the defunct flagship of the Coalition, declared the founding of a new Clanden state, the Clanden Admiralty. The Defiant was rechristened as Home One, the new home of the Clanden race.

Since then, Home One and the Clanden armada wander the stars.

The Clanden
The Clanden are a species of avian humanoids that evolved from scavenging carrion-like omnivores on the planet Cicero in the Andromeda Galaxy. They are tall, cunning, but inherently kind creatures. Traditionally, they were masterful starship builders, trading their technology for services and currency with other empires. The Merchant Republic of Cicero was relatively small when compared to other empires in the region, encompassing only a few core worlds and several outlying colonies.

The Clanden culture has a lot of emphasis on logic and science, believing that, with enough time, the entire universe could and will unfold before them. Having seen many wars in their history, they are no strangers to war, and approach the affair with a level head, and after the disastrous war with the Grox, a foot out the door.

The Grick
The Grick are four-legged lizard-like creatures native to the swamps of Zapris, a planet a few parsecs away from Cicero. They made it into space a while before the Clanden, and it wasn't long before the two species made contact. It would be some time before the two could meet face-to-face, but the Grick were already dreaming of conquering Cicero and adding it to their burgeoning empire. The conflict that ensued lasted for nearly two hundred years, finally ending with the heroic invasion of the Grick homeworld by the Clanden and some newfound allies.

The peace settlement dictated the founding of a new Ciceroean Republic (replacing the provisional wartime government put in place by the Clanden), of which the Grick world and subsequent colonies would be a part.

After nearly another hundred years of chaos and anarchy on their homeworld, the Grick came back and became active colonists and members of the galactic community. Even if they were subordinate to the Clanden, they retained some amount of freedom.

After having served on their ships alongside their Clanden counterparts, most of the Grick were evacuated and fled on their own. However, a substantial number had migrated to the Clanden worlds, or to common Republic colonies that were abandoned by the Grick fleet. Some of these would fall prey to the Grox, while others would be reached in time by the Defiant and the retreating Clanden fleet.

The Jaylar
The Jaylar are grotesque, tough, and large creatures, genetically engineered by the Grick to serve as disposable manpower. Essentially slaves, the Jaylar enjoyed little liberty a the hands of the Grick, and little more under the Clanden governments. They served as cannon fodder during the Clanden-Grick wars, thrown into the line of fire while the nimble Grick found another way around. This tactic was again adopted by certain members of the Cicero Republic during the Grox Wars.

In peacetime, they became somewhat of a commodity to be sold to neighboring nations, including the Clanden Republic. They made themselves useful on construction sites and in starship spacedocks; some served as bodyguards and others still as personal servants and gardeners.

The Grick created them to be excellent muscle, but had to loan them at least a little bit of intelligence so that they might not make idiotic mistakes while working on their projects. This, unfortunately, meant that they were prone to picking up dangerous ideas. Indeed, many Jaylarian revolts had to be put down by the Grick Dragoons.

Some of the Jaylar joined their masters in the frenzied evacuation before the Grox advance, while many more were serving on board the Coalition fleet. They continued as Grick property during the long years where the Clanden Armada meandered through space, and only recently have their conditions improved.

Technology
The Clanden and their allies rely greatly on the fusing of matter and anti-matter to supply their ships, replicators weapons, and other such devices. They are well versed in genetic engineering, physics, robotics, biotech, and are trying to find ways to harness other natural sources of energy.

Current technologies possessed (in order of acquisition):

 Unification Era   Grick Wars Era   Republic Era  Grox Wars Era  Admiralty Era
 * Agriculture
 * Mining
 * Metallurgy
 * Advanced geology
 * Radio
 * Advanced flight
 * Advanced theoretical physics
 * Advanced ballistics
 * Advanced pyrotechnics
 * Advanced computers
 * Advanced medicine
 * Advanced nuclear fission
 * Advanced biotechnology
 * Advanced genetic engineering
 * Advanced photovoltaics
 * Unmanned spacecraft
 * Advanced propulsion
 * Advanced robotics
 * Advanced metallurgy
 * Nanotechnology
 * Energy weapons
 * High intensity lasers
 * Manned interplanetary travel
 * Cryonics
 * Interstellar travel
 * Subspace communication
 * Advanced agriculture
 * Interstellar mining
 * Planetary colonization
 * Basic matter-antimatter reaction
 * Theoretical Quantum computers
 * Warp drive
 * Advanced energy and plasma weapons
 * Phasers
 * Photon torpedoes
 * Plasma cannons
 * Advanced mines
 * Transporters
 * Remodulated shielding
 * Terraforming
 * Replicators
 * Holographic images
 * Advanced matter-antimatter reaction
 * Advanced warp drive (warp 9.6)
 * Experimental quantum computers

Notes: The fact that they possess a technology does not mean that they apply it, either because they cannot (due to lack of resources, space, etc) or choose not to. Technologies marked as advanced is meant to show that they have indulged themselves deeply in the subject, not mastered it.

Government
The Clanden Admiralty was founded in a time of chaos and war. The Armada was fleeing from what had just became Grox space, and was struggling to survive and feed its many people. Replicators had not been discovered yet, so synthesized food was practically all they had. To pull everything together, Admiral Valence Na'var consolidated absolute power into his hands. With him at the helm, things could go smoothly without the inefficient bickering of politicians. He divided the armada into fleets, and said fleets into flights, ensuring organized operations in what would otherwise be chaotic circumstances. He put everyone, every refugee to work in one way or another, and went about setting up markets and other facilities in Home One's spacious hangars and cargo bays.

However, the people's rights had to be cut down for such a government to be run smoothly. Everyone had to answer to the military, and obey orders without question. Those that resisted were placed in the brig. At first, the Admiral had absolute power over his subjects, but a judicial administration and a hearing process was put into place.

Individuals serving as part of the fleet are the most privileged, elegible to go through an extensive court-martial if found at fault. Civilian cases, on the other hand, are reviewed by the judicial office and resolved without trial. The ruling could be disputed, and a hearing put into place. The Grick are considered as first class citizens right alongside their Clanden counterparts. Their creations, however, the Jaylar, are still considered to have no standing within the Clanden system, as the Grick still refuse to recognize them as sentient beings.

Fleet
The Clanden Armada is composed of roughly forty medium-sized starships at a time. Along with an innumerable amount of small craft, they all flock around Home One. Most if not nearly all of the original Clanden warships have been either abandoned or recycled, to be replaced by newer designs dreamed up by Clanden and Grick engineers or, in rarer cases, by ships bought from other civilizations.

Home One
Quick Facts: Home One is the pride and joy of the Clanden Admiralty. It is here that the government is based, and where most of the population resides. While it was, by design, a warship, it has seen many major modifications that made it into the major population center seen recently.
 * Class: Capital Ship
 * Crew complement: 500
 * Can accomodate: 60% of the nation
 * Length: 1800 meters
 * Width: 600 meters
 * Energy source: Matter-antimatter reaction
 * Armament: Aft, fore, port and starboard phaser banks, aft and fore torpedo tubes, energy shielding, launch and hangar bays
 * Propulsion (STL): Impulse engines
 * Propulsion (FTL): Warp Drive (warp 9)
 * Equipped with: Transporters, replicators, terraforming tools, markets, civilian quarters

By no means does this mean, however, that its weapon systems were neglected. Home One was upgraded over time to host the newest defenses Clanden engineers were able to invent, buy, or steal.

Home One is a little more than a mile in length and quarter of one in breadth. It was assembled on of the Republic's outlying shipyard systems, and finished three years before the founding of the Coalition and the start of the Grox-Coalition war. It was originally armed with the latest in energy-based weaponry, fully functioning shields, launch bays able to accommodate hundreds of small craft, terraforming tools originally meant to suffocate Grox by the planet load, and a warp drive capable of projecting the thing to Warp 6. Since then, a few improvements have been made.

Bulwark Class Frigate Mk.IV
Quick Facts:
 * Class: Frigate
 * Crew complement: 20
 * Can accomodate: 15 passengers
 * Length: 400 meters
 * Width: 160 meters
 * Energy source: Matter-antimatter reaction
 * Armament: Aft and fore phaser banks, aft and fore torpedo tubes, energy shielding
 * Propulsion (STL): Impulse engines
 * Propulsion (FTL): Warp Drive (warp 9.1)
 * Equipped with: Transporters, replicators

The Bulwark Class frigate is a classic sight in any Clanden fleet. Dating back to long before the Grox Wars and the complete reliance on matter-antimatter reactions, this handy medium-sized ship has seen many a refit. Originally designed to protect the Republic's interest, its primitive laser weapons were long ago replaced by phaser arrays, its blast plating upgraded to proper energy shielding, and its guided conventional missiles replaced by photon torpedoes. It can host its own transporter, used to beam to and from the ship, and is capable of warp 9.1.

In large-scale engagements, the Bulwark is rarely left alone, but makes for a useful addition to any force, either as an escort, a patrol ship, or a ward against smaller craft and bombers in larger fleets.

Genesis Class Civilian Frigate Mk.III
Quick Facts:
 * Class: Frigate
 * Crew complement: 15
 * Can accomodate: 10 passengers
 * Length: 300 meters
 * Width: 150 meters
 * Energy source: Matter-antimatter reaction
 * Armament: Fore phaser banks
 * Propulsion (STL): Impulse engines
 * Propulsion (FTL): Warp Drive (warp 9)
 * Equipped with: Advanced terraforming tools or mining tools, large cargo bays or civilian quarters

The Genesis Class frigate was designed at the end of the Grox wars as a desperate attempt by the coalition to turn back the Grox advance. However, instead of arming these little frigates with the most destructive weapons they could find, they integrated terraforming tools into the their systems. These ships composed the backbone of the desperate offensive into Grox space which marked the final days of the war. They were intended as superweapons to completely rid select planets of the Grox, as it was discovered that hospitable planets were toxic to them. The plan would have worked if more ships and their escorts had reached the planets before being destroyed.

Refit Genesis frigates serve in the Clanden Fleet as transports to harbor either civilians or materials, and are often seen hauling metals away from claimed digs.

Jaylar Genesis Class Civilian Frigate Mk.I
Quick Facts:
 * Class: Frigate
 * Crew complement: 15
 * Can accomodate: 10 passengers
 * Length: 200 meters
 * Width: 80 meters
 * Energy source: Matter-antimatter reaction
 * Armament: Fore phaser banks
 * Propulsion (STL): Impulse engines
 * Propulsion (FTL): Warp Drive (warp 9)
 * Equipped with: Science lab, replicators

Genesis takes on a whole new meaning when the Grick get involved. Masterful genetic engineers, they managed to create a race of slave laborers to service them and any who might afford their services. Recently, a whole ship class was dedicated to their cloning labs.

Discovery Class Civilian Frigate Mk.I
Quick Facts:
 * Class: Frigate
 * Crew complement: 15
 * Can accomodate: 10 passengers
 * Length: 200 meters
 * Width: 80 meters
 * Energy source: Matter-antimatter reaction
 * Armament: Fore phaser banks
 * Propulsion (STL): Impulse engines
 * Propulsion (FTL): Warp Drive (warp 9)
 * Equipped with: Science lab, replicators, holodeck

The Clanden hoped the name fitted the new starships that were supposedly destined to usher in a new era of Clanden scientific discoveries. The Discovery class, while similar in outward design to the Jaylar Genesis starships, are equipped to house Clanden researchers and to supply them with anything they might need within reason.

Organisation
The Clanden fleet is divided into flights, some of which are composed of "civilian" ships and their escorts, while others are purely made of military craft. These divisions are meant to not only make mundane operations more efficient and easier to manage, but to provide for the most orderly and safe retreat in case of attack.

Ranks

 * Crewman - The bottom of the food chain, the manpower needed for menial tasks.


 * Crew Head - Leaders of different crews trading shifts, reports to the department head.


 * Ensign - Bridge Crew, the Captain's aides.


 * Department Head - Manages a department, either engineering, science, medical, tactical (varies depending on the ship). Reports to the Lieutenant Commander or the Captain.


 * Lieutenant Commander - Acting Captain when the Captain is indisposed.


 * Captain - Commands the ship he is assigned to. Reports directly to the Admiral.


 * First Officer - Future Admiral, second in command of the Clanden fleet, Captain of Home One. He is appointed into office at the beginning of the Admiral's reign, and can be replaced by another officer if deemed at fault by a court martial.


 * Admiral - Head of the fleet.

Ground Forces
The Clanden Fleet relies heavily on security personel stationed aboard their starships when it comes to engagements on the ground. These are typically well armed and well trained, deployed in groups on to a target by transporters, or in rarer cases, by shuttlecraft.

Territory
The Clanden Fleet rarely remains in one place for more than fifteen years. Generally they will move into an area with plenty of planets and resources, terraform the planets they need, take as much of their natural resources as they will to fix their craft (sometimes building new ones), and then move on.

Relationships with other Empires
The Clanden are generally neutral towards other civilizations of roughly their caliber, and will often engage in trading for commodities they need for whatever they happen to have in excess.

As for those that have wronged them, the Clanden make a point of never forgiving until their debt has been paid in full.

Very Friendly
"Come come! What can we do for you today?"



Friendly
"Your kindness will be repaid in kind, we assure you."



Neutral
"Yes?"



Cautious
"We have no quarrel with you."



Hated
"We never forget a face."