Fiction:Nivenian Empire/Defense

The military of the Nivenian Empire has, over recent years, become a quite streamlined, but nevertheless still complicated affair, consisting of a central power core, but also of multiple unreliable non-governmental organizations with similar capabilities to the empire itself (which of course turns war into a largely political struggle - if all of the factions within the Nivenian Empire were to cooperate, its military might would likely be augmented twenty-fold. However, even in its normal, reduced, state, the Nivenian military is a force to be reckoned with. This is not due to particularly advanced technology, or particularly good tactics, or even particularly effective recruitment procedures (the reality is actually quite the opposite), but just their massive numbers.

The Nivenian military is also interesting in that it is concentrated solely in the Nivenia System, with very few, if any, defense forces affiliated with the main body of the Nivenian Empire in these areas. Instead, other systems, which are partially independent, are left to their own devices in growing and maintaining a military. As the vast vast majority of the Nivenian Empire is located inside the Nivenia System, this does not pose too much of a problem in terms of either colonies explicitly revolting (they would need a comparatively massive military buildup to mount a successful revolt, which would collapse their economy afterwards), or really affecting politics in the main system in any major way.

The formal Nivenian military itself is governed by the Nivenian Department of Stability (NDS), which is named for "stability" instead of "defense" or "war," since the Nivenians have been to some degree a semi-unified race since the thermonuclear war on Nivenia Prime, and then had close to seven hundred years to develop afterwards. While there were two periods, each admittedly lasting decade, when multiple similarly-sized factions existed, there has usually been a single, more-or-less self-consistent government ruling over more than three-quarters of the Nivenian People. Thus, most of the operations of the NDS have been largely concerned with stability, with self-defense providing another important role to play in some, more desperate circumstances, such as those leading to the Nivenian-Thadian War of Annexation and the Third Nivenian War of Reunification recently. Having two wars that large in the span of two decades is rare for the Nivenian Empire, but not entirely unheard of, as the period was still less anarchic than the first two Nivenian wars of re-unification, even if the wars involved were larger, and fought with far more fearsome weapons.

The military itself also interestingly does not have a formal ground branch on the Imperial level, instead the various planets, habitats, and colonies of various types are all responsible for their own ground defense, which is usually not heavily focused-on. The reason for this has always been that orbital bombardment could usually do much more than actual planetary battles towards swinging the loyalty of a planet, as orbital bombardment does much more damage. For example, even in the early days of space exploration, a ship crashing into a planet at twenty kilometers per second, and weighing a hundred million tons, would create an explosion of almost five gigatons TNT equivalent, enough to burn anything within nearly five hundred kilometers, which could have killed millions at least during the early period of space exploration. In contrast, state-of-the-art warships such as the Hydra-class Titan have the ability to blast out nearly a quarter teraton of TNT equivalent from their engines alone, all in the form of high-energy gamma rays, with a mean energy of seventy teraelectron volts. Four of these ships, arranged in a tetrahedron around a planet, could nearly completely obliterate the biosphere by subjecting the entire planet to hundreds of greys of ionizing radiation. All of this would be entirely possible in just one second, with the insane output of these engines. As such, ground combat is rarely ever used or considered, when the threat of sterilization would work just as well.

Military Organizational Structure

Nivenian military organization structure largely consists of breaking the military into several major branches - four of them dominate the capabilities of the Nivenian Department of Stability, although their functions may surprise many. First, it should be noted that the most active part of the Nivenian military system, and what would be regarded by most in the Nivenian Empire as the most important is actually the spacial equivalent of a coast guard - the Nivenian Anti-Piracy and Contract Enforcement Team (NAPCET).

The second-most important branch of the military, for Nivenians, is the organization that governs the organization and management of the defense rings - excessively huge megastructures at about three times the radius of the ringworlds around each star, which are tasked with the destruction of particularly dangerous pirate fleets, or, in the worst-case scenario, actual invaders, from either inside of outside the Nivenian Empire, though the former is more likely by far. However, the defense rings also offer convenient ship refit and cargo storage locations, which is one of the few ways the small government in the Nivenian Empire can actually generate revenue. The organization responsible for the management of the defense rings is knows as the Defense Ring Administration (DefRA).

The last, least important (to the Nivenian Empire) branch of the military is their actual attack fleet. Although they have billions of ships in their fleet, the sheer size of the empire means that only a very tiny percentage of the population actually work in these ships, or even contribute towards their maintenance - with an empire of over a quintillion inhabitants, a billion ships is nearly nothing. This is considered by most to be the actual navy of the Nivenian Empire, but they are the equivalent of a brown-water navy[1] by most of the rest of the the first Gigaquadrant due to their inability to travel faster than light, and use almost entirely as an in-system force. This organization is termed the Imperial Navy, and is notable for its opulent and tradition-loving, yet somehow also moralistic hierarchy, along with its lack of a pleasant acronym to be called by.

However, there is another branch of the Nivenian Department of Stability, that, when observed closely, is the most influential, essential, and powerful of the entire group - the Department of Military Politics (DMP). This organization is tasked with attempting to affirm the motivations and loyalty of the massive non-governmental organizations inside the Nivenian Empire. As a large coalition could potentially take down the entire empire, such a coalition cannot be allowed to form out of organizations with coherent and anti-imperial goals, or, if such an organization forms, the current imperial goals would have to be changed as much as would be necessary to alleviate the difficulty. As such, this organization is perhaps the most important out of the four to the stability of the empire, even if it is not as well-known.

Nivenian Anti-Piracy and Contract Enforcement Team

The Nivenian Anti-Piracy and Contract Enforcement Team, while not an overtly prestigious position to be in, as part of an organization that has largely dispensed of ritual, actually offers some of the best jobs in the Nivenian Empire, at least from the perspective of career advancement, business and personal connections. NAPCET ships, typically smaller than a kilometer, but can withstand high accelerations of up to thirty meters per second squared (not that the crew would find that pleasant), and are armed with state-of-the art precision weapons and shields, leading to a low casualty rate on both sides in most engagements they are involved in. These forces, while spread very thin, tend towards informing, reporting, and courier duties more than actual fighting, and are thus more a cog in a large problem-resolution system more than an actual fighting force. If the issue is forced, their ships can certainly hold their own in a fight, but any sufficiently large operation (e.g. a criminal organization with more than a couple hundred medium-sized warships) could take down a patrol in a head-to-head battle. The genius in the system is that any criminal force that gets too large usually needs to siphon money and/or resources from the large corporations, which of course have private armies, and can amply defend and police themselves. If a problem were to get really out-of-hand, though, the duties of NAPCET would be scouting out the situation and informing the NDS to allow them to take more drastic measures. After that, in the event of a war, NAPCET would be tasked with maintaining domestic stability outside of the planets and ringworlds.

In any case, individual patrols of NAPCET are usually at least a light-hour away from the nearest command post, as the closer areas are not quite as ripe with criminal activity. As such, individual commanders in NAPCET are usually able to lead their fleets with a lot of personal freedom - to the point where the entire organization's guidelines are viewed as little more than suggestions. Relations with NAPCET depend heavily for any enterprise on the individual relations with either a fleet commander who has been assigned with patrolling the area, or one of their higher-ups. This is of course all based on bribery - anyone who is wealthy and skimps on their bribe may be labeled a "smuggler" or "pirate" in a "clerical error," which of course is usually not discovered until after they have been arrested.

Only about forty percent of the military complement of NAPCET is ever on the actual fleet, and they still only have about half the ships many would expect them to, even considering this fact. The forty percent figure is mainly due to administrative costs - there are supply ships, bureaucratic duties, and the political scene behind any successful police force, which absorb attention from actual patrols. Still, NAPCET is as efficient as it gets, being one of the least bloated and most well-managed departments in the Nivenian Empire. The extra crew in the ships is mainly due to NAPCET's non-combat-oriented goals - they typically do not blow up ships, but send in boarding parties (which comprise similar numbers to the actual crew of the ship in most cases) to evaluate cargo or locate stowaway criminals. Sure, they have the capability to defend themselves if need be, but they, like many police departments, rarely bring their full force against an enemy, preferring to use only the amount of force necessary to complete a mission. In accordance with this, they almost exclusively use Protector-class Corvettes in their forces, and units larger than at most a squadron are rarely ever seen together - larger units are only necessary in the most extreme of circumstances.

Officer Rankings and Pay

Naval Rank	Pay (kilocredits per year)	Credentials requirements	Total subordinates	Approximate number	Boarding Party Rank	Pay	Credentials requirements	Total subordinates	Approximate number
Grand Admiral (★★★★★★★)	300,000.0	PhD or better, Military school, Great political connections	100 Trillion	1
Fleet Admiral (★★★★★★)	30,000.0 to 50,000.0; avg. 40,000.0	PhD or better, Military school, Great political connections	45 Billion to 900 Billion; avg. 200 Billion	500
Admiral (★★★★★)	8,000.0	PhD or better, Military school, Great political connections	2 Billion	50 Thousand
Vice-Admiral (★★★★)	2,500.0	PhD or better, Military school, Good political connections	200 Million	500 Thousand
Rear-Admiral (upper half) (★★★)	1,000.0	PhD or better, Military school, Good political connections	50 Million	2 Million
Rear-Admiral (lower half) (★★)	480.0	PhD or better, Military school	10 Million	10 Million
Commodore (★)	260.0	PhD or better, Military school	400 Thousand	250 Million
Captain	260.0	Master's degree or better, Military school	80 Thousand	1.25 Billion
Corvette Captain	160.0	Bachelor's degree or better, Military school	~4,878	10.25 Billion	Colonel	160.0	Bachelor's degree or better, Military school	~4,878	10.25 Billion
Lieutenant	100.0	Bachelor's degree or better, Military school	~1,281	39 Billion	Major	100.0	Bachelor's degree or better, Military school	~1,281	39 Billion
Subsystem Lieutenant	60.0	Bachelor's degree or better, Military school	~199	250 Billion	Captain	60.0	Bachelor's degree or better, Military school	~199	250 Billion
Midshipman	40.0	Associate's degree or better, Military school	~98	500 Billion	Lieutenant	40.0	Associate's degree or better, Military school	~98	500 Billion
Chief Petty Officer	22.0	Significantly more competent than average	~44	1.1 Trillion	Sergent Major	26.0	Significantly more competent than average	~44	1.1 Trillion
Petty Officer	13.0	Noticeably more competent than average	15	3 Trillion	Sergent	19.0	Noticeably more competent than average	15	3 Trillion
Leading spacer	8.0	Slightly more competent than average	4	9 Trillion	Corporal	12.0	Slightly more competent than average	4	9 Trillion
Spacer	5.0	Not committed theft, conversion, battery, or worse	N/A	35 Trillion	Private	7.0	Not committed theft, conversion, battery, or worse	N/A	36 Trillion

Command Structure

Unit Name	Symbol (if applicable)	Parent (if applicable)	Children (if applicable)	Approximate mass of ships	Approximate number of ships	Approximate required crew	Approximate number in empire	Rank of commanding officer
NAPCET Command		NDS Administration	Fleet - five hundred	20 Quadrillion metric tons	2 Billion	100 Trillion	1	Grand Admiral (★★★★★★★)
Fleet		NAPCET Command	Task Force - thirty to three hundred	9 Trillion to 180 Trillion metric tons; avg. 40 Trillion	900 Thousand to 18 Million; avg. 4 Million	45 Billion to 900 Billion; avg. 200 Billion	500 - one per major habitat or habitat group	Fleet Admiral (★★★★★★)
Task Force		Fleet	Divisions - usually about ten	400 Billion metric tons	40 Thousand	2 Billion	50 Thousand - one per 20 Trillion imperial citizens, on average	Admiral (★★★★★)
Division		Task Force	Sub-divisions - usually about four	40 Billion metric tons	4 Thousand	200 Million	500 Thousand - one per 2 Trillion imperial citizens, on average	Vice-Admiral (★★★★)
Sub-division		Division	Flotillas - usually about five	10 Billion metric tons	1 Thousand	50 Million	2 Million - one per 500 Billion imperial citizens, on average	Rear-Admiral (upper half) (★★★)
Flotilla		Sub-division	Squadrons - usually about ten	2 Billion metric tons	200	10 Million	10 Million - one per 100 Billion imperial citizens, on average	Rear-Admiral (lower half) (★★)
Squadron		Flotilla	Patrols - usually about five	200 Million metric tons	20	1 Million	100 Million - one per 10 Billion imperial citizens, on average	Commodore (★)
Patrol		Squadron	Individual ships	40 Million metric tons	4	200 Thousand	500 Million - one per 2 Billion imperial citizens, on average	Captain note that the rank of captain here is equivalent to the rank aboard some of the larger ships, but is overqualified to just lead a single Protector-class

Strategic Readiness

STRATEGIC READINESS
DEMILITARIZED total mobilization time: 1 year	PEACETIME RESERVES total mobilization time: 6 months	PROFESSIONAL FORCES total mobilization time: 3 months	MILITARIZATION total mobilization time: 1 month	PARTIAL MOBILIZATION total mobilization time: 2 weeks	TOTAL MOBILIZATION total mobilization time: MOBILIZED
RECRUITMENT
DEMILITARIZED recruitable population: 1,068.77709 Trillion (0.1%)	ALTERNATE SERVICE recruitable population: 2,671.94273 Trillion (0.25%)	VOLUNTARY SERVICE recruitable population: 5,343.88547 Trillion (0.5%)	RESERVIST SERVICE recruitable population: 16,031.6563 Trillion (1.5%)	MANDATORY SERVICE recruitable population: 42,751.0837 Trillion (4.0%)	TOTAL CONSCRIPTION recruitable population: 106,877.709 Trillion (10.0%)
MILITARY INDUSTRY
CONSUMER ECONOMY	FOREIGN ACQUISITIONS	PRIVATE PRODUCTION	MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX	ECONOMIC MOBILIZATION	WAR ECONOMY
POWER PROJECTION
NO MONOPOLY ON FORCE	SOVEREIGN BORDERS	REGIONAL	GALACTIC	CLUSTER	GIGAQUADRANT
WAR TOLERANCE
NO ENTANGLEMENTS	SELF-DEFENSE	PEACEKEEPING	MILITARY INTERVENTION	LIMITED WAR	TOTAL WAR

Nivenian Empire General Information History and Government History before 20 NE Nivenian Government, Nivenian Technology (Nivenian Megastructures) Nivenian Military (Nivenian Weapons Systems, Weapons Range) Titans: Hydra-class, Dragon-class Battleships: Griffon-class, Phoenix-class Destroyers: Serpent-class, Pegasus-class, Dragonfly-class Corvettes: Protector-class, Wasp-class Mobile Shipyards: A-type Mobile Shipyard Facility, B-type Mobile Shipyard Facility, C-type Mobile Shipyard Facility Mobile Munitions Planets: Military Mining Platforms: Cargo Transports: Other Demographics of the Nivenian Empire, Astrography of the Nivenian Empire, Nivenian culture Corporations The Megastructural Construction Corporation, MegaSuperUltraCorp Nivenian History after Dekemurios 32, 20 NE Dekemurios 32, 20 NE - Martex 32, 32 NE Dekemurios 32, 20 NE - Neochios 41, 23 NE Neochios 41, 23 NE - Martex 53, 24 NE Neochios 41, 23 NE - Martex 32, 32 NE Martex 32, 32 NE - Martex 32, 32 NE - Dekemurios 55, 33 NE Dekemurios 55, 33 NE - Nivenia Space Core Systems (within 3.2 light-years) Nivenia System Planets and Moons (Primary - Inner System) Brown Dwarf Nivenia AB Planet Nivenia A1 (demolished) Planet Nivenia A2 Planet Nivenia A3 Planet Nivenia A4 Ecumenopolis Nivenia Prime (History) Planet Nivenia A6, Moon Nivenia A6.1, Nivenia A6 Planet Swarm Planet Nivenia A7 (demolished), Moon Nivenia A7.1, and moon Moon Nivenia A7.2 Planets and Moons (Primary - Outer System) Planet Nivenia A8 (demolished), Moon Nivenia A8.1 Planet Nivenia A9 Planet Nivenia A10, and moon Moon Nivenia A10.1 Planet Nivenia A11, and moons Moon Nivenia A11.1 and Moon Nivenia A11.2 Planet Nivenia A12, and moon Moon Nivenia A12.1 Nivenia Diffuse Habitat Swarm Planets and Moons (Secondary) Planet Nivenia B1 Planet Nivenia B2 Planet Nivenia B3 Planet Nivenia B4 Planet Nivenia B5, and moon Moon Nivenia B5.1 Interests Nivenian Empire, United Democratic Republic of Nivenia B Paulo Fluctus Beta System Planets and Moons (Inner System) Planet Paulo Fluctus Beta 1 Planet Paulo Fluctus Beta 2 Planet Paulo Fluctus Beta 3 Planet Paulo Fluctus Beta 4 Planet Paulo Fluctus Beta 5, and moon Moon Paulo Fluctus Beta 5.1 Planet Paulo Fluctus Beta 6, and moons Moon Paulo Fluctus Beta 6.1, Moon Paulo Fluctus Beta 6.2 and Moon Paulo Fluctus Beta 6.3 Planet Paulo Fluctus Beta 7 Planet Paulo Fluctus Beta 8, and moons Moon Paulo Fluctus Beta 8.1 and Moon Paulo Fluctus Beta 8.2 Planets and Moons (Outer System) Planet Paulo Fluctus Beta 9, and moons Moon Paulo Fluctus Beta 9.1, Moon Paulo Fluctus Beta 9.5, Moon Paulo Fluctus Beta 9.8, Moon Paulo Fluctus Beta 9.9 Interests Nivenian Empire, Republic of Paulo Fluctus Beta Caeruleo System Planets and Moons Planet Caeruleo 1 Planet Caeruleo 2, and moon Moon Caeruleo 2.1 Planet Caeruleo 3, and moons Moon Caeruleo 3.1, Moon Caeruleo 3.2, Moon Caeruleo 3.3, and Moon Caeruleo 3.4 Double planet Planet Caeruleo 4 - Planet Caeruleo 4.1 Planet Caeruleo 5, and moons Moon Caeruleo 5.1, Moon Caeruleo 5.2, Moon Caeruleo 5.3, Moon Caeruleo 5.4, Moon Caeruleo 5.5, and Moon Caeruleo 5.5 Planet Caeruleo 6, and Moon Caeruleo 6.9 Planet Caeruleo 7, and moons Moon Caeruleo 7.1, Moon Caeruleo 7.2, Moon Caeruleo 7.3, and Moon Caeruleo 7.4 Interests Nivenian Empire, Caeruleo Governmental Holding Corporation Thadus 0002 System Planets and Moons Planet Thadus 0002 1 Planet Thadus 0002 2, and Moon Thadus 0002 2.1 Planet Thadus 0002 3, Moon Thadus 0002 3.1, and Moon Thadus 0002 3.2 Planet Thadus 0002 4, and Moon Thadus 0002 4.1 Planet Thadus 0002 5 Planet Thadus 0002 6, Moon Thadus 0002 6.5, Moon Thadus 0002 6.7, and Moon Thadus 0002 6.8 Planet Thadus 0002 7, Moon Thadus 0002 7.1, Moon Thadus 0002 7.2, Interests Nivenian Empire Nivenia Space Rouge Planets Planets and Moons (0 to 4 light-years) Planet Thadus 0037, Moon Thadus 0037 2 Interests Nivenian Empire, Democratic State of New Home†