The Commonwealth Forces

The Royal Commonwealth Forces are the protectors of the Commonwealth Veil states, and blend Sable’s own troops posted in the Commonwealth with those of the four Commonwealth Defence Shadows. There are army, navy and airforce navy units attached to the Royal Commonwealth Forces. The Commonwealth naval forces are based out of Riversend, although their operations are exclusively off Magica Superior, along with the Defence Pact worlds of Lowell and Cadel, while the army is split between the four Commonwealth Defence Shadows.

There is a Commonwealth Staff Council which acts as a subset of the main Sable Staff Council, dealing with matters pertaining specifically to the Commonwealth. This comprises the Lord Protector Prince William, Field Marshal Lord William O’Connor, Generals Duke Marne, FitzWilliam and Earl FitzCalen, General Duchess Shaw, General Alexandra Beaumont, General Vanessa Carlisle and Admiral Richard Greer. In addition, Field Marshal Prince James has represented Duchy of Lowell since the assassination of Duke Travis, and is expected to continue to do so until the situation with Jensen is resolved.

The Commonwealth Defence-Pact Shadows

Each of the original four Defence-pact Shadows provides land-based and airbourne forces for the defence of their quadrants – Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth states alike – and the Dukes/Duchess have been provided with the means to take their troops through Shadow into battle if necessary. Two of the Defence Shadows, Cadel and Lowell, also have naval forces which can be deployed in the Commonwealth Band if required, in conjunction with Sable’s Royal Commonwealth Navy. In addition, since SY103, the Veil Six world of Khachuran as been accredited as a Defence-Pact world.

The Royal Commonwealth Army: General Alexandra Beaumont

The Sable Army in the Commonwealth is commanded by General Alexandra Beaumont, and is approximately of equal strength to the individual armies of the Commonwealth Defence-Pact Shadows. It can be deployed if necessary to support the native forces within the three Commonwealth Veils, as well as the Khachuran bloc, although for it to operate within a non-Commonwealth Shadow requires the permission of the resident authorities on that Shadow. Within the Commonwealth States, it can be deployed at will if the security of Sable or its allies is threatened, although in practice, this is never done without the agreement of the threatened world’s government.

General Beaumont is a career soldier, having served in the Sable Army in all three operational divisions. She is a tall woman, with red hair and green eyes, and appears to be in her late-thirties. She was given command of the RCA about fifteen years ago.

The Royal Commonwealth Navy: Admiral Richard Greer

The Royal Commonwealth Navy operates out of the Riversend Naval Base, although it does not have responsibility for actions on Magica Superior itself, only the Commonwealth Veils. It also includes the combined naval forces of Cadel and Lowell, with which it often undertakes joint operations and exercises. It comprises a number of fast-attack boats, plus a wide range of capital ships, as well as a handful of aircraft carriers, as mechanised air combat is only possible within a very few Commonwealth Shadows.

Admiral Greer is a huge man, about 6’6″ in height and well built, with a commanding presence. He has served in both the External Royal Navy and the Commonwealth Forces, and was appointed as Admiral Commanding the Commonwealth Fleet twenty-five years ago.

The Royal Commonwealth Air Force: General Vanessa Carlisle

The Royal Commonwealth Air Force has bases on each of the Four Defence Pact Worlds, as well as Khachuran. It’s field of operations is limited, however, as not every Commonewealth world has the native technology to support air combat. She works closely with Field Marshal Prince Christopher.

General Carlisle is a career officer, coming up through the Army Air Corps before the Air Force was split into its own branch of service, and initially proposed the extension of Air Force operations back into the Commonwealth, where such things are possible, vs. just the Three Military Regions prior to the formation of the Outer Reich.