Jade Empire

The Jade Empire was formed in 17 ABY by unifying several Unknown Regions nations. Founding signatories included:


 * The Jade Worlds, a 4,000-year-old monarchy
 * The Kingdom of Halcyon, a longtime protectorate of the Sandian Imperial League, which included the conquered Bandit Kingdoms and the former Isen Star Empire
 * The Protectorate of Spyrta, another scion of the SIL
 * A region jointly colonized by the JW and SIL in 12 ABY
 * The Republic of United Systems

OOC note: [|This post] describes the final decisions on unification.

Government
The government is personified in the Empress, Halla Terrablade, formerly Shau’ghun and Queen of Halcyon; and her husband Prince-Archon Braily Terrablade, King of Halcyon. Their advisors are selected or elected by individual territories' own established traditions and systems: some of the advisory body are lords, some congressbeings, and so forth.

Armed Forces
A mix of ships and servicebeings from all signatory states, the Jade Empire Armed Forces may be the most heterogeneous in the galaxy. JEAF uniforms are black.

Navy
JE ships include representatives of:

Capital
Nodachi-class Star Destroyer

Raklem-class Assault Cruiser

Mercy-class Hospital Ship

Guardian-class Battlecruiser

Black Star Dreadnaught

Kryse-class Cruiser

Karatedo-class Carrier

Nession-class Cruiser

Jurgen Brigand-class Carrier

Bushi-class Cruiser

Renaissance-class Frigate

Kusarigama-class Frigate

Vision-class Corvette

Nunchaku-class Corvette

Sandian Patrol Frigate

Sandian Missile Corvette

Black Nova/Bandit Kingdoms corvette

Luclin Warbird

Assorted Xen'Chi vessels

Starfighters
Starcatcher Fighter

Shuriken Space Superiority Fighter

Sandian Dart Fighters

Sandian Stinger Fighters

Sandian Zealot Fighters

Sandian Dragoon Bombers

Sandian Stalker Fighters

Kiai'ta-class Space Superiority Fighter

Tanto-class Interceptor

Naginata-class Bomber

Assorted Black Nova/Bandit Kingdoms starfighters

Assorted RUS starfighters and atmospheric fightercraft

Transports and Small Craft
Brood-class Fleet Tender

Obsidian-class Transport

Shieldwall-class Patrol Cruiser

Redletter-class Boarding/Landing Craft

Haze-class Dropship

SAR-Alpha

SAR-Beta

Assorted Sandian, Isen and RUS small craft

Navy Personnel
The standard naval training program is augmented by rotation on a naval vessel. Three months of groundside training is followed by another three months of provisional crew status on a ship of the line, then another two months of more specialized training.

The standard naval sidearm is a variable-setting Naval Blaster. Heavier weapons are kept in onboard lockers.

Navy dress uniform includes a sword or swords of the bearer’s choice, usually one of three options.


 * The paired kiai’ta and makizash: curved, single-edged, one long and one short
 * One or two Joyite short swords: heavy, double-edged
 * Sabre: curved, single-edged

Ground Specs
Infantry, light and heavy cavalry, artillery and engineering troopers undergo a standard three-month training period. This includes discipline, physical conditioning, basic combat training, small-unit tactics and basic technical competency. In keeping with the 'warrior' rather than 'soldier' mentality, the program is carefully calibrated to not turn recruits into killing machines.

Afterwards, they participate in a nine-week station-specific program, making for a total training period of just over five months.

The standard infantry weapons are .26 caliber slugthrowers using Joyite technology. They have as few moving parts as possible, and no electronics except the scope's enhancements. Joyite soldiers use a larger pistol and rifle than their human compatriots, but if necessary humans and Joyites can use each other's weapons and gear. Squad Heavy Automatic Slugthrowers are usually assigned to Joyites, but the SHAS is light enough to be used by a human, minus some of the ammunition.

The Army uses a variety of grenades, in standard shells that can be thrown by hand or loaded into a magrail launcher attachment for a rifle.


 * Fragmentation: a mainstay.
 * Flashbang: as commonly used as frag grenades, flashbangs reflect the JW philosophy of overwhelming nonlethal force.
 * Baradium (thermal detonator): the sector is rich in the raw materials for baradium, making thermal detonators much more available than normal.
 * Incendiary: not often used.
 * Stun gas: nearly as common as flashbangs, for the same reason, these grenades will incapacitate almost any carbon-based life form in seconds.
 * EMP: electromagnetic pulses disable blasters, personal electronics, and local shipboard systems, but not Jade Empire infantry sidearms.

Army dress uniform includes a sword or swords of the bearer’s choice, usually one of three options.


 * The paired kiai’ta and makizash: curved, single-edged, one long and one short
 * One or two Joyite short swords: heavy, double-edged
 * Sabre: curved, single-edged

Boarding Trooper Specs
Guard boarding troopers are typically outfitted with a blend of standard sidearms and nonlethal weaponry, including net projectors and sonic weapons. Boarding troopers usually act in concert with Crates, large, nonhumanoid assault droids.

Spec Ops
Guard commandos work best in close-quarters situations, but are perfectly competent in practically any scenario. Most are required to know something about technologies from across the Unknown Regions; piloting, especially starfighter and shuttle piloting; slicing; demolitions; sniping, and a host of other specialized fields. It is not uncommon for a well-rounded commando to be deployed alone for a complicated mission.

Shau’ghunate Guard
The Empress’ personal guard; also protects other dignitaries, including ambassadors and Congressbeings. Their numbers, including ship numbers, are unknown, but it is not likely that they maintain more than two or three cruiser-size ships.

Templar
The SIL's military cult, they worship the Prince-Archon and as such are completely loyal to the JE. Their military strength is unknown.

Household Guard
An ancient tradition, the Household Guard are Honour Blades - weapons masters - and usually sai'mrai, the elite of the Shau’ghunate Guard. They are the most loyal, proven, honour-bound soldiers possible. Their job is to protect, not the Shau'ghun, but his or her family, even extended family, as far as second cousins. Household Guard units evacuated G'shan Di'te from Varunda IX in the middle of an orbital bombardment that destroyed every city on the jungle moon.

In addition to their swords and assorted other weapons, each member of the Household Guard carries a Blooddrinker.