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Agemegos · 09-14-2013, 04:58 PM

Okay, let's apply some thinkery.

The naval title used for the lowest grades of skilled technician could have been devised by bureaucratic rationalism in the early days of the Empire, c. 495–505, in which case it would be something that sounded good to Akiko Montesino and the early generations of senators. As such, it might be a revival of terms that sounded appropriately naval to a bunch of people from different societies whose common heritage was Earth of the 2300s AD.

Alternatively, the title could have developed in the Foundation Navy, which was an amalgam of Eichberger's Space Patrol with survivors the Space Guard of the Republic of Mayflower. The Republic of Mayflower was founded (but not overwhelmingly settled) by Americans in the 2100s: the English there probably had significant influence from Spanish, and there might have been a reflex to revive American institutions, of which the Space Guard would seem naturally to echo the USCG, and Eichberger's Space Patrol would either develop out of commercial spaceflight norms or be a conscious revival of the USN or USAF of 2300.

Now, the founding population of the Empire had been living in spaceships and orbital habitats, with no planetary base, for sixty years by the time that the Imperial Navy was instituted as such. Some families had been doing so longer. To them "spaceman" or "spacer" would either encompass everybody or would be a quaint archaism. They wouldn't title naval technicians as "spacer" or "spaceman" because to them going into space in ships is what everyone does, it doesn't distinguish the naval technicians.

So. What about "technician"? That distinguishes what these people are, conceptually.

What about "warrant officer"? That's what they are in terms of revived US military custom. I rather fancy a system in which petty officers out-rank and are promoted from among warrant officers: it reminds me of viscounts out-ranking marquises. But I'd have to change all the marines warrant officers to sergeants-major.

What about "rating", without it being a placeholder for any of a long list of specialist titles?

09-14-2013, 04:58 PM	#77
Agemegos Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oz	Re: Flat Black Okay, let's apply some thinkery. The naval title used for the lowest grades of skilled technician could have been devised by bureaucratic rationalism in the early days of the Empire, c. 495–505, in which case it would be something that sounded good to Akiko Montesino and the early generations of senators. As such, it might be a revival of terms that sounded appropriately naval to a bunch of people from different societies whose common heritage was Earth of the 2300s AD. Alternatively, the title could have developed in the Foundation Navy, which was an amalgam of Eichberger's Space Patrol with survivors the Space Guard of the Republic of Mayflower. The Republic of Mayflower was founded (but not overwhelmingly settled) by Americans in the 2100s: the English there probably had significant influence from Spanish, and there might have been a reflex to revive American institutions, of which the Space Guard would seem naturally to echo the USCG, and Eichberger's Space Patrol would either develop out of commercial spaceflight norms or be a conscious revival of the USN or USAF of 2300. Now, the founding population of the Empire had been living in spaceships and orbital habitats, with no planetary base, for sixty years by the time that the Imperial Navy was instituted as such. Some families had been doing so longer. To them "spaceman" or "spacer" would either encompass everybody or would be a quaint archaism. They wouldn't title naval technicians as "spacer" or "spaceman" because to them going into space in ships is what everyone does, it doesn't distinguish the naval technicians. So. What about "technician"? That distinguishes what these people are, conceptually. What about "warrant officer"? That's what they are in terms of revived US military custom. I rather fancy a system in which petty officers out-rank and are promoted from among warrant officers: it reminds me of viscounts out-ranking marquises. But I'd have to change all the marines warrant officers to sergeants-major. What about "rating", without it being a placeholder for any of a long list of specialist titles? __________________ Decay is inherent in all composite things. Nod head. Get treat. Last edited by Agemegos; 09-14-2013 at 05:04 PM.