Royal Star Service
Chartered in 2021, not long after First Contact, to take responsibility for space warfare and exoatmospheric policing, both of which had suddenly jumped
massively in importance. The service is structured in a manner similar to the Royal Air Force (and took over some RAF components, such as
No. 23 Squadron), with a few elements taking inspiration from the Royal Navy, such as the Chief of Staff having the title 'First Space Lord.' RSS spacecraft for the first few years were saucers donated by or purchased from the Irari, though factories for domestic production began construction in the UK immediately, largely in areas in need of more employment, or in the constituencies of Members of Parliament the Prime Minister needed support from. At the time it was founded, many officers and other ranks were sent to serve with the RIAS Space Corps, or to study on Irar, in order to gain needed skills. This was also offered to close allies of the UK, such as the USA and Canada.
Ranks
Insignia are derived from those of the Royal Air Force. Ranks are taken partly from the modern RAF, partly from
an early proposal for RAF ranks (somewhat modified), and partly from the
Household Cavalry (also somewhat modified).
Rank 9 [45]
OF-10 Ardian-Marshal of the Royal Star Service (Wartime or Honourary Only)
Rank 8 [40]
OF-9 Ardian
OF-8 Vice Ardian
Rank 7 [35]
OF-7 Staff Ardian
OF-6 Group Ardian
Rank 6 [30]
OF-5 Banneret
Rank 5 [25]
OF-4 Reeve
Rank 4 [20]
OF-3 Squadron Leader
Rank 3 [15]
OF-2 Flight Leader
OF-1 Lieutenant
OF-1 Cornet
Courtesy Rank 3 [3]
OF(D) Acting Cornet
Rank 2 [10]
OR-9 First Space Lord's Warrant Officer (w/Courtesy Rank 7 [7])
OR-9 Warrant Officer class one/Master Spacecrew (w/Courtesy Rank 5 [5])
OR-8 Warrant officer class two/Senior Spacecrew (w/Courtesy Rank 3 [3])
OR-7 Flight Corporal/Flight Corporal Spacecrew (w/Courtesy Rank 1 [1])
OR-6 Corporal/Corporal Spacecrew
Rank 1 [5]
OR-4 Lance Corporal/Lance Corporal Spacecrew
Rank 0 [0]
OR-2 Senior Spacecraftman/Senior Spacecraftwoman (w/Courtesy Rank 1 [1])
OR-2 Leading Spacecraftman/Leading Spacecraftwoman
OR-1 Spacecraftman/Spacecraftwoman
Uniforms are similar to
those of the RAF, but in black and silver (the latter often being represented by light grey). Uniform shirts are generally collarless, banded collar, or a mock-turtleneck, and neckties are absent, though mess dress includes the typical collar and a bow tie. Kilts and skirts are optional on some uniforms, but are rarely worn outside of mess dress, or sometimes full (parade) dress. Standard space suits (No. 15 Dress) are
mechanical counterpressure suits, with additions of various types depending on environment and intended activity - some can effectively turn the suit into a battlesuit and/or a
single-person spacecraft.
At some point in the design process, it was suggested that the dress sword should be a force sword, as the Irari database contained a number of designs for psychotronic cutting tools, some of which are functionally identical to lighsabres. Surprisingly, this was adopted, with the caveat that all acceptable force swords must have a 'less lethal' force baton setting, or simply
be force batons. Due to the cutting power and the variable length of the blade (from 1mm out to 2,500mm or 2.5m), force swords are more often carried as working tools than as ceremonial weapons.
Many of the exoatmospheric police duties of the RSS were handed over to the International Space Patrol when that organization formed later in the decade, though suppressing the more heavily-armed space pirate organizations remained a largely military activity.
Thoughts?