Empirical Industries/Aeronautics
Empirical Aeronautics is a major, and growing, division within Empirical Industries, holding primary responsibility for all space-based activities and installations.
Empirical Spacefleet
Aeronautics is rapidly beginning to develop a true spacefleet, through its Empirical Starship research and development program, aimed at developing, implementing, and further evolving a flexible starship platform that is capable of participating effectively in powered conflict across a range of scenarios and locales, operating independently or as a team, and having striking reach from the void of space to the surface of planetary bodies.
In support of this, Aeronautics has begun commissioning employees as line officers. This effectively converts them from civilian employees, to military personnel. However, they are not mercenaries, as at that point, they are officially backed and recognized by the planetary government of Safehouse as their native naval forces. All personnel are commissioned officers -- menial tasks are handled by automated machinery, and space is an inherently dangerous place. All personnel are expected to demonstrate the leadership and initiative expected in other military forces only of their officers. Notably, artificial intelligences may also hold these ranks, as they are considered persons by Empirical Industries and the government of Safehouse alike, though it is rare for them to field a ship with no organic personnel aboard at all.
In addition to their line officers, Empirical Starships also often take on-board support personnel depending on the nature of their mission and the space they are travelling through. This may include Ogres, for instance, or a coterie of Black Chamber mage-engineers. These personnel generally fall outside the normal chain of command of the ship, although depending on the individual and the mission specifications, they may be granted the courtesies of an equivalent rank anyway.
Table of Ranks
| Empirical Spacefleet Rank | Equivalent CG Armada Rank |
|---|---|
| Spacer | Ensign / Lieutenant JG |
| Votary 1 | Lieutenant |
| Sojourner | Lt Commander / Commander |
| Master | Captain |
| Fleet Master | Rear Admiral / Vice Admiral |
| Prince of Space 2 | Admiral |
1: Votary is considered the 'working rank' of the Empirical Spacefleet. They are no longer inexperienced Spacers, and are thus expected to be competent at their jobs.
2: 'Prince of Space' is not actually an official rank, despite being listed here. It is something of an in-joke of the Empirical Spacefleet, and how they refer to Alothin.
