Styrkene

The Styrkene is the military of Aedeland. The Stykene consists of six uniformed services: the Ríkes Sjøstyrkene, Ríkes Hæren, Valkyrja, Væringet, and the Styðja. Aedeland spends approximately 3% of GDP on national defense. Most of that spending is on high dollar assets of the Valkyrja and Ríkes Sjøstyrkene.

Etymology

Styrkene comes from Aedelish styrkr word meaning "strength" or "military force".

History

Independent local and regional military forces were consolidated under the Styrkene into the Hæren and Sjøstyrkene shortly following the Aedelish unification in 7305. The Pan-Anarian War brought about standardization and the development of a professional officer corps. The decentralized structure of local units called into service to form temporary armies persisted until a standing army was raised for the Hanniyyahs expedition. At the collapse of the Aedelish Empire, the Strykene was among the largest militaries in the world with a global area of operations. This structure was retained by the Technate though it progressively lost strength over time. Dissolution of the Technate brought about military reforms that dissolved the standing army and restored the Styrkene's historic and greatly reduced organization.

Structure

Aedeland's military is constitutionally under the authority of the Fører and all officer's swear oaths of allegiance to the Aedelish constitution and the Fører. The senior military official of the Styrkene is the Lord Martial. Although the six branches of the Stykene are independent, they are an integrated whole operating in coordination. Because Aedeland has few major instalations, these facilities are used by all branches of the Styrkene.

Valkyrja

Aedeland's Air Force, called the Valkryja ( lit. 'chooser of the slain') is the dominant branch of Aedeland's military holding the majority of positons on the Styrkene's high command and receiving the majority of military funding. Long range, high altitude, high speed nuclear-powered bombers, fighters, and interceptors form the primary strike capability of the Aedelish military. Only members of the Valkryja are authorized to wear distinctive goatskin leather jackets. The Valkyrja operates several auxiliary fields throughout Vesturland, Cykeria, and the Aereyjar.

Ríkes Sjøstyrkene

Aedeland largely abandoned the surface fleet model of naval warfare and since the 7560s has utilized submarines exclusively. Aedeland's u-boat fleet is organized into four flotillas called Jægeráða. Jægeráða-Norðan and Jægeráða-Eystri operate in the Nordsjøen and Stolvic Ocean from a shared u-boat base at Jægerból-Ålesund. Jægeráða-Suðr and Jægeráða-Vestri operate in the Zeeängten and Vestsjøen from a shared sub base at Jægerból-Ærilar. Each secret u-boat base is built into hardened subterranean sea caves and are undetectable from the surface.

Ríkes Hæren

Aedeland's army, called the Hæren, is a decentralized regimental militia and gendarmerie. A large degree of independence is allowed by the Fører in exchange for the support of powerful Ætts. However, the ancient ties are no longer respected and commands are awarded at the discretion of the Fører.

The Hæren is organized into four functional commands. Most regiments operate as gendarme providing for internal security and are primarily responsible for policing for "asocial behavior". The Jægerkorps are the foundational infantry units specializing in vertical envelopment who work in close cooperation with the Valkyrja. Likewise, Kommandos are a specialized in maritime operations and work in close cooperation with Aedeland's navy. Finally, the herklæði are armored and mechanized units which are largely being phased out.

Væringet

The Væringet is an elite corps of the Styrkene created in 7518 to allow foreign nationals into the Aedelish army. Under the Sørtarnland Company the Væringet dwarfed the Styrkene in both size and capability. However, the collapse of Aedeland's foreign empire greatly reduced the Væringet which now only survives as a single unit fully subordinate to yet distinct from the Hæren. As such it has a unique, but equivalent, rank names and a dress uniform heavily influenced by historical uniform of the Ithrieni military.

Styðja

The Styðja is a paramilitary non-combat service organization providing primarily work relief through public works programs. Operating under the same rank structure and wearing the same uniform of the regular Styrkene. Styðja camps have a dual-authority supervisory staff operating under War Office command while staffed primarily by Styðja officers under the Home Office. Each camp has a command staff drawn from the officer corps of the regular Styrkene including a camp commander, typically a captain, and several company commanders, typically lieutenants, who are responsible for discipline and administration. Technical training, work supervision, and specialist roles are provided by officers of the Styðja.

Styðja-skilja camps perform technical work encompassing a wide variety of public projects and internal improvements with the purpose of developing and enriching the lives of young Aedelmen. Furthermore, the Styðja-skilja's medical corps operates regional birthing and wellness centers throughout Aedeland. Styðja-kulī camps are operated and overseen by the Styðja but are manned by various asocial elements that includes alcoholics, beggars, homeless people, and nonconformists who perform menial and hard labor. Styðja-kulī conscripts are obligated to work for four years, though early release is available to those who agree to be chemically sterilized.

Installations

In addition to the high command at Rik Øverste and a detachment at the Gimlé, the Strykene operates only five installations: two submarine pens, two airbases, and one garrison. Regiments, numbering in the hundreds, are locally funding unless called into active service. Two permanent facilities and several dozen temporary encampments of the Styðja are funded by the Home Office.

Rik Øverste

The Rík Øverste is the Styrkene's ancient headquarters located in Ålesund and is the central command and control node of the Lord Martial's War Office. The historical building was purpose built in 7345 as headquarters for the Styrkene's war staff. In 7563 it was connected to the Gimlé by underground passenger railway which was improved and expanded in 7653 to connect with the underground bunker Himinbjörg, Jægerból-Ålesund submarine base, and the Valhreiðr air base in the Auðigrháls.

While the historic building retains its original purpose largely for ceremonial occasions its now primarily serves as home to the Stykene's military academy.

Valhreiðr

Valhreiðr is a hardened base in the Auðigrháls that serves as headquarters for the Valkryja and is home of Aedeland's secret black programs. Its underground hangers can accommodate two hundred fighter aircraft. The underground complex has ten blast doors which exit to multiple runways. It also has its own hospital as well as multiple munitions depots and underground fuel tanks.

Fjarrihreiðr

Fjarrihreiðr, is large air base on Maleficarion, the southernmost isle of the Aereyjar chain.

Jægerból-Ålesund

The hardened Jægerból-Ålesund u-boat pens are located at Værøya on the shores of the Østrefjord to the southeast of Ålesund. Constructed in 7632, The Jægerból-Ålesund complex is headquarters of the Ríkes Sjøstyrkene and the Stykene's largest naval installation with facilities for the supply, maintenance, and operation of fifty u-boats. Docked u-boats are conveyed out of the water into the bunker with every vessel stored in dry-dock. In addition to the protected docks, the expansive bunker is a city unto itself with all infrastructure associated with a military installation within a self contained hardened facility. The picturesque seaport village of old Værøya was the home of Aedeland's now defunct northern fleet and its historic buildings now house non-critical infrastructure including the headquarters and family housing of its ranking officers.

Jægeráða-Norðan Flotilla operating in the Nordsjøen

• Twenty Sig-class u-Boats

Jægeráða-Eystri Flotilla operating in the Stolvic Ocean

• Twenty Sig-class u-Boats

Jægerból-Ærilar

Jægerból-Ærilar is an underground naval facility in northern Ærilar constructed in 7663. The facility is accessed via submerged bored into the cliffs of Ærilar. No external sign of the base can be seen. Its caverns can acomodate twenty-five u-boats at any time with an additional singular dry-dock repair bay. While the installation is self-contained it is only a fraction of the size of the Ålesund pens with much more spartan facilities. The Jægerból-Ærilar facility is attached to the largely deactivated historic naval headquarters at the port of Ærilar which now serve as the headquarters of the Ríkes Sjøstyrkene and houses the Sjøstyrkeneskolen.

Jægeráða-Suðr operating in the Zeeängten

• Five Sig-class u-Boats

Jægeráða-Vestri operating in the Vestsjøen

• Twenty Sig-class u-Boats

Sjøstyrkeneskolen

• Aedeland historic windjammer built in 7552 used for training.

Sjøstyðja

• Three Líka-class hospital ships

Fornsighalla

The ancient fortress overlooking Ærilar known as the Fornsighalla, was the longtime headquarters of the Imperial Sørtarnland Company and has, since its inception as the military arm of the Company, been the headquarters of the Væringet.

Personnel

By law, all males are required a minimum of two years national service upon their 18th birthday in a local regimental militia or four years of alternative service in a non-combat Styðja or Free Corps. The regimental militias are not considered a standing army though this is exactly what it is. At any given time, approximately 3% of Aedeland's population is in national service and about 20% of Aedelish men could be recalled into emergency service.

Volunteers may join as young as fifteen and early enrollment reflects positively on a soldier's service record. Only volunteers are selected from within the Hæren for service in the Valkyrja and Ríkes Sjøstyrkene. While service is mandatory, conscientious objectors may refuse service for any reason. However, failure to serve severely restricts political and social rights. Women are prohibited from national service except for the non-deployable positions in the medical corps and secretarial staff.

Rank Structure

Rank in the Strykene is divided into two distinct categories: officer and other ranks. All members enter service as a conscript or volunteer. Only volunteers are eligible for commission as officers. Officers serve in positions of executive leadership by commissioned authority of the Fører. Other ranks constitute the majority of Styrkene personnel and are non-professionals who have either volunteered or been conscripted as well as professionals who serve in positions of managerial leadership by warrant authority of their officers.

Officer Ranks

Officers represent the top 5% of the Styrkene. Løjtnant are junior officers and the equivalent to the rank lieutenant in most militaries. Typically they are staff officers or heads of subordinate departments within a command and rarely serve as commanders. Løjtnants are numbered according to seniority as a post or appointment within a unit. The senior most is designated the premierløjtnant and typically acts as second-in-command and executive officer. Løjtnants wear no rank. Kapitäns are equivalent to field officers in most militaries. They are senior officers of the Styrkene typically in command of company or battery in the Hæren, a squadron in the Valkryja, or ships of cruiser size or larger in the Sjøstyrkene. Kapitäns are identified by a star insignia on their collar. Oversti in the Hæren and Valkryja or Kommandørs in the Sjøstyrkene are equivalent to flag officers in most militaries and are identified by laurels worn on their collar. They typically command regiments in the Hæren, air wings in the Valkryja, and a squadron of vessels in the Sjøstyrkene. This is generally the highest rank in the Styrkene with the exception of the temporary wartime rank of Stratárchis - a title that originated in the Pan-Anarian War - a rank equivalent to a Field Marshall in most militaries. The rank insignia of the Stratárchis is identical to that of a Ofursti or Kommandørs. However, the Stratárchis carries a baton as a ceremonial symbol of his rank.

Other Ranks

Those selected for career service are issued a warrant from their commanding officer making them a serjant in the Hæren and Valkryja or a batsveinn in the Sjøstyrkene. In the Væringet they are called al-raqib, a rank adopted during the Hanniyyahs expedition. These "regulars" serve as the backbone of the Styrkene. They are equivalent to non-commissioned officers in most militaries and wear the silver chevron insignia. The number of chevrons signifies seniority of service with each chevron representing four years of service with no breaks in good conduct. A number of specialized posts have been created and when held are prefixed to the rank. These positions are usually assigned by seniority. For example, the senior most serjant typically serves as premiersergent and is responsible for unit discipline and reports directly to the unit commander. A serjant assigned to staff duties is a stabssersjant and an oberbatsveinn is a senior non-commissioned officer of a ship.

Volunteers, called frivillig, and conscripts, called þræls, hold no rank and are given no insignia. Volunteers in the Væringet are called al-jundi.

Uniform

Unforms come in three classes: ceremonial dress, home service dress, and field dress. All three have allowances for different climate as well as a full dress and an undress variations.

In all uniforms, a specialization tab is worn on the left shoulder and a unit tab worn on the right shoulder.

Staff officers wear wire aiguillettes. Red is worn by members of the Valkryja, black by members of the Sjøstyrkene, gold by members of the Riks Hæren, and white by members of the Styðja.

Ceremonial Dress

Only professional ranks (sergeant and above) are authorized to wear ceremonial dress. Each unit has its own variation of the ceremonial dress. However, many imitate the ceremonial dress of Aedeland's oldest professional unit the Fører's Own Regiment and as such, for most units the ceremonial dress consists of a black, technically dark blue, stand collared shell jacket, matching trousers, and peaked cap. Offices wear scarlet red trouser stripe and a cummerbund. The color of the cummerbund varies by unit but are typically variations of red, white, or black. Officer rank are embroidered on the collar while chevrons of the other ranks are embroidered on the sleeve. While some units, such as those of the Væringet wear distinctively unique ceremonial uniforms, most units distinguished by "facings" — distinctive linings, turnbacks, and braiding on coats. In full dress variation, many units wear distinctive ornamental headgear, such as the elaborate Achilleionian helmets worn by the Fører's Own, and commanding officers wear a silver gorget. Such elaborate ornamentation is not worn in undress.

The Væringet wears a uniform inspired by the historical Imperial Army of Ithrien called the "occidental dress". The uniform consists of distinctive baggy trousers called serouel) which are tucked into tall gaiters and a wide waist sash. The jacket is almost identical to the typical dress jacket worn by other branches of the Styrkene but with slightly wider sleeve openings. Instead of the typical peaked cap, a distinctive version of the fez is worn.

Home Service Dress

Only professional ranks (sergeant and above) are authorized to wear service dress. The service dress is a less formal and more standardized variation of the ceremonial dress was developed shortly after the Pan-Anarian War for use in combat. It consists of a black, technically dark blue, stand collared tunic, matching riding trousers, jackboots, and cap. The uniform is without ornamentation. Officers have the option to wear a peaked cap or garrison cap and may wear a waist-length variation of the jacket. Non-commissioned officers are only autherized the garrison cap. The uniform can and often is worn without the jacket in undress. Furthermore, black wool or leather coats may be worn in colder climates. A white light weight variation of the same uniform is worn in hot climates and a heavier weight version of this uniform often worn as the distinctive uniform of the Styðja in all climates.

Field Dress

A standard utility uniform is worn by all branches and ranks of the Stykene with some variation. The uniform is a near identical cut as the service dress however it is made from a durable ripstop fabric. The utility uniform of the Hæren and the Væringet are a dark olive green while a lighter khaki color is worn by the Valkryja and the Styðja. Officers of all branches are permitted to mix shades and are issued a leather belt with a supporting strap that passes over the right shoulder.

Decorations

The Stykene awards and decorations are limited and rarely awarded. The Blóð Ære, Aedeland's most ancient decoration, is awarded to servicemen wounded in combat. The circular medallion is struck from iron salvaged from the flagship Sørland and is stamped with the image of a wounded ancient Achilleionian warrior and is suspended from a red ribbon. The Ríkgeir, almost equally ancient as the Blóð Ære, is a black iron cross medallion forged from ancient swords supported by a band that is in the Aedelish tricolor that is awarded for exceptional merit and bravery in combat. The Ríkgeir is Aedeland's highest decoration. The Crisis Medal was awarded to supporters of the Valfǫðr-sonr during the civil crisis at the turn of the century.