The Armed forces of the G.A

The armed forces of the Galactic Antonian refers to the various military branches that make up their defensive and offensive capabilities.

The branches of the G.A Armed Forces are as follows:

The Galactic Interstellar Navy (G.I.N)

The Interstellar Marine Corps (I.M.C)

Terrestrial Navy (G.T.N)

The Army

( Pictures pending )

Strategy used by the combined Arms of the G.A

The tactics used by the G.A steadily advanced to a perfected, combined arms, warfare. The Army closely coordinates it's actions with the Interstellar Navy and the Marine Corps. Most enemy planets initially are protected by vast shield networks making it impossible to begin ground assaults without first space threats, and defenses, cut down.

Terrestrial Combat

In order to breach a planet protected by current or 6th generation shields, precise orbital strikes must first weaken areas of the shield with focus fire. Once a breach is developed, it is up to the Army and smaller space craft air wings to secure the atmosphere of the breached area. This maneuver is called Funneling, and it was used only once which was during the Yazar Succession war. In order to secure a Breach, the Army must install their own shield barrier to make the gains on the ground defensible and deny the defensive shields access to that portion of the atmosphere. Casualties for such operations can mount heavily especially if the shields being fielded by the enemy are state of the art allowing their artillery to shoot through the protected side onto the attacker.

Air sorties, air defense, and space craft can alleviate enemy fire by attempting to expand the breach in the defense shield drawing enemy fire. G.A intelligence agency can also assist with cyber warfare on electronic systems and enemy radars prior to an assault.

Once a large area is secured on a hostile world, large equipment is moved in with the assistance of Space Engineering brigades. Ocean fairing ships from the Terrestrial Navy are deployed. Electronic warfare systems are brought onto the planet's surface to increase the strength of their effectiveness. Espionage groups are able to increase in number of operations behind enemy lines destabilizing logistics and also sewing

Space combat

For combat in deep space, the G.A uses what is called 'Third Dimensional Warfare.' Battle-stations equipped with large scaled shields are used to control the maneuverable space by projecting shields. Due to space not having any confines where vessels can traverse, it is advisable to create a defensive or offensive line in a spherical shape. Dueling fleets would then proceed to attack the enemy force from all directions or focus on certain axis to achieve the upper hand.

Typically the fleets with the most carriers, battle-stations, and battleships, come out as the victor. But occasionally with superior tactics smaller fleets can properly fend off a larger force using Third Dimensional Warfare. If an aggressive force attacks on a two denominational axis, that force will be enveloped quickly from the northern and southern axis of the defending fleet.

The Antonian spy program is also very useful in space warfare. Small, hard to detect, craft collecting valuable data from enemy space-ways. Before any combat is initiated, if possible before a defense, the G.A ensures it has the most up to date information from its' enemy.

(Diagrams showcasing these tactics in space will be provided in due time)

Interstellar Navy

The back bone of all branches is the G.I.N. Expanding protective positions across the Entire Antonian, the number of personnel operating within the Interstellar Navy, during peace time, averages to at least 500,000 - 800,000. Most weaponry allows the G.I.N to cover expanses of space with highly advanced technology.

During a wartime scenario, the G.I.N can swell to millions of personnel. Both men and women are allowed to serve in the Navies of the Antonian, and unless faced with a dangerous threat, drafts are not often used for both the G.I.N, and G.T.N.

Forming in the year 14822 CE, the G.I.N fielded the left over war equipment from the Golden Empire, and abandoned vessels of the Torkas Empire. It did not take long however for the newly formed Antonian to create their own warships. Spear headed by humanity's best scientist and engineers, battleships and heavy cruisers dominated any space engagement with a foreign adversary seeking to retake the human home world of Vancoura. Lighter ships of the new fleet were an arrangement of corvette, destroyers, and light cruisers. These vessels were designed for fast space travel and to attack enemy fleets well ahead of the main Antonian fleet.

A diagram of all active ship classes of the G.I.N.

Battleships.

Battleships provide a range of defensive and offensive capabilities. In the early decades of modern warfare, battleships provided support with immense guns. In the present age of war machines, these vast vessels carry the most advanced weapons systems capable of striking targets on neighboring worlds. The current battleship designs, the Serenity class, are capable of fast space travel and rapid deployment of smaller craft and landing forces.

From top left to right: G.I.N Victory, G.I.N Courageous, G.I.N Dominance. On the bottom: G.I.N Serenity

"Age of Thunder." Victory Class Battleships

The first Generation Battleships, Victory class of the G.I.N, were introduced in the year 18,832 ce. They utilized external shields, but at a minimum. Their hulls were heavily armored and electrically charged to combat both energy-based and kinetic weapons. These giants still boasted a fast speed whilst in space. But, navigating within gravity was somewhat challenging and required support ships to keep them afloat.

It took over 5,000 souls to man one of these vessels. Within that complement were the ship's air wing garrisons who would need to fly sorties to fend off a small craft attack. At the time of their service, especially at the start, threats from the Torkas were high. And their swarming tactics could bring down a loan vessel easily.

Armed with a large arsenal of missiles, the Victory-class Battleships could provide vast areas with air defense. The superstructure on both the port and starboard sides was brimmed with plasma auto canons capable of intercepting small spacecraft such as fighters, Corvettes, and lightly armored cruisers.

The Victory Class's most renowned arsenal was the quad-mounted turret. Housing four large gun batteries, these canons fired primarily 40'' high-speed kinetic bullets. These shells were capable of causing extreme damage to external shields and ship hulls alike. The hoists and loading mechanism were powered by an electromagnetic hoist.

The weapon complement of the Victory Class Battleships often overshadows its other roles. Besides weaponry, this class of vessel also served as the ideal ship to deploy dozens of small attack crafts and landing vessels for terrestrial-based actions.

All planned Victory class battleships were built, that being a total of 10. All of these vessels have since been retired and most scrapped. Only 4 remain in existence, with one of the 4 now being used as the Yazar Republic's flagship: the Y.N Ardent. The Victory herself, the lead ship of this class, left service in the year 14,872 ce. Currently, the historical vessel is reserved as a land-based museum in the Vancouran Peltov.

"Didn't know what hit them." The Courageous Class Battleships

Proceeding the Victory class Battleships, the Courageous Class saw vast advancements in capabilities. Its service was not as long, however, spanning 15 years versus the previous class's 40. This class of Battleship saw its service filled with fast-paced battles involving close ranges and strong firepower. In the years of 14,870s - 14,890s, localized wars tested the unity of the G.A. Extremist groups loyal to Torkas' Imperial authority, and also Mazzacarian rites attempted to spread violence to any faction that would join the Antonian. For defense, these ships fielded more advanced shield projectors and moderate to heavy armor. They were navigable within gravity environments as well.

Detailed view showcasing the wide armament of the G.I.N Courageous

The most formidable tool in the arsenal of the Courageous class was its' ranged weapons. Armed with 24'' rail gun turbo canons, the projectiles fired from these weapons could travel well beyond conventional missiles or torpedoes. To help the large vessel maintain an element of surprise, key compartments had a zero-gravity stabilization installed. If a Courageous-class battleship had to bombard a planet's surface, the vessel could turn upside down to do so. All compartments housing life forms would remain level as the ship would rotate.

An advanced cloaking system gave the Courageous line of ships a near-invisible detection rate. The primary opponents who faced these fierce battleships had minimal detection systems and satellites, making a strike sudden and without warning. Unlike missiles or torpedoes, the 24'' projectiles would not produce a signature slow enough to be detected until either after impact or moments before.

As technology advanced, so did other classes of ships. Carriers and siege satellites required vast amounts of smaller weaponry to fend off a large-scale swarm attack. Fielded on the port and starboard sides of the Courageous class Battleships boasted a strong array of anti-ship systems. Lining the top portion of the main hull, numerous missile cilos and turrets made the whole ship a force to be reckoned with even without an escort. Often in the event of a large-scale naval engagement, a Courageous-class battleship would deny an enemy force access to the battlefield before it could even pose a threat to sensitive targets.

Displayed above is a detailed view of the main battery armament of the Courageous class Battelships. The smaller turrets are the various weapon systems installed on the exterior of the hull and superstructure. These armaments act as the ship's aircraft and missile defense systems.

But these titans developed weaknesses that were exploited if the right situation presented itself. During a short-lived but costly war on the Curion system, a combined attack from Mazzacarian cultists, anti-Antonianist extremists, and Torkas' operatives destroyed the G.I.N Reputable, a Courageous-class Battleship. It withstood a three-week siege as slowly her escort vessels were overwhelmed one by one. Despite heroic efforts, it succumbed to 80 torpedo strikes, 120 missile impacts, and dozens of land-based kinetic strikes. The reason for the implosion of the Reputable is the fact that ammunition could be depleted in a matter of weeks. If logistics were not adequately protected, a besieged strike group would eventually succumb to a prolonged battle of attrition. The fate of the G.I.N Reputable sent shock waves through the admiralty. Solutions quickly developed, and technology improved. Only 8 years into service, the Courageous class became obsolete and converted into a reserve vessel playing only a minimal role in a strike group. In the year 18,882 ce, most of these ships had been scrapped. The final ship of the Courageous class was struck from the G.I.N in 18,890 ce. Despite no active duty Courageous class ships, the G.A does reserve an undisclosed amount of this class of battleship for emergency purposes.

"More Machines." Dominance Class Battleships

The Dominance Class Battleships ushered in new roles to fill within the broader advancements of Space combat. Starting in the 18,880s, land based anti-interstellar weaponry rapidly advanced. The Weaponry used to destroy the G.I.N Reputable were somewhat lesser variants of what the G.A fielded, and the outcome when deployed against the strike group proved to be quite revolutionary.

The weapons in question were:
large land based power plants utilizing Rail guns of a large caliber
High caliber plasma canons utilizing land based logistics with a very long range
Laser guided munitions capable of penetrating layered defenses using AI to navigate complex counter measures.

The Interstellar Navy highlighted these elements as a high risk to altering the course of naval warfare and potentially making large zero gravity vessels obsolete. To combat these concerns, the interstellar navy presented two new classes of large scale operational battleships. One of the two presented classes to the admiralty was the Dominance class. It featured the largest power plant within a zero gravity vessel which allowed more rail guns of a larger caliber, larger and more powerful power banks for plasma canons, and also more stowage compartments for missile arrays of various types. To achieve these additions, it balanced a thinner armor scheme and more automation within the crew compliment replacing many tasks on board with robotics. Reducing crew compartments gave way to more space for machinery to power the advanced shields and weapon systems the G.I.N aimed to field aboard the new class.

One compromise the Dominance class Battleship was force to make due to ship building limitations was foregoing the ability to release it's own air wings to counter small space craft attacks, or to launch air strikes with a combined air wing strike force. The Architects of the Courageous looked for means to include this in the design, but it became evident ship building limitations in the Vancoura Naval Yard would not allow a vessel to be built long enough to house a large hanger. The Dominance class measured a length overall of 1,400 feet (426.72 meters). To house the power plant along with adequate hangers for small fix winged spacecraft, it required a LOA of at least 2,000 ft. Current ship building restraints limited the length of naval vessels to be at 1,800 ft.

Upon finalization, the Dominance class boast an array of state-of-the-art weapons. The starboard and port side feature 20'' rail guns meant for ship to ship engagements or missile defense. Two single gun, Turbo charged Max energy guns, of the plasma variant, are positioned on the Top and bottom surfaces of the vessel offering extreme long and accurate range capabilities. The bottom turrets provide adequate orbital bombardment options. For defensive measures, the Dominance class battleships features over 500 vertical launch systems of various missile calibers. Throughout the surface space not used by radar arrays or other equipment, the vessels hosts a large variety of anti aircraft weaponry and anti missile defense systems. The primary shield of the Dominance class consist of a barrier type, spherical in shape with a power yield of 4 gigawatts of electrical force. The effective range the shield could project outward to a mile away from the core. To power these systems, the Dominance class features a complex power plant relying on state of the art nuclear energy. The propulsion of the new class of battleship was also brand new and featured only on the Dominance class. Over 8 separate reaction engines for propulsion and has a max speed of 20,000 mph and a hyper speed of 1,999x light speed. The fastest form of travel fleets were the Spaceway Gates.

Entering service in the year 13,891 ce, the G.I.N saw limited operational combat. It wasn't until the second Torkas war in the year of 14,908 ce the G.I.N Dominance and her sister ships saw fleet action. The Torkas Imperial Armada blitzed the far boarder regions of the Antonian. Exploiting unrest on the Curion system, the invading force overran its' defenses nearly securing a total dominance over the world. It's neighboring moons were also occupied and being non life sustaining, the Torkas built large defensive bases in preparation of a Antonian counter attack.

G.I.N Dominance and Paramount lead an offensive in the deep space quadrant, A-Z-100 (Alpha-Zeta-100 relates to space charts and confined coordinates of a void space between solar systems near the Curion system). The new class of battleships proved very decisive when in combat during the 'Fish Bowel Massacre' (see the Second Torkas War: article pertaining to key battles :link coming soon:). The Fish Bowel consisted of a walled off sphere in deep space which trapped four Torkas capital class ships, their carrier strike groups, and light ships. The G.I.N Dominance, Paramount, and Odyssey, entered the containment field and unleashed their maximum fire power on the enemy. All in all, the Interstellar Navy proved to the Antonian that it only needed 40 minutes to destroy a Torkas fleet.

With the list of achievements growing for the Dominance and her line of battleships, perfection was still allusive. During the duration of the second Torkas War, it became evident that the lack of a fixed wing defense on board the battleships, was a weakness when facing a large small craft swarm. In order to protect the Battleships, they would at least require an escort carrier. The potential was there: if the Naval yards of Vancoura would green light a larger zero gravity vessel, perfection could possibly be achieved. Currently, the G.A has a total of 14 active Dominance class Battleships in service.

"Perfection Granting Supremacy." Serenity Class Battleships.