The Gai'Shian
Understanding the Gai`Shian, especially when directly comparing it to the Federation's own Marine Corps, can be somewhat difficult. One must really look beyond its military structure and see its social status as well. First, the Romulan Marine Corps is, even by Romulan standards, a strange department within the Military. Regardless of wealth, prominence, and military background, almost every Romulan citizen will serve in its ranks. If they don't enter into the Corps for mandatory Military service, Citizens later end up in it via a required registration with their local militias. Second, as it is made up of both Militias as well as regular line soldiers, the command structure for the department Encompasses both civil and military ranks.
Since it has no entry tests for physical prowess, mental dexterity, or skills (as the rights of passage for Rihannsu children weed out those who are totally unfit) the majority of those entering the Corps for mandatory duty are from the common-folk strata of the Romulan social structure. Farmers, peasants, craftsman, and artisans: all make up the bulk of the Corps' soldiers. Socially, this keeps the Corps' status at the bottom of the pecking order. This is further evident in the Galae's domination of the marines: the Corps owns none of its own ships, its highest ranks are considerably lower than those of the Galae, and it has but one representative allotted to the Senate. This is even evident in the word 'Gai`Shian' which invokes less civility with its 'G' sound, and references to pikeman and, from the ancient Vulcan Shaya for execution.
Perhaps ironically, considering its total lack of political power and military authority, the Gai`Shian has more ranks than the Galae. Still, the Corps' highest rank, Dais`Enriov, is only roughly equal to the Navy's 8th highest.
As with their ranks, the Corps' level of authority is strongest at the very bottom: squad and platoon level actions. The larger the unit, the more likely the Navy is to interfere (if only for transportation's sake).
The following ranks may be worn on either the shoulder, the sleeve cuff, or the collar of any standard duty uniform. Most often, non-officer ranks are worn on the shoulder and officer ranks on the collar, while sleeve cuff ranks are reserved for dress occasions.
Gai'Shian Ranks
Rank (SF Equivalent)
- Gehka ('Private'): A soldier in training, or a soldier with basic training, Gehka make up the bulk of the Gai`Shian. No Authority.
- Dais`Gehka ('Private 1st Class'): Specialists, pilots, and more seasoned soldier of the Corps. Usually sub-commands a squad, though they may lead a squad.
- erie`Ullhan ('Corporal'): A respected soldier of the Corps, either serving as a high-level specialist or as a Squad commander.
- Dais`erie`Ullhan ('Lance-Corporal'): A field rank which may be earned by a Corporal in a platoon for recognition of service warranting a promotion, but when a full Ullhan rank may not be issued. Minimum rank for entry into the Aleh.
- Ullhan ('Sergeant'): May command a platoon, maybe in charge of logistical duties (loading, transportation, munitions), and maybe a junior-grade instructor at a war college.
- Dais`Ullhan ('Sergeant 1st class'): Commands platoons, may lead the Security department of a Naval vessel and serves as an instructor at a War College.
- Erien ('3rd Lt' / 'Sergeant Major'): The first commissioned rank, or the last non-commissioned rank, depending on the practices of a regiment. Commands a platoon, and may sub-command a company. May also serve as a senior-grade instructor at a war college.
- erie`Arrain ('2nd Lt'):' Commands a platoon and sub-commands a company.
- Dais`erie`Arrain ('1st Lt'): Commands a platoon, sub-commands a company, and may command a company in the place of a full Arrain. This is a field rank, only issued to highly decorated soldiers, and only when a full promotion is not possible.
- Arrain ('Captain'): Commands a company.
- Dais`Arrain ('Major'): Commands a company and may command a regiment. This is a field rank most often issued to a regiment's sub-commander.
- Enarrain ('Lt Colonel'): Commands a regiment or a battalion, may sub-command a brigade, and may run a war college.
- Dais`Enarrain ('Colonel'): Commands a regiment or a battalion and commands a brigade. One commands the Aeleh.
As an Erien is the 6th standard rank in the corps, and only the 2nd rank in the navy, it is not surprising that there is a large amount of animosity between these two forces. Also, as the corps has no 'officer school', these officers have often served 9 or 10 times as long in the service when they are promoted than their fellows in the Galae.
Now that the actual ranks, and what the command over has been reviewed, the actual unit strengths will be focused on. the following table is accurate for units in both the militia and the corps.
Units
| Unit | Strength | Sub-unit Strength | Commander |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squad | 5 Men | -- | Dais'Gekha - Ullhan |
| Platoon | 25 Men | 5 Squads | Ullhan - Daise'erie'Arrain |
| Company | 100 Men | 4 Platoons | Daise'erie'Arrain - Daise'Arrain |
| Regiment | 300 - 500 Men | 3 - 5 Companies | Daise'Arrain - Daise'EnArrain |
| Battalion | 500 - 1,000 Men | 5 - 10 Companies | EnArrain - Daise'EnArrain |
| Brigade | 1,000 - 5,000 Men | 2 - 10 Batttalions | Daise'EnArrain |
| Division | 5,000 - 25,0000 Men | 2 - 5 Brigades | erie'Riov - Ael'Riov |
| Corps | 25,000 - 100,000 Men | 2 - 4 Divisions | Ael'Riov |
| Army | 100,000 - 1,000,000 Men | 2 - 10 Corps | Khre'Riov |
| Army Groups | 1,000,000+ Men | 2+ Armies | EnRiov - Galae'EnRiov |
Specialized Units
While the Gai`shian is hardly known for its variety, it does however have a few basic unit classes. Each class is focused on one utilization for combat, and to best appreciate the power of the Corps, one must be fully aware of the unit classes housed within it.
Dragoons represent the agility of the Corps. With two soldiers per fighter, they can serve as a combatant airborne unit, laying cover fire down for ground units or keeping enemy airborne units occupied. Alternatively, they can be moved to a destination rapidly, and then be dismounted. The latter function allows the Corps to deploy forward units quickly and accurately along its fronts of attack. Lancers represent the Corps' ability to move fast and hit hard as well. A platoon of lancers generally are armed with non-standard issue heavy weapons, and are either dropped or para-dropped on a target from their platoon's bomber.
Lancers, like dragoons, are often first on the field, but unlike the Dragoons, the Lancers are more focused on ground deployment as their final role, and not so much on their crafts' combat ability.
Artillery and Armor, while unheard of in the Federation, make up a useful planet side support force in the Corps. Most often, they simply act as mobile air defense (or space defense if they are firing at ships in orbit). Even so, it has, at times, been necessary to run armored and shielded craft of more rugged stature than a bomber at a target and carry troops at the same time. Training
The Gai`Shian operate their own war colleges, where the trainees learn basic survival, various killing techniques, and the rest of ordinary military training. Their training is direct, brutal, and simple in comparison to the Navy. The basic program, which all marines take, involves six weeks of intensive physical exercise and basic weapon proficiency training. The next six weeks are more focused on basic non-weapon equipment use (though not exclusive of more physical activity). At the end of the first three months, the marine 'graduates' and, depending on their final testing scores, may be entered in an additional six week specialist training course, or just simply injected into the field as an infantryman.
Specialist training includes
Scout Training The most common skill found in the Gai`Shian (as its only requirements are physical prowess). A scout learns how to detect basic traps for themselves and any unit they may be in front of. The scout is also taught the basic principles of silent observation and quiet movements.
Tracker training Tracking is taught in the local wilderness as well as in holographic simulations. The primary interest of this skill is to inform the marine on how to follow a target simply by what it has left behind, how to survive with only local materials for nourishment and to stay (relatively) unseen when the target is finally encountered.
Sniper and Spotter training A sniper and their spotter are an inseparable team. Together they are a deadly weapon, apart, they are just infantrymen. With this in mind, a sniper and spotter are always honed together even though their specific tasks and studies are different. Over their six weeks together, they learn each other's trade, maintain each other's gear and equipment, and generally form a strong bond. The point of the study is to learn silent observation, threat assessment, and 'take down' skills.
Communications training Communications specialists are rare at best. The course is highly technical in focus-- from learning a foreign language to memorizing hundreds of non-tech forms of communications-- to learning the entirety of basic field communications gear.
Explosives training explosives specialists learn how to create small and less detectable explosive devices, as well as some basic architectural concepts. This ensures that they can not only use their bombs, but know how to destroy a structure fully, or specifically, with said devices.
Dragoon training A future dragoon is taught how to pilot their fighter-bomber in combat and non-combat situations. As well as some basic diagnostic concepts, to ensure that they can report problems to engineers quickly.
Lancer Training Lancers learn how to use and maintain heavy weapons. They also practice para-drops, fast boarding, and bombardment tactics.
Artillery training Loading, firing, and maintenance training.
Militia
Whereas the Gai'Shian are active-duty soldiers, the reserve branch of the Gai'Shian is simply known as the Militia, and are made up by nearly every Romulan citizen.
As stated earlier, each citizen of the Empire must pass basic military inspection and serve a ten-year tour of duty. The basic military inspection and ten-year tour of duty begins at the nearest war college (often on the most populous planet of a system). Here, the enlistee often trains with many others of their age from the same locality-- oftentimes with their same-age childhood friends. Upon completion of this decade in active duty, the group returns to their homes, ready to take up civilian positions such as farming, artisan, noble page, etc.
However, because every citizen has been trained in the arts of killing, any group of citizens can be tapped at any time in the event of a nearby war or to strengthen the Gai'Shian's members. Essentially, the Gai'Shian reserves are just any region of ordinary "civilian" populace.
Because of the training that everyone has received, it is very difficult for opposing infantry to take over a Romulan world- even the farmers have military training and access to weapons.
Due to the relatively unimportant nature of a militia, a full military officer is not used to oversee them. The militias are operated and overseen by the local nobility and/or elected officials (the same people in charge of the operation of the local government.) Often, there will be a person that is a minor member of the nobility and has been given the position of Sodain, and that person will be in charge of mobilizing a squad of civilians when the need arises.