bryan gibson
Absent Friend
In your universe, what would be some of the military traditions, ( not merely Marine, but all services) be like? Traditions can be anything, from customs, to reasons behind insignia, to uniforms, you get the idea!
to start the ball rolling, here is a bit from my universe, the Terran Praesidium
the opening will give the context, the sidebar is the resulting custom that evolved)
2139-(119 SNC) In June of 119 SNC, the newly organized and still somewhat shaky Terran Praesidium is nearly lost to a coup.
The “Day of the Generals” occurs when a group of generals and high ranking politicos pull off a brilliantly orchestrated exercise and take command of Station Lemay, threatening the Earth with its nuclear arsenal. As the Praesidium is shaken to the core and while loyalties and deceptions are played out, the lunar freight shuttle Endeavor incoming to Station Lemay with a load of military supplies lays on all delta-v and goes on a collision course. Launching a life pod, Endeavor collides with Lemay, destroying it. The pod contained a recording indicating that the Endeavor’s crew of three officers and four enlisteds, loyal to the Praesidium, unanimously opted to ram. Afterwards known as The Seven, they become a symbol of the principles of the Praesidium and are lionized by the TPDF as the Praesidium’s first true heroes.
SIDEBAR: THE SEVEN
In that the Seven single handedly averted a world wide threat , something from cheap thriller novels made manifest by the fact that investigation revealed General Suddeth had already enabled the nuclear weapons and was preparing the launch sequence when the Endeavor struck Station Lemay, the populace embraced their sacrifice. They were , in all effects, canonized by the mass media and became household heroes and that memory lingers to this day. Each of the Seven,( Commander Gary Levy, Lieutenants Constance O’Halloran, Barney Guthrie, and Flight Sergeant Tomoe Ishikawa, Sergeant Steven G. Kelley, Mission Specialists Jorge Esposito and Andrea Mikalides) has a memorial in their respective hometowns and are maintained by TPDF forces with a twenty four hour sentry and guard. Traditionally sentry duty for the Seven is only performed by servicemen and women for a single duty shift of twelve hours, and then only when on unpaid leave. There is always a full duty roster, and the privilege to stand this guard has a two year waiting list.
A class of frigates, the Endeavor class, have existed since mid 200 SNC, and is dedicated to rearguard, rescue and defensive missions. There are only seven in the class at any one time and they are considered the pinnacle of the Presidium Naval Fleet and are crewed by the cream of that branch. Competition to serve aboard these vessels is fierce, and any having done so wear the silver “7” emblem on their uniform with pride. Naval and Marine personnel take it as a matter of pride to never wear any decorations awarded while serving aboard the class, instead leaving them in the large silver bowl in each ships common mess. The Endeavor’s are the most highly decorated ships crews in service today, with awards ranging from the Medal of Merit and the Medal of Honor to the Silent Star still residing in their place of honor in the crew’s mess.
In memoriam, and recognizing their sacrifice, to this day the Praesidium Council and Congress is convened with these words: ..”So therefore, by the Grace of God and the Seven, let the Praesidium Congress come to order.”
to start the ball rolling, here is a bit from my universe, the Terran Praesidium
the opening will give the context, the sidebar is the resulting custom that evolved)2139-(119 SNC) In June of 119 SNC, the newly organized and still somewhat shaky Terran Praesidium is nearly lost to a coup.
The “Day of the Generals” occurs when a group of generals and high ranking politicos pull off a brilliantly orchestrated exercise and take command of Station Lemay, threatening the Earth with its nuclear arsenal. As the Praesidium is shaken to the core and while loyalties and deceptions are played out, the lunar freight shuttle Endeavor incoming to Station Lemay with a load of military supplies lays on all delta-v and goes on a collision course. Launching a life pod, Endeavor collides with Lemay, destroying it. The pod contained a recording indicating that the Endeavor’s crew of three officers and four enlisteds, loyal to the Praesidium, unanimously opted to ram. Afterwards known as The Seven, they become a symbol of the principles of the Praesidium and are lionized by the TPDF as the Praesidium’s first true heroes.
SIDEBAR: THE SEVEN
In that the Seven single handedly averted a world wide threat , something from cheap thriller novels made manifest by the fact that investigation revealed General Suddeth had already enabled the nuclear weapons and was preparing the launch sequence when the Endeavor struck Station Lemay, the populace embraced their sacrifice. They were , in all effects, canonized by the mass media and became household heroes and that memory lingers to this day. Each of the Seven,( Commander Gary Levy, Lieutenants Constance O’Halloran, Barney Guthrie, and Flight Sergeant Tomoe Ishikawa, Sergeant Steven G. Kelley, Mission Specialists Jorge Esposito and Andrea Mikalides) has a memorial in their respective hometowns and are maintained by TPDF forces with a twenty four hour sentry and guard. Traditionally sentry duty for the Seven is only performed by servicemen and women for a single duty shift of twelve hours, and then only when on unpaid leave. There is always a full duty roster, and the privilege to stand this guard has a two year waiting list.
A class of frigates, the Endeavor class, have existed since mid 200 SNC, and is dedicated to rearguard, rescue and defensive missions. There are only seven in the class at any one time and they are considered the pinnacle of the Presidium Naval Fleet and are crewed by the cream of that branch. Competition to serve aboard these vessels is fierce, and any having done so wear the silver “7” emblem on their uniform with pride. Naval and Marine personnel take it as a matter of pride to never wear any decorations awarded while serving aboard the class, instead leaving them in the large silver bowl in each ships common mess. The Endeavor’s are the most highly decorated ships crews in service today, with awards ranging from the Medal of Merit and the Medal of Honor to the Silent Star still residing in their place of honor in the crew’s mess.
In memoriam, and recognizing their sacrifice, to this day the Praesidium Council and Congress is convened with these words: ..”So therefore, by the Grace of God and the Seven, let the Praesidium Congress come to order.”
