Caitian Grand Fleet

Organisation
The Caitian Grand Fleet prides itself on being exactly what it says on the tuna tin: "Grand". Their uniforms are extravagant, even boastful. Their larger ships bear striking paintwork. Part of this is about instilling pride and esprit de corps in their crews. But no small part of it is a way to stand aloof from the crash and bash of Caitian politics.

High Fleet
The mainline force of the Caitians, to which all the Nifari and the non-strategic reserve Mishir are attached. In addition to their own standard exploration and colony support work, the High Fleet maintains a defensive posture around Ferasa, detailing at least one Nifari and three Mishir at all times.

Survey Squadron
A formation created after the launch of the second Excelsior-class ship, used for independent long-range survey work. Recently, the ships of this squadron have traveled as far afield as the Horizon Border Zone to work alongside Starfleet Task Forces.

Frontier Police
More details at the bottom of this article.

Active Ship Classes

 * Nifari (Fathership) - old capital generalist/carrier
 * Excelsior-A - generalist capital
 * Arsharra N'Gir (New Fathership) - new heavy capital generalist/carrier
 * Mishir (Swarmer MKII) - ancillary frigate

Retired Ship Classes

 * Swarmer MKI - old ancillary frigate
 * Excelsior - now refitted to Excelsior-A pattern

Future Ship Classes

 * JAF Project - A replacement being developed along with the Apiata All-Hives Fleet for the Mishir
 * Carbon - New scout ship, now in production.

2330s Grand Fleet Project
The ambition is to phase out the Mishirs and Nifaris to make way for the Arsharra and the JAFfa, which will greatly increase the capability and durability of the Grand Fleet. The ANG prototype is nearing completion, while the Joint Ancillary Frigate project is producing a number of design schematics.

Current Installations

 * S'Naranya shiypard @ Ferasa
 * S'Karniss shipyard @ Merfara
 * S'Larmrr shipyard @ Ollasa IV
 * Ollasa IV Nacelle Production Facility, which will produce nacelles for Caitian JAFFAs and Carbons.
 * S'Harrhr auxiliary yard @ Ferasa

Officers
The competition for academy positions at the Whitecliff Star Academy is fierce. Even upon attaining entry, there is no slowing in the rivalries and shifting cliques. As a result, Grand Fleet officers learn to become political animals, which is put to work maintaining the Grand Fleet's dangerous duality of being above the fray while also making numerous discrete interventions.

Petty Officers
Senior ratings eventually take on leadership roles - limited at first, but soon developing. Even more than their counter-parts in Starfleet, the Master and Senior Chief Petty Officers provide a backbone of ship's complement discipline and resilience. It usually takes ten years to make the transition.

Ratings
The basic crew of Caitian ships, trained in one of a number of facilities present on each major world in a eighteen-month course, followed by one year of specialist professional training in a given area. Caitian Grand Fleet ratings are effectively directly equivalent to Starfleet enlisted ranks.

Frontier Police
The Caitian Frontier Police is a paramilitary law-enforcement organisation accustomed to operating across the various colony worlds of the Caitian Cooperative in order to preserve order. They are well-respected for their discipline and impartiality in the face of Caitian politics. Their most well-known operation to the Federation was their role providing replacement law-enforcement to the Orion PPU forces on colony worlds during the Orion Civil War. However they also provided valuable service during various stages of the Caitian-Dawiar War.

The Frontier Police employ a mix of police and military-style ranks and positions, but are typically organised on a Division->Brigade->Battalion->Company basis. Forces are typically equipped with full-size phaser pistols and light protective armour, though an armoury of more powerful weapons are carried with the company and battalion for emergencies. In addition to their standard complement of police officers and logistics personnel, the Frontier Police formations integrate Justices who run courts for processing those arrested by the police. Although nominally attached to the units, these Justices have a different reporting structure, and are under the jurisdiction of the Central Appeals Court on Ferasa. The Justices also have close ties now to the Starfleet Judge Advocate General.

Their standard uniform is ornate and ostentatious by Starfleet standards. An overcoat in a butternut colour with decorative collar tabs and shoulder-boards bearing rank devices. Each coat has piping of a colour based on division - silver for senior command, blue for justices, green for frontline police, and so on.

Sensor Technology Leak Scandal
During the first quarter of 2317, the Caitian Grand Fleet was given full access to the Ship Design Bureau's inventory of starship components, for use in the prototype Arsharra N’Gir-class fathership. The parts requisitioned included a complete set of modern Starfleet sensors, both for the CSS Arsharra N’Gir, and for the frigates to accompany it.

The sensors and software were moved some 8 times during their stay on Ferasa, and had disappeared completely by 2317.Q3. Task Force Whistler, charged with investigating the Konen sensor exploit, was able to arrest 9 Caitian personnel associated with the scandal, but at least two others escaped. One escaped to Risa, and from there to the Lecarre homeworld of Gervanis. The scandal forced VAdm. Linderley, then head of Starfleet Intelligence, to resign.

Many senior officers of the Caitian Grand Fleet were forced to resign by the task force established by the Caitian Cooperative. However, many more were also further burned when then-Rear Admiral Revak handed in his findings of the matter, alleging serious break-downs in chain of custody maintenance, screening, biometric observation of those with access to sensitive material, and other lapses in security.