Military

Military Organizations
Military organizations are employed and used by many races of Spectra to safeguard their respective interests and populations. The largest known military forces in the galaxy at this time belong to the Irvaleni's Imperial Army and the Hegemony Military. While the Hegemony has the greater overall military might, being slightly larger as it is comprised of several different species, the Empire's force is entirely composed of irvas and is the more tactically and strategically minded of the two, being far more organized and trained than the average Hegemony soldier. Below are a list of known military forces.

Imperial Army
The Irvagaleni's Imperial Army is perhaps the most deadly force in the galaxy. It's comprised of several different branches overseen by leaders known as Orators, each of which in turn holds control over hundreds of legions, massive groups of several thousand irvas. The most prominent two of these branches are the Mert'cas Joni (Interstellar Navy), and Ir Kohan (Ir Defense). They are responsible for interstellar engagements and protecting the Beta Plane, respectively.

Though there are rumors throughout the galaxy of the Empire's legions conscripting citizens through drafts or other mandatory service, the truth is that only a certain level of military schooling is required for irvagaleni children, not actual enlistment. Starting when they are roughly eight years old, tactical prowess and strategy in battle becomes a subject that they are taught alongside the more traditional paths of education like language arts and the sciences. At fifteen years of age, irvagaleni teens are permitted to enlist and apply for a position in their preferred area of expertise to put their skills to the best possible use; i.e. skilled pilots would likely be assigned to a legion dedicated to aerial combat.

Regardless of other races' feelings on the matter, Imperial enlistment is strictly and objectively voluntary.

Hegemony Military
The Hegemony's military is more complex than the Empire's in its design. As it shares multiple branches of military across the combined military forces of several different species—namely the Kugraw, the Pykes, and the Signon, as well as significant populations of Nox, Teregrine, and Dahmak—each race has its own levels of military and rank as well as shared departments with compositions of mixed species, leading to a somewhat convoluted and difficult chain of command to follow. By far the largest of these military branches is the multi-species comprised Alliance Guard which is responsible for overwatch and protection of most Hegemony-allied colony worlds as well as the Hegemony race homeworlds in conjunction with whatever local governments or defense organizations may exist as well.

The Alliance Guard's objective and purpose is specifically tailored to defense, not offense. A standing army does exist in the form of the Grand Alliance Fleet, though—despite its name—it is smaller in scope than the Alliance Guard. This is due to the Hegemony's stated goal of not wishing to act as an enforcer of the galaxy, but more accurately as a peacekeeper. This idealogy is further reflected in each branch's name; despite falling under control of the Hegemony, the government prefers the term 'Alliance' as a descriptor instead. In fact, its structure is closer to that of a democratic Republic to begin with, only being known as the Hegemony for the fact that the Kugraws, Pykes, and Signon all formed the original government with the intent of the Kugraws holding more military power and control in order to better protect their allies. While this is still more true than not today, allied worlds are seen more as equals than underlings in the eyes of the Hegemony.

The Hegemony Military, while being larger than the Imperial Army, is decidedly less powerful per unit in its offensive capabilities. While it is certainly not a force to be trifled with, the average soldier and officer's training is simply not on par with that of the Imperial Army's.