[Verdant] Fleet: Then and Now

[HOW DID THE FLEET OPERATE DURING CONQUERA'S TIME?]
   Fleet age refers to the age at which trolls are forcibly expelled from their hatching planet and must find gainful employment. This generally also refers to the age at which they sign up with the fleet; however, plenty of trolls are hired privately to work for Highbloods. Though Fleet conscription was, technically, 'mandatory', there were numerous ways to wriggle out of the requirements and sneak off to colony planets, due to the vast array of colony planets and the lack of proper surveillance. Alternian Fleet enrollment was the most effective; efficacy in Fleet recruitment drops off gradually for colony planets.

Mandatory fleet service is not lifelong; trolls were expected to serve a specific amount of time, as determined by their caste. Lowbloods were expected to spend larger percentages of their lifespans in the Fleet than Highbloods were. Goldblood Batteries typically drew the short stick, as their service to the Empire was lifelong, due to the pressing need for ship engines and the average-to-low percentage of Goldbloods capable of powering a ship.

Not all hatching planets expel trolls from the surface upon reaching Fleet age (8.5 sweeps); some planets function both as hatcheries and employment planets. Not everyone is employed through the Fleet, and plenty of Trolls have never served a single perigee of their mandatory service. It is remarkably easy to draft dodge, given you're on the right planet, and are the right blood color. Draft dodging becomes more difficult as you go up the hemospectrum, and is nearly impossible for seadwellers due to their rarity and perceived leadership abilities.

[WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE FLEET CURRENTLY/IS IT STILL AROUND?]
   Fleet soldiers will find themselves, finally, with something to do. Although the Fleet was idle for the first four perigees after the Exodus, it has now become active once more, albeit in a different sense. Combat specialists will be used as Instructamers or will train amongst one another in order to prepare for future journeys into space. In addition, combat specialists will pull double duty as research gatherers re: Verdant military customs, will attempt to recruit Verdantians to the Fleet, and may perform public demonstrations of their skill.

Ship repairsmen, galley cooks, and other roles which focus on the upkeep of ships and utility will go back to their regularly assigned tasks. Fleet soldiers will be assigned to one of ten warships, currently docked on Verdant, and are welcome to take their meals on it three times a day. Scienstiffs are given the green light to continue their research.

The Fleet is slowly creaking back to life, it seems, though with a great deal more flexibility. Assignments can be requested, locations changed, and more thought is given to the recruit's desired job. This may be an effort to pull more recruits into the Fleet where they wouldn't have gotten them due to Verdant's culture of peace.

[WHAT IS THE FLEET'S STATUS REGARDING MANDATORY TERMS, DOES MY TROLL NEED TO SERVE, ETC]
(All Fleet updates will be posted to the Announcements channel, as they depend on the reigning Throneholder.)

Currently, Fleet Positions are not limited by one's Caste and restrictions of Required Caste are removed from preventing any one person from attaining a certain job. This means that Lowbloods may train to become things such as Threshecutioners or Commurdants, and Highbloods may train to become Ruffianihillators or Scienstiffs.

Fleet Enlistment is not currently Required by Law, but is encouraged as the Fleet needs Trollpower to go and Re-Colonize planets lost by the TK Virus.