The Imperial Air Navy

The Imperial Air Navy (IAN) was formed in the early days of The Neovictorian Empire. As the outside world returned to wilderness, ground forces were largely dispensed with (the exception being the few Chuno Ggun agents who weren’t assigned to the frigates or the Emperor’s palace). The new threat to the Emperor’s dream came from the skies. At the outset, the ambition of the navy surpassed their ability. Defeated, an uneasy accommodation was reached with the Skyfolk. Mutual hatred between the Skyfolk lk and the IAN continues to this day, but the Emperor is less than certain of what the outcome of any war would be, so the two sides hold to an uneasy truce. The IAN focuses much of it's energy on pirate hunting, although hawks in the high command still dream of the day when they might swat the Skyfolk out of the air. The IAN has some advantages over the Skyfolk. They have access to large hangars, docks and airships. They have a much greater supply of manpower and coal. Their mechanized production process restricts itself to set designs – they have a wide variety of airships, from small scout airboats to mighty super-frigates. But they lack innovation, experimentation and individual fair. Likewise, the IAN’s officers are painstakingly taught set procedures and manoeuvres, expected to follow all orders rigidly. The air sailors are drilled over and over again, in marathon length mind-numbing and back-breaking drills – while the Skyfolk value individual skill and dash. The IAN offers upper class men a place in the scheme of things, and the chance of action and glory. Those put forward by their fathers, if accepted, attend a strict military academy from a young age. There, they are taught the principles of command and are expected to memorize a weighty tome of IAN regulations, which cover everything from the guideline number of lashes to be delivered to a drunken sailor, to the correct tactical command response to any given circumstance while aloft. Ten they join a ship as a teenager, serving as a lowly midshipman. Promotion can often be a slow process, but most stay on in the career, as IAN officers are viewed as heroes within their own class.