Shekeshta Auxiliary Navy

The Shekeshta Auxiliary Navy (sometimes SAN) is the larger naval force of the Shekeshta Hegemony. While less elite than the Navy of the Black Sun, it is more suited for sustained or reactive warfare and substantially larger.

Mission
It is the remit of the SAN to provide security and policy enforcement for the Hegemony in any capacity deemed suitable by the Blood-King. It is to support the NBS and oppose hostile naval forces.

Organisation
With 15,400 active spacecraft, the SAN is supported by several million personnel. Its overall commander-in-chief is the Blood King, to whom the admirals report. Its ranks are as follows:
 * Over-Admiral
 * Admiral
 * Under-Admiral
 * Fleet Commander
 * Squadron Commander
 * Captain
 * Under-Captain
 * Lieutenant
 * Sub-Lieutenant
 * Ensign
 * Midshipman
 * Chief Warrant Officer
 * Warrant Officer
 * Petty Officer
 * Specialist
 * Leading Crewman
 * Crewman

Training
Any individuals who have successfully graduated from the military academy can join the SAN. They then must undergo one year of general training, and if necessary one year of specialist training.

Vessels
In creating vessels for the SAN factors considered were durability, ease of maintenance, ease of production, offensive capability and speed.

Like NBS vessels, they utilise 3He-D MC fusion for propulsion, supplemented by ion thrusters. Sublight delta-v can be up to 40% of light speed. They also use a shift-drive system than allows them to reach several times c in FTL.

Superstructure is based on armour steel and titanium. Composite armour is used in larger ships and in points of weakness. As SAN vessels are not expected to enter atmospheres or approach hazardous celestial objects, they are not well protected against the consequences of those actions.

Point defence is based on missile pods only.

Warships
The SAN uses a select few standard template warship designs, so only a comparatively few ship classes with little variation between ships of a given type.

Most common is the Khalon-class warship, which is 720m long and equipped with five fusion spheromaks. Its complement is over one thousand crewmembers and it carries the supplies to sustain them for several weeks without resupply. Armament includes four missile launch systems, two laser turrets, and a number of high-velocity rapid-fire cannon.

Zedeb-class warships are 530m long with three fusion spheromaks and supplementary chemical rockets. With a complement of 560 or slightly less and large quantities of space for cargo, this class of warship can endure missions several times longer than the Khalon-class. Its armament is two missile launch systems, two laser turrets, and several bomb bays.

Shuttles and drones are of the same kind as those used by the NBS.