Ordo Imperiale Decimae
(Imperial order of divine Decima) | |
| File:Ordo Imperiale Decimae.png | |
| Active: | 1554.3623 AN.ASC - Present |
| In use by: | Imperial Forces |
| Allegiance: | Shireroth |
|
| |
| Type: | Originally Applied Eschatology,
Currently responsible for Nuclear, Chemical, Biological and Radiological Programmes and Strategic Defence |
| Size: | 59,540 |
| Nickname: | Decimators |
|
| |
| Current Commander: | Palatine Legate Fra Alfarr bi Uïhsberht |
The Ordo Imperiale Decimae (or Ordo Imperii Decimæ Divæ, or Imperial order of divine Decima) is one of the branches of the Imperial Forces of Shireroth. It holds responsibility for the strategic defence of the Imperial Republic against nuclear, chemical and biological attacks. Through one of its agencies, the Strategic Defence Initiative, it's also tasked with the defence of the air space and territory of the Imperial Republic against attack by ballistic missiles.
History
The origins of the Imperial Order lie with the Ly'Technomaezji, a college of Technomages associated with the Imperial Government since the foundation of the Imperial Republic. It maintained a monopoly on advanced technologies within what was still a regressive and feudal society in the wake of the destruction of Khaz Modan. As a repository of knowledge the Ly'Technomaezji were able to assist the Kaisers in facing down the threats posed by far superior technological civilisations such as those found in the islands of Jasonia.
The Ly'Technomaezji, over time, divested themselves of the trappings of arcane lore, which became more the preserve of the Vigiles Arcani and instead cultivated an interest in the application of eschatology and its related sciences as an influencing factor in political decision making.
After a long internal debate, the order was renamed the Ordo Imperii Decimæ Divæ (Imperial order of divine Decima) in 1651 to better reflect its mission to watch over what remained of humankind's allotted span. It is often now known more simply as the Order of Decima.
In 1664, Michael Verion, commissioner of the OID, was the victim of an attempted assassination attempt Ayreonist radicals. In the aftermath of this attack the Order was placed in the custodianship of Fra Alfarr bi Uïhsberht.
During the early 18th century, Unit 666 was brought under custody of the Order. An ongoing conflict between Shireroth and the Benacian Union, placed greater importance and focus on the expansion of its Strategic Defence Initiative, which was responsible for the protection of the nation's airspace.
Agencies
| Agency | Status | HQ | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Defence Initiative | Active | Novaya Sorensk SDI Facility | Air and Missile Defence. |
| Unit Endsieg | Active | Unknown | Responsible for the nuclear program. |
| Unit 666 | Active | Secret location, border region Jinkeai - Xianbei | *Covert Chemical, Biological and Radiological research and development unit.
|
Directors
- 1643–1664: Michael Verion, as Magister
- 1664– Fra Alfarr bi Uïhsberht, as Legate
Alloys Research Establishment
Nuclear Deterrent
Operation Tymarian Sun (1641) was the first publicly noted atomic weapons test conducted by the Imperial Republic. Comprised of twin detonations carried out over the island of Ura'Bos the tests sparked panic in the Empire of the Alexandrians and prompted international condemnation, whilst at the same time providing evidence of the Imperial Republic's deterrent capabilities in the face of a belligerent and nuclear armed Jingdao.
The precise details of the Shirerithian nuclear deterrent remain a closely guarded state secret. Statistics provided by the Decimæ are deliberately vague.
- Fission devices: approx. 300
- Fusion devices: approx. 200
- Matter-antimatter collision devices: Two known
The thermonuclear warheads of the Decimæ are believed to have been adapted to fit within the multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV) of the Imperial Navy's ballistic missile submarine.
The matter-antimatter collision devices were both reported to be on loan from the Natopian Aerospace Command under the auspices of the Raspur Pact for research purposes. Their use accordingly is prohibited without the permission of the Joint Military Council. In 1724 AN, during Operation Jagdbeute, Benacian operatives tried to gain access to the facilities holding these devices. They were foiled in their action thanks to Operation Sciurusque.
Chemical, Biological and Radiological Programmes
The Imperial Republic's biological warfare program was scrapped in 1658 following the decision to adhere to the Zaele Protocol on the prohibition of such weapons, as a gesture of good faith to Caputia and the Non-Aligned Movement during the period of heightened global tension occasioned by the War of Lost Brothers. Nonetheless, it remains that the OID continued to operate the Microbiological Research Establishment (MRE) for the purpose of developing countermeasures to the biological toxins and infectious agents developed by the Kalgachi and Nova English alliance as well as a contingency against the future re-emergence of a pandemic on the scale of the so-called Alexandrian Flu.
The MRE was also reported to be working on mapping the genome of the notorious "deathnettle", an invasive and - as the name suggests - lethal weed first propagated by the reckless Deep Singer geneticists of the Empire of Minarboria, in an effort to develop a fast acting antidote to the "blood-crystallisation" effect occasioned by even the most fleeting contact by the victim's skin with the trichomes found on the plant's vivid red leaves.
In 1722 AN, the Jingdaoese biological research unit, Unit 666, was placed under the Ordo Imperiale Decimae and became responsible for both the Microbiological Research Establishment, its research and ongoing biological and chemical programs.
