Something Borrowed
COMMONWEALTH MERCHANT MARINES
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To codify the Commonwealth Merchant Marines and their role now given the Blackwall
- Image Credit: Midjourney + Photoshop
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: Blackwall | Blackshield
- Organization Name: Commonwealth Merchant Marines
- Classification: Trade Consortium / Maritime Defense Force
- Affiliation: Imperial Commonwealth of Dosuun
- Organization Symbol:
- The emblem of the Commonwealth Merchant Marines prominently features a nautical wheel at its center, symbolizing guidance, trade, and the steadfast nature of the fleet. Encircling the wheel are twin laurel wreaths, representing achievement, unity, and the protection of the Commonwealth’s maritime interests. Behind the wheel, a radiant sunburst extends outward, signifying prosperity, exploration, and the endless pursuit of opportunity across the galaxy’s trade routes. Beneath the wheel, crossed tridents stand as symbols of strength, naval dominance, and resilience. A bold Commonwealth star crowns the top of the emblem, a testament to loyalty and allegiance to the Imperial Commonwealth. The design is bordered by a sturdy chain motif, reinforcing the interconnected strength of the Merchant Marines and their vital role in securing trade and maintaining galactic stability. The emblem’s deep blue and gold color scheme reflects tradition, wealth, and authority, while silver accents provide a sense of precision and professionalism.
- Description: The Commonwealth Merchant Marines are a professional trade and defense organization entrusted with securing the Commonwealth’s economic interests across the galaxy. They are responsible for transporting valuable resources, coordinating commerce between member worlds, and ensuring that trade routes remain secure from piracy, insurgent activity, and foreign threats.
Formed in the aftermath of the First Order’s collapse, the Merchant Marines inherited a network of trade fleets, merchant stations, and frontier outposts. Over time, they evolved into a powerful force dedicated to maintaining the stability and prosperity of Commonwealth commerce.
Their ships — heavily modified freighters, patrol corvettes, and specialized cargo haulers — are known for their resilience and defensive capabilities. While the Merchant Marines pride themselves on diplomacy and trade acumen, they are more than capable of defending their vessels when necessary.
In times of war, the Merchant Marines operate as a strategic supply network, transporting critical resources to frontline units and ensuring military forces remain well-equipped. Their motto, "For Prosperity and Protection," reflects their dual role as both guardians of trade and defenders of Commonwealth stability.
- Headquarters: The Commonwealth Merchant Marines are headquartered in Avalonia, Dosuun. The organization operates from the sprawling Port of Avalonia, one of the largest and most secure shipping hubs in the Imperial Commonwealth. The port’s proximity to major trade routes ensures the Merchant Marines can efficiently dispatch vessels to key sectors across Commonwealth space.
- [Post-Blackwall] The Commonwealth Merchant Marines have acquired a secondary command hub.
- Port Audin, Tokmia — A command hub of the Commonwealth Merchant Marine. Port Audin houses administrative offices, training facilities, and docking berths for Merchant Marine vessels. Its central location along the Ison Corridor makes it a strategic point for trade and resupply.
- [Post-Blackwall] The Commonwealth Merchant Marines have acquired a secondary command hub.
- Domain: The Commonwealth Merchant Marines maintain a significant presence along the Southern Imperial Trade Route, the Ison Corridor, and other major hyperlanes vital to Commonwealth trade. While they do not govern territory in the traditional sense, they maintain a powerful economic influence over numerous commercial hubs, fueling local economies and ensuring the stability of trade networks. Planets such as Varada V, Karra, and Virgillia VII rely heavily on Merchant Marine trade convoys.
The Merchant Marines are widely respected in the Commonwealth, often seen as guardians of commerce. In frontier systems, their presence is met with relief as they provide reliable supply chains and protect against piracy. However, in Sith-controlled territories or hostile regions, they are sometimes regarded with suspicion, seen as potential Commonwealth agents operating under the guise of commerce.
- [Post-Blackwall] While still operating throughout the Commonwealth, they’ve shifted focus. The Commonwealth Merchant Marine has now prioritized operations within Commonwealth-controlled trade lanes across the Ison Corridor, Boğazları Sector, and Coreward shipping routes. They are actively involved in coastal economies, local trade guilds, and support both large-scale commerce and smaller community markets.The Merchant Marine plays a critical role in ensuring the flow of essential goods to isolated worlds like Karra, Salteract, and Najarka, particularly following the Sith's Blackwall.
- Notable Assets:
- [Pre-Blackwall] Commonwealth Merchant Marines assets included but were not limited to...
- Port of Avalonia: The Merchant Marines’ primary port and command center, housing shipyards, cargo handling stations, and security checkpoints.
- Vengler Outpost: A key staging ground for Merchant Marine convoys operating in Sith space and volatile frontier zones.
- Bastion-Class Cargo Freighters: Custom-built transport ships outfitted with reinforced hulls, automated defense turrets, and encrypted communication systems to secure valuable cargo.
- Trade Defense Fleet: A fleet of escort vessels trained to protect vital Commonwealth trade convoys from piracy and insurgent attacks.
- [Post-Blackwall] Now include these additional assets in Blackwall-impacted regions.
- Port Audin – Main headquarters and logistical hub.
- Fort Greenwell – A fortified merchant garrison on Najarka that secures shipments bound for vulnerable worlds.
- Mariner's Way – A network of smaller ports and refueling stations dedicated to merchant vessels across the Commonwealth's outer territories.
- The Silverwake Fleet – A specialized convoy force designed to support disaster relief, refugee transport, and humanitarian aid.
- Hierarchy:
- The Commonwealth Merchant Marines maintain a structured hierarchy modeled after traditional naval frameworks:
- Commodore-General: Supreme commander of the Merchant Marines, overseeing fleet logistics, expansion, and security policies.
- Sector Commodores: Responsible for trade fleets assigned to specific sectors.
- Convoy Captains: Commanders of individual trade convoys, responsible for organizing and protecting their shipments.
- First Mates: Second-in-command aboard vessels, handling day-to-day ship operations.
- Quartermasters – Responsible for logistics, cargo distribution, and ensuring trade integrity.
- Merchant Crews: Trained personnel skilled in ship operation, cargo handling, and trade regulations.
- Mariners – Core members of the Merchant Marine, including freighter crews, engineers, and deckhands.
- Apprentices & Recruits: Newcomers learning the trade through rigorous training programs.
- Auxiliary Members – Independent traders, part-time sailors, and contracted haulers aligned with the Merchant Marine in times of crisis.
- Membership: Membership is open to Commonwealth citizens willing to endure the rigorous training and trade certification process. New members undergo an apprenticeship period where they learn ship maintenance, trade law, and security protocols. Veterans of the Commonwealth Navy often transition into the Merchant Marines, bringing combat experience to convoy protection duties.[OOC, ask me!]
- [Post Blackwall] Recruitment for the CMM shifted.
- Citizens seeking to join the Merchant Marine must undergo a three-month training program at Port Audin to earn their maritime certifications.
- Veterans of the Commonwealth Navy or experienced spacers may fast-track into command roles.
- Auxiliary members are often drawn from local shipping guilds or independent traders vetted by Commonwealth security.
- During emergencies, the Merchant Marine often conscripts civilian vessels to reinforce its logistical capacity.
- [Post Blackwall] Recruitment for the CMM shifted.
- Climate: The Merchant Marines maintain a professional but family-like atmosphere. Veteran crews develop strong bonds with one another due to the dangers of piracy, unpredictable hyperlanes, and the demanding pace of trade. While discipline is key, there’s a strong sense of camaraderie, and veterans often mentor newer recruits to foster loyalty and skill development.
- [Post Blackwall] The Merchant Marine is a tight-knit, disciplined organization built on a blend of naval tradition and trade culture.
- The environment is cooperative but demanding — ship crews are expected to pull their weight to keep trade flowing.
- Experienced mariners often look after newcomers, fostering a mentorship-driven culture.
- Reputation: The Merchant Marines are seen as an essential pillar of Commonwealth stability. Traders and civilians in the Outer Rim respect them as protectors of vital supply routes. However, in contested regions such as Sith-controlled space, they are viewed with suspicion — some suspect the Marines of acting as covert Commonwealth intelligence operatives.
- [Post Blackwall] The Merchant Marine is seen as reliable, resilient, and loyal to the Commonwealth's values.
- While respected for their vital economic role, some regions remain wary of the Merchant Marine's growing influence, especially after their increased role in covert operations post-Blackwall.
- Curios: Members of the Merchant Marines are awarded a Merchant’s Seal, a distinctive badge made of blackened durasteel with a golden cogwheel emblem symbolizing trade, movement, and resilience. This badge is worn on uniforms and often incorporated into personal effects such as belt buckles or signet rings.
- [Post Blackwall]
- All full members of the Commonwealth Merchant Marine are issued a Silver Compass Medallion, a symbol of their status and a functional tracker should they be lost in transit.
- Captains and senior officers carry engraved Mariner’s Daggers, symbolic heirlooms marking their role as protectors of trade.
- [Post Blackwall]
- Rules: The Merchant Marines follow a strict code of conduct called the Mariner's Creed, emphasizing:
- Loyalty to the Commonwealth and its people.
- Integrity in trade and economic dealings.
- Honor in protecting their cargo and crew, no matter the threat.
- Merchant Marines are forbidden from engaging in corruption or accepting bribes — violations result in severe disciplinary action.
- Aid to the Vulnerable – Providing relief to stranded ships and isolated communities.
- Goals: The Commonwealth Merchant Marines exist to ensure the prosperity and stability of Commonwealth trade networks. Their key objectives include:
- Trade Security: Escorting vital trade convoys across war-torn and pirate-infested regions.
- Economic Growth: Expanding Commonwealth trade influence by opening new routes and establishing secure trade hubs.
- Supply Chain Stability: Ensuring Commonwealth military forces, frontier colonies, and vital industrial worlds receive consistent supplies.
- The Merchant Marines are also tasked with covertly gathering intelligence on hostile factions, monitoring Sith warship movements, and identifying threats to Commonwealth trade routes — ensuring that "For the Commonwealth, Always" is more than just a motto.
- [Post Blackwall]
- Supply Security: Maintain the flow of food, medicine, and essential goods to Commonwealth worlds, particularly those threatened by the Blackwall Crisis.
- Humanitarian Efforts: Assist with refugee evacuation, covert intelligence supply runs, and resettlement efforts for displaced citizens.
- Trade Expansion: Strengthen the Commonwealth’s presence in interstellar commerce, particularly along major galactic trade routes.
- Covert Support: Work closely with Darkwater Freight to provide secure, deniable operations where open Commonwealth action would be dangerous.
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HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The Commonwealth Merchant Marine traces its origins to the earliest days of the Imperial Commonwealth's expansion following the collapse of the First Order. As the Commonwealth rose from the ashes of its predecessor, trade became a cornerstone of its economic strength and survival. Recognizing the need to secure vital trade routes and protect merchant convoys, the Commonwealth Divan Ministry established the Merchant Marine as a civilian-military hybrid organization.
Founding and Early Years
The Merchant Marine was formally established under the leadership of Grand Moff Ariel Yvarro as part of a broader initiative to stabilize trade after the Commonwealth's breakaway from the chaos of the post-First Order galaxy. With the Commonwealth heavily reliant on agricultural exports, manufactured goods, and strategic resources, the Merchant Marine was tasked with ensuring these essential supplies could safely reach neighboring systems and trade hubs.
From its inception, the Merchant Marine worked closely with the Commonwealth Navy, particularly the Logistics and Support Command, forming a cooperative structure that balanced civilian oversight with military protection. Early trade routes through the Ison Corridor and Boğazları Sector became vital arteries of commerce, sustaining both the Commonwealth’s growing influence and its financial stability.
Rise in Prestige and Expansion
Over time, the Merchant Marine gained prominence as a vital institution within the Commonwealth. The establishment of Port Audin on Tokmia solidified its role as the logistical heart of Commonwealth trade, while the creation of the Silverwake Fleet marked the Merchant Marine’s evolution from a trade escort organization into a full-scale logistical powerhouse.
The Merchant Marine played a crucial role in stabilizing worlds that had been left isolated or devastated by post-war conflict. Merchant convoys provided food, medical supplies, and building materials to frontier worlds seeking to recover from instability. This earned the Merchant Marine a positive reputation among the Commonwealth's outer systems, where its presence was often synonymous with survival.
The Blackwall Crisis and the Argo Clause
The emergence of the Sith Order's Blackwall created an unprecedented challenge for the Merchant Marine. Entire trade routes collapsed overnight, and communication blackouts left key border worlds — including Karra, Salteract, and Najarka — cut off from the Commonwealth.
In response, Grand Vizier Ivalyn Yvarro invoked the Argo Clause, a provision within the Blackshield Mandate that expanded Merchant Marine responsibilities to include covert relief efforts and humanitarian operations. The Silverwake Fleet and covert units like Runner Vessels were quickly dispatched to deliver supplies to stranded populations. Under the cover of legitimate trade operations, the Merchant Marine worked alongside newly established organizations like Darkwater Freight to quietly extract dissidents, refugees, and vital intelligence agents from Sith-occupied worlds.
The Merchant Marine’s expanded role became crucial in countering Sith control along the Commonwealth’s trade routes. Cooperation with the Commonwealth Intelligence Directorate allowed the Merchant Marine to quietly develop new navigation strategies, including the use of shadow lanes and encrypted transponders to bypass Blackwall security grids.
Present-Day Role
Today, the Commonwealth Merchant Marine is more than just a trade escort force — it is a vital part of the Commonwealth's economic, humanitarian, and covert defense strategy. While still largely civilian in structure, the Merchant Marine has absorbed key military protocols, and its crews often receive joint training alongside the Exploration and Patrol Fleet to ensure readiness for potential conflict.
The Merchant Marine has earned a reputation as the Commonwealth’s silent lifeline — delivering hope, resources, and connection to those cut off from the wider galaxy. Its agents, captains, and navigators now carry with them a quiet pride — knowing that even in the shadow of the Sith's oppressive control, they remain a symbol of resilience and unwavering determination.
