Systems Alliance

During the reign of Federico XX, not every Human was happy with the idea of having a monarchy, especially many who had lived under various republics before the unification of Earth. Rather than risking a fracture inside the Federation, Federico heavily sponsored a mass migration on the continental planet of Phoenixia, in the Attican Traverse, where the Republicans received a massive financial support and in 2078 they were able to found the Systems Alliance.

Because of this cooperation, the relations between the Federation and the Alliance were incredibly close, as the two pretty much operated as two separate entities of the same nation, sharing a common economic area, cooperating in military and diplomatic affairs and even keeping a common ambassador on the Citadel.

During the Reaper War, Phoenixia was conquered by the Reapers and the forces of the Alliance, almost decapitated of their command structure, joined the forces of the Federation.

After the War, the various republics decided to join the Federation as integrated systems, but with large autonomy. Benedetta decided to keep the name 'Systems Alliance' as it didn't refer to any species in particular and was judged neutral enough to become the name of the new multi-species armed forces of the Federation.Though the formal name is 'Imperial-Federal Armed Forces', Systems Alliance is still the favored term for public relations.

Army

Previously, the Alliance didn't exactly have this branch, as its doctrine revolved around mobility and control of key points by the Marines, who were more of a sub-branch of the Navy.

With the restructuring of the Imperial Federation, and the integration of countless soldiers and vehicles for ground wars, especially Turian and Krogan, it became necessary to institute this branch.

The Army is responsible for all matters regarding the conquest of a planet's surface and engaging large enemy formations on solid ground. While the Turians definitely represent the largest percentage, the various kinds of units tend to be made up of a single species, for logistical necessities.

Line Divisions

The frontline units that take the brunt of the fight in an attrition battle. All of them are made up by Turians or Krogans, as the other species have a volunteer recruiting system that doesn't allow them to replace manpower that quickly and efficiently. Despite being the 'cannon fodder', these divisions are entirely mechanized and have support battalions for every necessity: tanks, gunships, artillery, field hospitals, logistics. While these supports make them extremely durable, there are still situations where they require specialized divisions.

Armored Divisions

Usually made up of Humans or Turians, these units employ heavy mechs like the Atlas and old-fashioned tanks to strike rapidly at enemy fortifications and cut deep into enemy territory. They are accompanied by two battalions of armored infantry and a battalion each of self-propelled artillery and anti-air vehicles for a moderate air cover, though they usually cooperate with the Army Air Force to provide air superiority.

Support&HQ Divisions

Mostly manned by Humans and Salarians, but it actually includes a wide variety of species and tasks. These units are not fit for the frontline, but they are the ones keeping the big guns, and in great numbers. A unit of this kind is made up of at least 3000 artillery pieces with their crews and 1500 AA guns. It provides Close Air Support as the engineer battalions both keep up and defend the infrastructures from enemy incursions. They also man UAVs for recon and send out scouts to gather intel.

Assault Brigades

Made up of Krogan, Turian and Batarian veterans equipped with heavy armors and shields, the Assault Brigades are small units that usually open up a large offensive for the Line Divisions. They have their own mortar companies to provide a modest amount of fire support, but their strength lies in their brutality in close-quarter-combat. They prefer infiltration tactics to approach an enemy fortified position, opening with a relatively brief barrage of indirect fire to make the enemy hole up while they advance right above them.

The assault brigades are quite infamous, as episodes of them completely disregarding the Geneva Rules of Engagement are far from rare. Their efficiency as a combat unit, however, is beyond question, so only the most serious atrocities are actually persecuted.

N7

Made famous in the Milky Way by Commander John Shepard, who was the first to find and fight the threat of the Reapers, the N7 program was founded in 2095 in a joint effort of the old Systems Alliance and the Imperial Federation. The number 7 means that there are 6 previous levels, 5 of which are accomplished during the training at one of the Academies. After a period of service, the cadets acquire the N6 status, and only after accomplishing a number of missions successfully they receive the rare honor of becoming N7.

This procedure, though, is standard for the Human population and the minorities who are citizens of the core Federation. The N7 also recruits aliens of the Constituent States who are deemed fit to join, which makes the division the most diverse of all the Alliance.

The N7 are deployed in small squads, usually not bigger than 5, in order to resolve tasks and crises that larger units cannot accomplish easily or quickly enough. For their extensive training, experience and state-of-the-art equipment, the N7 might also used to accompany a Legionnaire on dangerous missions behind enemy lines.

Marine Divisions

A direct evolution of the Royal Marines and the USMC, the Alliance Marines are distinguished by high mobility and firepower. Their main task is to secure landing zones during planetary invasions or to plug a hole in the main line, waiting for reinforcements to arrive. The Marines are fairly independent, as they have their own SPECOPS command and are expected to take the initiative by themselves on the battlefield in order to wreak havoc among the enemy lines.

While they enjoy a fair amount of armored and artillery support, they are not a frontline unit and their mobile warfare doctrine doesn't allow them to carry too many supplies with them.

As the biggest special forces unit of the Alliance, the Marines also integrate mountain battalions (descendants of the Alpini Corp) and also air assault companies, transported by modified 'Helarcos' dropships.

Doctrine

Despite the wide variety of cultures and military thinking, the Alliance has managed to create a flexible system that exploits the strengths of a species while the other compensate the weaknesses. The fact that the various divisions are made up of specific species is the result. The iron discipline of the Turian is well fit for the frontline, as it is the ferocity of the Krogans, while the ingenuity of the Salarians make them perfect for intel gathering. The versatility of the Humans and the Asari make them perfect for unconventional tactics and moving around the enemy while their allies pin down the enemy in a 'Hammer&Anvil' tactic.

The Army also employs a large number of drones and automated systems ran by IVs to harass the enemy, while the new generation of AIs are used to process the insane flood of information during a battle to give the commanders an overview as clear as possible

Navy

The Alliance Navy is tasked with protecting the main trade routes, root out piracy and fight any hostile fleet crossing the space of the Federation. The wide variety of ship designs is a testament to the incredible diversity of species and military traditions combined inside the Federation. The three major species that contribute to the upkeep and enlargement of the Navy are the Turian, the Humans and the Asari. The Salarian contribute mostly in the Research and Development department, but in recent years they have launched a new design of stealth battle cruisers by improving the technology of the famous INS Normandy, which also led to the creation of the exploration cruisers of the Infinity-class, designed to travel into new systems and survive on their own for years.

The Navy also works in close cooperation with the two major Sister-Nations of the Federation: the Tau Empire and the Rannoch Concordat. Without question, the Alliance Navy is the most powerful of the galaxy, and the surprising internal stability means that the most powerful squadrons are stationed at strategic portals where they can reach every corner of the Federation in less than 5 days, while smaller ships patrols are ready to bring first aid to colonies under attack and fend off an enemy advance while waiting for the major fleets to arrive.