MCRN

The Martian Congressional Republic Navy is the unique arm of the Martian military, and a key element of the Martian political system.  It always boasted less vessels than its Earth counterpart, but their level of technology was way beyond that of the Mother planet.  Smaller Martian vessels relied heavily on stealth technology that Earth had only been able to duplicate just before the 2340-2341 war, with the assistance of MKM.

Three fleets made up, and indeed still make up the MCRN, although the 2340-41 war seriously depleted them, and with Mars under siege, it has proven impossible to reinforce them since.  The Home Fleet is based on Mars, where it assists the Martian Marines in the fight against the Hybrids.  The Jupiter fleet is based on the Martian hemisphere of Ganymede; the 3rd Fleet is a mobile stealth-heavy battle group whose location changes frequently and is a closely guarded secret.  Both of the latter take part in active operations against MKM assets.  The still active naval shipyards on Callisto provide logistics and repairs, even though it is becoming increasingly necessary to cannibalise heavily damaged vessels to keep their sisters afloat.

Patrolling of the Martian shipping lanes and frontier, and evaluating and collecting customs taxes, is also the task of the MCRN, relying for this on a host of small two to six-man vessels.  They are generally crewed either by recruits, reservists, or by those that the main MCRN body has rejected as unfit for front-line duty.

MCRN combat vessels are generally armed with a mixture of plasma homing torpedoes, rail guns and short-range anti-torpedo cannon, as well as smaller attack or transport vessels.  They also carry nuclear warheads as a weapon of potentiel mass destruction against ground-based targets.  Defensively they rely on energy shields.  MCRN marines provide both offensive and defensive capabilities.

The MCRN Marine is the symbol of the Martian Republic.  5-year service in the Martian Marine Corp (MMC) is mandatory for all, and many sign up for the 25-year full tour of duty, rewarded at its fulfilment with a parcel of newly terraformed land which still remains plentiful on the Red Planet.  The Martian Marine is perceived as tough, willing to unquestioningly sacrifice his life for his comrades, his ship and his planet.

Mars also maintains a very active MCRN Intelligence Service, who are used for off-radar black ops throughout the solar system, freighted either on stealth ships or on Q-ships.