“Every Chiss citizen, a sentinel. Every world, a shield.”
The Chiss Defense Force (CDF) is the civilian militia of the Chiss Ascendancy—a strategic reserve force composed of ascended Chiss citizens who are bound by duty to defend the Ascendancy’s territories when summoned. Though not a professional standing military like the Chiss Expansionary Defense Force (CEDF), the CDF is a vital layer of the Ascendancy’s multi-tiered defense doctrine, ensuring that every Chiss world can respond swiftly in times of crisis.
Structure and Purpose
The CDF operates under the authority of the Office of Colonial Affairs in coordination with the Defense Hierarchy, and its personnel are drawn from all walks of Chiss life: engineers, miners, scholars, administrators, and laborers. Every Chiss who has completed their civic training is considered eligible for service, and all ascended citizens are expected to fulfill this obligation when called.
Unlike the CEDF, the CDF is not a standing force. It is a mobilized militia, activated in response to sudden threats—be they pirate incursions, planetary invasions, infrastructure sabotage, or natural disasters. In these moments, the CDF becomes the first line of localized defense, particularly in regions where the CEDF cannot respond immediately.
When a CDF activation is declared, members are reassigned from civilian duties deemed non-essential until the threat has passed and security is restored. This system ensures the Ascendancy remains agile, self-reliant, and capable of defending itself even in the absence of its elite fleets.
Core Tenets of Service
- Duty Through Unity
All CDF members serve not as individuals, but as part of a disciplined, coordinated whole. Drills and readiness evaluations are regularly conducted to ensure cohesion and effectiveness. - Temporary, Tactical, Essential
CDF service is mission-focused and temporary. Units are disbanded once their objective is complete, and members return to their standard posts or civilian professions. - Defense of Territory and Civilization
The CDF’s jurisdiction is strictly defensive. It does not operate outside Ascendancy space. Its singular mission is to protect Chiss citizens, colonies, and installations from threats that bypass or outpace the CEDF. - Prepared, Not Passive
While inactive most of the time, CDF units maintain localized preparedness plans, coordinate with regional Ministry branches, and act as a vital component of the Ascendancy’s crisis response infrastructure.
Distinct From the CEDF
The Chiss Expansionary Defense Force is the Ascendancy’s professional standing military—tasked with frontier patrol, intelligence gathering, and engagement with foreign entities. The CDF, by contrast, is entirely inward-focused, serving to protect and preserve the sovereignty of Chiss worlds from within.
The two forces may operate in coordination during prolonged conflicts or emergencies, but their command structures, purposes, and scopes remain separate. The CDF represents the collective will of the Chiss people to defend themselves—with discipline, resolve, and unity.
The Will of the Citizenry
Service in the CDF is seen as a mark of civic honor. It reflects the Chiss ideal that sovereignty is not protected by warriors alone, but by a populace willing to stand in defense of their worlds, their homes, and their way of life.The Chiss Defense Force is not permanent because it does not need to be. Its strength lies in its people—resilient, prepared, and ever-ready to stand when called.
Citizen soldiers…