Classis Imperialis (Superpowers)

The Classis Imperialis (Imperial Naval Legion) is the sea branch of the Roman armed forces. It fields more than 2,500 ships of varying sizes and classes, as well as nearly 1,800 aircraft. With only 1,200,000 active crewmen though, along with a few thousand officers, the Classis is by far the smallest branch of the Roman military. Nevertheless its importance to the Roman economy cannot be overstated due to its necessity for controlling Rome's assets at sea. In the past few decades however, the Space Legion has been taking on many of the duties of the navy, namely their most important one of patrolling Rome's waters. The fact of the matter is, automated systems in space can patrol sea borders far more quickly and with less cost than a boat full of trained soldiers.

Founded in the heat of the First Punic War, the Roman Navy has saved the Empire many more times than they're given credit for, and sadly they have nowhere near the prestige of the Legion. As the Romans conquered more and more of the Mediterranean Sea, it grew in size until the time of the Empire, when they held total mastery over the Mediterranean, now the Mare Nostrum (Our Sea). In the late-400's and mid-500's two emperors, the Scipios, made several reforms which brought the Classis from an amalgam of defensive fleets to a powerful part of the armed forces. Then, with the fall of Axum, it was the greatest navy on the planet.

Following the First World War, during which the Classis was a crucial player, the Japanese emerged from isolation and began to put their newly built industry to churning out ships to protect their trade routes. By the XIXth Century, the Nippon Kaigun had greatly surpassed the Classis and are even now the foremost navy on the planet.

Whilst still behind the Kaigun, the Classis continues to lead the world in naval technologies, particularly in the field of robotics. What they lack in personnel, the Romans more than make up for in automated systems, and now the life of a Roman sailor is very far from menial. Being a member of the navy is considered a distinction, at least equal to the honor of being a Legionary, though whilst they command the same amount of respect, the public's reaction to them is hardly as impressive. The Legion remains and will always be the heart of the Empire.

Administration
The Classis Imperialis is managed by the government through the Ministry of the Navy, itself a branch of the Ministry of War led by the Praeministrum Bellicum. The MoN itself is administrated by the Praeministrum Nauticum, who answers to both the PB and the Quaestor. Nevertheless it is through the MoN that the navy is controlled for the most part. Militarily speaking, the highest position in the Classis is Admirallis (The Admired). Although still subordinate to the Minister of the Navy, the Admirallis has total command over all officers of the Navy and is usually the one to lead important naval movements. Furthermore, the Nuntius Nauticus attends virtually all Caetus Legati, representing the Admirallis and thereby giving direct influence over affairs in the Legion. The Generallissimus is however his superior, and is actually superior to all other military positions in the Empire.