Read The Last Immortal : Book One of Seeds of a Fallen Empire Page 91

Ahkso is the Tiasennian word for a cadet entering military service. When young candidates complete early developmental training, the most promising are brought to the instructional academies where technology, science, engineering, and military strategy are studied as the foundations of Tiasenne’s Defense. The position of akhso is typically held for four years.

  Dvari is the lowest rank in the Tiasennian military.

  Ekasi is the first officer’s rank which includes recent ahkso graduates from the Gakano Leraestava e Lil-lieraya as well as experienced officers. Divisions such as ground ekasi (the lowest position, who serve squadrons, legions, and divisions), unit ekasi (the largest group of ekasi, who serve among legions as minor officers over other ekasi), and command ekasi (the fewest in number and highest of the three divisions, who command the air legions in the air or from command posts) are understood and observed among all ekasi by giving deferential treatment to those of superior rank.

  Fer-innyera is the Tiasennian word for Leader.

  Gakano Leraestava e Lil-lieraya is the Tiasennian Academy of Aeronautical Physics and Engineering, the planet’s most renowned military and scientific indoctrination facility, located in Inen.

  Miran is the second highest officer’s rank. Miran are selected from the command ekasi and are subdivided into many superior and inferior positions, distinctions being made according to the prestige of the command and number of subordinates or legions assigned. Miran are governed by the Tiasennian philosophical code of conduct in which honor is gained through achievement. Thus miran of many years experience can lose their superior status to a new miran who has been assigned more subordinates, legions, or has had more successful campaigns.

  Senka is the highest officer’s rank in the Tiasennian military. Senka often gain their final promotion as a reward for some particularly successful campaign and hold little more authority than they did as miran, or else they may only be large fighter legion and army leaders and as such have little political clout. The higher ranking Senka are commanders of the larger military bases. A few are leaders of battalions in the command, such as large groups of fighter legions or divisions, but this can also be merely an office position designed to coordinate the fighter groups, other Senka, and Miran. Many only relay orders as figureheads who have earned retirement, having ascended as far as the structure allows. Some Senka may relieve the Marshall of the Defense on his off-duty, in particular the designated co-commander of Command Central.

  Senkaya-Sukura is a Senka, the overall commanding Senka of the Tiasennian Command Center, also called the Marshall of Defense (a title once separate from the Senkaya-Sukura in Orashean’s day). The Senkaya-Sukura’s position lies in the main tactical decision room, Command Central in the Tiasennian capital city Inen. The Senkaya-Sukura is only held accountable to the Fer-innyera.

  Dramatis Personae and places in The Last Immortal