Jedi ExplorCorps

Objectives

The Jedi Order's Exploration Corps has several objectives:

• Scout out and map new spacelands and undiscovered (or simply poorly explored) systems and worlds;
• Discover and explore the ruins of ancient civilizations, known and unknown;
• Assist in any and all research that aids in the process of uncovering lost information or discovering new;
• Assist pioneers and colonists in establishing frontiers and settlements, and exploring their environs.

Duties

As such, the Exploration Corps fosters a variety of Duties within its membership:

• Pilots: Pilots - of both space and planetary vehicles - serve an important role in the ExplorCorps, getting teams of Corpsmates to and from sites and missions. Pilots are expected to be skilled in both combat and precision flying, owing to the dangers the ExplorCorps frequently faces.
• Scientists: The scientists of the ExplorCorps are divided into two main groups: those who study the relics of the past (archaeologists and anthropologists) and those who study planetary features (ecologists, geologists, meteorologists, xenobiologists). A striking majority of these scientists are field operatives, though the ExplorCorps does maintain a small body of research scientists for testing the discoveries of their outward-bound comrades.
• Explorers: This Duty represents a whole range of assignments within the ExplorCorps - unsurprising, considering that the Corps is known for it. Planetary explorers that trailblaze new worlds and astrogator-explorers who hunt down new hyperspace routes are part of this Duty, as are the cartographers and astrographers who record and verify their findings.
• Field Defense: The smallest of the Duties in terms of numbers, Field Defense is assigned to ExplorCorps teams - or simply groups from the Jedi Order or its allies - who are venturing into dangerous territory.

Location

The Exploration Corps is based out of the following:

• Every Ordinance/Regional Depot site has a small headquarters for the ExplorCorps.
• There are four small praxeum ships dedicated to training ExplorCorps members and exploring the edges of known space.
• The vast majority of the ExplorCorps are located aboard scout ships that serve as their bases of operations.

Allies & Associates

The Exploration Corps works closely with the following:

• Intergalactic Zoological Society: providing transport and protection for its researchers, and sending their findings to be catalogued with the IZS;
• Republic Survey Corps: assisting in the discovery and recording of galactic spacescapes, systems, and the like;
• Academy of Jedi Archaeology: assisting in the recovery of ancient artifacts and lore
• Council of Reconciliation: aiding with information about newly discovered civilizations and helping them to bring new planets into the Galactic Republic

Rank

Trainee (Rank 0)

Trainees are part of the Exploration Corps on a trial basis, to determine if they are good fits. They are often given a variety of grunt work, to judge the full extent of their ability and willingness to obey orders, as well as testing their affinity for the sort of work the ExplorCorps does. Trainees are always situated aboard a praxeum ship or at one of the ORD headquarters, because half of their duties involve classes and learning.

Recruit (Rank 1)

Once they have been determined to be a good fit, and gotten basic certification for an ExplorCorps assignment, recruits are fostered out to the various tasks that need doing. They often crew praxeum ships and headquarters, as well as acting as grunts aboard larger colonizer and scout vessels.

Scout (Rank 2 - 4)

These are the rank-and-file of most of the ExplorCorps, ranging from Scout Third Class (Rank 2) to Scout First Class (Rank 4). Scouts inevitably are skilled enough and valuable enough to spend most of their time exercising their specialty duties, leaving lower ranked Recruits to do the grunt labor.

Coordinator (Rank 5 - 8)

Coordinators are field leadership at their lower ranks (including captaining the Corps scout vessels), and in charge of installations, praxeums, and headquarters at the higher end. They all inevitably have years of experience, and are in a position to put that to the greatest use they can: organizing and facilitating the efforts of groups of Scouts and Recruits, and overseeing the training of Trainees.

Administrator (Rank 9+)

Administrators are the infrequent leadership that oversees the operation of the ExplorCorps from the Jedi Temple in Coruscant, working side-by-side with Jedi from the Council of Reassignment and acting as liasons for other groups such as the Republic Ambassadors, the Survey Corps, and other outside organizations.