Introduction
The System Defense Force, generally referred as the SDF or SysDef, is a blanket term assigned to the primary defensive organizations operating within any local star system. Militias, private militaries, and the like, can be considered part of the SDF; as long as they answer to the system government, they can be considered 'standard'.
Origin
Even before the Flicker, FTL travel times between systems meant that less popular areas may suffer longer response times to emergencies. Although those systems which fell under the protection of Galactic Powers could rely on a better standard of protection, frontier colonies were left virtually unprotected. Following the example of OriCon's JSDF (Joint System Defense Force), several Frontier systems began to form their own SDF militias. These nascent guard forces successfully drove down pirate activity on the Frontier, leading to more widespread adoption. Standardized
Operations
The SDF is a local militia, and therefore its structure, doctrine, and standards of enforcement may vary heavily from system to system. Each planet or colony in a given system will generally contribute funding or equipment to the SDF to ensure it is able to perform the bare minimum of its duties. SysDef often suffers in comparison to the dedicated military branches of the very planets it aims to protect. The local SDF is generally tasked with preventing piracy and responding to distress signals from local traffic. While most SDF bodies will be modeled off of the OriCon Navy, other models exist depending on culture or proximity to other major powers. It isn't uncommon for the equivalent to a Chief of Naval Operations in some SDF structures to vary, whether they're a joint position held by multiple peoples, a complex military AI construct, or for there to not be such a position at all. SDF forces can be funded by the occupied planets in the system, or provided resources by major powers. OriCon provides funding for SysDef forces; the Vikaran Federation does not believe in publically arming systems, while the Unathi of Moghes heavily invest into their defense systems. Same goes for private corporations, though that tends to vary, especially for the likes of Nanotrasen, as seen below.
Relationship With NanoTrasen
Generally, the SDF is below NanoTrasen's corporate interests. When NanoTrasen must operate in an area with SysDef presence, they will contribute funding at a higher than average weight for the local economy to ingratiate themselves. NanoTrasen tends to prefer policing its own traffic, as well, and will generally attempt to stonewall SysDef or intercept distress signals from their own vessels beforehand. Violent incidents in the past have generally led SDF organizations in the know to drag their feet on NT distress signals. This issue has caused a lot of friction between Nanotrasen and various SDF forces in the past, especially during the violent uprising on the NDV Marksman in 2564; the six-month long siege was partly blamed on underfunded SysDef forces, who took their time trying to assist Nanotrasen with dealing with the uprising, unaware of the true danger aboard the ship.
Lore
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| Corporations | NanoTrasen, Frontier Megacorporations, Minor Corporations, The Syndicate |
| NanoTrasen Specific | NDV Marksman, Paracausal Monitoring Division |
| Other Organizations | ITV Talon, System Defense Force, The Orion Confederation |
| Worldbuilding | Extradimensional Mechanics, FTL Travel, Galactic Landmarks, Legends, Mysteries, and Rumors, Metaphysics and Paracausality, Technology of the 2500's, The Timeline |
| Contribution Data | Lore Submission Templates, Roadmap for Lore Development |