• Overview
  • Map
  • Areas
  • Points of Interest
  • Characters
  • Races
  • Classes
  • Factions
  • Monsters
  • Items
  • Spells
  • Feats
  • Quests
  • One-Shots
  • Game Master
  1. The Expanse
  3. Lore

Martian Congressional Republic Navy (MCRN)

The Martian Congressional Republic Navy (MCRN) is the naval force of the Martian Congressional Republic (MCR), and the most important branch of its military. Though smaller in size than the United Nations Navy (UNN), it is more technologically advanced and generally considered on par with the UNN.

Ship Construction

Most smaller Martian ships are constructed in the same basic configuration, floor by floor from the drive cone and reactors. First is the engine room, then the cargo bay, followed by specialty compartments, then the crew cabins followed by the galley. Next deck is the medical bay. The storage and airlock deck follow, with the command deck and pilot at the “top”. Large(r) ships will have different configuration, with Ops/CIC positioned amidships with particular deck as The Main Deck. Under thrust, Martian ships are essentially skyscrapers, with elevators and ladders connecting the various decks.

MCRN ships generally cruise separately from one another, or in pairs for smaller ships. The third-generation battleships are well armed enough to be considered fleets unto themselves. The pride of the MCRN is centered around the Donnager-class battleships. Donnager-class battleships measure nearly 500 meters long, or the length of a 130-story office building, and bristle with torpedo tubes, point defense cannons, and massive 90 meter long railguns. They serve as flagships for MCRN fleets, and are large enough to carry small Escort Frigates and Patrol Destroyers within them.

Second-generation battleships still have a place in the MCRN, serving alongside fast-attack cruisers, destroyers and frigates capable of patrolling the entire Sol system. Mars also has advanced stealth technology, though battleships and larger ships typically avoid this in favor of the intimidating effect of an aggressive battle posture. Larger ships are basically mobile bases, such as the Donnager-class, carrying marines and military interrogators aided by pharmaceuticals.

By virtue of superior technology, fiercer armament, and superior-trained crew, the battle fleets of Mars are unmatched. Martians never cease to remind others of this, and make their military pride known at any and every opportunity.

Shipyards & Facilities

  • MCRN Callisto Shipyards: Half located on and half in orbit around the moon Callisto. One of the largest naval shipyards across the Sol System.

  • Mariner Valley Shipyard: Located in the Mariner Valley, this also one of the largest and most important shipyards for Mars.

  • Asteria Naval Base

  • Hecate Base

Operating Ship-classes

  • Donnager-class Battleship

  • Scirocco-class Assault Cruiser

  • Raptor-class Fast Assault Cruiser

  • Banshee-class Destroyer

  • Morrigan-class Patrol Destroyer

  • Morgalina-class Patrol Destroyer

  • Corvette-class Light Frigate

  • D-Class Supply Ship

  • Osprey-class Courier

  • Asp-class Fast Attack Craft

  • Troika-class Dropship

  • Chariot-class Dropship

Every class of ship in the MCRN has a three alpha character prefix before its ship number. Each letter represents a specific characteristic of the ship, the first letter designates the ship's propulsion method, the second letter designates its role, and the third letter designates its type of ship. For example the MCRN Tachi was designated ECF-270, which indicates an Epstein Drive (E) Combatant (C}, Frigate (F )

History

The MCRN Donnager was sent to investigate Saturn's moon, Phoebe, after contact was lost with a Martian station on the moon. Marines led by Lieutenant Lopez found the Martian scientists all dead.

Later after rescuing the surviving crew of the Canterbury, the Donnager was attacked by six Amun-Ra-class stealth frigates. Lopez and his marines took the captain of the crew, James Holden and the rest of the crew to the MCRN Tachi in the hangar to escape the Donnager, although only Lopez of the entire Marines himself would make it onboard dying shortly after. The Donnager self-destructed to avoid capture.

After boarding an illegal mining Belter skiff, the MCRN Scipio Africanus was attacked by the skiff. Surviving the attack the skiff was destroyed along with its pilot. The MCRN responded by increasing patrols and inspecting ships passing through its areas of control.

The MCRN Ambedkar was despatched from the MCRN Yangtse to board the Rocinante. However, shortly before boarding the Rocinante gave out an MCRN code identifying itself as an undercover MCRN vessel. The Ambedkar then withdrew and allowed them to proceed.

The MCRN did not directly get involved in the Eros incident. Although a ship had been dispatched to Eros after the OPA traveled to the station to destroy it, the events of the Eros Incident prevented the ship from reaching before the station had moved.