The Royal Manticoran Astro Control Service

The Royal Manticoran Astro Control Service (abbrev: RMACS) is a component of The Royal Manticoran Navy, and is one of three uniformed civilian branches of TRMN. Members of this branch hold military-designated ranks and job titles and may wear the various orders of RMACS uniform. Members of this component tend to focus on the Astro-Control related aspects of the stories.

Honorverse

Within the context of the Honorverse canon, Astro Control Services is a uniformed civil service responsible for manning the Junction and Termini Control, for Search and Rescue in the Junction and Termini areas, and for providing Customs enforcement in liaison with RMMC and Royal Customs personnel.

Commander Honor Harrington’s relationship with RADM Reynaud of Astro Control and the way she turned around the efficiency of operations in the Basilisk Station area was one key aspect of the beginnings of her career success.

The Manticore Wormhole Junction is the busiest location in human space. In 1905 PD, the ACS was directing a wormhole transit through the Junction once every three minutes. By 1920 PD, following the discovery of the seventh terminus, it was handling one transit every eighty-five seconds. (SI1)

RMACS Survey Command is also responsible for conducting junction and terminus beacon surveys. Until the Royal Manticoran Astrophysics Investigation Agency was established by the High Ridge government, Survey Command also conducted research into the existence of the seventh terminus of the Manticore Wormhole Junction, eventually discovering the Lynx Terminus.

Real Life Connections

Members of the RMACS are often interested in RL Aviation, and the RMACS Aerospace Wings program is designed to foster that interest. Aerospace Wings can be earned either through RL aviation activities, or by participating in online learning or flight simulation activities. For more information, see the Aerospace Wings Wiki page. RMACS members also often have Coast Guard or lifesaving backgrounds that play into their interest in this part of the TRMN.

History within TRMN

List of RMACS Commandants

#	Name	Assumed	Relieved
1	RADM Sir Garret Bitker	unknown	Incumbent

Senior staff

• RMACS Commandant: RADM Sir Garret Bitker, KCE, MC, KR, SC, OGL, OG, CGM
• Chief of Staff: CAPT Chris Alper, RMACS

TRMN Components

RMACS is organized into chapters affiliated with regional fleets.

Chapters

Chapter	Attached to	Unit #	Commissioned
HQ-Manticore Central Control	Government House	ATC-01	13 Sept 2018
Beowulf Control	1st Fleet	ATC-11	Inactive
Matapan Control	2nd Fleet	ATC-02	Inactive
Trevor’s Star Control	3rd Fleet	ATC-03	21 May 2020
Hennesy Control	4th Fleet	ATC-04	Inactive
Gregor Control	6th Fleet	ATC-06	15 Sept 2019
Basilisk Control	8th Fleet	ATC-08	Inactive
Lynx Control	10th Fleet	ATC-10	Inactive

(Chapters with links are currently Active)

Chapter types

There are four main types of RMACS Chapters.

• Main Termini: (RMACS command staff, crew any branch)- Main Termini also include a MARDET
• Tugs: (same as a LAC: CO —LtSG, Bosun—CPO, one other crew)
• Survey Ships: (same as a LAC: CO —LtSG, Bosun—CPO, one other crew)
• Forts: (CO—LtSG and Bosun—CPO from any Naval branch —RMN, GSN, RHN, IAN)

The Royal Manticoran Astro Control Academy

The Royal Manticoran Astro Control Academy offers a full range of rank exams, from trainee to Admiral, and the Admiral Stephania Grimm Honor Society recognizes outstanding achievement in those exams. RMACA also offers specialty schools in aviation, communications, customs, search and rescue, and traffic control.

Awards

RMACS Personnel are eligible for many of their own awards: For a full list, refer to Admiralty Order 1703-02.

References:

Aerospace Wings Awards