Synno Gendarmes

The Synno Gendarmes were an elite para-military on Synno, formed in 118 ABY.

History
In 115 ABY, the Engagement on Synno was intended to result in the arrest of the Red Eclipse slave lord Zhin-Vel. Instead, Centurions Aquila Corcer and Melnanooin were killed and the Zyked slaver escaped. Though Zhin-Vel was tracked to Haerch and killed, planets across the Golden Empire leveled scathing criticism at Synno and the failure of its law enforcement agents to assist the Centurions, or at least prevent Zhin-Vel's escape. Competing planets were quick to suggest Synno would be unable to protect merchant convoys or shipments, and the planet's economy suffered.

Eventually, several Synnott government and law enforcement leaders approached the Consul and asked permission to form a gendarmerie, combining the system defense militia with law enforcement powers. The Consul agreed, and Synno recruited several Royal Army veterans to oversee the training of the new Gendarmes. The first unit was deployed in 118 ABY.

The Gendarmes quickly earned a reputation for both professionalism and efficiency, and swept several of Synno's s in unannounced raids, capturing several wanted criminals and impounded hundreds of thousands of credits worth of contraband. Gendarme spacecraft conducted boardings of inbound craft and apprehended other fugitives. Within a decade, the Gendarmes had restored the image of Synno's law enforcement and set an Empire-wide example which would be copied by several other planets.

When the Empire considered forming a gendarmerie of its own, the Synno Gendarmes were used as a model. After the formation of the Royal Corps of Gendarmes, several Synno Gendarmes helped train the first group of Royal Constables, and some even took leadership positions in the newly formed agency.

Powers and duties
As a gendarmerie, the Synno Gendarmes had both military and law enforcement roles. In their daily work, they usually performed spaceport security. The Gendarmes operated several s and other small capital ships, as well as numerous patrol and boarding craft, and could and did stop inbound ships for searches based on reasonable suspicion. Gendarmes often backed up local police units for special event security.

In addition to their law enforcement duties, all Gendarmes trained one week a month on military duties, such as drill, heavy weapons marksmanship, and group tactics. In the event the Consul declared martial law, the Gendarmes would act as a military police force over the civilian population. In theory, the Gendarmes could also be drafted as a backup force for the Royal Army if need be.

The Gendarmes also had special detachments, including an investigative division devoted to rooting out piracy and smuggling, an elite commando unit for hostage rescue and dangerous subject apprehensions, and a bodyguard unit which provided 22/6 protection for the Consul and Tribune of Synno.

Equipment
In daily work, Gendarmes wore light body armor and carried s and s. Usually transport was by  or other two- to four-man repulsorcraft. They were also trained in the use of blaster rifles, explosives, and armored vehicles, and had sets of full body armor when needed for riot control or military duty.

Ranks
The Gendarmes had a military-style ranking system based on that of the Royal Army. They were technically under the command of the Consul, but led by a Commandant appointed by the Consul.

Officer grades: Enlisted ranks:
 * General
 * Colonel
 * Commander
 * Major
 * Captain
 * Lieutenant
 * Master Sergeant
 * Staff Sergeant
 * Sergeant
 * Corporal
 * Lance Corporal
 * Patrolman First Class
 * Patrolman

Those assigned investigative duties carried the hyphenated title "Inspector" in addition to their ranks (e.g. "Corporal-Inspector", "Staff Sergeant-Inspector", "Lieutenant-Inspector"). This was available to those between the ranks of Corporal and Captain; junior enlisted Gendarmes were considered to still be in an introduction phase, while senior officers were expected to assume leadership rather than investigative roles.