Tartarus DNC Complement
KAVOE Naval Aviation Command · Working Draft 0.7 — embarked-craft complement, identification nomenclature, flight doctrine, and Gladius Space Group organization for Tartarus-class Dreadnought Carriers.
This working document establishes the basic embarked-craft complement and identification nomenclature used aboard Tartarus-class Dreadnought Carriers (DNC). It is intended to allow KAVOE personnel to identify a craft's function, its individual craft number, and its parent Tartarus vessel from a single designation.
1. Craft Identification Nomenclature
TYPE-CRAFT NUMBER-PARENT DNC NUMBER
MEC-17-53
MEC-17-53 identifies Medical Evacuation Craft 17 assigned to Tartarus-class Dreadnought Carrier 53. If DNC-53 is the KAVOE Icarus, the designation immediately identifies MEC-17-53 as a medical evacuation craft belonging to the Icarus.
Personnel may shorten the designation when operating aboard the parent ship, but the complete designation is used for intership operations, logs, traffic control, rescue, maintenance, and combat reporting.
3. Tartarus Complement Framework
Combat Falktrus: Each Tartarus-class vessel carries a standard complement of 24 combat Falktrus. The exact distribution of those Falktrus among fighter, strike, reconnaissance, electronic-warfare, atmospheric, and assault roles remains a working item and is not fixed in this draft.
Auxiliary craft: Troop shuttles, cargo craft, rescue craft, medical evacuation craft, maintenance/recovery craft, survey craft, and drones support the carrier's combat and deep-space mission. These auxiliary craft do not count against the 24-combat-Falktrus complement unless later doctrine specifically assigns a craft type to a formal combat Falktrus.
5. Working Doctrine Notes
- • The parent DNC number remains part of the full craft designation even when the carrier's vessel name is known.
- • Craft numbers are unique within a craft type aboard a particular Tartarus; the same craft number may therefore appear on different Tartarus vessels without ambiguity because the parent DNC number differs.
- • The nomenclature is intended to remain readable in flight-control, maintenance, medical, rescue, and combat records.
- • Future revisions may add Falktrus identifiers, wing identifiers, replacement-craft rules, and permanent versus temporary reassignment procedures.
9. Reserve Hangar Capacity
Tartarus hangar architecture maintains approximately 10 percent reserve capacity beyond the standard 552-vehicle complement. Reserve space is normally left unoccupied and may be used for damaged craft awaiting repair, visiting spacecraft, replacement vehicles, emergency evacuation loads, captured or unknown vehicles, or mission-specific craft required during long-duration deep-space operations.
10. Numbering Application
The complement follows the established TYPE-CRAFT NUMBER-PARENT DNC NUMBER nomenclature. For DNC-53 KAVOE Icarus, the standard medical evacuation complement is MEC-01-53 through MEC-12-53, while its 72 interceptors are IFC-01-53 through IFC-72-53. The parent DNC number allows traffic control, maintenance, rescue, and combat personnel to identify a craft's carrier immediately.
11. Complement Doctrine Summary
24
combat Falktrus comprising 264 combat craft
120
crewed auxiliary craft supporting transport, logistics, rescue, medicine, maintenance, and science
168
Reconnaissance and Combat Vultures
552
standard embarked vehicles, exclusive of reserve hangar capacity
~10%
additional hangar capacity reserved for contingencies and mission-specific requirements
12. Finalized Tartarus Craft Series Nomenclature
Terminology hierarchy. The term Class identifies the parent capital-vessel design, while Series identifies a specific embarked spacecraft design. Craft Type identifies operational function, and the individual designation identifies a particular vehicle.
Tartarus Class DNC-53 KAVOE Icarus → Interceptor Fighter Craft (IFC) → Isis Series → IFC-37-53.
13. Vulture Terminology
KAVOE Tartarus doctrine uses the term Vulture for the carrier's autonomous uncrewed small craft. The two standard Vulture categories are RV — Reconnaissance Vulture and CV — Combat Vulture. The previous drone terminology and URD/UCD codes are superseded by RV/CV in this draft.
The standard complement remains 96 Apophis Series Reconnaissance Vultures and 72 Montu Series Combat Vultures, for a total of 168 Vultures.
15. Deep-Space Complement Doctrine
The Tartarus-class Dreadnought Carrier is uniquely suited to long-duration operations in distant, poorly charted, mysterious, or potentially hostile regions because its embarked complement provides far more than conventional aerospace combat power. The carrier functions as a self-contained operational base capable of investigating, defending, sustaining, recovering, and adapting its forces without immediate dependence on a nearby KAVOE installation.
Its 24 combat Falktrus provide interception, heavy fighter protection, strike capability, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, atmospheric operations, and assault or boarding capability. This allows a Tartarus commander to investigate an uncertain system while retaining sufficient forces to defend the carrier and respond rapidly if intelligence concerning a potential threat proves accurate.
The auxiliary complement extends that independence. Troop shuttles and cargo craft move personnel and supplies; Ra Series search-and-rescue craft and Osiris Series medical evacuation craft support personnel survival; Khonsu Series maintenance and recovery craft retrieve and service damaged vehicles; and Qadesh Series survey and science craft allow unfamiliar worlds, materials, environments, and phenomena to be examined without unnecessarily exposing the Tartarus itself.
Apophis Series Reconnaissance Vultures can be sent ahead of crewed spacecraft into regions considered too uncertain or hazardous for personnel, while Montu Series Combat Vultures provide expendable or remotely directed combat capability when commanders wish to limit crew exposure. KAVOE may select a Tartarus for deep-space missions in which danger is expected but its exact nature is unknown.
16. Flight and Deployment Doctrine
16.1 Fundamental Principle — Preserve the Reserve
A Tartarus normally maintains at least 50 percent of its crewed combat craft aboard. The embarked aerospace force is treated as a tactical reserve rather than a force to be launched in its entirety. Under routine deep-space conditions, approximately 20-30 percent of combat craft may be operating outside the carrier. The 50-percent minimum may be suspended during major fleet combat, evacuation, carrier abandonment, or another extraordinary condition at the commanding officer's discretion.
16.2 Quick Reaction Alert (QRA)
While operating outside secure KAVOE territory, a Tartarus maintains combat craft on Quick Reaction Alert. Routine QRA consists of 12 launch-ready combat craft; Elevated QRA consists of 24; Combat QRA consists of 48. Isis Series IFC and Anubis Series HFC normally form the core of the alert force. Routine QRA craft are expected to be capable of launching within approximately two minutes of an alert.
16.3 Routine Patrols
In potentially dangerous space, the standard external security posture includes one 12-craft patrol. A representative patrol consists of six Isis Series interceptors, four Anubis Series heavy fighters, and two Thoth Series reconnaissance craft. Patrols establish a moving security envelope, investigate contacts, inspect routes and nearby astronomical bodies, and prevent unidentified craft or hazards from approaching the carrier without observation.
16.4 Layered Reconnaissance Deployment
The Tartarus itself should not normally be the first KAVOE asset to enter a poorly understood region when credible hazards may exist. Reconnaissance proceeds in layers: Apophis Series Reconnaissance Vultures first; Thoth Series reconnaissance craft second; crewed combat patrols third; and Qadesh Series survey/science craft after the environment is considered sufficiently understood. This procedure creates a forward intelligence and security envelope instead of exposing the capital vessel to an avoidable ambush, anomaly, or environmental hazard.
16.5 Vulture Employment
Vultures may be employed more aggressively than crewed spacecraft because no flight crew is placed directly at risk. Apophis Series Reconnaissance Vultures may investigate radiation zones, unstable gravitational regions, suspicious vessels, possible minefields, hazardous atmospheres, or regions from which previous probes failed to return. Montu Series Combat Vultures may accompany reconnaissance assets when hostile contact is considered likely. Vultures may also remain deployed for extended periods as remote observation or security networks within a star system.
16.6 Simultaneous Launch Capability
A Tartarus is designed to launch six complete combat Falktrus simultaneously through independent launch sectors. This represents one quarter of the carrier's 24-Falktrus combat complement in a single coordinated launch cycle. Additional Falktrus can begin subsequent launch cycles immediately. Independent sectors reduce dependence on a single large hangar opening and allow the carrier to build substantial aerospace strength outside the hull within minutes.
16.7 Full Gates Deployment
During a major emergency or fleet engagement, the commanding officer may order FULL GATES DEPLOYMENT. Multiple launch sectors then operate simultaneously at maximum safe tempo, nonessential hangar traffic is suspended, and available recovery corridors may be temporarily reassigned for outbound operations when conditions permit. The traditional operational command associated with this condition is: OPEN THE GATES.
16.9 Recovery Priority
Whenever possible, Tartarus flight control maintains separate launch and recovery corridors. Returning spacecraft receive priority according to operational need: critical medical emergency; spacecraft incapable of sustained flight; severe combat damage; fuel or energy emergency; then normal recovery. Ra Series Search-and-Rescue Craft, Osiris Series Medical Evacuation Craft, and Khonsu Series Maintenance/Recovery Craft may be dispatched directly into recovery operations when required.
16.10 Science and Unknown-Contact Doctrine
Qadesh Series Survey/Science Craft do not normally enter a poorly understood region first when credible danger exists. Reconnaissance assets screen the area before scientific investigation begins. Troop shuttles, cargo/utility craft, medical vehicles, and other vulnerable auxiliary spacecraft likewise remain aboard until the local operational area has been adequately screened. KAVOE summarizes this sequence as: FIND IT - OBSERVE IT - SECURE IT - STUDY IT.
16.11 Distributed Presence Doctrine
A Tartarus entering an unexplored system may be a single capital vessel, but it does not remain a single tactical presence. Apophis Vultures move ahead, Thoth reconnaissance craft investigate, Isis interceptors establish security, Anubis heavy fighters protect vulnerable assets, and Qadesh craft examine discoveries while Ra, Osiris, and Khonsu support craft remain prepared for rescue, medical, and recovery contingencies. The majority of the combat complement remains aboard as reserve until conditions justify escalation. This distributed presence allows a Tartarus to establish a temporary KAVOE aerospace presence in regions where no permanent KAVOE infrastructure exists.
16.8 Standard Deployment Conditions
GREEN
0-10 percent of combat craft deployed; used for secure-space operations and routine transit.
BLUE
20-30 percent deployed; standard posture for routine deep-space operations.
RED
30-50 percent deployed; used when a threat is expected or active reconnaissance requires a larger aerospace presence.
BLACK
More than 50 percent may be deployed; reserved for major combat, emergency operations, or circumstances in which preservation of the normal onboard reserve is no longer the overriding requirement. The normal 50-percent-abroad limit is suspended under BLACK.
17. Gladius Space Group Organization
The Tartarus combat aerospace complement is organized as 24 Falktrus divided into six Kelnorus of four Falktrus each. The structure permits both large coordinated launches and smaller mission-specific task groupings. Together, the six Kelnorus constitute the Tartarus vessel's assigned numbered Gladius Space Group.
17.1 Kelnorus Employment Principle
The six Kelnorus are operational organizations rather than rigid Series groupings. Where mission requirements favor it, a Kelnorus may contain different Falktrus types so that it can operate at distance from the Tartarus with its own interception, heavy-combat, reconnaissance, strike, atmospheric, electronic-warfare, or boarding capabilities. This prevents the carrier from being dependent on sending large numbers of identical craft on missions that require several capabilities.
17.2 Kelnorus Task Elements
A Kelnorus may be divided temporarily into two two-Falktrus task elements. These task elements are mission organizations rather than permanent additional command levels. For example, a reconnaissance task element could combine one Thoth Series reconnaissance Falktrus with one Isis Series interceptor Falktrus while the remaining two Falktrus stay closer to the carrier or perform a separate mission.
17.3 Organizational Hierarchy
Individual spacecraft → Falktrus (8 or 12 craft) → Kelnorus (4 Falktrus) → Gladius Space Group (6 Kelnorus, totaling 24 combat Falktrus and 264 crewed combat craft). The command system requires 24 Falktrus commanders, six Kelnorus commanders, and one officer responsible for the numbered Gladius Space Group. Commander billet titles and rank requirements remain intentionally unassigned pending development of Tartarus aerospace command doctrine.
17.4 Relationship to Launch Doctrine
The six-Kelnorus Gladius structure complements the Tartarus launch architecture. Current flight doctrine permits six complete combat Falktrus to launch simultaneously through independent launch sectors. This allows flight control to launch an entire Kelnorus while simultaneously launching two additional Falktrus, or to distribute the six launch positions among several Kelnorus according to tactical requirements.
18. Falktrus, Kelnorus, and Gladius Nomenclature
KAVOE carrier aerospace doctrine uses three distinct organizational terms. Falktrus replaces the conventional term squadron. Four Falktrus form one Kelnorus, a formation name adopted in honor of the Kelnori. Six Kelnorus form one Gladius Space Group, the complete crewed combat aerospace force assigned to a Tartarus-class Dreadnought Carrier.
18.1 Numbered Gladius Space Groups
KAVOE maintains one Gladius Space Group for each active Tartarus-class Dreadnought Carrier. Every Gladius is a numbered organization with its own service identity and operational history. The Gladius number is an organizational designation and is not required to match the hull number of its assigned Tartarus. Example: the 24th Gladius Space Group (24th GSG) may be assigned to a specific Tartarus-class vessel. Its subordinate organizations are identified as the 1st through 6th Kelnorus, and each Kelnorus contains four Falktrus. A standard reference may therefore identify a unit as: 3rd Falktrus, 1st Kelnorus, 24th Gladius Space Group.
18.2 Standard Gladius Structure
One Tartarus-class Dreadnought Carrier = one assigned Gladius Space Group. One Gladius Space Group = six Kelnorus. One Kelnorus = four Falktrus. One Gladius Space Group = 24 Falktrus. The current standard Gladius contains 264 crewed combat craft. Auxiliary craft and Vultures are part of the Tartarus embarked complement but are not counted among the 24 combat Falktrus unless later doctrine assigns them to that structure.
18.3 Command Terminology Status
The organizational names Falktrus, Kelnorus, and Gladius Space Group are established. The permanent billet titles and KAVOE rank requirements for Falktrus commanders, Kelnorus commanders, and the officer commanding a numbered Gladius Space Group remain to be established in the separate aerospace organization and command working draft.
KAVOE
Strength through unity. Victory through design.
KAVOE NAVAL AVIATION COMMAND · WORKING DRAFT 0.7
