Imperial Command Code
Cinder Internal Ledger - 405 AS

Cinder Rank Ledger

Official Highest To Lowest Command Chain

Official Cinder command ladder ordered from highest to lowest. This ledger merges throne-line authority and state war command into one recognized chain of command while preserving emergency wartime directive law.

Command Rule Summary

  • Higher tiers command lower tiers by default theater law.
  • Tiers 4 and above may issue short-term Black Directives.
  • Only tiers 1 to 3 may extend Black Directives beyond first cycle.
  • Promotion clearance escalates by tier band severity.

Promotion Gate Map

  • Tiers 16-13: campaign record review.
  • Tiers 12-8: strategic board approval.
  • Tiers 7-4: sovereign seal.
  • Tiers 3-1: succession rite or direct throne decree.

Rank Bands

5 structural layers
Tiers 1-3

Crown Apex

Strategic overrule authority for doctrine, succession, and inter-theater command law.

Tiers 4-7

War High Command

Theater execution layer responsible for offensive design and large-scale battle logic.

Tiers 8-12

Regional Command

Sector governance and fleet-lane logistics translation into direct field directives.

Tiers 13-16

Line Command

Ship, company, and fireline leadership accountable for tactical discipline and delivery.

Tiers 17-18

Order Cadre

Enforcer and initiate layers that maintain ideological and compliance continuity.

Hierarchy Ladder

Highest to lowest
Tier
Rank
Scope
Function
1
Ash Sovereign
Throne + Imperium
Absolute supreme authority over doctrine, succession, fleets, and wartime law.
2
Khan of Cinders
Imperial Macro Command
Second-highest wartime executor; can command multi-theater offensives under sovereign mandate.
3
Solivar
Imperial Apex Staff
Third-highest rank; strategic override office for fleet movement and occupation directives.
4
Marshal
Theater Command
Commands full war-theater operations spanning fleets, legions, and logistics corridors.
5
War-Circle Admiral
Fleet Circle
Operational fleet command over battlegroups, carrier clusters, and jump interdiction screens.
6
Praetor
Elite Strike Command
Leads high-priority assault formations and special compliance operations.
7
Fang-Marshal
Pursuit Doctrine
Hunter-kill and pursuit-chain commander for defector, insurgent, and courier suppression.
8
High Legate
Multi-Sector Governance
Senior regional executor above sector legates; coordinates cross-sector occupation and emergency logistics.
9
Ash Legate
Sector Governance
Sector-level military governor integrating fleet command, tribute quotas, and civil terror law.
10
Colonel
Regiment / Task Force
Commands large combined-arms formations and translates legate directives into field campaigns.
11
Major
Legion / Brigade
Mid-high field command over battalion clusters, siege lanes, and tactical reserve units.
12
Commander
Battalion / Heavy Ship
Commands battalion-equivalent forces or heavy ship detachments in active operations.
13
Captain
Company / Ship
Commands company-size ground forces or single frontline warship crews.
14
Lieutenant
Platoon / Division Cell
Deputy tactical command, line execution, and cross-unit signal discipline.
15
Sergeant
Squad / Fireline
Frontline non-commissioned backbone responsible for cohesion and combat discipline.
16
Corporal
Team Lead
Leads small strike teams, enforces immediate orders, and reports to sergeant-level command.
17
Cinder Fang
Order Enforcer
Throne-trained enforcer rank; often attached as fear and compliance multipliers.
18
Ashbound Initiate
Initiate Tier
Lowest recognized formal rank; probationary adepts under ritual and pain-discipline training.
Command Rule: higher ranks command lower ranks by default. Under emergency war law, tiers 4+ can issue short-term Black Directives, but only tiers 1-3 can extend a Black Directive beyond the first operational cycle.

Rank Statute

Authority and promotion rules

Vertical Command Supremacy

Any officer can command all lower tiers in their immediate theater unless countermanded by higher sovereign law.

Branch Priority

In mixed operations: Sovereign mandate outranks theater mandate, theater mandate outranks fleet/legion mandate, and fleet/legion mandate outranks local command.

Promotion Gates

Tiers 16-13 require campaign record review; tiers 12-8 require strategic board approval; tiers 7-4 require sovereign seal; tiers 3-1 require succession rite or direct throne decree.

Dereliction Penalty

Failure to execute lawful command in active theater triggers immediate tribunal jurisdiction and potential ash-brand demotion.

Insignia Key

Badge families
Band
Ranks
Insignia Frame
Visual Signature
Crown Apex
Tiers 1-3
Obsidian crest + gold spine
Triple flame sigil with eclipse ring.
War High Command
Tiers 4-7
Crimson plate + iron chevrons
Long-bar command marks with fang seals.
Regional Command
Tiers 8-12
Ash-steel frame + red stripe
Dual-bar rank tabs and sector glyph tags.
Line Command
Tiers 13-16
Burnished iron tabs
Single to quad hash-marks by tier.
Order Cadre
Tiers 17-18
Dark cloth wrap + ember stitch
Fang rune (Tier 17) and ash knot (Tier 18).