Supreme Marshallissimo of the Armed Forces
"Lawrence Earl Dye Jr, You are like a brother to me and together we have all but conquered not just the galaxy but the Multiverse. Now the time has come for me to retire to Terra. My work as a soldier is done and now passes to you for I have great tasks to perform in my earthly sanctum. I name you Warmaster and from this day forth all of my armies and generals shall take orders from you as if the words came from mine own mouth. But words of caution I have for you for your brother primarchs are strong of will, of thought and of action. Do not seek to change them, but use their particular strengths well. You have much work to do for there are still many worlds to liberate, many peoples to rescue. My trust is with you. Hail Horus! Hail the Warmaster!"
- Carlos Pardo Addressing his most trusted friend and his second in command following the victory for the Battle of the Crossways
| Supreme Marshallissimo of the Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
 Six Stars | |
|
Federal Republican Armed Forces Federal Republican Army | |
| Style |
(informal)
(formal)
(diplomatic)
(commonly)
|
| Type | General Commanding Officer |
| Status | Active |
| Abbreviation | SMAF |
| Member of | General Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| Reports to |
Founders President of the United Federation |
| Formation | 2029 |
| Deputy | Generalissimo, Admiralissimo, Aerialissimo |
Supreme Marshallissimo, Offically known as the Supreme Marshallissimo of the Armed Forces, is a special title rank and the highest military office in the Federal Republican Armed Forces specially created for Lawrence Dye during Garden War. It is senior to the rank of Generallissimo, which was previously the highest rank in any Military.
The Marshallissimo enjoyed several privileges not afforded to other generals, including a much higher salary and the right to retire at full pay and allowances.
History
Until 2019, the highest rank in any military was Generallissimo. At the beginning of the Garden War, the no active holder of that rank had it. In a ceremony on 19 July 2029, after winning the Battle of the Crossways, Carlos Pardo (with the Founders Permission) promoted twelve generals to the ranks of Generalissimo, Admiralissimo, Aerialissimo due to their professions in their respective branches. During the same ceremony, Lawrence Dye (for his expertise in reforming Z-Tech and the Military into a modern organization) was promoted to the newly created rank of Supreme Marshallissimo to placate his thirst for prestige and to highlight his position as senior to the other Z-Tech commanders, while giving him actual authority over them. This was done in order to ensure that the General Joint chiefs of staff, the Supreme Command of the Federal Armed Forces, which is headed by the Founders and the President, would retain overall control and authority over the National Military and maintain Civilian control of the military (a doctrine in military and political science that places ultimate responsibility for a country's strategic decision-making in the hands of the civilian political leadership, rather than professional military officers).
The title of Warmaster is bestowed by the High Lords of Terra in the 41st Millennium when an Imperial Crusade is being planned and resources from multiple Imperial sectors are needed.
The supreme overall command designated by the rank of Warmaster is necessary as inter-and intra-service strife and bureaucratic rivalries might make assembling the materiel required and co-operating in the field difficult for officers of the different services without a clear grant of supreme authority.
The rank is not available unless granted by the High Lords of Terra and it is the normal formulation to say that such an individual has been given his or her command by the Emperor Himself. There is rarely more than one Warmaster operating within the Imperium at any one time, due to the extreme powers given to the holder of the title.
Some in the Imperium consider the title of Warmaster to be cursed or a sign of ill-omen because of the ties of the rank to Horus and the Horus Heresy, the terrible galactic civil war that tore the Imperium in two. This is one reason why the title is rarely granted, and also the reason the rank is officially proclaimed as "Lord Commander Solar" rather than "Warmaster" when bestowed by the Senatorum Imperialis, though the holder of the title is still usually addressed as "Warmaster" by subordinates.
Financially, the ranks of marshallissimo, Generalissimo, Admiralissimo, and, Aerialissimo in Z-Tech is very rewarding as, apart from a yearly salary, The FedExCom introduced tax free fringe benefits for generals in the range of 2,000 to 4,000 Z-Bucks ($8897–17793 in 2021) per month in 2040. He/She also bestowed generous presents on his highest officers, with Lawrence receiving 250,000 Z-Bucks ($1,112,067 in 2021) for his birthday from the Founders and the President.
Responsibilities and Duties
Although lawrence acted as the deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Military, the mundane responsibilities of the military-industrial complex are not among the attributes of his duties. Those responsibilities fell to the Supreme Commander, who is briefed daily by the Joint Chiefs, created the agenda of the armed forces to fulfill the Founder's multiversial strategy, and managed supreme High Command.
As per Presidential Decree no.66 of 2050, the responsibilities of the marshallissimo are to:
- co-lead the Armed Forces
- implement the national defense policy
- exercise the military strategy & operations
- develop the doctrinal policies
- exercise Armed Forces power projection for military operation matters
- exercise Armed Forces power development and maintain operational readiness
- provide advisory to Secretary of War/Defense on national defense policy
- provide advisory to Secretary of War/Defense on Armed Forces' demand fulfillment and other defense components
- provide advisory to Secretary of War/Defense on development and execution of strategic planning of national resources for national defense matters
- utilize reserve component after mobilized for military operation matters
- utilize supporting component which has been prepared for military operation matters
- exercise other roles and responsibilities entrusted to his office by the Constitution and laws of the Republic
- assist Commander-in-chiefs of the Armed Forces' daily operational duties
- provide advisory to Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces regarding the national defense policy implementation, armed forces structure development, armed forces doctrine development, military strategy and armed forces power consolidation as well as the armed forces exercise of power
- perform Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces' duties in his/her lieu
- perform other duties demanded by Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces
Special privileges
Compensation
As Marshallissimo, Lawrence was paid much more than other generals. The 2029 law that promoted Lawrence gave the Marshallissimo the same annual pay of $13,500 (equivalent to $210,999 in 2021) that was set in 1870 for General William T. Sherman, plus $8,000 (equivalent to $125,036 in 2021) in allowances.
Following the US, All other generals fell under the Joint Service Pay Readjustment Act of 1922 of the USA, which set the pay for a major general at $8,000 (equivalent to $129,511 in 2021). Higher ranks had the same pay as a major general plus a personal money allowance of $500 (equivalent to $8,094 in 2021) for a lieutenant general, $2,200 (equivalent to $35,616 in 2021) for a general, or $5,000 (equivalent to $80,944 in 2021) for a general of the Army. Including food and housing, the annual compensation for a general of the Army in December 1944 was $14,951, versus $21,500 for the General of the Armies (respectively equivalent to $230,144 and $330,954 in 2021).
Retirement
The Marshallissimo retired with full pay and allowances, another benefit created for Lawrence, who continued to receive $21,500 for the rest of his life. Even in retirement, he can draw a higher annual compensation than any other official in the federal government except the president of the United Federation.
Other generals retired at three-quarters pay and no allowances. Like When US Army chief of staff Charles P. Summerall retired in 1931, his annual compensation fell to only $6,000, three-quarters of a major general's pay.
Uniform
Starting in 2029, the Marshallissimo lawrence is allowed to design his own uniform, as were current and former Army chiefs of staff. Lawrence used this authority to create the unique uniform he wore to the coronation of Charles lll, styled after the full dress uniform that had been introduced by the Army in May 6 2023 but discontinued in 2027. Whereas the 2030 uniform portrayed the rank of a general officer by embroidering silver stars on each sleeve, Lawrence's 2050 uniform sleeves bore 6 platinum stars.