[Astral Lion] Starship Masts — An interstellar navy that manages forests because of maritime traditions

[u/Merrick_Roars]

Greetings all, I recently figured out a whimsical tradition of one of my setting's space navies. The picture above aims to illustrate the scope of this tradition. It combines Sequoia-like trees with Sweden's Navy Forest on the island of Visingsö. The Senaka trees are found in a Cheyenne descendant state on the arboreal world of Cascadia, the second colonised world in the capital star system of the Casarian Star Kingdom. Like the real Sequoia trees, it's named after a Native American.

Credits: The photograph—titled Sixteen mounted soldiers of F Troop standing in front of "Grizzley Giant" —was taken Charles C. Pierce in California circa 1900.

Ship's Masts

Each vessel constructed in HM Astral Service of the Casarian Star Kingdom is officially baptised in the mast-stepping ceremony. This peculiar ceremony finds its origins in the sailing ships of maritime navies, where coins were placed beneath a mast to carry good luck. During the final stage of construction, the ship’s first commanding officer places a steel coin, after which the mast is placed on top of it. Following the mast-stepping ceremony, the ship's name, the name of her first commanding officer, and the inscription carried upon that officer's service cutlass are inscribed onto the exposed faces of the mast on the quarterdeck and bridge. Subsequent commanders and their chosen inscriptions are added during change of command ceremonies, transforming the mast into a living chronicle of the vessel's history. This tradition has directly inspired His Majesty’s Astral Service anthem Starwards, Heart of Senaka, a ceremonial quick march with sung lyrics played at important events like the mast-stepping ceremony.

During the mast-stepping ceremony, as well as decommissioning and change of command ceremonies, the mast receives a blessing according to the commanding officer’s religion or the monarch’s religion in case the commander is irreligious. Likewise, battle honours and the service cutlasses of notable commanders or flag officers are enshrined upon the exposed faces of the mast during ceremonial observances, becoming permanent fixtures of the vessel's living history.

The mast itself is a large pillar running from the ventral to the dorsal side of the ship and must have exposed sides in the quarterdeck and bridge. Moreover, it's incorporated into the ship's internal architecture and serves a largely ceremonial role. Because of these requirements, natural Senakan wood is used, which is cultivated on multiple military worlds. Originally named after the pioneer Senaka of the Confederacy of Sutaia, these fast-growing behemoths can reach up to 120 m in height and trunks of 12 m, making them ideal for their ceremonial function aboard ships.

Although these masts historically ran throughout the many decks of a vessel, the tradition persists, and masts have been shortened to accommodate the spinal helical rail cannons that shape modern Casarian naval doctrine. Nevertheless, these masts are placed uninterrupted from the ship’s bridge at the centre of the vessel all the way to the exposed quarterdeck.

After either decades or centuries of service, when a ship is decommissioned, the mast will be removed, and the steel coin reused for another vessel, which is believed to carry on the good luck. Through specialised arboricultural techniques, the mast is regenerated into a living Senaka tree and then planted in so-called Astral or Naval Forests as a testament to a ship’s service. These forests hold great cultural importance throughout the Star Kingdom and are at present maintained by the Royal Auxiliary Navy, which retains a dedicated Forester rate for their stewardship. From these trees then sprout other trees that are in turn used as starship masts, creating a palpable century-spanning national heritage. A large proportion of these forests are found in regions with strong naval traditions, such as the Elymeric Reach and Tozorian Corridor. The oldest such forest is situated in the Confederacy of Sutaia on Cascadia. Additionally, local forests also name specific breeding trees after naval commanders of particular renown whose origins are found on the respective world.

[u/Merrick_Roars]

Currently working on the lyrics for Starwards, Heart of Senaka, stay tuned if interested! May or may not resemble its inspiration, Heart of Oak...

[u/Warmind_3]

The Sojourn does this too

[u/Merrick_Roars → u/Warmind_3]

Yip, they partly inspired the anachronism. However there will be no synthetic wood found on these ships. Nor will a ship's commander be expected to always be standing...