Sailor Armed Militia
While the term “sailor-suited warrior” is integral to the base description of the canonical ur-senshi, the “Sailor” part has, over the years, become something more generic. Despite being the default woman’s lib faction of Fenspace, even the Justice subfaction have to admit that women get a more fair shake than they’ve ever had on the “old dirtball.” This has led to quite a number of residents of the Crystal Cities being people who don’t really cleave to the concept of “girl power” that the Crystal Cities draws its central image from.
These folk (mostly female, but other genders are not excluded) have latched onto the “sailor” appellation and made it their own, forming the Senshi Sailor Armed Militia. The various countries on Earth have long and, in the most part, honorable and glorious naval traditions. To be a sailor in the British Navy or U.S. Coast Guard is an honorable thing, and provides a set of goals and rules to live a good life by.
The Sailors have done their best to put this concept into work in Fenspace, borrowing heavily from the naval traditions of Earth, ignoring most of the bits that simply don’t apply anymore (the practice of “casting the log” has survived, but is now a hazing ritual designed to make newbies realize that yes, they actually are in outer frigging space).
The crowned-golden-anchor insignia of the Sailors is a very recognizable symbol around Fenspace. It strongly implies that the bearer is trustworthy, honest, and courageous.
Sailors are colloquially called “Sailors” or “Sammies,” and these terms apply equally to all genders.
Organization
Many Sailors are not full-time military members; many people who have full-time occupations maintain a Reserve rank (usually simply an organizational convenience – ranks below Colonel are assigned on a fairly ad-hoc basis in the Sailors) and membership in the Sailors organization. As Reserve Sailors, their duties are primarily to live by the Sailor code, to respond to high-priority requests for assistance by Sailor central command, and to maintain a “State of Readiness to Act Against the Enemies of Humanity.” (Sailor bureaucratic plumage has taken a close dramatic resemblance to Age of Sail British nomenclature.) Notable Reserves include Hermes, the AI majordomo of Hephaestus; ‘Mizz’ Nezumi of the Blue Blazer Irregulars; R. Yayoi Fujisawa, Sailor Stellvia; and the entire crew of the Pinafore.
Active Sailors are those who are full-time members of the Sailors corps. They can be found on patrol, training new recruits, researching, or active in the other main pursuit of the S.S.A.M. – search and rescue. No-one has responded to more distress calls and automated beacons than the Sailors, and while they carry that as a mark of pride, they search and save because they believe it’s the right thing to do.
Fleet
Reserve Sailors tend to use their own vehicles, but full-time Sammies have ships dedicated to their calling - not many, but enough to be notable.
The naming convention of the Sammie fleet is where the British Age of Sail Fen are the most noticeable; the ships so far have been named after those commanded by Jack Aubrey in the Aubrey and Maturin series of novels written by Patrick O'Brian. As of the end of 2014, the Sophie, Polychrest, Surprise, Boadicea, and Leopard have entered service, with the Ariel still under construction.
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