Republic Defense Fleet

"The largest fleet ever assembled in history just got a lot bigger. A force in which no one has ever seen before. It has preserved and defended the galaxy from the worst tyranny of all kinds, and is more than capable of handling any threat it throws at the Interstellar Republic."

- Fleet Admiral Serbius Olymnion

The Republic Defense Fleet (RDF), also known as the Republic Navy or simply the Republic Fleet, was the naval branch of the Interstellar Republic military. Formed from the remnants of Sword and Shield Fleets in 2187 CE in the aftermath of the Reaper invasion, the RDF augmented its size by modifying its design and firepower with debris of Reaper technology and stockpile of element zero. Similar to the Citadel Fleet, the exact number of ships in the RDF is unknown, but there were enough vessels to patrol every mass relay linking Citadel space to the Terminus Systems and still leave a force stationed to protect the Citadel.

By the Cold War, the Republic Defense Fleet rose to become the most advanced and largest military force in the galaxy and consisted of hundreds of multi-species starships, though the greater number of them are turian and human.

Formation
The Republic Defense Fleet was formed from Sword and Shield Fleets after the Citadel Allied Forces emerged victorious during the Reaper invasion and was soon incorporated into the fledgling Interstellar Republic, the Citadel Council's successor. Its first commanding officer was Fleet Admiral Steven Hackett, a respected human who had commanded the Systems Alliance Navy's Fifth Fleet during the Battle of the Citadel and throughout the entirety of the Reaper invasion. Throughout the galaxy's peacetime period, the RDF augmented its size by modifying its design and firepower with debris of Reaper technology and stockpile of element zero.

With the Reapers no longer a threat, the Republic turned its attention to reshaping galactic politics under the leadership of First Minister Selius Orodas and his successors Vormaw Huksa and Linariley T’eavius. Hackett soon retired and was succeeded by turian Fleet Admiral Serbius Olymnion.

Organization
While the RDF was mostly headed by a Fleet Admiral, the commanding officer was nevertheless answerable to the Minister of Defense who in turn answers to the First Minister themselves. While the majority of the RDF remained stationed at the Citadel, a few smaller portions of the fleet were posted near the mass relays. In addition to the RDF, the Interstellar Republic's member worlds also had local defense forces, whose operations were guided by individual Republic senators.

Novels

 * Mass Effect: A Hero's Legacy (First appearance)