These are the honourific awards which a serviceman in The Imperial Armed Forces
may earn for distinguished service. Unless otherwise noted, each may be earned by
a member of any branch of the service.
For purposes of scale (since I don't know how large your monitor is), the box
around each medal measures 5 cm on each side.
Note: because several of these medals are created from
translucent materials, you will need a web browser that properly displays
PNG images
(
e.g. any modern W3C-compliant graphical browser). Internet Explorer
won't make the cut, and is disrepectful to the many brave patriots who have shed
blood for their countrymen.
| The first three medals here are
considered the "highest honours". |
 |
La Samarianaĵo |
The Samaritan |
The polar opposite of The Sword of St. Michael
(q.v.), the Samaritan is awarded to servicemen who show humanitarian
mercy to an opponent who it would be dishonourable to fight (for instance,
performing first aid on a wounded "enemy"). It is the highest
accolade that can be bestowed upon any Artuano. |
 |
La Stel' Smeralda |
The Emerald Star |
In Artoonian culture, a green star represents peace or
hope. Thus, it is a bit odd that such a symbol would become a medal of
valour in war. The Emerald Star is awarded to servicemen who perform
heroic feats which cause a conflict to be brought to a more speedy resolution.
(This also makes it peculiar as the only award in any military—except
possibly France's—which may be granted for surrendering, if doing
so somehow helped to restore peace and prosperity and preventing loss of
life). Only The Samaritan is a higher honour. |
 |
La Memoferaĵo |
The Medal of Sacrifice |
Awarded to servicemen who are injured in battle, á la The
Purple Heart. The third-highest honour awarded. |
| The following are listed
alphabetically, since no one is considered a higher honour than any other. |
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La Ĉielstelo |
The Skystar |
Awarded to pilots (generally in the Air Force, but
occasionally navy pilots) who shoot down ten enemy aircraft during combat. |
 |
La Kortilo de Sanktulo Mikelo |
The Sword of St. Michael |
Sanktulo Mikelo la Arĥangelo (St. Michael the
Archangel) is the patron saint of Artoonia, as well as of His Majesty's Noble
Order of Knights, the chivalric order which is also the "black ops"
branch of the military. This emblem is awarded to those who thoroughly
smite the unrighteous in combat.
Generally, this honour is awarded to an entire division or spec-ops
team. The first version, with the yellow sun, is awarded to those who
return from combat, and the second, with the orange sun (representing sundown),
is awarded posthumously to their compatriots who are killed in or as a result of
combat. |
 |
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La Kruc' Ora |
The Gilded Cross |
Awarded for heroic service by a medical officer. |
 |
La Kruc' Ŝtala |
The Steel Cross |
Awarded for heroic feats of espionage. The Steel Cross
is only given to agents in the Special Intelligence Service. Of course, for
obvious reasons, it may take several years before the act in question is
declassified and the medal awarded. |