The Cohors Medicina — administered by the Medical Authority (Praetoria Medica) — carries a dual mandate unique among the eight Branches:
- Operational care — keeping the Republic's members alive and functional in the field.
- Doctrinal gatekeeping — enforcing the Third Pillar through the Sanctioned Augmentation Review Board and the Mutation Protocol.
The Medical Authority is therefore both a combat-support Branch and a doctrinal watchdog on biological integrity. It answers to the Praetor Medica for operational matters and coordinates with the Sanctum Officium Vigiliae on all Mutation Protocol actions.
- Branch (Cohors Medicina) — all medical personnel — Praefectus Medicinae.
- Medical Station (Statio Medica) — 4–12 personnel — Centurio — Medicus Primus.
- Triage Team (Grex Triagii) — 2–4 medics — Decanus — Caput Triagii.
- Surgical Team (Grex Chirurgiae) — 2–3 specialists — Decanus — Caput Chirurgiae.
- Field Medic (Miles Medicus) — individual — Miles.
- Hospital Ship Crew (Grex Navis Valetudinarii) — variable — Centurio.
Specialisation roles: Field Medic, Combat Medic (armed — Miles Medicus Armatus), Surgeon, Medic-Pilot, Augmentation Specialist, Mutation Assessor, Medical Researcher.
Sanctioned Augmentation Review Board
Evaluates requests for human biological enhancement. Composition: Board President (Centurio), Reviewer(s) (Decanus ×1–3), Doctrinal Observer (Commissarius, advisory non-voting). Process: Application → Technical review → Doctrinal review → Decision (Sanctionata / Sub Conditione / Negata) → Record in Registrum Augmentationum.
Mutation Protocol enforcement
Triggers: self-reported modification, field observation, Vigilia referral, Holy Office referral. Steps: Preliminary Screening → Full Assessment → Referral to Holy Office → Outcome (cleared / quarantined / Ius Gladii proceedings). The Medical Authority assesses; the Holy Office determines.
Reading notes
- Medicina is both operational and doctrinal.
- Combat medics carry arms (Miles Medicus Armatus).
- The Medical Authority does not execute doctrine — referrals to Holy Office.
- Hospital ships are non-combat assets; protected by Cohors Arma.
Glossarium
- Statio Medica
- Medical Station — operational unit (4–12 personnel).
- Sanctioned Augmentation
- Human-origin medical enhancement approved by the Medical Authority.
- Mutation Protocol
- Procedure for assessing biological modifications outside Sanctioned Augmentation.