== Organization ==
[[File:Maze Military logo.png|thumb|right|Monochrome symbol of the Maze Military, combining the RF and PF symbols]]
The Maze Military is split into two main branches, the '''Regular Forces''' and the '''Phantom Forces'''. Regular Forces make up the bulk of the Military, with six companies, whereas the Phantom Forces are a smaller elite unit, composed of four companies. An additional two companies, composed of the very best members of the military (usually handpicked from the Phantom Forces), form an additional element called '''Wight's Elite Battalion''', or simply '''the Battalion'''. This unit is assigned to the defense of [[Fort Wight]], the faction headquarters, and is under the direct command of the faction leader, Colonel [[Thomas Wight]].
* '''Colonel''' (leads the entire Military)
** '''''Commander''''' (honorific rank for exceptional captains)
* '''Captain''' (leads a company, composed of 4 platoons plus themselves)
** '''''Senior Lieutenant''''' (honorific rank for exceptional lieutenants)
* '''Lieutenant''' (leads a platoon, composed of 5 squads plus themselves)
** '''''Staff Sergeant''''' (honorific rank for exceptional sergeants)
* '''Sergeant''' (leads a squad, composed of 10 privates plus themselves)
** '''''Private First Class''''' (honorific rank for exceptional privates)
* '''Private''' (member of a squad)
However, three months into the operation, Eidolon's total forces had dwindled to just over 300, most of which was assigned to keep each captured town under control, considerably reducing the amount of personnel available for assault. Major Eidolon reportedly ignored the repeated warnings to cease advancing or to raze the towns so that personnel could be freed for further advances, citing that he wished to "leave towns to pass down onto our children."
The last unconquered town was [[Mippei Yosai]], the name and exact location of which has since been lost to time, was the destination that most of the fleeing youkai populations retreated to. Historians believe this town was once situated some distance to the north of [[Intersections|Intersection 02]]. Faced with the desperate situation of having to fend off invaders that had taken or destroyed all but their last town, the youkai town enlisted the near-entirety of their population as a defense force, in a desperate measure, and prepared for the coming invasion. When the severely reduced ESF forces arrived in Mippei Yosaitown, they found approximately 200 armed youkai civilians, under the command of Touya Hashimoto, a female tengu who was appointed as chief tactician and who was known as simply ''Captain Hashimoto''.
After weeks of exchanging fire and gun battles across the streets of Mippei Yosai, resulting in the deaths of roughly half of the ESF invading force, Major Eidolon finally retreated and ordered all remaining forces to regroup to his location, in an area that would later be known as [[Intersection 02]], to prepare a new plan. Over the following days, every single youkai town received the visit of Captain Hashimoto, ordering the mayors of each town to raise a militia of their own, and assist in the counter-attack. This was known by the youkai as ''Operation Scarlet Sakura''.
Before Eidolon could relaunch another assault, Hashimoto's forces, now 500 strong, assaulted Intersection 02. Encircled, severely outnumbered, and entrenched into the little intersection's streets and shop emplacements, the ESF's last soldiers mounted a final stand, but the overwhelming amount of youkai forces caused Eidolon's soldiers to fall one after the other until about fifty human soldiers were left. Eidolon requested a ceasefire and parley with Hashimoto; the meeting was agreed upon, in the center of Intersection 02. Hashimoto demanded unconditional surrender, Eidolon simply asked for his life and safe passage out of the Northeastern Zone so that he and his surviving forces can return to Neo Khazrun, to which Hashimoto agreed. This agreement officially ended Operation Shining Blade, resulting in a youkai victory.
=== The new Military ===
[[File:Regular Forces logo.png|thumb|right|Monochrome symbol of the Regular Forces.]]
Despite the severe defeat they had suffered, the surviving ESF soldiers still believed in the importance of an organized military force to protect the world's communities from the dangers of the Mazes. However, they also vowed to never fight costly, pointless wars ever again, and to dedicate their expertise towards protecting rather than conquering.
=== The Phasma dynasty ===
Between E7-471 and E7-531, the Phasma family was effectively in control of the Maze Military for three generations. Because each leader after Mark Phasma was a descendant of the last, the family's control over the Military was referred to as the "Phasma dynasty". The family intended to continue directing the Military and maintain their anti-youkai focus for as long as possible.
Military leaders during this period:
=== The Great Military Reform and today ===
[[File:Phantom Forces logo.png|thumb|right|Monochrome symbol of the Phantom Forces.]] With the rise of Colonel Wight, recently hardened by last year's events, the Military immediately returned to a hardline anti-youkai stance. He organized the Great Military Reform, instigating a wide array of changes; among which, deep changes in the Military's training method and ethics, the formation of the Phantom Forces elite branchin E7-677, and an upsizing effort, increasing the size of the Military from just seven companies to 12.
More controversial changes were introduced as well, such as the renaming of Fort Cutlass into [[Fort Wight]], the modification of military training exercises to match Colonel Wight's own personal training regimen, and most importantly the reactivation of Weil-era military harassment patrols against youkai activists and civilians in the Northern, Eastern, and Central Zones.