Marines

Also Known As	Navy; Kaigun
Organization Type	Military Organization
Leadership	Fleet Admiral Smoker
Membership	Admiral Tashigi; Vice Admiral Coby
Associated With	World Government; Three Superpowers.
Related To	The Dread Pirates; Los Quatros Fabulosos

The Marines are the World Government's military sea force, tasked with law enforcement, international security and military operations. The Marines are one of the three great powers, alongside the Shichibukai and the Yonko. They are present in all the seas around the world, as evidenced by their branch offices. The focus of their assets is on the far more dangerous Grand Line. In the aftermath of the Battle of Marineford, the Marine Headquarters has since been relocated to the New World.

History

Exactly how long the Marines have been around for is unknown, so is how they were created; however, it has been commented that Marineford has been their "stronghold/watchpost of justice" for centuries, implying that they have existed for quite a while. The oldest known date of their existence is over 6 decades ago, when Oimo and Kashi were captured by the Marines and tricked into guarding Enies Lobby, hoping to free Dorry and Brogy, whom they thought had been arrested. This is around the time in which Brook received his bounty, another proof of the existence of the Marines fifty years ago. Twenty-seven years before the current storyline, a platoon of marines led by Garp and Sengoku are sent to stop the war between Roger and Shiki.
Over four decades ago, Garp was known as the legendary Marine who cornered Gol D. Roger many times. A week before Roger's execution Shiki caused an uproar when he decided to assault Marineford all by himself. However, he was defeated by the hands of both Garp and Sengoku and was imprisoned in Impel Down for the next two years before his escape. After Roger's execution, the Marines and the Marine judges went to Water 7 to judge and later execute Tom for supporting him in his pirate ventures by constructing Roger's ship, the Oro Jackson.
A little over 30 years ago, a platoon of Marines, including five vice admirals, were sent to Ohara to execute a Buster Call regarding the research of lost history and annihilated the island. Three of the most notable vice admirals who took part included future admirals Kuzan and Sakazuki as well as Jaguar D. Saul, who sacrificed his life to protect the island.
After Marshall D. Teach had captured the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Portgas D. Ace to become a Shichibukai, with Ace's execution being announced, the Marines were preparing to have an all-out war against the Whitebeard Pirates, which took place at Marineford. Alongside the Whitebeard Pirates came Monkey D. Luffy and a motley crew of Impel Down breakout convicts, and the battle had escalated to its final phase after an hour and a half. Upon Ace and Whitebeard's deaths, Shanks arrived to stop the war, and Sengoku agrees. With that, the world who despises pirates celebrated the Marines for their victory. However, Sengoku then finds out that several Level 6 prisoners from Impel Down escaped thanks to Blackbeard, and is even more furious when the World Government declares the second mass escape must be suppressed from the general public.
Shortly after the end of the war, Sengoku resigned from his position as fleet admiral, three weeks after Garp did. The position was replaced after a great ten day battle to the death between Aokiji and Akainu at some point in the two years following the war. The victor was Sakazuki who became the new fleet admiral, and though Kuzan lived, he refused to work under Akainu and thus left the Marines. Aokiji's resignation was a great loss to the Marines although they have become much stronger under the command of their new fleet admiral. After the war, the Marines held a global military conscription after considering some of their own people to fill the position of admiral. From this, they gained Admiral Fujitora and Admiral Ryokugyu.

Purpose

The duty of the Marines is to maintain a law and order throughout the world and impose the will and might of the World Government. They are therefore considered the key strategic development force in the World Government and are expected to obey its orders at will. Sometimes these orders are questionable, however they are expected to carry them out regardless of opinion. Amongst their duties is awarding bounty hunters the bounties on the heads of a criminal. They tolerate bounty hunters as a method of making their job easier but are known to go out bounty hunting themselves. Apprehended criminals who are brought in alive are handed over to be made an example of, the Marines are left to ensuring the exportation of these criminals to prison and/or to their execution.
Marines often work in pairs with one superior officer and a second in command or a subordinate who is of a lower rank. These partnerships may remain even during promotions with both pairs advancing in rank together. In the pair the higher ranked officer will give the orders to those under their command, while the other acts as an adviser or information gatherer while ensuring their partners command is undertaken by the men.
Higher ranked Marines (admirals and the fleet admiral) are expected to be on call to lead the Marine forces into war. This may take form of apprehending many criminals at once, protecting the World Nobles or calling a Buster Call to tackle a situation. Vice admirals are the ones who serve on the ships that the admirals call out and are tasked with carrying out the admirals orders exactly.
The main purpose of the Marines remain footed in the idea of bringing justice to any criminal. They use justice as their constituted policy to manage a world that is made entirely of one ocean much easier. However, the main problem within the Marines is the approach to Justice. They are generally divided between those who support Moral Justice and those who support Absolute Justice with the latter being the code of conduct for the Marines as a central doctrine. Nevertheless, there is little worry from the higher ranked Marines as to how the Justice is carried out so long as it is, leading those who truly support absolute justice to make questionable actions in carrying out their duties.
The Marines are also aided by the Shichibukai in terms of maintaining the "Three Great Powers", and as such, are expected to cooperate when necessary. Despite this, several Marines, such as Aokiji, Akainu, Smoker, Sengoku, Kizaru, and Issho think of the Shichibukai as no more than pirates. In turn, the Shichibukai have no obligations to obey the Marines unless under the direct orders of the World Government itself.

Thanks to Blackbeard and the death of Whitebeard, a new age has begun upon the world and the "Age of Pirates" that Roger established has ended. Thus began a new time for Marines as well. With the greatest Marines Sengoku and Garp resigning, a power vacuum for the position of fleet admiral occurred. Despite Sengoku's recommendation for Aokiji to take his position, the other higher echelons wanted Akainu to become fleet admiral. The two admirals commenced a ten day battle on the Punk Hazard island while the details of the battle were agreed to be kept secret. Akainu managed to win and therefore became the new leader of the Marines. However, after the battle, Akainu kept his rival alive. Aokiji, disliking Akainu and his methods, and not wanting to serve under Akainu, resigned from the Marines and disappeared. To compensate the loss of much military powers, the World Government granted the Marines unprecedented power, and with Sakazuki as the new fleet admiral, the organization has become an overall much more powerful organization of justice ever since.

Known Members

Fleet Admiral White Hunter Smoker: Responsible for the reform of several Marine doctrines. Smoker is the man who brought the King of Pirates to justice, before he ran away.
Admiral Black Cage Hina: Fleet Admiral Smoker's wife, and the most efficient pirate hunter in the whole world.
Admiral Tashigi: Fleet Admiral Smoker's second in command, continuing her dream of gathering all of the Legendary Swords in the world.
Admiral Rising Storm Oryuou: Recruited for his incredible strength and his powerful Devil Fruit, the Ryu Ryu Fruit, Admiral Oryuou is known to have sunk entire fleets of pirates on his own, before he got promoted.
Vice Admiral Coby: In charge of pursuing trouble makers of a revolutionary nature, or otherwise disruptive to the World Government.
Vice Admiral Masamune: A samurai from Wanokuni, and a determined member of the Marines. He believes in Absolute Justice, and is a student and admirer of 'Black Cage' Hina.
Vice Admiral Nobunaga: A former revolutionary who repented his ways and fought his way up the chain of command due to his phenomenal Logia power. He is the youngest to attain this rank in years.
Vice Admiral Matsunaga: A known brawler who grew to prominence after eating the Choge Choge Fruit, he is an Explosion Man. Nicknamed 'Exploder Fist'.
Vice Admiral Sousuke: A newcomer to the Rank of Admirals, Admiral Sousuke carries a cybernetic Seastone arm which increases his strength exponentially, and hides a Pacifista cannon.
Captain Babino 'The Snake' Alarico: Alarico is known for his clever tactics and mastery of the Rokushiki. Wears a Snake Hat.
Captain Frederico 'Fire' Tiberzio: Nicknamed 'Fire' due to his unerring passion, and a devoted Marine Captain. He has the ability of the Kae Kae Fruit. Wears a Marine Cap.
Captain Lofthouse 'The Cleaner' Ciera: Called 'The Cleaner' due to her ability to remove criminal infestations from islands. She has a powerful ability from the Clean Clean Fruit, allowing her to heal. Wears a Lion Hat.
Captain Di Matteo 'The Poet' Jaheim: Captain Di Matteo is an example of a lax and easy going Marine, until the going gets tough. A student of Admiral Tashigi. Wears a Deer Hat.
Captain Shiba: Lacking a nickname. This Captain underwent rigorous training after his crew's defeat at the hands of Orochimaru II, to become a pirate chasing elite. Wears a Doge Hat.
Captain ???:
Scientist Daven van Dungen: Doctor Vegapunk's most ardent follower, he is an expert in medical and Devil Fruit research, and responsible for Letty Carmichael's Devil Fruit.
Former Commodore Bayfield 'The Ripper' Giancarlo: A ruthless pirate hunter, and one of the most physically powerful Marines. Traitor.