I wasn't sure where best to ask this, but thought it may be something other fanfic writers could have some thoughts and/or inspiration on. I'm just wondering is there are any good sources of different rank structures out there, for when dealing with non-Starfleet characters, so not every interstellar navy goes with Captains or Colonels--to help make alien organisations stand out a little more.
Hey @Bry_Sinclair - something I might be able to help YOU with for a change! Are you aware of the universe created around the title "Warhammer 40,000"? - it started as a tabletop wargame / RPG, then spawned lots of spin-offs including novels, computer games and so on. There is a whole galaxy of aliens (and humans) with armies full of rank structures. They have an online wiki called the "lexicanum". The alien races in particular may be of use - they come up with all sorts of bizarre names for things we would call sergeant, lieutenant or captain, but these are also vaguely human-sounding to be recognised by players (often old world references). The human Imperial Guard itself is full of such terms, too, as it is a vast organisation covering a million worlds and just as many cultures. Hope this helps. K