As per White Dwarf 140 a sector fleet is composed on average composed of 50 interstellar vessels spread out in groups over the subsectors. With 2D6 subsectors when using random sector creation rules, this lends itself incredibly well to just have 2D6 ships per subsector to get to 49 ships total for an sector on average.
Subsector Fleets
A group or subsector fleet typically consist of:
D3 capital ships as the group’s backbone – the ships may be created randomly using Random Starships and Random Starships II, when determining size, ignore and re-roll results of 1-2, do not roll for the ship’s purpose instead treat it as Navy; the first ship rolled typically is the group’s flagship, use D6 instead of D3 when determining its number of facilities (this change of die type does not affect any modifiers to the roll)
D6 warships as the main body of the group – the ships may be created randomly, do not roll for the ship’s purpose instead treat it as Navy
D3 other ships as support – the ships may be created randomly, when determining purpose, ignore and re-roll results of 5-6
(Alternatively, roll D6 for each category, which makes the average of 50 vessels be the main combat strength of the sector, leaving out supporting assets.)
Fleet Commanders
Commanders of sector and subsectorfleets can be randomly created as follows:
Step 1: Career and Rank
| D100 | Career and Rank |
| 1-65 | Rogue Trader Rank D6 (maximum 5) |
| 66-80 | Militant Rank D6+2 (maximum 5) |
| 81-98 | Imperial Commander Rank D6-1 (minimum 1) |
| 99-00 | Random career per main careers table Rank D6+1 (maximum 5) |
If the D100 showed doubles, this indicates an especially gifted commander:
| D6 | Gift |
| 1 | Protege – Ultimate Authority (Power Behind the Throne) as an additional talent |
| 2-4 | Highly talented – Extremely Skilled (Expert) for D6: 1-3 Command, 4-5 Navigate (Stellar), 6 Techcraft as an additional talent |
| 5 | Engineering wunderkind – one ship in the fleet gains an additional facility, to determine it, choose the result on either the systems or subsytem-table, randomly roll on the other table as normal |
| 6 | Fighter Ace – Ace Pilot and Skilled Gunner as additional talents |
Stats:
After determining career and rank, generate the commander as a character with maximum points according to rank.
Step 2: Outlook and Goals
Roll 2D6 once – or multiple times – and consult the following table:
| 2D6 | Outlook |
| 2 | Timid: Seeks to avoid battle unless victory is absolutely assured. |
| 3 | Protective: Puts the wellbeing and survival of his crews above all. |
| 4 | Political: Sees the command as just a stepping stone towards higher office. |
| 5 | Honourable: Will engage openly and use only proportionate force. |
| 6 | Traditional: Comes from a long line of naval officers and seeks to emulate their example. |
| 7 | Dutybound: Follows orders. |
| 8 | Methodical: Analyzes, carefully plans, then executes stage by stage. |
| 9 | Vainglorious: Seeks personal agrandisement through glory in battle. |
| 10 | Decisive: Acts quickly and with full force. |
| 11 | Bold: Goes forth where none went before. |
| 12 | Bloodthirsty: Wants to see their enemies driven before them and hear the lamentations of their civilian populations. |
Step 3: Allies and Enemies
Roll D3 times each for allies and enemies:
| D6 | Ally | Enemy |
| 1 | Imperial administration or organisation – Administratum or one of its departments, Navis Nobilite house, merchant fleet, Adeptus Mechanicus, Ecclesiarchy | All aliens – the enemy without |
| 2 | Other branch of the Imperial military – Imperial Guard, one or more Space Marine chapters, Adeptus Arbites | Alien species – Orks, Eldar, Squats, or a minor xenos threat |
| 3 | Crews – the officers and/ or the ratings of the fleet | Enemy commander – an individual commander of an enemy vessel or fleet |
| 4 | Other commander – another ranking member of the Imperial Navy command hierarchy | Rival commander – another ranking member of the Imperial Navy command hierarchy |
| 5 | Powerful individual outside the Imperial Navy – an inquisitor, a cardinal, a governor | Heretics – rebels, apostates, followers of dark gods |
| 6 | Respected foe – roll on the enemy column | Hated by their own – roll on the ally column |