Gauntlet

The Crimson Fleet settles promotion disputes the old-fashioned way. Two captains enter a designated combat zone. One captain leaves with both ships. The Gauntlet was designed for exactly this — layered defenses that keep the fight going long enough for the weapons to decide it, and weapons that decide it with authority. Duels are broadcast fleet-wide. Wagering is mandatory for officers above the rank of lieutenant, and the odds are posted before the combatants finish pre-flight checks. Winners keep everything. Losers provide the evening's entertainment footage.