Posted by: Steve Walmsley
« on: January 28, 2020, 05:06:48 PM »Y2523
Y2523 was a relatively quiet year for the Imperium. There were no further Tyranid sightings and the Expeditionary Fleet did not launch any new operations. Instead, preparations were made to base the Expeditionary Fleet at Gryphonne Prime for the foreseeable future, as the Necron systems of Prometheus, Praetorian and Antagonis were all closer to Gryphonne than the Sol. Maintenance facilities, fuel and supplies were all shipped in, along with additional colonists. Most of the maintenance facilities from Endymion Base were also transferred to Gryphonne. By the end of the year, the population of Gryphonne Prime was fifty-three million, making it the third largest in the Imperium after Terra and Centaurus Colony. As the maintenance capacity of the system increased, ships from the Expeditionary Fleet were transferred to Battlefleet Gryphonne. As Antagonis was likely to be the first target, the stabilisation ship Ishtar Gate was sent into the system to complete the stabilisation of the jump point from Gereon. Her task was accomplished without incident.
The new mining colony on Mordian-B II reached a population of ten million in Y2523. Eighty-six mining complexes were in place by the end of the year. The colonization process was made much easier by the completion of the terraforming effort in Mordian, which transformed the planet into an ideal habitable world. A second ideal habitable world was created at the Cypra Mundi colony. The new destination of the Gaia class terraforming platforms from Mordian and Cypra Mundi was the innermost planet of the Sanctum system.
Sanctum was becoming an important system for the Imperium. Twenty Solomon class orbital mining platforms were based at a comet in the system and producing 10,000 tons of Gallicite per year. While the accessibility would soon begin to fall, the output of the colony had helped to end the Gallicite Crisis. Seven Ambrosia fuel harvesters were in orbit of Sanctum III, as part of a long-term plan to spread out harvesting operations. The gas giant in Alpha Centauri that provided a large portion of the Imperium’s fuel in the early years of expansion was running out of Sorium. Accessibility had fallen from 1.0 to 0.77. Eleven harvesting platforms were still in orbit, but most had been towed away. Eighteen were at Athena III and fourteen more at Prospero V.
The third reason for the importance of Sanctum was the system primary. Sanctum-A I was close enough to the primary to study the highly unusual radiation emissions from the red dwarf star. Imperial scientists believed that information would improve their research into power and propulsion technologies by as much as eighty percent, so a colony had been founded with that goal in mind. A single research facility, recovered from the ruins in Cyprian Gate, was already in place and the population at the end of Y2523 was one point two million, supported by infrastructure. There was sufficient water on the surface but the temperature was -168C and the atmosphere only 0.08 atm. As the planet was tide-locked the temperature was less of a problem than the lack of a breathable atmosphere, so the colony cost was 2.00. Sanctum I was a large world with a diameter of 17,600 km, making it twice as hard to terraform as an Earth-sized world. Even so, the huge boost to research made it worth the long-term effort.
Diversification of the Imperium’s industry continued, with the transfer of the Caliban shipyard from Terra to Scarus Prime, making the latter the fourth shipbuilding location in the Imperium after Terra, Centaurus Colony and Gryphonne Prime. The shipyard was tooled to build Cobra III class destroyers, two of which were laid down once the shipyard arrived. Construction factories were also transferred from Terra in large numbers. Two hundred and ten were at Gryphonne Prime, one hundred and thirty at Centaurus Colony, one hundred and five at Athena Colony and ninety at Scarus Prime. Four hundred remained on Terra. Two civilian mining colonies, one on the asteroid Apollo in the Sol system and the other on a moon in Alpha Centauri, both ceased operation in Y2523. The mineral deposits in both locations were exhausted so the colonies were disbanded.
The first new warships to be built for several years were completed in Y2523. The twelfth and final Sword III class frigate, Raven’s Spear, was built by the Vorax Shipyard in Terra orbit and was followed by the first two Sword III-B frigates, Destiny's Hand and Silent Fire. The Sword III-B was a relatively small update to the prior class, replacing the AK-20 Weapon Battery with the AK-20B, which increased maximum weapon range from one hundred and sixty thousand kilometres to two hundred thousand, and replaced the MK I Frigate Active Augur Array with the MK II, which increased sensor range from fifty-one to sixty-nine million kilometres. There were no plans for a widespread refit of the Sword IIIs to the new III-B version.
Y2523 also saw the launch of the first two Orca class troop transports and the first Constellation class ammunition transport. The mainstay of the Imperium’s troop lift capability was the Cetaceous class Troop Transport, which had a 100,000-ton troop capacity and was used for major ground assault operations. Six were in service and the first of a similar-sized Cetaceous II class was close to completion. They were supplemented by the five Delphinus class transports, with a 10,000-ton capacity, which were used mainly for the transportation of Ordo Mineralis formations. As the Imperium expanded, there was also a need for garrison forces on the more populous colonies, which were provided by the infantry regiments of the Imperial Guard. As the regiments required 20,000 tons of lift capacity, the huge Cetaceous class ships were being used to transport single regiments, which was a waste of fuel. The Orca was intended as a modern, fast transport to fill the gap between the Delphinus and Cetaceous. It was not drop capable, as the extra cost was not deemed necessary for its primary task.
Orca class Troop Transport 45,905 tons 230 Crew 939.8 BP TCS 918 TH 2,304 EM 0
2509 km/s Armour 1-114 Shields 0-0 HTK 109 Sensors 6/11/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 12 Max Repair 80 MSP
Troop Capacity 20,000 tons Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 2
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Magneto-plasma Drive (8) Power 2304 Fuel Use 1.41% Signature 288 Explosion 3%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres Range 69.6 billion km (320 days at full power)
MK II Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 2100 Range 39.8m km Resolution 100
MK II Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 11 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 26.2m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
Prior to the launch of the first Constellation class ammunition transport, the only class capable of transporting ordnance was the huge Galaxy class support vessel. The Galaxy was intended for long-term static deployment, so the maximum speed was only 1195 km/s, making it far from ideal for a pure ordnance transport mission. The Constellation would provide a much faster and more cost–efficient option.
Constellation class Ammunition Transport 48,565 tons 360 Crew 1,632 BP TCS 971 TH 2,016 EM 0
2075 km/s Armour 1-118 Shields 0-0 HTK 76 Sensors 0/11/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 21 Max Repair 100 MSP
Magazine 5,000 Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 4
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Magneto-plasma Drive (7) Power 2016 Fuel Use 1.41% Signature 288 Explosion 3%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres Range 65.8 billion km (366 days at full power)
MK II Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 2100 Range 39.8m km Resolution 100
MK II Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 11 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 26.2m km
The remaining new construction during Y2523 comprised four Gaia terraforming platforms, five Solomon class orbital mining platforms and four Ambrosia fuel harvester platforms. Refits included the Mars III class battlecruiser Pax Imperium, the Dauntless IV class light cruisers Ravenor and Advocate, the Vanguard III strike cruisers Ravenous Spirit and Vae Victus and the Falchion III class jump frigate Spatha. The survey frigates Quaesitor and Red Dawn underwent extensive refits to the Tempest III class that included an increase in their hull size by twenty percent. Finally, the second captured Tesseract was renamed Magnum Opus and refitted to the Cerix Magnus design
Y2524
The focus of the Imperium during Y2524 was on building up Gryphonne Prime to support a substantial fleet. The Expeditionary Fleet was combined with Battlefleet Gryphonne to create a formidable force that massed almost six hundred thousand tons and was comprised entirely of ships with magneto-plasma drives. Gryphonne Prime reached a population of seventy-two million by the end of the year and had two hundred and twenty maintenance facilities in place. With a Galaxy class and two Nebula class support ships in orbit, the planet could maintain five hundred and ninety thousand tons of military shipping. The other colony to grow significantly in Y2524 was the research station on Sanctum I. Three additional research facilities were transported from Terra and the population was increased to five million.
Exploration continued around the borders of the Imperium, with the main efforts around the recently conquered systems of Cerix Magnus and Cyprian Gate, the Taros chain near Gamma Virginis and a chain of systems beyond the abandoned mining colony in the Phaeton system, two jumps out from Athena. The total number of known systems passed two hundred. A survey of Cyprian Gate revealed two jump points leading to Xerxes and Artemis. Xerxes was the first quaternary system to be discovered, with two G-class stars and two red dwarves. Despite the number of stars, the system contained only four unremarkable planets. Artemis was a red dwarf system with four planets and a small asteroid belt. Several of the asteroids were suitable for mining, so a pair of Solomon class orbital mining platforms were towed into the system late in the year. A partial survey of Artemis revealed a single jump point that connected to the known Golgotha system, midway along the route from Sol to Sanctum and Scarus, creating a loop of eight systems; Golgotha, Ardium, Van Maanen’s Star, Sanctum, Scarus, Cerix Magnus, Cyprian Gate and Artemis. The Cypra Mundi system, which contained an ideal habitable world, was also adjacent to Golgotha, so the Artemis Loop was an important area of the Imperium.
New warship construction continued in Y2524 with the launch of seven escort-sized vessels; the Sword III-B class frigates Night Stalker and Triumph of Juno, the first three Firestorm IV-B class frigates Celaeno, Retaliator and Vengeful and the Cobra III class destroyers Exalted in Belief and Widowmaker. The Firestorm IV-B was a minor update to the Firestorm IV that replaced the AK-20 weapon batteries and the active augur array with longer-ranged versions. The Tempest III frigate Honesti Virum was the third new build of that type and the fifth overall, once refits were considered. Other new constriuction included a Constellation class ammunition transport, a Nebula class support ship, the first Cetaceous II troop transport, three Jericho II colony ships, six Universe II mass conveyors, four Ambrosia fuel harvesting platforms, five Solomon mining platforms, two Gaia class terraforming platforms and eight Starhawk III bombers.
Refits included the Mars III battlecruiser Resolute, the Lunar III cruisers Retribution and Holy Flame, the Dauntless IV light cruiser Cerberus, the Firestorm IV-B Reaver’s Dismay and the Sword III-B Pegasus. The two frigates were opportunistic refits while slipways were available rather than the start of a major refit program. All the ships in the ‘standard’ classes were now refitted to designs with magneto-plasma engines. There were no plans to refit the two Dominator class jump cruisers or the four jump-capable Endeavour class light cruisers. In fact, they were being considered for scrapping. Recent advances in jump drive technology allowed for significantly smaller jump drives, so it made sense to build entirely new ships rather than refit the older, out of date ships. The four Endurance II class light cruisers, designed as multi-role ships, were being upgraded to the new Endurance III class. Bellator Stoicus and Indomitable Purpose both completed their refits in Y2524 and the remaining two ships were already in the shipyards. The fate of the two ion-engined Defiant class light cruisers, each of which carried four Fury interceptors, was as yet undecided.
Endurance III class Light Cruiser 18,000 tons 508 Crew 3,270.5 BP TCS 360 TH 1,920 EM 4,260
5333 km/s Armour 4-61 Shields 142-426 HTK 118 Sensors 8/8/0/0 DCR 12 PPV 81.32
Maint Life 2.22 Years MSP 1,362 AFR 216% IFR 3.0% 1YR 373 5YR 5,602 Max Repair 320 MSP
Magazine 172
Commander Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 18 months Morale Check Required
Ravenor RDS-640 Magneto-Plasma Drive (3) Power 1920 Fuel Use 35.00% Signature 640 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 849,000 Litres Range 24.3 billion km (52 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-71 Void Shield (2) Recharge Time 426 seconds (0.3 per second)
DV-2 Defence Turret (1x6) Range 30,000km TS: 16000 km/s Power 0-0 RM 30,000 km ROF 5
Astaroth Kinetics AK-20 Weapons Battery (3x4) Range 160,000km TS: 5,333 km/s Power 12-4 Accuracy Modifier 100% RM 40,000 km ROF 15
Valentinian V12-240 Particle Lance (2) Range 240,000km TS: 5,333 km/s Power 37-5 ROF 40
MK I Defence Turret Fire Control (1) Max Range: 64,000 km TS: 16,000 km/s
MK II Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 5,400 km/s
R12 Stellarator Fusion Reactor (2) Total Power Output 24.2 Exp 5%
Torpedo Launcher (2) Missile Size: 6 Rate of Fire 25
MK I Torpedo Fire Control (1) Range 53m km Resolution 100
MK I Active Augur Torpedo (1) Speed: 6,200 km/s End: 1.3d Range: 685.4m km WH: 0 Size: 6
MK I Passive Augur Torpedo (1) Speed: 6,200 km/s End: 1.3d Range: 686.2m km WH: 0 Size: 6
MK I Standard Torpedo (26) Speed: 20,400 km/s End: 40.9m Range: 50m km WH: 9 Size: 6 TH: 68/40/20
MK I Light Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 11520 Range 77.1m km Resolution 120
MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 695.1k km Resolution 1
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK II Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
The Expeditionary Fleet departed Gryphonne in early December and entered Antagonis on December 23rd 2524. Lord-Captain Gaius Caliban was in command. Since the engagement in Cyprian Gate, the Dominator class cruiser Ultima Praetor, all four Endeavour class light cruisers and two Falchion class jump frigates had been detached. In exchange, the Expeditionary Fleet gained the battlecruiser Overlord, two Lunar III class cruisers, two Dauntless IV class light cruisers, the Endurance III class light cruiser Bellator Stoicus and eight escort-sized vessels. As Y2524 ended, the fleet was two hundred and fifty million kilometres from the Necron tomb world of Antagonis II.
Expeditionary Fleet
Overlord III class Battlecruiser: Overlord
Lunar III class Cruiser: Agrippa, Holy Flame, Imperial Wrath, Retribution
Dictator II class Cruiser: Fortitude, Rhadamanthine
Endurance III class Light Cruiser: Bellator Stoicus
Dauntless IV class Light Cruiser: Advocate, Aegis, Bellerophon, Guardian, Hammer of Truth, Vigilant
Vanguard III class Strike Cruiser: Angelic Blade, Dread Argent
Cyprian Gate class Destroyer Escort: Cyprian Victory
Firestorm IV class Frigate: Harrower, Just Persecution, Thunder
Firestorm IV-B class Frigate: Reaver’s Dismay, Vengeful
Sword III class Frigate: Drusus, Excalibur, Order Absolute
Sword III-B class Frigate: Destiny's Hand, Night Stalker, Pegasus, Silent Fire
Cobra III class Destroyer: Arbitrator, Omnis Arcanum, Valour Eternal, Veritas
Falchion III class Jump Frigate: Spatha
6x Thunderhawk II class Assault Transport:
32x Starhawk III class Bomber:
12x Aquila class Lander:
Y2523 was a relatively quiet year for the Imperium. There were no further Tyranid sightings and the Expeditionary Fleet did not launch any new operations. Instead, preparations were made to base the Expeditionary Fleet at Gryphonne Prime for the foreseeable future, as the Necron systems of Prometheus, Praetorian and Antagonis were all closer to Gryphonne than the Sol. Maintenance facilities, fuel and supplies were all shipped in, along with additional colonists. Most of the maintenance facilities from Endymion Base were also transferred to Gryphonne. By the end of the year, the population of Gryphonne Prime was fifty-three million, making it the third largest in the Imperium after Terra and Centaurus Colony. As the maintenance capacity of the system increased, ships from the Expeditionary Fleet were transferred to Battlefleet Gryphonne. As Antagonis was likely to be the first target, the stabilisation ship Ishtar Gate was sent into the system to complete the stabilisation of the jump point from Gereon. Her task was accomplished without incident.
The new mining colony on Mordian-B II reached a population of ten million in Y2523. Eighty-six mining complexes were in place by the end of the year. The colonization process was made much easier by the completion of the terraforming effort in Mordian, which transformed the planet into an ideal habitable world. A second ideal habitable world was created at the Cypra Mundi colony. The new destination of the Gaia class terraforming platforms from Mordian and Cypra Mundi was the innermost planet of the Sanctum system.
Sanctum was becoming an important system for the Imperium. Twenty Solomon class orbital mining platforms were based at a comet in the system and producing 10,000 tons of Gallicite per year. While the accessibility would soon begin to fall, the output of the colony had helped to end the Gallicite Crisis. Seven Ambrosia fuel harvesters were in orbit of Sanctum III, as part of a long-term plan to spread out harvesting operations. The gas giant in Alpha Centauri that provided a large portion of the Imperium’s fuel in the early years of expansion was running out of Sorium. Accessibility had fallen from 1.0 to 0.77. Eleven harvesting platforms were still in orbit, but most had been towed away. Eighteen were at Athena III and fourteen more at Prospero V.
The third reason for the importance of Sanctum was the system primary. Sanctum-A I was close enough to the primary to study the highly unusual radiation emissions from the red dwarf star. Imperial scientists believed that information would improve their research into power and propulsion technologies by as much as eighty percent, so a colony had been founded with that goal in mind. A single research facility, recovered from the ruins in Cyprian Gate, was already in place and the population at the end of Y2523 was one point two million, supported by infrastructure. There was sufficient water on the surface but the temperature was -168C and the atmosphere only 0.08 atm. As the planet was tide-locked the temperature was less of a problem than the lack of a breathable atmosphere, so the colony cost was 2.00. Sanctum I was a large world with a diameter of 17,600 km, making it twice as hard to terraform as an Earth-sized world. Even so, the huge boost to research made it worth the long-term effort.
Diversification of the Imperium’s industry continued, with the transfer of the Caliban shipyard from Terra to Scarus Prime, making the latter the fourth shipbuilding location in the Imperium after Terra, Centaurus Colony and Gryphonne Prime. The shipyard was tooled to build Cobra III class destroyers, two of which were laid down once the shipyard arrived. Construction factories were also transferred from Terra in large numbers. Two hundred and ten were at Gryphonne Prime, one hundred and thirty at Centaurus Colony, one hundred and five at Athena Colony and ninety at Scarus Prime. Four hundred remained on Terra. Two civilian mining colonies, one on the asteroid Apollo in the Sol system and the other on a moon in Alpha Centauri, both ceased operation in Y2523. The mineral deposits in both locations were exhausted so the colonies were disbanded.
The first new warships to be built for several years were completed in Y2523. The twelfth and final Sword III class frigate, Raven’s Spear, was built by the Vorax Shipyard in Terra orbit and was followed by the first two Sword III-B frigates, Destiny's Hand and Silent Fire. The Sword III-B was a relatively small update to the prior class, replacing the AK-20 Weapon Battery with the AK-20B, which increased maximum weapon range from one hundred and sixty thousand kilometres to two hundred thousand, and replaced the MK I Frigate Active Augur Array with the MK II, which increased sensor range from fifty-one to sixty-nine million kilometres. There were no plans for a widespread refit of the Sword IIIs to the new III-B version.
Y2523 also saw the launch of the first two Orca class troop transports and the first Constellation class ammunition transport. The mainstay of the Imperium’s troop lift capability was the Cetaceous class Troop Transport, which had a 100,000-ton troop capacity and was used for major ground assault operations. Six were in service and the first of a similar-sized Cetaceous II class was close to completion. They were supplemented by the five Delphinus class transports, with a 10,000-ton capacity, which were used mainly for the transportation of Ordo Mineralis formations. As the Imperium expanded, there was also a need for garrison forces on the more populous colonies, which were provided by the infantry regiments of the Imperial Guard. As the regiments required 20,000 tons of lift capacity, the huge Cetaceous class ships were being used to transport single regiments, which was a waste of fuel. The Orca was intended as a modern, fast transport to fill the gap between the Delphinus and Cetaceous. It was not drop capable, as the extra cost was not deemed necessary for its primary task.
Orca class Troop Transport 45,905 tons 230 Crew 939.8 BP TCS 918 TH 2,304 EM 0
2509 km/s Armour 1-114 Shields 0-0 HTK 109 Sensors 6/11/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 12 Max Repair 80 MSP
Troop Capacity 20,000 tons Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 2
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Magneto-plasma Drive (8) Power 2304 Fuel Use 1.41% Signature 288 Explosion 3%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres Range 69.6 billion km (320 days at full power)
MK II Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 2100 Range 39.8m km Resolution 100
MK II Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 11 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 26.2m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
Prior to the launch of the first Constellation class ammunition transport, the only class capable of transporting ordnance was the huge Galaxy class support vessel. The Galaxy was intended for long-term static deployment, so the maximum speed was only 1195 km/s, making it far from ideal for a pure ordnance transport mission. The Constellation would provide a much faster and more cost–efficient option.
Constellation class Ammunition Transport 48,565 tons 360 Crew 1,632 BP TCS 971 TH 2,016 EM 0
2075 km/s Armour 1-118 Shields 0-0 HTK 76 Sensors 0/11/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 21 Max Repair 100 MSP
Magazine 5,000 Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 4
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Magneto-plasma Drive (7) Power 2016 Fuel Use 1.41% Signature 288 Explosion 3%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres Range 65.8 billion km (366 days at full power)
MK II Commercial Active Augur Array (1) GPS 2100 Range 39.8m km Resolution 100
MK II Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 11 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 26.2m km
The remaining new construction during Y2523 comprised four Gaia terraforming platforms, five Solomon class orbital mining platforms and four Ambrosia fuel harvester platforms. Refits included the Mars III class battlecruiser Pax Imperium, the Dauntless IV class light cruisers Ravenor and Advocate, the Vanguard III strike cruisers Ravenous Spirit and Vae Victus and the Falchion III class jump frigate Spatha. The survey frigates Quaesitor and Red Dawn underwent extensive refits to the Tempest III class that included an increase in their hull size by twenty percent. Finally, the second captured Tesseract was renamed Magnum Opus and refitted to the Cerix Magnus design
Y2524
The focus of the Imperium during Y2524 was on building up Gryphonne Prime to support a substantial fleet. The Expeditionary Fleet was combined with Battlefleet Gryphonne to create a formidable force that massed almost six hundred thousand tons and was comprised entirely of ships with magneto-plasma drives. Gryphonne Prime reached a population of seventy-two million by the end of the year and had two hundred and twenty maintenance facilities in place. With a Galaxy class and two Nebula class support ships in orbit, the planet could maintain five hundred and ninety thousand tons of military shipping. The other colony to grow significantly in Y2524 was the research station on Sanctum I. Three additional research facilities were transported from Terra and the population was increased to five million.
Exploration continued around the borders of the Imperium, with the main efforts around the recently conquered systems of Cerix Magnus and Cyprian Gate, the Taros chain near Gamma Virginis and a chain of systems beyond the abandoned mining colony in the Phaeton system, two jumps out from Athena. The total number of known systems passed two hundred. A survey of Cyprian Gate revealed two jump points leading to Xerxes and Artemis. Xerxes was the first quaternary system to be discovered, with two G-class stars and two red dwarves. Despite the number of stars, the system contained only four unremarkable planets. Artemis was a red dwarf system with four planets and a small asteroid belt. Several of the asteroids were suitable for mining, so a pair of Solomon class orbital mining platforms were towed into the system late in the year. A partial survey of Artemis revealed a single jump point that connected to the known Golgotha system, midway along the route from Sol to Sanctum and Scarus, creating a loop of eight systems; Golgotha, Ardium, Van Maanen’s Star, Sanctum, Scarus, Cerix Magnus, Cyprian Gate and Artemis. The Cypra Mundi system, which contained an ideal habitable world, was also adjacent to Golgotha, so the Artemis Loop was an important area of the Imperium.
New warship construction continued in Y2524 with the launch of seven escort-sized vessels; the Sword III-B class frigates Night Stalker and Triumph of Juno, the first three Firestorm IV-B class frigates Celaeno, Retaliator and Vengeful and the Cobra III class destroyers Exalted in Belief and Widowmaker. The Firestorm IV-B was a minor update to the Firestorm IV that replaced the AK-20 weapon batteries and the active augur array with longer-ranged versions. The Tempest III frigate Honesti Virum was the third new build of that type and the fifth overall, once refits were considered. Other new constriuction included a Constellation class ammunition transport, a Nebula class support ship, the first Cetaceous II troop transport, three Jericho II colony ships, six Universe II mass conveyors, four Ambrosia fuel harvesting platforms, five Solomon mining platforms, two Gaia class terraforming platforms and eight Starhawk III bombers.
Refits included the Mars III battlecruiser Resolute, the Lunar III cruisers Retribution and Holy Flame, the Dauntless IV light cruiser Cerberus, the Firestorm IV-B Reaver’s Dismay and the Sword III-B Pegasus. The two frigates were opportunistic refits while slipways were available rather than the start of a major refit program. All the ships in the ‘standard’ classes were now refitted to designs with magneto-plasma engines. There were no plans to refit the two Dominator class jump cruisers or the four jump-capable Endeavour class light cruisers. In fact, they were being considered for scrapping. Recent advances in jump drive technology allowed for significantly smaller jump drives, so it made sense to build entirely new ships rather than refit the older, out of date ships. The four Endurance II class light cruisers, designed as multi-role ships, were being upgraded to the new Endurance III class. Bellator Stoicus and Indomitable Purpose both completed their refits in Y2524 and the remaining two ships were already in the shipyards. The fate of the two ion-engined Defiant class light cruisers, each of which carried four Fury interceptors, was as yet undecided.
Endurance III class Light Cruiser 18,000 tons 508 Crew 3,270.5 BP TCS 360 TH 1,920 EM 4,260
5333 km/s Armour 4-61 Shields 142-426 HTK 118 Sensors 8/8/0/0 DCR 12 PPV 81.32
Maint Life 2.22 Years MSP 1,362 AFR 216% IFR 3.0% 1YR 373 5YR 5,602 Max Repair 320 MSP
Magazine 172
Commander Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 18 months Morale Check Required
Ravenor RDS-640 Magneto-Plasma Drive (3) Power 1920 Fuel Use 35.00% Signature 640 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 849,000 Litres Range 24.3 billion km (52 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-71 Void Shield (2) Recharge Time 426 seconds (0.3 per second)
DV-2 Defence Turret (1x6) Range 30,000km TS: 16000 km/s Power 0-0 RM 30,000 km ROF 5
Astaroth Kinetics AK-20 Weapons Battery (3x4) Range 160,000km TS: 5,333 km/s Power 12-4 Accuracy Modifier 100% RM 40,000 km ROF 15
Valentinian V12-240 Particle Lance (2) Range 240,000km TS: 5,333 km/s Power 37-5 ROF 40
MK I Defence Turret Fire Control (1) Max Range: 64,000 km TS: 16,000 km/s
MK II Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 256,000 km TS: 5,400 km/s
R12 Stellarator Fusion Reactor (2) Total Power Output 24.2 Exp 5%
Torpedo Launcher (2) Missile Size: 6 Rate of Fire 25
MK I Torpedo Fire Control (1) Range 53m km Resolution 100
MK I Active Augur Torpedo (1) Speed: 6,200 km/s End: 1.3d Range: 685.4m km WH: 0 Size: 6
MK I Passive Augur Torpedo (1) Speed: 6,200 km/s End: 1.3d Range: 686.2m km WH: 0 Size: 6
MK I Standard Torpedo (26) Speed: 20,400 km/s End: 40.9m Range: 50m km WH: 9 Size: 6 TH: 68/40/20
MK I Light Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 11520 Range 77.1m km Resolution 120
MK I Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 16 Range 6.4m km MCR 695.1k km Resolution 1
MK I Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK II Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
The Expeditionary Fleet departed Gryphonne in early December and entered Antagonis on December 23rd 2524. Lord-Captain Gaius Caliban was in command. Since the engagement in Cyprian Gate, the Dominator class cruiser Ultima Praetor, all four Endeavour class light cruisers and two Falchion class jump frigates had been detached. In exchange, the Expeditionary Fleet gained the battlecruiser Overlord, two Lunar III class cruisers, two Dauntless IV class light cruisers, the Endurance III class light cruiser Bellator Stoicus and eight escort-sized vessels. As Y2524 ended, the fleet was two hundred and fifty million kilometres from the Necron tomb world of Antagonis II.
Expeditionary Fleet
Overlord III class Battlecruiser: Overlord
Lunar III class Cruiser: Agrippa, Holy Flame, Imperial Wrath, Retribution
Dictator II class Cruiser: Fortitude, Rhadamanthine
Endurance III class Light Cruiser: Bellator Stoicus
Dauntless IV class Light Cruiser: Advocate, Aegis, Bellerophon, Guardian, Hammer of Truth, Vigilant
Vanguard III class Strike Cruiser: Angelic Blade, Dread Argent
Cyprian Gate class Destroyer Escort: Cyprian Victory
Firestorm IV class Frigate: Harrower, Just Persecution, Thunder
Firestorm IV-B class Frigate: Reaver’s Dismay, Vengeful
Sword III class Frigate: Drusus, Excalibur, Order Absolute
Sword III-B class Frigate: Destiny's Hand, Night Stalker, Pegasus, Silent Fire
Cobra III class Destroyer: Arbitrator, Omnis Arcanum, Valour Eternal, Veritas
Falchion III class Jump Frigate: Spatha
6x Thunderhawk II class Assault Transport:
32x Starhawk III class Bomber:
12x Aquila class Lander: