The Magneto-plasma Drive was available by 4020, along with several other technological improvements, which led to a new series of warship designs to supplement the four existing ships. The first pair of Firestorm II class frigates, Cape Wrath and Silent Fire, were launched in July 4021 and followed by a further six ships over the following three years. In addition to the new engines and reactors, they had improved shields, faster-firing weapon batteries, longer-ranged lance batteries, a new sensor suite and a smaller jump drive. The changes were so extensive, it was not possible to refit the older ships without a complete rebuild that would cost more than a new ship. The original pair of Firestorms remained in service on colony protection duties.
Firestorm II class Frigate 15,000 tons 511 Crew 3,246.5 BP TCS 300 TH 1,920 EM 2,130
6400 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 4-54 Shields 71-426 HTK 100 Sensors 5/8/0/0 DCR 10-6 PPV 74
Maint Life 1.62 Years MSP 1,527 AFR 180% IFR 2.5% 1YR 681 5YR 10,217 Max Repair 960 MSP
Commander Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required
RM-150-B Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 15000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-1920-MB (1) Power 1920 Fuel Use 34.92% Signature 1920 Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 486,700 Litres Range 16.7 billion km (30 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-71 Void Shield (1) Recharge Time 426 seconds (0.2 per second)
Valentinian-Ventris V6-240 Lance Battery (4) Range 240,000km TS: 6,400 km/s Power 15-5 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-25B Weapons Battery (4x4) Range 250,000km TS: 6,400 km/s Power 15-5 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Weapons Battery (6x4) Range 50,000km TS: 6,400 km/s Power 3-3 ROF 5
MK II Energy Weapon Fire Control (2) Max Range: 320,000 km TS: 6,400 km/s ECCM-1
R-30 Stellarator Fusion Reactor (2) Total Power Output 61.6 Exp 5%
MK II Frigate Active Augur Array (1) GPS 5760 Range 54.5m km Resolution 120
MK II Small Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 8 Range 4.5m km MCR 406.2k km Resolution 1
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
MK II Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
Electronic Warfare Jammers: Fire Control 1 Missile 1
The Dauntless class light cruiser was also updated on similar lines, with four new ships built between November 4021 and February 4024. The two original Dauntless class ships remained in service without a refit.
Dauntless II class Light Cruiser 30,000 tons 997 Crew 6,427.6 BP TCS 600 TH 3,840 EM 6,390
6400 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 5-86 Shields 213-426 HTK 190 Sensors 5/8/0/0 DCR 20-6 PPV 148
Maint Life 1.61 Years MSP 3,178 AFR 360% IFR 5.0% 1YR 1,426 5YR 21,391 Max Repair 960 MSP
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required
RM-300-B Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 30000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-1920-MB (2) Power 3840 Fuel Use 34.92% Signature 1920 Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 908,000 Litres Range 15.6 billion km (28 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-71 Void Shield (3) Recharge Time 426 seconds (0.5 per second)
Valentinian-Ventris V6-240 Lance Battery (8) Range 240,000km TS: 6,400 km/s Power 15-5 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-25B Weapons Battery (8x4) Range 250,000km TS: 6,400 km/s Power 15-5 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Weapons Battery (12x4) Range 50,000km TS: 6,400 km/s Power 3-3 ROF 5
MK II Energy Weapon Fire Control (3) Max Range: 320,000 km TS: 6,400 km/s ECCM-1
R-30 Stellarator Fusion Reactor (4) Total Power Output 123.2 Exp 5%
MK II Light Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 13440 Range 83.3m km Resolution 120
MK II Small Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 8 Range 4.5m km MCR 406.2k km Resolution 1
MK II Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK I Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Electronic Warfare Jammers: Fire Control 1 Missile 1
In October 4021, the first Gothic class cruiser, Righteous Fury, was launched by the Eisenstein Electric Boat shipyard, followed by a sister ship, Imperial Wrath, in February 4024. The Gothic was an upscaled Dauntless, with the addition of a hangar bay for a Thunderhawk assault transport and a sensor jammer. The larger hull allowed for six Valentinian-Stern VS-71 Void Shield generators, which would give the Gothic considerable staying power in battle.
Gothic class Cruiser 60,000 tons 1,950 Crew 12,613.5 BP TCS 1,200 TH 7,680 EM 12,780
6400 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 6-136 Shields 426-426 HTK 372 Sensors 6/8/0/0 DCR 42-7 PPV 296
Maint Life 1.67 Years MSP 6,518 AFR 686% IFR 9.5% 1YR 2,795 5YR 41,921 Max Repair 960 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 1,000 tons
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Flight Crew Berths 20 Morale Check Required
RM-600-B Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 60000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-1920-MB (4) Power 7680.0 Fuel Use 34.92% Signature 1920.00 Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 2,128,000 Litres Range 18.3 billion km (33 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-71 Void Shield (6) Recharge Time 426 seconds (1 per second)
Valentinian-Ventris V6-240 Lance Battery (16) Range 240,000km TS: 6,400 km/s Power 15-5 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-25B Weapons Battery (16x4) Range 250,000km TS: 6,400 km/s Power 15-5 ROF 15
Astaroth Kinetics AK-10 Weapons Battery (24x4) Range 50,000km TS: 6,400 km/s Power 3-3 ROF 5
MK II Energy Weapon Fire Control (4) Max Range: 320,000 km TS: 6,400 km/s ECCM-1
R-30 Stellarator Fusion Reactor (8) Total Power Output 246.3 Exp 5%
MK I Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 23040 Range 109.1m km Resolution 120
MK II Small Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 8 Range 4.5m km MCR 406.2k km Resolution 1
MK II Electromagnetic Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 8.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 22.4m km
MK II Thermal Augur Array (1) Sensitivity 6.0 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 19.4m km
Electronic Warfare Jammers: Sensor 1 Fire Control 1 Missile 1
Strike Group
1x Thunderhawk Assault Transport Speed: 15207 km/s Size: 19.99
In addition to the warships, a pair of light carriers, Defiant and Archangel, were constructed in April 4021 and March 4022 respectively. With no weapons and limited passive defences, the Defiant class was not intended to engage in direct combat. Instead, it would stand off at long-range and utilise its strikegroup of twelve Starhawk class bombers and twelve Fury class interceptors. Each Starhawk carried a pair of MK II Standard Torpedoes, which were equipped with ECCM-1, active terminal guidance, five decoys and a strength-15 warhead. The Defiant carried sufficient additional torpedoes to re-arm its bombers twice. The Fury was intended for close-in protection of its mothership against hostile torpedoes, or for attacks against lightly defended targets where torpedoes were not required. In late 4022, the Starhawk and Fury designs were both updated to the B-models, which updated their fire control systems with ECCM-2. The strikegroups of both carriers were refitted to the new type. An MK II-B Standard Torpedo was introduced with the same upgrade.
Defiant class Light Carrier 30,000 tons 582 Crew 4,507.6 BP TCS 600 TH 3,840 EM 2,130
6400 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 3-86 Shields 71-426 HTK 140 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 21-7 PPV 0
Maint Life 1.78 Years MSP 3,472 AFR 343% IFR 4.8% 1YR 1,355 5YR 20,323 Max Repair 960 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 9,500 tons Magazine 578 / 0
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Flight Crew Berths 190 Morale Check Required
RM-300-B Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 30000 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-1920-MB (2) Power 3840 Fuel Use 34.92% Signature 1920 Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 1,008,000 Litres Range 17.3 billion km (31 days at full power)
Valentinian-Stern VS-71 Void Shield (1) Recharge Time 426 seconds (0.2 per second)
MK II Standard Torpedo (48) Speed: 38,000 km/s Range: 10.4m km WH: 15 Size: 12 TH: 158/95/47
MK II Light Cruiser Active Augur Array (1) GPS 13440 Range 83.3m km Resolution 120
MK II Small Torpedo Detection Array (1) GPS 8 Range 4.5m km MCR 406.2k km Resolution 1
Electronic Warfare Jammers: Sensor 1 Missile 1
Strike Group
12x Starhawk Bomber Speed: 12800 km/s Size: 8
12x Fury Interceptor Speed: 16002 km/s Size: 6
2x Aquila IV Scout Speed: 4800 km/s Size: 10
Starhawk class Bomber 400 tons 1 Crew 75.7 BP TCS 8 TH 102 EM 0
12800 km/s Armour 1-4 Shields 0-0 HTK 3 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0-0 PPV 3.6
Maint Life 1.48 Years MSP 25 AFR 80% IFR 1.1% 1YR 13 5YR 191 Max Repair 51.2 MSP
Magazine 24 / 0
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 3 days Morale Check Required
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-102-MDB (1) Power 102.4 Fuel Use 700% Signature 102.4 Explosion 20%
Fuel Capacity 21,300 Litres Range 1.37 billion km (29 hours at full power)
Fixed Torpedo Launcher (2) Missile Size: 12 Hangar Reload 173 minutes MF Reload 28 hours
MK I Starhawk Fire Control (1) Range 9.2m km Resolution 12 ECCM-1
MK II Standard Torpedo (2) Speed: 38,000 km/s Range: 10.4m km WH: 15 Size: 12 TH: 158/95/47
MK I Starhawk Augur Array (1) GPS 192 Range 10m km Resolution 120
Fury class Interceptor 300 tons 2 Crew 97.3 BP TCS 6 TH 96 EM 0
16002 km/s Armour 1-3 Shields 0-0 HTK 1 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0-0 PPV 1.65
Maint Life 2.18 Years MSP 30 AFR 60% IFR 0.8% 1YR 8 5YR 127 Max Repair 48 MSP
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 0.3 days Morale Check Required
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-96-MDB (1) Power 96 Fuel Use 1412.03% Signature 96 Explosion 25%
Fuel Capacity 9,500 Litres Range 0.4 billion km (7 hours at full power)
MK II Lascannon (1x2) Range 50,000km TS: 16,002 km/s Power 1.5-1.5 RM 50,000 km ROF 5
MK I Fury Fire Control (1) Max Range: 64,000 km TS: 16,000 km/s ECCM-1 84 69 53 38 22 6 0 0 0 0
R-1B Stellarator Fusion Reactor (1) Total Power Output 1.5 Exp 15%
MK I Fury Augur Array (1) GPS 2 Range 2m km MCR 181.7k km Resolution 1
In January 4022, a pair of Starhawk-R class bombers were constructed to probe the alien-inhabited systems where Aquila class scouts had been lost. By this point, that had grown to four: Carpathia, Moebius, Pyhrria and Repentance.
Starhawk-R class Bomber 500 tons 3 Crew 57.2 BP TCS 10 TH 48 EM 0
4800 km/s JR 3-50 Armour 1-5 Shields 0-0 HTK 5 Sensors 0/0/0/0 DCR 0-0 PPV 3.6
Maint Life 2.19 Years MSP 25 AFR 100% IFR 1.4% 1YR 7 5YR 105 Max Repair 24 MSP
Magazine 24 / 0
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 1
Intended Deployment Time: 1 months Morale Check Required
RM-5-B Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 500 tons Distance 50k km Squadron Size 3
Ravenor Drive Systems RDS-48-M (1) Power 48 Fuel Use 127.80% Signature 48 Explosion 10%
Fuel Capacity 73,400 Litres Range 20.7 billion km (49 days at full power)
Fixed Torpedo Launcher (2) Missile Size: 12 Hangar Reload 173 minutes MF Reload 28 hours
MK I Starhawk Fire Control (1) Range 9.2m km Resolution 12 ECCM-1
MK I Augur Drone (2) Speed: 6,750 km/s End: 7.5d Range: 4,370.1m km WH: 0 Size: 12 TH: 28/16/8
MK I Starhawk Augur Array (1) GPS 192 Range 10m km Resolution 120
Moebius was the first system to be probed, with the Starhawk entering the system on March 17th 2022. An Augur Drone launched from long range detected sixteen alien ships in orbit of the second planet, although twelve of them, designated as Mephrit class, were less than a thousand tons each. The other four ships were all of different types, including a 19,000 ton Scythe and three ships of approximately 9600-tons. The drone was destroyed by a hostile torpedo one point four million kilometres from the planet. The capabilities of the alien ships were unknown.
Necron Forces in Moebius1x Scythe 19,164 tons
1x Shroud 9,590 tons
1x Cartouche 9,590 tons
1x Khopesh 9,590 tons
12x Mephrit 979 tons.
A month later, the same Starhawk-R probed Pyhrria and discovered a much more substantial force in orbit of Pyhrria II: fifteen ships, many of which were new types, ranging from 9600 tons to 28,800 tons, plus twelve of the small Mephrit class. The largest type, three of which were present, was designated as the Scarab class. The total force was approximately 270,000 tons, which at that time was almost as large as all Imperial warships combined.
Necron Forces in Pyhrria3x Scarab 28,800 tons
1x Dirge 19,271 tons
1x Deathmark 19,212 tons
3x Scythe 19,164 tons
2x Cartouche 9,590 tons
1x Khopesh 9,590 tons
1x Shroud 9,590 tons
1x Cryptek 9,567 tons
2x Jackal 9,550 tons
12x Mephrit 979 tons.
The second Starhawk-R was deployed to Carpathia, arriving in May 4022. The alien race, which by this point had been designated as the Necrons by Imperium Intelligence, due to its apparent lack of population and the general inactivity of its forces, was present in orbit of both the second and third planets. Neither force was particularly large, with the total Necron presence in the system massing approximately 110,000 tons.
Necron Forces in orbit of Carpathia II1x Phaeron 19,324 tons
1x Dirge 19,271 tons
1x Deathmark 19,212 tons
12x Mephrit 979 tons.
Necron Forces in orbit of Carpathia III1x Phaeron 19,324 tons
1x Scythe 19,164 tons
1x Shroud 9,590 tons
1x Cartouche 9,590 tons
1x Khopesh 9,590 tons
On June 7th, the first Starhawk entered Repentance and was immediately destroyed by energy weapon fire from an unknown ship picketing the jump point, which left Imperium Intelligence without any information on the Necron forces in that system. A fifth Necron system, Golgotha, was discovered in mid-4023 by the Tempest class survey frigate Red Dawn. One of her two Aquila class scouts was chased and destroyed by a fleet of seven ships moving at 5,686 km/s. Three Triarch class ships each opened fire with five bombardment cannon, a weapon known to the Imperium but yet deployed. The calibre of the alien weapons was estimated at 25cm, compared to only 15cm for Imperial technology. Red Dawn’s second Aquila managed to approach the second planet and detected twelve Mephrits, but was unfortunately also destroyed when attempting to leave the system.
Necron Forces in Golgotha1x Dirge 19,271 tons
1x Deathmark 19,212 tons
3x FF Triarch 9,553 ton, 5,686 km/s, 5x 25cm Bombardment Cannons
2x Cryptek 9,567 tons, 5,686 km/s.
12x Mephrit 979 tons.
The early months of 4023 were marked by two significant blows to the Imperium’s research effort, with the deaths of key scientists. Eremiel Macrinus, a power and propulsion expert with the administrative skill to run eleven research facilities and the scientific skills to boost output by up to thirty percent died in February. Three months later, Anton Eisenstein passed away. Eisenstein ran seven facilities and boosted them by fifty percent.
In January 2024, the Imperium discovered a significantly greater threat than the somnolent Necrons. The Tempest class survey ship Torchbearer entered Jotunheim, seven transits from Sol at the time of discovery, and found an almost ideal habitable world. Only the temperature of -16C fell outside human tolerance. Following standard procedure, an Aquila class scout was dispatched to check it out. The scout was intercepted short of the inner system by a pair of 21,550-ton ships, designated at Grendel class, which were travelling at 7205 km/s. Communication attempts were unsuccessful, so the scout pressed on to Jotunheim III where it discovered a population signature slightly greater than one third of Terra’s. A further forty-three ships were in orbit, ranging from 24,000 tons to 65,000 tons. There was no way to determine if the ships had military or commercial engines unless they moved.
The planet issued several unintelligible communications, which the scout took as a sign to withdraw and land on Torchbearer. The survey ship began a gravitational survey of the system, remaining apparently undetected by the new race, which were temporarily designated as the Jotun by Imperium Intelligence.
Known Jotun Forces8x Midgard: 64,755 tons
7x Fenrir: 50,773 tons
4x Gungnir: 43,489 tons
10x Hrothgar: 43,199 tons
7x Norn: 36,518 tons
7x Tyr: 23,932 tons
2x Grendel: 21,550 tons. 7205 kms/s, Military Engines.