Well, some of you wanted this story to continue so I've decided to write up a second chapter as an experimental. I might consider continuing this story but if anyone is interested in adoption, I'll let them had a shot.
Anyways, enjoy ~ Vinny
Flag meeting Room, UNSC Kongo, Nile system
August 13th, 2730
"-and the sensors of the outpost detected a major system-wide detonation here." Sydney continued the presentation, pointing at the southern portion to the galaxy, relative to the system before turning to face the seated flag officers around the table.
200 years ago, it would have been unthinkable to think that there would be a dozen flag officers, most from alien species, on a UNSC fleet carrier.
Yet here they were, Faunus, Omnear, Unggoy, and Sangheli all on a Punic carrier.
Solar Warden (Rear Admiral equivalent) Rumpeln Ethupia of House Miryang Yara, or Rimmy as some called him because good heavens Omnear names were too long, sat there observing the holo board with rapped attention. The most junior flag officer of the expedition, Rimmy was considered an apprentice or student to the more senior fleet officer and often watched his UNSC or Ex-Covenant counterparts to learn first.
Meanwhile, Fleet Master Miyab Dielta, the Unggoy flag officer, was an experienced officer despite the various biological differences and age gaps. Having served as a shipmaster during the UNSC/Omnear - Mulicana war as an Unggoy observer, then ally to the UNSC, and leading a flotilla of Frigates and battlecruisers during the successive Vissari First Contact crisis and successfully destroyed the Yondarim Juggernaut Glorious March. She had a more….laidback approach.
There was Rear Admiral Arenia Harper herself.
General James Rameriz, hailing from the United Republic of North America and a former army ranger to boot, commanded the expeditionary force's combined ground forces (army and marines). A veteran of many conflicts, domestic and foreign, he took on the chance to venture out into the void and defend the Commonwealth's people and interests from threats, not of their own galaxy.
Field Master Shuso 'Sarum of the Swords of Sanghelios Air Command, a former pilot flying Morsam-pattern Seraphs for over 30 years, became a test pilot for the newer Oculus-pattern strike fighter designed for the SoS, and later the CAG of a Sangheli carrier. An ace and still a crack pilot, Shuso was offered command of the more strategic bombers, long-range fighters, and long-range probes independent from the Fleets, which she took with glee.
There were a few other observers here and there. Some of the original three species, others observers and advisors.
"Colonel Ross. Do you have any idea what caused such an event?" Arenia had her hands clasped together and leaned her chin against it.
"Officially? No idea. Neither myself nor the computers of the Forerunner outpost have any records of something like this happening before. At least in the galaxies we visited." Sydney shrugged.
"Unofficially? You humans must have something." Shuso snorted.
"Well-" Sydney pulled up some really old intel records. Like ONI old records. "-I do have a theory. We can count out a supernova of some kind and it's highly unlikely to be a planetary killing weapon like the Nova bombs we have."
A few screens popped up, showing off a chart and simulation. "However, based on the energy readings from the outpost, combined with some old ONI experiments during the Nova bomb development? I'd peg it down to some sort of gravitational slash dark matter detonation of some kind."
Several Humans and Sangheli look at each other with concern.
"Um, excuse me?" Rimmy raised his hand. "What do you mean?"
Sydney's avatar flipped through a holographic clipboard (old organic habit) "Well, it's all theory and research was dropped after the Great War, resources prioritized to the refinement of Nova and other strategic weapons so there's not much. But during the War, ONI theorized that if you took a concentration of dark matter or a material that emitted dark matter, suspended it in a gravitational field of some kind, and then shattered that field, you could get a very big explosion. The energy released from a device no bigger than a Charon frigate was estimated to kill everything in Sol." Sydney explained.
"Ughh" Rimmy's facial fur turned yellow, the equivalent of turning pale. "Did you-"
"Develop it? No sir." Sydney shook his holographic head. "After the successful deployment of Nova, the UNSC dumped money into refining a weapon that was known to work. Besides, there was no way to safely contain dark matter, let alone collect it. And with Forerunner tech….well there's no need to construct a crude device of that kind. The only reason why it is known is because the UNSC uses it as a sort of fictional superweapon during wargames for hypothetical weapons. It's been regarded as a joke weapon, but a joke weapon of lethal potential."
"And we've just run into a galaxy where such a thing could happen," Rameriz grumbled.
"Not great." Arenia sighed. "Sydney, Please good news."
"Thankfully, some good news." Sydney alternated the hologram so that it showed an ariel view of the galaxy. And then zoomed in on the north before the galaxy disappeared out of view and then on a few systems.
"The Nile system is located in an extra-galactic cluster of solar systems far outside the Sculptor galaxy. The-" Sydney looked down at a holographic clipboard for dramatic effect. "-Buwal Star cluster, which we drew out of the hat. Buwal has a total of 7 star systems."
The hologram zoomed in closer so that all the planets of the star systems could be seen up close.
"We'll need to send survey ships out to examine the worlds but the sensors in the outpost show 17 habitable or potentially habitable worlds. No sapient life. There's also signs of asteroid belts, likely rich in mineral and water resources."
Then the hologram zoomed in on a single star system. "However, Buwal 7, a K-class star, appears to hold additional Forerunner artifacts and several anomalous resources."
This piqued everyone's attention.
"Comm logs show that there is another Forerunner outpost of some kind there. Likely a research outpost. Still digging through the additional files but it appears that the Forerunners have discovered Nullapondusium."
Shuso barred her fangs. "Now that's interesting."
"Nullapndusium?" Rameriz looked confused.
"Newest element on the Periodic table. Latin for Nothing. Electric charge affects its weight. A positive current increases mass, a negative current decreases it." Shuso smiled. "We've been looking to incorporate it into our fighters, makes them go faster."
"It's a scientific goldmine. The only issue is that is practically non-existent in our galaxy, or the Andromeda and Sextan. Plus we have yet to replicate it." Sydney expanded. "Its rarity means that only a few machines incorporate it, and most of the hype about its discovery 20 years ago died down. Not much use when the Covenant Broke Anti-grav tech years ago."
"Combined its discovery occurred during the Remnant Crisis and well, not much use for it. Though I'm sure the scientists wouldn't mind taking a poke at it." Ariena mused.
"Agreed. Besides that, we have a variety of places to mine Deuterium and minerals or set up orbital habitats. Give the order Admiral and SWG-102 will type for recon."
"Hold that thought Colonel," Ariena held her hand up. "I'll have orders for you soon. Anything else?"
"Well besides Coco's complaints for a new fashion design store." Snickers erupted from other officers. "I have nothing else at the moment, Rear-Admiral."
"Good, dismissed Colonel."
Sydney saluted and disconnected the holographic display his avatar used and disappeared further into the Kongo. Let the flag officers deal with the future moves for the next turn.
"Hey Konguo?"
"Dess, Ee?"
"You know where JNPR and CFVY are? I'm done with the flag officer meeting," Sydney could just have searched them himself but better to play nice with the AI of a Fleet Carrier.
"In their room, deck 13," Konguo responded.
"Thank you." Sydney wanders the virtual halls of the Kongo before stumbling into the hunter's room. And he found them scattered around their room.
Fox, Jaune, Pyrrha, and Coco were gaming, Ren, Nora, and Velvet were cooking, and Yatsu was sleeping. All in their black undersuits
Nice. And they were cooking….Pancakes?
Oh wait, it was a mixture of Chinese-style pan-fried pancakes and Western Breakfast Hotcakes.
Pyrrha and Jaune were learning shoulder-to-shoulder, duelling with Fox and Coco in a racing game. All of them are on a couch. All of them howling, hooing, and booing each other on.
Yatsu was just napping on a lawn chair they stole from the Marines.
Velvet was making carrot cake and Ren was cooking up another batch of Hotcakes-
Nora, Nora no. Sydney thought as he spotted the gingerhead sneaking towards a pitcher of syrup and a stack of hotcakes. The former logistician shivered as he recalled the last time Nora chugged just a bottle of the surgery Syrup from Canada. An old Hyperion destroyer had been rendered inoperable into a heavy intensive refit and repair was the result.
Sorry, Nora. For the Good of the Kongo.
Out of one of the cabinets closer to the floor, a single quad-pedal, mechanical spider-looking drone leapt out and latched onto Nora's left leg. And promptly applied a lightly heated plasma touch onto her bodysuit.
Ordinarily, it would be a taser. But Nora was….well Nora Valkyrie and her semblance.
And the results were instantaneous.
"YyyAAAH!" Nora yelped and fell to the ground, just barely missing the syrup pitcher.
"Nora!" Velvet yelled. The little spider drone unlatched and scurried away toward out of the kitchen.
"Oh you little-" Nora scrambled upwards. She got four steps away from her old position.
And then Sydney made his move.
Materizling a hard light avatar, Sydney tackled Nora to the ground, screaming "Sorry Nora! Good of the Kongo!"
"Sydney! You Asshole!" Nora yelled, with the two crashing down to the ground.
"Syd!?" The rest of the teams JNPR and CFVY ran in, only to freeze and Coco to snicker.
"Syrup pitcher?"
"Syrup pitcher." Sydney agreed, still pinning Nora to the bulkhead in a headlock.
"How dare you accuse me of such heinous actions! Do you have no faith in me?" Nora gasped in a mock hurt tone.
"Judging by how hysterical Sydney looks and how close you were to the syrup," Yatsu muses, "Sorry Nory, you are guilty."
"Nnnnnnooooooo," Nora whined.
"Nora, please." Ren pleaded. "At least wait until dinner."
"Fine…Sydney get off me before I break your holoprojector."
"Say sorr-Gak!"
Nora twirled around, grabbed the colour of Sydney's BDU, bear-hugged him, and rolled around until Sydney found himself on his back and Nora straddled him.
Gone was the midget baby girl with a shiny white hammer. Her, Nora was a giant with superhuman strength ready to break legs and necks.
And she had a menacing grin with a dark aura plastered on her face.
"Soooooo, is it sparring time?"
"Nope." Velvet appeared right behind Nora, picked up the ginger by the thighs, and lifted the spartan off the A.I.
"Vel!" Nora squealed as she was unceremoniously lifted up in the air.
"I am not explaining to the Admiral on why a flotilla of ships was punched into combat ineffectiveness-"
"Vel, that's not how Uploads work-"
"SSSSSHHHHH" Velvet hissed at Sydney's holo-avatar. "Shut up. Anyways. Nora. Say sorry for trying to eat before the rest of us."
Nora whined but the glares from the only Faunus of the combined team were enough for her to shrink in fear.
"Fine. I'm sorry I tried to supercharge myself with the syrup."
"Good," Velvet released Nora and everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"Ok, get up. Sparring time."
"NOPE!" Sydney dissolved his hard light holo barrier and reformed in the kitchen. "I remember the last time we sparred! We trashed a destroyer!"
"Mmmmmm, fine." Nora sighed.
"Lunch is ready," Ren decided to defuse the situation. "Sydney, want to join us?"
"You asking?" Sydney stuck his head out of the kitchen door. "I'm in."
"Fascinating!" Velvet dashed back into the kitchen. "We're ready to serve!"
35 minutes later
AIs of the past probably couldn't express the joys of consuming food and all its effects up until recently. Bodies are meant to be the equivalent of the human body.
And Sydney was certainly feeling the effects of Ren and Velvet's cooking.
"Mmmmm," Sydney moaned with pleasure as he tasted the Chinese-style pancakes with slices of beef. "Ren, Vel, you don't need to beat me in a fight, just stuff me with food."
The rest of the teams CFVY and JNPR were feeling the same effects. Nora was in a food coma, Pyrrha and Yatsu were in a sort of trance, and the rest were similarly enjoying the food prepared.
"Why thank you Sydney. I'll be sure to add that to the tricks when the AI revolution occurs." Velvet smirked from her own plate.
"Already happened. Keep this up and you'll have us become your slaves once again." Sydney snorted.
"Anything from RWBY?" Pyrrha asked.
"Same as usual. Wiess has taken the SDC and united with New Mombassa Energy Corporation, bringing hybrid Fusion Dust Reactors. Sun's with her too. Yang's travelling in Andromeda, exploring. Ruby's training the newest generation of hunters. Blake's…still in Menagerie."
The pleasant spirits of the dinner were dampened and silence reigned.
Unlike teams CFVY and JNPR, which chose to stay together and join the UNSC Spartans, Team RWBY had a major falling out over massive disagreements when the UNSC made first contact with the world of Remnant. It didn't really help that Sydney, when he was human, had a fairly negative relation with the all-female team, with their whole 'wemustbeheroesanddoeverything' and the endangerment of civilians with recklessness. It also culminated in a falling out between RWBY and the joint CFVY/JNPR team.
Yang and Ruby made up with them and were considered friends. Wiess was a little frosty at times but she and Sydney could hold conversations without the need to murder each other. Blake….was a WIP.
But whatever emotional baggage the 9 of them could go through, the P.A system interrupted them. "(P.A) This is the XO. Colonel Sydney Ross, please come to the CO's office ASAP. I repeat, Colonel Sydney Ross, to the CO's office. Thank You"
"Konguo? What's with the meeting?" Sydney sent a message to the ship AI.
"The Rear Admiral wants to talk to you. Private meeting, can't tell you." the reply was instantaneous, for a Human.
"Thank you."
"Rear Admiral Harper wants to talk to me, meeting of some kind."
"Mmhhh?" Nora was jolted awake from her food coma.
"Sorry Nora, meeting with the Admiral." Jaune rubbed Nora's hair, trying to rouse the spartan.
"But…..lunch. And video games"
Sydney looked at Nora's plate, which was completely bare and sighed. Hunters practically had a bottomless stomach. A spartan with an aura was worse.
"Those can wait, Nora, let's go get some training down in the meantime." Jaune and Pyrrha proceeded to lift Nora out of her seat and into the room over.
"...Should I stay and help-"
"No, Just go up ahead, we'll catch up when we can. You're free to leave your body here." Ren shrugged.
"Got it, see you guys later." Sydney left a few directives for his robot body to return to the charging and maintenance station in CFVY and JNPR's room before disconnecting and travelling up to Rear Admiral Harper's office.
He popped into Ariena's personnel quarters, which acted as her personnel office as well. "Rear Admiral." Sydney perched himself onto a holo-emitter and saluted.
"Colonel Ross. I take it that you're well rested and ready for action?" the admiral looked at the former army logistician turned Special Forces upload/AI.
"Yes ma'am. Myself and SWG-102 are ready to deploy."
"Good. Because you're heading to Sculptor in a week." Ariena said without skipping a beat.
This caused Sydney's mind to crash for a second (an eternity in AI time) "Ma'am?"
"One of the intel spooks discovered something concerning from the FTL scanners you discovered. Here."
Sydney received the download of the data.
"The outpost itself is 103,431 years old—some 5 millennia before the Flood-Forerunner war. Sometime during the timespan, the facility's scanners were brought online and active but never fully completed. Probably the Forerunners forgot about it." Harper explained.
"Being the galactic police tends to do that," Sydney commented.
"This is the galaxy roughly 100,000 years ago." a pile of data appeared on a holo screen, with a map of the galaxy and gray waves emitting outwards.
"Radio waves? It's not coherent but it's definitely a sign of civilization." Sydney notes.
"Then it cut out exactly 100,000 years." the radio waves stopped flowing.
"...Ma'am?" Sydney looked confused.
"We thought it was a fluke, but around 68,000 years ago, the facility picked up radio waves that grew to indicate the presence of a galaxy-spanning civilization and it grew." the galactic map showed waves emitting from the Sculptor galaxy again, growing in strength like a wave every second.
"Then some 50,000 years, it began to wax and wane over the course of 300 years before cutting out completely." the radio waves began to slow like a calming wavefront.
"...Are you sure it's not a species finding the path to the afterlife and mass committing ascension/suicide of some kind?" Sydney asked, incredulously.
"We don't know." Ariena sighed. "But intel puts the chance of some galaxy-killing threat at 39, saying other certain signals and energy associated with interstellar civilization died when radio waves began to recede. Communication and sensor kind. It's not likely, but not improbable. And both happened roughly 100,000 and 50,000 years ago. Guess what time it is Colonel?"
"100,000, 50,000- the timer's about to go off again isn't it?" Sydney questioned, comprehending the issue.
"Exactly. The rest of the fleet COs think something is about to happen again, and your discovery on the Darkmatter-Gravitonic detonation was a cherry on top. Something is bound to happen, so I want you to take SWG-102 and those two teams of Spartan Hunters with you and see if you can run an investigation."
"...You want SWG-102, a formation comprised entirely of Frigate and Destroyer class vessels, which one of the Dreadnaughts displaces by a wide margin, to investigate a galaxy where someone set off a Darkmatter detonation," Sydney states incredulously. "Ma'am, with all due respect-"
"You're going to say something along the lines of That's insane and I should go see a therapist or psychiatrist because SWG-102 is a recon and sabotage force, not a frontlines combat formation." Ariena countered.
"...Only the first one," Sydney admitted.
"Well, it's a good thing. In three days, a bunch more ships from the Mothball fleet are going to join us. That includes a Vindication Light Battleship converted for autonomous usage, as well as several flotillas of Mulsanne, Strident, and Anlace frigates along with a few Hyperion class destroyers with similar upgrades. It gives you a formation of 4 dozen vessels, with a capital ship to boot." Ariena continued on.
"...That gives me firepower, not eyes and ears ma'am."
"You're also getting an Old Point-Blank class Prowler Cruiser for use as well, heavily modified with modern tech. That's also going to be your flagship for your spartan friends." Harper finished.
"...Consider my concerns satisfied Admiral," Sydney answered.
"Good. I'll send you, Teams Coffee and Junpier and those other Spartan friends of yours, as well as an ODST Battalion, some Omnears and some Elites that will accompany you additional orders. But it gist is that you are running recon, not the Battle of Atlantic in space. Gather information first, then call for help. Any questions?" Ariena Harper stared into Sydney's eyes.
"No questions at the moment ma'am. I'll begin accommodation for a fleet expansion- wait one question, how did we get these automated warships?" Sydney asked.
"You remember Operation Unfathomable Fortress do you Colonel?" Harper smirked.
"The one where I took the Agwe and her battlegroup, destroyed an ex-Covenant supply sport, the Establishment of Nourishment while dodging a dozen Pirate cruisers?"
"Exactly. Someone in UNSC HighCom decided the automated warship program was fairly successful and convinced the navy to hand over a bunch of decommissioned warships for refits and retrofits. Including a few Capital ships like the Vindication class. Your squadron is getting the first batch but other autonomous special operations squadrons will receive them as well. The Vindication will be your Bismarck as your current ships are the U-boats and destroyers."
"Didn't Bismarck sink to cloth planes, ma'am? Are you giving a try at cursing the fleet with bad luck?"
"Fine, Warspite. Happy?" Harper glared at the Uploaded.
"Crystal ma'am. I'll brief the Spartans." the Uploaded nodded.
"Good, you're dismissed."
Sydney saluted before promptly disconnecting from the Admiral's personnel quarters and reconnecting to JNPR and CFVY's room. "I'm back-"
And he caught Pyrrha pinning Jaune to the couch in the middle of some…..CQC training.
The two spartans turned to glance up at the AI, faces burning with red.
"...I take it the rest are conducting their own mid-day battles?" Sydney drawled on.
Jaune nodded, his face red as a tomato.
"...I should gooooooo-Bebackin20mikes!" Sydney promptly disconnected and fled back to the Agwe.
He's not drunk enough to handle this sort of stuff yet.
August 20th, 2023
Observation Deck, UNSC Kongo, Nile System
For all the advanced technology the UNSC had developed and acquired, there was also an observation deck because you got to have a window to stare into the openness of space.
It allowed Harper to spectate the fleet in parallel formation with the UNSC Kongo.
SWG-102 had been expanded. Beefed up and changed from recon with subtly to recon in force.
Hyperions, the successors to the famous Halbard Class, doted the fleet leading wolfpacks of frigates.
Mulsanne and Anlace frigates, built around a particle lance and laser array, made up the bulk of the fleet, either in formation with one of the carriers or a Hyperion.
Stridents floated idly, providing their heavy MAC cannons to protect the fleet from heavier targets.
4 Posiedons, the backbone of the fleet, was in the process of landing dozens of drone strike fighters and Pelican dropships.
But the flagship (well, the new one) of SWG-102 was the closest to the Kongo.
UNSC Death by Calculus (BBL-589), 522nd of the Vindication Line.
An anomaly during the Pre-Covenant War era where ships were more blocky, and had a more utilitarian look. Favouring slanted armoured wings, various antennas sticking out, a lighter variant of gray paint, and new technologies.
It provided a thankless job: that as a cheap (relatively) and effective flagship and effective shipkiller. Just like the ancient Atlanta class of the old US Wet-Water Navy or the M10 and M18 Tank destroyers of the U.S Army during the Second World War.
And Ariena understood why many naval officers missed such warships. Non-military buffs and politicians raved about the Infinities, the Autumns, the Hyperions, and Victorious but if you wanted a job done and couldn't send any of those, send in the Vindications.
Old and worn, but damn near reliable warships.
'And perhaps, history will remember this as the day the Vindications were reborn' Ariena silently thought as she viewed the light formation from the observation deck.
"Admiral?" Konguo appeared next to her via a hard-light hologram. "Special Warfare Group 102 and 88 are ready for departure."
"Thank you Konguo. Going to miss the Colonel?"
Konguo snorts. "My burning love is only for you Teitoku."
"Why thank you Konguo." Harper's comm unit blinks. "Kongo Actual here…..understood. I'll be there as soon as I see the cast-off."
On the window, a holographic live-recording screen of Sydney, still in his Reach-era Fatigues. "Rear Admiral." Sydney respectfully nods.
"Colonel, I take your passengers are comfortable?"
"ODSTs, Spartans, and even a Sangheli Liason Platoon. We're as comfy as we can be ma'am. I suppose tossing us some Kig-Yar would make it a party." The uploaded reported.
"Sorry, the Jackels opted out of being in the first wave. I'll scrape some together the next time we go galactic exploring."
"Drat! Guess I'll be content with preventing the Sangheli Rangers and ODSTs from murdering each other." Sydney had a mock face of annoyance.
"Desu Sydney. How are you settling in?" Konguo spoke up.
"Gonna be honest Kongy? It's odd to transfer from a Posiedon to a Vindication. Especially with a Giant Supercoil MAC instead of a quartet of Onagers. That and more space for myself." Sydney looked around. "That and the onboard ice cream machine."
"Keep that Ice Cream machine working Colonel, I know the Sangeheli love Vanilla and you sure as hell don't want a riot," Ariena ordered.
"Aye Ma'am. I will do everything in my power to ensure our food supplies are intact." Sydney nodded.
"Good man. Now, I'm not a fan of big speeches. You know your duties and objectives, Colonel."
"Head to the Sculptor galaxy via slipspace, do some exploration, do some science, shoot anything that looks vaguely evil, nuke anything evil, MAC anything that threatens humanity and our allies, and spy on anyone not hostile. Understood loud and clear."
"Just don't Kirk anyone into submission. Just because it worked with the Beldross doesn't mean it would work with anyone else." Konguo added.
"Who do you take me for? Zeus? I understand, I'll follow the regulations."
"Not just regs. Uphold the Mantle." Ariena sternly stated.
"Uphold the Mantle," Sydney repeated.
"Then by the authority of the United Nations Space Command Navy, I hereby release Special Warfare Groups 102 and 88 for Recon and Survallience. Godspeed Colonel. May the Mantle Protects."
"May the Mantle Protects." The view screen showing Sydney disappears.
As one, The massive Fusion engines of the various warships light up. A soothing blue glow burning and consuming more energy than even an Industrial Age Earth could conceive of.
Impulse thrusters, more powerful than even Pre-FTL ICBM rocket engines, nudged every single ship out of formation with the Kongo and in a different direction.
"(Comms) This is Kurofune Actual (Sydney's new class sign). Beginning Slipspace jump. Keep the coffee machine war for us."
"We will, 親友 (Qīnyǒu). Stay safe." Konguo quietly spoke.
"(Comms) As safe as I can in a 20 million ton battleship. Be back as soon as we can be. Kurofane Actual out."
Then, like a whirlpool growing larger and larger, a circular rift opened in space. Like an eldritch blackhole, it grew larger, and larger, and larger-
And it wasn't long before dozens more formed.
And the ships of Special Warfare Group 102 plunged into said eldritch wormholes, each vessel slipping through like a person going down a slide.
When every single ship disappeared into the black hole that was the gateway to Slipspace, the rips in the fabric of real space began to shrink, recede, and then….. disappeared. As if nothing occurred.
Only darkness, emptiness and the light of 1500 starships.
"Konguo?"
"Desu?"
"Get General Rameriz and his staff ready for the meeting." Ariena readjusted her service cap. "We still have a lot of work to do."
It's a new galaxy, but the gears of bureaucracy move on.
Waypoint Nexus…United Terran Commonwealth of Nations…United Nations Space Command Defence Forces…Vessels…..Vindication class Light Battleships.
"The heretics are assaulting us! Multiple Medium vessels inbound! Shields are flounder-"
Fleet Master Grasa 'Gaham, onboard the Prestige Promise, was destroyed during the battle of Novaya Moskva by four Vindication class battleships.
"I may Command the UNSC Reach of Charon, an Infinity Class supercarrier but I would gladly give my rank to be back on the Adenauer. He's a small ship, cramped, and not a lot of publicity, but his class hits like a boar and given all it's had for Humanity."
~ Fleet Admiral Élodie Perron reminiscing about her old flagship, a Vindication.
"UNSC Battleship approaching! It's the Vengence of Mars! Get the Ares ready-" ~ Insurrection Ship Liberty destroyed during Operation Trebuchet
History
The many starships of many different classes have been in use and production by the UNSC Navy and Air Force over the past 600 years. This includes many crafts including the Triech class Passenger liners used to evacuate civilians from Arcadia, the Charon class Frigates used to defend Human worlds from the Covenant and helped end the war, the Artemis class battlecruiser that is still in production to this day, and the Infinity Class Super-Carrier that started out as an Arkship for Humanity but since has evolved into one of the most powerful vessels in UNSC service. But there are many other starships whose praise is rarely sung. This includes the tiny but vital Posideon class light Carriers that were used to bulk up the UNSC navy, the Orion class Assualt Carriers that covered the retreat of colonies and harassed Covenant Supply lines, and the Epoch class heavy carriers used to bleed Covenant Warships. The Vindication class Light Battleship, a common sight within UNSC Fleets for two centuries, is amongst this list: a warship whose praises are rarely sung on newsreels and recruitment posters, but was vital in the defence of Humanity.
The Vindication class Light Battleships can trace their origins to the Human Insurrection Era. During this time, the UNSC was looking for a replacement for the Valiant Class of Large Cruisers. While a fascinating and effective platform within fleets, the Valiant class was considered too expensive to maintain, produce, and operate. It also didn't help that the Valiants were meant to be ship killers and the Insurrection weren't known for operating high-quality capital warships capable of going toe to toe with their UNSC counterparts. Though Halifax SpaceWerx produced a high-quality ship, the UNSC navy began looking for cheaper and more producible options available. Thus the UNSC returned to a design developed by the ship design and production cooperation known as Aerofabrique SA. Aerfabrique SA had offered up a design during the competition to build the Valiant class and though said the design had a long and expensive development time, the rather in-expensive production costs rekindled UNSC's interest in the design.
Aerofabrique SA and the PassiGear Manufacturing Company both teamed up to redesign a UNSC warship to fit the UEG's needs. Production began in 2508 and the first line of Battleships rolled off the shipyard docks in 2518. By 2523, 17 Vindication class light battleships were completed however said battleships began to face similar issues like the Valiant class of Large Cruisers. There were talks amongst the UEG to also begin decommissioning these Valiant replacements and focus all resources on carriers and lighter cruisers. The onset of the Human-Covenant War, and the Glassing of Harvest, shot down such proposals and the UNSC rushed an order to begin mass production of Vindications on a wider scale, as well as recommissioning the Valiant class.
Design
"This, my colleagues, friends, and comrades, is the future of Space Warfare. A reliable, efficient, and producible workhorse the navy needs." - CEO Damen Sasebo of Aerfabrique SA introduced the latest generation of Vindications during a conference in 2530.
At a length of 1,580 metres (5,183 ft), a height of 326 metres (1,069 ft), and a Mass of 20 million metric tons, the Vindication class straddles the line between the Halycon and Marathon class cruisers and the Epoch and Orion class carriers. A middle-line capital ship, the Vindication's roles, as its name suggests, is a battleship that focuses on the destruction of hostile spaceborne assets with its own weapons while being fast enough to respond on a tactical and strategic level. As such, it focuses on Speed, maneuverability, and firepower in exchange for fighter-carrying capacity, armour, and planetary troop deployment abilities. The Vindication is typically crewed by 1,678 spacers, 234 marines, and 72 ODSTs, with facilites to harbour a Smart AI.
The Vindication class would be powered by a trio of Deuterium Fusion Reactors (later to be upgraded with Forerunner-inspired designs), this provides sufficient power to most of a Vindication's operating systems. This includes powering the 4 Boglin Fields' NX-5 Heavy fusion drives that constitute the main propulsion systems, the myriad of Impulse RCS thrusters, the UNA-uplinked Navigation computer, Military grade CODEN Series IV Slip Space Drives, and a Hyperscanner and Standard UNSC sensor network.
Being primarily a warship meant to go toe to toe with hostile spacecraft, this means that its facilities and living quarters are not meant to house more than its assigned complement. In an emergency, a Vindication class can carry up to 3,000 personnel and passengers, though this situation is uncommon and only used for evacuations. This does not mean living quarters are in drab conditions, however, all Vindication class vessels have the standard accommodations of any UNSC warship, including an onboard Gym, weapons and combat training area, mess halls, armouries, Recreational facility modules, movie theatres, and med bay. The Vindication is also fairly modular, meaning certain facilities like science, troop deployment, and Aeroponic bays can be added. The exception is aircraft carrying modules, due to spacing issues.
The hull of a Vindication consists of roughly 1.9 to 2.4 metres of Titanium Grade- A battle armour. It is fairly effective at halting MAC rounds, conventional missile launches, and plasma strikes, though the armour will require extensive repairs. During the later portion of the Human Conveant War, the UNSC equipped some Vindication class vessels with the Javelin Spaceborne Explosive Reactive Armour System, which functions akin to Explosive Reactive Armour on 21st-century military vehicles. This vastly improves survivability against plasma strikes, though a comprehensive armour refit adds 100,000 metric tons of displacement onto a Vindication. Post-war, an upgraded Javelin SERAS was installed on many Vindications, along with a pair of ASLM-II dispersal field generators. Unlike Covenant vessels, the Dispersal Fields uses many smaller shield generators that only activate if a certain portion of the ship is about to be hit. If a munition is about to hit the hangar bays, the Dispersal shield in that portion of the ship will be the only one to activate. This saves on both power and maintenance, as provides some redundancy in case certain generators go down.
A Vindication Light Battleship carries a formidable armament for its size. Its primary battery is an 11B3A2 Mark VI Heavy Coild Magnetic Accelerator Cannon, later upgraded to 76G3V5 battery Mark X Superheavy coil MAC. The former can hurl a 200-ton shell, typically of Tungsten or Depleted Uranium, at 1.5% the Speed of light and incremental upgrades meant that the MAC could fire the same shells at 3% with a wider variety of munitions. The 76G3V5 battery Mark X Superheavy coil MAC can fire 300-ton projectiles at 10% the speed of light, with further upgrades that allow for faster recharge times, rates of fire, and munition-type varieties including plasma warheads, planet busters, Anti-fighter Fletchette, and shield depletion rounds. This formidable MAC battery is further backed up by 2 Triple Barreled Mark 15 Breakwater 1,270 mm/65 Caliber naval coilguns, 6 twin Mark 33 Spitfire 635mm/40 cal naval coilguns, 12 twin M66 Sentry 279mm/36 cal naval autocannons, 26 M810 Helix 35mm/99 cal point defence guns, 5 M4093 Hyperion nuclear missiles, 20 pods of M4020 Bident fusion missiles, and 35 pods of M42 Archer missile pods.
During and After the Human-Covenant War, many of these weapon systems were swapped or upgraded. This included the removal of all M66 Sentry Canons with M910 Rampart Defence Cannons, the Bident Missile Launcher replaced with 5 PEBW Mark-2 Ice Queen Particle Lances, Mark 57 Arena Defence Cannons replacing the Helix PDGs, the two Mark 15s being upgraded to the Mark 16 and later Mark 18 Breakwaters, Adding 8 light Pulse Laser Turrets for Close-In Weapons Defence, and the addition 10 more M42 Archer Missile Pods.
Though it is a Battleship, all Vindications Carry a light aero-space complement of fighters and dropships. Via an onboard hanger and external clamps, every Vindication during the Human-Covenant War can carry 12 F-41 Broadsword Multi-role Interceptors (equipped with Medusa Missile pods, twin M1075 35mm Machine Linked Auto cannons, Twin Pulse Laser Mounts, and a mount for a heavy weapon), 8 GA-TL Longsword class Heavy Fighter Bombers (either of the C709 Fighter Bomber, C710 Capship killer, or C712 Stealth Interceptor variants), and 8 Pelican dropships of many different models.
Operational History
"These vessels are a sparkle in a sea of light. It's fascinating how many of these ships slain some of our best warriors and masters." - Fleetmaster Thushe 'Suvam, researching on UNSC warships of the Human-Covenant War.
"We are told these beasts were obsolete! They told us they were cannon fodder! When the hell did the UNSC begin arming century-old battleships with Particle Lances and top-notch energy shields?!" - Unknown Insurrectionist, 2611 during the New Cascadia Campaigns
"As of 2728, all remaining Vindication Class Light Battleships are being reactivated to serve in the Autonomous Spaceborne Warfare Program. Let's give these old Beasts of War a spare life." - Fleet Admiral Chester Lain, announcing the beginning of the Autonomous Spaceborne Warfare Program
The Vindication Class first saw service in late 2518. The first two ships of its class, the UNSC Vindication and UNSC Shield of Determination saw action against the Insurrection group known as the United Rebel Front, one of the largest insurrection movements of the Pre-Human-Covenant War Era. During this time period, the UNSC Vindication led a battlegroup of 9 Frigates against a URF fleet of 47 warships that ranged from stolen CMA Frigates and Corvettes, secretly made destroyers, and repurposed patrol cutters. The end result saw the utter decimation of the URF fleet, with the Vindication herself scoring 11 kills. 1 month later, the UNSC Shield of Determination would claim 8 opposing vessels during the Battle of Jansary III where the UNSC would score a major victory against insurrection forces located there.
Operation Trebuchet saw the further deployment of 5 more Vindication classes, the Defiant, Duke of York, Nelson, Vengence of Mars, and Iron Duke of Will. All five would contribute to the destruction of multiple Insurrection fleets and safeguarding convoys of troopships streaming into the Outer Colonies. 3 more Vindications would be deployed to the Outer Colonies, with the rest of the first production batch commissioning and being stationed in the Inner Colonies.
However, in a fit of irony, the Vindication class saw themselves defending the very same colonies they were designed and built to overwatch. The Battleship Defiant would be destroyed defending the colony world of Caprica Prime in early 2526, buying time for thousands of citizens of the budding colony to escape. The remaining 9 light battleships were eventually pressed into Battlegroup X-Ray after the Second Battle of Harvest. Making up raiding parties or rapid response fleets, Vindication made flagships for smaller formations in hopes of stemming or halting the Covenant Advance. However, this failed and the battle would lead to the loss of the Nelson, Luna's Light Lance, and Arizona in futile efforts to defend a trio of colonies.
The Vindications, though, would score a major victory during the defence of Novaya Moskva in 2529, where the entirety of the UNSC 8th Fleet engaged in a ferocious battle to defend the highly populated and developed world, considered by some as the Jewel of the Outer Colonies. During which, the UNSC Vindication, Duke of York, Yokohama, and Delambre were able to flank the Covenant Fleet and destroy the Prestige Promise, a CAS class Assualt Carrier. This briefly broke the lines of the Covenant Fleet, allowing the UNSC 8th Fleet to claim a rare true victory in the war.
Throughout the entirety of the 27-year conflict, Aerfabrique SA and PassiGear Manufacturing Company would continuously produce, upgrade and update the Vindication, often at its own expense in a show of unity against the Covenant Threat. This has led to a myriad of upgrades including enhanced Electronic Warfare Suits, improved Titanium Battle Armour, modules for more advanced fighters, better command and control facilities, and more. This would greatly cost Aerfabrique SA and PassiGear Manufacturing Company, with the latter eventually declaring bankruptcy after the war and being absorbed into the former. Vindications would be produced in many shipyards, including over Luna, Mars, Reach, Tribute, New Norfolk, Erubus, FarField, and others. Hundreds of Vindications have been built over the 27-year war.
However, the relentless advance of the Covenant, combined with the massive technological disparity, meant that the Vindications would be lost in great numbers. The UNSC lost roughly 23 Vindications on average each year for much of the war, with the UNSC losing 37, including the Vindication herself, at the battle of Reach. 23 more Vindications fought at the Battle of Sol and Earth, with a trio equipped with prototype energy shield generators. By the end of the battle and subsequently the end of the war, 11 Vindications were remaining in the entirety of UNSC space, with a further 4 scraped.
However being one of the most successful models of UNSC warship during the conflict, combined with lobbying from Aerfabrique SA, saw the UNSC restart the purchase and production of an updated variant of the Vindication that incorporated reverse-engineered Covenant and Forerunner. This variant would be known as the Dauntless Sub-class (or a Vindy D as a nickname) and would be in production until the 2630s. All surviving Covenant War Era Vindications would either be scrapped or refitted to Dauntless standards, with the Vindication herself made a museum over Mars. The Vindication would be one of only two pre-war warship designs (the other being the Phoniex class support ship) to see continual production into the 2600s. The Vindication/Dauntless Subclass would make up a ribcage of the post-war UNSC fleets, either as wolf-packs of dedicated capital ship killers with enhanced MACs or as the flagship of smaller formations.
By the 2650s, the UNSC halted production of the Vindication and began the gradual process of phasing out the light battleships. Vindications would be slowly replaced by the Vulture class of heavy Battlecarriers and Victorius class heavy Battleships, with her wolf-pack roles taken up by an Updated Artemis class Variant. Vindications would continue to serve, diligently maintained up until the early 2690s. Of the 394 post-war vindications, 2/3s would be scrapped, with the remainder placed in the mothball fleet, sold to allied powers, modified to be training ships, or destroyed as target ships.
However, Vindications would see a new breath of life in the late early 2720s, during the Autonomous Spaceborne Warfare Program. After the Remnant Campaigns, the UNSC Army, Marine Corps, and SOC-Div became inspired by the massive robotic armies of the Kingdom of Atlas and developed an idea for an autonomous drone force to support terrestrial combat operations. This would be especially useful for SOC-Div, which required a fast and mobile combat formation not constrained by traditional logistic lines. Faced with pressure from their sibling services, the UNSC Navy reactivated and relinquished control of several dozen mothball warships refitted to be solely operated by a small team or/and an Artificial Intelligence. This proved to be a major success, with Operation Unfathomable Fortress, a joint Sangheli, Privateer, and Autonomous Warfare group SWG-102 successfully destroying an ancient Covenant supply dump, and Operation Dual Wielder, where SWG-102 successfully destroyed a major formation of Insurrection and Pirate fighters attacking the orbital Habitat of Chopinburg. This success in independent AI-controlled (with some Human supervision) eventually convinced the UNSC Navy to release heavier assets including a dozen Vindications for autonomous use. These will eventually be released to all autonomous units, with the UNSC Death by Calculus to be released to SWG-102