RNS Renaissance, Languedoc system
November 1, 743 AGS
Sender: Amiral Antonin de Lusignan, Enclave Defence Authority Recipient: Fleet Admiral Jade Linford, Insurgency Navy Subject: RE: Aid and a Battleship
Fleet Admiral Linford,
We can tell you a lot about this battleship. After all, when could we have a chance to research such a warship while in one piece, huh? However, the following information should never be shared further than the High Commands of both Insurgency Navy and the Enclave.
On 17th December, 742 AGS (826 AS), the Gallic corporation Montluc Advanced Engineering sent a research expedition through a recently discovered unstable jump hole in the system of Brittany (Orkney). They found an uncharted system: there were only a lonely star and dense asteroids. However, the field hid some secrets. Apart from the deposits of so-called "Narcrahtite" ore, the MAE's team found an old derelict Liberty battleship.
The ship was slightly damaged and was missing a significant part of the equipment. The expedition teams managed to recover some ammunition and inactive turrets left by the crew. From what it appears, the crew left the ship in a hurry and uninstalled all the equipment they managed. According to the radiocarbon analysis, the battleship is approximately 30 years old and predates the war with the Allies. Whatever happened, the vessel found itself stranded among the asteroids, some of which are assumed to have damaged its engine. However, it is also possible that the ship was thrown out in the asteroid field as the result of some experiments on FTL travelling.
The following file contains a full version of the report, made by one of the MAE scientists, Doctor Vardan Raza.
Brittany, a star system in the heart of Gallic Hebrides, from where the war with Sirius has started years ago.
For a long time, we have been finding various reports in open-access about strange interferences within D'Iroise asteroid field in Brittany system. We had no doubt that this is well-known in Sirius stellar anomalies of unaligned class, but we have no data about a frequency of a stellar anomaly appear in normal space. Therefore, we have dispatched an exploring drone to reach this place in no time and explore the field in seek of any logic of their spawn places and cooldown between spawns within the field.
Everything was going fine without issues until the drone reached the orbit of planet Rennes on 13th December of 742 A.G.S. After this, we have lost a signal with our satellite - it just disappeared from our radars. The drone kept silent for 2 days and our team got no data from it until 15th December. The connection with the drone was re-established but after a short data exchange, it was lost again. Data received from it included a short visual log and an approximate location of the drone (carbon copy included).
During the passage through Brittany system, our drone has found unaccounted gravitational anomaly next to planet Rennes. The drone was dragged into it and then the signal has been lost when the drone has entered in unknown space.
A basic check of the recovered visual log found that the drone had returned back to normal space somewhere within a dense asteroid field not so far from the stellar nebula located. It could not be recognized by our astronomers as part of Sirius or Gallic stellar groups. Thus we suppose that this is something very far beyond our reach.
To investigate this event and reach more information about the anomaly and the system itself we were granted permission to send another drone to the last approximate location of the stellar breach in Brittany system. When the ship came there it has detected a small Enclave fleet which entered the system. Taking into the account Enclave expedition presence there I think that our first scout encountered a growing unstable anomaly whereas the Enclave (I believe they were sent any) found a stable jump hole enter to the uncharted system.
Our drone followed them and entered the jump breach to reach the distant system. There its found an expeditionary fleet consisting destroyer, research liner and a wing of small craft. Enclave forces received codes of our drone and show no hostile attitude. Unfortunately, scouting mission within the asteroid field in search of the first scout or at least its black box finished with a failure. Nothing was found at the 30K range around the jump hole.
Afterwards, the command centre has ordered the drone to return back to Keurgelen Fabrication Facility in Languedoc for resupply and repairs. In the meantime, we already started to prepare our own small expedition to the system. The space frontiers await us.
At the 01:14 PM of 17th December, 742 A.G.S. our expedition consisting one "Corvo"-class vessel "Becquerel" with survey probes on board and two escort fighters from a security wing was dispatched for the mission in the uncharted. Our ships reached the anomaly in no time and we entered the breach without issues at the 02:19 PM.
Within the field we have found a deposit of so-named "Narcrahtite" ore - the crystallisation formations found in the big rocks of the asteroid field near the "centre" of the system. After the extraction with using of Corvo's mining laser which was set instead of one gun, we have discovered that the material was described as "artificial" unlike the rest of rocks around. After the basic tests on board of "Becquerel", we have found that this material is also highly delicate and our modern extraction technology is not enough to extract this material carefully from these asteroids with a minimal or no damage at all.
Besides, our expedition discovered a derelict battleship-class vessel within the system next to the deposit of "Narcrahtite". The hull seemed undamaged and was based on a Liberty Battleship. The ship had no visuals of weaponry on it. Instead of the weaponry, it, as it seemed, had extra strong armour which we could not breach with any kind of mining or cracking equipment we had (including military-grade defence lasers).
We found no escape pods in 30K radius from the hull of this ship. Therefore I think that ship was drifting within the asteroid field for a long and its original crash place is somewhere else. Currently, it is drifting very slowly with the rest of asteroids within the field and we can keep tracking it all time long there.
Despite the limitations of the mining methods, the scouting expedition managed to extract sufficient for further research and experiments, as well as possible fabrication. The cargo of Narchrarite was sealed in an isolated container and safely delivered to Kerguelen. Our R&D department staff has already received the package and started experiments with it. The results thereof will be announced at the earliest convenience.
Dr. Vardan Raza,
Chief Research Officer, Montluc Advanced Engineering
The derelict warship caught the eye of the MAE Board of Directors as an opportunity to provide the corporation with a ship that could be useful in their goals: to establish the Barony of Languedoc and to push the Minarchy of Provence - Union Corse's puppet state - out of Languedoc. MAE were not the only ones interested in the battleship - our forces had reached the system before them. Their leader, Baron Montluc, managed to strike an agreement between the corporation and the Enclave. Together, we moved the ship out of the system for further research and repairs.
The ship itself was outdated and its data banks contained no valuable information. That's why the command of the Enclave Defence Authority represented by Colonel Saint-Just allowed MAE to keep the ship for themselves and even repair it. They had success and the ship has suffered a series of various updates and improvements. The heaviest update has been made for the radar plant: highly sensitive detection, identification, navigation and tracking systems used to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects has been upgraded to maximal capacity.
The following files are missing information considered important for internal security of the Enclave. However, the rest should give you enough for understanding how badly the ship was damaged during its drift through the asteroid field.
According to preliminary estimates, this ship is more than 30 years old. Many of the ship's systems are broken beyond repair, but some can be restored. With enough work put into it, it might fly once again. For a ship left in the asteroid field for so long ago, the hull is surprisingly well-preserved.
The hull is made of 2-meter thick light-weight aluminum, coated with with 1-meter thick layer of titanium carbide fiber. This allows the ship to remain quite light, while being resistant enough to most weapons. The significant drawback of the coating is that it could be broken down easily in nitric acid. This should be considered when developing weapons to counter such vessels.
Electronics and software are an outdated version of the Libertonian tech we encountered during the war. That, and due to prolonged exposure to radiation in outer space without maintenance, the electronics is beyond repair. It will take quite some time and effort to replace it with Gallic electronics, but it seems feasible.
The life support system, on the other hand, can be restored. This must become our first priority, if we are to restore everything else. The search for the black box proved futile. Apparently, the crew had taken it with them, knowing that the ship would remain in place for a long time. Or it could have been destroyed.
Tactical analysis is not my primary field, but the derelict apparently could be classified as a light battleship. With good maneuverability and small size, it can evade enemy fire and return it from a great distance. Further tactical analysis is best left to the officers who encountered this ship in battle.
Emeline Coste,
Director of Research, Enclave Defence Authority
The profile of the derelict is similar to that of every Liberty Dreadnought we encountered: sharp, small, well-suited for evading fire. That is, assuming the crew know what they're doing. Our Valors and Obstinates usually handled those ships with ease, unless faced with a Captain competent enough. In that case, we had to take a punch.
Liberty Dreadnought is always referred to as "Overlord" by Liberty Captains, so we can assume it's the class name of this "iconic" vessel. Its slim profile makes the Dreadnought very flexible and agile. ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋
The Dreadnought is mostly an frontline battleship: its turrets cover the top, sides, bow and aft well enough. The most unprotected side is the bottom, especially the engine section. That's what bombers can exploit, unless the battleship makes a turn before bombers go for a strafing run.
II. Weaponry
▋ ▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋ ▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ Admittedly, the profile is small and can be compered to Corsair Murmillo class. But as we observed in the war, the Overlord can mount up to three heavy weapons, rather than two on the Murmillo. However, the Murmillo ▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ can equip only six ▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ mid-range primary turrets, whereas the Overlord can mount up to four only and everyone of them can shoot backwards and forward.
Let's also not forget about the light turrets designed against fighters, bombers and gunboats. In earlier stages of the war, the Overlord had about six light turrets. But by the time Liberty forces arrived in New London, we encountered Overlord refits with up to nine light turrets. That didn't change the ship's performance against our forces drastically, but it's worth mentioning.
III. Tactical performance
The Overlord class was always seen with an large escort of assault battlecruisers, siege cruisers, and gunboats. This fleet composition is deadly, especially with the right coordination. ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋
If we ever put the derelict to use, I recommend heavy guard of Obstinates accompanied by a squadrons of gunboats, bombers and fighters. ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋
IV. Warship in Question
This warship is thirty years old, and probably was lost in a jump gate or jump drive incident that didn't receive wide exposure. The vessel is mostly outdated ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋▋▋▋ ▋▋▋▋▋
I presume this information going to be sufficient to get you familiar with the Bartholdi. The ship is currently moored with our outpost in the system of Roussillon and serve as a carrier ship for our snub craft. However, she will be ready to move soon.
From all the evaluations and information available, cross referenced with our information, it seems likely the warship you possess is either one of the final products of the Monument-class battleships, or one of the first Overlord-class battleships. While dated, they are still combat capable, as information shows Liberty has only just recently retired their last Monument-class warship. This means good news, as with your upgrades and repairs, the ship is more than capable of going gun to gun with Liberty's modern warships. Being out of action for some time it's possible this ship was an experimental warship for deep space operations or as some of your people figured in these documents, the victim of one of Ageira's FTL experiments.
Our forces are currently engaged in blockading supply heading to Bretonia in Cortez to slow their wartime capabilities and now prevent any Liberty warships from entering the region. This force is headed by myself and Battleship Harmony, we can use this system or somewhere nearby to make contact with the Bartholdi and escort it to our drydocks for fueling, fitting and preparation for action, bringing the crew up to speed on current Insurgent operations. In the meantime, we will prepare for a large-scale offensive as both distraction and deception to keep Liberty too busy chasing our tail to come seeking the Enclave out.
RNS Renaissance, Languedoc system
November 1, 743 AGS
Sender: Amiral Antonin de Lusignan, Enclave Defence Authority Recipient: Fleet Admiral Jade Linford, Insurgency Navy Subject: RE: Aid and a Battleship
Fleet Admiral Linford,
Splendid. The ship is equipped with our armament and holds experimental rework of a good old ARC reactor. However, you should face no issues with maintaining it.
The ship will be sent through Leeds with an escort of fighters and should arrive in Magellan in a couple of days. Avoiding Bretonian patrols may increase this number up to one week, but after all, the ship will reach Magellan safe and sound. There your men, I hope, can meet and escort the Bartholdi to your positions.