Free Planets Alliance - Battleship Mauria
Although Maurya belongs to Ajax class, she was created as slightly scaled down variant, intended as squadron flagship. She was completed in 788 UC. Her first and last commander, rear admiral Nguyen Van Huu added some inputs during her construction. Maurya was also very well armed with 32 forward neutron cannons, 35 port cannons and 35 starboard cannons.
Ship was fitted with for high acceleration with the Ajax class engine module but with a new engine design with up to 20% greater propellant intake. Naturally this resulted also in increased propellant consumption so the ventral hull was fitted with a large rectangular propellant tank, containing pure water. Its volume was equivalent to 50 of the standard cylindrical pure water propellant tanks fitted to standard Alliance battleships. This tank could be switched out for another tank for quick replenishment.
Iserlohn fortress was capable of purifying 2,220,000 cubic metres of water per day for use as propellant, but even so, the propellant needs of this ship placed a burden on the system. Becuase of this Maurya didn't participate in Alliance invasion of Imperial space due heavy supplies needed for long range missions. She stays behind and guard Iserlohn. Maurya was also focused for short range combat and could field 35 Spartanian fighters.
Shortly after failed invasion, rear admirals Nguyen and Alarcon pursue withdrawing Imperial fleet, only to be destroyed by new Imperial reinforcements. Both Alarcon flagship Marduk and Maurya were destroyed killing both admirals and all of the crews.
Free Planets Alliance - Battleship Rustam
Rustam belongs to Ajax class battleships, however it was built as squadron flagship variant instead fleet one. Nevertheless it was equal in size with its fleet flagship sisters but has slightly less weaponry. Its has 30 forward neutron cannons, 24 port and 24 starboard cannons, few missile launchers and total of 10 spartanian fighters. Despite having less armament it has strong armor and shields. Rustam was completed in 796 shortly after ill fated invasion of Imperial territory. Due heavy losses ship received new generation of shields and heavier armor then some of its sister ships but to compensate, it has less weapons. Rustam's first battle was battle of Rantemario where despite heavy Alliance losses Rustam performs pretty well, destroying eight enemy cruisers and four battleships. Rustam as well as first fleet didn't participate in battle of Vermilion.
Ship was to participate in battle of Mar-Adetta but it swamp its place with another flagship Palamedes. It was sent with over five thousand ships to Yang on Iserlohn. Rustam participate in battle of Corridor as part of main command line. Later it was added to Iron fleet (lead by Charlemagne). During the battle of Shiva, Rustam and part of the Iron fleet remain near Ulysses and Masasoite as their escorts while Charlemagne and Palamedes rush to help Hyperion and its fleet which was to be overrun ed by Black Lancers.
It survived the battle and become one of one thousand and two hundred and fifty ships that form new Ba'alat defense guard. Its commanding officer rear admiral Marinetti remain in command of Rustam after the 801.
Free Planets Alliance - Cruiser Leda II
Leda II (unknown name of lead ship so call it Leda II type) was new generation of Alliance cruiser, originally intend to replace the standard cruiser (or Thanatos). It was also response on recent Imperial designs the Brunhild particularly
Leda II is armed with four forward neutron cannons. Although it carries less forward neutron cannons then predecessor - Thanatos, these cannons had higher performance particle acceleration, and were superior to older cannons in range, accuracy, higher rate of fire and destructive power. Leda also have 22 port and 22 starboard electron beam cannons and at least four missile launchers. It can hold spartanian fighters but very few. Leda II was used several times by admiral Yang Wenli mostly as transport. It was unfortunate that this ship was also where Yang Wenli died. After intercepted by two imperial destroyers which were taken by terrarists, one destroyer dock with Leda and firefighting start when the "so called" imperial solders storm the cruiser. Many of Yangs escorts died on the ship including commodore Fyodor Patrichev, Rainer Blumhardt (member of Rosen Ritter), Yang itself was shot and due hit in the artery he bleed to death. It was unknown what happen to the ship, it was abandoned after Ulysses arrived and save the rest of the surviving crew. over a half of the El Facil government members also died in attack.
Several dozen of this ships were in service with Ba'alat (or New Alliance) guard forces i 805.
(non canon ship, but it will be part in my story), so this is last ship for the Alliance, i plan few more but i think il start doing Imperial ships now.
Free Planets Alliance - Battleship Charlemagne
Charlemagne was built in 791 UC as mid production Ajax class. It was built under rear admiral Harrow supervision. Rear admiral took command of the Charlemagne after it was launched. For the next three years Charlemagne was testing new weapons and shields, as a test bed ship. Ship received experimental long range neutron phased cannons in 795. Weapon was designed by rear admiral himself and after received funding for it he incorporated it into the ship. Alliance command fund only one pair (two cannons) with possibility of more if successful. Neutron phased canons were marvel of technology as been the most advanced weapon in Alliance and probably Empire as well. Due size it was mounted on the side of the forward section or weapon (bow) section, one canon per side in outside bulge. Neutron phased cannon had its own power supply which allows multiple shots before recharging. However its long range (which was out range anything in both Alliance or Empire) was stunning, it could fire on ships far from t he ranges of other ships but not losing the power and devastating power. On top of that its barrel has modular parts which could be configured allowing neutron phased cannon to fire in both beam mod or pulse-bolt mod. Beam mod which was devastating against shields and exposed hull, and pulse-bolt mod which was highly devastated against unshielded target. This weapon would become major pain in side for Imperial forces later during the Charlemagnes service.
Ship also had standard 40 long range neutron cannons on the bow, which unlike some other Ajax class ships had one large energy reactor that could power all forty guns in same time, although it was recommended to use forward guns in volleys of ten, using ten by ten cannons allow more rapid firing without losing range or strength, however if using all forty, it couldn't fire more then few full volleys before recharging. Due fact that neutron phased cannons were attached on the sides together with their power supply, in case of lines been overwhelmed and ship hit in front section it could make devastated effect. However entire frontal section was armored, probably most armored part of the ship, with exception of engine block.
Except for the neutron phased canons and forward canons, ship has 68 port and 68 starboard cannons, after the failed invasion of Imperial space, this was upgraded to 81 port and 81 starboard cannons making it most armed and heaviest ship in the fleet. There was also twenty four missile launchers, four rail guns, and space for twenty four Spartanian fighters.
Ship had lots of weapon upgrades early in is active life, but it was not weapons that were only upgraded. Under urge from rear admiral (later after invasion, vice admiral) Harrow, Charlemagne also received heavy improvements in her shields and armor. She receive new shields shortly prior battle of Astarte, new armor and again new improved shields after the ill faited invasion on Imperial space.
It could be said that Charlemagne was one of heaviest, most armed and most armored (protected) ships in Alliance fleet, and that would not be wrong. She was also the largest of her sisters, with 1310 meters in length. It has improved shielding and armored bow as well engines, allowing her to take far more damage then standard Ajax class flagship.
Charlemagne as told was built in 791 and spend as test bed ship for three years, it was part of Alliance reinforcements during the fourth battle of Tiamat. Shortly after it was assigned to forth fleet as secondary fleet flagship and flagship of second heavy attack squadron, also known as "Iron squadron". Iron squadron was group of several dozen battleships that had additional armor and shields, allowing them to survive more then ships with standard shields.
During the battle of Astarte, 4th fleet find itself in trapped and isolated from 2th and 6th fleets. Instead of withdrawing to other fleet location, vice admiral Pastolle commanding officer of the 4th fleet ignored his subordinates and tried order fire on incoming Imperial forces. However Imperial forces were commanded by young but brilliant High admiral Lohengramm. Lohengramm saw through the simple tactic that Pastolle using and smash through the 4th fleet, right in the middle. Leonidas the flagship of the 4th fleet was destroyed and vice admiral Pastolle was killed, without leadership 4th fleet fall in dissaray but been the second in command, rear admiral quickly take command of what was left of the fleet and order clock wise withdraw, maneuver which he created himself. All heavy ships moved back but doing it in clock rotation, as someone would say dancing in the stars. While tactic looked weird and crazy, it work perfectly, not only that it confused the enemy. Lohengramm was first amused by enemy movement but he realized tactical brilliance in it. At first he believed that it was Yang Wenli who orchestrated such defensive tactic, but he later found that it was second in command rear admiral Harrow who was behind it. And each time he try to engaged the remnants of the 4th fleet, 4th fleet would change rotation and again surviving. Not only that but long cannons from its flagship Charlemagne decimate Imperial ships without mercy. In the end 4th fleet manage to limp with what was left of it back. most of the Iron squadron survived as well over two or three hundred other ships. Charlemagne scored forty kills during the Astarte.
4th fleet almost decimated was originally to be rebuild but after failed invasion, that was cancelled, all 4th fleet ships were incorporated into 1th fleet. Rear admiral Harrow was promoted to vice admiral and he continue to improve Charlemagne and rest of the Iron squadron. By the time of Mar-Adetta battle, Iron squadron will have around two hundred and forty ships.
Charlemagne didn't participate in invasion of Imperial space, but its next battle was Rantemario battle. Where it manage to destroy almost thirty eight ships before been forced to withdraw. It didn't participate in battle of Vermilion. As a battleship it was to be scrapped but ship was taken by vice admiral Harrow and escape to one of secret supply bases. After departure of 5000 ships that were send to Yang, vice admiral Harrow receive same order and took his flagship, another flagship (Rustam) and around five hundred ships and depart for Iserlohn.
Charlemagne due its power was hold as ace card by Yang, much on displeasure from vice admiral Harrow who wanted to fight on front line. Charlemagne did participate in battle of Corridor as part of command line, protecting Ulysses, and scoring only few kills. Its last engagement was battle of Shiva. During the battle, commander Julian Mintzi left to board Imperial supreme flagship Brunhild and force truce. Vice admiral Attenborough was left in charge of the fleet. During the attack from Black Lancers, High admiral Merkatz fleet find under heavy attack and Hyperion was in danger of been destroyed. Vice admiral Harrow took Charlemagne and Palamedes and half of the Iron squadron, leaving battleship Rustam and remaining Iron squadron ships to protect battleships Masasaoite and Ulysses. However due heavy attack by fleet admiral Bittenfeld (or madman Bittenfeld as Alliance forces often call him) Hyperion receive heavy damage and Merkatz was killed. Commander Schneider, adjutant to admiral Merkatz was to order crew to abandon ship, when he and rest of surviving bridge crew watched in shock very close passing of flagship Charlemagne which pass Hyperion on only few dozen meters, massive flagship pass and position itself in front of the Hyperion firing all cannons and missiles it got on Black Lancers, second battleship Palamedes also moved next to the Charlemagne as well dozens of Iron squadron ships. Two ships of the iron squadron dock with Hyperion and tow her away from frontline while rest of the Iron squadron and surviving ships in Hyperion fleet join forces and attack Black Lancers.
Vice admiral Harrow was first to be informed on high admiral Merkatz death, which he then relay to Ulysses. Furious vice admiral Harrow order full attack on Lancers, leaving nobody alive, despite been overhelmed by enemy numbers and firepower heavy armor and shields of Iron squadron finally prove it worth. Every shot Iron squadron fired was direct hit on enemy and Black lancers suddenly start losing heavily. Vice admiral Harrow order direct fire on Koing Tiger, flagship of the Lancers, and its neutron phased cannons and standard long range cannons start working their way through the Lancers, two shots hit the Black Lancers flagship damaging it. But case fire order came from Brunhild for both sides before Charlemagne could destroy the Koing Tiger.
Fleet admiral Bittenfeld was furious as his precious flagship received damage as well fact that insignificant number of enemy ships manage to stall and stop his advance. As order to stop firing came, he obeyed as the Alliance (Iserlohn) forces did the same. He order to his officers to magnify the two flagships that stand its way. And on main screen he could see massive apearance of flagship Charlemagne and Palamedes. One of officer also warn fleet admiral that both Iserlohn flagship type ships are lock all of their main guns on the Koing Tiger. And that was true he could clearly see on screen that both battleships are turned in direction where Koing Tiger was located. "Checkmate" was what he said silently. As he realized irony. If the hostilities restart those two battleships would immediately open fire, no matter what he do, there was no chance Tiger or him would survive. But despite vice admiral's Harrow wish to destroy Koing Tiger and kill the mad boar Bittenfeld, he stop himself, respecting the Mintzi wish for peace. Charlemagne returns to the Iserlohn and later as Masasoite, Ulysses and small group of Iserlohn ships accompany Imperial fleet back to Heinessen, Charlemagne and rest of the Iserlohn forces abandon fortress as part of deal made between late Kaiser Lohengramm and Julian Mintzi. Charlemagne and the rest of the fleet were escorted to Heinessen by Wahlen and Muller fleets. Charlemagne was also carrying the body of Yang Wenli, as well his wife Frederica which escort her husband back to place where they were born for his final burial. Other flagships, including Rustam, Palamedes and Muffuese form a tight defensive wall together with every other surviving Iserlohn ship, while Hyperion was towed behind the main line.
Both admiral's Wahlen and Muller came to Charlemagne giving their respects to Yang Wenli once again and even staying for coffee with vice admiral Harrow. After formation of Ba'alat autonomous region, vice admiral Harrow took Charlemagne and many other ships (around 6000) and hide them in two of the outer systems secret bases. Although Fleet admiral Mittermeyer later ask Julian Mintzi what happen to the ships, he couldn't tell, since he didn't know where vice admiral hide the ships, of course he did know but he couldn't say. But he did say to Mittermeyer "Vice admiral Harrow was solder, he consider his ships as solders as well, knowing him he couldn't allow them to be scrapped after passing so much, but don't worry admiral, those ships wont be used against Empire, as long as we could coexist"