GNFS Renaissance

[Groshyr]

Service History • Description

GNFS Renaissance Charlemagne-class Carrier

Laid down: 2 September 694 AGS

Launched: 28 December 698 AGS

Comissioned: 13 November 700 AGS

Homeport: Rambouillet Shipyard, Ile-de-France

Status: In active service

General Characteristics

Type: Spacecraft Carrier

Propulsion: • Twin CNO-R Battleship Powerplant • "Briseur du Vide" Jump Drive Mark IV

Complement: • x4,296 equipage • x312 space wing

Crew: 4,608 (including space wing)

Sensors and processing systems: • AP "Lunette" BB-BC Sensor Complex Mark II

Armament: • x2 "Heavy Trebuchet" BB Antimatter Cannon • x2 C-48 "Cerberus" BB Cannon • x2 "Gale" BB Cannon • x2 "Sledge" BB Primary Turret • x2 EM-1 BB Pulse Cannon • x8 "Tempete" BB Secondary Turret • x2 "Nuage Noir" Flak Turret • "Révélateur" Cloak Disruptor

Defences: • x1 "Guardeur II" BB Heavy Graviton Shield • x1 Grade VIII "Tatou" Armor Plating

Spacecraft carried: • x16 XJ-1 "Caracal" Light Fighter • x48 XJ-3 "Lynx" Very Heavy Fighter • x24 BXJ-5 "Cougar" Bomber • x6 MCU-1 "Aurochs" Freighter

↑ Service History

The Renaissance is the flagship and mobile headquarters of the Gallic Security Bureau; belonging to the Charlemagne-class, it is one of the last few remaining, launched on 28 December 698 AGS and commissioned on 13 November 700 AGS on Rambouilette Shipyard. A well-balanced ship in her time, thick lairs of armour protect the crew from anything that space or the enemy can throw at her. However, despite the multiple lairs of defence and not lacking in offensive capabilities, she does have some disadvantages due to her age and other deficiencies such as lower damage output from her main batteries.

The ship was designed to act as a spacecraft carrier and support platform for the newer, more offensive-oriented Normandie-class and her successors, and was initially stationed in Burgundy under the command of Commandant Serge Malenfant during the Second Gallic War, before the Reunion. In 730, following the aftermath of the Languedoc Campaign, she was transferred for service in the eastern and southern part of the system, and in early 731 back to Burgundy, returning to her original duty after the outbreak of the Great War with Sirius. In 735 AGS a new Captain was appointed - Commandant (CV) Antonin de Lusignan.

Following the escalation of the war between the Kingdom of Gallia and the Allies, the Renaissance and the rest of her battlegroup was ordered to Leeds for reinforcing local forces. The 12th Royal Fleet was given the primary task of providing security to Stokes and the surrounding field: to seek out intruders, smugglers and prevent unauthorized ships from entering the occupied area. Space carriers like the Renaissance have become valuable assets for such tasks, often acting as a mobile coordination center for smaller groups.

She was present when the Allied fleet has started the operation, later known as "Royal Flush"; led by Battleship Oubli, the Royal Navy despite having significant losses including Oubli itself repelled the Allies and pushed them out of Leeds. After rapid repairs at Issoudun, The Renaissance was recalled to Burgundy. Commandant de Lusignan, alongside many other officers from Renaissance's crew, were medaled for honour and skills they performed over planet Leeds.

Upon return, the Renaissance was put on modernization queue, however, this never happened come to pass: following the fall of the Kingdom in 742 AGS and the subsequent ceasefire over New Paris, her Captain and crew sided with the Enclave during the Interregnum and were chased out of Gallia by Confederal Defense Forces and Intelligence Service until they managed to hide under the protection of the Royal Navy in the system of Roussillon in the middle of 742 AGS. Although she was damaged, after the rapid repairs the ship was returned into the service of the Royal Navy under Commandant Antonin de Lusignan.

The Renaissance kept her service to the Royal Navy as a part of the Allegiance Battlegroup led by the Allegiance. She was also present during the battle of Edinburgh where the Battleship Allegiance was destroyed, leaving the Rennaissance cut off from resources and subsequently was forced to abandon the system. The Royal Navy in the meantime gained a foothold over Planet Quillan and moved the remaining fleet there, preparing for a fight against Kusari Naval Forces. The Confederal Defence Forces, damaged but unbowed, followed the regrouping Kusarians and coordinating their actions with the Royal Navy, paying a tribute in lives and ships, managed to push the invading Naval Forces out of Gallia.

Eventually, with the Reunification of the Gallic Nation and the formation of the Security Bureau, the Renaissance became the flagship and mobile headquarters of the agency. The ship has received general repairs and well-needed modernization, however, she remains a Charlemagne-class warship.

↑ Description

The Charlemagne class warship was designed in the 680s specifically for defensive and support purposes. Battleships of this class are capable of holding and maintaining large numbers of fighters and are equipped with powerful point defence turrets, yet lack the powerful anti-capital ship armament. During military campaigns, Charlemagne battleships are used as the rearguard for advancing forces and for guarding supply lines. They are also used for system defence purposes. While stationed within a system, a Charlemagne also serves as a base of operations for the local Navy patrols.

Propulsion

Powered by twin CNO-R Battleship Powerplant, the Renaissance is capable of sustaining all of its systems, including propulsion. Her age, however, led to some minor issues presenting themselves after her last refit - The newly installed systems were more demanding resulting in the original singular core becoming unstable. The second reactor was engineered into the design of the Renaissance, forcing the internal layout to change dramatically.

Since the installment, small energy fluctuations have become frequent when multiple systems are being run at one-hundred percent, though it has been reviewed that the combat effectiveness of the vessel, has not been compromised.

Armament and protection

In addition to spacecraft carried on board, the Renaissance carries defensive equipment for use against missiles and hostile spacecraft along with long-range artillery weaponry to use against hostile warships. These consist of two "Trebuchet Lourd" BB Antimatter Cannons designed as long-range heavy artillery and two "Gale" Battleship Cannon designed to render significant damage at extensive range.

The other countermeasures the ship use is two "Nuage Noir" flak turrets that physically disrupt missiles and torpedoes and can act as close range anti-fighter weapons if the need arises. The carrier also uses the AP (Active/Passive) "Lunette" (BB-BC) complex, allowing it to detect, jam and disrupt hostile radar signals in addition to the electronic warfare capabilities of some of the craft on board (see MCU-1).

The carrier is equipped with "Révélateur" Cloak Disruptor that works similar to the Cloaking Devices technology it has been designed to nullify: it emits a broad-spectrum Omni-directional EM pulse which, while harmless to shielded vessels, overloads and collapses the masking field of a cloaked ship.

Carrier space wing

A typical Charlemagne's wing included 24-36 XJ-2 "Serval" Heavy Fighters or the same number of XJ-3 "Lynx" Very Heavy Fighters, however, the Renaissance's wing was extended up to 48 XJ-3 "Lynx" Very Heavy Fighters as the main defence of the carrier against hostile bombers. The standard 12 XJ-1 "Caracal" Light Fighters were extended up to 16, which providing the carrier with a solid scout wing, that also can serve as an interception force. The bomber wing was extended by 4 crafts and now numbers up to 24 BXJ-5 "Cougar" Bomber. 6 MCU-1 "Aurochs" Freighters were refitted for electronic warfare but despite smaller cargo hold still can serve for logistics needs if need be.

Flight deck and spacecraft facilities

The landing deck is the main recovery spot for all inbound vehicles up to freighter-sized ones. It is also the main launching location of auxiliary craft that are too large or bulky to launch from the tubes next to the hangar door. The decks have all the commodities needed to maintain spacecraft operations, such as fuel lines, electrical umbilicals, pressurized airlocks, and maintenance vehicles; they are usually overseen by the ship's designated landing signal officer.

The flight deck is situated directly next to the landing bay and connected via a series of specialized air-tight elevators; it is the main staging that is taking 1/4 of the entire ship's space area where vessels are stored, maintained and readied for launch: at the main chamber, the fighters and bombers are kept along the back wall in a series of alcoves where they are connected to electrical umbilicals, diagnostic computers, and fuel lines, allowing mechanics and deckhands to be able to repair and refit each craft before their next operation.

Six entrances to the launch tubes are located in the same chamber: before being launched, a small craft is being moved into position by modified reach forks, and then pushed into the tubes by deckhands, where it is then prepped for launch by the launch supervisor.


Notable defects

• Energy fluctuation and cooling issues when multiple systems are being run at one-hundred percent.
• When moving at full impulse, severe vibrations in the lightly armoured compartments of the ship.
• Unreliable turret design: the Renaissance has to carry additional teams of engineers to keep the turrets working.