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[EDG Enterprise]

Ship Profile 101218: Battleship Leviathan

Battleship Leviathan "Son of The Blue Sky"

"Alert! Alert! Alert!" thundered in all corridors of Falkland Station in Tau-37 where EDGE located its forward command center during deployment to Tau sector.
"Two Outcast dreadnoughts with multiple gunboat and fighter escorts jumped from Omicron Alpha. All EDGE pilots are to proceed immediately to the debriefing room. I repeat...", said female voice.
In a matter of minutes all pilots gathered in the debriefing room where Enforcer Jack Payton was quickly laying out the plan of action.
"In this operation we will be working closely with IMG defense wing and Colonial Remnant assault wing. While Colonials will be providing fighter support, we will coordinate our bombardment with IMG..."
"I want to fly a Manta.", interrupted one of the pilots.
"Shut the frakk up, Pike. You will be flying what I am telling you to fly, be it a Manta or a rubber duck. You understand me?"
"Perfectly, sir.", Pike's answer caused laughs amongst the rest of pilots.
"Now, as I said, we will be flying our bombers. First we will focus fire on enemy gunboats. Remember, Outcast dreadnoughts are usually equipped with anti-capital ship weaponry. Their turrets are too slow to really threaten our agile bombers. They won't be firing missiles to avoid friendly fire. Colonials will make enemy fighters busy. Our only concern will be gunboats. Watch out for their battle razors and turrets. After we deal with them we will focus fire on the enemy dreadnoughts. Remember, coordinate fire with your wingmen, watch your own backs and this will be a walk in a park. Any questions?"
Payton glared on pilots gathered in the room. They were all nervous but eager to fight. Nobody asked any questions. Payton checked his watch.
"Alright, I see everyone ready on the bomber deck in 5 minutes. Dismissed."

Tau-37: Battleship Leviathan "Son of the Blue Sky"

"We are approaching edge of Malvinas Cloud. Soon we should have visual on...", Payton's voice was hard to recognize in the noise caused by electrostatic activity of the niobium particles in the cloud.
"Holy sh**! Those beasts are big.", said Alfred Strauss, member of the bomber wing.
"Keep the comms clear, dammit. This is Jack Payton, blue wing leader. We've got visual on two Outcast Ranseur class dreadnoughts with one... two.. three... four... gunboat escorts and multiple fighters."
"Understood. Red wing, intercept and engage enemy fighters. Colonel Skalski over and out."
Colonial Remnant forces were waiting in the could for a signal to attack. Now, their eight Nyx class fighters suddenly appeared on scanners and engaged enemy fighters. In a matter of seconds thousands of energy blasts lit up already blinding aura of Tau-37. Lean Colonial ships were able to entangle broad Outcast vessels in a dogfight. However, with no other targets of opportunity, Outcast gunboats opened suppressing fire on Colonial forces. A silence interrupted only by brief commands of Colonial pilots coordinating their efforts taken reign over the comms.
"Danny, get the frakk out of there...", shouted Colonel Skalski.
"Roger that. Disengaging and returning to the base for repairs.", answered a pilot that got into concentrated fire of two enemy gunboats.
"Skalski here, we are under heavy fire from the enemy gunboats. Requesting bomber support now!"
"Where the hell are those Pythos?", asked Payton.
"Sir, they are not coming. Java reports that their defense wing is engaged in a fight with Outcasts in Tau-23. They won't be able to force their way to Tau-37.", after two seconds of silence one of the bomber pilots reported the situation.
"Dammit... Oh, frakk this. Blue wing, acquire targets, initiate bombing runs. Let's get them boys!", said Payton and engaged enemies in max thrust speed. Five bombers followed.

Tau-37: Battleship Leviathan in Malvinas Cloud

"Now dammit. Blow the frakker out!", shouted Payton over they comms. Four remaining EDGE bombers simultaneously fired antimatter beams into a hostile Tridente class gunboat. First two did not penetrate its shield, however, the third and fourth ones reached its hull, ripping of the shipboard and causing internal explosions. Soon-after the core of the gunboat exploded killing everyone on-board.
"That was the last one.", said Ryan Freeman, one of the bomber pilots.
"Enemy dreadnoughts are withdrawing. I repeat, enemy dreadnoughts are withdrawing. Stay in disruptor's range at all costs.", shouted Colonel Skalski.
Enemy commanders after losing several of their fighter escorts and all gunboats decided to withdraw. Two bulk ships set their course to Omicron Alpha jumphole. Remaining Outcast fighters changed their target priority to the remaining bombers.
"Blue wing, maintain disrupting distance and engage.", said Payton and started to coordinate bombing runs of his wing. One after another, bombers were sending antimatter beams into the huge dreadnought slowly wearing off its shield. However, each bombing approach was facing concentrated fire from the enemy fighters. Bomber pilots had to take safer approach trajectories or disengage at all. Colonials, mainly due to their loses were unable to provide suppressing fire. Time was running out. Dreadnoughts were approaching Omicron Alpha jumphole.
"It's a trap, everyone, retreat. I repeat it's a trap.", shouted Skalski.
"Requesting confirmation, enemy dreadnought is already limping!", one of the bomber pilots, Ugo Pike, said with resignation.
"Can't you see? They are luring us into a trap! God knows what they have on the other side. I repeat, everyone, retreat."
One by one Colonial and hunter vessels disengaged and set the course to home.

Atmosphere in the small rented office aboard Java station was really grim.
"You know Walter, this is pointless."
"What is pointless, Payton?"
"They throw dreadnoughts against us, we shoot them back with antimatter, bleed and die, and when they are nearly finished, they just turn tail and head to Malta"
"How many we lost?"
"Two bombers and one pilot. His escape pod fail-safe failed. Colonials lost three fighters and two pilots."
"Well, it worked here in Tau-23."
"We've got massive asteroid field here. Any bigger ship is a sitting duck and we can use rocks as a cover. But we need Aurora in Tau-37."
"Forget it. Aurora is not designed to face Outcast dreadnoughts. Not to mention it must stay in Coronado as a base of operations in Bretonia and Liberty."
"Then let's build another battleship. Designed only to finish off crippled dreadnoughts. Also we could use additional living space. Falkland is already overcrowded."
"Alright, alright. We will think about it."



Specifications

When EDGE moved their operations to Taus in order to secure IMG mining operations there, EDGE board had no idea what opposition they will be forced to face. Outcasts were deploying highly organized raid groups often consisting of multiple gunships and capital ships. EDGE had to invest and deploy additional capital ships. One of them was Leviathan, Enterprise second Mako class light battleship. Leviathan is equipped with a single antimatter Heavy Mortar, two long range missile launchers and eleven basic battleship turrets. It's main task is to finish off already damaged hostile dreadnoughts and serve as a forward command post and a resupply center. Additionally Enterprise financial offices are located on the battleship.

written by Guszaban