Toroinomokuba Maru

[Pepe]

Cruiser Toroinomokuba Maru, Yari class

Toroinomokuba Maru

Donau Rheinland cruiser, Yari class
Disabled 667 A.S.
Recovered 670 A.S.
Launched 675 A.S.
Status: Docked

Toroinomokuba Maru, meaning Troyan Horse, formerly was part of Rheinland Imperial occupation fleet. Flagged by powerful RNC-Richtofen, It was the largest ship in the fleet being able to break through Yanagi Nebula at that speed. Donau ship class has been produced in large numbers, generously financed by the Rheinland Military. It was very expensive war tool, but there was no malfunctions or other issues connected to that class. Ship system failures were leading to fast destruction in environments rich with GMG torpedo bombers.

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Losing RNC-Richtofen 660 A.S. was a huge blow for Imperial fleet. They became suspicious and were shooting first and then asking questions. They were hidden now, hunting lone GMG ships deep in Yanagi Nebula. No one was sleeping with both eyes closed any more. Fleet formerly flagged by RNC-Richtofen was commanded by several captains of Donau class cruisers still remaining in the fleet. Heavily armed by point defence cannons, Donau cruisers turned into a nightmare for GMG bomber pilots, even for most skilled ones. Ships agility didn't help the situation at all, as torpedos fired from safe distance couldn't hit. As years were passing by, destroying Donaus became priority. And also... how about stealing one?

It was the question of Guildsman Musashi Yasahiro and he asked it in front of the Board of Guild Managers. They were very interested in that, of course. He was present to their meetings pretty often, as his father Sakayo Yasahiro was most famous pilot at that time. He had strong connections and was happy to push his son as far from battle as possible. But young Musashi was young and hotheaded. And he was smart. And he had an idea.

Idea was to trick Donau security guards to leave the ship and break in from other side by surprise. It was early 667 A.S. and Rheinland fleet was crippled, mostly by fuel shortages. Idea was to make a bait they would never resist: a tanker full of fuel. Board of Managers was glad to give an old tanker, it was filled up with finest fuel and left to autopilot at Military patrol route, deep in Nebula. Transport's crew was replaced by balloons filled with hot air. Hot air was idea of young Guildsman Akito Namura and first trivia of this endeavour. Akito was an ancestor of famous Keiji Namura. A trap was set.

Transport was discovered by Military patrol in just couple of hours. Patrol reported it and soon one of Donaus covered by fighter wing was there. Battle started as soon as marines from Donau embarked the transport. Tens of swift Karasu fighters charged from the clouds of Nebula. They swarmed the fuel transport first and blasted it so heavily that many of Military pilots were blinded. Their aim was disrupted and they tried to find safety at Donau point defence range. The crew was busy and triggerhappy to shoot down Karasu wing, so no one noticed space ninjas breaking into Donau. They did their job fast, cruiser's decks were covered by blood and cruiser was taken. With her point defence shooting on Military fighters now, Karasu were victorious. Command of Donau was given to Guildsman Musashi Yasahiro himself. But...

Rheinland High Command officers weren't stupid. Ambushes were common in Yanagi Nebula those years and they quickly launched a counter-ambush. Being armed with point-defence cannons and covered by light Karasu wing, Musashi's cruiser was in very bad position when one of heavily armed Donaus was sent after him. Facing much better equipped opponent pushed Musashi into making a risky decision. He will try to escape via explosive gas pockets area.

It didn't go well.

In short exchange of fire, Military pursuers managed to damage her shield generators in the last second, so stolen Donau entered explosive environment with no shields. Explosions started to tear her hull panels apart and sharp pieces of metal were everywhere. They caused more explosions outside. They caused more deaths inside. GMG elite crew was dying under the rain of shrapnels. Second trivia of this endeavour was death of young Musashi Yasahiro. He died trying to repair his ship's shields, with arrow shaped metal going through his heel.

Systems at hijacked Donau stopped working one by one and she slowly vanished from radars of her hunters...

Third, but not the last trivia was death of Musashi's father. He never forgave himself for letting his son to this mission. He did sepuka suicide two days later at his chambers. Honor of finishing ritual by cutting Sakayo's head was given to his best friend. He had a daughter Mariko, that later got married to Akito Namura and they had seven children, making this fourth and finally last trivia of this endeavour.

War lasted for just a while... Military ships returned to their systems and salvaging what they left behind was the next step. Three years later gas pockets field moved away and unlucky cruiser was discovered. She was in a very bad shape, same as Guildsman bodies found inside. Ship was towed secretly to dry docks to be repaired eventually. Stealing the Donau was success at the end and brave Guildsman ceremonial funerals were breaking GMG news for weeks. Thanks to high quality of her systems, cruiser was easy to recover. She was named to Toroinomokuba Maru and launched 675 A.S. She had several test flights and all were successful. Now Toroinomokuba Maru is docked at safe place, under the label: secret weapon, use in extreme situations only.