INS-Justicar

[Cortana Clark]

⨳ INS-JUSTICAR
ARCHER-CLASS SIEGE CRUISER

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REGISTRY: 442A-Ω-JST
CLASS: Archer Siege Cruiser
LENGTH: 460m
CREW: ~85 Standard (120 Max)
STATUS: Active / Combat-Ready
ALIGNMENT: Liberty Insurgency Remnants

The INS-Justicar is an Archer-class cruiser stationed in Omega-55.
It’s currently attached to the INS-Fretensis and holding position nearby.
Most systems are working normally, and the crew is keeping to their usual patrol and maintenance shifts.
With central command gone, orders haven’t changed in a while.
Justicar hasn’t reported any major issues, and it’s considered one of the more stable ships still active. Right now, its job is simple:
stay close, stay alert, and back up the Fretensis if anything happens.

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▌ COMMAND CREW ROSTER

Cmdr. Ilyana Routh

Role: Commanding Officer
Background: Former Liberty Navy strategist turned defector. Known for tactical rigidity and
commitment to operational discipline.

Her presence aboard the Justicar has kept morale stable and hierarchy intact despite isolation.

Lt. Marien Kael

Role: Executive Officer / Systems Coordination
Background: Oversees core systems and reactor balance. Technically proficient, but outspoken.

Reluctant to trust makeshift repairs but continues to keep the Justicar combat-ready through ingenuity.

Mst. Sgt. Renn Jace

Role: Security Chief
Background: Veteran marine officer with a reputation for absolute loyalty.

Currently leads boarding repulsion teams and internal patrols during Omega-55 standby operations.

Spec. Lyle Carrick

Role: Communications & External Uplink
Background: Civilian specialist pressed into service during Vespucci evacuation.

Maintains Justicar’s data channels with other remnants and handles signal coordination.

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▌ CURRENT ORDERS

— Maintain escort position alongside INS-Fretensis in Omega-55
— Monitor sensor traffic and secure perimeters
— Await further instruction from Arbiter-level command

“We don’t ask why. We hold the line.”

[Cortana Clark]

⨳ PERSONAL LOG ENTRY
LT. MARIEN KAEL — SYSTEMS COORDINATION

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ASSIGNMENT: INS-Justicar
LOCATION: Engineering Subdeck
STATUS: Logged (Unrecorded)
CONDITION: Stable / Contained Frustration

If I have to re-run this calibration cycle one more time, I’m going to shove my arm through the coolant intake and hope the machine chokes on it.

The auxiliary heat loop's been drifting three degrees off-nominal for four days. It’s nothing critical. Nothing that’ll kill us. But it’s enough to remind me that this ship is dying, one tolerable error at a time. The Justicar's not breaking down — she's decaying. Quietly. With dignity. Like a war veteran bleeding internally, pretending it’s fine.

Routh walks the bridge like it’s still Vespucci. Controlled. Measured. Strong. I can’t tell if it comforts me or pisses me off. We both know this ship doesn’t have enough spare parts to get through another month. We both know Fretensis is a liability — she’s one coolant line away from becoming a drift monument. But neither of us will say it. We just… maintain. Pretend it’s all part of the plan.

Bornholm hasn’t answered our last request for reactor coils. They either didn’t get the ping or stopped caring. Not sure which is worse.

The reactor's running hot. Not dangerously — just hot. There's a sound it makes when it gets like this. It’s not in the diagnostics. It’s not even real, maybe. But I hear it like pressure inside a voice box. Like the ship wants to scream, but hasn’t decided how yet.


Routh asked me if the Justicar could hold if we had to jump. I told her yes, but I lied.

I’ll lie again if she asks tomorrow.

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“Just keep it running. Doesn’t matter how.”

[Cortana Clark]

⨳ PERSONAL LOG ENTRY
CMDR. ILYANA ROUTH — SHIP COMMAND

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ASSIGNMENT: INS-Justicar
LOCATION: Primary Command Deck
STATUS: Logged (Unrecorded)
CONDITION: Operational / Recon Pending

So, we got permission to explore the sector H-4 in O-55. We are currently preparing our departure along with two VHF as our escorts. What I can’t tell is if we are equipped for whatever we find there. Jace isn’t too happy about our recon tour but what does he want from me in the end we have a protocol to follow even if it means our bitter end.

Once we are in close proximity to the sector Carrick will have to monitor all the scanners and maintain high contact frequency with the Fretensis just in case we vanish like the EM Radiation.

Jokes aside, the escorts will hold at a range of eight to ten clicks, close enough to maintain visuals, but far enough to stay flexible. If for any reason we lose contact with either party meaning the Fretensis or the Escort ships, then we must immediately retreat, the crew also knows about this, as the Fretensis Remains our highest Priority.

Whatever we find there, I hope it won’t be too much to handle. But part of me hopes we find something, anything. Otherwise, I’m sure Captain Marshall will have words about wasting mission-critical resources on a glorified cruise. Well, no matter, the request was accepted, and our preparations are soon completed, once we arrive, we will do our best to find the source or the missing source, whatever the case may be.

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“We go in. Eyes open.”