The Mauridian Patriarchs remained in quiet contemplation over the query. An improvement to the vessel would bode well for the staggering and depleted Fleet. But to incur such additional debt…

“This is something you must approve,” Kaga De’Canette responded curtly. Few of the Nummidian ruling families were still in the Capital much less sitting with the new Patriarchs. This was a testament to De’Canette’s abilities and his importance to the fledgling Mauridian Government.

“Your going to need all the ships you can get.”

- Nummidia Prime, VED350-DAL23-QUA0 (January 16, 3015)

HISTORICAL & PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW-

The Mauridian regime is young and still learning its place in the galaxy. After overthrowing their Nummidian masters less than 60 years ago, they have struggled both politically and financially in stabilizing their newfound fortunes. Without even firing a shot the Mauridians quickly found themselves engaged in political turmoil with the Kharadorn Empire, which maintains a deep feud with the Nummidians. Diplomatic talks between the two capitals quickly disintegrated; since the Kharadorn view Mauridians as belonging to the same ilk as their former masters. It is currently a time of struggle for the Mauridians, problems at home and abroad challenge their mettle and they continue to search for ways to increase their standing in the galaxy without crumbling under their own weight.

Much like their Nummidian forbearers, the Mauridians pride themselves on quick reaction and decisiveness in combat that revolves around complex and intricate strategies and tactics. Many of their customs find beginnings built on this foundation with a deep respect for versatility and flexibility in the face of adversity. It is no surprise that the Mauridian military doctrine was created around this exact way of thinking and permeates their Army and Navy resources. However maintaining and improving a fleet capable of meeting the quick reaction times and tactical demands of a flexible fighting force across their sphere of influence has proven costly. The Mauridians currently operate with tremendous fiscal deficits and as a result face constant political strife by members of their government who feel that “a better job can be done”. The truth of the matter is this government, novice as it is, has strengthened the galactic fleet, made tremendous headway in technology and tactical know-how, and has increased the quality of life for all the Empire, Nummidian and Mauridian alike.

The strength of the Mauridian fleet has come from of their frigate workhorse – the Ba’Negva, which translates as “Swift Blade”. Built around a philosophy of maximizing potential while minimizing the financial burden, the Ba’Negva is seen as a ship that can transform itself to meet a variety of tactical expectations. In essence, the Ba’Negva once considered a cheap superfluous addition to Nummidian Expeditionary Forces, as become an essential component in the newly rebuilt Mauridian Expeditionary Forces.

Many of the Ba’Negva’s strengths come from its predecessor the Ba’Vaceau (“Swift Assassin”). The Ba’Vaceau pioneered the hull reconfiguration abilities being implemented on ships throughout the Nummidian and now Mauridian fleet. For example, the hull is interchangeable allowing different configurations to be employed. The crew quarters, engineering sections, and weapons systems can be modified with relatively little downtime. This has created the philosophy of “the right tool for the right job”. This flexibility of the Ba’Negva class ship has proven a cost effective platform for an otherwise costly defense budget. This has provided the fleet with a quick and powerful vessel able to function in numerous galactic hotspots with tremendous success.

As engineers began work on refitting the Ba’Vaceau, newer technological developments were being implemented in every compartment. Life support, artificial gravity, as well as the ship’s electronics and sensor suites were being overhauled and upgraded to allow for increased energy efficiency. In addition, the engines became more robust allowing for faster sublight speeds and greater accuracy and safety for hyperspace jumps. All of these upgrades resulted in an overall newer design in engineering methodology for the frigate. It was decided that a new name and class was in order – the Ba’Negva was born.

The primary weapon system of the Ba’Negva is the Light Pulsar Cannon, or simply, Pulsar Cannon. The pulsar cannon is similar to the particle accelerator cannons used by the Terran fleets and has commonality in its design and overall functional specifications. However there is one major difference between the pulsar cannon and its ‘Earthly’ counterpart. The pulsar cannon features a higher injection rate that maintains particle continuity allowing for improved accuracy. Combined with a sophisticated firing and tracking system the Ba’Negva can achieve unequalled precision while maintaining high speeds throughout an engagement. The higher injection rate also reduces the reaction time between discharges resulting in a higher rate of fire. Even though damage from a single burst is not as powerful as the Terran particle accelerators, the pulsar cannon can effectively deliver more damaging shots to a target in the same amount of time. This has created the illusion of the pulsar cannons being slightly more powerful. These benefits do come at a cost. The higher injector rate provides poor beam attenuation, which causes energy diffusion over greater distances; this reduces the beam’s firepower and accuracy at long range. Because early designs of the ship featured great dependence on the Light Pulsar Cannon, tacticians relied on the vessel closing with enemy targets in order to be truly effective. This has allowed the Ba’Negva to earn a reputation as a knife fighter, as its name implies, and crews of the ship take great pride in this fact.

Engineers quickly set out to correct some of the problems with the pulsar cannon. By providing the primary injectors with boosted amplifiers, more stable beam attenuation could be maintained. This provided the pulsar cannon with greater range and striking power. Unfortunately the new amplifiers decreased the fire rate by delaying the time needed to positively charge the internal coils. However this was considered a negligible sacrifice due to the benefits gained. In order to properly house the amplifiers the overall configuration of the weapon had to be increased resulting in a bigger and bulkier design. This led to a change in the name of the weapon as engineers referred to the layout as “heavy.” The term was used so extensively by various design teams that it stuck: giving birth to the “Heavy Pulsar Cannon.”

Before the newer and heavier weapons could be mounted, another engineering problem had to be overcome. The bigger design required greater energy outputs by the vessel. Traditional Ba’Negvas generated enough energy on paper, but trial runs proved otherwise. Engineers quickly saw that miscellaneous ship systems monopolized electrical router couplings. Various elements, such as sensors, and communications in effect “stacked” energy for use, even when these elements did not require such surpluses of energy. Tests showed that in order to maintain proper combat systems during a battle, energy consumption forced crews to reroute power from other areas of the ship. Most crews rerouted power from life support and some even closed whole areas of the vessel in order to maintain firepower and defensive capabilities. By redesigning the primary energy couplings the ship’s computer could now regulate power flow on a microsecond level. The Ba’Negva actually computes and predicts energy consumption making slight adjustments to the amount of power a system is allowed to have at any given moment. This modification allowed engineers to maximize the energy of the ship without having to redesign power generation capabilities.

Early designs of the Ba’Negva had success but commanders felt that additional firepower was needed. Since energy outputs were still a concern a new weapon platform was sought. In the end, fusion missiles were determined to be the best operational fit. Fusion missiles could be fired and delivered to a target under their own power; dependence on the missile carrier for energy was not a concern. The addition of fusion missiles not only provided the Ba’Negva with a secondary weapon type, but they also launched the ship into a different operational role. The explosion of a fusion missile results in an EMP, or electromagnetic pulse. Most vessels are shielded against such low shield burst emissions, but the Hyperspace Quantum Waveform is highly susceptible to EMP of any magnitude. With a waveform disrupted a ship cannot effectively “fold space” leading it to become trapped. An enemy has no other option than to fight their way to victory so that hyperspace travel can commence. The speed of the Ba’Negva allows it to harass fleeing ships, effectively retaining them in-system until reinforcing Mauridian ships can arrive on station.

PRODUCTION OVERVIEW-

The Ba’Negva Assault Frigate Type 1 was first introduced in 2963 (Terran calendar) and was in production through 2978. The design featured Light Pulsar Cannons both forward and aft with Heavy Pulsar Cannons situated port and starboard. This configuration gave the Ba’Negva strength in all corridors of opportunity, however due to the ship’s speed and maneuverability fleet captains were able to limit enemy firing lanes. This resulted in most of the Ba’Negva’s capabilities remaining stagnant in battle. Demand from Nummidian commanders prompted a change in the weapon layout.

The Ba’Negva Type 2 began production in 2975 through the height of the Nummidian Civil War in 2994. The type 2 featured greater firepower forward by removing weapons from port and starboard. Maximizing the ships operational strengths proved that remounting weapons could be a tremendous boost in firepower throughout an engagement. This played right into the military doctrine and tactical expertise being displayed in combat. Ba’Negva captains found great results in screening the rest of a battle group, effectively providing cover for advancing ships. With its increased firepower directed forward a Ba’Negva could rush position, guns blazing, and still retain its ability to disengage quickly and effectively. Once the Ba’Negva made contact with an enemy formation, allied fighter craft could engage, targeting critical sections of a fleet. This combination was used to great effect by the Mauridians to disrupted enemy formations forcing many Nummidian ships into full retreat within minutes.

After the Mauridians declared victory of their Nummidian masters the Ba’Negva Type 3 made its appearance. Hostilities increased with the Kharadorn Empire and with a renewed rivalry with this old enemy came new strategies and tactics against Mauridian ships. The Kharadorn commanders were not fearful of close quarter fighting, as their ships were more maneuverable to handle such engagements. More agile and better armed, Kharadorn vessels had greater capabilities that left the Mauridian lightning tactics closing with an enemy only to find the opposing ships to be fully operational. The Ba’Negva now needed to deliver firepower up close as it quickly found itself being surrounded on all sides. Extra firepower was needed around the hull of the ship to engage enemy vessels in any direction. Thus the type 3 featured a redeployment of Light and Heavy Pulsar Cannons to port and starboard while maintaining strong firepower forward. This layout gave the ship the stability it needed to engage and disengage a more agile and aggressive opponent. The type 3 was in production for 21 years and still remains active in many Mauridian fleets.

In 3040 the Ba’Negva Type 4 was introduced. The type 4 was the first to feature fusion missiles and sported enhanced ECM and stealth suites. Overall firepower was increased allowing the vessel to engage heavier classes of enemy ships primarily Kharadorn vessels. The speed, firepower, and electronic systems of the Ba’Negva type 4 make this version, arguably one of the best frigates in the galaxy. In 3056 Terran operatives, hoping to reverse engineer the Ba’Negva, were able to capture a type 4 at the battle of Slide Rock, but the Mauridians deny such an action took place and acknowledge losing a Ba’Negva due to a catastrophic failure of the hyperspace drive. Meanwhile Mauridian engineers have been redesigning their workhorse once again, which features a completely different electronics package and subspace signature adding to the stealth features of the ship. Only time will tell if a type 5 finds its way into the fleet.

NOTABLE VESSELS-

Ba’Dengara (MAF-226)- While investigating transmissions of unknown origin, the Ba’Dengara happened upon an ancient probe orbiting an uncharted planet deep in the Galactic North close the where the Nummidians, Kharadorn and Pantarans share the same border. Lacking the scientific resources to fully analyze the unmanned craft and unwilling to tamper with it by pulling it aboard, the frigate called for assistance and kept the probe under surveillance.

More vessels arrived, but to the surprise of captain Gaul’Teveaux, commanding Ba’Dengara, the vessels were Pantaran surveyor vessels. They were in the area and they, evidently, were also attracted to the alien signals emanating from the unknown probe.

Not wanting to tangle with this Type 1 frigate, the surveyor’s obeyed Ba’Dengara’s warnings to stay clear. However, Gaul’Teveaux knew that it wouldn’t be long before Pantaran warships would appear to press the issue. It became a question as to who would arrive first- Nummidian reinforcements or a Pantaran War Fleet.

Hyperspace insertions were detected minutes later and, to Gaul’Teveaux’s relief they were Nummidian research vessels with a small detachment consisting of a Ven’Tara, two Ba’Radas and three more Ba’Negvas. It was at that moment, the Pantarans, in a desperate move, approached the probe. One surveyor vessel, using jury-rigged beam weapons, engaged the Ba’Dengara while the other advanced at full speed to snatch the probe. The attack, while surprising, did little damage to the Nummidian frigate. But, it did do its job- the Pantarans got the probe and were minutes away from getting a clear hyperspace translation vector and escaping to the safety of their own borders.

With the other Nummidian ships still too far out to be of any assistance, the Ba’Dengara was on her own. Racing past her makeshift assailant, the frigate took to chase the surveyor that had swiped the probe out from under her. The Ba’Negva was much faster than the surveyor and with a few well-placed shot’s to Pantaran ship’s thrusters, the Ba’Dengara was able to overtake her. Boarding parties secured the mysterious probe easily and the Pantarans were then ordered out of the system.

It was later discovered that the probe was an ancient Earth probe, the Copernicus series of unmanned deep space probes launched in the Mid-22nd Century. To this day, researchers are baffled at how this meager probe got so far unscathed and how it remained active for so long.

Ba’Lounetev (MAF-2856)- Terran year 2998 saw the heaviest fighting between the beleaguered Nummidian Expeditionary Forces and the Mauridian Revolutionists. Several victories had emboldened the Revolutionists to take riskier action against their former Nummidian masters. In a very daring move, they attacked the Dea’Vedereau Shipyards, one of the largest naval facilities in the Empire.

To lose these shipyards would represent a crushing defeat to the Nummidians and all but cripple the NEF. Capturing these shipyards would essentially increase the Revolutionists’ fleet ten-fold. The battle for Dea’Vedereau would be marked as not only the most pivotal battle in the Mauridian Revolutionary War, but also one of the largest naval engagements in galactic history.

Taking the shipyards was no easy matter. In addition to some fifteen Nummidian task forces that guarded the facility, there were enough static defensive emplacements to give even the mightiest of fleets pause. It took the Mauridian Revolutionists three months of planning and strategizing to build a fleet sizable enough to assault Dea’Vedereau. With intricate logistics maneuvering and cunning hyperspace traffic, the Mauridians were able to built a fleet of close to thirty task forces, roughly the entirety of their space borne might. In essence this gamble was an all or nothing shot.

The Ba’Lounetev, under the command of Mauridian Evect Lol’Dulscka, was attached to a group of other Type2 Ba’Negvas whose sole assignment was the daunting task of clearing the shipyards static weapon emplacements. Grouped into squadrons of three, the Ba’Negvas used their heavier forward weapons to engage and destroy the static emplacement at range. And, their high maneuverability allowed them to dodge attacks from the Nummidian defenders that attempted to engage them to draw them away from the shipyards.

Despite heavy resistance from the Nummidian loyalist forces, the crew of the Ba’Lounetev stayed true to their mission and cleared nearly half of the static emplacements by themselves. Without the withering firepower from the shipyard defenses, the Nummidian fleet was forced to withdraw, thus conceding the Dea’Vedereau Shipyards to the Revolutionists.

The Ba’Lounetev earned itself and her crew high honors of valor in this crucial battle for Mauridian sovereignty. Lol’Dulscka now serves as a Gal’Evect and the Ba’Lounetev’s crew is immortalized as living legends for their bravery in that battle.