RE301 Hundasonda Dreadnought

Royal Elven Kingdoms

Hundasonda Dreadnought

      The Hundasonda represents a fundamental shift in elven ship design, a process which started with the refits of the mid- 2330s and the construction of the Kestrel and Bestra cruisers. Following the Dathedi model, the cruisers boasted massive engines and manoeuvrability and their primary defence, but at the cost of a correspondingly lighter weapons load. Both vessels used fixed lazer cannons and torpedoes as the primary armament. While they were by themselves not usually able to disable an enemy, their extreme manoeuvrability proved very useful.


      The Hundasonda is the ultimate expression of that philosophy – a highly manoeuvrable large dreadnought. The Hundasonda was conceived with no less goal of being a “Midnight-killer;” a ship capable of taking on the Aotrs Midnight-class Dreadnought on equal terms.


      The initial designs simply could not carry enough weapons to compensate for the Aotrs superior technology, and the hull was revised and got larger. The REN thus opted to continue to build using elven hull technologies, simply because the saiyvalyss as not rebuilt shipyards of sufficient size.  The production Hundasonda masses almost 25% again as its erstwhile target. This mass is propelled by advanced saiyvalyss engines to an acceleration of 16.5mc and 183 MEUs, more than sufficient to overhaul even the upgraded Midnight’s and mitigate the latter’s range advantages.


      To ensure it reached range, the Hundasonda was equipped with 7200TXq shields, and a saiyvalyss-armour skin rated to 24TXq; both equalling or exceeding the Midnight’s. And to protect from the swarms of missiles – and to provide extra short-range firepower – the Hundasonda carries a plethora of point-defence blaster and syvri batteries which collectively rate at a staggering 8940Xq.


      The primary firepower is provided by three spinal-mount lazer cannons, totalling an output of 1260TXq over an accuracy enveloper of 430 000TXq. Multiple lazer turrets with an accuracy envelope of 410 000km provide another 2496TXq of firepower to bear.


      This still left the Hundasonda somewhat undergunned for its size, and still without much of a counter to the Midnight’s superior firepower. Thus the elven designers took a novel approach. The Saiyvali had been experimenting with the concept of fitting numerous light torpedo batteries to their capital ships, to replace the short-ranged fixed syvri that is commonplace on their ships. Such systems were only good for one or two salvos before being expended, but the spike impact was significant. This theory found an ideal partner in the Hundasonda and its assigned targets.


      Thus the Hundasonda mounts thirty-two light torpedo tubes in four clusters in the nose. While each one only carries three Amhylathi (“radiant arrow”) light torpedoes, each warhead is rated at 103TXq, making a single salvo very dangerous within the accuracy envelope of 120 000km.


      In practise, this proved too loftier goal even for the combined technology base of the Royal Elven Kingdoms and the Saiyvalyss Alliance. The Aotrs’ technology was just too far ahead for the Hundasonda to stand a chance one-on-one. Two, however, would be more than a match.

      This was proven in October of 2348. The newly-formed Bright Accord alliance forces (consisting of the Royal Elven Kingdoms, the Saiyvalyss Alliance, the United Concorde of Divine Realms and the Zirakthargûm Divinity) launched an attack on elements of the Aotrs First fleet. The First Fleet vessels had just completed their refits and were preparing to re-join their operational theatre. While the FTL jump distance was within elven hyperspace jump distance, without the sensors of the UCDR, the elves had never been able to track the Aotrs Gate drives to be able to mount a successful assault. The UCDR, by mutual consent, took a backseat role in the attack, to preserve an element of surprise on their capabilities. Their primary contribution was to use tractor-configured vessels to two the Zirakthargûm Divinity elements into battle. (The dwarf hyperdrive otherwise would never have been sufficient.) No saiyvalyss vessels engaged in the battle, but many personnel were present on the joint craft, notably on the three Hundasondas deployed.


      The attack achieved tactical surprise – a significant achievement against the Aotrs. Hundasonda dreadnoughts Vana, Verya and Hundasonda Nelde, and their accompanying task force charged right into the Aotrs command group and destroyed the Midnight Dreadnought Witch Hour with a single salvo. The allied forces inflicted heavy damage on the Aotrs fleet before withdrawing ahead of Aotrs reinforcements. (Delaying too long would have put the dwarven element at significant risk.) Nonetheless, this was a resounding victory for the alliance, and the first defeat inflicted on the Aotrs navy for almost thirty years, since the commission of the first 10th generation Aotrs starships.