Database and Lore

The Shinano Class Fleet Command Drone Carrier

“Many debate about the might of the great fleet carriers, but they still serve as the final counter to anything that might be hostile out there,” Former Captain Yoshi Lun of the UHN Shinano, 2347 AD. Of the many ships that are utilized by the UHN, none have made more of a surprise, awe- inspiring presence than the Fleet Drone Carriers. Designed as an experimental unit, the concept is one that was sound and ultimately earned a place in UHN history. They would fill a certain niche that the former Earth Aircraft Carriers serve today. Design For some time, with the creation of the UHN, there had been toyed ideas and drawn-up schematics of various carrier warships. Technically, in space, the idea of starfighters doesn’t really work. The biggest reasons for this are the fact that space is enormous. Investing in tons of tiny fighter craft means that they can easily be separated from their main carrier. Even shuttlecraft have to be built to certain sizes to carry the power reactors needed to sustain themselves. If the fighters are right next to their carrier, then they can at least provide an anti- missile defense. However, having pilots commanding them means putting the pilots at risk. The only true answer to developing a space carrier was to look at the former Earth’s past. By the late 2000s and early 2100s, humanity had already toyed and developed sea-faring drone carriers. These aircraft carriers could launch and deploy drones to carry the firepower needed to strike targets from hundreds of kilometers away. The pilots could effectively control them from the ship or some other installation away from the battle. They proved to work, but there were certain catches to using them. In space, a similar series of drone carrier warships were used, but they were rare. Most of the time, they were costly to produce. Another major problem was that the drones could not traverse great distances to attack targets. Their firepower was poor and didn’t carry the ability to ravage heavy-duty warships. However, their one true ability was the fact that swarms of small guided disposable drones could serve as effective anti-missile platforms if they were kept close to their ships. Early experiments before the evacuation of Earth proved to work, and some pre- exodus warships would even carry and operate them for basic defense. By the time the UHN was created, a growing desire to create a command carrier was considered. Unlike Earth, the UWA still had more resources. Despite this, it would take Mars at least fifty years before they would start putting together the idea of having a command carrier. Just after creating the Helix class Battleship, the UHN design staff began drawing up a carrier concept aimed at deploying and retrieving close support drones. The role of the upcoming Shinano class (also named after an Aircraft Carrier from former Earth) was to serve as a coordination vessel for large-scale campaigns. While limited in fuel and one second worth of 20mm ammunition, its close support drones still could target and destroy waves of guided munitions heading toward the carrier. They would all be controlled by quantum computers and personnel inside the ship. If forced to withdraw in emergency succession, the drones could be easily abandoned, and new ones built in the carrier. In large-scale campaigns, the drones could be deployed like nets or even travel in sphere formation around the other nearby battleships. For the carriers, the drones were their weapon, and its basic armament was more for self- defense. Another major issue with the design was the fact that the Shinano class Carrier was too big to be built in the 400-meter-long docks of Deimos Shipyards. Consideration was put in to have them constructed at Batrice and Gillan’s shipyards, but the UHN was afraid of putting too much stress on such a system. Agreements were made that the ships were to be built in two sections. Once they were completed, they would be launched, moved to Batrice, and pieced together at the shipyards. Any further heavy-duty maintenance could be handled at Batrice and Gillan in the future. It proved to be a viable idea, although the fact that each carrier would take up two slots in the assembly of the dock yards was not a popular decision. Other issues were considered when it came to the Shinano class. It was technically possible for a nuclear explosion to disable some to all of the drones. While the drones could serve as an effective shield at first, too many strikes could deplete the supply. Lasers could also target and wipe them out with sustained targeting. This was a shared issue that affected any potential probability of having starfighters. Without the drones, the carrier was little more than a simple oversized command vessel. Ultimately, it would be the cost that would determine the fate of how many ships could be built. The UHN wanted four carriers to be made in the course of one year each. Politicians disagreed, and only three would be constructed. The UHN Kitty Hawk, UHN Shinano, and UHN Kuznetsov were all built-in time. History The Kitty Hawk is considered to be the first drone fleet carrier in UHN service. Much tinkering, resolution of flaws, and rebuilding were needed to ensure that the vessel operated correctly. Surprisingly, little work was really needed, but the rigorous tests proved to be harsh to ensure that it was fully operational. Once it was seen, it took the stage of being the flagship of the 24^th-century UHN fleets. Technically, even then, the battleships were never assigned to operate in a carrier squadron unless needed. Most of the time, the carrier was simply kept in orbit over vital worlds. Eventually, the Shinano and Kuznetsov would be built with any issues corrected. In reality, the vessels were rarely ever used for over thirty years. The cheaper battleships simply saw more service even with the fear of the Nova Hamidou Pirates in the 2310s. While fleet exercises glorified the carriers as effective command vessels, they were just expensive ships. Only one carrier, the UHN Kuznetsov, would do a joint long-range traveling exercise in 2321. With three other battleships, an assault carrier, and a supply freighter, it would travel to five remote star systems, commit to mock engagements with “hostile” target worlds, and then return back. The so-called “Russian Job” proved that the vessels could operate in their intended role. However, it was also properly pointed out that the drones operational ranges sometimes forced battleships to be somewhat close to the carrier for the drones to operate effectively. By the time it reached 2349, only two carriers of the class were operational. The UHN Kitty Hawk was retired and scrapped for its components so that the other two carriers could remain in operation. Much like the fate of the Helix class, the carriers used some older parts that couldn’t be replaced. *Spoilers if you haven't read past Gabatrix: Minerva arc* As the Itrean threat had grown, the UHN made sure that every ship was available. When the Itreans were laying their sieges on Cipra, the UHN Shinano was sent from Mars to lead and command the defense fleet in the mid-portion of the period. It seemed promising that one of the carriers was present. The drones were effectively deployed and seemed to work correctly. At one time, several Itrean battleships would target the carrier or its adjacent battleships. The drones were effective in taking down the missiles before they struck, but a new situation was developing. Within a short course, the Itreans began to nuke the boundaries of the carrier’s drone net. This would start to disable more and more of the drones. Within a couple of days, the Shinano was fully depleted of its defense net. It would try to remain in orbit to continue providing command support, but it was being proven that it couldn’t hold out in the fight against a seemingly oversized alien resource. Eventually, another UHN carrier, the UHN Clemenceau, would come to relieve the Shinano so it could replenish its stock and repair any damages. Unfortunately, only basic repairs were being made, and it was proving that the newer drone carriers were facing the same dilemma. The Itreans simply kept pushing on their attacks. Eventually, the Clemenceau had to withdraw as well to repeat the same steps as the Shinano. More carriers were being considered to be sent, but it was drastically feared that it was leaving Cebravis and Mars at a vulnerable stage. The Shinano would have to return back to do what it could do. Sadly, the Shinano was not meant to survive. During the later mid-year, the carrier took multiple strikes. Once again, it was already depleted of its supply of drones and was little more than a sitting duck. A coordinated missile strike from the Itreans had finally finished her and the crew off. The shocking loss of the carrier was only a hint to the UHN that Cipra couldn’t be saved. Should the UHN continue to divert more resources and lose them or lose the planet? It was decided to withdraw and abandon Cipra. The UHN Kuznetsov is the last of the surviving Shinano class. She is kept at the Martian defense fleet and is one of seven operational fleet carriers as of the end of 2349. It is unknown how much longer it will remain in operation.