This ship does not exist.
Not officially any way. Narn Authorities have bluntly denied the
existence of Aqula, dismissing it wide remarks ranging from "a
vicious Centauri propaganda" and to "a laughable myth".
The truth is of course different.
During the last stages of the War of Retribution, the Narn high
command began to realize that at the current rate of ship losses,
it will soon become very hard to keep an upper have in space. The
Narns needed an ace. The Centauri were using raider hulls and raider
ships to stage raids undetected. The Narn Command Decided to divert
some of it's valuable marines, and the T'Loth cruisers supporting
them, to special "Acquisition" operations.
The first operation was lunched against a light Centauri warship
squadron, which was executing a "Violent System Patrol and
Evaluation", a mission which assess a system in preparation
for and invasion - a standard Centauri tactic. The squadron included
3 high speed elements (Vorchans and their Variants) centered around
a single Balvarin Carrier with 2 gunboat escorts.
Operation "Griped Throat" included the Ka'Rog, a T'Loth
cruiser, the Ka'Nar, another T'Loth cruiser converted to carrier
after her marine quarters were destroyed, and the entire system
defense force, which barely enough to defend against the Centauri
advanced force, let alone a full fledge invasion.
The plan called for the system defense forces to jump the 3 Centauri
fast elements, preventing them from returning to the aid of the
Balvarin, while the Ka'Rog and Ka'Nar jump the Balvarin, destroy
her escorts and fighters, board and capture her, and take her swiftly
into hyperspace.
The first part of the operation went well. Although they didn't
know why they are being jeopardized, the Narn captains fought to
their end. The Ka'Rog and Ka'Nar jumped the Balvarin and her escorts.
It is however the way of the universe that when things go wrong,
it's usually in the worst possible moment and with the worst possible
outcome.
And so when the Narns jump from hyperspace they found them selves
against the Balvarix class strike Carrier Aqula, with her full sqaudren
of Rutarians. The battle was fierce. In the end, both Centauri gunboats
were destroyed. All fighters, from both sides, were a part of a
huge cloud of derbies. The Ka'Nar was lifeless, her reactor shortened,
like a huge beats who heart stopped beating. The Ka'Rog was heavily
damaged. The Aqula took only minor damaged to her aft, and was now
closing for the final blow.
In a bold maneuver, the Narns tricked the Centauri captain into
believing they escaping the Ka'Rog aboard their assault shuttles
and breeching pods, the opened the distance from the ship. Then
they looped around the surprised Centauri, attaching to the aft
of the Aqula. This battle was short. After less then 20 minutes
the decks were red with Centauri blood. After transferring anything
of value from the Ka'Rog, its reactor was overloaded and exploded
to make the Centauri believe they've lost their Balvarix, and the
"newly acquired" ship left immediately on her way to safer
Narn space.
The Narn high command was not pleased. The price - 2 assault cruisers,
a full systems defense flotilla, and a system, no matter how insignificant
- was too much to pay for a single ship, even a Balvarix. It was
decided that the ship will be refitted for Narn use, and join the
dwindling lines of the Narn navy in her Centauri insignia, to be
used as a bait ship, and as a special operations cruiser, fielding
the new Tor'eth Heavy Interceptor.
The ship was entered to a shipyard in an out of the way system,
and began an extensive rebuild. Her side hangers were reduced in
size, to make room for more weapons, and remodeled to carry Tor'eth
interceptors as well as assault shuttles. Her side Matter Cannon
batteries were replaced with Pulse Cannons. Imbedded into the forward
section of the two forward booms of the ship, in the room cleared
by the reduction of hangers, two Ion Torpedo tubes were installed.
Both tubes were Heavily armored in order to prevent them from being
"raked off". Her main hanger was enlarged, and carried
12 Tor'eth, 2 assault shuttles and 2 breeching pods. Her weapons
were concealed to show as standard Balvarix and the ship kept her
name, name class, and of course her Centauri colors and insignia.
When she left space dock, the Aqula was sent as advanced recon into
the Gorash system. Posing as a Balvarin Carrier moving throw the
system on her way to the front, she collected valuable data before
the attack on Gorash 7. After the failed attack, her captain took
her back into the system, and was able to collect proof of shadow
involvement.
By the time the Aqula was on the way back home, the Centauri were
already bombing the Narn home world.
Upon Narn surrender, the Aqula joined the free Narn Navy, assisting
it with information, and special operations. Her captain was able
by the use of wise tactics, to keep her existence secret.
After Centauri withdrew from Narn space, the Aqula was used for
intelligence operations, in assistance to Sheridans AoL. During
this period more and more reports of the Aqula began to surface,
make it more and more difficult to keep it's existence a secret.
The solution came in the form of a disabled Gaim Solu fleet carrier.
The ship was retrieved by Narn forces after it was considered lost
by the Gaim. It was hastily repaired, rearmed with pulse weaponry
and named Aqula, giving Narn leadership the ability to shatter the
Aqula myth once and for all, while still operating, this one of
a kind ship.