Narn Regime Narn Balvarix Class Special Operations Carrier "Aqula" Class History 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. Explanation for SCS : The ship is crew by the Spec. Op.s marine team "Avengers of the Ka'Rog" - Veteran Narn Marines - basicly multiple all Narn ground troops bonuses by 2. The ships Ion Torpedos, light and medium Pulse Cannons are concealed to look like the Balvarix's Twin Arrays & Matter Cannon configuration. (I remember that rules for concealed weapons were posted on the quick test section on AoG's site, but since my RC is still on the mail I don't know if it became a part of the game) The ship is painted in Centauri colors and Insignia - as long as this is the only Narn ship on the board and as long as scenario didn't state otherwise, all other players treat this ship Centauri - It cannot be attack by a race friendly to the Centauri. The Centauri player will automatically loose in initiative as he is not try to gain the upper hand on his own ships, and cannot fire on it. (in case of multiple players, the Aqula will a automatically move after the last Centauri unit moves be that unit as it may) - this is as long as the Narn player did nothing to exposed the Aqula (I.e. fire it's Narn weapons or lunch it's Narn fighters)I In campaign games it is assumed the fighting fleets block each others long range communications. As long as no enemy ships leaves the combat alive, the Aqula's secrets remains. Ether wise she become a standard Narn war ship (ignore coloring and insignia effects as well as concealed weapons, Marine Bonus remains). Note: This design was thought up and created by Eyal Herstein. It was what he originally thougtht an improved Tor'eth would operate from. I like the design and concept. Aqula Special Ops Carrier r