FSS Erlebar

The FSS Erlebar (SV-73139) is a 2nd century Vernarcan Federation Kalar-class starship in operation from its launch from Molgi in 120 AC to the present day. A science and exploration starship first and formost, the Erlebar took part in a great many historical events, including first extended contact with the Obilehem Intelligence in 124, negotiations with the First Federation for historical records, several major engagements in the War of the Broken Bow including the liberation of Teralla, and the pivotal Battle of the Colony. It was also initially launched as a testbed for a variety of new technologies including an experimental new form of warp drive. The Erlebar was launched under the command of Hiraki Talas, and was later commanded by distinguished Kesstra captain Osusan il-Anri il-Rana until his death in 143. Captain Airilli after taking his place led the ship into the climactic Battle of the Colony at the close of the War of the Broken Bow.

History

Construction and Launch

The FSS Erlebar was constructed at the massive Kosi Dareyya Shipyards orbiting within the rings of Molgi in the Quantis System, and officially launched from there in late 118 AC alongside the FSS Neitzel and Pauli. Taking its name from the legendary explorer Lrisi Erlebar of ancient Erdath, the ship would live up to its namesake in the coming years. Its first captain Hiraki Talas of Varbudos had lofty hopes of uncovering infinities of new knowledge about the space in which the Federation lived, and exploring strange new worlds beyond.

Among the first Kalar-class ships being launched that year, Erlebar was launched as the testbed for a new form of warp travel, theorized to increase speeds upwards of 1,700 c. Dubbed "The Great Experiment", this form of warp drive was conceived during the latter days of the Falacian Cold War as a substantial improvement upon the pre-conflict warp drives. The first six months or so of its initial trial runs were spent ironing out the kinks in the new drive's effects, modifications which took the form of the addition of variable geometry nacelle pylons during the first refit. These modifications carried over to the production run of the class, including the renowned Kareland.

Designed under radically new principles of propulsion, the Erlebar had the potential for breaking the superluminal speed record of 840 c and becoming the fastest starship in the Vernarcan Federation yet, but despite doing so on its first flight it refrained from going directly to its theoretical top speed for the first six months. These trial runs were extremely successful, and the updated designs were quickly rolled out across the fleet's existing ships and implemented in those still under construction.

After its speed and stress testing shakedown cruise, Erlebar 's full scientific suite was added in a quick refit at San Ska Re Shipyards over Verri, giving it a suite of powerful sensors across the hull as well as several other optimizations based on the results of those tests. The previously empty Science Pod was filled up with all the requisite equipment normally found there, and the starship set off on its first mission in the line of duty.

First normal missions

Contact with the Obilehem Intelligence

Osusan's six-year mission

Explorations in the Hinthorn Sector

War of the Broken Bow: Battles against the Alliance

War of the Broken Bow: Fighting the Void

Battle of the Colony

Technical data

Similar to its more famous sister ship Kareland, the FSS Erlebar was built and launched as a fairly standard Kalar-class starship less than a year before Kareland left the slip. In terms of physical arrangement, the hull's fifteen decks are split between a ~150 meter long arrowhead module, which can separate and operate independently in a pinch, a long, slender multipurpose midsection, and the engineering module in the rear.

The Erlebar 's structure is based in part upon the principle of variable geometry, with multiple possible configurations. The three flight pods attached to the slender midsection are a key example of this, as they are used as large landing bays and to launch auxiliary craft in the correct direction at high speeds when deployed. The flight pods can be retracted into the hull. Four nacelles extend from the sides of the aft engineering hull on slim pylons, the angle and length of which can be adjusted rapidly to maintain the most efficient warp field.

The Kalar-class heralded a decrease in the average size of ships launched by the Federation, at around half the length of the larger Providence and Riddle classes of the Falacian Cold War era. This came with an increase in the numbers of ships produced, more than compensating for their smaller individual sizes alongside the increased technological development of the time.

Modifications for the Battle of the Colony

After the return of the FSS Kareland, many Kalar-class starships were outfitted with the new technology that Kareland returned with. Taking advantage of the principle demonstrated by Kareland during the Battle of Chundou in the Vilari Cluster, Erlebar was paired with the Valiant-class FSS Neitzel during the Battle of the Colony for organized use of the jump tactic to remove enemy ships from the board. Like every other ship participating in the battle, Erlebar was outfitted with a Void spatial projector replicated from Kareland 's logs, allowing it to enter the Void Underspace and reach the Colony within a reasonable timeframe. Zero-Point Torpedoes were also installed in the weapons systems alongside improved shielding pilfered from the Kormin Empire.