AuthorDrew The Phoenix was originally the Repulsive grand cruiser Exeter. Laid down in M34, the Exeter would distinguish itself in countless battles in the Gothic Sector. She was reassigned to the Norvellum Sector in the Eastern Fringe after most of the ships of her class turned traitor. Like the other Repulsive class ships that stayed loyal, the Exeter was sent to a remote sector where she could do little damage were she to fall from the Emperor’s light. Despite these suspicions the Exeter would go on to serve with honor for almost 5,000 years in the Norvellum Sector, mostly fighting Ork and Eldar pirates, but also clashing with Tyranids, Necrons, and even the Tau. Towards the end of M41 the Exeter fought a string of running battles with an Ork pirate force that had plagued the sector for centuries. The Admiral in command saw a chance to finally destroy the Ork force for good, so he chased the Orks for almost six months through warp and real space. Dozens of ships were lost and many took significant damage, but the Orks were force had been pushed to the brink and the Admiral was determined not to let the foul greenskins escape. The Exeter itself continued fighting despite significant damage to her hull, but the crew managed to keep her guns and torpedoes operational until the Imperial fleet finally cornered the last of the Ork ships. Captain Yost had been badly wounded a month before and Commander Barnes, the ship’s executive office, had taken command. In a bold and daring maneuver,
Commander Barnes ordered the Exeter straight into the enemy formation, and blasted the remaining Ork vessels to pieces. While Commander Barnes’ actions ended the threat, the Exeter was grievously damaged, and would have to undergo four years of repair work to make her void worthy again. While in dry dock, the sector Lord Admiral felt that a Repulsive such as the Exeter could be more useful if launch bays were added in place of some of the ships macro batteries. When the ship finally slipped from the docks above Morvidia’s primary moon, she was no longer a gun line ship, but a carrier capable of operating on her own or with little support if need be; perfect for a sector whose primary threat came from pirates. The refitted ship was recommissioned as the first of the new Exeter Class grand cruisers and renamed the Phoenix. Shortly after completing her void trials and setting out on her first patrol mission, the Phoenix was suddenly ripped from the warp and tossed out into real space far from her original destination. The crew attempted to establish their location, but could not see the Astronomican. They would soon realize that a Great Rift in the warp had torn the galaxy in two, and they had been stranded far from their fellow Imperial forces. Over the next decade, the Phoenix would slowly work its way back to Imperial space. During that time, she would clash with all forms of Xenos and Heretic fleets, as well as teaming up with other lost Imperial forces on occasion. For one 11-month stretch the Phoenix would sail with the strike cruiser Righteous Crusader of the Night Stalker Chapter. The grand cruiser would accrue its fair share of scars during this time, but would fortunately avoid any significant damage. She would finally reach the Morvidian System, capital of the Norvellum Sector and headquarters of Battlefleet Norvellum, just as the effects of the Great Rift tempered.
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AuthorA place were your army/fleet background and pictures can be published. Would ideally like to help contribute to the sectors narrative but its not necessary Archives
February 2022
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