UNSC Scepter of Hammers

== Preview ==
The UNSC Scepter of Hammers (C-325) was a Halcyon Class Cruiser used during the UNSC's war against the Insurrectionists and the Covenant Empire. It acted under the command of three officers, the final of which was an Admiral. The ship was destroyed during the Battle of Maritus in 2541 CE. 
== Design and systems ==
The Scepter of Hammers had no enhancements or upgrades installed to it until the Human-Covenant war. When the war started in 2525, it's current commanding officer ordered it to be outfitted with additional Archer Missile Pods and more 50mm Auto-Cannons to increase it's firepower and combat effectiveness. It also operated, like most UNSC ships, a Magnetic Accelerator Cannon. It's engines however, were never refitted unlike most other Halcyon Class Cruisers, and remained as the standard Mark II Hanley-Messer DFR Fusion Drives. For slipspace jumps it continued to use the familiar Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine. It was over 1,100 meters in length, over 350 in width and over 400 height, and built of a resistant Titanium-A hull plating.
== Commanding officers ==
The Scepter of Hammers has had three officers in charge of it's decks over it's years of service. The first was Captain Martin Rhodes, who had just recently been promoted and served on the ship from 2489 to 2492. The second commanding officer, Captain Maria Kowalski, took Rhodes's place after he was reassigned to another ship. She kept the ship safe for the time it was under her command, and the crew grew to respect and even like her. She was unfortunately assassinated during her last year of command in 2524. The third and final commander of the Scepter of Hammers was Admiral Philip Tekston. He was a skilled and seasoned officer, but even he couldn't prevent the ship being finally destroyed in 2541 CE over the world of Maritus.
== History ==
The Scepter of Hammers was first constructed in 2489, and used to combat insurrectionists in the Outer Colonies. It's first assignment was to destroy a captured UNSC Frigate that had been taken by the Rebels. The Scepter of Hammers accomplished it's mission within full parameters, with no casualties at all having caught the Frigate completely off guard.
In 2525, when the Human-Covenan began, the ship was placed under command of Admiral Philip Tekston of the UNSC Navy. He sailed the ship forth onto many glorious battles, including the Liberation of Harvest. The Scepter of Hammers
met an untimely end during the Battle of Maritus in 2541 CE, when it was destroyed along with it's entire crew and a full fleet of UNSC ships. Admiral Tekston was also killed in the detonations that occurred over the entire ship.