RLS Fervent

The *RLS Fervent* was an *Exeter*-class warsloop in service of the Terran Royal Navy. Built by Laquina Dockyards in 13 BTP, the ship has gained notoriety within the Empire due to frequent incidents that involve it and its crew.

## History

### Pre-Launch

Even before the ship's commissioning, the *Fervent* would quickly gain a reputation. Prior to launch, the unfinished hull would frequently fall off of its cradle and would require resetting and repairs. In addition, dockworkers would be plagued by "minor inconveniences" when working on the ship, ranging from lost tools to boards coming loose and falling off. With these isolated to the *Fervent*, many dockworkers claimed the ship was cursed. Because of these problems, the *Fervent* was substantially delayed and given lower priority over the other *Exeter*-class ships being produced at the shipyard. Eventually, however, the *Fervent* was launched from the slipway into the etherium, where its ropes promptly snapped. The adrift hull then proceeded to collide with a pair of docked fishing boats.

### Early History

While under final construction, the *Fervent* would come untied from the dock and drift several times before its etherium trials. The tone of the ship's career coming to bear when its engine gimbal jammed. Without steering, the ship collided headfirst into the fast frigate, *RLS Atlantis*, requiring further repairs. Eventually, though, the *Fervent* would successfully complete her trials and would be ready for commissioning. The ship would be put under the command of Ensign Piper Burton, however during the commissioning, the ship broke free of its mooring once again, with the tug *RLS Hecate* causing damage to the ship upon trying to tow it back into port. Due to a combination of these events, and the shipyard wanting the ship gone, the *Fervent* was cleared for Imperial service and set course for its home port of Vickers.

### Service

On its maiden voyage, the *Fervent* her commander would both get lost in an asteroid belt and run aground on an island in the space near the Imperial capital. Eventually being given an escort by the cutter, *RLS Sentinel*. However this would not last, as the *Sentinel* would suffer a mechanical breakdown mid-voyage. An incident that was blamed on the *Fervent's* "curse", as the *Sentinel* had just completed an inspection. With the *Fervent* eventually arriving at Vickers, it was here that its commander was hospitalized with appendicitis. With Lieutenant Harlow Knight taking command of the ship, her command would last 3 months before she too was hospitalized for appendicitis as well. For the next 14 years, the *Fervent* would be under the command of Captain Regan Gardner, a ranking officer which the Admiralty had wished to bury within the lower ranks. While the *Fervent* would continue to suffer from incident after incident ranging from ramming other ships to accidental weapons discharge to straight up getting lost, the ship also began to be called "unsinkable". Primarily exemplified during a pirate assault on Vickers' spaceport. While the Imperial garrison fought off the attack, the *Fervent* charged headfirst into the pirate flagship's sails, immobilizing it. In addition during the battle, the ship would expertly dodge incoming cannonfire, despite having an inexperienced helmsman. Captain Gardner would happily command the *Fervent* up until his retirement in 1 ATP. The ship would then pass to Ensign Tobias Wilkinson, who, like Gardner, was assigned to the *Fervent* to keep him away from larger operations. Wilkinson's command would last 4 years with similar incidents and feats that only reinforced the ship's reputation as "a ship not even Davy Jones would take", before being promoted and entered into the larger Royal Navy. With the ironclad menace in full force, the Admiralty considered sending the seemingly unkillable *Fervent* against the ironclads. But when an expedition was being planned into the dangerous outland region, the Admiralty found an opportunity to potentially rid themselves of both the *Fervent* and its new commander: Ensign Aogán Ó Muireartaigh. In a last minute adjustment, the *Fervent* set sail with the *RLS Majestic*, *Ashcroft*, *Cricket*, and *Gadfly* into the western frontier.