Plunderer-class light cruiser

*The Plunderer-class Light Cruiser was a prototype Light Cruiser hull taken from the CDF during one of their final fleet modernization programs. She was stolen from the CDF in an unfinished state, and finished shortly after the formation of the Maxwell Corps. It is modular, capable of easy refits and loadout changes, as well as being agile for its class. The lead ship of the class, the Harsh Reality, represents the largest ship in the MC fleet as its flagship, and was piloted by the Shipwright himself. It boasts high agility and great redundancy, and has a striking resemblance to a Viminal-class destroyer, but upscaled.*

## Design details

### Hull and propulsion

Following the hull of the Viminal-class destroyer, she would take her nacelles and rear thruster bank, in addition to several protrusions on the port and starboard side for weapons. She also included a hangar. While likened to an Esquiline-class Light Cruiser, the internals and weapon layout were drastically different from her cousin. Having been originally designed to prioritize survivability above all else, her weapon placements were armored and protected, having significant cheek armor to her bridge.

### Plunderer Mk.IIJ

The original setup with Plunderer was beginning to be unsatisfactory for the projected future conflicts and her role in Shipbreaker Squadron. It was theorized that imminent conflicts would require the ability to punch up to larger vessels, and engage with a decisive advantage in the opening salvos and extended line battles. To this end, she sacrificed some of her weaponry for an experimental weapon- the fixed 1000mm Lance. This would later become her primary armament, and her fighting style would reflect this loadout change. Her core and reactor were also shifted, bringing her reactor and jump drive to the rear. While this made her ventral plating thinner, her overall survivability was increased significantly, her ideal combat range also increased, but at the cost of her close range brawling- her 220s were changed to 150s.

### Crew and complement

The Plunderer-class has a minimum crew of 4. One Pilot, a Systems Operator, a Mechanic, and one Medical Officer. However, she has been known to deploy with less than minimum crew. She can accomodate two (2) extra Systems Operators to be used as Gunners. Accommodations were slim, and space was tight- as per Maxwell tradition, all amenities and nonessential space and systems were packed with armor plating.

### Armaments

Original Version:

**4x 300mm Striker:** Range: 5km. Velocity: 800m/s.

**6x 220mm Missile Battery:** Range: 2km. Velocity: 375-600m/s.

**8x 150mm Light Artillery Turret:** Range: 2km. Velocity: 600m/s

**1x 43mm Autocannon:** Range: 2km. Velocity: 600m/s

Plunderer Mk.IIJ:

**1x 1000mm Lance:** Range: 20km. Velocity: 1400m/s

**4x 300mm Striker:** Range: 5km. Velocity: 800m/s.

**10x 150mm Light Artillery Turret:** Range: 2km. Velocity: 600m/s

**1x 43mm Autocannon:** Range: 2km. Velocity: 600m/s

## Operational history

**Maxwell Corps (MC):**

Flagship of the Maxwell Corps, Hull Number CL-01, assigned to Alpha Element with Heresy-class destroyers "Wild Storm" and "Wicked Siren", and Typhoon-class Destroyer "Sun Howler". Fought at the *Battle of 1Z.*

**Powder Keg Militia (PKM):**

Reintegrated into the fledgling Militia fleet under the Hull Number CL-02, Harsh Reality represented one of two of the heaviest assets in the Militia, the other being the Insolence-class Light Cruiser, Rude Awakening. A new PKM emblem was placated proudly with her original MC colors. Original deployment plans were to have Harsh Reality join Shipbreaker Squadron, but this became impossible after a major defeat by the Confederated Pioneer Republic (Formerly Confederated Pioneer Rangers).

**Phoenix Coalition (PXC):**

Shortly after the first round of peace talks before the start of the Supremacy War, the Phoenix Coalition was created by merging the Powder Keg Militia- forming the manpower, industrial, and civilian base of the coalition, with the Phoenix Initiative- forming the military structure and decorum necessary for the management of this new faction at large. Redesignated under Phoenix Coalition tags, but still in her old colors as per the tradition of Shipbreaker Squadron, she was granted the Hull Number CL-03, and functions as the vanguard of the fleet. As befitting her role, she ends up taking first contact and guarding the fleet from attack, even if outnumbered or outgunned. While in service to the Phoenix Coalition, access to newly acquired resources from merging, as well as a mutually beneficial development with Presidia Fleetyards, allowed her to obtain quite a large number of refits, usually overseen by her pilot personally.

## Ships of the line

* CL-Plunderer "Harsh Reality"
	+ Engaged PHX/WH Naval Forces at the *Battle of 1Z.*

## Trivia

As per the last standing orders of Admiral Mallard, all CDF ships were to be scuttled or serve under the banner of Rhodor's Riders. This included the recently completed Harsh Reality, which caused animosity between the Maxwell Corps and the Phoenix Initiative, as the ship would need to be brought under PHX control, or be destroyed.