CSV Shabayev

The CSV Shabayev flees Advari vessels, retreating towards the Callandra Nimbus

> "Only Valiance In Battle, Only Vigilance In Peace."
> - Ship's motto, CSV *Shabayev*.
>
>

**CSV *Shabayev*** was a *Tripathia*-class third-rate ship-of-the-line of the Centran Defence Force attached to the Avalon Exploratory Initiative.

## History

### Lost in CDC-41-Gamma

Under the command of Vice Admiral Winston Redfield, the CSV *Shabayev* was assigned to the Avalon Exploratory Initiative, with Redfield serving as Defence Adjutant to Director Elizabeth Ancelet. In 0304 PCU, the *Shabayev* deployed through Edric's Gate with the rest of the Avalon Expedition Fleet to CDC-41-Gamma.

Upon arrival in the nebula, the *Shabayev* was among a number of vessels that collided with Lauralyn Conduits, scattering much of the fleet throughout CDC-41-Gamma. The *Shabayev* quickly re-established contact with the CSV *Bracewell* and the CSV *Republic*, as well as a Gatehauler.

In the two months after the jump and before the *Shabayev* re-established contact with the *Avalon*, the *Shabayev* and her fleet encountered the wreck of the *Golden Opportunity*, a Merician freighter that had lost atmosphere containment, killing the entire crew. Admiral Redfield ordered the *Golden Opportunity's* cargo salvaged to provide for his fleet, but on the grounds of not wasting resources, refused to spend any more time to offer funeral rites to the ship's deceased crew. He also resisted imposing discipline on several of the *Shabayev's* Marines who were caught looting.

Shortly after disabling an Advari craft and capturing its pilot, the *Shabayev* along with the rest of Redfield's forces engaged with an Advari fleet, where the *Shabayev* was forced to abandon her scuttled comrades and civilian fleet, fleeing into the Callandra Nimbus.

### Redfield's coup attempt

Some time later, the *Shabayev* re-established contact with the *Avalon* and her flotilla. The *Shabayev's* return prompted scenes of celebration aboard the *Avalon*, and Redfield swiftly resumed his position as Defence Adjutant to Director Elizabeth Ancelet. The *Shabayev* received repairs from the rest of the expedition, and Redfield insisted that his ship be prioritised, moving crews away from the *Belladonna* and the *Sunbeam*.

His encounter with the Advari, and his concerns about Director Ancelet's leadership, convinced Redfield that Ancelet was inadequate for the situation and that the expedition needed to be re-prioritised to strike back against the Advari. Redfield led the *Shabayev's* Marines in seizing control of the *Avalon* and placing Ancelet under arrest.

The pace of repairs aboard the *Shabayev* quickly sapped morale among the crew and discipline began to sag: shifts were doubled to expedite repairs, leaving little time for rest and recuperation. Eleven deckhands were written up for reporting late to shifts, while Midshipman Fowler was confined to quarters for disorderly conduct. In an effort to increase morale, Commander Lewis Harper increased the rum ration, which only had the effect of provoking a brawl in the *Shabayev's* dining hall when a drunk Faraday struck a Midshipman. This proved impossible to contain as the *Shabayev's* Marines had been re-deployed to secure the fleet's civilian ships.

Vice Admiral Redfield crossed to the *Shabayev*, where he successfully put down the brawl with a single speech to the ship's crew, appealing to their sense of courage and discipline. With the *Shabeyev* back under control, Redfield recognised that he could not command the respect of the fleet's civilian ships in the same way and agreed to return command of the expedition to Elizabeth Ancelet.

## Crew

### CDF sailors

* Vice Admiral Winston Redfield - Commanding Officer
* Commander Lewis Harper - Executive Officer
* Lieutenant Commander Gates - Bridge Officer
* Chief Petty Officer Faraday - Bridge Officer
* Ensign Lydia Telfer - Bridge Officer
* Midshipman Fowler
* Approx. 270 sailors

### Centran Marine Corps detachment

* Corporal Paul Dalcop
* Corporal Larsen
* Private Waters
* Private Pritchard
* Private Dubois
* Private Barkov
* Centran Marine Corps Complement (50)

## Behind the Scenes

The CSV *Shabayev* is named after Yelena Shabayev from the video game *Battlezone 2*.

## Appearances

* Volume One:
	+ "*The Cold Divide*" (mentioned)
	+ "*Inclement Weather*" (mentioned)

* Volume Two:
	+ "*Theirs Not to Make Reply*" (first appearance)

* Volume Three:
	+ "*Theirs Not to Reason Why*"
	+ "*Beneath The Banner*"

* Volume Four:
	+ "*Where Angels Fear to Tread*"
	+ "*Observer Effect*" (Mentioned)
	+ "*Forlorn Hope*"

* Anthology Shorts
	+ *"Golden Opportunity"*

## References

1. ↑ *Forlorn Hope*
2. ↑ *The Cold Divide*
3. ↑ *Inclement Weather*
4. ↑ *Golden Opportunity*
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "*Theirs Not to Make Reply*"
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 *Theirs Not to Reason Why*