Hotstepper

The ***Hotstepper*** was a warship of the Frontier Union Militia attached to the Avalon Exploratory Initiative. It served under the command of Captain Omar Maalsuwda.

## History

At some point before 0304 PCU, the *Hotstepper* was signed on with the Avalon Initiative.

### Lost in CDC-41-Gamma

Sometime after arriving in CDC-41-Gamma, the *Hotstepper* regrouped with many other Frontier Union vessels, including that of Captain Maalsuwda. For several months the group traversed the nebula, likely encountering the Advari for the first time during this period. They also managed to recover one the Drift Gate components during this time, hauling it with them.

### Finding the Last Component

Sometime before the 100th of Equinox, 0305 PCU, Maalsuwda's group came across another Gate component being hauled beyond the Aegis of Invia by members of the Holy Advari Empire. Realising how vital it was to reclaim this component if the expedition was to succeed, Maalsuwda ordered the ships in his fleet to form around their already found component in order to create a silent-running Holdfast station, where they would observe the Advari from afar and prepare a daring rescue mission to recover the component.

### Return to The *Avalon*

However, before Maalsuwda's mission could be sent underway, his flotilla regained contact with the *Avalon*. Shortly afterwards, the *Avalon* sent resupply ships and their Gatehauler to pick up Maalsuwda's component. This dramatic increase in activity, however, promptly alerted the Advari to the location of the Holdfast, forcing the Union forces to hastily disassemble the station. The *Hotstepper* was assigned to escorting most of the civilian vessels present - the *Siochana*, *Belladonna*, and the *Avalon'*s Gatehauler - in their retreat towards the Lauralyn Conduit. In the process, the *Hotstepper* was damaged, but was able to successfully flee, joining up with the rest of the surviving Avalon Expedition Fleet

### Raid on the Aegis of Invia

During the Raid on the Aegis of Invia, the *Hotstepper* assisted the *Guinevere*, *Tserekai*, and CSV *Shabayev* in their assault. Though the captain of the Hotstepper was convinced that Castian Vadric had betrayed them, they helped Vice Admiral Winston Redfield in his clearing of a path for the escaping Gatehauler and *Guinevere* regardless.

### Evacuating the Nebula

During the evacuation of The Greenhouse by the Avalon Expedition Fleet through the Return Gate, the *Hotstepper*, alongside the *Guinevere*, *Tserekai*, and *Siochana* bushwacked an Advari Lightship as it approached the fleet. However, the *Siochana* suffered a sudden reactor failure, falling behind the rest of the ships as they retreated to the Avalon. With no hope of rescue, the *Hostepper* and cohort were forced to leave them behind.

Shortly after this, the *Hotstepper* aided the rest of the defensive formation, helping destroy incoming fliers and, later, missiles. However, the vessel was at some point entirely vented by enemy weapons fire, leaving it lost with all hands.

## Appearances

* *Beneath The Banner*
* *Where Angels Fear to Tread*
* *Observer Effect* (Mentioned)
* *Forlorn Hope*

## References

1. ↑ Ship ID Chart
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Forlorn Hope*
3. ↑ *Beneath The Banner*