Constitution (ship)

## ISS Constitution

The ***ISS Constitution*** was the lead ship of the *Constitution*-class heavy cruisers, commonly known as the "Legacy Fleet," serving with the Integrated Defense Force. She fought during the First Swarm War 75 years prior to the events in Book 1, and was noted to have been in active service for at least 75 years even then. She was built out of a sizable asteroid, which was practically hollow near the end of her construction period due to the sheer materials required to build *Constitution*.

In the events of Book 1, she was commanded by Captain Timothy Granger and was an active participant in the defense of Earth, taking part in the initial battle over Lunar Base, the fleet battle near Valhalla Station, and in the destruction of the invading Swarm fleet by charging into their singularity weapon.

Yet regardless of its disappearance into the singularity, the *Constitution* returned seconds after her apparent loss, crashing down on Salt Lake City, Utah, and coming to rest alongside her fallen sister ship, the *Victory*.

## Technology & Combat Characteristics

At the time of its construction, the *Constitution* was the most technologically sophisticated starship the IDF fielded, alongside her sister ships of the Legacy Fleet. Like her sister ships, she was armed to the teeth with mag-rails, petawatt-class lasers, missiles, and rapid-pulse ordnances (RPOs). Her high reliance on conventional magnetic railguns, alongside her 10-meter-thick tungsten alloy armor, allowed the *Constitution* to become the single most powerful IDF combatant in the events of Book 1.

Unusual for heavy cruisers, she and her class also carried a large complement of space fighters, with *Constitution* having in possession a total of 82 fighters by the middle of Book 1. In her heyday, the *Constitution* is noted to have carried a full complement of V-Wing medium fighters and X-25 light fighters.

## History

Following the Khorsky Incident, command of the ship was given to Captain Timothy Granger as a way for the admiralty to punish Granger without risk of the events that transpired being exposed. However, Granger takes a liking to the old ship, nicknamed the "Old Bird," and does not want to give her up.

At the start of book 1, the *Constitution* is about to be transformed into a museum, but a new Swarm attack interrupts the process. Because it is the only active ship not using the new "smart armor," it is not devastated by the Swarm's weapons the way the rest of the fleet is.

After nearly being destroyed, the ship is evacuated, but Granger hides, and with everyone gone, pilots the ruined ship into an artificial singularity. The sheer mass of the *Constitution* entering the singularity is enough to causemassive power feedback on the remaining Swarm ships, and they explode, but the *Constitution* disappears. Seconds later, it reappears, careening through the atmosphere. Proctor, in her escape pod, manages to reboard the Old bird, finds Granger seated asleep in a chair in *Afterburners*—the Old Bird’s unofficial pub—and steers the ship to skid across the Great Salt Lake, coming to rest on the main boulevard of South Salt Lake City, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

## Crew of the *Constitution*

* Captain Timothy Granger
* Commander Proctor