Missing in Action: UNS Lexington



The ill-fated UNS Lexington in orbit around Tiferet,
just beyond the Mannerheim Docks where she was
constructed. Capture taken July 17th, 3102 as she
departed on her shakedown cruise.

The UNS Lexington was a Toulon-class light carrier design commisioned in 3104.
The Toulon-class was a new, modern design implemented during the height of the Orion Cluster Union's military build-up and it represented a new step forward in capital chip design.

The Toulons were created to serve as the centerpiece of so-called fast action grous. These small, agile task forces were intended to move quickly and stealthily deep into disputed or hostile territory and create utter chaos in enemy rear areas by disrupting logistical systems, destroying supply depots and construction capacity, and creating an element of fear and uncertainty in the enemy population.

Unfortunately, the Hecatan penetration of the Orion military establishment was almost complete. Of the 17 Toulon-class carriers, eleven had their deployment orders countermanded so took no part in the brief conflict and five were attacked and neutralized in their berths. Only the Lexington was able to leave dock.

She was destined never to reach her assigned patrol station though. When Hecatan intelligence learned of the Lexington's escape, they assigned a full third of their 8th fleet (70 combatant ships ranging from frigates to battleships) to track down the Lexington and her four escorts.

The Hecatan's followed the Lexington to the Cygna Ramillies system. Cygna Ramillies is an astronomical oddity, a binary star system that had a stable planetary system collided with another single star system only fairly recently (in astronomical terms). The resulting trinary star system is almost completely covered with an unusually dense asteroid field filled with ferrous metals and radioactives. Despite the wealth and rarity of the mineral deposits, the inherent instability of the star system makes exploitation difficult so Cygna Ramillies is only home so a few small, unlicensed colonies and itinerent freebooters.

The Hecatan forces went in and stalked the Orion ships for almost three weeks before finally claiming victory and departing. They left behind a heavy cruiser and four destroyers as total losses and eleven other ships in the fleet were damaged to varying degrees, including the flagship Durandel which was crippled by a collision with an Orion fightercraft.

The only sensor records released of the battle to confirm the destruction of the Lexington was somewhat inconclusive and its authenticity has been called into question. Some people still claim that the Lexington escaped destruction and elected not to return to Tiferet to be dismantled.