Tehuantepec
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| Tehuantepec | |
|---|---|
| Vessel Profile | |
| Type | WarShip |
| Class | Essex |
| In service since | 2736[1] |
| In service until | 3 August 3072[2] |
The Essex-class destroyer Tehuantepec was a WarShip of the Clan Star Adder touman.
Contents
History[edit]
As of 3059 the Tehuantepec was one of two Essex-class ships to be in service with the Star Adders, the other being the CSA Eagle, and formed part of a ready reserve star of five WarShips.[3] Following the absorption of former Clan Smoke Jaguar holdings the Tehuantepec had been returned to full service by 3067 under the orders of the Star Adder Naval Adjutant, Star Admiral Tobias McKenna.[4]
First Engagement in the York System[edit]
In late 3063 the Tehuantepec, commanded by Star Commodore Kris Paik, led a Star Adder taskforce in a successful attempt to gain a foothold on the Clan Blood Spirit homeworld of York. The Tehuantepec jumped into the York system via a Pirate point, and engaged Blood Spirit space forces including the Lola III-class destroyer Blood Fury, as Adder forces attempted to land.
During the last stages of the orbital battle when the Adder's committed the majority of their DropShips to landing, the Tehuantepec was able to attack the Blood Fury unhindered while the Fury itself focused on causing massive losses to the Adder's troop transports. This caused fatal damage to the Blood Fury, which then chose to attempt a suicidal hyperspace jump in order to cause as much further damage to the Adders as possible. This jump destroyed the Blood Fury, as well as a number of Adder DropShips and aerospace fighters, and caused significant damage to the Tehuantepec.[1]
Second Engagement in the York System[edit]
In 3072, Khan Stanislov N'Buta of the Star Adders was looking for revenge against Clan Blood Spirit for their actions on Strana Mechty, in which the Star Adder enclave was destroyed and saKhan Dante Truscott was killed. In August, N'Buta mobilized a large part of the Star Adder navy including the Alpha Naval Reserve Star and again struck at the world of York; the Tehuantepec was one of the WarShips mobilized for the attack.[2]
The Aegis-class heavy cruiser CBS Exsanguine was in the York system at the time, and immediately on arrival the Star Adders engaged both the Exsanguine and the nearby recharge station. The Blood Spirits launched five assorted Stars of aerospace fighters and DropShips to join in the battle, but were unable to prevent the Star Adders from crippling the Exsanguine and leaving its commanding officer, Star Admiral Ilse McFadden, with no way to retaliate.[2]
Once it was obvious that the Exsanguine was crippled, the Star Adders pulled back from the battle and instead pressed on to York. In the face of attacks from military and civilian vessels—up to and including civilian DropShips ramming Star Adder vessels—the Star Adders secured themselves in orbit above York and then landed DropShips to evacuate the Star Adder personnel located at their one enclave on the planet. One of the casualties from the suicidal Blood Spirits attacks was the Tehuantepec, which broke up against the planetary atmosphere after being left spinning out of control following three Merchant Caste Union-class DropShips ramming themselves into her maneuvering thrusters; despite the damage taken and the impending loss of the ship, the Tehuantepec did manage to launch all of her DropShips before breaking up.[2]
When the evacuation of the Adder enclave was complete, the Star Adders began a twenty-two day orbital bombardment of York, striking at all of the major cities and industries on the planet, shattering the Blood Spirits. More than three quarters of the planetary population were killed and upwards of ninety percent of the industry was destroyed. While the Star Adders ceased the bombardment short of completely destroying the capital world of the Blood Spirits, the bombardment tipped the planetary ecology into decline as the damage resulted in conditions akin to a nuclear winter, beginning York's slow death.[2]
Notes[edit]
In Field Manual: Updates the Tehuantepec is referred to as the Tuhantepec.[4]