Beneficence

Beneficence
Vessel Profile
Previous namesMelissa Davion
TypeWarShip
ClassAvalon

The lead ship of the Avalon-class of cruiser WarShips, the FCS Melissa Davion was introduced to service with the Federated Commonwealth during the Capellan-St. Ives War.[1] It was later captured by the Word of Blake and renamed WoBS Beneficence.

History[edit]

By late 3062, the Melissa Davion was one of four Avalon cruisers in service.[2]

FedCom Civil War[edit]

During the FedCom Civil War, the Melissa Davion was at Kittery, quickly going AWOL in early 3063, and escorting Victor Steiner-Davion to the planet of New Capetown, an early debacle for the Prince.[3] It was found fighting on the side of the Allies at York in March 3064 with the Avalon facing off against two Loyalist Fox-class corvettes, the LAS Robert Kelswa and LAS Robert Marsden, in a cunning ambush staged by Leutnant-General Maria Esteban that saw Victor defeated and nearly captured or killed. The Robert Marsden and Robert Kelswa were able to force Victor's outnumbered forces to retreat under fire or face the very real threat of orbital bombardment, although the two Foxes were unable to interdict the Fifth Crucis Lancers RCT DropShips as they evacuated the planet.[4]

On 21 February 3066, the Melissa Davion engaged another Fox-class corvette, the LAS Katrina Steiner, as the Loyalist ship attempted to bombard the surface of Tikonov, where Victor Steiner-Davion was in the field; the Melissa Davion successfully drove the smaller ship off, allowing Victor to withdraw from the planet.[5] On 8 November 3066, the Melissa Davion led a force of no less than four Foxes[6]—the FCS Admiral Corinne Donnings, FCS Intrepid, FCS Kentares, and FCS Robinson[7]—to New Avalon. Facing the Allied forces were two of the Melissa Davion's sister ships, the Alexander Davion and the Lucien Davion[6] as well as a pair of Foxes, the FCS Antrim[7] and FCS Murmansk.[6] The resulting battle saw the Intrepid disabled and the Admiral Corinne Donnings destroyed in the early stages; the Kentares then maneuvered itself into close proximity of the Alexander Davion and executed a tactic that shocked both forces — the Kentares activated her K-F Drive, destroying both ships.[7] The Kentares and the Alexander Davion were the last ships to be destroyed in the battle, as the Lucien Davion surrendered after taking heavy damage and the Murmansk executed a jump from a pirate point, vanishing without trace.[6]

Jihad Era[edit]

In April 3069, a Word of Blake flotilla overran the shipyards at Galax and stole all ships that could move under their own power, including the Melissa Davion.[8] It was renamed WoBS Beneficence and received at least two Level IIs of Rusalka aerospace fighters.[9]

In the aftermath of the Jihad, it was listed as destroyed at Circinus in 3081 in a report about Word of Blake naval assets.[10]

References[edit]

  1. Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 163: "Avalon-class Cruiser"
  2. Field Manual: Federated Suns, pp. 24–25: "AFFS WarShip Fleet"
  3. FedCom Civil War, p. 66: "New Capetown"
  4. FedCom Civil War, pp. 102–103: "York"
  5. FedCom Civil War, p. 126: "Tikonov"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 FedCom Civil War, p. 170
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Endgame
  8. Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 63
  9. Technical Readout: 3075, p. 100: Rusalka entry
  10. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 128

Bibliography[edit]