After more than a millennium of service to the Throne, and the recent savage events at Damaris, she is a scarred and battered old ship, but still clear-eyed and dangerous enough in a fight. Aegis is a Dauntless-class Light Cruiser fitted out as a long-range reconnaissance ship. Despite disobeying a direct order, Lord-Captain Locke’s quick thinking and great tactical skill smashed the Orks at Damaris, and the Admiralty at Scintilla have given her the supposedly easy task of patrolling the Furibundis system while they decide what to do with this opinionated officer.
Aegis - Recently recalled from her quasi-exile at Damaris after thwarting a full-scale Ork incursion, Aegis and her fiery commander Lord-Captain Sylvia Locke arrived at Footfall for a new assignment.Abdiel - The Abdiel earned a commendation from the Imperial Navy for its service during the Gothic War.Neither of these variants of the Dauntless-class are any less capable than the other at carrying out their intended roles in a battlefleet.
Dauntless-class variants outfitted with Torpedo Tubes are usually found accompanying the more common variants outfitted with Lances in small squadrons or in the battlefleet itself where they are expected to get close to the enemy. Some Dauntless-class ships are not outfitted with Lances and have had them replaced with prow Torpedo Tubes instead. Located on the "wing-tips" of the vessel and on the prow where a ram would normally be, these Lances can make short work of any escort and can ensure the Dauntless is a constant thorn in the side of any enemy cruiser. However, the real strength of the Dauntless-class comes in the form of its prow Lances. The Dauntless-class' armament includes an average-sized port and starboard weapons battery as its primary weapon of engagement at short range.Įnough firepower is contained in either battery to turn a hostile escort vessel into a smoldering wreck or to cripple a similarly-sized enemy light cruiser. The Dauntless-class carries weapons that can finish off a crippled battleship or cruiser, making this light cruiser an incredibly dangerous starship for its size. Some of the most powerful Rogue Traders have also been known to use a Dauntless-class Light Cruiser as their flagship, though only the wealthiest and most well-connected Rogue Traders possess the pull with the Imperial navy to acquire a warship of this type. It is worth noting that many branches of the Imperium other than the Imperial Navy have been known to use this class of ship, including several Chapters of Space Marines, including the Ultramarines, who make use of them in their large Chapter fleet. This ideal light cruiser carries enough firepower to protect itself on extended missions and enough fuel and supplies to remain in deep space and away from naval bases for months at a time. The Dauntless-class Light Cruiser is also often the Imperium's first choice when it needs a starship to serve in a primarily non-combat role.įor instance, Adeptus Mechanicus Explorators regularly use this type of starship as a way of exploring the galaxy in search of lost technology and new worlds for the Imperium to settle. It is often a Dauntless-class cruiser that is the first Imperial warship to intercept and investigate these haunted leviathans because of their impressive speed and their role as scouts. The appearance of a space hulk is one event that can put an Imperial star system in jeopardy. The Dauntless-class Light Cruiser is an ideal heavy escort for most Imperial battleships.Īs well as its escort role in the Imperial fleet, the Dauntless is also used as a fleet reconnaissance vanguard, acting as the eyes and ears of fleet commanders.ĭauntless-class vessels often operate well in advance of the main fleet and use their auspexes to glean information on the enemy ships that they then relay to the main fleet, which can determine where and when to engage the enemy that will prove most advantageous.