Roost

The Roost ist a MC40 modified light cruiser of the Emperors Hammer. It is currently assigned to Battlegroup III, as part of the ISD-II Challenge's Space Superiority Line.

History

Originally, the assignment of Infiltrator Wing squadrons Eagle Squadron and Firebird Squadron to the Challenge necessitated a cruiser of Rebel origins to aid them in their missions. Arguments pointed to a cruiser designed by the Mon Calamari, as it would give the squadrons more credibility in their cover. To hold it on a level with the A/CRS in battlegroup three the decision was made to utilize an outdated MC40 light cruiser and modify it two fit the need of the two squadrons.

The modifications needed on the Roost were quiet extensive. Originally the MC40 was designed to hold exactly twelve starfighters, hold consumables for two years, and have a crew of 3,723. With help of the imperial engineers, the large portside hangar was modified to hold twenty-four starfighters in total.

In addition, the "Roost" can carry only supplies for one year and needs only 2,700 Crewman to operate efficiently, thanks to the great discipline and knowledge of a crewman trained by the Empire.

As the modified ship was planned without the knowledge of Raven Squadron being added as third Infiltrator Wing squadron, the engineers installed additional imperial claws to carry more fighters, if needed (as suggested by Kalve Ryder).

With the arrival of the MC-90 Renegade to Battlegroup III and the re-assignment of Infiltrator Wing squadrons to that ship, the Roost has largely been deprecated from its original purpose, but remains a support craft as part of the larger Battlegroup.

It has since gained a reputation of being an undesirable assignment. The modifications made to support its original expanded role remain, but with that role now obsolete, the changes remain without purpose. As many of these modifications were made at direct expense to crew comfort, those that serve on the Roost now must deal with numerous inconveniences for no tangible purpose. This has had a negative effect on moral for those serving on the Roost.

Battlegroup Commander Locke Setzer has allegedly requested that the Roost be mothballed and replace with a more standard craft, but those requests to date have been denied. Nevertheless, the Roost has seen considerable action during Admiral Setzer's tenure as Battlegroup Commander. During Imperial Storm VI campaign in the Tkon Rift, the Roost found itself thrown against impossible odds while facing an overwhelming force from the Kilji Illumine. Its apparent destruction became a battle cry throughout Battlegroup III for the remainder of the campaign, with many a pilot sharing in the cry to "Remember the Roost!" as TIE Corps pilots fought to hold off the Kilji advanced in the Tkon Rift.

There was considerable surprise among the Battlegroup when it was revealed that the Roost had actually managed to survive its earlier battle, through some still undisclosed machination of the Secret Order.

The Roost has continued to see some of the fiercest fighting in subsequent Imperial Storm campaigns, leading some of its crew to suspect that their Battlegroup Commander is determined to see the ship destroyed in order to be rid of it – or, as the crew is rumored to described it, "deprecation by destruction". There is, to date, no tangible evidence of this conspiracy theory.