Sovereign

The Sovereign-class Star Destroyer (SSSD) Sovereign is the flagship of the Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet. It is currently assigned to the Home Guard as the lead ship of the SSSD Sovereign Task Force battlegroup.

This article fully details the specifications for the SSSD Sovereign, flagship of the Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet. The Sovereign, the flagship of the new Sovereign-Class of new Super Star Destroyers, is a fitting flagship for the largest Imperial faction remaining after the Battle of Endor.

The Sovereign

(The Sovereign-Class Super Star Destroyer (SSSD), as excerpted from the Dark Empire Sourcebook; Michael Allen Horne; West End Games; June, 1993; pp. 87-89).)

A less powerful design of the Eclipse-class has been created named the Sovereign-class (it still overwhelms the original Super Star Destroyer design). The Emperor envisioned a fleet of these vessels. The first of the line is the Sovereign. Other potential ships in the line include the Autarch, Despot and Heresiarch.

Unlike the Eclipse, the Sovereign-class only carries 35 squadrons of fighters and five of bombers. Following commissioning of the ship within the Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet, the EH made some slight modifications to the Sovereign to allow a total of 42 TIE squadrons (seven wings of TIEs).

There are also 75 AT-ATs, 200 ST-ATs, dozens of support shuttles, assault transports and escort shuttles, two full legions of stormtroopers, and 5 full garrison bases stowed on board to meet any planetary assault needs.

The Axial Superlaser

The main weapon aboard the SSSD Sovereign is the axial superlaser, a spine-mounted superlaser modeled on the main weapon of the Death Star itself. The Death Star's prime weapon was composed of eight individual lasers that could focus together, generating enough power to destroy an entire planet. By comparison, the Sovereign carries only a single laser, but recent focusing and generator advances make this ray much more powerful than the units used on the Death Star. The beam packs enough destructive power to shatter the most powerful planetary shields and sear whole continents in a flash.

The axial superlaser can be fired up to eight times per day at nominal charge and once per day at full charge.

Imperial Gunners are some of the best trained fixed-mount weapon specialists in the Empire. Their advanced tactical combat training and enhanced targeting systems linked to their helmets make them extremely accurate and deadly foes. It takes one full regiment of Imperial Gunners (approximately 1,000 gunners) working simultaneously to fire the Axial Superlaser under normal combat conditions.

• Craft: KDY's Sovereign-class Super Star Destroyer
• Type: Super Star Destroyer
• Length: 15,000 meters
• Crew: 601,670; gunners: 4,075; skeleton: 86,000
• Passengers: 130,100 (troops)
• Cargo Capacity: 400,000 metric tons
• Consumables: 5 years
• Weapons:
  • Axial Superlaser
  • 500 Heavy laser cannons
  • 500 Turbolaser batteries
  • 75 Ion cannons
  • 100 Tractor beam emplacements
  • 5 Gravity well projectors"

The Triad Platforms

Triad Platform

Triad Platform diagram

An engineering marvel unto themselves, the three Support Platforms (actually huge scale factory platforms) required to keep the SSSD Sovereign fully operational are known as the FAC Triad. These platforms consist of the PLT Hades, PLT Corona and PLT Charon. These battlestations dwarf some of the largest support platforms in the Imperial Navy. Each is completely dedicated to support of the Sovereign and can perform few other command, support or control functions. In fact, the TIE hangar bays only allow a maximum of one standard TIE fighter squadron per PLT for defense. The remainder of available space is reserved for SSSD support and supply.

Although each PLT is specifically designed to perform a particular support function, each can singly support the SSSD in times of emergency for a limited period of time (1-2 months). However, it should be noted that the SSSD Sovereign has its own internal repair and supply capabilities which can keep it combat operational for 2-3 years and a maximum of 5 years. Full operation of all 3 PLTs is required for extended operation of the SSSD Sovereign. The primary functions of each PLT are detailed below

PLT Hades

PLT Hades serves as the main command and control platform for the SSSD Sovereign. From here, all navigational and communications equipment can be monitored, repaired, upgraded and/or replaced. Although these support and repair functions are relatively easy to perform on an Imperial Star Destroyer at a standard Imperial platform, this is not the case with a 15 kilometer long "floating city". The cavernous bays within the PLT Hades can accommodate the large corvettes and transports used to ferry equipment and parts to and from the SSSD. The technicians and engineers on board the PLT Hades are some of the best trained in the Empire.

In addition, the PLT Hades serves as the primary command and training center for new naval crews serving aboard the SSSD. A full month of orientation is implemented in non-combat situations to acclimate new crewmembers with the monstrous SSSD Sovereign.

• Craft: Sienar Fleet Systems TP-X1 Tender Platform
• Type: Super-Class Platform
• Length: 3,500 meters
• Crew: 200,000; techs: 16,000; comm: 20,000
• Passengers: 20,000 (troops)
• Cargo Capacity: 1,000,000 metric tons
• Consumables: 5 years
• Weapons:
  • 50 Heavy laser cannons
  • 100 Turbolaser batteries
  • 10 Ion cannons
  • 25 Tractor beam emplacements
  • 5 Heavy duty/cargo tractor beams
• Starfighters: 1 TIE Fighter Squadron (12 TIEs)

PLT Corona

The PLT Corona serves as the ship and weapons systems repair center for the SSSD Sovereign. From here, weapon reloads, ion and blaster gas, weapon replacements and Imperial Gunners are staged for use on the SSSD Sovereign. Like the Death Star Superlaser, the Sovereign Axial Superlaser is manned by the finest Imperial Gunners in the Empire.

In addition, PLT Corona serves as the primary repair center for the SSSD should it ever suffer battle damage. Although this PLT has seen little use in the past, its crews, repair droids and parts stockpiles could virtually rebuild the SSSD. Redundant systems and highly advanced automation make this possible. Several dozen transports and shuttles can be utilized by the EVA-trained crews in their spacetrooper-based repair armor to perform minor exterior repairs on the SSSD. In the event the Sovereign suffers extreme damage, requiring drydock capabilities, the Triad can be brought within close, synchronous orbit of a habitable planet. The combination of the three platforms and a rapidly constructed planetside facility can be used to approximate drydock conditions. If this won't suffice, then the SSSD would most likely need to be scuttled. However, it is hard to imagine what force in the Galaxy which could inflict such damage on the Sovereign.

• Craft: Sienar Fleet Systems TP-X2 Tender Platform
• Type: Super-Class Platform
• Length: 4,750 meters
• Crew: 350,000; techs: 50,000
• Passengers: 30,000 (troops)
• Cargo Capacity: 2,000,000 metric tons
• Consumables: 5 years
• Weapons:
  • 75 Heavy laser cannons
  • 150 Turbolaser batteries
  • 15 Ion cannons
  • 40 Tractor beam emplacements
  • 15 Heavy duty/cargo tractor beams
• Starfighters: 1 TIE Fighter Squadron (12 TIEs)

PLT Charon

The PLT Charon serves as a recreation center for the crew and officers of the SSSD Sovereign. In fact, the crew likes to think of this as Charon's sole function, rather than as an Imperial Naval support station. Entire divisions of troopers and Wings of TIE pilots are rotated through Charon on a monthly basis except when the SSSD is ordered into combat. PLT Charon offers some of the more "exotic" forms of recreation the Empire has to offer without being within the oppressive confines of the massive Sovereign. In fact, the holotheatres, gladiatorial contests, restaurants, bars and gambling dens of the Charon are legendary even in the inner circle of the old Imperial Court. The PLT Charon also has enough consumables to keep itself , the rest of the Triad and the SSSD operational for approximately 5 years without resupply.

• Craft: Sienar Fleet Systems TP-X3 Tender Platform
• Type: Super-Class Platform
• Length: 1,500 meters
• Crew: 75,000; techs: 10,000; civilian 20,000
• Passengers: 50,000; troops: 20,000; civilian: 30,000
• Cargo Capacity: 750,000 metric tons
• Consumables: 5 years
• Weapons:
  • 25 Heavy laser cannons
  • Turbolaser batteries
  • 10 Ion cannons
  • 5 Tractor beam emplacements
  • 3 Heavy duty/cargo tractor beams
• Starfighters: 1 TIE Fighter Squadron (12 TIEs)

History

Having survived for so long and still holding quite some ground for the Empire, the last of the Grand Admirals was one of the four officers that the Emperor trusted most and gave one of the new command ships, the Sovereign-class Super Star Destroyers. For five long years after the battle of Endor, an officer of such caliber arose, he was Grand Admiral Ronin. He had been given command of the Emperor's Hammer strike fleet as well as a perfect base of operations to attack the New Republic from. Building his remnant of the Empire with the aid of Dark Jedi, he was able to make a force worthy of his ranks holdings.

In 4 ABY (1996), the SSSD Sovereign replaced the SSD Avenger as the flagship of the Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet. The SSSD Sovereign and her tender Platforms, The Triad, exited hyperspace above Aurora Prime. Over the course of 48 hours, Emperor's Hammer personnel and equipment were transferred to the behemoth flagship. The site above Aurora was spectacular... in one of the largest military logistical operations ever engaged in by the Emperor's Hammer up to that date, hundreds of thousands of EH Imperial Naval crewmen, pilots, command staff, technicians, etc. were ferried over from Sovereign Base on Aurora Prime and the SSD Avenger to the SSSD Sovereign being fueled at the Triad in high orbit. Even as Sovereign Base in Europa was being dismantled, thousands of shuttles, transports, and personnel carriers were exiting in and out of orbit between the Sovereign and Europa.

Infrastructure

Thousands of command officers, bridge crew, and technicians man posts over an impressive command complex spanning a radius of 700 meters. Multiple command levels in the Sovereign Bridge Complex handle different command functions (i.e tactics, communications, navigation, targeting, gunnery, mission control, logistics, etc.). These ten levels (situated within the SSSD Sovereign superstructure) are topped by the heavily reinforced Command Nexus where the Fleet Commander and his other Emperor's Hammer Command Staff officers and Command Attaches are stationed. Adjoining the Command Nexus, each CS officer and CA has an office. The Fleet Commander's Ready Room is also conveniently located in this area.

The FC's Ready Room is the size of a small building, with a variety of offices, meeting halls, galleys, computer/communication hardware, starcharts, comm consoles, and a throne dias. The designers of the Sovereign had anticipated that the Emperor would often tour the SSSD. Consequently, a full scale throne dias was built into the Command Nexus of the massive ship. Additional security sensors, alarms and intruder countermeasures were specially requested by the Fleet Commander during the Sovereign's commissioning.