Cassard-class by TenorPenny, on Flickr
The Cassard-class Heavy Destroyer was a cutting edge piece of military technology – at the close of the First Age of FTL travel, at least. Known for it’s forward mounted bridge and awkward appearance, the Cassard was more than just visually striking. It’s armament consisted of high yield, long range particle cannons and forward-firing warhead launchers. In it’s heyday it was a rival to even American heavy cruisers. But unlike the Americans, the European Union had limited appetite for war in times of peace and military budgets withered.
Even so, the Union had the superior military at the outbreak of the Pan-Eursasian War. Their Coalition opponents were dealt a number of defeats and routs by groups of Cassards working in formation. The blockade of Ceres was made possible by the firepower they could bring to bear. The Coalition turned to mercenaries to survive. For an eye-watering fee, the ’7th Heaven’ Squadron of the Tailored Saintsoffered to check the advance of the Union Fleet around the Kepler System.
See more here.
Cassard-class by TenorPenny, on Flickr