Ascendancy (destroyer)

The Nebula-class Star Destroyer Ascendancy is the flagship of the Ascendant Fleet of House Plagueis. Originally found as a ruined hull by Plagueis following the Vong Incursion, the ship was refitted at Antei and granted to the House.

It has served the Ascendant House through many conflicts and was almost destroyed during the destruction of the Jusadih System, only to carry Plagueis to safety at the old Vaiken Spacedock. After their capture of the 108th Expeditionary Scout Fleet, the vessel returned to Antei to recieve proper repairs - as well as extensive upgrades, purchased with the spoils of plunder and the Dark Lord's favor.

History

Commissioned one year prior to the Vong invasion, the Nebula-class Star Destroyer Delusion originally served in a defensive capacity. After minimal service, the ship was pushed onto the front lines of the Outer Rim, where it found itself brutally outmatched by the extragalactic invaders. Essentially gutted, the Destroyer was abandoned by the Vong invaders and left to drift.

It was during a commercial flight to the planet Bespin that a trading vessel from Jusadih came across the hull. The government overseer on board - a Plagueian in disguise - reported the vessel's location to Consul Jinn before executing everyone on board. Jinn sent out repair crews sufficient to get the vessel back to Jusadih, where repairs were completed and a few quick adjustments listed the vessel as an official part of the system's navy. Presenting the vessel to the Dark Council on the heels of his recent Insurrection and the Retaking of Antei, he received the blessing of the Iron Throne. The ship became known as the Ascendancy, and became the flagship of the Plagueian fleet.

The vessel would go on to serve the House well, maintaining peace in Jusadih through the Salas V Debacle, the Disorder, and the Invasion of New Tython. It would feature prominently in the Orian Incursion, and was one of the last bastions of Plagueian survival during Archibald Zoraan’s strike involving the Plague of Lysu Thren. It was during this conflict, and the ensuing fight against Zoraan’s remaining weaponry and the attack of the Starweird unleashed by Zoraan’s followers, that the ‘’Ascendancy’’ would serve as Plagueis’ last hope of escape from the destruction of Jusadih.

Having ordered a jump to coordinates discovered on a previous mission, Quaestor Reith found that the badly wounded ship had arrived at Vaiken Spacedock - a derelict station of the old Sith Empire that was crawling with scavengers. Striking quickly, the Dark Jedi under his command captured the vessels of the civilians and enslaved them. By the guidance of the cold-hearted Aedile, Kal di Plagia Vorrac, these were either sold to the Saraask'ar slavers, or turned into the first true Ravagers and Subjugates.

A few weeks of raiding, repairs, and the capture of the new Ascendant Fleet became the prelude to the return of Plagueis from the brink. Upon arrival at Antei, where Reith pledged the fealty of Plagueis to the Iron Throne and no other, the ship was fully repaired and extensively upgraded. It once again became the flagship of the Ascendant House.

The peacekeeping vessel was now an engine of conquest for the adherents of the Final Way.

Characteristics

The Nebula-class marks a significant advancement in design for Star Destroyers. Despite only being about sixty-five percent of the size of an Imperial-class, it was designed to handle an Imperial-II. The vessel is a match for another Star Destroyer, two heavy cruisers, or an entire line of smaller ships as a stock model.

The ship's armament is considerable, consisting of forty turbolaser and dual turbolaser turrets each. It bears twenty ion cannon batteries for disabling enemy shields and systems, while also holding eight tubes for assault concussion missiles. Each such tube holds thirty individual missiles. The ship is equipped with eight tractor beam projectors, allowing it to ensnare smaller ships for boarding, but its most impressive weapons have to be the four long-range turbolasers; these experimental weapon systems are lethal from far off, and allow the Ascendancy to perform long-distance ambushes and hit-and-run strikes.

Role

The firepower of the Ascendancy is considerable, but it is also quite versatile; this is bolstered by the added weaponry and equipment. As such, the ship plays the role of a nexus when engaged in combat, using its interdiction capabilities and varied methods of assault to control the flow of combat.

While other ships, such as the Predominant' or the Ravager will pursue enemies or raiding targets, the Ascendancy can be found in the center of a battle; its attacks are all tactical, motivated to manipulate enemy vessels or capture crippled ships.

While Plagueians are never truly out of combat, the ship acts as the nexus of the fleet outside of battles as well. Other ships will drift around it while shuttlecraft will ferry Plagueians and slaves as necessary between ships. In this way, it has been jokingly referred to as "the Coruscant of the Ascendant Fleet," a role it fulfills well.