HMS Tramontane
The Tramontane (an Edward Saganami class heavy cruiser) was one of the most powerful ships in it's class. It is designed for both long-range patrols and as a screening element for regular ships-of-the-wall. She is quick enough to outrun any vessel that she cannot outfight, and powerful enough to outfight anything that she can catch.
Her hull number is CA-1497 and was launched six months before the fighting faze of the war against the Peoples Republic of Haven ended. Her shakedown cruise was flawless, after which she was assigned to the defensive mobile presence at Trevor's Star.
After the hostilities were over, she avoided the naval downsizing by maintaining one of the highest effectiveness rating in the fleet. (Twice earning the Golden 'E' for Excellence award) She was, however, reassigned to the Sidemore Station garrison at the express request of the new station commander, Lady Dame Honor Harrington (Admiral, Royal Manticoran Navy) who was sent there to deal with the heightened military tension with the Anderman Empire.
It was here that the Tramontane first fired her weaponry in anger, but not against the Imperial Andermani Navy. The People's Republic of Haven had been rebuilt as the Republic of Haven and had re-built it's navy to a surprising degree. The Republic of Haven, fed up with the stalling tactics of the new Government of the Star Kingdom of Manticore, restarted the war with several near-perfect strikes against the Manticoran navy. All of the strikes were against the Manticoran naval presence in various Havenite star systems.
Except for two.
The attack on Trevor's Star was called off after the presence of a fleet from one of Manticore's staunchest allies (Grayson) was detected. Trevor's Star was a Havenite territory, but after the Manticoran Navy pushed the Havenite fleet out, petitioned Manticore for Annexation. This became the first world, outside of the Manticoran binary star system to officially be a member of the Star Kingdom of Manticore.
The attack on Sidemore Station was much more daring, since it was so very far away from the borders of Havenite space, and was on the other side of Manticore controlled space. It was commanded by the Havenite's best commanding admiral, and was specifically sent to defeat Admiral Harrington, arguably the best that Manticore currently had in service, and a long-time bane of the Havenite navy. (She had only been defeated once in battle, and that was due to a large numbers advantage)
Again, Grayson forces turned the battle in Manticore's favor, but this time the Havenite fleet was engaged. The Havenite fleet was ravaged, but the Alliances forces didn't get away cleanly.
It was at this battle that the Tramontane was severely damaged by several missiles that lost their targeting lock on their primary targets. She took a lot of damage, and while much of her offensive weaponry was damaged or destroyed, her defensive armaments were still effective. During the battle, her commanding officer was killed, yet her crew fought on with distinction and determination to not fail their Admiral, but more importantly, to not fail their fallen captain. The heroic actions of the Tramontane, and her crew have ensured that there will always be a warship named Tramontane in service with Royal Manticoran Navy.
Upon returning to Manticore, the Tramontane was given a high priority for repair and refit. Higher, in fact, than some damaged ships-of-the-wall. Her Executive officer was promoted to Captain and given command of the Tamontane. She was refitted with the latest in inertial compensators, fusion plants, and electronics. Her work-up was marred by only a few minor system bugs that were quickly corrected.
Her first mission, after work-up is the new standard for newly commissioned ships of battle cruiser and below, a patrol sweep of the newly acquired (through diplomacy) territories of the former Solesian confederacy.
It is during this mission, fairly close to Sidemore that the Tramontane runs into problems.
Crossing and Contact