1. Launch and Origins: The “Davien Wall”

The Cumberland was launched from the prestigious Aegis Prime shipyards in the Davien System in late 2944. It was part of the “Block 4” production run—a series of Hammerheads built with reinforced structural spines specifically to handle the recoil of the newer Size 4 CF-series laser repeaters.

Unlike the Hermes (which was built for militia use), the Cumberland was a true-blue Navy contract vessel. She was assigned to the UEE 5th Fleet, tasked with “Screen and Interdiction.” Her original motto, etched into the gunnery deck bulkheads, was Noli Me Tangere (“Touch Me Not”).

2. Service History: The Battle of Virgil

The Cumberland earned its fame during the chaotic withdrawal from the Virgil System as Vanduul clans pushed into human space.

In 2946, the Cumberland was assigned to escort the frigate UEES Otranto. During a patrol near the Tiber jump point, the flotilla was ambushed by a Vanduul “Blade” swarm. While the Otranto charged its quantum drive to escape, the Cumberland held position, acting as a stationary turret platform.

The ship’s logs indicate that her gunners maintained a continuous rate of fire for 14 minutes, creating a “wall of light” that the Vanduul fighters could not penetrate. The Cumberland took three torpedo hits to her port side, venting two decks to vacuum, but successfully bought enough time for the Otranto and three civilian transports to escape.

She returned to the Kilian drydocks on one engine, trailing atmosphere and debris. The Navy repaired her, but the structural stress from the battle meant she was no longer rated for “extended deep-space rapid deployment,” relegating her to system patrol duties in the Corel system.

3. Acquisition: The “Scrap Yard” Deal

By 2952, the UEE Navy was looking to offload its battle-weary Hammerheads to make room for the newer Perseus gunships. The Cumberland was slated for “boneyard scrapping” at the Reclamation & Disposal Orbits near Hurston.

Rear Admiral Wade, having just secured the Kraken Hermes, knew that a carrier without an escort is just a big target. He needed a screen ship that could shred fighters and torpedoes before they hit his flight deck.

Wade used his influence to intervene before the Cumberland was stripped. He purchased the hull under the “Historical Preservation & Defense Act,” claiming he intended to use it as a training vessel. While technically true (he does train his crew on it), he immediately refitted it with military-grade coolers and power plants sourced from the salvage yards of Pyro.

4. Current Status: The Iron Dog of CSG-3

The Cumberland now serves as the “Iron Dog” of Carrier Strike Group 3. 

• Tactical Role: In combat, the Cumberland flies “belly-up” or “belly-down” relative to the Hermes, using its top and bottom turrets to provide 360-degree coverage for the carrier’s blind spots.
• Modifications: Wade replaced the standard missile racks with high-capacity ” Rattler” cluster missiles, prioritizing volume of fire over precision.
• Crew Culture: The crew of the Cumberland views themselves as the elite bodyguards of the fleet.