1. Construction & Launch (2947–2948)

Following the devastating Vanduul raid on Vega II in 2945, the UEE Navy recognized a critical tactical gap: the Idris Frigates were too slow to intercept Vanduul raiding parties, and fighters lacked the punch to stop capital ships. The Polaris Project was fast-tracked.

The Argonaut (K475) was part of the initial “Block I” production run—the very first batch of these corvettes delivered to the fleet. She was laid down at the RSI yards above Earth and launched in late 2948. Unlike the polished ships of peace, she was born for war; her interior finishings were spartan, and her torpedo magazines were fully automated for rapid-fire saturation.

1. Service History: The “Fire Brigade” (2949–2953)

Upon commissioning, K475 was assigned to Task Force 88, a rapid-response unit tasked with patrolling the volatile Oberon and Virgil borders. The Argonaut quickly earned a reputation for aggression. Her captain, Commander Silas Vane, utilized the Polaris’s speed to execute “slash-and-dash” torpedo runs that larger ships couldn’t attempt.

Notable Action: The Virgil Extraction (2951) In 2951, a UEE recon wing was pinned down in an asteroid field by a Vanduul Hunter-Killer group. While the heavy fleet was hours away, the Argonaut burned hard to intercept. Arriving alone, she dumped her entire payload of Size 10 torpedoes in a single volley, vaporizing the lead Vanduul corvette. The shock of the assault allowed the recon wing to escape. This action proved the viability of the Polaris class as a “lone wolf” hunter.

III. The Incident: The Crippling of K475 (2953)

The ship’s Navy career ended abruptly in early 2953. During a skirmish near the Pyro Jump Point, the Argonaut was ambushed by a pirate syndicate operating a stolen Hammerhead and a wing of bombers.

The Argonaut won the engagement, but at a terrible cost. A pirate bomber managed a suicide run, detonating inside the Argonaut’s starboard hangar bay. The explosion caused a chain reaction in the torpedo loading mechanism. The blast gutted the starboard side of the ship, venting the engineering deck and fusing the primary power relays.

While the ship was towed back to port, UEE Logistics Command deemed the frame “structurally compromised.” With RSI churning out brand-new “Block II” Polaris hulls every month, the Navy decided it was cheaper to scrap the K475 than to repair her twisted keel. She was stripped of classified software and listed for hull recycling.

1. Acquisition by Rear Admiral Wade (2954)

Retired Rear Admiral Glenn “Pappy” Wade had been looking for a dedicated torpedo platform to act as the “long-range punch” for Carrier Strike Group 3. He didn’t want a pristine showroom ship; he wanted a hull that had already proven it could survive a magazine detonation.

Through the Militia Mobilization Initiative (MMI), Wade intervened before the scrappers could cut her up.

• The Purchase: He acquired the Argonaut for the price of raw materials, effectively buying a capital ship for pennies on the dollar—provided he could fix it.
• The Restoration: Wade towed the ship to a private shipyard in the Stanton system. The “structurally compromised” keel was reinforced with industrial girders, and the destroyed starboard hangar was converted into an expanded drone and repair bay (since CSG-3 prioritized utility over carrying a fighter in that specific bay).

1. Current Status: December 2955

The UEES Argonaut is now part of Carrier Strike Group 3.

• Role: While the Perseus (Johnston) is the brawler that gets close, the Argonaut is the sniper. She sits at the edge of the radar, ready to deliver a knockout blow with her torpedoes before the enemy even knows the fight has started.
• Modifications: Pappy Wade replaced the standard military torpedoes with specialized “Typhoon” IX heavy ordinance—expensive, hard to source, but devastating against pirate Kraken carriers or larger threats.
• Aesthetic: The ship retains the scorch marks from the hangar explosion on her starboard flank. Wade ordered the crew not to paint over them, calling it “The ship’s resume.”