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'''TCS Tarawa''' (CVE-8) was one of the original eight [[Wake Class Escort Carriers]] converted from medium transports following the heavy carrier losses of 2665-66. The ship carried a crew of 500, some 375 of which were to support the flight wing. Tarawa was the first warship to make it to Kilrah and back out again alive.
{{infobox Fighter New
|faction =terran
|name = TCS ''Tarawa''
|type = [[Escort Carrier]]
|manufacturer =
|image = image:wakeCVE.jpg
|introduction = 2667
|nicknames = ''First to Kilrah''
|captains = [[Thaddeus O'Brian]]<br>
[[Jason Bondarevsky]]
|primary user = [[user:=Terran Confederation]]
|additional users = [[user:=Free Republic of the Landreich]]
|produced =
|service = [[Terran-Kilrathi War]]
* [[First Battle of Kilrah]]
* [[Sixth Battle of Munro]]
* [[Second Battle of Hell Hole]]
}}


When the ship entered service its fighter compliment consisted of a squadron of F-54C Rapiers (Rapier II), a squadron of F-57B Sabres fighter bombers, and a squadron of Ferret scout ships. 44 rookie pilots were brought on board in addition to a handful of veterans. On average the young pilots pilot had 250 and 300 hours of flight time; there was a lot of pressure to make up for losses. The tradeoff was that these pilots died quicker, taking their craft with them. Jason Bondarevsky was assigned as Wing Commander, and Etienne Montclair and Janice Parker served as Squadron Commanders. The carrier was captained by Thaddeus O'Brian, who was not the most courageous type.


==First Assignment==
The '''TCS Tarawa''' (CVE-8) was one of the original nine [[Wake-Class Escort Carrier]]s converted from medium transports following the heavy carrier losses of 2665-66. The ship carried a crew of 500, some 375 of which were to support the flight wing. ''Tarawa'' was the first warship to reach [[Kilrah]] and return alive.


On its first mission Tarawa had to escort nine marine transport ships to Khartoum Station for ground assault exercises. Some of the best marine regiments were among them. The operation turned out to be a cover for the real mission. Based on information gathered by the TCS Johnny Greene and Lt. Commander Ramona Chekova, Operation Back Lash was drawn up. Tarawa played a part in the opening moves, bringing in the marine landing troops to nab the planet Vukar Tag from the Kilrathi and desecrate the palace of Graknala. The move would surely get Thrakhath to send the Home Fleet to Vukar Tag to take back the planet.
When the ship entered service its fighter complement consisted of a squadron of F-44C Rapiers ([[Rapier II]]), a squadron of F-57B [[Sabre]]s fighter bombers, and a squadron of [[Ferret]] scout ships. 44 inexperienced pilots were brought on board in addition to a handful of veterans. On average, the young pilots pilot had 250 and 300 hours of flight time as there was much pressure to make up for losses in the Confederation fleet. The trade-off was that the inexperienced pilots suffered casualties at a higher rate. [[Jason Bondarevsky]] was assigned as [[Wing Commander]], and [[Etienne Montclair]] and [[Janice Parker]] served as Squadron Commanders. The carrier was captained by [[Thaddeus O'Brian]].


==Operation Back Lash==
==Operation Back Lash==


With Vukar Tag taken, Tarawa, along with escorts TCS Intrepid and TCS Kagimasha, was assigned to Strike Force Valkyrie. The Strike force was to jump into the heart of the Empire using a recently discovered jump point and strike the Kilrathi home system itself. The First Marine Battalion with ten landing craft was assigned to Tarawa for transport. The battalion was given ten new landing craft fully loaded with combat supplies. Valkyrie was to do as much damage to the Kilrathi ship building facilities on Largkza, the second moon of Kilrah, and stay in the area long enough for Thrakhath to send back part of the Kilrathi Home Fleet and take them out. The reduced Home Fleet could then be defeated by the Confederation at Vukar Tag. Once part of the fleet was committed to returning to Kilrah, Tarawa could try to escape out of the system, but Admiral Wayne Banbridge said they would be on their own. It would be too risky too pull them out even if the Confederation fleet won at Vukar Tag. Geoffrey Tolwyn didn't like the prospect of having to abandon Tarawa.
===Invasion of Vukar Tag===


As the marines were down on Largkza setting mines, Tarawa was attacked by Strakha fighters. Part of the Home Fleet, a carrier and eight escorts, were on their way back to Kilrah. Captain Thaddeus O'Brian wanted to leave the marines behind and turn tail and run. Jason Bondarevsky raced back to Tarawa to stop him. As he was running to the bridge a Kilrathi kamikaze crashed into Tarawa, taking out the entire bridge. The whole bridge crew including Captain O'Brian were killed. As the senior officer, Jason took command of Tarawa and ordered the ship back in to join the fight and pick up the marines. Some marines didn't make it back, including Svetlana Ivanova. Her landing craft was shot down on the way up to space. Ivanova hit the detonator, blowing up six carriers, six construction yards, a cruiser construction center and 4,000 of the Kilrathi's best trained personnel are lost. A third of their carrier construction capability was gone.
On its first mission ''Tarawa'' was assigned to escort nine marine transport ships to [[Khartoum Station]] for ground assault exercises. Some of the best marine regiments were among them. The operation served only as a cover for the real mission. Based on information gathered by the ''[[TCS Johnny Greene]]'' and Lieutenant Commander [[Ramona Chekova]], [[Operation Back Lash]] was established. ''Tarawa'' played a part in the opening actions, bringing in marine landing troops to capture the planet Vukar Tag from the Kilrathi and desecrate the palace of [[Graknala]]. The move was to lure the Kilrathi leadership into sending the [[Kilrathi Home Fleet|Home Fleet]] to [[Vukar Tag]] to recapture the planet.


Meanwhile Tarawa was heavily damaged. The Inertial dampening system was damaged when the bridge was taken out, making every movement of the ship noticeable. Long range scan was taken out, so the ship had to depend on TCS Intrepid for its eyes. Tarawa had lost a hundred crew at this point. Helm, Combat Information Center, Comms, weapons control and damage control were all relocated to the flight deck, since escort carriers didn't have a reserve bridge. Shields were down and the jump drive probably didn't work. Tarawa needed urgent repairs before they could even try to escape the Kilrah System. Jason Bondarevsky decided to hide in Igrathi's atmosphere while they conducted emergency repairs. There were hundreds of microscopical cracks, and the ship was leaking air. Some of Igrathi's ammonia and sulphur atmosphere was also leaking in, so some areas were not accessible, and the crew had to wear masks in some other areas.
===Strike Force Valkyrie===


Prince Thrakhath meanwhile expected Tarawa to come out of the atmosphere and do a suicidal run on Kilrah at some point. When they came out of the atmosphere, Tarawa and the two escorts initially did head straight for Kilrah, accelerating quickly. Tarawa then launched a marine landing craft and a Ferret on auto-pilot and carrying a nuclear bomb and set them to head for Kilrah. The Strike Force changed their course and used Jim Bane's tractor beam theory to slingshot around Kilrah. The Kilrathi ships mostly focused on the shuttle and Ferret and their deadly payloads, but a Sartha did destroy the TCS Kagimasha with a suicide run. The Strike Force had no choice but to jump to Baragh, since the other jump points were blocked by the Kilrathi fleet.
With Vukar Tag taken, ''Tarawa'', along with escorts ''[[TCS Intrepid]]'' and ''[[TCS Kagimasha]]'', was assigned to [[Strike Force Valkyrie]]. The Strike Force was to jump into the heart of the Kilrathi Empire using a recently discovered jump point and strike at the Kilrathi home system. The First Marine Battalion was assigned to the ''Tarawa'', and the battalion was given ten new landing craft fully loaded with combat supplies. Valkyrie was to inflict as much damage as possible to the Kilrathi ship building facilities on [[Largkza]], the second moon of Kilrah, and remain in the area long enough for the Kilrathi to send back part of the Kilrathi Home Fleet. The reduced Home Fleet could then be defeated by the Confederation at Vukar Tag. Once part of the fleet was committed to returning to Kilrah, ''Tarawa'' would then try to escape out of the system, but at this point, Admiral [[Wayne Banbridge]] declared that the Strike Force would be on its own. It would be too risky too send assistance even if the Confederation fleet succeeded in holding Vukar Tag.


At this point Tarawa was so heavily damaged she would have to be taken apart and rebuilt from scratch or scrapped all together. The damage control officer stripped non-essential areas of the Tarawa for spare parts and durasteel. Even the durasteel off scrapped fighters was used to reinforce the forward bulkheads.
While marines were on Largkza setting mines, ''Tarawa'' was attacked by [[Strakha]] fighters. Part of the Home Fleet, a carrier and eight escorts, were on their way back to Kilrah. Commodore Thaddeus O'Brian chose to abandon the marines on Largkza and retreat, while Jason Bondarevsky returned to ''Tarawa'' in an attemp to prevent this. A Kilrathi kamikaze crashed into ''Tarawa'', destroying the entire bridge and killing the bridge crew, including Captain O'Brian. As the senior officer, Jason took command of ''Tarawa'' and ordered the ship back to Largkza and retrieve the marines. Some marines failed to return, with some landing craft was shot down while returning to the ''Tarawa''. At last one landing craft detonated all of its explosives before crashing back to the planet, destroying six carriers, six construction yards, a cruiser construction center and 4,000 of the Kilrathi's best trained personnel: a third of the Kilrathi carrier construction capability.


In Baragh Tarawa faced three Kilrathi carriers. When she took a hit from a torpedo, twenty meters of the forward bow with the forward turret on it was torn off, killing another 35 crew. Just then a fourth carrier showing Kilrathi IFF jumped into Baragh. With their surveillance equipment destroyed, they didn't see it was actually the TCS Concordia posing as a Kilrathi ship. TCS Intrepid engaged the cruiser covering the nearest Kilrathi carrier. Both fire a spread of torpedoes from point blank range, neither survives. The carrier is still advancing, but it bought Tarawa some much needed time. Before the escort was destroyed, Intrepid's Captain Grierson informed Tarawa that it was Concordia on the other end of the system. Concordia's fighters and bombers came sweeping in minutes later, saving the day, as Tarawa set course for Concordia's position. Geoffrey Tolwyn was acting against Wayne Banbridge's orders when he pulled Tarawa out.
By this point, ''Tarawa'' was heavily damaged. Long range scanning was destroyed, so the ship had to depend on ''TCS Intrepid'' for sensors. ''Tarawa'' had also lost a hundred crew. Helm, Combat Information Center, Comms, weapons control and damage control were all relocated to the flight deck, as escort carriers did not have a reserve bridge. Bondarevsky decided to take refuge in Igrathi's atmosphere to conduct emergency repairs on the ''Tarawa''.


Tarawa had structural cracks running down three of its keel beams. She had to limp back to Confederation space, fires still burning and air leaking. Tarawa left with 44 young pilots and only 14 made it back.
Kilrathi Crown Prince [[Thrakhath nar Kiranka|Thrakhath]] expected ''Tarawa'' to eventually leave the atmosphere and for a suicidal run against Kilrah. Upon leaving the atmosphere, ''Tarawa'' and her two escorts initially did fly for Kilrah, accelerating quickly. ''Tarawa'' then launched a marine landing craft and a Ferret on auto-pilot and carrying a nuclear bomb and programmed them to fly towards Kilrah as a diversion. The Strike Force changed their course and used Jim Bane's tractor beam theory to slingshot around Kilrah. The Kilrathi ships mostly focused on the shuttle and Ferret and their deadly payloads, but a [[Sartha]] destroyed the ''TCS Kagimasha'' with a suicide run. The Strike Force was left with no choice but to jump to Baragh, with the other jump points blocked by the Kilrathi fleet.


Jason Bondarevsky is promoted to Captain and offered command of a new escort carrier that would be coming online the next month, but he and Tolwyn insisted Tarawa be refitted instead of scrapped, even if it was be cheaper to build a new one. When word of Tarawa's mission reached the population, morale was way up across the Confederation.
In [[Baragh]], ''Tarawa'' was confronted by three Kilrathi carriers. Twenty meters of the forward bow with the forward turret was torn off after sustaining a torpedo hit, killing another 35 crew. ''TCS Intrepid'' engaged the cruiser covering the nearest Kilrathi carrier. Both ships fired a spread of torpedoes at point blank range, with neither ship surviving, but not before ''Intrepid's'' Captain Grierson informed ''Tarawa'' that the ''TCS Concordia'' had entered at the other end of the system. ''Concordia's'' fighter and bomber reinforcements arrived quickly and rescued the ''Tarawa''.  


Strike Force Valkyrie bagged a total of six carriers and their construction bays, a cruiser construction building, one cruiser, two orbital stations, four corvettes and at least ninety fighters.
''Tarawa'' had structural cracks running down three of its keel beams, limping back to Confederation space with fires still burning and air leaking. ''Tarawa'' had left with 44 young pilots and only 14 survived.


The action also showed the Confederation a good strategy for hurting the Kilrathi war effort. More Escort Carriers, TCS Khorsan and TCS Enigma were sent behind the lines to take out more construction yards as a result of Tarawa's succesful operation.
Jason Bondarevsky was promoted to Captain and offered command of a new escort carrier that would be coming online the next month, but he and Tolwyn insisted ''Tarawa'' be refitted instead of scrapped, even if it was be cheaper to build a new one. ''Tarawa'''s raid against Kilrah was a tremendous morale boost to the citizens of the Confederation.


==Armistice==
Strike Force Valkyrie destroyed a total of six carriers and their construction bays, a cruiser construction building, one cruiser, two orbital stations, four corvettes and at least ninety fighters. Their action also demonstrated to the Confederation a good strategy for damaging the Kilrathi war effort. More escort carriers, ''[[TCS Khorsan]]'' and ''[[TCS Enigma]]'' were sent behind the lines to attack more construction yards as a result of ''Tarawa'''s successful operation.


Tarawa spent roughly a year in repairs. When the 2668 armistice was signed, she was set to be decommissioned at Fleet Yard 5. Tarawa's decommissioning number was 2291.
==The False Armistice==


Under secret authority of President Harold Rodham and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Nuragami had Geoffrey Tolwyn take Tarawa out to probe the Kilrathi-held Hari region. This was a direct violation of the armistice agreement, but the Confederation had reason to believe the Kilrathi were secretly building a fleet of supercarriers.
''Tarawa'' spent roughly a year in repairs. Originally, Admiral Banbridge had wanted to simply scrap the carrier because of its extensive damage. However, public opinion and the conviction of Jason Bondarevsky and Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn swayed his mind. When the 2668 armistice was signed, she was set to be decommissioned at Fleet Yard 5. ''Tarawa'''s decommissioning number was 2291. She was set to have her reactors pulled and put into cold storage.  


Tarawa left for Landreich with a skeleton crew of 35, three Ferrets and one Sabre. Most of the 500 crew, some 375, were only needed to maintain the flight wing, and on this particular operation Tarawa would be outfitted with a D 3S 5. On its way out of Fleet Yard 5, the ship was ordered to return to the decommissioning yard immediately, saying they were violating the peace commission proceedings for title transfer; Geoffrey Tolwyn had arranged for someone to "buy" the Tarawa and four other decommissioned Escort Carriers (TCS Normandy, TCS Iwo, TCS Crete and TCS Wake), and they were supposedly going to serve as civilian transports. They managed to break away from their decommissioning yards, despite protests from the peace commission questioning the legality of the sale. Lawyers were at Confed HQ arguing the sale was legal.
Under secret authority of President [[Harold Rodham]] and the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], Admiral [[Nuragami]] had Geoffrey Tolwyn take ''Tarawa'' out to probe the Kilrathi-held [[Hari]] region. This was a direct violation of the armistice agreement, but the Confederation had reason to believe the Kilrathi were secretly building a fleet of supercarriers.


James Taggart in Bannockburn acquired footage and statistics on the Hakaga Fleet being constructed as part of Project Hari. He relayed the information to Tarawa, which in turn passed it on to President Rodham.
''Tarawa'' left for Landreich with a skeleton crew of 35, three Ferrets and one Sabre. Most of the 500 crew, some 375, were only needed to maintain the flight wing, and on this particular operation ''Tarawa'' would be outfitted with a [[D 3S 5]].


President Kruger of the Landreich sent out a signal confirming the loss of Tarawa, Normandy and Bannockburn, to keep them in his arsenal. The Kilrathi were also moving in on his region, and he needed the extra units.  
[[James Taggart]] in ''[[Bannockburn]]'' acquired footage and statistics on the [[Hakaga-Class Heavy Carrier|Hakaga]] fleet being constructed as part of [[Project Hari]]. He relayed the information to ''Tarawa'', which in turn passed it on to President Rodham.


==Battle of Terra==
President [[Kruger]] of the Landreich transmitted a signal declaring the loss of ''Tarawa'', ''[[TCS Normandy|Normandy]]'' and ''Bannockburn'', to keep them in his arsenal.


Bondarevsky wanted to take Tarawa Earth or Sirius and assist in the battle there, but Kruger didn't refused to release the carrier. Kruger had stationed a lot of Landreich crew and pilots on Tarawa, making a hijack impossible. At the Battle of Hell Hole, Kruger had all the ships jump in at full speed. As a result Tarawa collided with Kruger's flagship, the FRLS Blitzkrieg. Tarawa's crew quarters were hulled and Blitzkrieg lost a port rear stabilizer. It was around this time that a picture of Kruger ended up on the dart board in Tarawa's Officer Lounge.
===Battle of Earth===


Kruger finally caved under pressure from Jason Bondarevsky, and headed to Sol System to assist the Confederation in the Battle of Earth. Tarawa arrived in time to keep the Kilrathi from launching their Strontium-clad thermonuclear warheads.
As the Kilrathi armada encroached on [[Sol]], Bondarevsky wanted to take ''Tarawa'' to [[Earth]] or [[Sirius]] and assist in the battle there, but President Kruger refused to release the carrier. Kruger had stationed several Landreich crew and pilots on ''Tarawa'', making a hijack impossible. At the [[Second Battle of Hell Hole]], Kruger had all the ships jump in at full speed. As a result ''Tarawa'' collided with Kruger's flagship, the ''[[FRLS Blitzkrieg]]''. ''Tarawa's'' crew quarters were breached and ''Blitzkrieg'' lost a port rear stabilizer.


A few weeks after the Battle of Earth, Tarawa was again crippled. This time she was sold to the Landreich, where Armando Diaz' salvage team refitted the carrier. TCS Tarawa was rechristened FRLS Independence.
Eventually, Kruger conceded under pressure from Jason Bondarevsky, and headed to Sol System to assist the Confederation in the [[Battle of Earth]]. ''Tarawa'' arrived in time to prevent the Kilrathi from launching their Strontium-clad thermonuclear warheads against Earth.


==Project Goliath==
==Sale to the Landreich and Conversion to the ''FRLS Independence''==
{{infobox Fighter New
|faction =landreich
|name = FRLS ''Independence''
|type = [[Escort Carrier]]
|manufacturer =
|image =
|introduction =
|nicknames =
|captains = [[John Calhoun Galbraith]]
|primary user = [[user:=Free Republic of the Landreich]]
|additional users =
|produced =
|service = [[Third Battle of Hell Hole]]
}}


After the end of the war, the Tarawa was sold to the Free Republic of the Landreich where it went through a thorough refit which included the addition of crew and command berthing spaces. The ship was recommissioned FRLS Independence and became the flag ship of Landreich Fleet.
Shortly after the Battle of Earth, ''Tarawa'' was again crippled. This time she was sold to the Landreich, where [[Armando Diaz]]' salvage team refitted the carrier. ''TCS Tarawa'' was rechristened ''FRLS Independence''.


===Project Goliath===


[[category:Terran Capital Ships]]
After the end of the Kilrathi War, the ''Tarawa'' was sold to the Free Republic of the Landreich where it went through a thorough refit which included the addition of crew and command berthing spaces. The ship was recommissioned ''FRLS Independence'' and became the flagship of Landreich Fleet. She provided her flight group to the ''[[FRLS Mjollnir]]'' before departing the derelict in 2671.
 
===The Third Battle of Hell Hole===
 
Upon learning of The [[Guild]] installation on Hell Hole, ''Independence'' along with its battle group proceeded to mop up the operation when a fleet from Baka Kar jumped in system. Two Kilrathi escort carriers and escorts engaged in a small action with Landreich forces before retiring. President Kruger jumped in system with the new carrier ''[[FRLS Magna Carta]]'' which was sufficient to force a Kilrathi withdrawal.
 
The ''FRLS Independence'' remains in service as the Landreich's flagship.
 
= Behind the Scenes =
==Fan Art==
[[Wake-Class CVE Fan Art]]
 
{{#set:source=[[Wing Commander: End Run]]}}
{{#set:source=[[Wing Commander: Fleet Action]]}}
{{#set:source=[[Wing Commander: False Colors]]}}
 
[[category:Confederation Capital Ships by Name]]
[[Category:Confederation ships that served in the Terran-Kilrathi War]]
[[Category:Free Republic of the Landreich Capital Ships by Name]]

Latest revision as of 15:47, 31 May 2011

TCS Tarawa
WakeCVE.jpg
Type Escort Carrier
Primary User Terran Confederation
Additional Users Free Republic of the Landreich
Captains Thaddeus O'Brian

Jason Bondarevsky

Nicknames First to Kilrah
Introduction 2667
Service Terran-Kilrathi War




The TCS Tarawa (CVE-8) was one of the original nine Wake-Class Escort Carriers converted from medium transports following the heavy carrier losses of 2665-66. The ship carried a crew of 500, some 375 of which were to support the flight wing. Tarawa was the first warship to reach Kilrah and return alive.

When the ship entered service its fighter complement consisted of a squadron of F-44C Rapiers (Rapier II), a squadron of F-57B Sabres fighter bombers, and a squadron of Ferret scout ships. 44 inexperienced pilots were brought on board in addition to a handful of veterans. On average, the young pilots pilot had 250 and 300 hours of flight time as there was much pressure to make up for losses in the Confederation fleet. The trade-off was that the inexperienced pilots suffered casualties at a higher rate. Jason Bondarevsky was assigned as Wing Commander, and Etienne Montclair and Janice Parker served as Squadron Commanders. The carrier was captained by Thaddeus O'Brian.

Operation Back Lash

Invasion of Vukar Tag

On its first mission Tarawa was assigned to escort nine marine transport ships to Khartoum Station for ground assault exercises. Some of the best marine regiments were among them. The operation served only as a cover for the real mission. Based on information gathered by the TCS Johnny Greene and Lieutenant Commander Ramona Chekova, Operation Back Lash was established. Tarawa played a part in the opening actions, bringing in marine landing troops to capture the planet Vukar Tag from the Kilrathi and desecrate the palace of Graknala. The move was to lure the Kilrathi leadership into sending the Home Fleet to Vukar Tag to recapture the planet.

Strike Force Valkyrie

With Vukar Tag taken, Tarawa, along with escorts TCS Intrepid and TCS Kagimasha, was assigned to Strike Force Valkyrie. The Strike Force was to jump into the heart of the Kilrathi Empire using a recently discovered jump point and strike at the Kilrathi home system. The First Marine Battalion was assigned to the Tarawa, and the battalion was given ten new landing craft fully loaded with combat supplies. Valkyrie was to inflict as much damage as possible to the Kilrathi ship building facilities on Largkza, the second moon of Kilrah, and remain in the area long enough for the Kilrathi to send back part of the Kilrathi Home Fleet. The reduced Home Fleet could then be defeated by the Confederation at Vukar Tag. Once part of the fleet was committed to returning to Kilrah, Tarawa would then try to escape out of the system, but at this point, Admiral Wayne Banbridge declared that the Strike Force would be on its own. It would be too risky too send assistance even if the Confederation fleet succeeded in holding Vukar Tag.

While marines were on Largkza setting mines, Tarawa was attacked by Strakha fighters. Part of the Home Fleet, a carrier and eight escorts, were on their way back to Kilrah. Commodore Thaddeus O'Brian chose to abandon the marines on Largkza and retreat, while Jason Bondarevsky returned to Tarawa in an attemp to prevent this. A Kilrathi kamikaze crashed into Tarawa, destroying the entire bridge and killing the bridge crew, including Captain O'Brian. As the senior officer, Jason took command of Tarawa and ordered the ship back to Largkza and retrieve the marines. Some marines failed to return, with some landing craft was shot down while returning to the Tarawa. At last one landing craft detonated all of its explosives before crashing back to the planet, destroying six carriers, six construction yards, a cruiser construction center and 4,000 of the Kilrathi's best trained personnel: a third of the Kilrathi carrier construction capability.

By this point, Tarawa was heavily damaged. Long range scanning was destroyed, so the ship had to depend on TCS Intrepid for sensors. Tarawa had also lost a hundred crew. Helm, Combat Information Center, Comms, weapons control and damage control were all relocated to the flight deck, as escort carriers did not have a reserve bridge. Bondarevsky decided to take refuge in Igrathi's atmosphere to conduct emergency repairs on the Tarawa.

Kilrathi Crown Prince Thrakhath expected Tarawa to eventually leave the atmosphere and for a suicidal run against Kilrah. Upon leaving the atmosphere, Tarawa and her two escorts initially did fly for Kilrah, accelerating quickly. Tarawa then launched a marine landing craft and a Ferret on auto-pilot and carrying a nuclear bomb and programmed them to fly towards Kilrah as a diversion. The Strike Force changed their course and used Jim Bane's tractor beam theory to slingshot around Kilrah. The Kilrathi ships mostly focused on the shuttle and Ferret and their deadly payloads, but a Sartha destroyed the TCS Kagimasha with a suicide run. The Strike Force was left with no choice but to jump to Baragh, with the other jump points blocked by the Kilrathi fleet.

In Baragh, Tarawa was confronted by three Kilrathi carriers. Twenty meters of the forward bow with the forward turret was torn off after sustaining a torpedo hit, killing another 35 crew. TCS Intrepid engaged the cruiser covering the nearest Kilrathi carrier. Both ships fired a spread of torpedoes at point blank range, with neither ship surviving, but not before Intrepid's Captain Grierson informed Tarawa that the TCS Concordia had entered at the other end of the system. Concordia's fighter and bomber reinforcements arrived quickly and rescued the Tarawa.

Tarawa had structural cracks running down three of its keel beams, limping back to Confederation space with fires still burning and air leaking. Tarawa had left with 44 young pilots and only 14 survived.

Jason Bondarevsky was promoted to Captain and offered command of a new escort carrier that would be coming online the next month, but he and Tolwyn insisted Tarawa be refitted instead of scrapped, even if it was be cheaper to build a new one. Tarawa's raid against Kilrah was a tremendous morale boost to the citizens of the Confederation.

Strike Force Valkyrie destroyed a total of six carriers and their construction bays, a cruiser construction building, one cruiser, two orbital stations, four corvettes and at least ninety fighters. Their action also demonstrated to the Confederation a good strategy for damaging the Kilrathi war effort. More escort carriers, TCS Khorsan and TCS Enigma were sent behind the lines to attack more construction yards as a result of Tarawa's successful operation.

The False Armistice

Tarawa spent roughly a year in repairs. Originally, Admiral Banbridge had wanted to simply scrap the carrier because of its extensive damage. However, public opinion and the conviction of Jason Bondarevsky and Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn swayed his mind. When the 2668 armistice was signed, she was set to be decommissioned at Fleet Yard 5. Tarawa's decommissioning number was 2291. She was set to have her reactors pulled and put into cold storage.

Under secret authority of President Harold Rodham and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Nuragami had Geoffrey Tolwyn take Tarawa out to probe the Kilrathi-held Hari region. This was a direct violation of the armistice agreement, but the Confederation had reason to believe the Kilrathi were secretly building a fleet of supercarriers.

Tarawa left for Landreich with a skeleton crew of 35, three Ferrets and one Sabre. Most of the 500 crew, some 375, were only needed to maintain the flight wing, and on this particular operation Tarawa would be outfitted with a D 3S 5.

James Taggart in Bannockburn acquired footage and statistics on the Hakaga fleet being constructed as part of Project Hari. He relayed the information to Tarawa, which in turn passed it on to President Rodham.

President Kruger of the Landreich transmitted a signal declaring the loss of Tarawa, Normandy and Bannockburn, to keep them in his arsenal.

Battle of Earth

As the Kilrathi armada encroached on Sol, Bondarevsky wanted to take Tarawa to Earth or Sirius and assist in the battle there, but President Kruger refused to release the carrier. Kruger had stationed several Landreich crew and pilots on Tarawa, making a hijack impossible. At the Second Battle of Hell Hole, Kruger had all the ships jump in at full speed. As a result Tarawa collided with Kruger's flagship, the FRLS Blitzkrieg. Tarawa's crew quarters were breached and Blitzkrieg lost a port rear stabilizer.

Eventually, Kruger conceded under pressure from Jason Bondarevsky, and headed to Sol System to assist the Confederation in the Battle of Earth. Tarawa arrived in time to prevent the Kilrathi from launching their Strontium-clad thermonuclear warheads against Earth.

Sale to the Landreich and Conversion to the FRLS Independence

FRLS Independence
Type Escort Carrier
Primary User Free Republic of the Landreich
Captains John Calhoun Galbraith
Service Third Battle of Hell Hole




Shortly after the Battle of Earth, Tarawa was again crippled. This time she was sold to the Landreich, where Armando Diaz' salvage team refitted the carrier. TCS Tarawa was rechristened FRLS Independence.

Project Goliath

After the end of the Kilrathi War, the Tarawa was sold to the Free Republic of the Landreich where it went through a thorough refit which included the addition of crew and command berthing spaces. The ship was recommissioned FRLS Independence and became the flagship of Landreich Fleet. She provided her flight group to the FRLS Mjollnir before departing the derelict in 2671.

The Third Battle of Hell Hole

Upon learning of The Guild installation on Hell Hole, Independence along with its battle group proceeded to mop up the operation when a fleet from Baka Kar jumped in system. Two Kilrathi escort carriers and escorts engaged in a small action with Landreich forces before retiring. President Kruger jumped in system with the new carrier FRLS Magna Carta which was sufficient to force a Kilrathi withdrawal.

The FRLS Independence remains in service as the Landreich's flagship.

Behind the Scenes

Fan Art

Wake-Class CVE Fan Art

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