SDC Vessels: RFG-203 SDCN Nelson Mandela

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The following is a lore document showing the history of the SDCN Nelson Mandela, a reconnaissance frigate within the Hermes fleet, as of early-2102.

I. Service Record[edit | edit source]

  1. February 4th, 2065. Reconnaissance frigate RFG-203 “Nelson Mandela” laid down, four years later than planned. First of the “Nelson Mandela” class, CDR Jean Porterson assigned.
  2. September 28, 2068. RFG-203 runs into pirates during regular scanning ~475km away from Neptune. Communications jammed by Neptune’s magnetic field; RFG-203 forced to fight superior pirate force while in a retreat. Advanced propulsion allows -203 to escape, but not without heavy damage to itself. -203 returns to Earth spaceport with the assistance of a civilian tug by January 1st, 2069.
  3. February 22nd, 2070. RFG-203 recommissioned for service after repairs. Stationed at Pluto, alongside sister ship RFG-204 “La Puerta,” (commissioned December 20th 2069) to serve as a first-response unit.
  4. June 15th, 2070. RFG-203 and -204 engage unidentified craft crossing Sol borders; with the unidentified craft unresponsive to hails. Craft is destroyed without resistance. [See Incident F-15-2070, “Initial Cloverleaf Encounter.”]
  5. June 30th, 2070. Two more unidentified craft, matching radar cross-signature with the previous ship, are met with gunfire after crossing Sol borders by RFG-203 and -204. Unidentified vessel rams into RFG-203, destroying the ship's right weapons array, tearing off an entire wing, and killing 8 crewmembers, including CDR Jean Porterson. First Officer Xiang Fletcher takes command, utilizing the ship’s remaining weapons to neutralize the enemy vessel and quickly retreats. The -204 neutralizes the second ship without further complications. All crew on RFG-203 are awarded the newly created Xiang’s Medal after return to port, signifying continued valiant service despite significant losses. Xiang Fletcher is promoted to commander and assigned as the RFG-203’s new captain.
  6. August 7th, 2078. RFG-203 recommissioned for service after receiving intensive repairs and upgrades to sensors, AI, propulsion and weaponry. Two 533mm guided-missile tubes were mounted, complementing the craft’s six light laser array and two point-defense turrets. RFG-203 is also upgraded with a dedicated recon drone.
  7. August 10th, 2078. RFG-203 sent to recon a suspected pirate stronghold within the Asteroid Belt, given their superior recon capability than the Poseidon fleet. Recon drone confirms location of pirate stronghold, which is later bombarded by the Poseidon fleet with long-range artillery.
  8. November 29th, 2078. RFG-203 responds to a distress call located 700km from Neptune, engaging with pirate forces as a first-response unit. RFG-203 destroys four boarding shuttles mid-flight, one smaller pirate corvette, and severely damages another with a 533mm missile. RFG-203 comes out of combat when the new EDT-111 “South Africa” arrives at the combat zone, sustaining minimal damage. RFG-203 continues patrol without returning to port.
  9. October 2nd, 2079. RFG-203 ordered to intercept a fleet of eight suspected rebellious Mars trading ships HCR-102 (Kramer-class heavy cruiser,) RFG-206 (Nelson Mandela-class reconnaissance frigate,) and ACV-105 (Stonewall-class assault corvette, temporarily outfitted for boarding). The trading fleet is halted 2000km away from Mars, refusing SDC boarding inspection teams. After multiple warnings, HCR-102 fires a warning shot The trading vessels believe the shot was aimed to hit them, so they attempt to run, firing their light defense lasers, failing to pierce the SDC shielding. The SDC ships are ordered to knock out the merchant’s engines, which is completed within the hour. ACV-105 launches boarding parties, raiding the lead merchant vessel. Ensuing firefight kills 3/15 SDC marines and leaves 13/35 merchant crewmembers dead before surrender. Five of the other merchant vessels surrender and submit to boarders; two vessels on the left flank attempt to flee after makeshift engine repairs. One vessel destroyed by explosion after a missile from RFG-206 pierces it’s cargobay. Other vessel subdued after destruction of weaponry and oxygen systems. Incident in total leaves 57 merchantmen dead and 3 SDC personnel killed. Vessels were carrying unauthorized shipments of military-grade warheads, small arms, critical shield components, and an array of deactivated point-defense turrets. After interrogation of merchants, a spec ops team was deployed to raid a pro-rebellion Mars dockyard. This incident would start what is now known as “Rebel’s October.”
  10. October 4th, 2079. RFG-203 sensors pick up shuttle inbound towards -203, in orbit of Mars (3000km.) RFG-203 arms point-defense weapons after repeated hails and no response. Shuttle fired on after crossing the 2km exclusion zone around frigate-type vessels, and the shuttle exploded violently after a direct hit, indicative of military-grade explosives. Shuttle traced back to a public dockyard, however, the perpetrator was never found.
  11. October 5th, 2079. Another shuttle approaches -203, manned by six men in civilian industrial-grade engineer hardsuits with prototype SA-5D rifles. Responds to hails with “Get out of orbit” on a repeating loop. RFG-203 opens fire after crossing the 2km zone; shuttle manages to dock with one shuttle crew already dead by PD fire. The 5 left initiate a firefight with the crew; however Xiang orders all crew into the bridge, and airlocks the entire vessel, forcing the terrorists to fight through every metal door on a dwindling oxygen supply. Vessel recieved moderate internal damage before terrorists ran out of oxygen and were knocked out due to asphyxiation. Damage was repaired in-flight and the terrorists were shuttled to the ACV-105 after four days for transfer to Earth custody. Boarding attempts also occurred on several other smaller frigate or corvette class vessels within four hours of each other, however no SDC vessels were permanently knocked out. 11 terrorists total were captured, with 38 others killed. 22 SDC personnel were killed or wounded. [See Incident J-5-2079, “Coordinated Terrorist Boardings over Mars.”]
  12. October 12th, 2079. RFG-203 ordered to halt a single unarmed merchant vessel suspected to be a part of this Mars ‘rebellion.’ RFG-203 intercepts ~7500km away from Mars and instructed to wait until boarding vessels could arrive. RFG-203 sensors pick up thermal signs inside the merchant indicative of a weapon charging. In a highly controversial act, Xiang orders RFG-203 to fire a salvo at the vessel. 4 light lasers pierce the merchant vessel, creating multiple breaches. Thermal signs deteriorate, but continue to be picked up. Boarding vessel arrives a few hours later, upon which no crew are found aboard the ship. Blackbox data indicates it was piloted by an AI only, and the thermal sign was found to be a dedicated AI server room, designed to allow the AI near-humanlike capability, violating Act C of Sentient AI and Restrictions. The destination the AI was trying to reach is still unknown.
  13. October 17th, 2079. RFG-203 is fired upon at long range without warning by a heavily armed civilian mercenary corvette. RFG-203 is struck twice by 610mm purpose-built ‘cloaked’ missiles in initial strike, utilizing low-emission technology to approach unnoticed, killing 4 crew. RFG-203 fires back with lasers; however the mercenary vessel escapes before -203’s already-damaged sensors can maintain a lock. The corvette has not been reported since. The RFG-203 is forced to limp back to an Earth spaceport for heavy repairs. Coordinated assaults on other SDC vessels surrounding Mars continue over the month, before the Ares fleet sends a destroyer detachment to better-guard Mars.
  14. February 4th, 2080. RFG-203 celebrates it’s 15-year anniversary in service while still in space dock repairs, with CDR Xiang Fletcher being awarded the Loyalty medal for 10 years in service during this time.
  15. March 9th, 2082. RFG-203 recommissioned after extensive repairs, however, it is assigned to wartime reserve duty as the ship’s type is replaced with newer frigates.
  16. September 2nd, 2093. RFG-203 is refitted with new equipment, primarily due to the loss of modern Hermes-fleet recon in the Martian Revolution, and the cost of refit being lower than constructing new vessels. The Nelson Mandela class is re-established as the primary reconnaissance unit for the SDC, outfitted with state-of-the-art sensors and propulsion, a recon and combat drone, x8 light lasers, x4 point-defense turrets, and one 610mm guided missile.
  17. June 26th, 2095. RFG-203 encounters pirate vessel while on a scanning route, where both ships open fire on eachother. -203’s superior propulsion and navigation manages to dodge most incoming fire from the pirate’s weapon array, retaliating with a salvo of lasers. Pirates’ ship breaches in multiple places, killing the crew.
  18. January 1st, 2100. RFG-203 participates in an SDC military parade, being the primary showcase for the newest of the SDC’s sensor technology. During the speeches given by a multitude of senior captains from all six fleets, CDR Xiang Fletcher announces his retirement from the SDC’s navy, ending his 30-year run as one of the longest-active commanders in the navy. His FO, Mallaba Mukuhama, takes command of the RFG-203 in a promotion to CDR.

II. History of the "Nelson Mandela" Design[edit | edit source]

The design of the Nelson Mandela class stems back to 2050. While spaceship flight had been relatively mastered, regular ship sensors usually weren’t up to the task for reconnaissance purposes, and scientific vessels were often busy with their own expeditions, far from Sol, to help in a war. As a proper military force, the SDC would need it’s own reconnaissance vessel. With this in mind, the SDC sent requests to various starship designers, requesting a prototype vessel with firepower able to fend off at least a standard corvette, propulsion at least 25% faster than a typical civilian security vessel, standard frigate shielding, and a large dedicated space for sensor equipment, with systems able to support at least 30 crewmembers.

To fit all these requests and systems into only a frigate-sized hull would be a challenge; but in 2054, an older naval ship designer - having successfully transferred from marine to space-borne designs, founded originally in 1922 - Varion Naval stepped up to the task. Managing to create a design that fit the requirements of the recon frigate, and using an AXIOM reactor, the design was submitted, and promptly, 9 Nelson Mandela class frigates were ordered.

However; due to the small space restrictions of a frigate class vessel and the relatively large equipment, construction was complex, long and expensive, as well as repairs, and three out of the nine ships were canceled, with three assigned to Hermes, and three to the Ares fleets. After multiple changes to the designs for constantly evolving technology, causing long construction delays, in 2065, the first of the class - RFG-203, SDCN “Nelson Mandela” was finally laid down.

III. History of the "Nelson Mandela" Class[edit | edit source]

The Nelson Mandela class is highly-versatile, making it commonly stationed as a first-response unit, or as a first-response on patrol. With being stationed on the frontlines of the Sol system, the Nelson Mandelas were often the first ships to arrive to combat. Their advanced sensors allow for a good understanding for an enemy, and firing solutions for heavier artillery ships before they even arrive.

With these factors included, and self-defense armament enough to fend off boarders and propulsion to avoid heavier fire, the Mandela class is a highly capable scout, and one of the oldest ship types in the fleet still in active service. Out of the class, the lead ship, RFG-203, has a highly active service record, with a large amount of involvement in anti-piracy and terrorist activities, and was one of the first ships to encounter the new Cloverleaf threat firsthand. Though often returning to a dock battered and bruised because of its poor armor, the efforts these ships have made over their now 37-year service, and their crews, have made them a staple of resilience in the face of defeat for the Sol Defense Corps, still on the frontlines today.

This page was contributed by user Hesston.