Troglita

The Troglita presents as a classic black Imperial knife blade in profile, with blocky towers and pyramids rising aft like the fins of an immense shark. It measures approximately two miles from bowsprit to stern cluster and has twenty-three decks. The lowest five decks are each nearly one hundred feet high, housing landing bays and great holds, with most holds kept in vacuum. The ship carries two dozen Peregrine-class lighters, designated Manticore Flight. A secondary bridge is located at the bow on B-Deck, repurposed for classified briefings, with a broad slash of window looking out along the bowsprit and forward gun emplacements on the dorsal hull. The receiving bay features black metal and polished brass with a ribbed ceiling. A tram system serves the interior. A conference room with a holograph table of black glass is also present aboard. The Troglita carries eight thousand two hundred personnel counting sleepers, comprising a small full legion of six thousand legionnaires, one thousand auxiliaries, and an engineering corps.

The Troglita is earmarked by the Emperor for the Sabratha expedition and serves as the primary vessel for HAPSIS's Operation Gnomon. Friedrich Oberlin remains aboard the Troglita throughout surface operations on Sabratha, tethered there partly by medical necessity. Briefings and debriefings with Oberlin take place aboard the ship. Multiple NEM weapons are carried aboard in addition to any deployed near the surface camp. Ship landers transport personnel to and from the surface. During the Cielcin assault on Sabratha, the Troglita is destroyed by a Cielcin worldship while stationed in orbit. Its destruction produces a brief false sun visible from the planetary surface. Before the ship is lost, Captain Clavan manages to launch the aquilarii.

Marika Clavan commands the Troglita as captain and manages to launch the aquilarii before the ship's destruction. Friedrich Oberlin commands Operation Gnomon from aboard the ship. Morrow serves as first officer.