Battlefleet Eternum
Overview
The Eternum sector, possessing a massive shipyard and forge worlds, historically maintained only a minor interdiction fleet within Eternum to combat pirates and other minor threats, with the bulk of her Battlefleet supporting Battlefleet Bakka in more contentious sectors. The increasing raids that preceded the birth of the Bubonic Rift, itself accompanied by a massive rise in attacks and invasions in the sector led to Battlefleet Eternum forming into a more formidable force, with ships and crew that could rival sectors with a longer history of combat. The fleet adopted colors to represent their new found role of anti-incursion duties, and sports grey black metal hulls with darker red prows with bright gold emblems. Officially, the red represents the blood of martyrs who gave their lives fighting the spew of the rift, but common belief and rumors state it's to mirror the Inquisitorial elements that so often requisition their ships. The heretic astartes and forces of Nurgle that invade from the rift are particularly fond of boarding, and thus the fleet maintains a significant complement of armsmen. While counter boarding the most corrupted of the heretics fleet is a futile action, the smaller, less corrupted, vessels used by cultists, space hulks, and retaking captured ships all demand dangerous boarding actions and thus each ship will maintain elite breaching teams.
Port Tecklonbor
The Battlefleet is serviced by the massive Port Tecklenbor, a gigantic collection of connected drydocks, servicing berths, and construction docks that is capable of building and servicing a multitude of craft at any given time, including multiple battleships. Originally the larger of twin ports built during the Great Crusade, the smaller twin Port Uralplagush was lost to Chaos in the Putrilocus subsector. Uralplagush has proven immensely beneficial for the Plague God's minions and is able to churn out large numbers of cruisers and battlecruisers, while still having the Dark Mechanicus facilities required to repair the occasional battleship. Still, in a pure production battle Port Tecklenbor would win by a significant margin, but its obligations to the Indomitus crusade and Battlefleet Tempestus prevent it from throwing its full weight behind Battlefleet Eternum. Complicating matters, the collapse of the Phobox Anomaly led to several Battlegroups declaring their formerly hidden allegiance to the ruinous powers, joining the Chaos bands in the New Worlds in Kalibras.
On the larger scale, Battlefleet Eternum battlegroups do serve in the larger Battlefleet Bakka, but the fleets not permanently assigned to Battlefleet Bakka generally only serve a rotation before returning. As a result of the ship types ordered by Battlefleet Bakka that favor big guns over strike craft, Port Tecklenbor primarily produces ships that focus on macrocannon and lance batteries, which is reflected in Battlefleet Eternum's makeup. Battlefleet Eternum is primarily armed with macrocannon batteries, along with lances and torpedoes, with very few carrier type ships save for Battlefleet Kalibras. The carriers that do exist outside Battlefleet Kalibras are incredibly old even by the venerable status of many of Eternum's ships, and find themselves still distrusted by other fleets.
Battlefleet Eternum and Component Fleets
Each Imperial subsector possesses its own Battlefleet thanks to the large production capacities of Port Tecklonbor and subsector Gothar, though they are all part of Battlefleet Eternum, which is in turn part of Battlefleet Bakka. Battlefleet Eternum as a whole is led by Lord Admiral Gunther Dönitz, who has led the Battlefleet for the last 200 years from Battlefleet Eternum's flagship, the retribution class Savior of Caligulas. Under Lord Admiral Dönitz are each subsector's Admirals who lead their respective fleet, with the only exception being Battlefleet Gothar. Battlefleet Gothar is the flag fleet of Eternum and is thus led directly by the Lord Admiral, with Gothar's Admiral Karl Prien serving as his executive officer from the Emperor class battleship Bearer of Divinity. All Battlefleets possess at least one Battleship which serves as the subsector Admiral's flagship, except for Battlefleet Arkamedes which was devastated and whose strongest ships are Battlecruisers and Battlefleet Richmon whose flagship is an Avenger class Grand Cruiser due to the preference of Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky, though Battlefleet Richmon does possess an Oberon class Battleship as well. Battlefleet Eternum as a whole does focus on macrocannon, lance, and torpedo salvos in lieu of strike craft, though each subsector fleet and its constituent battlegroups may vary slightly based off the preference of the Admiral. Battlefleet Kalibras is the most deviated battlefleet in Eternum, with strike craft prioritized over traditional armament.
The following table contains the primary Battlefleets in Eternum with their flagship, the Admiral, and preferred tactics or fleet composition. All Battlefleet Eternum vessels have grey-black hulls with red prows, with subsector Battlefleets varying in trim color for identification. Fleet Number corresponds to the relative strength of the fleet ranked from strongest to weakest.
| Battlefleet Name | Fleet Number | Admiral | Flagship Name | Flagship Class | Trim Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battlefleet Gothar | First | Lord Admiral Gunther Dönitz | Savior of Caligulas | Retribution Battleship | Gold |
| Battlefleet Caligulas | Second | Admiral Jervis Horatio | Ark Royal | Apocalypse Battleship | Bronze |
| Battlefleet Confedus | Third | Admiral Randolph Tucker | Palmetto Iron | Retribution Battleship | White Silver |
| Battlefleet Richmon | Fourth | Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky | Kirov Arkhangelsk | Avenger Grand Cruiser | Burgundy |
| Battlefleet Makerus | Fifth | Admiral Pulteney Malcolm | Salamander of Makerus | Apocalypse Battleship | Light Blue |
| Battlefleet Kalibras | Sixth | Admiral Chester Halsey | Ticonderoga | Emperor Battleship | White |
| Battlefleet Arkamedes | Seventh | Vice Admiral Louis de Calant | Bretagne | Armageddon Battlecruiser | Green |
Each Battlefleet in Eternum has millenia of tradition behind them and officers are chosen from the subsector's noble families that have a history with the Battlefleet. Battlefleet Eternum did lose several keel-built vessels to heresy as well as the rare captain, as well as the defection of significant fleets from Arkamedes during the First Poxwar, but overall Battlefleet Eternum has remained resolute.
Battlefleet Gothar
Led by Battlefleet Eternum's Lord Admiral Gunther Dönitz, Gothar's preferred tactics are Dönitz's famed torpedo pincer maneuver. The torpedo pincer maneuver sees three or more torpedo carrying ships approach the enemy's flagship or a critical vessel from the front and sides, using the flanking ships to force the hostile flagship forward before burning maneuvering engines hard to fire salvos of torpedoes from behind at the same time the lead front ship fires its torpedoes, drowning the ship in torpedo salvos while macrocannons and lances pummel it. While this maneuver did save the Aural Gate more than once, the flanking ships are vulnerable if the target ships break out to the side while other hostile ships box it in. As their general posture, Gothar uses few ships with launch bays and reserves the few it does have for fighter screens or the occasional boarding action. Most ships are equipped with standard macrocannon batteries, though some use plasma macrocannons, with an even split between prow lances, prow arms, or prow mounted Nova cannons. Battlefleet Gothar is the most in line with Battlefleet Bakka's tendency and the most traditional battlefleet in Eternum. Battlefleet Gothar's greatest weakness is its over reliance on torpedoes and close broadsides - any enemy fleet with an excess of turrets or that can keep the distance can negate the Battlefleet's primary strengths.
Battlefleet Caligulas
As the Battlefleet originating from the most attacked subsector in Eternum, Battlefleet Caligulas has some of the most experienced admirals and captains in Eternum who throughout the millennia of wars have tailored their fleet to excel against the fleets and tactics of the arch-enemy of Mankind. Battlefleet Caligulas is built around quickly closing the gap on Chaos ships and engaging them at medium range, where their accurate macrocannon volleys can pummel the enemy safe from the risk of Nurglite boarders. The fleets of the arch enemy are exceptionally dangerous, with some fleets comprised of carriers and long range vessels, with others designed to drive close and disgorge Rotbelchers, cultists, and daemons, with some hostile fleets mixing the two, thus mid-range combat is the most advantageous position for Battlefleet Caligulas. Caligulas does possess slightly more launch bay capable ships than Gothar, but these are oft limited to one or two per fleet and used to launch fighters responsible for defeating enemy bombers or boarding craft. Battlefleet Caligulas also possesses more Battleships than any other subsector save Gothar, though this is offset by their lack of any significant amount of grand cruisers. Escort craft are likewise less common, with the few groups of frigates being comprised of solely Falchion or Sword class escorts designed to take on ordnance or smaller vessels while the larger ships focus on priority targets. Battlefleet Caligulas is weak to xenos vessels as their common doctrine allows Eldar corsairs or other xenos ships that have excessive maneuverability to seize the initiative while more close range or ramming xenos like orks can close the distance in medium range engagements, thus Caligulas is rarely called to assist defense of the Iron Gate or Kalibras.
Battlefleet Confedus
Although originating from the secure Confedus subsector, Battlefleet Confedus has frequently fought in the Aural Gate and void battles bordering Putrilocus. Led by Admiral Randolph Tucker from the Palmetto Iron, Battlefleet Confedus's tactics are adherent to baseline Naval broadside strategy, complimented by torpedoes launched by ships in between broadsides.
Battlefleet Richmon
Possessing a close relationship with the Forge World Filimars, Battlefleet Richmon, led by Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky aboard the grand cruiser Kirov Arkhangelsk has led the defense of the sector's war against the Orks of Dakkasaur's WAAAGH!!! effectively, primarily fighting in Richmon and Kalibras. Battlefleet Richmon, owing to the close relationship with Filimars, possesses enhanced sensors and weaponry, with their Nova Cannons being unmatched with any other vessel save an Ark Mechanicus. Their macrocannons and lances are also similarly enhanced, though as a result of this their torpedoes and strike craft suffer, with both being rarely found in Richmon's fleets. Richmon possesses battleships, but for both tradition and its raw firepower, the fleet is led from a rare Avenger class grand cruiser instead. Their relationship with the forge world is two ways, and in return for the enhancements Filimars provides Battlefleet Richmon is expected to aid the Mechanicus and carry out fleet actions for them to save their Explorator fleets from having to be redeployed - this relationship does occasionally conflict with Battlefleet's Eternums orders, though thus far Eternum proper has not pushed the issue, hoping to avoid a soured relationship with Filimars that would severely hurt its ongoing logistical needs.
Battlefleet Makerus
A smaller Battlefleet, Battlefleet Makerus maintains a close relationship with the Crimson Bulwark, primarily through their joint actions with the Crimson Fleet. Led by Admiral Pulteney Malcolm aboard the Salamander of Makerus, Battlefleet Makerus has echoed the space marine fleets through focusing on short range fire coupled with scores of boarding parties. Using Shark Assault boats and Boarding Pods, Battlefleet Makerus's ships unload large numbers of armsmen and shanghaied conscripts into enemy vessels, with the masses aiming to destroy or cripple different critical subsystems to allow the fleet to finish the enemy ship off. Coupled with the Gunnery crews training for shorter range broadsides unleashed through macrocannon batteries tuned for close combat, Makerus's melees have proven effective against carriers of Chaos. The masses of armsmen and press gang conscripts do require frequent influxes of new recruits, but Makerus worlds like Byankhongar, NuberrLen, and the nearby worlds in Caligulas like Uliastai provide plentiful manpower looking to escape their worlds. Battlefleet Makerus does suffer against enemy fleets that also focus on closer range, with the few Ork engagements leading to slaughters - as such, Makerus is now rarely deployed against Xenos fleets save for Eldar fleets where their close range specialty proves very powerful.
Battlefleet Kalibras
Led by Admiral Chester Halsey