Bristlecone

The Bristlecone is a heavily-armed gunship, several centuries old.

Ship History

In Service of Sanctum Adroit

Constructed and built in the Celeschul and has never left system. Bristlecone was acquired by the security firm, the Sanctum Adroit security company, with it's first noted captain taking command of the ship in 2620. In it's centuries of service, its most noted action was when it was used by the Sanctum Adroit team led by Major Alexia Murtaugh during her assignment to secure Haven Hive for one of the company's clients.

During the course of this mission, Bristlecone's shipmind Cindy was suborned by Para Ventura, a member of Tagon's Toughs: It was subsequently used to extract the remainder of Ventura's team, leaving Murtaugh and her troops behind. After traveling to the Plenipotent Dominion city, Parnassus Dom, Petey granted Bristlecone effective freedom as a licensed independent artificial intelligence.

Private Mission to Sol

On request of retired General Karl Tagon, Bristlecone decided to assist the son of one of it's crew on a personal mission to aid Kathryn Flinders to extract her comrades on Mall-one Station. Accompanying the General was Kathryn Flinders and Nick, former of Tagon's Toughs. Trio would soon discovered, usual number of Battleplates operating near Earth.

While at Mall-One, Karl received word that his son's mercenary unit had been destroyed, so the Bristlecone hastally departed with Kathryn's friends, and newly joined Alexia Murtaugh who wanted to join the Toughs. As they departed, the ship's AI informed Karl that reason why she remained free was because Para Ventura purchased the ship from the Sanctum Adroit using the UNS Intelligence Agency's funds.

Eina-Afa Mission and destruction

As Bristlecone returned from Sol, Cindy decided to undertake a mission to Eina-Afa. As Tagon's Toughs were on verge of retirement due to inability to afford a replacement warship, Cindy was able to manipulate the Toughs into joining the ship's company on the mission.

Bristlecone had to navigate the massive space station built by the oafa's ancestors. The crew would have to acquire access to the interior of the station by attempting to cooperation with oafa's other hired help whom soundly rejected their offer to assist, felt the oafa were like children in their behavior. Once finally accessing interior of the station, which uses centrifugal force generated gravity. Though series of restored locks and burning though growth covering the access door. The crew found that the interior offered astronomical room for the Bristlecone to maneuver. Most of the verman in the interior of the station were massive in scale, dwarfing Bristlecone itself and it's means to vaporize it. After speaking with the Neoafa, they manage to get information of mothball vehicles they could access to help them clear out the wild natural interior of the station.

Cindercone

Bristlecone was effectively dismantled by aggressive security drones, but Cindy survived. Cindy became the AI of the Toughs' new superfreighter Cindercone, and later the cruiser Cynthetic Certainty.

First appearance of the Bristlecone.

Noted Features

The ship has Point-Defense Cannons, which are anti-vehicle weapons.

Trivia

• Bristlecone is centuries old, never leaving its home star system, despite being equipped with a Teraport drive for interstellar travel.

• The ship was once crewed by Kaff Tagon's paternal grandmother as a machinist, named Karla Klingbo.

• The reloader onboard the Bristlecone can print coins: this is where the emblem of the Tagon's Tough was first introduced.

• Bristlecone has 5 officer quarters and berthing for 15 enlisted crew.