La Pucelle

La Pucelle is an ancient cruiser-class vessel formally part of Battlefleet Tempestus but on permanent secondment to Inquisitor Danforth Laertes as his primary residence & transport, and the headquarters of Strikeforce Danforth. Her origin is uncertain, but archaeological investigations of the deepest recesses of the keel suggest it was lain down in the shipyards of Bakka during the Great Crusade. The current captain of La Pucelle is Amelia.

History

Construction and Naming

Where La Pucelle was constructed is not known for certain, but archaeological expeditions to the keel discovered rivet patterns consistent with vessels lain down in the Bakka shipyards during the 30th millennium. Although this pattern of rivets was not exclusive to Bakka, metallurgical analysis of the oldest (presumed original) framing members revealed heat blooming, pitting and element-exchange on outer surfaces. This is consistent with shipbuilding practices on Bakka; framing members are cast and forged on the planet, lashed into rafts which are floated across the lava-seas to the nearest spaceport and then shuttled into orbit.
The origin of the ship's name is also a matter of debate - linguists such as Sisters Dialogus suggest La Pucelle is from an ancient Terran tongue extant before Old Night and means "the girl" or "the maiden". Certainly, the ship has been known to her crew as "The Maid" for millennia, without many (or any) of them understanding why. Credence is given to this theory by a fragmentary litany chanted as part of the initiation ceremony of each new Yardmaster of Bakka. Although most of the original has been lost and much of the remainder corrupted into doggerel, the litany appears to be a list of ships constructed in the orbital yards - vessels whose provenance is unquestioned are named in the litany in appropriate sequence - and suggests the building of "Sisters Three" around the time of the Great Crusade;

Hangars & docked vessels

The Opus

Nickname

"The Maid"

Owner

Amelia

Owning Organization

Inquisition

Width

0.8 km approx. (at fins)

Length

5 km approx.

Weight

28 megatonnes approx.

Speed

2.5 gravities max sustainable acceleration

Complement / Crew

95,000 approx.