Description
     Comprising the Sunrise Hegemony, the Ghern resemble anthropomorphic camels with four-digit hands and two-toed feet. Female Ghern have brighter, more colorful skin while males have symmetrical patterns on theirs. Males also have larger, more prominent ears. Average height is 1.9 meters. Due to their robust physiology Ghern ground forces and boarding parties have 10% added to their combat rating (round up) before all other factors are considered.
     The Ghern home system is a close binary, and very early in their space program colonization of the binary partner's habitable world was made a priority. Concurrent with this was the rise of a political movement called Sunrise in one of the major Ghern nations. While espousing to serve the needs of the electorate the Sunrise leaders gradually assumed control of the government through subtle, underhanded means. Once in control of the space program the Sunrise party secretly siphoned funds to construct orbital weapon satellites. Manufacturing a crisis, the Sunrise leader serving as the head of the General Assembly disposed of the President and assumed his powers. Opposition to this was widespread but uncoordinated. Just a few nuclear weapons dropped from space on the most dangerous of the 'radicals' cemented the Sunrise Party's rule as the general populace took the easy promise of order over political chaos. In the following decades the Sunrise Party, through bribes, coercion, proxy political movements, assassination, threats and the occasional war (if one can call it war when Sunrise had a monopoly in space) either dominated or outright controlled all other nations on the planet.
     Life on Ghern turned to that of a police state once the habitable world in the binary partner was colonized. Citizens that were too persistent about holding Sunrise to account, or even mildly criticizing, were 'disappeared' to secret prisons or otherwise persuaded to stop. This wasn't done on a consistent basis, leaving the public anxious and paranoid about when the State Police would act. As for the top leaders of Sunrise they acted more like mobsters than government officials. It was easy to understand this as there were no elections in the Hegemony. Cronyism was rampant as well as wasteful competition between departments of the government. Programs and decisions were often sudden and draconian, such as the intense colonization of the Ghern asteroid belt. More often than not the people chosen for the mining outposts and colonies for the asteroids were political prisoners and other disappeared people. At Sunrise's convenience these prisoners were killed, passed off as industrial accidents. Again this was an infrequent occurrence, making the public careful of their company. That the leadership took private, but perverse, pride in baseless killings was seen as a sign of madness by those that dared to even secretly look into such matters.
     Expanding its home system holdings the Hegemony discovered the existence of warp points. At a deliberate pace of surveying and settlement a total of eight systems were incorporated when contact was made with the Cazov. Seeing this as a salve to further their hold over the people the Hegemony government declared war on the 'monster' Cazov. It was pure, undiluted disaster. Without even resorting to fighters just a mere pittance of Cazov ships and their assigned gunboats wipe out whole flotillas of Stasi escorts. Alone that would've convinced even dye-in-the-wool militarists to cease fighting, but the Hegemony government amply demonstrated its insanity by continuing to fight. Such action earned some grudging respect from the Cazov, admiring the tenacity of their foes. The only reason the war lasted as long as it did (16 months) was that the Cazov waited for a convoy of Army transports to arrive so that a proper invasion of the homeworld could be conducted, unlike the shoestring efforts in other Hegemony systems. Bundle, leader of the Ghern Quorum, extolled his people to construct massive ground bases and resist to the end. The people thought otherwise, and Bundle was captured, tried, and executed before the first Cazov solider set foot on the planet.

The Cazov gave a light touch to the Ghern. Mondo, the Cazov Dictate, found the race interesting in that it had an overall supreme leader whose word was law, very much like himself. That the Ghern leader was now dead and the government reorganized into a confederation was of no consequence. Mondo liked the Ghern, and that spared them the excesses felt by the Gander, Gluv and Foamasi. Occupation troop levels were kept at a minimum and a support colony was established on Ghern Prime. Unlike the Ahlon, however, Mondo felt there was no pressing need to upgrade the technical and economic structure of the Ghern quickly. Because of  this the race had only reached TL 4 by the time the CSF arrived and drove the Cazov out.
     After the Fendalen War the former Hegemony was made a protectorate of the Gander. Once satisfied that the race had a firm footing in representative government, and that the old Sunrise remnants were fully under control and discredited, the Ghern Confederacy was given its autonomy and allowed to resume expansion through its unexplored warp points. While it did build warships the Confederacy was in no way able to lend meaningful combat support during the Pulurtan War. However it did make use of its freighters to supply allied forces in rear areas. Two such ships were part of the Gander fleet train that reached the Pulurtan home system and were present when the Pulurtans surrendered to the allies.


The Hegemony Enforcement Fleet (HEF)
     Seeing itself more of an armed police force than a navy, the HEF nevertheless had a large pool of ships both in active commission and mothball reserve. The Stasi class escorts were used to patrol Hegemony space, ever vigilant to enforce the will of President Bundle. All ships carried full marine contingents for boarding actions if required. All warp points were garrisoned with bases to control and inspect commercial traffic. Due to the needs of the colonization effort technical advancement was restrained. Because of this the HEF was laughably out of its league when it fought the Cazov.
     Upon reaching tech level 2 priority was given to updating all spaces stations, type 2 bases, Vopo survey ships, and building and deploying new communication bases, Gestapo class destroyers and Commandant class cruisers. Type 1 bases and Stasi escorts were refitted as mobile yards and construction slips were made available. Thus for most of the short war the majority of escorts went without a refit. With no mines and weapon buoys defending warp points was almost impossible. The Cazov didn't want to divert any fighters from the newly opened Hokum front, so only prototype gunboats were used in what were quite small warp assaults. Only in the home system battle did the Cazov use missile pods, albeit in a single, very small wave. While the Hegemony called it the Monster War the Cazov called it the Playing War in the Sandbox.

FT1   AC   12 Hull   TL 1 (2)(Hx8)(BbT)Qf(Icic)(4) 4 RCP   up to 8 Personnel Points   Cost = 60mc/4.5mc HTK 12   1 cutter      Built in limited numbers, FT1s served as supply ships for Stasi flotillas and colony fleets.

FT2 Prefab Transport   AC   16 Hull   TL 1    prefab transport hull (2)(Hx10)(BbT)Hs(Ic)Qs(Ic)(4) 6 RCP  up to 19 Personnel Points  Cost = 108mc/8.1mc HTK 15   1 cutter

FT3   AC   22 Hull   TL 1 (2)(Hx15)(BbT)(Ic)(Ic)Qf(Ic)(4) 8 RCP   up to 4 Personnel Points   Cost = 112mc/8.4mc HTK 20   1 cutter      The prime mover for colonization fleets. Four FT3s were less expensive to build and maintain than three FT4s.

FT4   AC   30 Hull   TL 1 (3)(Hx20)(BbT)(Ic)(Ic)H(Ic)Qf(Ic)(4) 10 RCP   up to 2 Personnel Points   Cost = 154mc/11.6mc HTK 27   1 cutter      Only three of this class were built as the FT3s were less expensive to maintain in overall numbers.

FT5 Prefab Transport   AC   45 Hull   TL 2   prefab transport hull   new construction (3)(Hx30)(BbS)(Ic)(IcIc)H(Ic)Qs(IcIc)(4) 15 RCP   up to 10 Personnel Points   Cost = 322mc/24.2mc HTK 39   1 shuttle      The intended replacement for the FT2 class only 2 FT5s were in commission when the war started.

Defender of the State class FT4 Shuttle Carrier   AC   30 Hull   TL 2   new construction (3)(BbLx8)Qf(Ic)HsQs(Ic)(2) 10 RCP   3 MCP   24 Personnel Points for shuttle crews   Cost = 293mc/22mc HTK 13   24 cargo shuttles     A measure born out of pure desperation, the HEF knew that since it could not in any way mount an effective defense against gunboats then using shuttles in ramming attacks became a viable option. With Bundle's full support construction commenced late in the war. Twelve were on hand to defend the homeworld warp point with four more under construction when the Cazov used their only missile pod wave for the entire war. Of the shuttles in the CAP only a handful managed to ram the following ships, but it was just a footnote to what was the most one-sided victory in the annals of space warfare.

Carryall class FT7   AC   AM   8 XO Racks   80 Hull   TL 5   Pulurtan War period (3)SS(Aix4)ZHs[Bi(Hx6)x3]Tf(Hx6)(CHS2)(Hx6)Qf(IcIc)(IcIcIc)(IcIc)(BbL)DDWmgmCQs(IcIcIc)(4) 27 RCP   up to 10 MCP/P  ersonnel Points   Trg: 1   Cost = 864mc/64.8mc HTK 61   S x 2   Ai x 4   D x 2   W x 1   Tf x 1   C x 1   mgm x 1 (W/XO Rack ammo)   1 shuttle   2 cargo shuttles    2 EDMs  1 GXM on XO Racks TL 6 refit - 2 S to 4 S0, W to Dc, C to ?1 (After second engine room). mgm now after last engine room. 920mc/69mc   mgm now just holds XO rack ammo      This class was part of the Ghern's representation in the Pulurtan War. Providing logistical support just behind the front lines of allied fleets, Carryalls were occasionally involved in combat. These combats involved stealth Pulurtan units left behind in systems to attack support ships. No Carryalls were lost as a result and some actually claimed gunboat and fighter kills.

Barrel Wagon class FT7   AC   AM   8 XO Racks   80 Hull   TL 6   Pulurtan War period (3)(S0x4)(Aix4)ZHBi[HHHH(BbL)x6]H(IcIc)(IcIcIc)?1(IcIc)(BbS)DDDc(Lh)Q(IcIcIc)mgm(4) 27 RCP   5 MCP   18 Personnel Points (for AFSC)   Trg: 1   Bmp +2   Cost = 812mc/60.9mc HTK 60   S0 x 4   Ai x 4   D x 2   Dc x 1   mgm x 1 (XO Rack ammo)   1 shuttle   18 AFSC    2 EDMs  1 GXM on XO Racks      Late in the war, and with Gander assistance, the Ghern developed and fielded AFSC (named Thunderbolts) to provide last-ditch defense against Pulurtan fighters and gunboats. Despite the disparity in tech levels Ghern pilots did score measurable success against Pulurtan convoy raiders.

Depot class FT8   AC   AM   10 XO Racks   100 Hull   TL 6   Pulurtan War period (3)(S0x8)(Aix8)ZH[Bi(Hx6)x3]Tf[HHHH(BbL)x4](CHS2)H[(IcIcIc)x2]?1(BbL)DDDc(Lh)Q(IcIcIc)mgm(3) 34 RCP   4 MCP   12 Personnel Points (for AFSC)   Trg:1   Bmp +2   Cost = 1155mc/86.7mc HTK 79   S0 x 8    Ai x 8   D x 2   Dc x 1    Tf x 1   mgm x 1 (XO Rack ammo)   1 shuttle   2 cargo shuttles   12 AFSC    2 EDMs    2 GXMs on XO Racks      Just one Depot was built and it served with the Gander's primary support group in Pulurtan space.

Deadlift class FT7(TG)   AC   AM   8 XO Racks   80 Hull   TL 6  Pulurtan War period (3)S0AiAiZH[(Ic)x26]T(IcIc)(IcIcIc)Qf(IcIc)(IcIcIc)Qs(BbM)(4) 27 RCP   up to 10 MCP/Personnel Points   Trg: 1   Cost = 623mc/46.8mc HTK 45   S0 x 1   Ai x 2   T x 1   2 shuttles   2 EDMs  1 GXM on XO Racks     Can tow up to 300 HS at speed 4, 400 HS at speed 3, 500 HS at speed 2

BS2(L)   10 XO Racks   50 Hull   TL 2     Prefabricated Unit (ISF 15.09.03.3) (0)(Sx8)(Ax12)HQs(BbM)LLL(M1)LLLQs(0) 50 RCP   Trg: 2   Cost = 745.5mc/37.3mc*  HTK 31   S x 8   A x 12   L x 6   2 shuttles   * = cost/maintenance based on 1.5x original unit cost      used BMs on XO Racks for the first half of the war Defense Refit - Remove one S, BbM to BbS. Add Db after last Qs. M1 now after last L. 754.5mc/37.8mc*  carries just one shuttle

BS2(R)   10 XO Racks   50 Hull   TL 2    Prefabricated Unit (ISF 15.09.03.3) (0)(Sx8)(Ax8)HQs(BbM)RRRRmg(M1)DbRRRRmgQs(0) 50 RCP   Trg: 2   Cost = 636mc/31.8mc* HTK 32   S x 8   A x 8   Db x 1   R x 8   mg x 2 (R/XO Rack ammo)   2 shuttles   * = cost/maintenance based on 1.5x original unit cost Defense Refit - Remove one mg, S. Add Db. 637.5mc/31.9mc* (0)(Sx7)(Ax8)HQs(BbM)(Rx8)mg(M1)QsDbDb(0)      Only those BS2(R)s over planets with settlement or larger populations were built and maintained at normal costs. The defense refit was authorized after the first battle involving Cazov gunboats.

BS1(G)   25 Hull   TL 1     Prefabricated Unit (ISF 15.09.03.3) (0)(Ax6)H(BbS)(Gbx5)mgQs(0) 25 RCP   Trg: 1   Cost = 222mc/11.1mc* HTK 15   A x 6   Gb x 5  mg x 1   1 shuttle   * = cost/maintenance based on 1.5x original unit cost Initial TL 2 Refit - Add 5 XO racks. Gb to G. 319.5mc/16mc*    loadout is 95 GM, 10 SM (for XO Racks) 2nd Refit - as above, but H to Hs and BbS to BbT. Add S. 322.5mc/16.2mc*   shuttle to cutter   (0)S(Ax6)Hs(BbT)(Gx5)mgQs(0) Db Refit - H to Hs, BbS to BbT. 2 Gb to 3 Db. 3 Gb to G. Add M1. Add 5 XO. 354mc/17.7mc*  shuttle to cutter   (0)(Ax6)Hs(BbT)GDbGDbGmg(M1)QsDb(0)

Depot Class BS1   25 Hull   TL 1   Prefabricated Unit (ISF 15.09.03.3) (0)SA(Hx3)(BbL)Q(Hx3)(BbL)RGbmgQ(Lh)Qs(0) 25 RCP   up to 100 MCP/Personnel Points   Trg: 1   Cost = 295.5mc/14.8mc* HTK17   S x 1   A x 1   R x 1   Gb x 1   mg x 1 (R/Gb ammo)   2 shuttles, 2 cutters permanently assigned   * = cost/maintenance based on 1.5x original unit cost TL 2 Refit - Add 5 XO Racks. Remove R, 2 H. Gb to G. Add CC. (0)SAHH(BbL)QHH(BbL)Q(Lh)Gmg(CC)Qs(0)   465mc/23.3mc*   loadout is 95 GM, 10 SM (for XO Racks)     Class served as way stations for shuttles, supply points for flotillas, and support facilities for asteroid miners and outer system colonies.

BS0(CC)   2 XO Racks  10 Hull   TL 2   Prefabricated Unit (ISF 15.09.03.3)   New Construction (0)H(BbL)(CC)Qs(0) 10 RCP   up to 15 MCP/Personnel Points   Trg: 1   Cost = 243mc/12.2mc* HTK 4   3 shuttles    2 SM on XO Racks    * = cost/maintenance based on 1.5x original unit cost

Homeworld SS (4 total - 2 at homeworld and 2 at binary companion)   26 XO Racks   920 Hull   TL 2 (0)(Sx30)(Ax30)[(Hx6)Bx6](Hx6)(CHS)[H(BbL)QQQ(BbL)QQQ(Lh)x2][(SYM2)Q(SY2x4)x2][QRRRmgQRRRmgDb(Lh)x2](CC)(M1)LLLDbDb(CIC)Q(0) 920 RCP   30 MCP   Trg: 2   Cost = 6939mc/68.8mc HTK 250   S x 30   A x 30   Db x 4   L x 3   R x 12   mg x 4 (R/XO Rack ammo)    6 shuttles   2 cargo shuttles   6 cutters   2 cargo cutters

Port class SS   14 XO Racks   250 Hull   TL 2 (0)(Sx10)(Ax16)[(Hx6)Bx2](Hx6)(CHS)[H(BbL)Qx2][(SYM2)Qx2](RRRRmgx2)Q(Lh)(CC)(M1)DbDb(CIC)(SY2)LQs(0) 250 RCP   25 MCP   Trg: 2   Cost = 1983mc/25.7mc HTK 90   S x 10   A x 16   Db x 2   L x 1   R x 8   mg x 2 (R/XO Rack ammo)   3 shuttles   1 cargo shuttle   3 cutters   1 cargo cutter

Colony class SS   6 XO Racks   174 Hull   TL 2 (0)(Sx8)(Ax12)[(Hx6)Bx2]H(CHS)[H(BbL)x2]Q(Rx4)mgQ(CC)(M1)DbDbQ(Lh)(CIC)(SY2)LQ(0) 174 RCP   26 MCP   Trg: 2   Cost = 1378mc/19.6mc HTK 66   S x 8   A x 12   Db x 2   L x 1   R x 4  mg x x1 (R/XO Rack ammo)   3 shuttles   1 cargo shuttle   3 cutters   1 cargo cutter

Utility class SS   1 XO Rack   100 Hull   TL 2   Post War Construction (0)(Sx4)(Ax3)[B(Hx6)x5](BbLx3)Q(CHS)DbDbDb(SYM2)Q(Lh)(0) 100 RCP   Trg: 1   Cost = 700mc/11mc HTK 55   S x 4   A x 3   Db x 3   3 shuttles   3 cargo shuttles   3 cutters   3 cargo cutters     After the Cazov victory all pre-war space stations in Hegemony territory that were either captured or surrendered were demolished. These new stations were built to take their place and were only found over benign/harsh worlds with populations at or above settlement in size. All other colonies and settlements just kept their Spaceport PDCs.

Spaceport PDC   40 Hull    TL 1  (Benign/Harsh) (0)(SP)(Hx6)Q(Lh)(BbM) 40 RCP   10 MCP   Cost = 131mc/2.7mc *   (on benign/harsh worlds the RCP is 40 and MCP is 60) HTK 10   1 shuttle   1 cargo shuttle * = on hostile/desolate/extreme worlds cost is 191mc/3.9mc As an asteroid fort cost is 191mc/9.6mc      Located on colonies and settlements, only those on benign/harsh planets would be upgraded to the Fortezza type.

Fortezza PDC  345 Hull   TL 1 (Benign/Harsh) (0)(SPx2)(Ax180)H[RRGbmgx10]H(BbL)(0) 345 RCP   Cost = 1072mc/21.5mc HTK 225   A x 180*   R x 20   Gb x 10   mg x 10    2 shuttles   2 cutters * = IND2 PDC Armor/no cost, just cost for the space used. TL 2 Refit - Add 10 Db after BbL. Gb replaced by G. 1362mc/27.3mc   365 RCP      This class of PDC was only located on benign/harsh planets with a population of settlement or larger. Each eligible planet would have three such PDCs. After the war those PDCs that were surrendered or captured were razed and replaced with Spaceport PDCs.

FT3(TS)   AC   22 Hull    TL 1 (2)AHsB(HQx4)(Lh)H(BbL)(Ic)(Ic)Qf(Ic)(4) 8 RCP  4 MCP   Cost = 159mc/12mc HTK 18   A x 1   3 shuttles   Can carry up to 12 PCF-x or 200 MCP/Personnel Points

FT3(T)   AC   22 Hull   TL 1 (2)A[(Qx5)(Lh)x2]Hs(BbM)(Ic)(Ic)Qf(Ic)(4) 8 RCP   4 MCP   Cost = 197mc/14.8mc HTK 19   A x 1   2 shuttles   Can carry up to 500 MCP/Personnel Points

FT4(SYM)   AC   3 XO Racks   30 Hull   TL 2 (3)H(BbS)(SYM2)Qs(Ic)(1) 10 RCP   up to 15 MCP/Personnel Points   Trg: 1   Cost = 288mc/10.4mc HTK 7   1 shuttle      More of these mobile yards were built to speed up demothballing and refitting of Stasi class escorts.

Work Bench class FT5(SYM)   AC   4 XO Racks   45 Hull   TL 2   new construction (3)AH(BbL)H(Ic)(IcIc)H(Ic)(SYM2)Qs(IcIc)(4) 15 RCP   up to 10 MCP/Personnel Points   Trg: 1   Cost =  387mc/17.8mc HTK 15   A x 1   1 shuttle   2 cargo shuttles TL 6 (Pulurtan War Period) - A to S0, Ai. Add Z. SYM2 to SYM6. Add AM. Last H to ?1. 484mc/25.1mc      Intended to replace the FT4(SYM) class, only half a dozen of this larger mobile shipyard class were built by the time the war ended. One mobile yard serviced Ghern freighters in the Gander fleet train.

Technical class FT7(RS)   AC   AM   8 XO Racks   80 Hull   TL 6   Pulurtan War period (3)(S0x4)(Aix4)ZH[Bi(Hx6)x2]Tf(Hx5)Qf(IcIc)(MS6)(IcIcIc)?1(IcIc)(BbS)DDDcQs(IcIcIc)mgm(4) 27 RCP   up to 10 MCP/Personnel Points   Trg: 1   Bmp +2   Cost = 793mc/52mc HTK 51   S0 x 4   Ai x 4   D x 2   Dc x 1   Tf x 1  mgm x 1 (XO Rack ammo)   1 shuttle    2 EDMs  1 GXM on XO Racks    Two Technicals serviced Ghern freighters in the Gander fleet train.

Vopo class EX(Sry)   AC   7 Hull   TL 1 (2)Hs(BbL)(I)QfX(I)(8) 7 RCP   5 MCP   Cost = 109mc/16.4mc HTK 6   1 shuttle   4 cutters TL 2 refit - had courier drone installed.