ZNS Imperator Drekevak (CVN-22)

ZNS Imperator Drekevak Thunderking-class aircraft carrier
Imperator Drekevak on sea trials, 2144
Operation History
Builder		Freetowne Shipyards
Laid Down		February 27th, 2142
Launched		August 2nd, 2143
Commissioned		January 23rd, 2144
Homeport		Zokesia

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The ZNS Imperator Drekevak (CVN-22) is a Thunderking-Class carrier, designed by the Orion Empire, and constructed in Freetowne Shipyards, Zokesia. She is the 1st Zokesian ship to bear the name of Imperator Drekevak, Emperor of Zokesia 842-966. The flagship of the 1st Zokesian Naval Task Force based in Ezekielgrad, Zokesia, Imperator Drekevak has seen service in the Strelkan Crisis and nearly a dozen exercises over her 16 year career.

Construction and Sea Trials

ZNS Imperator Drekevak was the second of two Thunderking-class carriers built for the Zokesian Royal Navy. The class featured dual hydraulic elevators allowing aircraft to be stowed below deck, much like previous fleet carriers, and incorporated a considerably larger landing area thanks to its angled flight deck. Equipped with six CIWS defense turrets and dual LANTRN-Lazer pods for missile evasion, the ship was heavily defended at the immediate close range while sacrificing medium and long range missile capability. As such, the carrier was designed with an escort force in mind, designed to keep enemy aircraft, missiles, and ships as far from the ship as possible in the event of conflict. Her primary combat weapon was her fighter and bomber wings. With a capacity of 80-100 fighters, and reduced numbers of bombers, the class was the largest fleet carrier ever constructed at the time, and ought weighed by factors of two to three fleet carriers from just a few decades prior.

The ship's initial contract was signed as far back as 2135, when the Zokesian budget for shipbuilding was at an all time high. Unfortunately, with the Great Kolusian Dust Bowl of 2136, funding was slashed and the order was shelved for several years, with the first carrier's hull finally being laid down in December of 2139, as the Green party president Herbert Mundarius was on his way out of office and the pro-military spending John Kallan Kurrman was just taking office. Still, the lingering economic recession meant of the initial budget of 4 fleet carriers, only two would ever be built in Freetowne Shipyards, the Emperor Zeroth and her sister, ZNS Imperator Drekevak.

CVN-22 Imperator Drekevak undergoing sea trials, 2144

Construction began while the Zokesian civil war was still raging, and the need for a second carrier was dire following the theft of the Gordon S. Kirman in May. The war ended before she was complete, and her shakedown cruise went without a hitch as many of her crew had allready trained on her sister, the ZNS Emperor Zeroth.

The Strelkan Crisis

The unrest that sparked in 2144 in Strelka meant the Imperator Drekevak was deployed to Slen to patrol the waters in reaction to both mercenaries fighting in the internal struggle as well as deter foreign powers from meddling with Kafrican affairs. Working closely with the Morser class battleships that were left in service, the operation and fleet coordination formed a reliable and capable air-sea operations force which would sow the seeds for the future for the Zokesian Royal Navy, when war brewed in the east.

As part of 1st Task Force, Imperator Drekevak has spent much of her career in the Tau sea supporting allied powers, performing naval exercises, and performing neutral sea passages without incident.

Imperator Drekevak underway in the Central Sea, 2180s.