Red Wood Industries

Red Wood Industries (abbreviated to RWI) is a militaristic sovereign state operating in the known galaxy. It was first Introduced into the Colony Universe when Captain Jack Roberts requested aid, which arrived in the form of the RWI Dawn commanded by Typhun, although the vessel and its pilot were not officially RWI, merely aligned with Jack. Other unorthodox ships that were not officially part of the RWI fleet were ships constructed by Jack’s Colonists during the Colony War with the Drone Reactionary Force (DRF), like the Dreadnaught Vengeance, the Destroyer Dawnbreaker and the Carrier Ironhand, although by the time of the Battle of the Colonies, all these vessels had been destroyed.

Most notable about Red Wood Industries is their navy. Their fleets consisted mostly of Defender-class Frigates and Phoenix-class Assault Frigates, with the V203 Fighter being their primary fighter craft. Small support craft like the Valkyrie-class Dropship, the Vulture-class Attack Helicopter, and the Eitri Construction Vessel were also part of the fleet. A few mighty Daedalus-class Battleships commanded large portions of the fleet and were typically captained by veteran officers. A small number of vessels purely created for exploration were also created, such as the Venture-class Science Cruiser, the RWI Discovery. A prototype science corvette, the Eclipse-class, was in service during the Green Drone War and was commanded by Captain Jack Roberts. The original Eclipse was destroyed during the Battle of the Black Hole, and it’s unclear whether or not any other vessels were made.

Capital Ships
The RWI Navy was mostly comprised of large ships that were typically either deployed singularly or in large groups, depending on the type of vessel.

The Prometheus
The RWI Prometheus was introduced after the Green Drone War and was assigned to investigate a mysterious signal emanating from an ancient civilization in unknown space. It was commanded by Captain Steven Dawson and Commander Michael Lynch. Despite being more than double the size and mass of a Daedalus-class Battleship, the ship is not a warship; it is meant for long journeys through space and is outfitted with enough resources, personnel, and vehicles to provide for a small colony. It is poorly armed and very slow, making it vulnerable if attacked, meaning an escort fleet of warships is necessary. It established the landing site for the forces of the Joint Expedition Task Force (JETF) before being attacked by a battleship of a faction called the Remnant, in which it was unescorted and heavily damaged. It also carried a complement of Green Drones reprogrammed to serve RWI, known as Project X-12, which went rogue and caused the Prometheus to be dragged into the atmosphere of the planet Chrome II and be destroyed upon crashing.

The Olympus
The RWI Olympus was another unique ship that aided the JETF in their mission. It was a large atmospheric "heli-carrier"-type starship, although it was capable of space flight as well. It had a long landing strip on the dorsal hull and a bridge tower situated just after it; just behind the bridge tower was a large landing pad, and other smaller pads and hangar bays were scattered around the Olympus. Four wings, one on each corner of the ship, held the dozens of large atmospheric thrusters that enabled it to hover in atmosphere, as well as various gun emplacements for defense. During its first mission to reinforce the JETF, it was commanded by Captain Jonathan Hunter, an experienced leader from the Green Drone War.

Daedalus-class Battleships
Imposing and deadly, Daedalus-class Battleships were a rare, yet intimidating sight among RWI’s fleets. At least six of these vessels have been constructed in two different variants. The first three, the Daedalus, the Phantom, and the Osiris, had no hangar pods on the port and starboard sides, but still had entrances either side to a large hangar within. In response, the amount of firepower, at least on the Osiris, was greater than that of the other ships. The Phantom and the Daedalus have yet to appear in the Colony Universe.

The second variant included the Apollo, Valiant, and Zheng-He. These three were more advanced, using both ion and hydrogen thrusters and having additional space for storing fighters and other small ships, at the slight expense of firepower. The Zheng-He, during the Green Drone War, was retrofitted with reverse-engineered laser technology where it’s main Mk1 battery cannons at the bow of the ship would be positioned.

Four Daedalus-class Battleships served in the Green Drone War. The RWI Apollo (004) was the flagship of the faction and was commanded by Grand Admiral Adam Williams and his XO, Commander Edwards. The RWI Osiris (003) was captained by Admiral Isaac Sheppard, the RWI Valiant (005) was captained by Captain Jonathan Hunter until its destruction during the Battle of Demus, and the Zheng-He (006) was commanded by Captain Gideon until he was killed during the Battle of the Black Hole. Commander Sam Reed took over the damaged ship until the battle’s end, and once the war ended, the Zheng-He was repaired and put under command of Admiral Kieron Hask.

Defender-class Frigates
Arguably the most common vessel in the navy, the Defender-class Frigate was the symbol of RWI. It was typically used to defend supply lines, outposts, and planets utilized or controlled by Red Wood, hence its class name. Despite being mostly light armor, the Defender could usually hold its own against most opponents. However, they usually worked best as a group, or at least with some smaller support craft for backup.

Three different models of the Defender were made. The MK.I was armed with several 40mm Bofor cannons and M-61 Vulcan turrets, with a dual-barreled 300mm battle cannon on either side of the ship’s bow. A heavy Mk3 battle cannon was on the ventral bow and served as the ship’s main gun. They were also propelled by only hydrogen thrusters and featured no shields.

The MK.II was introduced during the Green Drone War and was made standard-issue for Defenders. Heavy defense turrets and flak guns were implemented into the armament and a bubble shield generator was added to defend against the Green Drones’ use of Atlas Superlasers. Tiered atmospheric thrusters were also added to assist with atmospheric operations, allowing Defenders to better respond to situations. The engine room, bridge, information room, and other interior rooms were also flushed out.

A subtype of the MK2 included two armor braces on either side of the ship, on which four V-203 Fighters could be externally docked to clear up hangar space and provide easy launching and docking for pilots. A walkway ran along the braces and led inside the ship with an airlock. This upgrade was only seen being added to the RWI Tigris during the later stages of the Green Drone War, and Captain Hunter used it to aid Captain Jack Robert’s team in the Invasion of P3-X2 by providing fighter support. This, along with a few other upgrades, were integrated into the MK.III design when it came about after the Green Drone War.

Phoenix-class Assault Frigates
Despite being perhaps the most unique-looking ship in the RWI fleet, the Phoenix-class Assault Frigate was a force to be reckoned with. With five powerful Mk1 Batteries at the bow of the ship, much like on a Daedalus-class, multiple 300mm cannons, Vulcans, and Bofor turrets, the frigate was one of the most heavily armed ships in the fleet for its size. Many of these ships were used in the Green Drone War and were equipped with shields to counteract the Atlas Lasers used on GDA destroyers.

The ship was powered by hydrogen thrusters and a few nuclear reactors. The interior was compromised of several levels, but the bridge was on the bottom level and had limited visibility, as it was protected by a barrier of armor. However, a direct laser shot to the bridge or engine room would effectively cripple the ship, as seen during the Battle of Icarus with the RWI Liberty, which was sent to escort Captain Roberts' team to the Black Vault research site and was destroyed by the GDA Dreadnought’s four Atlas Lasers.

Eclipse-class Science Corvettes
The Eclipse-class Corvette was seldom seen in the RWI fleet. Only one was produced during the Green Drone War, which was the original Eclipse itself, the personal starship of Jack Roberts and his crew. The ship served them well on their various adventures and missions and was upgraded many times.

The ship was fairly well-armed for a corvette, featuring ten M-61 Vulcan turrets, four missile launchers, and a Mk1 Battery. During the Battle of Ravcor, the Eclipse was upgraded with shields. Over time, the rocket launchers were replaced with homing missiles and torpedoes, the Mk1 Battery was replaced by a “Little David” cannon, and two Telion anti-fighter turrets were also installed. The ship was mostly hydrogen-propelled, save for the high-tech ion lateral thrusters, and was equipped with an FTL drive and Deuterium reactor in the engine room.

The ship, being an exploration vessel, had a large forward viewport in the bridge spanning 180 degrees. There was also a ready room, a crew area, and a small hangar/cargo bay that most notably carried the Artifact for a short time. At the bottom of the ship was a deployable ramp and airlock for the crew to disembark and board with ease when landed on a planet.

The Eclipse served well during the war, carrying Roberts and the crew wherever they needed to go with haste and being able to hold its own against Green Drone Destroyers, Falcon- and Mako-class fighters, and Scourge-class Carriers. It was destroyed at the Battle of the Black Hole by the GDA Super-Dreadnought, and it is unknown whether or not any more Eclipse-class ships were made after the war.

Venture-class Science Cruisers
Designed exclusively for long-range exploration and research, the Venture-class Science Cruiser was another rarely seen vehicle amidst RWI’s fleets. At least one such vessel, the RWI Discovery, played a vital role in the Green Drone War by first delivering the Artifact to Icarus, then locating it shortly before the Invasion of P3-X2, when it was destroyed by a GDA response fleet. It was commanded by Captain Sarah Hawk.

The Discovery was equipped with a shield generator and armed with a few Vulcan turrets and 300mm cannons, as well as a small number of experimental laser point defense weapons, but it rarely used them, as it was not designed as a combat vessel. It’s main propulsion came from high-tech ion thrusters situated on four long, slim engine nacelles. Two were located on either side of a large hangar bay which could store various small ships, namely the Pathfinder-class Shuttle.

The bridge was located at the top of the ship and, as well as the other decks, could be reached via a central stairwell in the center of the ship. Medical bays, research labs, observation decks, control rooms, and engine rooms were interconnected by intricate hallways and stairwells. A vast FTL drive bay was located near the front of the ship, and a large ring circled the front half of the vessel, adding to the unique look and purpose of the cruiser.

The Discovery was sent to reinforce the RWI Valiant and RWI Eclipse during their struggles over the ice planet Demus with the GDA, and evacuated both the Artifact and the Valiant’s crew back to Icarus during the Battle of Demus. Following the theft of the Artifact from the Black Vault during the Battle of Icarus, the Discovery was sent to locate the Artifact’s tracking beacon and holding facility on the GDA stronghold planet, P3-X2. Unfortunately, the vessel was forced to crash—land on the surface, only managing to send a partial message which prompted the invasion of the planet three days later. Captain Hawk and the remaining crew later evacuated the wreckage to the RWI Osiris with the help of Captain Roberts' team.

The Discovery also had a sister-ship, the RWI Challenger, which, according to a report in the Black Vault, was still being constructed during the time of the Battle of Icarus. It’s unclear whether or not the ship was exactly like the Discovery, or what role it played in the war other than locating the GDA Super-Dreadnought’s black hole rally point just before the end of the war.

Hellhound-class Corvettes
A small warship with a few powerful 300mm cannons, the sleek Hellhound-class Corvette was seen once during the war. Two such ships were seen amassing near Cyrus Station shortly before the Invasion of P3-X2. Nothing else about this ship is known within the Colony Universe.

Small Ships
Smaller craft also played a vital role in the RWI fleet by providing support for larger ships and allowing cargo and infantry to be moved with ease.

V-203-class Interceptors
The V-203 Interceptor was a common sight around RWI. Typically deployed in squadrons of four, this sleek and agile fighter was the most commonly used small ship by RWI’s pilots. Flown by one man and packing a decent amount of firepower in the form of three Azimuth Industries gatling guns and four rocket launcher pods, the fighter, when used in numbers, could deal a sizable amount of punishment to many capital ships.

During the Green Drone War, V-203s were often used to make strafing runs on GDA destroyers or dogfight with fighters during battles. Since their hydrogen fuel was sometimes limited, later models were upgraded with repulsor drives and ion engines to easily and smoothly allow them to make sharp turns and accelerations. The fighters also had no shields and could not make hyperspace jumps, meaning a larger ship was needed to carry them across the galaxy.

Squadrons were often comprised of four to eight fighters, depending on the ship carrying them into battle. The squadron commander typically painted different colored markings on his or her ship to help them be identified more easily. And thanks to the RWI paint scheme of primarily black with red decals, the fighters were virtually invisible in space, giving them the edge over most opponents.

Valkyrie-class Dropships
Valkyrie-class Dropships were the most commonly used transport ship during the Green Drone War. The design was originally adopted and edited by RWI from their ally, the Royal Coalition of Spatial Protection (RCSP) Two cockpits allowed for one pilot and one gunner to ferry up to six troopers around the galaxy, and a deployable ramp allowed for easy boarding and departing. A merge block in the back of the ship allowed for cargo or other potential attachments to be carried as well.

The shuttle was fairly well-armed with its two fixed machine guns and two missile launchers on each wing. Later models were upgraded with a gatling turret on the top of the ship. Despite this, most gunships left the combat area after dropping off their troops. Though early models were strictly hydrogen-powered, the models used during the GDA War implemented with hydrogen, ion, and atmospheric thrusters to allow maximum mobility and easier transitions from ground to space, and vice-versa.

Vulture-class Attack Helicopters
Introduced during the last weeks of the war, the VH-121 Vulture-class Helicopters were the successor to the older, lesser-used Raven-class Gunship, also developed and used by RCSP. Unlike the Raven-class, the Vulture-class utilized a combination of atmospheric thrusters and propellers to carry troops and supplies around planets. Much like a standard helicopter, the two larger props on each thruster nacelle functioned as the main lifting power of the vehicles, while the smaller rear propeller aided the craft in turning, rolling, and accelerating/decelerating. It was by far the most aerodynamically sound small ship created by RWI.

The Vulture was armed similarly to the Raven, having two gatling cannons below the single cockpit and two gatling turrets on the sides that were controllable by occupants in the main cabin, which could hold four passengers. However, the Vulture utilized eight rocket pods, four attached in a two-by-two formation under each nacelle, whereas the Raven did not. These were used to deal heavy damage to ground targets and to soften up enemy targets before dropping off troops.

The Vulture first saw action during the Rescue of Admiral Ellis, and was flown by Finn, a member of Captain Roberts' team. More Vultures were used in the Invasion of P3-X2 to carry RWI troops from the larger landing ships. The JETF also utilized several Vultures to fight the Remnant on Chrome II.

Raven-class Gunships
The Raven-class Gunship was the oldest atmospheric transport that was used by both RWI and RCSP. It was phased out of combat operations by RWI before the Green Drone War and was replaced by the similar-looking, yet upgraded Vulture-class Helicopter. Despite RWI ceasing to use it, it remained a useful vehicle to RCSP.

An original RCSP variant was built by the Colonist Survivors team and used during the Rescue of Dr. Craz. It was heavily damaged by GDA fighters during the skirmish at the bridge and was barely able to fly, therefore the crew abandoned it and pressed on. Roberts modified it with rocket pods on each wing, which was later implemented into the Vulture-class.

Wyvern-class Gunships
The Wyvern-class Gunship was another outdated atmospheric craft developed by RCSP and used by RWI. Jack Robert's Colonists, long before the Battle of the Colonies, had built and used a Wyvern as their main small ship transport and attack gunship until they were forced to abandon it and flee the planet following the devastating loss of the Dawnbreaker at the Battle of the Colony Planet at the hands of the DRF.

Eitri-class Construction Vessels
The Eitri Construction Vessel was used by RWI as a support ship, often placing a group of them aboard capital ships. Their front tool sections could be occupied by either grinders for salvaging operations or welders for repair jobs. They had a large cargo capacity, no weapons, and were powered by ion thrusters. First seen aboard Watchtower Station, RWI also used them frequently to repair ships and salvage wreckage after battles. They were also usually seen at RWI’s shipyards above Icarus, building and repairing various larger ships, or carried aboard Daedalus-class Battleships for emergency repair jobs after battles.

Pathfinder-class Shuttles
The Pathfinder-class Shuttle was a small, rotund ship that could hold at least four people. It was hydrogen-propelled and had no weapons. A few ships were carried aboard the RWI Discovery and used to evacuate the crew when the science ship was damaged before the Invasion of P3-X2.

Pioneer-class Landing Ships
Originally designed by Jack Roberts during the Colony War, the Pioneer-class Lander was meant to transport supplies, personnel, and support vehicles down to a planetary surface to establish a base. Poorly armed and armored, it is not meant for combat. The original CSS Pioneer was destroyed by the GDA during the Destruction of Watchtower Station. After the Green Drone War, the Pioneer-class was officially introduced and utilized by RWI to establish outposts on planets. Several were utilized by the JETF during the mission to Chrome II.

Ground Vehicles
Though most of RWI’s strength lies in their navy, a few ground-based vehicles were also developed to ensure maximum effectiveness both in the ground and in the air.

Marauder-class Rovers
Fast and bulky Marauder-class Rovers were a common sight among Roberts’ team. Roberts often used the Marauder as a personal rover during ground operations. These vehicles featured four large tires, dual cockpits, and an impressive lighting array. The Marauder was extremely adept at scaling sharp inclines and traveling over rough terrain.

The Marauder was armed with one gatling turret on top and held two large cargo containers in the vehicle’s midsection, as well as a connector at the back. Another variant existed as a non-combat version with no weapons and seating for four passengers in place of the containers and connector, although this variant was only used during the Colony War by the CSS.

Rhino-class Mobile Bases
Only seen once used by RWI, during the battle in Icarus’s Capital City, the huge Rhino-class Mobile Base was an intimidating sight to behold. The one seen during the Battle of Icarus featured two 300mm double-barreled cannons and a deadly magnetic coil cannon on top. It was destroyed or at least heavily damaged when GDA fighters strafed the vehicle and one rammed into it.

The original Rhino was built by Captain Roberts and RCSP Commander Venom during their first colony attempt, in order to journey to a set of coordinates that led to a crashed starship. The Rhino had been equipped with cryo pods, a refinery and assembler setup, medical bay, and a dorsal landing pad for a few small ships. It was armed with a few Vulcans and two dual-barreled 300mm cannons. It was extensively damaged during the expedition, in which Finn and Max were added to the group, and unexpectedly blew up upon their return to the original colony base. It was seldom seen again in the Colony Universe except for the cameo appearance during the Battle of Icarus.

Tanks
A few RWI tanks were briefly seen and used throughout Colony Lost and the Green Drone War. Two BT-210 Blockadier-class Tanks were seen at the RWI Intrepid’s small outpost before the Rescue of Dr. Craz; however they were never seen in combat. Much later, during the Invasion of P3-X2, Jack’s team used two similar-looking battle tanks, piloted by Finn and Papple, to attack the GDA headquarters’ back entrance, but both were lost during the attempt.

Capital World
The capital world of RWI was a planet called Icarus. It was a large Earth-like planet with mountain ranges, savannas, canyons, and forests. The atmosphere was breathable to humans and had a standard 1.0 G gravity level.

Icarus was home to several key RWI facilities. The Capital City was located in a savanna and housed RWI’s key intelligence and command buildings. In the center was a large grassy plaza and around the wide streets were other buildings for civilians and military personnel alike. Far off in a mountain range was the Black Vault Research Center. This was home to many top-secret projects being developed by RWI over its many years. During the Green Drone War, the Artifact was housed here until the Battle of Icarus. After the war, Project X-12 was developed here. It was a maze of hallways, research and development centers, storage chambers, and command centers. It also had three entrances: Alpha (a small landing pad in the front which served as the main entrance), Beta, and Charlie (a large docking bay). In orbit of Icarus were RWI’s many shipyards, as well as Cyrus Command Station. There were also multiple satellites for surveillance and communication.

Other Territory
RWI held much territory before the start of the Green Drone War, or at least had a presence in many regions of the galaxy, since they were one of the most influential and powerful factions in the galaxy. For example, above the ice planet Demus was a small RWI space station outpost, which was overrunby the GDA when they invaded the system. Since RWI fought battles against the GDA all over the galaxy, it is hard to know what planets they previosuly owned or were trying to capture from their attackers.

Divisions
RWI was organized into multiple different divisions, including but not limited to Navy, Science, Engineering, Defense, and Intelligence. The Naval Division is arguable the most prominent and important division, as it pertains to all of the RWI Navy's operations throughout the galaxy, with Defense likely being a sub-branch of the Navy devoted to defending Icarus and other important RWI locations and planets. The Science Division is responsible for backing creations such as the Venture-class Science Cruiser meant for exploration and research throughout the galaxy. Not much is known about the Intelligence Division, but it is led by Admiral Kieron Hask and is primarily based in the Black Vault and aboard the RWI Zheng-He. Lastly, the Engineering Division is likely responsible for designing and constructing many of RWI's starships and vehicles.

The Marine Corps also exists, likely as a sub-branch of the Navy, and is responsible for deploying troops for ground operations and defending the interiors of ships and space stations. It is also known that RWI has some sort of civilian culture as well, which the Capital City on Icarus shows, but most things about RWI civilian life, from their political system and structure to their currency are completely unknown, as is their government's overall importance to the rest of RWI.

Ranks
The RWI Military is divided into different ranks to outline the chain of command among the faction's many officers and personnel. These ranks are discernable on an individual officer by markings on their uniform's upper sleeves. From lowest to highest, the ranks of the Navy include:


 * Ensign (1 Silver Bar)
 * Lieutenant (2 Silver Bars)
 * Lieutenant Commander (2 Silver Bars, 1 Black Bar)
 * Commander (3 Silver Bars)
 * Captain (4 Silver Bars)
 * Admiral (Divided into four different tiers of admiralty)
 * Rear Admiral (2 Stars)
 * Vice Admiral (3 Stars)
 * Admiral (4 Stars)
 * Grand Admiral (5 Stars)

The Grand Admiral is reserved for only one individual at a time, and that individual serves as the commander-in-chief of all RWI military forces. There are also other military ranks, such as the ranks of "Major" and "Sergeant" among RWI's Marine Corps, but it is unclear how exactly these ranks fit into the overall ranking structure. Their rank markings are also unknown.

Allies
Two of RWI's closest and most trustworthy allies were the organizations of Crazy North Logistics (CNL) and the Royal Coalition of Spatial Protection (RCSP). The three factions fought together in the Green Drone War and united together to form the Joint Expedition Task Force (JETF) in 2734. In addition, RWI had other allies spread across the galaxy, such as the United Colonies of Agaris (UCA). RWI also had a very loose relationship with the Colonist Survivors (CSS) run by ex-RWI Captain Jack Roberts. Admiral Markus in particular sought to locate the CSS and bring them to RWI Command for unknown reasons (potentially for desertion, as Roberts and Markus had previously had a fallout which resulted in the former leaving RWI), but other officers such as Commander Sam Reed and Captain Jonathan Hunter viewed the CSS as potential allies during the Green Drone War.

Enemies
One of RWI's primary enemies was the Green Drone Armada (GDA), who invaded the galaxy in 2733, sparking the Green Drone War which claimed many lives. In the end, RWI and its allies were successful in defeating them. Other enemies fought in that general time period were the Drone Reactionary Force (DRF), which primary engaged the Colonist Survivors during the Colony War, and a resurfacing faction called the Remnant fought during the JETF's mission. Other minor enemies of RWI were INIC, although a few ships briefly allied to fight against the GDA shortly before the outbreak of the war, and the Reavers, an autonomous faction of heavily armed and dangerous pirate vessels. INIC was effectively destroyed during the war, and with the right firepower and defenses, RWI ships could easily repel a Reaver warship, although they had to be mindful of ramming attacks.