velvet fist in an iron glove

The shield motto was attributed to her first captain who died in his third action against enemy BC's all of which ended in the Karl Franz being severely damaged in action.

Karl Franz drifts and waits for convoy TZ73 from Gainsville 

              This unusual class of battlecruiser first appeared in 726 M35 during the war of independence fought between the imperial government and rebel factions in the Voertrekker spiral. The war was long and painful and inspired a number of unusual designs through the efforts of the then governor Karl Franz Krieger. The eventual victory of the empire resulted in first new warship produced in  the spiral being given the name of governor Krieger. 

               The Krieger class are a product of the Von Krupp forge world. They are named for the governor Karl Franz Krieger who tired of his planets ability to produce only lunar class vessels acquired the plans of a Voss Forgeworld heavy cruiser by means of industrial espionage. Unfortunately the plans only detailed how to build the engines and hull . He was therefore forced to produce a Voss style heavy lunar with and steal plans for a  powerful dorsal lance battery. Pit-Road Forgeworld in the Jaipan nebulae provided just the thing. 

               The vessels are immensely overpowered for their weapons fit. The basic armament is to all intents and purposes a standard lunar. The only way the Forge world could profit from the raw energy produced by the Voss style engines was to install a battleship style turret with strength 3 and RU 60 (the plans for which were also acquired by dubious means)  In the early years the requirements of the admiralty that vessels should not run from those of similar rating meant that the Kriegers often found themselves in one-sided combats that they were doomed to loose.  After the loss of several vessels and captains of renown (and the reluctance of captains to serve in them), the tactical requirements changed and they are often found as escorts to carriers or on convoy escort duty as flotilla flags.