The Adeptus Arbites Punisher-class Strike Cruiser Inviolable Retribution at the time of the Gothic War.
The Punisher-class Strike Cruiser is a variant of the strike cruiser of the Adeptus Astartes that has been specially modified for use by the Adeptus Arbites, the primary law enforcement organisation of the Adeptus Terra.
While the Navis Imperialis and the Adeptus Astartes fight the wars of the 41st Millennium, the forces of the Adeptus Arbites take on a more subtle but no less important role. They are the interstellar police, the instrument of Imperial justice on Human-settled worlds across the galaxy. Not only do the Arbites operate planetside, but they also possess a small fleet of voidships for transportation, logisitcal support and other official duties. Occasionally, these voidships are used to hunt down small pirate bands and other miscreants fleeing the harsh hand of Imperial law.
The Arbites Punisher-class Strike Cruiser is very similar to that of its Space Marine strike cruiser equivalent. Much of the design is similar, with the exception of the more typical Imperial voidship prow, which (to the untrained eye) can give the Punisher the appearance of a Dauntless-class Light Cruiser. There is also slightly less armour plating on the voidship's engine ports compared to its Astartes counterpart.
The Punisher-class Strike Cruiser carries regular Imperial torpedoes as well as barrage bombs. Arbites vessels are also supplied with a single salvo of Melta Torpedoes. The Punisher has been designed with the intent of scanning the surrounding star system to root out pirates and Heretic strongholds. As a result, Arbites vessels benefot from an improved sensor array and augur systems.
Barrage bombs, starboard and port weapons batteries, a dorsal Bombardment Cannon and special Drop Pods make the Punisher quite adept at assaulting planetary targets. The Punisher has limited attack craft capability for the purposes of defence and advance scouting and can launch squadrons of Arbites Eagle Interceptors. These strike cruisers only carry fighters and do not have the facilities to service and launch bombers or assault boats.
Notable Vessels[]
- Inviolable Retribution - During the Gothic War, the Inviolable Retribution, under the command of Arbitrator Jamahl Byzantine, provided invaluable assistance in the evacuation of the Imperial world of Belatis. Arbitrators Byzantine and Korte, along with the crew of the Lord Solar Macharius, went above and beyond the call of duty to rescue Captain Leoten Semper and several loyal Imperial citizens from the planet's surface.
Sources[]
- Battlefleet Gothic Magazine 10, "Punisher Class Strike Cruiser" by Jesse Schoof and Chris Waddell, pp. 22-23