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Programs used:
Minecraft (for building)
Mcedit (for building)
Blender (for renders)
Paint.net (for pictures)

As part of the Roccho Navy's fleet modernization program at the outbreak of war in the Rodain Sector, Qi'natc SP was commissioned to design a new series of escort warships, including a patrol cruiser, corvette, and gunboat. All three were designed simultaneously at the Qi'natc engineering complex in Stykeer Station, as the Qi'natc-owned shipyard over Talaisi had been severely damaged during the Astachez rebel's initial strike at the Roccho Republic. While the patrol cruiser and corvette teams were able to hash out sets of rough designs early into the war, the team assigned to design a next-generation gunboat ran into problems. As part of the design requirements laid out by Roccho fleet command, the gunboat was to have a sublight acceleration of at least 18,000 g's, while retaining pre-existing standards for maneuverability during combat scenarios. Engineers struggled to create a gunboat capable of such acceleration, especially since the necessary thrusters for such performance were at the limits of what could be fitted to a gunboat-sized spaceframe. With the additional power draw from weapons, shielding, and other combat systems, achieving the minimum power output in such a small ship-type seemed impossible.

The final design for the Enao-class emerged from a conversation between Tethal Mira, the head engineer of what would be eventually named the Eerie-class patrol cruiser, and the gunboat design team at the Qi'natc Stykeer engineering complex. Mira shared her team's initial engineering schematics, including the advanced power and heat dissipation systems being developed for the Eerie to operate its heavy weapons. With some modifications, the Enao engineers were able to adapt the Eerie's hull to support the large central drive system they sought to incorporate, and after receiving approval from supervisors on both projects, were given the go-ahead. From that point, the Enao-class evolved from the Eerie-class's base hull, with extensive modifications to the aft structure and various internal redesigns to accommodate the different weapon layouts. Nonetheless, the Enao-class remained visually similar to the Eerie-class, particularly at its bow.

The Enao-class was intended to solely perform screening and light combat operations, and this was reflected in its weaponry. Armed with twenty six point Vastech D18 defense cannons, twenty Bdlx Neru-series F4 anti-fighter cannons, four CorT3 light laser cannons, and four BLT-113 flak cannons, the Enao-class is almost completely incapable of engaging other combat-focused warships. What the Enao-class's numerous turrets are capable of is annihilating any strike craft or missiles that stray too close, and easily can disable the modified civilian and commercial starships that pirates and other criminal pilot. The Enao also has a lethal surprise for any small ships which can make it through the gunboat's flak fields - two hundred Firan nuclear missiles, which can be launched from two missile tubes via a rapid automatic loading system at a rate of two missiles per second per tube. Although these missiles are too low yield to be effective against larger warships, they can be tasked to perform various defensive functions, including intercepting incoming projectiles, masking the gunboat with proximity blasts, or destroying smaller ships.

The primary difference between the Enao-class and it's sister design, the Eerie, is the gunboat's massive primary thruster. The Enao's singular Rivenacht HVPA-ct 30 ion thruster is responsible for the design's impressive sublight acceleration, unmatched by any other capital ship in the Roccho Navy. With two additional ion thrusters for maneuvering, the Enao is capable of overtaking any ship it may come up against, making the gunboat an extremely effective anti-piracy warship. In fleet combat, the Enao's speed assists with its survivability, allowing the gunboat to escape larger hostile warships and hunt down small gunboats and strike craft. One area the Enao is lacking, however, is its darkspace drive, which while fast charging is much slower than other contemporary Roccho warships. This was a necessary compromise to achieve the Enao's sublight performance, and since the gunboat was not expected to ever be operating away from a larger fleet or naval base was determined to be an acceptable compromise. Indeed, throughout the Astachez Civil War, Enao-class gunboats were used primary as screening vessels for elements of the First Fleet, and in anti-piracy operations along the Cort Spike, Rocchan Spine, and other major hyperlanes that passed through Roccho territory.

The Enao-class was very successful in the Roccho Navy. Quickly phasing out the aging Voratur-class gunboat, Enao-classes became a common sight alongside Eerie-class patrol cruisers escorting larger frigates, destroyers, and cruisers. Many notable commanders during the conflict, including Captain Tavol Figs, who eventually went on to lead Task Force Eir-fifteen, began their careers on an Enao-class. Since most of the initial wave of gunboats manufactured were kept in defensive naval units around the Roccho industrial and home sectors, they were seen as relatively safe posts that still would see regular action against vagrants and occasional stealth attacks by the Astachez rebels. By the end of the war, some two thousand Enao-class gunboats were in service, mostly concentrated in the defensive Third Fleet.