This is one of twin Imperial fleet flagships, the Disgrace. With her sister ship, the Retribution, they lead the Imperial Navy in safeguarding the oceans under the Empire's rule.

By design they are classed as Hekkaideceres, 'sixteen's', because of their banks of sixteen rowers, eight to an oar, on each side of the ship. Unlike the famous bireme's and trireme's of antiquity which were built solely for speed, manoeuvrability and ramming other vessels, Late Hellenistic galleys of this size were designed for artillery and boarding actions rather than ramming. For this they carried complements of Marines and artillery emplacements such as ballistae and catapults.

The Disgrace differs markedly from her sister ship however. Whereas the Retribution is the ship of the navy's finest admirals and crewmen, the Disgrace is a ship of the damned and dishonoured, criminals and traitors, spies and saboteurs alike. Despite this, to serve the Disgrace is a great honour. The crew serve aboard the ship for a pardon, forgiveness, absolution, a chance to wipe their slate clean and start afresh. They leave the ship with respect and honour, their past lives gone. For this chance, the Disgrace sees the thick of battle, the worst pirates, the longest odds, and yet she always returns to port.