Solano

Stripped for sacrifice in Pa's Pallas attack, Solano becomes a stationary blockade weapon when Pa refuses to destroy civilian docks.

Story so far

The Solano is one of the four experienced ships in Michio Pa's breakaway fleet but has taken enough previous damage that its crew and useful material are removed for a planned sacrificial role. During the Pallas operation, it stays behind the attacking ships until the local defenses are distracted.

Pa abandons the order to crash it into Pallas's docks. Instead, its remote control guides it into a blind spot near the port, locks it to Pallas orbit, and warms its Epstein drive so that it can melt any Free Navy traffic or sabotage attempt. The conversion from wrecking ram to blockade weapon leaves it vulnerable to eventual destruction, but makes its threat conditional on distinguishing enemy forces from civilians.

Appearance

A damaged, stripped fleet ship remotely guided close to an asteroid port, its rear Epstein drive positioned as an enormous potential cutting torch.

Role

Solano embodies Pa's change of plan: military pressure retained, indiscriminate dock destruction refused.

Relationships

[[Michio Pa]] — She repurposes the ship from her own planned sacrifice into the cornerstone of Pallas's blockade.

[[Pallas]] — It holds position at the docks with a warmed drive, threatening Free Navy operations without immediately destroying the port.

[[Panshin]] — The Panshin is assigned to guard and remotely control it after the opening attack.

Sources — 1 recorded facts, by chapter

Chapter 42

Stripped for sacrifice in Pa's Pallas attack, Solano becomes a stationary blockade weapon when Pa refuses to destroy civilian docks.