UNSC Crassus

UNSC Crassus is a formerly in service with the human defensive forces on Earth. It served as the lead ship of the class throughout the 25th and 26th centuries, ultimately being retired after the conclusion of the Human-Covenant War.

Peacekeeping
The Crassus was built by SinoViet Heavy Machinery and put into service with the regional defense forces of the East African Protectorate in the early 25th century. It was formally commissioned in 2411, and served as a training ship and mothership for drones throughout the remainder of the century—being retired from service in 2490 to serve as a floating museum ship.

Reactivation
During the Human-Covenant War, the ship was reactivated in 2550 and appropriated by the UNSC to prepare for the inevitable defense of Earth, and ultimately participated during the battle of New Mombasa. During the attack on the city, the UNSC Crassus served as a deployment and resupply platform for F-99 Wombat UCAVs and Pelican dropships making air strikes across the coastline. On November 18, 2552, the ship was spotted by Jiralhanae hunting parties, resulting in the Crassus and its escort coming under attack. The Covenant boarding parties attacked the ship using war-sleds and dropships, and were able to quickly seize the ship's flight decks before proceeding to conduct close-quarters boarding attempts inside the ship's cramped interior spaces. Ultimately, the smaller stature of the human crew proved a boon in the battle, as the narrow bulkheads were unwieldly for the tall Jiralhanae and wide Unggoy to effectively move in. As such, the Covenant attack was quickly faltered, with the commanding Brutes electing to retreat to their dropships and destroy the Crassus air control tower.

Following the war, the now-battered supercarrier was towed to Durban and once again decommissioned. As of the post-war era, it has been reinstated as a museum ship.

Trivia

 * The UNSC Crassus was likely named after Marcus Licinius Crassus, a Roman general and statesman who played a key role in transforming the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.