Cudgel

Even the Crimson Fleet recognizes the tactical value of not being in the line of fire — they just prefer to have something else in the line of fire instead of retreating. The Cudgel deploys combat drones that swarm targets while the carrier itself stays at a comfortable distance. Crimson drone doctrine is aggressive: drones are expendable assets launched in overwhelming numbers. The Cudgel's unusually high utility slot count accommodates drone bays, drone repair systems, and drone ammunition fabricators. A fully loaded Cudgel can sustain a swarm long enough to overwhelm targets several classes above its own weight.