Children of the March
A Fleet intruder (later Frontier cruiser) of the Azhanti High Lightning type. Tail number 6355. Laid down 095-994. First flight 117-997. 60,000 tons and heavily armed. The Children of the March was unusual in this class of ships primarily for its method of financing. The boost to a subsector's economy created by the award of starship construction contracts is always important enough to make all areas of the Imperium vie for the privilege. At the time of the bidding invitations, the Solomani Rim War (990 to 1002) was burning on the other side of the Imperium; there was little chance that the Spinward Marches would receive a contract. The Duke of Regina, speaking for the Marches, proposed that the Marches fund one additional ship from its own resources, on the condition that the Marches receive a contract to produce a portion of the total run. The school children of the worlds within the Marches contributed their lunch money, at a quarter credit each, for the ultimate funding of one ship, and it was named Children of the March in their honor.