Campaign UNSC Background

Commanded by Rear Admiral Augustine Terrell, the Fourth Sector Fleet is responsible for the defense of the remaining worlds of their region. Largely composed of smaller vessels such as Frigates and Destroyers, the forces of the region have been steadily de-prioritized for years now as more and more losses are sustained by UNSC fleets facing the main axis of Covenant advance. Instead of dividing forces into parcels for each populated world, SECCOM has chosen to concentrate it's forces in a few strategic locations. When the fleet does patrol, tactical preference is to remain in full battlegroup-sized deployments for safety. Port Zanzibar, the fleet's base in the sector, has a large number of vessels at almost all times, as does heavily-populated New Constantinople. The remaining colonies closest to what is considered "Covenant space" also host small naval squadrons for defense, as do planets with important industry. Most planets are left to rely on defense stations and planet-based fighter and bomber wings for immediate defense until reinforcements arrive.
    SinoViet's Paris-class frigate is by far the most common ship in the sector, with ships launching from SinoViet's shipyard in New Constantinople at a brisk pace together with a trickle of hulls from Reach. The Charon and Stalwart classes are occasionally present, but typically these ships are passing through the sector, usually as escorts for convoys to-and-from the Inner Colonies.
    Destroyers of all classes are uncommon in the sector, where the intensity of enemy action isn't the same as in the Inner Colonies, not to mention the added expense in their manufacture and upkeep, making frigates more appropriate to operations in Fourth Sector. The Halberd-class is seen in some number around important planets, installations, and ships, but the depletion of destroyers is another result of losses elsewhere in human space.
    Admiral Terrel had to lobby heavily to retain the four Marathon Heavy Cruisers still under his command, and there are rumors on a near-daily basis that these ships are to be reassigned elsewhere. The older Halcyon-class is more commonly seen, often serving as flagships and heavy muscle for the large patrol task forces SECCOM prefers.
    Carriers are one class of ships the fleet is currently very deficient in. The Marathon UNSC Winter Road is a Cyclops subvariant of that class, capable of carrying five wings of Broadsword fighters and Longsword bombers in her expanded flight bays, and is at present the only dedicated carrier in the sector. She frequently hosts Admiral Terrell's flag when he's off of Port Zanzibar station. FLEETCOM at Reach have been dithering on assigning a new fleet carrier to the sector based on increasing Covenant raider activity, but have not decided as yet. If they do, it is likely a new Epoch-class would be committed.