The Imperial Dauntless-class light cruiser is optimized for scouting and escort duties. The Dauntless forms the mainstay of the CL component of Battlefleet Calixis, with an aestimated <censored> number of ships in active service at any given time. Light cruisers carry enough firepower to drive off opposing escorts and enough fuel and supplies to remain away from Imperial fleet bases for months of subjective time.

The Dauntless is a very capable vessel of its class, as fast and maneuverable as many destroyers and frigates, but with a ferociously powerful frontal lance armament for its size. It has a decent battery load-out, but short-range definite-kill capacity remains somewhat limited. Defensive systems are considered average; better than most destroyers and frigates, but significantly weaker than any true cruiser. The Dauntless-class commonly operates in divisions of 2-3 ships, either with or without a destroyer or frigate division in support (a supporting frigate detachment is obvisouly preferable for scouting duties, destroyers for more active combat duty).