Ruardiss Nyada “Canache” class Minesweeper (Modified Scimitar):

A number of Wolfen did not want to join the Consortium when the power formed. There was a system with a single habitable planet which had been discovered just a few decades earlier. Few other systems nearby had habitable systems. As a result of various factors, it was considered a marginal system and there had previously not been all that much interest.

These Wolfen decided to form a major expedition to the system and settle. The system was later named Ruardiss Nyada. Since that time, further settlers have joined the population including non-Wolfens although by far the majority of the population remain Wolfen. In addition, most of the government leaders remain Wolfen. Even though the population considers themselves extremely independent, the system does have strong economic ties to the Consortium.

Over the years, there have been a number of threats against the system. Some of these threats come from unexplored space surrounding the system. Others come from less than friendly neighbors. Recently, the multi-system power Caramelles Kingdom. This kingdom has already invaded several nearby systems and is xenophobic to all non-humans. In addition, the nobility are powerful psychics.

As a result of the various threats, the system has always operated a powerful military, especially the fleet. The seeds of this fleet was the military forces escorting the expedition and have grown greatly since its formation. As with the government, the military leadership is dominated by Wolfen and there are few officers who are other sentient groups.

Due to the system economy however, the system lacks ship building facilities. Due to having contacts with the Consortium, especially the various Wolfen systems, the system military has been able to get large numbers of cast off Wolfen vessels for what they might otherwise cost self defense forces within the Consortium itself. In general, the navy prefers ships which are effective yet require small crews.

The Wolfen Ranger class minesweeper was looked at but rejected. Instead, the Human Alliance Cobra class minesweeper was initially adopted. As with most warships operated by the Ruardiss Nyada navy, the minesweepers were upgraded to be far more effective. Still, the old vessels were slow, require large crews, and hard to maintain. As a result, there was long plans to replace the minesweepers.

Eventually, the Consortium Shark class minesweeper were looked at. It was decided however to buy surplus Scimitar class patrol vessels which have been stripped of weaponry. As stripped vessels, they can be extremely inexpensive. So far two of the patrol vessels have been acquired with the first having been commissioned and the second is in the process of being converted. The work is being performed by the system’s repair ships. Eventually, it is planned to purchase four more for a total of six minesweepers and the surviving Scylax class minesweepers will be retired.

One of the main reasons why the Scimitar class was selected is that, while it still takes a larger crew than most vessels used by the Ruardiss Nyada navy, it requires a much smaller crew than an old Cobra class minesweepers. Unlike the older minesweepers, these ships are being refitted with additional automation to further reduce crew compliment. Crew compliment is nominally around one hundred and twenty as a result although crew is usually more like around eighty.

In faster than light travel, these ships are actually twice as far as the class which they are replacing with a top speed of five light years per hour and have better acceleration in normal space as well. While these vessels are slightly faster than most of the warships operated by the Ruardiss Nyada navy in faster than light travel, the warships operated by the system are still faster in normal space. As a result, they are not considered effective in fleet operations.

Replacing the main battery of heavy energy weapons and rail guns, the minesweeper mounts a powerful long range mine hunting sensor suite and a pair of long range missile batteries. Modern missile batteries, the new mine sweeper can fire heavier volleys of missiles than the older minesweeper class even though the converted patrol ships are far smaller. However, a total of approximately five hundred long range missiles are carried for this role, less than the previous class. The minesweeper’s standard tactic is to engage mines at maximum range.

For secondary weapons, the eight mini-missile batteries are stripped as well as the four standard particle beams. The particle beams are replaced by four variable focus particle beams. Four medium range missile batteries replace the eight mini-missile batteries. While they cannot fire as man total missiles as the mini-missile batteries, the medium range missile batteries have far greater range. Each battery has a total of one hundred and sixty missiles for a total of just over six hundred medium range missiles.

While these mine sweepers do not carry any embarked troops, the do carry a half squadron of light fighters. The Scorpion carried on most Consortium vessels is replaced by the Bobcat light fighter. It is unlikely that replacing Bobcat light fighters on the minesweepers with the new Bearcat will be a priority. In addition, the minesweeper embarks a dozen space power armors. These armors “knock off”designs of the Silver Hawk, are used to thicken the minesweeper’s point defense.

This starship design uses modified starship speed and weapon range rules. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World / Three Galaxies for more details.

Model Type: SF-20 (Modified.)

Vehicle Type: Minesweeper.

Crew: 118 (14 Officers and 104 enlisted) - Often manned with a crew of 80 (8 officers and 72 enlisted).

Troops: 20 (8 fighter pilots and 12 space power armor pilots).

Vehicle, Robots, and Power Armors:

Power Armors:

SC-MM-1000 Stormcrow Space Combat Exoskeletons.

Fighter Compliment:

Consortium SF-128 Bobcat Light Starfighter.

M.D.C. By Location:

	Mine Hunting Sensor Suite:	1,000.
	Variable Focus Point Defense Particle Beam Cannons (4):	300 each.
	Long Range Missile Batteries (2):	600 each.
	Mini Missile Launchers (8):	100 each.
	Fighter Hanger Bay Door:	500.
	[1] Main Engines (2):	1,200 each.
	[2] Bridge:	2,000.
	[3] Main Body:	5,000.
	[4] Variable Force Field:	1,000 a side (6,000 total).

Notes:

[1] Destroying the main engines means that the ship’s faster than light propulsion systems are destroyed and maximum sublight speed is reduced by half.

[2] In reality this is how much damage needs to be done for a weapon to hit the bridge through the ship’s armor. This ship does not have an auxiliary bridge. Even if the bridge is destroyed, the ship can still be piloted from engineering but ship is -3 to dodge and all weapon systems will be at local control. Weapon hits near the bridge that do not penetrate the ships integrity can injure crew members on or near the bridge.

[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the destroyer out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.

[4] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (300 M.D.C.) per melee round.

Speed:

Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.

Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship to travel up to 60 percent of the speed of light. Star Ship can accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 0.8 percent of light per melee.

Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is Mach 2.0 (1,522.4 mph / 2,450.1 kph), can enter an atmosphere and can leave but is not designed for atmospheric flight.

Stardrive: Uses a Gravitonic Drive system that allows the ship to reach a maximum of 5.0 light years per hour.

Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by either drive system. Carries about one year worth of supplies on board and has a small hydroponic section.

Statistical Data:

Length: 500 feet (152 meters).

Height: 80 feet (24.4 meters).

Width: 140 feet (42.6 meters).

Mass/Weight: 12,500 tons (11,339.8 metric tons).

Power System: Anti-Matter with a 50 year life span. The ship normally only goes 10 years between refueling and refitting. Backed up with emergency fusion plants.

Cargo: Small cargo hold that can carry up to 400 ton (360 metric tons) of cargo not including standard compliment of supplies and ammunition. Hold is 20 x 20 x 40 feet in dimensions (6.1 x 6.1 x 12.2 meter). Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Ship’s officers have more space for personal items. Most of the ship’s spaces are taken up by extra ammunition, armor, troops, weapons, engine, and other equipment.

Market Cost: An unarmed surplus Scimitar class patrol vessels costs between 100 and 200 million credits. Refitting these vessels costs approximately 300 million credits. These ships are generally not for sale however one might expect them to cost up to 800 to 1,000 million credits under some circumstances. In all cases, cost does not include embarked craft.

Weapon Systems:

Four (4) Variable Focus Particle Beam Mounts: Replacing the original standard particle beams mounts, these particle beams are copied from those carried on the CAF Assault Shuttle and will fire a very powerful narrow beam and can fire a scatter effect that is less powerful but is capable of striking multiple targets. The weapon system is quite useful against missiles although the cone is not as wide as Tachyon cannon sprays are (Gives +2 bonus vs fast moving targets such as missiles.) Weapons are mounted in turrets that can rotate 360 and have a 180 arc of fire. Each mount can be operated by a gunner or a gunner program (+2 to strike, 3 Attacks per melee round.)

Maximum Effective Range: 300 miles (480 km) in space and 3 miles (4.8 km) in an atmosphere.

Mega Damage: Single Target: 4D6x10 per blast. Wide Beam: 5D6 to all targets within a 5,000 foot (1,524 meter) diameter area. When fired as a wide beam, the cannon cannot be used on targets closer than 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) away.

Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).

Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
Two (2) Long Range Missile Batteries: Missile has a top speed of Mach 20 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 8% of light per turn (faster than any starship.) Whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed of target, launcher, and missile. When drive goes dead, missile will continue to travel in a straight line unless set to self destruct but has very low odds of hitting star ships (Great for hitting bases and planets because target does not move and missile, when unpowered, is at -25% to be detected.) Long range missiles do not have penalties to hit small targets, unlike cruise missiles, and are all considered smart missiles. Batteries can launch on multiple targets each at the same time.

Maximum Effective Range: Long Range Missile range is 3,400 miles (5,470 km) in an atmosphere and 1,800,000 miles (2,897,000 km/9.7 light seconds) in space.

Mega-Damage & Properties: See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details (Fusion warheads inflict 2D4x100 M.D.C. each.)

Rate of Fire: Can fire long range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), eight (8), sixteen (16), or thirty-two (32) long range missiles per launcher, per melee attack.

Payload: 512 total, 256 long range missiles per battery.
Four (4) Medium Range Missile Batteries: Replacing the eight mini-missile batteries, weapon system is used for hitting enemy robots, fighters, and against incoming cruise missiles. Like other Phase world systems, weapon system range and speed has been greatly increased compared to Rifts Earth systems. Missile has a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Batteries can launch on multiple targets each at the same time.

Maximum Effective Range: Medium Range Missile range is 160 miles (257.5 km) in an atmosphere and 80,000 miles (128,750 km/0.43 light seconds) in space.

Mega-Damage: Varies with medium range missile type (Multi-warhead heavy warheads inflict 5D6x10 M.D.C. each - See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)

Rate of Fire: Can fire medium range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), or eight (8) medium range missiles per battery.

Payload: 160 medium range missiles per launcher for a total of 640 medium range missiles.

Sensor System of Note for Minesweeper:

High Powered Mine Hunting Sensor System: This system includes radar, neutrino sensors, gravitic sensors, and tachyon based sensors. This is an active sensor system with a range of 1,550,000 miles (2,500,000 km / 8.34 light seconds) and covers a 15 degree radius cone. As stated, the system is an active system and is easily detected but gives a bonus or +20% to read sensory rolls to detect targets and a +4 on weapon systems when aiming at targets with the cone. Targets that are invisible but the invisibility is not specific to gravity sensors will also be detected. The other ship’s sensors are at destroyer level except the ship’s close range fire control sensors.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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