Valdemarian Assault Shuttle:


There are several cultures which predate the main powers of the Three Galaxies. One which has been studied extensively is the Valdemarian civilization. This civilization was at its height about sixty five thousand years ago. In terms of stellar geography, it was a small power. Only a dozen systems, it covered only a few dozen light years. Something happened to them with some type of cataclysm destroying their home worlds. The only culture which might possibly have known anything about the Valdemarians were the Prometheans but this is not likely due to the extreme distances involved.


From studies of remnants found deep underground, scientists have discovered that the Valdemarians were an elven race. Some remains have given up genetic markers and it appears that they are only distantly related to the elven races currently in the Three Galaxies. It is possible that there was some interbreeding but it is most likely that they were a separate dimensional crossing from the other elven races inhabiting the Three Galaxies. As well, unlike most elven races, they did not seem to use magic much and instead were technologically extremely advanced.


In terms of technology, the Valdemarians were more advanced as the major powers of the Three Galaxies. Only the newest technology out of the Consortium and Trans-Galactic Empire equals them. Their technology in some areas such as cybernetics is actually below that of some of the major powers. Their manufacturing technology, such as huge advanced automated ship building yards, was incredible though. They also build some incredibly huge ships including what has been classified as a Battle Sphere which is larger than practically any warships in the Three Galaxies. Other areas include artificial intelligence.


All of the Valdemarian starships are larger than the Consortium or Trans-Galactic Empire equivalents. In effect, they are a whole size class larger. This is not the case with most of the small craft. Fighters, Bombers, and others tend to be around the same size as their closest equivalent modern craft. The Assault Shuttle is also about the same size as most modern assault shuttles with the vessel being closest equivalent being the Consortium Assault Shuttle.


A number of partially intact Valdemarian assault shuttles have been recovered although none have been recovered completely intact. The shuttles were no match for the energy which ripped apart Battle Spheres but some shuttles were in partially protected locations. Most effort has been devoted to restoring fighters or bomber designs. As such, the recover and restoration of assault shuttles have been a comparatively low priority. The designs do share many common features and components which a breakthrough in one will help the development in other designs.


One major difference the assault shuttle has compared to the fighter and bomber designs is that the craft lacks a faster than light drive. The only “common” assault shuttle design in the Three Galaxies which mounts a faster than light drive is a Naruni design which is huge and would be extremely difficult to carry aboard a ship. Being that the Valdemarian assault shuttle is quite a bit smaller, this is not a factor. The assault shuttle is surprisingly fast in normal space with an acceleration the equal of a Proctor class heavy fighter. The shuttle is also quite maneuverable, almost the equal in some cases of a heavy fighter. Power for the shuttle is provided by a high density fusion reactor identical to the power plant of the heavy bomber design.


Valdemarian designs are known for the incredibly strong golden alloys which are used to built their craft. The shuttle is incredibly well armored although the shuttle does not mount a self repair system as are mounted in capital ship designs. Unlike the Consortium shuttle design, the shuttle is streamlined for better atmospheric operations. The shuttle is also protected by a powerful force field identical to the system carried on the heavy bomber design. This is almost the equal of the force field protecting a Hunter class destroyer.


The shuttle is also protected by a sophisticated electronics array. This includes a powerful artificial intelligence although not the equal of the system carried aboard capital ships. The shuttle can be controlled by the much more powerful artificial intelligence of larger vessels. Usually though, the shuttle is operated by a crew of eight. This gives a greater ability to respond to threats as well as making the troops about more comfortable than they would with a completely autonomous shuttle. Unlike many assault shuttles, the Valdemarian design does mount a sophisticated stealth system.


For weaponry, the shuttle has four tachyon turret mounts for defensive fire. These are variable focus, able to be fired in tight beam or as a wide beam to deal with incoming missiles. Each one has its own separate gunner but also can be operated in automatic mode. The shuttle also mounts three forward firing gravity needle beams. These are effective against armor, often penetrating deep into a target. Finally, the shuttle has four missile bays. The general role for the missiles is to clear an area for a troop landing. Both the missiles and the needle beams are controlled by either the shuttle’s pilot or copilot.


The Assault Shuttle is designed to carry eight tanks and a total of eighty troops in power armors. Valdemarian troops did not seem to operate outside of power armors. If no tanks are carried aboard, about two hundred and forty power armors can be carried. As far as tanks, the Valdemarian hover tank can actually drop from orbit on its own but is far slower and in many cases could be considered a sitting duck to defensive fire.


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


Model Type: Valdemarian Assault Shuttle

Vehicle Type: Assault Shuttle

Crew: Eight (Pilot, Co-Pilot, Electronics System Officer, Engineer, and four Gunners)


Troops / Vehicles: Up to 551.2 tons (500 metric tons). This only lists two common troop loads, there are many other possible combinations.

Vehicle & Troops:

 

8

Tanks or APCs (up to 50 ft long)

 

80

Troops in Power Armor

Troops Only:

 

240

Troops in Power Armor

M.D.C. By Location:

 

Gravity Needle Beams (3, Front):

150 each

 

Point Defense Tachyon Turrets (4, Top, Bottom, and Sides):

320 each

 

Light Ordnance Bays (4, Underside of body):

250 each

 

[1] Main Body:

3,200

 

Pilots Compartment:

800

 

Rear Troop Ramp / Hatch:

500

 

[2] Variable Force Field:

800 per side (4,800 total)

Notes:

[1] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the heavy bomber out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck. Note: Over half damage to the hull of the shuttle will disrupt the camouflage system.

[2] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (240 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 40 percent of the speed of light. Fighter can accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 1.0 percent of light per melee (If the Slip stream generators are damage, reduce acceleration to 0.8 percent of light per melee.)

Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum normal speed is Mach 5.5 (4,078.0 mph / 6,562.9 kph), the assault shuttle can enter and leave an atmosphere because flight system is using contra grav. Because all missiles are in bays, they do not reduce the shuttle’s atmospheric top speed.

Stardrive: None - the shuttle is limited to in system operations.

Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by drive system but only has supplies for crew and troops for one month.


Statistical Data:

Length:         214.90 feet (65.5 meters).

Height:         43.96 feet (13.4 meters).

Width:          115.49 feet (32.5 meters).

Weight:        1102.3 tons (1,000 metric tons)

Power System: Advanced High Density Fusion, Duration without refueling of 20 years. Unlike the Valdemarian Battle Sphere, the fighter cannot refuel itself.

Cargo: The Large troop compartment can carry 551.2 tons (500 metric tons) when not carrying vehicles or troops. The troop compartment cargo hold is 40 x 50 x 100 feet in dimensions (12.2 x 15.2 x 30.4 meters). The shuttle also has storage for equipment and weapons for troops.

Market Cost: No assault shuttle bombers of this design have ever been put on sale on the market (or probably ever will be). An intact shuttle might be worth several billion credits or more. The Consortium and Trans-Galactic Empire both have standing offers of five billion credits for an intact shuttles. Even wrecked remnants of these heavy bombers can be valued at hundreds of millions of credits.


WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. Three (3) Nose Graviton Needle Beams: Mounted in the nose of the shuttle, these weapon uses highly focused controlled opposing gravimetric waves to create an energy beam weapon that shreds the target. The weapons do full damage to targets with the spell impervious to energy and cosmic knight will take 1/10 damage (10%) instead of the normal 1/100 damage (1%). Since the gravity beams propagates themselves at faster than light speeds, this weapon can actually be used against vehicles that are traveling at faster than the speed of light. Of course since the craft cannot operate at such speeds, this is not normally applicable.

    Maximum Effective Range: 12.4 miles (20 km) through atmosphere and 1,242.7 miles (2,000 km) in space.

    Mega-Damage: 2D6x10 per single blast, 4D6x10 per double blast, or 6D6x10 for a triple beam blast. (Optional rule is that cannons gets a critical strike on a natural 18, 19, or 20 due to its high penetration.)

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

    Payload: Effectively Unlimited.

  2. Four (4) Point Defense Tachyon Turrets: The assault shuttle mounts four turrets which each mount twin variable focus tachyon cannons. Each Point Defense Tachyon Dispersion Beam is in a turret that can rotate 360 and has a 180 arc of fire. These weapons are the same weapons as the bomber’s main battery and are less powerful than the point defense batteries carried on capital ships. These weapons can be fired as a tightly focused beam for greater range and damage or can be wide focused. When wide focused, the scatter effect acts like a shot gun but lasts for hundreds of milliseconds (Gives +4 bonus vs fast moving targets such as missiles.) As such, it can be used to destroy incoming missiles effectively. Because the tachyon beams act faster than the speed of light, this weapon is effective against targets that are moving at light speed or greater. When tightly focused, the weapon cannot be fired in an atmosphere because it overloads. Lock-Out systems are added to prevent it from being able to be fired in a focused beam in an atmosphere.

    Maximum Effective Range: Narrow Beam: 994.2 miles (1,600 km) in space. Cannot be fired in a focused beam in an atmosphere. Wide Beam: 149.1 miles (240 km) with a width of 12.4 miles (20 km), range and width is one sixteenth in atmosphere.

    Mega Damage: Narrow Beam: 2D6x10 per single blast or 4D6x10 per double blast Wide Beam: 1D4x10 per single blast or 2D4x10 per double blast.

    Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5) - On computer control, point defense mounts have four attacks per melee and +4 to strike.

    Payload: Effectively Unlimited.

  3. Four (4) Ordnance Bays: The assault shuttle has a total of four internal bay in the fuselage that carry missiles. Cruise missiles are too large to be carried in the bays. Missile sizes may be mixed between different types but an ordnance launch must include the same size of ordnance. Ordnance may be carried at the rate of four medium range missiles, two long range missiles for one cruise missile. Long Range Missiles have 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.) Medium Range Missiles have a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. 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 same course and speed unless preset to self destruct or receives a destruct code 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.)

    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, and 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. At game masters option, missile range can be increased by 25% due to more advanced technology.

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

    Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), six (6), twelve (12), or twenty four (24) missiles.

    Payload: Sixteen (16) medium range missiles or eight (8) long range missiles each bay. Maximum total of 64 medium range missiles or 32 long range missiles. Ordnance can be mixed and matched as required.

  4. Stealth System: The assault shuttle can change its colors to match the background and can mask most energy emissions effectively making the ship effectively invisible. The stealth system is most effective when the fighter is stationary or traveling in a straight line. In these cases, there is a -10 penalty to strike. Evasive maneuvers or attacks will make the ship visible but there will still be at -5 to strike. Military class sensors reduce these penalties by half.

Special Equipment:

Combat Bonuses: These bonuses are only applied when the Valdemarian Assault Shuttle is fully piloted. When not piloted use the bonuses under sentient ship. For piloting, use the Phase World Starfighter combat (elite or basic) skill. these bonuses are in addition to those from the piloting skill.


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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2010 & 2014, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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