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Valdemarian “Standard” Cargo Ship:

The Valdemarians are a long lost culture of the Three Galaxies. Their culture existed in the Corkscrew Galaxy around sixty-five thousand years before the present era. While their home planets were virtually destroyed, scientists have been able to piece a bit together. The race was closely related to elves around the megaverse (and are in large numbers in other parts of the Three Galaxies.) While the Prometheans were in existence when the Valdemarian culture flourished, the Prometheans claim to have no knowledge of them. With the vast stellar distance between them, this is quite possible.

The Consortium and Trans-Galactic Empire control huge expanses of space. The Valdemarian however only controlled a small number of system in a sphere of a few dozen light years total. Some kind of cataclysm destroyed their culture. It was some sort of cosmic event, perhaps a super nova or perhaps something even more exotic. Whatever destroyed their planets, the fact that they had some of the best faster than light drives did not seem to have been able to save them.

Technology-wise, they were incredibly advanced. It is only now that some of the cutting edge technology of the major powers within the Three Galaxies are approaching their level. It should not be thought that their technology was hugely superior to the Consortium or Trans-Galactic Empire and in some areas they were actually less advanced. Their main area of advanced technology were in the area of gravity technology (both weaponry and propulsion), automation, artificial intelligence, and gamma radiation weaponry. The last was interesting because they seem to have been destroyed by intensive gamma radiation. All of this has been discovered from bits and pieces of their technology, virtually all of it wrecked, which have been found.

While most people talk mainly about their military technology, it should be noted that the vast majority of the Valdemarian were not military. The people had much in common with the citizens of the more advanced planets of the Consortium. As one might expect, cargo ships transported cargoes between the various planets. From remnants of ships, it has been determined that the Valdemarians operated two basic classes of cargo ships. One which is classified as the “Standard” and was the most common design. It was the same basic size as most medium sized merchant vessels in the Three Galaxies. The other was larger, about twice the size of larger cargo vessels in the Three Galaxies although there have been some cargo vessels built which are of similar sizes.. There is no evidence of cargo vessels the size of Battle Spheres. While most Valdemarian warships tend to be far larger than their modern equivalents, their cargo vessels fall into more or less standard size classes although there does not seem to be an equivalent to the smallest common designs presently operated within the Three Galaxies.

Most warships designs of the Valdemarians had an attractiveness about them. The cargo vessels though were far more blocky. They were a very utilitarian design which was designed to carry a maximum cargo load. These ships had the ability to carry up to around four hundred thousand tons of cargo. Even though civilian designs, these ships were incredibly advanced.

While these ships were designed for a small crew, these ships were fully capable to operated independently. Compared to warship classes, the artificial intelligence was quite limited. Still, these ships were often operated with no crews onboard. There was the provision for up to ten light tugs and four cargo shuttles with the cargo shuttles carried on the outside of the vessel. These could also operate independently with minimal instructions from the starship’s artificial intelligence. Still, remnants of cargo facilities support that they were rarely used. The dedicated equipment appears to have been far more efficient.

They were powered the same high density fusion which the warships were fitted with. These reactors produce similar output to anti-matter reactors used by military vessels of the Consortium, Trans-Galactic Empire, and other powers although the fusion reactor system was far safer. The Valdemarians seemed to use anti-matter for some purposes, mainly weaponry, although never seemed to have the interest in it that the present powers do.

The Cargo Vessel drive was not as powerful as the drive on the warships but was still faster using its standard contra-grav drives than most warships of the present major powers. Using the “Slipstream Drive”, the ship was twice as fast with a top speed of twelve light years per hour. If any were outside of the sphere of destruction, it would have been extremely unlikely than any enemy could have chased them down. Their normal space acceleration was not quite as great in comparison to merchant hulls in service in the Three Galaxies. The “Star Witch” class Clipper has approximately the same acceleration.

Even though not warships, the cargo vessels would have been quite tough targets for pirates. The golden alloys used by the Valdemarian were incredibly strong. These were used in civilian as well as military applications. Unlike warships, the cargo ship designs lacked any form of self repair system. These ships also have full “military” class particle shielding. As well, these ships mounted variable shields which were more powerful than those carried on a Consortium Warshield class cruiser.

All cargo vessel designs appeared to have been armed. Weaponry is approximately equal to that of a Valdemarian corvette, approximately equal to a Consortium Destroyer, although lacks any capital missile launchers. A Consortium Warshield Cruiser or Kreeghor Smasher class cruiser could likely defeat one of these vessels relatively easily if they could catch it. The ship design mounted four defensive missile launchers which fire medium class missiles. As well, the ships had four point defense tachyon dispersion mounts and four point defense gravity mounts.

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:       Valdemarian Cargo Ship (Standard Model)

Vehicle Type:     Fast Freighter

Crew:                  12 (Can be run by only the ship’s A.I.)

Troops:               None

Vehicles:

M.D.C. By Location:

Notes:

[1] 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.

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

[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the cargo ship out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck. Unlike most Valdemarian warship designs, this the ship does not mount a self repair system.

[4] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (1,800 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. (If the Slip stream generators are damage, reduce acceleration to 0.6 percent of light per melee.)

Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is 250 mph (402 kph), can enter an atmosphere and can leave but is not designed for extended atmospheric use.

Stardrive: Standard CG-Drive: Uses a Gravitonic Drive system that allows the ship to reach a maximum of 6 light years per hour. Gravitronic Slip Stream Drive: Doubles normal faster than light speed to a maximum of 12 light years per hour.

Maximum Range: If the cargo ship has a crew, the ship can carry enough supplies for two years of operation.

This could be stretched to three years in an emergency. Without a crew, this ship can operate until fuel reserves run out.

Statistical Data:

Length:                1,066.27 feet (325.0 meters).

Height:                295.28 feet (90.0 meters).

Width:                 344.49 feet (105.0 meters).

Mass/Weight:      496,000 Tons (450,000 metric tons)

Power System: Advanced High Density Fusion, Duration without refueling of 40 years. Unlike the Valdemarian Battle Sphere, the ship cannot refuel itself.

Cargo: Cargo holds are scattered about the ship that allows for carrying up to 440,250 tons (400,000 metric tons) of cargo in addition to standard compliment of supplies and ammunition. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Ship’s officers have more space for personal items.

Market Cost: Even though a civilian design, many powers would love to get more of these ships to study. No ships of this design have ever been put on sale on the market (or probably ever will be). Estimated cost of the vessel is 5 billion or more credits although major governments would offer many times this to have one of these ships to study.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. Four (4) Point Defense Tachyon Dispersion Beams: Mounted on top, bottom, and sides of the starship. The main purpose of this system is as an anti-missile point defense. Mount has greater range than the weapon mounts on New Coventry and other military vessels. Like other Tachyon point defense mounts, the stream lasts for significant fraction of a second and missiles tend to run into the stream (Gives +4 bonus vs fast moving targets such as missiles.) This can detonate a whole volley of missiles before they strike the ship (Roll once against a volley and unless the missiles roll to dodge greater than strike roll, they are all destroyed.) This system has an interesting property that the system can actually be used at faster than light speeds because Tachyons travel faster than the speed of light. Each Point Defense Tachyon Dispersion Beam is in a turret that can rotate 360 and has a 180 arc of fire.

   Maximum Effective Range: 149.1 miles (240 km) with a width of 12.4 miles (20 km), range and width is one sixteenth in atmosphere.

   Mega Damage: 2D6x10 each.

   Rate of Fire: Maximum of four (4) times per melee each (+3 to strike when controlled by the ship’s computer)

   Payload: Effectively Unlimited.

2. Four (4) Point Defense Gravity Mounts: These weapons are basically lighter versions of the gravity slicer beams. The weapon uses controlled opposing gravimetric waves to create an energy beam weapon that shreds the target. Unlike the heavier weapons, these gravity weapons do not have the penetration to inflict deep critical strikes. These are designed to be useful against fighters, missiles, and other small targets. Since gravity propagates itself at faster than light speeds, this weapon can actually be used against vehicles that are traveling at faster than the speed of light. The weapons do full damage to targets in magic rich universes with the spell impervious to energy.

   Maximum Effective Range: 6 miles (9.65 km) through atmosphere and 600 miles (965 km) in space.

   Mega Damage: 3D6x10

   Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5) - Controlled by ship’s Computer has 4 attacks per melee (+3 to strike when controlled by the ship’s computer)

   Payload: Effectively Unlimited.

3. Four (4) Medium Range Missile Launchers: Like other Phase world systems, weapon system range and speed has been increased. Missile range is 1000 times normal in space and double normal range in an atmosphere. Missile has a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Normally used for anti-fighter and middle layer point defense.

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

   Mega-Damage: Varies with medium range missile type (See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)

   Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), eight (8), twelve (12), twenty-five (25) per launcher.

   Payload: 200 per launcher for a total of 800 medium range missiles.

Other Systems:

• Sentient Computer: The Cargo Ship is controlled by a limited artificial intelligence which is still surprisingly capable. The ship’s weapon systems have +3 to strike and the ship has +3 for dodges (Dues to size cannot make full dodges.) Piloting and electronics and sensor skill rolls are considered to be at 65%. The artificial intelligence is also quite capable in cargo handling roles.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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

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