Imperial (Cygnus Spaceworks) Lambda class Shuttle (Star Wars):
The Lambda-class shuttle is a cargo and passenger shuttle that was used by the Imperial Navy. The vessel has a stationary wing top wing and two folding wings on each side. These wings makes the shuttle quite maneuverable in an atmosphere.
The Lambda shuttle normally has a command crew of four, with the option of adding two additional officers who normally handle secure communications and power allocation. A single pilot can handle the ship, but performance suffers significantly.
Lambda shuttles can carry up to twenty passengers or eighty tons of cargo. Unlike most Imperial shuttles, Lambda shuttles have hyperdrives, which allow passengers and cargo to be transferred between different fleets and systems.
Many Imperial government officials used these shuttles as personal transports. The shuttle's armament and armor allowed the Lambda to travel alone without escort, making it very difficult for Rebel raiding parties to know wether the shuttles were carrying cargo or transporting Imperial V.I.P.'s.
The Emperor is said to have used a highly modified version of the Lambda-class shuttle that were equipped with an Imperial cloaking shield, and with armor and weapons that would make any ship smaller than a frigate think twice before attacking. That shuttle was destroyed when the second Death Star. Other Imperial officials like Darth Vader and the Grand Inquisitor used modified Lambda shuttles.
Seinar Fleet Systems also constructs a version of this shuttle, theirs is less heavily armed with the quad laser cannons removed and the shuttle has less heavy armor as well. This version is available for sale and is popular among some freight and passenger companies. There is also a completely disarmed version of this shuttle.
Notes of game conversion:
Because of the nature of the movie series "Star Wars" and the needs to put the Starship into game mechanics, I have given many statistic as two different possible statistics to take this into account. The G that I have seen listed would not be sufficient to get near the speed of light yet many episodes have indicated speeds in this area. In some ways each version is closer to what was seen in the series. I do make one huge change, fighters in Star Wars act as if they are in the atmosphere even when they operating in space. This is incorrect. The Television series Babylon 5 is a good series to watch to get a clearer idea on how space vehicles should would probably maneuver.
Phase world version uses my revised phase world starship rules and can hold their own against most C.A.F and Kreeghor Starships. This version is recommended if you with to put them into Phase World as among equals. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World / Three Galaxies for more details.
Moderate version uses Gs of acceleration and reduced weapon ranges. This version is useful for Mutants In Orbit, Phase World if used as a lower tech race, used with my Earth Force ships conversions for B-5, and as a possible crash on Rifts Earth. Listed is the formula to allow player and game masters to calculate the velocity and distance traveled:
- Velocity = Acceleration x Time + Initial Velocity
Distance Traveled = Acceleration x ½ x Time ² + Initial Velocity x Time
1 G = 32 feet (9.8 m) per second ²
Model Type: Lambda-Class
Vehicle Type: Long-Range General-purpose shuttle
Crew: Four
Passengers: Up to 20 with the exclusion of cargo
M.D.C By Location:
Quad Laser Cannons (2): | 75 each | |
Laser Cannons (3) | 50 each | |
[1] Engines (2): | 250 each | |
Landing Struts (2): | 30 each | |
[2] Main Body: | 2,000 [1,500] | |
Reinforced Pilots Cockpit: | 350 | |
[3] Variable Force Field: | 400 per side (2,400 total) | |
[4] Wings (3): | 200 |
Notes:
[1] Loss of the shuttle's engines will reduce performance of the shuttle
by one half per engine and loss of both engines will prevent shuttle from
performing beyond 5% of normal (This is using maneuvering thrusters and
gravitic propulsion). Due to gravitic propulsion systems, shuttle will
not crash in an atmosphere even if both engines are destroyed
[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the shuttle out of
commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support
and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating
wreck. In an atmosphere, the shuttle will crash. M.D.C. in brackets [] is for
Seinar Fleet Systems and Civilian version of the shuttle.
[3] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one
shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (75 M.D.C.) per melee
[4] Loss of wings will reduce atmospheric performance with 20% / wing.
Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight:
Phase World Version: Has a special sublight engine that allows
the ship to travel up to 50 percent of the speed of light. Shuttle can
accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 0.65 percent of light per melee maximum.
Moderate Version: The shuttle does not have an effective top
speed but is limited by acceleration. Shuttle can reach a top acceleration
of 4 G.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Mach 7 but normally operates at Mach
5 or less. The shuttle also has Repulsorlift propulsion systems enabling
it to leave an atmosphere even at low velocities.
Stardrive: Uses a hyperdrive system that allows the ship to
reach a maximum of 60 light-years per hour (In the Game universe of Phase
World, it could be limited to 6 light-years per hour to compare to the
other Phase World FTL systems).
Maximum Range: Both Versions: the shuttle has enough
fuel for 90 days of operation. The shuttle uses a very small fusion cell
system for power systems. The shuttle carries four months of consumables
for shuttles crew.
Statistical Data:
Length: 65.6 feet (20 meters)
Height: 114.8 feet (35 meters) wings down, 68.8 feet (21 meters)
wings up
Width: 108.3 feet (33 meters) wings down, 59.1 feet (18 meters)
wings up
Weight/Mass: 850 tons (771.1 metric tons)
Power System: Fusion power supply with a 90 day duration at
normal output. Fusion power supply can run life support without any thrust
for 5 years although rations and water will have long run out.
Cargo: 20 passengers or 80 tons of cargo.
Market Cost: Military version: 75 million credits to
build. Armed Civilian Version: 85 million on the open market
Unarmed Civilian version: 55 Million on the open market.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
- Quad Laser Cannons (2): These four-barreled cannons are mounted
on both sides of the cockpit. Both have a firing arc of a half-globe forward
of the shuttle, but the cockpit hinders the left cannon to fire directly
to the right and the right cannon cannot fire to the left. All barrels
in the cannon fires at the same time, and are all targeted at same target.
Typically controlled by the gunner. These cannons are not carried on any
civiain versions of the shuttle.
Maximum Effective Range:- Phase World Version: 800 miles (1,290 km) in space and 8 miles
(12.3 km) in an atmosphere.
Moderate Version: 4,000 feet (1,200 m) in an atmosphere and 32,000 feet (9,600 m) in space.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited. - Laser cannons (3): Two forward fire linked laser cannons
fired typically fired by the pilot. One rear firing controlled by the gunner.
The cannons are not carried on the unarmed civilian version of the shuttle.
Maximum Effective Range:- Phase World Version: 800 miles (1,290 km) in space and 8 miles
(12.3 km) in an atmosphere.
Moderate Version: 4,000 feet (1,200 m) in an atmosphere and 32,000 feet (9,600 m) in space.
Rate of Fire: Equal to gunners hand to hand (Usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
[ Brodkil TM, Bushido Industries TM, CAF TM, Catyr TM, CCW TM, Consortium of Civilized Worlds TM, Coyles TM, Free Worlds Council TM, Gene Splicers TM, K-Hex TM, Kankoran TM, Kittani TM, Kreeghor TM, Machine People TM, M.D.C. TM, Mega-Damage TM, Metzla TM, M’Kri Hardware TM, Monro TM, Mutants in Orbit TM, Naruni Enterprises TM, Noro TM, Paradise Federation TM, Phase World TM, Psylite TM, Rifter TM, SAMAS TM, S.D.C. TM, Seljuks TM, Splugorth TM, Sunaj TM, Trans-Galactic Empire TM, Tri-Galactic Military Service TM, United Worlds Warlock TM, U.W.W. TM, Wolfen TM, and Zembahk TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Beyond the Supernatural®, Heroes Unlimited®, Nightbane®, Ninjas & Superspies®, Palladium Fantasy®, and Rifts® are registered trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Star Wars copyright © 1977 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. Copyright © 1980, 1983, 1996 Lucasfilm / Lucasarts Ltd. ]
[ Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and their associated logos are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. ]
CGI / artwork of craft / ship by Mark Fergel. More of his/her CGI pictures of Star Wars craft / ship at SWMA Gallery.
Writeup by Michael Söderlind (michael.soderlind@telia.com).
Revisions by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Rifts Conversion Copyright © 1999, Michael Söderlind. All rights reserved.