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Star Vessels Gallery 2: Military Starships |
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Concept The "Star Vessels" universe is a fictional era centuries in the future where Humans have achieved a moderate level of star-faring technology with a noticeable variety of shapes for their spaceships. In the "Star Vessels" fictional environment, Human starships have been around for about 200 years. During that time, Humans have discovered only one other sentient species with star-faring technology, the Nyoshahl. The Nyoshahl have been exploring space for longer time than Humanity and are not pleased to run into another species with comparable technology.The "Star Vessels" setting one of my more romantic science fiction universes, especially in its use of whimsical spaceship hull forms. Other features that set this uiniverse apart from my other universes are smaller ship sizes, smaller crews supplemented by lots of robots, more colorful color schemes for the vessels, and almost all designs being landable on planetary surfaces. The major inspirations for the "Star Vessels" universe are spaceship illustrations from the late 1970's / early 1980's by Jim Burns, David Egge, Peter Elson, Chris Foss, Colin Hay, Paul Jacquays, Angus McKie, Chris Moore, and Tony Roberts. There is also a bit of the computer game "Homeworld" thrown in. Programs used to create the images for the "Star Vessels" project include Rhino, Corel Draw, Corel Photo-Paint, GIMP, and Inkscape. Star Patroller Steadfast The “Steadfast” class Star Patroller is the most common Human military ship currently in service. It is usually used as an escort vessel for groups of commercial or military vessels. “Steadfast” class ships that operate alone normally stay near Human settled star systems. Carrying no shuttles of its own, the “Steadfast” class is designed to land on planetary surfaces on a regular basis. It is also used for search-and-rescue mission. A light freighter version of the second generation Tech Level 6 “Steadfast” class also exists. Date Entered Service : 460 RE (Radiant Era) Length: 50.7 meters Crew: 15 Passengers: 5 Maximum Sublight Speed: 0.20 c Maximum Warp-Jump Performance: 6.1 light years per day Smallcraft Carried: 2 repair drones, 4
patrol drones Star Patroller Resolution The “Resolution” class Star Patroller is the third generation Tech Level 6 replacement for the “Steadfast” class Star Patroller. The “Resolution” class is noticeably larger, better armed, and capable of longer-term missions than the 'Steadfast” class. Like its predecessor, the “Resolution” class does not carry any shuttles, makes frequent landings on planetary surfaces, and has a light freighter variant. Date Entered Service : 490 RE (Radiant Era) Length: 84.5 meters Crew: 20 Passengers: 10 Maximum Sublight Speed: 0.25 c Maximum Warp-Jump Performance: 8.1 light years per day Smallcraft Carried: 2 repair drones, 6
patrol drones Star Defender Aspiration The “Aspiration”class Star Defender is the newest Human military ship currently in service. As a third generation Tech Level 6 design, it is replacing the “Guardian” class Star Defender as the core vessel of squadrons of military vessels. It also operates singly on long-term patrol missions. Date Entered Service : 492 RE (Radiant Era) Length: 154.4 meters Crew: 120 Passengers: 80 Maximum Sublight Speed: 0.24 c Maximum Warp-Jump Performance: 8.1 light years per day Smallcraft Carried: 2 personnel
shuttles, 2 cargo shuttles, 4 survey drones, 6 repair drones, 28
patrol drones Star Defender Guardian The “Guardian” class Star Defender has formed the core of the Human military fleet for four decades. It operates both in squadrons and singly on a wide variety of military missions. Only the “Illustrious” class Star Champions are larger and more heavily armed. The “Guardian” class vessel is a second generation Tech Level 6 design that is now being replaced by the “Aspiration “class. It is capable of towing two large cargo containers to assist in its duties. Date Entered Service : 463 RE (Radiant Era) Length: 201.0 meters Crew: 100 Passengers: 60 Maximum Sublight Speed: 0.19 c Maximum Warp-Jump Performance: 6.1 light years per day Smallcraft Carried: 4 personnel shuttles, 2 cargo shuttles, 4 survey drones, 12 repair drones, 30 patrol drones Primary Design Influences: Atlantic Class Cruiser by Paul Jacquays from Traveller Role Playing Game Supplement 9 Fighting Ships (c) 1981 and Hilgarian Cruiser from computer game Homeworld Star Champion Illustrious The “Illustrious” class Star Champion is the largest and most heavily armed Human military ship currently in service. Introduced shortly after first contact was made with the Nyoshahl, a star-faring species with more advanced technology than Humans, the “Illustrious” class carries twice the armament of the “Guardian” class Star Defender. A squadron of four “Illustrious” class vessels are capable of taking on a single Nyoshahl mothership. Fortunately, actual military confrontations of this type have been rare with the Nyoshahl in general being uninterested in interactions with Humans. The second generation Tech Level 6 “Illustrious” class starships have proven very useful for disaster relief operations and a replacement class is currently under construction. The “Illustrious” class is capable of towing four large cargo containers to assist in its duties. Date Entered Service : 473 RE (Radiant Era) Length: 242.0 meters Crew: 200 Passengers: 100 Maximum Sublight Speed: 0.19 c Maximum Warp-Jump Performance: 6.1 light years per day Smallcraft Carried: 8 personnel
shuttles, 8 cargo shuttles, 16 survey drones, 16 repair drones, 72
patrol drones |