to start off, here is my entry.. a low budget FTL 'courier' with room for a smaller party.
Express Class Courier Shuttle
- build details
Interstellar travel for the budget impaired..
it can reach factor 10 using its nuclear powered ion drive.. about 1 lightyear a month. a bit slow, but the stassi capsules allow the crew to sleep their way to the destination if it can't hop a ride on a faster ship. it has enough life support for its pilot to survive for almost 2 years, or the pilot plus 4 passengers to live for over 4 months. Autopilot means the crew does not have to stay awake for the journey, though having the crew rotate between awake and stasis is recommended. 10 modules of cargo means it should stick to high value items, although it provides enough space to carry plenty of extra supplies and personal items. an external cargo dock lets it piggyback on other, faster ships.. or carry standardized containers with extra cargo. fitted with light armor, a pair of light lasers, a small missile rack, alumnia cloud chaff system, mag-shield, and manuever enhancement system, it can hold its own with most hostile opponents, although dedicated combat craft will outmatch it. these weapons and defenses were considered to be required for defense of the high value cargo's and messages the craft is intended to carry. all this comes at a price however.. the shuttle is unable to make landfall on any world possessing a notable atmosphere, instead having to rely on other craft or space stations to transfer personell and cargo.
Express Class Courier
Ship Type: Shuttle
tonnage: 50 tons
Dimensions: 60 ft long
cost: 1,487,000 credits
Crew: 1, and up to 4 passengers awake, and 5 passengers asleep.
Drive Type: Fission/Ion (Factor 10)
Armor Rating: 12
Armor SDC: 500 (light Armor)
Hull SDC: 750
Weapons: Laser Beam (2), Short Range Missile Rack (10 missiles)
Cargo: 10 modules
equipment:
Basic Sensor Package
Autopilot computer (standard)
Motion Perimeter and collision warning system
Manuever Enhancement Package
Atmosphere recycling system and 2 Atmosphere tanks (600 man-days of life support)
5 Standard Crew Quarters (pod-hotel style beds)
5 Stasis Sleep units
External Cargo Dock
Magnetic Shield
Alumnia cloud Dispenser with 10 charges.
the Express class was something i built in response to a poster here complaining in the chatroom about how the AUGG didn't give you enough funds to build a 'decent' starship.. so i decided to prove him wrong, taking the minimum 2 million credit budget and trying to build a ship able to do most of what an RPG group needs. i actually came in under budget.
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