BARD PAPER: SARA5070

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Q-Ship

design by Snapping Turtle

In order to lull Vampires into a false sense of security it is important that a Q-ship match as closely as possible the specs of a hapless Fat Trader especially as far as power plant emissions are concerned. The current dearth of shipyard capacity also dictates the least amount of renovation possible. To these ends, the design team proposes installation of interior bulkheads on selected Fat Traders to create two 25-ton autoloaded three-tube missile bays (one pointed forward and the other pointed aft) on the cargo deck. Additional proposed weaponry includes a remote-fired 210 Mj gravitic-focussed x-ray laser turret and a manned sandcaster turret. In support will be installed a redundant self-contained commo suite with a workstation and a canary, an additional dual-capable MFD with work station, two normal workstations, and decoy dispensers.

The increase in crew size dictated by the modifications can be accommodated by a corresponding decrease in passenger capability. The increase in power demands dictated by combat can be accomplished by powering down lifters, fuel purification, and redundant electronic systems.

Operational doctrine anticipates that the Vampire will approach the Q-ship not vice versa. The Q-ship therefore goes about its business exactly as would an ordinary merchant except that all communications occur through the self-contained commo suite with the adjunct canary . When the canary peeps upon the probing approach of a Vampire, RQS auxiliary personnel go operational; at the optimum range the vessel�s bow clamshell doors and rear cargo ramp open to release a deadly swarm of missiles while heavy laser fire simultaneously douses the intruder.

The design team believes that the consequent achievement of surprise will outweigh the inherent limitations of this ship class thereby enabling a massive increase in potential defensive platforms available to the Regency. While the decrease in cargo and passenger capacity for vessels thus outfitted will be significant, a slight boost in subsidy payments will be sufficient to compensate shipping companies especially in view of the fact that the present crisis (1140) calls for drastic measures.

Q-Ship

General Data

Engineering Data

Power Plant: 301.2 MW Fusion Power Plant, 1 year duration (30.1 m³ fuel)

Jump Performance: 1

Jump Fuel: 560 m³

G-Rating: 1G HEPlaR (200 MW/G), High-Efficiency CG Lifter (40 MW)

G-Turns: 60 (82.4 using jump fuel), 25.0 m³ fuel each

Maint: 120

Electronics

Computer: TL-15 Standard computer (0.55 MW), 2xTL-15 Standard computer (0.55 MW)

Commo: 2xMaser (1000 AU; 0.6 MW), 2xRadio (10 hex; 10 MW)

Avionics: Imaging EMS, inertial/gravitational positioning, 190 km/h NOE

Sensors: AEMS (2 hex; 7 MW), PEMS (3 hex; 0.06 MW)

ECM/ECCM: None

Controls: No bridge, 8 normal workstations, fire control center (2 workstations), Standard Automation

Armament

Offensive TL-15 210-MJ Laser Turret (Loc:0-Arcs:0;58.3 MW;No crew) 2xTL-15 Custom Missile Bay (Loc:0-Arcs:0;0.15 MW;1 crew)

Defensive: TL-15 Sandcaster (Loc:0-Arcs:0; 1MW; 1 crew

Master Fire Directors: 2xTL-15 (6 Diff Mods; 10 hex; Msl 10 hex; 1.86 MW; 1 crew)