Rule of Two
Annihilator-class Boarding Shuttle
#11414989121201528-31211919-21511849147-198212020125
#11414989121201528-31211919-21511849147-198212020125
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create a transport ship for the Sith Order so that I can win this contest posted by
Darth Strosius
- Image Source: https://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3d-sci-fi-space-ship-1180168
- Canon Link: Transport ship.
- Permissions: N/A.
- Primary Source: N/A.
- Manufacturer: Aurora Industries with permission of
Taeli Raaf
- Affiliation:
Alicia Drey
,
Darth Strosius
,
Taeli Raaf
, The Sith Order - Market Status: Closed Market.
- Model: Annihilator-class Boarding Shuttle
- Production: Semi-Unique
- Material: Alusteel, Polycarbonate, Nylonite, Nylar, Permaplast, Plasti-shroud, Stygium
- Classification: Dropship
- Length: 38 metres.
- Width: 25 metres.
- Height: 16 metres.
- Armament: Low.
- Retractable Laser cannon (1).
- Retractable Ion cannon turret (1).
- Retractable Blaster cannon (2).
- Plasma torch.
- Defenses: None.
- Squadron Count: None (1).
- Maneuverability Rating: High.
- Speed Rating: High.
- Hyperdrive: No.
- 14 AI-321m "BurstStreak" Heavy Weapon System
- 8 HAWK Drone
- 5 IBIS Drone
- 1 ALBATROSS Triage Drone
- Cargo bay, 180 metric tons (for cargo and passengers)
- Consumables up to 1 month
- High-powered communication array
- 1 Cone of Silence
STRENGTHS
- Stygium Crystal Cloaking Device: Each Annihilator-class Boarding Shuttle is equipped with a Stygium Crystal Cloaking Device. When activated this device will render the shuttle invisible to the naked eye, allowing it's pilots and crew to engage enemies with stealth tactics.
- Cone of Silence: Each shuttle is equipped with a projector called the Cone of Silence. When the projector is activated an invisible static barrier is created across the shuttle which engulfs the ship in complete and utter silence. If the pilot or crew on board are making noise they will not be heard. Incoming and outgoing transmissions are stopped. Audio recordings are nullified. Fantastic for covert, or clandestine operations, as well as sneak attacks.
- Fast: The Annihilator-class is a fast shuttle. While not the 'fastest' transport ship in the Galaxy it can move at high speed, allowing it to be manoeuvrable at velocity. Useful if someone is shooting at you and your crew.
- Plasma Torch: Among the shuttles armament is a plasma torch, which can be found on the forward position. A skilled pilot can manoeuvre the shuttle into position and use this torch to peel away the hull of an enemy ship in order to create an opening for it's crew to board and attack.
- Surprise: Designed with the Sith in mind, and the ideology of the dark side, the Annihilator-class was made for surprise attacks. One particular use comes in the form of a kamikaze style attack, in which the shuttle is crewed only by a single pilot, and possesses a cargo of explosives. In conjunction with it's fast manoeuvrability and cloaking device an enemy ship might find themselves being surprised at the worse possible time by an explosion.
- No Defence: If the shuttle were discovered by an enemy and fired upon it is almost certain a shuttle would be destroyed, alongside it's crew. The Annihiliator possesses no shields and is reliant on it's high speed, cloaking device and distraction tactics to make sure it's compliment of crew or cargo make it to the enemy.
- Crystal Gravfield Trap: The Crystal Gravfield Trap is a rare, but used piece of technology that is capable of detecting gravity, even in space. If one of these devices were active it would detect a shuttle with it's sensors even if the shuttle were cloaked.
- Cone of Silence: If the Cone is active it has great benefits for a pilot and their crew. However, the down side is that any transmissions sent too or from the shuttle will be stopped by it's static field barrier. Therefore, when the shuttle goes 'dark' to begin it's attack the likelihood of it being recalled before it can be stopped from it's attack is unlikely.
- Surprise: The Annihilator-class was designed for surprise attacks. But if the enemy are informed about their arrival and have time to prepare it would be catastrophic for the crew.
- Force-Sensitives: With the technique of Force Sense available to a trained Force-sensitive the surprise attack aspects of the shuttle could be nullified as such an individual can warn others of the impending attack if they want too.
In the 840s, after the fall of the First Sith Empire, a renegade Sith Lord by the name of Darth Vulcanus formed the New Order: an Imperial Remnant made up of leftover Imperials, Sith and other associates of the fallen Empire who did not join the newly rising One Sith in the Core.
Alicia Drey
was the Sith Apprentice of Circe Savan: a Sith Knight (at the time) and owner of Subach-Innes: a ship manufacturing company that Savan had founded during the height of the Sith Empire. After the Empire collapsed Savan rebranded Subach-Innes to Emeritus Industries and brought her apprentice on board as a new co-owner to help stabilize the company in those turbulent times.The New Order required brand new technology to achieve Vulcanus' vision to install order over his new territories and so turned to Emeritus Industries to begin development and manufacture of new vehicles, ships and weapons to join his arsenal. After the New Order were defeated by a joint Mandalorian-Silver Jedi invasion the design and schematics for the Annihilator-class remained secret for more than six decades until the year 902 ABY where, after being freed by Operation: Absolution,
Alicia Drey
sought to regain some influence in the Sith Order.
Darth Strosius
, in a similar vein to his predecessor Vulcanus', sought new technology to form a newly rejuvenated naval force for the Sith to use in their invasion of the Galactic Alliance.Despite being designed over half-a-century ago the Annihilator-class saw very limited use in the short reign of the New Order, and therefore, considering it's obscurity, Alicia brought back the design of the shuttle and took the schematics to Strosius as a submission for use. Aurora Industries- an old ship manufacturing company owned by
Taeli Raaf
- were used in the manufacture and production of these vessels as the company were already closely affiliated to the Sith Order. As a consequence, despite being designed by a third party in the form of
Alicia Drey
, Aurora own the manufacturing rights to create these shuttles.The Annihilator-class boarding shuttle was designed for the purposes of surprise incursions onto enemy vessels. Each shuttle is fitted with a Stygium Crystal Cloaking Device that allows the ship to become completely immersed in a cloaking field, becoming invisible to the naked eye. Combined with it's high manoeuvrability, speed and distraction tactics of a cunning tactician, an enemy vessel could find itself being surprise attacked by one of these shuttles. With a plasma torch equipped at the front of the shuttle a skilled pilot can manoeuvre the shuttle to tear open an opening into the enemy vessel, so that it's crew can use such an opening to board and attack. Beware though: the Annihilator possesses no shield generators, and is completely reliant on surprise or distraction tactics. If fired upon by anti-ship defenses, or starfighter, then it's almost certain the shuttle would be destroyed by attack.
In designing the vessel Alicia came up with another strategy for this shuttle. A pilot (likely brainwashed) could fly the shuttle with a cargo filled with explosives and transport them to an enemy ship. With it's cloak detection would be difficult, and if it worked, a pilot could detonate said explosives on a region of an enemy ship, such as it's engines, bridge or hangar bay to cause catastrophic, surprise damage at the most opportune, and unexpected timings.
Each shuttle is capable of transporting up to 54 souls, though this number can fluctuate depending on the desired strategies and tactics of whoever is in charge, and the cargo loaded onto the ship. In it's standard configuration the ship is outfitted with rifles and pistols developed by Aurora Industries as well as a triage droid for medical purposes; attack droids to back up the crew in their attack; or scout drones designed to give the crew information on the enemy. It has retractable laser cannon, ion cannon turrets and blaster cannons located on the top or rear of the shuttle to assist in the crews incursions.
To assist in it's stealth mission protocols each shuttle is equipped with a Cone of Silence: an audio security system invented by
Alicia Drey
to prevent sound from being detected by people, and technology. When activated the pilot, crew and cargo will be enveloped an eerie white light which engulfs the shuttle in complete and utter silence to the outside world. This is an extremely useful perk in it's surprise attack protocols, but detrimental if someone in charge wants to withdraw a shuttle at the last moment before attack for reasons stipulated in the weakness category of this submission.With it's cloaking device activated the ship is usually impervious to your standard sensors or scanners as you cannot scan for something that you do not know is there. However, this shuttle is not completely infallible to detection. Firstly, the Crystal Gravfield Trap is a type of scanner that can detect this type of shuttle (even when it is cloaked) due to the fact that it can pick up gravitational distortions. Secondly, a trained Force-sensitive who can use Force Sense would be able to feel the life signatures of the shuttle pilot and crew. A particularly attuned Force-sensitive could even feel the flowing energy of the ships engines, or the emotions of those on board, or the impending danger the crew present to themselves and others on the precipice of a surprise attack. Although a well trained follower of the dark side of the Force could, in theory, prevent this class of shuttle being detected via the use of their powers.
The Annihilator possesses no hyperdrive or navigational computer. Therefore it is not capable of hyperspace travel, and would require itself to be apart of a compliment of ships on board the hangar bay of a Star Destroyer, for example. Although designed for boarding enemy ships in mind this shuttle is capable of planetary landings and the transportation of troops onto the surface.
It is made up of a Alusteel exoskeleton and hull held together by a Polycarbonate mesh. These materials were picked in mind with the design to give the shuttle it's high speed, and manoeuvrability. Nylar was used in the construction of it's seat, with Permaplast used in sections to form the ships inside architecture and floor to stand on. Nylonite lines the walls to hold weapons, consumables, supplies and other kit. Plasti-shroud covers the shuttles hull and is usually painted in the colour black, so that when the shuttle is in space, it can easier blend in with that ink black canvas.
In summary: the Annihilator-class board shuttle is a surprise attack transport ship with the idea of kamikaze style strategies in mind, with the idea of getting men onto enemy ships to attack them from the inside during space battles. It's fast but if caught out by starfighter, or anti-ship defences, it is toast. As for it's cloaking device it is not completely infallible to detection, although in most cases it will surprise those that it comes up against. It's a reasonably cheap shuttle to create, and it's crew should be expendable to anyone using it in battle. It is also capable of transport troops onto a planet's surface for attack or defence, although this function is not recommended considering it has no defences in it's design.
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