rock and stone
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To submit a more limited variant on an open market SoroSuub product which might see more use from PCs.
- Image Source: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
- Canon Link: /
- Restricted Missions: /
- Primary Source: Astro-class Combat Freighter
- Manufacturer: SoroSuub Corporation
- Model: Astro-class LX Combat Freighter
- Affiliation: Open-Market
- Production: Limited
- Material: Durasteel hull
- Classification: Light Freighter
- Length: 45m
- Width: 40m
- Height: 22m
- Armament: Moderate
Ion Cannons (2)
Quad Laser Turrets (2)
Proton Torpedo Launchers (2)
6 torpedoes each
- Defenses: High
- Hangar: Very Low
2 F-LER or equivalent - 1 XP-38 All Terrain Rough Rider
[*]Maneuverability Rating: Average
[*]Speed Rating: Average
[*]Hyperdrive Class: 1
STANDARD FEATURES
- Escape Pods
- Universal Docking Ring
- Long-range Communications Array
- False Telesponder
- HoloNet Transceiver
- Standard Life Support Systems
- Standard Navigational Systems
- Standard Sensor Array
- Standard Targeting Array
- Industrial Tractor Beams: For use in salvage operations, the combat freighter's twin beams on top and underneath allow it to manipulate objects and debris in close proximity with fine detail.
- Extra Gun Ports: Room for additional laser or ion cannons, an attachment point for a third turret on the freighter's aft topside, enough space to potentially increase torpedo rack by another six.
- Combat Design: Not only is the Astro-class better armed than the average light freighter, it was also built to better withstand the unique stresses of space warfare. Each cabin is capable of independent pressurization, allowing the ship to stay in a fight even after sustaining heavy damage, provided no critical systems are destroyed. The combat freighter is also very resilient, able to operate while damaged for more extended periods on average.
- Mod Friendly: Unlike some of the more well known classic SoroSuub models, the Astro-class was designed to be modification friendly much in the same way as Corellian Engineering designs usually are. While the stock edition comes with what you see, there is room for more gun ports as well as space enough for a larger reactor, allowing potential upgrades to the freighter's engines and shields.
- Fast Recharge Shields: Luxury editions of the Astro-class are equipped with more expensive, state of the art quick refresh particle and ray shielding technology. While LX variants share the same damage threshold when struck by something like a heavy turbolaser or proton torpedo, over the course a more prolonged engagement against equal firepower it can take a more significant beating than the base combat freighter.
- Power Distribution: There is a good reason most freighters of the same classification as the Astro-class are not as well armed, and like much of starship design it is to do mostly with power requirements. On the cutting edge of energy harvesting and processing, SoroSuub has overcome this system strain to a degree, but the combat freighter still has issues running all systems at full power for extended periods. In a prolonged engagement, the Astro-class will eventually have to slow down or reduce power to either weapons or shields.
- Exposed Drive Ports: There are six rear ion drive ports on the outer hull of an Astro-class, with little armoring and protruding energy shunts. It goes without saying that the more of these drives are critically damaged, the less powerful the freighter's sublight speeds.
A luxury variant of SoroSuub's less popular contender to Corellian Engineering and Silk Holdings models, the Astro-class LX is very similar to its forebear save for a more refined interior and a few under the hood enhancements to its defensive shielding. Includes a cockpit furnished with genuine Sullust leather seats.
Taking insights from past military projects, the main innovation of the Astro is the freighter's ability to handle additional power requirements necessary to run its shield and weapons systems, without sacrificing so much internal surface area that the ship's cargo tonnage drops below competitive with the market. While the combat freighter does not possess the largest holds of its class, it is still capable of shipping large enough quantities to make the additional firepower worth some consideration for a captain in the market for a new ship.
Cockpit
Utilizing a horizontal layout parallel to the fore of the starship instead of perpendicular, the Astro's cockpit allows for more space at the controls at the sacrifice of less overall room for crew aside from the ship's pilot and co-pilot.
Passenger Bay
A fully functional and state of the art, if somewhat cramped crew compartment, the Astro takes full advantage of Sullustan subterranean design and architecture to give the impression of a more spacious recreational area. Capable of carrying up to six passengers, what the freighter merely matches in terms of function it excels at in style over most other models.
Med Bay
Equipped with a serviceable compartment for triage and recovery, the stock Astro's med bay is filled with state of the art medical technology. Given the combat freighter's intended function on high risk trade routes, each ship comes with the optional addition of a GH-7 Medical Analysis Unit when sold.
Commercial Cargo Bay
Able to transport up to one hundred metric tons of cargo, its stock design is competitive with most light freighters on the current market. The Astro-class comes with an optional add of two F-LER or equivalent models and a single XP-38 All Terrain Rough Rider at the cost of some storage capacity, as the cargo bay is the only part of the ship large enough for them to be stored.
Engine Room
Located in the aft of the shift, the engine or reactor compartment houses the freighter's Griffyn-XTG Lightspeed Unit, as well as the internal componentry of the freighter's six Boav Ion Drive ports.
