Grand Inquisitor of the EOTL
AVCVP-1 "Aspis" Pocket Carrier
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create an effective small carrier for the Elysium Empire/export for individual usage.
- Image Source: Here you go.
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: Permission to use Mandal-Elysium Arms as a contractor.
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Mandal-Elysiun Arms, Voland Military Enterprises
- Affiliation: Elysium Empire, Dorthea Dobson , Aculia Voland , authorized clients.
- Market Status: Closed Market.
- Model: AVCVP-1 "Aspis" Pocket Carrier.
- Production: Minor.
- Material: Duraplast, Durasteel, Duranium.
- Classification: Pocket Carrier/Interdictor.
- Length: 500m
- Width: 100m
- Height: 100m.
- Armament: None.
- Defenses: Low
- Hangar Space: Extreme: 6 Squadrons.
- Hangar Allocations:
- Starfighters: *Variable, never more when combined with support craft to equal more than six.
- Support Craft: *Variable, never more when combined with starfighters to equal more than six.
- * Typical loadouts involve some variation of squadrons of the following but NEVER MORE THAN SIX SQUADRONS TOTAL: AVSF-1 "Strike Eagle" Space Superiority Fighter, AVSF-2 "War Hawk" Ground Attack Fighter, AVSF-3 "Flying Falcon" Interceptor, AVSF-4 "Screeching Owl" Bomber, and AVS-1 "Argus" SAWACs.
- Single Craft Hangar: Yes, one.
- Maneuverability Rating: Average
- Speed Rating: Very High
- Hyperdrive: Class 2.0, standard Class 10 backup.
- All standard military grade features for a ship/carrier of this size.
- Small compliment of anti-missile focused point defense laser cannons and flares.
- Gravity Well Generator: The Aspis includes an omni-directional gravity well generator in order to prevent ships of the line from simply micro-jumping directly to it and opening fire, though it cannot be focused into a particular direction.
- Optimized Flight Decks: The Aspis's purpose flight decks are well optimized for the launching, refueling, rearming, and repair of its fighter or support craft complement, enabling them to get back into battle faster than a regular, generalist ship might
- Single Craft Hangar: It contains one small personal hangar for ships up to fifty meters in size, typically used for guests or the commander's personal starship.
- Great Hangars: The Aspis is a purpose-built carrier, and as such has two well-laid out, roomy, and efficient flight decks that allow for the quick deployment, rearmament, refueling, and repair of its large strikecraft complement.
- Excellent Speed, Decent Maneuverability: Equipped with state-of-the-art Mandal-Elysium Arms engines and decent maneuvering thrusters, the Aspis can outrun most ships of its own class in any direction that it might choose. One will have to deploy one's forces carefully if they wish to trap or catch up to an Aspis.
- No Offensive Armament: Due to the need to fit a large hangar complement and critical defensive systems like the gravity well generator, the Aspis is unarmed when it comes to offensive weaponry. Its main offensive and defensive capabilities come from its strikecraft and its high speed and decent maneuverability.
- Thin Armor: It was necessary to thin out the Aspis's armor in order to enable its high speed and decent manueverability, meaning that it is relatively light for vessels of its class. A wise Aspis captain would do well to rely on its shields, strikecraft, and maneuverability to defend itself and stay away from heavy sustained fire from a ship of its class or higher.
DESCRIPTION
The AVCVP-1 "Aspis" Pocket Carrier is Voland Military Enterprise's first foray into designing capital class starships in association with Mandal-Elysium Arms, complementing its extensive starfighter designs (and serving as sales pitch for them). Designed to be relatively affordable so as to be purchased and utilized by authorized wealthy individuals as well as military forces , it is a 500m long frigate class carrier with two flight decks optimized for speed, hangar capacity, and a gravity well generator to prevent ships of the line from scoring an easy kill on it by micro-jumping to its position.
On a tactical level, a wise commander has many different options*and loadouts to consider for his Aspis, but the general recommended strategy stays the same. Send in a few interceptors or scout ships to recon a potential target, map out potential targets and threats, and then jump the Aspis in to a favorable position. Engage one's gravity well generators as soon as possible after exiting hyperspace to prevent a quick assault on the carrier by capital ships of the line and and then deploy one's strikecraft, and, ideally a Combat Space Patrol or Combat Air Patrol to ward off any bombers or heavier fighters that might catch up with it. Then, use the Aspis's superior speed and decent maneuverability to keep one's distance while allowing its strikecraft complement to do its work.
On a strategic level, the Aspis can play numerous roles. In its own capacity, it can serve as a well-rounded potent projection of force for particularly wealthy individuals or junior naval officers depending on its loadout of strikecraft, ranging from anti-piracy duties, escort duties, ground attack, invasion support, reconnaissance, humanitarian aid, et cetera, keeping in the tactical uses above when operating alone. In conjunction with a fleet, it is recommended to keep the Aspis well-secured behind one's main battle line of brawling ships or in the center of one's formation protected by a suitable amount of sacrificial screening vessels able to keep up with it along with associated patrols of its own strikecraft to prevent bombers from scoring an easy kill on it. An example of a relatively cheap and effective carrier strike group for even minor players on the galactic stage can be a few corvettes protecting the Aspis while its complement does its work.
*Voland Military Enterprises highly recommends that one utilizes its own propriety strikecraft, as it can assure adequate quality and reliability.