Feedback Hydian-class Tactical Carrier

[Martin Draigo]

Spoiler: Picture

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: To produce a new carrier for the Galactic Alliance Navy.
• Image Source: Image Source
• Canon Link: N/A
• Permissions: N/A
• Primary Source: N/A

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

• Manufacturer: GDI Incorporated
• Affiliation: GDI Incorporated, The Galactic Alliance
• Market Status: Closed-Market
• Model: Hydian-class Tactical Carrier
• Production: Limited
• Material:
  • Duranium Plating
  • Quadanium Underplate
  • Titanium & Durasteel-alloy Superstructure
  • Transparisteel Viewports
  • Turadium Access Hatches and Internal Comparments
  • Chromium-reinforced Engineering Deck
  • Duravlex Coating
  • Duraplast

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Classification: Tactical Carrier
• Length: 3,000 Meters
• Width: 750 Meters
• Height: 600 Meters
• Armament: Low
  • (20) MM-38 ‘Carronade’ Megamaser Batteries
    • (10) Port-Broadside Mounted
    • (10) Starboard-Broadside Mounted
  • (40)PT-11A Pulse Quad Turbolaser Batteries
    • (20) Dorsal Mounted, in Clusters
    • (20) Ventral Mounted, in Clusters
  • (20)Flak Cannons (Rotary - Medium)
    • (5) Dorsal-Fore Mounted
    • (5) Dorsal-Aft Mounted
    • (5) Ventral-Fore Mounted
    • (5) Ventral-Aft Mounted
  • (32) Point Defense Cannons
    • (16) Dorsal Mounted, in Clusters
    • (16) Ventral Mounted, in Clusters
• Defenses: Very High
  • Duranium Armor Paneling with Duravlex Coating
  • Quadanium Underlayer
  • Chaff Countermeasure System
  • GDE-RS5 Molecular Reactive Shield Array
• Hangar Space: Extreme: 30
• Hangar Allocations:
  • Starfighters: 20 Squadrons
  • Support Craft: 10 Squadrons
• Maneuverability Rating: Low
• Speed Rating: Low
• Hyperdrive: Class 3 Primary; Class 12 Backup

STANDARD FEATURES

• Life Support
  • Military Grade Medbays
  • Military Grade Oxygen Supply System
  • Bulkhead System
  • Artificial Gravity
  • Additional Escape Pods - Command Center
• Defensive Systems
  • EWAR Countermeasure Suite
  • Military Grade Shield Generators (See Advanced Features)
  • Emergency Backup Shield Generators
  • Duranium/Quadanium Armor
  • Tritanium Bulkhead Reinforcement
  • Surge Protection (Protects Electronics against EMP attacks)
  • Point Defense Batteries
  • Flak Cannons
• Mobility
  • Standard Military Grade Maneuvering Thruster Suite
  • Inertial Stabilizers
  • Military Grade Hyperdrive Unit
  • Backup Hyperdrive unit
  • Standard Subspace Thruster Array
  • Capital Ion Engines - Quad
• Computers & Electronics (See Advanced Features)
  • Tactical Bridge Computer Suite
  • Advanced Starfighter Squadron Tactical Status & Display Suite
  • Fleet Command & Assessment Blister
  • Standard Damage Assessment and Control Mainframe
  • System Diagnostic Computer
  • Unified Computer System
  • Electronic Countermeasure Suite
  • Tractor Beam Projectors (6)
• Power Management
  • Military Grade Reactor (See Advanced Features)
  • Reactor Overload Stabilizers
  • Ancillary Backup Reactor

ADVANCED FEATURES

• Phase-II “Divine Eyes” Sensor & Electronics System
  
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• GDE-RS5 Molecular Reactive Shield Array
  
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• GDE-01 Antimatter Reactor System

STRENGTHS

• +Fighter Swarms: The Hydian-class Tactical Carrier is designed to be among the foremost of carrier platforms in terms of the amount of squadrons it can deploy - claiming the ability to mobilize some 20 squadrons of starfighters and 10 squadrons of support craft in total.
• +Turtle: With its GDE-RS5 Molecular Shield Array, and dual layered armor paneling, it almost goes without saying that the Hydian-class could take a very real punch. While any naval officer would tell you that it is ill-advised to actively push into combat with a carrier, this ship possesses the singular ability to tank a considerable amount of damage. This minimizes the risk of deploying the Hydian in active combat zones.
• +Sleek: Although the Hydian is by no means a small ship, its profile is fairly sleek and angular. When forward-facing against enemy vessels, she presents a very small profile - making it fairly easy to avoid most incoming damage.

WEAKNESSES

• -Slow: While not the slowest of vessels, it should still be noted that the Hydian-class is definitively not the most speedy of ships either, aligning more on the ‘slow’ side of the spectrum. She could easily be outpaced by craft designed for such applications. Thus, it should almost go without saying that she should never be in a position where smaller, faster craft could overtake her.
• -Lightly Armed: Based on size alone, the Hydian would be technically classified as a ‘battlecruiser’ equivalent per the Anaxes war college. That said, as a battlecruiser, she is very lightly armed. This is not a major disadvantage to her, as her fighter craft would serve as the main teeth at her disposal. Additionally, this is not meant to say she is entirely inadequate to defending herself from marauders or back-line flankers either. Yet, capable commanders would do well to keep in mind that they should only ever be in a position to use their guns in the sparest of circumstances; primarily in a fire support capacity.
• -Cumbersome: Although her long and sleek profile does much to prevent her from taking inordinate amounts of damage, it comes with the fact her length renders the Hydian quite cumbersome. While not the most unwieldy of ships, she definitely ‘handles like a boat’ when it comes to her ability to adjust heading, angle her armor against enemy ships, or to try and prevent herself from being outmaneuvered.

DESCRIPTION
After countless rumors over the years of a supposed ship development program by GDI Incorporated, we have finally seen such rumors become a reality. The first ship to come off of the manufacturing line is the Hydian-class Tactical Carrier; a heavily armored vessel with extensive hangar bays, capable of housing hundreds of fighter and support craft on her own. Sporting the latest in GDI technology, some of her highlights are the GDE-RS5 Molecular Shield Array; known for its ability to attune and adjust to incoming damage with near-seamless automation; as well as the GDE-01 Antimatter Reactor System, and the MM-38 ‘Carronade’ Megamaser Battery for some measure of self defense.

Her direct application would be that of fleet support, providing extensive starfighter coverage wherein a fleet would otherwise be lacking. Yet, given the defensive capabilities she possesses, she would also be ideally suited to ‘peacekeeping’ roles, accompanying a small flotilla to stabilize the Galactic Alliance’s presence within a star system, or even ferrying medical and aid supplies in the wake of natural disasters. In short, she has enough versatility to make her useful within the Galactic Alliance Navy, while also fulfilling her role as well as any other carrier - if not better.

Named after ‘The Hydian Way’, namely one of the major hyperspace lanes throughout the galaxy, she is meant to bring to mind what most within the GA navy enlist to fight for - their homeworlds, many of which lay upon the Hydian Way.