Need 2 for Dev thread

[Jessica Med-Beq]

I know supercarriers usually have better point-defense than anti-capital armament...

If we just remove the Nealuquad armor for plain alusteel, it would probably reduce defense to 13, but it would lower our objective to 30 posts.

Here it makes sense to split armament ratings:

Vs. capital ships: 0
Vs. starfighters: 4 (65 quad lasers will probably be enough for that status)

 

[Micah tol Powl]

[member="Teynara Jeralyr"]

Agreed completely on the armor and weapons, and but for the physics of space travel and the story we've written for ourselves, I'd say there should be no weapons at all. However, a lot of the story in the Tingel Arm region of space is focused on non-state actors, primarily pirates and raiders, but I'd venture that the incident at Ilum might give some faction governments reason to consider whether one or more Mandalorian Clan should be labeled as a terrorist organization.

Is the medical ship at risk in major faction on major faction warfare? Probably not. When I fleeted for the Rebel Alliance, I went over and saved Techno Union ships in addition to our own over Ryloth during the first Invasion, without ever being targeted by the opposing side.

But a more realistic scenario for our region of space for our story is a SSC or SJO medical ship operating in the vicinity of raiders, or possibly even responding to a vessel in distress where the exact situation is unknown. And I wouldn't expect that the medical ship would always have a military escort.

Point defense batteries at least give the ship flexibility to respond to environmental or tactical dangers that may become present when dealing with actors who more likely than not don't abide by the customary practice of nations.

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"] I don't even see that being necessary - like I said, a hospital ship wouldn't be expected to have the personnel trained to repel such an attack, nevermind the armaments capable of it. A countermeasure suite against bombardment and perhaps one or two point-defense, as Boo has suggested, would strike me as the necessary setup. Anything beyond that turns it into a ship of war, rather than one of healing.

[member="Boo Chiyo"] That's a reasonable compromise, but that's honestly as far as I'd recommend going, tbh. Yes, it's true we can get away with whatever we want (which is often what Matsu seems to aim for when designing), but on balance, I prefer to keep things as 'realistic' as possible. Having a heavily-armed medical ship makes zero sense, given how much sacrifice such would involve, and how varied the crew complement would need to be: you'd need medical staff, engineering crew, pilots (for shuttles and the like) as well as a full crew of military crewmen and officers to maintain and fire weapons. Your ship's captain would be a military officer trained in naval warfare, rather than a humanitarian civilian captain focused on providing effective medical care. That's craziness right there.

 

[Micah tol Powl]

[member="Teynara Jeralyr"]

Not necessarily true. Looking at the United States, for example, the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy are both commanded by a civilian master. Note the USNS and not USS. The hospital ships are not considered part of the military fleet and are crewed in large part by civilian mariners. The military commander (usually a senior medical officer) commands the military contingent aboard, but does not direct the vessel's course or heading.

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

[member="Boo Chiyo"] True, but it'd remain an odd move, if I'm blunt.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

[member="Cathbodua"] If you want additional components, please, take a look at these:

Zak ion drive
Sabrina waste heat recovery device