Directorate Officer
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent:To provide a new artillery-style ship for the Directorate
- Image Source: Personal photograph of Spartan Game's Vanquisher-class Cruiser modified by yours truly combined with space background
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Lucerne Labs
- Affiliation: Directorate
- Model: Odysseus-class Cruiser
- Production: Limited
- Material:Mirrsteel-iridium-condensed matter composite frame as per Ossis starship frame, Chimera Composite armor plating, ceraglass, Starship Components
- Classification: Artillery Cruiser
- Length: 500 meters
- Width: 200 meters
- Height: 120 meters
- Armament: Extreme
- Defenses: Low
- Hangar Space: Average: 3
- Hangar Allocations:
- Starfighters: 2 squadrons (Typically 40 Vortex II-class Interceptors or 24 Mistral-class Starfighters)
- Support Craft: 1 squadrons (Typically 12 Shyyyo-class Combat Transports or 8 Squall-class Patrol Boats)
- Maneuverability Rating: Average (Low with Nimble-5 Boost mode engaged)
- Speed Rating: Average (High with Nimble-5 Boost mode engaged)
- Hyperdrive Class: Average: x1
- Encryption Network
- Escape Pods
- Electronic Security Systems (Pyrowalls, Rapid Repetition Defense Measure programming, EI-9 network security droids)
- Internal Security Systems (Embedded Mantraps, Automated Stormfire Repeater Emplacements, Internal Force Field Generators)
- Oracle-class Communications Package (x1)
- Ossis Starship Frame
- Standard Detention Cells
- Standard Life Support Systems
- Standard Navigational Systems
- Metis Sensor Array
- Tractor Beam Projectors (x6)
- Aegis II Anticoncussion Field Generator
- Chimera Composite Armor
- Aspis-class Shield System
- Biolux Organoform Circuitry
- Calor series Bio-computers
- Nimble-5 Ion Engines
- Recycling Systems: Fuel scoops, molecular furnace, limited automated factory, Gyrowheel series recycling droids
- Automated: Odysseus takes full advantage of Lucerne Labs pioneering biological-based computing systems to highly automate the warship, allowing the ship to use a smaller number of crew, and thus improving its ability as a long-distance endurance warship.
- Endurance Vessel: Designed to fight in highly remote reaches of space, the Odysseus sports a number of systems designed to improve its long-term endurance. Fuel scoops ensure that the ship can refuel itself from the natural resources of uninhabitanted planets while a molecular furnance and automated factory allow it to produce more ammunition for its projectile weapons as well as any spare parts that might needed. The Recycling droids help stretch out food supplies for the small crews if needed.
- Heavy Firepower: The Odysseus's foremost strength is the high amount of firepower afforded to it via its large number of projectile launchers, making it an exceptionally dangerous craft.
- Linked Firing Systems: The Odysseus's mass driver cannons and Plasma Energy Torpedoes are linked into banks of 14 batteries each to cut down on the number of needed gunners. While this does allow the Odysseus to efficiently consolidate manpower and firepower, it also makes incapable of targeting a large number of smaller threats with these same weapons.
- Weak Hull: The Odysseus uses only a thin layer of armor in order to cut down on mass, with the intent to increase full efficiency during the cruisers long voyages into the furthest reaches of known space.
A member of the Defender legacy design tree, the Odysseus-class Cruiser is a product of Lucerne Lab's Gyndine shipyards reworking existing design elements of the old Defender-class Cruiser into a long-range attack ship suited for endurance operations in the Unknown Regions. To fulfill that role, the Odysseus uses extensive batteries of long-range projectile cannons and plasma energy torpedo launchers, both of whose ammunition can be produced by the vessel itself with the proper raw materials, to project large amounts of versatile firepower at distant targets with reasonable accuracy. Perhaps the other most salient design trend of the Odysseus is the use of flexible automation along with a number of materials recycling and manufacturing technologies to greatly extend the ship's endurance with a minimum of support facilities. Both of these design trends were put to good use in Admiral Quee's campaign in the Tempered Wastes. In one notable incident, a trio of the cruisers maintained running silence, allowing them to ambush one of the warlord's convoys from a long range, which ultimately led to the relief of the Siege of Carynx XII. With that campaign over, most members of the Odysseus-classes are returning with Admiral Quee to the mainstream areas of the galaxy.
Technical Explanations
Crew & Automation: The Odyseuss runs on a two section crew that extensively uses the ship's Calor Series BioComputers connected by Lucerne Labs Biolux series Organoform circuitry to automate as many of the ship's basic functions as possible for non-combat, day to day operations. This usually results in each watch overseeing these processes from their stations, and moving to trouble shoot problems as they arise. When battle is eminent, both sections come onto duty simultaneously, taking over any previously automated tasks.This leaves a small pool of crewmen that can supplement certain department's manpower as needed. All of this activity is directed from a CIC-style bridge buried near the center of the ship. The ship also a cramped auxiliary bridge located at the tip of the vessel's bow, which unlike the main bridge, has viewports that look out into space. Odysseus is also notable in that it has a morale, welfare, and resource section located at the very rear of the ship placed between the two engine blocks. Multiple layers of ceraglass offer an expansive star vista while sailors and soldiers work out, play sports, eat, and drink in this multi-level multipurpose space which makes long deployments much more bearable.
Engine Systems: The Odysseus uses twin banks of Nimble-5 Ion Engines, which temporarily allow the cruiser to "boost". This is typically used to close gaps in formations or to avoid collisions, as the temporary nature of the boost rarely aids in pursuing ships. The Odysseus sports an otherwise typical hyperdrive, maneuvering thrusters, and repulsorlifts typically found on a vessel its size.
Shielding systems: The Odysseus uses a single Aspis-class Shield System to provide it with slightly above average protection with almost typical ray and particle shielding needed for basic travel and combat. The ship also has an Aegis II Anti-concussion Field Generator, but it does not have sufficient power to use it for normal use. In order to activate this device, the ship must shunt power from its weapons, engines, or from the Aspis Shield System.
Hull: As an evolution of the Defender, the Odysseus was designed from the ground up with the Ossis series starship framework, making its base bones durable and resilient to variety of potential dangers. Unlike its predecessor, the Odsysseus only uses a thin layers of criss-crossing Chimera-Composite Plates. This means that most of the ship's defense rating is the result of the ship's shielding.The rear morale, welfare, and resource section is the exception to this rule, but automatic shutters quickly move Chimera-Composite plates over the exposed panes of ceraglass.
Weapon Systems: The Odysseus is designed to engage enemies at distant through the use of long-range projectile weapon. It's primary weapon system are 28 Angon-class Hypervelocity Cannons, which typically fling bursts of solid shot or saboted assault-grade warheads at distant targets. It's other capital grade weapon are much smaller and more numerous in the forms of Rhongomyniad Mass Driver Cannons and Torrent-class Plasma Energy Torpedo Launchers. In order to cut down on manpower, these weapons are fire-linked in groups of 14 batteries (with each battery consisting of four weapons) much like the old MC80s. Like the larger hypervelocity cannons, Rhongomynaids typically employ solid shot or saboted warheads, while Malestrom's typically use shieldbuster or explosive plasmas. In order to deal with smaller threats, the Odysseus has equidistantally spaced point defense batteries of quad autoblasters and starfighter-grade missile launchers. The largely wedge-shape of the vessel's bow allows the Odyssues to fire the vast majority of its capital-grade weapons in a full forward arc while still projecting reasonably good broadside fire, much like the classic Imperial Star Destroyer. It does have a few weapons though that do have rear firing arcs due to the ship's rounded stern.
Carrying Capacity: The Odysseus has a small stern hangar that opens up between the twin engine blocks. This hangar typically is host to a two squadrons of starfighters, usually interceptors for patrol duty, and a squadron of support craft for logistical work. This hangar is usually protected by a pair of thick blast doors made out of Chimera composite. In terms of passengers and cargo, the Odysseus carries up to an old Imperial Battalion worth of men and their equipment, much like the older Strike-class Medium Cruiser. Exact passenger and cargo loadouts vary from mission to mission and user to user: A Odyssseus on a charting expedition is more likely to carry extra probots and supplies rather than thousands of infantrymen.
Recycling Systems: Because of their original design intent to operate in the furthest regions of known space, the Odysseus-class has a number of systems designed to extend its endurance. Perhaps the most important of these are fuel scoops, which allow the Odysseus to gather up liquids and gases from naturally-occurring sources and convert them into different chemicals. This not only provides the ship's reactors and engines with fuel, but also its plasma energy torpedo launchers with different types of plasma. A molecular furnace with an automated machine shop and ammunition factory helps meets the ship's other basic needs for spare parts for any of its equipment or carried vehicles and shells/missiles for its projectile cannons. Lastly, a several dozen Gyrowheel recycling droids and their associated recycling stations can further extend the ship's food supply if need be.
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