M E A T B A G
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: To create a combat-capable and hostile deployment craft for the Golden Company.
Image Source: FractalSponge - Mandalorian Dropship.
Canon Link: Repurposed Canon Articles.
Restricted Missions: If required.
Primary Source: LAAT/i Gunship, AIAT/i Gunship, Repurposed Canon Articles.
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Manufacturer: The Golden Company - Guild of Armourers. [Modification, and Minor Scale Production.] Thyrsian Armed Forces; Special Forces. [Original Design and Production.]
Model: GOA-01 Phaethon - Class Assault Transport. [Freelance Modifications.]
Affiliation: The Golden Company.
Production: Limited.
Material: Titanium-reinforced Durasteel Armoured Hull Plating (Ablative), Alusteel Skeletal Frame, Reinforced Duraplast Bulkhead(s) and Inner-Armour Liner (Combined with Anti-Ion Mesh), Starship Components.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Classification: Interstellar Assault Transport. (Gunship, and Transport.)
Length: 16 Metres
Width: 12 Metres. (External Engine Pods Included.)
Height: 6.2 Metres. (External Turret Included.)
Armament:
- [1] Twin Heavy Laser Cannon Turret. [Fire-Linked; Fast-Track Mounting.]
- [2] Quad Repeating Blaster Cannon Turret(s). [Fire-Linked; Fast-Track Mounting(s).]
- [2] Twin Heavy Repeating Blaster Cannon Turret(s). [Fire-Linked; Fast-Track Mounting(s).]
- [4] Retractable Micro-Missile Pod(s). [12 Homing Cluster Macro-Missiles per Pod, Variable Payload**.]
Armament Rating: Average.
Defenses:
- Reinforced, Ablative Armoured Hull Plating.
- Standard Gunship-Grade Deflector Shields (Particle and Ray.)
- EWAR Electronic Countermeasure Suite.
- Chaff and Flare Dispersal Suite.
- Reinforced Anti-Ionic Mesh.
- Hyperwave Inertial Momentum Sustainer.
- Missile Deactivation Transmitter.
Squadron Count: Eight Gunship(s) per Squadron.
Maneuverability Rating: High. [120 - 150 DPF.]
Engine Unit(s): Military-Grade Ion Maneuvering Engines x4
MGLT: 51 MGLT
Maximum Atmospheric Speed: 630 Km/H
Speed Rating: Low.
Primary Power Plant: Military-Grade Hypermatter Annihilator Reactor.
Reserve Power Plant(s): Military-Grade Solar Ionization Reactor(s) with Retracting Collection Panels.
Hyperdrive Rating: Class 2
Hyperdrive Rating (Backup): Class 10
Crew (Optimal): Pilot, Co-Pilot, Gunner, Integrated Astromech Droid.
Crew (Skeleton): Pilot, Integrated Astromech Droid.
Escape Craft: Detachable Cockpit Module.
Passengers: 20 Thyrsian Sun Guards, 1 Battlefield Medical Droid.
Cargo Capacity: One Metric Ton.
Consumables: One Week.
STANDARD FEATURES
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Sensor and Targeting Systems.
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Navigation and Avionics Systems.
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Communications Suite. (Encrypted with Thyrsian Military Keys.)
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Atmospheric Seals and Perfunctory Oxygen Scrubbers.
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Life Support and Integrated Medical Suite(s).
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Subspace and HoloNet Transceiver(s).
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Inertial Compensators.
- Standard [Military-Grade.] VTOL Repulsorlift Anti-Gravity System.
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Homing Beacon. (Encrypted with Thyrsian Military Keys.)
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Rapid Deployment Ramp. [Port.]
- Standard [Military-Grade.] Rapid Retraction Blast Shielding.
- Integrated Barracks and Automated Armoury.
- Hyperwave Inertial Momentum Sustainer.
- Individual Field Disruptor. (Overhauled to Modern Standards.)
- Missile Deactivation Transmitter.
- Maneuverable Exterior Nacelles.
- Reinforced Anti-Ionic Package.
- Integrated Droid Brain [Heuristic Processor.]
- Reinforced Armour Plating.
- Ventral Cannon Firing Arc’s. [Anti-Personnel.]
- Individual Field Disruptor. (Overhauled to Modern Standards, Standard Deflector Shields Only.)
- Missile Deactivation Transmitter.
- Hyperwave Inertial Momentum Sustainer.
- Reinforced Anti-Ionic Package.
- Highly Maneuverable Exterior Nacelles.
- Rapid Deployment Ramps and Blast Shielding.
- Integrated Droid Brain [Heuristic Processor.]
- Exposed Exterior Nacelles. (Easily Targeted when Extended, Critical Weakness.)
- Minor Stabilization and Maneuverability Reduction. (1-2 Damaged Nacelles.)
- Major Stabilization and Maneuverability Reduction. (2-3 Damaged Nacelles.)
- Slower Acceleration Speeds. (When Nacelles are Extended.)
- Vulnerable to Heavy Projectile Weaponry [Unshielded, especially Nacelle Armatures.]
- Limited Dorsal Weapon Firing Arc’s.
- Limited Cockpit Awareness (Narrow Viewport, Heavy Reliance on Sensors.)
- No Vehicle Carrying Capacity. [Infantry Only.]
- Limited Anti-Vehicle Engagement Capacity.
Description: The Phaethon -Class Assault Transport was a hyperspace capable repulsorcraft capable of ferrying a half a ‘Legion’ of Thyrsian Sun Guard’s into hostile territory. While it’s primary function was simply to carry personnel into active war zones, the Gunship’s secondary purpose included various functions that were, but not entirely limited to, direct fire support and suppression; aggressive reconnaissance; and rapid extraction. While it’s armament was explicitly tailored to engage Infantry, the weapons of the Phaethon were able to threaten lightly shielded, and moderately armoured targets - provided a capable Gunner was at the helm. This "vast" array of mounted firearms would permit the Gunship to operate as a mobile weapons platform and lay down the appropriate covering-fire required for the Sun Guards nestled within its holds to deploy onto the battlefield.
Eschewing the more bulbous aesthetic of the LAAT/i Gunship, the Phaethon - Class personifies a more streamlined approach to tactical insertions. Which allows the Gunship to capitalize on its highly maneuverable nacelles, and adeptly navigate treacherous terrain in close proximity, or expertly weave through bracketing defensive fire - which would’ve easily annihilated the more ponderous ancestor. To offset this considerable advantage, the Phaethon would only become highly maneuverable when the nacelles were extended away from the streamlined fuselage. While this would present a critical weakness hostile forces could exploit, and it slowed the forward momentum of the repulsorcraft, it provided a considerable advantage to how the craft was able to operate in both theatre’s devoid of atmosphere or encompassed by them. Naturally, such aerial theatrics are entirely dependant on the Pilot at the helm of the Phaethon - Class. However; the original technicians behind the Phaethon - Class Assault Transport had known that not every mortal born under the light of the sun was a gifted pilot and thus needed to find a method to supplement where skill was lacking. To this end, they installed an integrated droid brain with heuristic processors, which allowed the enslaved android mind to learn and predict pathways through incoming fire and calculate the best possible route to the surface. This meant that most Gunships that had survived drop, after drop, after drop, would find themselves to develop a personality of their own - and be considered as veteran kin to those within its metallic husk, despite its inability to act without someone actively manning the helm.
While the original designers had created the Phaethon’s cockpit to be more open, and allow the Pilot to see their surroundings easily, however, when several of these ships were taken by the Golden Company, they were heavily modified and reinforced. As the cockpit proved to be a primary weakness when their Pilot’s were exposed to incoming enemy fire, it was something that the Sun Guard could ill-afford in the coming days. Thus, the Guild of Armourer’s had attached several exterior panels in a bid to offer their Pilot’s better protection from hostile weapons, but such a boon came at the cost of visibility. It forced the man stationed at the helm to rely heavily on his sensors, and trust in the camera feed’s being piped onto his HUD. An unfortunate drawback, but considered without hesitation for the advantage it provided. The cockpit was not the only modification the Golden Company had made to their stolen ‘fleet’ of Phaethon Assault Transports, many of which would prove to be advantageous to their purpose and allow them to set out amongst the stars and reclaim their legacy.
In addition to the “expansive” allocation of weapons, the defensive suite that adorned the Phaethon had suffered the same fate as the cockpit module and was subsequently upgraded with various sub-systems to aid in its operation. Many of which were minor, if not quality of life additions, whilst others offered a specific advantage when utilized on the battlefield. The most notable sub-systems were the overhauled Individual Field Disruptor, which allowed the vessel - when active - to modulate the frequency of the Phaethon’s projected deflector shield to match the targeted shield before them. This process permitted the Dropship to slowly pass through standard deflector screens as if they were never there. However, as this technology was overhauled to modern standards - the more advanced barriers would utterly negate the disruptor’s ability to bypass the shield. The secondary, but equally important, system was the Hyperwave Inertial Momentum Sustainer that allowed the Phaethon to bypass any standard interdiction field - provided the vessel was in hyperspace already. If it were activated within an already established interdiction net, the HIMS would not activate, and the Dropship would be stranded in realspace.
Keeping true to their legacy, the Phaethon-Class Assault Transport was a vessel devoid of creature comforts. The interior of the craft was spartan, regarding its luxuries, and focused solely on providing an efficient military vessel - where everything within had a purpose and offered a place for its passengers to maintain their armour alongside their weapons. This provided the Sun Guards of the Golden Company with a mobile base of operations, alongside a combat capable dropship.
Perfect, for these wayward sons to set themselves amongst the stars to reclaim their long-lost legacy.
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Squadron Count: Two Gunship(s) per Squadron.
[SIZE=10.5pt]New Section(s):[/SIZE]
Squadron Count: Eight Gunship(s) per Squadron.
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Squadron Count: Two Gunship(s) per Squadron.
[SIZE=10.5pt]New Section(s):[/SIZE]
Squadron Count: Eight Gunship(s) per Squadron.
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