Directorate Officer
Image Source: Spartan Game's Security-class Defense Platform model, background added by me
Affiliation: Galactic Republic & allies
Manufacturer: Lucerne Labs
Model: Shield-class Orbital Base
Modularity: Hangar
Production: Mass
Material: Mirrsteel frame, Trimantium & Durasteel plating, transparisteel viewports, typical starship components
Classification: Orbital Base (Support Frigate analogue)
Length: 225 meters
Width: 225 meters
Height: 75 meters
Armament:
-5 Flak Cannon Batteries
-5 Quad Laser Cannon Batteries
-5 Sentinel-class Point Defense Emplacment batteries
Hangar: Varies by role
Starfighter base:
24 interceptors/starfighters/starbombers
4 Shuttles
4 CUVs
4 patrol ships
Orbital Garrison:
4 Heavy Dropships
12 Dropships
4 Gunships
Special Features:
Encryption Network
Escape Pods
Heavy Deflector Shield Generator
Holonet Transceiver
Long-Range Communications Array
Redundant Standard Shield Generator
Reinforced Hull Plating
Standard Detention Cells
Standard Life Support Systems
Standard Navigational Systems
Standard Sensor Array
- Standard Targeting Systems
Hansen FeatherTouch Tractor Beam Projectors (x3)
Maneuverability Rating: 18
Speed Rating: 18
Hyperdrive Class: x3
Strengths:
Flyswatter: The Shield-class is bristling with point-defense weaponry that makes it highly effective against starfighters, warheads, and other small targets. All of the ship's weapon systems are spread equally across the station's hull, ensuring that there are few, if any, blindspots that the station cannot hit.
Built like a Brick: The Shield-class is built with heavily reinforced frame and very thick hull plating. This further augmented by heavy deflector shields which are powered by energy that would typically be used by a starship's engines.
Weaknesses:
Toothless: The Shield-class has no anti-capital ship weaponry, making it unable to attack even a carrier corvette with hope of success.
Slower than a Dewback: The Shield-class is exceedingly slow for its small size, in large part because of the extensive mass for its size because of all of the armor plating, and in part because engines were something of an afterthought given its role as a space station.
Description: The Shield-class Orbital Base is designed to act as a static space-going hangar to act as a support element for Republic operations, especially around planets. Originally envisioned by Lucerne Labs as an updated version of the XQ-series made by Bengel Shipyards, the company's engineers quickly blended its concept with that of the old Imperial Pre-Fabricated Garrison Base. The resulting space station is exceptionally durable and quite capable of fending off light starfighter raids, though it is also exceedingly slow and useless against capital starships.
The core of this orbital base is heavily reinforced cylinder, with the top two decks acting as the storage hangar for the station's craft. Right below those decks are the crew and passenger quarters. Below those decks is the station's main solar ionization reactor and its relatively diminutive engine banks. Three housing wings sprout off this cylindrical hub not unlike the XQ-series which inspired it. These wings contain the blast doors from the hangars and turn into a runway with built in catapult pressors that can quickly scramble the station's ships into space. Above each hangar blast door is a turreted Hansen Feathertouch Tractor Beam projector to aid in the recovery of starships, especially those damaged in combat or suspicious craft being escorted in for a customs inspection. The outer lower portions of these wings contain volatile substances such as starship fuel and munitions. These can be quickly transported to the main hangar by a series of automated shuttle carts. The hexagonal superstructure, which grows out of the main cylindrical portion of the hull and reinforces the wings contains storage areas and the ship's public areas which include a cafeteria, a lounge, a gym, a small firing range, and other basic amenities. These amenities often change depending on how the Shield-class is being utilized. Some of the stations are used in a paramilitary capacity as simple customs stations and research outposts, but others are explicitly employed in a military capacity.
Most Shield-class Orbital Bases in service with the Republic Defense Forces act as spacegoing starfighter bases. They are easier to secure than a ground-based installation and can deploy their starfighters into a space battle far faster than a ground base, yet they are significantly cheaper and far more durable than traditional carrier starships. Acting as starfighter base, the uppermost level of the hangar holds the station's support craft: quartet of Combat Utility Vehicles to support starfighter operations on the battlefield, a quartet of shuttles to move supplies and people in and out of the station, and a quartet of patrol ships for long patrols and system sentry duty. Sometimes these patrol ships are replaced by gunships depending on local needs and ship availability. The passenger section of the station is thus occupied by the starfighter pilots, and an unusually large complement of mechanics, avionic technicians, and other support personnel. The large amount of support personnel that the station carries allows starfighters to be serviced, repaired, and rearmed faster compared to most starship hangar facilities. In order to maintain security and protect against boarding parties, the starfighter base Shields also have quarters for eighty Republic marines and their equipment. It's not uncommon for at least some of these to be dedicated spacetroopers. in this capacity, Recreation facilities include over a dozen simulators to allow pilots to train without putting wear and tear on their vessels and expending fuel and munitions, and several extra creature comforts such as a pilot's only bar and a zero-g training room.
Shield-class Orbital Bases are also used as mobile firebases in manner very similar to how space-going Imperial Pre-fabricated Garrison Bases were used by the Empire during the Galactic Civil War. troops can quickly be ferried off of the station to deploy anywhere around a host world in a matter of minutes. In this capacity, the hangars are filled with transport vessels and escort craft to carry and deploy the two companies of republic soldiers that call the station home. Depending on the type of company embarked, the orbital base can carry anywhere from 250 to 400 Republic Marines and their equipment. Companies that use a lot of vehicles, such Armor or Repulsorlift units, tend to have less men and use the extra room to store their vehicles. On the other hand, light infantry companies will often take over space usually dedicated for vehicles to improve their otherwise cramped living conditions. Because of the many men embarked in this mode, the recreation facilities in this mode typically include more physical fitness training equipment, an expanded firing range, and another cafeteria.
Regardless of the station is used, it is almost deployed to its static location in the exact same manner. It uses its slow sublight drives to leave a gravity well and uses its underpowered hyperdrive to jump to the new location, where it then maneuvers into its new static position with its sublight drives. During this process, the station is incredibly vulnerable to enemy starships because of its low speed and lack of heavy weaponry. Consequently, the station is typically escorted into place by several Republic warships, which will often use their tractor beams and powerful engines to move the Shield into position more efficiently than the station could by itself.
Development Thread: If needed
Intent: To provide an standardized orbital base for the Galactic Republic to be set up around worlds
Who Can Use This: Galactic Republic & Allies
Primary Source: N / A
