M E A T B A G
Intent: To create a Thyrsian Dropship for the Golden Company, and the Thyrsian Hierarchy thereafter.
Image Source: Star Citizen "Prowler" | Vincent Le 'madroce' - Artstation Link [x.]
Canon Link: Not Applicable.
Primary Source: Repurposed Canon Articles, Solar Ionization Cannon, Istanu Pattern Disruptor.
Manufacturer: Republic Engineering Corporation - Starships Division, The Golden Company, The Thyrsian Hierarchy (Select and Contracted Foundries.)
Affiliation: The Golden Company, The Thyrsian Hierarchy, Closed-Market.
Model: TTH/CCS-002 "Vahakn" - Class Dropship.
Modularity: External Aesthetics, and Loadout(s) - Listed Below.
Production: Mass-Production.
Material: Durasteel, Flexisteel, Armourplast, Reinforced Duraplast, Manganese Brass, Glasteel, Turadium, Dallorian Alloy, Haysian Smelt, Kiirium, Agrinium, Various Starship Components (Internal and External.)
Classification: Combat Dropship.
Role: Aerial Assault Platform, Dropship, Dedicated Troop Transport, Boarding Craft, Etc.
Length: 34 Metres.
Width: 33 Metres.
Height: 15 Metres.
Armament: Low Rating.
- Loadout Aurek:
[2] Istanu Disruptor Cannons [Fire-Linked, Fast-Track Mountings.] - [1] Repeating Heavy Laser Cannon [Dorsal Turret Mounted, Fire-Linked, Fast-Track Mountings, Stutter-Fire Capable.]
- [2] Nanomissile Pods [Thirty Nanomissiles per Pod.]
- [2] Repeating Blaster Cannon Turrets [Deployable in Landing Configuration.]
[*]Loadout Besh:
- [2] Solar Ionization Cannons [Fire-Linked, Fast-Track Mountings.]
- [1] Repeating Heavy Laser Cannon [Dorsal Turret Mounted, Fire-Linked, Fast-Track Mountings, Stutter-Fire Capable.]
- [2] Nanomissile Pods [Thirty Nanomissiles per Pod.]
- [2] Repeating Blaster Cannon Turrets [Deployable in Landing Configuration.]
Defences: Average Rating.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Deflector Shielding (Particle, Ray and Concussion; Overlaid.)
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Armour and Hull Plating.
- Overhauled [Dropship-Class, Military Grade] Kiirium Mirror Shields (Automated, and Slide-able Girder Mounts.)
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] ECM, Electronic Countermeasures (Including Chaff, Flares, and Etc.)
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Maneuvering Thrusters.
Maneuverability Rating: 85 DPF - Moderate Rating.
Speed Rating: Moderate Rating.
MGLT: 115 MGLT
Maximum Atmospheric Speed: 1,150 Km/H
Primary Hyperdrive Rating: Class 1.0
Secondary Hyperdrive Rating: Class 8.0
Engine Unit(s): Dropship - Class Ion Engines - Four Drive Units.
Secondary Propulsion: None.
Primary Power Plant: Compact Fusion Reactor.
Secondary Power Plant: Solar Ionization Conversion Module(s) with Retractable Agrinium Collection Arrays.
Passengers: Twenty Soldiers, and Ten Arming Slaves.
Crew Complement (Optimal): One Pilot, One Co-Pilot, with Integrated Droid Brains.
Crew Complement (Skeletal): One Pilot with Integrated Droid Brain.
Escape Craft: Eject-able Cockpit Module.
Cargo Capacity: 10 Metric Tonnes.
Consumables: Six Months - Galactic Standard.
STANDARD FEATURES
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Damage Control and Hazard Systems.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Life Support Systems.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Navigational and Avionics Systems.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Sensors and Targeting Systems.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Communications Systems, Holonet Transceiver and Encryption/Decryption Networks with Thyrsian Military Keys.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Environmental Control Systems.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Tractor and Pressor Beams.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Emergency Maneuvering Thrusters.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Anti-Ion Emission Tracer (Anti-Hyperspace Tracking.)
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade] Relativistic and Shift Shielding.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade.] Inertial Compensators.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade.] VTOL Repulsorlift Antigravity System.
- Standard [Dropship-Class, Military-Grade.] Retractable Blast Shields.
- HIMS - Hyperwave Inertial Momentum Sustainer.
- Central Computer Core (Integrated Droid Brains.)
- Anti-Ordnance EM Probes (Long-Range.)
- Aural-Biological-Chemical Scrambler Probes (Long-Range.)
- Missile Deactivation Transmitter (Short Range.)
- Haysian Smelt Infused Kiirium Mirror Plating, with Slide-able Girders.
- Internal and Automated Arming Racks.
- Internal and Retractable Barracks.
- Automated Landing Struts and Maneuverable Wing Armatures.
- Rapid-Action Assault Ramp and Deployment Shutters.
- Slim Vertical Profile: When situated on the vertical plane, the Micrastur proved to be a difficult target to draw a bead on unless approached, or attacked from a horizontal angle.
- Thyrsian Mirror Shields: Outfitted with Thyrsian mirror shields, which were inspired by the precursor to shielding technology, the Vahakn is highly resistant to small and light arms of the plasmatic nature.
- Countermeasure Suite: Fashioned with a state of the art countermeasure suite, the Haemon is capable of thwarting the myriad methods in which control of the warship could be taken away from the Pilot.
- Solar Ionization Cannons (Loadout Depending): Solar cannons were capable of bypassing conventional deflector shielding due to their traditional laser weapon nature, which translated to beams that melted durasteel with prolonged contact.
- Fire-Cycled Disruptors (Loadout Depending): Due to the power requirements of the disruptor cannons, the Vahakn Dropship's that were equipped with those weapons were forced to cycle their slow-firing weapons in order to be effective in combat.
- Exposed - Armoured Cockpit: With an exposed cockpit, the Dropship suffered the dangers of violent decompression - which may result in the pilot of the assault craft perishing in the dark, nothingness of the void.
- Underbelly Deployment Deck: With their troop bay utterly exposed to the enemy, when approaching from the bow and ventral surfaces, it's possible to slaughter the dropship's occupants with a will timed salvo - after it's shields have been depleted.
During the preliminary conceptual phases of the Vahakn, the dropship was heavily influenced by the UT-60D U-wing and its myriad successors; a factor that was most notably found in the underbelly deployment bay. Such positioning offered an advantage to embarked troops, as they would be covered from aerial weaponry and still find themselves within the protective graces of the shuttle’s deflector array as they disembarked. This factor alone was heralded as a tactical boon by several Sun Guards, as the Vahakn was incapable of following through which such protection and they were tired of being picked out by sniper-fire. Well, that was until the verbal counter was made regarding their flamboyant helmet crests and how they marked their wearers out as members of the officer caste or Thyrsian Heroes.
Nevertheless, it was one of the many reasons as to why the underbelly deployment deck was kept throughout the lengthy design process.
While much of the Dropship would differ from its spiritual predecessor, the Vahakn’s internal systems remained similar - like the internalized barracks and automated armoury. These systems would allow for roughly half (or an undersized) Legion of Sun Guard warriors to utilize the dropship as a base of operations for extended periods of time. Their weapons would be stored within retractable and reversible plating, that operated through their active vitals and biometrics. Their armour would be stored within retractable cases, and mended by various Arming Slaves, whilst their Thyrsian masters slept easily atop padded, pull-out cots; all of which allowed the Sun Guards to utilize their dropship as a base of operations, or a mobile outpost when deployed.
Although it’s internalized systems were similar, it was in the exterior systems and aesthetics that would truly define the Vahakn as unique - when compared to the mighty Vahakn. The armament was more refined to act as a dedicated dropship, rather than a hybrid of a versatile gunship that ferried troops into battle, and bore the solarized staple of the burgeoning Thyrsian Navy affixed to the twinned forks of the prow. These systems would allow the Vahakn to remain a viable threat when deployed onto the battlefield, but allowed for the craft to be smaller in size and still be capable of supporting a viable troop complement. In addition to its various weapon systems, the dropship was outfitted with several Thyrsian mirror shields that offered a temporary boon to the vessel’s defence - as they’d be capable of acting as an antiquated version of the deflector shield, once the primary barrier collapsed.
However, while this would defend the vessel from laser cannons for a short time before the infused mirror plating began to melt, it wouldn’t be sufficient enough to turn away the lethality of a turbolaser. The slide-able girders also required that the integrated droid brain, and the pilot themselves, were on the same page - as if the plating wasn’t moved into an intercepting path in time - the incoming shot held the capabilities of damaging a vital system or punching through the deployment deck; potentially killing any that were caught in its path. With that being said, if the sensors were able to calculate the incoming trajectory of the plasmatic weapon, the infused mirror plates would be capable of redirecting their lethality away from the Vahakn to safeguard it’s embarked, passengers.
Although, such protective graces were not given over to kinetic weaponry - as they’d smash the mirror plating as if it was forged from tempered glass.
While the Echani stranglehold on Thyrsus bled the system dry of assets in which to supply it’s exiled militant branch, those Sun Guard of the Golden Company sought to emulate the lessons taught to them by the dwindling use of the Vahakn; which saw them utilizing whatever they had on hand to fight back against those foreign invaders and the bedevilling worship of their system’s moon. The Vahakn was but the first of these external initiatives that would eventually see that the might Thyrsian Navy took to the stars once more - and would uplift the desert world into becoming a superpower in their own right.
Modification Summary:
- Replaced Images and Image Source(s.)
- Increased Production Rating from Minor to Mass-Produced.
- Added Secondary Armament Loadout, and Replaced Several Weapon Systems.
- Lowered Armament Rating to Account for Balance.
- Added Advanced Features.
- Replaced Strengths and Weaknesses.
- Added Colour Coding onto the Loadouts in the Armament Section. [New]
- Replaced Mentions of Shuttle with Dropship. [New]
- Fleshed out Modularity to include the Possible Loadouts listed in Armament Section. [New]
