Q-Ships are a simple concept. They are military type ships designed to appear as merchant vessels but are designed to carry far more firepower and are usually armored far better than true merchant vessels. There are a variety of different size classes with some of the largest being converted Cargo Master designs. These type of ships can be either converted merchant vessels which have been virtually completely rebuilt or can be new construction vessels. These ships serve a variety of missions. Of course, they are highly useful as bait against pirates either by itself or in a convoy. A pirate ship will come in to capture one of these ships and the Q-Ship will open up with its main batteries. Of course sometimes these ships will act as pirates themselves and several militaries operate such ships as privateers. Some of the more belligerent powers such as the Trans-Galactic Empire operate these ships in an initial first strike role and Q-Ships are often used for special operations. In the final role, normally smaller Q-Ships are used.
When similar ships are used as pirate ships, sometimes they are refitted by the pirates using abandoned facilities or facilities which they have recently captured. As well, it is well known that several Governments support pirates although due to the political situation, nothing concrete can be presented. Such groups include the Trans-Galactic Empire who is considered one of the worst offenders. Even sometimes more reputable governments get caught up in such situations. There have been cases where governments though they were constructing such ships for legitimate groups and the ship ends in the hands of pirates.
Still, most Consortium built Q-Ships are operated in the hands of groups who are legally allowed to operate such a vessel. One of the most famous of the Q-Ships is named the Troubadour. It a converted Cargo Master class medium merchant and is operated by an Independent Defense Force within the Consortium of Civilized Worlds. The ship has a record that few true Consortium Military vessels can match. It has destroyed or captured over two hundred pirate ships since being converted to a Q-Ship. Several of them have been Smasher class cruisers which the Trans-Galactic Empire claim went rogue. The Consortium accepts the official line in public but in reality are highly suspicious.
The design listed here is based off the Cargo Master hull like the Troubadour is. The ship itself is the size of a large heavy cruiser and is close to a thousand feet in length. The weapon systems and other equipment carried on the vessel in mostly of Consortium design although similar vessels using Kreeghor hardware are also built. The ship is designed to be able to defend itself from most cruisers even heavy cruisers but is likely to get into severe trouble against a battlecruiser or anything larger. This design is assumed to either be a fully reconstructed vessel or one which has been built from the keel out as a new vessel. Those which are built from the keel out normally have additional internal armor and compartmentalization compared to those which have been rebuilt. Due to this, the new construction vessels are tougher and are able to withstand additional damage. All vessels have the bridge armored to withstand additional damage from hits on the bridge. While the bridge carries greater armor, the ship still only has a single bridge. The ship carries more powerful shields than is standard for merchant ships and are similar in power level to those carried on Warshield class cruisers. While the standard merchant propulsion system is retained, the increase in weapon means that far more power is required and the fusion reactor is not enough to produce enough power. As a result, the ship has three additional fusion reactors to provide additional power.
Due to the potential of attacks from pirates, most ships carry at least some light weaponry. This includes the Cargo Master class merchant ship. The ship carries six point defense laser mounts and six medium range missile batteries. These are retained on the Q-Ship converted design although the medium range missile batteries are modified both to increase the payload and rate of fire. Still, the true firepower of the ship is in concealed weapon systems which take up most of the cargo space in the vessel. Of course compared to the smaller Q-Ships, these ships have far more space for weaponry. The concealed weapons on some designs are hidden under plates which can be jettisoned while other designs use powered hatches which open to fire weaponry. There are various tactics which captains of Q-Ships. What some captains will do is to allow an enemy ship to get close and then suddenly fire all weapons while the other ship still thinks that they are a standard merchant vessel. This is especially effective against pirates operating comparatively light vessels. Instead of carrying lasers, the ship carries heavy particle beam weaponry as the main battery. While shorter ranged, the damage and rate of fire is greater on a per mount basis. Many of these come from decommissioned or converted heavy cruisers or secondary batteries on battleships. These are backed by four heavy rail gun mounts and eight secondary heavy laser mounts. Because the ships may be expected to duel at long range with missiles at long range, the ships carry a heavy missile battery including a pair of cruise missile launchers and four long range missile launchers. This gives the ship approximately the same missile firepower as a Warshield class cruiser. Payload is about fifty percent greater then a Warshield which allows for prolonged missile duels. Of course, the Cargo Master hull masses about three times that of a Warshield. Twelve variable focus particle beams are also concealed on the ship along the sides. These concealed mounts are used for point defense against missiles and as close in defense against fighters and power armors.
Much of the ship's cargo bays are configured as fighter bays. The Q-Ship does not carry as many fighters as most light fleet carriers but the fighter compliment is still considerable. A total of thirty-six medium starfighters or forty-eight light starfighters can be carried onboard. This is fully equal to the Kreeghor Smasher class cruiser. Common medium fighter types include the Katana fighter and small fighters include the Scorpion, Bobcat, and Tanto light fighters. Sometimes a mixture of medium and light fighters will be carried. Usually twenty four light starfighters (or two squadrons) along with eighteen medium starfighters (one and a half squadrons) will be carried. In some cases, Kittani Robot Fighters or Avenger Power Armors are carried in the place of light starfighters. In addition to carrying the fighters, the ship can also carry up to two hundred and forty twenty small to medium power armors. These are commonly used during boarding operations. The most common power armor design is the silverhawk power armor or its knock offs. Other common power armors include the K-Universal Power Armor and the New Coventry Combat Environment Power Armors. Large Power armors such as the Avenger, Glitter boy, or Kittani Robot Fighters cannot be carried in place of the light or medium power armors.
Ship design uses modified starship speeds and weapon ranges. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.
Model Type: CRA-1565-Q
Vehicle Type: Q-Ship (Converted Medium Freighter design)
Crew: 320 (40 Officers and 280 Enlisted)
Troops: 360 Marines, 72 fighter pilots
Vehicles:
Power Armors:
| 240 | Light Power Armors (Commonly Silver Hawk or K-Universal Power armors). |
| 48 | Small Starfighters (Common fighters include Scorpion, Tanto, and Bobcat fighters) | |
| or | ||
| 32 | Medium Starfighters (Common Fighters include the Katana fighter as Naruni designs) |
| M.D.C. By Location: | Rebuilt Vessel: | New Construction: |
| Concealed Main Particle Beam Batteries (4): | 1,500 each | 2,000 each | |
| Concealed Support Heavy Laser Cannons (6): | 650 each | 750 each | |
| 8 cm G-cannon Turrets (4): | 650 each | 800 each | |
| Laser Batteries (6): | 500 each | 500 each | |
| Concealed Variable Focus Particle Beam (12): | 200 each | 300 each | |
| Concealed Cruise Missile Batteries (2): | 800 each | 1,000 each | |
| Concealed Long Range Missile Batteries (4): | 400 each | 600 each | |
| Medium Range Missile Batteries (6): | 300 each | 450 each | |
| Concealed Fighter Hanger Doors (2): | 3,000 each | 4,000 each | |
| Outer Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area): | 125 | 150 | |
| Inner Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area): | 100 | 100 | |
| [1] Contra-Grav Engines (2): | 10,000 each | 12,500 each | |
| [2] Bridge: | 12,000 | 15,000 | |
| [3] Main Body: | 65,000 | 75,000 | |
| [4] Variable Force Field: | 5,000 side (30,000 total) | 5,000 side (30,000 total) |
Notes:
[1] Destroying the main engines means that ship FTL systems are destroyed
and maximum sublight speed is reduced by half.
[2] In reality this is how much damage needs to be done for a weapon
to hit the bridge through the ships armor. This ship does not have an auxiliary
bridge. Even if the bridges is destroyed, the ship can still be piloted
from engineering but ship is -3 to dodge and all weapon systems will be
at local control. Weapon hits near the bridge that do not penetrate the
ships integrity can injure crew members on or near the bridge.
[3] Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the Q-Ship out of commission.
All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal
gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
[4] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one
shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (1,500 MDC) per melee
Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship
to travel up to 60 percent of the speed of light maximum due to civilian
shields. Star Ship can accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 0.5 percent
of light per melee. Ship has had the merchant radiation and particle shields
replaced with military ones.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is 250 mph (402 kph),
can enter an atmosphere and can leave but is not designed for atmospheric
flight
Stardrive: Uses a Gravitonic Drive system that allows the ship
to reach a maximum of 2.5 lightyears per hour.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by either Drive system.
Carries about two years worth of supplies on board for the ship's crew.
Statistical Data:
Length: 950 feet (289.6 meters)
Height: 330 feet (100.6 meters)
Width: 320 feet (97.5 meters)
Weight: 330,000 Tons (300,000 metric tons)
Power System: Fusion with a 20 year life span. Carries four
reactors onboard. The ship normally only goes 5 years between refueling
and refitting.
Cargo: Cargo holds are scattered about the ship that allows
for carrying up to 20,000 tons of Cargo in addition to standard compliment
of supplies and ammunition. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker
for personal items and uniforms. Ships officers have more space for personal
items. Most of the ships spaces are take up by extra ammunition, armor,
troops, weapons, engine, and other equipment.
Market Cost: 4.5 billion credits for a rebuilt ship and 5.5
billion credits for a new built vessel. Most builders will only sell starship
to allied governments (To keep out of the hands of Pirates) although many
still find their way into other's hands.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2006, Kitsune. All rights reserved.