Q-Ships are a relatively simple design and are easy to built. They are Merchant ship designs converted to warships while still appearing to be merchant ships. There are many different versions of Q-Ships, some are just regular merchant ships with just a few added weapon systems while others are virtually completely rebuild or are new construction. They come in various different sizes with some being the size of Corvettes while others being as large as heavy cruisers. Various governments use the ships for various missions including anti-piracy, privateer, and special secret missions. Some Independent defense forces use these ships for anti-piracy patrols with these ships hiding within a convoy. They might also be used to make the initial attack with warships behind them by the more belligerent powers such as the Trans-Galactic Empire.
It is suspected by some within the Consortium that these type of ships and others which are similar are sold to independent parties by the Trans-Galactic Empire and other less savory governments and companies. Independent parties often means pirates, of course. In most cases, the suspected sources of these ships deny that they provide the ships but it can be seen by the construction techniques who constructed the vessels. Still, some of the ships which find their way into pirates hands are from more respected governments which were disposed of and then sold on the black market. As well, pirates will sometimes refit a vessel on their own using an abandoned asteroid yard or other out of the way location.
The class listed here assuming a ship which is around the size of a large destroyer and is slightly larger than a Scimitar class patrol vessel. The class is considered to be around the same size as a typical merchant ship and is sometimes called a "Tramp Freighter." The hardware carried on the vessel in mostly of Consortium design although similar vessels are built using Kreeghor hardware. 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. Due to this, the new construction ships are tougher and are able to withstand additional damage. All vessels have the bridge armored to withstand additional damage from hits on the bridge. These ships have a good chance of winning against the slightly smaller Scimitar class patrol vessel and might even be able to defeat an escort cruiser in the right situation. Against such ships as a larger cruiser such as a Warshield class cruiser, these ships have very little hope of victory in a one-on-one battle.
Most ships traveling through the Three Galaxies have at least some light weaponry and the vessel carries the standard weaponry of a merchant ship so that it does not appear unusual. This includes on most vessels, four light laser batteries and four medium range missile batteries although the missile batteries have been modified with greater payload and rate of fire. The true firepower of the ship is in concealed weapon systems which take up most of the cargo space in the vessel. 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. 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. The concealed weaponry includes both powerful energy weapon mounts and missile systems. For missiles, the ships carry a heavy cruise missile battery. Although payload is limited, the weapon system has the ability to fire incredible volleys of missiles for a ship its size while payload holds out. The ship also has triple mounts in the front of the ship which are concealed when not being fired. Six 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.
While weapons are the most important upgrades to the vessel design, many other modifications are made to the design. The standard merchant shields are replaced by full variable shields like those carried on warships and the design carries military radiation and particle shields. The sensors of the ship are upgraded to military quality and generally about equal to most sensors carried on destroyer class vessels. To hide all of the internal systems and special equipment, the ship is protected from internal scans by a stealth system that gives false readings like those reading you would get from a normal merchantman. The propulsion system are standard for a merchant ship because the engine would be expensive to replace and the ship is a bit on the slow side compared to many destroy classes.
For fighter support, the ship has a small concealed hanger to carry six small fighters. The space is where the ship would normal have the main cargo hatch. Common fighters carried include the Scorpion light starfighter, Tanto light starfighter, Bobcat light starfighter, or even the Kitten trainer configured to a light starfighter configuration. In some cases, Kittani Robot Fighters or Avenger Power Armors are carried in the place of the light starfighters. In addition to carrying the fighters, the ship can also carry up to forty small to medium power armors. 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: CML-1200Q
Vehicle Type: Q-Ship (Built on a Merchantman type hull)
Crew: 65 (5 Officers and 60 enlisted)
Troops: 80 Marines, 12 fighter pilots
Vehicles:
| 6 | Small Starfighters (Common fighters include Scorpion, Tanto, Bobcat, and Kitten fighters) | |
| 40 | Light or Medium Power Armors (Commonly Silver Hawk Power armors). |
| M.D.C. By Location: | Rebuilt Vessel: | New Construction: |
| Concealed Heavy Particle Beam (3): | 650 each | 800 each | |
| Laser Batteries (4): | 500 each | 500 each | |
| Concealed Variable Focus Particle Beam (6): | 200 each | 300 each | |
| Concealed Cruise Missile Batteries (2): | 800 each | 1,000 each | |
| Medium Range Missile Batteries (4): | 300 each | 450 each | |
| Concealed Fighter Hanger Doors (2): | 500 each | 600 each | |
| [1] Contra-Grav Engines (2): | 2,000 each | 2,500 each | |
| [2] Bridge: | 1,500 | 2,000 | |
| [3] Main Body: | 5,000 | 6,000 | |
| [4] Variable Force Field: | 1,000 side (6,000 total) | 1,000 side (6,000 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% (300 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. Star Ship can accelerate/decelerate
at the rate of 0.7 percent of light per melee. Ship has had the merchant
radiation and particle shields replaced with military ones.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is 300 mph ( 482 kph),
can enter an atmosphere because flight system is by contra grav.
Stardrive: Uses a Gravitonic Drive system that allows the ship
to reach a maximum of 3 light years per hour.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by either Drive system.
Carries about three years worth of supplies on board.
Statistical Data:
Length: 600 feet (182.9 meters)
Height: 70 feet (21.3 meters)
Width: 90 feet (27.4 meters)
Mass/ Weight: 13,000 tons (11,800 metric tons)
Power System: Fusion with a 20 year life span. 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 2,000 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: 340 million credits for a rebuilt ship and 420
million 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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