U.W.W. Ultima class System Defense Platform:

Some designs can only be considered obscene and the Ultima class system platform is definitely in this category. The platforms are far larger than any other starship designed by the United Worlds Warlock and is among the largest designs in the Three Galaxies. They are only used as a system defense platform on the largest and most important system within United World Warlock space. A total of fourteen platforms were built soon after the founding of the United Worlds Warlock but the platforms were considered too expensive to complete anymore. A total of only two platforms have been destroyed. There are many in the U.W.W. Navy that consider the platforms to simply be too expensive and obsolete. Most of them prefer more a mobile system defense such as Monitors. Some Naval leaders also prefer asteroid based platforms because they are far cheaper. The Ultima class system defense platforms had to be shipped in pieces and final construction was done within the system they are to protect. They were also incredibly expensive and took up to ten years to assemble. The construction of the Platforms was by Dwarven engineers, many who worked on the Dwarven Iron Ships. While the standard U.W.W. Monitor is also assembled in the system, they are much less expensive and can be assembled in a much quicker time-frame. While the system defense platforms are quite old, the military has been steadily upgrading their defense platforms with better electronics and improved point defense weaponry. Due to the extensive resources invested into the platforms, there is no plans to decommission the platforms but instead the platforms will receive a large scale upgrade. Only three platforms have been upgraded and many of the remaining platforms probably will not be for several decades. Upgrading mobile forces are considered a priority although fighters will probably be replaced on most platforms before upgrades are complete to the platforms.

One of the items that makes the Ultima so unusual is its appearance. While the U.W.W. Black Swan class battlecruisers look like ancient earth Battleships, the Ultima is very different. It has some similarities to a naval ship but is quite unusual when compared to them. Instead of a pointed bow and stern, the bow and stern of the vessel are virtually non existent and the vessel is virtually round. The platform shares many feature with Dwarven Iron Ships including the fact that the plates are actually riveted together on the platform and the Platform looks like something from ancient history. The plates which the platform are constructed from are not a high tech alloy but instead enchanted plates similar to those used on Dwarven Iron Ships. Most later ships, including the U.W.W. Battlecruisers use high tech alloy plates because they are far less expensive and easier to replace. Still, many features first mounted on the Ultima class were later used on the battlecruiser class. These include 16 inch flame cannons in triple turrets. The platform carries a total of twelve heavy mounts with eight on the top and four on the bottom. The firepower carried on the system defense platform is incredible. The thirty six flame cannons are capable of fighting virtually any ship within the Three Galaxies. One trick is to spin the platform at high speed and open fire with all weaponry at the same target. Due to the incredible firepower of the flame cannons, designers saw no need for secondary heavy weaponry and does not mount any heavy lasers like the Dwarven Iron ship. The platform mounts a single Rifts Cannon in its rounded bow. Point defense weaponry is scatted around the platform to protect it from missile strikes and fighters. These have been upgraded several times during the platforms' service and consist of four dozen Sub Particle Acceleration cannons and the same number of Twin TK-Machinegun turrets. In small bays around the platform are bottled demon launchers with eight on the forward, port, starboard, and aft sides. Under the top mounted forward, aft, and side turrets, the platform has large bays for embarked craft. While the platform does not mount any cruise missile launchers, many see the large large compliment of fighters compensating for this. The fighters carried on the platform is greater than most fleet carriers and they are the main long range striking ability of the system defense platform. Instead of a contra-grav sublight drive, the platform has a magical drive system similar to the Dwarven Iron Ship. The acceleration of the platform is much slower than that of most starships including capital ships. The platform lacks a Rifts Jump Drive and cannot travel between star systems. While the platform is incredibly well armored, it is also protected by a powerful Techno-Wizard force field. The platform is simply too large to have additional techno-wizard spells added although the platform does have twenty-four techno-wizard magical teleporters.

The upgraded version of the platform which incorporates many of the new systems carried on upgraded versions of the U.W.W. Battlecruisers. These upgrades are too extensive to be covered along with the standard platform and are covered separately. Both point defense and long range firepower is vastly increased in the upgraded version of the platform. Other upgrades include an additional belt of high tech alloy armor so the platform can withstand greater damage.

This starship design uses modified starship speed and ranges. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World for more details

Model Type: UW-SDP18
Vehicle Type: System Defense Platform
Crew: 2,210 (210 officers and 2,000 enlisted)
Troops: 1,200 Marines (Typically 600 stay on board for platform defense), 800 fighter pilots, 6000 Warlock Combat Armor pilots, and can carry up to 500 passengers in addition.

Vehicles:
Power Armors:

	4000	W-1 Warlock Combat Armors
	1000	W-F1 Flying Warlock Combat Armors

Fighter Compliment:

	480	WF-F15 Shadow Bolt Strike Ship
	160	NE-SF10 Broadsword or FB-49 Fire Eater (being upgraded to BIF-67 Katana with FTL boosters)
	60	WF-P60S Black Widow II Heavy Starfighters

M.D.C. by Location:

	Rifts Projector Cannon (One, Nose of Platform):	5,000
	Flame Cannon Barrels (36):	900 each
	Flame Cannon Turrets (12):	2,000 each
	Bottled Demon Missile Batteries (32):	600 each
	Sub Particle Acceleration Cannons (48):	100 each
	Twin TK-Machinegun Turrets (48):	140 each
	[1] Main Bridge:	40,000
	[1] Auxiliary Bridge:	40,000
	[1] Flag Bridge:	40,000
	[2] Main Body:	375,000
	Hangar Bays (4):	40,000 each
	[3] Main Engines (2, rear of ship):	60,000 each
	[4] Magical Armor of Ithan Force Field:	30,000

Notes:
[1] In reality this is how much damage needs to be done for a weapon to hit the bridge through the platform's armor. This ship also has both an auxiliary bridge and a flag bridge. Even if all three bridges are taken out, 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 ship's integrity can injure crew members on or near the bridge.
[2] Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the platform out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
[3] Destroying the main engines reduces maximum sublight speed by half.
[4] This is not a variable force field, but a magical shield that must be completely depleted. Once the shield has been knocked down, it will cost 3000 P.P.E. and require one minute ( 4 melees) of spellcasting to restore the force field.

Speed:
Driving on the ground: Not Possible
Water Surface: 30 knots (55.6 kph / 34.5 mph)
Underwater: 10 knots (18.5 kph / 11.5 mph)
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 0.2 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is 200 mph (321.9 kph), can enter an atmosphere and can leave but is not designed for atmospheric flight
Maximum Effective Range: Life support will keep crew alive for up to ten years, as long as the P.P.E. generators are kept in working order.

Statistical Data:
Height: 638 feet (194.5 meters)
Width: 2620 feet (708.6 meters)
Length: 3022 feet (921.1 meters)
Weight: 44.8 million tons fully loaded, plus up to 2 million tons of additional cargo.
Power System: Combination Fusion & Techno-wizardry with 20 year life span. The System Defense Platform also has a P.P.E. generator that produces 20,000 P.P.E. per hour / 80 P.P.E. per melee. This P.P.E. can be used to power spells cast by the platform's crew.
Cargo: Cargo Holds can hold up to 2 million tons of additional material. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. The Platform's officers have more space for personal items. Most of the platform's are take up by extra ammo, armor, troops, and weapons
Market Cost: The Platform costs 165 billion credits to construct. The platform is not for sale outside the UWW Armed Forces (The platform will not even be sold to U.W.W. member worlds)

Weapon Systems:

1. Rifts Projector Cannon: In the bow of the platform, such as it is, is large opening which is the main barrel of the cannon. The cannon creates a huge rift in front of the cannon that has a variable effect. This weapon can become a danger to the ship if it fails. The cannon has a 0.5% cumulative chance of failure (i.e., becomes 1% after two shots, 2% after four, and so on) if fired multiple times within a twenty four hour period. This cannon has penalties to strike small targets. For more information on the Rifts Projector Cannon on page 155 (Except ranges are 1000 times range in book in space)
   Maximum Effective Range: 50,000 miles (80,000 km) in space and 50 miles (80 km) in an atmosphere.
   Mega-Damage: Roll on Chart in Phase World Book page 156
   Rate of Fire: Can fire once per minute (4 melee rounds/ 60 seconds).
   Payload: Requires 1,000 P.P.E. per shot.
2. Twelve Triple Barrel Turrets with 16 Inch Flame Cannons (36 Cannons Total): While the cannons are virtually identical to those on the Dwarven Iron ship, the heavy battery of cannons gives the platform a very powerful punch. The platform has a total of eight turrets on the top and twelve turrets on the bottom of the platform, Each top turret can rotate 270 degrees and has a 60 degree arc of fire upwards and 15 degree arc of fire downwards. Each bottom turret can rotate 270 degrees and has a 15 degree arc of fire upwards and 60 degree arc of fire downwards. All the cannons in a turret can be fires as one or each barrel can be fired separately. The ship can fire three turrets forward, two turret aft of the ship, and can fire four turrets to the side of the ship. The ship will often engage attacking with the sides to increase the ships firepower. The cannons fires giant fireballs which can travel enormous distances. The cannons fire control is not designed to lock onto targets smaller than frigates but the cannons can be used to bombard planets as well.
   Maximum Effective Range: 20,000 miles (32,200 km) in space and 20 miles (32.2 km) in an atmosphere.
   Mega Damage: 1D4x1000 MDC each cannon and all three cannons in a turret can be combined for a total of 3D4x1000.
   Rate of Fire: Maximum of Two (2) times per melee per cannon (A total of 72 individual blasts or 24 triple blasts).
   Payload: Each cannon needs 1000 P.P.E. per day to function.
3. Sub Particle Acceleration Cannons (48) in Single Mounts: Mounted on top of the ship along the sides of the platform's hull in turrets. Cannons turrets can fire at up to a 90 degree angle up or 55 degree angle down and can rotate up to 360 degrees side to side. The gun does not have penalties to strike small targets. Uses the spell of the same name from page 143 of Federation of Magic. The spells must be renewed every two months (costs 400 PPE and 20,000 credits per Cannon) but during theat period the weapon can fire unlimited blasts
   Maximum Effective Range: 200 miles (320 km) in space. 2 miles (3.2 km) in an atmosphere.
   Mega Damage: 1D6x10+10 per cannon.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to gunners hand to hand (Usually 4 or 5).
   Payload: Unlimited, although the spells must be renewed every two months whether the cannons have been used or not.
4. Twin TK-Machineguns Turrets (48): these cannons are identical to those mounted in the Shadow Bolt Starfighter but are in twin mounts. Mounted on top of the platform in turrets. Cannons turrets can fire at up to a 90 degree angle up or 55 degree angle down and can rotate up to 360 degrees side to side. The gun does not have penalties to strike small targets. Because the cannons do damage by impact, they do full damage to targets that are using the spell impervious to energy. The spells must be renewed every two months (costs 400 PPE and 20,000 credits per Cannon) but during the period the weapon can fire unlimited blasts.
   Maximum Effective Range: 200 miles (320 km) in space and 2 miles (3.2 km) in an atmosphere.
   Mega Damage: 12D6 per burst for both cannons in a turret.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
   Payload: Unlimited, although the spells must be renewed every two months whether the cannons have been used or not.
5. Bottled Demon Missile Batteries (32): On each side of the hull the platform has eight bottle demon missile batteries. The missiles are literally demons summoned and bottled into a missile and are an aggressive and intelligent guidance system. The evil demons will continue to chase its target until destroyed (50 MDC to the missile). Bottled demons are slightly larger than mini-missiles and require special launchers. Missile has a top speed of Mach 10 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 2% of light per turn (slightly faster than any starship except if it is exceeding it maximum safe acceleration). Missiles are super smart and have +4 to strike and +5 to dodge. Unlike normal missile, the bottled demon does not explode and keeps striking at its target over and over. If the target is destroyed or vanishes, the missile disappears. Batteries can launch on multiple targets each.
   Maximum Effective Range: Effectively Unlimited! Once fired, the demon controlled and powered missile will fly and pursue the designated target until its target or the missile is destroyed (or the target vanished from sight, jumps away, or gets away by another means)
   Mega-Damage: 3D4x10 M.D. of magical energy every time the missile strikes (3% chance of releasing the demon every time it hits)
   Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two, three, four, or eight per battery.
   Payload: thirty two per battery for a total of 1024 bottled demon missiles.

[ Phase World TM, Naruni TM, Kreegor TM, UWW TM, and CAF TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

Drawing by Talis D. Merrill (taalismn@pop.tiac.net).

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 2004, Kitsune. All rights reserved.