Spacecraft Spotlight #5 The Firebird Trans-Martian Transport

Firebird-class Trans-Martian Transport

        As mentioned in Ships of the Black Desert: Phoenix Spaceplane, The civilian version of the Phoenix, the Firebird-class Spaceplane, is frequently the transport of choice for travels of from the UACS to Mars or other colonies and outposts in the Black Desert area of Deep space. 

INTERIOR

        The main differences between the Phoenix- and Firebird-class spacecraft lay in the Cargo Bay section of the respective spaceplanes.  The Firebird, in its passenger configuration at least, lacks a true Cargo Bay completely; the module is replaced with a Passenger Bay.  This independent module has its own power, life-support, and consumables and does not effect the systems of the parent craft in any significant way.

      Passenger Bay: This area of the Firebird spaceplane is the domain of paying customers taking the ten-week cruise to Mars.  The bulk of the compartment is occupied by eight cabins offering improved accommodations for their guests.  In addition to all of the amenities enjoyed by the crew in their cabins, each of these small staterooms have their own sink basins offering hot and warm water for convenience and hygiene purposes.
          Between these staterooms and the skin of the module are maintenance catwalks that offer access to the Passenger Bay's air scrubbers, consumables and supplementary atmosphere tanks.  There is an airlock at the aft of the Passenger Bay as well as pressure door access to the Firebird's Logistics Bay in the front.
          The fore of the Passenger Bay also houses the compartment's galley and lavatory.  These units are for all intents and purposes identical to the facility used by the crew, and any replacement parts or fabrication templates used by one set of hardware will work on the other.
          Directly in front of the catwalk access points are recharge points for a group of four steward robots.  These robotic servitors prepare the meals, perform routine maintenance, and generally look after the passengers welfare.

          LIFE ON BOARD
        The  passenger accommodations on board a Firebird spaceplane would be considered more than satisfactory if it were not for the length of the trans-Martian run.  With ten weeks to kill and only a few cubic meters of space to do it in, trips can easily become almost suicidally monotonous.  Fortunately, such accommodations are supplemented by a robust integrated virtual world system that allows passengers to occupy themselves in nearly anyway they can imagine.  In addition, most of the IPVs that such spaceplanes are linked to for the long orbit to Mars allow visits by passengers from their parasite craft.  Such visits cost an average of 70-80 LSU for a 24 hour pass, or 15-20 LSU for a four-hour "eating and entertainment" pass.  These types of passes include basic meals for the passenger; duty-free shops, casinos, and other such distractions can end up costing passengers much, much more.
          Another consideration is the cost/weight allowance passengers must contend with when planning their trips.  The base cost of transport to Mars from the surface of Terra on a Firebird is 5000 LSU.  This price allows a total passanger mass of 100 kgs - inluding luggage.  This means that an average mass male (around 90 kgs) may carry 10 kgs of luggage without penalty.  Larger passengers must either carry less luggage or pay a penalty fee of 10 LSU/kg.  Families may average their combined masses in order to avoid this by buying adult-rate tickets for their children and using the mass difference to carry extra luggage.
          Among other things, this kind of mass schedule is one of the origins of the traditional "bon voyage feast" served the first evening of an interplanetary voyage.

FOR THE GAME MASTER
         One of the major headaches for GMs in a Hard SF campaign is how to handle the long trip times between planets.  This is one of the reasons that IPVs in The Black Desert are so large and carry so many smaller craft with different passengers and crew.  A typical IPV will carry up to 14 passenger rockets docked on its centrifuges, which offer PC a large number of NPCs to interact with.  About three quarters of these will be Firebird/Phoenix spaceplanes, or Heinlein rockets.  Because of this, the above map and the Phoenix PDF can be used for as many as six different spacecraft docked to a IPV during the long flight to Mars.  This should afford enterprising Players many role-playing opportunities, and not a few potential combat scenarios as well.  It is illegal according to the Treaty of Mars to abandon a spacecraft in deep space; the worst that will happen to PC that start a ruckus on an IPV is confinement to their passenger craft of origin.  Of course, it is not unheard of for accidents to happen...

Firebird-class Trans-Martain Transport
All stats identical to the Phoenix spaceplane except:
Passengers: 16
Cargo Capacity: 1 ton (1.5 cubic meter)
Consumables: 1890 crew-days (9.5 metric tons)
Avionics: +2D

Spacecraft Spotlight #4: The Vojagi Commuter

A Vojagi in commercial livery.

        Sorry this is late, RocketFans; I hope you enjoy!
        
Imperial Japanese Aerospace Lines Vojagi 


INTRODUCTION
        With the success of the Vojagi Orbiter among the  private elite of the Siberian Empire, Imperial RKK Energya decided to release a commercial version for general use.  The Vojagi Commuter can be seen in aerospaceports around Terra and in orbit, ferrying passengers to and from the Empire's holdings.

CHANGES FROM THE ORIGINAL

          The main differences between a Vojagi Commuter and its luxury sister ships are the accommodations and number of passengers. The Passenger Deck on the Commuter is the location of the First Class compartment.  While fairly comfortable as far as public transportation goes, there are no private cabins or lounges.  Passengers sit in two rings facing the outer wall of the Vojagi's dorsal hull, opposite the spacecraft's viewports.  There is a basic galley as well, and a variable gravity lavatory.

First (above) and Standard Class

         The Standard Class passengers occupy two decks built into what would normally be the Vojagi's Cargo Bay.  The access tube to these decks is not offset as it normally is in the Vojagi's luxury variant; the extra space to the dorsal side of the tube holds the galley and lavatory facilities on these decks.  Accommodations are more cramped on these decks as well, and passengers here do not have windows.

LIFE ON BOARD
           Comfort, even for those in First Class, is simply not a priority.  Rockets of any kind are expensive to fly and maintain, therefore the largest number of passengers must be carried to offset costs.  That being said, the physics of high acceleration require a minimum of size and padding, so the seats on a Commuter are decent if not extraordinary.  Flights typically only last a couple hours for inter-continental flights and it takes at most a day to match orbits with most space stations in Low Earth Orbit, so any discomforts are short lived. 

FOR THE GM

         The Vojagi Commuters are a simple way for starting PCs to move about Terra and her orbits if they do not possess their own ship.  Their large passenger capacities and global itineraries allow GMs to introduce virtually any NPC their campaigns require.


ADVENTURE IDEAS

         Being the twenty-third century equivalent of a 747, the Vojagi Commuter can be used an any adventure that uses commercial aircraft with a little modification.  These include classics such as crash landings and hijackings, but can also include more creative ideas, such as medical emergencies, military attack, and any of the complications that can strike a craft in the vacuum in space.

Craft: Imperial RKK Energya Vojagi 2 Commuter

Type: Light Passenger Orbiter

Length: 22.5 meters

Skill: Spacecraft Operation: Vojagi Orbiter

Crew: 2 (NuApes)

Passengers: 20 first class; 52 standard, 72 total

Cargo Capacity: 5 metric tons

Safety Threshold: 5

Consumables: 110 crew days

Fusion Power? No

Acceleration: 1g

Delta V: 25

Hull Strength: 2D

Damage Range: 6

Avionics: +1D

Spacecraft Spotlight #3: The Angel

          Sorry about the delay....:)

“Doc-Woc” and the Angel

One of the more notorious forms of smuggling in the galaxy is drug trafficking. Next to slaving, no field of illicit commerce is as reviled as supply of harmful pharmaceuticals to the ne'er-do-wells across the planets. But not all who practice this trade are villains; as the forces of tyranny continue to oppress sentients throughout the stars, there are many who choose to smuggle not deadly drugs to fuel the underworld, but medicine.

Dr. Chigga Jaquin is one such smuggler. Once a successful physician, Dr. Jaquin was forced to watch as his prosperous home world was ground down under the heal of Imperial brutality. Never one to take arms, Jaquin instead worked as a surgeon in one of the many refugee camps that had come into being.

Even such horrid places were not exempt from the conquering empire's cuelty; when the camp's warden ordered a mass-execution because in response to the rumors of insurgent recruitment, Dr. Jaquin quietly left his world and vowed to alleviate the suffering he had seen anyway he could.

For the last three years, “Doc-Woc” has smuggled pharmaceuticals to refugee camps and insurgent units throughout the sector in a modified Starwell Tanker. He has numerous contacts among rebel groups and despite not being formally affiliated with any of any of them, he is generally trusted and can depend on them for help just as they depend on him for medical supplies.

GMs can use Doc-Woc and the Angel in a variety of ways. If PCs are a member of a rebel group, then Doc-Woc can, of course be a supplier vital to the war effort. If one or more of the PCs grew up in a refugee camp, or spent time in one, then perhaps Doc-Woc helped them more directly in the past. Alternately, Doc's trusted position as an independent means that in the event of his capture, rebel groups would most likely mount a rescue operation.

If the PCs are smugglers themselves, a character like Doc-Woc can provide an example of a fringer that still does their part to help save the galaxy. Starting PCs can be shown the ropes by Doc-Woc, who has learned quiet a few tricks and has many contacts in the galactic underworld.

Dr. Chigga “Doc-Woc” Jaquin

All stats 2D except:

Blaster 2D+2, Dodge 3D

Medicine 5D, Streetwise 3D+2

Starship Operation 3D+1, Starship Gunnery 2D+1

Stamina 2D+2

Character Points: 15

Move: 10

Equipment: Starwell Tanker (Angel), Blaster (3D), datapad, comlink, first-aid kit, 2,000 credits

Angel 

Craft: Universal Transports CL-3 Starwell

Type: Light tanker craft

Scale: Starfighter

Length: 22.5 meters

Skill: Space Transports; Starwell Tanker

Crew: 1

Crew Skill:

Passengers: up to 4

Cargo Capacity: 700 metric tons (liquid; 75 tons in

hidden compartments; up to 18 tons other)

Consumables: 3 months

FTL Multiplyer: x1

FTL Backup: x2

Astrogation Computer: yes

Maneuverability: 0D

Space: 4

Atmosphere: 480;800 kph

Hull: 4D

Shields: 1D

Sensors:

Passive: 10/0D

Scan: 25/1D

Search: 40/2D

Focus: 2/3D

Weapons:

Laser cannon

Fire Arc: turret

Crew: 1

Skill: Starship Gunnery

Fire Control:2D

Space Range: 1-3/12/25

Atmospheric Range: 100-300 m/1.2 km/2.5km

Damage: 4D

        I'm sure you've noticed that this month's spotlight lacks Saga Edition stats.  After getting some advice from an old master, I have reluctantly decided to forgo violating the Lucasfilm license even with freebies.  As a publisher, I cannot afford any hint of legal douche-baggery.  I apologize.

         Have a great weekend, RocketFans!

Spacecraft Spotlight #2: Tiantang de Gong-Class Station

     
Tiantang de Gong-class Station
The Zhang Qing-class Orbital Cutter is the backbone of the Chinese Alliance's new "One Gun Navy". These spartan vessels, being incapable of atmospheric reentry, must be resupplied and crewed in orbit. In order to facilitate this, the Alliance has created a handful of replenishment stations to service their spacecraft. These are the Tiantang de Gong-class space stations.

DESCRIPTION
The Tiantang de Gong (Heavenly Bow) stations are nearly as no-frills in their construction as the cutters they are meant to service. Consisting of a central core with a cargo airlock on one end and an avionics boom on the other, the Tiantangs are ringed with a set of four pressurized trusses around the midsection that end in docking airlocks. The main cargo airlock is used to dock the enormous cargo drones sent into orbit for resupply missions. These drones have space in the nose for passengers, and this is the usual manner for sending new crews into space.

A fully occupied station.

The docking trusses allow up to four Zhang Qings to use the station at once. Because the stations are radially symmetrical, the Tiantang de Gongs can be spun for artificial gravity. Usually, however, the stations are left without spin to facilitate the transfer of heavy cargo. Supplies such as propellant and lithium for the cutter's radiators are transferred externally, with the assistance of cargo arms that are mounted two to a truss. The crews' food and life support supplies are transferred internally via the stations cargo lock and then through the internal Cargo Bay and the docking trusses. Each truss also has two pair of radiators. These radiators are sufficient not only for the station's need, but can be used to dissipate the waste heat from the docked craft as well.
The Tiantang de Gong stations are powered by nano-batteries stored in the upper section of the central core. The batteries are recharged via the fusion reactors of the docked cutters during cargo transfers, making for an efficiently symbiotic relationship. Cargo transfers can take in upwards of twelve to twenty- four hours, with an average of six hours per Zhang Qing serviced. During these transfers, all ships are required to remain docked to the station.


THE INTERIOR
The deckplans for the Zhang Qing can be used for the interior of the Tiantang de Gong. The Cockpit is located in the upper deck, with the floor toward the avionics boom. The Habitat Deck for the station will have the Lavatory moved to the compartment that houses the Atmosphere Tanks. The galley is moved to the Mess compartment's area, and the station's larger Mess compartment is in the section of the Cargo/Supply Room closest to the Gym alcove. The Gym alcove itself is missing in the station. The additional empty spaces on the Habitat Deck are used for the airlocks to the docking trusses. There are an additional four free fall berths in these alcoves, for the temporary use of replacement crews. The cargo bay, which will be in between the Airlock Deck and Habitat Deck, is featureless save for the supplies stored within it. The Airlock Deck for the stations lack spacesuits; instead these compartments contain six emergency rescue balls that can be used to move trapped crew members.

The Tiantang's Habitat Deck

LIFE ON BOARD
The Tiantang de Gong space stations only offer their guest one luxury that the Zhang Qing cutters do not: company. During the course of cargo transfers, duty rosters are set up so that one crew is on station in their ship, one is moving cargo, and two are off duty. This gives each crew a twelve hour window where they can socialize with the crew of another craft, and any additional personnel that have been sent up as replacements. Seeing as how these cargo missions occur once a month during an average six-month deployment, The opportunity to rest in a compartment that is not on one's ship, and talk to people that one does not see every day is considered a luxury indeed. The most common disciplinary punishment used aboard the Zhang Qings is the restriction of off duty time spent in the Tiantang de Gong stations.
The amenities of the station are less appreciated by the replacement crew's coming aboard.  These fresh crews must tolerate crowded conditions, even less privacy than they will have aboard their Zhang Qings and are most likely enjoying the nausea that accompanies most people their first days in space. In addition is the depressing knowledge that at the end of their tours, these tiny stations will feel like the height of luxury. 


FOR THE GM
The Tiantang de Gong space stations have been released in open-source versions by the Chinese Alliance. This means that GMs can use the station design for virtually any small scale orbital facility around Terra, Mars or Luna. Some options include emergency way stations for damaged craft, laboratories and, with the addition of a pair of Conestoga rovers (minus their drive trains) on each docking truss, as orbital hotels or miniature colonies. Long term occupation will require either frequent resupply from the mother planet, or the addition of greenhouses and a reactor for power.



Tiantang de Gong-class Orbital Space Station

Craft: Zhang Qing-class Ordital Cutter

Type: Light Space Station

Length: 50 meters (diameter with trusses, core 6 meters)

Skill: Spacecraft Operation; Tiantang de Gong

Crew: none (transients only)

Passengers: up to 8

Cargo Capacity: 84 metric tons

Safety Threshold: 5

Consumables: 512 crew days (with cargo drone attached)

Fusion Power? No

Acceleration: none (stationary)

Delta V: none (stationary)

Hull Strength: 2D

Damage Range: 6

Avionics: +2D

Spacecraft Spotlight #1: The MaCO

         And here we are RocketFans, for the first installment of Spacecraft Spotlight! This month's article features free content for the Monarch-class Courier.

The MaCO

         The MaCO is the personal spacecraft of a Bothan slicer known only as "Cinnamon"  all records of her real identity have long since disappeared.  Cinnamon sells her services to the highest bidder.  She has been hired to hack corporate mainframes, divert military supply convoys and steal or erase sensitive data.  Cinnamon is politically amoral; prior to the Battle of Endor she helped the Alliance steal Imperial data on military troop movements, and afterworld she has done the same for the Imperial Remnant against the New Republic.

         The MaCO itself is one of the things that makes Cinnamon unique in the galactic underworld.  The MaCO (short for Master Control Override) is a modified Monarch-class Courier ship.  The most obvious modification is the addition of an after-market turret on the forward end of the ships dorsal blister.  The interior changes, however are much more extensive.  The Cockpit has been re-designed to be used by a pair of R3 series Astromechs; the seats have been removed and the flight control yokes have been replaced by droid interface sockets.  The rest of the lower deck is relatively intact, including the flight crew cabins and other amenities. Cinnamon often employs bodyguards and these organics use the accomadations on the lower deck.
      
          The MaCO's upper deck is much more extensively modified.  The Conference Room in the bow has been refitted as Cinnamon's personal quarters.  The Escape Pod Vestibule has been gutted and fitted out with the ship's life support machinery.  The six Executive Cabins have been filled with high speed computers that Cinnamon uses to ply her illicit trade with the help of another pair of modified R3s.

           The Dorsal Blister on the MaCO houses the ship's weapons systems.  The laser turret is mostly a distraction; it's under powered and designed to keep attackers busy while the ship's main weapons does it's work.  The MaCO's true armament is a high powered Comm array housed in the rest of the Blister.  The Comm can punch through shields with ease.  Once it has established a remote link with it's target, the MaCO's super-computers download a virus into the attacking vessel's computer systems.  This virus takes the target ship's shields and other essential systems off-line, allowing Cinnamon to finish off her prey at her leisure or simply to escape.

            Game Masters can use Cinnamon and the MaCO in a variety of ways. A group of low level PCs can be hired muscle for Cinnamon on one of her missions.  mid- to high-level PCs may want to hire her for some purpose that requires a top-notch slicer.  If the PC ever cross the Bothan or foul one of her schemes, she can make their lives very difficult indeed by erasing financial data, planting false warrants against them, or even outright identity theft.


Star Wars: The Role-Playing Game 2nd Edition stats

“Cinnamon”

Type: Bothan Slicer

DEXTERITY 3D

Blaster 5D+1, Dodge 5D
KNOWLEDGE 4D+2

Streetwise 6D
MECHANICAL 3D

Sensors 3D+2
PERCEPTION 4D
Bargain 4D+2, Con 6D+2

STRENGTH 1D+2

Stamina 2D+2
TECHNICAL 4D+2

Computer Programing/Repair 7D, Droid Programing 5D, Droid Repair 5D, Security 6D+1

Move: 10
Size: 1.3 meters
Equipment: Blaster (Dmg 3D), Comlink, Datapad

The  Master Control Override

Craft: Modified Trans-Tech CPT-12 Monarch-class Courier

Type: Executive Courier

Scale: Starfighter

Length: 22.5 meters

Skill: Space Transports

Crew: Up to 4 (skeleton 2)

Crew Skill: Droid Pilots (3D+1)

Passengers: Up 5

Cargo Capacity: 5 metric tons

Consumables: One month

Hyperdrive: x1

Hyperdrive Backup: x10

Nav Computer: Yes

Maneuverability: 2D

Space: 7

Atmosphere: 350; 1000 kph

Hull: 3D

Shields: 2D

Sensors:

Passive: 10/0D

Scan: 25/1D

Search: 40/2D

Focus: 2/3D

Weapons:

Double Light Laser Cannon (fire-linked)

Fire arc: Turret

Skill: Starship Gunnery

Fire Control: 1D

Space Range: 1-3/12/25

Atmosphere Range: 100-300m/ 1.2km/2.5km

Damage: 3D

Computer Virus

Fire Control: 8D

Effect: Upon a successful attack, the target vessel's computers shut down. The target ship's shields drop and it cannot take any actions for 2D rounds. A Very Difficult Computer Programing/Repair check can restore the target ship's systems.

Cost: Not available for sale

 



Star Wars: Saga Edition Stats

“Cinnamon”                                                                                                            CL6

Medium Bothan scoundrel 6

Destiny 1; Force 2; Dark Side 1

Init +10; Senses Perception +9

Languages Basic, Bothese

Defenses: Ref 19 (Flat-footed 18); Fort 16; Will 20

hp 39; Threshold 16

Speed 6 squares

Melee Unarmed +2 (1d4+2)

Ranged Blaster +8 (3D6+1)

Base Atk +4

Atk Options Precise Shot

Special Actions Gimmick, Master Slicer, Trace

Abilities Str 8; Dex 14; Con 10; Int 15; Wis 12; Cha 14

Talents Gimmick, Master Slicer, Trace

Feats Dodge, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Skill Focus (Gather Information, Use Computer), Toughness, Weapon Proficiency (pistol, Simple weapons)

Skills Deception +10, Gather Information +15, Initiative +10, Perception +9, Persuasion + 10, Use Computer +15

Possessions Blaster pistol, comlink, portable computer, security kit

Master Control Override                                                                                                CL8

Trans-Tech Monarch-class Courier                       

Colossal space transport

Int -3 Senses Perception +5

Defense Ref +6 (flat-footed 12); Fort 22; +11 armor

hp 120 DR 15; SR 25; Threshold 72

Speed fly 16 squares (max. velocity 1000 km/h), fly 4 squares (starship scales)

Fighting Space 12x12 or 1 square (starship scale); Cover total

Base Atk +0; Grp +32

Abilities Str 34, Dex 14, Con -, Int 14

Skills Initiative -3, Mechanics +5, Perception +5, Pilot -3

Crew 4 (droids); Passengers 5

Cargo 5 tons; Consumables 1 month; Carried Craft none

Hyperdrive x1 (backup x10), navicomputer

Availability Illegal; Cost Not available for sale

Light laser cannon (1 gunner) Atk +5; Damage 3d10x2

Computer Virus Atk Use Computer +25 (or character's Use Computer skill +10) vs. DC 30 Damage special: Upon a successful attack, the target vessels computers shut down. The target ship's shields drop and it cannot take any actions for 2d6 rounds. A DC 30 Use Computer check can restore the target ship's systems.