Story:
Week 4
121-1106
0945 ST
Boughene/Regina (Spinward Marches 1904)
Boughene Station
General Products Offices Module 16
Conference Room 4
"We don't have the technology to replace your ship's Stellar Collector," says the beleaguered executive from across the table. "That's kind of why we took on the overhaul -- to learn how to build them." He sighs. "We can do the Jump Drives out of spares. The Collector will have to be a Particle Collector type, sourced from Rhylanor. And the best they'll sell the public is Collector-2."
"That's the type that can work in deep space, right?" I ask. "Fine. I'll take one. Let me know when you get it. In the meantime, your insurance should be providing a replacement. What's available?"
He replies, "It'll be at least 8 weeks before we can confirm if we can even
get a Collector from Rhylanor. Just be aware that the 'replacement' might end up being permanent. Are you sure you wouldn't rather settle for the cash value of the
Annic Nova right now?"
"Seriously? Right now, it's practically scrap! No."
"You know what I meant -- what it was worth when you brought it in."
"It was worth more than it seemed, but that's not important. I want it back and I want it spaceworthy. It's the principle of the thing. And about the replacement..."
The executive looks at his datapad, then back up. "Subsidized liner. Same tonnage, same jump range, and we have one to spare. Fair?"
I try to recall that class's specifications. "Unstreamlined and no fuel shuttles -- it'll need to rely on starports. That's a problem, since we're planning a research trip to some places that don't have highport facilities."
Zaz does some quick research as I speak, and adds, "Captain, the Nova's pinnaces won't fit in the cargo hold either, so that's not available as a work-around for refueling." He's back to his usual calm demeanor again, all business.
"Are you sure that won't work for you? We can arrange a subsidy route."
"I'm not concerned with money right now, and there's the research trip. It's not our first choice anyhow. What do you know about the
Albatross?"
The executive's technical assistant fiddles with his datapad, then the executive quickly looks at his own, quizzically. "Well, it has an appropriate name. Third time in two years we've taken the title back. Makes sense though -- kind of hard to turn a profit when more than half of it's the fuel tank. We were planning to strip it for its drives if we can't sell it again." He pauses. "You're serious, aren't you. We can make it happen, but I hope you weren't kidding about not being concerned with money."
"It'll do," I reply. "Give it an overhaul and we'll take it. You can have it for the drives when you're done fixing
Annie."
"Everyone wants a hot rod, don't they? We can tack on some cargo pods for you, it'll cover its costs on the Feri run with those."
"Feri? Not going back
there again if I can help it. No cargo pods please, but thanks."
Reference:
Distant Merchant (Type M5): Using a non-standard 600-ton hull, the Distant Merchant is a long-range cargo transport. It has a Jump Drive-Q, Maneuver Drive-F, and Power Plant-Q, giving performance of Jump-5 and 2-G acceleration. There is fuel tankage for 350 tons, sufficient for the power plant and one Jump-5. Adjacent to the bridge is a computer Model/5. There are ten staterooms and eight low berths. One triple turret is installed, armed with a missile launcher, beam laser, and a sandcaster. There are two other hardpoints, each with one ton set aside for turret installation. There are no ship’s vehicles. Cargo capacity is 41 tons plus two tons storage space at the unused hardpoints. Two staterooms are available for passengers. The hull is streamlined.
The Distant Merchant requires a crew of eight: pilot, navigator, gunner, medic, and four engineers. Up to two more gunners may be employed if additional turrets are mounted; they occupy the passenger staterooms. The ship costs MCr408.2 individually and takes 24 months to build.
Note: The deck plan descriptions start at the end of the thread's first page. The original deck plans that they accompanied were lost in the October 2021 forum transition, so I re-uploaded them at the end of the thread. It's a little bit confusing.
Commentary:
Looks like the protagonists will need to find yet another engineer... and they've already lost their good navigator/trader. It'll be a few weeks before it's ready, so there's time.
The
Albatross is about 20 years old, so it's depreciated below the estimated MCr300 replacement value of the
Annic Nova (the Liner was newer). And yes, it's a Collace-built ship from the original production run. This means they're indigenous
naval production (this LBB5 rule allows Collace's Class B starport to build it), therefore the drives are hardened to tolerate unrefined fuel. The sensors? Haven't decided yet if they're Scouts/Military grade, but they could be.
