clipper boats compete in interstellar commerce by carrying, not high cargo volumes, but rather high-value cargos, across j2 or greater distances. this allows them to cross trade lane rifts where the subsidized j1 boats cannot go, and to outpace slower traders to critical markets even along j1-dominated routes. lower tech clipper ships are fixed in their jump and cargo capacity and thus limited in their applicability and routes, but the estrella ràpida class, built by palique, takes advantage of tech 14 gravitic competence to create dual purpose jump fuel tanks / cargo decks, allowing the estrella ràpida class some flexibility in cargo volume and jump destinations. it takes a shrewd trader, a good navigator, and a competent crew to make this concept work, but there are many merchants in the spinward marches ready to step up to the challenge.
Code:
tail number and name
ics cf48-1102-007
ics high flyer
classification
la estrella ràpida class cargo/passenger clipper
builder
gran puerto del sol de palique
tech 14
245.35 MCr initial, 196.28 MCr production
21 built
hull
400 dtons, cone, streamlined, fuel intake/scoops
standard 2-seat bridge, standard sensor mounts, standard comms
tech 14 computer
sensor suite 5 ( 0 energy points required)
jump 3 (12 energy points required for jump 3, 8 for jump 2, 4 for jump 1)
maneuver 2 ( 8 energy points required)
power plant (12 energy points generated)
damage control station
fuel
jump - one fixed fuel tank 40 dtons
(jump - two flex purpose fuel/cargo decks 40 dtons ea) see cargo
power plant - one fixed fuel tank 12 dtons
fuel purifier
accomodations
10 crew cabins and lounge, 2 holobooths
8 passenger cabins and lounge, 2 holobooths
12 lowberths, dedicated full service bay
2 standard general purpose 0.5 dton robot bays
vehicles
standard airraft
airraft garage with locker, stage, and gravitic deploy/retrieval system
cargo
62 dtons fixed cargo deck with full gravitic/rail cargo-handling outfit
(two flex purpose fuel/cargo decks 40 dtons ea with gravitic cargo-handling outfit) see fuel
weapons
1 triple turret 3 beam lasers tech 14 (factor 4)
gunnery station
backup battery (6 energy point actions)
1 triple turret 3 missile launchers tech 14 (factor 3)
gunnery station
reload magazine auto loading/deloading rail (9 missiles)
backup battery
defenses
armor 0+6(6)
2 triple turrets 3 sand casters each tech 14 (factor 6)
reload magazine ea auto loading/deloading rail (9 sand cannisters ea)
backup battery ea
crew, official
pilot/navigator
navigator/pilot
steward
chief engineer
chief gunner
security officer
ship's medic
deckhand
assistant engineer
assistant gunner
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