InSat-12 Interdiction Satellite (images)

[Beerfume]

The latest spacecraft posted to my blog as part of my A-Z Blog Challenge: I is for Interdiction.

 

[McPerth]

IMHO you forgot an interdiction cause for both, Amber and Red zones: navigation hazards.

See that in the initial description of Regina subsector in TTB (page 156)Shionthy is said to be interdicted (Red Zone) due to extreme danger in navigation...

 

[Beerfume]

... navigation hazards

Good point. And also an easy way to slip in a NAV skill role. Does anyone else have ideas to add?

 

[Whipsnade]

Thanks for this and thanks for your blog too.

I especially like the fact that your "InSat" is laser armed. I only know of two previous "InSat" designs - on in White Dwarf and another in the IISS Ship Files book - and they both were missile armed. Missiles to me means resupply and ammo issues something beams needn't worry about.

On one hand, I can understand missiles, especially nukes, because they're a "one shot/one kill" weapon against PC-sized ships. On the other hand, I prefer beams because they can fire as long as they're powered. On the gripping hand, I tend to believe missiles were chosen by those previous designers as built-in plot hooks; "We've got to get those missile reloads to the sat off Arglebargle-IX soonest!", and because PCs can more easily "spoof" or otherwise work around them than energy weapons; "Now's our chance! The Bargleargle-XI sat is down to one reload!"

If the Imperium asked me to design an interdiction satellite, it would sport a TL14, 50dTon, fusion gun bay that could reach out to 5 Mayday hexes and land some factor-9 sized hurt on somebody. I'd stick some in long period orbits and natural satellite LaGrange points too.

Thanks again and thanks again for your blog!

 

[McPerth]

I agree with Whipsnade, but I'd use a solar powered satellite instead of a fusión powered one, to ease even more the supply needs.

Here's one that I designed many years ago for MT (robot brain on CT:LBB8, as the Robot book for MT did not exist by then), thought as an armed powersat to fill both, the power and defense needs, for small to médium pop worlds unable to afford a true planetary navy:

Craft ID:	Last Ditch defense/powersat drone, TL: 15, MCr: 18.68856

Hull:		8/18  Disp:  8 ton, Config:  7 USL, Armor: 40 G
		Unloaded: 80.3154 ton, Loaded: 85.0954 ton

Power:		5/10 Solar 502.2 Mw, Duration: infinite

Locco:		1/2 StdGrav 15 TT. 0.17G acceleration (station keeping)
		
Commo:	              Maser: Planetary

Sensors:	              PasEMS: System,		ActEMS: none
		Densiometer: LowPen 250m,Neutrino: 10 kw
		ActObjScan: none, 		ActObjPin: none
		PasObjScan:  routine,		PasObjPin: routine
		PasEngScan: simple,		PasEngPin: routine

Off:		Fusion		0  0  5
		Batt		        1
		Bear		        1

Deff:		DefDM: +2

Controls:	Computer:  Robot brain (see notes), Panel: computer link x 2
		Environ: none

Accom:	        Crew: none

Other:	        Robot brain: CPU: parallel x 21, synaptic x 14
				Storage: standard x 30, synaptic x 6
				Fundamental command: full command
				Fundamental logic: high autonomous
			        Int: D; Ed: 4 (A)
			        Skills: Grav vehicle 1, sensor ops 1, commo 2, mech 1
			        Electronics 1, engineering 1, gunnery 4
Fuel:            1 kl; Cargo:  3.78 kl (usually used for spares)
		ObjSize: small, EmLevel: none

Notes:	        Standard mode: sending 500 Mw by maser beam to rectennas on ground
                All programs but gunnery on CPU. Gunnery on storage.
                Combat mode: stops sending energy and uses it for fusion gun. Gunnery 
	        on CPU. Mech, electronics and engineering on storage.

Of course, if it is not needed to send power to the planet, some of its capability is not needed...

The fuel is in fact more ammo than fuel (see this thread for my thinking on it)

 

[AnotherDilbert]

A satellite that cannot manoeuvre is easy to kill with missiles (or rocks) from a stand-off position.

A M-1 drive is rather cheap and makes the satellite much more survivable.

An extendable solar panel would be an excellent way to extend time on station. Power-hungry systems could be powered by batteries for a short time.

 

[Beerfume]

Another spacecraft posted to my blog as part of my A-Z Blog Challenge: K is for K'kree - a 1,000 ton K'kree Courier.

 

[Kaeto]

Another spacecraft posted to my blog as part of my A-Z Blog Challenge: K is for K'kree - a 1,000 ton K'kree Courier.

Modify it for human use and call it the Jupiter 2.

 

[Jame]

I enjoy this, especially the reasons for the interdiction.

Too bad you live on the other side of the US from me or I'd see about a game.