Spinward Flow
SOC-14 1K
Type ST Scout/X-Courier
:alpha: LBB2.81, TL=9
List Cost (new): MCr 32.1 (MCr 28.89 in volume)
Down Payment (new): MCr 6.42 (MCr 5.778 in volume)
Architect Fee: Cr 321,000
Annual Overhaul: Cr 32,100
Construction: 9 months
Bank Financing: Cr 66,875 per 2 weeks for 480 months
Life Support: Cr 4000 per 2 weeks (2 staterooms)
Crew Salaries: Cr 6600 per 2 weeks (Pilot-2/Navigator-2, Engineer-2/Gunnery-2)
Fuel: Cr 100 per ton (unrefined), Cr 0 (wilderness)
Berthing Fees: Cr 100 for 6 days, Cr 100 per day beyond 6 days
Mail Delivery revenue: Cr 25,000 revenue per delivery (LBB2.81, p9)
Interstellar Cargo Transport revenue: Cr 1000 per ton (LBB2.81, p8-9)
Interplanetary Charter revenue: Cr 1 per hour per ton of ship (Cr 100 per hour), minimum 12 hours (LBB2.81, p9)
Interstellar Charters (2 weeks) revenue: Cr 900 per ton of cargo (10 tons internal @ Jump-2 ... or ... 10 tons internal and up to 100 tons external @ Jump-1) (LBB2.81, p9)
Overhead costs (2 weeks = 1 jump) with Wilderness Refueling
Bank Financing + Life Support + Crew Salaries + 6 days Berthing Fees = Cr 77,575
X-mail Delivery revenue: Cr 25,000 (LBB2.81, p9)
Breakeven Cargo Transport: Cr 52,575 =
53 tons ![Eek! :eek: :eek:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Overhead costs (2 weeks = 1 jump) with Starport Unrefined Fuel
Bank Financing + Life Support + Crew Salaries + 30 tons of Fuel + 6 days Berthing Fees = Cr 80,575
X-mail Delivery revenue: Cr 25,000 (LBB2.81, p9)
Breakeven Cargo Transport: Cr 55,575 =
56 tons ![Eek! :eek: :eek:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
So ... this is where things start to look somewhat ridiculous from a Merchant Prince standpoint, and this might need a bit of explanation. :coffeegulp:
The stock and standard LBB2.81 TL=9 Type S Scout/Courier can, with some almost trivial modifications to convert it for purpose, make an EXCELLENT light external cargo tug transport with operating costs so exceptionally low that it can earn a profit with as little as 60 tons of cargo transport (10 tons internal, 50 tons external) on a Jump-1 main trading route.
The maximum cargo transport capacity of this conversion is (up to 5 tons of) X-mail capacity (see: Courier for reasons why), 10 tons of internal cargo and up to 100 tons of external cargo at Jump-1, Maneuver-1 drive capacity.
If using my proposed house rule that only major cargo, which comes in 10 ton increments (LBB2.81 p8), can be transported externally (the 10 ton containers are "space worthy"), this means that a converted ST Scout/X-Courier is capable of clearing a profit of as much as Cr 57,425 per Jump-1 every 2 weeks with a full transport manifest of 10 tons of internal cargo and 100 tons of external cargo (110 tons of combined cargo capacity) ... even while financed under a bank loan for 480 months.
o:
Naturally, the profit margin potential is much higher if the starship is paid off.
Logistically speaking, for deliveries the best option is going to be orbital starport to orbital starport ... but if a surface pickup to surface delivery is required, the ST Scout/X-Courier is actually capable of making multiple surface to orbit transits ferrying individual 10 ton major cargo containers inside the internal cargo bay one at a time under 2G maneuver drive capacity. So pickups and deliveries to surface facilities planetside are certainly possible to accomplish, provided there is sufficient overwatch capability by system defense assets to ensure that cargo left in orbit will not be stolen by other parties (and/or pirates).
Because of these logistical considerations, ST Scout/X-Couriers strongly favor interstellar routes to star systems with type A and B starports only, both for their highport facilities in orbit and a strong enough system defense boat presence to keep order and deter pirates, with a strong preference for mainworlds with higher rather than lower populations so as to support their financial imperative to transport cargo (so avoid going to population 4- worlds). These starships have a necessarily limited capacity to profit from speculative cargo opportunities due to their limited internal cargo hold space, but high value speculative cargoes can be transported by these ships for sale in other star systems at considerable profit on an intermittent basis.
To be honest ... being able to shift that much cargo externally on such a small (and cheap!) starship almost feels "broken" (in more than one sense) ... but the capability IS there in the starship design details (you just need to know how to look for them).
In terms of modification to the stock Type S Scout/Courier, all that needs to happen is the following:
o: than the armed Type ST Scout/X-Courier does. ![Eek! :eek: :eek:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
This in turn means that the Type ST Scout/X-Courier costs Cr 600 less per year to overhaul and maintain than stock Type S hulls do.
I can even envision scenarios in which the "conversion" of a stock Type S to a Type ST by a shipyard is essentially "free" to the starship owner, simply because the systems being pulled out (2 staterooms, 1 air/raft) have a higher value (MCr 1.6) than the replacement systems do (MCr 1 to arm the dual turret), in which case the "cost" of the conversion is the MCr 0.6 difference in value getting claimed by the shipyard as their price for completing the work (MCr 0.279 equates to 8.5-8.7 annual overhauls) as well as the applicable architect's fees (MCr 0.321).
Note that this conversion to a Type ST can just as easily be performed on a 40 year old surplus Type S Scout/Courier.
The mix of skills for the 2 crew (Pilot-2/Navigator-2, Engineering-2/Gunnery-2) are considered an optimal baseline, as opposed to being the minimum required by regulations, in order to keep the starship in good working order and operational condition with a minimum of outside support.
:alpha: LBB2.81, TL=9
Code:
Tons MCr Item
---- --- ----
3 Standard 100 ton Hull (Streamlined)
10 10 Jump-A (2, Scout drive)
1 4 Maneuver-A (2)
4 8 Power Plant-A (2)
20 Jump Fuel (2 parsecs)
20 Powerplant Fuel (4 weeks)
20 0.5 Bridge (Scout avionics)
1 4 Computer model/1bis (TL=6)
0.1 Hardpoints (1)
1 1.5 Dual Turret (1, Misslie rack, Sandcaster)
8 1 2 Staterooms for 2 Crew (single occupancy)
5 Mail Vault
10 Cargo
---- --- ----
100 32.1 Total
Code:
Scout/X-Courier ST-12266R1-020000-00001-0 MCr 28.89 100 tons
batt bearing 1 1 Crew=2. TL=9.
batteries 1 1 LBB2.81 design.
Passengers=0 (1 possible). Cargo=5+10. Fuel=40. EP=2. Agility=2.
0.1-100 tons external cargo: Jump-1, Maneuver-1, Agility=1.
List Cost (new): MCr 32.1 (MCr 28.89 in volume)
Down Payment (new): MCr 6.42 (MCr 5.778 in volume)
Architect Fee: Cr 321,000
Annual Overhaul: Cr 32,100
Construction: 9 months
Bank Financing: Cr 66,875 per 2 weeks for 480 months
Life Support: Cr 4000 per 2 weeks (2 staterooms)
Crew Salaries: Cr 6600 per 2 weeks (Pilot-2/Navigator-2, Engineer-2/Gunnery-2)
Fuel: Cr 100 per ton (unrefined), Cr 0 (wilderness)
Berthing Fees: Cr 100 for 6 days, Cr 100 per day beyond 6 days
Mail Delivery revenue: Cr 25,000 revenue per delivery (LBB2.81, p9)
Interstellar Cargo Transport revenue: Cr 1000 per ton (LBB2.81, p8-9)
Interplanetary Charter revenue: Cr 1 per hour per ton of ship (Cr 100 per hour), minimum 12 hours (LBB2.81, p9)
Interstellar Charters (2 weeks) revenue: Cr 900 per ton of cargo (10 tons internal @ Jump-2 ... or ... 10 tons internal and up to 100 tons external @ Jump-1) (LBB2.81, p9)
Overhead costs (2 weeks = 1 jump) with Wilderness Refueling
Bank Financing + Life Support + Crew Salaries + 6 days Berthing Fees = Cr 77,575
X-mail Delivery revenue: Cr 25,000 (LBB2.81, p9)
Breakeven Cargo Transport: Cr 52,575 =
Overhead costs (2 weeks = 1 jump) with Starport Unrefined Fuel
Bank Financing + Life Support + Crew Salaries + 30 tons of Fuel + 6 days Berthing Fees = Cr 80,575
X-mail Delivery revenue: Cr 25,000 (LBB2.81, p9)
Breakeven Cargo Transport: Cr 55,575 =
So ... this is where things start to look somewhat ridiculous from a Merchant Prince standpoint, and this might need a bit of explanation. :coffeegulp:
The stock and standard LBB2.81 TL=9 Type S Scout/Courier can, with some almost trivial modifications to convert it for purpose, make an EXCELLENT light external cargo tug transport with operating costs so exceptionally low that it can earn a profit with as little as 60 tons of cargo transport (10 tons internal, 50 tons external) on a Jump-1 main trading route.
The maximum cargo transport capacity of this conversion is (up to 5 tons of) X-mail capacity (see: Courier for reasons why), 10 tons of internal cargo and up to 100 tons of external cargo at Jump-1, Maneuver-1 drive capacity.
If using my proposed house rule that only major cargo, which comes in 10 ton increments (LBB2.81 p8), can be transported externally (the 10 ton containers are "space worthy"), this means that a converted ST Scout/X-Courier is capable of clearing a profit of as much as Cr 57,425 per Jump-1 every 2 weeks with a full transport manifest of 10 tons of internal cargo and 100 tons of external cargo (110 tons of combined cargo capacity) ... even while financed under a bank loan for 480 months.
Naturally, the profit margin potential is much higher if the starship is paid off.
Logistically speaking, for deliveries the best option is going to be orbital starport to orbital starport ... but if a surface pickup to surface delivery is required, the ST Scout/X-Courier is actually capable of making multiple surface to orbit transits ferrying individual 10 ton major cargo containers inside the internal cargo bay one at a time under 2G maneuver drive capacity. So pickups and deliveries to surface facilities planetside are certainly possible to accomplish, provided there is sufficient overwatch capability by system defense assets to ensure that cargo left in orbit will not be stolen by other parties (and/or pirates).
Because of these logistical considerations, ST Scout/X-Couriers strongly favor interstellar routes to star systems with type A and B starports only, both for their highport facilities in orbit and a strong enough system defense boat presence to keep order and deter pirates, with a strong preference for mainworlds with higher rather than lower populations so as to support their financial imperative to transport cargo (so avoid going to population 4- worlds). These starships have a necessarily limited capacity to profit from speculative cargo opportunities due to their limited internal cargo hold space, but high value speculative cargoes can be transported by these ships for sale in other star systems at considerable profit on an intermittent basis.
To be honest ... being able to shift that much cargo externally on such a small (and cheap!) starship almost feels "broken" (in more than one sense) ... but the capability IS there in the starship design details (you just need to know how to look for them).
In terms of modification to the stock Type S Scout/Courier, all that needs to happen is the following:
- - 2 staterooms (8 tons, MCr 1)
- - Air/Raft (4 tons, MCr 0.6)
- - 3 ton cargo bay (3 tons)
- + 1 Missile Rack (MCr 0.75)
- + 1 Sandcaster (MCr 0.25)
- + All new life support system
- + 5 ton Mail Vault (5 tons)
- + 10 ton cargo bay (10 tons)
This in turn means that the Type ST Scout/X-Courier costs Cr 600 less per year to overhaul and maintain than stock Type S hulls do.
I can even envision scenarios in which the "conversion" of a stock Type S to a Type ST by a shipyard is essentially "free" to the starship owner, simply because the systems being pulled out (2 staterooms, 1 air/raft) have a higher value (MCr 1.6) than the replacement systems do (MCr 1 to arm the dual turret), in which case the "cost" of the conversion is the MCr 0.6 difference in value getting claimed by the shipyard as their price for completing the work (MCr 0.279 equates to 8.5-8.7 annual overhauls) as well as the applicable architect's fees (MCr 0.321).
Note that this conversion to a Type ST can just as easily be performed on a 40 year old surplus Type S Scout/Courier.
The mix of skills for the 2 crew (Pilot-2/Navigator-2, Engineering-2/Gunnery-2) are considered an optimal baseline, as opposed to being the minimum required by regulations, in order to keep the starship in good working order and operational condition with a minimum of outside support.
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