HDE R&D: The Messiah
Messiah Class Light Destroyer
General Information
Vessel Classification
Light Destroyer
Vessel Design
Combat Support Ship
Manufactured By
Imperial Fleet Systems
Particulars
Craft
Messiah Class Light Destroyer
Length Over All
215 meters
Operational Range (without dry-dock)
1 year
Decks
22
Escape Pod Units
14
Computer Core
Com/Scan Military Grade Core
Sensor Package
Industrial Standard Military Grade Sensor Package
Crew
110 Total
Power plant
LFX Industrial Nova Mark VI Reactor (Type: B)
Engines
NovaDex Type AA-42 Ion Engines
Sublight Speed: 45 MGLT
Atmosphere Speed: 1210 kph
Shield Generators
Main: 2 x LFX Optex omni directional shield generators
Rating: 650 SBD
Backup: 2 x LFX Opticon omni directional shield generators
Rating: 350 SBD
Hull Make-up
Molecularly bonded varidium alloy reinforced with aegissteel
Integrity: 700 RU
Weapons Compliment
<li> 2 x Quad Heavy Turbolaser Turrets
<li> 8 x Dual Heavy Turbolaser Turrets
<LI> 2 x Torrential Missile Racks
<font size=1><li type=square> Wing mounted
<li type=square> Yield: 1-8 missiles each (depending on type)</font>
<LI> 6 x TriCannon Mounts
<font size=1><li type=square>Each mount contains two laser cannons and one light ion cannon</font>
<LI> 4 x Heavy Ordnance Launchers
Hanger Compliment
None
Surface Compliment
<li> 1 Sqaudron Shock Troopers
Stealth Package
Stealth Plating (see below)
Additional Information
When designers with LFX Industrial were assigned to the Twilight Project, they were told to create a vessel capable of entering an enemy system invisibly and delivering massive amounts of damage against enemy positions, and a ship capable of acting as a combat support ship for the fleet. However, the stealth gear and special systems required to make the Twilight as silent as she is took up vast amounts of room inside the ship, and designers were strictly forbidden from breaching one hundred meters with the Twilight design.
Instead, they began to work on another project, using funding from the Twilight project to create another, larger, ship: the Rapier Class Corvette. LFX Industrial eventually uncovered the second project and shut it down, ordering the researchers to stick to the Twilight design only. The Rapier design was shelved and forgotten.
Nearly a year later, with the Great War ended and the Twilight entering service at long last, the new leaders of the now-Holy Demosthesian Empire came to an agreement regarding the Twilight Gunships: they were excellent, capable fighting machines, but were not suited for close support. It was decided to approve a new design: the Messiah.
The Messiah called upon the same researchers who had created the Twilight, a request for a similar warship capable of delivering more damage and serving strictly in a support role, without the stealth capabilities of the Twilight. The designers took their existing designs for the Rapier vessel and adapted them to the needs of the Empire, creating the Messiah Class vessel.
Dubbed a ‘Light Destroyer’ by the Admiralty, the Messiah is a light, fast warship designed as a close support craft, system patrol ship, and convoy escort vessel. The Messiah easily outguns any other craft under 200 meters, though the Marauder Corvette’s squadron of starfighters may give that ship an advantage.
The Messiah is equipped with a total of ten turbolasers and four heavy ordnance launchers with which to target capital ships, and to counter enemy starfighter attacks carries half a dozen TriCannon mounts. The addition of ion cannons (aside from the TriCannons, the ion cannons therin are not suited for anything other than fighters and light transports) was considered by the design team, but they were eventually ruled out in favour of the anti-starfighter batteries. However, the ordnance launchers can be loaded with ion and EMP torpedoes, giving the vessel some chance of knocking out an enemy ship. The ship also carries two missile racks designed to knock out enemy capital ships.
The Messiah is a long, pronged vessel with wing-like extensions at the rear and triple engine pod at the very back. The hull is painted a deep, matte black that effectively diffuses light and makes visible identification nearly impossible. This does nothing to counter sensor readings, but is extremely dizzying for anyone observing the ship with the naked eye.
Overall, the Messiah is an excellent combat starship designed for maximum flexibility, from strike missions to escort duty and virtually anything in between. The vessel is expected to replace older, outdated models within the military within a year and serve as a new line ship for the patrol and escort services.
Weapons Systemsl Information
Torrential Missile Racks
Simple missile racks concealed under the wings when not in use, this system can carry and deliver any warhead up to eight meters in length. The bay can only be used once, but it is ideal for bombing runs or for offering an additional punch to the craft for special missions. The Torrential Racks can carry 6 Proton Torpedoes or 8 Concussion Missiles, or various other warheads of different types.