Courier: Difference between revisions
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== Courier Class of Small Pod Freighter == | == "Courier" Class of Small Pod Freighter == | ||
| The first set of '''Couriers''' were AI-run small transports used to move high-value personnel or cargo as quickly as possible. They were basically a smaller version of the Stagecoach small supply ships, and, like the Stagecoaches, they are 100% automated with a single Naval Auxiliary "Captain" who has no job to do unless something goes wrong. The ships were effectively a habitat section with engines separated by a spine with mounting points to hold three standard personnel "pods". The ships wee surprisingly nimble and thanks to their design were faster than all but the swiftest corvettes once in hyperspace. <br> | ||
In the original design, the Captain's quarters are basically an integrated personnel pod inside the core; there is no room for any cargo that takes more than ~20 cubic meters. If the critical 'passenger' is small enough (often simply a data chip) the pods can be left off, giving the bare ship much better performance. In practice, the Couriers ran 'bare' for the speed and expanded range just as often as they ran with pods. <br> | In the original design, the Captain's quarters are basically an integrated personnel pod inside the core; there is no room for any cargo that takes more than ~20 cubic meters. If the critical 'passenger' is small enough (often simply a data chip) the three pods can be left off, giving the bare ship much better performance. In practice, the Couriers ran 'bare' for the speed and expanded range just as often as they ran with pods. <br> | ||
<b>Proposed: </b> As the Confederacy expanded, the original design turned out to be too short-ranged to keep up with the Diaspora. Eventually a newer | <b>Proposed: </b> As the Confederacy expanded, the original design turned out to be too short-ranged to keep up with the Diaspora. Eventually a newer "Pony" subclass was built, able to make longer jumps. The spinal extension to mount pods was completely dropped, making the overall ship much shorter. In compensation, the Captain's quarters were expanded giving the ship far more livable space and self-repair capability. While the "Pony" subclass were still only rated for one crewman, an enterprising Captain could often find a way around this limit... <br> | ||
=== Armament === | === Armament === | ||
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=== Hull Listing === | === Hull Listing === | ||
The Couriers were designated as APC for "Auxiliary - Personnel/Courier". After the Fleet Auxiliary was created, most were assigned to it for general use but some were retained by the Navy for high-priority transfers. The first set were named for the various taxi services available in Earth's cities. After this, follow-on ships were given names that meant "someone who delivers a message" in any of Earth's languages, with one name being blocked: There is no Courier-class ship named "Courier".<br> | |||
The "Pony" subclass was given APC1xx series hull numbers and named after horse breeds: Arabian, Quarterhorse, Percheron, etc. As before, there is no Courier-class ship named "Pony". <br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
Revision as of 06:26, 4 January 2025
"Courier" Class of Small Pod Freighter
The first set of Couriers were AI-run small transports used to move high-value personnel or cargo as quickly as possible. They were basically a smaller version of the Stagecoach small supply ships, and, like the Stagecoaches, they are 100% automated with a single Naval Auxiliary "Captain" who has no job to do unless something goes wrong. The ships were effectively a habitat section with engines separated by a spine with mounting points to hold three standard personnel "pods". The ships wee surprisingly nimble and thanks to their design were faster than all but the swiftest corvettes once in hyperspace.
In the original design, the Captain's quarters are basically an integrated personnel pod inside the core; there is no room for any cargo that takes more than ~20 cubic meters. If the critical 'passenger' is small enough (often simply a data chip) the three pods can be left off, giving the bare ship much better performance. In practice, the Couriers ran 'bare' for the speed and expanded range just as often as they ran with pods.
Proposed: As the Confederacy expanded, the original design turned out to be too short-ranged to keep up with the Diaspora. Eventually a newer "Pony" subclass was built, able to make longer jumps. The spinal extension to mount pods was completely dropped, making the overall ship much shorter. In compensation, the Captain's quarters were expanded giving the ship far more livable space and self-repair capability. While the "Pony" subclass were still only rated for one crewman, an enterprising Captain could often find a way around this limit...
Armament
The Couriers typically have a single CIWS sited to fire directly aft, as "away" is the only tactical maneuver the AI will consider when under fire. It should be noted that this is the only shipboard system that the Captain must be certified in. If the Captain decides to use this system he will have to direct its use personally, as weaponry cannot be directed by the AI.
Hull Listing
The Couriers were designated as APC for "Auxiliary - Personnel/Courier". After the Fleet Auxiliary was created, most were assigned to it for general use but some were retained by the Navy for high-priority transfers. The first set were named for the various taxi services available in Earth's cities. After this, follow-on ships were given names that meant "someone who delivers a message" in any of Earth's languages, with one name being blocked: There is no Courier-class ship named "Courier".
The "Pony" subclass was given APC1xx series hull numbers and named after horse breeds: Arabian, Quarterhorse, Percheron, etc. As before, there is no Courier-class ship named "Pony".
- APC001 - Checkered
- APC002 - Yellow
- APC003 - Black and White
- APC004 - Black Top
- APC005 - Red Top
- APC006 - Blue and White
- APC037 - Telegrapher
- APC112 - Haflinger
- Pony Express ("Pony", to Beerat in Independent Command)
- Postman ("Postie", to Beerat in Independent Command)
- Runner
- Deliverer
See Also
Story Usage
A textual analysis of the story repository, current as of 2018 and performed on 2019-09-06 identified the following top ten usage counts for Courier:
- Independent Command by Zen Master 15 instances.
- Platitudes and Aptitudes by Nuke Danger, 3rd Aye 9 instances.
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern by lordshipmayhem 8 instances.
- Ending This Mess by Zen Master 6 instances.
- Sacking by Just Jack 6 instances.
- A Peril at Ishtar by Allan Joyal 4 instances.
- Grind Forces by Just Jack 4 instances.
- Living a CAP Based Present by Allan Joyal 4 instances.
- The Cosca 1: Family Values by Quantum Mechanic 4 instances.
- Chosen Frozen by lordshipmayhem 3 instances.
(Someday this will be a navigation template. It will provide a bar across the bottom of each article with useful navigation links. Until then, this is just a placeholder to get rid of all the red "broken link" indicators. -ZM User (talk) 10:00, 3 May 2024 (PDT))
