Support Ships
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Support Vessels
In addition to the numerous warships there are a range of supporting vessels within the Human fleet. These non-combatant ships are crewed by members of the Fleet Auxiliary and operate throughout Human occupied space. Also there are a number of merchant ships that are run by the Darjee and other members of the Confederacy which eventually find their way into Human hands.
Aurora Class Colony Transport
The early colony ships, of which the Aurora is one, are really just converted Darjee freighters.
It can carry 96 pods, three rings forward and three rings aft of a bulbous centre section.
William Penn Class Colony Founder
Developed from the Aurora Class, the William Penn Class are designed with strengthened pod mounts to take pods loaded with disassembled factory replicators for industrializing a colony.
Nurse Class Hospital Ship
The Nurse class vessels are ships, generally of the Aurora class, that have been modified to provide full medical support to ground operations. The pods have been converted to operating theatres and wards.
Will-o-Wisp Class Colony Transport
Nonstandard colony transport, it is similar to the Aurora Class but the Will-o-Wisp Class carries 108 pods split evenly fore and aft of the command section. Primarily used to transfer personnel (including concubines, dependents and family pods) between colonies.
Kilo Class Colony Transport
The early colony ships like the Aurora were just converted Darjee freighters. The Kilo Class are the first purpose built colony ships for the human evacuation. Pod capacity for a Kilo class colony ship is 1,024 pods.
Corona Class Large Transport
The Coronas were an early pod ship, similar to the Aurora class, but much larger. Carries 1080 pods in six rings of fifteen clusters, with each cluster having 12 pods. Three rings are forward and three are aft. The resulting ship in an unwieldy mess. The Kilo class carrying 1024 pods are much more volume-efficient, allowing better acceleration and maneuverability as well as far higher speeds in hyperspace.
Valhalla Class Colony Transport ("Cube Ship")
Very large colony transport, capable of holding 250,000 passengers and several thousand crew. Cube ships do not use pods; rather passengers are assigned to staterooms for the trip to a colony.
Courier Class Small Transport
A modified Stagecoach for small high-value cargo (passengers, materials, or data).
Stagecoach Class Fast Cargo Ship
A modified AI-run cargo transport, the Stagecoach Class is used to resupply isolated outposts and colonies.
K'treel Class Explorer Ships
K'treel Class ships appear to be a bit of a mongrel design, too big to be classed as a Corvette -- and not powerful enough to carry the required armament for that role -- and too small to be a practical freighter.
Peter Minuit Class Explorer Ships
An enlarged version of the K'Treel, the Peter Minuit Class has been adapted, early in the timeline, for reconnaissance, scouting, and very limited raids and bombardment. It carries mission-specific sensors, command centers, weapons, and small craft in its 27 pods.
Reproduction Services Class Manufacturing Ships
The Reproduction Services Class is basically a large drum surrounded by a pod ring, the Manufacturing Ship mines asteroids using a large central replicator and builds pods using smaller replicators mounted on the ring pod. It is capable of interstellar flight and uses a minimal crew.
Merchant Ships
Although not part of the fleet of support vessels originally made available to the Human colonization effort, plans for these vessels existed in the database. More details are available at Merchant Ship.
Class Names
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