Metamorphosis

Colonial Fleet Systems Chariot-class Strike Cruiser

When size isn't enough, the Colonial Defense Corps depend on speed to get the job done. The Strike Cruiser was developed for this purpose. Strike Cruisers are employed as advance guard ships, reconnaissance scouts, and general-purpose warships.

Strike Cruisers generally spend as much time in atmosphere as they do in space, taking full advantage of their more aerodynamic design. Chariot-class vessels measure 275 meters in length, and are crewed by an average of 200 people, though it can be operated by a "skeleton crew" of 50 if necessary. Strike Cruisers are generally equipped with one BOSMAN unit, with space for a second in emergencies (further reducing the "skeleton crew" to 30).

A "factory-spec" Chariot is equipped with two bow missile launch tubes, four fixed-position forward-firing ballistic cannons, and six point-defense ballistic cannons. It is also equipped with a small docking bay, holding two shuttles and a half squadron of fighters.

While a "factory-spec" Chariot can serve offensive, defensive, and reconnaissance purposes with an equal degree of efficiency, Colonial Fleet Systems recognized the need for increased versatility, and began working on variation models. The first design has been under production for the past two years. The Chariot R removes the missile tubes and the fixed-position cannons with greator sensor and communication arrays. Its engines have also been reduced in size, adding an additional drive unit and more powerful thrusters, adding for greater maneuverability in both atmospheric and deep-space locations.

There are currently three hundred Chariot-class and twenty Chariot R-class Strike Cruisers in operation. Chariot-class cruisers are named after battles of military importance, while Chariot R-class cruisers are named after historical figures of military importance.


SEE ALSO:
( Peacekeeper-class Heavy Cruiser )
( Avalon-class Heavy Cruiser )
( Valkyrie-class Gunship )

Colonial Fleet Systems Peacekeeper-class heavy cruiser

The largest ships in the military, Peacekeeper-class cruisers play more of a demonstrative role than an active one. Usually used for functions, demonstrations, and ceremonies, the few Peacekeepers in service are a symbol of the human race's "He who has the biggest stuff wins" drive.

A Peacekeeper is built entirely in orbit, being too large to enter atmosphere with any degree of control. It measures roughly one kilometer in length, and contains - including crew, soldiers, and administrative staff - over one hundred thousand people. A Peacekeeper requires the use of no less than five networked BOSMAN units to aid its enormous computer system.

The surface of a Peacekeeper is bristling with offensive and defensive weaponry, including thirty standard missile launch tubes and five nuclear missile tubes. It also boasts over a hundred ballistic point-defense turrets, each of them able to be controlled by the computers, the BOSMAN linkup, or manually. One ship (the America) even has a fairly-new particle-beam cannon prototype, though it has yet to be tested in combat.

Each Peacekeeper is also equipped with a fully-functional fighter bay, containing the facilities, hardware, amd manpower (pilots, maintainance crew, etc.) for three full squadrons of fighters, plus a stock of replacement parts.

There are four Peacekeeper-class heavy cruisers in use. The America, the Europe, the Asia, and the Africa. They are named after major continents of Lost Terra.

SEE ALSO:
( Avalon-class Heavy Cruiser )
( Chariot-class Strike Cruiser )
( Valkyrie-class Gunship )