Firestorm-Class Frigate
One of the new generation of Terran Protectorate ships that
will begin to be deployed during the war, the Firestorm is a powerful escort
and patrol ship meant to replace the aging Rama-class destroyers. It is
believed that the more-flexible frigate design will increase the utility of the
ships. They are faster and more maneuverable than the Rama, though some would
say less well armed. They are smaller than the Rama, but better armored.
The Firestorms are the first new class of ship since
production of the
The Protectorate felt the need for a frigate because of the
advanced age of the Rama destroyers. Also, the Firestorm has much better range
and speed, allowing them to perform better at penetrations into enemy space;
where there is little hope of resupply.
The Firestorms will become a common sight fairly quickly.
They are designed to be mass-produced, with a standard space dock capable of
building one every two months. There are currently twelve space docks dedicated
to Firestorm production spread across four shipyards in the Protectorate.
The Protectorate moved away from the large mass drivers with
this design, and is likely to continue to do so. The Firestorm has four smaller
gauss cannons as main armaments instead, giving it more flexibility and, due to
the number of them, actually has more stopping power than a Rama’s mass driver
when all four cannons are used together. The Firestorm is also noteworthy for
its modular weapons array. This package can be replaced in less than 12 hours
at any standard space dock. While more packages are in the works, there are
currently medium-range missile launchers, banks of laser cannons and enhanced
scanning packages. The medium-range missile launcher is standard.
Firestorms are typically named for forces of nature, such as
the Hurricane, Tornado and Blizzard.
Eventually, the Protectorate will make so many of them that they just start
numbering them. And the remaining Ramas will stay in service throughout the
war. Two standard STS-5 shuttles can dock externally to the aft dorsal deck.
Model: FFE Firestorm-Class Frigate
Class: Frigate
Crew: 16 officers, 150 crew and 10 marines (one platoon; two in
Duelist power armor). Can carry an additional 50 passengers or marines if
necessary.
Auxiliary Craft: Two STS-5 shuttles
M.D.C. by Location
180mm auto cannon turrets (4) – 650 each
Long-range missile launchers (2) – 500 each
Gauss cannons (4) – 500 each
Main engines (4) – 900 each
Modular weapons array – 1,200
Rear medium-range missile launchers (2) – 200 each
*Bridge – 1,500
**Main body – 12,000
*Destroying the bridge of the Firestorm destroys its primary
control systems. Its auxiliary controls are extremely limited, however, and are
only really capable of getting the vessel back to dry dock for repairs.
**Depleting the MDC of the main body disables the vessel,
leaving it a floating wreck with multiple hull breaches. However, the 120mm
auto cannons have independent power systems and can still be operated. Reducing
the Firestorm to -2,000 causes the vessel to explode, doing 2D4x100 M.D. to an
800-foot radius.
Speed
Maximum Sublight Speed:
.25C (25% of light speed)
Maximum Acceleration/Deceleration Rate: 7Gs per melee round
FTL Speed: Cx365
(roughly one light-year per day)
Top Atmospheric Maneuvering Speed: (Mach 8; is not designed to land on planets; however it can
hover for extended time over landing fields at a height of about 15 feet)
Statistical Data
Height: 80 feet
Length: 330 feet
Width: 198 feet
Cargo: 1,200 tons
Power Plant: Anti-Matter
Reactor
FTL System:
Range: 365 light years
(one year worth of consumables; can be doubled if entire cargo hold is utilized
for extra stores)
Cost: Absolutely not for
sale
Weapon Systems
1. Gauss Cannons
(4): These four large cannons use gauss
technology, similar to the mass drivers, but they are much smaller and more
energy efficient. However, they pack much less punch, requiring several to
equal the power of even the smallest mass driver.
Primary Purpose:
Anti-ship
Mega-Damage: 1D6x100
M.D. each, can fire in pairs (2D6x100 M.D.) or all four can fire at the same
target (4D6x100 M.D.).
Rate of Fire: Each
cannon can fire three times per melee round.
Payload: 500 rounds
each, for a total of 2,000.
2. Long-range
missile launchers (2): These launchers give
the Firestorm additional long-range punch and the ability to carry out
planetary bombardments. They are not capable of firing the massive volleys the Ramas can launch, however.
Primary Purpose:
Assault.
Mega-Damage: Varies with
missile type.
Rate of Fire: Each
launcher can fire individual missiles or volleys of two or four missiles each.
Payload: 50 missiles
each, for a total of 100.
3. 180mm Auto
cannon turrets (4): These double-barreled
rail gun turrets are controlled by a crew of three and can perform star fighter
defense as well as add to the Firestorm’s considerable anti-ship firepower with
coordinated fire.
Primary Purpose:
Anti-Star fighter
Mega-Damage: 5D6x10 M.D.
per dual blast
Rate of Fire: Each
cannon can fire four times per melee round
Payload: 1,000 rounds
for each turret, for 500 dual shots each.
4. Aft missile
launchers (2): These medium-range missile
launchers are mounted on the main body facing aft; one is on the dorsal hull
and one is on the ventral hull. They are used to destroy pursuing fighters and
intercept incoming threats from the rear.
Primary Purpose: Defense
Mega-Damage: Varies with
missile type.
Rate of fire: Can fire
missiles individually, or in volleys of 2 or 4.
Payload: Each launcher
has a 40-shot magazine.
5. Modular weapons
array: This is the arch-mounted dorsal
weapon package. It is an interchangeable system that can be swapped out in less
than a day for special missions. The most commonly-used array will be the
medium-range missile launcher during the war. Each package currently in use is
detailed below. Over time, the number of packages will increase.
5a. Medium-range missile launcher: This large missile launcher is used primarily as an
anti-star fighter weapon, as well as an interdiction combat system used to
pummel small, fast ships like the Stalker. It is also used to intercept
incoming hostile ordinance both for itself and for the larger capital ships it
often escorts.
Primary Purpose:
Anti-star fighter
Mega-Damage: Typically
high-explosive warheads doing 4D6x10 M.D.
Rate of Fire: Can fire
missiles individually, or in volleys of 2, 3, 6 or 12.
Payload: Each launcher
has 36 missiles.
5b. Beam array: This
array equips the vessel with an array of four light particle beam cannons,
giving it additional assault firepower. The beams can be fired as one massive
volley, doing respectable damage.
Primary Purpose:
Anti-ship
Mega-Damage: 4D6x10 M.D.
each, or in a quad-blast doing 2D4x100 M.D.
Rate of Fire: Each
cannon can fire twice per melee round.
Payload: Effectively
unlimited.
5c. Sensor Package. This
is not a weapon array at all, but a high-powered sensory package giving the
frigates extended long-range scanning capabilities. Very useful for
reconnaissance and special forces vessels. The array boosts long-range mass
detectors and electromagnetic sensors to two astronomical units, or twice the
distance of the earth to the sun. It also doubles the range of the frigate’s short-range
sensors, and provides hull-penetrating sensors that can detect the molecular
make-up of items in another vessel’s cargo hold at a 50-mile range.
Sensors: Standard sensors on the Firestorm give it long-range
sensors with a range of 50 million miles, and short-range sensors with a range
of 150,000 miles.
Bonuses: The Firestorm receives +1 to dodge. When using the sensor
package, it receives an additional +4 to initiative.
