Varauta Flagship

Note: While Varauta ships have been assigned Terran naval/space type designators, it must be stressed that their size and armaments placed them in a class of their own, matched only by contemporary construction of like designations. As such, their designations must be viewed as indicators of intent and use rather than absolute strength. In addition, the proper translation of the Varauta vessel designations into English was never completely agreed upon.  Most of this file is pure speculation based on reconnaissance photos and footage and eyewitness accounts and similar designs.

Class History:

Unknown.  It is estimated that many of these vessels could theoretically exist.  Only one has ever been seen and it was destroyed at the conclusion of the Varauta War in 2064.

Ship's complement:

• Ships' crew (5000 men)
• Mecha pilots (2500 men)

Dimensions:

Propulsion systems:

• Main power system(1): Unknown.
• Maneuvering thrusters (65): Unkown type, probably fusion-plasma reaction thruster clusters with steerable nozzles. There are 6 on the forward and aft dorsal hull,  10 on the central dorsal hull, 4 on the forward and aft sides and 16 in the central sides, 8 thrusters low in the nose, 8 mounted on the forward ventral, 3 in the central ventral and 6 in the aft ventral.
• Reaction-mass thrusters (4): Unknown type, probably fusion-plasma reaction thrusters with an energizer mounted in two horizontal rows of two in the stern of the ship. There are no secondary thrusters; breaking maneuvers are made with the main thrusters using exhaust deflectors opening in the dorsal and ventral engine sections. .
• Anti-gravity system (1): Propulsive power unknown at this writing.
• Space fold (1): Very advanced hyper space fold drive. Able to conduct ultra high speed folds at extreme range as well as accurate near gravity well folds.
• Planetary capabilities: Unknown as of this writing.

• Max atmospheric speed: Mach 3 or about 3110 kph.
• Max observed space acceleration: 28.3 G
• Range: Unknown.

• Reflex cannon (2): This weapon, which is so large that it forms more than half the length of the vessel, fires a particle beam to an effective effective range of 500,000 km. The effects against planets are equal to the heat and blast effects of the detonation of a fusion weapon of 200 megatons, if fired at full power. However, the rate of fire was measured in minutes between salvos rather than seconds. If utilized against starships, the largest vessels can be destroyed with the leakage of the beam. A direct hit will vaporize the target vessel. The weapon can also be set to a wider dispersal. While not nearly as effective as a tight beam against warships, it is capable of clearing a wide area of fighters and other mecha.
• Mini-reflex cannons (2): Two horn-like projections are located on the flagship's underside beneath the center hull. These are the secondary particle cannons used for orbital bombardment are attacking targets that are in front of or underneath the flagship. The Cannons have a shorter range of 200,000 km and are less destructive (100 megatons). Likewise, a long time is necessary to fully charge the weapon.
• Heavy particle cannon (4): On each of the two arm-like booms are two heavy duty particle cannons. These weapons can only fire directly forward at targets in front of the flagship. The four cannons are the flagships primary antiship weapons, as the main and bombardment cannons cannot fire fast enough to to be suitable for fleet actions.  The cannon has an effective range of 300,000 km. and a full power discharge of 1200 Terajoules. Although the cannon could be fired at lower power settings (and commensurate increases in the rate of fire) the highest power setting was typical in combat. The rate of fire at this setting was approximately one salvo per minute.
• Heavy laser cannon (2): Two heavy laser turrets are located on the lower hull, where the booms connect to the center portion of the flagship. Each of them are capable of rotating 180 degrees to fire.
• Ion Pulse cannon turrets (150): Numerous ion pulse cannons are place at strategic locations on the upper and lower hull. Some are retractable, other are not. All are capable of 180 degree fire in their respective directions, and are usually reserved for defending against medium to large sized targets.  Each turret has two cannons which can fire together for a discharge of 9 TJ every four seconds at a range of 200,000 km.
• Point defense cannon (110): Numerous small bore anti fighter beam cannons are place at strategic locations on the upper and lower hull. Some are retractable, other are not. All are capable of 180 degree fire in their respective directions, and are usually reserved for defending against small to medium size targets.  These cannons can fire a 60 MJ pulse at a range of 20 km twice per second.
• Torpedo tubes(8): A reloadable Silo Launch System (RSLS), or as it is better known, a torpedo tube, capable of firing large anti-ship and ground bombardment torpedoes. The tubes can reload in 3.6 seconds, and have a 40 round magazine close-by. These launchers are mounted in the lower forward hull, between the lower and upper armour mantels. The missiles used are the VTM-1 and the VTM-2 missiles. The former is a nuclear missile with a 20 MT reaction warhead, the latter is a conventional tipped missile with a warhead of 500 metric tons. Both missiles are optimized for anti-ship strikes in deep space, but can be used in orbital bombardment modes or in an atmosphere.

• 1200 Fz-109 Elgerzorene Veritech fighter
• 450 FBz-99 Zaubergeran Veritech heavy bomber
• 600 Az-130 Pantserzorene Veritech fighter
• 15 FZ-150 Pheyos Veritech fighter

• Omnidirectional barrier defense system(1): An advanced forcefield system which covers the full four pi steradians around the ship with a yellow-greenish forcefield (or if desired, only part of the ship). This field will stop all solids and directed energy weapons (except lasers through a narrow band). However, excess energy which cannot be shunted from the field will be stored in the virtual structure of the field itself. The storage wattage is high but not infinite, and when the barrier overloads the field will discharge the stored energy particles. This discharge will have the force of a high-yield (>45 MT) fusion bomb. However, as the discharged energetic particles' vectors will be away from the field and its generating vessel, the vessel will survive, though it will suffer severe damage to its internal electronics and power systems, and will not be battleworthy until repairs are made.

This monstrous warship formed the heart of the Varuata Geperuniti fleet that was encountered by the 7th Colonization fleet in 2064. Possessing tremendous firepower even for a ship of its size, the flagship of the former Supervision army is undoubtedly one of the most powerful weapons in the galaxy.

At 4,320 meters long, and carrying almost 2500 variable fighters within its massive hangar bays, the flagship is even larger than the Zentraedi Nupetiet-Vergenitz-class battleship. Indeed, the flagship was designed during the Schism War, thousands of years ago, as a weapons platform for the Supervision Army that would be able to defeat the Zentraedi battleship. Defold signatures are significantly reduced by the ship's construction and combined with the advanced Protoculture-era fold drives, the flagship can literally de-fold right on top of an unsuspecting enemy force.

Like Zentraedi fleet warships , the flagship's main source of fire power is a reflex cannon, however it mounts not one, but two. Whereas Zentraedi ships utilize a split-hull assembly to house the cannon's charging array, is much smaller in size. 

For additional fire support the flagship mounts an extra pair of mini-reflex cannons not to mention numerous particle cannons and ion pulse cannons.  However an area which the flagship falls somewhat short is the area of defensive firepower.  It lacks the intensive combination of point defense turrets and surface to air missile turrets.  This lack made the flagship somewhat vulnerable do attack during the final battles of the Varauta War.  However this proved not to cost the Varauta and Protodevlin too much in terms of advantage.  

History:

Unknown. Sketchy details exist but nothing concrete. Most information has been classified top secret by the RDF and UN Government.

Layout adapted from Robotech Reference Guide

Content by Jeffrey R. Spillner
Copyright © 2000, 1999, 1998 Jeffrey R. Spillner

Page Last Updated on February 3, 2000 @ 11:00 GMT