OPNET Resource Vehicle Data |
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Eurostar/Helvetica Centaur |
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Description |
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The Centaur is a simple 150 meter long multi-purpose spacecraft. The aft section is mainly comprised of engine, fuel tanks and heat dissipaters. The "neck" is comprised of storage and docking facilities. The forward section (the only section with grav-crystals) is for control and crew quarters (also where the sick bay is on rescue versions). The Centaur is a very practical design. Its long shape increases the axial moment of inertia making it very resistant to course instabilities (it "tracks" well). The engines are kept far from the crew areas to minimize possible radiation leakage (the original PW-010 engines tended to leak a little). In an emergency, the crew area can detach from the rest of the ship and become self-sufficient for two weeks (at minimal power - no gravity). Cargo (most of it) is stored in modular blisters along the craft's neck. In zero-g, these easily detach for rapid on and off loading. |
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History |
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The Centaur was conceived of by Orgotek in the early years of this century as the Dragon class Destroyer. Orgotek had just gained the reputation of "the metacorp run by psions," and was trying to expand its interests into the realm of spacecraft design. Orgotek biotechnicians wanted to incorporate their biotechnology into a spacecraft, but had no experience or reputation for astronautical engineering. The idea of biotech ships was nearly shelved until CEO Jennifer Lehoczky (not yet Lechoczky-Elliot) struck a deal with the Chinese aerospace corporation L-B. Orgotek had initially approached Nihonjin Banji and Bakuhatsu, who frowned on the idea of biotech ships. It proved to be a profitable agreement for all comers -- Orgotek gained a favorable entry into the aerospace market, while L-B proved that it could still compete with the Nihonjin newcomers. A lthough the Dragon incorporated all of the best technology 2104 had to offer, it was vastly different from the biotech ships of today. Essentially a hardtech ship with biotech components, the Dragon sported biotech life support, a self-repairing photosynthetic outer layer, biotech interface units, and even an early ARES pod. The bridge and some of the crew area had grav-crystals, a luxury on military ships, and its medical and communications facilities were the finest of its day. Many Dragons were produced, and most countries with an extra-terrestrial military presence had a few in their fleets.![]() U nder the aegis of a dummy aerospace corporation Eurostar, Helvetica bought up nearly 80% of the existing Dragons and performed a complete overhaul. Weapon systems were removed, most biotech components and grav-crystals were removed, and the older hardtech was updated. The ships were then released as the Centaur class stock freighter, the perfect ship for small entrepeneurs. Although the idea took a few months to catch on and nearly cost a Helvetica VP his job, sales picked up after the Fourth Legion's modified Centaur Cyborg Hunter destroyed a hidden quantakinetic base in the Belt. Today, Centaurs are employed as freighters, hospital ships, and even corporate gunboats to protect metacorp freight convoys. The Seveth Legion maintains three Centaurs as rescue ships that operate out of the OPS-29 Firehouse station positioned between Earth and Mars orbit. This trio of vessels is famous for their daring exploits, as well as their garish red-and-white paintjobs. On the other hand, the pirate Centaur Silverheart has become one of the most feared ships in space. It is credited with numerous accounts of piracy, including the crippling of the FSM Kestrel Thor. |
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Statistics |
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The statistics for the Centaur series of spacecraft show the three different variants and are organized as follows: C=Cargo, R=Rescue, and P=Pirate. Note that there is no official "Pirate variant" that Helvetica sells; this is included as a "typical pirate vessel" that you can use as you see fit. Also note that currently there is no stat listing for the Dragon, the ship that the Centaur is based on. VT: Light Freighter Tech: Hard Crew: 8 Cabins: C and P- 30; R- 80 Cargo: C- 30,000 cumets; P- 15,000 cumets; R- 5,000 cumets Ship Compliment: C and P- 150 tons of craft in internal bay; R- 600 tons of craft in internal bay VS: R and P- 5; C- 4 Handling: R and P- +1; C- 0 Mass: 8,500 Cost: C- 8; R- 8; P- 9 (although it is unavailable through official markets) Armor: 5 [15] Weapons: C, R- (2) Turretted Dual Heavy Coilguns (Acc +1, Dam 8d10[10]L)P- (2) Turretted Quad Heavy Lasers (Acc +1, Dam 6d10[5]L)(2) Missile Bays with 8 Missiles each (Acc +2, Dam 10d10[15]L) (2) Forward Facing Heavy Lasers (Acc+2, Dam 8d10[5]L) Other: Rescue versions have advanced medical facilities and stasis chambers. |
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