+++ DATAFILE AAA90001_73_HIGH ANGEL +++
Project Designation: AAA-9001 (73) High Angel
Manufacturer: Nihilum Heavy Industries
Class: Flagship
Powerplant: Quantum Singularity Reactor developing 0.87 exawatts
Propulsion:
Conventional: 7 Pulsed Inductive Thrusters
FTL: continuous wormhole propagation at 125.4 LD/hr, median
Offensive Systems:
Multiple Railcannon
Multiple Hyperlances
1 Fury Lance
Defensive Systems:
Bonded Liconium-Carbide Armor
2 Deflector Grids distributed across 30 nodes
Multiple Quick-Fire Point Beams
Twin Nano-Matrix networks
Ships in Class:
High Angel, Radiant*, Dawn of Hope*
Hull Numbers:
AAA001, AAA002, AAA003
*under construction
Brief:
The first new military space craft to emerge from NHI yards in decades, the High Angel was created to be the forerunner and flagship for a new generation. Many nations and corporations have produced more potent and dangerous vessels, but it is not designed to compete with them. Instead, it is meant to be a command vessel and as such, is armed and equipped to reflect this status.
The most complex command and communications array ever devised by NHI resides at the core of the ship, permanently integrated with the ship's sentient(R) bioware AI. This enables the vessel to sub-coordinate multiple fleets with hundreds of vessels each simultaneously. Use of such an advanced AI also eliminates the need for a large crew, and thus the High Angel carries a small complement of 75, consisting of the CO of the fleet, his/her command staff, and a technical-supervisory cadre. All routine/hazardous tasks are performed by semi-autonomous biotek constructs, with the cadre overseeing them.
The hull is constructed from bonded liconium-carbide, and additional plates of appliqué armor can be fitted at will. Permeating the hull is a complex series of vac-sealed nanoscopic channel networks, saturated with smart-reactive repairbugs governed from two central matrix arrays. Coupled with two standard deflector grids, all these features provide a formidable defense against conventional weaponry.
As for weaponry, multiple tiers of hyperlances and railcannon fill out its weapons bays, complemented by several quick-fire point beams. And rounding out all these, in keeping with traditions of large vessels armed with a potent primary armament, is a single Fury Lance. During normal engagements, the Lance is fired at a low energy levels (2.7% reactor output), barely sufficient to destroy other enemy ships. Firing the lance at full capacity requires 69% of reactor output, and is a (thankfully) rare event, used only in total planetary annihilations.
To deal with massive amounts of waste heat generated by the Lance, the ship is equipped with a full array of thermal radiator fins doubling as expendable armor along the flanks and rear. When the fins operate at full vent, the ship exudes an almost celestial glow, giving it its name. Though highly capable, it is expected that the High Angel shall soon be obsolete due to the current breakneck pace of weapons R&D throughout known space. As such, several upgrades are already planned for it and its yet-to-be finished sisterships, ensuring that the class is never left behind in this mad free-for-all.
Schematics: Plan View (unarmed)
+++DATAFILE ENDS+++
Long text block over, phew! Credits to Mr Peter F. Hamilton for the ship's name, which I "borrowed" from one of his novels (if you happen to be an avid SF fan, I highly recommend his books). As said, many changes are due for this little angel. I happen to be pretty horrid at weapons design/balancing so please, do download the ship, play with it, and let me know what needs nerfing, changing, outright removal/addition, or simply what you think. Thank you very much!
Download the High Angel.
The ship had to be rebuilt 2 and half times before it reached its current state. I might just use the 2 other complete prototypes as the basis for its sisterships.. We'll see soon I guess.
