The Commonwealth of Independent Traders - the CIT - is a gargantuan corporate entity with a stranglehold on interstellar economics in a large number of sectors towards the outer rim of the galaxy. Although not strictly a political body, company policy has a large influence on the planets in their domain, and so can use it's weight to hold sway over many of the systems it trades with. The CIT has - in the past - relied mainly on economic sanctions to defend it's interests, with only a small military to defend against shipping raids from pirates and insurgents. It's expansion has however been recently stemmed by the territory of larger and more powerful factions, and so the CIT has been pouring capital into it's military arm in order to carry out a more aggressive marketing technique.
Background
Originally formed from a group of independent merchants who decided to make a stand against the trade raids and extortionate import and export tariffs of the Outer Rim, CIT convoys quickly grew in size, and with that power. As a group, the traders were in a much better position to defend themselves and negotiate with the many systems along the trade routes. Particularly stubborn issues were dealt with by simply bypassing the system as the reduction in economic activity quickly brought about a settlement beneficial to the traders. In order to keep control of activities throughout the Outer Rim the CIT evolved into a unique mega-corporation spanning the space between systems to the point where they now almost entirely dictate the flow of merchant traffic through their domain. Cries of corruption and exploitation have always been quickly stemmed by counter-advertising campaigns from the CIT's highly effective marketing division, leaving the general population within their control generally satisfied with their deal. The CIT's official currency is the FORMark (F), however countless different types of tender circulate within the Outer Rim.
Weaponry
The CIT's new fleet has been built to great expense (and some say little thought) to use experimental violet laser and beam technology, despite these weapons dubious combat effectiveness. The spread of beam weaponry has been particularly proficient throughout the Boötes Sector in recent times, although the source of such rapid technological advancement is unknown except to those who seek to benefit from it.
Stats for the weapons can be found in the following linked spreadsheet, along with testing showing how they are balanced compared to the original laser wars lasers (i.e. a lot better).
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc ... sp=sharing
Ships
CIT ships are designed to operate for long periods of time in interstellar space in order to patrol the trade lanes and defend the massive trade hulks that use them. As a result of this, CIT ships tend to be slightly larger than the equivalent vessels of other factions in order to accommodate the extra life support and habitation space required. New CIT vessels use state-of-the-art hybrid ion reactors and engines in order to produce the large amounts of power and propulsion required as efficiently as possible.
CMV-CC01A2 Equity
A small albeit useful corvette, the Equity class finds its use both escorting larger vessels and policing the CIT's trade routes. Despite its thin armour the Equity class is surprisingly survivable in combat, and its balanced array of weaponry makes it suitable for numerous roles.
Stats
Size: 73
Core HP: 250
Speed: 3
Acceleration: 0.15
Turning: 1.5
AI Type: Flanking
AI Range: 500
Armament
1x Medium Violet Beam
2x Medium Violet Laser
2x Light Violet Laser
1x Pulse Violet Point Defence Laser
Cost: F55.5Mil.
CMV-FF02A4 Enterprise
A new style of fire support ship, the Enterprise class beam frigate does not engage the enemy at long range but instead manouevers inside enemy formations to put its all around beam weaponry to best use. Entirely lacking in laser weaponry itself, its purpose is to weaken enemy armour with its beams to maximise the damage of other vessels. To improve its survivability in this dangerous position it has a state of the art point defence beam as well as a compliment of point defence lasers.
Stats
Size: 85
Core HP: 250
Speed: 2.5
Acceleration: 0.1
Turning: 1.25
AI Type: Flanking
AI Range: 250
Armament
3x Medium Violet Beam
6x Light Violet Beam
1x Violet Point Defence Beam
2x Pulse Violet Point Defence Laser
Cost: F90.0Mil.
CMV-FF03 Opportunity
The Opportunity class heavy frigate was designed to deal with threats too powerful for the Equity class. Equivalent to other faction's mainline destroyers, the Opportunity is armed with a balanced array of weaponry to allow it to engage a large variety of targets effectively.
Stats
Size: 95
Core HP: 250
Speed: 2.5
Acceleration: 0.1
Turning: 1.25
AI Type: Normal
AI Range: 625
Armament
1x Heavy Violet Beam
2x Heavy Violet Laser
2x Medium Violet Laser
4x Light Violet Laser
1x Pulse Violet Point Defence Laser
Cost: F95.7Mil.
CMV-DD01 Corporation
The Corporation class escort destroyer was designed to take on swarms of lighter vessels and strikecraft in order to protect the heavier ships and installations of the fleet. It is not particularly fast or well armoured, but is armed all round with numerous light turrels allowing it to put out a withering storm of firepower, although it's lack of heavy weaponry puts it at a disadvantage against better armoured opponents.
Stats
Size: 107
Core HP: 375
Speed: 2
Acceleration: 0.1
Turning: 1
AI Type: Normal
AI Range: 500
Armament
1x Medium Violet Beam
4x Light Violet Beam
2x Medium Violet Laser
8x Light Violet Laser
3x Pulse Violet Point Defence Laser
Cost: F105.4Mil.
CMV-DD02A Acquisition
The Acquisition class heavy destroyers role is given away by it's oversized drive section and frontal batteries of snub superheavy laser cannons. A fast strike destroyer, it excels at flanking larger vessels and delivering crippling blows to their weaker areas, however as a result it lacks the armour heavy enough to give it much staying power in battle and struggles to target lighter, faster vessels. Nonetheless, this vessel is greatly valued within the CIT's navy, and command is often given to the most promising of captains.
Stats
Size: 111
Core HP: 250
Speed: 3
Acceleration: 0.15
Turning: 1.5
AI Type: Flanking
AI Range: 375
Armament
4x Snub Superheavy Violet Laser
1x Heavy Violet Laser
4x Medium Violet Laser
1x Pulse Violet Point Defence Laser
Cost: F117.1Mil.
CMV-CA01 Unity
A state of the art heavy cruiser, the Unity class is an expensive ship rarely committed to battle, instead playing a role more of intimidation and propaganda for the CIT's cause.
Stats
Size: 155
Core HP: 500
Speed: 1.25
Acceleration: 0.05
Turning: 0.75
AI Type: Normal
AI Range: 500
Armament
1x Heavy Violet Beam
2x Medium Violet Beam
2x Superheavy Violet Laser
4x Heavy Violet Laser
8x Light Violet Laser
1x Violet Point Defence Beam
2x Pulse Violet Point Defence Laser
Cost: ---
Download Example Fleet Composition
When the CIT feels it necessary to assemble a fleet of ships to respond to a threat, the fleet generally consists of multiple small, semi-independent groups operating together. In addition to military ships, a convoy of logistics and support vessels will accompany the fleet to provide the resources for extended operation away from friendly bases.
Delphinius Trade Envoy
Economic Investigation Group:
-CMV-CC01A2 #C146 Free Market
-CMV-CC01A2 #C161 Import Tariff
Active Marketing Division:
-CMV-DD02A #D213 Imminent Foreclosure
-CMV-FF02A4 #F220 Niche Market
-CMV-FF03 #F341 Toxic Asset
Fleet Executive Delegation:
-CMV-DD01 #D219 Bull Market
-CMV-FF03 #F328 Balance Enquiry
-CMV-CC01A2 #C132 Firesale
Financial Security Team:
-CMV-FF03 #F337 Close of Sale
-CMV-CC01A2 #C154 Credit Rated
Old Ships