Grand Pathfinder

Overview

The Grand Pathfinder class explorer ship was designed for the Deep Periphery Survey Detachment(DPSD) as their ultra long-range survey ships. Intended to operate for over 5 years at a time without re-supply, the Great Pathfinders' role is to be the first to explore new systems as part of the DPSD push rimward exploring the Deep Periphery.

Primary duties

• Initial stellar survey to develop basic navigational data
• Deployment and maintenance of automated HPG relay stations

Design

• Highly compartmentalized and reinforced
• Shorter than expected but with a large radius
• Very large emergence signature
• Flexible configurability of many internal and external spaces
  • Designed for future mission types and parameters
• Inspired by the Star League Newgrange YardShip.

Dropships

In order to support its mission, a Grand Pathfinder is able to carry an astounding 28 dropships, 3 more than the venerable SLDF Potemkin class troop cruiser.

16 of the design's docking collars are in 2 concentric rings near the middle of the ship while the remaining 12 collars are arranged in a very unique fashion, being reinforced and oriented parallel to the thrust vector of the main engines. This orientation eliminates lateral shear and allows dropships to remain attached while the ship is under acceleration. 8 docking collars are attached to reinforced spokes located just in front of the ship's main engines, while the remaining 4 collars are located on reinforced spokes at the front of the ship.

Typically the ship carries 8 large supply dropships to augment its stores; typically 4 supply ships and 4 tankers. These are usually attached to the collars near the engines as they are not intended to detach for most missions.

The ship also usually carries 8 specialized science dropships. These science ships contain various equipment, including deep space tracking systems, telescopes, and other sensing equipment. One or two ships may be geological survey ships. A standard system survey mission has 6 ships scanning for planets, major asteroids, comets, and any signs of colonization. The remaining 2 ships detach and make recordings of the various nearby star systems in order to help plan the next jump as well as improving navigational data.

Finally, the ship typically carries 8 "explorer" ships. These DRRP designs are used to make passes through the system and make cursory surveys of major bodies. The ships have typically been modified to mount additional scientific equipment at the expense of cargo.

The four docking collars at the front of the ship are typically not used in case a Grand Pathfinder is required to act as a rescue ship for another

Facilities

• 8 400m grav decks
• Extensive kitchen and recreational facilities
• Large hydroponic bays for fresh vegetables and fruits
• All large 1st class cabins for crew and passengers
  • Operational crew vs. scientific crew (passengers)
  • Rarely makes full use of passenger quarters except to supplement dropship accommodations
• 2 HPG's

Cargo

• Variable-configuration space
  • Supplies
  • Fuel
  • Supplemental small craft/fighter cubicles (can connect to and expand existing facilities)
  • External access for scientific equipment
• Usually a significant store of spare parts for the ship and attendant dropships
• Multiple HPG relays and deployment equipment

Operations

• Ship almost always jumps to the Zenith or Nadir points and remains at station-keeping
• Deployment of exploratory and scientific dropships
  • Exploratory dropships make passes through the system to get basic data on planets and other bodies
• Ship rarely uses its planetary drive
• Ship only makes one jump at a time, thus leaving 2 charges in its Lithium-Fusion batteries at all times.
• Ship can jump to a pirate point if it is deemed prudent for information gathering or to recover dropships
• Missions are not geared toward direct, physical planetary exploration. That is left for follow-up missions
  • Meant to do rapid flybys to gain initial assay data and navigational information

Weapons and Armour

• Very heavy armour is intended to buy time to escape - while very heavy it is not intended to encourage the ship to stand and fight
• Weapons are a defensive measure, both against potential hostile forces but also for asteroid impacts.
  • Naval weaponry consists of 12 Heavy Naval Gauss Rifles with 4800 rounds total supporting 60 Naval Laser-60's
    • Geared to defense
  • Supporting weaponry consist of an array of fighter-scale laser weapons for anti-aircraft and anti-missile duty
  • Laser AMS and Capital-AMS systems create effective screens.

Stats

• Mass: 2,400,000 tons
• Thrust: 1G
• Max Thrust: 1.5G
• Fuel: 250,000 tons
  • 6,325 days worth at 1G
• 5 ,500 Double Heat Sinks (Plus 807 free HS)
• 8 x 400m Grav Decks
• 10 MASH Theaters
• 14 Field Kitchens
• 200 Heavy Battlearmour Cubiclies
• 800 Light Battlearmour Cubicles
• 2 Mobile HPG's
• 36 Aerospace Fighters
• 24 Small Craft
• 12 Fighter/Small Craft Doors
• 28 Docking Collars

Crew

850 First Class Crew Quarters

• 48 Officers
• 130 Crew members
• 140 Gunners
• 40 Aerospace Pilots
• 48 Small craft Pilots
• 120 Aerospace technicians
• 4 HPG technicians
• 44 Field Kitchen personnel
• 16 Doctors
• 60 Nurses
• 200 Marines

1,000 First Class Passenger Quarters

250 Life Boats

250 Escape Pods

Armour/Structure

Structural Integrity: 200 KF Drive Integrity: 43 Jump Sail Integrity: 9 Armour: 9,600 tons

• Fore: 2,260
• Fore Sides: 2,260
• Aft Sides: 2,260
• Aft: 2,260

Cargo

Cargo: 212,617.5 Tons

Weapons

• 12 x Heavy Naval Gauss (with 4800 shots)
• 60 x Naval Laser-60
• 120 x Laser Anti-Missile System
• 120 x Large Pulse Laser
• 60 x Capital Anti-Missile System
• 120 x Medium Pulse Laser
• 120 x ER Large Laser