DEFENDER - CLASS MISSILE DESTROYER

RPG Stats by KAMIKAZI ([email protected])
Background info by SHADE ETERNAL ([email protected])

BACKGROUND

In 2018, the UN Spacy purchased eight Inferno class missile destroyers, to determine their suitability to decimate large numbers of hostile mecha in a combat environment. They were assigned to Galaxy Patrol 2, and faced their first combat mission in August of 2018. There, three of the eight Infernos were destroyed, and a fourth later scrapped. It was found that the Infernos, while able to put forth a large number of missiles into the battle, was unable to sustain a high enough rate of fire, and hard problems targeting all of the enemy units at once. The UN Spacy decided against buying any more Infernos, decommissioned the survivors, and sold them to private interests. 

Their ownership becomes difficult to trace for several years, as the four ships are passed between owners after owners, not all of them entirely friendly to the UN Spacy, or even legal. In 2023, the Sparrow was definitely spotted successfully running arms to rebel forces, and in late 2035, it was spotted alongside the Inferno, both performing as cargo ships (albeit heavily armed ones) for expensive merchandise. By 2039, the Inferno had been acquired by the Pacifica colony in the 20 Leonis Minoris system, with the Sparrow and Maverick being delivered by 2041. 

At the time, the Pacifica colony, an extremely popular resort planet, had recently voted to beef up it's own militia with real warships, to help protect their home alongside the UN Spacy. However, due to the Spacy's own needs, Pacifica was unable to purchase modern warships, and thus decided to acquire older warships, and them upgrade them in the modest shipyards they had built for Galaxy Patrol 8's use. 

The three Infernos were bought to fulfill their original purpose pf mecha defense for the rest of the fleet. However, the engineers on Pacifica decided a massive refit would be needed to make them actually useful. The Inferno was taken into it's shipyard in June of 2041 to start it's refit, which would be completed in January of 2042, after it was decided midrefit to remove the fold engines and add more missile launchers. The Inferno was recomissioned the PSS Defender, and began it's shakedown cruise even as the Maverick was brought into the shipyard for it's refit. Now that they knew how the refit was supposed to go, the Maverick was relaunched as the PSS Guardian in May of that year, with the PSS Watchman, formerly Sparrow, following in October. 

The Defender class, as it's now known, has quite a few differences from it's Inferno progenitor. First, and foremost, the fold engines were removed, rendering the Defender incapable of leaving the system on it's own power. The Pacifica milita felt that was fine, as the role of the Defender was to defend the planet, instead of hunting down rogue units in deep space. Removing the fold engines freed up space for more weapon units. The normal engines were modified to improve the Defender's maneuverability and speed in battle. 

The weapon systems received a drastic overhaul. Removed were the two anti- warship missile launchers, along with 19 of the standard anti-aircraft launchers. Removing the anti-warship launchers was a given, since the Defender was not projected as battling other capital ships, and the 19 launchers were removed in favor of a new, slightly more devious idea. Sixty(!) 12 count micro missile launchers were concealed around the Defender, with a new loading system restocking the launcher within 15 seconds. The number of AA lasers were also slightly increased to 10. 

The new battle plan has the Defenders closing in the incoming swarm of mecha, firing it's standard missiles as they go, and dodging the shots from the capital ships. All in all, it's similar to the Inferno's battle plan, with one crucial difference. When the enemy mecha are close enough, the micro missile launchers are to be fired in two waves, keeping a solid stream of 360 micro missiles heading into the enemy units. This provides a much heavier rate of fire than the Infernos can handle, and the Defender's targeting computers have been beefed up for the one purpose of targeting as many enemy units as possible. The new generation of missiles also makes it easier to fire on enemy units instead of friendly ones. 

The Defenders have performed well in tests and in drills, but have not engaged in actual combat yet. The Pacifica militia is confident of their abilities though, and is even considering building a new shipyard just to produce new vessels of the design.

RPG STATS

Crew: 1100 total

 

Notable Ships of Class:

 

MGD-01 PSS Defender, formerly UNS Inferno - recomissioned January 11, 2042 

MGD-02 PSS Guardian, formerly UNS Maverick - recomissioned May 8, 2042 

MGD-03 PSS Watchman, formerly UNS Sparrow - recomissioned October 5, 2042

Naming: The names of the Defender class all relate to protectors.

MDC BY LOCATION:

(1) Main Body                                  18,000
(2) Command Tower                                3000
(2) Sensor Array (on top of Command Tower)        700
(3) Main Engines/Power Plants (2)               2,000 each
(3) Secondary Engines (4)                         800 each
(3) Small Guidance thrusters (30)                 200 each

    Anti-Warship Cannons (2)                      300 each
    Retractable Laser Cannons (10)                200 each
    Anti-Aircraft Missile Launchers (20)          250 each
    Mirco-Missile Launchers (60)                  150 each

    Small Airlocks/Access Hatches (25)            250 each
    Flight Deck Airlock (1)                       500
    Outer Hull (per 40ft area)                    120
    Interior walls (per 20ft)                      20

(4) Pin Point Barriers (3)                      2,500 each

NOTES:

 
1. Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the destroyer out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
2. Destroying the command tower will instantly kill the command staff and deprive the ship of all forms of long range communications, radar and targeting. The range and targeting capabilities of the secondary systems are equal to that of a VF-4 Lightning. The ship can still operate, but is at -3 on initiative, -3 to strike, and number of attacks per melee of the weapon systems are reduced by half. Destroying the main sensory array atop the command tower will have the same effect, but the command staff will not be killed instantly.
3. Depleting the MDC of the main engines will force the ship to rely on its secondary engines. Depleting the MDC of the main engines AND secondary engines will leave the ship adrift in space. If in an atmosphere, the ship will crash (destruction of the main engines will render the antigravity system useless due to loss of power).
4. The Pinpoint Barriers regenerate at a rate of 1,250 MD per second (2,500 MD per melee round). If destroyed, a barrier will completely regenerate within 2 seconds (1 melee rounds). See the Pinpoint Barrier System entry for details.

SPEEDS:

Speed (sublight): 0.20 speed of light (32,000 miles per second)
Speed (Auxiliary Drives): Mach 3
Space Fold: None
Planet bound:

Can land if necessary but not designed to maneuver in an atmosphere. Can only land in a body of water (does not have landing gear).

Maximum Range: Unlimited (estimated 20 year life span, which can be extended with regular maintenance and overhauls)

Note: The Defender-class missile destroyers are agile (in starship terms) and get an additional +1 to dodge when avoiding fire from enemy starships or Protodeviln.

STATISTICAL DATA:

Length: 785 feet (250 meters)
Weight: 128,000 tons (empty), 220,000 tons (Standard)

Power System:

ORTEC/General Galaxy Main reactor

Fold System:

None

Sublight Drive:

ORTEC/Centinel Impulse Drive Cluster

Gravity Control System: Internal
Auxiliary Engine:

Shinnakasu/Shinsei Industries/Agar Nuclear Pulse Rocket Motor Cluster

Sensor System: Standard & Subspace Mass Detector

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. ANTI-WARSHIP CANNONS (2): The main energy weapon systems of the Defender destroyers are two heavy laser cannons, mounted on either side of the ship near the command tower facing forward. Each laser can fire separately or together, but can only fire at targets that are almost directly in front of the destroyer (lasers can aim 10 degrees off the ship's centerline).
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship
   • RANGE: 100,000 miles (160,000 km)
   • DAMAGE: 1D6x100 M.D. per shot
   • RATE OF FIRE: Each cannon can fire twice per melee. The cannons can fire individually or both together.
   • PAYLOAD: Unlimited.
     
     
2. RETRACTABLE LASER TURRETS (10): As a final line of defense, the destroyer has retractable laser turrets mounted at various strategic places along the hull. These short-range lasers were apparently intended primarily for anti-aircraft and anti-mecha defense, but can do moderate damage against enemy spacecraft if they get too close. When not in use gun turrets are concealed within the hull underneath a sliding hatch.
    
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Defense
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Aircraft
   • RANGE: 4000 ft (1200 m)
   • DAMAGE: 1D4x10 M.D.
   • RATE OF FIRE: Each individual turret can fire four times per melee. Turrets can be combined in any volley combination, but the minimum number of turrets per volley is 4.
   • PAYLOAD: Unlimited.
    
3. MEDIUM MISSILE LAUNCHERS (20): For anti-aircraft defense the destroyers are armed with medium-range missile launchers set at key locations along the ship's hull. Each launcher contains 8 missile tubes allowing volleys of up to 8 missiles to be fired at a single target per launcher. Once depleted, the missile launchers are reloaded by an automated loading system that takes 45 seconds (three melee rounds) to reload all 8 missiles. Armor-piercing smart missiles are usually used to avoid chances of friendly fighters being shot down by the missiles.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Aircraft
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship
   • MISSILE TYPES: Any type of UN Spacy Medium Range Missile can be used. Smart missiles are commonly used to avoid hitting friendly aircraft.
   • RANGE: Varies, typically 60 miles (80.4 km).
   • SPEED: Varies, typically 1600mph (2571kmph).
   • DAMAGE: Varies, typically 2D4x10 M.D.
   • BLAST RADIUS: Varies, typically 15 feet.
   • RATE OF FIRE: Volleys of 2, 4 or 8 missiles per launcher.
   • PAYLOAD: Each launcher holds 8 missiles. Once the missiles are expended the launcher is reloaded within 3 round via an automated system. The reload system holds 96 missiles per launcher.
    
4. MICRO-MISSILE LAUNCHERS (60): The Defender mounts 5 dozen micro-missile launchers as part of her new armament package. When the enemy mecha are close enough, the micro-missile launchers are to be fired in two waves, keeping a solid stream of 360 micro missiles heading into the enemy units. This massive volleying effect would quickly overwhelm even the most maneuverable fighter, and is extremely effective against capital ships at close range. Each launcher contains 12 missile tubes allowing volleys of up to 12 missiles to be fired at a single target per launcher. Once depleted, the missile launchers are reloaded by an automated loading system that takes 15 seconds (one melee round) to reload all 12 missiles. Armor-piercing smart missiles are usually used to avoid chances of friendly fighters being shot down by the missiles.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Aircraft
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship
   • MISSILE TYPES: Any type of UN Spacy Mirco-Missile can be used. Smart missiles are commonly used to avoid hitting friendly aircraft.
   • RANGE: 1 mile (1.6.4 km).
   • SPEED: Varies, typically 1600mph (2571kmph).
   • DAMAGE: Varies, typically 1D4x10 M.D.
   • BLAST RADIUS: Varies, typically 15 feet.
   • RATE OF FIRE: Volleys of 2, 4, 6 or 12 missiles per launcher.
   • PAYLOAD: Each launcher holds 12 missiles. Once the missiles are expended the launcher is reloaded within 3 round via an automated system. The reload system holds 288 missiles per launcher.

5. PINPOINT BARRIER DEFENSE SYSTEM: Originally developed by researchers onboard the SDF-01 Macross during Space War One, the Pinpoint Barrier System is a standard defense system on board all UN Spacy starships, including the Defender destroyers. The system generates three small disc-shaped force fields that can be positioned anywhere along the ship to deflect missiles, energy beams or projectiles. Each pinpoint barrier is about 200 ft (61 m) in length and can absorb up to 2,500 MD in damage, which then regenerates within four seconds (1 melee round). The barriers can also be layered on top of each other to generate a field which provides 10,000 MDC and can even deflect heavy particle beams (sometimes).

   The three barriers are controlled by operators in the command tower of the missile destroyer. These operators are instructed to defend (1) the command tower, bridge, and sensor array, (2) main engines, (3) weapon systems, and (4) hangar bays, in that order. The operators primarily concentrate on defending the ship against larger spacecraft and leave defense against mecha attacking the cruiser to the VF pilots.

   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Defense (the pinpoint barrier system cannot be used as a weapon)
   • RANGE: Up to 300 feet (91.5 m) from the surface of the vessel.
   • DAMAGE CAPACITY: Can sustain up to 2,500 MD per round. Regenerates at a rate of 2,500 MD per melee round.
   • RADIUS: 200 ft (61 m)
   • DEFENSIVE MOVEMENT: Can move from one end of the destroyer to the other in less than a single round. Trained operators can attempt to block attacks up to 8 times per melee (counts as a parry) and are at +7 to block. Untrained characters can parry up to their number of hand-to-hand attacks with their normal parry bonuses only.
   • PAYLOAD: Nearly inexhaustible. Will work as long as system is functional (see below) and engines are intact. If main engines are destroyed, the barrier will loose power and not function.
   • NOTE: If all three barriers are grouped in a single spot they can deflect a heavy particle beam attack, such as the one generated by the Macross Cannon, Zentraedi/Varuta command warships, and some Protodeviln. However, the beam will completely destroy all four barriers and put incredible strain on the pinpoint barrier system, to the point where it may short out. After deflecting an energy beam, roll percentile dice on the table below to determine additional effects/damage.
     • 01-05: Lucked out, system will be operational in 1D6 hours.
     • 06-20: Minor damage, system will require 4D6 hours to repair.
     • 21-35: Major damage, system will require 2D6x10 hours to repair (yes, DAYS of work).
     • 36-64: Completely destroyed! System can be rebuilt, but will require new parts and 2D6 DAYS of work to replace.
     • 65-79: Major damage, system will require 2D6x10 hours to repair.
     • 80-94: Minor damage, system will require 4D6 hours to repair.
     • 95-99: Lucked out, system will be operational in 1D6 hours.
     • 00: It's a miracle! Trivial damage only, system will be operational again in only 4D6 melee rounds!

SYSTEMS OF NOTE:

• ANTIGRAVITY PROPULSION SYSTEM: The Defender destroyers are equipped with an anti-gravity propulsion system used for planetary landings and liftoffs. The system is good for vertical ascent/descent only and can lift the ship at speeds of up to 1,320 feet (400 m) per minute. The system will function so long as the main engines can supply energy to it.
• HYPERSPACE COMMUNICATIONS: Based on the same technology as the space fold system, the hyperspace communications relay allows faster-than-light communication between UN Spacy starships and other vessels or planetary bases. Hyperspace communications are still not instantaneous, however. Audio/video communication travels through hyperspace at a rate of about 1 second per 4000 light years, so messages communicated over vast distances can still take seconds or minutes to arrive.
• LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: The missile destroyers have sufficient life support to provide breathable air and comfortable temperatures for 1200 people for up to 20 years (air is recycled). In an emergency the life support system can support up to 2,500 people at one time, though living conditions onboard will get extremely cramped at that point. The destroyer also holds sufficient food and water to support 1200 people for up to 6 months. 
• LONG-RANGE LASER/SATELLITE RELAY COMMUNICATIONS: The impressive communications array of the missile destroyer can communicate with up to 1,000 craft simultaneously at ranges of up to 900 miles (1,440 km). This range can be boosted indefinitely by using satellites or other spacecraft as to relay communications.
• LONG-RANGE RADAR: The radar array of the destroyer has been upgraded to better target multiple fighters, and can track and identify up to 4,000 craft simultaneously. The radar system has a 2,000 mile/3,200 km range.
• SUBLIGHT ENGINES: As a backup to the Fold System, the missile destroyer is equipped with ORTEC/Centinel Impulse Drive Cluster engines that can propel the craft at speeds up to 0.20 speed of light (32,000 miles per second) in space. Note that these engines are mainly intended for rapid movement inside a planetary system and are not suited for long voyages between star systems. In a planetary atmosphere the destroyer is limited to speeds of Mach 3 maximum due to hull stress.
• SUBSPACE MASS SENSORS: The Defender destroyers are equipped with subspace sensors, which are based on the same principles as the hyperspace communications array. These sensors can essentially instantly detect mass readings and movement of objects up to 1 AU (93 million miles) distant from the destroyer, and the readings are used both for early warning and for navigation when traveling at sublight speeds. Readings taken with the subspace sensors are not very detailed (-25% penalty when trying to identify a detected object) and cannot detect objects of less than 60,000 kg (this includes most variable fighters).

MECHA COMPLEMENT (STANDARD):

• VF-11C Thunderbolt: 30 (2 Squadrons) on active status.