REF Cyclops as a long range scout for the fleets.
Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:55 pm
"Space, it seems to go on and on forever. But then you get to the end and a gorilla starts throwing barrels at you. And that's how you play the game." -Phillip J Fry.
One of the issues that REF Fleet command must contend with is the vast amount of space that their fleet ships must contend with. Now if there was nothing out there, then their wouldn't be an issue. But cranky Invid, early alert drones built by the masters, remainate Zentraedi ships, Sentinel allies, floating chunks of rock, spacial anomalies, and all the floatsem and jetsem brought on by a star spanning empire. All of these things could pose a threat to the fleet.
The REF needs a reliable way to gather information before putting the ships of the fleet at risk. At the core of this effort a fold capable ship, likely a Ikazuchi SFC-7000 Command Carrier, configured for exploration and information gathering. Basicly as normal, though reduce destroid compliment by half, eliminating all of the MACs and replace with 8 additional Cyclops units, and the special equipment needed for deployment, repair, rearming, recovery and everything in between.
Likely a pair of Garfish HSTC-27s would back this effort, able to bring their impressive speed into play for intel gathering. Zip close to a large target, like a planet, record data then escape away before the Invid or other hostile opponets could formulate an armed respond. Remove all destroids from the mix, add two Legios fighters (well, 2 Alphas and 2 Betas).
And at the outer edge of this information gathering web we have the Cyclops Recon Destroid. Well armed, solid armor, excellent sensor package. Perfect for investigation of targets in the same format as the old Catseyes ships. Used for checking in on an asteriod belt, poking around a floating hulk of a ship, apparent construction efforts on a airless moon, reconing an abandoned Master's base or whatever else you want, the Cyclops is the perfect vehicle for this deep space role.
The crew is limited to six, with a field Scientist (who also acts as a medic), a BME, the two pilots, a mission commander (who is trained as part of the REF's diplomatic corp) and a REF Intel agent or communications specialist. The rest of the crew accomidations and space usually reserved for the other six people of a Cyclops team is given over to additional equipment, resources and sleeping arrangements for the crew. This is done to allow the Cyclops a much greater service range as they could be inside the cyclops for weeks at a time.
The primary duty of the crew is to investigate potentially hazardous conditions for the REF Fleet they are assigned to, as well as gather real time data for combat operations once the Fleet has arrived. All crew members should be Cyclone trained and the Cyclops will carry cyclone veritechs for each member other then the BME (who would likely have a personal transport of his own.
Cyclops recon could be operating independantly or as part of a larger operation, with an emphasis on gather information and feeding it back to the fleet command. Once combat operations have begun these units would likely see action as Battle Damage Assement (BDA) craft. Finally, these men and women could well be the first point of contact with new alien races and peoples. This would make them an important aspect in developing a rapaport with new speices and possible allies/trading partners.
One of the issues that REF Fleet command must contend with is the vast amount of space that their fleet ships must contend with. Now if there was nothing out there, then their wouldn't be an issue. But cranky Invid, early alert drones built by the masters, remainate Zentraedi ships, Sentinel allies, floating chunks of rock, spacial anomalies, and all the floatsem and jetsem brought on by a star spanning empire. All of these things could pose a threat to the fleet.
The REF needs a reliable way to gather information before putting the ships of the fleet at risk. At the core of this effort a fold capable ship, likely a Ikazuchi SFC-7000 Command Carrier, configured for exploration and information gathering. Basicly as normal, though reduce destroid compliment by half, eliminating all of the MACs and replace with 8 additional Cyclops units, and the special equipment needed for deployment, repair, rearming, recovery and everything in between.
Likely a pair of Garfish HSTC-27s would back this effort, able to bring their impressive speed into play for intel gathering. Zip close to a large target, like a planet, record data then escape away before the Invid or other hostile opponets could formulate an armed respond. Remove all destroids from the mix, add two Legios fighters (well, 2 Alphas and 2 Betas).
And at the outer edge of this information gathering web we have the Cyclops Recon Destroid. Well armed, solid armor, excellent sensor package. Perfect for investigation of targets in the same format as the old Catseyes ships. Used for checking in on an asteriod belt, poking around a floating hulk of a ship, apparent construction efforts on a airless moon, reconing an abandoned Master's base or whatever else you want, the Cyclops is the perfect vehicle for this deep space role.
The crew is limited to six, with a field Scientist (who also acts as a medic), a BME, the two pilots, a mission commander (who is trained as part of the REF's diplomatic corp) and a REF Intel agent or communications specialist. The rest of the crew accomidations and space usually reserved for the other six people of a Cyclops team is given over to additional equipment, resources and sleeping arrangements for the crew. This is done to allow the Cyclops a much greater service range as they could be inside the cyclops for weeks at a time.
The primary duty of the crew is to investigate potentially hazardous conditions for the REF Fleet they are assigned to, as well as gather real time data for combat operations once the Fleet has arrived. All crew members should be Cyclone trained and the Cyclops will carry cyclone veritechs for each member other then the BME (who would likely have a personal transport of his own.
Cyclops recon could be operating independantly or as part of a larger operation, with an emphasis on gather information and feeding it back to the fleet command. Once combat operations have begun these units would likely see action as Battle Damage Assement (BDA) craft. Finally, these men and women could well be the first point of contact with new alien races and peoples. This would make them an important aspect in developing a rapaport with new speices and possible allies/trading partners.
