Zheng He

The TSS Zheng He, is at first glance simply another Terran Scout ship that has for decades flown across the Sol System, looking for old human facilities, colonial infrastructure, shipyards and other such places. However, the Zheng He would adopt a new, far more ambitious and prestigious task, that of heading the first extra solar expedition by the Terran Federation, making the next great step in the reclamation of Mankind's destiny.

Vessel History

Production

The TSS Zheng He had been, when first ordered by the Federal Military Survey Core, commissioned as the TSS de Gama, a Federal Scout Ship meant to scour the Kulper belt of the solar system to recover old facilities meant to Ice Water asteroids and anything else of mineral value within the belt. However, only two months into the Production of the de Gama, and the Federal Government altered the order, providing new schematics and designs after the ships basic chassis had been completed, this new order designated the ship the Zheng He, and lay out plans for the first ship capable of Extra Solar Faster Than Light travel.

During this new production period, the Federal Ship Manufacturing Conglomerate, Starlink Aeronautics, were forced to partner with the Electronic Conglomerate RuFour Technologies and the Weapons Production Conglomerate Bogota Arms. These 3 Conglomerates, representing the largest sectors of the Federal Economy and the 3 largest State-Owned Corporations in the Federation, were set to work implementing every aspect of the Federation's extensive demands, while keeping the Contruction of the Zheng He under strict secrecy, with not even those working on sight fully aware of what they were constructing.

Eventually, the Zheng He would finish construction in July 2790, a staggering and unprecedented 7 months after the initial order by the Government of Hu Tang in January of that year. Shortly thereafter the ship would be presented to the public, an extensive crew selected from the Federation's Military, scientific and diplomatic services, and now it's maiden voyage to the Alpha Centauri is but days away, and the single greatest moment for all mankind since the Fall.

Design

The Zheng He is a modified design of the Standard Federal Scout Ship, the Endurance Class, which sits at just under a single KM long, with a maximum crew compliment of 1,200, which consists of the standard Engineers, Scientists, Diplomats, and ship security officers, along with a special compliment of Federal Marines, Infantry, Fighter Pilots and a Special appointed Federal Observer.

Sitting at just under a single KM, the Zheng He is on the outside, sharing the same hull design as the rest of the Endurance Class, but is far more compact, and lacks many of the same amenities as other ships of the Class, such as an on-Ship Bar, Sports Center and portside Observation deck, instead possessing additional supplies of Food, Medicine, Weapons and additional housing quarters for the enlarged military presence abaord the Zheng He.

The most notable feature of the Zheng He, remains a sealed room adjacent to the Bridge of the vessel. According to traditional design, there are 3 adjacent rooms to the bridge. Directly behind the Captain's chair is a connecting room between the bridge and the level Elevator. On the left side of the Bridge leads into the Captains' quarters while on the right side is a special conference room for the ships' command staff. However, directly next to the conference room sits a second sealed door, which only the captain has the authorization to open, and is only one of 3 personnel on the ship with knowledge of which lies behind the door.