Pater-class Carrier
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About Solaris | Guide to Solaris | Prologue
About Solaris | Guide to Solaris | Prologue
The Pater-class is a fast carrier employed by the Jovian Orbital Guard. It is a crucial part of the Orbital Guard's anti-piracy strategy, operating as a mobile spaceport that can launch and resupply Cyklopes incredibly close to areas of operation. As a fast carrier, it sacrifices its endurance and combat strength for the ability to participate in intercepts. Accelerating significantly before releasing its fighter complement effectively multiplies their range, providing the flexibility needed to detain and deter piracy.
The carriers are constructed at Red Spot Shipyards. Each carrier takes five to six years to complete. The shipyard has two airdocks capable of accomodating a Pater-class and has delivered four carriers already with eight more in the pipeline. Concurrent with the introduction of Pater-class carriers into service, the previous generation Juno-class carriers are being decommissioned.
Design
The silhouette of the Pater-class is dominated by its engines. Four blocks of six highly efficient Astromeria crystal engines provide enough thrust to accelerate the carrier into intercept trajectories. These engines are one of the few major components of the carrier that are procured from Ganymede rather than Jupiter; they are typically used for Dragonfly-type cargo craft. A craft catapult at the bow allows for rapidly deploying its complement of strikecraft. Recovery is significantly slower as returning strikecraft are required to dock with two magnetically clamping elevators. However, the space (and weight) saved was considered an acceptable design compromise. Similar to the Juno-class, the carriers have a sparse set of point-defense cannons and two torpedo launchers almost as an afterthought, as they should practically never be in knife-fight range.Ships in class
Pater-class carriers are named after renouned patricians, usually Senators. Twelve carriers are planned to be constructed, and their names are as follows. Unfinished ships italicized.
- JGC Pateris
- JGC Aequalis
- JGC Singularis
- JGC Grandis
- JGC Capitatis
- JGC Primus
- JGC Augustus
- JGC Fluvius
- JGC Vicularis
- (Three yet unnamed)
Deployment
The first Pater-class carrier, JGC Pateris was launched in 220010 at a ceremony that involved delegates from the Senate, key design personnel, and the commissioning of a limited batch of holocards of the ship. It was officially delivered in 220011 after extensive testing of its systems and verification of its design, including a shakedown voyage to test the power plant and engines and an integrity test where carefully calculated bombs were detonated near the hull. All four carriers are currently stationed in or around Jupiter orbit. The precise location of each is not necessarily public as military craft often turn off their VIP transponders. JGC Singularis is in Ganymede orbit, while Aequalis is known to be deployed near common transit paths from Saturn. Since the primary mission of the carriers is anti-piracy, it can be safely assumed that the other two carriers are similarly employed.| ♃ Jupiter | ||||||||
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Speed
4/7
Mobility
2/7
Firepower
1/7
Toughness
3/7
Designation
JGC
Manufacturer
Owning Organization
Complement / Crew
350
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Ooo, eight new ones in production seems a little ominous. Although I suppose they are not built for bang bang shooty time.
There's only two airdocks that can build them at a time and they take 5 years to complete, so they won't be all ready for at least 20 more years. And indeed, they're mostly useful to protect the fine citizens of Jove against Saturnian pirate scum.