Nexus class Colony/Combat Ship
The Nexus-Class Next Generation Ships are the latest long-range exploration, fleet command, and colonization vessels being used by the Associated Systems of Klonor to probe the far reaches of the galaxy. The first of these vessels, the New Dawn 01, was launched from Delta Serpentis in September 2368, and since then, only two Nexus class vessels have been launched from a Klonor system, the first of which was commandeered in January 2389 by a terrorist group now known as the Mariemea Faction. The Nexus New Dawn ships were intended to replace the Hecate-Class Destroyer that had been in service for two decades.
The Nexus Class ships represent a fundamental redesign and redevelopment of the Klonor ship design as well as colonization strategy. The new vessels are designed to be the flagships of colonization fleets and battle groups; carrying well over 1 million civilian settlers. The colony portion of the Nexus Class vessel alone can carry over 7,000 civilians, a vast improvement over the 900-colonist capacity of the Orion vessels. In addition, the City block provides much better protection for the civilians than earlier ships did. The semi-transparent compartment (which on the outside of the ship looks like a normal hull) covering the city can be enclosed by a heavy projection shield that completely protects the colony from attacks (except for external areas, see below). When not in danger, the shield can be retracted off the compartment to provide colonists with an awe-inspiring view of the stars.
The Nexus Class vessels are also intended to serve as the flagships for the colonization fleet's military escort forces. Unlike previous colony ships, the Nexus Class vessels can carry over 150 variable fighters at maximum capacity and contains sophisticated communication and radar systems which allows it to effectively coordinate fighter - bomber wings and escort ships in battle. In addition, the Nexus Class Vessels are armed with an impressive array of anti-warship weaponry, including standard turrets, rail guns, AAAf weaponry, anti-capital ship beam turrets modeled after the original BFGreen Beams on the Colossus, and one Heavy Particle Beam Cannon utilizing Nexus Energy. The performance of the XT-01 New Dawn has been so impressive that the Klonor Space Corps has plans to construct more XT-01's to serve as command ships for all military space fleets.
The interiors of the New Dawn city sections contain large metropolitan areas that are over 3 square kilometers in size (even though the New Dawn itself is only 2.4 kilometers long). These cities are usually extremely clean and well kept, and feature many parks and public areas for use by citizens. Most colony residents enjoy a high standard of living, which helps to offset the boredom of long-distance space travel.
Previous colonization fleets usually consisted of one Orion ship and a modest escort fleet. However, when a Nexus Class ship is launched it is accompanied by a fleet of special-purpose colony ships that make up a self-supporting community in space, allowing the ships to operate for years without contact from home. (Current estimates are that a Nexus class Colony Fleet can operate for up to 30 years without resupply.) The accompanying colony fleet usually includes at least one of each of the following ships; Ganymede- class mobile factory ships, New Mecca-class (and/or New Millennium-class) colony ships. These ships are in addition to a moderately large military escort fleet made up mostly of Mercury-class corvettes, Leviathon & Aeoulus-class cruisers.
To date, seven New Dawn Resolution colony fleets have been launched since 2368. So far only two of these fleets have met with significant problems or resistance. The New Dawn-R 01 and New Dawn-R 02 colony fleets encountered Shivan forces and Mariemea Faction ships while exploring near the outter-rim worlds, leading to the Klonor - Mariemea Faction War which started in 2369. Fortunately none of the other New Mecca-Millennium fleets have encountered similar problems yet, but no one really knows what dangers are still waiting in the unexplored parts of the galaxy the ships are heading into.
STATS
- Government: The Associated Systems of Klonor
- Ship Type: Next Generation Long Distance Emigration Ship/Space Attack Carrier - Destroyer
- Class: XT-01 Nexus Class
- Manufacturer: Metal Siren Technologies
- Crew: 15,000
Battle Section (8,000 total)
- ____________Command: 74
- ____________Main Ship: 4,226
- ____________F/B Pilots: 240 + 100 reserve
- ____________Troops: 3000
City Section (7000 total)
- ____________Crew: 1,000
- ____________Civilian Colonists:6,000
Notable Ships of Class:
- ____________New Dawn 01 (XT-01 class; launched 2368, engaged in conflict behind enemy lines)
- ____________New Dawn 02 (XT-01 class; launched 2369, abducted by Mariemea Faction on January 23rd, one week after launch)
- ____________New Dawn 03 (XT-01 class; launched 2371, successful colonization of SR-2091, continued service)
BATTLE SECTION STATS
HITPOINTS BY LOCATION:
- (1) Main Body (TOTAL) 900000
- Flight Decks/Manrominum Hull Shields (25)
- (2) Main Engines/"Leg" Units (2)
- (3) Command Towers (2)
- (3) Sensor Array (Top of Command Tower 1)
- (2) Secondary Thrusters (4)
- Small Guidance Thrusters (40)
SPEEDS (In Freespace Terms):
- Speed(sublight): 25 M/S (In emergency mode - 60M/;, can escape or quickly move to-from danger zone; not recomended if hull is at 25% or less; g-force inside ships city would cause massive destruction internally)
- Speed(Auxiliary Drives-Atmosphere): Mach 3
- Nexus-Subspace Flight: Range Unlimited
- Planet bound: Can land if necessary in large body of water, but not designed to maneuver in an atmosphere.
- Maximum Range: Unlimited (estimated 30 year life span)
STATISTICAL DATA:
- Length: 2.4 Kilometers (2400 Meters)
- Height: 1.7 Kilometers (from central auxiliary wing to top of command towers)
- Weight: 8,250,000 tons (empty) / 15,700,000 tons (standard)
- Subspace-Nexus-System: Metal Siren Technologies Magnetic Field Generator (MFG-Nexus Drive) System Cluster (1)
- Sublight Drive: Triton Dynamics Standard Hecate Class Engine
- Gravity Control System: Internal
- Auxiliary Engine: Lockheed Martin Pratt Whitney Excelsior
- Radar System: "New Dawn Resolution" AEGIS System / AWAC System
Main WEAPON SYSTEMS:
Nexus Beam Cannon: The most powerful weapon on the XT-01-Class Destroyer is the Nexus Cannon, which is basically the same heavy particle beam cannon used by the Colossus in the second war against the Shivan's, but utilizing the massive destructive force of Nexus Energy. The cannon has an active targeting range of 1.5 Kilometers, and can fire a beam up to 120,000 miles (192,000 km) long that effectively destroys everything in its path. The disadvantage of the weapon is the tremendous power it consumes. Even while connected to the Destroyers powerful MFG Nexus Engines, the cannon takes a day to recharge between shots. However, by supplementing the MFG Nexus Engines with two Jimathon MiniStar III Engines, the rate of fire has been increased to one shot every hour. Much better than the previous 24 hours required for recharge, it is still not perfected. The hour required for recharging is long during a space battle, and the depleted weapons energy leaves the ship vulnerable because its main weapon energy resources have been sapped through the beam. The weapon has not been used in combat because of a lack of sufficient need, but it is expected the beam is to only be used in dire need. Lastly, a more practical use of the beam cannon is being created. An area effecting beam ocular (the bowl shape aperture where the beam is omitted through) which channels the beam energy in a wide area to achieve maximum damage to enemy fleets in large numbers, thus giving the allied fleet a numbers advantage. This is being required simply because of the lessons learned during the Great War and Second Shivan Incursion. When faced with overwhelming numbers, the odds can be greatly reduced to our advantage when the beam ocular is completed to fire in an area.
- PRIMARY PURPOSE: Heavy Assault - Defense
- SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship(s)
- Active Targeting RANGE: 1.5 Kilometers
- RATE OF FIRE: Once per 1 Hour
- PAYLOAD: Effectively Unlimited
BFGreen Cannon (4): As a secondary weapon system the XT-01 battle carriers carry four large-caliber BFGreen cannons, one below the Nexus Cannon, one between the ships engines for rear protection, and two for side view protection of the ship. These cannons are similar to those on the original Colossus (though much more modern). This balance, and a combination of Nexus Technology, allows all cannons to fire at the same time without overheating the turrets.
- PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault - Defense
- SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship
- RANGE: 1 Kilometer.
- DAMAGE: 900 per second
- RATE OF FIRE: Every thirty seconds
SYSTEMS OF NOTE:
- HYPERSPACE COMMUNICATIONS: Based on the same technology as the subspace system, the hyperspace communications relay allows faster-than-light communication between the Allied ships and other vessels or planetary bases. Hyperspace communications are still not instantaneous, however. Audio/video communication travels through hyperspace at a rate of about 5 seconds per light year, so messages communicated over vast distances can still take days, weeks, or months to arrive.
- LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: The XT-01 have sufficient life support to provide breathable air and comfortable temperatures for 16,000 people for up to 30 years (air is recycled). In an emergency the life support system can support up to 20,000 people at one time, though living conditions onboard will get extremely cramped at that point. The carrier also holds sufficient food and water to support 20,000 people for up to 6 months without restocking.
- LONG-RANGE LASER/SATELLITE RELAY COMMUNICATIONS: The impressive communications array of the battle carrier can communicate with up to 1,000 craft simultaneously at ranges of up to 5 Kilometers. This range can be boosted indefinitely by using Allied Defense Satellites or other spacecraft as to relay communications. There also Allied AWAC's.
- SUB-SPACE - NEXUS FLIGHT SYSTEM: For "FTL" propulsion, the XT-01 is equipped with a Metal Siren Technologies Magnetic Field Generator (Nexus), capable of propelling the Destroyer through subspace or Nexus Flight. The range of the subspace drive or Nexus Flight is theoretically unlimited except by the life expectancy of the spacecraft.
Fighter - Bomber COMPLEMENT (STANDARD):
- GTF Perseus Interceptor
- GTF Hercules Mk 2 Heavy Assault Fighter
- GTF Myrmidon Space Superiority Fighter
- GTF Pegasus Stealth Fighter
- GTF Sturmvogel Heavy Assault Stealth Fighter
- GTB Artemis Heavy Bombers
- GTB Ursa Heavy Assault Bombers
- GTB Boenarges Next generation Assault Bombers
