Guide:Guardian (USAF)

Guardian
Class Overview
Category	combat spacecraft
Operational	2045-xxxx
Constructed	3+
Dimensions
Length	xxx m
Beam	xxx m
Height	xxx m
Mass	<25,000 mt
Performance
Max Speed	0.xxc
Endurance	9 months
Complement
Crew	xx
Tactical Systems
Beam Weapons	1x plasma cannon (P61TDM-8)
Missile Weapons	2x missile tubes
Canonicity
Design	Guide: Verne

Notes

• In Guide:Verne, the Verne class is derived from the design of the Guardian, with "a huge cone similar to the postwar Liberty hulls yet technologically less ambitious and consequently more robust." I literally see the nacelle-less main body of the Verne serving the same function for the Guardian, but with a far less prominent nose cabin. They will have "fission NTR reaction engines" that will be replaced for the Vernes, with a suggestion that the Guardians have several exhaust nozzles.

• The Vernes also replaced "half the fuel tankage as well as all the particle cannon from the original blueprints" (presumably of the Guardians).

• "Alterations to (the original Guardian) hull form were minimal...Instead, much of the original martial nature of the design survived. For example, the bow cone retained the original two missile tubes while gaining some protrusions necessitated by extended life support systems."

I'm re-interpreting this to mean that the missile tubes were moved forward onto the new bow section.

• At least three Guardians were constructed pre-war, as three unsalvaged hulls were in orbit following the conflict. It's possible/likely that more were built and lost during the conflict and additional ones were being constructed (at least partially) on the surface, or the unconstructed ones were part of the planned modification of the original series.

• These ships could serve from forward deployed locations, such as Aphrodite "stations" or asteroid bases. Some will be stationed in Earth orbit come 2053, in order to serve as early forms for the Verne design.

• DD: The Guardians have "thermal protection tiling" similar to the US space shuttle, as the USAF intended to have them engage in "atmo skipping" as a combat tactic, in order to confuse targeting of enemy weaponry. By rapidly slowing or changing vector, the craft would not be where the enemy anticipated.

References

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• Back to the Table of Contents
• Back to "The Playground"
• Appendix A: Of Ship Statistics
• Appendix B: Glossary
• Appendix C: Star Fleet Organization - General Outline
• Appendix D: Abbreviations From Outside