Operation Code: “Sombra Asunto”

[eigos]

MALTESE VESSEL DATABASE
SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON IN PROGRESS…

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Ship Identification:	"Sudrossa" Heavy Escort	"Storta" Destroyer
Chassis Code:	RM-1LS	RM-2A
Vessel Class:	Experimental	Destroyer; Capital Ship
Hull Strenght:	246,000(u)	300,000(u)
Power Reactor:	CPC-R1	CPC-R2B
Engines:	Generic ZG-300 Type-T	Destroyer Class RM-2A
Scanner System:	Generic Adv. Deep Scanner	MT-12 Tracking Scanner Array
Onboard Facilities:	Bridge; Deck; Engine Room; Cargo hold;	Bridge; Deck; Engine room; Mission control room; Medical & Science facility; Engineering facility; Docking port; Cargo hold;
Crew Capacity:	1(min); 3(max)	10(min); 25(max)
Building cost:	$67,408,312 (loadout incl.)	$179,582,250 (loadout excl.)

If one were to look at the price comparison first, the question would be “why don’t we just compare walnuts to coconuts then”. But what one should be asking is the more essential question – why did we build that thing and what can it do for us. To understand the purpose of the experimental ship, one must take into focus the Heavy Escort role tag. In general terms, those two words can be used to describe anything from bombers, super heavy fighters, armored transports... all the way to gunships and gunboats. So let's compare it to a standard "Montante" border world gunship then – it costs about 2,2x times more, both can be piloted by a single person and optionally accommodate more crew. However, when we get to the loadout details, even two of those gunships cannot compete. Add the reduced need for pilots & provisions by 2x, with 1,5x times less fuel consumption…woah, those numbers are looking too good! Now we get back to our current comparison, against an outcast naval capital.

Looking at the chassis codes, we immediately see an outdated RM-1 with two extra letters to it – L for light and S for special. To counter the confusion, we will set our eyes on the hull stat. An original RM-1 is estimated at ~195,000(u), followed by the newer RM-2A with its 300,000(u) which is not just tougher, it also weighs less and is thus more maneuverable thanks to the advanced light alloy. Although the reactors are not that much different, the newer one is battle ready in a few seconds after disengaging from cruise, while the older needs almost half a minute to re-route power to the weapons system.
The big shock however is reading up on the interior differences in both ships, because that is where the money is….or was. So what do we make of all this?

The RM-1LS is slower than a gunship, but more powerful… a mobile weapons platform that is best paired with a small fighter wing, able to easily overpower a larger number of fighters with their own gunship escort. It completely lacks the graceful maneuverability of a destroyer capital ship (which requires a whole crew operating on it), but it can definitely take a punch or two for the team. It is not meant to be used in prolonged capital battles, as a lack of gracefulness means an inevitable defeat in the artillery trade-off.

However, there is a scenario that can possibly make this ship invaluable – a full speed frontal assault on another capital vessel with its shields down and its hull weakened means you can actually cut your target in half and come through the other side still alive, as if you were thrusting a shovel through a cracked piece of wood. No other capital ship can do this and here is why – the Sudrossa has all its vital compartments and bridge at its back mid-section, instead of the front!

The frontal part is a reinforced structure, sealed off from the rest of the ship and can possibly be entirely broken away without the ship exploding or decompressing.

This ship is indeed a formidable piece of engineering, built for a very particular job. It is through this way of thinking that the outcast nation has survived for 800 years in one of the most inhospitable places in the Sirius sector. Whether this experiment would prove successful is still to be determined…