Taizong

Relies on short ranged, resource limited energy weaponry for assault role

    • ship size:
    • ~63 meters long, ignoring radiator fins
    • basic shape & rhythm:
      • Similar to the Zhuangzong and Shizu, the Taizong has a large and bulbous rear
      • However, the unlike the other two strike craft, which have fore and rear sections only, the Taizong also has a middle section
      • The middle section has large prominences to the top and bottom, and smaller prominences to each side
      • At the top of each of these conical prominences that jut like asymmetric starfish arms from a rounded core, is a turreted laser lens, each axis hooked up to one of the two lasers that reside in the core of the middle region (for visual inspiration on laser turret - look to ABL, but then put through Rlaan mental filter as desired to get reasonable aesthetic)
      • Nestled between the laser core, the top prominence, and the forward section is the cockpit, it's characteristic docking hatch facing mostly up and slightly forward
      • The armor on the Taizong cockpit is especially thick, even for Rlaan strike craft
      • Unlike the Zhuangzong and Shizu, only two radiator fins rise out of the rearmost section on each of top and bottom, facing rear. The fins that do are similar to, but not identical to those on the aforementioned craft
      • The front section is very distinct from other Rlaan strike craft
      • The front of the ship has an appearance not unlike a tommy-gun and its distinctive drum magazine
      • The single massive weapon end facing forward and, oddly, ever so slightly down, is clearly something gravitic in nature, but the curves in the hull do little to hide the suspicion that just behind it, in the vaguely cylindrical drum area, there are large moving parts - which there are
      • Rare among Rlaan weaponry, this is an ammunition based system, although it still has no physical projectile exiting the weapon.
      • Rather, it is full of massive, single-use power cells, which are rotated through into the internal armored chamber where they can discharge without damaging the rest of the ship
      • Four radiator fins, two top and two bottom, arise from this front section, but are oriented mostly to the side and somewhat to the rear, rather than forward, as in other Rlaan strike craft. These fins are notably larger than the ones on smaller Rlaan strike craft.
    • textures & paneling:
    • As with the Shizu, much of the hull is coated in a thick resinous substance that hides the underlying materials, but it has patterns embossed into it like scars on skin, and is generally uneven and heavily textured, as if much of it has been sprayed on. Where the underlying materials are apparent, the individual panels can be seen to be extremely small, giving an appearance at a distance of a textured, but otherwise continuous smooth curving surface, but closer up is revealed as a fine mesh of tiny components. While there are hints of the internal mechanical workings of the assault weaponry at front, they are not immediately visible from the outside, except at the business end itself.
    • materials:
    • Armor is a layered sandwich of metals and ceramics and fibers and shock-absorbing polymers. However, looking at an undamaged Rlaan ship is mostly an exercise in looking at the hardened space-epoxy that the whole thing has been sealed with, except where bits that must interact with the outside world spring forth. The business end of the assault weapon is the only significantly visible portion of the ship not covered with standard Rlaan hull-covering goo.
    • colors & factions:
    • Absolutely strictly military in standard Rlaan military reds, burgundy, purple.
    • modular pieces:
    • This is a much newer vessel than the other Rlaan strike craft, brought into being during the Rlaan-Aeran war. Only the internal lasers themselves and the larger forward fins are modular, both finding use on larger vessels. All else, except jump drive, is custom.
    • weapons and armor:
    • The gravitic thumper cannon at the front of the ship is an adaptation of the larger, non-ammunition based weapon that the Jannissary is built around. Putting the weapon in a more traditional Rlaan-framework strike craft required significant redesign and the ammunition limitation. The thumper cannon is used similarly to light torpedos in other species assault craft, with the similar caveat for all gravitic weaponry - damage is very high, but range is very limited. However, should a Taizong reach firing range, unlike a torpedo, point defense has no missile to shoot down while it is still distant from the target, and at short range, the Taizong probably isn't missing. The slight downward slant allows for maintaining orientation (for laser targetting) while on strafing runs. Armor is about as expected for a Rlaan strike craft, covering much of the vessel.
    • propulsion:
    • As with all Rlaan ships, propulsion is achieved via modified shield emitters, the majority of which are integrated into the radiator fins, although hull-mounts also exist.
    • mobility:
    • Like other Rlaan strike craft, it is extremely maneuverable in rotating about its own center, and like all Rlaan ships, can thrust omni-directionally, but has a truly mediocre acceleration curve, being easilly surpassed even by the aged Zhuangzong.
    • power/ reactors:
    • Single, large reactor at rear.
    • functionality/ role:
    • Assaults capital escort vessels, capital ship surface features (guns, point defense) and other targets of high value. Designed during the Rlaan-Aeran war to augment the Jannissary class assault vessel. The laser turrets are capable anti-interceptor weapons, the lack of which had previously hampered the effectiveness of the Janissary class.
    • utilities, arms grabbers, etc:
    • Fuel resupply hook interface on rear reactor portion of vessel. Attachment clamps for external fuel pods for interstellar travel via non-jump.
    • lighting, how well lit is the ship:
    • Generally dimly lit in red around sprinkler mounts and main hatch.
    • command center:
    • Cockpit only.
    • crew size:
    • 1 Rlaan.
    • cargo space:
    • While designed for long-term individual supply, for when on primary fleet offensive maneuvers through interstellar space, the cargo space can be partially re-adapted to hold small quantities of other items.
    • range capability:
    • Depending on fuel consumption, can operate independently for up to nearly five weeks. Fuel, however, is very unlikely to last that long - but is easier to resupply than other materials. Assault ammunition, however is almost always exhausted in a single fight, and frequent resupply will be needed in any extended battle.
    • sensors:
    • Deployed on the same equatorial arc as the other Rlaan strike craft, excepting a divergence near the business end of the assault cannon, where the sensor strip diverges to both top and bottom to avoid coming near even the base of the weapon
    • docking/ interactions:
    • Cockpit hatch preferred, internal possible, but due to size, difficult for many stations to accommodate, especially due to radiator wings.
    • common maneuvers/tactics:
    • Very aggressive, almost entirely offensive. Accompanies Janissary class ships, if present, otherwise leads assault ahead of larger vessels. Swarms particular targets one at a time, strafing with assault cannon. When ammunition is exhausted, will either engage strike craft with lasers, or return and rearm for further strafing runs.
    • civilian or military:
    • Completely military. This is one of the more advanced Rlaan ships.
    • significant technologies description:
    • Rlaan drives, Rlaan radiator fins, heavy emphasis on gravitic weapon. Shield strength is mediocre, which is high for Rlaan, but recharge rate is exceptional.
    • Redundancy:
    • Radiator, shield/drive and cooling apparatus redundantly over-engineered for graceful degradation, otherwise minimal.