Unreviewed Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport (Kamikaze Conversion)

[Ronhar Tane]

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: To create a starship capable of engaging in asymmetric warfare.
• Image Source: Wookieepedia.
• Canon Link: Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport.
• Permissions: Bido Roz'lyn , permission given here.
• Primary Source: Wookieepedia.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

• Manufacturer: Techno Union.
• Affiliation: Mahporeem Imperial Remnant.
• Market Status: Closed Market.
• Production: Limited.
• Material:
  • Titanium
  • Durasteel
  • Transparisteel
  • Electronic Components

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Classification: Corvette.
• Length: 220 meters.
• Width: 72 meters.
• Height: 80 meters.
• Armament: Average.
  • 3 Light Turbolasers
  • 3 Heavy Laser Cannons
  • 2 Assault Missile Launchers
  • Rhydonium Payload
    • Up to 300,000,000 liters of fuel
• Defenses: High.
  • Medium Armor Plating
  • Missile Deactivation Transmitter
  • AR-0B Damage Reduction Armor Component
• Hangar Space: None, 0 squadrons.
• Hangar Allocations:
  • Starfighters: N/A
  • Support Craft: N/A
• Single Craft Hangar: No.
• Maneuverability Rating:
  • In vacuum
    • Average (Baseline)
    • High (With Maneuverability System engaged)
    • Low (With SLAM engaged)
  • When launching from a planet's surface
    • Very Low (Atmosphere only)
• Speed Rating:
  • In vacuum
    • Average (Baseline)
    • High (With Maneuverability System engaged)
    • Low (With SLAM engaged)
  • When launching from a planet's surface
    • Very High (Atmosphere only)
• Hyperdrive: Yes.
  • Class 2.0
  • Class 12.0 (Backup)

STANDARD FEATURES

• Engine Units
  • Fuel Cells
  • Retrorockets
  • 6 Rocket Boosters
• Navicomputer
• Advanced Sensors
• Deflector Shields
• Hyperdrive System
• All other standard features

ADVANCED SYSTEMS

• Turbolift Cargo System
• SubLight Acceleration Motor
• Dornean Software Systems
  • T.E.C.M.I.S
  • P.A.F.I.E.S
  • O.S.I.V.P
• Proprietary Internal Maneuverability System
  • Maneuvering Jets
• All turbolasers and laser cannons have been upgraded with Dornean Plasma
• When launching from the surface of a planet, can temporarily reach speeds of over 4,000 kilometers per hour

STRENGTHS

• BIG BOOM: The Mahporeem Imperial Remnant has converted its Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport into flying kamikaze ships, capable of dealing horrendous damage to anything they collide with
• Volatile: The combination of Rhydonium fuel and the Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport's fuel cells makes it incredibly easy for the ship to explode, guaranteeing it deals massive damage to anything that it hits
• Need for speed: When launching from the surface of a planet, the Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport can temporarily achieve speeds in excess of 4,000 kilometers per hour thanks to its rocket system
• Unassuming: There are no external changes done to the Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport that would give away its kamikaze function

WEAKNESSES

• Weak: The Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport is rather lightly armed, being unable to do any real damage to ships outside of its kamikaze function
• Volatile: The Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport is extremely vulnerable to being hit with any sort of fire, being almost guaranteed to explode prematurely should its shields and hull be pierced
• Friendly fire: Should the Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport detonate prematurely, it is likely to catch friendly forces within its blast radius
• Kamikaze: The nature of the Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport means that it is generally only crewed by droids, which can reduce its overall effectiveness
• Specialized: Because it is so specialized, the Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport is now incapable of fulfilling its original function as a transport vessel

DESCRIPTION

First introduced during the Clone Wars, the Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport quickly found itself outmatched by most Galactic Republic assets during the course of the conflict. Its anemic armament, antiquated launch system and sluggish sublight performance made it a rather unpopular choice with Confederacy of Independent System commanders, and after the war ended, the vast majority of the starships were sold to planets like Mahporeem to be scrapped for parts.

Even after the fall of the Galactic Empire, Mahporeem was hesitant to utilize these ships in its navy due to how poorly designed they were, though they did, admittedly, function relatively well in their intended role as transport ships. However, the Imperial Remnant did find a rather niche use for these vessels: as mobile, anti-ship bombs.

When filled with Rhydonium, a volatile but plentiful fuel substance on Mahporeem, it was discovered that the Hardcell-class Interstellar Transport became incredibly volatile and likely to explode, especially when coupled with the ship's Fuel Cell and Rocket Booster systems. Combined with the ship's ability to temporarily achieve speeds of over 4,000 kilometers per hour when launching from the surface of a planet, the Imperial Remnant went about converting nearly all their Hardcell-class Interstellar Transports into kamikaze vessels. Some are kept on Mahporeem itself to launch at enemy capital ship's that breach the planet's defenses while others are integrated into naval formations to ambush particularly valuable or expensive enemy ships.

Of course, the usage of these ships is extremely risk for the Imperial Remnant, as they are liable to prematurely detonate before they ever reach their targets, inadvertently damaging or destroying friendly ships in the process. A success detonation also naturally means the loss of the entire ship itself and anything that might be on board at the time.