Eocin Chiyat
Peacock
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
The archetypical Erakhian light freighter, the Mercury-class' predecessor was originally commissioned as a covert data courier by the Federal Intelligence Bureau and used to shuttle sensitive information between various blacksites in the Unknown Regions. In time, the design was reenvisioned as a more run-of-the-mill courier-cum-freighter, with the only remnants of the original design's stealth functions being a basic ECM suite, hardly enough to trick anything but the most basic of active scans.
Officially, of course, the Mercury-class was designed from the ground up, and no record of FIB's stealth courier has ever reached the public - if it still operates beyond the purview of Arctrus, then the presence of near-identical light freighters can surely only add to its secrecy.
Whatever the case, the Mercury-class remains a capable vessel in either its original capacity as a data courier or in the more commonplace role of a light freighter, though its sleek design and carefully honed systems does make it somewhat more expensive than many others on the market.
- Intent: A high-end light freighter-cum-data courier for the Open Market.
- Image Source: Mercury Star Runner by Sarah McCulloch
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: The Mercury Star Runner (Star Citizen)
- Manufacturer: Arctrus Astronautical
- Affiliation: Open-Market
- Model: Mercury-class Star Courier
- Data Courier: Most expensive model; features a high-end Data Vault able to hold vast amounts of information, secured by advanced anti-slicing countermeasures such as an echo pulse. Optional data-termination protocols are included for confidential information.
- Light Freighter: Most common model; Data Vault is replaced by a secondary cargo hold, large multipurpose chamber, or similar. The Scanner Room is sometimes replaced with more down-to-earth facilities, though smugglers tend to adore it.
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material: Reinforced Tridurium Hull, Alusteel Frame, Turadium Shutters & Blast Doors, Agrinium Radiation Shielding, and Plexalloy Cockpit.
- Classification: Light Freighter | Data Courier
- Length: 40 metres
- Width: 38 metres
- Height: 11.6 metres
- Armament: Low
- [2] Dual Laser Cannons (Front-Locked & Turret)
- [1] Variable Warhead Launcher
- Defences: High
- Heavy Deflector Shield
- Standard Hull Plating
- Internal Ray Shielding
- Basic ECM Suite
- Squadron Count: None
- Manoeuvrability Rating: High
- Speed Rating: Very High
- Hyperdrive Class: Average | Class 1.2
- Crew Complement (Optimal): Pilot, Co-Pilot, & Engineer
- Crew Complement (Skeletal): Integrated Droid Brain
- The Mercury-class is outfitted with all the features and facilities one would expect from a vessel of its size and purpose, among these:
- Standard Communications Suite - HoloNet & Subspace Transceiver
- Full Broad-Spectrum Long-Range Sensor Suite
- Full Mind-Machine Interface Integration
- Optional Antisepsis Field Generator
- Automated Cargo Sorting System
- Detachable Cockpit
- N/A
- Acrobatic: The Mercury-class is lightning quick and surprisingly agile, perfect for making quick deliveries and passing through asteroids fields.
- Resilient: Solidly built and well-shielded, the Mercury-class should be able to take quite a bit of punishment while remaining in one piece.
- Versatile: Like many Light Freighters, the Mercury-class is both versatile and easily customisable.
- Run Boy Run: While somewhat better armed than an average light freighter, the Mercury-class is not designed for sustained engagements nor sufficiently armed to make it an effective fighter-screening vessel. Better make full use of those engines.
- Lone Wolf: The Mercury-class is, quite frankly, too large for squadron deployment yet too small to warrant a dedicated escort.
- Sleek: Designed for grace and efficiency, the Mercury-class cannot hold quite as much cargo as more bulky models.
The archetypical Erakhian light freighter, the Mercury-class' predecessor was originally commissioned as a covert data courier by the Federal Intelligence Bureau and used to shuttle sensitive information between various blacksites in the Unknown Regions. In time, the design was reenvisioned as a more run-of-the-mill courier-cum-freighter, with the only remnants of the original design's stealth functions being a basic ECM suite, hardly enough to trick anything but the most basic of active scans.
Officially, of course, the Mercury-class was designed from the ground up, and no record of FIB's stealth courier has ever reached the public - if it still operates beyond the purview of Arctrus, then the presence of near-identical light freighters can surely only add to its secrecy.
Whatever the case, the Mercury-class remains a capable vessel in either its original capacity as a data courier or in the more commonplace role of a light freighter, though its sleek design and carefully honed systems does make it somewhat more expensive than many others on the market.
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