Within the Confederacy of Independent Systems, there has always been a singular individual that has served as the perceived embodiment of Capitalism and the hard work ethic to fill an individual's pocket with credits; that name synonymous with economic progress has always been Locke, and their famed corporation, Locke and Key Mechanics, has brought much to the table in regards to economic expansion within the Confederacy and the Galaxy as a whole. With a mastery of electronic capabilities, the Locke-class was designed around the intention of producing a vessel that was well versed and capable of unleashing a long-range salvo of missiles just as capably as locking down enemy communications and jamming fleet formations to secure a more favorable position for itself. Equipped with a sophisticated series of ECM Suites and capabilities, as well as specialized heavy ordnance and nuclear capabilities, the Locke-class fills a niche role within a fleet that is often overlooked.
Its primary utilization is a vessel centered around the deployment of heavy ordnance, guided by sophisticated systems for precision strikes as well as locking down an enemy fleet's communication and electronic capabilities to baffle their sensors and scanners. Carrying a wide range of specialized ordnance, such as Baradium Missiles and EM-03 Missiles; the vessel is capable of unleashing its payload to devastating effect with near pin-point accuracy against enemy formations. Its primary drawback in the deployment of these weapons is the simple fact that they are more intended to be utilized against larger, slower-moving vessels, such as enemy Capital Ships or Supply vessels rather than faster-moving vessels such as Corvettes, and Frigates. To this end, it relies more heavily upon similar craft or vessels that are designed to intercept these vessels or screen for Starfighter and Bomber formations that may be attempting to strike the vessel. Though it is capable of unleashing a thermonuclear payload, this is seldom authorized and even then, the devices themselves have a series of safety measures to prevent their abuse. Similar to some aspects as the much smaller Lupus-class, the Locke-class does have the unfortunate potential of being consumed by its own ordnance - though less likely due to its heavier defenses - a lucky strike in the right place at the perfect moment could still render the vessel a brilliant light show.
Each vessel maintains a highly automated system with many of its primary, secondary, and tertiary systems controlled via integrated droid brains or automation sequences that take the burden of operating and maintaining these systems away from the crew. This allows the crew to focus on other areas as well as ensures that the vessel can be operated with a smaller crew than normally required for a ship of its size. However, these systems are still vulnerable to Ion-based weaponry, and as such, sufficient strikes have the potential to disable or damage these systems, placing that burden upon the crew once more; significantly lowering the operational capabilities of the vessel in the process. Additional integrated droid brains include a T-80 Droid Targeter, which greatly increases the accuracy of long-range weaponry, as well as a Cybernetic Reflex Suite, which provides an increase in reactionary time to deal with incoming threats to the vessel. A strange, and undesired side effect, of integrating both of these systems into the vessel has often been their conflicting personalities; which can cause various problems - the most common of which are ordnance missing their intended mark or systems shutting down at inopportune times as one droid brain attempts to exert control and dominance over the other.
Its primary system and to an extent, focus, is that of Electronic Warfare; each Locke-class is equipped with a variety of such ECM Suites which includes the Locke and Key Mechanics manufactured Loki EWAR System, which acts as the primary ECM Suite of the vessel. It is often utilized in tandem with the vessel's 220-SIG Device to baffle and jam the sensors and scanners of enemy fleets in an attempt to make it more difficult to detect and react to the ordnance launched by the Locke-class. In many cases, the Locke-class is often deployed alongside a Srina-class or Metus-class; in rarer cases, all three are deployed in a singular formation. In either event, the Locke-class maintains and acts as the central hub for any fleet formations Electronic Warfare capabilities and often serves as a booster to a fleet's strengths and as a bolster to shore up their weaknesses.
All in all, the Locke-class is a dedicated Battlecruiser designed around the central focus of a Guided Missile Destroyer - intended to lock onto an enemy vessel and unleash a long-range salvo; its ECM Suites utilized to baffle the approach of its ordnance until the last moment when reacting to the strike is all the more difficult. Though it has its own setbacks and weaknesses, these can often be overcome or complemented through the proper fleet formation to bolster the capabilities of the Locke-class. Capable of serving as a Command Ship, it can better serve a fleet formation by being in the very center to better coordinate and plan tactical strikes to support the overall fleet formation. |
John Locke
