Kurt Meyer
Let Me Push That Button
Image Source: Source
Affiliation: Kurt Meyer, Kaileann Vera
Manufacturer: Vanir Technologies
Model: Varactyl Class
Modularity: Highly
Production: Unique
Material: Fiberplast, Dallorian Alloy, Durasteel
Classification: Personal Ship
Length: 34m
Width: 25m
Height: 8m
Armament:
- One Laser Cannon Turret
- Two Concussion Missile Launchers
- None
- Communications Relay
- One Emergency Escape Pod
- Repulsor Drive
- Heavily Modified Ion Engines(4)
- Plush Comfort Seating
- Standard Targeting System
- Standard Sensors
- Heavily Modified Shield Generator
- Three Inertial Compensators
- VT-Nerve Helm System
- Solarium Glasteel Cockpit
Speed Rating: 0.25
Hyperdrive Class: 0.50
Strengths:
Fastest Ship In the Galaxy: The Messa is without a doubt one of the, if not the fastest ship in the galaxy. The Varactyl class is known to be one of the faster vessels that currently exist in the galaxy, it's lithe form and large engines naturally being inclined to giving the ship quite a bit of speed and maneuverability. However, since owning it Kurt, in his natural inclination towards the pursuit of speed and upgrading his vehicles has continually tinkered and played with The Messa's engines as well as reactor. This in the end resulted in the ship not being only much faster, but also more maneuverable as he messed with the dorsal thrusters and maneuvering engines. As Kurt began to tinker with the engines more and more, and after continued use, it became clear that The Messa had become something entirely different, it's engines now being capable of much more than the standard Varactyl and pretty much any other ship in the entire galaxy.
Beefy Shields: While Kurt tinkered with the engines, Kaile began to play with other pieces of the ship. Though perhaps not as mechanically inclined, Kaile does know her way around a hydro-spanner, and eventually began to play with the Ships engines. With her everlasting search for shinnies Kaile eventually managed to stumble upon a module for upgrading shields. The module was attached, and quickly along with a few other bits of tinkering the Messa's shields began to respond far more effectively. Their power draw on the reactor decreased while their directional strength simultaneously increased, the shield now functioning as a reactive counter-measure rather than a constant state around the ship. This allowed the shield to essentially pop-up wherever there was danger instead of constantly being active. The effect meant that the shield was far more powerful when struck, the generator feeding all of it's strength to one point instead of all over.
Weaknesses:
Light Armor: As is the theme with most fast moving vessels, the Varactyl class is very lightly armored. The ship cuts many standard armor requirements in favor of thinner and more streamlined starship hull. Most of the ships outsides are made of fiberplast instead of durasteel. Dallorian Alloy fittings and slight shifts the to vessels superstructure make the vessel less bulky and more streamlined. The ship itself does not take well to being rammed into things, and it takes most kinetic blows with a little bit of extra oomph. Missiles are incredibly damaging to the Varactyl's systems, most Concussion or fragmentation missiles being able to tear through the vessels hull with a great amount of ease.
Reactor Spikes: Like any other Varactyl Class, the Messa still suffers from the same reactor spikes. This of course is still mitigated by the VT-Command throne, however the effect is also much worse, in that the ship's engines now draw on more power. To mitigate this effect even further Kurt removed the VT-Particle Gatling, instead replacing it with a simple laser cannon turret. It should also be noted that the Messa absolutely cannot use its weapon at top speed, otherwise the reactor will go into critical overload and explode.
Description:
The Messa as Kurt calls it is the VT-Varactyl Class Fast Freighter that was given to Kurt Meyer by the Sif Shipping Corporation after his old ship, a VCX-820 was destroyed by the Sith during the Invasion of Contruum.
At first, Kurt was more than a little apprehensive about the ship that would become the Messa, unsure of the Vanir Technologies product line and just what went into the making of the ship. As soon as he saw the vessel however, it's sleek lines, massive engines, beautiful interior design, and stark contrast to other fast escort freighters in the galaxy, Kurt fell in love. There was an immediate connection between the Ace Pilot and the Ship, the knowledge that the vessel could handle him, and vice versa, was enough to make Kurt instantly go bonkers over the Varactyl class.
As such, Kurt named his ship after his favorite place on Tatooine, The Messa.
The Messa was already one of the faster ships in the galaxy. It's massive quad ion engines, several aft and fore thrusters, as well as it's oversized reactor meant that the ship could go quite a bit faster than most vessel its size. However, as Kurt flew the ship more and more, and as he learned the ins and outs of piloting the Varactyl he began to notice a certain sluggishness still existed within the ship. Kurt, as a former three time Boonta Eve Classic champion as well as a Navy Fighter Pilot had a feel for ships, and the standard factory derivation of the Varactyl still felt a bit too slow for him. Thus, his tinkering on the ship began.
Mechanically he found the engines to be flawed. Radial axis tubes were off, fins were slightly misplaced, fuel lines were smaller than they should have been. Slowly but surely Kurt began to change and shift things. He would complete a delivery, get paid, then shift his paycheck back into The Messa. Nearly every trip to Tatooine or a similar junk world Kurt would visit the local dealer and begin to buy parts. Over the course of months he began to 'fix' the engines and reactor. He added new pieces and tinkered with them, pulling wires and seeing responses until eventually the former pod-race champion received his reward. The Messa got an extra kick, it's engines working in overdrive, it's reactor pushing flawlessly, and it's hyperdrive flowing with an intensity that would have made a nearby star jealous.
The former fighter pilot now flew the ship with delight, The Messa easily claiming to be one of the fastest ships in the galaxy, it's engines pushing it to the very bring of what most would consider possible.
At the same time Kaileann, Kurt's roommate even before the destruction of the VCX-820 was making her own changes through the ship. The greatest, and perhaps the most important was her search for more unique parts, ones that Kurt might not necessarily have thought about. The greatest of these was the upgrade to the ships engines, the small piece of technology she picked up a local junk dealer.
The seller claimed it to be a piece of tech left over from the old Empire, a modular shield system that would work on a more reactive path than constant. Kaile, ever curious, and ever wanting to please began to fiddle with the piece of technology. Over time, She and Kurt worked on the Messa's shields together(though with Kaile doing most of the work) installing the odd piece of junk and fiddling with the generator as it came along. The system eventually came online, doing exactly what the old junk dealer had promised, and even strengthening the shields capabilities at max strength. Whistling, Kurt paid Kaile her due complements, smiling at his newly upgraded ship.
Of course, aside from these changes, Kaile also went about making The Messa into a proper home.
With both she and Kurt living upon the ship, their rooms located in the 'wing tips' of the Varactyls forward section, Kaile decided that everything needed just a bit more decoration. She gradually, very gradually, began to introduce things to The Messa. She brought throw pillow onto the acceleration couch, purchased a knife set for the kitchen, more dishes, introduced Kurt to having extra sheets and blankets, and eventually made the ship feel like less of a military vessel, and more of a home. The miraculous change was finished with the secret decoration of both of their rooms.
For Kurt's room, Kaile put together something similar to what he had on his old ship. In secret, from Holo-bay she purchased a championship poster of Kurt himself, a possession that he had lost during the explosion of the old ship. She hung it above his bed, a smile frosting her lips as she spotted his own signature on the poster. In addition to the poster she also purchased him a model set of the very pod-racer featured behind Kurt in the Poster, knowing that it was his own. She placed this upon the desk that she had bought him and for a final touch added a single lamp. The simple set-up, although sparse, was to perfect liking to Kurt, and as a reward when he came home the former Pod-racing championship took the bubbly girl to a fancy dinner.
For her own room, Kaile went a tad more extravagant.
Now officially living with Kurt, having the codes to the ship and everything, Kaile went all out on her own little corner of The Messa. The room she called home was quickly decorated with trinkets, shiny things, and of course, posters galore. Kaile's room became the epicenter of her very person. Her room is decorated with a sense of warmth and welcome, stacks of blankets sitting on her bed, pillows thrown about, color changing chain lights hanging from the ceiling and the desk in the corner decorated with standees and models from junk sellers across the galaxy. Sitting on the corner of the desk was a small cube, a perfect shiny that Kurt had won in a pod-race after Kira had saved herself from a swoop gang. This was also near where she had created a small living nook for Bobo, to rest upon. It had a nice little nutrient branch, with a little lamp for him to sun himself with. On the other side of the room was a small bookcase, containing novels and journals that Kaile had gathered on her trips. This was also where she had a small portable encrypted datapad and miniature holoarray that allowed her to display as many as she so desired. All in all, of the rooms within the Messa Kaile's was the most put together and comfortable.
The Messa is Kurt and Kaile's home, it is also perhaps the fastest ship in the entire galaxy, tinkered and played with to very perfection and decorated to be the ultimate living space for the odd duo.
Development Thread:
Intent: To sub Kurt's custom VT-Varactyl and also make the fastest ship in the galaxy.
Primary Source: N/A
