M E A T B A G
Intent: To create a potent boarding transport for the Sun Guard.
Image Source: Caestus Assault Ram | Warhammer 40k Wiki [x.]
Canon Link: Not Applicable.
Primary Source: Repurposed Canon Articles, Istanu Disruptor Cannon, Power Crystal.
Manufacturer: Republic Engineering Corporation - Shipwright Division, The Golden Company - Armourer’s Guild, The Thyrsian Hierarchy - Royal Armourer’s Guild.
Affiliation: The Golden Company, The Thyrsian Hierarchy, Closed-Market.
Model: TTH/AAR-001 “Aiglos” - Class Spearship.
Production: Minor-Scale Production.
Material: Durasteel, Flexisteel, Armourplast, Reinforced Duraplast, Manganese Brass, Glasteel, Turadium, Dallorian Alloy, Haysian Smelt, Kiirium, Agrinium, Various Shuttle Components (Internal and External.)
Classification: Boarding Ram.
Length: 17 Metres.
Width: 12 Metres.
Height: 6 Metres.
Armament: Average Rating.
- [2] Istanu Disruptor Cannons [Fixed Forward, and Fire-linked.]
- [1] Synthetic Power Crystal-Enhanced Composite Beam Cannon [Fixed Forward - Shield Disrupting Weapon.]
- Two Seeking Nanomissile Pods [Twenty-Four Missiles per Pod. Anti-Missile Interceptor-Pattern.]
- Heavily Reinforced [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade] Armour and Hull Plating, with Laser-reflective Coating.
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade] Concussion and Ionic Shielding.
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade] ECM, Electronic Countermeasures (Including Chaff, Flares, and Etc.)
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade] Maneuvering Thrusters.
Maneuverability Rating: 45 DPF - Low rating.
Speed Rating: High Rating.
MGLT: 135 MGLT
Maximum Atmospheric Speed: 1,750 Km/H
Primary Hyperdrive Rating: None.
Secondary Hyperdrive Rating: None.
Engine Unit(s): Enhanced Shuttle - Class Ion Engines - Four Drive Units.
Secondary Propulsion: None.
Primary Power Plant: Compact Fusion Reactor.
Secondary Power Plant: Solar Ionization Conversion Module(s) with Retractable Agrinium Collection Arrays.
Passengers: Twenty Soldiers, or Sun Guards - Retractable Overhead Crash Harnesses with Magnetic Deck Plating.
Crew Complement (Optimal): One Pilot with Integrated Droid Brain.
Crew Complement (Skeletal): One Pilot with Integrated Droid Brain.
Escape Craft: None.
Cargo Capacity: 75 KG (Survival, and Boarding Equipment.)
Consumables: None.
[ Video Source. ]
STANDARD FEATURES
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade] Damage Control and Hazard Systems.
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade] Life Support Systems.
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade] Navigational and Avionics Systems.
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade] Sensors and Targeting Systems.
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade] Communications Systems, Holonet Transceiver and Encryption/Decryption Networks with Thyrsian Military Keys.
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade] Environmental Control Systems.
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade] Emergency Maneuvering Thrusters.
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade.] Inertial Compensators.
- Enhanced [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade.] VTOL Repulsorlift Antigravity System.
- Standard [Shuttle-Class, Military-Grade.] Retractable Blast Shields.
- Central Computer Core (Integrated Droid Brains.)
- Anti-Ordnance EM Probes (Long-Range.)
- Aural-Biological-Chemical Scrambler Probes (Long-Range.)
- Missile Deactivation Transmitter (Short Range.)
- Internal and Automated Arming Racks.
- Automated Landing Struts and Maneuverable Wing Armatures.
- Rapid-Action Assault Ramps.
- Synthetic Power Crystal Beam Cannon.
- Laser-reflective Coating.
- Dedicated Shield Disruptor Weaponry.
- Heavily Reinforced Hull and Armour Plating, with Laser-reflective Coating.
- Speedy Ramship and Troop Transport.
- Ponderous in Flight.
- No Particle or Ray Shields.
- No Hyperdrive Motivator(s.)
- Fixed-Forward Weaponry.
- Exposed Engine Drive Units.
- Limited Recovery Option(s.)
- Cannot Penetrate Multiple Deflector Screens.
- Explosive Power Crystal Feedback; Explained Below.
The TTH/AAR-001 “Aiglos” - Class Spearship was designed to be a perversion of standard boarding shuttles, yet still sought to achieve the same intended result. As most conventional means of boarding craft had to either be outfitted with unreliable field disruptors or waited until their targeted vessels’ shields collapsed, the Aiglos sought to give an advantage to the Sun Guard. Without having to remain within their boarding cradles, the Thyrsian Mercenaries would be able to punch through the outermost defences of their target, and disembark within the proverbial heart of the warship. With that desired intent in mind, the combined minds of the Coruscanti technicians and the Thyrsian Enclave set about bringing that radical concept into reality.
The “Aiglos” began its life as a heavily armoured troopship, eschewing all but the most basic of deflector shields for heavy, and ablative armour. It was an interesting design choice, to say the least, as most Thyrsian starships and starfighters were equipped with layered plasmatic barriers for their protection. However, this choice was made due to the massive demand for power that was required by the supplementary systems that were integrated into the Spearship’s structural frame. The first of these systems was the powerful disruptor cannon that was affixed to the vessels space-frame, with the second being a synthetic power crystal-enhanced beam cannon that was capable of destabilizing deflector shields; allowing the troopship to punch through those barriers to the ship beneath.
Though the technological prowess of the “Aiglos” was unquestioned, there were several flaws in the design that couldn’t be avoided. As the ship lacked the standard deflector shielding seen on other starships, the Spearship was more vulnerable to interception by large emplacement weaponry, and various strike craft. Though the possibilities of the Ramship being struck down by enemy missiles or torpedoes were still present, the integrated countermeasure suite and ionic shielding lessened the chances of that factor coming true. With the use of a synthetic power crystal to enhance, and utterly change the output of the integrated beam cannon, there was a chance - through extensive use - that the crystal would crack, or deform in some manner.
When, and if, that eventuality occurred, the beam cannon would malfunction; ultimately feeding back into the vessel itself and leaving the voidcraft dead in the water. In addition to that, the synthetic variant of the power crystal held enough strength to only destabilize a singular barrier; which forced the module to be replaced after every use and proved to be ineffective against starships with multiple deflector screens. While unavoidable, it was - in a way - an effective countermeasure to reverse engineering and piracy.
Though the Spearship was without shields, the armour plating of the vessel was enhanced with a laser-reflective coating; giving the ship an alternative to the deflector screens mounted on similar craft. While it wasn’t as potent as their plasmatic betters, these shimmering plates were capable of fending off a multitude of small arms, light weapons, and starship-mounted lasers before failing. Such a defensive boon, however, was only meant to defend the vessel from energetic weaponry - while kinetic weapons would find themselves smashing against the hardened armour shell.
With its heavy armour and specialized weaponry, the “Aiglos” would prove to be a useful tool in the Sun Guard’s arsenal. However, those two points, as mentioned earlier, weren’t the only beneficial aspects of the Spearship. It’s enhanced drive units, and repulsorlift engine made this ponderous vessel swift in both across the infinite void and within the planetary bounds of the atmosphere. Alongside its phenomenal speed, the Spearship was outfitted with a pair of rapid-action assault ramps; that would slam down and allow the soldiers within to quickly disembark deep inside the enemy starship.
Thus, with the Spearship in hand - the Thyrsian Sun Guard were one step closer to achieving mastery over the stars.
