Unreviewed Vigilant-Class Picket Cruiser

[Alex Stern]

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: A Interdiction Cruiser capable of defending itself.
• Image Source: Fractalsponge
• Canon Link: Vindicator, Immobilizer 418
• Permissions: Divine Eyes

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

• Manufacturer: Outer Rim Resources
• Affiliation: Outer Rim Resources, Open Market
• Market Status: Open-Market
• Model: Vigilant-Class Picket Cruiser
• Production: Minor
• Material: Durasteel, Quadanium Steel Armoring, Ceraglass, Standard Ship Components.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Classification: Assault Cruiser
• Length: 600 meters
• Width: 300 meters
• Height: 100 meters
• Armament: Low
  • 4 Triple Heavy Turbolaser Turrets
  • 3 Quad Turbolaser Turrets
  • 10 Light Ion Cannons
  • 8 Tractor Beams
• Defenses: High
  • MI Cyclic Shield
  • Shield Booster
  • Antimissile Octets
  • Dual Point-Defense Lasers
• Hangar Space: 500m Average: 3
• Hangar Allocations:
  • Starfighters: 2 squadrons
  • Support Craft: 1 squadron
• Maneuverability Rating: Average
• Speed Rating: High
• Hyperdrive: Class 1
  • Backup Class 10

STANDARD FEATURES

• All Standard Ship Systems
• Repair Facilities
• Machine Shop
• Repair Drones
• Laser Comm
• Subspace Transceiver
• Cap Drains
• De-ionizers
• Scan-Jam Package
• Hanger Pressor/Tractor Beams
• Hybrid Antimatter Generator

ADVANCED SYSTEMS

• Gravity Well Projector
• Advanced Communications
• 'Divine Eyes' Sensor Packages.

STRENGTHS

• Protected: The enclosed gravity well projector isn’t a liability to the ship’s safety.
• Power Happy: Unlike the Immobilizer Cruiser, a Vigilant suffers no ill effects from powering its singular gravity well and can easily maneuver and power all systems.

WEAKNESSES

• Classic Wedge: While not defenseless, the cruiser’s rear is still a vulnerable point.
• Limited Point: Rather than an array of gravity wells, the Vigilant interdicts along a singular point.

DESCRIPTION
After obtaining schematics to the Immobilizer 418 Interdictor Cruiser and already heavily invested in a Vindicator cruiser design for their security fleet, Outer Rim Resources sought to capitalize on their familiarity of the designs by creating a flexible middle ground between the two. The new line, the Vigilant-Class Picket Cruiser can both interdict and engage its own targets with little need for an escort. Using its singular gravity well generator and tractor beams, the Vigilant can easily prevent ships from escaping while it either disables or destroys its targets with tubolaser and ion cannon fire.

Heavy armor protects the gravity well and ship’s reactor buried in the super structure to prevent devastating incapacitating shots. But available internal space and power requirements limit the overall number of guns, preventing the Vigilant from being entirely effective on its own against its class peers. Unlike other ORR designs, most of the Vigilant’s offensive fire is weighted forward and into broadsides, leaving an enemy that slips below or behind to only have to deal with defensive fire and escort fighters. And while it maintains the company's preference for ruggedness, reliability, and ease of maintenance, the cost of including the gravity well propels the Vigilant-Class Picket Cruiser to a price that can strain some planetary defense budgets, especially when that gravity well needs expensive parts and specially trained technicians to stay maintained.