Lancer series

[robkelk]

I just saw http://www.fenspace.net/index.php5?title=Lancer-series]the page for this over on the FenWiki.

Bigger than a Peacemaker and as fast as a Blackbird? That's a lot of Cool being hogged...
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Dartz]

I posted some of the draft description in IRC and nobody objected, but I can change it. I thought Blackbirds went up to .2, so split the difference between both spacecraft, and deleted the ability to carry squadrons of Zigs.

Most of the specifications like transport capabilities and the like were based on the actual wikipedia article on the B1. The B-36 can carry 39 tons internally, the B1 can hold 30 tons, and 20 externally, but it's got nowhere near the internal volume a B-36 has. (It actually carries more than a B-52. The problem is that it's expensive, and a maintenance/reliability nightmare, and not as flexible as the bigger bombers)

I thought of it as being like a gaming laptop. It's not really as good a mobile computer as a standard laptop and not as powerful as a desktop, and probably costs more than the combination.... and is more prone to breaking. It gets the best and worst of both worlds....

I could change the speed ratings down to .8 and .1, splitting the middle again. Any other ideas?
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[robkelk]

That's still faster than a Peacemaker...

(And I still have to figure out how to use IRC, in my Copious Free Time.)
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Dartz]

I'm not sure how to argue this without it seeming silly or whiny, but.

The Peacemaker is a much bigger spacecraft internally, has 4 cargobays and a full array of internal armaments, and fittings for potentially 19 crew, another 8 fighter pilots, and the fuel for a long-range patrol.

The Lancer is a smaller spaceframe, has 3 smaller, irregularly shaped cargobays, and is just barely big enough to comfortably stand up inside. All the mass the peacemaker uses for it's internal armaments and for keeping an extra 13 people alive, goes into the external hardpoints fitted to the Lancer. It's got a higher carrying capacity because it's using less mass for other stuff. It carries up to 5 human crew, and has no internal weapons.

Even a Blackbird can carry 4 Zigs mounted externally, and has onboard weaponry.

Could handwave it away as the Lancer's continuously variable drive field not being able to accommodate too much external interruptions of the craft's skin. By retracting the wings and using a pair of sensor probes on the nose to continuously monitor the field status, and powerful computers continuously adjusting the sweep angle of the wings to adjust the field geometry as tight as possible to the spaceframe keeping things stable

Oh, and try Mibbit If that finely crafted link works, it should bring you right in.

EDIT: This is really something that needs BA's input anyway.

Edit the 2nd: Because I've had some time to think, and because using real-life numbers was asking for trouble on my part and I should've known better. 3 Internal bays, 6 external hardpoints. Internal mass 20 tons, external mass 5 tons. Unloaded top speed, .12... loaded top speed, .1.... with external stores, .8. Knightwing's carrying 4 tons in the rear cargobay (Motoroids + equipment). 4 in the center (Hardsuit + life/crew support), and the forward has been modified to extend the crew compartment for an extra 4. (2 beds, a cooking area, and an elegantly compact shower/WC)
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[HRogge]

Lets not forget that the normal Blackbirds can only do 0.12c... just the Magnificent Midnight is the real speed devil.

[Black Aeronaut]

I'll leave it up to the others, but I will say that this is (albeit barely) Infinities material, where ships are undoubtedly going to be getting faster.

[Dartz]

Right. Re-edited version for everyone's consideration.

The Lancer Project began in mid 2016, with the aim of developing a high speed spacecraft capable of combining some of the carrying capacity of a Peacemaker, with some the speed of Blackbird series. The end result was the Lancer, a mouldline copy of the original Rockwell B1-B.

To save development time, the Lancer team re-used several components from the OV-200 series shuttles, notably the flight control computers and the sensor arrays. The main engines are based off the cores of the quad-helix ion thrusters fitted to Blackbird-series spacecraft, with modified intakes and a unique continuously variable geometry drive field allowing the spacecraft to dash up to .11c on a light load, with a normal stable cruise of .09.

A pair of winglets at the nose of the spacecraft mount sensors for monitoring the changing distortions at the apex point of the drive field, before calculating the optimal wing geometry to continuously re-stabilise the field, and delay the onset of the power-sapping distortions which normally limit the top-speed of a spacecraft of this size. The system, and the triple-redundant control computers behind it were the result of 2 years of hard research by HERL. The system requires a clean-surface spaceframe behind the nose to operate at its maximum efficacy, external stores or open panels/hatches introduce significant new distortions that cannot be easily compensated for.

The Lancer is a compact spacecraft internally, with most internal space given over to three reconfigurable internal bays. It has space for five human crew; Pilot, Co-Pilot, Flight Engineer, Bombardier and a Navigator. Lancers also carry a single advanced AI shipmind, who is capable of taking full control of the spacecraft in an emergency and is normally responsible for the information security of the spacecraft.

As standard the Lancer comes unarmed, but the internal bays can be re-configured to carry a combination of Vulcan cannon, coilguns, vertical launch missile systems, or anti-shipping, anti-installation or anti-spacecraft missiles. The internal bays can also be re-configured to carry cargo provided it's not too bulky, autonomous reconnaissance drones or power-armoured troopers with certain extensions. Six external hardpoints can carry additional weaponry, though adding anything bulky like missile pods or gun-turrets limits the top speed of the Lancer to just .8C due to the drive field distortions this introduces. The Lancer is unable to carry any Zig fighters.

Like their namesakes however, the Lancers are notoriously complex spacecraft, costing at least four times as much as a Peacemaker. Not only this, but they are maintenance dogs, often spending more time under the spanner then in-flight. Quad-helix engines have been known to drive mortal mechanics insane on their own, before the variable geometry drive-field systems were added on top of them.

While a capable spacecraft, there is very little they can do that cannot be accomplished better by a Peacemaker with escort, or a squadron of Blackbirds. Still, there are some missions that call for the ability to deliver several tonnes of ordinance at speed, and they excel at these missions. With a Blackbird escort, there is very little that can keep up, or stop a raid.

Lancers have also found themselves taking somewhat unusual roles. With the internal bays equipped for cargo transportation, the Lancer makes a competent exploration craft, with a strong AI and a full sensor suite. While not as outright reliable as a Space Shuttle and requiring more maintenance, the Lancer is faster, slightly cheaper, and can carry more external stores. The Lancers themselves don't appear to mind. HARDES are working on a number of externally mounted scientific modules.

Although a rare bird, they're popular amongst those who require a true do-anything spacecraft with more of a combat orientation than a Space Shuttle, or who want something larger inside than a Blackbird, and are more likely to be bought singularly as a personal spacecraft, rather than as part of a fleet.

[edit] Class Quirks

Zoom to the Moon: Almost capable of keeping up with Blackbird Class aircraft. 4 Quad-helix engines will do that.

Hangar Queen: Maintenance intensive. Extremely maintenance intensive. 4 Quad-helix engines will also do that.

Hole in the Sky: With all primary systems shut down, Lancer-series aircraft are difficult to spot, provided the paint is clean and undamaged and no external stores are being carried.

Graceful cousins: Lancers are well aware that they have a shared heritage with the Shuttle orbiters. In general, the enjoy taking exploration and non-combat missions in their downtime and are by nature, more more curious than combative.

Not without my mustache!: If the mustache winglets on nose of the spacecraft are damaged, speed is limited to .08C until repaired.

So. It's effectively midway between a Blackbird and Peacemaker, with a bit of a bonus thanks to 2 years of hard research and the advancement of technology. it pays something of a technical price for it's speed.... it's an added (and not too difficult) target and it's easy to lose the bonus if going any external loads.

And it's handy having an actual model to take inspiration from, I would never have noticed the little mustache winglets on the nose otherwise...
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