anywhere from twelve to sixty Swordstrike-, twelve to sixty Skystrike-, and eight to forty Starstrike-rated laser cannons capable of firing at any one point in time.
That
is what rates this frigate-sized ship as a battle cruiser in its weaponry.
“However, under normal circumstances we will
not
be firing all weapons,” she cautioned the others, holding up her hand to forestall the grins on some of the faces before her. “The object is to hide our extreme combat capability via retractable weapons pods and pretend to be nothing more than an oddly elongated frigate, possibly even a small destroyer-class starship. This is because we will be going deep into enemy territory. If they know what we are truly capable of, they will try to hit us with everything they’ve got from the outset. I’d rather use a minimum of resources to get a particular job done so that we can conserve fuel, supplies, and personal energies for future engagements.
“In addition to the standard and hidden armaments, we also have mechsuit bays in the bow, fore, aft, and stern sections of the ship,” Ia explained, highlighting those areas in brown. “Plus two transport and cargo shuttles in the bow and stern shuttle bays, and two boarding podships in each bay. The Infirmary is located in the amidships section, along with the main bridge; there is an auxiliary bridge in the stern section, but it probably will never need to be used as such. There may, however, be a skeleton crew sitting watch in there at certain times, depending upon the damages we take from combat.
“Over the next two months, all five lifesupport bays will have their tanks and hydroponic systems filled, balanced, checked, and double-checked. Before we leave dock, the manufactories will be loaded with raw stock, the storage holds loaded with food, clothing, toiletries, and various spare parts, and the projectile bays loaded with various types of missiles, some standard, some nonstandard. You will be expected to help load supplies in whatever spare time you might have, particularly toward the end—and once we leave dry dock,
you
will be the only crew permitted on board, particularly when it comes to loading or off-loading supplies. That is one of the reasons whyeveryone will be fitted for mechsuit armor, so that it can double as a stevedore suit.
“Of the various other facilities on board this ship, their maintenance cycles, so on and so forth, please consult your Company manuals; those things can be learned in due time,” Ia directed the patiently listening men and women arranged around her. “We’re almost done, so please bear with me just a few more minutes. The last thing I have to say at this time about our new ship concerns its main weapon.
“Many of you may have noticed the rather obvious blank section along the core of this ship. The reason why it has been left blank isn’t because it’s hollow,” she told her fellow soldiers. “It has been left blank deliberately because its contents are Ultra Classified. There are four people on board this ship who have a high enough clearance to know exactly what lies in the axial core. Three of you are enlisted engineers who have actually worked on this ship, one per duty watch, and the fourth is myself. The rest of you do not need to know.”
The central core of the ship schematics turned black. Orders flashed down the secondary screens, marked with the unsmiling face of a middle-aged, Asian woman: the Admiral-General herself.
“As you can see, your standing orders are as follows,” Ia stated, reciting them for those who couldn’t be bothered to read the text. “Should any of you discuss the nature, capabilities, or mission of this ship, and in particular anything associated with its main cannon, with anyone outside of your fellow crew members, our immediate superiors, being Admiral John Genibes, then Admiral-General Christine Myang herself, without our permission, you will be automatically accused of Grand Treason. This
That
is what rates this frigate-sized ship as a battle cruiser in its weaponry.
“However, under normal circumstances we will
not
be firing all weapons,” she cautioned the others, holding up her hand to forestall the grins on some of the faces before her. “The object is to hide our extreme combat capability via retractable weapons pods and pretend to be nothing more than an oddly elongated frigate, possibly even a small destroyer-class starship. This is because we will be going deep into enemy territory. If they know what we are truly capable of, they will try to hit us with everything they’ve got from the outset. I’d rather use a minimum of resources to get a particular job done so that we can conserve fuel, supplies, and personal energies for future engagements.
“In addition to the standard and hidden armaments, we also have mechsuit bays in the bow, fore, aft, and stern sections of the ship,” Ia explained, highlighting those areas in brown. “Plus two transport and cargo shuttles in the bow and stern shuttle bays, and two boarding podships in each bay. The Infirmary is located in the amidships section, along with the main bridge; there is an auxiliary bridge in the stern section, but it probably will never need to be used as such. There may, however, be a skeleton crew sitting watch in there at certain times, depending upon the damages we take from combat.
“Over the next two months, all five lifesupport bays will have their tanks and hydroponic systems filled, balanced, checked, and double-checked. Before we leave dock, the manufactories will be loaded with raw stock, the storage holds loaded with food, clothing, toiletries, and various spare parts, and the projectile bays loaded with various types of missiles, some standard, some nonstandard. You will be expected to help load supplies in whatever spare time you might have, particularly toward the end—and once we leave dry dock,
you
will be the only crew permitted on board, particularly when it comes to loading or off-loading supplies. That is one of the reasons whyeveryone will be fitted for mechsuit armor, so that it can double as a stevedore suit.
“Of the various other facilities on board this ship, their maintenance cycles, so on and so forth, please consult your Company manuals; those things can be learned in due time,” Ia directed the patiently listening men and women arranged around her. “We’re almost done, so please bear with me just a few more minutes. The last thing I have to say at this time about our new ship concerns its main weapon.
“Many of you may have noticed the rather obvious blank section along the core of this ship. The reason why it has been left blank isn’t because it’s hollow,” she told her fellow soldiers. “It has been left blank deliberately because its contents are Ultra Classified. There are four people on board this ship who have a high enough clearance to know exactly what lies in the axial core. Three of you are enlisted engineers who have actually worked on this ship, one per duty watch, and the fourth is myself. The rest of you do not need to know.”
The central core of the ship schematics turned black. Orders flashed down the secondary screens, marked with the unsmiling face of a middle-aged, Asian woman: the Admiral-General herself.
“As you can see, your standing orders are as follows,” Ia stated, reciting them for those who couldn’t be bothered to read the text. “Should any of you discuss the nature, capabilities, or mission of this ship, and in particular anything associated with its main cannon, with anyone outside of your fellow crew members, our immediate superiors, being Admiral John Genibes, then Admiral-General Christine Myang herself, without our permission, you will be automatically accused of Grand Treason. This
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