Talk:Type J class Seeker
Links (2019)[edit]
- - Maksim-Smelchak (talk) 22:00, 9 June 2019 (EDT)
Starship. The search for profit prompts some into the prospecting field. While costs are high, prospecting remains an area in which a single person can find a fortune through simple hard work and patience. The seeker is an example of that effort.
Description / Specifications[edit]
Seeker (Type J): Using a surplus Scout/Courier as a starting point, the seeker is converted to a prospecting and mining ship for a small crew. Two of the four staterooms are removed, and the remaining two are converted to four half-sized staterooms (primarily to provide privacy for each of the crew of four). The crew consists of a pilot and three crew members, although the ship can be operated by only one person. The ship carries its original Jump Drive-A, maneuver drive-A, and power plant-A, which makes it theoretically capable of jump-2 and 2-G acceleration. The bridge retains the scout/courier's Model/1bis computer (and its software package) and one ton of fire control for its single hardpoint. The dual turret is fitted with a single pulse laser for use as a mining cutter. The air/raft is traded in on a prospecting buggy; a four-ton grav-powered vehicle with a pressurized cabin and provision for four people. The three-ton cargo compartment is retained, and the hull retains its streamlining. Two ore bays (ten tons each) are formed from fuel tankage, hull space, and instrumentation, reducing fuel tankage to thirty tons. Dismountable fuel tanks can be used in the ore bays to increase the fuel tankage back to forty tons, but at a reduction of ore bay tonnage to ten tons total. With normal tankage, the ship can achieve jump-1; with the dismountable tanks full, the ship can achieve jump-2.
- Base price for the surplus scout/courier is MCr17; conversion costs for the seeker amount to MCr7.59, which include applicable architect's fees.
- Interior Details: As much of the original scout equipment is retained as possible, if only because the instrumentation serves a prospector well in analyzing ore and geological formations. The ore bays are irregular in shape, with noticeable protrusions for the ship's landing feet. The ore bay access doors are mounted on the upper side of the ship, for ease of loading when on world surfaces.
- The upper gallery from the scout/courier is taken up to a great extent by the newly formed cargo bays; a small passage for the length of the ship is retained and allows access to the turret from the bridge and from the rear areas.
- Peculiarities: All seekers of this type are produced from surplus scout/couriers. As a result, the dependability of the ship is not of the highest level. The hull and drives are at least forty years old, and may be far older. Any ship of this type would do well to have a highly skilled crew capable of repairs and maintenance with a minimum of outside support.
- Variants: In practice, seekers are modified by their crews almost from the start. Such variations are minor, and consist of moving partitions or walls about. Other additions which are common include exterior sling points for carrying loads, strong exterior landing lights (to illuminate mining sites in shadow), and an electrified outer hull to ward off animals on some worlds.
- Seekers are also known to be in the small package trade (a euphemism for smuggling). Using their dismountable fuel tanks for greatest range, the ships carry ten tons of important (and illegal) goods such as drugs, information, or weapons.
History & Background / Dossier[edit]
Seekers can be found in many frontier systems, especially those with low technology levels and low population. They frequent airless worlds and asteroid belts, but also search diligently on normal worlds.
References & Contributors / Sources[edit]
- Classic Traveller Supplement 7 Traders and Gunboats
- Deck Plan 5: Sulieman
- Classic Traveller Beltstrike box set
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science