Ship: KB-10 Falstaff Freighter
Class Overview
| Class | Freighter |
|---|---|
| Role | General Goods Freighter |
| Manufacturer | Kobashi Shipyards |
The Fallstaf Freighter is the flexible alternative to the LOT-005 Transport. Instead of carrying containers from port to port, this freighter takes on crates and unstructured cargo. Commissioned by Marayan Shipping Co., they are the only ones utilizing this design. They are most commonly seen in the western galactic sectors.
Ship Class Image
Class Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| HP | 67 |
| AC | 10 |
| Armor | 5 |
| Speed | 1 |
| Crew Skill | +2 |
| Power | 20 / 6 free |
| Mass | 20 / 5 free |
| Crew | 20 / 220 |
| Hull Class | Cruiser |
| NPC CP | 5 |
| Weapons | (see under Armaments (Game Mechanics)) |
| Fittings | |
| Hardpoints | 6 |
| Cost | 300m base price, 1m maintenance, 5m yearly crew cost |
| Hull Dimensions | Length: 220m Width: 60m Height: 40m Mass: 45.000t |
Others (Technical Fluff)
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Power | 1 x LYI RIT Fusion Power Plant |
| Propulsion | 2 x CADR Bosomic “Maration”-III Engines, LYI A5-Class Short-Warp Core |
| Sensors | 1x LFS RS/120 Mech. Radar System |
| Armaments | - |
| Cargo Capacity | 4.500 TEU |
Armaments here is what is physically mounted on the ship, for what weapons the ship can utilize in combat, see under Armaments (Game Mechanics)
Class Armaments (Game Mechanics)
| Weapon | Attack Bonus | Damage | Special |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - |
Defenses (Only on Military Ships)
| Defense Type | Description |
|---|---|
| - | - |
Operational History
The KB-10 Falstaff was developed in response to the monopoly the LOT-005 Transport held on core-world logistics. While the LOT-005 focused on automated, containerized efficiency between major hubs, Kobashi Shipyards recognized a gap in the market in the Western Galactic Sectors—areas where starports were often primitive, lacking the gantries required to unload standard ISO-Containers from a Liner.
Commissioned exclusively by Marayan Shipping Co., the Falstaff was designed to be the “Last Mile” solution. Introduced in 2445, five years after the VI-automation breakthrough that made the LOT-005 dominant, the Falstaff took the opposite approach. It maintained a full human crew of 20, adhering to Kobashi’s philosophy of “empowering individuals.”
The ship saw heavy use during the reconstruction efforts following border skirmishes in the west. Its ability to land on unpaved surfaces and offload unstructured cargo (machinery, livestock, bulk grain) via internal cranes made it a lifeline for colonies that the automated Liners bypassed. While technically a civilian freighter, the robust hull—a signature of Kobashi design—has allowed Marayan Shipping to operate them in semi-hostile space where piracy is a risk, as the ship can survive a few hits while its crew manually routes power to engines.
Typical Missions
| Mission Type | Description |
|---|---|
| ”Bush” Logistics | Delivering supplies to developing colonies or mining outposts that lack a Class-4 Starport or orbital elevator. The Falstaff lands directly on the surface to offload. |
| Spec-Cargo Haul | Transporting cargo that cannot be containerized, such as oversized terraforming equipment, live mega-fauna, or delicate art installations requiring human monitoring. |
| Blockade Running | (Unofficial) Due to their robust armor (Armor 5 vs the LOT’s 0), Falstaffs are occasionally used by Marayan to run supplies through piracy-heavy zones without military escort. |
Story Hooks
- The Marayan Monopoly: A group of independent captains is angry that Kobashi refuses to sell the Falstaff to anyone but Marayan Shipping. Players might be hired to steal the blueprints or “salvage” a wreck to break the corporate exclusivity.
- The Human Factor: A Falstaff freighter, the Spirit of Alcyon, has gone silent. Unlike a LOT-005 which would beacon a VI error code, the silence implies the crew is incapacitated. The players are asked to investigate, only to find the “unstructured cargo” was a dormant biological specimen that woke up.
- The Retrofit: A wealthy eccentric wants to convert a decommissioned Falstaff into a mobile luxury casino, taking advantage of its large, open internal bays. They need protection while the ship is vulnerable in drydock.
Additional Details
- Internal Layout: Unlike the cramped, utilitarian corridors of the LOT-005 (designed for VIs), the Falstaff features comfortable crew quarters, a mess hall, and a recreation lounge. Kobashi believes that a happy crew is an efficient crew.
- Cargo Bays: The ship features two massive “Flex-Bays.” These are equipped with magnetic grappling ceilings that can secure loose cargo of any shape, preventing it from shifting during high-G maneuvers.
- Handling: Pilots describe the Falstaff as “heavy but honest.” It lacks the AI-assisted micro-thrusters of the Liner, meaning the pilot must actually fly the ship, but it responds reliably to manual inputs in atmospheric flight.