Ship: Maalik Squadron Carrier
Class Overview
| Class | Carrier |
|---|---|
| Role | Sector Command & Control, Fleet Support |
| Manufacturer | Yorvanik-Ballantyne Engineering |
The Maalik-class Squadron Carrier was designed as a rapid-response, area-control vessel capable of prolonged deployment to critical zones far from established infrastructure. They act as mobile bases of operation, projecting power and providing command and control functions for sector fleets.
Ship Class Image
Class Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| HP | 52 |
| AC | 10 |
| Armor | 15 |
| Speed | 1 |
| Crew Skill | +2 |
| Power | 70 / 24 free |
| Mass | 80 / 15 free |
| Crew | 200 / 550 |
| Hull Class | Capital |
| NPC CP | 12 |
| Weapons | (see under Armaments (Game Mechanics)) |
| Fittings | |
| Hardpoints | 20 |
| Cost | 4.2b base price, 25m maintenance, 10m yearly crew cost |
| Hull Dimensions | Length: 670m Width: 100m, 140m at wings Height: 65m Mass: 78.000t |
Others (Technical Fluff)
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Power | 1 x LFS AT/55xB Fusion Plant |
| Propulsion | 2 x CADR Ion “Marathon” Block-II Engines, LYI C10-Class Short-Warp Core |
| Sensors | LFS BBY/55Q Phased Radar Array; LFS LLX/72T QuDAR Mapping Suite; ZCS DSWS Suite (Variable) |
| Armaments | 2x Flight Decks 2x HMC “Hydra” Class Mass Driver Platforms 3x CAI CIWS 20mm Autocannon Defense Arrays 5x HMC LRM-10 Vertical Launch Tubes Hangar Compliment: Sector Control: 6x FS-05, 40x FX-12, 20x DZ-02 Fleet Support: 4x FS-05, 30x FX-12, 40x FB-09, 30x DZ-02 Attack Squadron: 60x FX-12, 30x FB-09, 20x DZ-02 |
| Cargo Capacity | 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 | Qualities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydra Mass Driver Platform | +2 | 4d20 | AP 20, Ammo 2, Clumsy |
| Vertical Launch Tubes | +2 | 3d8 | Guided Munitions, AP 20, Ammo 6 |
Defenses (Only on Military Ships)
| Defense Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Point Defense Lasers | +2 AC versus weapons that use ammo |
Carried Ship Types
- FS-05 Prowler Scout Corvette
- FX-20 Olympus Multi-Role Fighter
- FB-09 Thunder Fleet Bomber
- DZ-02 “Jester” Multi-Mission Drone
Operational History
As the race for the Kryx Nebula fields began, the Unified Planets of Sol saw their ability to govern the vast, remote regions far beyond the jetgates severly diminished. This was particularly critical within the nebula fields, where the risk of a surprise attack by Terran forces was a constant threat. To counter this, Yorvanik-Ballantyne designed a rapid-response, area-control vessel capable of prolonged deployment to critical zones. While patrols move through paths as a deterrence measure, Carriers station themselves at strategic locations and act as mobile bases. Sending out specialized scout craft equipped with a Short-Warp Core, these ships act as watchtowers and sometimes even law enforcement in sector navies.
Typical Missions
| Mission Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Sector Patrol & Garrison | The Maalik’s primary role. It anchors itself in a strategic system, using its long-range sensors as an early-warning outpost and deploying its scout corvettes and fighter wings to patrol the surrounding area. It acts as the local authority, inspecting civilian traffic, responding to distress calls, and deterring piracy and incursions. |
| Fleet Action Support | In a major fleet engagement, the Maalik stays behind the main battle line, protected by escort ships. It serves as a vital command node, coordinating fleet movements while launching waves of bombers against enemy capital ships and deploying fighters to establish space superiority and screen friendly vessels from enemy strike craft. |
| Forward Operations Base | When pushing into contested or unexplored territory, a Maalik serves as a self-sufficient mobile starbase. It supports survey missions, provides repair and re-arming facilities for smaller expeditionary ships, and carries a contingent of marines for planetary security or away missions until a permanent base can be established. |
Story Hooks
- The Ghost Ship: The UPS Indomitable, a Maalik-class carrier, was on a deep-range patrol in the Kryx Nebula when it missed three consecutive check-ins and went silent. The last garbled message mentioned a “non-hostile contact of unknown origin.” The players are tasked with a search-and-rescue mission, only to find the Indomitable adrift and powerless. There are no signs of combat, but the entire crew of 450 has vanished. The ship’s logs are corrupted right before the disappearance, and the only clue is a strange, low-frequency resonance emanating from the main reactor.
- The Admiral’s Gambit: An ambitious and hawkish admiral, commanding the UPS Vigilance, has used his Maalik to enforce a “preventative blockade” on a neutral system that trades with both the UPS and Terran-aligned forces. He claims to have intelligence of a major weapons smuggling operation, but the planetary government is screaming that it’s an illegal act of aggression. The players could be agents sent by UPS high command to investigate the admiral’s claims, smugglers trying to break the blockade, or freelance peacekeepers hired by the planet’s government to de-escalate the situation before it sparks a full-blown war.
- The Milk Run: The players are assigned to the UPS Stalwart for what’s supposed to be a boring six-month tour of the “pacified” Outer Rim, resupplying listening posts and showing the flag. However, during the patrol, a series of coordinated, professional raids begin hitting remote colonies. The raiders are too well-equipped and too well-organized to be simple pirates. The Stalwart, being the only capital ship within weeks of travel, is forced to hunt down this mysterious enemy with limited intelligence and the growing fear that they are facing a covert Terran military unit testing new tactics.
Additional Details
The Maalik class was built by Yorvanik-Ballantyne with a focus on endurance, reliability, and modularity over direct combat performance. Its internal design is functional and spartan, often described by its crews as “more workshop than warship.” The heart of the ship is its two massive, multi-level hangar bays, which are a constant hive of activity.
Life aboard a Maalik is often a posting of long-term isolation, far from the core worlds. The crew is a mix of professional naval personnel, highly skilled starfighter pilots, and extensive teams of mechanics and technicians. The full crew complement of 550 often includes a detachment of marines for security and away missions, intelligence analysts, and sometimes even diplomatic staff, making the ship a self-contained microcosm of the UPS fleet.