Overview
In the 3020s, with a resurgant Inner Sphere economy, Luxen Yards foresaw a spike in demand for shipping. Obtaining funding from the Magestrix by agreeing to also build a military assault ship variant, Luxen's designers set out to construct a simple cargo vessel to compete with the venerable Buccaneer over routes that do not merit the larger Mule freighters.
Capabilities
The spherical Argonaut takes advantage of maximised volume to surface ratios of the shape. The crew occupy the upper-most two decks and the engine takes up the lower two. This leaves four decks at the core of the ship, supported only by the central spine, open for over 2,500 tons of cargo.
For protection purposes the Argonaut's hull is made of standard armour composites, comparable to that on many aerospace fighters, and it sports several laser turrets, albeit of limited potence. Barely enough to ward off light aircraft and vehicles, the Argonaut is well advised to avoid anything but the most trivial of bandits.
Some critics have suggested that the Argonut is over-engined and could have surpassed its rival the Buccaneer in cargo space by using a more modest drive system. This compromise was forced by the need to build an engine that could be shared with the military model demanded by Luxen's financial backer in the venture and with the prospect of additional military-variants, the benefits of government and military sales are believed by Luxen Yards' executives to be well worth the loss of a few hundred tons of cargo lift.
Deployment
Although licensed to the Outworlds Alliance several years ago, the Argonaut is primarily a Canopian vessel and can be seen on most internal trade-routes of the Canopian Phoenix worlds. The MAF happily hires them for logistics in interior routes and is considering purchasing several directly (in addition to the military transport variants) but considers them too vulnerable for border regions unless well escorted.
Variants
The Argonaut is a relatively straightforward vessel and when the Magistracy Armed Forces was looking for a range of medium transports to supplement their limited numbers of Union, Condor and Seeker dropships they asked Luxen Yards to look at modifications. The results are externally almost identical - a few changes to the hatches beinf the most noticeable but the Atalanta, Autolycus and Actor can respectively carry a BattleMech company; a light and heavy Tank company or a Mechanised Infantry battalion. In all cases a respectable quantity of supplies can also be carried to support first wave operations. Military crews feel they remain vulnerable however.
The Ulysses variant is a far more substantial variant, designed in parallel to the original Argonaut it shares the drives but the hull is much more heavily reinforced, with larger and more structural members supporting an impressive tonnage of armour. Operating as a light picket vessel for the Canopian Navy, each Ulysses carries a Marine platoon and an Aerospace squadron to cover for contingencies, but also sports missile racks and laser batteries to threaten transport dropships and aerospace escorts. Their capabilities are quite well known as the Magestrix hopes that it will convince smaller pirate bands not to risk raiding systems that may be defended by a Ulysses or two.
Class/Model/Name: Argonaut Freighter
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3050
Vessel Type: Spheroid DropShip
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 4,000 tons
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
12 Medium Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Argonaut Freighter
Mass: 4,000 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 1,040.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 10 80.00
Total Heat Sinks: 84 Single .00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 204.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 30.00
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (122 days supply) 5.50
Armor Type: Standard (224 total armor pts) 11.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 74
Left/Right Sides: 52/52
Aft: 46
Cargo:
Bay 1: Cargo (1) with 3 doors 2,548.00
Crew and Passengers:
2 Officers (1 minimum) 20.00
5 Crew (3 minimum) 35.00
2 Gunners (2 minimum) 14.00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Medium Laser Nose 1(10) -- -- -- 6 2.00
2 Medium Laser FL/R 1(10) -- -- -- 12 4.00
2 Medium Laser AL/R 1(10) -- -- -- 12 4.00
2 Medium Laser Aft 1(10) -- -- -- 6 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 36 4,000.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 26,094,600 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,147Class/Model/Name: Atalanta
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3067
Vessel Type: Spheroid DropShip
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 4,000 tons
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
12 Medium Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Atalanta
Mass: 4,000 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 1,040.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 10 80.00
Total Heat Sinks: 84 Single .00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 204.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 30.00
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (173 days supply) 28.50
Armor Type: Standard (224 total armor pts) 11.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 74
Left/Right Sides: 52/52
Aft: 46
Cargo:
Bay 1: BattleMechs (12) with 2 doors 1,800.00
Bay 2: Cargo (1) with 1 door 725.00
Crew and Passengers:
2 Officers (1 minimum) 20.00
5 Crew (3 minimum) 35.00
2 Gunners (2 minimum) 14.00
24 Bay Personnel .00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Medium Laser Nose 1(10) -- -- -- 6 2.00
2 Medium Laser FL/R 1(10) -- -- -- 12 4.00
2 Medium Laser AL/R 1(10) -- -- -- 12 4.00
2 Medium Laser Aft 1(10) -- -- -- 6 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 36 4,000.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 114,458,400 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,147
Class/Model/Name: Autolycus
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3067
Vessel Type: Spheroid DropShip
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 4,000 tons
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
12 Medium Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Autolycus
Mass: 4,000 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 1,040.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 10 80.00
Total Heat Sinks: 84 Single .00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 204.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 30.00
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (65 days supply) 53.50
Armor Type: Standard (224 total armor pts) 11.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 74
Left/Right Sides: 52/52
Aft: 46
Cargo:
Bay 1: Heavy Vehicles (51-100T) (12) with 2 doors 1,200.00
Bay 2: Cargo (1) with 1 door 700.00
Bay 3: Light Vehicles (to 50T) (12) with 2 doors 600.00
Crew and Passengers:
2 Officers (1 minimum) 20.00
5 Crew (3 minimum) 35.00
2 Gunners (2 minimum) 14.00
156 Bay Personnel .00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Medium Laser Nose 1(10) -- -- -- 6 2.00
2 Medium Laser FL/R 1(10) -- -- -- 12 4.00
2 Medium Laser AL/R 1(10) -- -- -- 12 4.00
2 Medium Laser Aft 1(10) -- -- -- 6 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 36 4,000.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 132,994,400 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,147Class/Model/Name: Actor Infantry Transport
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3067
Vessel Type: Spheroid DropShip
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 4,000 tons
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
12 Medium Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Actor Infantry Transport
Mass: 4,000 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 1,040.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 10 80.00
Total Heat Sinks: 84 Single .00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 204.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 30.00
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (40 days supply) 73.50
Armor Type: Standard (224 total armor pts) 11.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 74
Left/Right Sides: 52/52
Aft: 46
Cargo:
Bay 1: Light Vehicles (to 50T) (12) with 1 door 600.00
Bay 2: Cargo (1) with 1 door 250.00
Crew and Passengers:
2 Officers (1 minimum) 20.00
5 Crew (3 minimum) 35.00
2 Gunners (2 minimum) 14.00
10 1st Class Passengers 100.00
40 2nd Class Passengers 280.00
250 Steerage Passengers 1,250.00
60 Bay Personnel .00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Medium Laser Nose 1(10) -- -- -- 6 2.00
2 Medium Laser FL/R 1(10) -- -- -- 12 4.00
2 Medium Laser AL/R 1(10) -- -- -- 12 4.00
2 Medium Laser Aft 1(10) -- -- -- 6 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 36 4,000.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 158,110,400 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,147Class/Model/Name: Ulysses Assault Ship
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3025
Vessel Type: Spheroid DropShip
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 4,000 tons
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
25 LRM 10
30 Large Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Ulysses Assault Ship
Mass: 4,000 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 1,040.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 60 480.00
Total Heat Sinks: 170 Double 86.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 204.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 30.00
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (95 days supply) 30.00
Armor Type: Standard (3,472 total armor pts) 202.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 962
Left/Right Sides: 880/880
Aft: 750
Cargo:
Bay 1: Cargo (1) with 1 door 253.00
Bay 2: Small Craft (1) with 1 door 200.00
Bay 3: Fighters (6) with 1 door 900.00
Crew and Passengers:
3 Officers (3 minimum) 30.00
5 Crew (2 minimum) 35.00
10 Gunners (10 minimum) 70.00
28 Marines 140.00
17 Bay Personnel .00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 LRM 10(60 rounds) Nose 3(30) 3(30) 3(30) -- 20 30.00
5 Large Laser Nose 4(40) 4(40) -- -- 40 25.00
5 LRM 10(60 rounds) FL/R 3(30) 3(30) 3(30) -- 40 60.00
5 Large Laser FL/R 4(40) 4(40) -- -- 80 50.00
5 LRM 10(60 rounds) AL/R 3(30) 3(30) 3(30) -- 40 60.00
5 Large Laser AL/R 4(40) 4(40) -- -- 80 50.00
5 Large Laser Aft 4(40) 4(40) -- -- 40 25.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 340 4,000.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 123,653,600 C-Bills
Battle Value: 12,570
