Falast Class Courier

The Falast class courier was designed to fill a niche for small secure cargoes that could be delivered faster than the delivery speed of a typical free trader. This vessel is typically purchased by governments or megacorporations who could afford to operate a fleet of smaller vessels with a smaller capacity. Because of the ready made cargo space, surplus Falast class couriers are popular with belters.

Based on a streamlined 100 ton hull, the Falast class courier has maneuver – 2, power plant – 2, and jump – 2 drives. A model 2 computer is installed next to the bridge.

The ship has 2 crew staterooms each capable of double occupancy. It also has two low passage berths. Fuel tankage for 20 tons of power plant fuel and 20 tons of jump is located outboard the cargo bay, with some in the wings.

The 10 ton cargo bay is on the lower level with a cargo lock forward. If cargo is stored in the lock, there is an extra 2 tons available.

The ship has one triple turret, with twin beam lasers and a sandcaster.

Crew requirements are: Pilot and Gunner.

Total cost of the ship is 38.15 MCr. After a downpayment of 7.63 MCr, monthly payments are 127,167 Cr for 40 years. The operating costs make this prohibitive for private use, so new vessels are only used by large corporations or governments that can absorb the cost.

ROOMS

1. Triple Turret

2. Avionics Bay

3. Bridge

4. Air lock

5. Computer Room

6. Low Passage Berth Area

7. Crew’s Lounge

8. Stateroom

9. Passageway

10. Stateroom

11. Engineering Upper Level

12. Drive Access Air Lock

13. Port Fuel Tank

14. Cargo Lock

15. Cargo Bay

16. Battery Well

17. Life Support

18. Auxiliary Power

19. Engineering Lower Level

20. Starboard Fuel Tank

Room Descriptions:

1. Triple Turret – Fire control electronics and machinery for the ship’s twin beam lasers and sandcaster.

2. Avionics Bay – Transmitters for the ships active sensors and receivers for both active and passive sensors are in this dome. This room is pressurized only when maintenance is required to be performed in this area.

3. Bridge – Central operation room for the ship. The forward stations are for a pilot (port side) and co-pilot (starboard side). The ship only requires one pilot. A manual hatch on the overhead allows egress from the ship in the event of total power loss and can allow the bridge to act as an emergency air lock.

4. Air Lock – This is the primary airlock. It has an overhead iris for access to the dorsal surface of the ship or if connected to another ship. This space also contains a locker for vac suits.

5. Computer Room – Contains the model 2 computer and a computer workstation.

6. Low Passage Berth Area – There are 2 low passage berths located here. They are primarily intended for emergencies, but some law enforcement units use them for prisoner transfer. On the deck between the two berths is a hatch allows access to the battery well. Forward of this area is the lift shaft to lower level.

7. Crew’s Lounge – A common area for the crew to relax and take meals. There is storeage area for packaged meals and a small kitchen console. The locker on the starboard bulkhead is for secure storage for ships equipage. A manual hatch on the forward starboard deck leads to the lower level.

8. Crew Stateroom – This stateroom is equipped for double occupancy but normally only holds one crew member. The room includes a fresher and a computer terminal.

9. Passageway – A fore/aft passageway between the lounge area and the upper engineering space. Access up to the turret is in this space.

10. Crew Stateroom - This stateroom is equipped for double occupancy but normally only holds one crew member. The room includes a fresher and a computer terminal.

11. Engineering Upper Level – The upper portion of the engineering section containing the engineering station, maneuver drives, jump drive, and jump capacitors. Lockers on the port and starboard aft bulkheads hold equipment spares.

12. Drive Access Air Lock – A small airlock for quick access to external components of the ship’s drives. If the ship is operating the maneuvering drives, the exterior door is autolocked and a warning is displayed.

13. Port Fuel Tank – Fuel tankage for 20 tons of fuel.

14. Cargo Lock – A larger air lock for transfer of cargo in vacuum situations.

15. Cargo Bay - This bay storage area for 10 tons of cargo and has cargo doors to the forward end where the cargo lock is. Overhead, there is a cargo crane. Outboard of this area are the ship’s forward landing legs. The lift shaft opens on the port side of this space and there is an alcove for a ladder up to the upper deck on the starboard side of this space. The alcove also has a hatch to the ventral surface of the ship, but this is not commonly used.

16. Battery Well – Ths space holds the ship’s battery which can provide enough power to start the power plant or supply short term emergency power in case of failure of both the primary and auxiliary power plants. The durattion of the power depends on number of systems that are operational. The battery can maintain heat and lights for 24 hours. If hydraulics are turned on or the other systems operated, this time is reduced.

17. Life Support – The main life support for the ship is located here.

18. Auxilary Power Unit – A hydrogen fuel cell which can provide enough power to start the main power plant, hydraulics for the doors, emergency light and heat, passive sensor processing, and basic controls. It does not have a large enough output for inertial compensators or artificial gravity.

19. Lower Engineering - The lower portion of the engineering section containing the power plant. External connectors for connecting shore power to the ship are outside the port aft bulhead.

20. Starboard Fuel Tank – Fuel tankage for 20 tons of fuel

21. External Plumbing Connections (Not Illustrated) – Connections for shore servicing of potable water, oxygen, and waste water.