Title: SSV Melbourne
Description: Systems Alliance - Omniscient class
Description: Systems Alliance - Omniscient class
Skyrillian Blitz - March 6, 2008 03:18 PM (GMT)
Name: SSV Melbourne, Omniscient-Class Flotilla Leader
Race Design: Human – Systems Alliance
Main Armaments: Twin Hellrail-class MACs (Mass Accelerator Cannons). Two X-150 “Hellbeam” PACs (Particle Accelerator Cannons) mounted on turrets.
Secondary Armaments: GARDIAN PDS. Metal Storm Tactical Missile System.
Tactical Systems: “Concordiat” Fleet Command and Control VI. “Argus” SWACS (Spaceborne Warning and Control System). “Umbra” ESM, ECM and ECCM system.
Description:
Biography: Since the attack of Sovereign in the Citadel, many Alliance and Council warships have been lost to Geth ambushes. Due to their very nature, the Geth attacks have been highly organized with each ship in the ambush fleet operating with mechanical precision, disrupting Alliance formations and taking advantage of their co-ordination in the midst of the chaos. The ambushes always occurred on patrols lacking space-fighter or carrier support, the lack of which prevented Alliance ships from being able to re-group.
The Omniscient-class was developed both as a counter to the Geth tactics and as a way to provide a flexible weapons platform capable of performing in any mission. The SSV Melbourne is the first of the Omniscient-class cruisers and at first glance, it seems under-gunned for its class and reactor size. However, it mounts some exceptional weaponry.
The first is the twin spine-mounted Hellrail MACs which allows the Melbourne to go toe-to-toe with any ship of cruiser class or lower. Its destructive power is around 80% of standard MACs in the same weight category, but is made up by the fact it is 50% more efficient on power usage.
The second is the new X-150 Hellbeam PAC turrets which gives the Melbourne the ability to hit an enemy frigate from virtually any angle, at light-speed. The PACs fire extremely slowly, taking fifteen seconds for the capacitors to charge before firing and have a range less than the MACs. Not to mention that it requires several shots to down a frigate. But its ability to swat frigates “out of the air” with a few accurate shots at a range greater than the GARDIAN system more than makes up for it.
The third is the Metal Storm Tactical Missile System. This weapons system allows the Melbourne to saturate the engagement region with either anti-fighter sub-munitions or disruptor torpedoes. While not as effective as a traditional fighter screen, it does provide small flotillas with a capable substitute. The upside is that it is smaller and requires less logistical support than an equivalent fighter squadron, and the system is extremely power efficient. The downside is that you go through missiles like crazy.
Despite all this, what makes the Melbourne and the Omniscient-class truly special is its triad of electronic systems. The Argus SWACS is capable of detecting vessels at five times the distance of regular sensors with the same accuracy. In a breakthrough, it is able to strategically detect mass disturbances on the scale of the Normandy uses while in stealth mode. Note that by strategically, all the sensors can get is that a stealth ship is “in the area”. Argus cannot locate stealth ships on a tactical level, usually by which the hostile ship has already opened fire.
The Concordiat VI, in conjunction with Argus, enables Alliance ships to co-ordinate movement and weapons fire to a degree equaling and even exceeding Geth unity. The VI, in network with all other ship VIs, is powerful enough to be able to co-ordinate dreadnaught fire with frigate movement, allowing dreadnaughts to shoot into friend-lies from range. The sub-routines for this have been issued to all Alliance dreadnought VIs as of current.
If there was one problem with all this, it’s that the Argus is extraordinarily power hungry, hence the “lack” of weaponry on the Omniscient-class. Additionally, the Argus powerful sensors give away its position. This lights up the ship on enemy sensors like a Christmas tree. As one Admiral put it, “why don’t we just paint a bulls-eye on the bloody ship!”. Enter the Umbra ESM, ECM and ECCM system. While not capable of masking the Melbourne, it is capable of masking anything near it, with the exception of dreadnaughts. This sensor “smear” allows other ships to hide in plain sight, making the enemy underestimate the strength of the fleet. Borrowing from Geth tactics, foes become sensor blind while Concordiat and Argus guide ships to their targets and provide firing solutions.
The Melbourne has been completing secret test runs in an undisclosed location under the command of Captain Vladimir Zdravic for the past three years. However, with Terra Firma’s overthrow of Earth, the future of the ship and its class reminds in doubt. She has yet to start official Alliance duties and with a wily captain, who knows where she might end up.
(More on the Captain in the characters forum, if he gets approved. Also if anyone wants to, feel free to pinch any of the electronics or weaponry. I’ve tried to put in flaws so that they’re not too over powered. :D )
Race Design: Human – Systems Alliance
Main Armaments: Twin Hellrail-class MACs (Mass Accelerator Cannons). Two X-150 “Hellbeam” PACs (Particle Accelerator Cannons) mounted on turrets.
Secondary Armaments: GARDIAN PDS. Metal Storm Tactical Missile System.
Tactical Systems: “Concordiat” Fleet Command and Control VI. “Argus” SWACS (Spaceborne Warning and Control System). “Umbra” ESM, ECM and ECCM system.
Description:
Biography: Since the attack of Sovereign in the Citadel, many Alliance and Council warships have been lost to Geth ambushes. Due to their very nature, the Geth attacks have been highly organized with each ship in the ambush fleet operating with mechanical precision, disrupting Alliance formations and taking advantage of their co-ordination in the midst of the chaos. The ambushes always occurred on patrols lacking space-fighter or carrier support, the lack of which prevented Alliance ships from being able to re-group.
The Omniscient-class was developed both as a counter to the Geth tactics and as a way to provide a flexible weapons platform capable of performing in any mission. The SSV Melbourne is the first of the Omniscient-class cruisers and at first glance, it seems under-gunned for its class and reactor size. However, it mounts some exceptional weaponry.
The first is the twin spine-mounted Hellrail MACs which allows the Melbourne to go toe-to-toe with any ship of cruiser class or lower. Its destructive power is around 80% of standard MACs in the same weight category, but is made up by the fact it is 50% more efficient on power usage.
The second is the new X-150 Hellbeam PAC turrets which gives the Melbourne the ability to hit an enemy frigate from virtually any angle, at light-speed. The PACs fire extremely slowly, taking fifteen seconds for the capacitors to charge before firing and have a range less than the MACs. Not to mention that it requires several shots to down a frigate. But its ability to swat frigates “out of the air” with a few accurate shots at a range greater than the GARDIAN system more than makes up for it.
The third is the Metal Storm Tactical Missile System. This weapons system allows the Melbourne to saturate the engagement region with either anti-fighter sub-munitions or disruptor torpedoes. While not as effective as a traditional fighter screen, it does provide small flotillas with a capable substitute. The upside is that it is smaller and requires less logistical support than an equivalent fighter squadron, and the system is extremely power efficient. The downside is that you go through missiles like crazy.
Despite all this, what makes the Melbourne and the Omniscient-class truly special is its triad of electronic systems. The Argus SWACS is capable of detecting vessels at five times the distance of regular sensors with the same accuracy. In a breakthrough, it is able to strategically detect mass disturbances on the scale of the Normandy uses while in stealth mode. Note that by strategically, all the sensors can get is that a stealth ship is “in the area”. Argus cannot locate stealth ships on a tactical level, usually by which the hostile ship has already opened fire.
The Concordiat VI, in conjunction with Argus, enables Alliance ships to co-ordinate movement and weapons fire to a degree equaling and even exceeding Geth unity. The VI, in network with all other ship VIs, is powerful enough to be able to co-ordinate dreadnaught fire with frigate movement, allowing dreadnaughts to shoot into friend-lies from range. The sub-routines for this have been issued to all Alliance dreadnought VIs as of current.
If there was one problem with all this, it’s that the Argus is extraordinarily power hungry, hence the “lack” of weaponry on the Omniscient-class. Additionally, the Argus powerful sensors give away its position. This lights up the ship on enemy sensors like a Christmas tree. As one Admiral put it, “why don’t we just paint a bulls-eye on the bloody ship!”. Enter the Umbra ESM, ECM and ECCM system. While not capable of masking the Melbourne, it is capable of masking anything near it, with the exception of dreadnaughts. This sensor “smear” allows other ships to hide in plain sight, making the enemy underestimate the strength of the fleet. Borrowing from Geth tactics, foes become sensor blind while Concordiat and Argus guide ships to their targets and provide firing solutions.
The Melbourne has been completing secret test runs in an undisclosed location under the command of Captain Vladimir Zdravic for the past three years. However, with Terra Firma’s overthrow of Earth, the future of the ship and its class reminds in doubt. She has yet to start official Alliance duties and with a wily captain, who knows where she might end up.
(More on the Captain in the characters forum, if he gets approved. Also if anyone wants to, feel free to pinch any of the electronics or weaponry. I’ve tried to put in flaws so that they’re not too over powered. :D )
Bane - March 7, 2008 03:07 PM (GMT)
tight pic, long bio. APPROVED