IISS trans-rift couriers

[Tforbes]

Near the end of The Great Rift - Book 2 - Reft, it mentions that the IISS has special trans-rift couriers it uses to cross via the Islands in 10 weeks.

They are described at 800-ton Jump-4 vessels which carry extra fuel for an extra jump-1.

This description seems pretty specific which makes me think there is a particular ship being referenced but I can't seem to find one that would fit.

Does anybody know what this ship is and where I can find the ship plans? Was an actual ship ever even designed for this or it is just a bit of fluff in the description?

 

[paltrysum]

I don't recall seeing something like that, but one ship that comes close is the Armstrong-class exploration vessel from the Great Rift boxed set. It's 1000 tons, has jump-3 capacity, and fuel for two jumps.

 

[RYXlord]

I suspect it was just a bit of fluff, but its a fun concept so I've gone ahead and built one matching the specs in the book for you.

 

[Tforbes]

I suspect it was just a bit of fluff, but its a fun concept so I've gone ahead and built one matching the specs in the book for you.

Appreciated

 

[ross]

I suspect it was just a bit of fluff, but its a fun concept so I've gone ahead and built one matching the specs in the book for you.

This would definitely have an xboat communication array and I’m still struggling with what utility it would have with j-4+j-1 and not just J-5. As a matter of fact there’s a decent use case for very advanced ships like the J-6 naval courier ship from CT.

 

[Terry Mixon]

@RYXlord, I give you the J6 Hermes-Class Fleet Courier with mail array, built at the MixCorp yards at Vincennes. MixCorp, bringing you tomorrow's ships today!

 

[Tforbes]

This would definitely have an xboat communication array and I’m still struggling with what utility it would have with j-4+j-1 and not just J-5. As a matter of fact there’s a decent use case for very advanced ships like the J-6 naval courier ship from CT.

I think the purpose of the extra fuel was because, most places in the Island Cluster, there's only 1 parsec of empty space so that emergency fuel would be enough to get to a planet.

Since there have been 2 massively impact full misjumps in Island history, a contingency plan for a dedicated Imperial courier wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing hahaha.

 

[rinku]

I'd tend to think that finding a need for this, they'd adapt an existing J-4 transport design, replacing cargo area with dedicated fuel tankage, or demountable storage if that makes more operational sense. Demountable means the ship can be used more flexibly. Crew requirements do not change.

An existing tanker design might also be adapted.

 

[MasterGwydion]

In an X-boat-style situation, each jump between way stations would be done in a ship specially built for that exact jump range. Some would be J-1, some would be J-6, and everything in between.

 

[rinku]

As far as the OP question goes, it may not exist. You can frame the idea and requirement for them without having to sit down and actually design the ship in detail. 800 tons J-4 means 80% of the ship is tankage, but should leave enough ship for drives and accomodations.

 

[Condottiere]

Even snails get mail.

The the less parsecs you jump at a go, the lower the risk of a misjump.

If time is less of a factor, and since fuel consumption is one of the major ones, a more advanced jump drive consumes less of that, for a given lower range.

 

[Sigtrygg]

The sensible thing is to use three reduced fuel advancements for the jump drive so that instead of 10 fuel you only need 8.5, then carry as much as you can or need.
7 parsecs requires 59.5, so you have more range it is just going to take you longer to get there.

jump 1 would be a TL12 ship
jump 2 would be a TL14 ship
jump 3 would be a TL15 ship.

 

[rinku]

There's many different approaches here. As I mentioned before, it makes the most sense to me for a pure courier, that they'd look at an existing cheaper J-4 hauler and swap cargo for fuel. That's a minor refit instead of the whole design process from ground up and developing special drives that may not yet exist. But the other way is valid if pockets are deeper and they need more space for cargo.

 

[Condottiere]

Fleet courier implies being able to tap into an existing, and extensive, infrastructure network.

Crossing a rift usually implies a lack thereof.

The most important aspect might actually be constant ship maintenance, and highly qualified astrogator and chief engineer.

 

[Tforbes]

Source describes a fleet of 6 ships.

The crossing takes 10 weeks.

At any given time:
1 ship is undergoing maintenance at each end.
2 ships in transit each way. (one departs each end every 4 weeks)

 

[MasterGwydion]

Near the end of The Great Rift - Book 2 - Reft, it mentions that the IISS has special trans-rift couriers it uses to cross via the Islands in 10 weeks.

They are described at 800-ton Jump-4 vessels which carry extra fuel for an extra jump-1.

This description seems pretty specific which makes me think there is a particular ship being referenced but I can't seem to find one that would fit.

Does anybody know what this ship is and where I can find the ship plans? Was an actual ship ever even designed for this or it is just a bit of fluff in the description?

I am guessing that they have J-4 Drives, but their fuel tanks only carry J-3 of fuel but then can get an extra J-1 from some kind of extra fuel tankage. A J-4 ship can make that crossing from Reft 2930 to Reft 0217 in 8 jumps. A J-5 ship can do it in 7 jumps. A J-6 ship can do it in 6 jumps.

So, it could be a J-5 Drive with J-4+1 of fuel. 10 weeks is cutting it very close doing 8 jumps. A 7-jump is more reasonable if they plan on making the crossing in 10 weeks.

 

[Condottiere]

I'd be worried about getting stranded.

Salaries should be rather high.

 

[MasterGwydion]

I'd be worried about getting stranded.

Salaries should be rather high.

J-4 is TL-C. TL-C is available in the clusters, so getting stranded there really isn't a thing anymore.