Alliance Space Vehicles - Prestige-Pattern Diplomatic Shuttle

ST/HP: 210

Hand/SR: +0/4

HT: 13

Move: 2/200 (+12)

LWt.: 74

Load: 29

SM: +7

Occ.: 2+2ASV + 12SV

DR: 200*

Range: 2 jumps

Cost: $35M

Loc.: G3rR

Stall: 0

Total Chase Roll: +12

*The Prestige has 200 diamondoid DR on all sides; halve DR against crushing damage. It also has a force screen with 300 ablative, hardened DR.

Notes

Alliance Defensive Shuttle Electronics:

• Medium Tactical Ultra-Scanner: 30-mile scan, 3-mile imaging/bioscan; 360°;
  
  
• Night Vision Sensors: +9 nightvision, ×8 magnification (up to +3 to aimed attacks, if the vehicle aims for three turns).
  
  
• Distortion Jammer: -4 ECM penalty for missiles; +2 to jam missiles.
  
  
• Tactical ESM: +1 to dodge missiles.
  
  
• Large FTL Communication Array: 30-parsec range.
  
  
• Large Holographic Radio: 10,000 mile range (orbital); “palm sized” holographic console.
  
  
• Security and Safety: Complex Biometric Locks.
  
  
• Hyperium Reactor: 7 days endurance.
  
  
• Hyperdrive: Rating 2, Range 2.
  
  

Light Alliance Battle-Yacht Accommodation and Facilities:

• Full Life-Support: up to 17 people
  
  
• Accommodations: 1 Luxury Cabin, 10 seats, 1 Sickbay
  
  
• Cargo: a single “arsenal” capable of carrying up to 100 lbs of equipment; a second cargo compartment large enough for two people or a half ton of material that is hidden (requires a Search roll to find), Shielded (-6 to scans) and climate-controlled.
  
  
• Vehicle Bay: Contains a single Santuary-Pattern Emergency Response Vehicle.
  
  

The Prestige has room for two pilots in the front cabin, and an installation for a robot to install himself to act as the Hyperdrive navigational system.

The Prestige appears unarmed, but has a pop-turret with a light, anti-personnel cannon protected by a Distortion Mesh (-6 to scans).

Weapon	Dmg	Acc	Range	Ewt	RoF	Shots	ST	Bulk	Rcl
Anti-personnel Blaster Cannon	10d(5) burn	9	600/ 1800	45	3	540/Fp	16M	-10	2

Look and Feel

The Prestige’s magnificent, sculpted diamondoid body rarely fails to impress. It looks luxurious. The shuttle is roughly the size of a private jet, but is far wider than it is tall or long, with a “delta” shape. One can enter via a ramp in the bank, which leads to a plush, inviting interior with carpeting, wood paneling and crystal lighting. Ten comfortable seats, which can recline and have assorted gadgets and entertainment items in the oversized arms, sit six to a side. On either side of the passenger cabin, one can find small kitchenettes, usually tended to by one or two stewards, who often accompany the Prestige on its flights. In the lane between the two sides of seats, the carpeting can be stripped back and reveal a compartment large enough for two people to fit, if rather tightly.

Two spiral staircases rise around the rear entrance and lead to a luxurious cabin which usually house the diplomat or a guest of honor, which has extensive diamandoid windows (which can be closed and shielded), charming décor, a bed large enough to comfortably fit two, and a closet capable of holding 100 lbs of combat gear.

The front of the craft has a wide pilot section for both pilot and copilot and a slot for a robot. This can be reached through the passenger cabin via a single door that can be biometrically locked. The far side of the control room has two small doors that lead to access spaces that reach the engines and fuel tanks where the pilots can engage in temporary repairs if necessary. A hatch in the floor of the control room leads directly to the Sanctuary-pattern Emergency Response Vehicle, which occupies a very tight vehicle bay that runs beneath the passenger compartment.

The Prestige is in principle a diplomatic shuttle. The Alliance has numerous patterns for such shuttles, the most notable being the Palanquin-Pattern diplomatic shuttle, which looks remarkably like the Prestige, but with lighter armor (DR 150), and no pop-turret or smuggling hidey-holes. The Prestige is, however, far more common, and the rest of the Alliance gives a wink and a nod anytime a Prestige shows up marked as a Palanquin on its registry. Noting the difference with scanners requires roll to Electronics Operation (Sensors) -6, Engineering (Spaceships) -6 or Common Sense.

Every Alliance capital ship has several diplomatic shuttles. Their primary purpose is to bring a noble and his party to whatever planet they currently orbit, or to bring dignitaries from the planet to the capital ship, all in elegant style. The armaments, defenses and smuggling cubbies are for the harsh realities of the world and “diplomatic necessities.” Diplomats are no fools!

The Prestige also doubles as a troop transport. Its seating allows it to carry a full squad of 10 Alliance Regulars, and the surprisingly well armed, well-defended Sanctuary. In principle, a Prestige can respond to a distress call, land nearby, send out its Sanctuary to retrieve the wounded and bring them back to the Prestige for healing and stabilizing, and then bring them back to their capital ship. They can also be used as dropships, but their weak armaments and poor deployment time, not to mention their expense, makes them more of a desperate substitute for this purpose.

Finally, the Prestige can double as a personal ship. It has enough fuel to flit around the Galaxy in short hops. The intent of this design is that, in an emergency, a Prestige can flee. Alternatively, the Prestige can flit between two worlds for negotiation. Some poor nobles use it as their main transport and lie about having a capital ship in orbit.