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Description

Developed as a replacement for the Morgan-Class of interstellar carriers, the Atlas-Class is the largest of any carrier type in use with a human military, and within the Escean Interstellar Navy, is second only to the Pandoran-Class in terms of size.

A second-generation interstellar carrier design, the Atlas-class was introduced in the wake of the Resource War and the lessons learned from humanity’s first experience with exoatmospheric warfare. Laid down in 2079 and launched in 2082, the lead ship of the class, Atlas, represented significant improvements over its predecessor, including revisions concerning armour, shielding, weaponry and evacuation methods. Furthermore, an Atlas is almost twice the size and mass of a Morgan, and contains enough internal capacity within its thirty-two hangar bays for 120 spacecraft, plus 100 ground vehicles in a centralised bay. It may also carry up to eight HEB-67 ‘Phantom’ UCAVs on external belly mountings. A single Atlas can accommodate up to 4,000 Marines in addition to a crew of 700.

Atlas vessels have a relatively small number of weapons for their size, being equipped with only eighteen AS-117C dual-weapon turrets (two 100mm KAP guns and two CIPDL emitters per) for point-defence, ninety-six forward-firing FIM (Fighter Interception Missiles) launch tubes, and twenty forward-firing ASM (Anti-Ship Missile) tubes. The Atlas’ own fighters, as well as escort vessels, are responsible for providing the bulk of protection. An electronic warfare suite, which offers both offensive as well as defensive modes, assists in protecting the vessel against guided weapons, enemy targeting systems and cyberwarfare attacks.

Atlas was the first of the modernised EIN fleet to utilise NAP, the Navy Assistant Program, to assist in tactical analysis, battle projections and situational awareness in space. NAP provides a captain with streamlined data, advice and an instantaneous link with Network Operations, which in turn connects them to naval chiefs.

As with many aspects, the engines of the Atlas-Class later served as the basis for those of the Pandoran. The APE-551 unit is more or less identical to the APE-552 used by the Pandoran save for a slight reduction in overall power output. Aside from this, operation is identical and the methods of powering the vessel remain much the same. A single Deuterium-Helium-3 aneutronic fusion plant supplies power for electrical systems ship wide, to include weapons, electronics, lighting and environmental controls. One of two vespomide ‘burner’ reactors provides power for the Dimensional Drive core necessary for achieving FTL, while a secondary reactor supplies the propulsion systems, including magnetic containment for antiproton storage and all ionic thrusters.

The EIV Diamond Lake (ICV [Interstellar Carrier/Fighter] – 26) is the 26th and latest iteration of the Atlas-Class, laid down in 2105 and deployed in 2108. Assigned to the First Fleet, the introduction of Diamond Lake marked the retirement and decommissioning of the EIV Mystic Peak. Equipped with the most advanced systems in its class to date, Diamond Lake is one of twenty such vessels in current service, with the prior six scrapped, converted or in the case of the lead ship, Atlas, turned into a museum ship.

Description

Developed as a replacement for the Morgan-Class of interstellar carriers, the Atlas-Class is the largest of any carrier type in use with a human military, and within the Escean Interstellar Navy, is second only to the Pandoran-Class in terms of size.

A second-generation interstellar carrier design, the Atlas-class was introduced in the wake of the Resource War and the lessons learned from humanity’s first experience with exoatmospheric warfare. Laid down in 2079 and launched in 2082, the lead ship of the class, Atlas, represented significant improvements over its predecessor, including revisions concerning armour, shielding, weaponry and evacuation methods. Furthermore, an Atlas is almost twice the size and mass of a Morgan, and contains enough internal capacity within its thirty-two hangar bays for 120 spacecraft, plus 100 ground vehicles in a centralised bay. It may also carry up to eight HEB-67 ‘Phantom’ UCAVs on external belly mountings. A single Atlas can accommodate up to 4,000 Marines in addition to a crew of 700.

Atlas vessels have a relatively small number of weapons for their size, being equipped with only eighteen AS-117C dual-weapon turrets (two 100mm KAP guns and two CIPDL emitters per) for point-defence, ninety-six forward-firing FIM (Fighter Interception Missiles) launch tubes, and twenty forward-firing ASM (Anti-Ship Missile) tubes. The Atlas’ own fighters, as well as escort vessels, are responsible for providing the bulk of protection. An electronic warfare suite, which offers both offensive as well as defensive modes, assists in protecting the vessel against guided weapons, enemy targeting systems and cyberwarfare attacks.

Atlas was the first of the modernised EIN fleet to utilise NAP, the Navy Assistant Program, to assist in tactical analysis, battle projections and situational awareness in space. NAP provides a captain with streamlined data, advice and an instantaneous link with Network Operations, which in turn connects them to naval chiefs.

As with many aspects, the engines of the Atlas-Class later served as the basis for those of the Pandoran. The APE-551 unit is more or less identical to the APE-552 used by the Pandoran save for a slight reduction in overall power output. Aside from this, operation is identical and the methods of powering the vessel remain much the same. A single Deuterium-Helium-3 aneutronic fusion plant supplies power for electrical systems ship wide, to include weapons, electronics, lighting and environmental controls. One of two vespomide ‘burner’ reactors provides power for the Dimensional Drive core necessary for achieving FTL, while a secondary reactor supplies the propulsion systems, including magnetic containment for antiproton storage and all ionic thrusters.

The EIV Diamond Lake (ICV [Interstellar Carrier/Fighter] – 26) is the 26th and latest iteration of the Atlas-Class, laid down in 2105 and deployed in 2108. Assigned to the First Fleet, the introduction of Diamond Lake marked the retirement and decommissioning of the EIV Mystic Peak. Equipped with the most advanced systems in its class to date, Diamond Lake is one of twenty such vessels in current service, with the prior six scrapped, converted or in the case of the lead ship, Atlas, turned into a museum ship.