The Imperial Pinnace is not a common sight in and around the Imperium despite the fact that it is an incredibly versatile craft. This is for a number of reasons, first it is relatively expensive and hence ship owners would find it difficult to compete economically against other small craft that can carry similar sized cargos more cheaply albeit with smaller drives. Priority freight within star systems tends to be uncommon, so the advantage conferred by its high speed is limited. Secondly due to a mix of design styles and philosophies drawing on both Terran and Villani influences, the pinnace has the appearance of an ugly close structured lash up, which is indeed exactly what it is.

Despite this, the vessel is much loved by its owners/crews due to its high performance and usefulness and ease of which it can be customised for other uses. Belters find them ideal when fitted with upgraded sensors because they can be used to quickly prospect distant asteroids/ort objects, in addition to the fact that they can skim fuel and live of the land due to the installation of the (somewhat large) purification plant. This plant is frequently used to purify fuel aboard the parent vessel (hence the 200 ton in 8 Hours rating) or removed to allow more cargo or better internal accommodations to be stowed aboard. If used purely to satisfy the needs of the pinnace then a full load can be purified in less than an hour.

Interior accommodations are easy to alter; the acceleration couches can be removed to increase cargo space. The interior can also accommodate the inclusion of small cabins/staterooms and a small lounge at the expense of cargo, turning the craft into a luxury shuttle/ VIP hauler suitable for long duration missions to distant outposts/locations.

Cash strapped navies or local system defence squadrons often install larger power plants and weaponry at the expense of cargo, along with improved sensors, communication gear and more sophisticated computer control, when this is done, they make ideal deep space fighters, well suited to picket work, customs and anti piracy patrols as well as some in-system escort work.

Unsurprisingly criminal types and mercenaries also like the pinnace, simply because of the virtue of their high G performance and versatility.

Imperial Pinnace

Class: Small Craft.                       Ep Output: 2.0
Tech Level: 9                             Agility:0
Size: (small 40 Tons)                     Initiative: 0
Streamlining: Streamlined.                AC: 11
Jump Range: None                          Repulsors: None
Acceleration 5G (Thruster)                Nuclear Dampers: None
Fuel 2.0 Tons (Liquid Hydrogen)           Meson Screens: None
Duration: 4 weeks                         Black Globes: None
Crew: 2                                   AR: 0
Staterooms: none                          SI: 82
Small Cabins: 0                           Main Computer: Model 2
Bunks: 0                                  Sensor Range: Close (model 1)
Couches: 8 (additional to 2 on bridge)    Comm. Range: Close (model 1)
Low Berths: 0         
Cargo Space: 9.9 Tons                     Cost: Mcr 21.42 (Mcr 17.136 in 
Quantity)
Atmospheric speeds                        Noe= 275 kph
Cruising = 825 kph                        Maximum = 1100 kph

Other Equipment: Fuel Scoops. 

Design Worksheet.

Installed Component        Tonnage    MCR    Ep      Notes.

Hull                        +40         2.4     ----    Close Structure
Upgrade Streamlining        ----        0.2     ----    Streamlined
Bridge                       8.0        0.2     ----    Crew 2
Computer                     0.2        5.8     ----    Model 2
Avionics                     0.8       (1.8)    ----    Model 2
Sensors                      0.3       (0.6)    ----    Model 1
Commo                        0.2       (0.5)    ----    Model 1
M-Drive                      5.6        2.8     -2.0    5G Thruster
Power Plant                  3.0        9.0     +2.0    Fusion Tl-9
Fuel 4 weeks                 2.0        ----    ----    Liquid Hydrogen
Small Craft Couches          4.0        0.20    ----    8 Passengers
Hardpoint                   ----        0.1     ----    1 Hardpoint
Fuel Scoops                 ----        0.40    ----    
Purification Plant           6.0        0.32    ----    8 Hrs/200 Tons.
Cargo                        9.9        ----    ----    

Totals                      40.0        21.42    2.0

Excess Power = None

Original T4 Design: Not Credited.

Design Adapted for T20, by Mark Bridgeman.

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