Using a 200-ton hull, the free trader is an elementary interstellar merchant ship, carrying cargo and passengers. It is the primary trade and passenger mover in the Imperium. Other civilisations have similar designs for the same purpose. Its streamlined hull has the capacity of entering atmospheres making it good for service to planets without orbital platforms or stations.

Described as the most basic ship ever built and certainly not famous for its handling, it is still much loved by its merchant owners, when times are rough it can get by simply by freighting and carrying passengers still returning a modest profit, which for the vessels owner takes all of the worry out of the future. In more buoyant times though most owners speculate, buying cargo outright and selling it elsewhere for a profit, when done properly this can result in tremendous profits, which most captains use either to upgrade their ship with improved weaponry, and better drives or computer systems etc or put it into a special slush fund with the ultimate aim of paying off the ship's mortgage and gaining true financial freedom.

This model of Free Trader also comes with fuel scoops and a purification plant, though fuel skimming is time consuming allows the free trader to live off the land and thus reduce operational costs. Most captains don't bother with this though and simply use the purifier to refine unrefined fuel and hence save on having to buy refined fuel.

Cargo is split across two decks, accessed by a cargo lift, and consumes almost half of the interior volume of the craft, the remainder of which is taken up by interior accommodations and systems etc.

The passenger cabins are plush, reflecting the standards expected of high passage transports. Crew accommodation is cramped (simply 4 small cabins for up to 6 people) but the crew lounge more than makes up for it in size (located just behind the bridge) and doubles as a wardroom/meeting room.

Profit minded captains often skimp on crew to save costs and utilise pre-plotted course coordinates to well known destinations, such as the Sylean Main, or both fly the ship and do the Astrogation themselves, in safe areas even the gunners are dispensed with relying on computer control over the gunnery (defensive programs).

Walsh Class Free Trader

Class: Free Trader Type A           Ep Output: 4
Tech Level: 12                      Agility: 0
Size: (Medium 200 Tons)             Initiative: 0
Streamlining: Streamlined           AC: 10
Jump Range: 1 x Jump 1              Repulsors: None
Acceleration 1G Thruster            Nuclear Dampers: None
Fuel 24.0 Tons (Liquid Hydrogen)    Meson Screens: None
Duration: 4 weeks                   Black Globes: None
Crew: 4-6                           AR: 0
Staterooms: 6                       SI: 115
Small Cabins: 4                     Main Computer: Model 1
Bunks: none                         Sensor Range: close (model 1)
Couches: none                       Comm. Range: close (model 1)
Low Berths: 20         
Cargo Space: 91.0 Tons              Cost: Mcr: 71.432  (Mcr 57.1456 in quantity)
Atmospheric speeds                  Noe= 875 kph
Cruising = 825 kph                  Maximum = 1100 kph

Other Equipment: Fuel Scoops & Purifier (refines 24 tons in 1 Hour) 

2 single pulse laser turrets USP=1

Crew Detail:

(Minimum Combat Able) 1 x Pilot, 1 x Steward/ Medic, 2 x Gunner
(Recommended) 1 x Pilot, 1 x Astrogator, 1 x Engineer, 2 x Gunner, 1 x 
Steward/medic

Costs & Revenues: (Per Operational Month)

Life support: Cr 42,000     (Passengers & all crew/month)
Crew Costs: Cr 26,000     (Assuming 6 well paid crew)
Unrefined Fuel: Cr 4400     (Cr 100x 22 tons x 2) 
Mortgage: Cr 238,106

Totals: Cr 310,506

Revenues (Mcr: 0.350) Per Operational Month

8 x Mid Passage        8 x Cr 8,000 = Cr 64,000 x 2 = Cr 128,000        
20 x Low Passage        20 x Cr 1,000 = Cr 20,000 x 2 = Cr 40,000
91 x freight            91 x Cr 1,000 = Cr 91,000 x 2 = 182,000

Expected Profits; Cr 350,000 – Cr 310,506 = Cr 39,494 

Design Worksheet.


Installed Component        Tonnage    MCR    Ep      Notes.

Hull                       +200        20.0    ----    Cylinder
Upgrade Streamlining        ----        1.0    ----      Streamlined
Bridge                      20          1.0    ----    
Computer                     0.1        2.0    ----    Model 1
Avionics                     0.4       (0.9)   ----    Model 1
Sensors                      0.3       (0.6)   ----    Model 1
Commo                        0.2       (0.5)   ----    Model 1
M-Drive                      4.0        6.0    -2.0    1G Thruster
Jump Drive                   4.0       16.0    -2.0    Jump=1
Jump Fuel                   20.0       ----    ----    1 x Jump 1
Power Plant                  6.0       18.0    +4.0    Fusion Tl-9
Fuel 4 weeks                 4.0       ----    ----    Liquid Hydrogen
Hardpoints                  ----        0.2    ----    2 Hardpoints
2 x single turret           ----        1.0    ----    Empty to allow upgrades
2 x Pulse Laser              2.0        1.0    -2.0    USP = 1
Fuel Scoops                 ----        0.2    ----    
Purification Plant           6.0        0.032  ----    24 Tons in 58 minutes
6 x Stateroom               24.0        3.0    ----    High Passage
4 x Small cabins             8.0        1.0    ----    Crew Quarters
Low Berths                  10.0        1.0    ----    20 Passengers
Cargo                       91.0        ----   ----
Totals                     200          ----    4.0    
                            71.432
Excess Power = None

Original T4 Design: Joe Walsh.

Design re-designed for T20, by Mark Bridgeman.

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