Developed from an ancient Solomani template by the Chanestin Mercantile Support Bureau, the government wing of the former Chanestin Kingdom responsible for testing, supplying and developing new technologies and equipment for use in space by the kingdom's economic interests. This vessel is now an increasingly rare sight in and around Imperial space and even in former Chanestin territory because this design is no longer considered economical or particularly useful, with the result that many of this class are being retired from service or broken up for spare parts. This is partly as a result of the Imperial victory over the kingdom and the resultant economic collapse in Chanestin experienced by former Chanestin worlds, coupled with the introduction of 'new' thruster technology aboard Imperial merchant ships that are able to price these Heplar powered museum pieces out of the market as they are able to devote more of their interior space to cargo and hence charge lower prices for freight work and still remain profitable.

Like most Heplar craft, this Far Trader is also equipped with Contragrav lifters, able to provide decent thrust within 10 diameters of a large mass, as most merchant work involves a run to jump point, a week in jump and a run into the gravity well of the destination world, many captains have reasoned that this doesn't really take much fuel if your willing to go slow and have reduced fuel tankage in their vessels accordingly in order to increase hold space and hence generate more revenue. If more range is needed jump fuel can always be used to supplement Heplar range (2 tons/G-Hour) though it would have to be replaced before jump.

Despite its low tech nature this a hardy and survivable craft, occasionally seen on the Imperial fringes and beyond, their crews working tirelessly to keep the 'old girl' flying whilst battling to make a living in the new 'Imperial' economic climate developing new markets before losing them to corporate interests and competitors.

As this design is now obsolete and generally undesirable resale prices for this class of Far Trader are falling, in some cases as low as 20% of the original purchase price, if you can get them at these prices you just might make a profit…

With the immense financial pressures on captains of these vessels it is unsurprising that many of them are listed as missing, fate unknown (MFU) a polite euphemism amongst banking circles for 'skipped'.

Typical of most small merchants, interior accommodations lean towards the luxurious so that high passage can be sold, the passenger lounge is large and luxurious, crew accommodations situated behind the bridge are small and cramped and comprise of just 5 small cabins.

On the positive side though this ship is easy to customise and upgrade, some owners make the most of the large power plant and install a 2G Heplar thruster which doubles fuel consumption with obvious benefits, other wealthier captains actually install thruster plates, that whilst expensive allow up to 40 tons of fuel tank to be removed and the space given over to cargo making it easier to compete in the new economy, though by no means a guaranteed success.

Unsurprisingly there is much unrest in 'Old Kingdom' amongst many of its citizens who perceive the influx of Imperial corporations and merchants to their space as exploitative and opportunist asset strippers, interested only in credits not people. On a daily basis the media that for the most part have an anti-Imperial bias inform the people of endless closures of Chanestin businesses and facilities taken over by Imperial concerns laying the blame for this firmly at the feet of their conqueror Cleon Zhunastu.

In any economy and in particular, any period of sustained economic growth, there will always be winners and there will always be losers, this vessel and its gallant though world weary crews are definitely on the losing side.

Far Trader

Class: Far Trader Type A2           Ep Output: 4
Tech Level: 11                      Agility: 0
Size: (Medium 200 Tons)             Initiative: 0
Streamlining: Streamlined           AC: 10
Jump Range: 1 x Jump 2              Repulsors: None
Acceleration 1G Heplar/CG           Nuclear Dampers: None
Fuel 82.0 Tons (Liquid Hydrogen)    Meson Screens: None
Duration: 4 weeks                   Black Globes: None
Crew: 4                             AR: 0
Staterooms: 7                       SI: 115
Small Cabins: 5                     Main Computer: Model 2
Bunks: none                         Sensor Range: close (model 1)
Couches: none                       Comm. Range: close (model 1)
Low Berths: 20         
Cargo Space: 34.9 Tons              Cost: Mcr: 79.182  (Mcr 63.345 in quantity)
Atmospheric speeds                  Noe= 875 kph
Cruising = 825 kph                  Maximum = 1100 kph

Other Equipment: Fuel Scoops & Purifier (refines 84 tons in 3 Hour 22 
minutes) 

Crew Detail:

Minimum Requirements: 1 x Bridge, 1 x Steward/medic, 2 x Gunner.
Recommended: 2 x Bridge, 1 x Engineer, 1 x Steward/Medic 2 x Gunner

Costs & Revenues: (Per Operational Month)

Life support: Cr 48,000     (Passengers & all crew/month)
Crew Costs: Cr 20,000     (Assuming 4 well paid crew)
Unrefined Fuel: Cr 16,800     (Cr 100x 84 tons x 2) 

Mortgage: Cr 263,937

Totals: Cr 348,737

Revenues (Mcr: 0.188) Per Operational Month

7 x Mid Passage        7 x Cr 8,000 = Cr 56,000 x 2 = Cr 112,000        
4 x Low Passage        4 x Cr 1,000 = Cr 4,000 x 2 = Cr 8,000
34 x freight            34 x Cr 1,000 = Cr 68,000 x 2 = 68,000

Expected Profits; Cr 188,000 – 348,737 = -160, 737


Design Worksheet.

Installed Component        Tonnage    MCR    Ep      Notes.

Hull                       +200         24.0    ----    Wedge
Bridge                       20          1.0    ----    
Computer                      0.2        4.0    ----    Model 2
Avionics                      0.4       (0.9)   ----    Model 1
Sensors                       0.3       (0.6)   ----    Model 1
Commo                         0.2       (0.5)   ----    Model 1
Heplar                        2.0        1.0    -1.0    Heplar 1G
Heplar Fuel                  38.0        ----   ----    Endurance 19 Hours    
Jump Drive                    6.0        24.0   -4.0    Jump=2
Jump Fuel                    40.0        ----   ----    1 x Jump 2
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   ----    
2 x Pulse Laser               2.0         1.0     -2    USP=1
Fuel Scoops                  ----         0.2   ----    
Purification Plant            6.0         0.032 ----    82 Tons in 3 Hour 20 min
7 x Stateroom                28.0         3.5   ----    High Passage
5 x Small cabins             10.0         1.25  ----    Crew Quarters
Low Berths                    2.0         0.2   ----    4 Passengers
Cargo                        34.9        ----   ----

Totals                      200.0        ----    4.0    
                             79.182
Excess Power = 1 EP in normal space, none when jump drive engaged.

Original T4 Design: Joe Walsh.

Design re-designed for T20, by Mark Bridgeman.

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