Valiant Class Destroyer-Carrier

"Remind me again why we came out this way?"

Albert sighed to himself. He had lost count of how many times he had been asked this question over the past several weeks, as the jumpship carrying him and the Star League ambassadors made its way east. Every jump took them farther into the Periphery, farther from the glowing lights that were the war-fires of the Inner Sphere...and closer to Albert's home.

"Because," Albert said with a deliberately even tone, as he kept looking out the window, "the
Veiled Republic has long wished to make contact with the new Star League. We are on our way to make that happen." He was staring at a wall of inky blackness in the near distance...the Widow's Veil. He doubted that this Spheroid he had been saddled with had even noticed it, let alone knew where they were.

"You speak so formally, mein herr," the Spheroid observed with a grin. Albert kept his thoughts to himself. The man was a Lyran, one of the infamous social generals, who had been "retired" from military duty and "dispatched" to the Star League as a diplomat. He was living proof, Albert thought, of an old maxim: that no one with a silver tongue should ever wear a uniform.

A cheerful voice interrupted Albert's reverie. "Are we there yet?" The other ambassador had entered, and joined Albert at the window with a smile and a pat on the back. The Kuritan was much more pleasant to deal with than his Lyran counterpart...much less full of himself, and much more patient.

"Almost," Albert replied, and nodded out the window into the darkness of the nebula.

The Kuritan raised an eyebrow, and leaned forward to look out in all directions at the immense blackness. "What's this? Did some baka forget to pay the light bill?"

Albert smiled, "That is the Widow's Veil. It is a dark nebula, an old stellar nursery. Prior to the Exodus, it marked the edge of known space in this direction."

The Kuritan raised an eyebrow. "And after the Exodus?"

Albert smiled knowingly. "That changed."

The Kuritan looked at Albert, and nodded slowly as he considered the reply. The Lyran chuckled. "But what's so verdammt important about it?"

Albert turned and looked the older man right in the face, the directness in his voice an indication that he was finally about to lose patience. "To you, nothing. To me, it is the path home." He paused, wishing he hadn't been so abrupt; both men were looking at him in surprise. He composed himself, then looked at the Kuritan. "To you, it is important, as there is a nation not so far outside your borders. A nation that...well, you shall see." Albert turned back to the window, leaving the men to think.

After a moment, the Kuritan spoke. "You know, you never really have told us much about yourself." He paused as Albert glanced at him, and held his gaze. "We have time." And the Kuritan smiled. "Besides, it's not like you didn't just let at least one cat out of the bag, eh?"

Albert considered a moment, then sat. He paused, as if considering where to start. Then finally, he just started talking. "C'est la. It is no secret that I am from the
Veiled Republic. I have already told you at least the start of our history; we have spent the large part of three centuries in isolation, and now we are trying to reach out. I am what is called a Pioneer, one sent to contact other nations. I am a diplomat, though not all Pioneers are so overt. We gather information, and based on that, our government decides whether to make contact, or remain isolated." He paused. "We have been watching the Inner Sphere for most of this century. Only now, with the new Star League, have we decided to make contact."

The Lyran seemed fascinated for the first time. He began to ask, "How have you been watching..." but a klaxon that interrupted his question.

The announcement came to make ready to jump, and Albert grinned slyly as they all buckled in for the ride. "Ask Wolf's Dragoons." A low rumbling hum slowly vibrated through the vessel, and Albert's grin widened. "Here we go!"

Suddenly, almost without a break in perception, they were elsewhere. Albert was on his feet almost immediately, looking out the window like a child looking into a candy store. The Lyran shook his head as he slowly unstrapped himself. "No matter how many times I do that, I'll never get used to it." He joined Albert, and the now silently serious Kuritan at the window, and exclaimed aloud. "Lieber Gott!"

Outside was a streaming sea of stars, leading from the Widow's Veil out into deep space along the galactic arm. In the near distance floated a jump station, bustling with activity. Anchored next to it, was a long, flat vessel with a large triangle of engines, bristling with guns...

"A warship!?" The Lyran couldn't believe his eyes.

"A warship," the Kuritan said with deadly seriousness.

Albert just laughed, and slapped the two men on the back, a gesture of true happiness at being back home. "Welcome, my friends, to the
Veiled Republic!"

Code:

AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
                                  VALIDATED

Class/Model/Name:  Valiant Destroyer - VRDF
Tech:              Inner Sphere / 3067
Vessel Type:       WarShip
Rules:             Level 3, Custom design
Rules Set:         AeroTech2

Mass:              600,000 tons
K-F Drive System:  (Unknown)
Power Plant:       Standard
Safe Thrust:       3
Maximum Thrust:    5
Armor Type:        Lamellor Ferro-carbide
Armament:         
   16 NAC/30
    8 Screen Launcher
   40 Laser AMS
   96 ER PPC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
The Valiant class destroyer is the largest and most powerful warship class so far built in the Veiled Republic. It mixes an odd variety of characteristics, yet still bears the classic marks of a VRNF design.
 
It is worth noting that the Valiant class is designated as a destroyer based on its size. But it bears an overall similarity to destroyer-carrier hybrids, such as the old SLDF's Riga or the Clans' York classes. As such, it is probably best to compare the Valiant to these ships when evaluating its abilities. 

==Capabilities:==
The Valiant is slower than either the
Riga or York, but makes up for that with improvements in most other areas. The most obvious difference is its
cruiser-weight armor load, more than double what is carried by its relatives.

The VRNF made an unusual choice in the Valiant's armament, mounting all-ballistic capital weapons in a successful attempt to maximize firepower. Each arc mounts a twin NAC/30 turret, giving this ship a hefty punch in all directions. Every arc also has multi-layered defenses, provided by multiple ERPPC bays, laser AMS bays, and screen launchers.

The Valiant carries a variety of other assets to support its guns. Three fighter wings, a total of 60 fighters, provide 20% more airpower than the Riga or York. A shuttle squadron, and a full company of armored marines, give the Valiant plenty of options in boarding combat as well.

The Valiant has all the usual features of VRNF warships, plus an extra surprise: a set of onboard tender facilities, to support to other VRNF ships. The Valiant's support is obviously no match for a repair dock or specialized tender, but it does help add to the VRNF's overall fleet endurance.

The Valiant itself is equipped for 200 days endurance, and has all the amenities that VRNF crews expect, including a full load of escape pods and two grav decks. Quarters for passengers, such as VIP's and trainees, are also provided.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about the Valiant is its price: barely 1 billion C-bills over the cost of a Revenant corvette. With that small a difference, it is no surprise that the VRNF has halted corvette construction, and is now looking at the Valiant destroyers to become the mainstay of the VRNF.

==Notable Vessels & Crews:==
VRS Valiant is the name ship of her class, and the one closest to completion. Other known names in this class so far include VRS Victrix, VRS Vengeance, and VRS Vindication.

==Deployment==
VRS Valiant has been launched, but has yet to be delivered to the VRNF. The keel for VRS Victrix has already been laid at the Bocage Naval Shipyard, and simultaneous construction of VRS Vengeance and VRS Vindication is slated to begin soon in the "super dock" at New Normandy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name:  Valiant Destroyer - VRDF
Mass:              600,000 tons

Equipment:                                                            Mass 
Power Plant, Drive & Control:                                      108,000.00
Thrust:  Safe Thrust: 3
      Maximum Thrust: 5
Kearny-Fuchida Hyperdrive:  Compact (Integrity = 13)               271,500.00
Lithium Fusion Battery                                               6,000.00
Jump Sail (Detachable): (Integrity = 4)                                 60.00
Structural Integrity: 150                                           90,000.00
Total Heat Sinks:    1,800 Double                                    1,291.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps:                                                   8,063.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters:              1,500.00
Fire Control Computers:                                                   .00
Food & Water:  (200 days supply)                                       448.00
Hyperpulse Generator:                                                   50.00
Armor Type:  Lamellor Ferro-carbide  (1,890 total armor pts)         1,800.00
                           Capital Scale Armor Pts
   Location:                            L / R
   Fore:                                315
   Fore-Left/Right:                  315/315
   Aft-Left/Right:                   315/315
   Aft:                                 315

Cargo:
   Bay 1:  Fighters (60) with 6 doors                                9,000.00
   Bay 2:  Small Craft (6) with 2 doors                              1,200.00
   Bay 3:  Cargo (1) with 4 doors                                   33,689.00

Grav Decks #1 - 2:  (100-meter diameter)                               200.00
Escape Pods:  75 (7 tons each)                                         525.00

Crew and Passengers:
     41 Officers (37 minimum)                                          410.00
    136 Crew (124 minimum)                                             952.00
     52 Gunners (47 minimum)                                           364.00
      4 1st Class Passengers                                            40.00
      8 2nd Class Passengers                                            56.00
     16 Steerage Passengers                                             80.00
     40 Marine Battle Armor Troopers/Elementals                        280.00
    150 Bay Personnel                                                     .00
Weapons and Equipment      Loc        SRV    MRV    LRV    ERV  Heat    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 NAC/30(100 rounds)       Nose        60     60     60     --  200  7,080.00
1 Screen Launcher(10 scrns)Nose        --     --     --     --   10    140.00
5 Laser AMS                Nose        --     --     --     --   60      7.50
6 ER PPC                   Nose     6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --   90     42.00
6 ER PPC                   Nose     6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --   90     42.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds)       FL/R        60     60     60     --  400 14,160.00
1 Screen Launcher(10 scrns)FL/R        --     --     --     --   20    280.00
5 Laser AMS                FL/R        --     --     --     --  120     15.00
6 ER PPC                   FL/R     6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --  180     84.00
6 ER PPC                   FL/R     6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --  180     84.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds)       L/RBS       60     60     60     --  400 14,160.00
1 Screen Launcher(10 scrns)L/RBS       --     --     --     --   20    280.00
5 Laser AMS                L/RBS       --     --     --     --  120     15.00
6 ER PPC                   L/RBS    6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --  180     84.00
6 ER PPC                   L/RBS    6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --  180     84.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds)       AL/R        60     60     60     --  400 14,160.00
1 Screen Launcher(10 scrns)AL/R        --     --     --     --   20    280.00
5 Laser AMS                AL/R        --     --     --     --  120     15.00
6 ER PPC                   AL/R     6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --  180     84.00
6 ER PPC                   AL/R     6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --  180     84.00
2 NAC/30(100 rounds)       Aft         60     60     60     --  200  7,080.00
1 Screen Launcher(10 scrns)Aft         --     --     --     --   10    140.00
5 Laser AMS                Aft         --     --     --     --   60      7.50
6 ER PPC                   Aft      6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --   90     42.00
6 ER PPC                   Aft      6(60)  6(60)  6(60)     --   90     42.00
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%)                                            6,000.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                                            Heat: 3,600     600,000.00
Tons Left:                                                                .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        7,416,980,832 C-Bills
Battle Value:      175,012
Cost per BV:       42,379.84
Weapon Value:      102,209 (Ratio = .58)
Damage Factors:    SRV = 5,537;  MRV = 5,093;  LRV = 3,733;  ERV = 1,333
Maintenance:       Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 401,793
                   (106,437 Structure, 157,500 Life Support, 137,856 Weapons)
                   Support Points (SP) = 500,625  (125% of MPV)
BattleForce2:      Not applicable