Hephaestus Class Fleet Tender

Class:  Hephaestus
Type:  Fleet Tender
Faction:  Imperial Union Of Planets 
Length:  5 kilometers
Crew:  Variable 
Offenses:  
10x Plasma Beam Cannons
30x Plasma Pulse Cannons
Defenses:  
Trans-Spatial Shields
Point Defense Laser System
Nanite Repair Matrix
15 centimeters Polarized Hull Plating
30 centimeters Nanocrystalline Alloy Armor
Notes:  Named for a god of the forge, the Hephaestus class fleet tender dwarfs most of the Union’s current roster of starship classes.  Designed and engineered around the concept of service as a mobile drydock, these ships are built around the ability for multiple starships to be taken within and sealed inside modular space-tight compartments for maintenance and repairs in the field when returning to a static facility is not an available option.  In addition, the external hull is covered with various docking arms and collapsible wet dock assemblies to allow less needy ships access to the fleet tender’s services.
Voluminous hangers allows each Hephaestus class fleet tender to deploy a veritable fleet of support craft.  Ranging from personal transport shuttles to work pods to cargo shuttles and beyond, it is even theoretically possible for a Hephaestus to be deployed as an impromptu carrier for combat operations - though their value in the intended fleet tender role has, so far, trumped any need for this outside simulations and field testing.
Also only tested in simulations and trials, the vast internal volume of the Hephaestus class could allow them to be operated as super freighters.  However, again, their role to the Union as fleet tenders is too valuable to allow for such repurposing to actually happen at this point in time.  Though they are often deployed with some cargo for use in the fulfillment of duties, it’s not uncommon for a Hephaestus to be in a formation with dedicated cargo transport vessels.
Category:Multiversal Conflicts
Category:Ships