Celton Class Escort Vessel

## Overview

Developed as a low cost screening Vessel the Celton was built with multiple different detection systems for incoming torpedoes. With the massive amount of scanning and communication it was able to fulfill other roles within the Mass Alliance Grand Navy outside of its initial intention. Its name comes from Prince Celton Sh'lona, first born son of Empress Endra Sh'lona of Empress. This name was a deliberate choice to infuriate the terrorist group Aegis of Lady Kassandra, who's attacks were the direct reason for the classes inception.

## History

In 158 DoS a LCT super heavy freighter, Pile Higher, was highjacked by the Thental supremacist group Aegis of Lady Kassandra. On December 15th the Pile Higher would be used in an attack against the Everest Class Dreadnought MAS Arx Ferrea. Installing rocket systems in a number of the cargo containers that the Pile Higher was carrying and launching them all at the Arx Ferrea which would overwhelming the point defense systems and causing major damage. After this attack the Mass Alliance Grand Navy (MAGN) took a look at the way they were handling defensive screening and the Cobalt class Vessel and found its screening ability dramatically lacking. The Cobalt was built with multiple weapons systems with the idea it would be adaptable to its current situation, however it was not effective as a flack Vessel.

Following the attack on the Arx Ferrea the Grand Council of the Mass Alliance ordered a new ship to take the place of the Cobalt class. However when the bill went before the Lesser Council they did not approve the funding, after the Excalibur class and several new projects the initial plan for the Celton was deemed to costly. After a dramatic re-evaluation of the project a new set of requirements were made for it. The project finally got approval in July 160 DoS. The first ship, the MAS-Celton, was laid down in November of 161 DoS. Due to the small size the first of the line was completed in 9 months.

## Design

### Weapons

The Celton was designed with 10 CIWS guardian point-defense guns, a slightly smaller version of the version found on the Cobalt class and on the Excalibur class that uses 10x102mm caseless ammunition. As the intention of the ship was as a screening vessel it was only intended to be fit with point-defense guns, however the LIDAR systems installed on the dorsal and ventral hull can be overclocked to be an effective weapon system against light skinned vessels.

### Engines

The Celton has five liquid fuel rocket engines, the four on the outside are on a gimble while the center one is locked in place. The four gimbled engines have a maximum gimble range of 10 degrees, allowing the ship to preform maneuvers under burn. The Celton also has a large amount of RCS thrust, with the designer's concern about loss causing the ship to lose all maneuverability. As such the Celton has RCS ports near its center of mass instead of solely on its far ends.

### Scanners

With the Celton's intention to be a screening ship it was given multiple ways to detect incoming torpedoes. Two LIDAR systems mounted on its dorsal and ventral hull, eight radar systems mounted on its port and starboard sides and eight communication antenna mounted near the stern of the vessel. All of these scanners allow the Celton to detect incoming torpedoes more effectively, however combined with its speed it also made the Celton an ideal scout ship for in system scouting. The Celton could use its fast engines to boost ahead of a force and splash an area with radar to look for any targets ahead of the main fighting force. Filling in a niche that had thus far only been filled in by the Valiant MKII's B (SWACS) variant.

### Cost cutting

Due to the Lesser Council's reducing of the budget for the Celton's design the two major places that the designers removed from the design were the powerplant and Advanced Transit Drive (ATD). As the Celton was an escort ship being able to transport itself to a system was seen as unnecessary, with this idea in mind the ATD was removed from the design drastically lowering the cost. Instead the ship would parasite hang off a capital ship, such as the soon to be introduced Excalibur class, to transport to another system. The other major cut was removing a powerplant, making the Celton powered by 12 high capacity solid state batteries. This reduces the capable range of the Celton, but as its only expected to be operating with a fleet or single capital ship this was seen as acceptable.

## Cost

Construction price: 20,166,136,101 Shards

Armor cost: 109,500,000 Shards

Weapon cost: 10,000,000 Shards

Internal systems cost: 118,000,000 Shards

Total cost: 20,403,636,101 Shards