Wanderer-class Explorer Platform

The ***Wanderer*-class Explorer Platform** is an extremely large design of spacecraft designed for long-distance space travel and slower-than-light colonisation. Comprising a command tower and three counter-rotating centrifugal gravity toruses, the *Wanderer*-class is designed to carry enough supplies and equipment to establish planetary settlements *in situ*.

Only one such platform was initially built, the *Wanderer*, designed to colonise the Firewatch System in the 0240s PCU. A second *Wanderer*-class platform was built some sixty years later, the *Avalon*, which led the Avalon Expedition to CDC-41-Gamma.

## Design

At a length of 899.5 metres and a diameter of 1,606 metres, the *Wanderer*-class is by far the largest design of mobile space vehicle in Human history. While the *Wanderer* and the *Avalon* have numerous design differences, both share a number of key similarities, namely a central command tower supporting three counter-rotating spin-gravity habitation and cargo rings. Running vertically along the length of the ship, the command tower is the only part of the *Wanderer*-class to employ Drift-powered Directional Paragravity Circuits to simulate gravity at all times. It houses the Operations Centre and main shuttlebay, while the lower decks of the tower house the main engineering section.

The upper service ring contains a supply of Drift, fusion cells, potable water, and solar batteries. It also features several large docking clamps to receive spacecraft of various sizes. The habitation ring holds most of the platform's living quarters, as well as the public concourses with numerous amenities. The habitation ring also houses storage bays for colony supplies. Similar to the upper service ring, the lower service ring contains the construction equipment and drones necessary to assemble a return Drift Gate.

The *Wanderer*-class is propelled by an extremely large Drift Drive, described as being larger than most cruisers: before the *Avalon's* deployment through Edric's Gate, Gatehouse Station had to clear the approach lane to ensure no other ships were damaged by the drive plume.

Owing to the time separating their constructions and their slightly different roles, the *Wanderer* and the *Avalon* have a number of design differences. For example, the *Wanderer* carried a large shield on her bow to protect against collisions with interstellar dust, while her habitation ring was split into two sectors, unlike the complete habitation ring that would characterise the *Avalon*.

## Class history

### Colonisation of the Firewatch System

The *Wanderer*-class Explorer Platform was originally designed for the long-range, slower-than-light colonisation of the Firewatch System. The first vessel, the *Wanderer*, was designed to serve as a forward base of operations, rated to carry enough supplies and equipment to establish a functioning settlement and construct a Drift Gate to link the Firewatch System to the rest of the Tantalus Cluster. Launched in 0239 PCU, the journey took eight years to complete, the longest voyage yet conducted by humans in Tantalus. Upon arrival, the ship spent a further three years constructing a Drift Gate, completing the connection to the rest of the cluster via the Rialtis System in 0250 PCU.

The *Wanderer* was preserved as a museum in orbit of Firewatch II after its mission was complete. It was destroyed in 0277 PCU in a terrorist attack, one of many such incidents that preceded the Frontier War.

### The Avalon Exploratory Initiative

In the Frontier War's aftermath, the *Wanderer's* design was chosen as the flagship of the Avalon Exploratory Initiative to house the majority of the expedition's 60,000 crew members, and support the exploration and colonisation of the CDC-41-Gamma nebula. The *Avalon* deployed through Edric's Gate in 0304 PCU at the head of an expedition fleet to explore and colonise the nebula.

## Ships

* *Wanderer*
* *Avalon*

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Sojourn: Worlds of Tantalus - The Centrum Assembly
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 **The Sojourn Visual Dictionary - Edition One**
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Sojourn: Wanderer Class Explorer Platform | Ship Breakdown
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *The Cold Divide*