Neptune-class battleship

## *Neptune* class

The ***Neptune*-class Heavy Star Battleships** are design successors to the *Mars*-class battleships. More affordable and much tougher than the aggressively-oriented and mobile *Iapetus*-class semidreadnoughts, they began to slowly replace *Mars* construction after the Terran Alliance Navy fully digested the results of the Battle of Djangor against the Razorbird Empire during their Crusade. Though slightly older than the newest *Luna*-model battlecruisers, they had commonality of many parts, allowing their logistics upkeep to be decreased significantly.

## Design

 The *Neptune* class was, in many ways, similar to the *Mars* class they were intended to replace: their robust construction, elaborate subdivision, rugged durability and extremely strong shields all combined to form a potent defensive package. Like *Mars*, they were meant to hold the line, utilizing their superior defense to stand their ground while rapid-firing laser cannons eviscerated their opponents, quickly shaving away an enemy's lines of defense and leaving them prey to Alliance naval firepower and starfighters.

Unlike *Mars*, however, the *Neptune* class benefited from all of the experiences of the Razorbird Crusades and the border conflicts against the Iktharans: they sported heavier—and more varied—armament, better defensive qualities, increased size, superior power generation, and a superior fighter complement. Directly scaled, a *Mars* continued to sport superiority in sheer durability, but a *Neptune* was capable of ending the fight far quicker.

### Dimensions & Role

At 1,575 metres in length and with the traditional double hull of the Alliance's Generation III-era ships, the *Neptune* class differed significantly from the *Mars* class: they were, rather, downscaled *Terra*-class Star Dreadnoughts. Commonality of design helped to streamline their production and, additionally, pave the way for the newest *Jupiter*-class Heavy Star Dreadnoughts. Almost all of their armament could fire on the broadside, and all guns could fire directly forward, giving them an extreme advantage compared to many same-type warships.

### Artillery Systems

The clear post-Djangor trend towards heavier firepower in the Alliance fleet was well-represented in the *Neptune* class: they mounted significantly more powerful (and more numerous) cannons than the *Mars* class, though not on the same level as an *Iapetus*. Twenty (20) heavy-calibre turrets formed the main battery: ten triple super-heavy laser cannons and eight slightly heavier twin laser cannons, plus two flank-mounted ultra-heavy laser batteries. Twenty-four (24) triple-mount heavy ion cannons—only half of which were capable of firing on either broadside—backed up the potent armament, marking the first time since the Ravasect Wars that an Alliance battleship had mounted non-laser-based artillery as part of its main battery. In addition to these traversing guns, two fixed burnthrough lasers were provided: one on either hull, capable of overwhelming shields and bisecting targets if the shot was good.

Alliance naval policy continued to dictate a formidable secondary battery in order to engage as many targets on as many arcs as possible: the Alliance's inferiority in long-range targeting systems and a lack of good predictive algorithms made their heavy and diverse batteries best suited for close-range, visually fought engagements. Over one hundred and eighty (180+) medium laser batteries, blaster banks, and ion cannons lined the sides and flanks, giving them good broadside capabilities as well as effective defenses against small ship attack. Point defenses comprised more than two hundred and sixty (260+) light dual-purpose laser cannons and so-called "snapper balls": so-named because they could snap a crewman out of their seat from the G-forces if their harness was not secured. The guns could be controlled remotely in their default setting or operated on-site by a single gunner. With a sustained 'burst' mode of 10,000 shots every minute, they were capable of burning clean through an entire swarm of torpedoes launched at close range and were one of the most well-regarded point defense systems in the entire galaxy.

Additional armament continued to be comprehensive: vertical launch cells and turreted launchers for close-range conventional swarm torpedoes as favored by the Alliance were carried in large numbers. Thanks to their modularity, a *Neptune* could be fitted with long-range armoured torpedoes as well, at the cost of their fighter complement.

### Complement

A *Neptune*'s starfighter complement was significant but far less than its *Uranus*-class counterpart: they typically could deploy up to four squadrons, two of multirole *Rapier* superiority fighters, a single squadron of *Poniard* interceptors for local defense, and a squadron of *Broadsword* star-bombers for anti-ship work. A *Neptune*'s modularity could boost this, usually at the cost of a boring laser mount: the loss of firepower for such small gains meant that few captains and admirals chose this option, instead using a *Uranus*'s full dedicated complement to support a *Neptune* in the line. However, the complement was usually enough to screen the battleship from starfighter attack and to make probing assaults on opponents.