The Grand Hope II

**Class-Name:** Asimov-Class

**Classification:** Interplanetary Transport & Research Ship

**Length:** 650 meters (20 decks)

**Width:** 100 meters

**Height:** 200 meters

**Mobile Suit Capacity:** 5

**MS Compliment:** 3

**Weaponry:** x20 self defense lasers

**Systems/Special Systems:** Class 3 Akimetiz Drive (High Grade Civilian)

**Engines/Power:** 5 x Nuclear pulse propulsion engines

The Grand Hope 2 is a massive transport and scientific research craft. It is the space equivalent of a long-haul cruise ship mixed with a research vessel. She is the flagship of Shooting Star Technology’s “Exploration and Ambassadorship Program” (EAP) and has three goals in mind: exploration, diplomacy, and research. She is a converted Asimov-Class commercial starliner that has been adapted for long-haul expeditions and scientific investigations.

She carries minimal weaponry: simply enough light self-defense lasers to stave off some missile attacks and harass would-be raiders. She has an MS capacity of up to 5 but this is in a single purpose built bay. She could, potentially, be used to transport mobile suits or other weapons of war in her large storage bays but they would be little more than cargo strapped to a deck. She has 20 decks of space, varying in size due to the ship’s geometry.

The Grand Hope II is split into 3 sections. The crew refers to them as: “the hold”, “the bays”, “the estates”.

## The Hold

The bottom 6 decks are dedicated to cargo space in its modular cargo bay. The ship is able to haul many hundreds of tons of cargo. This space can be adapted to fit its needs in modular blocks: solid cargo, liquid cargo, vehicles, energy (stored in cells), or even living things (pressurized divisions with really basic atmospheric controls). Swapping out this cargo space takes time at a station.

## The Bays

The mid 7 decks of space are the ship’s “bays”. These are suits with specific purposes and they do the meat of the ship’s duties.

* **Medical Bay:** A chunk of the ship is dedicated to a large medical bay. When fully staffed it can function as a battlefield hospital and has its own basic surgical wards and state-of-the-art healing technology.
* **Engineering Bay:** The main purpose of this bay is for technological R&D. They have a whole machine shop for repairing and analyzing anything from mobile suits to unknown metals. This section of the ship has employees from the Advanced Engineering Labs (AEL).
* **Propulsion Bay:** The ship’s propulsion and navigation are managed and regulated in this bay. This “bay” technically houses the external engines too. This is also where the helm is- located in the core of the ship.
* **Analysis Bay:** This is (as Tiago puts it) “where the smart people go”. This is the computer, systems analysis, financial planning, business management, and data-center of the ship. This is the smallest bay on the ship.
* **Sensor Bay:** The ship has an extensive sensor and communications suite. It has a special focus on signals analysis and ECM. This is another relatively small bay.
* **Entertainment Bay:** Part of the rear-deck converted for use as a stage and entertainment venue. There is also an attached recording studio.

## The Estates

The top 7 decks are dedicated to living quarters for both crew and passengers. While the ship is generally lavishly adorned, this section is constantly updated at port to match the latest trends and fashions. It boasts a maximum capacity of ~5,000 people (including crew) within but can be run with as few as 50 people.

## Default MS Compliment

* GF13-009NF Gundam Wild Rose
* RGM-79+ GM Shooting Star
* RX-79［G］Ez-8 Gundam Ez8

## Notable Crew Members

* **Jamal:** A Sr. Data Analyst who helped Aika.
* **Butcher:** Tiago's long time head roadie and occasional engineer. She is suspected to be a serial killer. She is old as dirt, has a senile smile, almost never speaks, and caries a knife.
* **Fredrick:** Tiago's aide.
* **Alfonso "Mac" MacKenzie:** Tiago's former business manager & lawyer and currently SST's Chief Operating Officer. He is only occasionally on board.

## Note

* Many of her specs are pulled from the Jupitris-class, a much larger ship from Zeta Gundam with a vaguely similar role. Other specs I pulled from the Symphony of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship.
* The idea is that this ship can serve as a neutral presence. It could be used to transport people great distances (such as too events...), serve as a neutral medical-center and staging areas, provide neutral meeting grounds for factions, and the like.