CENTURION CLASS GUNBOAT:

CLASSIFICATION: Gunboat (Fighter Transport/Fighter Repair Ship/Gunboat)
LENGTH: 400 metres
TONNAGE: 1 million tonnes
MANOEUVERABILITY: Class A+
CREW*: 50-100
TROOPS: 0
FIGHTER(s): 16 Cobra Bays - 8 Robotic In-Space Refuelling/Rearming Units - 1 Fighter/Transport Repair Hanger
POWER SOURCE: 8 Tokamak Corp. Ultima 3000 Gravimetric Fusion Reactors - 1,400,000 Terawatts
DURATION*: 12 hours before refuelling
WEAPONS: 16 Ion-Plasma Cannons - 64 Micro Penetrator Launchers - 4 Parasite class Breaching Missile Launchers - 2 Ultra-Heavy GED Laser Cannons - 4 Heavy Fusion Cannons - 30 Low Yield Missile Launchers - 22 Fusion Missile Launchers - 2 Pulse Cannons - 2 Gravimetric Slicer Beams - Gravimetric Pulse Field Weapon
DEFENCES: ETS-3FLX Stealth System - Gravimetric/EM Deflection Grid - 7 metre Advanced Daemon Re-Enforced Armour (2 metre Carbon Nanotubule Mesh, 5 metre Carbon Fibre Armour) - 25 Anti-starfighter Cannons - 6 Heavy Anti-starfighter/Anti-missile Batteries - 14 Six Barrel Anti-starfighter Cannons - Advanced Interceptor Grid - Anti-starfighter Shrapnel Cloud Emitters - 4 Tractor Beams

* - numbers based on Centurion-A variant

The Centurion is a new class of ship designed to fill the gap between capital ships and fighters. It is a compact and manoeuvrable ship with a massive power system and weapons loadout, optimised for close range strafing assaults. Its signature feature is the long row of turreted heavy Ion-Plasma Cannons along its side. This configuration permits these ships to come in close and release their extremely powerful arsenal at ranges guaranteeing high hit rates, laying down extraordinary levels of damage on the target ship. Another important feature of the Centurion is the minimal crew complements on board, allowing for the large reactors and fuel storage. It is reliant on the Praefectus Carrier to provide necessary recreational facilities, comfortable living quarters, medical facilities, etc.

The primary strategic assault is a simple one. The Centurion group moves from the standoff fleet and towards the targets. The guns in the front hammer (most notably the two Ultra-Heavy GED Laser Cannons) provide cover fire, disable weapons and begin to break down defences. When the Centurion gets close to the target, the blast doors on the side-mounted weapons open and the heavy Ion-Plasma Cannons begin to discharge at rapidly. At the same time, barrages of small missiles are fired at the target, saturating its defensive systems. It then progresses to pass the target at high velocity, continuing to discharge the heavy Ion-Plasma Cannons. When it comes up beside the target the Penetrator Missile banks are fired, causing heavy damage to the hull. As the Centurion passes the target the rear blast doors open and fire four to eight Parasite class Breaching Missiles.

This provides a twofold advantage. Primarily, the missiles are extremely effective and can rapidly penetrate even the most powerful ship with little sacrifice to the attacking side. The only way to stop the missiles is for a fighter to shoot it off of the hole. Secondarily, since this is the only way to protect the ships, more fighters have to be left back for defensive rolls. Also, in order to get to the units in time, they have to come very close to the Centurions and their massive anti-starfighter complements, greatly decreasing the enemy pilots' survivability.

Additional, the combination of the close ranges and the breaching missiles provide extensive telemetry to the rest of the fleet. As the Centurion make their passes, powerful sensor arrays along their sides perform high-resolution scans of the target. In addition, the breaching missiles and drones provide scans from inside of the ship and permit taping into the ships' computer systems. This data provides the fleet with superior strategic capabilities and very efficient target prioritization. It also enhances the detail of the battle models for future engagements, as precise enemy configurations, weapons layout, crew distribution, etc. is provided. It also may provide them with enough data to 'steal' technologies from targeted ships using these detailed sensor models.

Since the Centurion is a close range assault ship, it requires extensive defence systems. Its primary line of defence is a relatively thick Daemon Armour shell that allows the vessel to hold structural integrity after excessive enemy hits. However, it also takes extreme measures to avoid being hit as well. The ETS-3FLX stealth system avoids detection and target locking by the enemy vessel, it also provides extensive tactical data for predictive defences. Advanced interceptor and defence screens take out enemy shot en route. Finally, the small size, huge reactor output and sophisticated propulsion systems (consisting of its Millipede Manoeuvring Grid, eight heavy ion engines and an extensive network of RCS units) allow it to evade enemy fire much like a fighter does.

Part of these defences include specialized defensive particle beams that can be fired near to the emitter (on the enemy ship), blocking it from firing in any direction. If they do fire, the particle interaction would release huge amounts of energy that would hit the ship. By networking the defensive grids of a group of Centurions can block a ship from firing any of its weapons, not only at it, but at other ships as well. If the weapon isn't fired, the particle beam can still damage the emitter, so the enemy is forced to waste energy firing them to simply defend themselves. This defence is especially powerful against antimatter weapons like anti-neutron cannons because all energy is released from the annihilation.

Several offboard drones also aid in the defence of the ship. These small and inexpensive units draw power from the MPX power relay system and can generate deflection fields farther away from the ship, allowing smaller deflections to avoid the ship. This provides better protection and less power consumption. The drones also boost sensor efficiency and offer additional anti-starfighter facilities. In the case of a dangerous enemy attack, the unmanned drones can also sacrifice themselves to protect the ship.

One of the key necessities in a ship such as this one is a powerful manoeuvring system. The Centurion takes the best of both worlds and uses an extremely powerful hybrid propulsion system. The Millipede Manoeuvring Grid and powerful linear gravimetric array combined with the Centurion's small size, provide the ship with extraordinary performance alone. Add to that eight powerful new ion engines for forward acceleration and you can outrun nearly any known ship. The complex gravimetric/particle RCS system and it can pull moves previously only seen executed by fighters. All of these factors combined provide the Centurion with the ability to get in safe, attack and run away quickly.

The RCS system is the most powerful capital ship mounted unit ever used by Earth Force. Aside from the multidirectional capabilities of the eight rear thrusters, there are several other facilities. The two front-mounted heavy plasma/fusion pulse cannons are also equipped to double as powerful breaking/manoeuvring thrusters. The key component, however, are 48 RCS units located along the chassis of the ship. Each RCS unit offers multidirectional acceleration thrust, providing maximum possible directional control. Finally, hundreds of tiny RCS nozzles line the hull of the ship, providing precision control capabilities as well as a redundant manoeuvring system. Tied together, these systems provide the ship with capabilities more similar to fighters than to capital ships.

Additionally, the eight ion engines, pulse cannons and 48 large RCS units offer another propulsion option. Aside from standard ion propulsion, the units can also operate as powerful fusion/plasma cannons. Aside from the tactical advantage this produces, they can also force this reaction to occur inside of the heavily shielded thrust units to provide a massive amount of force in any given direction.

Although the Centurion is not a carrier, it is designed to shuttle fighters into ideal positions in battle. The sixteen enhanced cobra bays allow the Centurion to carry fighters into the thick of the battle as well as escort damaged fighters out of dangerous situations. The front hangar bay also allows minimal repairs to be done, increasing survivability of friendly fighters. However, the most important fighter facility on the Centurion is the in-space resupplying system, allowing fighters in the middle of the battle to seek protection as they are refuelled and rearmed without having to dock.

A recessed area at the bottom of the Centurion provides these inspace facilities. Fighters can enter the section anywhere along the base of the Centurion, or can enter through a tunnel in the hammer. This area is heavily defended by Anti-starfighter Cannons and interceptors, keeping fighters free from enemy assaults. The system is designed to be swift and accurate, refuelling and rearming a fully equipped SA-128S Phantom fighter in under twenty seconds. This allows fighters to move in and out quickly and provides them with the ability to use their weapons and missiles to their full extents, without holding back for excessive fuel/missile reserves.

Variants

Centurion-AStandard configuration sacrifices the jump drive and extended crew facilities for additional fuel storage and power output. This provides it with extended battle capabilities when used in fleet situations.
Centurion-BReplaces some of the additional fuel storage space for an independent jump-drive system.
Centurion-CSimilar to the Centurion-B, but additional fuel cells are replaced by extended crew facilities. This model permits long-range independent Centurion operation if needed.

A, B and C variants are based around a modular frame. The different modules can be interchanged with minimal facilities and can be done en route by Praefectus Carriers. This allows Centurion to be outfitted as necessary for the engagement at hand.

Pictured is the EAS Gryphon, the first Centurion put into service.