MONSOON CLASS GUNBOAT:

CLASSIFICATION: Gunboat (Fighter Transport/Gunboat)
LENGTH: 200 metres
TONNAGE: 1 million tonnes
MANOEUVERABILITY: Class A+
CREW: 50
TROOPS: 0
FIGHTER(s): 1 Fighter/Transport Repair Hanger*/**
POWER SOURCE: 1 GRC Fusion Reactor - 150,000 Terawatts
DURATION: 12 hours before refuelling
WEAPONS: 1 Heavy Particle Cannon*/** - 2 Heavy Particle Cannons*** - 2 Heavy Plasma Discharge Cannons*/** - 4 Heavy Plasma Discharge Cannons*** - 1 Twin Plasma Discharge Cannons**/*** - 8 Tactical Attack Missile Gravimetric Mag Tubes** - 4 low Yield Missile Gravimetric Mag Tubes** - 8 Light Plasma Discharge Cannons - 2 GED Laser Cannons*** - 4 Heavy Ion-Plasma Cannons*** - 1 High Yield Anti-matter Warhead Bay***
DEFENCES: ETS-3FLX Stealth System - Gravimetric/EM Deflection Grid - 5 metre Advanced Daemon Re-Enforced Armour (1 metre Carbon Nanotubule Mesh, 4 metre Carbon Fibre Armour) - FLAK Anti-starfighter Grid

* - for Monsoon-A variant ** - for Monsoon-B variant *** - for Monsoon-C variant

The Monsoon was based on the prototype design created by CEO of Hyperspace Industries, Lars Joreteg. This was his pet project, so no other persons involved with Hyperspace Industries nor any Earth Alliance personnel had knowledge of its existence. An Operation Phoenix operative was able to retrieve this design and he was recruited for membership.

Operation Phoenix found use for the Monsoon running defence for the Centurion class Gunboat. With its extended manoeuverability, the Monsoon is well suited to fly around the group of Centurions on approach providing side/rear cover for the Centurions. As the Centurions approach their targets, the Monsoons can form up above and below the group of Centurions, allowing the Centurions to fire their large weapons load into their targets.

As the Centurions withdraw to be rearmed and refuelled the Monsoons can turn on their axes and use their retro thrusters to maintain acceleration so that they can continue to provide cover and fire on the enemy fleet. Once the Monsoons and Centurions have reached the rearming and refuelling ships, the Monsoon can use the eight hatches on its dorsal surface to refuel and rearm. This allows the Monsoon to use almost all of its reserves of fuel and all of its available missiles in a strafing run.

The Monsoon is also shuttled to and from battle situations by the Praefectus class Carrier. This allows the Monsoon to save space which would have been dedicated to crew quarters, galleys and other necessary devices for crew maintenance. The Monsoon-C is a very deadly ship in its own right. It can carry 2 High Yield Anti-matter Warheads which are capable of downing several large capital ships running in standard formation. Because of this fact, all Monsoons use their ETS3-FLX Stealth System to mimic the EM signature of a Monsoon-C.

Variants

Monsoon-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.
Monsoon-BReplaces some of the additional fuel storage space for missile storage and extra weapons.
Monsoon-CSimilar to the Monsoon-B, but additional fuel cells are replaced by necessary space requirements of the extra Heavy Particle Cannon and Heavy Ion-Plasma Cannons. It also replaces the missile pods with GED Laser Cannons. This model also sacrifices the ability to carry a fighter to carry a High Yield Anti-matter Warhead

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 Monsoon to be outfitted as necessary for the engagement at hand.

The Monsoon is based on the prototype designed by Lars Joreteg of Hyperspace Industries. Pictured is the EAS Puck, the first Monsoon put into service.