Falchion-Class Battlecruisers by Darklorddc

Carrara/RDS • Science Fiction • posted on Dec 26, 2009

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Description

The Falchion was the first ship designed by the Terran Protectorate to be a true "capital class" warship. Meant to replace or augment the Stalwart Heavy Cruisers during the first Interstellar War, the first Falchions were not ready until the war was over for several months. This ship was the first design to use the now-classic "tower and blade" hull design, although its command deck was much larger than those of current ships, housing the ship's control center, the admiral's bridge (tactical information center) and communications control. Electrocounter measures and the ship's magnetic shield prevents enemy ships using most known forms of targeting technology from targeting specific sections of the vessel, thus the command tower is not as vulnerable as it seems. Still, future designs moved the admiral's bridge and comm center to other parts of the ship...just in case. The Falchion relied heavily on long-range nuclear missiles as its primary offensive punch. A small A.I. onboard the battlecruiser controlled the missiles directly after launch, and the missiles are able to take evasive action and change targets mid-flight if necessary. The ship was also the only Protectorate vessel to use plasma cannons. The cannons pack a powerful punch, but their range was eventually deemed too short and their firing rate too low. The ship also carried deck guns for anti-starfighter defense and close-range combat, and six heavy laser cannons. The Falchions were replaced by the smaller, but better armed Armstrong Heavy Cruisers, which were much more technologically advanced. Most of the surplus vessels were acquired by the Colonies of the Line, who have made significant upgrades. However, some are also used as planetary militia defense cruisers and are being pressed into mainline duty once again. The Colonies of the Line have refused to participate in the war with the Imperial Consortium. Their job, they say, is to Stand the Line, and prevent the ancient, nameless horrors from beyond the Terminus Line from taking advantage of the current turmoil. They will not weaken their defense of what is essentially humanity's rear flank. Privately, many of the hard men and women believe that if humanity is too weak to successfully defend itself from the Imperial Consortium...a foe they already defeated once before with much weaker weapons and less training...then perhaps it may be time for new leadership. If Terra has grown too soft, perhaps the men and women who Stand the Line might find cause to step in and reteach mankind what it takes to survive in a cold, uncaring universe... Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

Comments (21)

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MOSKETON

9:27PM | Sat, 26 December 2009

IMPRESIONANTES TEXTURAS, PERFECTA CREACION.

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shadownet

9:30PM | Sat, 26 December 2009

Excellent!

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MagikUnicorn

9:31PM | Sat, 26 December 2009

TRIPLE GORGEOUS

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DangerousThing

9:46PM | Sat, 26 December 2009

I like the lines on this ship. And I like your backstory.

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geirla

9:47PM | Sat, 26 December 2009

Great looking ship and background!

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Chipka

10:10PM | Sat, 26 December 2009

WOW! Great ships. Great composition. I like the text background you've provided as well, but then I'm a science fiction geek, so naturally I'd go for something like that. Images with stories will always draw my attention, and your attention to detail here is superb. Great work. (Because I'm also a realism geek, I'd suggest making the supports for the nacelle-like small ship bays a bit more substantial. In open space it wouldn't be a problem, but gravitational stresses would break those puppies away from the main frame of the ship if they sink too far into a gravity well. This doesn't take away from my enjoyment of this image and its story, but it's something I noticed.) This is great work, and I love the "work horse" look of these ships. They're beautiful in that sort of "deadly and really heavy" sort of way.

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