Gladius Destroyer escort by Darklorddc
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Description
A convoy of Ceres-class superfreighters are escorted from the planet Ishtar by a quartet of Gladius-class destroyers.
The Gladius-Class Destroyer is a fast escort vessel popular among mercenaries and system defense fleets. It is quick, agile, and its unique primary weapon system packs enough punch to allow the ship to tackle much larger opponents.
The Gladius is armed with four long-range particle beam cannons. Each cannon is powered by its own independent fusion reactor, allowing the destroyer-class vessel to mount cruiser-class weaponry. It allows the guns to fire without pulling from the main reactor, meaning that they can be fired at a high rate and at full power. It also means that when the ship does not need them, it can pull that power for other uses. If the main reactor is damaged, two of the particle beam cannon reactors can be enough to power the ship.
In addition to the particle beam cannons, the Gladius mounts two light missile launchers for use against enemy starfighters, smaller vessels, and to shoot down incoming missiles. It also mounts four heavy ion turrets for point defense and screening.
On the downside, the ship has a "tight architecture," meaning that it doesn't take kindly to modifications. Most Gladiuses on the market are left in stock condition.
It's armor is about average for its size, and its sensor and ECM suite have been kept to the basics. Also, the cost of refueling and maintaining five reactors raises the price of upkeep, even though it's initial cost is comparable to other ships in its class. It also has virtually no cargo space and little in creature comforts. This has made the ship less attractive to pirates, who need cargo space for captured booty and the ability to carry boarding crews to capture other ships.
But none of these detract from the gladius's role as a destroyer. It is an excellent escort, patrol and fast attack vessel.
Enjoy, and let me know what you think.
Comments (16)
missgrin
Fantastic image and storyline...
tamburro
Fantastic sci-fi scene!!!! Hugs:)
Umbetro38
super Universe effect and story
shayhurs
Very nice
chabot
very good sf-stuff! fine!
flavia49
magnificent!
Tholian
Well, now. I'd have a couple of those protecting my crew carriers and transport vessels if I was a pirate. };-) Nice image.
Faemike55
Cool work and description
NefariousDrO
Cool! Nice backstory and design info. as well.
geirla
Kind of a bulldog sort of ship. I like it. Great planet in the background too! Not sure in your definition what the difference between a particle beam weapon and an ion cannon is, since I guess either one would shoot charged particles...
Darklorddc
An ion beam is an electron particle beam that does electrical damage powerful enough to cut through most shielded circuits. There is a destructive aspect to it that's about on par with a very powerful lightning bolt. A particle beam is generally a stream of atoms caused by a nuclear reaction (a nuclear ray vs. a nuclear bomb) that carries much more destructive force. It would impact a ship's hull and cause the molecules to expand rapidly due to extreme temperature change, which would in turn do the same to the matter around it (in other words, it causes stuff to explode violently) releasing heat, concussive force and hard radiation. With an ion beam, you'd get a lot of burn, melty damage, blown and fused circuits and potentially would crisp anybody not grounded. With a particle beam, you get a nuclear blast compressed into a directed beam. More here: First part describes the difference. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_beam_weapon
MRX3010
Nice work.
crender
Amazing!!!!!
2121
excellent
MOSKETON
GENIAL CREACION.
kjer_99
More great modeling!