U.S.S. Galactica - Battlestar Class

[Capt. Eric Gardner]

Originally Posted by Jonny Boy

I've definitely decided that the Viper will not have warp capability. While it pretty much challenges Trek canon in terms of warp-capable auxiliary spacecraft, I really want to mirror BSG on this one. Besides, how cool would it be for Admiral Adama to have been able to do an in-atmosphere warp jump over Bajor during the Cardassian occupation just to launch its fighters close to the enemy?

NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! (echos throughout the forum)

[3D Master]

No, indeed. No warp capability, no warp core, equals a crippled craft. Phasers get powered by the warp core, no warp core equals useless phasers.

Also, no warp engines equals no subspace fields, no subspace fields equals no mass-lowering and the like.

It's the reason why it's said Cochrane's warp engine allowed the mankind to not just reach the stars, but also the rest of the solar system.

[Jonny Boy]

Okay, let me backtrack. When I say Warp capable, I mean that the Vipers cannot just leave the Galactica and Warp to another system several lightyears away on an autonomous mission like the Raptors. It just seems a little redundant. What's the point of separating a multi-role craft into two very different vehicles? I think the Viper will be like one of the older TNG-era shuttles. It will be limited to a short-range emergency warp jump capability, but not capable of sustained Warp travel. It will have a warp core, and will be loaded down with weapons in place of more robust warp-propulsion systems. I plan to include pulse phaser cannons and micro-quantum torpedoes.

[Aresius]

Well, I think a small warp core like in the low-warp shuttles (Type 6 was, AFAIK only capable of warp 3 for four or five hours), so that would limit the whole warping around tremendously. And you also have to consider the space for the fuel (matter/antimatter)

[blackbird17]

Originally Posted by Jonny Boy

Okay, let me backtrack. When I say Warp capable, I mean that the Vipers cannot just leave the Galactica and Warp to another system several lightyears away on an autonomous mission like the Raptors. It just seems a little redundant. What's the point of separating a multi-role craft into two very different vehicles? I think the Viper will be like one of the older TNG-era shuttles. It will be limited to a short-range emergency warp jump capability, but not capable of sustained Warp travel. It will have a warp core, and will be loaded down with weapons in place of more robust warp-propulsion systems. I plan to include pulse phaser cannons and micro-quantum torpedoes.

Well now,That makes sense!!!

[3D Master]

Originally Posted by Jonny Boy

What's the point of separating a multi-role craft into two very different vehicles?

Which, incidentally, is why in the original Galactica there were no Raptors. The roles that Raptors perform in nBSG were also performed by Vipers. There were only shuttles and Vipers, and Vipers could go as far if not further than shuttles.

Which I have to say makes a fare bit of sense. If Vipers can't go as far, any shuttle or Raptor as the case may be, can only be sent out unescorted and thus undefended. It makes more than a fare lick of sense that Vipers have the ability to escort and guard more than just the big, honking, heavily armored, and armed Battlestars.

[Aresius]

In fact, there were a sort of Raptors.

It's not that the Vipers got split into battle-standard Vipers and Raptors.
The Colonial shuttle got separated into Raptor and Atmospheric Shuttle.

Why this is the only logical conclusion?
Vipers are usually designed to be crewed by one one person. Shuttles not.

[3D Master]

Originally Posted by Aresius

In fact, there were a sort of Raptors.

It's not that the Vipers got split into battle-standard Vipers and Raptors.
The Colonial shuttle got separated into Raptor and Atmospheric Shuttle.

Why this is the only logical conclusion?
Vipers are usually designed to be crewed by one one person. Shuttles not.

Nope.

Look up "The Long Patrol", and really just any patrol mission (where jumppoints need to be found) - it's all vipers. Shuttles do not perform such a mission, it's Vipers. Vipers, thus, perform the duties that Raptors perform - not shuttles.

Also; what has that got to do with leaving those shuttles and Raptors undefended because the Vipers can't go as far?

[blackbird17]

A Jonny I thought I let you know that I'm going to take another shot at the Viper Class Starfighter. I have done some sketches of my own on the Viper that are alot different to my last design that I posted on this thread. I think I've got a design down I just got to clean it up before I'll post something, I'll keep you posted!

[Capt. Eric Gardner]

....another looong wait