The Black Ship

Unknown Purpose

Two examples of the Black Ship are known to exist. Both were located in the secret space station in the system of Zett / Klarn / Foreven. While one of these ships was damaged in the bridge area, the other was completely intact and apparently unopened. That intact ship is currently being examined by a group of travellers under the command of the barbarian Misha Ravanos, with the patronage of Marquis Marcus Crestworthy of Pallique / Mora / Spinward Marches. Details given here are as determined by that group's investigations, and refer only to the intact ship.

The ship displaces 1600 tons, and is of needle configuration. It is approximately 203m long and 21m in diameter. The interior is divided into six deck levels, each with approximately 3m height between floor and ceiling. There being no apparent fuel tankage, the outer walls follow the circular contour of the outer hull. The maneuver drives are located in outrigger pods, one each side of the ship.

The ship carries one small craft, a 20t launch which also has no fuel tankage. The launch has room for three on the bridge, six in a compartment aft, and cargo space for six tons.

The ship is capable of 20g acceleration and Jump-6. The ship can operate in stealth mode. There is no hull grid; the jump grid is generated dynamically a few meters away from the ship, and continuously adjusts shape and connections to adapt to jumpspace variations. The field bubble, clearly visible when in water, is about five(?) meters off the hull.

Dynamic force shields assist the airframe capability of the ship, and it can travel quietly at all speeds above 80km/hr. At speeds lower than that, the fields cannot smooth out the turbulence effectively.

The 10kt nuclear missiles are fire-and-forget, clustered launch at 100 rounds per second, time-on-target delivery, and accelerate at 40g. The laser is rapidly retargetable with a very high rate of fire; it stars from a position several meters away from the ship's hull, and can fire in any direction.

The third weapon is called an Expander, although its exact nature has not been identified, but can cause devastating effects; it has a massive power consumption, but is also capable of firing in any direction. Rate of fire is approximately one shot every 10 minutes. Fired into dense matter, it causes an explosion in the Gt range; it still has visible explosive effects in space.

Details on internal layout, such as cabin assignments and so on, are specific to Misha's ship the Nightshade. The Nightshade is operating under the transponder signal of the home system being Dulu / Foreven.

Deck plans

Section Contents
Deck A
100t Cargo Bay, storage
Deck B
Sick Bay, Armory, Ship's Locker, Laboratory, Low Berths, Gym
Deck C
Bridge, Staterooms, Lounge, Galley
Deck D
100t Cargo Bay, Cargo Lifts, Emergency Low Berths, Solarium
Deck E
Electronics Shop, Mechanical Shop, Engineering Shop, Engineering, Hangar
Deck F
Missile Launcher, Ship's Systems
Side View

A Tour of the Ship

Deck A
No. Description Notes
1
Top of Bridge
 The Bridge, which actually is on Deck C, extends all the way to the top of the ship.
2
Upper Cargo Bay
 The upper bay can contain 100 tons of cargo. Size and shape of the cargo to be stored here is restricted, as the ceiling of the bay curves following the upper surface of the hull.

The bay is divided by a bulkhead into forward (2) and aft (3) compartments, with an airtight sliding door between the two. The forward compartment has floor hatches which access the six main inter-deck maintenance shafts.

Storage here should also be arranged to maintain access to the "attic" and solarium sections from the main lift.
3
4
Main Lift
 This lift shaft serves Decks A through D.
5
Attic
 This section provides some limited additional storage, and contains some ship's systems.
On Nightshade, this contains an Imperial fuel cell power system, small fuel bladders, a full Imperial computer setup linked into the ship's computer, and charging devices for Imperial equipment.
6
Unidentified
 This equipment is probably related to the life support systems that are underneath it in Engineering.
7
Solarium
 This is the top level platform of the Solarium. Most of the area at this level is open to below. From here one can look down on the garden from the top of the waterfall. A spiral staircase goes down to the other levels of the Solarium.

Deck B
No. Description Notes
1
Bridge
 The Bridge, which actually is on Deck C, extends all the way to the top of the ship.
2
Unidentified
 This section contains apparently related systems. They are totally unfamiliar and incomprehensible. Access to this section is through maintenance panels only, either from the primary shafts or the secondary shafts to aft of this section. (This is the so-called Third Weapon.)
3
Primary Maintenance Shafts
 There are six of these shafts, running from floor hatches in Deck A down to ceiling hatches in Deck F. Maintenance panels allow access to each floor.
4
Secondary Maintenance Shafts
 There are six of these shafts, running from floor hatches in this deck to ceiling hatches in Deck C below.
5
Ship's Locker
 Storage for commonly-used items on board ship, as well as items for off-ship activities. There are no vaccsuits.
6
Low Berths
 This room contains 12 individual low berths. Adjacent berths can be readily combined to hold larger beings, at the expense of total capacity.
7
Laboratory
 The laboratory facilities here are outfitted to enable research as well as analysis work. Most of the equipment is unfamiliar, much of it incomprehensible.
8
Sick Bay
 This is a fully equipped hospital facility. Automated test and surgery equipment can be used on almost all species, and medical low berth units can be deployed and adapted as necessary. Handheld and portable units are also supplied. Unfortunately it's all labelled in ideograms and most of the equipment is incomprehensible.
9
Armory
 The armory includes a large selection of weapons, suitable for fighting at a large variety of tech levels. Curved blades, chemical slug-throwers, laser pistols, and unidentifiable heavy weapons are all represented. No battledress or vaccsuits are present.
10
Gym
 The center 3 meter walkway runs from forward to aft with no guardrails. Either side of the walkway, the area is open to Deck C below.
11
Receiving Area
 This area is for general use and cargo handling.
12
Main Lift
 This lift shaft serves Decks A through D.
13
Engineering
 The top level of Engineering is a maze of translucent catwalks. Notable installations accessible from here are the life support unit against the forward bulkhead, and walks look down on the top of the jump drive to the aft of the section.
14
Solarium
 The translucent floor of this level of the Solarium is accessible only by the spiral staircase. Most of the level is open to the decks above and below.

Deck C
No. Description Notes
1
Bridge
 The Bridge extends all the way to the top of the ship.
2
Command Dais
 The command area is on a raised dais. Six consoles surround the central area, and three chairs were originally here. At center of the dias is a large interactive holodisplay.
3
Pilot Dais
 The pilot station is also on a raised dias. The console and chair-arm controls are completely configurable. There's normally a holodisplay over the center of the console, for piloting or astrogation use. It appears as though the pilot and astrogator functions are assumed to be filled by the same crew member, and run exclusively from this station.
4
Gunnery Station
 The ship's weapon systems (three of them, including the gatling missile launcher) are controlled from this station. A gunnery holodisplay is normally active when this station is manned. Gunnery can also be slaved to the Pilot station.
5 - 12
Bridge Stations
 These are non-specific bridge stations. Each initially has a chair and a fully reconfigurable console. Appropriate holodisplays can be brought up over the console.
13
Airlock Corridor
 This athwartships corridor has an iris valve in the hull on each side. The forward airtight sliding door to the bridge is normally kept closed. The aft airtight sliding door to the living areas is normally kept open, only closing when the airlock needs to be used as such.
14 - 25
Staterooms
 The twelve luxurious and spacious staterooms are identical. Each is appointed with one foam bed, a fresher, closets and cabinets, and lounge area. The outer wall of the hull is normally transparent from the inside, but can be made opaque.
    Assignments on the Nightshade:
    14 - ???; 15 - Robert Morris; 16 - ???; 17 - Misha Ravanos; 18 - Teri Cralla; 19 - Kalida Siena; 20 - Zel; 21 - Chuck; 22 - Ed "Shark" Teeth; 23 - ; 24 - Lucas Fuentes; 25 - Mich Saginaw.
26
Galley
 The expansive galley contains food preparation areas, cooking equipment, and storage for food and ingredients.
27
Gym
 The gym on this deck is split into port and starboard sections. Each one is open to the deck above, where the gym extends for the full width of the ship. Various personal exercise equipment normally is kept on the port side on this deck.
28
Receiving Area
 This open area is apparently for receiving cargo or other items, or as a preparation area for off-ship activites. The hull walls are transparent from the inside.
29
Lounge
 This area is the crew lounge. It is equipped with tables, chairs, comfortable seating, decorative plants, and so on. It is adjacent to the galley so that it can be used as an eating area. The hull wall is transparent from the inside.
30
Main Lift
 This lift shaft serves Decks A through D.
31
Airlock
 An airlock separates the living areas from engineering. Normally the iris valve at the engineering end is kept open.
32 - 33
Airlocks
 These port and starboard airlocks open out onto the forward outrigger arms.
34
Airlock
 An airlock separates the solarium from engineering. Normally the iris valve at the engineering end is kept open.
35
Engineering
 This deck of engineering consists of a system of catwalks.
36
Solarium
 The translucent floor of this level of the Solarium is accessible by the spiral staircase or the engineering airlock. Most of the level is open to the decks above and below. The areas on this deck level are intended as a garden patio, with chairs, side tables, and so on. A ramp also leads down and aft to the floor of the Solarium on Deck D.
37
Primary Maintenance Shafts
 There are six of these shafts, running from floor hatches in Deck A down to ceiling hatches in Deck F. Maintenance panels allow access to each floor.
38
Secondary Maintenance Shafts
 There are six of these shafts, running from ceiling hatches in this deck to floor hatches in Deck B above.

Deck D
No. Description Notes
1
Systems
 Probably Avionics and Sensors, but also contains an internal laser installation.
2
Missile Magazine
 The total capacity of the magazine, here and below on Decks E and F, is 720 nuclear missiles.
3
Primary Maintenance Shafts
 There are six of these shafts, running from floor hatches in Deck A down to ceiling hatches in Deck F. Maintenance panels allow access to each floor.
4
Emergency Low Berths
 This section contains emergency low berths for twelve human-sized persons. Each of the three units accomodates four occupants.
5
Cargo Receiving
 This the main cargo receiving area, and also serves as a transfer area between the Cargo Lift and the Main Lift.
6
Main Lift
 This lift shaft serves Decks A through D.
7
Cargo Lift
 This large lift serves Decks D through F, as well as being able to be lowered to the ground outside the ship.
8
Main Cargo Bay
 This 100t area is the primary cargo bay on the ship. There is ready access through large sliding doors to the receiving area and lifts forward, and to engineering aft.
9
Port Outrigger Tunnels
 These tunnels run to the port outrigger, which contains the port maneuver drive.
10
Starboard Outrigger Tunnels
 These tunnels run to the starboard outrigger, which contains the starboard maneuver drive.
11
Engineering
 This deck of engineering consists of a system of catwalks.
12
Solarium
 This is the floor of the solarium. A spiral staircase leads up to the higher levels, and a ramp leads up and forward to the patio areas on Deck C above. The entire outer hull walls here are transparent from the inside, and all the decks above are transparent from below. The fountain ends here in a pool containing lush water plants.

Deck E
No. Description Notes
1
Systems
 Probably mostly Avionics, Sensors, and internal Communications components
2
Missile Magazine
 The total capacity of the magazine, here and on Decks D and F, is 720 nuclear missiles.
3
Primary Maintenance Shafts
 There are six of these shafts, running from floor hatches in Deck A down to ceiling hatches in Deck F. Maintenance panels allow access to each floor.
4
Cargo Receiving
 This serves as a receiving area for items to be brought into the engineering shops, or the lowest level of engineering. It can also be used as temporary storage. Items from the launch in the hangar must be brought forward through engineering.
5
Cargo Lift
 This large lift serves Decks D through F, as well as being able to be lowered to the ground outside the ship.
6
Mechanical Shop
 This area contains a full CAM workshop, as well as prototyping and machining equipment.
7
Electronics Shop
 This is a full electronics shop, containing CAM facilities as well as prototyping and repair equipment. There is a rack here for the 36 power plant batteries.
8
Engineering Shop
 This is a full engineering shop, containing everything an engineer might need to work on the ship's systems.
9
Engineering
 This is the floor level of engineering, which extends from this level up to Deck B.
10
Engineer Dais
 The main engineer's station is on a raised dias. It has three consoles and chairs, but can clearly be run easily by just one crew member.
11
Jump Drive
 The jump drive is the largest discrete unit in engineering.
12
Life Support Systems
 The life support systems occupy the entire height of engineering, as well as extending into Deck A. The unit contains holding and surge tanks as well as circulation, purification, and regeneration systems.
13
Primary Power Unit
 This cube is just under 2 meters on a side. On one side is a small access panel, behind which are two metal prongs. The batteries in the electronics shop fit this plug exactly.
14
Hangar
 Two airtight doors in the forward bulkhead provide the only normal access to the launch hangar. The floor surrounding the boat is retractable by about a meter; it is retracted during launch and retrieval maneuvers, and extended to provide access to the boat when docked.

The launch itself is 20t displacement, with two maneuver drives in pods, like the ship itself. The crew compartment forward has one operator's station, with two other spacious seats; the hull wall is transparent from the inside. There is a small galley at the aft bulkhead, and a locker accessible only from the bridge. The personnel airlock is on the port side; the inner door opens into a reception area in which the aft sliding door is usually open. In the midsection of the launch is the six ton cargo bay, accessible by two full width transparent clamshell doors pivoted at the top center of the hull. Aft of the cargo area is a passenger compartment with seating for six; the hull walls here are also transparent from the inside, and the section has an iris valve in the stern to enable exit without passing through the cargo area if desired.

Performance of the launch has not yet been determined.

Deck F

The deck plan shows the ceiling of this deck; the floor is rounded, following the contour of the hull surface.
No. Description Notes
1
Systems
 Various ship's systems, probably mainly avionics and sensors.
2
Missile Launcher (A)
 This section contains the six tube gatling style launcher, the doors it projects partially through while operating, and feed mechanisms. Four hatches in the ceiling lead up into the forward and middle primary maintenance shafts.
3
Missile Launcher (B)
 This section, separated from the launcher mechanism by a bulkhead, contains feed mechanisms between the magazines and the gatling launcher system. Two hatches in the ceiling lead up into the aft primary maintenance shafts.
4
Utility Area
 This section can be used for temporary supplemental storage, but is limited in utility by the curved floor.
5
Cargo Lift
 This large lift, serving Decks D through F, can be lowered to the ground from this floor.
6
Systems
 Miscellaneous ship's systems.
7
Systems
 Miscellaneous ship's systems.
8
Hangar Doors
 This cramped area, curved in cross section and longitudinally, contains the doors for the hangar (Deck E above) and related systems and equipment.

Side View
No. Description Notes