On 7/11/20 3:54 am, xxxxxx@quibell.org.uk wrote:
>
> Not sure I’ve got a use for this one, although I might have one
> orbiting a planet-less system for the players to find at some point,
> but then I’d need them to go to the planet-less system for some
> reason, and @ TL 9 and 10 (or at any tech level really) you really
> have to have some reason to go. Which begs the question, would there
> likely be planet-less systems?
>
>  
>
> Anyway for you comments:
>
>  
>
> *Greathead Class Lifeboat*
>
> Designed by Ewan Quibell 2020-11-05
>
> Updated 2020-11-05
>
>  
>
> *CraftID:*
>
>
>
> Lifeboat, Type QL, TL9, Cr 16,919,354
>
> *Hull:*
>
>
>
> 9/23, Disp=10, Config=2SL, Armour=40D,
>
> Unloaded=137.64 tons, Loaded=195.477 tons
>
> *Power:*
>
>
>
> 1/2, Fusion=40Mw, Duration=80/240
>
> 1/1, Solar=0.138Mw, Duration=unlimited
>
> *Loco:*
>
>
>
> 1/1, Manoeuvre=2, Agility=0
>
> *Comm:*
>
>
>
> Radio=System x2
>
> *Sensors:*
>
>
>
> Radar=FarOrbit x2, Radar Direction Finder x2, Radio Direction Finder
> x2, Laser Sensor x2, Light Amplification x2, Radiation Sensor=V
> Distant, Magnetic Sensor=V Distant, Headlight x2, Passive IR x2,
> Advanced Image Enhance x2
>
> ActObjScan=Rout, ActObjPin=Rout, PasEngScan=Diff
>
> *Off:*
>
>
>
> Hardpoints=1
>
> *Def:*
>
>
>
> DefDM=+2
>
> *Control:*
>
>
>
> Computer=1/bis x3, Special=HeadsUp display,
>
> Environ=basic env, basic ls, extend ls, Airlock
>
> *Accom:*
>
>
>
> Crew=0/1 (Pilot=1), Emergency Lowberth x2
>
> *Other:*
>
>
>
> Cargo=0.236 kliters, Fuel=57.6 kliters ObjSize=Small
>
> EmLevel=Faint
>
> *Comment:*
>
>
>
> Construction Time=24 weeks single, 20 weeks multiple
>
> Excess Power=12.734 Mw
>
> Cost in Quantity=Cr 13,535,483
>
>  
>
> The Greathead class lifeboat is an old Imperial design whose primary
> purpose is to keep up to 8 people alive in space for as long as
> possible in the hopes that they are rescued. Generally carried by
> other craft because space is a dangerous place and things go wrong all
> the time.
>
>                 The expectation is the those abandoning their craft in
> a Greathead will try and make for a nearby habitable planet. If that
> is not possible then to set the Greathead up in an orbit so that its
> solar panels can power the needed systems of the craft indefinably.
>
>                 The powerplant which at TL9 is the smallest that can
> built and overpowers the craft considerably and is thus regulated to
> increase the duration of the craft to 116 days.
>
>                 The solar panels provide enough power to run the
> emergency lowberths, the communications, the computer, the basic
> environment and all the passive sensors (excluding IR) indefinably
> meaning the Greathead can stay in space for as long as it takes for
> it’s occupancy to be rescued. The computer is programmed to respond to
> any spacecraft that are picked up on sensors, as well as continually
> broadcasting a distress signal.
>
>  
>
>  
>
> Best regards,
>
>  
>
> Ewan
>
Ewan,

Question the Zeroth - in said distressingly planet-free system, WHAT
exactly is the lifeboat orbiting - the system primary?  Question the
First - why do the PCs care enough to take a shufti?

A few reasons for now-planetless systems come to mind:

Yaskoydray's little disagreement with his offspring;

Previous planets having been stripped away by tidal encounters with
other stars;

A Dyson swarm or ringworld;

The first live firing of the Daryen follow-on superweapon, the Nova
Trigger, over-egging the pudding with a "Whoops", staggering the
system's sole (small-ish) planet in its orbit and sending it careening
into the primary;

The system never had any to begin with.

Should be enough to get you started.

Alex