The Raven is a dropship used by Nexus Private Security as the main method of moving troops from ships to planet side, or long-distance travel across the planets they operate on. The underside has a docking section for a troop bay, or for rigging used to carry vehicles and cargo containers, and a loadout to serve in a gunship role if needed.

The Raven's modularity when it comes to it's lower modules, allows being set up for most utility roles. Along with boasting an impressive arsenal of weapons, it can provide close fire support. It fills the place of a workhorse craft perfectly.

• Stealth Variant: Is painted all charcoal black, and features Electronic Camouflage System.

Here are the roles this ship can fill.

• Armed Troop Transport
• Utility Vessel

The Raven is a very blocky yet aerodynamic craft, shaped like a T in some opinions. The fuselage follows a normal shape like that of older craft designs with a tapered front that is ridged. A large rotating thruster is attached to either side, with a long rectangular rear section of the craft between them. Cradled underneath is the troop module which is either a stretched hexagonal shaped box, or a much longer container like troop/cargo module. The weapons consist of a swivel mounted underside chain gun under the nose and two missile racks that withdraw inwards when not in use.

In early YE 41, NPS in their continued search to fill in their gaps of equipment needed, designed and pushed into service the Raven. A close support dropship that filled the role of troop transport and utility ship. Following trials and several test sorties, it was put into full deployment and production a month later.

The manufacturing data related to the Raven.

• Class: NM-SV-1A
• Type: Utility/Dropship
• Designers: Nexus Private Security
• Manufacturer: Nexus Private Security
• Fielded by: Nexus Private Security/Any entity that purchases this unit.
• Price: 30,000 KS, 15,000 DA, 7,500 DS

Crew: 2 operators are recommended, 1 is required.

Maximum Capacity: There are accommodations for 16 people in the troop module, but up to 80 if the landing ship module is used. About 25 people can fit aboard in an emergency, but the ship would be extremely cramped.

• Length: 120 feet ¹⁾
• Width: 40 feet ²⁾
• Height: 25 feet. 35 feet with landing module ³⁾

• Sublight Engines: .35c, mach 2 in atmosphere.
• Range: 2 weeks
• Lifespan: Without maintenance, 5 years, but 15 years with maintenance.
• Refit Cycle: Once every year.

See Damage Rating (Version 3) for a guide to damage ratings to include.

• DRv3 Tier: 9 Heavy Mecha
• Shields: 9 Heavy Mecha

Contextual description of essential compartments aboard the Raven.

The inside of the cockpit is rather cramped and minimalist in design. The pilot seat is directly front, holographic displays and readout monitors in a horseshoe formation around the pilot's chair, and a set of control joysticks before the chair. The gunner's seat has similar controls, but sits elevated and slightly to the right behind the pilot's chair. A short set of footholds and hand rungs allow the operator to climb up to it.

• Standard Module: The compartment is compact and seats 16 troops, just enough room for up to heavy infantry units in size(Tier 6) if placed in docking rigs for their armor⁴⁾. The seats can be removed to allow the module to be used as cargo storage instead, for materials transportation.
• Landing Bay Module: The landing bay module is very much the same as the standard module, but expanded to carry 5 times more in number of troops. It can carry up to 80, and like the standard module, can have the seats removed as needed for cargo. However, this module is large enough to carry light vehicles.

The Raven features a Tier 9 body consisting of an alloy frame, with durandium understructure, and titanium plating for armor. The hull is coated in a ceramic based compound, and the interior of the support structure is filled with shock absorbing gel. Allowing resistance to intense heat and high impact kinetic forces.

The Raven features top of the line internals, including computers. This craft features 1LY range comms system, as well as advanced sensors suite. In addition, the ship features a large capacity storage device for storing of intel. Holographic projectors are spread throughout the interior to display pop up projections of relevant data that operators may require.

Thanks to their connections to IIS, NPS ships have access to high-end internals and parts. A backup aether generator, albeit small, is present to give power to life support and communications indefinitely in case of emergency. In case of onboard fire, there is a foam flame retardant dispersion system in both compartments of the ship.

Like most ships, the Raven features air recyclers, temperature control systems, and an atmospheric integrity field. All three systems in tandem ensure that a livable environment is established for the occupants.

The Raven uses two sets of aetheric thrusters, the rotating main engines on either side and the aft thrusters which serve as the main form of thrust. In addition, the Raven has plasma-based RTS jets spaced about the hull. All are powered by an aetheric drive.

• Combat: Tier 9 bubble shields.
• Environmental: Environmental Starship Shield

Hereis the standard weapons loadout for a Raven dropship.

• Hyper-Shift Rotary Chaingun: Housed in a turret housing which is mounted to the underside of the nose of the craft. DR T6
• 4x FiveR Missile Pod: 2 mounted in retractable racks in either side of the fuselage, DR T9

Jack Pine created this article on 2018/12/30 14:17.

Approved by Syaoran on 4/30/2019