The aging design of the Horizon-class Colony Ship and the changing needs of the Star Army of Yamatai the Katsuko Project was initiated in YE 28. With failed colonization attempts in the GE universe and concerns about the safety of colonists during the early stages of colonization it was addressed that a more prefabricated technology would be needed as well as more localized protection for the colony itself. The Hummingbird Class Colony Delivery Craft was designed to transport that prefabricated resource to its destination.

This represents the 'B' Refit in YE 29.

With the initial idea of the project being presented by Taisho Ketsurui-Motoyoshi Katsuko, it was taken on by the designers at Ketsurui Fleet Yards and eventually a prototype was in the making. The ship itself would essentially be two separate components. The Hummingbird Colony Delivery Craft and the Katsuko-Class Colony Installation.

The following was listed to be a high priority for design consideration for the Katsuko Project:

• A totally self sustaining prefabricated colony base capable of being transported to selected destinations with as little post-landing construction as possible.
• A hauler capable of not only delivery but the defense of the colony craft during transport.
• A colony base that suits civilian and military needs.
• Delivery of secondary payload at same time as colony.

A spearhead shaped ship 7000m long, and 2000m in its widest spot, somewhat resembling a Chiharu-class Flagship. The Command center and standard crew superstructure place central forward of the stern. Forward of the crew support areas, on the dorsal hull is where the Colony installation is docked during transport. Massive payload bays both starboard and port aft with a small power armor bay in the lower central aft stern. Ventral surface is dedicated to several variations of airlocks and umbilical for the docking of other SA starships.

Star Army of Yamatai

Multi-purpose Colony Delivery Craft

Hummingbird Class Colony Delivery Craft Ke-L4-1B

• Ketsurui Fleet Yards
• Taisho Ketsurui-Motoyoshi Katsuko
• Star Army Research Administration (SARA)

• Ketsurui Fleet Yards, Yamatai
• Ketsurui Fleet Yards, Luna Bianca Lunar Shipyards
• Ketsurui Fleet Yards, Akina no Iori

Active Production YE 28, YE 29

Personnel: 205 (Before Armor Pilots & Infantry)

Command Staff:

• 001 Commander
• 001 First Officer
• 005 Intelligence Officers
• 002 Starship Navigators
• 010 Communications Officers
• 010 Operations Officers
• 004 Capital Ship Pilots

Crew Support Personnel:

• 002 Supply Officers
• 001 Armorers
• 010 Cooking Staff
• 003 Science Officers
• 020 Medical Staff

Ship Support Personnel:

• 003 Tactical Specialists
• 002 Defensive Systems Specialists
• 125 Technical Sentries
• 006 Power Systems Specialists

Standard Armor Pilot Compliment:

• 50 NH-29 Pilots
• 500 NH-12 Nekovalkyrja Sprites (Stasis)

500 personnel + 700 NH-12 Nekovalkyrja Sprites

• Length: 7000m
• Width: 2000m
• Height: 1800m
• Decks: 100 (Most of internal space devoted to systems)

• Speed (Aerial): Not designed for atmospheric use.
• Speed (Water): Not designed for water use.
• Range: Limited by lifespan of the vessel. Except that crew can only be supported for up to fifty years without resupply.
• Lifespan: Two hundred years of continual use, with major overhaul every forty years.
• Refit: Frequent minor modifications while in service through the PANTHEON automatic upgrade system

See Damage Rating (Version 3) for an explanation of the damage system.

• Hull: 45 (Huge carrier)
• Shields: 40 (Threshold 4)

• Hummingbird CDC Bridge
• Standard Star Army Engineering Bay
• Star Army Standard Hospital Center

• Standard Star Army Crew Lounge
• Standard Star Army Galley
• Standard Star Army Laundry Room
• Standard Star Army Crew Cabin (Enlisted)
• Standard Star Army Officers' Cabin

• Standard Star Army Passageways
• Hummingbird CDC Observation Deck
• Hummingbird CDC Production Bays
• Standard Star Army Power Armor Bay
• Standard Star Army Shuttle Bay

• Warship Integrated Electronics System (WIES)

• Aether Generator (8)
• Matter Collection System (16)

• Combined Field System
• Hyperspace Fold Drive
• Gravimetric Drive

• Hemosynthetic Conduit System
• Psionic Signal Controller
• KFY Graviton Beam Projector
• Star Army Standard Starship Emergency Systems
• Sound-Powered Telephones
• Star Army Escape Pod, Type 29

Star Army Weapons Pods (1000)

• Ke-T7 "Raccoon" Transport Shuttle (150)