Sometimes mistaken for the larger cruiser, mainly because the both have the same hull shape, this ship is really just a transport. However, this does not mean that it is a weak ship: it has the armor and firepower of a much larger vessel and might be capable of destroying one of the smaller Shadow battleships (800 meter class) on its own. However, in a war zone it is usually escorted by 5 to 10 Vorlon Starfighters to support it.
The entire cruiser is semi alive: it is a mixture of both organic and mechanical features. The hull of this ship is organic and can both repair itself and can adapt to attacks to reduce damage. No attack does full effect on the hull more than once.
Backing up this armor are powerful shields consisting of interwoven energy fields and layers of gravitational distortion. These shields are capable of absorbing large amounts of energy, be it directed energy or kinetic in nature. The only way to overload the shields is to pour a large amount of energy into them in a short time.
The weaponry of the Transport is rather heavy, allowing it to engage much larger ships. Its main weapon is a Quantum Gravitic Discharge Cannon, which is only slightly less powerful than that mounted on the Whitestar class of ships. Backing this up are three small gravitic lightning guns, which are mostly used for point defense and warding off unwelcome visitors (Just ask Captain Sheridan...).
The ships sublight propulsion consists of a powerful gravity drive system and a form of ion engines. Apparently the ion engines supply main thrust and the gravity drive supplements this and is used for maneuvering, giving the ship a maneuverability unmatched in cruisers of the younger races.
Although the Vorlons still use jumpgates to enter hyperspace, their system is far more advanced than that used by the younger races, and jumpgate formation and the traverse all take less than twenty seconds.
Since the ship is "alive" it has an intelligence similar to that of a sentient AI and so can perform difficult maneuvers on its own. It does not need a crew, but usually at least one Vorlon pilots the ship. On sensor readings the ship will read as a life form rather than as a ship. When its ECM is engaged it is very hard to detect.
This type of ship is the kind of Vorlon craft that is best known to most races: one of these ships was the personal transport for the Vorlon Ambassador Kosh Naranek. It is also in this capacity that they are most often used: Transport for a Vorlon or a group of Vorlons. Current data seems to indicate that each of the transports is made for a single individual or group of individuals. The transport may be the most 'alive' of all Vorlon ships and seems to bond in some way with its owner(s). When its specific owner(s) die the ship will wander around the galaxy, mourning for its owner(s), before casting itself into the hart of a star, ending its existence.
This writeup of the Vorlon Transport uses modified modified starship speed and ranges. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.
Model: Vorlon Transport
Crew: The Transport is flown by a Artificial Intelligence, and
can carry a crew of up to six.(Boarding parties will have trouble due to
the fact that a Vorlon is about as powerful as a low powered supernatural
intelligence)
M.D.C. by Location:
Quantum Gravitic Discharge Cannon (1): | 9,000 | |
Gravitic Lightning Guns (3) | 1,000 each | |
[1] Bridge: | 14,000 | |
[2] Ion Engines: | 17,000 | |
[3] Gravity Drive Lobes (4): | 10,000 each | |
[4] Main Hull: | 70,000 | |
[5] Variable Force Field: | 8,000 a side (48,000 Total) |
Notes:
[1] In reality this is how much damage needs to be done for a weapon
to hit the bridge through the ships armor. This ship has no auxiliary bridge.
If the bridge is destroyed the ship will fly itself, guided by telepathic
commands from any crew member, but is -2 to dodge and -1 to hit with its
gun.
[2] Destroying the Ion engine means that sublight acceleration is reduced
by 60 % and maneuvering by 20 %.
[3] Destroying a gravity drive lobe means that sublight acceleration
is reduced by 10 % and maneuvering by 20 %(-1 penalty to dodge)Add on additional
penalties per destroyed lobe.(This means that both drive systems have to
be destroyed before the ship becomes a floating target)
[4] Depleting the MDC of the body will destroy the cruiser, putting
it out of commission. The cruiser will be a unsalvageable floating wreck.
Both
the hull and the ships systems have the ability to repair themselves.
The
ships hull and ships systems regenerate damage at the rate of 1D4x100 MDC
per minute. The ship can only repair up to half the total MDC of a system
or the main body.
[5] Shield positions are variable and can be combined into one shield.
The shields regenerate at a rate of 5% (2,400 MDC) per melee round.
Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight: Combined use of Ion and Gravity drive allows the ship
to travel up to 60 percent of the speed of light. The ship can accelerate/decelerate
at a rate of 1.5 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is mach 20. Can enter
atmosphere and leave.
Stardrive: Uses a hyperdrive system that allows the ship to
reach a maximum of 150 light-years per hour. This means that the Vorlon Transport
can cover the three galaxies in about 4 weeks. The ship enters hyperspace
by means of a jumpgate. This ship can use an already made jumpgate or can
form its own jumpgate. Ship can also enter or leave hyperspace within an
atmosphere but the ship must have very precise coordinates or it will open
the hyperspace gate within the planet itself and the ship will destroy
itself.
The Transport has enough power to open a jumpgate every round if so
needed. Unlike the jumpgates of the younger races, this gate is not only
formed, but also traversed after which it closes, all within one single
round.
Maximum Range: Unlimited by all drive systems. It is not known
how much supplies it carries with it, but it is safe to assume several
years worth.
Special note:
Because the gravity drive is used for maneuvering, the entire cruiser
can turn around and fire in every direction at will. However, making a
turn or a evasive maneuver at high speed (above 5 percent of light, roughly
15000 km/s or 9300 miles/s) costs enough energy that the cruiser loses
energy to the cannon. This means that control is less, imposing a -2 penalty
on hit rolls. Also the grav-drive lobes have to extend, making them easier
to hit(+2 to strike lobe).
Statistical Data:
Length: 333 feet (100 meters)
Height: 66 feet (20 meters) with drive lobes folded, 133 feet
(40 meters) with lobes unfolded
Width: 66 feet (20 meters) with drive lobes folded, 133 feet
(40 meters) with lobes unfolded
Weight: Unknown
Power System: Hyperspace Tap with an unknown duration.
Market Cost: No Vorlon ships have ever been for sale anywhere.
Any race would pay trillions of credits for a working Vorlon Transport.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
Special Equipment:
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Technical Information from Babylon
5 Technical Manual!
CGI of Ship by Craig P. Condu . More
of his CGI pictures of B-5 Ships at
Epsilon Jumpgate
By Mischa (E-Mail Mischa)
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