Progress class multipurpose heavy cruiser
Incorporating the most advanced technologies known to Hemmoian science, the new prototype vessel, known for now simply by the name of Progress, is designed to revolutionarize the entirety of the Independent Hypersentience Starfleet.
Contents
Hull
Instead of employing a single hull, the Progress incorporates an ultra-strong base hull made of the extremely resistant nanoalloy based on the hull materials of the ancient alien "Apex", nicknamed "progressium", into four heavily armored modules where the actual ship functions reside.
This also makes the Progress the first mass-produced vessel to utilize "Apex" technology, which was already successfully reverse engineered in the Catbert class prototype vessels, but only four of them were built due to the cost.
The progressium hull does not have life support functions and is in fact not an ordinary ship hull in the common sense. Instead, it's a huge energy-conducting shell casing for the vessel's high-powered Singularity Reactor, ten times more powerful than the biggest singularity reactors on previous IHSF vessels. Due to its high conductivity, the hull itself is capable of projecting the energy from the reactor straight into space, thus essentially turning the entire fore portion of the vessel into a huge Multiplex Particle Disruptor Lens, capable of continuously firing multiple particle diruptor beams of varying strengths in all directions from any point of the hull's surface. Unlike previous IHSF vessels, the weapons systems of the Progress have nearly zero percentage of "dead-zone", their firing arcs covering the entire vessel at all times. Like the Catbert class, the Progress is capable of projecting microsingularities (small black holes) at enemy vessels, but the power drain is immense.
External hull modules
The external hull modules, made up of common Hemmoian starship materials, are connected to each other by a series of accessways built into the progressium hull. These "external modules" include two Hangar Modules, mounted on the sides of the vessel's fore portion. These two modules can each carry a battle group of various types of attack drones, such as the upgraded prototype Silent Death mk.2's, and can also accommodate other small craft. Thus, the cruiser type of vessels no longer require drone fire support from carriers.
Crew module
The crew module houses the bridge, command and crew quarters, as well as the primary computer core. It should be noted that the Progress is designed to be capable of running in fully automatic mode for extended periods of time, and that a crew of one is sufficient for commanding the entire vessel, even in combat conditions. This feature has been a part of IHSF designs since the Aikon Mk.III, but so far it has only been suitable for desperate emergencies. Now, however, it is possibly to neuro-link every shipboard sensor to a single individual, giving the being total control and awareness over the vessel's functions.
Weapons module
The Weapons Module can be fitted with two extra banks of turrets in addition to the Fore Multiplex Particle Disruptor (FMPD). Also, it includes four miniature launching bays for probes, satellites, mines and other small objects.
Propulsion
The ship's propulsion is handled by a standard military grade TWDPS Drive, also known as a Nexus Drive.
Shields
Shield generation relies on six heavy-duty Zeromatter AM Shielding Units, which are among the strongest AM shields in the IHSF. Even one functional unit can project a protective field of mediocre efficiency over the vessel, and the six units working in unison are capable of creating a barrier of tremendous magnitude.
Other data
All in all, this heavy cruiser is powerful enough to replace entire sub-fleets of older ships. With the maneuverablity of an Aikon Mk.IV, the destructive capacity of a Catbert and a Trident put together, and the drone complement of a Black Hole, the Progress is destined to set new standards in military might among the starfleets of the Galaxy.
The first vessel of this type, the IHSF Progress A, is currently being built on IHSF's Zoltan ship yards, and is to enter active service within the year.
