Cloud Nine
Cloud Nine Carrier Airship | |
Production information | |
Manufacturer | Cal-Boeing of Dorwinion |
Use | Mobile Air Field |
Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
Chassis Type (Size) | AirShip (Large) |
Equipment Rating | |
Cost | ??? |
Introduced | 3065 |
Technical specifications | |
Mass | 1,000 tons |
Speed | 1 |
Top Speed | 2 |
Power Plant | Fusion |
Fuel (Type/Range) | Unlimited |
Armament | None |
Heat Sinks | None |
Armor | BAR 2 Commerical Armor |
Crew | 4 Officers 17 Enlisted/Non-rated 12 Bay Personnel |
BV (1.0) | ??? |
BV (2.0) | ??? |
Description
The Cloud Nine was an experimental airship designed to be a mobile airborne airfield. It was the brainchild of Donald Hoeck, whom was assigned by Cal-Boeing owner Count Douglas Fassei, to this project. Donald Heock, also nicknamed "Macon", had convinced Count Fassei that his Cloud Nine Project would bolster the company's sagging profits.
The Cloud Nine was design to carry a single squadron of Corsair Aerospace Fighters, launched from its belly hangar bay. The Airship was also designed to be a mobile HQ. Being a mobile flying airfield gave it and the aicraft aboard a unique safeguard against terrorism or espionage.
The Count brought in AFFC officers to review his potential airship for military service. However, the few officers that did come, laughed at the concept and needed to be escorted from Count Fassei's office.
Ultimately, Count Fassei convinced the military to give Cloud Nine a chance by allowing it make a trial run. The ship was able to launch its fighters and successfully strike its target. However, when the last of the Corsair squadron was being reeled in, the fifth fighter missed Nine's unique arresting hook. The Corsair crashed through the Nine's thinly armored hull, bringing the ship down in flames over the Great Dorwinion Sea.
Donald Hoeck quickly left the planet soon after the crash.
Capacities & Features
The ship featured a single Aerospace Fighter bay, allowing six fighters be stored. The ship's hangar had a 400 ton capacity and was located at the bottom of the ship. A pair of lift hoists acted as arrester cables for retreiving fighters. The ship carried 7 tons of Communication equipment to allow Cloud Nine act as Command HQ. Four Searchlights were mounted singly on the front, rear & sides. The ship had a Mobile Field Base integrated into the hull as well.
Variants
Notes
The Cloud Nine as of this writing has no canon record sheet available at this time. The ship is considered unique, never mass produced, and hence not listed with the Federated Suns Support Vehicle categories.
References
- Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex, pp. 100-101