The Rebel Faction

Cooperative R&D: TransGal Automated Transport Barge

Name: TransGal Automated Transport Barge
Designer: ThinkTank Dynamics, TransGalMeg Industries
Manufacturer: TransGalMeg Industries
Role: Transport Barge
Crew: 1 automated droid brain
Dimensions: Length: 50 meters, Width: 75 meters (extendable to 125 meters), Height: 75 meters (extendable to 125 meters)
Hyperdrive rating: x2
Weapons: none
Cargo Space: 0, compatible with all standard galactic cargo pods
Hauling capacity: designed to accommodate up to 200,000 metric tons per drive module

Description:

The TransGal Automated Transport Barge was developed specifically for the Galactic Coalition's arising Trans-Rim Trade Route, and is designed as a cheep and reliable means for medium to large sized upstart transport companies to increase their hauling capacity over reliable, secure trade routes.

The vessel itself is a fairly standard design, made of a quartet of sublight engines attached in a “+” shape. Each arm of this “+” is extendable, allowing the drive to expand to fit very large cargo pods, or even groups of smaller cargo pods stacked beside one another. The barge itself is composed of either one, two, or three drive modules, spread evenly throughout the mass of the linked cargo containers; in this manner, a single column of transport modules can carry up to six hundred thousand (600,000) metric tons of cargo. The individual AI's onboard each drive module are designed to network and coordinate with one another, performing tasks as complex as opening joint hyperspace windows, or as simple as assuring the exhaust from a forward set of drive engines will not be blown onto one of the rear drives.

The vessel is designed to be used with a slave circuit, linking the onboard AI to a manned vessel, and following the lead vessel through both normal and hyper-space. However, the ship's AI is a fairly complex entity, capable of plotting and executing hyperspace jumps once a preset threat level has been reached, and interacting with static system traffic beacons and even automated docking systems. The AI itself is capable of extensive after-purchase modification, allowing an owner to install additional security measures or custom operational protocols.

Drive modules are not armed, though some production models are equipped with deflector shields designed to protect both the drive itself, and a volume of space where standard cargo pods would be located. Shield-equipped drive modules have adjustable shield parameters, allowing either owners or the AI itself to specify the dimensions of the shield bubble.

The TransGal Automated Transport Barge was designed by TransGal Meg Industries' newly reactivated subsidiary, Gallofree Yards, though credit has been given to TGM's general R&D department to assist initial sales once the vessel reaches open markets. The barge's AI was developed by ThinkTank Dynamics, a subsidiary of Cestus Cybernetics, and shows promise as an adaptive, aware, and easily augmented artificial control system.