The Rebel Faction

The Claymore is a battleship measuring some one-thousand five-hundred meters. Built by Second Wave Technology to serve as the Coalition's main ships-of-the-line, the Claymore is designed to serve as the standard battleship of the entire coalition, and to serve and surpass standard vessels in a number of roles.

Like the rest of the Second Wave, the Claymore has incredibly well-developed engines. With new advancements in maneauverability and thrusters evident, along with a vast powersupply for it, the claymore has twice the speed and maneauverability of the other great ship of this class, the Star Destroyer. Captains of Claymores generally require a long adjusting time, as the usual broadside tactics of warships are replaced with a more hit-and-run appraoch, as along with the rest of the new fleet the Coalition wields smaller, faster forces.

In armaments, the Claymore also relies on its' speed to win the day, as evidenced by the slow-firing turbolaser batteries and pair of SHP turrets mounted near the bridge. The principle is that the Claymore can strike quickly, fire off a powerful volley in a short amount of time, and escape before the enemy is capable of responding with equal force. Although the Claymore is also equipped with a number of smaller guns of the Ion, laser, and projectile variety, it mainly relies on support from frigates and fighters to protect it from large swarms of enemy craft.

The Claymore also possesses a number of boarding tubes situated around the nose. Like the Longsword, it pummels its' foes and then releases a large number of boarders. The details of boarding torpedoes and their use are covered in the Longsword entry, however, the Claymore has some differences in tactics. As the Claymore goes after much larger prey, the boarding torpedoes are less frequently used unless an excellent tactical opportunity presents itself. The risk to soldiers and the tactical problems of having long battles playing out inside large enemy vessels must be taken into account. The Claymore also has tractor beams to pull torpedoes to safety.

The Claymore possesses much space for fighters and the like in the middle section. Now it should be noted the Claymore is split in three. Not only does this simplify production, but it also allows an emergancy tactical option, whereby a captain might seal a portion of the ship, cut it's power, or even detatch it completely. If detatched, each portion can operating independantly for a time, although reatatchment is generally difficult without the aid of more tractor beams, such as those possessed by Longswords or another Claymore. In a combat situation, it can be impossible and is thus done only in a true emergancy and is a difficult process done through a half-dozen security clearence codes possessed by various officers, a mechanical maneauver, and the consent of the ship's AI.

And so, the Claymore holds much promise as a powerful symbol of Coalition unity (even if it possess some phallic qualities in design) and a reliable mainstay of the fleet in the future. Although it will take some time for them to be mass-produced, once the plans and capabilities reach the far reachs of space the Claymore will be settling in it's role as protector and defender of free worlds near and far.

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(edit - forgot to include, it also possesses the sort of lighter armour as the other Second Wave designs has, although some additional plating has been added here or there. Shields are also much stronger as it is too large for pulse shielding and doesn't have the time for fast recharges.)