While mobile force form the strike force of most star navies, fixed orbital facilities form an important aspect of star systems defenses as well. Fixed defenses are generally far less expensive to build and maintain than warships. Used to protect planets and other space assets, there are various defense facilities including moon bases, asteroid fortresses, and orbital defense fortresses.
During its foundation and after, the Human Alliance built a huge amount of Orbital Defense Fortresses to defend their home planets before the Consortium formed. Production of these fortresses continued by the Consortium until newer and more advanced fortresses were developed. They built both small and large fortress classes to defend their systems. These fortresses were built in sections and then assembled in the system which they are tasked to defend.
Some fortresses were under the direct control of the Human Alliance navy while others were manned by planetary Independent Defense Forces. In some cases these fortresses, both those controlled by the Human Alliance and Independent Defense Forces, have been upgraded although many are unmodified. In some systems these fortresses have been retired, in some cases scrapped and in others converted to orbital civilian facilities with the weaponry stripped from the fortresses.
Small fortresses are designed to defend planets against cruiser class attackers although multiple small fortresses can deal with larger attackers, such as battleships, as well. Still, in system where attacks from heavy warships are expected, usually heavy fortresses are used. In some cases, small fortresses are reinforced with heavier fortresses to make a stronger orbital defenses as well. The smaller fortresses are far less expensive than the larger fortresses. During times of tension, fortresses will be protected by heavy minefields.
Fortresses can carry far more weaponry than a starship of similar size and mass due to not mounting engines. They do have a weakness against starships because starships can launch missiles beyond the powered range of the missiles fired in return from the fortresses. While starships can dodge unpowered incoming missiles, stations cannot maneuver.
Weapon of the fortress are four 28 cm particle beams but the fortresses do not mount any lighter anti-ship weaponry. Even so, the fortress have about twice the energy weapon battery as an Everest class cruiser. The fortress also mounts four capital missile batteries and four long range missile batteries. The fortress has ten reloads for both the capital and long range missile batteries. However, the heavy batteries cannot fire the weight of missiles which newer batteries can fire. Point defense for fortresses include twelve electromagnetic point rail guns, twelve twin laser mounts, and eight mini-missile batteries. These point defense batteries compare surprisingly well to new type point defense batteries. Most mini-missiles used by the advanced civilizations in the Three Galaxies are self guided.
Even though heavily armed itself, fighter are considered by many to be the true striking power of the fortress. This is because the fighters can strike at far greater range than the weaponry of the fortress. The advantage of space based fighters is that they can be launched far quicker than from a planet. Fighter compliment includes three squadrons of light fighters, two squadrons of medium fighters, and a half squadron of heavy fighters. Because these fortresses are considered by many navies to be much lower priority than warships, many still have older fighter compliments. In addition to fighters, fortresses carry a reasonable troop compliment to protect from boarding assaults. One of the more common rebuilds of the fortress is to remove the heavy energy weapon battery and the capital missile battery and double the fighter compliment.
Shielding on the light fortress is only equal to that of an Everest class gun cruiser but the fortress in better armored than most cruiser built around the same time as the fortress were built. The fortresses are built with a primary and secondary command and control facilities so that a single location being knocked out will not disable the fortress. Often these fortresses are used as system command platforms.
To reduce the cost of fortresses, these fortresses were built using fusion plants instead of anti-matter plant. In addition to reducing construction costs, this also reduces general maintenance and refueling costs. Volume and mass is not as much of a concern for fortresses as starships and it is far easier to keep them refueled. While otherwise immobile, the fortresses do have the ability to spin rapidly to bring all weaponry to bear on a single target. They are able to spin up to full speed twice as fast as larger fortresses.
These fortresses often perform double duty. In addition to acting as protection for a planet or orbital facilities, these fortress often act in the role of resupply and repair especially for smaller ships such as destroyers and frigates. They don't have the ability to make as complete repairs as a repair ship or shipyard however. Many smaller ships also have limited medical facilities and the fortresses also have a large medical facility.
The orbital defense fortress design uses modified starship speed and range rules. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.
Model Type: HA ODF-L1
Vehicle Type: Orbital Defense Fortress (Light)
Crew: 485 (52 officers and 433 enlisted)
Troops: 200 marines ( typically stay on board for ship defense),
160 fighter pilots / crews, and 48 power armor pilots.
Vehicles: Fortresses not in the C.A.F. or H.F.N. fleets may have
totally different types of vehicles as ships compliment but numbers will
be about the same for the various classes of vehicles. Compliments can
also be a mix between old and new compliments.
Old Compliment:
Power Armors:
| 48 | HAFA-PA-06 Steel Grunt Power Armor |
| 36 | SF-9 Vixen Light Starfighters | |
| 12 | SF-6A Osprey Medium Starfighters (Attack) | |
| 12 | SF-6I Osprey Medium Starfighters (Interceptor) | |
| 6 | SF-12 Puma Heavy Starfighters |
| 12 | SH-CCW100 Silver Hawk Power Armors | |
| 36 | CAF-PA-10 Ground Pounder Power Armors |
| 36 | SF-69 CAF Scorpion Star Interceptor | |
| 12 | BIF-67 Katana Star fighters | |
| 12 | SF-101 Black Eagle Star fighters | |
| 6 | LRF-25 Proctor Long Range Star Fighters |
M.D.C. By Location:
| 28 cm Main Particle Beam Batteries (4): | 1,500 each | |
| Point Defense Electromagnetic Rail Gun Turrets (12): | 150 each | |
| Double Barrel Point Defense Laser Turrets (12): | 150 each | |
| Cruise Missile Batteries (4): | 800 each | |
| Long Range Missile Batteries (4): | 500 each | |
| Mini-Missile Launchers (8): | 100 each | |
| Outer Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area): | 150 | |
| Inner Hull (40 ft/ 12.2 m Area): | 100 | |
| [1] Bridge / Command and Control: | 15,000 | |
| [1] Auxiliary Bridge / Command and Control: | 15,000 | |
| Hanger Bays (4): | 5,000 each | |
| [2] Main Body: | 60,000 | |
| [3] Variable Force Field: | 4,000 a side (24,000 Total) |
Notes:
[1] In reality this is how much damage needs to be done for a weapon
to hit the bridge through the station's armor. This station also has two
auxiliary bridges. Even if both bridges are taken out, the station can
still fire weaponry on local control. Weapon hits near the bridges that
do not penetrate the station's integrity can injure crew members on or
near the bridge.
[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the station out
of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support
and internal gravity. The station itself will be an unsalvageable floating
wreck.
[3] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one
shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (1,200 M.D.C.) per melee round.
Speed:
Does not move; however, the station has station keeping Contra-Grav
thrusters and can rotate rapidly so it can bring all weapon mounts to bear
in all directions necessary. Contra-Grav Thrusters allows the station to
increase its rotate at the rate of 18 degrees per melee. It takes
5 minutes to get station rotation up to 360 degrees per melee. This is
normally the maximum the station will rotate at.
Statistical Data:
Length: 825.6 feet (251.64 meters)
Height: 445.2 feet (135.70 meters)
Width: 825.6 feet (251.64 meters)
Weight: 450,000 tons (408,230 metric tons)
Power System: Advanced Fusion with a 25 year life span. The
ship normally only goes 7 years between refueling and refitting.
Cargo: Cargo holds are scattered about the station that allows
for the storage of up to 20,000 tons (18,140 metric tons) of cargo in addition
to standard compliment of supplies and ammunition. Each enlisted crew member
has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Station officers have
more space for personal items. Most of the station's spaces are taken up
by extra ammunition, armor, troops, weapons, and other equipment.
Market Cost: Platform would cost about 3.0 billion credits to
manufacture in present time in the Three Galaxies. Platforms are no longer
being produced. When available, these platforms sell for 4.5 to 6.0 billion
credits. Cost does not include embarked craft.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
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