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ASD MS-07 "Atalante" Merchant Ship

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Whiplash141's Ship Integrity Monitoring Program Lite: https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2344510837

Blocks: 2583
PCU: 9717
Atmospheric capable: NO
Subgrids: NO



The Brücke class came about in an era where armed merchants were falling out of use, in favour of convoys accompanied by dedicated escorts. Trade lanes were relatively cleansed of pirates; however, as war with the Kamari sector dawned, convoys were likely to face more serious threats, which called for military-grade weaponry civilian ships were not designed to carry.
Still, some bigwigs in the Sol Union's government insisted that some form of armament be put on the ship itself, but even though they kept pushing for it, the decision was ultimately overturned by ASD's CEO Erwin Lehmann, who regretted that the company had to deal with, and I quote, "copious amounts of nonsensical retardation" on behalf of the government's "backward-looking" design bureau. Lehmann thus opted for an all-civilian design, with no weapon systems whatsoever.
The space that was saved by removing targeting computers and ammo storage went to more extensive crew quarters, as well as a spacious lounge and even a room for trading negotiations on the lower deck. With those facilities, it was therefore not uncommon to see the Brücke class serve as diplomatic transports, luxury yachts or even roving merchants. There was also some thought put in making the design atmospheric capable; however, ASD's board was quick to point out that it would require substantially larger fuel tanks, and would thus deprive the ship of a good portion of it's storage capacity (as well as challenge ASD's ground to space travel monopoly, if the design were to be used by third parties).
This particular iteration of the class was designated MS-07 and was christened "Atalante", in referrence to the eponymous Greek mythological figure, who was known amongst other things for her impressive speed and stamina.
As for the ship herself, one could say she had an interesting history. She was commissioned in the opening years of the Second Secession War, as a cargo ship that would carry armaments and supplies to the frontline. Not long after she departed from Union space with her escorts, the convoy was jumped on by a small flotilla of Kamari warships, that promptly dispatched the obsolete military crafts and proceeded to rain fire and destruction upon the Atalante, managing to detonate a cargo container full of ammunition in the process. Thankfully, the jump drive was still operational, and she managed to limp back to safety thanks to the herculean efforts of her crew to control the fire. Upon entering the drydock, some thought that she would never fly again. However, the structural integrity of the ship was actually less compromised than it appeared, though it would mean that she would be more fragile in spite of the shipyard workers' best efforts.
After repairs, she was thus relegated to secondary transport duties inside of the Union's borders, carrying cargo and ferrying officials when needed. There has also been some interest expressed in converting her into a luxury cruise ship that would sail among the stars after the war with the Kamari sector is over -if and when this ever comes to pass.

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