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Nazan-class carrier
2 x T-series ramjets
8 x Lan-series atmospheric engines
4 x Mache-series wormhole generators
110 aviators
1,000 marines
10 Maza-class transports
Nazan-class is a class of spacefighter carrier which replaced the Masha-class carriers that had preceded it. The Nazan have now been in service for almost 90 years and are expected to remain for at least another century.
The hull of Nazan-class carriers is made of 5 millimeters of an alloy of maranium, titanium, and welan known as "wewaz". This alloy is immensely durable and possesses the highest strength-to-density ratio of any known metal alloy, being about 638 times stronger than previous titanium alloys. It is also noted for its ability to retain its properties at temperatures as high as 2,300°C and to not conduct this heat into the areas within. All windows and viewports are made of a form of fused silica which has welan added for increased strength and heat resistance.
In addition to the solid protection of the hull, Nazan-class carriers possess 4 M13-series plasma shield generators. These work by producing a field which produces a plasma shield approximately 4.7 meters thick. The shield produced by these generators serves to protect the crew from harmful cosmic and solar radiation and aid in the overall strength of the ship by protecting it from projectiles, laser weapons, and shock waves generated by explosions. The shields are capable of withstanding a continuous force of up to 250TJ for 7 hours at full strength. However, employing the shields at full strength would necessitate the allocation of power from other areas of the ship which would mean that a ship operating at 100% shield strength would be unable to open a wormhole or even simply power its engines.
Each Nazan-class carrier carries 2 squadrons of Aizo-class starfighters. Generally, one of these squadrons is designated as a strike squadron. Those aircraft in the strike squadron are modified with a configuration that reduces their air-to-air attack abilities by approximately 33% but allows it to carry a wider array of AGMs and bombs. These modifications allow it to be more effective against enemy capital ships and against planetary targets. The other squadron are equipped with the standard fighter layout and are tasked with air superiority and intercepting enemy aircraft when they attempt to attack the carriers.
In addition to its fighter complement, each carrier has 10 Maza-class transports which are capable of carrying about 40 fully equipped marines. These Maza-class transports are responsible for delivery of each carrier's marine complement to board enemy ships or other targets, such as planets and space stations.
Nazan-class carriers are relatively lightly independently armed. They possess no direct anti-ship capabilities. They only have 8 Y-series CIWS turrets to ward off attacks by enemy fighters and bombers or destroy space debris which poses a threat. Each turret is capable of targeting threats individually through their independent command modules.
The command modules automatically detects any projectiles at a range of almost 50,000km. The module then identifies the nature and destination of the projectile before deciding whether or not it is a threat. If it is identified to be a threat, appropriate countermeasures are deployed. For missiles and rockets within 30 kilometers or so, a machine gun firing 30mm rounds at 200,000 RPM is used. For solid or larger projectiles like railgun shells, fighters, and space debris or incoming missiles and rockets at a farther distance, interceptor missiles with a 300kg fragmentation or armor piercing warhead are launched to neutralize the threat. These missiles have an acceleration of almost 27,500 m/s² and an effective range of almost 10,000km.
The primary sub-light propulsion system for the Nazan-class is its M4 beam magsail. This system works by creating a static magnetic field measuring thousands of kilometers across to deflect charged particles radiated by stars as a plasma wind, and thus impart momentum to accelerate the spacecraft. When additional speed or directional change is required, particle beams can be directed at specific areas of the sail.
As a secondary system when travel between star systems is required, each carrier also possesses 2 T-series ramjet systems. These systems work only in interstellar space as they work by using the magsails as a ram scoop to collect and compress hydrogen from the interstellar medium. High speeds force the reactive mass into a progressively constricted magnetic field, compressing it until thermonuclear fusion occurs. The magnetic field then directs the energy as rocket exhaust opposite to the intended direction of travel, thereby accelerating the vessel.
For interstellar travel of a larger distance, a carrier's wormhole generators are used. Each carrier possess 4 Mache-series wormhole generators. These generators are the descendants of those first reverse-engineered by humanity from those found on the Stasi ship. Since those thousands of years ago, humans and then Nergaleaha have improved upon those early designs. The large Mache-series generators are found only on the Nazan-class and are the most powerful in the Nergalea fleet, at providing power for a range of 2,000 light-years each. These generators permit travel nearly instantaneously within their range but require 67 hours to restart and recharge after being used to their full range and have 3 full uses before they must be refueled. This means that a Nazan-class carrier is capable of crossing the entirety of the Milky Way in 35-40 days.
A Nazan-class's life support system is what allows the Nergaleaha on board to survive in the otherwise uninhabitable void of space. A crewmember of typical size requires approximately 5 kilograms (11 lb) of food, water, and oxygen per day to perform standard activities on a space mission, and outputs a similar amount in the form of waste solids, waste liquids, and carbon dioxide. The mass breakdown of these metabolic parameters is as follows: 0.74 kg of oxygen, 0.68 kg of food, and 3.52 kg of water consumed, converted through the body's physiological processes to 0.11 kg of solid wastes, 3.87 kg of liquid wastes, and 0.90 kg of carbon dioxide produced. These levels can vary due to activity level, specific to mission assignment, but will correlate to the principles of mass balance. Actual water use during space missions is typically double the specified values mainly due to non-biological use (i.e. personal cleanliness). Additionally, the volume and variety of waste products varies with mission duration to include hair, finger nails, skin flaking, and other biological wastes in missions exceeding one week in length. Other environmental considerations such as radiation, gravity, noise, vibration, and lighting also factor into Nergalea physiological response in space, though not with the more immediate effect that the metabolic parameters have.
A carrier's atmosphere is maintained through the use of wazangri farms. These farms contain a cyanobacteria called wazangri, a bacteria created over thousands of years ago and modified throughout the years, which is the organism which is used to scrub the ship's atmosphere of CO2 and then produce O2 for the crew to breathe. The bacteria also cleans the air of toxins and aids in regulating the atmosphere with diluents. The amount of diluents can be calibrated by the ship's technicians using special computers which change the properties of the cyanobacteria. Wazangri requires remarkably little water and sunlight in order to still thrive and perform photosynthesis at amazing levels of efficiency.
These farms also serve as the principal food source for the crew of the ships on board, supplemented by rations which are refilled whenever the ship docks on a planet. The wazangri produces a biomass known as azang which is extremely rich in nutrients and energy. Just 200 grams consumed in powder, tablet, or bar form provides 2,000 calories and sufficient quantities of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, and most vitamins. The only thing it lacks is vitamin B12 which must be obtained from other sources, such as rations.
Water for drinking and washing is obtained through the recycling of waste water (crew’s breath, recycled shower water, residue from hand-washing and oral hygiene, sweat, and urine) and the water which is used in the growth of the wazangri.
To compensate for the extreme acceleration associated with the ships' sublight travel, each Nazan-class carrier possesses Class 1 inertial negaters, the most powerful available in current Nergalea technological advancement. These negaters are capable of reducing accelerations as high as 25,000 m/s² (~2,549 g) to a manageable 10 m/s² (~1 g). However, during wormhole jumps, the ship may sometimes reach accelerations as high as 32,000 m/s² (~3,263 g). In these cases, a ship's occupants are generally strapped in and belongings stowed away as the negaters are only capable of reducing it to a maximum of 20.594 m/s² (~2.1 g).
Crew accommodations and facilities
Regular crew living quarters are divided into 2 sections: officers and enlisted.
With 460 enlisted on board, the men are divided into four berthing areas of 115 racks each. The racks are typically stacked three high, with one locker per person and extra lockers for those without storage space under their rack. The berthings do not feature “sit-up” racks with more headroom (each rack can only accommodate a sailor lying down). Each berthing has an associated head, including showers, vacuum-powered septic-system toilets, and sinks to reduce travel and traffic to access those facilities.
Officers' quarters are organized differently into 17 cabins with 2 officers per cabin in beds, rather than stacked racks. Each cabin has its own head. The captain and the heads of each of the ship's 5 departments have private quarters and private heads. Officers are also permitted the luxury having a VR entertainment system in each room.
Aviators' quarters are organized separately from the rest of the crew. Aviators are divided into 11 cabins of 10 aviators each. Aviators' cabins each have a head and 2 VR systems. At the end of the aviation quarters' corridor is a transporter connected to the hangar which permits aviators to wake up, suit up, and be in their fighters within 5-10 minutes.
The ship's Federal Marine complement are again quartered separately from aviators and regular crew members. These 900 Marines are quartered in cabins with a squad of 10 men in each. Squads are quartered near the other squads of their company. Company commanders and even the chapter commander are not exempt, being quartered with those of their squad like any other Marine. Like the berthing areas of enlisted sailors, each Marine company has an associated head with all the facilities found in the others. Besides the chapel, the head is where the majority of inter-squad socialization takes place. Marines' cabins lack VR systems and Marines are forbidden from entering the entertainment lounges. Instead, Marines keep themselves occupied by training, worshiping, and studying in their on-board chapel. Marine chapels are more than just simple places of worship. They also have extensive physical training facilities, firing ranges, sparring arenas, small libraries, and a mustering area which can fit the entire chapter in parade formation. The Marines' quarters are also located right next to their associated armory and the drop bay, containing the carrier's 5 Maza-class transports.
Each carrier has an on-board hospital that includes a full lab, pharmacy, operating room, 3-bed intensive care unit, 2-bed emergency room, and 31-bed hospital ward, staffed by 5 medical officers and 15 hospital corpsmen.
While officers have entertainment options in their rooms, enlisted crewmen rely on 4 entertainment lounges where they may play card or board games, play games or watch movies in VR, socialize, etc. The lounges are open at all hours and are available for use by all off-duty crew and aviators, both enlisted and officers. Officer and enlisted are encouraged to socialize but standards of professionalism are expected to be maintained in interactions. Due to this, the two groups tend to self-segregate anyway.
