Milltax Bireme

Description:
The Intractable-class cruiser, more commonly known as the Milltax Bireme, is a Milltax capital ship used primarily by the Millta Federation Defense Corps. Compared to the rest of the Galaxy, Milltax technology has typically lagged behind, and the Bireme is no exception; lacking artificial gravity or even inertial dampers, these ships have changed relatively little in overall layout from their ancient ancestors: Milltax intra-system cargo vessels, hastily converted into the species' first dedicated warships during the Milltax-Imperial War of 0 ABY.

Long, slender and fragile-looking, Milltax Biremes are powered by nuclear fission reactors, the operation of which requires the use of the large, triangular cooling vanes which gives the Bireme its distinctive, arrow-like profile. Propelled by a massive bank of thermonuclear rocket engines, these ships can reach surprising flank speeds despite their relative obsolescence. Despite their size, Biremes have a fairly small crew, primarily concentrated in the ring-shaped habitation module located amidships, which rotates to generate centrifugal force and simulate gravity. Most of the ship is meant to be entirely automated, serviced only occasionally during periods when the power-plant and drive are not active; at all other times, these areas are flooded with hard radiation from the unshielded engines and reactor. This means that such vessels are easy to man, but have fairly poor overall redundancy and damage control capability compared to more conventionally designed vessels. Milltax Biremes also are not equipped with modern deflector shields, possessing only a heavy electrostatic repeller to protect the vessel from micrometeorites and other light space debris.

Finally, modern Biremes are equipped with a primitive class 10 hyperdrive of Milltax design. Their ancestors, constructed before their builders' exposure to such technology, were typically intra-system defense vessels, not meant for interstellar voyages. Especially in the centuries following the Milltax-Imperial War, however, Biremes were equipped with dimensional drives, a crude faster-than-light propulsion system, voyages using which sometimes lasting decades or even centuries, necessitating the use of cryogenic suspension. Of note, a squadron of over 1,000 Biremes and other vessels outfitted with such drives composed the Milltax task force dispatched for a delayed retaliatory assault on Coruscant - named as Imperial Center in ancient charts captured by the Milltax - which was intercepted by a patrol fleet from the Galactic Alliance in 700 ABY. Modern Biremes are still equipped with dimensional drives and cryostasis pods as a backup measure in the event of an irreparable hyperdrive failure.

Because of their size and relative fragility, the role of Milltax Biremes primarily falls within hit-and-run tactics. Equipped with relatively crude but hard-hitting weapons, squadrons of Biremes usually attack in "flying broadsides", charging the enemy at flank speed and unleashing first long-range weapons at standoff distance, then raking their targets with their shorter-ranged energy weapons as they close the distance, before charging past and withdrawing. they also serve as carriers for Milltax snubfighters and reaction frames, increasing the overall range and flexibility of both craft.

For energy weapons, Milltax Biremes are typically equipped with fearsome Particle Aperture Cannons, or PACs, mounted in rotating turrets amidships. These weapons, a form of particle beam emitter developed by the Milltax, are well known by the species' enemies for their raw destructive power; centuries of refinement have developed these once crude asteroid demolition tools into powerful weapons capable of collapsing the shields of the average corvette with only a few shots. Just as well, given the Bireme's generally limited engagement window. The major drawback of PACs is their relatively short range compared to anti-ship missiles, as well as a lengthy recharge rate between firings compared to conventional turbolasers. These weapons function on the principle of degenerate matter; exotic particles of positive and negative polarization are fused in a matrix of special ultra-high-pressure cells, sealed with a powerful magnetic field behind a rectangular aperture grill. Once the particles have been fused and enter into a state of high-energy decay, they are released through the grill, creating a broad beam of destructive matter which possesses both energy and mass due to the degenerate state of its medium. Though particle compression is relatively time-consuming, the results speak for themselves; beams from a PAC of the type normally found aboard a Bireme can induce megatons of explosive energy upon contact with energy shields or starship armor, as well as imparting a great deal of kinetic energy due to their mass. For long-range weaponry, however, Biremes are equipped with even more fearsome devices.

Developed as a desperate last resort by the Milltax during their war against the Empire, Biremes often carry a payload of anti-ship tactical fusion missiles, capable of being launched from standoff distances against large enemy craft. Capable of knocking out enemy shields and causing significant thermal and ionic damage to a target, these weapons have a maximum yield of 100 megatons each. Pure fusion weapons, they are detonated via an induced gamma emission from hafnium, producing no lasting radioactive fallout, but emitting high levels of deadly neutron radiation during detonation.

Though power on the order of hundreds of megatons is necessary for their effectiveness in space combat, especially against heavily shielded targets, the potential for destruction by these warheads if turned against a planetary target has led to serious concerns within the Milltax government. As such, these weapons are only cleared for use against targets a certain distance away from inhabited worlds, and are programmed to scrub their detonation sequence if their on-board sensors detect a launch at a target exceeding a certain size. Milltax Biremes are also equipped with a large payload of homing concussion missiles and numerous heavy slugthrower machinegun turrets, meant for use against lighter capital ships and starfighters.

Overall, Milltax Biremes are highly obsolete compared to the competition, but can and routinely do punch above their weight in numerous engagements. Well proven to their builders, and with a great deal of inherent versatility left in their design, Biremes will likely continue to be a staple of the Millta Federation Defense Corps for some time yet.