USS Lodestar-Crusader SCS-9001

The U.S.S. Lodestar-Crusader is the flagship of the SPACECOM fleet. Historically, its mandate has involved a unique combination of exploration, diplomacy and defence. In 2588, the original Lodestar was launched as one of many fine Defence SPACECOM starships, of the Quad class. Destroyed not long after at the blockade of Roland VII, it was followed in 2591 by the Lodestar-Alpha, as SPACECOM's newest flagship and first Nebula class vessel. Although the SCS-9001-Alpha was of the Consolidated designation, contrary to its defensive history, this vessel carried out its duties capably until its decommissioning in 2595 after the final war of the Empires.

The latest addition to the proud line of Lodestar-Crusader's is the SCS-9001-Beta, the third ship to bear this powerful and honourable name. Although its predecessors have been considered at best to be heavily armed consolidated starships, this new starship carries an armament unsurpassed by any other vessel of the major space fleets, with the facilities and manpower to partake in exploratory and research missions as well. Also like its predecessors, the Lodestar-Beta is commanded by Spacecom's best C.O., Captain Alexander D. Malarek. The engineering staff is headed by the highly dedicated and skilled Cmdr. Hobart S. Conelly. The vessel has been helmed by a variety of people, most notably Lt. Richard Douglas Hassick and Lt. Commander Nora-Krieena.

The U.S.S. Lodestar-Crusader-Beta is over 2,000 meters in length, some 300 meters high and carries a cloaking device. Its armament includes two rotating Grand-Laser cannons on the port and starboard sides of the vessel, several forward Proton Torpedo launchers, a Destroyer Torpedo Launcher on the bow and several aft launchers as well. Its defenses include a Hull Layering Integrity Field to further augment the virtually inpenetrable Crombi-Hull design, a SPACECOM Standard Deflector Shield and an Energy and Ballistic Weapons Defense Shield (EBWD Shield) which hugs the mainframe of the starship. The Lodestar-Beta is powered by a Hyperspace Class 15 Engine and a SPACECOM Standard Impulse Drive. The Supplemental Fleet consists of 2,000 starfighters or other compact-attack craft as well as several hundred ground combat units ranging from simple Light Attack Units to Armoralls to the devestating Siege Tanks.

A crew of over 2,200 SPACECOM personnel call the Lodestar home, while the ship maintains the capacity to carry over 16,000 passengers in emergency situations. The cargo bays can be converted for this function when they are not filled to their potential capacity of 7 million cubic meters. This vessel cannot be separated in any way, although it does possess the emergency ability to make planet-side landings on buoyant surfaces such as water.