M-5 "Caspar" Capital Drone

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Production information
Manufacturer
Introduced	2710
Use	SDS Drone
Tech Base	Star League
Cost	Unknown
Technical specifications
Mass	680,000
Length	628 meters
Sail Diameter	1,100 meters
Fuel	1,000
Burn Rate	39.52
Safe Thrust	4
Top Thrust	6
Sail Integrity	5
KF Drive Integrity	15
LF Battery	None
Armament	Weapon Layout 2 x Heavy Naval PPCs 8 x NAC/25s 12 x NAC/20s 6 x AR-10s Launcher 18 x NL55s 1 x Killer Whale Missiles 2 x Barracuda Missiles
Armor	Ferro-Carbide
DropShip Capacity	0
Crew	None
Grav Decks	0
Escape Pods/Life Boats	0
Heat Sinks	1,250 (Double Heat Sinks)
Structural Integrity	50
BV (1.0)	None
BV (2.0)	95,051

Description

Considered the pinnacle of the SDS network, the M-5 drones were named after an ancient Terran commander and would go on to become the thing of legends after the Star League fell and is still talked about in revered tones to this day.

The Caspar was the primary capital-class SDS drone. The M-5 was based upon the Lola block II hull, which was heavily modifying to make it a nightmare for any opponent. The design of the M-5 allowed it to nearly mount the firepower of a battleship-class ship while maintaining the thrust of a destroyer-class ship. Most worlds of the Hegemony were protected by at least a handful of M-5 drones while key worlds had multiple squadrons. Terra itself was defended by two hundred and fifty of these drones and if not for Kerensky's technicians devising a jamming system against them, the Inner Sphere today might still have the Amaris Empire sitting at it's center.

Weapons and Equipment

Equipment

Encasing the Capsar's hull was 322.5 tons worth of Ferro-Carbide armor.

Weapons

The Caspar is armed with 4 Class-55 Naval Lasers, 2 Heavy NPPC's and 1 Killer Whale (20 missiles), giving it plenty of long range firepower and helped to make its slashing attacks so devastating. Two Class-55 Naval Lasers, Three NAC/20's (300 rounds) and one AR-10 Launcher( 10KW, 20B missiles), mounted in the front quarters facing to give the maximum firing arc, can punch holes in just about every vessel of the day. The broadsides are where the real firepower lies, with 1 Class-55 Naval Laser, 4 Class-25 Naval Autocannons (200 rounds each pairing, split into groups of two to help concentrate firepower against enemies) and 2 AR-10 Launchers (20KW, 20B missiles) which allowed the Caspar to dive into enemy formations and rip them to shreds. The rear quarters mount 2 Class-55 Naval lasers and 3 Class-20 Naval Autocannons (330 rounds) and the aft weapons include 4 Class-55 Naval Lasers and 2 Barracuda Launchers (40 missiles) to round out its formidable weaponry. Considered the perfect WarShip, its only flaw lay in the self-destruct system, built into the engine compartment. A lucky hit to the aft could trigger the system and destroy the WarShip drone.

Cargo

• Bay 1: Cargo (1,840.5 tons) - 1 Door

Notes

The Caspar required no crew as it was completely autonomous. It was equipped with a SDS Self-Destruct System and SDS Drone Control System (Gunnery 3, Piloting 4). Automated defenses provide 110 Marine Points to fend off boarding actions.

While many attribute the name Caspar to a corrupted spelling of a fictional ghost popular on twentieth century Terra, the name more likely derives from an early pioneer in space defense from the then-United States, Caspar Weinberger.

Bibliography

• Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1