Message to Spacers 2

Message to Spacers 2
Cardan-Class Space Station
Patrick Stutzman

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Message to Spacers 1: XQ2 Space Platform

The Cardan-class Space Station started as a simple defense platform designed to defend strategic locations from anyone not authorized by the Empire to be present. Able to be deployed either in orbit just outside a planet's atmosphere or positioned in deep space, the station provides front-line defense against any forces attempting to reach whatever the station is guarding. These stations can be found throughout the galaxy at locations that hold some importance to the Empire.

Cardan-class Space Station Mark V

Cardan-Class Space Stations are built in five sizes and labeled accordingly, from Mark I to Mark V. The smallest, Mark I, has the fewest defense capabilities and is typically positioned at locations not needing too much security, such as low-level scientific research facilities and agricultural colonies. A Mark V, on the other hand, is a strong, military station with enough defenses to hold back an entire fleet of warships and is usually found protecting highly classified sites.

The station is designed to be somewhat modular in construction, with various sections dedicated to a particular purpose. Each section focuses on a single purpose, such as starship repair and construction or communications. At the same time, attaching a new section increases the facility's defense strength by adding more weapons and TIE fighter squadrons, making it more formidable than before.

Although each section is different in function from the others, they all share similar architectural aspects. Each one features smooth, angular structures and long rows of windows, giving an impression that the station has been lifted from a section of Coruscant and launched into space. At least one hangar bay filled with a minimum of one TIE fighter squadron can be found in each section along with housing facilities for the ships' pilots and technicians.

The shipyard integrated into the larger-level stations hosts facilities that provide some of the best quality work in the Empire and a valuable resource for the Imperial fleet when deployed away from the Core Worlds, something other Imperial defense stations such as the Golan Defense Platform do not provide. Despite the fact that the Golan Defense Platform is capable of providing a stronger defense, the repair facilities provided by the Cardan-class Space Station help keep the Imperial fleet positioned far from the galactic core in prime condition.

Large enough to allow an Imperial-class Star Destroyer to drydock, the shipyards are capable of building a capital ship from the ground up or repairing ships with the same care. In addition to the drydocks, smaller hangar bays large enough to allow up to four additional capital ships to park are also available.

Since the stations' shipyards are a valuable resource for the Imperial fleet while away from the Core Worlds, finding at least one or two ships in close proximity to the base is not uncommon. In times of crisis, station personnel can request aid from these nearby vessels that quickly come to the center's defense, and one or two Acclamator II-class assault ships or Tartan-class patrol cruisers are usually the first to arrive on the scene.

Station security keeps a watchful eye over each hangar bay from a surveillance center at each location along the top of one of the hangar's walls, which also houses the traffic controllers and control systems for the bay. The station's internal security also centers its operations from these centers, allowing security officers to deal with any situations within the station quickly and efficiently.

The defenses of the Mark I Cardan-class Space Station hardly seem sufficient for its duties as an orbital or deep space defense platform, but they have proven capable of defending the station from small groups of pirates foolish enough to attack. With higher-level stations, the defenses increase dramatically, to the point that whole war fleets have difficulty breaching the defense grid.

Although the station's guns can prove to be quite a match for any intruders, the addition of the station's fighter complement can cause some of the strongest starship captains to turn tail and run. Some Mark V stations have been known to house as many as eight TIE fighter squadrons at any given time.

The Cardan-class Space Station performs very well not only at defending its immediate area but also at keeping the ships that visit in excellent condition. As a standard action, a Cardan-class Space Station can forgo all attacks to provide tactical fire to all squares in a 3-square radius around itself. All allied ships within that area gain +5 DR and a +1 bonus to Fortitude Defense.

History

The Cardan-class Space Station was initially conceived during the latter part of the Clone Wars as a means of additional planetary defense against Separatist fleets that encroached on Republic worlds. Initial prototypes were completed by Kuat Drive Yards, and full production began by the time the war ended, but the stations were not deployed until well after the Empire had fully replaced the Republic as the galaxy's primary government.

Mark I Cardan-class stations were introduced into service first and placed throughout the Empire to help maintain order and defend outlying systems from pirates and mercenaries seeking to intrude on Imperial systems. Praise was high after the first reports of success flooded into the halls of the Imperial military. But when these stations started being overrun by larger criminal organizations, KDY quickly supplemented them with newer and larger structures, increasing the defensive power. Many fledgling groups of bandits and even some larger crime rings decided that engaging these stations was too much of a risk and backed off, letting larger factions take their chances against the stations.

The stations' success helped Kuat Drive Yards develop bigger and better facilities for themselves and the Empire, helping to improve the plans for future starships and stations, such as the Super Star Destroyer and the second Death Star.

Cardan-Class Space Stations in the Galaxy

Cardan-class Space Stations can be found in almost every Imperial star system from the Deep Core to the edge of the galaxy, but a higher concentration is evident in the Mid Rim and Outer Rim Territories. As the Empire stretches its influence to more and more star systems in the Outer Rim and garrisons are planted on new worlds, new stations are established to help cement the Empire's presence and maintain its control in the area. Also, Cardan-class stations can be found at strategically important points in deep space, such as the hyperspace crossroads where the Perlemian Trade Route and the Hydian Way intersect.

Saga Edition Statistics

The following statistics blocks represent the three most common types of Cardan-class stations.

Kuat Drive Yards Cardan I-class Space Station CL 8

Colossal (station) space station
Init –10; Senses Perception +6

Defense Ref 6 (flat-footed 6), Fort 58; +11 armor
hp 600; DR 20; SR 150; Threshold 558

Speed fly 0 squares (starship scale)
Ranged 2 light turbolaser batteries +10* (see below) and
Ranged 2 point-defense light ion cannon batteries +10 (see below)
Fighting Space 2 x 2 (starship scale); Cover total
Base Atk +2; Grp +85

Abilities Str 106, Dex 0, Con —, Int 22
Skills Initiative –10, Mechanics +6, Perception +6, Pilot –10, Use Computer +6

Crew 1,200 (skilled); Passengers 300
Cargo 15,000 tons; Consumables 2 years; Carried Craft 12 TIE Fighters, 2 Lambda-class shuttles
Availability Military; Cost not available for sale
* Apply a –20 penalty on attacks against targets smaller than Colossal in size.

Light turbolaser battery (2 gunners)
Atk +10 (–10 against targets smaller than Colossal); Dmg 4d10 x 5

Point defense light ion cannon battery (2 gunners)
Atk +10; Dmg 4d10 x 2 ion

Kuat Drive Yards Cardan II-class Space Station CL 12

Colossal (station) space station
Init –10; Senses Perception +6

Defense Ref 7 (flat-footed 7), Fort 62; +12 armor
hp 1,200; DR 20; SR 175; Threshold 562

Speed fly 0 squares (starship scale)
Ranged 3 light turbolaser batteries +10* (see below) and
Ranged 3 point-defense light ion cannon batteries +10 (see below) and
Ranged 2 proton torpedo launchers +9* (see below) and
Ranged 2 tractor beams +9* (see below)
Fighting Space 2 x 2 (starship scale); Cover total
Base Atk +2; Grp +89

Abilities Str 114, Dex 0, Con —, Int 22
Skills Initiative –10, Mechanics +6, Perception +6, Pilot –10, Use Computer +6

Crew 2,400 (skilled); Passengers 600
Cargo 30,000 tons; Consumables 2 years; Carried Craft 24 TIE Fighters, 4 Lambda-class shuttles
Availability Military; Cost not available for sale
* Apply a –20 penalty on attacks against targets smaller than Colossal in size.

Light turbolaser battery (2 gunners)
Atk +10 (–10 against targets smaller than Colossal); Dmg 4d10 x 5

Point defense light ion cannon battery (2 gunners)
Atk +10; Dmg 4d10 x 2 ion

Proton torpedo launcher (1 gunner)
Atk +9 (–11 against targets smaller than Colossal); Dmg 9d10 x 2

Tractor beam (1 gunner)
Atk +9 (–11 against targets smaller than Colossal); Dmg — (grapple +93)

Kuat Drive Yards Cardan III-class Space Station CL 20

Colossal (station) space station
Init –10; Senses Perception +7

Defense Ref 8 (flat-footed 8), Fort 66; +13 armor
hp 1,800; DR 20; SR 200; Threshold 566

Speed fly 0 squares (starship scale)
Ranged 4 medium turbolaser batteries +11* (see below) and
Ranged 4 point-defense medium laser cannon batteries +11 (see below) and
Ranged 4 point-defense medium ion cannon batteries +11 (see below) and
Ranged 4 proton torpedo launchers +9* (see below) and
Ranged 2 tractor beams +9* (see below)
Fighting Space 2 x 2 (starship scale); Cover total
Base Atk +2; Grp +93

Abilities Str 122, Dex 0, Con —, Int 24
Skills Initiative –10, Mechanics +7, Perception +7, Pilot –10, Use Computer +7

Crew 4,800 (skilled); Passengers 1,200
Cargo 35,000 tons; Consumables 2 years; Carried Craft 48 TIE Fighters, 6 Lambda-class shuttles
Availability Military; Cost not available for sale
* Apply a –20 penalty on attacks against targets smaller than Colossal in size.

Medium turbolaser battery (2 gunners)
Atk +11 (–9 against targets smaller than Colossal); Dmg 6d10 x 5

Point defense medium laser cannon battery (2 gunners)
Atk +11; Dmg 5d10 x 2

Point defense medium ion cannon battery (2 gunners)
Atk +11; Dmg 5d10 x 2 ion

Proton torpedo launcher (1 gunner)
Atk +9 (–11 against targets smaller than Colossal); Dmg 9d10 x 2

Tractor beam (1 gunner)
Atk +9 (–11 against targets smaller than Colossal); Dmg — (grapple +93)

About the Author

Patrick Stutzman is a freelance game designer whose credits include Threats of the Galaxy and the upcoming The Clone Wars Campaign Guide for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition. He also maintains his Web site, Star Wars: The Forgotten Tales, and works on SWRPGNetwork under the name of Jan Tolbara. Currently, he lives in Kansas City with his wife, two children, and an annoying Force spirit that follows him wherever he goes. If you have any tips on how to get rid of this spirit, let him know.