Freelance Traveller

Type-S(R) Rescue Vessel

by Benedikt Schwarz

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2020 issue.

This is a common refit of the ubiquitous Type-S scoutship. Since the complex jump drive is the part of the ship that wears out first, degraded Jump capability is a common reason for decommissioning. Such ships are often sold to private enterprises offering in-system courier, salvage or rescue services.

The refit for medical and rescue operations is rather simple; the drone bay and workshop are cleared out and converted into a small medical lab, surgical theater and sick bay. The air/raft bay usually holds one to four rescue sleds and additional equipment; instead of the usual emergency tube link, a solid extendable airlock is installed and fitted with docking clamps. The jump drive may have been removed to create more workspace, but usually is left in place. In theory, many of those converted ships would still be able to jump in an emergency, but their performance will be shaky – neglect of maintenance will most likely have compounded the original jump system flaws which had the ship decommissioned in the first place.

The extendable airlock is usually attached to the scout/courier’s original airlock, but some models instead mount it in the ship’s starboard aft, joined to the rescue sled storage area. When retracted, the airlock shaft fits underneath the ship’s belly, just starboard of the lower deck. This configuration allows for rapid debarkation of the rescue sleds and easier transportation of patients to the sick bay. It is more difficult to dock with the main drive thrusters pointing at the other ship, though, so docking with this configuration takes a steady hand at the controls.

The number of vacc suits stored in the ship’s locker is doubled; in addition, some of the suits will be “emergency suits” that can be fitted to an unconscious person in pieces before being joined and put under pressure (rather than being a single coverall that is difficult to put on without the assistance of the intended wearer).

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In keeping with its humanitarian mission profile, the standard Type S(R) rescue ship has the turret removed and is unarmed. The hardpoint is still there, though. In outlying systems and near major shipping lanes where pirate action is a constant threat, some resuce ships are refitted with a double turret, usually mounting a single pulse laser and a sandcaster.

Unarmed rescue vessels can claim noncombatant status in Naval battles under several conventions of war agreed between the Imperium and its neighbour states, and as long as they broadcast their status and refrain from hostile action may not be apprehended, attacked or boarded. Not everyone has signed the various conventions, though, and especially the various Vargr polities may or may not abide by the letter of the rules. On the Aslan side, only the major clans of the Ya’soisthea and Tlaukhu signed the compact with the Imperium, so other clans may obey them out of personal honour or respect for the signing clans, but are in no way obliged to do so.

Where Type-S(R) vessels mount a turret, it is usually equipped to be detachable and can be jettisoned in order to be classed as noncombatant.

The usual crew is one pilot and three rescue/paramedical personnel, of which one will be an emergency physician and one an engineering specialist.