Ark Angel

[shootingwomprats]

Ark Angel
An unorthodox vessel for a rogue archaeologist, the Ark Angel serves as Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra's personal starship. Its space frame is based on a Clone Wars-era Bellicose-class heavy lifter from Hoersch-Kessel. Though the craft was originally designed to deploy assault droids from orbit, its powerful engines now lift entire vaults from the depths of ancient ruins, allowing Aphra to safely plunder their contents elsewhere.

Aphra's misadventures have earned her several enemies, from criminals and Rebels to the Empire itself. Several close calls have heavily damaged the Ark Angel, necessitating the replacement of major systems and entire sections. The original hull is nearly unrecognizable, rebuilt with a chimeric mix of components from Kuat Systems Engineering, MandalMotors, and the exotic Hapes Consortium. This makes the Ark Angel a truly unique starship.

In addition, Aphra has customized the Ark Angel to serve as her mobile workshop and archaeology lab. Most of the ship's internal space is dedicated to these purposes. Precision tools and several original texts "borrowed" from prestigious universities help Aphra reactivate ancient technology. Hoersch-Kessel computer systems, already designed to interface with a variety of droids, furnish the processing power needed to safely reprogram sophisticated droids.

An eternal pessimist, Aphra has also upgraded the defensive systems. While the most visible upgrades are the refurbished Mandalorian Crusader-era laser turrets, Aphra has reinforced the lifter's shields and armor as well. The ship's Bellicose-class power plant supplies all the energy needed by these enhanced systems.

USING THIS VEHICLE
The Ark Angel is primarily a highly capable armed transport. Despite its weapons, its crew rarely have anything to gain in a protracted fight They usually flee combat at the ship's best speed, which, despite unwieldy handling, is surprisingly fast.

Aphra's continual exploits mean the Ark Angel can serve as a literal delivery mechanism for introducing all manner of adventures and calamities The Ark Angel hosts the assassin droids 0-0-0 and BT-1, as well as the Wookiee bounty hunter Black Krrsantan. The ship has also transported many well-known individuals, from Darth Vader to the heroes of the Rebellion and various scoundrels in between.

The crude but effective lifting power of this heavy lifter provides for surprising possibilities. PCs mere hours behind Aphra on the hunt for ancient artifacts may arrive to see an entire structure hauled off under the Ark Angel.

ADVENTURE AND ENCOUNTER SEEDS
1. Archaeologically inclined PCs encounter Doctor Aphra standing over several dead "partners" while exploring ancient ruins. Aphra notes the PCs' knowledge and skill before inviting them to join the crew of the Ark Angel. suggesting they combine efforts to track down a lost holocron. Aphra has no intention of sharing the loot, however, and plans to betray the group at the last minute.

2. The PCs learn of a sizeable bounty on the crew of a ship matching the Ark Angel's description. The posting fails to inform them that their quarry is the rogue archaeologist and her deadly crew. Or is this a case of mistaken identity?



Ark Angel
Craft: Hoersch-Kessel Drive, Inc. Bellicose-class Heavy Duty Lifter
Type: Heavy duty lifter
Scale: Starfighter
Length: 44 meters
Skill: Space transports: Bellicose
Crew: 3 (pilot, co-pilot, engineer); gunners: 4
Crew Skill:
Cargo Capacity: 144 metric tons
Passengers: 5
Consumables: 3 months
Cost: 525,000
Hyperdrive Multiplier: x2
Hyperdrive Backup: x12
Nav Computer: Yes
Maneuverability: 0D
Space: 5
Atmosphere: 295; 850 kph
Hull: 3D+2
Customization Points: 4
Shields: 2D+2
Sensors:
-- Passive: 20/0D
-- Scan: 40/1D
-- Search: 80/2D
-- Focus: 4/3D
Weapons:
2 Twin Heavy Laser Cannons
-- Fire Arc: Turret
-- Skill: Starship gunnery
-- Fire Control: 2D
-- Space Range: 1-2/12/25
-- Atmosphere Range: 100-300/1.2/2.5 Km
-- Damage: 4D
Twin Concussion Missile Launchers (fire-linked, 8 missiles)
-- Fire Arc: Front
-- Skill: Starship gunnery
-- Fire Control: 2D
-- Space Range: 1/3/7
-- Atmosphere Range: 50-100/300/700
-- Damage: 7D
Game Notes:
1. Achaeological Tech Bay: Characters using this facility recieve a +1D modifier when making computer and Technical skill checks related to ancient technology.
2. Not that pictures show four turrets.
Source: Starships and Speeders (p.77), D6 mechanics by +Oliver Queen
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Don Diestler
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The D6 Podcast
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