The Dean Files
Tallis Class Merchant (Civilian Starship)

The Tallis class merchants were built at Trin by TrinTechnics between 1004 and 1007. The class was composed of 37 vessels, of which 23 remain in service as of 1117. The origin of the class was somewhat unusual--in 956 the Planetary Navy of Trin had ordered a large number of Patrol Cruisers which were later canceled (in 963) due to budgetary considerations. The uncompleted hulls (ranging from 40-90% completed at cancellation) remained in orbital storage for 39 years while the contract cancellation case was in litigation. Following the conclusion of the lawsuits, the hulls were sold for a small fraction of their original cost in a sealed bid auction to TrinTechnics and completed as fast merchants. The thrusters are sufficient to allow take off and landing with a full load on almost any inhabited planet, freeing the ship from dependence on orbital facilities.

Many Tallis class vessels are operated with incomplete crews, allowing more than three middle passengers to be carried. Stewards are seldom encountered. With the survivors of the class having been in service for over 100 years, careful maintenance is a high priority. If found for sale, it could be expected that a Tallis would cost less than MCr45 at present. Annual maintenance, however would be based on the original cost, and might run to as much as three or four times the original expectations.

CraftID: Tallis class Merchant, TL14, MCr166.52
Hull: 396/990, Disp=440t, Config=1AF, Armor=40G, Loaded=5478t, Unloaded=3124t
Power: 15/30, Fusion=1980MW, Duration=30/90
Loco: 20/40, Maneuver=2 (Thrusters=14300t), 12/24, Jump=2, MaxSpeed=1770kph, Cruise=1328kph, Agility=2, TrueAcc=2.61G
Comm: Radio=System*2
Sensors: EMS Active(FarOrbit), ActObjScan=Rout, ActObjPin=Rout
Off: 
Hardpoints=4
                Missile=x03
          Batteries       2
          Bearing         2
Def: 
DefDM+6
             Sandcaster=xx4
          Batteries       2
          Bearing         2
Control: Computer Mod3*3, 4*HeadsUpHoloDisplay, 21*HoloLink
Accom: Crew=9 (2 bridge, 2 engineer, 3 gunners, 1 command, 1 medic), MidPassengers=3, Staterooms=12, LowBerths=20, Env=basic env, basic ls, extended ls, grav plates, inertial comp
Other: Fuel=1683kl (1 jump-2+30 days), Cargo=2236kl (165.6t), Fuel Scoops, Fuel Purifier (18hr-purifies jump fuel alone in 9hr), ObjSize=Avg, EmLevel=Moderate

Author: R.S.Dean