Difference between revisions of "Melchizedek"

Revision as of 23:40, 23 January 2011

This page contains Fenspace Infinities material. Fenspace Infnities material hasn't "happened" by the current timeline, though it's already been referenced in future-history or alt-history Fenspace stories and discussion. Here there be dragons of questionable canonicity, you have been warned. --The Mgt

Spacecraft Registry

Melchizedek
Melchizedek crew assignment patch.
Spacecraft Characteristics
Base Hull	OV-200 series Space Shuttle
Length	122'
Width	78' (wingspan)
Height	58'
Mass	151,000 lb.
Drive Type	x3 ion drives
Drive Rating	Variable
Primary Manufacturer	Hephaestus Mining and Metalworking, Unltd. (licensee)
Owner	Panzer Kunst Gruppe
Flag of Record	Grunthal, Noctis Labyrinthus, Mars
Registry Number	OV-213
Launched	15 April 2016
Purpose	General Utility.
Primary Crew	Variable. Annual contract.
Other Crew	Mel (AI)
Operational Status	Planned
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OV-213 was ordered in October 2014, and given the name Melchizedek at launch. This was quickly contracted to simply Mel. Her original purpose was as a utility craft, with the payload bay capable of being quickly configured for anything from a simple supply run, to ferrying passengers, to transporting a full Gruppe of Kunstler and their equipment on a mission. Mel has found herself being used on combat missions, mostly in situations where the Destiny Nova was either unnecessary or inappropriate... something which a few have frowned upon.

Mel herself is the thirteenth OV-200 shuttle to be constructed, and can be something of a teenager in mindset. She occasionally feels that her elder sisters look down on her for not being as much of an explorer like they are, but has also loudly complained that exploration is 'boring' anyway. Her crew agree she's just trying to differentiate herself from her sisters and find her own identity. Tellingly, on her one true exploration mission to the Rigel Kentaurus system, she had a great time. Privately, Mel enjoys the variety in her life, and likes to brag to the other shuttles about some of her exploits. She has a youthful vigour to her, which is reflected in her taste for heavy metal music.

Mechanically, the only difference of note between Mel and the standard OV-200 series, is that Mel has been retrofitted with a high-powered radio transmitter in her horizontal stabilizer at her own request.

Unusually, her crew are normally contracted in from outside, the Panzer Kunst not having the personnel themselves.

Known Quirks

• Good Morning Starshine II: The Class Quirk for this model ship. Similar to the class quirk displayed by the Three Graces, the OV-200 Orbiters need music played at the beginning of each workday in order to function at peak efficiency. Unlike the Graces, the same song can be reused (no more than three times in a row per any given month), but each Orbiter needs a distinct genre of music played for the best possible effect. Melchizedek likes classic metal.

• Pirate Radio: The ship's AI, Mel ... is something of a metalhead, and is most decidedly un-gracelike - she tends to come across as something of a rebellious teenager compared to her more sober and graceful sisters. In their downtime, Mel and her usual crew operate the radio station Radio Kaos from a Mars orbit. It's popular enough, with an eclectic mix of classic rock, metal and a few other genres depending on the taste of her current crew. They also air some current affairs, and they're the only place in Fenspace that carries motorball results.

Trivia

• Mel was paid for using money the Panzer Kunst received for their consultation on James Cameron's Battle Angel project. Cameron also chartered Mel for a trip to Rigel Kentaurus where he filmed a documentary The search for the real Pandora. Another such mission is in the planning stage.

• The motto on Mel's dedication plaque reads "Righteousness alone is my King"... an English language translation of her name.

v • d • e Space Shuttles in Fenspace Soviet Air Force USSR Ptichka - MCU Columbia - MCU Uragan Artemis Foundation Three Graces (Atlantis - Discovery - Endeavour) - Challenger - Resolution - Gjøa - Calypso - Duyfken The Roughriders NASA Pegasus - Phoenix - Griffin - Roc Other Shuttles USS Enterprise - Daedalus - Moonraker - Melchizedek - Nautilus Related Project OV-200