HISTORY: The point defense laser has proven to be the most effective anti missile defensive weapon in known space. It is cheap to produce, light and compact and most importantly it is devastating against incoming missile barrages. Unfortunately, firing between several hundred to several thousand point defense lasers in quick succession causes an unacceptable power drain on the reactors of even the largest combat cruisers. This power could be better put to use charging M.A.C. guns, heavy combat laser cannons and shield systems. When enemy forces began utilizing an ever increasing number of missile based weapons during fleet engagements it became clear that a solution would have to be found. In the end it was decided that a new weapons platform should be created with the anti missile role in mind from the outset. This ship would be small, but have a powerful enough reactor to power and fire at least ten point defense lasers. It would also be equipped with anti fighter weapons in order to provide added protection to the fleets vulnerable cruisers. CLASSIFICATION: The Phantom Class is the smallest capital ship in the E.O.S. fleet and is designated an Escort. PRIMARY ROLE: To escort larger cruisers and battleships and provide anti missile capability during fleet engagements. SECONDARY ROLE: To escort larger cruisers and battleships and provide anti starfighter capability. CREW: The Phantom Class Escort has a crew of four. Typically they are crewed by former starfighter pilots and gunners. The most important member of the crew is the pilot, who is typically the acting commander of the vessel. His position is the rear seat of the main observation cabin. In front of the pilot sits the primary tactical officer. His role is to set priority markers for the automated defensive laser system. Below the main observation cabin in the primary hull is AA missile control. This is where the secondary tactical officer coordinates the ships missile system. In the rear of the primary hull is the engineering station. WEAPONS: All Phantom Class Escorts are fitted with twelve MK-9M point defense lasers mounted in pairs on rotating turrets. This surpassed the original requirement of ten. These “mini” laser units are smaller and have a slightly shorter range than the point defense laser systems employed on most larger E.O.S. ships, however, the mobility of the Phantom Class more than makes up for this disadvantage. In the connecting dorsal between the primary hull and the FTL engines is housed four Micro MK-7 All Aspect Missile Launcher. These Launchers have limited range and payload but can track even the most agile starfighers. Two Medium MK-4B All Aspect launchers are located in the bow of the craft with a third mounted underneath the primary hull. These have a significantly longer range and higher payload than the MK-7, but the Phantom Class can only carry 18 of the larger missiles. SHIELDS: One Efos shield generator provides enough power to protect the Phantom Class from most starfighter laser weapons. The ship must rely on its speed, agility and point defense lasers to protect it from larger capital ships. ENGINES: The sublight engines of the Phantom Class resemble the combat thrusters of E.O.S. starfighers much more than they do the large systems of most capital ships. They are designed for quick expenditures of massive amounts of power rather than long periods of constant maneuvers. Two MK-3A Event Horizon SLE powerplants provide thrust while a system of reaction control micro thrusters help maneuver the craft. All information on this ships advanced FTL engine is classified. It is suspected though that the Phantom is one of the fastest ships in the E.O.S. fleet. SUPPORT CRAFT: The Phantom Class can hold one Shade Shuttle in its primary cargo bay. This craft can hold four persons or a pilot and 800 lbs of cargo and acts as a lifeboat in the event of the destruction of its mothership. It is also possible for the Phantom Class to hold two Recon starfighters http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/109812 instead of one Shade. OPERATIONAL: The 10th Escort Unit Composed Phantom EE 01, Traker EE 02, Defiant EE 16, Endurance EE 25 and Salvo EE 82, was escorting the heavy cruiser Artago in a cargo supply mission. The fleet was attacked by a force consisting of no less than 200 U.N.E. starfighters along with the Destoyer Berlin and the Light Carrier Constance. Only 11% of enemy missiles successfully hit their targets, causing minor damage to the Artago’s forward heavy laser cannons. The Berlin was destroyed by a direct MAC hit from the Artago, while the Constance was forced to withdraw. 67 U.N.E. starfighters were destroyed in the engagement, 50 of which were destroyed by the Phantom Class Escorts.