Headhunter

This ship is retired

The Headhunter

Captain	Chihiro Kobayashi
Class	Harpoon
Crew Capacity	6
Cargo Capacity	100 tons + MULE
Top Speed	1900
Command Crew
CO: Chihiro Kobayashi XO: Dorian Stavros
Crew
• Alex Peyna • Andre Poe

Ship's History

The Headhunter was originally commissioned as an unusual engineering design by Doctor Fredrik Heinz, modifying a standard Harpoon class ship. Doctor Heinz believed that the Anatomy and Physiology of certain mammalian and avian life forms from Earth-That-Was could not only be easily adapted to modern ship design, but also enhance performance and capabilities. In the natural world, an animal’s physical environment, as well as the conditions of loading experienced by the bones, are constantly changing. These changes may put significant new demands on the skeleton, which thrives within these dynamic surroundings because it is an organ system capable of changing its size, shape and internal architecture in response to new conditions of loading. At least so Doctor Heinz theorized. The Headhunter, previously named the Cetacea, was the good doctor’s first and last attempt at incorporating his ideas into modern space travel.

The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. Cetus is Latin and is used in biological names to mean "whale"; its original meaning, "large sea animal," was more general. It comes from Greek ketos ("sea monster"). Cetology is the branch of marine science associated with the study of cetaceans. Cetaceans are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life. Their body is fusiform (spindle-shaped). The forelimbs are modified into flippers. The tiny hindlimbs are vestigial; they do not attach to the backbone and are hidden within the body. The tail has horizontal flukes. As a group, Cetaceans are noted for their high intelligence.

The Cetacea saw usage by Doctor Heinz and his students at the Ariel Center for Aerospace and Engineering Development from 2501 to 2519 when funding was cut for the program. The ship sat mothballed until July of 2521 when the Center sold it off to recoup some of its losses. Though based upon the Harpoon class, the Cetacea was considered a non-standard ship design and therefore not highly sought after. Coupled with its relatively low cargo and crew capacity, the ship became somewhat of a red herring in the market. It was purchased at a steep discount by one Father Solomon Frost for what he listed as ‘Special Purposes of the Lord’s Work’.

Description

Headhunter, Harpoon Class Multi-Use Quick Transport. From ground to top she stands fourty-nine feet, aft to fore she runs a length of one hundred ninty-eight feet, and from port wing to starboard she holds at a slender ninty-eight feet. She rests on a wheel which extends down from her nose; her rear weight supported by the opened Cargo Ramp, or by two additional wheels that lower should the ramp be closed. When preparing for takeoff, the rear steering panels of the ship lower their own wheels, and the ship pushes itself up into a vertical angel, which points the rear thrusters at the earth below.

Modus Operati

The Headhunter conducts three major categories of business to sustain itself and earn a profit. These three operations are;

High Value Cargo

The Harpoon class transport is very fast but has a relatively small cargo capacity of 100 tons. It is ideally suited for making high value/priority cargo runs. In addition to the ship's capabilities, the crew is rather well armed and well trained, making it an excellent transport vessel for expensive cargo.

Bounty Hunting

With its ability to get from point A to point B rather quickly, the Headhunter's crew is able to capitalize on rumors and intelligence as to a potential bounty mark's location. Four of the ship's personnel are registered with the Bounty Hunter's Guild.

Mercenary/Security Work

Once again, with two registered bounty hunters aboard the ship, the Headhunter is able to fill the role of fast strike mercenary support or supplemental law enforcement contractors.