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T.N.F. Planetary Dropship 'Ghost' Mk.VI (U)

"Dust flew violently outwards as the Ghost slowed to hover above the landing area, causing strikers to move behind their Stingers, shielding their eyes and mouths with their arms. It was one of Horror’s so-called multi-roles—a dropship version with a modular attachment system in place of the troop compartment in regular assault Ghosts.
The dropship lowered itself to the ground, quickly obscured by the whirling cloud of sand. A few seconds later, it rose slowly, leaving a new Stinger where it had landed."
-From Emergence of Order

This utility variant of the Ghost dropship is designed to take on several roles during operations. While the other Ghost variants are limited to their specific equipment, the U-type can attach the module that best meets the mission requirements. This is especially useful on ships and stations that carry only one Ghost. For longer reconnaissance missions, or other planetside operations with limited dropship flight time, the light utility vehicle Stinger can be deployed to provide mobility and basic survival equipment. The drop container module can be used to move resources and equipment. Although not specifically built for combat, the Ghost is equipped with gatling guns and automated gatling turrets, and can be used as an auxiliary combat craft. To more effectively engage enemy small craft, the vacuum missiles or atmospheric missiles modules can be attached. These use the turrets’ targeting systems to guide their missiles towards the enemy using Rdav’s guided missile script.

Like the other Ghost variants, the multi-mission, cargo transport and search-and-rescue versions, the U-type is capable of planet-to-space transitions without a hydrogen propulsion system. Hangars in all recently built Fleet ships are specifically designed to carry a Ghost of the most relevant variant.

Slowing down during flight:
● The Ghost’s design favors downwards thrust at the expense of side- and forward thrust, in order to escape a planet's gravity more easily.
● To effectively slow down or stop, point the dropship's underside in the direction of travel to quickly decelerate.
● When moving sideways, roll and use the downward thrusters to push in the desired direction.

Atmospheric entry:
● When entering a planet’s gravity pull from space, level the Ghost with the planet’s gravity, shut down its inertia dampeners, and let it free fall to the surface.
● When below 1000 m, engage the inertia dampeners and the ship will quickly slow down, and stop completely after around 150-300 m, depending on the planet’s size and gravity. Alternatively, the dropship’s parachute can be used.

Atmospheric launch:
● Turn on ion thrusters, level the dropship with the planet’s gravity, and engage full upward thrust.
● The Ghost will enter a transition phase in the planet’s upper atmosphere, where it will temporarily lose speed. Keep the thrusters at full burn, and the dropship will begin to accelerate again after it reaches around 50 m/s, depending on the planet’s size and gravity.
● At this point the ion thrusters deliver enough thrust, and the dropship can continue to maneuver in orbit, or continue into space.





General characteristics:
● Crew: 1x Pilot
● Length: 13 m
● Width: 10,5 m
● Height: 4,5 m

Armaments:
● 2x Autocannon Turrets
● 6x Fixed Gatling Guns

Features:
● Capable of atmospheric entry and launch.
● Can carry several modules, including the light utility vehicle Stinger, the drop container, the vacuum missiles module and the atmoshperic missiles module.
● Radar panel which marks friendly units running the same script, and enemy/neutral ships targeted by the dropship’s turrets.
● Internal and external information screens showing the dropship’s heading, position relative to an horizon, ammunition and fuel storage, and damage diagnostics.
● T.N.F. markings, using the Fleet’s logo converted to monospace by Whiplash141.
● Spare hydrogen and oxygen bottles, tools, weapons and ammo in cockpit.
● Air vent with depressurize on, which renews the cockpits oxygen supply when in atmosphere, or in a hangar.
● Survival ready!

Known issues:
● None at the moment.

Acknowledgements:
● The radar panel uses Whip’s Turret Based Radar script by Whiplash141.
● The information screens use MMaster's LCD 2 script.
● The screen showing the planet's horizon and the dropship's heading is using Whip's Artificial Horizon Redux script by Whiplash141.
● Diagnostics screen is using the Manual Refresh Floor Plan Script Mk1 by Alysius.