type: wb
description: Gus' shitty ship
aliases:
- Merkavah
tags:
- location
- vehicle
- publishedThe Merkavah
STS Freighter
K-H5 Argo-Theseus Class Freighter
A mid-sized/light freighter that’s been altered overtime by its crew to become a multipurpose and general cargo ship. It's an older model with archaic systems relative to current advancements in space travel (retro futuristic aesthetics of the Millenium Falcon, the Nostromo, the Event Horizon/Lewis & Clark, Serenity), but well maintained; designed to support an 6-8 person crew (max 20 people on board), but they've figured out how to make it work with 3.
- Imagine it being similar in layout and aesthetics to the Nostromo, but not as big
- interior has the "retro futuristic" look of ships from from 70s-80s sci-fi movies (Star Wars, Alien, Event Horizon) as well as Firefly and belter ships from The Expanse
This class of freighter is modular and designed for both space travel (i.e. a tug boat for large container ships) and frequent atmospheric re-entry (spaceplane adjacent) since it was originally used to move mined materials from planetary surface to orbit. Most K-H5's are equipped with point defense canons (PDCs) as a means of defense against space debris, but are of course used in close combat with other ships. While not fast, it has exceptionally precise maneuverability.
Liveries
It's insignia is that of four interlocking wheels with the central wheel having two fiery wings. The imagery and name are associated with "the heavenly throne-chariot of god" - the ship does not live up to that name. The Merkavah does not don the STS liveries on it's hull, but the crew have STS "uniforms" which they wear as needed.
The Crew
The three core crew members of The Merkavah are all emotionally closed off in their own ways, but they seem to understand each other and work well together despite constant bickering. End of the day, everyone understands that they are trapped on this ship together so working together is critical to everyone's survival and have come to consider the other two friends. Their skill sets are complimentary, they strive for equal say in decision making and responsibilities despite titles, which they treat as a formality until its time to pull rank.
- August Hans - acting captain and chief engineer
- Cole Riley - acting executive officer, first mate and pilot
- Rene Severino - second mate, security and weapons
- Malotz - navigation (honorary crew member)
- Ikamo - security and recon (honorary crew member)
Spotify Playlist - STS Merkavah Radio, the idea is this is what they'd collectively play over the speakers on the ship plus some ambient environmental music
Locale & Purpose
The Merkavah operates in the "outer systems" which are a collection of planets, settlments and colonies that are loosely aligned by proximity. Most importantly, the larger intergalactic powers tend to not visit if there's no need to.
The Merkavah is contracted out by The STS Company for general transport, and maintains a regular route within the outer systems, which essentially means that it would be a huge faux pas for other STS vessels to intrude and they have the backing of STS (in theory, and it might not be much) if they get into an altercation with another faction. Between (or occasionally during) company contracts, the crew conducts semi-legal side business (salvaging and reselling materials, smuggling, possible rebel activity if the narrative calls for it) as a means of extra income and/or bartering for supplies when planet side.