'Enter Accronym Here' Air Carrier
The ACE, an Air Carrier Extraterrestrial, still requires a better name.
The ACE is the high point of our current technology. Made using the same technique as used in Nanoseal Concrete, the metals used doesn't have a single flaw or impurity to weaken them. Beyond that, the ACE is a semi-flat Helicarrier. It has two Turbo-props contained in a sealed chamber open at the bottom. Likewise, two smaller ones exist on the front Port and Aft of the Helicarrier designed to assist it. And finally two exist on the back Port and Aft sides. These are powered by a GOFAST-M Generator. In addition, jets in the backside of the ACE act to give it sufficient forward thrust.
Unlike most of our craft, the X-wings are unviable, so we've gone over the numbers, and figured out a near similar solution, called the Y-Effect.
The Y-Effect states thus, that air that flows around a structure in flight must also flow under it. Therefore, a secondary level provides additional lift to the craft.
By placing a second level slightly angled on the back of the Helicarrier, we can induce the air to lift it, which further keeps it balanced automatically in the air, and provides more lift than simply a flat Helicarrier. Though this only applies when it's moving forward. To compensate, we've also increased the power and size of the back-bottom turbo-prop a bit, which lets us keep it leveled more easily. This also has the effect of making turns a lot more smooth due to the change in weight distribution.
Now, the ACE doesn't have to fly all the time. The insides contain a super buoyant wood made by DUC. Don't ask how they made wood that buoyant, cause their are a lot of words like water displacement reduction/increases, and air/helium/wood ratios. Point is, our Helicarrier can float at sea, and use it's props to move. And once it fires up to full, it can get back up just fine.
Now, to the loadout. The Helicarrier mostly makes use of this DUC conceived Superconductor. It uses perfectly sealed tubes, wires of this superconductor metal, and ICE. Not just any ICE, but the original, slightly tweaked to bring the Superconductor down to the needed temperature, and maintain it. The original ICE didn't need to be replaced nearly as often as our current version. So these Cables called LISAs(Lightning Ice Superconducting Array) can be plugged up for perfect electrical transfer. No energy wasted means we can power the ACE no problem. It uses one main GOFAST-M Engine for powering the Turbines, and 2 smaller GOFAST engines for powering anything else, or reducing the load on the Main Generator.
As for weapons, it mostly uses Talons and RIP-ATs. We kinda went over budget on it, and so had to just use stuff we already had. On the bright side, none of those things boost it's total cost, so we can produce it just fine. The ACE makes use of all this, and has two Aircraft Runways, 1 on each level. As well as Ravenmind Radio for an ORACLE Command Node over our troops. It also has room for a single Gate nested in it's own room. Though like the others, this is taken from our own forces, and not always in one. So no extra cost. We can also have our missile launchers loaded on too... Still, only weapons on this thing com from our own army. It doesn't have any natural weapons fitted. Though some of the models do have Combat Plating. Even for SERF production, this thing is a lot of area to cover.
To Go with the ACE, the CIVILIAN Project. Needs a Backronym...
The Aratams are so kind to give us the ability to launch massive things into space right? The ACE doesn't have a single weapon on it, other than what we put on it. So why not use it?
The CIVILIAN Model focuses on everything needed for long term survival in space. Everything HOPE created, we can fit here. And we can fit a lot on here without the need to worry about carrying weapon supplies. From BREATH to FIG. The Ursa Polaris. Solaris Systems that can be set up in Space. The main thing about the CIVILIAN Model is survival. As such, the Turboprops have been removed for more traditional jets, and landing stabilizers added to allow landing and takeoff to and from the moon. Moreover, it can reenter atmosphere. So long as it's landing position is the ocean. Anywhere else will have the entire area burned away from the jets pulling it out of a dive fairly gently. Mostly due to a very long pull to minimize Gs.
While not strictly military, we can still refuel other Spacecraft. This Operation with the CIVILIAN Model, we can easily set up a long term base on the moon with how much it can carry. Strictly Civilian of course.
ACE Design for next turn? And it is very much a design..
Also the CIVILIAN Project. Revision Tier.