Llama

Overview

The Llama is a medium-sized trader vessel, produced as an unlicensed copy of the Griffin Systems ship of the same name (which has never actually entered service with us). It is produced by the Tseerk Letaneya bureau, of the Communist Hegemony, of the Third Gentile Cluster, in the Galileo Sector.

Design

Although never as popular as the older and somewhat more rugged 'Cobra' series from PPS, the Llama offers traders a very reasonable package; with good performance and decent hold-space, within a compact outline. This is, in part, achieved through the use of, what was considered at the time of it's inception, an unusual 'catamaran' hull system. By placing the crew and cargo in a separate, central module, away from the twin engine units, Tseerk Letaneya were able to make use of the extremely powerful, but rather 'dirty', TV101 'Energia' engine units, manufactured by Klimov Corporation, of New St Petersburg, Luna (in the Luna/Earth bi-planetary system, of Old Sol).

Specification

Klimov have many centuries of experience in producing high performance, low cost engine units for the Military aerospace industries (as well as the ground-based power units, popular in the tarraforming business). The Energia features an enhanced version of Prosset's proton-tightening afterburner, using liquid-helium-cooled, super-conducting meson coils to further tighten the propulsive flux. These give off a considerable amount of alpha radiation, and would not be considered suitable for incorporation into a standard hull. The ship also features an extensive array of components sourced from the Communist Hegemony's military surplus budget, including a BARK target recognition system, 'Monitor' space compass, 'Serebrany Lantseer' Energy Deflection Shields, and (perhaps unusually) a docking computer based on a Cray laptop from Tadpole Incorporated.

All of these components are standard fittings aboard the Communist Hegemony's 'Herald' class military interceptors, and many within the shipping industry point to this - and other features of the Llama's overall specifications - as evidence that Tseerk Letaneya are operating a subsidised industry. This does not stop many pilots from cashing-in on the Llama's undeniable qualities as a small, agile trader and lightweight fighter craft.

Atmospheric Capabilities

The Llama is quite capable of flying in, and landing on, any planet with an atmosphere of upto 2000 millibars pressure, and upto 2Gs standard gravity - as long as the local government is either unaware of, or unconcerned by, the pollution, and there is a substantial-enough area of water (or similar liquid) for it to settle upon (it uses its catamaran engine pods as loadbearing structures).

Summary

Because of it's military antecedents, the Llama is able to maintain a fighter-like profile, while offering decent cargo-carrying capabilities, which has made it a popular choice for Bounty Hunters, Escort Jockeys, and, of course, Pirates.