Military Starships Reference

Attribution Guide

This project, Aether Galaxy, is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).

When reusing or adapting material, please credit as follows:
“Based on Aether Galaxy (CC BY 4.0) by Terrance Clark https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.”

You may remix, redistribute, or commercialize this work freely as long as you include that credit.

Aether Galaxy is unaffiliated with any existing media franchise. Please refrain from using copyrighted or trademarked language, representations, or other content in Aether Galaxy media without the express written consent of the intellectual property holder.

Military Starships Reference - r4

Introduction

This supplement explores a selection of military ship models of varying classes. Like its sister supplement, the Civilian Starships Reference, it will be revised and expanded and is intended to be both remixed and personalized.

Aether Galaxy Starship Codes

Starship codes follow the format:

[Prefix][Size][Role]-[Hyperdrive Grade]

Where each component has the following meaning:

Prefix

Indicates vessel ownership or classification domain.

  • (none) — Civilian vessel
  • W — Warship (military naval vessel)

Size Codes

Indicate the displacement class.

  • L — Light
  • M — Medium
  • H — Heavy

Civilian Roles

Primary function of civilian vessels.

  • C — Courier (speed-priority delivery)
  • T — Transport (passengers, general transit)
  • H — Hauler (cargo, freight, minerals)
  • I — Interceptor (law enforcement / paramilitary)
  • E — Explorer (survey, science, research)

  • U — Unmanned Drone (automated, no hyperdrive)

Military Roles

Primary mission profile of naval warships.

  • F — Frigate
  • D — Destroyer
  • C — Cruiser
  • B — Battleship
  • T — Troop Transport
  • H — Military Hauler / Fleet Supply
  • R — Reconnaissance
  • X — Titan (supercapital warship)
  • I — Interceptor (military)

  • U — Unmanned military drone

Hyperdrive Grade

Below are all hyperdrive grades used throughout the Aether Galaxy, listed in numerical order with their speed, cost, and usage notes.

Grade 0

  • Speed: None (system-bound)
  • Cost: n/a
  • Notes:
    • No hyperdrive installed
    • Used by shuttles, drones, local haulers, survey skiffs
    • Cannot leave the star system

Grade 1

  • Speed: 50 light-years per day
  • Cost: Cr25,000
  • Notes:
    • Ancient and inefficient
    • Near-extinct; museum or retrofitted vessels
    • Almost never seen in active service

Grade 2

  • Speed: 100 light-years per day
  • Cost: Cr50,000
  • Notes:
    • Minimal modern FTL capability
    • Used by budget transports and fringe colonies
    • Slow but serviceable

Grade 3

  • Speed: 200 light-years per day
  • Cost: Cr100,000
  • Notes:
    • Common across civilian fleets
    • Typical for freighters, transports, and passenger ships
    • Reliable and affordable

Grade 4

  • Speed: 400 light-years per day
  • Cost: Cr200,000
  • Notes:
    • Modern civilian standard
    • Used by long-range haulers, mid-tier explorers, and paramilitary
    • Often a best-value choice for corporate fleets

Grade 5

  • Speed: 800 light-years per day
  • Cost: Cr400,000
  • Notes:
    • Express-tier civilian hyperdrives
    • Used by couriers and some military vessels
    • Mark of a high-performance civilian ship

Grade 6

  • Speed: 1,600 light-years per day
  • Cost: Cr800,000
  • Notes:
    • Standard fast military drive
    • Used in recon craft, interceptors, and response ships
    • Balance of speed and reliability for warships

Grade 7

  • Speed: 3,200 light-years per day
  • Cost: Cr1,600,000
  • Notes:
    • Elite military hyperdrive
    • Restricted; requires high-clearance approval
    • Used by advanced recon vessels and high-command couriers

Grade 8

  • Speed: 6,400 light-years per day
  • Cost: Cr3,200,000
  • Notes:
    • Experimental prototype technology
    • Extremely rare; often black-budget or classified
    • Found only in the galaxy’s most advanced ships (e.g., WHX-8 Titans)

Example Structure

  • LT-4 — Light Transport, Grade-4 hyperdrive
  • LC-2 — Light Courier, Grade-2 hyperdrive
  • LE-0 — Light Explorer (system-bound)
  • WLF-5 — Light Frigate, naval, Grade-5 hyperdrive
  • WMR-5 — Medium Reconnaissance Warship
  • WHX-5 — Heavy Titan-class Warship

Zelenor Fleet Industries “Accipiter-class” Light Frigate (WLF-5)

Overview

The Accipiter-class WLF-5 is a fast, versatile warship designed for escort, reconnaissance, and rapid strike missions. It balances speed, firepower, and endurance, making it a staple of the modern Galactic Commonwealth’s fleet. Often deployed in system defense, anti-piracy patrols, and fleet support roles. The Accipter-class is also availble with a Grade 6 hyperdrive despite its more typical military drive in the original design.

Specifications

Class: Accipiter-class light frigate (WLF-5)
Manufacturer: Zelenor Fleet Industries
Hull Type: Military-grade starcraft
Price: Cr1,200,000 ± Cr150,000 (varies by refit, armament, and hyperdrive condition)
Hyperdrive Grade: 5 (800 light-years/day)
Sublight Performance: High (optimized for rapid intercepts and evasive maneuvers)
Armament:

  • Primary: Dual heavy blaster turrets (forward-mounted)
  • Secondary: 4x atomic missile pods (anti-ship/anti-fighter)
  • Defensive: Point-defense lasers, ECM suite

Cargo Capacity: Light (munitions, spare parts, small cargo)
Troop Capacity: 12 marines or 1 light vehicle
Crew: 10–15 (command, engineering, weapons, support)
Common Users: Galactic Commonwealth, mercenary squadrons, rapid-response fleets
Mission Profile: Escort, reconnaissance, anti-piracy, fleet skirmishing

Interior Layout (Typical Configuration)

  • Bridge — Command center, tactical stations
  • Crew Quarters — Compact bunks for officers/enlisted
  • Armory — Weapons, armor, and munitions storage
  • Medical Bay — Emergency trauma unit
  • Engineering — Hyperdrive, power core, and damage control
  • Weapons Control — Targeting systems and ordnance management
  • Hangar Bay — One light vehicle such as an IFV
  • Marine Berths — Space for a dozen armed marines
  • Common Area — Briefing space, minimal recreation

Operational Notes

  • Reliability: Built for sustained combat; requires frequent maintenance after engagements.
  • Range: Short-to-medium (optimized for system patrol and rapid deployment).
  • Crew Workload: High during combat; skeleton crew possible for transit.
  • Comfort: Spartan; prioritizes function over amenities.
  • Hyperspace Signature: Aggressive, detectable at long range.

[ WLF-5 Accipter-class — Upper Deck ]

[ BOW / FORWARD ]

┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                           BRIDGE                          │
│        Command • Navigation • Tactical • Comms            │
└───────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────┐
│  OFFICER QUARTERS             │        CREW BERTHS        │
│  (Captain, XO)                │  (Enlisted, NCOs)         │
└───────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      WEAPONS CONTROL                      │
│              Targeting • Ordnance • Access Ladder         │
└───────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    MESS HALL / COMMONS                    │
│        Briefing • Rations • Hypernet Access               │
└───────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────┐
│  HYGIENE / SANITATION         │          STORAGE          │
│  Showers • Heads • Ladder     │  Tools • Spares • Cargo   │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

[ WLF-5 Accipter-class — Lower Deck ]

                     [ BOW / FORWARD ]

┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                           ARMORY                          │
│   Small Arms • Armor • Munitions • Supply Kits • Ladder   │
└───────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────┐
│  MED BAY                      │        ENGINEERING        │
│  Trauma • Cryo                │  Hyper • Power • Damage   │
│                               │  Control                  │
└───────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                HANGAR BAY / MARINE BERTHS                 │
│          Shuttle • Drop Pods • Marine Lockers             │
│                         Ladder                            │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Werosian Defense Systems “Hellsender-class” Medium Destroyer (WMD-4)

Overview

The Hellsender-class WMD-4 is a purpose-built defensive deterrent designed for independent systems unwilling to surrender sovereignty. Built by Werosian Defense Systems—an arms manufacturer whose entire culture is built on readiness and deterrence—the Hellsender embodies a singular philosophy: make invasion so costly that no aggressor can justify it. She sacrifices mobility and flexibility for overwhelming forward firepower and heavy armor. Slow in transit, terrifyingly quick to rotate. Her way is not so much to chase enemies as to herd them into her broadside. A badger of the spaceship world—compact, fierce, and far more dangerous than her size suggests.

Specifications

Class: Hellsender-class medium destroyer (WMD-4) Manufacturer: Werosian Defense Systems Hull Type: Military-grade defensive warship Price: Cr2,800,000 ± Cr200,000; varies by refit, ordnance loadout, and customization Hyperdrive Grade: 4 (400 light-years/day; upgradeable to Grade 5 or 6 with proper refit) Sublight Performance: Low, poor acceleration and lateral agility; exceptionally responsive reaction control thrusters for rapid orientation

Armament:

  • Primary: 8x atomic torpedo launch tubes (forward saturation battery; 0.1c velocity)
  • Secondary: 1x heavy interceptor pod for point-defense against fighters and fast-movers
  • Tertiary: 1x customizable hardpoint (customer-configured; often point-defense lasers, ECM suite, or sensor package)

Armor Profile: Heavy forward sections; reinforced amidships around reactor and torpedo magazines; comparatively lighter aft section Cargo Capacity: Minimal (ammunition resupply, spare parts, local ordnance production materials) Troop Capacity: 35 marines or one medium vehicle Crew: 18–24 (command, engineering, weapons systems, damage control, ordnance management) Common Users: Independent systems near Iron Dominion or pirate territories; Weros itself maintains a substantial Hellsender fleet Mission Profile: System defense, deterrent presence, layered anti-access/area-denial doctrine

Operational Notes

Doctrine: The Hellsender isn’t intended to chase. Her low sublight speed is intentional–she fights at home, on her terms. Her reaction control thrusters are exceptionally powerful, allowing her to pivot and present her broadside in seconds. The tactic is elegant: appear slow and vulnerable, allow an aggressor to approach or maneuver, then rotate to face them with 80% of her firepower. Many hostile captains have learned too late that they’ve been herded into her primary firing arc.

Magazine Warfare: She carries enough atomic torpedoes for sustained defensive engagement but is not designed for long campaigns far from home. Independent systems using Hellsenders pair them with resupply operations and local ordnance production. An aggressor’s supply lines are thousands of light-years away. Hers are local.

The Customizable Hardpoint: Werosian Defense Systems provides the ship with one unequipped hardpoint, allowing purchasers to outfit it based on their specific threat environment. This reflects a fundamental design philosophy: “We provide 90% of your defense. You know your threats. Adapt the last 10% to your needs.”

Reliability: Built for sustained defensive operations in a single system. Requires heavy maintenance after combat but is designed for quick field repairs using locally-sourced materials.

Crew Workload: Extremely high during combat. The weapon systems and damage control require constant attention. Skeleton crew possible for transit only.

Comfort: Minimal. Spartan quarters, crowded spaces. Crew accommodations are secondary to ammunition storage and engineering.

Hyperspace Signature: Aggressive and detectable at long range.

The Weakness: Without magazines, she loses her primary advantage. A prolonged siege could starve her into irrelevance. She is also sluggish in open-space engagements against fast, maneuverable opponents–which is why independent systems pair her with corvettes and fast interceptors for layered defense.

Interior Layout (Typical Configuration)

Bridge - Command center, navigation, tactical stations
Crew Quarters - Compact bunks for officers and enlisted; minimal privacy
Ordnance Magazine - Primary atomic torpedo storage; heavily shielded and isolated
Reactor Core - Massive power plant; drives rotation thrusters and weapon systems
Weapons Control - Central targeting hub for all torpedo systems; multiple crew stations
Engineering - Hyperdrive, sublight engines, damage control center
Armor Shaping - Specialized plating around magazine and critical systems
Marine Berths - Space for boarding team and security personnel
Auxiliary Magazine - Secondary ordnance storage
Common Area - Briefing space, minimal recreation
Sanitation - Heads and hygiene facilities
Maintenance Lockers - Tools, spares, repair materials

[ WMD-4 Hellsender-class — Upper Deck ]

[ BOW / FORWARD ]
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TORPEDO LAUNCH ARRAY                                      │
│ (Forward Saturation Battery – 8 Tubes)                    │
│ Heavy Bow Armor / Fire Control Integration                │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ BRIDGE / COMMAND                                          │
│ Tactical • Navigation • Targeting • Fleet Comms           │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ WEAPONS CONTROL CENTER                                    │
│ Targeting • Fire Sequencing • Lift • Sensor Fusion        │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ OFFICER QUARTERS                                          │
│ Captain • XO • Tactical Staff                             │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CREW BERTHS                                               │
│ Weapons Teams • Sensor Ops • Duty Rotation                │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MESS / COMMONS                                            │
│ Briefing • Minimal Recreation • Lift • Rations            │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MAINTENANCE LOCKERS                                       │
│ Tools • Spares • Field Repair Kits                        │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ INTERCEPTOR POD MOUNT / MARINE BERTHS                     │
│ Point Defense Craft • Boarding Teams                      │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

[ WMD-4 Hellsender-class — Lower Deck ]

                     [ BOW / FORWARD ]

┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ REACTOR CORE / POWER PLANT                                │
│ Main Output • Rotation Thruster Feed • Weapon Systems     │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ENGINEERING                                               │
│ Hyperdrive • Lift • Sublight Drives                       │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PRIMARY ORDNANCE MAGAZINE                                 │
│ Atomic Torpedoes • Heavily Shielded • Blast Isolation     │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ AUXILIARY MAGAZINE / ORDNANCE RESERVE                     │
│ Secondary Torpedoes • Sustained Engagement Stockpile      │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ARMOR SHAPING / STRUCTURAL CORE                           │
│ Reinforced Bulkheads • Forward Impact Redistribution      │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                │
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SANITATION / LIFE SUPPORT                                 │
│ Enviro Control • Waste Processing • Lift • Hygiene        │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Design Philosophy

The Hellsender represents Werosian pragmatism distilled into steel: every independent system wants to remain independent. Few can afford true capital ships. The Hellsender exists to make that possible, not through mobility or versatility, but through overwhelming defensive firepower, heavy armor, and the discipline to hold position. She is the answer to imperial aggression from a civilization that believes “peace endures only through readiness.”

Paired with corvettes and light frigates in a layered anti-access/area denial doctrine, she transforms her system into a fortress. She may not be beautiful. She may not be graceful. But she is brutally effective at what she was designed to do: make conquest too expensive to justify.

No canon; only coherence.

@ Aether Galaxy. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

This site uses Just the Docs, a documentation theme for Jekyll.