Hardpoints

A conceptual outgrowth of 20th century barge-carriers and intermodal containerization, hardpoints are used in both civilian and military capacities to augment cargo capacity, transport aerospace lift craft and increase warfighting ability. The original ISO 661 standard for modular cargo latches is a 40 x 20 meter rectangle with two latch points at each corner, integrated into the ship's primary frame and capable of security holding almost anything with appropriate connectors and mass limits. Further refinements have also standardized power/electronics couplings, airlocks and cargo-transfer mechanisms.

Using Hardpoints

Things carried on hardpoints take 1, 2 or 4 hardpoints, depending on how big they are. While it is normally assumed that naval achitechs design ships to have hardpoints physically close to one another, assymetrical loading issues means that anything that takes up more than 50% of the total hardpoint count (a size-2 dropship on a 2 hardpoint cruiser, for example) will penalize mobility and evasion.

1 Hardpoint

Cargo Container

An ISO-661 box. 40x20x20 meters in size, rated for long-term exposure to vaccum and moderate incident radiation.

Aeroshuttle

A streamlined SSTO cargo shuttle; the 737 of the 22nd century. Many different designs are manufactured across the sphere in both passenger and cargo models.

Dropshuttle

A large surface-to-orbit military shuttlecraft, loosely comparable to a C-130. Can carry two AFVs or packaged (not ready for combat) aircraft/mecha into orbit, or one ready for combat aircraft/mecha.

2 Hardpoints

Light Lift Vehicle (LLV)

Generally looking like upscaled aeroshuttles, LLVs are the backbone of civilian surface-to-orbit travel outside of the core.

Light Dropship [1]

A midsized aerodyne interface craft, light dropships are broadly used due to their combination of speed, battleworthiness and cargo capacity. A typical design like the Tensor Leopard can carry four mobile suits in full battle readiness, while the EU Condor can deploy eight tanks or other AFVs within seconds of hitting ground. In additional light dropships have sufficient aerodynamic lift to fly (albeit poorly) in atmosphere.

4 Hardpoints

Heavy Lift Vehicle (HLV)

The largest surface-to-orbit craft until the recent unveiling of EU gravity-resist assault ships, HLVs are typically used for bulk movement of cargo. Optimized for simple trajectories they are normally spheroidal in shape.

Heavy Dropship [2]

These large spheroidal craft are capable of lifting an entire company of mecha, aircraft or AFVs into orbit, making them prized for their efficiency. However, without the aerodynamic shape of light dropships they have limited ability for loiter or course-correction, keeping them in the more traditional 'up-and-down' role.