The Barn

 Carrier, Custom, slightly used.

The mercenary carrier Bastion or, as it is affectionately called by its crew "the barn", is a modified XR15 heavy freighter. The ship was originally built in the later years of the republic, some 4 decades prior to the start of the clone wars. The XR15 class of heavy freighter was built primarily for the "volatile and dangerous freight" market. The ship therefore has two distinct cargo holds. The first is of a conventional design accessed through 4 hatches on the top of the ship. This hold is used primarily for the storage of volatiles. It, like much of the ship, is well protected behind two hull thick layers. Thus minimizing the threat to the volatile cargo from pirate weapon's fire or simple collision with other star-ships or stellar objects. Between the inner and outer hull layers, accessed by a rear opening, is the dangerous freight hold. These are still well protected but, more importantly given their effect on living creatures, kept safely outside the internal pressure hull. Radioactive material are therefore not a significant concern even on long voyages and Biological or Chemical agents have no way of harming the crew. even in the event of a spill.

Some 30 years into its service life, amidst a general increase in tension in the galaxy, the ship (then known as the Betan) was purchased by the Sundered Guard mercenary group. An up and coming organization in need of a home base. The ship was renamed and heavily modified. Unlike most civilian conversions, which focus on improving firepower, the Mercs instead focused on the Bastion's existing strength: its heavy protection. The lower cargo hold was sealed up and converted into a large hangar bay for the mercenaries' fleet of small craft, weapons and military grade shields were added, and the 4 topside holds were converted into well protected utility spaces. The first: a hardened command bunker with enough communications equipment, office space, and vaults to run a large mercenary group. The second: an adaptive manufacturing facility for all the "high wear" objects used by the group. vehicle and weapon parts, armor, uniforms, fighter munitions, infantry explosives, and so on. the third and fourth, separated by an extra bulkhead: refineries for fuel and carrier gas, plus additional storage for them. The ship's expansive passenger accommodation, common to other midrim freighters, were reduced in grandeur but still provide ample comforts for the large crew. these modifications did not make the Bastion itself a particularly serious threat, far from it in fact, but it did make the Sundered Guard as close to independent as is practical for a mercenary organization.

In terms of firepower, the stock XR 15 came with 3 turreted turbolasers and 2 in each lateral "cutout". for a total broadside of between 4 and 5 guns depending on the angle and range. Down to only one gun for the topside arc, courtesy of the turret mounted atop the shield generator. The refit shuffled the turbolasers around but kept the number and effective arcs unchanged. The stock XR15 likewise only had a handful of AA lasers: two triple laser sponsons in each cutout. A wholly ineffective defensive array. In the refit, these were replaced (and indeed a few more sponsons were created to fit) with Ion cannons. A total of 8 such weapons (or 4 per broadside). The ship to ship arsenal is completed by 4 racks of concussion missiles. for a total of 38 missiles. No reloads are carried and these are fairly small missiles. Saving the best for last: the ship's anti-starfighter defences. Fighters and small attack ships are the only things that could reasonably threaten the ship before it could jump to hyperspace, by way of targeted fire against the engines or into the hanger bay. Thus, the defence of these areas against these types of threat was prioritized. The Bastion is now equipped with 6 single lasers (3 per broadside) plus 3 batteries of 4 twin Dual Purpose laser cannon turrets. These dual purpose weapons are less effective against very small attackers (such as tie fighters or A wings) but are a credible threat against even corvettes. They are, as mentioned, focused around critical components. There is a battery arrayed around the entrance to the hanger bay, facing aft. Another battery is arrayed atop the engine deck immediately aft of the main reactor complex, also facing aft. The final battery is placed around the communications tower at the bow top of the ship. These guns are arrayed to fire over the entire top hemisphere. The result of this weapons array is a ship that struggles to lay down meaningful firepower along most vectors. Save for the broadside arcs were an adequate anti arsenal which can ward off less serious attackers and the aft arc which poses a serious threat to any bomber foolish enough to make a run on the engines or hanger. 

The ship is being decommissioned after a long and successful carrier due partially to its age but primarily because of heightened restrictions on armed freighters in the New Republic. The ship participated in the battle of Coruscant, a retaliatory raid above Heaven's Rim, and was heavily damaged (but since repaired) at the battle of Endor. The Sundered Guard has, overall, managed to keep the ship out of danger during their mercenary operations.

Serious inquiries only.