When plans were
being drawn up for the grand expedition core-ward, Fleet
Intelligence put in a request for a corvette-sized vessel
capable of capturing and analyzing any damaged alien vessels
that might be encountered -- possibly under combat
conditions. The answer from Fleet Command was a plan to
convert the fleet tugs (used in constructing the scaffolding
and Mothership) into heavily armored, combat-capable vessels
that would be able to survive long enough in a firefight to
gather important information from enemy wreckage. This
revised corvette design was put into production, and advanced
computers embodying AI-driven decryption and virus routines
were also installed to give these vessels the ability to
subvert and over-ride another ship's command systems. While
these subversion routines will probably only work on badly
damaged ships, it should give a salvage corvette the ability
to tow in enemy ships to be studied and retro-fitted for
Kushan use.
The Porter is meant to operate alone and
undefended in places where the situation is not fully known.
In most cases, a heavy fighter escort would draw too much
attention to the salvage corvette's mission, and so they
usually operate alone, or with one or two scout fighters.
Porter crews face an dangerous and unglamorous job and in
many Kushan fleets, a tour of duty aboard a salvage corvette
is considered disciplinary action.
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