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E.D.F... Circa 2230. With
deep space cruiser Pandora setting new records, Admiral Lord's
devision was asked to redesign the fleet's work-horse craft...The solid,
but ageing Texas class...
Designed in 2200, They
were built in assembly line fasion...As Earth needed a fleet in
a hurry...Most were destroyed by the Empire of the White Comet
in 2201.
E.D.F. Moved on to
other designs, but none as effective as the original Texas. With
this in mind, The Brass approached Lord once again. It was
E.D.F.'s intention that the new design was to be completed A.S.A.P....( Actually
a ploy by some of the other king-pins whom had an ax
to grind with Lord...They would try to pressure him into resigning.) The idea
back-fired, how-ever.
Admiral Lord had eye's
and ears everywhere, it seemed...and was well informed of the
pressure play about to befall him...So, when the head's of E.D.F.
came strolling into his office, Lord sat back with a sly
grin...and flung a folder filled with new builder's plans over
his desk..." you guy's looking for these?" The brass looked in
contempt at Lord, then to the plans...But, the plans were good.
( And, this was an understatment.)
Over the years, Lord
got alot of credit for his work...But, in fact, most of
the designs, and improvments came from his staff of planners...( Hand-picked
by Lord for their experience working with and on E.D.F. war ships.)
It was the staff whom all worked to improve the designs, based
on what they thought was better for a crew.
The new Texas class was
larger then the original design, However they would be faster. a
new W.M.E. was to be installed. The new engine was larger,
and would alter the look of the new class from it's name-sake
Again, the class was designed
to be produced quickly, and in great number. However, the best
improvment came from it's modular construction. Hince, the new standard
Battleship could be "mission specific." The new class could be
converted over to battlecarrier as with the original...But, The new
class could also be used for long range scanning, heavy or
light battlements, even recon...The new Texas was now truely an " all
pupose warship." E.D.F. was again saved by the talents of
Lord's staff...And, It would turn out to be just in time...
The first new texas class
ships were commissioned in the spring of 2234...The California and
Washington, followed by Massachusetts and New York six months later.
And so it went, two new ships every six months until completion.
Above, The Battle-carrier
Brazil and the "Heavy Arms" war-wagon New York. These two ships
are great examples of the " one hull fit's all " concept
for the Texas Class. The New York was one of a dozen
ships converted later in order to answer the Dectran threat
at Tunisia. ( The idea was this: If we couldn't match the
technology, we would at least, out-gun them. )
The "Heavy Arms" or
Heavy Armorment Battery war ships carried twin W.M.G's as well
as an additional gun deck under side. They were fast, and
stable...with a hell of a punch...earning them the nick-name, the
"Welcome Wagons."
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