Action IX Transport
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(Backup) Class 15.0
(12) starfighters (optional)
The largest of the popular Action series of transports, the Action IX Transport had over five times the cargo capacity of the Action VI and nearly ten times the passenger capacity. Its commodious interior was highly modular, and large sections of the ship could be easily converted from cargo space to passenger quarters depending on the needs of the mission. Its versatility made it a dependable workhorse for both civilian and military use throughout the Galactic Civil War era.
The Action IX saw a broad variety of duties, from ferrying thousands of civilians among the core systems to carrying massive industrial or military equipment too large to fit on an Action VI. With a consumables capacity of up to two years, it was also popular as an expeditionary colony ship, capable of carrying enough colonists and equipment to establish a frontier beachhead before the larger colony ships arrived. During the Galactic Civil War, these transports were often seen carrying refugees to new homes on the Outer Rim.
Because of its expense and operating costs, the Action IX was far less common than the smaller models. Additionally, its massive cargo stores often made it a tempting target for piracy. Action IX captains often employed pickets of support craft to help defend their precious cargo; military transports ferrying valuable materiel often were accompanied by a corvette or a frigate to defend them form enemy attack. Thus it was not uncommon to see one or more Action IXs at the heart of a sizable convoy.
Officially, the Action IX was not armed. It carried four tractor beam projectors for navigational and cargo loading purposes. Though they were not powerful enough to overcome a capital ship's engines, canny transport captains often used them defensively to disrupt smaller attacking vessels. In addition, the Action IX's side-mounted hangars could service up to one squadron of starfighters - more if the cargo shuttles were removed. Even so, its poor handling and weak shields made it a liability in combat. An Action IX was completely dependent on its escorts in the case of a serious attack.
