ISC-6336   Luray Explorer

 

  • Azhanti High Lightning class Imperial Scout Cruiser (60,000 dtons)
  • Owner = IISS
  • Builder = Commonal
  • Laid Down = 159-0991
  • First Flight = 185-0994
  • Note = Transferred to IISS on 010-1040
  • Status = In Service

Ex-"Gilded Farthing" (FI-6336, later ISC-6336) was converted to a long-range exploration cruiser and dispatched to the far spinward reaches beyond the Imperial border in a program to explore territories not yet under the control of large interstellar powers, especially the Zhodani. These areas are of importance because they are not part of the traditional zone once occupied by the Ancients and settled by the Six Races. LURAY EXPLORER, equiped for long term operations, included a complete planetary survey team, defensive fighters, long-range scanners, and a squadron of exploratory pinnaces. Its mission was to contact local races, or explore unsettled and promising worlds. Imperial navigation beacons and emergency shelters were also placed for the assistance of distressed space-farers. The long isolation of the journey placed great stress on the crew of the ship, and one crew member apparently suffered from latent claustrophobia, finally sneaking a ride to the surface of one of the worlds being visited. The uninhabited world appeared to be hospitable, and he opened his faceplate and relaxed for a few hours before sneaking back aboard the shuttle and returning to the ship. Several hours later, he died of an acute flesh-rot, but not before infecting several other members of the ship. The infection spread rapidly throughout the ship, and only through herculean efforts was a small portion of the crew able to quarentine some important areas and return the ship to Imperial space for decontamination.

Supplement 5, GDW