3788 Scale Andromedan Mobile Operations Sled (MOS)

Andromedans are an aggressive empire from the M31 Andromedan Galaxy. Their technology is different from that of ships in our galaxy. They use tractor-repulsor beams to rip enemy ships apart, displacement devices to teleport their ships or enemy ones, and weapons similar to a phaser-2. They do not use shields but instead use power absorbers that capture the energy of enemy weapons and cycle it back into their systems and weapons. Larger Andromedan ships (motherships) carry small frigate/destroyer-sized ships internally and launch them as needed in combat.

The Mobile Operation Sled was a larger sled that could not carry other sleds, but other sleds could dock to it externally. This facilitated transfers of cargo and remote operations without other ships in support. Mining and cargo sleds were often left with one MOS to control their operations and one or more gun sleds to protect them. Beginning about 10 years after the Galactic Powers first encountered an Andromedan Intruder, ships of this class were encountered operating squadrons of Mobile Weapons Platforms. While it was possible for a warship to outrun a sled or even a mobile weapons platform, being attacked by six mobile weapons platforms at close range in an asteroid field could be a fatal experience for a war destroyer and was the last thing many a freighter captain saw.

The externally docked mobile weapons platforms launch and land as gunboats; they cannot be launched by transporter or displacement. Analysis revealed that the mobile weapons platforms could not be carried on mech links on the external hulls of Andromedan motherships as even the slight friction of space (it is not a pure vacuum) would suffice to rip the small ship apart (and damage the mothership) at speeds above Warp 3. However, a Mobile Operations Sled is not able to reach those speeds. In a hasty evacuation, it was noted that the Mobile Operations Sled would be transported aboard a mothership, and the mobile weapons platforms would be left to their fate.

The special sensor of the Mobile Operations Sled proved of great value to isolated Andromedan mining operations because of its ability to spot non-scout ships at extended ranges and track them, although this did not always work out and more than a few Andromedan mining operations found themselves in a battle with an enemy force that appeared suddenly in their midst.

The ship is available in a variety of materials. Ships are unpainted, use standard flight stands available from many sources, and, while designed for gaming, make fine display pieces.