Authors Notes:
Within the Battle Fleet Universe the fleet is not responsible for fixed defences, instead this role is shared out among the nation states within a NATO-like command structure. The Sky Shield Class is an US design used by a number of the western powers and a good representation of human star fort design philosophy.
Hampton Road in orbit over Landfall
Designed with a heavy forward armoured shield behind which the reactors, centrifuge and radiator panels are all protected. Since forts are generally based around planets or other fixed installation, they have no requirement for the same level of fuel and stores required by a starship. This allows a fort to carry a much heavier level of armament than a starship of matching size. Armament of the Sky Shield Class is based around a pair of fifty centimeters laser cannons in ball mounts. The secondary armament is four turret mounted plasma cannons, with laser based point defence grid again in ball mounts.
Sky Shield Class, plan view.
The majority of human star forts are located around Earth, with the second greatest concentration around the hydrogen facilities of Saturn. To date only one fort – the Hampton Road – has been positioned outside Earth’s solar system.
Edmond Barrett 