Tonnage: 1000 tons

Length: 2000 feet
Width: 500 feet
Cargo: 500 tons

Hit Points:

Hull	4000
Sensors/Commo	900
Controls	900
Life Support	2000
Fuel	3000
Engine	2500

Armor Class: 0 (Battler)
Weapons: 1 plasma cannon, 4 torpedoes, 30 missile mounts, white noise broadcaster, anti-missile missiles, two batteries of 15 pumped lasers each, two batteries of 15 light acceleration guns each

Plasma Cannon: Rng 3, shots 40, dmg 300, hit bonus +1, reload cost 20 000, reload weight 4000lb
Torpedoes: Rng 40, shots 4, dmg 100, THAC0 gunner / 14, reload cost 20 000, reload weight 4800lb
Missile Mount: Rng 6, shots 4, dmg 40, hit bonus +0, reload cost 300, reload weight 400lb
White Noise Broadcaster: Rng 6, shots unl, dmg special (blocking all radio communications), hit bonus +0
Anti-missile missiles: Rng -, shots 8, dmg special (negates up to 27 missile hits), requires Battle Tactics roll, reload cost 2500, reload weight 1200lb
Pumped lasers: Rng 4, shots unl, dmg 20, hit bonus +0
Light Acceleration Guns: Rng 2, shots 15, dmg 20, hit bonus -1, reload cost 200, reload weight 1500

Crew: 180 nominal, 300 maximum
Speed: 2
Reaction Bonus: +2
AC Defense Bonus: +4

Special: The plasma cannon is devastating, but no other weapon can fire on that target which the plasma cannon fires upon. The reload cost represents the special plasma canisters that are excited in the fusion chamber of the plasma cannon, containing the materials for the plasma. The torpedoes are an innovation that RAM tries to keep secret - i.e., destroying all witnesses to their use. The white noise broadcaster is in essence a giant raser (see the Hardware source book if you got it - if not, enough stats are given for you to use the white noice broadcaster). The anti-missile missiles won't be of any use against K-cannon projectiles or light and heavy acceleration gun projectiles, but will work just fine against missiles from missile mounts and heavy missile mounts, not to mention torpedoes.

The Challenger carries shuttles, similar to scout cruisers. Make up other stats if you like them better. Its engine configuration lessens the hit points of the engines somewhat, but grants it more speed than other ships its size.

Description: The Challenger is a fairly old battler, and it shows. Lacking the tremendous firepower of ships like the RMS Tharsis, it is nevertheless much more powerful than a heavy cruiser, and quite capable of dominating a battlefield. Its crew complement is much smaller than modern-day battlers, and as such they are little use in large-scale troop deployments. However, the Challenger is extremely fast for a ship its size, and often functions as a forward base until other RAM ships can get there. Usually, the Challenger will not be a part of a fleet formation, as it is designed to be as autonomous as possible.