Orivah-class Corvette

[Star Wars Legacies]

ORIVAH-CLASS CORVETTE

AFFILIATION
The Hutt Cartel.

MANUFACTURER
Nal Hutta Hyperworks, Inc.

CLASS
Corvette.

ROLE
Escort/commerce raider.

COMPOSITION
Kiirium and transparisteel.

DIMENSIONS
150x50x150 meters.

CREW
10 minimum/40 optimal.

PASSENGER CAPACITY
40.

CARGO CAPACITY
50 standard tons.

HANGAR CAPACITY
2 shuttle or 3 starfighters.

CONSUMABLES
2 standard months.

SPEED/MANEUVERABILITY
Capable of 45 MGLT acceleration, with sluggish maneuverability for its size.

ARMAMENT

• 3x dual heavy laser cannon turret, with coaxial light ion cannon.
• 4x single mount heavy laser cannon turret.

EQUIPMENT

• Long-range comm system.
• Class 7 Hyperdrive
• Port and starboard extendable docking tubes with hull-cutting attachments.
• Tractor beam projector, capable of snaring light freighters.
• 5 2-being escape pods.
• Military shielding.
• Armor

DESCRIPTION​

Dating to an earlier, more openly militaristic age of Hutt culture, the Orivah ("Driver") class corvette is one of the more dangerous classes of vessel operated by the Hutt Cartel. After losing so many of their great ancient Dreadnaughts in the Catastrophe at Varl during the Great Cataclysm, the massive ships fell out of favor with the Hutts, thus leaving lowlier corvettes to take up a much more important and varied roles. Now, thousands of years later, the Orivah now forms the backbone of many of the Hutt Cartel's scattered pirate fleets, filling the role of convoy escort, commerce raider/privateer, and even ship of the line. Such vessels often screen the opulent pleasure barges and luxury yachts of important Hutt Lordas or are captained by powerful Vigos, and can themselves carry a significant compliment of passengers or cargo. They also act as tenders for smaller vessels and are often themselves escorted by smaller craft, mitigating the relative ineffectiveness of their rather sluggish fire control system against small, close targets.

Like the Hutts themselves, Orivah-class corvettes are built to last; they are typically very old vessels, with most examples predating the Hundred-Year Darkness by many decades. Though antiquated in arrangement, with tall sensor masts and rather inefficient weapon and bridge placement, their stout hull plating and reinforced structural elements make them very durable even with their shields down, able to take significant punishment for a ship of their size. The type is also well armed, mounting three dual medium laser turrets, meant for more flexible targeting, and each also equipped with a light coaxial ion cannon for disabling smaller vessels- though they are ineffective against anything but the shields of equally sized ships and larger. There are also four single-mount heavy laser turrets, two on each side of the hull, each with a roughly 180 degree firing arc and primarily meant to deliver broadsides. These armaments are controlled by a central fire control system, albeit a somewhat antiquated one on most vessels; though theoretically capable of hitting starfighters and similarly sized craft with its lighter, faster-firing armaments, in practice this can be quite difficult to achieve. Orivahs are equipped with extensive facilities for boarding other vessels, including tractor beams and extendable docking tubes with hull-cutting attachments.

Though Orivahs are sturdy ships, and well armed, they are not especially fast or maneuverable, much like the Hutts themselves. Limited to a top acceleration of about 45 MGLT, they are also relatively sluggish in the turn compared to other corvettes. They are still a major threat to prey such as bulk freighters and less sophisticated capital ships.

Orivahs can carry up to two shuttles or three Starfighters on the top side launch deck. This is fortunate for the crew, as the ship does not possess escape pods for all of them; as many crewbeings aboard such vessels are slaves, they are considered expendable in the event of an emergency, and must thus seek other ways off the ship in such an event.

As one of the few purpose-built warships in the service of the Hutt Cartel, the Orivah enjoys a special significance in the Hutt fleets. Relics of another age, new patterns of these ships are produced very rarely, but countless older examples persist in active service, diligently maintained and operated by the slaves and sycophants of the great slugs. They are often used to intimidate enemies, rivals and debtors, as well as to protect important Hutt assets, engage in piracy or conduct slaving operations in support of Hutt economic dominance.

LEGALITY​

The Orivah-class corvette is not eligible for private ownership in most civilized systems. Given that almost all extant examples are owned and operated by the Hutt Cartel, private ownership is widely regarded to be a mistake anyway, as it invites investigation by law enforcement, and by the Hutts themselves. The type has a well-earned reputation as the vehicles of pirates and slavers.