RevenueThe subsidized merchant makes money by carrying passengers and freight for a fee, and spending less than the received amount in fees for ship upkeep and operation. By examining the potential revenues and costs, it is possible to ascertain how much money the ship can expect to make in transport operations. The information below is computed on the basis of one trip per two weeks, and is for one trip.
Revenue: The fat trader can expect to make income from four sources; high passengers, middle passengers, low passengers, and cargo. The ship has seven staterooms available for passengers and nine low berths for low passengers. Though if necessary, they may double bunk crew to provide additional rooms for passengers. Cargo hold capacity is 205 tons. Passengers: With the staterooms full, the ship can carry 14 passengers (2 of which stay in the Royal Suite) and expect an income of Cr. 116,000 for one trip. If all are middle passengers, this income can reach as low as Cr. 56,000. Vacancies can reduce this income still further. Low Passengers: The low berths can return Cr. 1,000 per passenger, or Cr. 9,000 if the berths are full. Cargo: The ship can carry up to 200 tons of cargo and return Cr. 205,000 per trip if the hold is filled with freight. Speculative trading can, of course, greatly increase this (or ruin the crew entirely). Planetary Patrons: During downtime loading, finding, and unloading cargo crews will often supplement income by working for local Patrons. The income from this work varies greatly as does the dangers. |
CostsCosts: The ship has a series of continuing expenses to be met as it operates. These include fuel, ship payment (or subsidy payment), life support, maintenance, salaries and berthing costs.
Fuel: The ship requires 52 tons of fuel for each trip. Refined fuel is preferred, at a cost of Cr. 26,000 (Cr. 500 per ton). Unrefined fuel can be purchased (Cr. 5,200; Cr. 100 per ton) at starports, Ship Payment: The fat trader is a subsidised vessel, and 50% of its gross income must be paid to the subsidy agent. Payments may be made at any class A, B, C, or D starport. Although the amount due is a large fraction of the total income the ship produces, a standard ship payment would be more, more than Cr. 200,000 per month. Buying a Ship's Share: The Ship is broken down into 360 ship shares. Each share cost Cr. 250,000 to purchase. If a crew gains more than 25% of shares in the March Harrier, it will transfer to being a Free Trader with a monthly mortgage of Cr. 250,000 and no Ship's Payment. Life Support: Life support costs amount to Cr. 2,000 per passenger or crewmember and Cr. 100 per low berth. Assuming a full ship, the fat trader would pay Cr. 56,900 per month for life support. Maintenance: In anticipation of annual overhaul, the ship should allocate a portion of each trips income for maintenance. This amounts to Cr. 40,049 per month. Salaries: The crew is paid according to a standard monthly salary scale with bonuses based on skill levels. For the standard crew positions, this amounts to Cr. 21,000 per month. Berthing Costs: berthing costs are unpredictable and can be between Cr. 6,000 and nothing per trip. Ship’s Operating Fund: The March Harrier’s income and expenses pass through a fund managed by the shareholders of the ship (usually the captain, the pilot and the engineer). All salaries, fuel and maintenance costs, and other expenses are paid from the fund, and all income generated by the ship goes into it. The fund is managed by a board of shareholders. The board votes to decide how money is to be used. Payments to the subsidy holder are the fund’s first requirement, followed by other expenses. If there is excess money, the board may vote dividends to the shareholders. When the March Harrier comes out of the shipyard from its annual maintenance, the operating fund totals Cr 112,816. The Shadow Fund: The ship’s crew has sources of income which do not, strictly speaking, depend on the operation of the March Harrier. The subsidy holder does not receive 50% of the income from these operations, which must therefore be kept separate from the operating fund. This separate fund is called the shadow fund. Most often, this fund is used to purchase cargoes for speculation and to buy cargo space for them on the March Harrier (paying standard rates to the operating fund). When the goods are sold, the income is placed in the shadow fund. The shadow fund is also run on the basis of shares. The fund’s total assets from the previous crew have been taken by the Bank. The current Shadow Funds are Cr. 0. |
Crew and ShareholdersAny shareholder may sell shares to any crewmember and the shareholders may vote to issue new shares to anyone in return for cash placed in the fund.
Dividends can also be issued by vote. Each share currently has a theoretical value of Cr. 232.66. The shadow fund has sometimes loaned money to the operating fund. Crew Roles Captain - the master and commander; responsible for all activity on ship (if there's trouble); usually handles interactions with officials regarding the ship if they're beyond routine, or during first meeting (i.e. the Pilot or Navigator can talk to the starport for usual things like clearances, etc.; but if it's the first time the ship has jumped into a system, the Captain usually does the talking, or if there are things happening that are out of the ordinary. Pilot - responsible for actually flying the ship, landing and taking off, general state of the ship (fuel, systems checks, etc.). Engineer - responsible for operation of jump drive, maneuver drive, power plant and all the various systems of the starship (a lot of work for one person). Navigator - plots courses from take off to jump point, jump course, and course to destination world; often deals with communications with other ships, starports, and facilities. Medic - the doctor, not usually co-opted into acting as cargo-handler, hustling for cargo/passengers or muscle, but can in a pinch if willing. Gunner - primary duty to stand watch during flight at the weapons stations before and after jump. Maintains and monitors weapons systems (ammo, supplies, etc.). Can double as cargo-handler, armed guard, muscle. Steward - works to obtain passengers from travel agencies/brokers (if Captain doesn't do this); ensures ship is provisioned for passengers and crew; maintains books of accounts for the ship (though not the Ship's Fund (from profits)) unless the Captain does that themselves; entertains and waits on passengers during jump ("cruise director" - at least for High Passengers). Deckhand - cargo handler, go-fer, what-have-you. Many deckhands also have some mechanical skills. |
Hull |
Engineering |
Power Requirements |
Hull: 400 tons Streamlined |
M-Drive: Type C Thrust 1 (4 tons), ML 0 |
M-Drive 40 |
Hull Points 160 Armor: Armor 0 |
J-Drive: Type C Jump 1 (15 tons) ML 0 |
Jump Drive 40 |
13 Standard Staterooms 1 High Stateroom 200 tons Cargo Space |
Power Plant: Type C Fusion, Power 135, ML 0 |
Ships Systems 80 |
Maintenance Cost Cr. 6772/month |
Fuel Tanks 43 tons (4 weeks plus one J-1) Fuel Scoops, Fuel processor (20 tons per day) ML 0 |
Sensors 1 |
Purchase Cost MCr. 81,2683 Ship Share Cr 250,000 |
Port and Starboard Dual Pulse Laser Turrets Damage 2D/2D+4 Range 25 ship squares (25,000 KM) To Hit +2 pulse (+3 at Dog Fight range) |
Pulse Laser 4 to power laser, 1 to power Turret. 18 points to fully power both turrets. Allows 2 fires at ship range and 6 fires at point defense if fully charged per turret. |
Hull |
Engineering |
Power |
20 Tons Streamlined TL12 |
Maneuver Drive Thrust 1, 2 tons |
M- Drive 2 |
Hull Points 8 Armor 0 |
Fusion, Power 10, tons 1 |
Ship Systems 4 |
10 ton space (10 collapsible seats) 1 Sanitary Facility (1 ton) |
Fuel 1 ton 4 weeks operations |
Sensors 1 |
Maintance Cost cr 421/month Purchase Cost Mcr 5.607 |
Computer 5 Library Maneuver 0 Fire Control 1 |
Pulse Laser and Turret 5 |
Topside Turret Pulse Laser |
Sensors Standard |
na |