The Remora class of ships were originally designed to hang beneath a Hammership (1 under each eye). This requires that a docking ring be installed in each eye (1000 gp each to retrofit, 500 gp each if installed during initial construction). When docked, the Remora's catapult is unusable, and the Hammership's MC is reduced by 1 (since the Hammership/Remora(s) combination now weighs more than 60 tons - as per _War Captain's Companion Book 1_, Table 5-9). The catapult is located on the forward end of the upper deck, just in front of the docking ring. The ballista fires through a portal on the forward end of the lower deck (below the gravity plane), thus limiting it's firing arc while giving it's weaponeer a -4 AC bonus. This firing port must be sealed before any water landing is attempted. Also note that all Remoras must be detached before the Hammership can attempt to land.
Subsequent to it's introduction, the Remora class has been seen occasionally in other spheres hanging under a variety of vessels. The Remora's typical roles are as a scout vessel, landing craft, and escort. Rumor has it that the Delcosians are working on a new ship that will carry a large number of Remoras.
Some Remoras have been fitted with a dual mount ballista, and thus require one more member of their weapon crews. A few have been built with stronger metals than copper in order to have a better armor class.
(A feeble attempt at ASCII art)
--rrr-----------------------------------
grav ccc | l hh| | \
---- ----------OO--------------------------------------
plane \bbb | l | | /
----------------------------------------------
ff fff
f ff
f
Side view
r - docking ring | - bulkhead
c - catapult l - ladder
b - ballista f - fins
h - helm 0 - hatch between decks
1U 2U 3U 4U
/-----------------------------------------------\
< ccc | OOl hh| | >
\-----------------------------------------------/
Top view (Upper Deck)
1L 2L 3L 4L f
f ff
ff fff
/-----------------------------------------------\
< bbb | OOl | | >
\-----------------------------------------------/
ff fff
f ff
Bottom view (Lower Deck) f
(Reversed Gravity)
Rooms:
1U - Catapult Deck 1L - Ballista Room
2U - Bridge 2L - Common Room
3U - Helmsman's Quarters 3L - Crew Quarters
4U - Upper Cargo Hold 4L - Lower Cargo Hold
Other notes (i.e. explanations of bad ascii artwork):
The fins are paired, project downward at a 45 degree angle, and can be flattened along the hull for landing or when docked below the mother ship.
The hull is 50' long, 10' wide, and 20' high. Unfortunately, ascii doesn't project this very well, nor does it leave me room to show the doorways between each room. Also, there is an 8x10' hatch on the top and bottom of the ship (just forward of the fins) that leads into each cargo hold.
The catapult deck is the only area of the ship that is open to space. There is a 3' high railing around the edge.
