# Corvettes and Industrial Vessels

*Crown Meridian Ship Catalog, Armored Hulls of the Irnan Directorate for Void Drifters. Source: https://exodusnds.com/sourcebooks/crown-meridian/corvettes-and-industrial-vessels*

Crown's mid-size hulls do the two jobs the maker's customers most often pay for: keeping a convoy alive, and building the places the convoy is going.

##### The CM-540 Line
*Hammerhead Bulkframe hull in three generations, CM-540 to CM-540B.*

<img class="framed" src="https://exodusnds.com/assets/sourcebook/crown_meridian/crown-meridian-cm-540-plate.jpg">

The CM-540 is an escort corvette, the hull a shipping consortium buys when losing one more freighter to the Verge costs more than paying for an escort. It is not a warship. It is close enough that the difference rarely comes up.

**Generation notes.** **CM-540A.** A shield-emitter dome in the prow gives Deflection 1 fore, and one more module hatch opens in the flank. **CM-540B.** A ring emitter at the stern gives Deflection 1 aft, and two flat radiator panels along the top add Heat Dissipation. At 85% of its build budget the B has the least room left of any Crown hull.

**Common Variants.** Convoy escort, Corporate security corvette, Customs enforcement vessel, Contractor patrol ship, Armed survey escort.

<div class="ship-block ship-wide ship-crown">

### CM-540 <span class="ship-class">Escort Corvette</span>
<div class="ship-id"><span>Crown Meridian Shipworks · CM-540 family</span><b>Scale 5</b></div>

| Role | Price | Acquisition |
|:--|:--|:--|
| Convoy escort, corporate security corvette | 2,440,000cr | Restricted |

| Speed | Cruise | Handling | Sensors | Armor | Deflection F/A | Hull Points | System Points |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 4 | 3 | −1 | Standard | 4 | 0 / 0 | 44 | 26 |

| Power | Heat Threshold | Heat Dissipation | Module Slots (open) | Crew | Passengers | Cargo Units | Consumables |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 13 | 15 | 3 | 8 (3) | 12 / 30 | 20 | 80 | 4 months |

<div class="ship-sect">Typical Loadout</div>

| Weapon | Range | Hull | Sys | Crit | Heat | Pwr |
|:--|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| Railgun Battery ×2<span class="q">Standard, in a Heavy mount · Forward · Pierce 1, Recoil, Limited Ammo 16</span> | Medium–Long | 5 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Light Missile Rack<span class="q">Standard · Turret · Lock-On, Tracking, Interceptable, Payload, Limited Ammo 6</span> | Long | 6 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Light Rotary Cannon ×2<span class="q">Light · Turret · Auto-Fire, Point Defense 1, Recoil (minor), Limited Ammo 40</span> | Short–Medium | 3 | — | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Point-Defense Laser ×2<span class="q">Light · Turret · Point Defense 1, Accurate 1, Cooldown</span> | Short | 2 | — | 5 | 2 | 1 |

<div class="ship-cols">

**Rated** Slipstream · Atmosphere (limited) · No landing

**AI Core** Professional Directive AI

**Mounts** 4 Light · 1 Standard · 2 Heavy · 12 points

**Modules** Reinforced Command Core, Internal Security Suite, Armory, Barracks Module, Damage Control Station · 3 open

**Builder** Crown Meridian signature benefits and weak drawbacks; Integrated Architecture (Chapter 4). Armor counts as 5 against collisions, rams, and Critical Hits.

**Trait** ***Convoy Anchor:*** While the CM-540 is within Short range of a friendly vessel, that vessel removes 1 Bane Die <span class="dice sm bane d6"></span> from checks to brace, coordinate point defense, or reinforce a screen.

</div>

</div>

<div class="ship-block ship-wide ship-crown">

### CM-540A <span class="ship-class">Escort Corvette</span>
<div class="ship-id"><span>Crown Meridian Shipworks · CM-540 family</span><b>Scale 5</b></div>

| Role | Price | Acquisition |
|:--|:--|:--|
| Convoy escort, corporate security corvette | 2,580,000cr | Restricted |

| Speed | Cruise | Handling | Sensors | Armor | Deflection F/A | Hull Points | System Points |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 4 | 3 | −1 | Standard | 4 | 1 / 0 | 47 | 26 |

| Power | Heat Threshold | Heat Dissipation | Module Slots (open) | Crew | Passengers | Cargo Units | Consumables |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 13 | 15 | 3 | 9 (4) | 12 / 30 | 20 | 80 | 4 months |

<div class="ship-sect">Typical Loadout</div>

| Weapon | Range | Hull | Sys | Crit | Heat | Pwr |
|:--|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| Railgun Battery ×2<span class="q">Standard, in a Heavy mount · Forward · Pierce 1, Recoil, Limited Ammo 16</span> | Medium–Long | 5 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Light Missile Rack<span class="q">Standard · Turret · Lock-On, Tracking, Interceptable, Payload, Limited Ammo 6</span> | Long | 6 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Light Rotary Cannon ×2<span class="q">Light · Turret · Auto-Fire, Point Defense 1, Recoil (minor), Limited Ammo 40</span> | Short–Medium | 3 | — | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Point-Defense Laser ×2<span class="q">Light · Turret · Point Defense 1, Accurate 1, Cooldown</span> | Short | 2 | — | 5 | 2 | 1 |

<div class="ship-cols">

**Rated** Slipstream · Atmosphere (limited) · No landing

**AI Core** Professional Directive AI

**Mounts** 4 Light · 1 Standard · 2 Heavy · 12 points

**Modules** Reinforced Command Core, Internal Security Suite, Armory, Barracks Module, Damage Control Station · 4 open

**Builder** Crown Meridian signature benefits and weak drawbacks; Integrated Architecture (Chapter 4). Armor counts as 5 against collisions, rams, and Critical Hits.

**Trait** ***Convoy Anchor:*** While the CM-540A is within Short range of a friendly vessel, that vessel removes 1 Bane Die <span class="dice sm bane d6"></span> from checks to brace, coordinate point defense, or reinforce a screen.

</div>

</div>

<div class="ship-block ship-wide ship-crown">

### CM-540B <span class="ship-class">Escort Corvette</span>
<div class="ship-id"><span>Crown Meridian Shipworks · CM-540 family</span><b>Scale 5</b></div>

| Role | Price | Acquisition |
|:--|:--|:--|
| Convoy escort, corporate security corvette | 2,736,000cr | Restricted |

| Speed | Cruise | Handling | Sensors | Armor | Deflection F/A | Hull Points | System Points |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 4 | 3 | −1 | Standard | 4 | 1 / 1 | 47 | 28 |

| Power | Heat Threshold | Heat Dissipation | Module Slots (open) | Crew | Passengers | Cargo Units | Consumables |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 13 | 15 | 4 | 9 (4) | 12 / 30 | 20 | 80 | 4 months |

<div class="ship-sect">Typical Loadout</div>

| Weapon | Range | Hull | Sys | Crit | Heat | Pwr |
|:--|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| Railgun Battery ×2<span class="q">Standard, in a Heavy mount · Forward · Pierce 1, Recoil, Limited Ammo 16</span> | Medium–Long | 5 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Light Missile Rack<span class="q">Standard · Turret · Lock-On, Tracking, Interceptable, Payload, Limited Ammo 6</span> | Long | 6 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Light Rotary Cannon ×2<span class="q">Light · Turret · Auto-Fire, Point Defense 1, Recoil (minor), Limited Ammo 40</span> | Short–Medium | 3 | — | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Point-Defense Laser ×2<span class="q">Light · Turret · Point Defense 1, Accurate 1, Cooldown</span> | Short | 2 | — | 5 | 2 | 1 |

<div class="ship-cols">

**Rated** Slipstream · Atmosphere (limited) · No landing

**AI Core** Professional Directive AI

**Mounts** 4 Light · 1 Standard · 2 Heavy · 12 points

**Modules** Reinforced Command Core, Internal Security Suite, Armory, Barracks Module, Damage Control Station · 4 open

**Builder** Crown Meridian signature benefits and weak drawbacks; Integrated Architecture (Chapter 4). Armor counts as 5 against collisions, rams, and Critical Hits.

**Trait** ***Convoy Anchor:*** While the CM-540B is within Short range of a friendly vessel, that vessel removes 1 Bane Die <span class="dice sm bane d6"></span> from checks to brace, coordinate point defense, or reinforce a screen.

</div>

</div>

**Generation Table**

| Hull | Change | Build points | Price | Upgrade from previous |
|:--|:--|:-:|--:|--:|
| CM-540 | Published first generation | 148.2 of 195 | 2,440,000cr | n/a |
| CM-540A | +1 Module Slot, +1 Hull block, Deflection 1 fore | 156.6 of 195 | 2,580,000cr | 16.8 points, 189,000cr |
| CM-540B | +1 System Point block, Heat Dissipation +1, Deflection 1 aft | 166.0 of 195 | 2,736,000cr | 18.8 points, 212,000cr |

<img class="framed" src="https://exodusnds.com/assets/sourcebook/crown_meridian/crown-meridian-cm-540-family.jpg">

##### The CM-590 Line
*Hammerhead Bulkframe hull in two generations, CM-590 to CM-590A.*

<img class="framed" src="https://exodusnds.com/assets/sourcebook/crown_meridian/crown-meridian-cm-590-plate.jpg">

The CM-590 is an industrial vessel: an armored heavy lifter for colonial works, mining and construction in hostile space. A broad armored block at the bow and an exposed truss spine carry the work gear.

**Generation notes.** **CM-590A.** An extra clamp-and-gantry module on the spine and a squared housing beside the engines. It carries one more Module Slot and more Power Capacity to run it.

**Common Variants.** Colonial works tender, Mining support ship, Hull-section hauler, Salvage escort, Disaster response vessel.

<img class="framed" src="https://exodusnds.com/assets/sourcebook/crown_meridian/vd-cm-110-industrial-gantry-work.jpg" alt="CM-590 sets down a habitat" loading="lazy">

<div class="ship-block ship-crown">

### CM-590 <span class="ship-class">Industrial Vessel</span>
<div class="ship-id"><span>Crown Meridian Shipworks · CM-590 family</span><b>Scale 5</b></div>

| Role | Price | Acquisition |
|:--|:--|:--|
| Colonial works, mining support | 2,036,000cr | Licensed |

| Speed | Cruise | Handling | Sensors |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 2 | 2 | −2 | Standard |

| Armor | Deflection F/A | Hull Points | System Points |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 3 | 0 / 0 | 50 | 24 |

| Power | Heat Threshold | Heat Dissipation | Module Slots (open) |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 11 | 12 | 3 | 10 (1) |

| Crew | Passengers | Cargo Units | Consumables |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 8 / 20 | 30 | 400 | 4 months |

<div class="ship-sect">Typical Loadout</div>

| Weapon | Range | Hull | Sys | Crit | Heat | Pwr |
|:--|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| Point-Defense Laser ×2<span class="q">Light · Turret · Point Defense 1, Accurate 1, Cooldown</span> | Short | 2 | — | 5 | 2 | 1 |

**Rated** Slipstream · No atmosphere · No landing

**AI Core** Professional Directive AI

**Mounts** 2 Light · 2 points

**Modules** Construction Module (2), Workshop, Expanded Fabrication Shop (2), Towing Rig, Repair Drone Bay, Expanded Cargo Hold (2) · 1 open

**Builder** Crown Meridian signature benefits and weak drawbacks; Integrated Architecture (Chapter 4). Armor counts as 4 against collisions, rams, and Critical Hits.

**Trait** ***Hardened Frame:*** Reduce Hull Damage from debris, micrometeoroids, thermal stress, and construction accidents by 1. Checks made with the Construction Module or the Towing Rig remove 1 Bane Die <span class="dice sm bane d6"></span>.

</div>

<div class="ship-block ship-crown">

### CM-590A <span class="ship-class">Industrial Vessel</span>
<div class="ship-id"><span>Crown Meridian Shipworks · CM-590 family</span><b>Scale 5</b></div>

| Role | Price | Acquisition |
|:--|:--|:--|
| Colonial works, mining support | 2,169,000cr | Licensed |

| Speed | Cruise | Handling | Sensors |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 2 | 2 | −2 | Standard |

| Armor | Deflection F/A | Hull Points | System Points |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 3 | 0 / 0 | 50 | 26 |

| Power | Heat Threshold | Heat Dissipation | Module Slots (open) |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 12 | 12 | 3 | 11 (2) |

| Crew | Passengers | Cargo Units | Consumables |
|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 8 / 20 | 30 | 400 | 4 months |

<div class="ship-sect">Typical Loadout</div>

| Weapon | Range | Hull | Sys | Crit | Heat | Pwr |
|:--|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| Point-Defense Laser ×2<span class="q">Light · Turret · Point Defense 1, Accurate 1, Cooldown</span> | Short | 2 | — | 5 | 2 | 1 |

**Rated** Slipstream · No atmosphere · No landing

**AI Core** Professional Directive AI

**Mounts** 2 Light · 2 points

**Modules** Construction Module (2), Workshop, Expanded Fabrication Shop (2), Towing Rig, Repair Drone Bay, Expanded Cargo Hold (2) · 2 open

**Builder** Crown Meridian signature benefits and weak drawbacks; Integrated Architecture (Chapter 4). Armor counts as 4 against collisions, rams, and Critical Hits.

**Trait** ***Hardened Frame:*** Reduce Hull Damage from debris, micrometeoroids, thermal stress, and construction accidents by 1. Checks made with the Construction Module or the Towing Rig remove 1 Bane Die <span class="dice sm bane d6"></span>.

</div>

**Generation Table**

| Hull | Change | Build points | Price | Upgrade from previous |
|:--|:--|:-:|--:|--:|
| CM-590 | First generation | 124.3 of 195 | 2,036,000cr | n/a |
| CM-590A | +1 Module Slot, +1 Power Capacity, +1 System Point block | 132.3 of 195 | 2,169,000cr | 16.0 points, 180,000cr |

<img class="framed" src="https://exodusnds.com/assets/sourcebook/crown_meridian/crown-meridian-cm-590-family.jpg">

<img class="framed" src="https://exodusnds.com/assets/sourcebook/crown_meridian/crown-meridian-convoy.jpg">

##### At the Table: Running a Convoy Escort

A convoy escort job is a formation problem. The escort's job is to keep the ships it guards inside the range where its defenses work.

**Stay close.** The CM-540's Convoy Anchor works within Short range. A freighter that drifts past Short range loses the benefit, and a pirate crew will aim for the stragglers.

**Choose who gets the help.** The Convoy Anchor removes 1 Bane Die <span class="dice sm bane d6"></span> from one friendly vessel's check to brace, coordinate point defense, or reinforce a screen. Each round the engineer or captain says which vessel.

**Other hulls.** A hull with a Convoy Link installed (Chapter 9) can do the same once per round, if it has Professional Directive AI. A convoy of three freighters and one Link-fitted escort is a formation. A convoy of three freighters and nothing else is a target.

**The pressure.** The GM plans the attack at the edge of the formation. Raiders run at Medium range, strike one straggler at Short range, and withdraw. The escort answers by closing the gap, not by chasing.

<img class="framed" src="https://exodusnds.com/assets/sourcebook/crown_meridian/vd-cm-111-corvette-bridge-convoy.jpg" alt="Corvette bridge on convoy watch" loading="lazy">
