Earth Intelligence Ministry NGO report: United Postal Forces

Significant planetary holdings: Yes
Significant Warship assets: Yes
Significant Ground combat groups: Yes
Ideological Alignment(s): Determined+/Capitalist/Idealist
Technological assessment: Baseline Zero, no deviations
Scope of operations: Galactic

Overview:
The United Postal Forces began their life as the Interstellar Postal service, originally created as a public-service corporation by the Earth Government in order to ensure reliable delivery and communication between the Sol system and its far-flung colonies. As the space nominally controlled by the Earth government began to expand, the Postal fleet effectively became a branch of armed service, as hints started appearing that Earth's territories had become far too large to manage, and that the entire First Earth Alliance was beginning to come apart at the seams. Systems in the farther reaches had begun to band together and build their own fleets for protection against piracy by other humans and non-human combat vessels, and Earth entered into a long and costly war to try and preserve it's monopoly on naval assets within its rapidly fragmenting territory. The Alliance Senate called for the postal fleet to integrate with other Alliance fleets for the sake of the war effort, but the Postal Fleet severed all ties with Earth, vowing to continue operating on their charter "Come Supernova or Black Hole." Already fighting a number of wars on all fronts, there was little that the Alliance government could do to bring their wayward delivery service to heel.

During the collapse of the Alliance government due to infighting among its members, the status of the Postal Fleet was unknown for a number of decades until Alliance Admirals were able to restore order on Earth and sign new treaties which recognized the independence of a number of the breakaway states. contact was eventually re-established with the Postal Fleet, now the self-proclaimed United Postal Forces. During the widespread instability caused by the Alliance War, the Postmaster-General had decided to liberally exercise the second half of his title, and used his fleet assets to bring a number of failed states to heel, placing them under the combined protection of the forces at his disposal, backing some groups and destroying others in order to create a confederation of systems that all owed a large debt to the intervention of the United Postal Forces. While it lacked governmental structures of its own, the UPF had effectively become an independent galactic power in its own right.

Due to the development of interstellar communication and message networks, actual mail is rarely carried by the UPF. Aside from the tribute paid to them by their client states, the UPF handles the delivery of high value-density goods, sensitive information, secure personal transport, as well as deliveries to areas that have become dangerously unstable due to prolonged interstellar conflict. Their stated mission is to ensure the continued flow of goods and communication within the Human sphere, as per their original charter.

UPF Fleet:
While the Express and Priority-class haulers are a relatively common sight, it has become abundantly clear that the UPF has developed and produced the means to project overwhelming force across interstellar distances. During a planetary blockade being performed by the Canopian Republic, Two Priority-class armed transports requested access to the planet in order to make deliveries, citing their status as neutral entities in the ongoing conflict. The haulers fled after the blockade fleet threatened to open fire, but returned within 72 hours to make the delivery- after the Republic blockade fleet had been defeated and driven out of the system. So far, we have identified and cataloged six classes of UPF military vessels, the Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail, Heat and Night. The UPF uses clear markings on its vessels, a moderate blue combined with white for lettering and other designs.

Known vessels of the UPF:

Express-class armed courier

The Express-class is the most commonly-sighted vessel in the UPF inventory. These are fast transport ships that are built to handle time-sensitive materials and small quantities of high-value goods in the most inconspicuous package possible, and are actually fairly well-protected against the weapons that private raiders normally have access to. The main firepower of the vessel, as with all UPF vessels, comes from modified  and uprated versions of the Ceretek beam weapon, one of the standbys of the old Alliance fleet. This version, the Ceretek 30, is built for the raw damage that is most useful against flimsy raider vessels that would be the ship's most likely opponent, if it ever got into engagements at all. Of note are the vessels powerful thrusters, which make it an exceedingly maneuverable vessel as well, allowing it to bring its firepower to bear if forced into an engagement it couldn't escape, for one reason or another.

(95) Express-class UPF Secure Armed transport

Hull: 5 4 3 2 1                   
Engines: 7 6 5 3 2                   
Shields: 3 3 2 2 1                   
Weapons:
1:X 2:X 3:X 4:X 5: 6:

X: Ceratek 30 Beam weapon: 4/8/12, 1/4+/1/3
[G][AC][BD]

Special: Hyperdrive; Overthrusters; Anti-Fighter Batteries (4); Cargo (30)

Priority-class armed hauler

The Priority-class is a large and well-protected cargo hauler that's used for bulk delivery of industrial necessities, from standard factory machinery all the way up to warship components. Because the vessel doesn't have nearly the ability to outmaneuver its opposition, it is capable, then, of defending itself to an astonishing degree for a vessel that the UPF describes as a cargo hauler. The Priority-class uses a dual-mount version of the Ceretek beam, version 45, which sacrifices damage for long-range stability of the beam weapon itself, allowing for greater accuracy at longer ranges.. It also mounts a number of small missile batteries for use against fast craft, such as fighters and gunships that some of the larger raider organizations can afford. While not as sophisticated as some of the warships fielded by the greater powers, this vessel can make a surprising accounting of itself to the unwary.

(314) Priority-class UPF Battle hauler

Hull: 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1           
Engines: 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1           
Shields: 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1           
Weapons:
1:X 2:X 3:X 4:Y 5:Y 6:

X: Ceretek 45 Beam weapon: 5/10/15, 2/4+/1/2
No Range Mods
[AB][AC][AC][BD][BD]

Y: Track-30 intercept missiles: 4/8/12, 3/4+/1/1
Anti-Fighter
[ACE][ACE][BDF][BDF]

Special: Anti-Fighter Batteries (6); Hyperdrive; Cargo (350)

Rain-class Drone cruiser

The Rain-class is the smallest dedicated warship used by the UPF, and its primary role is that of an extreme-range attack vessel that operates in support of other vessels in the fleet. While it mounts three Ceretek type 40 beam batteries, its primary firepower comes in racks of long-range drone missiles, fired at the outset of a battle in order to gain a first-strike capability or force the enemy to expend their own seekers to intercept the incoming barrage. Once its drones are expended, it moves in under the protection of the larger ships of the fleet- once its drones are expended, its own firepower is marginal at best, and even its adequate protection won't stand up for long if isolate in a true battle line.

(407) Rain-class UPF Drone cruiser

Hull: 7 6 5 4 3 2 1                 
Engines: 4 4 3 3 2 2 1                 
Shields: 4 4 3 3 2 2 1                 
Weapons:
1:X 2:X 3:X 4: 5: 6:

Z: Ceretek 40 beam weapon: 4/8/12, 2/4+/1/2
[AB][AC][BD]

Special: Hyperdrive; Carrier (245); Anti-Fighter Batteries (8)

Carries 7x Air Mail Missile flights
Seeker Size 6, Speed 10, Attack 4+, Double Damage

Snow-class Vanguard Cruiser

The Snow-class is a curious vessel. While its firepower seems initially inadequate, consisting of only six main batteries built around the Ceretek 55, they are all fairly long range, have good penetration capabilities, and pack a fairly hard punch. It also carries a comprehensive electronic and information warfare suite designed to hinder a large spectrum of targeting  methods, making it a hard vessel to get a good firing solution for. The vessel has been labeled a "Vanguard Cruiser" A vessel designed to arrive in system and defeat any pickets and harasser vessels to clean up any possible surprises in advance of the remaining force, as well as be a solid enough ship to fight in pitched combat should enemy forces manage to gather and respond in significant numbers and/or strength. Another thing working in its favor is that, at first glance, it appears to be a variant of the Priority-class hauler.

(408) Snow-class UPF Vanguard Cruiser

Hull: 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1           
Engines: 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1           
Shields: 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1           
Weapons:
1:X 2:X 3:X 4: 5: 6:

X: Ceretek 55 Beam weapon: 5/10/15, 2/4+/1/3
Piercing +1
[G][G][AC][AC][BD][BD]

Special: Anti-Fighter Batteries (10); Hyperdrive; Countermeasures

Sleet-class Attack Carrier

The Sleet-class is the UPF's dedicated fleet carrier. While it does carry some degree of armaments suitable for a vessel of its type, the ship's striking power lies in the fighter wings it carries to the field. While not as numerous, the Mustang-class attack fighter is still a dangerous opponent to other fighters and warships alike, due to its vast array of weapons and ability to utilize all of them in an efficient manner. There are no known smaller carriers at this time, but the Rain-class might be a vessel considered for escort carrier status in the near future, due to the utility and power of these small craft.

(1373) Sleet-class UPF Attack carrier

Hull: 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1       
Engines: 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1       
Shields: 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1       
Weapons:
1:X 2:X 3:X 4:Y 5: 6:

X: Ceretek 40 Beam weapon: 5/10/15, 2/4+/1/2
[AB][AB][AC][AC][BD][BD]

Y: Anti-proton  missiles: 6/12/18, 1/4+/2/4
[AC][BD]

Special: Anti-Fighter Batteries (10); Hyperdrive; Carrier (990)

Carries 9x Mustang fighter wings (Capacity 110)
Fighter, Size 5, Speed 9, Attack 4+, Defense 1, Increased ROF-2, Increased Damage-2

Hail-class Battleship

The Hail-class is the largest combat vessel in use by the UPF, and more than adequately performs its described role, providing heavy long-range firepower from a resilient combat platform. The vessel is equipped with the Ceretek 60 beam cannon, the variant modified for use with the Battleship's turret rings and power grid, but its long-range firepower comes from two sources. The first is from a set of heavy missile launchers mounted just forward of the command section, equipped with deep magazines for continued fire. The second is a pair of enormously powerful spinal energy weapons that have been termed 'core cannons' by our engineers. The guns themselves consume too much power to be fired directly from the ship's reserves, so the weapons are actually powered by disposable energy cores that provide enough power to fire the weapon, but the loading sequence prevents the guns from achieving a high rate of fire, much to the relief of anyone engaging these vessels in combat. The composition of these disposable cores is unknown, but the output of a single firing of one of the core cannons could provide sustained power to certain smaller varieties of warship for a significant fraction of an hour.

(984) Hail-class UPF Battleship

Hull: 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1     
Engines: 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1     
Shields: 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1     
Weapons:
1:X 2:X 3:Y 4:Y 5:Z 6:

X: Ceretek 60 Beam cannon: 5/10/15, 2/4+/1/3
Piercing +1
[AB][AB][AC][AC][BD][BD]

Y: Heavy missile launchers: 6/12/18, 1/4+/1/4
[AC][AC][BD][BD]

Z: Core cannon: 6/12/18, 1/4+/2/5
Piercing +2; Slow-Firing; Double Damage
[G][G]

Special: Anti-Fighter Batteries (16); Hyperdrive; Armor Plating

Heat-class transport

The Heat-class provides interstellar transport for UPF ground forces, that it uses to provide security for new ports, or to take control of spaceports and stations, as circumstances dictate. It is armed with an array of heavy pulse lasers and bombardment missiles to secure landing areas, but its missiles might also cause severe damage to warships that are unlucky enough to be struck by one of the rounds. Its primary purpose, though is safely deploying the forces contained within, usually UPF powered armor squads with armored support. It may also drop power armor from orbit through the use of shuttles or disposable pods.

(159) Heat-class UPF Troop transport

Hull: 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1               
Engines: 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1               
Shields: 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1               
Weapons:
1:X 2:X 3:X 4:Y 5:Y 6:Y

X: Mk. 30 Pulse lasers: 3/6/9, 3/4+/1/1
[ACE][ACE][BDF][BDF]

Y: Bombardment Missiles: 4/8/12, 1/4+/1/5
[AC][AC][BD][BD]

Special: Hyperdrive; Transport (200)

Night-class Special Mission Cruiser

By far the most rare and elusive vessel in the UPF inventory is the Night-class, an ungainly but terrifying vessel created to secretly infiltrate hostile areas and destroy potential threats to sensitive assignments that have been contracted out to the UPF. The weapons wielded by the vessel are nasty enough- the Ceretek Devastator is based on a molecular-bond diisntegration weapon prototype first developed by the Alliance, and it is capable of cutting through all but the most hardened shields with immaculate ease and causing severe damage to warships struck by the weapon. It also carries a full-spectrum sensor cloaking device, which allows it a high chance of approaching undetected and engaging at point-blank range. The vessel does have critical weaknesses- it cannot engage fighters with any reliability, and it is more submarine than battleship. If detected, even moderately strong firepower can breach its defenses and cause critical damage to the vessel.

(277) Night-class UPF Special mission cruiser

Hull: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1             
Engines: 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 1             
Shields: 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1             
Weapons:
1:X 2:X 3:X 4:X 5:X 6:

X: Ceretek Devastator Cannon: 4/8/12, 1/4+/1/3
Double Damage; Piercing +3; Starship-Exclusive
[G][G][G][AC][AC][BD][BD]

Special: Hyperdrive; Cloaking Device; Anti-Fighter Batteries (6)</r>