IPC- Independent Press Corps.

Given the nature of interstellar communication, it is far easier for interstellar governments to keep unpleasant or upsetting news about the activities of the ruling bodies from flowing from system to system. the communications equipment required to communicate with other star systems is far beyond the ability of the average citizen to acquire, and so the black out of inter-system media is a viable tactic for governments who want to contain any civil unrest caused by the release of "undesirable" facts. However where there's a need, a supplier will inevitable arise.

The IPC came out of an alliance of disillusioned media companies that fell into disfavor with their various governments due to an inconvenient abundance of journalistic integrity. While they were removed from the airwaves, for the most part, they still had lots of money, and powerful backers. The plan then, was to run what has since been referred to as "black-market news"- An IPC vessel, after gathering the breaking news, would slip quietly into a system's space, maneuver as close to the planet as possible, and broadcast as much classified news as was feasibly possible before the attention of the local authorities.

It became clear early on that some entanglements could not be avoided, as well as the fact that pirates began to take a liking to dealing in information as well as goods, so the decision was made to arm IPC vessels with the mest weapons technology that could be found or built by the robust IPC research and development labs. Every IPC ship comes with a vast array of sophisticated electronic and full-spectrum cloaking devices, and while their armament my be slightly lacking, their vessels can take an inordinate amount of punishment as well. The news must get through, after all.

The IPC eventually took to finding news on their own, and that required even more firepower coupled with larger vessels to carry it. As such, the IPC is one of the best-equipped non-government space forces in the known galaxy.

IPC- All the news worth fighting for.

Surveyor- The Surveyor-class is the most common vessel used by IPC investigators. it is a fairly survivable ship for its size, though it isn't a total speedster. The weaponry has been considered a little lacking but this is what's most commonly used for light investigative work and the all-important task of delivering the news.

Surveyor-class (63)

Hull 3 2 1
engine 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Shields 1 2
Damage Track: HEQ 2Ea HSa ES HQ EQ

Weapons:
Battle Laser- Range 3/6/9, 4+, 1/1/2
AB, C, D

Equipment: Hyperdrive [O], Anti-fighter batteries [O], Armor plating, Cloaking Device [O], Long-Range sensors [O]

Murrow-class Cruiser

The Murrow-class is a bit of a reverse on the old escort paradigm- most of the time in naval warfare, the escort vessels are smaller than the ships they mean to protect. the idea behind the Murrow-class was to create a safe-point in hostile space that the Surveyors could retreat to in case of unfortunate entanglements. The Murrow-class itself is substantially armed in order to effect such a mission, and even carries a compliment of minefields in order to deter any pursuit vessels.

Murrow-class Cruiser (237)

Hull: 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Engines: 5 4 3 2 1
Shields: 3 2 1
Damage track: HQ EQ Ha Eb H S

Weapons: Grav lance: Range 4/8/12, 4+, 1/2/2
AB AB
Missile launchers: Range 4/8/12, 4+, 3/1/1
AC BD

Equipment: Hyperdrive [O], Anti-fighter batteries [O], Armor plating, Cloaking Device [O], Long-Range sensors [O], Mines [OOOOO OOOOO]

Gutenberg-class Command ship

The Gutenberg-class serves as a command ship for larger media efforts undertaken by the IPC. As such, it is the most powerful vessel in their arsenal: without this vessel, larger operations simply could not be undertaken with any degree of coordination. While it does come with the standard cloaking device, it is also equipped with the best weapons available to the IPC as well as four groups of fighters.

Gutenberg-class Command Vessel (583)

Hull 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Engine 3 2 1
Shield 4 3 2 1
Damage Track: HQ Ea Hb S H Q

Weapons: Extended Grav Lance: Range 5/10/15, 4+, 1/2/2
AB, AB, CD
Missile Launchers: Range 4/8/12, 4+, 3/1/1
AB, AC, BD, CE, DF

Equipment: Hyperdrive [O], Anti-fighter batteries [O], Armor plating, Cloaking Device [O], Long-Range sensors [O], Fighter bays [OOOO], Launch doors [OO]