The Blacktron Corp of Elite Engineers, Astral Combat Engineers(ACE), was given a special
assignment by their commander. Due to losses that stemmed from breakdowns of communication, 
the absence of needed fighter support, and the dangerous nature of their duty, ACE was charged 
to develop BERT, the Battle/Engagement Ready Transport. ACE was taking the step to providing 
for their own defence. It also allowed them a degree of independence from a command structure 
that didn't place ACE's concerns first.

An abandoned alien fabrication facility had been discovered by ACE, which ACE used to create 
BERT and her support ships. BERT was based on an unremarkable light transport, which was 
little more than a platform with habitat moduale. It was modified with launch wings and 
additional technic mounts. Individual ACE regiments were given design parameters for the BERT, 
and the engineers used their imagination to achieve their assignments.

A modified mine-layer was outfitted to be the command-and-control center for the BERT. Control 
can be maintained from the habitat moduale if the mine-layer disengages from the BERT platform. 

Propulsion teams devised a scheme that would allow the transport to move at fighter speeds. 
Technic engine mounts would provide basic speed and manuvering, but support ship engines were 
to be employed to add their engine power to that of the BERT. Reinforcing docking mounts and 
launching pylons allowed fighters and missle ships carried by BERT to fire their engines to 
help propel BERT through space. Eight to twelve support ships adding their power to the 
transports allowed BERT to outpace even the fastest convey escort.

Support ship teams enjoyed the demand to over-engineer their vessels. Mark 336 hydrogen 
fission engines were agreed upon to be the standard engine used by BERT and all support vessels. 
This allowed for a small inventory of necessary spare parts, and scavenging if the parts 
inventory failed. The Mark 336's could also be linked to increase power. Engineers, who love 
to overdesigned, also follow the Siren's call to overpower whatever they can.

The first support ship developed for BERT was was the TOE. This was abreviated from the more 
descriptive title, two-oversized-engines-with-an-idiot-stapped-on-them. It was a cockpit with 
two Mark 336 engines, dressed yellow, with two ion canons. It was elegantly Spartan, allowing 
it to be quickly produced and very dependable.

Engineers, however, are rarely content with a Spartan designed, so a modified TOE was created. 
This was the FOE. Four-oversized-engines-with-an-suicidal-idiot-stapped-on-them. Two sets of 
dual Mark 336 engines powered the FOE and it four ion canons. The cockpit was identical to the 
TOE, but the FOE was also equipped with advanced communication and sensor warfare electronics. 
The FOE's engines were dressed in black, to help it remain stealthy.

A missle delivery support ship was also designed, though competing engineers developed two 
different missle launch wings. One team employed standard launch wings already deployed om 
missle frigates. These wings were complex, but allowed for multiple vector targeting without 
repostioning the platform. The second design team developed simple and dependable wings that 
shot in only one direction. Pilots will design which model wins out. The ships carry 
16 Apocolypse missles each, resemble the FOE in configuration, but the engines are dressed in 
red. Given the explosive power of the missles, all personel agreed to keep the platform visable. The name for this support ship was also undecided.

While additional support ships are on the drawing board, the standard configuration of the BERT 
will be with a compliment of 8 TOE's. When auxillary wings are added, the TOE's will be joined 
by 4 FOE's. Missle ships may substitute for one or more of the fighters as needed.

ACE hopes that the Battle/Engagement Ready Transport will be a crushing combination of speed 
and fire power. The Astral Combat Engineers do not view combat as their primary function, and 
would rather defeat an enemy with clever tactical twists, but like all Blacktrons, Ace is ready 
for a fight.