On Jul 17, 2019, at 8:27 AM, Thomas RUX <xxxxxx@comcast.net> wrote:

The Guardian's full specifications MT COACC page 93:

GUARDIAN-CLASS (TL12) ORBITAL BATTLE STATION
CraftlD:  Orbital Battle Station, TL12, MCr21
     Hull:  901225, Disp = 120, Config. = 4, Armor = 40F              
Power:   1/2, Fusion = 6 Mw, Duration 120/360
Commo: Radio = Planetary, datalink only
Sensors: Active EMS = Planetary
Off: Missile = x09
                      Batt 1
                      Bear 1
Computer: 1 x 1
       Other: Fuel = 12Okliters, ObjSize = Small,                
     The Guardian-class orbital battle station is armed with
a 100-ton missile bay containing two battery rounds of
UCP Factor-9 nuclear missiles. Once activated in orbit,
it automatically acquires and fires upon shipping that does
not respond to the correct pre-programmed transponder
code. It is easily and cheaply mass produced as a last line
of defense in low orbit.

If that vessel has a displacement of only 120 dT (if I’m remembering my MT specs correctly) and 100 of that is taken up by a missile bay, there isn’t ROOM on it for a crew of 25 or 50. 

From the description given it also sounds entirely like an automated missile station, controlled via datalink from the ground. A crewed station wouldn’t ‘automatically acquire and fire upon non-responsive vessels.

There are a large number of ships scattered throughout Traveller canon that simply cannot be built following the rules.

-- 
Bruce Johnson
University of Arizona
College of Pharmacy
Information Technology Group

Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs