Autumn-class cruiser

The Autumn-class cruiser (hull classification symbol: C) is a general-purpose capital ship manufactured by SinoViet Heavy Machinery for the UNSC Navy.

Configurations
Unlike the Halcyon-class cruisers that preceded it, the Autumn-class cruiser is built with a somewhat less-durable but more modular design. All across the starship are a large number of empty storerooms, maintenance airlocks, and power distribution sockets that are organised in a standardised orientation, which allows SinoViet to quickly and easily fit the infrastructure for extended components. New weapon systems, self-defence arrays, and even mission-specific hardware can be effortlessly installed and reconfigured at any given naval base. Because of this, the Autumn-class has a number of specialised configurations that differ in firepower, carrying capacity, and supportive abilities.


 * Orbital assault/strike: Widely considered the 'vanilla' configuration, the orbital assault/strike set-up is designed to maximise the cruiser's forward firepower and deploy a fast, hard-hitting ground element. The four Mark 40 Spitfires are positioned directly in front of the secondary fusion drives in pairs, which allows them to collectively target a single ship, but restricts their field of fire. The hangar has been retooled to support the launch of ten D82-EST Darters and up to twelve gunships, as well as allocating space for additional blast-protected munitions for both its ODSTs and aerial wing. The micro-satellite and reconnaissance drone complement has also doubled.
 * Escort: Another common sight, these cruisers are used when they are likely to confront massed hostiles or better protect a nearby ally. The Spitfires are better spaced around the ship to provide better firing arcs, and a total of twenty-four M870 Rampart point defence guns are there to protect the mothership from missiles. Two squadrons of F-41 Broadswords, as well as an assortment of other space fighters, are typically carried at the cost of its ground complement.
 * Attack: Based upon the original specifications for the Pillar of Autumn, the attack version is designed to vastly augment the cruiser's firepower. Four more Spitfires, eighteen M910 Ramparts and cells for heavy missiles such as Bident missiles are installed. To protect itself, two shield generators and an assortment of Universal Countermeasure and Decoy Launchers can be activated at a moment's notice. The MAC may be upgraded with additional slug storage and multi-shot capability, although both of these will cut into its hangar storage.