Spacecraft : all entries
Aeon
revised 2011.09.02 at 22:58
Known to the modern human diaspora as Morgan Bay Observatory Unknown Object 1 (MBO-1), the Aeon was briefly boarded by Heirotus founder Brandon James, security consultants Robert Carrington and Michael Yang and psychic consultant Aleph Stevens approximately 50 years before the events of The Dualist. James received a critical head wound and lost an eye. An object known only as "MBO-2" was removed by Aleph Stevens as the ship initiated what was later determined to be the first biomagnetic transfer observed by modern humans.
Heirotus has kept all other information pertaining to the ship a tightly guarded secret.
Terran equivalent : The Mary Celeste.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, whitehouse -15-.
Arvak-class transport
revised 2011.09.02 at 21:52
The Arvak class transport is the backbone of the Helios-based Interstellar Transit Authority. A relatively short range transport designed for hauling humans and cargo from ship to station, the Arvak type is solid, reliable, and a common sight in docking rings and bays all over known space.
Heirotus founder Brandon James contracted a range-extended Arvak from the ITA in order to rendezvous with MBO-1 near Helios. At the time, Heirotus space assets were limited - it was, simply, the first available spacecraft.
Terran equivalent : C5 Galaxy.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, the operative -8-.
Development note : The Arvak type has been completely modeled and textured, has animated landing gear, and is (as of 201109) slated to appear in chapter three of Transitional Voices.
Cheops
revised 2011.09.02 at 19:44
A Titan class low orbit and upper atmosphere patrol craft, the Cheops is the sole Templar spacecraft permanently assigned to Terra. Orbiting the earth in Am or within the Veil at a depth of 1.5, the Cheops keeps watch while staying well out of the range of terrestrial sensors.
The Cheops is equipped with the standard Titan class armament - particle cannon, kinetic point defense batteries, nuclear and standard high-explosive payload cruise missiles. The ship also mounts a high caliber after-market nuclear powered railgun and a long-duration Crew Service Module. While the "angry end" of the vehicle is capable of atmospheric entry, the CSM is not. It does, however, have the capability to fly the Command Module remotely via an encrypted tight-beam telecommunications link.
Terran equivalent : Hamilton class USCG cutter.
First appearance : The Dualist, signal -1-.
Daedalus
revised 2011.09.02 at 21:27
A Javelin class Am-capable high speed cargo transport, the Daedalus is the property of ex-Templar Captain John West. The workhorse of a shady courier service run out of the Australian outback in a nearby pocket universe, the Daedalus is frequently far from Earth, and often under the command of John's first officer, Naomi.
Designed to haul moderate amounts of cargo incredibly long distances at incredibly high speeds, the Javelin class is equipped with the most efficient engines and non-organic power plant designed to date. The ship generates artificial gravity by acceleration, and can sustain a 0.5g burn for upwards of six hours. The type is incredibly nimble in a vacuum, though maneuverability in atmosphere is extremely limited. While the advanced RCS system provides a degree of ground effect and the capability to turn on a dime at extremely low speeds, the ship has an atmospheric turning radius of hundreds of kilometers at any significant speed - a maneuverability that decreases exponentially on approach to escape velocity.
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Hemera
revised 2011.09.02 at 19:05
The Hemera is a Discovery class deep-range cartography vessel constructed by the Interstellar Cartography Group and leased to Heirotus, officially assigned to chart grid GSV and parts of grid GSU.
The base Discovery hull features two logistics hardpoints, two docking interfaces, centrifugal gravity and a stellar cartography suite equipped with the very latest optical and radio telescopes. Under Heirotus management, the Hemera has been equipped with an advanced Deep Range Holt-Rischmann Device (DR-HRD) and two U-238 utility aerospacecraft. The ship has also been configured for extreme deep-range long duration flight - most of the lower deck has been converted to hydroponics and storage, and flight systems have been heavily automated to enable the ship to run with a crew a third the size of the standard Discovery hull.
Terran equivalent : A much bigger, much longer duration P3 Orion.
First appearance (chronological) : Dead City Radio, Leitmotif -25-.
First appearance (production) : The Dualist, Incursion -1-.
Majestic
revised 2011.09.02 at 20:48
The Majestic is a cutting-edge reconnaissance Am-capable aerospacecraft designed to operate in deep space, low orbit and high atmosphere. Equipped with an surveillance package containing military grade electronics and classified Heirotus organic systems, the carbon computer coordinated sensor payload provides high-volume, high-detail intelligence across the the entire spectrum of artificial and organic perception.
As the aerospacecraft is expensive, fragile and brutally high maintenance, Heirotus Security doctrine calls for the Majestic to be used only in situations that require its advanced organic perception capabilities.
Terran equivalent : Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady.
First appearance : The Dualist, recon -1-.
The Sabrosa
revised 2011.09.02 at 22:56
Heirotus capital ship prototype 47 (HX-47) Sabrosa is the testbed for several technologies incorporated in the Type 47 class of Heirotus Colonial Authority warships, in mass production at the time of The Dualist. The ship contains the company's first dual-core biomagnetic transfer system (DC-BTS), the first capital-scale portable multi-field combined mass amplifier and displacement system (CMADS), the first organically powered mass driver, the first two Majestic class recon ships assigned to a deep range deployment, the first vehicle-based Quantum Analogue Relay (QAR) and a host of other innovations, iterations and improvements on proven technology.
The fact that none of it works very well has been noted and logged, and many - possibly all - of the design defects have been fixed in the the production version. While still extremely capable and years - if not decades - ahead of state military technology and destructive capability, the Sabrosa is considered to be something of a lemon by Heirotus Security.
At the time of The Dualist the ship is a training vessel on deep range deployment. In spite (or possibly because) of its lemon status, the Sabrosa has acquired a reputation for producing the most experienced and capable damage control and maintenance personnel of any ship in the Heirotus fleet.
Terran equivalent : A Carrier Strike Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit two-for-one combo.
First appearance : The Dualist, incursion -4-
U-238 (Loki)
revised 2011.09.02 at 20:21
The Barghosa Aerospace Utility Aerospacecraft Model 238 (U-238 or "Loki") is an airframe that sucks well at everything. While inferior to purpose-built attack, transport, electronic warfare and even cargo vehicles, the fact that the U-238 can be quickly and easily re-fit to perform any one or more of these roles in a matter of minutes has made it the standard transport and heavy utility aerospacecraft of the military and Heirotus.
The base stowable unibody frame contains default avionics, rocket motors and propellant tanks, twin nuclear-powered air breathing turbines and an integrated RCS/VTOL system. Renowned for its ruggedness and high availability, the U-238's negative reputation comes from the maintenance issues with many of the modular mission systems, notably the AWACS, SAR, and particle beam gunship modules. The newsworthy twitchiness of early module loadouts earned the U-238 its nickname - Loki.