As a preemptory note, you'll find that during one of our latest supply runs to Leeds, an extra Lynx was transferred to the Carcassonne's registry. Our engineers have managed to convert this particular ship to use H-Fuel instead of Oil, which, in preliminary tests, has proven to be as reliable and somewhat more advantageous. H-Fuel can be used to power all systems onboard while occupying significantly less space. For example, you'll find her formal fuel compartment empty and the array of batteries typically used to power her systems removed.
What I ask is for one of your pilots to test her combat abilities, preferably without knowledge of the fuel being used. Regardless of what our models may say, I'd like to know that our designs are effective in the hands of a Royal Navy pilot. Though unlikely that we will ever change our dependencies, having the option of using Oil or H-Fuel gives us the opportunity to strengthen our supply lines as the Crown continues its push farther from the Kingdom's native fossil fuel fields.
If these craft are acceptable or deficient in any way, please let me know as soon as possible. Some recent personnel changes should grant us more expertise in these matters, and we will address your remarks swiftly.
Communications ID- Grand Marechal Ansel Xavier, Gallic Royal Navy Communications Recipient- Jacques Tavernier, EFL Oil and Machinery Communications Priority:Medium
Ansel appears on screen, looking a tad under the weather, his expression drawn.
Monsieur Tavernier.
I'll have to convey my sincere appreciation to your Research Divisions, who've worked hard to discover means by which we can circumvent our logistical problems. While I realise this may take years to perfect, the prototype Lynx is a start.
The ship will be assigned to Camille Gabriel, an Officer from the Legion Etrangere. I believe she has the necessary skillset to test this craft out in the field, and as the Foreign Legion often operates further out in the field from the main body of our operations, This will tie in perfectly.
I'm patching her through in a direct line to your headquarters, and she'll be instructed adequately regarding the matter. While I understand that this is a dangerous job and it might have been the prudent option to not inform the pilot of this ship's prototype status...It'll be a better test if the pilot knows what to look out for.
Firstly, allow me to extend my congratulations to your company for your success in what is, by all accounts, a difficult undertaking. Re-engineering the Lynx cannot have been a simple task, and I look forward to experiencing the results of your labors first-hand.
Though the Grand Maréchal has, no doubt, already introduced me, I would prefer to do so personally. I am Sous-Lieutenant Camille Gabriel, currently assigned to the 1st Regiment of la Légion. I am, of course, quite familiar with the Lynx, so I do not expect understanding of the craft to be a hindrance, though, if I am to operate this ship in combat, I would very much appreciate any documentation your company can provide as to the changes made from the standard Lynx.
Such a reference would make it far easier for me to keep track of how your anticipated performance aligns with the real-world results and prepare for any resulting eventualities. A quarter-second delay in weapon readiness may seem like a small thing on the drawing board, but I'm quite certain you can understand the ramifications in space.
Otherwise, I expect to be aboard Carcassonne within a day. I look forward to working with both your company, and your prototype.
In the absence of further information, I resolved to test some of the more straightforward properties of your prototype in-person, and I am glad to report that maneuverability, at least, appears unaffected. The engine noise is somewhat sharper, and readouts indicate that it is running significantly hotter then an equivalent engine on the standard Lynx when idling. I imagine it's likely attributable to the fuel itself, rather then the engine, but the heat build-up behind the cockpit was quite uncomfortable and continued to build throughout the forty-minute test flight.
I'll be able to provide your team with exact figures once I've finished sifting through the flight recorder data. In the meantime, I'm confident your engineers will be able to draw some information from the images provided.
I apologize for not providing relevant information sooner, but I appreciate your quick and admirably thorough report. I’m glad to hear that the Lynx is working reasonably well, though some of the issues you mention are quite disturbing. After discussing your communique with our engineers, we believe the engine noise is nothing out of the ordinary. However, the heat build-up is quite concerning. Like you, we believe the issue is tied to the use of H-Fuel and not the engine itself. Powering the electrical systems using the same fuel as the engine is likely “overloading” our current electrical component setup. The batteries Oil-fueled systems would use for primary system power work at significantly lower amperages, and I suspect the wiring harnesses and insulation is being a bit overworked. Fortunately, the space we save behind the cockpit itself should give us ample room to correct this issue.
We will dispatch a team to the Carcassonne to check the electrical components for burns and heat damage. Regardless of what we find, we’d like to try replacing the electrical wiring in the ship with something more substantial to handle the increased current properly. We’ll also check the ships components to make sure they are holding up as we would expect. Durability is a hallmark we cannot afford to lose.
After we have made the requisite changes, I’d appreciate any information you can glean from a weapons test. We expect no changes in efficiency given the process by which the Lynx’s weapons operate, but we will replace those electrical harnesses as well as a precaution.
There is little need to apologize. I appreciate that your office must deal with a number of pressing issues, and the comparatively simple matter of a prototype Lynx must be easily forgotten.
Thankfully, the exchange with your engineers aboard Carcassonne was pleasant enough, and I'm pleased to report that the heat has subsided to a manageable level, though still faintly warmer then the standard Lynx. I'm certain I will adapt to it, given time. Unfortunately the additional electronics suite has increased mass somewhat, and we've lost some of the maneuverability we gained in removing the bulkier original engine. The result does not appear to differ substantially from the oil-fueled Lynx; though I must admit, the smell is comparatively pleasant.
With the increased range the upgrade has granted me, I'm glad to report that I was able to contact a foray into the Bretonian Capital with your prototype. While mobile resistance was absent, the power system did not appear to experience any significant difficulty in dispatching corporate supply depots, as depicted in the attached logs.
All going well, I will be able to deliver an account of the prototype's performance in combat shortly.
I assure you the role you play in this project is monumental both for EFL and, possibly, the Crown’s military. I’ve recently had a chance to review the report from our technicians’ last bit of work on your ship, and indeed, scalding on the electrical wiring was an obvious problem. While the loss of mass from the battery array was hopefully going to increase performance a bit, it was fortunately enough loss in mass to make up for the additional insulation. It seems as of yet we’re at a zero-sum on maneuverability, but we will continue working on possible conduction material options.
I’m anxious to see how weapon performance fares with the new components against other craft. We consider this one of the most important phases as computer models can do little to truly replicate weapon performance in combat, particularly as each pilot may have different firing techniques, patterns, and expectations. In this matter, you truly are the laboratory.
The next time you return to the Carcassonne, our techs will also refit some of the outer hull plating out of an abundance of caution. The joints in the hull segments connecting the Oil tank to the craft appeared to suffer from some exaggerated expansion from the increased heat on your initial outing. Rest assured, you could lose the entire apparatus and suffer no harm from it, but your safety is always a priority.
I must commend your engineers on their work. The revisions to the Lynx's structure were carried out smoothly and professionally, and for that, you have my gratitude. The heat issue appears to have been largely resolved, although obviously not quite at the level of the former model, and the craft's performance in combat has been nothing short of exemplary.
You have my apologies for the delay in my response. Unfortunately, it proved more difficult then I had anticipated to track down a set of suitable targets. Thankfully today provided far better odds, and I have packaged the results of the encounters with this transmission for your perusal.
Should you require further test data, please do not hesitate to inform me. If the results of this particular outing are any indication, I would be pleased to provide it. Further, if at all possible, I would like to make known my interest in procuring one of these ships when they enter wide-scale production.
Wonderful news indeed. I'm thrilled to hear the new variant is finally meeting your expectations. I also want to thank you for bearing with us as we've sought to improve the variant's performance and reliability. Your reports have been essential to our research, and without them, we would lack the real-world application new technologies so necessary to garauntee the safety of our Navy comrades.
As a final request, I'd like to have your test ship returned to the Carcassonne to await its return to Maine. Given the information you've provided, we've begun produciton of a small run of modified fighters that we hope to deploy in the following weeks. I'll make certain one is provided to you exclusively, and if you have particular armament requests, I'll have it taken care of personally. EFL is indebted to you.
There is no need for thanks, monsieur. If anything, both you and your company have my gratitude for allowing me a place in such a monumental project, particularly one of such importance to the Crown. There were, admittedly, some minor inconveniences to begin with; however, the success of the project is ultimately testament to the skill of EFL's teams. It has been a pleasure to be of service.
Of course, the ship will be returned to Carcassonne's decks by midnight this evening. I must admit, it will feel unusual returning to the usual Lynx now. I must make a note to resume the engine checks your model rendered unnecessary. Your offer of armament is very kind, Directeur, but if it all the same, that is a matter I would prefer to resolve personally. A pilot should know her own arms, non?
I look forward to the new fighters joining the Navy's ranks.
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