Project: Metis -- A prototype sanctioned by the 46th Liberty Navy & The Crayter Republic Quote: Great things can be accomplished when a House and Ally unite.
Basic Information Ship: Mark I Zephyr. Captain: Rear Admiral Shepard. XO: James Dryden. Status: Condition Yellow. Armaments/Crew: Classified Affiliation: Liberty Navy 46th Fleet. Regular known whereabouts: Liberty Space, New York System.
How The Metis Was Requisitioned
When it comes to prototypes its easy to select a platform and begin working, however Shepard wanted her prototype to mean something to be a shining example of what could be when a house and an ally come together. With her recent promotion to Rear Admiral Shepard was given the freedom to work on what she deemed important. She immediately thought of The Battlegroup Yellowstone in the Coronado System. She sent out a message to the Crayter Republic Minister Westbrook about visiting the Battlegroup and getting a feel on the situation. Upon arrival she spoke with the Liberty Navy men and women stationed there and took account of everything they needed to continue their mission strong against the Outcasts. Before leaving Shepard could not help but notice all of the Crayter Carriers at Sabah Shipyard in need of repairs. She saw this as an opportunity to strengthen the friendship between Crayter and Liberty. After prodding for more information on what Crayter is in need of to get these ships back in service she sends out a Contract to AWES. A reliable company known for their quick and effective hauling services. A week goes by and Shepard is informed that all the supplies that was requested had mate it to Sabah Shipyard. It was time to speak to the Minister Westbrook. It wasn't until this moment that Shepard thought of a way Liberty could benefit from this situation. Strengthening the bond between Crayter and Liberty is a good thing but there is nothing like Technology that really shows how strong a relationship can be. Shepard suggested to Minister Westbrook about possibly requisitioning a combat capable hulk for the Liberty Navy to work on and make a prototype out of. She was not very hopeful that that her request would be granted but you never know until you try. After a few short days of delay Shepard was met with approval! Minister Westbrook gave her the choice of four combat capable hulks that needed work. Of this lineup the Metis was among them. It was here where Rear Admiral Shepard's eye glistens and chose the Metis.
Reactor Stability
With the best engineers Liberty has to offer the Metis was proving to be a difficult project for Shepard and her team. The Reactor was constantly shuffling power output to dangerous levels and no one had any concrete ideas on how to tame this unstable machine. There had been opinions thrown around to scrap the reactor and make one from the ground up but Shepard is stubborn and didn't want to waste credits and time on a new reactor. She believed it was possible to tame this beast and it was only a mater of time until just that happened. One night Dr. Killick or K for short was working late and came across a set of command codes that just didn't look right to her. After more diagnostics she determined that this code was the reason for all there trouble. After making the necessary adjustments she waited for the next morning to bring her report to Rear Admiral Shepard. The order was soon sent to fire up the reactor. Then to everyone's surprise the reactor fired up with blue illuminations and almost angelic humming sound. The reactor was stable though not firing on all cylinders per say. It is estimated the Reactor was only dishing out 90% efficiency and more work needed to be done. It was still a momentous occasion for Shepard, Dr. K, and the entire team.
Short Term Goals
With the reactor showing signs of improvement Rear Admiral Shepard will begin preparations to start giving the Metis more important duties. It will serve as a true test to give the rest of the Admiralty the confidence they are seeking with this prototype. Shepard is also looking towards adapting Liberty Navy Turrets as it currently relies on Crayter Primary Turrets to get the job done.
Future Goals
Eventually Shepard would like to rework the hull to be more streamlined with liberties theme, Improve the engines, and give the ship the final touches to make it reliable on and off the battlefield
Present Time
The Metis can be seen around New York with its crew very focused on their work. Looking over data to ensure the ship is not a danger to themselves or the Republic. They are constantly running tests and recording everything for their trip back to Norfolk so more adjustments can be made.