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Summary: the purpose of this file is to document the field testing and modifications performed on the Arbiter-Class Battleship identified as ‘Achlys’.
Intent: The intention is to build upon The Achlys' design philosophy and inevitably surpass its origin ship's capabilities in order to pave the way for a superior Dreadnought design. By stripping unnecessary sections, components and systems in favor of combat effectiveness in a direct confrontation scenario starting by upgrading armor plating, increasing firepower potential, power production and a myriad of other functions. The end goal is a state of the art combat-oriented warship which ideally will prove to be a formidable opponent in all theaters, taking inspiration and research from other sealed projects that apply to the ideals which brought this project to fruition.
In order to best evaluate what avenue should be approached when conducting these level of modifications, it's necessary for the vessel to undergo a significant amount of live field testing and lab experimentation. From live combat scenarios to constant hyperspace activity, the vessel is put under various stressful tests and plunged into dangerous scenarios that affect its functionality in all fields, ranging from the hull's integrity in hostile environments and live fire situations to the effectiveness of crew compositions and the automation of internal ship functions which otherwise would be manned. Each test grants a new perspective to look at when in pursuit of perfecting a combat ship's design by identifying and tackling current and potential flaws as they appear.
Current Status:Green | Active | Evaluation/Maintenance
Individual test reports are inefficient for documentation, thus I’m summarizing the necessary information from all tests and experiments on a bi-weekly basis. (Hopefully, anyway.)
Live fire tests have provided mixed results, owed in part to composition and strategic discipline failure as well as reactor difficulties. However in spite of these discrepancies, combat tests have otherwise been successful. A documented scenario in which insurmountable odds were encountered and the Achlys exceeded expectations has given us set bar. The environment however was in our favor and success was largely owed to that. Open space allowed for the freedom of mobility, and the firepower provided by the 240mm HEAP cannons made short work of enemy escort craft as expected. The old prototype Rheinland technology we had recovered has also been installed and proved formidable in close quarters, but once again we find ourselves with a reactor struggling to maintain the installed modifications.
Current active and installed modifiers:
RBT-74h “Sledge” Cannons
MB10a 240mm HEAP Kinetic Cannons
Adv. Electromagnetic Pulse dispersion cannon/Anti-Missile system
Prototype Refraction/Reactive Armor Plating (Non-factor to power consumption. Intended solution to structural integrity problems)
Since day one, the Achlys has been struggling with power consumption problems. I’ve brought these issues up with Daniels as well as my counterpart Keeper Revenant, yet we’ve since been too distracted to begin exploring potential solutions. The cause is due to the removal of sensor equipment and Legion-specific hardware throughout the ship and later installation of our conversion systems. Due to the constant fluctuations, we often experience deck power outages and conduit ruptures. So far, there have been very few minor injuries brought on by these small and isolated incidents, however the problem remains a grave concern for functionality. Daniels has pointed out after extensive time spent in the company of drones working in the reactor that the failure lies with several incompatible and outdated components. These incompatibilities were not unexpected given the conversions done to adapt Legion equipment to our standards, and with the addition of new and experimental equipment the strain on this Libertonian reactor is only getting worse.
To mitigate this, I’ll assemble another team with Daniels and Venator Jau to begin exploring a modified version of our current Azurite Reactor, yet due to the scarcity of resources involved in their production it's likely the team's priority will be to establish alternatives that meet our standards and fulfill the requirements of the currently outlined specifications. Until then, field testing will resume for the remainder of this month.
Class: “Arbiter” Electronic Warfare Battleship Design Intent: Mobile Command Center, Electronic Warfare, multi-role Construction Date: Undetermined period between 821-825 Sensor system: ACRX-600 Tactical Sensor Array Propulsion: Liberty-based Fusion drive (XV-800+) Hull Composition: Reinforced ablative armor plating. Standard compliment of Reactive Armor. Length: 1,208 Meters Height: 145 Meters Width: 200 Meters Average Crew Count: 720 Current Crew Count: 321 (30% of the active crew consists of drones or other automated units) Current Commanding Officer: Keeper Leviathan Current Executive Officer: ZCIU-23195-P Acting Chief Engineer: Edward Daniels
Current active and installed modifiers/armaments/equipment:
My familiarity with this vessel predates The Covenant’s existence by several years. Being stationed on one many years ago, I’ve seen this design evolve. While I can’t say it has been for the better, the Arbiter has proven itself in several theaters ranging from open conflict with the Liberty Navy and occasional skirmish with the Gallics, to backwater brawls with many of the local degenerate elements we’ve come to know and love. The sheer size of the vessel makes it a significant asset to field, along with making it quite easy to locate without the appropriate concealment technologies that we’ve become so used to seeing on a daily basis.
As was its intention, the Arbiter rivals and in some cases surpasses its origin ship and its main Libertonian rival, owed largely to its modular design which allows for versatility. It’s why it makes an ideal test ship for warfare. However it falls short in many categories. As this project continues to progress, we’ll resolve those shortcomings one way or another.
One of the earliest decisions I made on this project was armor reinforcement. Not that the original Arbiter was totally lacking in this field, but because we can do better. The first iteration is a layer of reactive and refractive plating, designed to mitigate the damage of directed energy projectiles by reflecting small amounts of the condensed particles away, where the subsequent reactive plating beneath it would absorb another significant amount of incoming fire before an aggressor would reach the composite layer of the vessel. All of our field testing has incorporated the early prototype, but as we reach the mid-way mark of its life-cycle, we begin to explore improvements.
Now, when I say better I mean taking this design apart and rebuilding it from the ground up our way. That includes every layer of this plating. Starting with the base composite design of The Arbiter's standard hull makeup, to the reactive plates, to the refractive upgrades - Piece by piece.
- From the desk of Keeper Leviathan.
The Composite Layer:
The current composite layer consists of medium-to-heavy-weight materials utilized by standard Libertonian design philosophy. Surprising, considering the Arbiter is meant to outweigh its lighter Libertonian counterparts. Titanium composite plating is still their standard. Instead, we replace the materials and overall philosophy with thicker skin. We rebuild the composite layers with Iridium-laced depleted uranium hull panels. The resulting benefits are denser armor plating, corrosion resistance and better sustainability in irradiated environments.
The panels themselves require a specific formula in order to not unbalance the composite minerals they're made out of. This is due in part to the temperature effects that could destabilize improperly blended plates, causing them to either fracture or lose their integrity.
The installation of reactive plating on starships throughout Sirius is necessary in the ever increasingly hostile environment people are faced with on a daily basis. From natural phenomenon to hostile encounters with pirates or other elements, armor is what separates you from the dead. The varying levels of plating on the open market cover a variety of needs and have since become the standard.
Improving upon that, we insulate the sections between the plating and install electric relays beneath them, as well as replace the plating itself with electromagnetic material. This effectively turns the armor plating into a an electric conduit, which when supplied additional power on top of impact registry with elementary directed particles, the panels create a discharge in an effort to diffuse incoming energy bursts. When penetrated by ballistic fire, the panels close their circuits and overcharge its capacitor by transferring a large amount of energy to render the projectile responsible vaporized, thus mitigating some of the damage caused by torpedoes and missiles at the sacrifice of the emitter until maintenance can be applied.
This experimental layer is plating which has been given a special coating of material designed to reflect and diffuse the directed energy particles utilized in Sirius and Nomadic weapon systems. This system was never designed to be a fully effective solution, yet largely mitigates photonic and laser fire and reduces the effectiveness of other weapons. This top layer is intended to be the first line of defense before the EMR takes over.
The design philosophy was that of a mirror, which would reflect enemy fire back at them. Due in part to the density of directed energy projectiles, the most that could be accomplished is the reduction and slight dispersal of energy-based weapons fire, overall reducing their impact by a moderate amount and providing that extra layer of skin that the enemy would need to cut through before affecting major systems.
R&D outdid themselves this time. I have to give my regards to Zitronburg and his efforts with Hephaestus. The development of our new weapon arsenal has not only solved a major issue with maintaining upkeep on aging inferior APM technology, but has paved way for the first steps to resolving the power consumption problems of our weapon converters. I'm not expecting this to resolve the drainage on that Liberty reactor, but it's a start at least. The Mangonels and Spiculums as they've been named have been successfully installed on the Achlys, and are to undergo field testing in the next few days. Hopefully we can find an isolated location where any damage might go unnoticed, though that remains something of a distant dream.
In the meantime, I've updated the specification document for record purposes. The APM hardware taken from the Achlys has been deposited in the vault for archiving.
Keeper Revenant has finally authorized the design and construction of an Azurite Generator to fit the Achlys. This is an immediate solution to the power consumption problems, however the development is going to require some fine work. I'll need to notify Jau that propulsion designs can begin in conjunction with the generator, which'll speed up the overall development process of the new systems. For now, we'll remain with the current template and continue testing the newly installed weapon systems, as well as brainstorming what can be done with my former work.
The constant difficulties presented by the factory-made reactor on the Achlys has up until now remained one of the largest hurdles to overcome. The considerable amount of resources it would take to design a version of the Azurite reactor for this vessel was out of the question at first, but having explored every other viable option we were left with no choice. With authorization I've attached the original design and joint propulsion system to this document. I'll further elaborate on the design changes for integration into the Achlys project.
The structure is composed of multiple chambers, the reactor chamber in the center. The reactor chamber is layered with an iridium embedded with High-Temperature Alloys to endure high levels of radiation, with Azurite coated on top of the Iridium layers to absorb the energy. The Azurite also provides a means of capturing excess energy, the energy being transferred to another local point in the generator using a process of chemical conduction. The gathered energy would be absorbed into a secondary absorbent layer, the energy is then directed in a flow grid, transferring to an energy conversion unit to conduct the energy levels to a safer level ensure it doesn't overload, supplying the pressurizer and the turbines. Excess energy moves on to the internal power cache, where it goes to assist in powering the magnetic shielding in the core.
These containers are a vital function to the catalyst reactor, as the Azurite inside them provides a safer and easier way of protecting the internal components from exterior sources - disallowing damage to the core. It allows for direct implantation to the very center of the reactor, channeling the energy and plasma to one focused point. Fusion reactions occur within the main chamber, the source being alien Power Cells - as previous tests conducted, they can act as a sturdy catalyst and power-source provided if it done in the right conditions. Magnetic Superconductors are also made use of, to ensure the energy flow is easily manipulated in the main power lines. The outputted particle transfers are carefully guided along the control rods to another chamber, where the atom 'cracking' process happens, generating masses of amount of energy for transfer, the energy is then split down a main power grid, transferring to a containment unit, to distribute the output safely, feeding it through multiple channels. Some issues with the studies involve: Overheating issues in the excess energy produced - the excess energy is also used to assist in keeping the device powered, circling back to the main core.
The catalyst: Two power cells. A depleted one, used as a depleted material, and an active cell, using the other one as a fusion source, as it's depleted state has a more unstable isotope structure, enabling it to act as a catalyst. The cells are almost unpredictable, rare, and can pose a risk from side effects. A secondary catalyst that was proposed was neutronic protocells, but it would be less efficient than using the power cells. Time is a constraint, however. Getting the components constructed takes a long time, especially if it's required to be in a certain complex shape.
Lightrider Wrote:
PROJECT: “LIGHTRIDER” PROPULSION SYSTEM - AXI-A-577 MODIFIED IONSTREAM-MK2 PROTOTYPE
SHOWING DATA. . .
The main process of the project occurs within Sector E-B. Displaying information.
Spare Power Cells are being contained within the Vault as a backup measure.
-Tests reveal that the emission rate is optimized by 245%
-The Cell Chamber is charged up through a focused beam, and an injector infuses the cell with nanoids - manipulating the energy patterns.
-Energy production is up by 350% - enough to power the entirety of the vessel.
-During the initial test runs, there were two incidents that involved energy failures - these were overcome by applying an enhanced energy suppression field, overcharging it, and adding an additional two layers around the core.
There are several important factors to take into consideration before we delve into the design. The first is that the framework for the generator and propulsion were never initially designed to be built into this class of vessel. The second is that the propulsion is especially tricky without a total redesign of the aft-most section of the Achlys. The third is that without authorization to access key projects, these issues couldn't have been overcome without seeking a dangerous alternative in the public markets.
That being said, we've taken inspiration from The Wraith's design and laid the foundation for a horizontal reactor layout. Due to the length, shape and nature of the Achlys as well as what little space we have to work with in the current frame, the aforementioned focusing beam will run directly through the four primary reactors - all of which will run along the same chamber. They're separated by shielded security doors in the event of a malfunction, meltdown or detonation so as to preserve the other surviving reactors and keep the vessel mobile at reduced efficiency. If you cut off and depressurize a chamber while the other three work in tandem to maintain operational status, this'll allow drones to assess any damage and attempt to restore reactor power. The individual generators themselves have all been designed at an increased scale, and digital testing indicates their efficiency will push the Achlys to its intended mark for power production.
Each reactor has an individual maintenance station manned by automated units or AI to avoid any serious risk of exposing non-mechanical crew mates to hazardous materials harmful to their psyche. In the event of reactor failure, the focusing beam is shielded by a plated shutter system to avoid debris and blast damage. The shutter system is operated automatically, but has several manual overrides at maintenance points which remain locked down during flight or at the Primary Security and Engineering stations on the vessel. The beam itself is otherwise separated from the reactor, and receives its energy feed through the expanded internal power cache. Should total reactor failure occur, the remaining power reserves will be diverted to propulsion and life support in the best possible attempt to preserve the vessel and its crew, until total shutdown occurs and the focusing beam is terminated.
The beam is directed along the reactor chambers towards the main propulsion system and engine core, which - unlike the AXI-A-577 as it was designed for this system, the Achlys needs to be fitted with a specialized condenser and conversion system in order to process the feed into usable energy and propel the vessel. The use of these compromises has reduced our engine's efficiency considerably, but the change is still a welcome alternative to the previous fusion system. Without considerable modification to the structure and complete redesign of the vessel's propulsion, it's unlikely this problem will change.
The overall cost of resources will be extreme, which goes without saying.
The Citadel requires an upgrade to its facilities before construction can proceed on this modification. This material is far too sensitive to openly work with elsewhere. For now, the Achlys will remain on active duty basing from the Taus and assisting in the Leeds situation.
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