Data about this project is classified as 'highly confidential'. Access is granted to Admiralty and Kure overseers only. Any disclosure to third parties will be treated as high treason and punished accordingly.
IKN-Zuiryu prior to its modifications
Communication & Scanner Array Schematics
Overhauled Engine Components & Solar Panel Integration
As known to the Admiralty, the Shimamori Clan succeeded in developing a sub-class of the proven Takeda Destroyer design in partnership with Kishiro Technologies under the Project name "Mizu". Both sister ships, the Zuiryu and Zuikaku have served the Clan well and sufficient combat logs were acquired over the past two years. As per agreement with Marquess Shimamori, the original blueprints remained with the engineers of Kure Shipyard. An initial analysis of the added antenna relays and solar panels gives a promising outlook on creating a fleet command vessel for areas unsuited for "Komainu"-class operations. Its marginally increased mass and targetable surface area is to be considered a negligible issue, rendering combat performance at equal to a standard Takeda-class hull with no further drawbacks.
With the Shimamori Clan shifting their focus away from space bound operations and towards local Honshu politics, we contacted the Clan and were offered the transfer of one of the two vessels to the Naval Forces. Following an inquiry with the NOH, the Zuiryu will be our vessel of choice due to its more limited deployment in battles compared to its sister ship. This marks the beginning of Project Ikazuchi, aimed to serve as final trials under extreme conditions for the design. Should Project Ikazuchi prove successful, a small scale production of "Ikazuchi"-class vessels will be commenced and Kure's new gained expertise will be lent to Yukawa Administrators for future cooperation and ease of production. Due to the current lack of mass production capabilities for the still prototype solar panels and miniaturized 'horns', any new "Ikazuchi"-class is bound to require investment levels of up to 185% of a standard "Takeda"-class, rendering the Project too costly for a complete replacement of the existing Destroyer fleets. Our engineering team will assess the possibility of post deployment modifications to existing "Takeda"-class Destroyers following the completion of Project Ikazuchi.
In service of Kusari,
Obara Senzo
Kure Shipyard, Senior Naval Designer
Access code received
Code recognised as SC-K-Matsu-930-xC-TC-SupEnc-A§RC-MA-DATA
Decrypting....
Project Ikazuchi Transfer Details Access codes recognized: Emperor Kogen of the Nara Branch, Shogun Yamato, Prime Minister Miyasu, Lord Commander of the KOI
Note: Any and all remote access to this databank located on the Arch is being tracked. Only his Imperial Majesty and the Imperial Shogun may disclose details about this databank entry. Misconduct with the information is punishable by death for anyone else.
The "Ikazuchi" was subject to a series of field trials throughout the last weeks. As predicted, the vessel is a formidable frontrunner on heavily armed reconnaissance missions. We report the successful installation of the experimental Jump Drive currently under development by the "Chochinbi" Special Operations Division. The "Ikazuchi" is reporting full duty readiness and will participate in Phase IV of the KOI's Jump Drive war plans: Rapid deployment tactics.
The Tokkeitai wishes to extend its gratitude to the Imperial Shogunate and the Lord Commander of the KOI for supporting our motion to operate the first perfectionized vessel of its class. We will not hesitate to utilize our newfound capabilities to crush external and internal enemies of the Empire before they can even react.
For the Empire. For his Imperial Majesty.
Hōsōshi
Tokkeitai
Access code received
Code recognised as SC-K-Matsu-930-xC-TC-SupEnc-A§RC-MA-DATA
Decrypting....
Project Ikazuchi "Akebono"-class Refit Access codes recognized: Emperor Kogen of the Nara Branch, Imperial Shogunate, NOH, Lord Commander of the KOI
Note: Any and all remote access to this databank located on the Arch is being tracked. Only his Imperial Majesty and the Imperial Shogun may disclose details about this databank entry. Misconduct with the information is punishable by death for all other recipients.
The Tokkeitai is currently working overtime following the failures surrounding the Niyodo Retrievial Operation conducted by regular Naval and KOI forces. Such failures are inacceptable and will receive firm answers from our side, both to our own forces as well as to the meddling LSF.
However, there was one positive lesson to learn during all this chaos. Despite the deployment of several Komainu-class Battlecruisers as fleet anchors, our forces were apparently blind struck by the Lane Hacker ambush and subsequently both houses forces managed to lose sight on the Heavy Lifter vessel. Whilst not present during the operations to not reveal their existence towards the LSF just yet, our own estimations suggest that the Ikazuchi-class could have fundamentally altered the situation due to its much more sensitive scanning arrays paired with the already high flexibility of the Takeda-class. Not only could an Ikazuchi-class have detected the vessels movement patterns within the volatile surroundings of Kepler much better than conventional vessels, its spearheading capabilities could have permitted the emergency destruction of the Heavy Lifter to avoid it from falling into enemy hands.
The Republic of Liberty showed great arrogance and whilst we can confirm that the Niyodo's remnants did not fall into their hands and seem to have ended up with their criminal underground, we must assume that Liberty will try more fiercely than ever to obtain data about our ongoing projects. Project Ikazuchi therefore requires an alternative approach to ensure a faster and more cost efficient integration of new Ikazuchi-class vessels to our fleets.
Following a few heated talks with our engineers on Kure and the design specialists of Yokosuka, we have come to the conclusion that the conversion of existing Takeda-class into Ikazuchi-class vessels is unfeasible utilizing the initial modification process as applied to the original IKN-Ikazuchi. It was quickly being deemed as too cost inefficient to apply on further vessels. Instead they proposed the creation of a sub-class - the Akebono-class for future reference - utilizing mass producible Ashikaga-class solar panel arrays and modifying them to fit near Ikazuchi-class schematics energy generation levels. Initial calculations would put the Akebono-class at roughly 165% total cost of a standard Takeda-class over the current 210% for newly constructed vessel and 185% which were required for the initial modification of the IKN-Ikazuchi.
The Tokkeitai has taken the freedom to push the Project forward without waiting for further approval. The IKN-Hiei, a Takeda-class Destroyer which left Kure Shipyards in the wake of the Gallic operation and remained on home guard duties around New Tokyo since, has already been ordered back to drydocks and will be assigned as early listening post on our border with Liberty upon completion of modifications as part of the Nagasaki fleet. In respect of the name proposed by our teams on Kure and Yokosuka, this initial refit version of Project Ikazuchi will bear the name IKN-Akebono.
For the Empire. For his Imperial Majesty.
Hōsōshi
Tokkeitai
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