To whom it may concern,
I've contacted you to make an odd request, and to discuss an opportunity. My name is Dr. James Erzie, captain of the Talandar. Some of your transports have seen me around, but at this point I remain mostly ambiguous to your organization as a whole. I'm currently a Freelance researcher and energy physicist, and, in light of recent projects, have need of the services you may provide. I'm curious to know how your organization deals with individuals rather than businesses, but in any case, I hope you'll be able to help.
I need to know if you would be able to manufacture a custom, long-range engine, capable of pushing something nearly battleship scale at a relatively high fuel efficiency. Further specs are available if you find this partnership favorable.
-Dr. James Erzie
I thank you for your interest in our corporation and We would be happy to be of service, however.. for a hefty fee.
I do however hope that your intent with the technology is of the good side.
Thanks for the timely response,
I wanted to establish contact before diving straight into something people might use elsewhere, and as technology is easily shared and stolen these days, I'd like to keep what I can be credited for. The Engine I require is for a deep-space research vessel, nearly the size of the Liberty Dreadnought. I'm a moderate tinkerer in engineering myself, though not nearly as much as my father, who left this project to me. The sole purpose of the vessel is to expand the experimental front already explored by the IRG and conventional technology, as a larger platform becomes necessary to test additional theories in power cores, armaments, cloaks and disruptors, as well as jump drive technology. All of this is in direct effort to benefit the civilians of Sirius, so that we may expand and prosper. I have calculated some of the desired specs in advance, hopefully to make your work a bit easier as well to fit these mass specifications:
Vessel displacement: 340,000 Kg
Maximum displacement: 440,000 Kg
Maximum Thrust Required: 4373 kN
Thrust-to-weight ratio: 20:1
Operating Temperatures: -255° C to 4000° C
Specific Impulse (Vac.): 375 m/s
Specific Impulse (SL): 233 m/s
Engine Mass Allowable: 21,000 Kg
Fuel Efficiency: ~130 MJ/kg
I'm willing to pay any price as well as ship any building materials required to your stations. I would expect your professional services to require no less. I require additional engines to this one for the project, but their purpose and design are not yet complete.
-Dr. James Erzie
DSE will take you up on this request for the Long-Range Engine. It will take some time to develop what you are asking, but don't worry; You'll hear back from us.
But before we can put a price on such a device need to know two things. One, is this planned to be built from scratch, or off a current engine's design. Two, what is the physical size of the engine. We understand it's for a liberty dreadnought sized vessel, but how big is the engine itself.
It's great to hear your desire to assist with this endeavor,
The allowable size for the engine is 62 meters in length; end to end, and 18 meters in height at the internal housing, and 20 meters at the nozzle.
How you decide to fabricate the engine, whether modified design or original engineering, is completely up to you, as long as it delivers the required specifications. There is some leeway on the required thrust, as additional thrusters are required specifically for combat maneuvers, which could carry some of the weight if the fuel efficiency cannot be maintained at the desired speeds. My focus and primary concern is the operating range and speed, as they will be the largest limiting factor in deep space research.
If you have further clarifications that you need, I can give you any information you need. I can also forward the ship blueprints to you if you require it, but I'd prefer not to. A small clarification as well: It will be approximately sixty percent of the size of the Liberty Dreadnought, I used the analogy to get the thrust numbers in the region I needed, as a military warship of that scale far out-weighs a research vessel.
-Dr. James Erzie
Thank you for the response.
We will begin shortly in designing your engine, based off of one of our designs that is currently being developed, as it may be of great use in this project.
Please give us a few days to solidify a price and design.
Rick Mortar,
I'd like to inquire on your organization's progress on the designs, and if possible, assist where needed. Times have been turbulent, and I'd like to finish this project as soon as possible. Do not rush however, take the required time to ensure excellence, as quality is more important than time. Should you need any additional information, notify me as soon as possible. I'll be available as much as circumstances allow.
-Dr. James Erzie
In the past month we have made great progress with the engine. However, we have had a setback with the weight. We are working on it at the moment but till that is completed, it shouldn't take longer than a week or two. Sorry for the wait.