My name is Seth Wither and I am a part of the IRG.
My focus aims to ship research and engineering, AI research and Human Advancement research.
I have been noted with a request for your cloak and have decided to take over.
As far as I am familiar, your vessel is able to redirect weapon power to cloak and cruise.
Therefore I will require the schematics of your ship to see what can be done.
Keep in mind that we are still working on our own cloaking device and most things that I will be doing on your ship will be new to us.
A pleasure to finally hear something new from you guys, Mr. Wither.
I am currently not on the ship, thus I would like to open this channel to my second in command, Sherry Aguilar. She is supervising the project on the Apahanta's cloaking device on our part. We have shared the Apahanta's schematics with the Finn McCool and his team on Livadia, you will find a copies of the transmissions in the attachment section, the schematics are to be found in the file "MSG.MKHGGR.CLKIRG03".
If there is anything else, please contact Miss Aguilar on the Apahanta at Livadia.
Oh, and don't let the new paint job on the ship confuse you. My chief engineer had the idea to throw some paint over the hull to cover the, well, Zoner Hull Pattern that aren't really fitting with the design of the APM-609.
Good day, Mister McCool and the people of the Ingenuus Research Group.
I have a question about cloaking technologies. Maybe the IRG can help me on this matter. Currently, we're 'stuck', so to say, with the Apahanta in Omega-49. Gran Canaria is a beautiful world, and the system is as well, however, we're waiting for Bretonia to answer our request for permission to pass their space, and cruising around in the Omegas and Omicrons is very dangerous for a lonely battleship like the Apahanta. We have a cloaking device though. One that allows the Apahanta to cloak for a consecutive 15 minutes.
That's not enough for my ship. We still have only a skeletal crew of 20 humans and 400 Kishiro Service Robots, so we are just able to use and maintain the cloaking device but not to alter it. Also, we don't have experts on that matter. You sure have.
So, is it possible to extend the duration of the cloaking device's ability? What are the options the IRG can offer, and, of course, what are the costs?
-_-_-_-_-: Secure Channel Open :-_-_-_-_-
-_-_-_-_-: Encryption Level 5 :-_-_-_-_-
-_-_-_-_-: Sender: Finn McCool :-_-_-_-_-
Good afternoon Mr. Vertiga -
It has been some time since we last spoke - I'm glad t' hear you are well and thriving.
Onto matters at hand. The short answer is yes, it is possible t' extend the duration of a cloaking field. The long answer though is a tad more complicated. Conventional Cloaking Deivces run of batteries, instead of drawing power directly from a vessel's powercore. Standard power cores cannot handle both the weapon systems, propulsion, as well as a cloaking field at once, otherwise you run the risk of a core meltdown. Hence, the need for an external power source, in the form of Cloaking Batteries. Of course the downside is the size of such batteries, which limit the amount a vessel can hold, and subsequently how long they can sustain the cloaking field.
Without going into too many details, we are currently working on ways t' counteract such a primitive solution such as utilizing batteries, but the process is lengthy and we are not yet at the production stage for public use. While I cannot promise anything, nor am I giving you a "yes", I would like t' examine the Apahanta's powergird as well as technical diagrams of your vessel, and see what we could come up with, and if it is feasible. Should we determine that it is a project worth moving forward with, we can discuss cost and draft up a contract.
That's pleasant news. I'm honest with you, I'm not an engineer. I asked the Apahanta's chief engineer to provide me what you asked for and he just gave me those nice little pictures:
"Ez, at first they need a basic blueprint of the ship's layout. I mean, they sure have lots of scans of a Mako-class battleship, but they need specific data about this ship. You know, not every Mako shares the same layout, especially not this one, since it was more of a prototype. There are some things we could change in future, like getting rid of the external sensor array to place it somewhere less vulnerable, but that's another topic. Here, show the Zoner Overlord this here:"
"He also asked for the power grid. That's like the blood vessels of the Apahanta."
"I know what a power grid is. I just want to you tell him the stuff in your jargon."
"Ssshh, let the adult talk. "
"I'm more than five years older than you."
"... anyway, show him this graphic. It shows the connection of most primary and secondary systems to the power core.
The Apahanta is equipped with a power core for small battleships and battlecruisers. There are bigger ones out there, but for the few weapons the Apahanta actually manages to maintain, our core is powerful enough. I saw his message, and the idea of using the power core in a direct connection with the cloaking device is possible, but has some disadvantages. You know, when the ship cloaks, or even only charges the cloaking device, it drains the shield energy instantly, making the ship vulnerable even to small ships like fighters. I could imagine McCool also wants to see examples of the cloaking device in action, so I add those animations here.
Maybe you remember what Captain Tatsori of the Lightseeker said about their cloak. It's most likely to adapt that method, using the weapon energy AND shield energy together to provide enough energy for the cloaking device and the cooling system to have it work... I don't know, maybe half an hour or even longer. I mean, we don't really need the weapon energy anyway when were cloaked, since we don't fight.
The power core of the Mako-class is based on some kind of technology I cannot explain. As you know, APM uses both adapted technologies of the Gammuian robots as well as those of the nomads. Researching it is a task for a lifetime, and I'm pretty sure the Core knows they haven't reached the maximum of efficiency with their APM technology."
"Mmh, I remember Raven talking about the plans for a heavy APM-battleship called Megalodon."
"If not even bigger, Ez. Here, look at this graphic.
I'm pretty sure Mr. McCool will find this very interesting, as this shows how the APM power core doesn't work like usual cores. Usually, you have a constant energy flow of the same level. For some weird reason, and I blame the nomad part of the technology therefor, the APM-core works more like a heart, so you can take the blood vessel thing literally. I'm pretty sure IRG knows more about this than I do, as the Zoners surely have more time and ressources spent on nomad research. Anyway, you can see a big red spike there. That's the energy we can't use, as it would destroy the ship's blood vessels. APM uses dampener to regulate that. It's a shame, to be honest, as the Mako could be way more powerful. A big part of the energy is used in the six engines of the Apahanta to get rid of that power spike. Don't ask me how that works, I'm working on that since you hired me. So in fact, just a small amount of energy is actually used for all the ship's systems. We can't use more of the core's energy, that's why we need cloaking batteries, or an alternate secondary power core, or find a way to use more of the actual power core without damaging the ship's systems. The last option is something that would require years of research, and it's obvious that we don't have the knowledge or the ressources. The Core or IRG are most likely the ones that could help here, and the Core is not an option.
I see only two real options here, Ez. Realigning the energy grid of the Apahanta to make is able to use weapon energy, especially of the antimatter cannons, to fuel the cloaking device, or you ask IRG if they could help us with that nomad energy cell on the Hoffnungsschimmer."
I only understand just a bit about all this. You surely find those pictures interesting and can imagine what possibilities are given. However, I understand one thing for sure: The Apahanta is more alien than I thought, and it's creeping me out. I know the Core did some strange things on Durban and Alabama, but knowing my ship's core isn't a motor but a heart is changing things in my mind.
-_-_-_-_-: Secure Channel Open :-_-_-_-_-
-_-_-_-_-: Encryption Level 5 :-_-_-_-_-
-_-_-_-_-: Sender: Finn McCool :-_-_-_-_-
Good afternoon Mr. Vertiga -
Thank you for your timely response - much appreciated. Your attachments and logs are... quite interesting t' say the least.
If possible, I'd like you t' return t' Livadia Shipyard, as I'd like my personnel t' get a first hand look at the APM power core. While the layout will provide us with a basis with which t' work on, after reviewing the internals of the Apahanta, it may be more complicated in that the systems may be specifically designed t' only work with APM power cores, versus more universally known powergrids.
Let me know if that is possible, and when you arrive. Safe skies.
Lucky coincidence, the Apahanta was mining Iridium in Omicron Lost for our Junker friends in New London, so we were actually close to Livadia.
There is nothing to hide on the Apahanta, so your teams will gain complete access to the ship, as long as they put everything back where it was. I fully trust you on this. Thallia Thorn has a laboratory on Deck 2, at the stern of the ship. That's where you may ask her for permission to enter it, if neccessary.
We have a lot of APM stuff lying around on the ship. Tools, hardware, documentation files and such. Feel free to use it if you want. Canaan was quite interested in it, so maybe you will find some of it useful as well. I'm sure that stuff is better in your hands than in anyones else's.
Take your time with all this, but if you could give me an estimate, that would be nice, just to manage this with my crew. You know, my fiance tends to do weird things when I'm not around for too long. Women.
-_-_-_-_-: Secure Channel Open :-_-_-_-_-
-_-_-_-_-: Encryption Level 5 :-_-_-_-_-
-_-_-_-_-: Sender: Finn McCool :-_-_-_-_-
Good evening Mr. Vertiga -
I'm glad t' see you made it safely. As per the norm, the mooring point has been closed off, and your crew only allowed within the confines of the hangerbay. I also was not aware that Dr. Thorn had a laboratory aboard the Apahanta - I'll have t' check in with her as well, and see where her knowledge could assist us.
As far as the offer for APM hardware, we would definitely be interested and would most assuredly find them useful. I'll have my men meet with your crew and take them off your hands shortly.
Now, as far as an estimate, sadly I can not provide one at this present time. Mainly due t' the fact that we would need t' review the logs you sent us, as well as get a first hand look at the Apahanta. T' completely work from the ground up will take a considerable amount of time, when working with unfamiliar systems such as those present on your vessel. If though you required a very rough estimate, I would venture t' design, construction, test, and implement a new cloaking device would run upwards of 500.000.000cr. That may turn out t' be lower, or possibly higher depending on what we find and what our project leads determine after gathering all information. I'm sorry I can't be more concrete than that. Hopefully your fiance understands.
Until my team has analyzed everything, I wish you safe skies.
I somehow had the feeling that would burn a hole into my account. 500.000.000 Credits, that's a tenth of what I got when I sold my parent's company. You know, I already put around 2.5 billion credits into the Apahanta. I guess another 0.5 won't hurt that much anymore, as I see this as a investition absolutely neccessary to ensure the ship's and the crew's safety.
So I'm okay with that. I think IRG is the most promising entity here. I trust that you work out something. The Apahanta will stay moored at Livadia for as long as you need it. Tell me when and where the money goes. In the meantime, my chief engineer Leon Isley will oversee everything happening during my absense.
So, have fun with playing with your new toy. Safe skies, Mr. McCool!
Here is what I can do. I could make a device that draws the rest of your weapon power to keep the cloak on for a much longer time, maybe even forever if you want.
It will have its downs, but they will be calculated when the device has been made.
Sherry Aguilar, commanding officer of the Apahanta during Captain Vertiga's temporary absence.
That is exactly what the captain is expecting. I think after more than three months of your teams doing tests with the Apahanta's AP-605940 and an investment of 500.000.000 Credits, that is finally something we can work with. Please begin with your work as soon as possible, and document it. When you are done, I wish that my technicians have the know-how to repair and maintain whatever IRG turned the cloak into. The same for the captain, a copy of the documentary is requested to be send to him once your work is completed.
Hello there again.
Let me fill you up on the situation. EVE and I have analyzed the schematics and the power core usage through the ship.
Here is what can be done for the best output.
We can use the device to sacrifice 5.7% of cruise power to properly strengthen the Cloak output, giving it the ability to keep on working forever. This way you won't be needing any more batteries, but your cruise speed falls down to about 330. I would not know any other way to do this, but if you do have the IRG Cell, I might have something more to work on.
Now, that is what I call shameless self-advertising.
I will inform the captain about this. While I think we can generally live with the little bit of speed loss, I would like to as whether that would be only during the cloak or in general. And how the IRG Power Cell would alter it. And, if you could provide me with some information about the IRG Power Cell in general, that would be appreciate as well, Mr. Wither. Where can I get one, how much do they cost and what else do you need for this?
The Cell gives much more power to a ship then a big-ass power core. If I did some calculations right it would be able to fully swap the core of a cruiser. It costs 75.000.000 credits, but since you already gave about 500.000.000 I think I could manage something to get you one with a big discount.
Basically saying. The Cell would be able to power the cloak without needing to sacrifice the cruise speed, but you would have to wait a bit more to power up the weapons after uncloaking, but you should be fine if you do so from a safe distance.
Now if you could get me a discount for it, that would be much appreciated. I have relayed this conversation to the Captain and he will take a look at it as soon as he can.
I myself think the Power Cell might be a good investition. We will make more use of the cruise engines than the weapons, as the Captain usually tends to avoid direct confrontations. To be fair, that is good, because after four months of Livadia, I wouldn't want to stay here much longer than necessary again. This nebula is depressing.