1682/Ship Design

Ship Design
Date of Scene:	27 February 2015
Location:	Superplanet: Realm <SR>
Synopsis:	Hybrid technomagical engines and other ship systems are proposed and discussed.
Cast of Characters:	202, 428, 436

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Adelyn Lysen (202) has posed:
The Nation of Towers. It's a country that deserves the name, to be sure, especially here in the heart of its greatest city. The magically-inclined–and they are the only citizens who can get anywhere in this world–tend to build vertically. As much as the capital sprawls out to the horizon, it also rises, here in the heart. Walkways connect tower to tower, or hold up suspended plazas, with entire districts raised dozens of stories above ground level, while still allowing for a dizzying freefall a few steps from most points.

In this particular area, it's clear that the purposes of the buildings are split between manufacturing and research. Factories are not unknown technology, here, though the specific techniques of automation may differ between Realm and other planets, with less reliance on mana science. The result is much the same, but for the absence of visible pollution. Instead, it takes a sensitivity to the flow of magic or elements to sense the sort of side-effects that Realm manufactories make, with their heavy and constant use of Earth, Fire, Water and Air–and, above all, the Arcane.

Airships can be seen, here, some obviously half-finished, being assembled in place in the upper levels of the tower complex. Dominating the space is one object that seems entirely out of place–there's little of the mages' customary elegance or sloping aerodynamics, nor traditional flourishes and decoration, in the cubic, gray steel of a UNSC frigate. There's a rushed feeling to the securing ties and boarding bridges, and its half-kilometer size has required some rough work to accommodate in the field. Still, it is here, and the entire area swarms with fancy-robed thinkers and blast-aproned doers, supplemented by golems of all sizes.

This is the sight to which Adelyn Lysen brings her guests, in a reasonable if excited hurry, to see what has been discovered. There are two approaches, however. "Which shall we see to first–the designs upon which we're currently working, or what we've learned of the captured ship? We'll need to see both, of course. Applying one to the other was the whole point of taking the thing."

Cirno (436) has posed:
Cirno is glad to be a guest! If she was allowed to moor her ship somewhere, it's nearby. Otherwise she doesn't complain, nor does she waltz around in power armor. Nope, just a short blue-haired girl in glasses with sparkling wings. Not a real girl of note, most likely.

Cirno pushes her glasses up and considers. "I would vote to see what we've learned, so we know what we are working with when we look at the designs. Things make more sense in context, right?" She nods her head firmly, then taps the side of her glasses. It shouldn't be a surprise that she has scanners built in there, considering she has perfect vision.

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
It's a good thing Juno Eclipse isn't afraid of heights, or a visit to the Nation of Towers would be a harrowing ordeal. With its spires and bridges, it seems like something dreamt up by a people who had taken naturally to the air. Bird-men, perhaps. Not so – but there's something about it that isn't like many other places. There's a beauty to it, too.

She can remember the physics and formulae necessary to pilot a starship – hypothetically, mind you – through turbulence like this. She can calculate the nightmarish complexity of a hyperspace jump without the aid of a navicomputer. And she can pilot the Rogue Shadow through some of the worst conditions imaginable, through the midst of a warzone.

Yet she cannot imagine something like this, possessed of its own beauty, of its towering spires and its lonely windsong.

And all these spires and bridges and other things make for treacherous winds. Fortunately, there are few pilots better than Juno Eclipse within the Galactic Empire, and she manages to moor the Rogue Shadow with comparatively little trouble.

She's in uniform when she finally joins Adelyn and Cirno, crisp in its black and white, hair tucked neatly beneath her short-brimmed uniform cap. Once outside the ship, she has to take a moment to look up and simply stare, protocol forgotten for a moment as she gapes at the city. Oh, to be certain, there are architectural wonders in her world, and even Corulag boasted its fair share of advanced engineering, but... something about this is foreign, and the half-finished buildings only add to its mystique.

Juno forces herself to shake her head, replace her uniform cap, smooth down her uniform, and march forward into the tower complex. And, in turn, up to the UNSC ship. Brisk strides keep up with her excited pace, the pilot crisp and punctual and professional.

She tilts her head once they reach the ship, folding her arms and studying the thing thoughtfully.

"I agree with the Captain. We'll need a foundation on which to base our designs." She might not have scanners or advanced vision, but there's no mistaking that she's attempting to dissect the derelict with her eyes; studying every nook and cranny of the battered ship.

Adelyn Lysen (202) has posed:
Into the Stalwart! People tend to stop and watch as the elites pass by, but everyone here is generally smart enough not to look like they're slacking for more than half a second while important people are watching. There is definitely plenty for them to be doing, judging by all the motion and shouting. Entrance is delayed for a few moments as a large, centipede-like golem of stone and steel exits the ship, carrying boxed materials that must slated for study elsewhere. This gives Adelyn the chance to keep talking, though she planned on doing that while they walked, anyway.

"The main point of interest is the power and, connected to that, the propulsion. As expected, there's nothing in here that interacts with known forms of mana at all, at least to any useful purpose. The power source is instead a... 'thermonuclear fusion reactor.' Fueled by deuterium. I've ordered it not to be dismantled until we complete performance testing, as there's no guarantee we can put it back together again." The archmage shrugs. It's a point of some annoyance that no one in this country has seen this sort of technology, previously, when there are a number of worlds possessing something like it.

The interior mirrors the exterior in activity, with some rooms containing people who seem to be taking dimensions, while others are taking apart furniture, and others are setting up equipment brought in from outside for whatever purpose. On their way to the ship's heart, the trio pass by the brightly-sparking sight of a researcher sampling interior plating with an origin-less blowtorch.

"The propulsion system seems to be based on directed exhaust... which makes it a wonder that this ship is able to hover at all. 'Like a pyromancer sky-fighting an aeromancer,' one of the assistants said to me. Absurd, but it can remain perfectly still. Likely computer assisted. Their soldiers did not seem so dextrous as to accomplish this otherwise, and the bridge crew would need to be a well-coordinated thirty people."

Cirno (436) has posed:
"Well, an AI can be incredibly useful to handle minor course adjustments and the like," Cirno points out. "I have IDIOT to handle all that, since my bridge crew is pretty far from well-coordinated, you know." The fairy is looking all over the ship, nodding her head. "Fusion can go wrong if you don't know what you're doing. I don't mess with it much, myself. Are you going to keep it and try to use it, or just stick with your own power sources?"

Cirno floats over closer, looking over the propulsion system. "Yeah, the Freezing Reign uses something like that for finer movements. Does this thing have artificial gravity? It might just use the exhaust system for high-thrust maneuvers. I'm pretty sure you don't want a bridge crew requirement that high, though... do you?"

Adelyn Lysen (202) has posed:
"Hm, no. If possible, I'd rather build a fleet of smaller craft. Our air power largely consists of cavalry: single riders for each flying beast. Our airships have heavier weaponry, but are... ponderous, and in any case smaller than this frigate. It would reduce our need to completely restructure military forces if we avoided bridge crews of that size." After a pause, Adelyn adds, "Circles of magi who can coordinate that well in such numbers are rather valuable for their scarcity, as well."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
The non-Elites and the unimportant people draw no attention whatsoever from the Imperial. Curiously, she has no rank insignia on her uniform, although her bearing and her confidence suggest she's a Captain of some kind, but there aren't any patches indicating her current posting. Wherever she falls into the hierarchy, she's more than just your average stormtrooper goon, that much is evidently clear.

Engines. Juno resists the urge to rub her hands together. Engines and hyperdrives are things she can definitely sink her teeth into.

Oh, and the giant centipede thing, which she stares at with round eyes for a second or two. Seriously, what the hell.

...But, professionality. She simply folds her arms behind her back, standing at attention as she tilts her head, still regarding the engine with that sharp-eyed gaze. Eventually she tears her attention away, following Adelyn with brisk strides.

Magic and systems of magic propulsion are unfortunately way outside her purview, but Juno's already turning her mind towards the more practical applications, the mechanics; the physics – the things she knows.

So she folds her hands behind her back and stands at attention, studying the transport.

"Hmm." The pale blonde squints, regarding the engines carefully. "I admit most of my experience is with ion engines, and hyperdrives, but I'm confident I can work with this interface." She raises a hand to crook a forefinger over her upper lip, thoughtful. "It isn't an ion engine, but the mechanisms are probably similar. There's only so many ways you can feed fuel to an intake, and any sort of starship is going to need to reduce its stores of fuel to account for weight..."

She falls silent for a few seconds, listening. "It makes sense that the manoeuvring thrusters would be aligned to a computer matrix."

She swivels over to look at Cirno, blinking. "'IDIOT?'" PROXY is one thing, but IDIOT has a certain amusement value, to go by her faint half-smile. Oh, she cna gather it's some manner of AI. "I agree. Fusion is probably something better left untouched unless you can rip it out wholesale, and replace it with a less volatile and more easily-maintained system."

They move inside. Juno comes to a halt inside the ship; shifting her weight, she regards the ship thoughtfully. "No, you're probably not going to want a bridge crew that high. It doesn't seem to have a lot of room for necessary supplies, and I'm not certain what sort of life support systems it has integrated into it."

She does linger by the researcher and his blowtorch, though, staring at the alloy he's trying to cut a sample from, almost to the point of awkwardness if her allies keep on walking forward.

Adelyn Lysen (202) has posed:
The metal being cut is a titanium alloy, and rather susceptible to plasma burn, a point that likely causes consternation among the UNSC as much as its irrelevant here, apart from making it not too difficult for the mage with the magical blowtorch to do his job. Above all other peoples on Realm, the Nation of Towers prides itself on precise control of power.

"As you say," Adelyn is meanwhile agreeing. "If we're unable to exactly replicate it, this fusion power is likely useless to us. But if we simply leave it at that, there will be little to take from this ship to overcome the difficulties in ours." She sighs, then claps her hands together. "Some background information: This world's arts of magic require that mana be directed by a being with appropriate 'conduits.' Artifacts can be enchanted with similar capability. Airships are powered by devices that exist almost solely to draw and control mana in the air. However, the process can never function in the total absence of a mage. This seems to be an important and frequent distinction."

She gestures toward the engine, then shakes her head. "For the moment, what we need to learn from this is still beyond my grasp. Something to overcome the large size or inefficiency of Arcane reactors? Ours don't use a solid fuel source, either–one advantage we could wager against some other gain. A hybrid engine system? But that still requires the knowledge to construct engines of this type. We don't have AI systems, either, though we have spells of similar complexity to highly specialized intelligence, if I understand the concepts correctly. Self-correcting magic."

Cirno (436) has posed:
Listening to the explanation, Cirno rubs her chin lightly and then nods firmly to herself. "Okay. But there's still something you can do. A ship this large, it has to have battery backups, capacitors, that kind of thing. Maybe you can use some of those to make a hybrid ship. Maybe even grab some of the weaponry. It'd give you some extra power that isn't using your magic. It'd be better if you could recharge them with magic though. Might be trickier."

Cirno sighs, adjusting her glasses. "All right, I can see the difficulty here. The fusion reactor wouldn't be small enough to put on a ship. Those thrusters, though... if you can get a power source for them..."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. The alloy looks familiar, and so the pilot writes it off in the corner of her mind as something that might just turn out to be what she thinks it is. Generally, it's safer not to assume when it comes to multiversal matters, she's found.

"If you're unable to repliate the fusion processes, I'm willing to help you install an ion-driven system. Those sorts of systems are quite common in Imperial designs, and I'm certain the Empire would be willing to make available common materials to you as a diplomatic gesture. Of course, I can't actually promise you anything, Lieutenant. You know how it is." Juno shrugs, faintly, whisking off her cap and raking her fingers through white-gold hair. "With an ion system, you wouldn't require a mage. After all, I haven't got the magical talent of a spool of wire, but I can fly almost anything that comes out of the Imperial Navy's shipyards."

Arrogant? Maybe, but Juno is quite confident in her skills, and they've been tested time and again. Starkiller has that effect on plans.

"Self-correcting magic," Juno murmurs, rubbing a gloved hand along her jaw in thought. Now that's an interesting concept, but something she ultimately files away for later. Now's not the time to satisfy her curiosity. "Hm. As to a hybrid, it's certainly possible. Ion engines are the most common engine under Imperial designs; you simply can't get as much thrust per pound out of an ion engine as you can anything else, but that's not to say that there aren't other designs."

"It's not unheard of for some smaller personal craft to use internal combustion engines or rocket motors. These aren't really feasible for a proper starship, though; there's simply too much needed to achieve escape velocity." She lets out a breath between her teeth, cocking an eye toward the craft's inner wall. "An interesting conundrum. You can't study it without taking it apart, but you can't guarantee being able to reassemble it if you do dismantle any aspect of it."

She sighs, folding her arms again. "The Captain raises a valid point. If you're converting to a hybrid system, there has to be some form of power storage for when the engine is offline or on standby..." Another pause. "Mm. Give me a few moments to think," she murmurs, eyes narowing. Is she onto something, perhaps?

Adelyn Lysen (202) has posed:
"Maneuvering thrusters, yes. The equations to keep such a ship afloat are of great interest. Batteries..." Adelyn looks thoughtfully down another hallway, presumably toward storage. "Yes, I think we could find a way to work with that. The fundamental principles of electric power storage are actually quite compatible with much of our technology. It's only the hardware that starkly differs. We still need a way to manufacture them, but... I'm more comfortable with taking apart one of those storage cells one slice at a time. We have enough that we can destroy a few in the name of science."

She gives a nod to Juno. "That's another option, though it would mean more retraining. There is a positive point gained in trade for the need of a mage at the helm–they can directly interface their spells with the hardware. They're limited only by their own ability, rather than the control system, or even the limitations of the device... most of the time. It seems this is unusual among mechanized military forces, and I intend to make an advantage of it." After a moment, "In any case, that's a goal. A hybrid system would keep that personal touch, while allowing for additional power, if we can make it successfully interface between the two hardware systems. The pilot need only interact with one."

Cirno (436) has posed:
"A hybrid system... mn." Cirno frowns. "Have you considered something that works better sustained? Like using magic to enhance the cooling system of the thrusters, giving you a better yield and more speed. In a pinch you could maybe run them at low power without using magic, but it could give you more versatility." She's in 'work' mode irght now, obviously.

"Batteries are incredibly useful if you're using anything that draws power," she says obviously. "Huuuuh... personal touch..." She stops suddenly, and looks at Adelyn. "Hey, have you taken a look at the sensors and stuff? Think that might be helpful? A little magic power and you suddenly have like, a dozen detection spells."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
Given the slightly blank look to Juno's eyes, she must be calculating those equations already, considering what it would take to keep a ship like that afloat, balancing it against too excessive a power drain. She doesn't seem the kind of person happy unless she has some sort of logic problem to chew on, like a mastiff worrying a bone to splinters.

Clear blue eyes the colour of a summer sky snap to focus again once she's addressed; Juno flicks her gaze over, only slightly distracted. "Hm? Oh. Well, yes. Specialists are always preferable to generalists, though I can't profess to know the finer points of your world's technology." The pilot raises her hands, waggling her fingers in demonstration. "I'm afraid that kind of thing is passing rare in my own world. Our ships are purely technological, so, with training and practise, anyone can become an expert."

"Case in point, I myself don't have a lick of that kind of potential. I manage to get along just fine when it comes to piloting a ship." Better than most, really, although she has to wonder whether her posting as Starkiller's pilot is a reward, or a cleverly-dressed punishment. Still, she has to suppose it doesn't really matter at this point. She's been doing just as much work for the Confederacy at large, and the Empire wouldn't trust a blockhead to that kind of sensitive work. "It is unusual, at least in mine. I don't know of any ship design that can function that way."

Maybe a Sith or Jedi might be able to brute-force override a system with the Force, somehow, but she's never pretended to be an expert on its mysterious workings. It sounds like some sort of cult religion to hear them talk about it, and it's utterly impossible for her to formulate any sort of scientific theory as to how the Force even works.

Better not to ask too many questions, Eclipse, she tells herself simply. No good's ever come of that.

"So, a hybrid of the magical and the technological." Juno reaches up, rubbing her jaw again. "I can appreciate that. The catch would be the interaction, I'd think, as well as accounting for a pilot that could manipulate both, as opposed to a pilot who could only manipulate one. Ensuring that no additional functionality or power is lost between one mode or the other. Hmm."

She dips her head to Cirno, briefly. "On the other hand, I have to agree with the Captain, too. Using magic for a non-critical system on a long-term basis might be a better use of that energy, to allow for the potential implausibility of magically-inclined pilots."

Adelyn Lysen (202) has posed:
Adelyn nods. "Once we have some detailed schematics to compare, it will be easier to see where we can apply existing techniques over new ones. Individual part performance should increase as a result." Quite a business tone. But then, "Unfortunately," Adelyn seems reluctant to fully admit the extent to which the following is true, "we lack an established computer science and industry. The sensory equipment seems to exist half in software, which may as well be a black box to my teams. We're having better luck with the hardware. Though we've yet to run field tests." She rubs her chin. "It's another point. Space combat presents a host of new challenges. Even apart from the power issue, the rest of the design is illuminating points that had been outside our thinking."

The mage gives Juno's admission a curt nod. "That so many worlds managed as well as they have without mana sciences was a surprise to learn of years ago, but I've had all the time since unification to grow used to it." The rest of the country hasn't, but that's another matter. At the talk of the hybrid systems, she nods again. "That should be the main focus of our research going forward, I think. We'll need some prototypes for the non-magical portion, and see what kind of connections we can make."

"For non-critical systems... hm, this reminds me how little chance we've had to test the effects of being in the void between worlds on magical use. I imagine there will be a dearth of ambient energy to work with. Cirno, have you experienced this? Or is your magic all internally stored, come to that?"

Cirno (436) has posed:
"I could help with software, but I think you want to make this self-sufficient," Cirno says, frowning. "I'll see what I can do to help with the sensor interfaces. At the least we can maybe get status readouts on power levels and such. Maybe not alarms, but even readouts might help. I suppose you want the propulsion the most though. It'll be crude but effective, without computer control. Unless you have summoning magic and can like, bind a genie into service managing these systems."

She runs a finger along one plate of alloy. "The void usually has magic. Mine is mostly internal, but I get a little cranky without any at all in the air. It depends on the area of the void, but you should be able to get by. You might want to have the thrusters just to deal with a reduction in it though... especially if you hit a dead zone."

Juno Eclipse (428) has posed:
Hat clutched in her free hand, the pilot rakes her fingers through her hair, considering the engineering problem. This is the kind of thing that appeals to her, just as much as any bleeding edge piloting – the chance to pit her logic and her wits against a seemingly impossible problem of logic and science. It's less like work and more like a hobby, to her.

"If it's computer systems you need, I can forward you the contacts to Imperial suppliers who can see that you receive basic systems. I can't speak to how willing they'll be to part with such systems, particularly to offworlders, but maybe they'll be in a generous mood." Juno replaces her cap, tugging it into position. She manages a faint smirk, though something of the experssion suggests a hint of bitterness. "Of course, you won't have received any recommendations from me, of course. To the rest of the Empire, I don't exist."

"Well, that's all I can offer, anyway. As to the rest, I can help you assemble a prototype engine on the technological side. Engineering is one of my specialties; I maintain the Rogue Shadow, Inquisitor Starkiller's ship, personally, and without a crew." And he is, at times, rather demanding when it comes to his precious ship. Just like a man and his prized car, really... except she knows more about what's under the hood than he does, probably.

She falls silent when talk turns back to magic, though, content to work over the technological aspects in her head, eyes sliding out of focus once more.

In fact, she'll probably be a little distant for the rest of their meeting – already attempting to figure out what aspects of the problem she can.

Adelyn Lysen (202) has posed:
"Such assistance is one reason I wanted your expertise available." Adelyn says to Cirno. "Though, yes, I need more than momentary help, if I could have some students watch you work... I imagine that will help a great deal in the long term. I'll simply need to have some of the more promising learners selected." There's never a shortage of students in this country.

"Oh, they'll be paid." Adelyn says to Juno. "Prototyping will be the most difficult portion with the engine creation, I think. Direct assistance in that would save a good deal of time." Gray lips turn in a smile. 'Yes, this should work.'