Universe : last 20 entries
Note that this section has been neglected since the site still had the new car smell. Eventually the support material will be brought up to spec, canonized, spell-checked, written and re-written a few dozen times... and will reach some kind of useable shape that makes things less confusing for people who aren't the author.
Willenford Billius Hashfender III
revised 2011.09.07 at 23:15
category : Civilians
A discrete purveyor of things that fit in business-sized envelopes.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, provision -1-.
The Beefmobile
revised 2011.09.02 at 23:56
category : Ground Vehicles
A heavily modified Chevy Impala, the Beefmobile has more in common with an MRAP than it does a stock sedan. Though it's been very carefully designed to look like a standard police cruiser, the beefmobile has been refit with bulletproof glass, a mine-resistant undercarriage, an armored firewall and doors, after-market suspension, a Templar-issue communications device, and an offworld nuclear/hydrocarbon hybrid engine.
These modifications, along with Beef Knuckleback himself, were procured in order to ensure compliance with the Waking God Protocols.
First appearance (production, as CG) : The Dualist, reflex -8-.
Ural 375
revised 2011.09.02 at 23:37
category : Ground Vehicles
At some point during the 30 years between his Soviet military service and the events of Dead City Radio, Greymalkin acquired a number of Ural-375 heavy trucks. The question of rather these trucks are Russian military surplus or were redirected into Templar garages through back channels is left as an exercise for the reader.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, the operative -6-.
Dessau GC-2
revised 2011.09.02 at 23:16
category : Ground Vehicles
The Dessau GC-2 Electric Truck is a golf cart in Templar service in April, 2002. It has the tail number BMCM-04 and plate number 422-004. Key features include four cushioned seats, bench bed seating, long battery life and a woefully inaccurate speedometer.
First appearance : The Dualist, subversion -10-.
Aeon
revised 2011.09.02 at 22:58
category : Spacecraft
Known to the modern human diaspora as Morgan Bay Observatory Unknown Object 1 (MBO-1), the Aeon was briefly boarded by Heirotus founder Brandon James, security consultants Robert Carrington and Michael Yang and psychic consultant Aleph Stevens approximately 50 years before the events of The Dualist. James received a critical head wound and lost an eye. An object known only as "MBO-2" was removed by Aleph Stevens as the ship initiated what was later determined to be the first biomagnetic transfer observed by modern humans.
Heirotus has kept all other information pertaining to the ship a tightly guarded secret.
Terran equivalent : The Mary Celeste.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, whitehouse -15-.
The Sabrosa
revised 2011.09.02 at 22:56
category : Spacecraft
Heirotus capital ship prototype 47 (HX-47) Sabrosa is the testbed for several technologies incorporated in the Type 47 class of Heirotus Colonial Authority warships, in mass production at the time of The Dualist. The ship contains the company's first dual-core biomagnetic transfer system (DC-BTS), the first capital-scale portable multi-field combined mass amplifier and displacement system (CMADS), the first organically powered mass driver, the first two Majestic class recon ships assigned to a deep range deployment, the first vehicle-based Quantum Analogue Relay (QAR) and a host of other innovations, iterations and improvements on proven technology.
The fact that none of it works very well has been noted and logged, and many - possibly all - of the design defects have been fixed in the the production version. While still extremely capable and years - if not decades - ahead of state military technology and destructive capability, the Sabrosa is considered to be something of a lemon by Heirotus Security.
At the time of The Dualist the ship is a training vessel on deep range deployment. In spite (or possibly because) of its lemon status, the Sabrosa has acquired a reputation for producing the most experienced and capable damage control and maintenance personnel of any ship in the Heirotus fleet.
Terran equivalent : A Carrier Strike Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit two-for-one combo.
First appearance : The Dualist, incursion -4-
Arvak-class transport
revised 2011.09.02 at 21:52
category : Spacecraft
The Arvak class transport is the backbone of the Helios-based Interstellar Transit Authority. A relatively short range transport designed for hauling humans and cargo from ship to station, the Arvak type is solid, reliable, and a common sight in docking rings and bays all over known space.
Heirotus founder Brandon James contracted a range-extended Arvak from the ITA in order to rendezvous with MBO-1 near Helios. At the time, Heirotus space assets were limited - it was, simply, the first available spacecraft.
Terran equivalent : C5 Galaxy.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, the operative -8-.
Development note : The Arvak type has been completely modeled and textured, has animated landing gear, and is (as of 201109) slated to appear in chapter three of Transitional Voices.
Daedalus
revised 2011.09.02 at 21:27
category : Spacecraft
A Javelin class Am-capable high speed cargo transport, the Daedalus is the property of ex-Templar Captain John West. The workhorse of a shady courier service run out of the Australian outback in a nearby pocket universe, the Daedalus is frequently far from Earth, and often under the command of John's first officer, Naomi.
Designed to haul moderate amounts of cargo incredibly long distances at incredibly high speeds, the Javelin class is equipped with the most efficient engines and non-organic power plant designed to date. The ship generates artificial gravity by acceleration, and can sustain a 0.5g burn for upwards of six hours. The type is incredibly nimble in a vacuum, though maneuverability in atmosphere is extremely limited. While the advanced RCS system provides a degree of ground effect and the capability to turn on a dime at extremely low speeds, the ship has an atmospheric turning radius of hundreds of kilometers at any significant speed - a maneuverability that decreases exponentially on approach to escape velocity.
[ Read more. ]
Majestic
revised 2011.09.02 at 20:48
category : Spacecraft
The Majestic is a cutting-edge reconnaissance Am-capable aerospacecraft designed to operate in deep space, low orbit and high atmosphere. Equipped with an surveillance package containing military grade electronics and classified Heirotus organic systems, the carbon computer coordinated sensor payload provides high-volume, high-detail intelligence across the the entire spectrum of artificial and organic perception.
As the aerospacecraft is expensive, fragile and brutally high maintenance, Heirotus Security doctrine calls for the Majestic to be used only in situations that require its advanced organic perception capabilities.
Terran equivalent : Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady.
First appearance : The Dualist, recon -1-.
U-238 (Loki)
revised 2011.09.02 at 20:21
category : Spacecraft
The Barghosa Aerospace Utility Aerospacecraft Model 238 (U-238 or "Loki") is an airframe that sucks well at everything. While inferior to purpose-built attack, transport, electronic warfare and even cargo vehicles, the fact that the U-238 can be quickly and easily re-fit to perform any one or more of these roles in a matter of minutes has made it the standard transport and heavy utility aerospacecraft of the military and Heirotus.
The base stowable unibody frame contains default avionics, rocket motors and propellant tanks, twin nuclear-powered air breathing turbines and an integrated RCS/VTOL system. Renowned for its ruggedness and high availability, the U-238's negative reputation comes from the maintenance issues with many of the modular mission systems, notably the AWACS, SAR, and particle beam gunship modules. The newsworthy twitchiness of early module loadouts earned the U-238 its nickname - Loki.
[ Read more. ]
Cheops
revised 2011.09.02 at 19:44
category : Spacecraft
A Titan class low orbit and upper atmosphere patrol craft, the Cheops is the sole Templar spacecraft permanently assigned to Terra. Orbiting the earth in Am or within the Veil at a depth of 1.5, the Cheops keeps watch while staying well out of the range of terrestrial sensors.
The Cheops is equipped with the standard Titan class armament - particle cannon, kinetic point defense batteries, nuclear and standard high-explosive payload cruise missiles. The ship also mounts a high caliber after-market nuclear powered railgun and a long-duration Crew Service Module. While the "angry end" of the vehicle is capable of atmospheric entry, the CSM is not. It does, however, have the capability to fly the Command Module remotely via an encrypted tight-beam telecommunications link.
Terran equivalent : Hamilton class USCG cutter.
First appearance : The Dualist, signal -1-.
Hemera
revised 2011.09.02 at 19:05
category : Spacecraft
The Hemera is a Discovery class deep-range cartography vessel constructed by the Interstellar Cartography Group and leased to Heirotus, officially assigned to chart grid GSV and parts of grid GSU.
The base Discovery hull features two logistics hardpoints, two docking interfaces, centrifugal gravity and a stellar cartography suite equipped with the very latest optical and radio telescopes. Under Heirotus management, the Hemera has been equipped with an advanced Deep Range Holt-Rischmann Device (DR-HRD) and two U-238 utility aerospacecraft. The ship has also been configured for extreme deep-range long duration flight - most of the lower deck has been converted to hydroponics and storage, and flight systems have been heavily automated to enable the ship to run with a crew a third the size of the standard Discovery hull.
Terran equivalent : A much bigger, much longer duration P3 Orion.
First appearance (chronological) : Dead City Radio, Leitmotif -25-.
First appearance (production) : The Dualist, Incursion -1-.
Captain Helenna Spenc
revised 2011.08.15 at 16:00
category : Heirotus
Interstellar Cartography Group Captain and Commander, ICG Hemera. Favoring a sedate, hands-off style of command and all but immune to the the mental stress of deep-range long duration cartographic deployments, Captain Spenc has made a career out of cat-herding the cartographers, engineers and technicians that typically crew ICG vessels. Being on loan to Heirotus has made her irritable, and she views the Addicaine group's relentless, regimented approach to optimization and efficiency as a threat to her slow-and-easy command of the Hemera. Over the course of the cruise she's developed almost a bi-polar personality - laid back with the ICG personnel and a total control freak with the Heirotus-assigned crew.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, Leitmotif -26-.
Samantha Spokes
revised 2011.08.15 at 16:00
category : Heirotus
A seasoned ICG cartographer, Samantha has spent virtually her entire adult life either aboard ICG ships or in ICG chart rooms, running various types of observation equipment and collating massive amounts of observation data to help humanity get a better picture of the galaxy it inhabits. According to ICG doctrine, as senior cartographer and senior crew member Samantha can override Captain Spenc. Along with the captain, she is second to Greg Auriga regarding Heirotus directives. While Jo Young is technically in the Heirotus chain of command, she works under Samantha and heeds her advice and guidance regarding DR-HRD imaging results.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, Leitmotif -26-.
Ed Horstmann
revised 2011.08.15 at 16:00
category : Heirotus
Deep range cartography is hardly a prime assignment for a talented Navigator. Talented Navigators run courier missions, recon missions, combat operations and warships. The more talented individuals can write their own ticket and have their pick of assignments - and perks, within reason. The truly gifted Navigators spend more time in the docking queue than they do in space. Ed isn't at the top of that list. He's nowhere near it, in fact. Capable of a 0.5 submersion with booster drugs, Ed meets the minimum depth requirement for ICG Navigators. He occasionally puts his bare minimum talent to bare minimum use, flipping off General Relativity and hauling the ship into Am whenever the job requires it. Which is just often enough to keep him in the second-lowest bonus bracket for flight pay.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, Leitmotif -26-.
Maxine Boe
revised 2011.08.15 at 16:00
category : Heirotus
Maxine's employment status is convoluted - a civilian volunteer to the Heirotus carbon computing program, she was implanted with an IKON-7 symbiote and then assigned to the ICG carbon pool. After that she was assigned to deep space cartography, then the Hemera, then the Hemera was leased by Heirotus... making her a Heirotus-assigned ICG employee assigned to Heirotus. While the tax forms are a pain in the ass and medical maintenance paperwork is a nightmare, the job itself is a simple one - staying mentally fit while acting as a 24/7 Rational Coordinator for all silicon-based systems aboard the Hemera.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, Leitmotif -27-.
Martin Oberst
revised 2011.08.15 at 16:00
category : Heirotus
Chief Engineer of the Hemera and the only ICG employee assigned to vehicle maintenance, Martin has spent the vast majority of the deployment training combat-ready Addicaines in the fine art of keeping a deep-range spacecraft running.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, Leitmotif -27-.
Steve Collins
revised 2011.08.15 at 16:00
category : Heirotus
The Hemera's helmsman, Steve's chief duty aboard ship is steering the damned thing. As he doesn't get to do it much and doesn't get to do it often, he was the first ICG crew member to succumb to cabin fever. At the time of his first appearance, Steve is doped to the gills on mood stabilizers and spends almost all of his time reading or jogging around the torus.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, Leitmotif -26-.
Hera Frenk
revised 2011.08.15 at 16:00
category : Heirotus
Senior NCO of the Hemera Addicaine Group. While Greg Auriga is senior Heirotus employee and technically in charge of all Heirotus personnel aboard ship, chain of command puts all Addicaines except Greg and Jo Young under Hera's authority. Given the nature of the Hemera's mission and the lack of key ICG personnel, Hera has found herself in charge of a squad of journeyman maintenance technicians with itchy trigger fingers.
First appearance : Dead City Radio, Leitmotif -27-.
Jo Young
revised 2011.08.15 at 16:00
category : Heirotus
The Heirotus Mission Specialist assigned to the Hemera, Jo Young is an expert on the operation of Holt-Rischmann sensor equipment, specifically the Deep Range Holt-Rischmann Device long range sensor package installed aboard the Discovery-class vessels contracted by Heirotus. The hardware has a lot in common with standard deep-range optical telescopes, so Jo splits her time between the Mission Package and assisting Spokes with astrometrics.