[center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjExNi41ZDNmMDQuVjBsUUlGTlVUMUpKUlZNLjA/happy-festive.regular.webp[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/j1msbCA.jpg[/img][/center] "GOOD MORNING CITZENS OF THE EMPIRE, FRONTIER PEOPLE OF DESOLARA RIFT." A group of people gathered around the holo-projectors, eyes struggling to catch the illuminated image of the admiral through the dust storm that swept through their colony. The people bore the weight of their harsh existence, as did the buildings that formed the town square where they stood. The cheap paint used in the pre-fab buildings has long since eroded, leaving only a few flakes on top of the dull grey color of the building itself. Yet despite their harsh existence, and the many wants their hearts desired, their eyes held the faintest flicker of hope. "I HAVE NEWS TO BRING. THE EMPIRE HAS HEARD YOUR PLIGHT, AND IT WILL GO UNNOTICED NO MORE." A collective gasp cut through the howling winds. The people of Desolara Rift have grown accustomed to their lack of attention, the lack of assistance, and the abandonment from their sponsors. To them, the admiral speaking to them directly like this was already a miracle in and of itself. To them, the admiral telling them that he has noticed their struggle is a miracle that will be spoken of for decades to come. "TODAY I ANNOUNCE THE FORMATION OF A NEW TASK FORCE, DESIGNED TO BRING YOU YOUR MOST CRITICAL NEEDS. THE USS TRAVELER, A HYPERDRIVE CAPABLE FRIGATE, WILL BE DISPATCHED WITH YOUR MUCH REQUESTED MEDICAL SUPPL-- REE DAYS FROM THIS TRANSMISSION THE TRAVELLER WILL ARRIVE AN-- EAR NOT, THIS WILL NOT BE THE ONLY TRIP. PLEASE VISIT YOUR LOCAL MILITIA STATION TO REQUEST FU-- PP---" Even as the transmission was lost, the message contained within was not. Help was on the way. Help that was desperately needed to save the lives of hundreds, if not, thousands of workers and children who had fallen ill with a mysterious illness. The people of Desolara Rift wait with bated breath for the arrival of the Traveler. The people in need are not the only ones who await their arrival. Desolara Rift has, unbeknownst to the Empire, become a small hub for a local pirate faction that calls itself the Shadows Fist. They await the Traveler for a much different reason, revenge. [color=FFF0F5][h2]Lore of the universe:[/h2][/color][hr][hr] [hider=The Lore] There are a multitude of planets, solar systems, and stations you may have come from, but for one reason or another, you find yourself ready to embark on the Traveler. Humanity has long since spread its grasp on the galaxy, and our relentless expansion started with the desire of our earliest ancestors. Ever since we developed the ability to think, we have thought about the heavens above. Whether through the lens of religion or science we have all had a deep intrinsic urge to venture beyond the planet we call home. In the 20th century we made many strides to accomplish this goal, from putting satellites in orbit, followed by men, followed by our first steps on a terrestrial body not our own. Soon thereafter our ability to push further into the heavens above slowed as we prepared for a bigger, bolder, giant leap for mankind. 2030 was the year we stepped onto the surface of Mars for the first time. While our first step on the moon was short lived, our first life on Mars was anything but. Habitat Hope was built, developed, upgraded, and expanded over the next decade before we began to send more and more of our people to live on this new frontier. We perfected our initial sub-light engines by 2050 and began to spread throughout our system. Over the following decades we experienced our first inter-stellar wars. From the asteroid mining colonies all the way back to Earth there existed people whose ego, greed, or combination of led to the deaths of countless others. In the year 2199 the first inter-stellar government body was formed. The United Planet Federation, UPF, united Humanity behind a singular goal. We had grown too big for our one system, and we had a destiny beyond. Luck was on their side as in 2203 the remains of a neutron star was identified flying near our star system and the element Wysonium was discovered, named after the scientist who discovered it, James Weiss. This element was incredibly dense and had unique anti-gravity properties that enabled humanity to bend the space time continuum in ways we could only dream. With this material, and through the blood, sweat, and tears of a hundred thousand scientists, the first Warp drive was developed. This warp drive, called the Warp Flux Propulsion Drive (nicknamed the Rapture Engine), worked by creating a fold in space-time. While to an outside observer, the ship is traveling well over the speed of light, in truth the ship is moving no faster than it would with a standard sub-light engine. Through testing, it was determined that drive allowed a ship to travel 10 light years in one month. With the Rapture Engine, we began to spread at a rapid pace once the first colony ships were developed. We colonized the first system outside Earth in the year 2301 and have never looked back. The first group of colonized planets, Lyri, Vellum, Topopolis, Mauveeau, and Eos formed the core region of the empires to come. These planets are also where the fleet academies are located. Lyri is your typical garden world, with lush forests and is where the fleet pilots are trained. The academy here is advanced with in depth simulations enabling would-be pilots to gain valuable experience through simulated encounters. Vellum is a hot, and intense world that has served as the primary shipyard due to its bountiful natural resources. The hot, hostile environment is used to harden the resolve of any and all marines and army soldiers alike. Topopolis is another garden world with a heavy focus on agriculture and medicine production. Fleet doctors, and medics, will often be stationed here to enhance their medical skills. These are not the only academies in the galaxy, they are simply the oldest and often the most prestigious. In 2603, after centuries of peace, the first galactic war, dubbed “the first war in heaven” ravaged many worlds. While there were many causes of this war, the most accepted answer was lack of assistance for the outer realms. The core worlds received the best care, the most technology, and had a great quality of life while the outer realms were dirty, dangerous, and expected to feed the machine for scraps in return. The war ended in 2605 when the UPF fleet dealt a killing blow to the rebellions fleet, causing them to surrender and be pulled back into the fold. In 2803 “the second war in heaven” again ravaged the galaxy. This war was bigger. Much bigger. No planet was safe during this war, and it culminated in the siege of Mars. While the UPF was eventually the victor once more, this war caused cracks to appear which led to the fall of the UPF when John Vexx, admiral of the UPF fleet, led a coup d'etat and established himself as the first emperor of the Vexx empire. At first, the Vexx empire was seen as a savior. They made sure each planet felt safe, fed, and involved in the grand stage of the galaxy. They pushed technology faster than ever and by the year 2995 they had developed the first hyperdrive. Yet as each century passed from their formation dissent began to grow once more. While they made every effort to advance each colony, they too often focused their attention on the needs of the few over the needs of the many. Once again, in 3009, the skies shuddered under the weight of the third, and latest, “war in heaven”. Thousand of ships were destroyed, tens of millions lives lost, and faith in the Vexx empire was shattered and broken beyond repair. In the wake of the destruction, gangs and crime syndicates sprang up to fill the power vacuum. These criminal enterprises, combined with the rebellious nature of the outer reaches, have primed the galaxy for more conflict. A trillion lives stand with bated breaths, anxious for who will make the first move.[/hider] [color=FFF0F5][h2]The Engines That Advanced Us:[/h2][/color][hr][hr] [hider=The Engines] [u][b]Warp Flux Propulsion (WFP) Drive[/b][/u] The Warp Flux Propulsion Drive, or WFP Drive, which used to represent the cutting-edge warp drive technology that revolutionized interstellar travel. Discovered in 2203 by the renowned physicists Dr. James Weiss and Dr. Orion Nova, the WFP Drive enables spacecraft to manipulate the fabric of spacetime, creating warp bubbles that allow for faster-than-light travel. The WFP Drive operates on the principle of warping spacetime around the spacecraft, effectively compressing space in front of it and expanding it behind. This manipulation creates a warp bubble, or "flux field," within which the ship exists as a standalone entity, detached from the traditional laws of space. The propulsion system utilizes advanced graviton emitters and exotic matter to generate the necessary energy for this spacetime manipulation. To engage the WFP Drive, the spacecraft initiates a warp charge sequence. This involves the activation of graviton emitters that generate a localized gravitational flux, distorting the spacetime around the ship. Simultaneously, exotic matter injectors create a controlled influx of exotic particles, stabilizing the warp bubble. Once the warp bubble is stable, the spacecraft effectively "jumps" into warp space, where conventional ideas of distance and time become distorted. Dr. Orion Nova's groundbreaking discovery of the WFP Drive occurred during an extensive study of the core of an old neutron star. He identified a unique interaction between the exotic matter and gravitational fields found within that laid the foundation for warp technology. After years of tireless research, Dr. Nova successfully constructed the first WFP Drive prototype. The WFP Drive's discovery heralded a new era of exploration and galactic connectivity. Interstellar journeys that once took decades were now reduced to mere weeks. The widespread adoption of the WFP Drive transformed humanity's claim to the stars, allowing them to boldly traverse the cosmos and explore the far reaches of the universe. [u][b][b]Hyperluminal Quantum Resonator (HQR) Drive[/b][/b][/u] The Hyperluminal Quantum Resonator Drive, or HQR Drive, is a revolutionary propulsion system discovered in the year 2995 by the renowned astrophysicist, Dr. Aria Celestalis. The HQR Drive operates on the principles of quantum entanglement and resonance, enabling spacecraft to achieve speeds faster than light. The HQR Drive harnesses the power of quantum entanglement to create a resonance field around the spacecraft. A specially designed quantum resonator manipulates entangled particles, establishing a connection between the spacecraft and a distant point in space. This connection allows the spacecraft to instantaneously traverse the space between the two entangled points, effectively bypassing the limitations of traditional space travel. The process begins with the activation of the resonator, which initiates the entanglement of particles within the spacecraft and a designated point in space. The resonance field then stabilizes, creating a stable conduit for the ship to traverse. By manipulating the entangled particles' quantum states, the spacecraft can move faster than light within this resonance field, achieving hyperluminal speeds. The HQR Drive was discovered during an experimental mission exploring the planet *REDACTED*. Dr. Aria Celestalis, leading a team of brilliant scientists, stumbled upon a unique quantum phenomenon that laid the groundwork for the HQR Drive. Not much is known about the production, testing, and implementation of the drive itself. While the inventor was paraded through the universe on the first craft capable of making these jumps, her early death and the classification of the devices meant that not much else would ever be learned. The discovery of the HQR Drive marked a new era in space exploration, unlocking the ability to reach distant galaxies in a fraction of the time previously thought possible. The news of this technological marvel spread throughout the universe, and the HQR Drive became the standard for the advanced warcraft of the empire, allowing the Empire to further cement its status as the only fleet power in the universe. [b][u]SUBLIGHT ENGINES:[/u][/b] Sublight engines are the main unit of transportation intersystem. While the tech has not advanced much over the past several centuries, they have not needed as much advancement. There is not a way to make a ship go faster without compromising the ship, and her crew, nor is it economically viable. Although it can take weeks to travel across a system using these engines it is still the most common method for intersystem travel. What is common is for a ship to warp into a system, to its midpoint station, and then travel using these engines to travel to its destination. [b][u]THINGS OF NOTE ABOUT BOTH:[/u][/b] A ship is identified primarily by its drive signature. While the construction of each engine is uniform, the small imperfections in the construction process leave a unique signature on its drive plume, warp bubble, and hyperdrive jump gate. Thus, a ship can be identified through camouflage and subterfuge. Changing the drive signature is possible, but would require a talented engineer and luck. [/hider] [color=FFF0F5][h2]The Ship Based Weapon And Defense Systems:[/h2][/color][hr][hr] [hider=Ship Weapons and Active Defenses] Empire ships and their weapon systems are as unique to the ship as a fingerprint is to a human. Often, they will be swapped out before a mission to ensure that the ship is put into the best position to succeed. Despite this, weapon profiles often fall into three categories. Defense, Offense, and Support. In fleet combat, you will often have ships designed with one category, however, all ships usually have 2 out of the three. DEFENSE: A ship-based defense weapon is an active system that either intercepts or prevents a payload from reaching the ship. The king of defense in space warfare is the Point-Defense Weapon system. These can be any number of things but they are typically small caliber auto-cannons, 30-50mm, or SWARM missiles. These are designed to intercept incoming fighters, bombers, gunships, missiles, and torpedoes. While they are not effective against the bigger ships, they are deadly against their intended targets. Larger caliber cannons can also be loaded with FLAK shells for anti-fighter and missile work. These are considered smart rounds and will explode ahead of their target, creating a field of reactive debris that can quickly knock out the approaching craft if they dare to traverse the field. Some ships will be equipped with a SCRAM Emitter. These come in various designs, shapes, and functions but at their core, they are designed to jam the targeting systems of incoming missiles. They often are precise instruments and need to keep a lock on the incoming missile or torpedo. As such, a swarm of missiles or torpedoes can overcome these defenses and leave a ship reliant on their PDW's. OFFENSE: In general, ship-to-ship combat is done at great range and accuracy is the most important metric a weapon can have. In space, accuracy is about prediction and velocity. There is often a lack of any outside influence on a projectile once fired, and as such it will go where it is aimed. If the round is not aimed at where a ship might be, it will miss and continue on forever. As such, a ship must be certain that its shot will hit otherwise it risks a stray projectile hitting something somewhere else at some other point in time. In general, offensive weapons can be broken down into categories based on their range: long, medium, and short. Long-range weapons tend to be either railguns for kinetic purposes or laser-based weapons. Rainguns that fall into this category tend to be Cruiser-level bow guns, as the velocity of their guns tends to make aiming at a distance more possible. The key to a hit involves targeting AI. The calculations needed change every fraction of a second, and a manual shot will more often miss. Laser-based weapons tend to be more forgiving however they lose potential damage with their shots. What they lose in damage potential they gain near-instant application of it. Long-range engagements are done at ranges of 10,000 Kilometers to 50,000 Kilometers. Medium-range weapons are much like their long-range counterparts, as they are still dominated by Railguns and laser-based weapons. These tend to be the turret units and are smaller in size and scope. While the damage per shot is lessened, the accuracy and shot volume is increased. It is at these mid ranges missiles and torpedoes become prominent. Modern torpedoes, such as the HAVOC, feature a miniature warp drive warhead that can damage most ships of the line. Short-range weapons tend to be the most diverse group of weapons. Auto-cannons, Plasma hurlers, Sonic Shockwave emitters, boarding harpoons, and more. Close-range weapons usually focus on delivering as much hurt as quickly as possible, and often if a fight has developed to these ranges accuracy no longer is a priority. These weapons are fast-firing and hard-hitting. Some ships are built around these close-range engagements. Pirates and other groups tend to focus on fast ships that can close the gap to the ranges. [/hider] [color=FFF0F5][h2]Shuttles And Fighters:[/h2][/color][hr][hr] [hider=Shuttles and Fighters] [h2]BAT Shuttle[/h2] [img]https://i.imgur.com/PMrcCnc.jpg[/img] The BAT (Binary Dynamics All-Situation Shuttle_ shuttle is a relatively modern cargo shuttle capable of both protected travel through space, as well as entry into the atmosphere of a planetary body. It has been the workhorse shuttle for the Empire for thirty years now, and with the continuous updates and upgrades, it shows no signs of being retired any time soon. It features 14 hardpoints per wing that can carry either air-to-ground or air-air missiles to either support a ground assault or defend itself in the air. As well, it features an AI-assisted 30mm PDW. While it is not the most agile craft in the active fleet roster, it is a workhorse that will surprise even the most demanding pilots. The BAT can carry numerous different modules depending on the mission. For troop deployment, it can carry the troops and land them directly into a combat zone with the deployment module. For cargo missions or deliveries, the cargo can be loaded into the pod on the belly of the craft and be unloaded directly from the back. If there is a task that needs to be done, there is often a prebuilt module for that task. [h2]STRIKE Craft[/h2] [img]https://i.imgur.com/vGAGy5r.jpg[/img] The Strategic Tactical Reconnaissance and Infiltration Kinetic Escort "STRIKE" Craft is the most advanced shuttle available to the Empire fleet. It is designed for stealthy insertions into a conflict zone, whether for troop deployment or for destroying the target itself. It features an active jamming system that enables it to slip under the radar, an active camouflage that can hide it in plain sight, and a fast speed that allows it to even outrun missiles and other reactive measures. It carries a massive internal bomb payload for ground, multiple torpedoes for space fights, and has external pylons for various missiles and guided bombs as well. In a space battle, these are often dubbed the stealth bomber. They are primarily used to zip across space, deploy their torpedoes, and race back to safety. It does not feature any auto-cannon system so if it is caught out it has to rely on its speed to escape. [h2]RAY Fighter[/h2] [img]https://i.imgur.com/LHtR2AK.jpg[/img] The RAY is the standard fighter craft of the Empire. It is capable of flight in both space and on the surface of a planet. It is a robust fighter platform, offering good maneuverability and speed. It is surprisingly durable for a fighter but that does not mean it is durable. It has active countermeasures for missiles, in the forms of decoy flares and chaff. Guns: 2 X Mark XV Solarus point-defense laser cannons (one dorsal, just aft of the flight deck; one on lower surface, forward of the underside loading ramp) 2 X Mark VI Solarus AI assisted 30mm auto-cannon (pop-up turrets) Additional Armament/Compliment: Varies (modular weapons/equipment pods, replace lower hatch and cargo area as needed) [/hider]