The Supra is an interstellar faster-than-light combat endo/exo-atmospheric aerospace fightercraft. It was especially developed for the LSDF Val'ta.

osakanone created this article on 2016/04/16 22:03.

Dedicated fightercraft for the Val'ta. Using a lot of the same technologies. Loose concept. To develop w/ Luca & Eistheid. Ongoing work.

• Hardlight 'Kurz magnetron oscillators' – making the electromagnets driving the system from hardlight because conventional magnets are too fragile: if they break, the system just reboots and forms a new set.
• AN063 Aura powerplant with power sequence
• Super Phoenix II PDCT/Positron Overthruster
• Gravitational Centrifugal Array
• Enhanced Subspace Wave Drive
• Swordfish
• Gammatron main gun, gimballed
• Sealed cockpit, no glass
• Exoskeletal compartmentalized construction for pressure handling
• Variable geometry wings
• Two internal storage compartments
• Micro implementation of DENDRITE
• Optional external loadout
• Designed for lightspeed maneuvering using gravity differentials
• Intersystem range, making it a starfighter not just a fighter(????)
• Aggressive design contains some zesuaium, thickest armor in front. Made for head on bombardment
• Jump in, lay waste, exit theatre

• See http://imgur.com/a/xsxJW for wip

Taking many cues from the large Nodachi-class and particularly the LSDF 'Cardinal' High-Mobility Fighter, the Supra is larger still, being bigger than the Stararmy V7 Ginga Bomber in dimensions. It is designed to be deployed in all possible combat arenas as a large heavy fighter-superiority craft, with fuel, range and munitions surpassing that of most-fighters - allowing it to act with great independence for long extended missions.

Its primary feature its DENDRITE field controller suite - making up for the machine's lean build with aggressive mobility, energetic defense and detection systems common to many LSDF vehicles. This is further supplemented with a munitions load describable as “excessive” for a craft of its size.

Following limited success with the V2 Centurion and the LSDF's requirement for a heavy mid-range fighter, as well as the ongoing successes of the LSDF-Val'ta, the decision was made to design a chassis which could be tested alongside it by engineers and fighters crewed aboard the Val'ta who were most experienced with DENDRITE - the end-game of the Lazarus Consortium' field controller technologies - which was a major function of the ship.

The initial frame takes cues from both the Nodachi (which LSDF engineers found to be 'bloated) and the Centurion - an aggressively stanced tri-hull arrangement with widely spread modular engine nacelles and large DENDRITE pylons. This unusual arrangement allows rapid changes to be made to the hull.

The hull-shape was also carefully designed to feature a transformation, though it was never implemented - best left to a future version of the Supra.

The Supra's hull is spread over a large area with seperated compartmentalized elements: Up front in the dual fusalage room for a pair of main cannons which can be vectored off-axis by up to 30 degrees or tilted upwards or downward to serve as an air control surface or for strafing runs.

The hull is united by an inverted Y-shaped assembly - branching into two engine nacelles supporting the primary engine nested on the rear of the main cockpit block - giving the craft an exotic tri-engine arrangement.

Each nacelle features two wings: One more traditional which uses electrostatic forces to forge a much larger profile (essentially a glorified aerospace antennae) and the rear behind it a gravity maneuvering assembly using similar electrostatic forcing to improve airflow and lift. Both are separate variable geometry surfaces which can be tilted back for better acceleration or escape velocity.

About the cockpit are four vecorable cannons, able to fire up to 180 degrees upwards, 60 degrees dowards or 30 degrees from centre-line. A second set of larger cannons are slewed with a direct feed from DENDRITE - six heavy forward fire aether cannons. About the rear are two compressed-storage interior munitions bays.

Beneath the craft is a single large inline Gammatron sniper-cannon

The cockpit of the Supra houses the pilot and co-pilot in a tandem arrangement - one facing forward, the other rear to share the same seat packing. The controls use the 'paw throttle' concept - a movable surface containing fine controls which affect motion control, orientation and boost control as well as fire-control functions – provided through a three-axis throttle and three-axis tilt.

Responsible for secondary control of equipment such as sensors, target selection, ECM/ECCM operation and special operations, is the key-pit: two sets of 15 variable-function keys. These keys can be configured in software to become full-click toggle-switches and their surface texture can be changed in software for ease of navigation and recognition. Augmented-reality displaying the pilot's own arms will depict the function of the key any finger is currently resting on or offer popup for special widgets while rested, similar to a mouseover.

Responsible for 'executive' systems, the bridge is an over-handle with various system control switches for manual operation, master-arm operation functions, system calibration functions and manual overrides as well as the master-caution dismissal.

An update of the Lorath Neural OS, MICAS - Mind Interface Computer Access System uses DREAM and MONOS for direct pilot operations control of the system.

In addition is the CT suit: a combination of skintight bodysuit and hardened over-covers, covering a pilot entirely except for the face and hair which are sprayed with a specialized lotion. A living colony, the suit is designed to be worn for extended periods of time, reducing scramble times and improving pilot health, efficiency, interfacing and survival. The suit manages bodily waste, sweat and mucus that the user releases to repair itself and is powered by an integrated capacitor system and background radiowaves, needing very little power most of the time. The suit is able to fit modular strapping systems and generally, one size fits all and the suit is almost entirely self-sufficient.

The pilot depends on neural feedback and laser retinal imaging as the cockpit itself is entirely sealed. Though it has a clear canopy, this is covered and reserved for emergencies - needing segments of hull to be seperated via explosive bolt to expose.

Each payload bay of the Supra's interior is two and a half meters wide, four meters long and one meter wide. Each is designed to open along the bottom-side, front or topside of the craft, providing a storage space for missiles or launcher equipment.

Class: Supra-class Dominance Lightspeed Starfighter
Nomenclature: LO-V2-S1
Type: Long Range Advanced Starfighter
Designer:
Manufacturer:
Fielded by:

Crew Compliment: Seats two pilots or passengers. None are required for basic operation. Roles are entirely interchangable between munitions operation, sensor operation, maneuvering and other equipment. Full utilization requires a Contact Suit..

Length: 25.06 meters (82.22 feet)
Width: 15.58 meters (51.12 feet)
Height: 4.85 meters (15.91 feet)
Inertial Mass: 35.58 metric tonnes

E9100 PDCT 'Select' Super-Phoenix II :

• Atmosphere:
  • Maximum Acceleration: 49.03 m/s² (5 G's or maximum speed in roughly 34 seconds)
  • Maximum Speed: 6,120 km/h (Mach 7 or —- mph)
• Sub-light:
  • Maximum Acceleration: 5995.84 km/s² (Maximum speed in 18.75 seconds)
  • Maximum Speed: 112,422 km/s (69,860 mi/s or 0.375 c)

E99880 Enhanced Subspace Wave Drive:

• Micro-Jump / Intra-System Jump:
  • Charging Time: 5 seconds
  • Cooldown: 30 seconds
  • Maximum Range: 527 Astronomical Units (0.008333 Light Years)
  • Maximum Jump Duration: 1 second
• Macro-Jump / Inter-System Jump:
  • Charging Time: 5 seconds initial charge. +1 second per 1 LY up to maximum range.
  • Cooldown: 5 minutes
  • Maximum Speed: 262,980 c (0.5 ly/m)
  • Maximum Range: 20 Light Years
  • Maximum Jump Duration: 40 minutes

Damage Capacity (See damage_rating for an explanation of the damage system):

• Structure: 25 Structural Points (ADR)
  
• Shields: 25 Shield Points (Threshold 5)
  

Service Lifespan: Approximately 20 years
Refit Cycle: As required

Like the Val'ta, the Supra features an exotic thin hull design with a variety of different materials used throughout its construction:

A dynamic system fitting matrix based on the structural layering system locks to an internal quasicrystalline composite skeletal structure designed to reduce shock and absorb vibrations while acting as an exchange system for power, temperature management and atmosphere cycling.

Over this is a modular space-frame, wrapping about and framing all of these components, composed of nerimium. This serves as a mounting point and shock expression management system for the tesselating armor plates of durandium mounted tesselating armor plates over the critical structure. These plates vary in thickness and composition depending on the system directly beneath them and can be exchanged between sorties.

These plates are hollow, knitted to one another using picojelly, structol substrate and stoneethread. The differing layers are filled with coolant or inert gasses, for the purpose of enduring high temperatures more effectively and nullifying the effectiveness of energy weapons striking the hull. The plates are connected using self-sealing stembolts, a type of interlocking self-rotating nut and bolt system based on a rotary solenoid that can be removed by individuals if need be for the purpose of maintanance.

Some of these elements include zesuaium components, positioned around the sharp edges as single hardened pieces wrapped in a full ring around the vessel. These are connected via a shock-absorbant system connected to a thermal exchange and casimir thermal dumping system to endure the immense vibrations of impact when the zesuaium shell strikes another hull and prevent these forces translating to the interior

In the event of hull breach, the average hull protection of the durandium plate is partly redressed through the structol laminate which can quickly seal over breaches into the pressure hull. However, often not quickly enough to save the souls inside that compartment. Internal hardlight shutters also assist the ship in dealing with large haemorrhages by acting as bulkheads, other internal hardlight emitters can act as temporary armour while the ship is in combat, but offer inadequate protection against similar attacks.

See:

• Duremium Alloy
• Nerimium
• "Stone Thread"
• Picojelly
• Zesuaium
• substrate
• sourcian_structol
• quasicrystals

Provided the vessel has basic operations capabilities, structol is able to seal connections and restore system operation even during combat - making the Supra difficult to disable. The exterior hull too, contains backup material woven into stone-thread which is positioned over punctures and entry gaps. The overall vessel is highly compartmentalizing, ensuring explosive shock which strikes the hull's interior or exterior is redirected away from core systems. This greatly reduces the effectiveness of missiles.

The EM1 Sarcophagus is a standard production model of cockpit for powered frames and heavy fighters. Differing from the frame model, the fighter-type encloses a pilot with a seated cockpit solution though the control arrangement is essentially the same.The EM1 is characterized by movable surfaces, musculature, internal powerplant and digital subsystems, internal armored interlocking panels and self-healing structures and can be ejected independently.

• See sarcophagus

A self-organizing computer system, it works by growing physical circuitry rather than running software - having programs in physical form for reduced abstraction and better redundancy and reliability.

Communications are a key component to establishing a civilization, exploration, and military ventures, thus, communications technology is essential. The Lorath have developed a series of communication methods to allow them to communicate between themselves, other ships, and even other nations.

• Conventional Communication Devices
  • Radio
  • Laser
  • Wired
  • Contact
  • Psionic
• Hyperspace and Subspace Radio
  • Subspace Laser
  • Subspace Augmented Wired Communications
• Quantum

????

The Supra has two powerplants for the purpose of redundancy, needing only one at a time or both at once for additional performance. Parts can be swapped between the two, which greatly eases specialist testing, emergency scenarios and maintenance procedures - allowing the vessel to continue its normal duties without the need for space-dock. The power systems cycle up and down through a set of primary, secondary and tertiary systems, allowing for peak energy when required or ultra efficient low power consumption modes which reduce the ship's profile so it can better detect spacial phenomena or silently operae undetected.

The core of the Supra comes in the form of two LA/AN063 G-Series Attenuated Aetheric powerplants, operating as a dyal cyclic cluster.

This class of aetheric generator requires fuel in the form of almost any matter to produce its “main conductor”, an assembly of special particles derived from matter to form aether taps. The output surpasses the input energy in most cases, so fuel is usually replenished during normal operation using aether to matter systems - at the cost of greatly reducing the ship's general operational effectiveness while refuelling.

• See AN063 Aura

Beginning with the AN063 Aura Tap, a high energy aetheric powerplant with a high sensor profile, a pair of Antimatter annihilation equivalency reactors offer up additional power for specialist systems.

Capel quasicrystal battery and hyper-capacitor array and super-conducting plasma conduits doubling as reserve conduits. Energizers double up the plasmic systems of the Supra as high voltage hyper-capacitors, able to hold output for hours or even days at a time. This allows the Supra to be buffed via remote energy transferrence from other units and this charge is reserved either for its main weapon or as additional FTL charges for rapid entry/exit into and out of a system.

Coupled to the AN063 is a scaled up Super-Phoenix II plasma Engine and Positron Overthruster - a special engine system which uses plasma to propel the Val'ta and specialised forms to act as fluid goey plasma antennae for specialist sensors and field broadcast capabilities far more intense, specific and maintainable than conventional means which would require a mast bigger than the entire ship: The Apparition Wake Array.

The positron overthruster is, quite importantly, able to dump positrons (antimatter) into its thrust stream for an explosive and dazzling burst of acceleration, which can also be provided to plasma weapons built into the hull, all working in concert together.

DENDRITE is a shapeshifting antennae, used to form complex electrical fields that disrupt spacetime. It is a high-performance specialist implementation of the LSDF Unified Field Manipulation Suite using hardlight, precision engineered gravitational manipulation centrifuges, a drive-plasma apparition wake-array, shockvanes and vent-strips.

By using hardlight in conjunction with centrifuges, DENDRITE can form very convincing disguises.

DENDRITE is able to use hardlight and electrical response interaction systems to perform the following:

General sensor systems - able to recognize and pinpoint.

• Multi-Space monitoring System: Standard issue on most Lorath equipment; Detects subspace/hyperspace, quantum, spacial disturbances. It can also empathic disturbances within small ranges. Broad spectrum. Serves as passive monitoring system.
• Subspace Pulse Recognition: Able to monitor objects moving at super-luminal speeds or subspace objects. Used for early warning & Intercept.
• Advanced Quantum detection system: A serious overhaul of the classic quantum detection system, works via a series of carefully tuned taut coils, vibrating at speed within a subspace field in an isolated causality. The electromagnetic return is then monitored for feedback, measuring m-brane stress and “exotic” sub-atomic causality events (such as the warping of space-time and the presence of an FTL deadzone). Accurately detects unusual gravitational behavior and can accurately pin-point a hyperspace-fold with great efficiency.

High-precision sensor systems. Able to identify and produce useful tactical information.

• High-Resolution hyper/subspace detection system: Able to monitor movements of armors and starships and plot courses based on distortions. Doubles as early warning & Intercept detection. Ideal for the plotting of high numbers of small objects.
• Spectrum Analyser A software feature of all other sensors, the spectrum analyser is able to make a best guess of composition of what an object is over a very large distance simply by seeing how visible photons coming off the object behaves relative to other light sources near it. This allows the spectrum analyser to do loose chemical analysis on any object with visible light, regardless of distance or even whether or not it still exists.
• High-Resolution Gravity Distortion Detection System: Recognises objects of high-mass by their gravitational displacement. Can accurately predict the location of large objects moving at high speed. Can also provide a “best guess” as to the cross-section of an object which is not gravitationally shielded and visualise this information.
• Cross-Dimensional Behavior monitoring: Able to pinpoint events such as TDD, transposition cannon discharges and pocket-dimension locations; specifically included for the study of advanced &technologies.
• Primary array: Optical, IR, UV, Thermal, light-pulse and sonar/acoustic. Provides “classic” perception to the Val'ta, with dedicated spherical “turret” like sensors beneath the structol outer-coating working as a compound eye in key areas of the vessel and then the structol outer-laminate also providing limited detection.

Situated on the belly, the following planetary optimized sensors are present:

• Atmospheric Scintillometer - Monitors the refractive index of gasses. Combined with radar behavioral feedback, can effectively estimate the temperature, humidity and pressure of an atmosphere.
• High-resolution telescope - A high-precision analogue telescope. Capable of spotting small objects from space. Includes speed and motion compensators.
• Backup Planetary Communications Mast Includes a backup subspace-radio and classic radio transceiver.

A hardlight implementation of LACRAMMS (laser-system countermeasure system for rockets, artilliary, mortar, missile) can be formed at a moment's notice. It is most noteworthy for its secondary characteristics, which include…

• Illumination - By pushing the emission units into the visible spectrum and widening the beam, a variable-strength search-light can be created.
• Dazzler - by having the beams aim directly at a given targets optical sensors, they can be seared or blinded.
• Outing - Used in specific ranges, lenses and sensor equipment 'light up' like shotgun pellets on an X-ray, making snipers extremely easy to detect.
• Ignition - By spreading the beam over a wider area, it can be used to ignite foliage. Ideal for flushing out personnel or forming a cover of smoke.
• Anti-personnel - To temporarily blind or create a false burning sensation on the skin of soldiers. Good for flushing them out of cover.
• Optical chaff - If dirt is kicked up into an area or smoke released, it can be heated or even used to dazzle objects in a wider range, making the 'cloud' blinding to look at as the light diffuses through it.

• Redirection - Essentially, taking control of laser marker guided weapons, guiding them back at the source.
• Spotting - Spreads the beam extremely wide, as an active optical search system, similar to active radar. While the LACRAMMS has no pickups of its own, if the exit radiance is known, the calculated return can be compared by optical sensors to act as a scanner.
• IR False positive - Denser areas of an environment, such as rock or concrete can be heated in specific patterns and shapes, fooling infrared sensors into thinking something is there, which is not.
• Scoring - Images can be scored or burned into objects. Works best with metal, concrete and rock. Multiple images can be tiled to create a large image.

By using uniformity, synchronization and angular momentum of electrical fields in conjunction with gravitational manipulation, space can be tricked into forming a thick skin or ‘bubble’ where the rules of space are ever so slightly different - a ‘pocket universe’.

A faster-than-light travel system, the ESWD has low-charge-times well suited to hit and run style combat and does not require a complete charge for ignition or initiation. As an area-of-effect system, the Supra can carry drones with it or if fields overlap from other friendly units, use less power or gain performance improvements in speed.

Using technologies similar to both the Lazarus Stasis system and high-end gravitic centrifuges, the volumetric compression system works by creating a permanent self-sustaining fixture in six dimensional space - a sort of 'pocket'. By altering the rules of that pocket-universe, its rules can be aligned to match ours, allowing for materials and behaviour convergent and conductive to the storage of complex matter and energy, including life.

Seemingly stationary, these large prongs can be slung beneath the fighter on mobile grappling arms on the end of retracted biceps. In this way, the forward weapons of the fighter can be tilted and aimed like rifles. Used properly, they can double as maneuvering surfaces or as a close-combat weapon with planned collisions - overlapping into territory previously only available for frames.

While not included and assembled later, the V2 Supra features a mounting space for two R-88 'Acesulfulzel’ 88mm Subspace Enhanced Rail-cannons.

• The left unit is designed for a high rate of fire and is similar to a machine-cannon
• The right unit is optimized for a high round velocity, impact force and loads custom select warheads
• Limited ammunition

The Swordfish is a thin blade of zesuaium along the front prongs which acts as a cutting layer during ramming, but does not add significantly to ship's protection otherwise. Structcol conduits serve to absorb the shock of impact and act as part of the dampening system between the frame and the pressure hull to protect the occupants and components, making the fighter very good at dealing with large impacts with average protection against piercing.

Quasicrystal buffers absorb any stress that leaks through the conduits towards the interior, protecting the crew from harm and components from long-term damage but do not add to the protection of the fighter otherwise.

The inclusion of this system is for the following purposes - to dive into gas giants, to dive through oceans, to pierce through meteors and asteroids, and to impale enemy ships. The point of the ship is also aerodynamic, allowing it to glide through water, through gas giants, through asteroids, and the hulls of enemy vessels with beauty and grace.

• umc-gra-e-s001_gammatron
• Underslung sniper cannon
• Can be aimed on a long turret beneath the craft or behind it

• “Soft” homing plasma
• Four cannons
• Can be tilted up to 180 degrees up or down

• combined_particle_cannon
• Missile-like plasma technology
• 6 forward launchers
• 4 rearward launchers
• 4 rearward launchers can fire laterally left or right
• Or all 10 at a frontward target
• Cheaper than the traditional turret concept
• Generally better performance too

• Two bays in volumetric compression
• Optional Weapon Bay Payload; Two L-Size lorath_missiles_and_torpedoes per bay, two bays total
• Must open to launch
• Designed for anti-starship or long-range standoff missiles
• Can carry torpedos, but only launch them slowly