Kyottee
Vigil Class Relic Heavy fighter
The following is an article written in Technarcology Quarterly by Dr. Searil Smaelvard
It is not uncommon for the time of the First Crusade to be viewed by both followers of Sol and Imperial nationalists as a sort of utopia. Unfortunately, despite only occurring five hundred years ago and the certainly widespread documentation at the time, it is difficult to determine many specifics outside of the most broad strokes. However, a recurring theme among the stories is technological superiority compared to even the most modern Accord advancements. It is suspected that such stories are in fact simply a mechanism for the Imperial population to retain a sense of superiority in the face of their clear, albeit fairly minor, technological deficiencies. Certain documents obtained from Oneian archives, through means that are entirely legal due to Imperial information systems having no protection under Accord law, tell a slightly different story. While it is well known that, in even the post treaty Empire, the Oneians are still the only ones legally allowed to practice magic, it is not so commonly understood that their magical skills are more rare and weaker than among the Accord. These documents not only allege that mages were far more common during the First Crusade, but included technical specifications for an Aetherized military starship.
However, to call it Aetherized might be misleading towards modern readers who are familiar with the current Accord Aetherized vessels. Outside of two systems, it resembles a fairly traditional long range light scout ship. A cockpit at the front with quad cannons, quarters for a crew of two in the middle, and twin ion engines in the rear. The schematics also show a typical complement of stabilizing and control fins along with two reverse swept wings on each side that meet together at the tip with the first curious system. At first, these systems resemble a pair of energy torpedo launchers which would make sense on a heavy fighter, though we have no evidence of other ships of the same size and from the same era mounting energy torpedoes. But, based on the Aetheric control schematics, these are in fact Aetheric projectors in addition to having the ability to launch energy torpedoes. In truth, it may very well be that the same method of binding energized particles to a tiny metal projectile that is used in energy torpedoes may be used in these projectors to bind Aetheric conjurations and thus increase their effective range. After all, such methods are used in certain modern Aetheric cannons. Without any test reports, and certainly no actual example, it is very difficult to say just how effective these projectors are, especially compared to more modern systems.
There is one very conspicuous omission from the schematics that has been ignored thus far. Any effective scout ship, even one operating in a time where fleet conflicts simply did not occur in the modern sense, requires an extensive sensor suite. Usually, this involves a sizable sensor dish as well as a number of antennas. Though the Vigil does have normal integrated sensors, it totally lacks any external dishes or antennas. This is, assuming the schematics have been read correctly, where the second crew member becomes involved. Trying to verify the true capabilities of the Oneian Diviners has been very difficult, and if Accord military intelligence ever managed it, such knowledge has not become public knowledge. But, from what we know of current Accord Aetheric sensor operators, the second crew station on the Vigil with its heavy Aetheric systems, must be for a Diviner. The implications of this simply revolutionary advantage in sensor technology, being able to gather information faster than light without the need for sensor drone networks, cannot be understated. The true question then, is why did the Oneians, and through them the Empire, stop using such an important advantage?
The answer is, to me, quite simple. And it is the same reason the Empire was eventually defeated. They stopped having any reason to strive forward. Why go to the cost and risk of using Aetheric systems when you stop expanding at a rapid pace?
Note: Some of the specifications below have been translated into the most appropriate modern terms for ease of understanding.
Manufacturer: The Manufactorium (presumed)
Crew: 2 - 1 Pilot/Commander, 1 Diviner
Length: 59 meters
Maximum Speed: 1295 m/s
FTL Capability: 13465 AU/h
Engines: 2x MI-52 IonSpike Ion Drives
Armament: 4x CA-26 Light Kinetic Cannons (presumed ~30mm with variety of ammo types), 2x Nimbus Energy Torpedo Launchers/Aetheric Projectors.
Made for my Graviton setting.
Designers Note: It took me longer to figure out how to do a writeup for this one than it took me to actually build it. Once I have my Lego room renovated, this is one of the builds I plan on ordering parts to make physically.
Vigil Class Relic Heavy fighter
The following is an article written in Technarcology Quarterly by Dr. Searil Smaelvard
It is not uncommon for the time of the First Crusade to be viewed by both followers of Sol and Imperial nationalists as a sort of utopia. Unfortunately, despite only occurring five hundred years ago and the certainly widespread documentation at the time, it is difficult to determine many specifics outside of the most broad strokes. However, a recurring theme among the stories is technological superiority compared to even the most modern Accord advancements. It is suspected that such stories are in fact simply a mechanism for the Imperial population to retain a sense of superiority in the face of their clear, albeit fairly minor, technological deficiencies. Certain documents obtained from Oneian archives, through means that are entirely legal due to Imperial information systems having no protection under Accord law, tell a slightly different story. While it is well known that, in even the post treaty Empire, the Oneians are still the only ones legally allowed to practice magic, it is not so commonly understood that their magical skills are more rare and weaker than among the Accord. These documents not only allege that mages were far more common during the First Crusade, but included technical specifications for an Aetherized military starship.
However, to call it Aetherized might be misleading towards modern readers who are familiar with the current Accord Aetherized vessels. Outside of two systems, it resembles a fairly traditional long range light scout ship. A cockpit at the front with quad cannons, quarters for a crew of two in the middle, and twin ion engines in the rear. The schematics also show a typical complement of stabilizing and control fins along with two reverse swept wings on each side that meet together at the tip with the first curious system. At first, these systems resemble a pair of energy torpedo launchers which would make sense on a heavy fighter, though we have no evidence of other ships of the same size and from the same era mounting energy torpedoes. But, based on the Aetheric control schematics, these are in fact Aetheric projectors in addition to having the ability to launch energy torpedoes. In truth, it may very well be that the same method of binding energized particles to a tiny metal projectile that is used in energy torpedoes may be used in these projectors to bind Aetheric conjurations and thus increase their effective range. After all, such methods are used in certain modern Aetheric cannons. Without any test reports, and certainly no actual example, it is very difficult to say just how effective these projectors are, especially compared to more modern systems.
There is one very conspicuous omission from the schematics that has been ignored thus far. Any effective scout ship, even one operating in a time where fleet conflicts simply did not occur in the modern sense, requires an extensive sensor suite. Usually, this involves a sizable sensor dish as well as a number of antennas. Though the Vigil does have normal integrated sensors, it totally lacks any external dishes or antennas. This is, assuming the schematics have been read correctly, where the second crew member becomes involved. Trying to verify the true capabilities of the Oneian Diviners has been very difficult, and if Accord military intelligence ever managed it, such knowledge has not become public knowledge. But, from what we know of current Accord Aetheric sensor operators, the second crew station on the Vigil with its heavy Aetheric systems, must be for a Diviner. The implications of this simply revolutionary advantage in sensor technology, being able to gather information faster than light without the need for sensor drone networks, cannot be understated. The true question then, is why did the Oneians, and through them the Empire, stop using such an important advantage?
The answer is, to me, quite simple. And it is the same reason the Empire was eventually defeated. They stopped having any reason to strive forward. Why go to the cost and risk of using Aetheric systems when you stop expanding at a rapid pace?
Note: Some of the specifications below have been translated into the most appropriate modern terms for ease of understanding.
Manufacturer: The Manufactorium (presumed)
Crew: 2 - 1 Pilot/Commander, 1 Diviner
Length: 59 meters
Maximum Speed: 1295 m/s
FTL Capability: 13465 AU/h
Engines: 2x MI-52 IonSpike Ion Drives
Armament: 4x CA-26 Light Kinetic Cannons (presumed ~30mm with variety of ammo types), 2x Nimbus Energy Torpedo Launchers/Aetheric Projectors.
Made for my Graviton setting.
Designers Note: It took me longer to figure out how to do a writeup for this one than it took me to actually build it. Once I have my Lego room renovated, this is one of the builds I plan on ordering parts to make physically.