Notes for "The Land of Fog"
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 10:33 am
So, I really should get back to "What Dreams May Come", but I've been a bit distracted by... our first baby!
It's making it a bit hard to concentrate... and I'm now thinking up a different story, which I will most likely call "The Land of Fog," in honour of the late, great Sir Terry Pratchett*. (Note, the story I'm planning has almost no explosions.)
And now the fun part. For the background, I need a human spacecraft which doesn't suck compared to Loroi or Umiak vessels. Clearly it's not going to be faster, or better armed, or larger. Therefore I'm going to go with stealthy.
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Presenting: the Wraith.
Vessel type: stealth spacecraft
Length: TBD (not relevant to story)
Tonnage: TBD (not relevant to story)
Max acceleration: 3g
Crew compliment: 6
Basic description:
The Wraith is a slightly oversized scout vessel, with the general appearance of an angular black hole in space. It is coloured nanotube black and makes use of radar-deflecting geometry - in the form of a wedge shape with sharp edges - to present a low cross section for optical, infrared and radar detection.
The spacecraft is designed to minimise thermal output by use of specialised cooling technologies, large battery storage to allow for manoeuvring without the fusion reactor running, use of relatively small drives, a very aggressive structural lightening campaign and a minimal crew compliment. A specialised 'Dust drive' electrically accelerates small particles of reaction mass to provide thrust without hot exhaust plumes.
The most striking feature of the Wraith is the ability to hinge out outer hull sections and deploy an origami 'egg' almost to the limits of the jump field. Upon reentry to normal space, much of the characteristic jump flash field is generated within the confines of the egg and absorbed. Successful use of this feature requires many hours to pre-chill the hull and structure of the spacecraft, deploy the egg, precisely determine the mass distribution of the vessel and calculate the appropriate jump settings.
The absolute drive towards stealth and aggressive use of unique custom systems led to the spacecraft unofficially being known as the Nightmare to crews and maintenance personnel.
Drive system:
Noteworthy capabilities:
Relevant comments:
* If you haven't heard of him then go get Good Omens or some Discworld books right now.
It's making it a bit hard to concentrate... and I'm now thinking up a different story, which I will most likely call "The Land of Fog," in honour of the late, great Sir Terry Pratchett*. (Note, the story I'm planning has almost no explosions.)
And now the fun part. For the background, I need a human spacecraft which doesn't suck compared to Loroi or Umiak vessels. Clearly it's not going to be faster, or better armed, or larger. Therefore I'm going to go with stealthy.
----------------------------------------
Presenting: the Wraith.
Vessel type: stealth spacecraft
Length: TBD (not relevant to story)
Tonnage: TBD (not relevant to story)
Max acceleration: 3g
Crew compliment: 6
Basic description:
The Wraith is a slightly oversized scout vessel, with the general appearance of an angular black hole in space. It is coloured nanotube black and makes use of radar-deflecting geometry - in the form of a wedge shape with sharp edges - to present a low cross section for optical, infrared and radar detection.
The spacecraft is designed to minimise thermal output by use of specialised cooling technologies, large battery storage to allow for manoeuvring without the fusion reactor running, use of relatively small drives, a very aggressive structural lightening campaign and a minimal crew compliment. A specialised 'Dust drive' electrically accelerates small particles of reaction mass to provide thrust without hot exhaust plumes.
The most striking feature of the Wraith is the ability to hinge out outer hull sections and deploy an origami 'egg' almost to the limits of the jump field. Upon reentry to normal space, much of the characteristic jump flash field is generated within the confines of the egg and absorbed. Successful use of this feature requires many hours to pre-chill the hull and structure of the spacecraft, deploy the egg, precisely determine the mass distribution of the vessel and calculate the appropriate jump settings.
The absolute drive towards stealth and aggressive use of unique custom systems led to the spacecraft unofficially being known as the Nightmare to crews and maintenance personnel.
Drive system:
- [li]High efficiency plasma thruster (power by fusion reactor), 3g max[/li]
[li]'Dust drive' fine particle magnetic accelerator, 0.1g max[/li]
[li]High precision FTL drive[/li]
Noteworthy capabilities:
- [li]Radar stealth through low cross-section design[/li]
[li]Infra red stealth through battery power mode (limited endurance)[/li]
[li]Infra red stealth through selective thermal radiation (limited by engagement geometry)[/li]
[li]Optical stealth through nanotube black coating[/li]
[li]Stealth jump capability[/li]
[li]Most precise jump drive ever built by humans[/li]
[li]Optional external fuel tanks for extended range (not compatible with stealth jump)[/li]
[li]Avoid combat at all costs[/li]
Relevant comments:
- [li]TCA Admiral <Redacted>: "It might be useless. But our other ship classes are almost certainly useless agains the Umiak, so we should let them have a go."[/li]
[li]RNZAF Wing Commander <Redacted>: "I'm not sure if this is genius or a death trap."[/li]
[li]RNZAF Wing Commander <Redacted>: "We can improve the budget by not putting any weapons in."[/li]
* If you haven't heard of him then go get Good Omens or some Discworld books right now.