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The Halcyon Project - Halcyon - 11-13-2024




░░░░▒▒▓║HALCYON║▓▒▒░░░░



Leviathan's Personal Files


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Author: Navarch Leviathan
Object Type: Liberty Insurgency Technology - Military Grade
Security Class: N.A PRIVATE DO NOT ACCESS
RESTORATION PROJECT





Judicator-Class Cruiser
[Image: TIqJEUl.gif]
STATUS: ACTIVE
Date of Construction: 823-825
Origins: Hellfire Legion
Vessel Class: Cruiser - Patrol Carrier
Captured: 834 A.S.
Past Owners: Pirates, Insurgents.

1. GENERAL OVERVIEW



In accordance with documentation procedures outlined by the Directorate involving any projects that touch upon hybridization technology be thoroughly documented at all times, the following project file has been established on a closed server under the direct control of Navarch Leviathan.

The purpose of this document covers the examination and restoration process of the cruiser 'INS-Subjugator' - Henceforth rechristened under the name 'Halcyon'. This project has been launched by Navarch Leviathan, to provide himself and his immediate staff a Mobile Command Center and rapid deployment platform in response to the ever-growing need for the Achlys as a defensive platform at Hardpoint Zero.

Staff have been allocated for analysis and stabilization of the vessel's structure in the post-action phase of its acquisition. Given that its procurement was not planned or expected. The Navarch wishes to make the best of this recovery, and restore this relic of his past into working order.



The preliminary status report is as follows:

- The primary engine housing and three Liberty-based fusion engines were completely destroyed. Afterburner system was destroyed in the process.

- Deck three has been completely depressurized as a result of an internal blast caused by close quarters combat, and the reckless use of explosives by one of the parties involved.

- The communications array has been dismantled and repurposed for power conduit jury-rigging by its former crew.

- Weapon capacitors have been overloaded and require an overhaul - or complete replacement.

- The external hull is covered in battle scoring and blast marks. Several sections of panels had taken direct hits which were never addressed over the years of its independent operation, with some being recently created as a result of the boarding operation.

- The internal superstructure is under tremendous strain as a result of a lack of proper maintenance beyond field repairs for an indefinite amount of time.

- The internal plumbing system appears to be suffering from decay and has several leaks that have been diverted to sections of the brig.

- The avionics and computer systems are fractured and operating at minimal capacity.

- The primary reactor is off-line, and the vessel has been running on emergency power since arriving at Secundus. Steady fuel shipments via Draugr have kept the generator operational.



With this outlined, the task of restoration will not only be lengthy, but costly. The ongoing business with the local AI will likely provide many answers to the issues facing this project. Including the recovery of an old power cell, which we can convert into a new power source for the vessel. The AI have graciously provided us access to the drydock present at Secundus for the project, and the Pytheas under Venator Serapis is lending laboratory and engineering support with its staff to bolster Leviathan's requested reinforcements.

Logistical cost of the project will be outlined in a future report.


FILE COMMENTS: Notes



The Judicator is an unusual vessel, filling a rather particular role in the Legion's arsenal as a backline support craft. In lieu of major carriers, or enough Arbiters to strategically encircle key Navy positions, the Judicator was put into service to fill the gap. Though it wasn't without its few flaws, and even failed proposals. Be it a comparable weapon to the 'Star Lance' on the Archer, or specialized pods for atmospheric entry - the engineers on Leniex were looking to give their people another edge in combat.

No, that isn't a knife joke.

What the end result became was a series of variants on a platform built for cost-effectiveness. A small carrier. Small enough to navigate the backwaters of the Independent Worlds, and the nebulas and asteroid belts of the core Republic systems. What they lack in aesthetic design, it made up for in firepower and a carrier bay larger than other ships of its weight class. Not unlike a Geb in its earlier, heavier renditions as well.

It's my hope that this project will turn the outcome of my capture into something worthwhile. Something akin to my old mobile facility, in which I can support my people in a more direct and mobile fashion. The familiarity I have with this hardware and this vessel goes back to my time in the Legion itself. I recall its final designs hitting the board, and the many iterations I mentioned before.

There's opportunity here.

-From the desk of Navarch Leviathan






RE: The Halcyon Project - Halcyon - 11-13-2024



2. LOGISTICAL COST ANALYSIS FOR MULTI-PHASE RESTORATION



Pursuant to the outlined requirements of documentation of all financial records involved in the restoration and modification of Project: Halcyon, a financial analysis in regards to the acquisition and transportations of materials and components, as well as maintaining personnel during the reconstruction of key systems. This includes outlining the cost of life-related materials such as rations, water packs and fresh oxygen for continued operation.

Note: All estimates outlined below are just such - estimates, and not exact projections of final cost. Rather an outline of funds to be allocated and to where.



Estimated Phase I raw material cost: 4,500,000cr
Estimated Phase I computer integration process cost: 65,000cr
Estimated Phase I Superstructure repair and reinforcement cost: 465,000cr
Estimated Phase I general supply cost per bi-weekly requisition: 30,000cr/mo
Estimated Phase I internal restoration process cost: 200,000cr

Estimated Phase II raw material cost: 3,000,000cr
Estimated Phase II propulsion redesign cost, including prototype development on Pytheas: 10,000,000cr+
Estimated Phase II Reactor development cost, including installation of existing Technocrat-specific hardware: 5,000,000cr+
Estimated Phase II AI Hardware integration cost: 1,250,000cr
Estimated Phase II Weaponry integration and capacitor restoration cost: 900,000cr
Estimated Phase II Crew reinforcement cost: 25,000cr
Estimated Phase II general supply cost per bi-weekly requisition: 43,000cr/mo

Estimated Phase III raw material cost: 1,250,000cr
Estimated Phase III initial fuel projections: 150,000cr (*pre and post testing phase considered)
Estimated Phase III 'shakedown' cost: TBD
Estimated Phase III Reduction efforts in favor of automation: 140,000cr
Estimated Phase III general supply cost per bi-weekly requisition: 30,000cr/mo



Analysis projects a significant cost, given the intent to push the limits of the foundation of Project: Halcyon as far as possible. Given the high investment, the Navarch is dedicating a sizable number of funds from his personal account to substitute the cost of the initial prototype. A model is being outlined by the Navarch alongside the R&D personnel currently on loan from Pytheas that - once on paper - will provide us an opportunity to give a more thorough analysis on the expected cost of revamping such an unusual propulsion system.

Further financial information will be identified and documented should it arise in future reports.







RE: The Halcyon Project - Halcyon - 01-13-2025



3. HULL STABILIZATION REPORT - Jan. 835



The Halcyon by all accounts wouldn't have been considered a space-worthy ship under appropriate inspection circumstances at the time of its recovery. An entire deck had been considered unlivable. Its hull plating was broken and blasted open with holes and dents from both its service period and time in the hands of the Rogues. The entire third deck as specified was torn apart, suffering even further damage amidst the fighting on board when the ship was recovered. The events of its journey to the depths of the Omicrons had further strained its already weakened superstructure, and much of that infrastructure was exposed in places where the aforementioned plating had been destroyed.

The exterior superficial appearance almost made it look completely wrecked, with most of its paint having been worn off or stripped over the years. The interior had not been much better, with fresh scars from the firefights that had broken out on board. Sections of the floor and wall paneling had rusted from a lack of maintenance, and some of the rooms were completely cut off from power and oxygen in order to preserve the vessel's lifespan and ensure function in key areas such as the main corridor, hangar, bridge and general quarters. Power seemed to be getting routed manually at the discretion of the crew on board and their needs.

The nature of Secundus and its current capabilities have posed a number of difficulties and benefits when its come to the initial phase of stabilizing the vessel. Resources from the Pytheas and work over the past few months has resulted in much of the outlined exterior hull being patched, with a full restoration of the interior currently underway. Panels inside have been stripped out to fully assess the vessel's superstructure, and address the power deficiencies that had been identified with rigorous conduit testing.

Unfortunately, we've yet to be able to fabricate the necessary components to replace the current reactor, and have been resorting to short bouts of work to prevent further strain on the deteriorating core. Furthermore, we've yet to make any progress on repairing the primary propulsion system, and are still completely reliant on maneuvering thrusters with short controlled bursts to make any needed adjustments in the bay. Outlined below are the scans taken from the Pytheas, with the aid of Venator Serapis.



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Engine Structural Update 1

>:: Initial scans of the stern have shown that it has completely been demolished as a result of a corona beam cutting through the weakened plating to the engine's coolant system. The already overworked engines were disabled as a result of a capacitor failure, and the reaction to an unsuspected attack from the reported Bounty Hunters had the Rogues overload their engines in an attempt to flee before maintenance had been completed.

The bulk of the main thrusters have been completely demolished, and lost in the nebulae in Copernicus. As a result, replacements from salvage operations are necessary to begin the first stages of reconstruction. If salvage cannot be acquired, reproductions should be investigated as swiftly as possible. The reported output of the Judicator's fusion engines were quite high, and the adaptation process to an Ionstream-based system will require some foundational work on the restorative end.




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Engine Structural Update 2

>:: The second pass with the Pytheas revealed some severe damage on the primary struts of the engine housing. While the tertiary engines remain operational and unscathed, the overall propulsion drive has been completely demolished. The depths of the impact were only revealed after deep analysis, and it's suspected that the entire stern of the vessel will need to be stripped down and rebuilt.

The structural integrity has remained in question and under constant observation as work continues within the Halcyon's interior as teams are pushing to clear the remaining debris from the engineering room. Fire damage had completely demolished all of the systems within the primary deck and secondary deck, and it's unlikely anything short of a full restoration of these consoles can be done in the process of repairing the ship. The housing however does offer ample space, and the potential to rebuild the stern will accommodate any upgrades or changes the Navarch wishes to make.




The team is currently aware that the Pytheas has been slated for reassignment back to the Omegas, and are awaiting further resources to continue the project. We await the Navarch's decision on how to proceed with limited logistical access.

Lastly, the team is also aware that the provided components fall under classification levels that some of the staff currently do not have access to, and that the necessary oversight to continue working with such technologies requires the Navarch be present at the time of installation. The security team that has been assigned to guard these components has been incredibly strict about this, and warned of severe punishment if the contents of the materials are in any way compromised.







RE: The Halcyon Project - Halcyon - 01-14-2025


4. REACTOR PHILOSOPHY NOTES


I've taken the liberty of reviewing many of my older refit projects and prototypes that've since been developed in my absence. In particular, I've been combing every archive for whatever material relating to hybridized power generation we might have. Even went the extra mile to speak to one of the Vagrants about how their kind manipulates energy, and whether they actually know anything about these old cells. Granted that was a couple months ago, but I've been mulling over just how best to make this investment more worthwhile.

Using what I could find, I've come up with a prototype design for a two-form solar ionization reactor to pull its power from the cell directly. An enclosed system. Self contained, with all the moving pieces and dangerous components safely tucked away behind several feet of protective, blast-proof materials. The overall weight of something like that is going to increase mass quite exponentially, so I've been looking at lighter, alternative materials to fit the bill and make up the difference.

The benefit to a full rework of the interior is that we could gut a few unused rooms, make up the personnel deficiency with drones and have the space needed to house the design. However, I'd rather stick to the plan of adapting it to the existing housing as best as we possibly can manage. Ideally if this works, we might be able to apply the same design theory to similar circumstances for future projects, or larger scale deployments. The receiver units are also a matter of debate, given the high temperatures they'll need to constantly withstand to minimize loss of intake. The broad spectrum of solar energy that'll pass through will require constant monitoring. Cracks could lead to a similar implosion with my initial prototype ten years prior.

The Ionstream already relies on a similar system to operate, albeit lacking the addition of the aforementioned power cell. Integration into the propulsion should be seamless, provided all of our capacitors are in order.

Though as usual, I'm getting ahead of myself.

While the centrifuge of the Judicator isn't quite enough to produce a real gravitational field, there's enough output to create a magnetic field to handle particle management, and with the right electrical currents applied, we can harmonize alongside the solar receptors to harness more accurate production values and consistent results. A more refined control over the previous system. Though the application in the field of hybridization requires that all possible contingencies be applied. Cooling management will be crucial of all small components involved, given the ridiculously high temperatures they'll be subjected to. It's likely that various spare components will need to be on hand during trial phases.

I'll be looking into material costs for this phase over the coming weeks, including the assistance of ALG in securing salvaged Judicator-Class components. The primary focus remains interior and exterior structural integrity reinforcing and repair.

-From the desk of Navarch Leviathan








RE: The Halcyon Project - Halcyon - 01-15-2025


5. PROPULSION THEORY NOTES


Initially when I was first told of the Lightrider project, I admit I found it fascinating. Seeing it evolve over the years into what became the mainline Ionstream series inspired further innovation on the project, giving way to variants and other shelved prototypes all following the same unified theory. Utilizing less to gain more, in essence.

What challenges have presented themselves here is already outlined in my previous notes. Adapting what we've already got to what we're currently working on. The Judicator's propulsion system is an unnecessarily complex mess, and I often question why certain decisions were made in regards to the centrifuge-mounted engine arrays.

Though despite these challenges, there remains even more potential for improvement. Outlining the concerns for increased mass with the proposed reactor modifications, we can reduce mass by completely gutting the rotating engine system, and replacing it with a custom built Ionstream emitter. This'll reduce mass and reduce the number of moving components involved in the operation of these secondary engines.

The primary drive on the other hand will require a full rework. Ideally, the collected energy from the reactor - primarily the accelerated gasses that've experienced sufficient exposure to the cell itself, condensed and utilized much like our current system. The reduction of components in the centrifuge engine housing in turn will allow for the addition of a stabilization field to better direct thrust output utilizing the electrified magnetization produced from the vessel's 'unique' rotating centrifuge.

Given the outlined structural damage, we've been left with a blank canvas on how best to approach the design and installation of the drive itself. Existing coolant systems left over from the vessel's previous Liberty-based fusion engine can be adapted to purpose, but I'd recommend they too be removed and replaced with a more modern system in line with the needs specified in the Ionstream's makeup.

The drive itself with the added bonus of condensed gasses from the reactor's overflow should lead to a reduced fuel consumption rate overall, increasing efficiency margins by a meagre yet meaningful 12.6%. With that in mind if testing proves to be successful, adaptation of this design on a smaller scale should be considered to further improve the overall efficiency of craft utilized by the wider Technocracy.

I'm currently drafting up modified thruster nozzles for this, as the current ones are long overdue for maintenance and likely on their way out. They're not up to the needs of a modified system.

In fact, the next design is likely going to be a fusion of the two output methods, with the addition of the aforementioned stabilization field.

Best of both worlds.

-From the desk of Navarch Leviathan








RE: The Halcyon Project - Halcyon - 01-25-2025


6. ALG CONFIRMATION/RESOURCE ACQUISITION UPDATE


Security Access Token: GRANTED{!}

ID.Ref:>> Giraud, Simon. ALG R&D
Level:>> Temp.Ar6016



I've tasked my field units in the region with probing the logistical lines of our enemies for materials that could be useful to cutting costs. It came to me as I did the very same, 'convincing' a Core transport to redirect its cargo to a place some of our people could secure it. The Molybdenum acquired will save us some credits on nozzle manufacturing for the thrusters during our effort to reconstruct the propulsion system.

Unfortunately, the Order vessel I had caught moments before was less willing to cooperate, and destroyed the goods it was transporting. They made their decision, and we'll have no problems reducing the effectiveness of the logistical webs our enemies in the Core and Order have woven. This is a good opportunity to monitor imports, exports and do a hopefully meaningful amount of hindering damage in the short term.

Operatives in the field have been instructed to redirect cargo from vessels they detain or destroy to Bay 7 at the Freeport, offload it onto the Granite, and prep it for transport to Secundus. Materials that can be used at later stages will be shipped to Wichter on the Sardonyx, once we obtain confirmation and permission from Giraud.



Addendum: Permission has been granted and the relevant data logs attached to the report as records are being consolidated in accordance with documentation procedures. The Halcyon is slated to fly on auxiliary power to the designated rendezvous point under Serpentis security cover.


-From the desk of Navarch Leviathan








RE: The Halcyon Project - Halcyon - 07-07-2025


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7. SUMMARY OF PROGRESS



The events recorded in this series of updates encompass a time period ranging from January of 835 to April of 835. This recollection of the project has been summarized for parsing by archivists at the Citadel.



The silence at Secundus had grown deafening in the weeks of early February, with all that the teams could accomplish with the facility's limited capabilities wrapped up. The Judicator's hull had been welded and patched in every way the engineers could manage, even with all the support levied from the Pytheas. Even so, the drydock simply wasn't equipped for the necessary work required.

So the Navarch struck a deal, and the old warbird needed enough life breathed back into its systems to make one more journey.

Prolonged activity was certain to draw attention, and escorts were commissioned for scouting and security. Once they were close enough, a towing lifter would meet them and guide the Halcyon into port for its much needed repairs. The old cruiser lurched forward as five of its six intact thrusters sputtered inconsistently, struggling with what little power the auxiliary generators had to move. As the thrusters settled into a rhythm, the Halcyon's escorts checked in, and the operation was underway. Data recordings attached to this report follow the escorts point of view.

Upon its arrival at Wichter, the Halcyon has fully exhausted all remaining means of propulsion until its repairs can be completed. The remaining thruster assembly had fully burnt out, and the Hercules lifter was the only thing able to provide and control momentum. The lifter steadily guided the Halcyon into the drydock. The Sardonyx, Pytheas and remaining staff on the project trickled in steadily over the next several days as Leviathan briefed the team on what work lay ahead.




Several weeks later…

Diffuse light spread across the hull of the ship as the Halcyon occupied its spot at Wichter's drydock. This retrofit had been repeatedly deferred due to resource allocation changes and shifting operational priorities. Now, the Halcyon’s propulsion module was finally undergoing its much needed repair and restoration. Months of patchwork repairs and hull welds scarred the surface of the old Judicator. Closer inspection revealed a network of maintenance gantries and automated support craft engaged in localized system disassembly along the exposed rear hull, cutting away the scorched and cracked exterior plating. The drones had taken away the majority of the scrap, depositing it into the jaws of a Hercules lifter that carried the material to a nearby recycling bay.

Leviathan monitored activity within the propulsion corridor, his footsteps reverberating across residual heat-scored flooring, intermixed with the fresh replacements and polished sections that had been worked upon over the weeks stuck at Secundus. The primary drive array had been fully deconstructed, revealing corroded insulation, degraded heat exchangers, and ruptured plasma conduits—at least, that's what could be considered recognizable. Even more of the hulking mass was scorched and twisted metal, blown out from the inside after its initial overload. Much of the original configuration stemmed from second-generation Legion templates, and mixed with the remnant knowledge and experience Leviathan had when it comes to old Legion military equipment.

He watched from beyond the glass of his visor. Leviathan's own armor remained partially scorched black from the blast of the engines. It seemed no amount of polish would do away with the newly acquired shades of ashen dust cooked into the metal. He kept a keen watch from the corner of his view on power readouts as reactor lines were pulled into place by a mixture of automated drones and engineering staff in sealed protective spacesuits. Microgravity worked in their favor, with the ability to move the heavier components into place with careful forethought and without much resistance. Multiple internal sections were depressurized, partitions disassembled, and structural integrity reinforced with temporary load-bearing scaffolds. The old fuel pump systems were marked for removal, identified by holographically projected hazard tags.

The Judicator’s previous reactor configuration had been a fairly typical Libertonian generator, but age and lack of maintenance combined with abuse from its criminal masters had driven it to the brink of failure. It would have needed stripped even were it not for the impending overhaul. The new design necessitated gutting the old layout to make space for the power cell and particle accelerator. What was once a multi-room layout now became a single chamber with the particle beam running through the cell at its core, surrounded by plasma jets–a natural progression of the Ionstream’s basic design, but with a catalyst that increased its power dramatically.

Preliminary metrics showed a reduction in drive spin-up time and a hugely increased specific power ratio. The power cell’s output dwarfed the old Libertonian design’s specifications, and performance parameters exceeded engineering expectations even with propellant seeding. The new drive core would completely transform the ship. In the eyes of Leviathan, this performance uplift was categorical. He expected no less. This technology and the remnants he had collected over the years were his to manipulate and control. He was one of the few people left, if not the only one, who sat on the development board for the old cruiser in its heyday—almost two decades ago now.

Despite the complexity of the rotating propulsion arms, they had worked in the ship's favor—in terms of survivability, at least. The compartmentalization of the design had proven to be a boon, as the loss of the primary thruster array hadn't completely immobilized the ship. Systems were strained, but they had worked as intended when the main drive exploded. A long process of clearing debris and cleaning out the cramped interior space ensued, beginning and completing following the duration of stay at Secundus. With the way cleared, engineers had already gotten to work on modernizing and revitalizing the secondary drives the moment the Halcyon had settled into its bay. Draugrs made round trips between Wichter and the Freeport—collecting the needed resources as they were left at Bay 7 over the weeks, and amassing minerals and materials taken from enemy convoys.

Leviathan watched from the central diagnostics chamber as the updated propulsion logic ran its simulative calculations across the display terminal. Variables struck the data readouts as strings of numbers raced across the screen. The chief engineer walked over as Leviathan waved him in, pointing to the second and third stage reports. The chief—a mousy little fellow in a sealed hazmat suit—nodded frantically and hurried off to the other side of the engineering platform. "Drive redundancies are intact. Six injectors for every thruster, firing in mirrored configuration and cross-supported by isolated conduits. Disable one pair, and two more are ready to take over." The chief's voice was garbled through his helmet's radio as he reviewed the tertiary monitor.

"Efficient," the Navarch mumbled to himself. Days and nights spent, overseeing round-the-clock work from rotating shifts of personnel. While he had primarily brought his own, the added bonus of staff from the ALG had expedited the stripping down of the propulsion wreckage—Leviathan's personal staff handled and worked around the more sensitive materials. The staff at Wichter, and more importantly the drydock it provided, were paramount in the restoration efforts. Field maintenance could only take them only so far. The speed at which they were able to operate here far outpaced the progress they made while stranded at Secundus.

As the days at Wichter stretched, the team steadily gutted away the remaining elements of the Halcyon's old fusion drive and turned over components to their hosts. Things were not progressing as swiftly as Leviathan had hoped, but setbacks were to be expected. The groundwork for the propulsion revamping was completed by the seventh day of work, leaving a skeletal Ionstream frame installed in place of the old cruiser's main drive. The new fuel regulators needed to be adapted to the vessel's rotating arms, and power management was entirely offline. Cables, hoses, and other recent additions lined the decks in every possible direction, all leading toward the various drives managed on the vessel's rebuilt engineering deck. It was messy, and engineers only took the time to organize these hoses and cables when they became too severe a tripping hazard to avoid.

Further inside the engineering deck of the old warbird, Technocrat engineers had isolated the reactor room and kept operations there relatively quiet. The faint, eerie glow of blue and purple lights occasionally seeped out from the blast door's magnetic clamps as staff came and went. In comparison to the propulsion team, these power specialists wore differently colored hazmat suits, and travelled with security personnel each time they left their stations. Their work on the reactor had wrapped up weeks earlier, thanks to the assistance levied by the Pytheas and its mobile workshops. While not yet linked to the rest of the vessel, the modified power cell housed within was active, and staff had spent the weeks inside setting up the new power feed. However, hybridization wasn't without risks, and Leviathan had issued precautionary isolation measures.

Early power-cycle tests caused disruptive resonance in the initial spool-up phase. The reactor’s staff registered anomalies in the artificial gravity field for the first twelve seconds of activation, leaving small areas of the reactor chamber and engineering station in microgravity. Several personnel reported minor cognitive dissonance, headaches and spatial imbalance—reports that were in line with previous hybrid power cell reactors. "Likely as a byproduct of some leftover neural interface in the cell," Leviathan theorized as he reviewed the staff reports. "Where do we sit now, with the overall status?" he asked, turning his gaze to the chief engineer.

"The drive is going through phase testing while team two connects the power feeds," the mousy chief answered, direct in how he addressed his superior. "In a few more days, we can shut off the auxiliary reactors and transfer load to the main reactor. Test readouts are showing promising output, sir." The chief cycled the screens on his datapad.




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Engine Reconstruction Update I

>:: This readout details the current progress made on the reconstruction efforts of the Judicator's propulsion superstructure.




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Engine Reconstruction Update II

>::This readout details the current progress made on the reconstruction efforts of the Judicator's propulsion superstructure.




The Navarch sighed, his broad shoulders slumping slightly from the motion as his masked face shook slowly. "We're behind schedule."

"Sir, with all due respect, I'd say we're right on time," the chief replied. "Rushing installation here would go against every safety procedure we have in place."

The chief was right, and Leviathan knew this, even if his impatience got the better of him from time to time. The two Technocrats nodded to one another and resumed watching the monitors as the reactor completed its latest round of tests. They offloaded the recorded data from the terminals onto single-purpose datapads in a read-only format for the ALG, as part of their collaborative efforts, which Leviathan would pass on to Giraud when they had a moment to meet.

The Navarch owed Giraud a tour, anyway. Time hadn’t been on their side during this endeavor, and the few windows of opportunity that had presented themselves to collaborate in person fell between sleep shifts.

By April’s end, the new drive was operational. The ship’s engines crackled to life as its new propulsion system took its first breath. The classic orange hue of the Commonwealth’s fusion engines had been replaced by the cool glow and steady hum of an Ionstream. The reactor had been completely replaced, and was performing precisely as Leviathan had anticipated.

Their prolonged stay in the Sigmas was coming to a close. The Technocrats were packing up what leftovers were too dangerous to donate to the locals at Wichter, securing the more hazardous Azurite samples on board the Halcyon. The scaffolding was slowly peeled away as the hours of its final day at Wichter ticked down, and fuel lines were set up to refuel the refurbished vessel and get it ready for its first shakedown run since being restored to working order. The bulk of the work was done, and all that remained was updating the identifier cards to match the Technocracy.