Escher's Files

[Thexare]

Of Thought and Memory

The Huginn-type operations cruiser is built off the hull of the Hel-class interdiction cruiser. The interior is extensively overhauled, to provide for proper support facilities.

The centerpiece of the ship is the Limelight Type-YYZ surveillance system (ref. The Camera Eye), whose components fill much of the unused space a Hel-class typically has set aside for specialized equipment. Though diverging from the original plan, halfway through refitting the EL84 Echo communications system was installed, allowing the Huginn to function as a secure central communications nexus for Natio Octavarium spaceborne operations at an extreme distance.

The Huginn-type was developed for defensive operations, per terms of the arrangement with the Red Hessian Army. As a result, emphasis was placed on concealment - masking the thermal signature, obscuring internal power, shielding the reactor more than operationally necessary, and other similar methods. If confronted, the Huginn-type has adequate armament for a cruiser and short-range jammers for support, but this is not its ideal role and repairs are quite time-consuming. Should combat be necessary, the Huginn makes an excellent rear-line command and control vessel.

Unfortunately, the power systems aboard the Hel were inadequate for hypothetical offensive operations.

The Muninn-type calls for a Vidar-class heavy cruiser, and is largely similar to the Huginn. The Muninn has a combat-ready hangar, though little prevents one from being installed on the Huginn, and its more robust power system allows for more energy to be put into offensive electronic warfare than the Huginn. We do not yet have a spaceborne example of a Muninn, so all results are still theoretical.

The Camera Eye

Project Limelight could have made Aquila Defense Systems famous, were it not for Gallia. Limelight was tested on, in order, Premonition, Paranoid, VXS Spirit of Radio, and VTS Headlong Flight, and in all cases proved an exceptionally capable scanner and surveillance package. It was released as such to limited public distribution, to select Zoners interested in deep space travel and trusted traders hoping to detect pirates before being robbed.

That was not sufficient for Natio Octavarium.

Limelight Type-YYZ was developed based on data from Headlong Flight, which was discovered to have used far less power than a system of its scale was expected to require. As a result, additional forms of scanning were added to circumvent whatever sensor masking our enemies may have; rather than trying to force through any countermeasures, and risk signal tracing, Limelight-YYZ performs a more comprehensive scan and as a result can detect more while blending into background radiation.

The Huginn saw the initial deployment of Limelight-YYZ, to great success. Within its range, it compared favorably to VCS Metropolis's older Spyglass array. While that array likely doesn't reflect the current theoretical best, and the range of Limelight-YYZ is shorter, this is still a remarkable accomplishment for Aquila Defense Systems.