The inherent modularity of the Arbeiter platform has made it a choice vessels of Unioner technicians looking to innovate on existing spacecraft systems. Occasionally completely bizarre weapons systems can be recovered by Unioner raiding parties, and, lacking the motivation to recycle them directly without known technological parallels, these subassembalies are often fitted to whichever spacecraft can most conveniently serve as testbeds.
Arbeiter TX-57-Eta ‘Hellion’ is one such fighter owned by the Pacifica cell. Unusually for experimental vessels, GEIST has had no influence in the construction of the Hellion, nor in its operation. Flown by Voararbeiter Gunda Riehl, the Arbeiter’s conventional drive bottle has been surreptitiously replaced with the hyperprojective magnetic bottles of the Cult of Technology, dating from the short-lived Cultist incursion into the Hudson system in the year 824 AS. The Hellion’s drive unit exhibits the same characteristic emissives as conventional Cult of Technology vessels. The sole fighter-mounted prototype, ‘Firebrand’, contains a number of irreplaceable compounds and nanoscale subassemblies that have been extracted directly from wrecked Cult of Technology fighter remains. Combat performance remains unchanged from a conventional Unioner drive unit – however the effective range of the Hellion has been massively extended by the addition of the Firebrand propulsion module. Whilst the Union strongly desires to produce further models, repeat units would demand an analysis of Cult of Technology manufacturing methods. As the Union has not yet discovered the existence of, let alone discovered, Cult of Technology manufactories, the proposal remains academic at best.
It appears that the Pacifica cell is zealously guarding the drive unit, despite participations.
The drive unit represents the second successful integration of Cult of Technology powerplants into Unioner spaceframes since the creation of the Sirene’s Multi Mission made use of CoT superconductors. Vorarbeiter Riehl has wracked up considerable notoriety due to her refusal to observe politically acceptable test regimes for the propulsion unit. Exact specifications are in short supply, although it appears that the drive has greatly improved response characteristics over conventional engines.
The importance of preserving the Firebrand during combat evaluation trials has encouraged the Union to arm the Hellion with the best cannons the organisation has at its disposal. It appears that the Union intends to use the Firebrand as the basis for future propulsion research.
THE SYNDIC LEAGUES
(A co-operative of Rheinland's Shipping Unions, retired from a life of piracy.)
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