XAIKONIS

This is content related to my collaborative sci fi project.

People like Cmdr. 'Spot' are commonly referred to as 'panhumans', who have extensively modified themselves beyond Human baseline, a controversial practice within the Navy.

'Spot' has extensive implants, ranging from combat enhancements, hyperaware senses, enhanced strength and durability, to artificial organs equal or superior to natural organs. These systems place his combat ability significantly above that of a typical Human and make him an absolutely lethal opponent on the battlefield, and include most notably a synthetic arm that can conceal itself to appear natural before revealing itself to be a gun.

Spot, who had ties to the criminal underworld in the deep past and is among one of the more contentious panhumans, is also among the more extensively modified, the modifications going so far as to include his appearance into that of an anthropomorphic cheetah, this sort of practice common by those participating in the body mod subcultures. His service to the Triumvirate Space Navy since having his criminal record expunged, along with the fact that his crimes outside of being surgically altered were minimal, helped to gain support for policy change.

Though this non-Human appearance draws the ire of more traditional powers in the Navy more obviously than a Human with hidden implants, more progressive elements point out that Orionization has exposed the Navy to a wide plethora of diverse appearances and first contact with other species anyhow, and that maintenance of a Human-standard baseline is counterproductive and does not accurately reflect the Triumvirate's actual population.

Shifting attitudes have caused the TSN to in fact partner with large corporations such as GenTec in order to explain and educate the populace about artiforgs, cybernetic enhancements and panhumans in general. This is necessary because prior to substantial immigration from the rest of the Human Bubble, native Triumvirate-born citizens were restricted from practicing it themselves and had little knowledge.

The AC-20 Phoenix gunship was originally designed as a post Awakening-era armed cargo aircraft. Introduced in the 1990s, only a few years after the global crisis, this distinctive looking aircraft was manufactured in a limited number. Its fission-based nuclear reactor is capable of powering an early form of fusial-thrust technology, enabling long duration high-altitude and high speed flight.

The aircraft was also designed to operate with little need for a runway, capable of hovering and direct vertical takeoff and landing, due to many runways around the world being abandoned or destroyed due to the Awakening, and limited airstrip availability in recovering countries.

Around a hundred fifty examples were manufactured, but quickly became obsolete in the following decades as fusion miniaturization was successfully achieved (AC-20s could not be upgraded due to their unique engines) as well as advances greatly improving fusial thrust engines by the 2000s.

The AC-20′s older first generation engines in contrast were brightly burning, highly visible, and incredibly loud, making a distinctive ‘gurgling’ noise while at speed and even idling. Its plutonium fuel cores were also dangerous and difficult to replace, unlike the extremely safe hydrogen fuel cells used by newer fusion powered aircraft. Newer generation aircraft also had flight times of months and reactor fuel lives measuring a decade, while the AC-20 could only stay aloft for a week and needed its cores replaced every six months.

AC-20 VTOL capability was also tempermental, difficult to control even with the more primitive computers at the time. One gunship according to records even used its overpowered engines in an offensive manner, injuring enemy combatants by hovering over them with jet blast. Needless to say, any stealth or covert operational capability was nonexistent, resulting in military and government buyers having some reluctance purchasing one.

Because of its unfortunate timing and production right before a massive boom in technology, orders were soon cancelled and most AC-20s in service were rotated out and replaced within the decade, often by the ACS-2 Aquila (https://www.tumblr.com/xaikonis/701746354257608704/aquila-stealth-command-jet?source=share)

By the year 2031, only two AC-20s were still in service, one at the US Air Force Groom Lake facility as a testbed, and one remaining in its intended role and configuration by Coalition Chapter L-830. Both of these were extensively overhauled and upgraded with modern features such as holographic HUD cockpit displays, modern computers making landing much easier, fire suppression and other features.

The ACS-2 Aquila Stealth Command Jet is capable of extended flight missions lasting months, able to hover in place to act as a forward operating base, and capable of advanced optical and EM camoflague allowing it to vanish from most forms of detection. It was introduced in the 2010s as an alternative to the much larger, more expensive and less flexible ACS-1 Citadels. It is also capable of launching four drones to project its force and detection capabilities.

The Aquila is used by Coalition chapters that are too small to justify the ACS-1 Citadel, though is proving to be a desirable aircraft all around to the point that they are backordered and many organizations are finding themselves on years-long waiting lists.

A rough study of a magitek wand. The latest designs allow for more powerful and stable spellcasting compared to traditional wands, fusing electronic and technological elements to augment spellwork. This particular wand is a combat variant optimized for use against dark wizards and is built to be robust and reliable for freeform casting.

Hi all! I’m Xaikonis.