No fudge needed, just need to run out ahead of everyone else with our higher acceleration/better thrust and we should be fine. that's how I'm flavoring my post, anyway.
All accusations of "showing off" are strictly unfounded, he'd do it if there wasn't a soul around either
<Snipped quote by HereComesTheSnow>
Sure thing, Kon.
You can't ignore this!!!
As a heads-up, the Ajax likely has no way of detecting the anomalies on its own, but thanks to the Diomedes ITU, Holden's likely receiving sensor information from both the Bedwyr and the Odysseus-- potentially from the Voyager and the Outrider as well, though I don't know how much relevant info they're receiving from their systems. So long as someone has info from their sensors, and is marked as a friendly by the Ajax, the share of information is certainly possible.
That being said, I'll see if I can't put up a reply soon enough.
<Snipped quote by Hawthorne>
So, I'm going to be totally honest with you.
It was ten o'clock at night and I was powering through a huge migraine. That 100% was supposed to say "Odysseus" and I fucked up my Greek heroes for a second there. I'll fix that.
<Snipped quote by Hawthorne>
So, I'm going to be totally honest with you.
It was ten o'clock at night and I was powering through a huge migraine. That 100% was supposed to say "Odysseus" and I fucked up my Greek heroes for a second there. I'll fix that.
As a heads-up, the Ajax likely has no way of detecting the anomalies on its own, but thanks to the Diomedes ITU, Holden's likely receiving sensor information from both the Bedwyr and the Odysseus-- potentially from the Voyager and the Outrider as well, though I don't know how much relevant info they're receiving from their systems. So long as someone has info from their sensors, and is marked as a friendly by the Ajax, the share of information is certainly possible.
That being said, I'll see if I can't put up a reply soon enough.
<Snipped quote by Hawthorne>
On the way down, Konstantin probably set up the Merlon System's Datasharing systems, so the sensor info should be going to the landing team by the time of this round of posts, I would imagine. I'll wait until I make my post to designate the heat signatures if Krayzikk wishes, but sharing is caring in an alien world.
<Snipped quote by Krayzikk>
krayzikk's iliad director's cut where the wrong guy gets achilles' armor
<Snipped quote by Krayzikk>
krayzikk's iliad director's cut where the wrong guy gets achilles' armor
<Snipped quote by Plank Sinatra>
If we ever do get to the point of upgrading, I like to imagine that the Ajax receiving better armor on par with the Achilles is one of the options, heh.
Name: Halim
Gender: Male
Age: 24, chronologically older.
Appearance:
Personality: Halim is a sweetly tempered young man and very eager to please, to a decidedly unhealthy degree. If he's ever learned to say no to someone, he certainly has never exercised that skill. He doesn't seem to shy away from his past and often thinks people are a little strange when they react with horror or disgust about it. After all, the BTF was everything to him up to this point, why would they ever do anything to hurt him?
While he wont admit it, he is terrified of not being useful. So when he's behind the controls of an Orbital he falls into a strange zen like panic, anxiously jerking and flitting about the controls with a fevered grace that few can match. While always glad to help; he rarely accepts any amount of credit due to him, either thinking himself not really worthy of the praise or attributing it to the actions of another pilot. Largely, this seems to be a result of Halim considering himself not as a person, but as equipment.
Backstory: Halim was born among the Bratox Trade Flotilla(a politically independent fleet of trade vessels that had grown to dominate the trade routes through the asteroid belt between the inner and outer systems) to the non-critical renewable labor caste. Like most children in the BTF Halim was raised in the communal education centers, where in he was tirelessly drilled on the various jobs he could be asked to perform upon reaching reproductive viability as well as reminding them all for how thankful they should be to the BTF for providing them with their existence for only a nominal annual fee. Halim took to his lessons well showing exceptional aptitude in simulated Orbital operation and astronavigation. At 15, after passing his provisional exams, he was finally deemed competent enough to enter the BTF's labor force and was swiftly assigned to Field Asset Protection.
Halim considered the years he spent with Field Asset Protection to be very fulfilling, if perhaps a little dull. In theory, most F.A.P Orbital pilots where armed deterrents for piracy, but that never really held up with Halim's experience. Most pirates wouldn't bother with targeting BTF ships and what few that where dumb enough to try normally shot down long before they came within his weapon range. In truth most of the time was spent using his orbital to block or destroy potentially damaging debris from hitting any freighter he was escorting or racing through the belt at what were (for any other pilot than BTFs finest!) near suicidal speeds to do more of the same.
Halim would have been happy to remain like this until the day he was euthanized, but the Pandora Expedition put an end to that. He along with three other high performing pilots from the F.A.P where 'generously donated' to the project with shiny new Orbitals to match, though for what reason he did not know. Still, his was not a place to question and now, as he blinks the last vestiges of cryosleep from his eyes, he is eager to make himself useful to his new owners.
Skills:
Space Ace: Having lived his whole piloting career in space, Halim can fly in zero gravity and high orbit with a grace and speed that would impress even veteran pilots. More over, there is no pilot that could hope to match his pace in a debris field no matter their experience.
Astral Navigator: Halim is able to astronavigate, a somewhat outdated skill set given modern instrumentation and automated navigation computers. However, one never knows when instruments fail.
Absolute Loyalty: Halim is ready and willing to follow any order given to him to the letter with a happy smile! Neither fear nor ego cloud his judgement, making him an ideal wingman.
A Tool that Knows its Tools: Halim has never piloted an Orbital that wasn't a Casket. This familiarity makes him and other F.A.P pilots uniquely suited to handling their more finicky systems, even without instrumentation for aid. Additionally, he can diagnose issues with his Orbital from sound and feel alone.
Flaws:
Combat Novice: While Halim's piloting is certainly good, his combat experience is frankly laughable. He'll need a firm guiding hand and some time before he'll be considered a true combat pilot.
Space Case: Halim has some serious gaps in his knowledge base. He is barely able to read beyond a 5th grade level or perform math beyond firing calculations. He has no familiarity with any political or social norms beyond the BTFs.
Gravity!?: Halim has never been planet side, nor has he ever piloted within an atmosphere. Expect a radial display of under performance under such conditions.
Absolute Loyalty: Halim will HAPPILY follow ANY order given to him by those he perceives to own him. This includes the entire expedition currently. Even those who might abuse that power.
Equipment: He has a standard issue flight suit with helmet and a BTF uniform (pictured above). He owns nothing else, not even blankets or pillows for his bunk. Surely if he needed those things someone would have given them to him....right?Model Number: Cerbain Security Corp model, CSC-37. Aka, The Casket.
Role: Deep Space Escort, Mid Range Variable Combat
Appearance: Halim's Casket is 20.6 meters tall with the stock 'Lunar Landing' paint option, and only can be differentiated from the other BTF provided Orbitals by the operator number on the shoulder.
Systems:
Cerbain Optimized Power Suite: Cerbain is noted for having a certain level of care for their customers...which is to say absolutely none at all. This power suite heavily optimizes weapon and defensive systems while effectively gutting life support, climate control, and all other 'none vital' systems to their barest minimums.
Shahmaran Thruster Suite MK 3.3: A highly tuned thruster suite exclusive to the Casket Series that priorities control and tight maneuvering over all else. Many old school pilots consider this suite, and this suite alone, to be the reason to get a casket and the latest version does NOT disappoint.
Weapons:
Persephone Shield Emitter Array: The one true piece of innovation to come standard with a Csc-37. The PSE is a fantastic defensive option for both the Orbital and its escort, allowing the pilot to form large and sturdy hard light barriers effective against both kinetic and energy weapons. However, due to its rather large energy demand, it cannot be run in concurrently with weapon systems.
Isurugi Heavy Industries 50mm Rotary Cannon: Mounted in the shoulder weapons compartment. A bog standard option.
X Corp Beam rifle: Mounted in Shoulder weapons compartment. A high intensity Beam rifle still in service at the time of the Caskets initial release. While many swear by this weapon, citing its excellent accuracy and energy efficiency, it has a noted lack of penetration or stopping power compared to more 'modern' beam weapons.
2x Cerbain TCK-B: Tactical Combat Knife-Beam Variant. A short cost effective beam weapon directly mounted to the upper arms, just before the wrist. While their cutting powered can't be argued, CQC with this Orbital has been noted to be more akin to fist fighting than anything else.
Manufacturing History: Cerbain Security Corp is an Orbital manufacture that believes in building BY the numbers so they can build IN the numbers. They are less known for their innovation and more for their ability to field large orders of Orbitals quickly and inexpensively without compromising on (reasonable) quality. They have, and always will be, leaders in making infantry fodder machines, thus why their most famous series ended up with the nick name "The Casket".
Still, the 37 does its job and damned if it doesn't do it well, able to fill any role within a team and provide a slight defensive edge.
Weaknesses: Like many previous entries in the Casket series, lack of specialization and an over focus on economy HURTS this Orbital more than anything. It also suffers from having to commit to going on the offensive or defensive, unable to spare the energy for both DESPITE having its none critical systems gutted. A less talked about, but still present, issue is the shoulder mount being the only platform for body mounted weapons and creating a blindspot on the pilots left side.
I am very tired and this took a great deal of time. But...have a very soft boi if you all are still accepting. Let me know if there are any issues you want me to change.