| Jovian APAworks | Volume 1, Number 3 | February, 2001 |
The Calypso II was originally commissioned as the Hecate, a Bricriu-class corvette, in 2156. CEGA decommissioned her in 2201 as part of a fleet renewal program. Stripped of her guns, she was given to the IGS as a gesture of goodwill in 2204.
Name: Calypso II Origin: IGS Manufacturer: L5 Shipyards/IGS Type: Converted Corvette Control System: Bridge w/Astronomical Display Length: 180m (200m w/Drive Guides) Width: 45m Empty Weight: 2000 tons Loaded Weight: 4000 tons Main Drive: 115 MW Secondary Powerplant: 2000 KW Main Thruster: 1 x 1,000,000 kg Apogee Motors: 50 Acceleration: 0.5 g Onboard Sensors: Fire Control Radar, Infrared/Ultraviolet, Magnetic Anomaly Detector, Microwaves, Motion Detectors, Radcounter, Search Radar, Telescope, Multiple Ground Scan Array Fixed Armament: None Defensive Systems: Mag Screen, PDS Equipment: Escape Pods, Winch, Satellite Uplink Vehicles: 1 L-200-class shuttle, 2 M-Pods, 4 Exo-suits, 4 Thoth probes, 1 Deep Atmospheric Survey Module
The IGS spent the next three years on an extensive overhaul and performing several modifications to the hull. The biggest modification was the addition of the immense tether system in the Bricriu’s keel. This system contained over 4000 km of monofilament cable, resulting in a useable range of 2000 km for any payload deployed at the end of the cable. Other modifications included additional sensor arrays, including IGS’ own MGS (Multiple Ground Scan) –3 system, capable of radar and visible light mapping at resolutions down to 3m for the radar, and 20cm for the optical array. Electronics and computer capacity have also been extensively upgraded, and hanger capable of housing an L-200-class spaceplane was added to the ship’s spine.
The other significant addition is the Deep Atmospheric Survey Module (DASM), a manned laboratory designed for use with the tether system. More details to follow below.
Recomissioned by the IGS in 2209, the most significant use of the Calypso so far was the daring rescue of several workers from the falling Martian Orbital Elevator. Using the DASM, the Calypso’s captain was able to effect the rescue of three workers who had been outside on the cable when STRIKE detonated Heaven Station.
The Calypso has carried out extensive trials in orbit around Earth, Mars and Jupiter, and was dispatched to Neptune in late 2211, arriving in orbit in March of 2212. It is slated to carry out extensive studies of Neptune and its moons, and to act in support of the IGS Long Baseline Array.
Designed to survive in the hostile environments of gas giants, the DASM, called the Pod by the Calypso’s crew, is the focus of the Calypso’s operations.
Name: Deep Atmospheric Survey Module Origin: IGS Manufacturer: IGS Type: Tethered Lab Control System: Bridge Length: 20m Width: 30m Empty Weight: 100 tons Loaded Weight: 120 tons Main Drive: N/A Secondary Powerplant: 200 KW Main Thruster: N/A Apogee Motors: 8 Acceleration: 0.1 g Onboard Sensors: High Resolution Infrared/Ultraviolet, Magnetic Anomaly Detector, Microwaves, Motion Detectors, Radcounter, Search Radar, Telescope, Atmospheric Sensors Fixed Armament: None Defensive Systems: Mag Screen Equipment: Laboratory
Name: Deep Atmospheric Probe Type: Bathyscathe TV 4,100 OTV 0 DTV 160 MTV 12,130 Final Cost: 32,800,000 Prod. Type: Late Prototype Pre-Prod. Cost: 6,560,000 Default Cost: 4,100,000 Size: 10 Default Size 16 Mass: 25060 kg Crew: 3 Actions: 3 Armor: 20/40/60 Sensors: +2/2km Commo: -3/10km FiCon: -2 Manuever: -3 Movement Speed MPs Space (Gs) 0.1 Gs 1 Deploy: 200km BP: 100 ReMass: Light Gas PERKS AND FLAWS Rating Name Game Effects Aux Annoyance Starts to smell after a few hours Airlift Ready Reinforced for Winch Autopilot Level 1 Pilot Y Backup Life Support Ignore 1st LS Hit Haywire Resistant Shielded against electrical damage External Power From Cable Y 2 Computer Level 2 HEP: Extreme Press. 6 HEP: Radiation (Rating=60rads/hr) HEP: High Grav Difficult to Modify 1 Reinforced Crew Compartment Ignore 1st Crew Hit 2 Laboratories Y Back Up Commo Ignore 1st Commo Hit 2 Tool Arm Sensor Probe (cannot punch) Life Support Full Life Support Y
While undergoing trials above Earth, the Calypso II may have "inadvertently" used it’s Multiple Ground Scan Array on several CEGA facilities. Likewise, several Jovian sites may have been subjected to the same treatment. Everyone from the CEGA to Corvus to the Venusian Bank now wants the ship, and the records in her files. Her only hope is to reach one of the Long Baseline Array stations, where it would be far too public to attempt a capture or destruction.
Sometime after the Pod is deployed into Neptune’s atmosphere, it suffers an accident, and the cable appears to be damaged. Someone must take one of the special exo-suits the Calypso carries, and travel down the cable to effect a repair, and check on the occupants of the Pod.
The suit will be detailed next month, but it can be treated as a Decker exo-suit, with the addition of the climbing rig, which allows to move up and down the cable.
| Jovian APAworks | Volume 1, Number 3 | February, 2001 |
Jovian Chronicles is © 2001, Dream Pod 9, Inc. All rights reserved. Jovian APAworks is not affiliated with Dream Pod 9 in any way. Submitted material remains the property of the creator.