Project Eidolon (Tel)

[Tannis V'larr]

The ISD Termagant was berthed at one of the massive star dock facilities orbiting Fondor. Captain Kellison had received the recall order three days ago, diverting the Star Destroyer to the nearby Tapani Sector for a minor refit and to refresh her supplies and personnel.

A separate dispatch had arrived for one Lieutenant Tannis V'larr, a junior member of the Termagant's resident Shadow Squadron, from the Office of Commodore Teleran Balades, director of Research and Development for the Imperial Navy: "It is the opinion of this office that your proposal merits further review before a board of officers and sector officials. You are hereby requested and required..."

And so, with scant hours to prepare, Tannis found himself scrambling to gather all his reports, schematics, and dossiers that he'd spent the last month crafting in painstaking detail. When it proved to be too much for one briefcase, he removed some of the background materials. He had been reviewing his presentation so religiously that he wouldn't need any prompting. And as he left his rack, he only just remembered to double back and stuff the original copies of his references letters from Captain Kellison and Squadron Commander Grisham into the outside pocket.

It was at times like these that he wished he'd been born full Sikarran. His human side left him more vulnerable to his emotions than he'd care to admit, and it took all his discipline to maintain his customary stony exterior. The officers in that conference room were bound to be skeptical of a development proposal from a junior officer -- any nervous tic, any variation in his breath, any twitch of his eyes could signal blood in the water as far as they were concerned.

He stepped off the shuttlepod and into the research complex of the star dock, looking very trim in his freshly-laundered duty jacket, pressed trousers, and mirror-polished boots. Without hesitation, he crossed purposefully to the nearest lift and took the most direct route possible to the boardroom specified in his orders. He approached the steward waiting in the reception area outside and announced himself; the steward nodded, glanced again uneasily at his unmistakeably alien yellow eyes, and disappeared though a set of mahogany-lacquered doors.

He was five minutes early, as he'd intended. It wasn't time to rehearse his presentation one last time or to reorganize his notes, but it was time enough to quietly recompose himself.

The steward reemerged. "They will see you now, sir."

Tannis gripped his briefcase firmly and strode into the boardroom.

[Teleran Balades]

Interesting, so Tannis V’larr was from the Termagant. Memories from Endor flashed through Tel’s mind, shadow squadron and Captain Kellison had pulled his crippled ship out of that hell hole. Since then, he had worked to rise to his position, granted the loss of so many capable officers probably played a role in that.

A proverbial ton of submitted research design flood the R and D desks every day, most were reviewed by underlings and shoved off, but when a recommendation with Kellison’s and Grisham’s names had popped up. The commodore felt he showed at least humor them, he probably owed his life to them.

Balades was impressed to say the least. The copies of the schematics detailed a new type of stealth fighter. For a second, Tel had thought that the specs were just copied from the V38; a closer look changed the thought. Still, where in frell’s name did V’larr find that design to begin with? Oh well, proved that the kid was smart.

The commodore looked forward to the fighter jockey’s presentation. For a naval officer, he had quite broad build, standing out in the group of officers and engineers. Many of them were skeptics and, in all likeliness, would grill to poor kid until he was a charcoal briquette. But, in the long run Tel had the final say.

[Tannis V'larr]

It was a long, U-shaped conference table with a raised lectern and two-meter vidscreen at the open end. A solidly-built man wearing commodore's bars sat at the vertex; Tannis knew from his research that this was Balades. He took it as a good sign that the orders had come from the Commodore's office directly. On the other hand, it was intimidating for a mere lieutenant, even a half-Sikarran one, to find himself the object of a commodore's interest.

He took the long walk around the table to the lectern without glancing over his audience the way he imagined a nervous man would have done. He then set down his briefcase, opened it, handed the stewards datapads to distribute to the brass, and linked his own datapad to the forward vidscreen. Only then did he raise his eyes to regard the assembly.

"Good evening, sirs," he said, and, "Your Graces," he added in the direction of two distinguished businessmen who had been appointed to the Order of Palpatine. "I have been called here to discuss in greater detail the proposal which I submitted to this office on the sixteenth day of the month of Telona. In this proposal, I have outlined plans, schematics, and performance projections for a new class of low-observability starfighter. I have designated these schematics 'Project Eidolon.'"

He tapped the transparent control panel built into the lectern's surface, and the first page of schematics sprang onto the vidscreen. The three-winged fuselage of the TIE V38 was unmistakeable, except that much of the dorsal radiator panel had been removed and replaced with a bank of sensor antennae.

"In the realm of low-observability technology, there are two presiding design philosophies. The first is to develop systems that individually mask a spacecraft's observable characteristics: engine emissions, ion trails, active scanner and communications output, sillhouette, and mass. Technologies have been developed to mask each of these vulnerabilities, but it has never been practical to combine them all into one ship.

"The second philosophy is to employ cloaking technology to render the craft entirely undetectable. The two known types of cloaking devices have their own prohibitions: the hibridium-based device developed by the late Grand-Admiral Martio Batch is a double-blind, and there is no longer any known deposit of the stygium crystals which fueled the cloaking technology of antiquity.

"Both these philosophies would require a significant advancement beyond our current technology. In lieu of that, I propose a third philosophy, or, rather, a melding of the two."

The vidscreen changed to a new set of schematics -- those who were familiar with it recognized it as Admiral Batch's hibridium device.

"It is often overlooked that a cloaking field need not encompass an entire vessel. With the proper modifications, the hibridium cloak could generate a field small enough to conceal only a few key systems. In this case, the engine core of the TIE V38 assault fighter."

The cloaking device shrank into the superimposed V38 fuselage and radiated a field around the aft third of the fighter.

"The engines of a spacecraft are responsible for the vast majority of its emissions. They are also the primary means of tracking a spacecraft; the only means at great distance. With this modified cloak, the engines can operate at full capacity and remain absolutely undetectable. The pilot and the sensor receptors remain outside the cloaking field, freeing them from the double-blind effect. We can then refer to philosophy number one with the engines removed from the equation."

The naked V38 frame was given a skin -- one very unlike that of a conventional TIE. It was carbon-black with a strange, unctuous sheen, and the radiator panels were riddled with seemingly random circuitry.

"The modified starfighter can be equipped with sensor-scattering hull plates, low-emission radiator panels, and the most advanced electronic countermeasures. According to my simulations, when operating in full stealth mode, the spacecraft is virtually indistinguishable from cosmic background radiation. Not invisible, but so unremarkable as to escape the notice of enemy scanners. In short, a serviceable and practical stealth fighter."

TIE/v38b "Wraith"
"Stealth" superiority fighter
Length: 14.3 meters
Crew: 2 (pilot, sensory technician)
Cargo Capacity: 500 kg
Consumables: 1 week
Hyperdrive Multiplier: x1
Speed: 155 MGLT (90 MGLT under stealth)
Hull: 15 RU
Shield: 50 SBD (nullified when stealth field is operating)
Weapons: Two laser cannons, four optional hardpoints

[Teleran Balades]

Commodore Balades sat quietly throughout the presentation mental jotting down notes. V’larr held up surprisingly well against the stress of being under the scrutiny of so many high ranked individuals. His eyes trailed to those seated about the conference table wear the others poured over datapads hand out by stewards. At the far end sat Brigadier General Lycos, Tel’s own fighter wing commander, the burly general poured over the documents like a kid in a candy store. Balades couldn’t blame him; it’d been since a decent low-vis fighter had come around.

Not since Batch’s disaster with the TIE Phantom, that failed project had cost the Empire billions in investments and resources. A damned terrorist even got away with one of the precious ships and destroyed Admiral Sarn’s flagship, one of the few SSDs constructed. At least Batch had been executed for his screw-up.

Or without the Inquisitors confiscating any plans to have innovative tech, they probably had the full schematics for the Phantom hidden away in their lair on Coruscant. Teleran would make sure they didn’t get their hands on this one.

There were several flaws with the design that would ultimately have to be worked out, but the commodore was almost certain that it could be handled. Using the hibridium-cloak to mask out the engines was genius, but therein also lay the problem. Two seats to the left of Tel, a senior engineer leaned forward, clasping his hands in front of him.

“Lieutenant, how do actually propose the install the hibridium cloak device on a V38 frame. The device along is larger than the craft.”

Opposite the skeptic a minor fleet officer interjected as well. “Aye, considering the power requirements with that, only a cruiser sized ship could even be considered to hold such a device.”

Teleran stayed silent, briefly sending a message to General Lycos’s datapad, a solution was already coming to mind, but he wanted to see how Tannis would respond. Not only was he against cynics; several of the brass here remained strictly opposed to humbling to an alien, even if he were only partially blooded.

[Tannis V'larr]

It was, of course, the first logical question. Tannis was gratified that they had asked it without dismissing him out of hand.

"Indeed, the cloak is the primary engineering challenge to overcome. Our object is not to develop a miniaturized cloaking device, but a partial one. The key, I believe, is in the field size. Beyond a certain threshold, the power consumption of a cloak is geometrically proportional to the volume of the field generated. I propose to integrate, as much as possible, the cloak and the engine systems of this craft."

A new schematic appeared on the screen -- a detail of the engine core.

"The modified cloak has no power cells of its own. It draws directly from the fighter's central power plant. The hibridium matrix itself is coiled around the engine shaft, while the emission exhaust extends along these vanes into the radiator panels. The field projectors are far smaller than those of a conventional cloak, and they are, in fact, directed inwards.

"This is, of course, a theoretical model. However, my simulations indicate that a device of this mass, coupled with the fighter's reactor, should be sufficient to generate a field just large enough to conceal its own volume, and the engine systems it contains. The power draw is still significant. I estimate that the engines will be reduced to roughly sixty percent of their full power, and the shields will be inoperative while the cloak is engaged. But it may be that these shortcomings can be overcome during the development process."

[Teleran Balades]

Lycos’s hurried answer pinged on the commodore’s data-slate while Tannis explained in detail the finer points of his engine core. Compared to other TIEs the V38 easily dominated in almost all aspects, but she still retained the same ion reactor. The power plant had a hard time keeping up with the energy demand. Even with V’larr’s innovations Tel could see that it’d be a stretch.

The ‘Vyper’ Mk3? This thing is already crammed to the brim, you think it can even hold the extra mass?

Research and development had stagnated since the disaster at Endor. With funds constantly pouring into the tried and true workhorses of the fleet to build up the Imperium’s armada once again many design projects still sat on the drawing boards. An alternate reactor design floated around, it was larger than the standard ion power plant, but it might work. Naturally the Inquisitoriate had jumped all over it, but the Navy had yet to utilize it.

Structural bracing had been reduced by a fourth from the original V38; it was possible that the extra space would be enough for a larger reactor. He would have to speak with the Lieutenant later to see if he would be up for altering the design slightly.

“Mr. V’larr you realize that at the moment the Imperial fleet is still recovering. Valuable time and resources would be required to get this scheme of yours of the ground.” Of course one of those annoying business moguls; always looking to their own pocketbooks.
“Just the cost of building one of your toys would cost the Empire a great deal…”

“…five hundred thousand credits.” Balades felt the eyes level on him even as he cut the executive off “Figure in the costs of research, labor, and testing costs: roughly around twenty to twenty-five million credits.” The commodore shifted his gaze from his slate to the man, receiving a disguised glare in return. “Hardly a dent in the Empire’s wealth.”

“Financial issues aside, how do you believe this TIE Wraith could be utilized in the field?”

[Tannis V'larr]

The Commodore's interjection was unexpected, but certainly welcome. The financial tactic might have halted all consideration, or at the least put Tannis in the awkward position of reminding the board that research and development necessarily imply an investment.

Though, on a moment's reflection, he was surprised the estimate was so low. Perhaps the Commodore knew something he didn't.

He filed that thought away and turned to address the new question. "Its primary function is tactical reconnaissance. Our current reconnaissance measures are largely limited to long-distance observation. The Wraith is equipped with a hyperdrive and the consumables to sustain its crew of two for up to a week. It could be deployed from a remote base into a Rebel system or fleet grouping and remain there for several days as it gathers reconnaissance."

The screen displayed the external specs once more. "However, the range of specific applications is much larger than that. You will note the external hardpoints on either side of the port and starboard wing panels. These hardpoints can accommodate a variety of equipment from sensor packages to remote probes to jamming devices to weapons. The Wraith is readily adaptable to the needs of any mission requiring stealth: covert tracking, battlefield scouting, communications interception, even preemptive strike. Obviously, any equipment with active output could potentially compromise its visibility."

[Teleran Balades]

“What are you trying to pull, twenty-five million, you know damn well that’d be at least triple that for evaluations alone.” The businessman, a Felix Rastor Tel recalled, leaned over to whisper. “You know how much a credit sink-hole Batch’s hair-brained scheme was, we don’t need another one…” The man cocked an eye towards Tannis. “..Especially not from some sub-human.”

The commodore ignored the man; he’d deal with this later, somewhere appropriate after the presentation. Martio Batch, may have failed his experiment, but his plan was no where near hair-brained and Balades hardly this one unfeasible. The Grand Admrial’s only crime was a brief moment of gross incompetence.

“Lieutenant, if I were to authorize construction of this fighter, would you be willing to work with my staff to oversee development and production.”

If anything, Teleran hoped that V'larr would work with R and D. It give them a chance to observe his technical skills in person. Maybe the kid had a few more ideas up his sleeves, he'd make a great asset to add to the roster. If Tannis were willing to spend less time with the shadows, the commodore doubted it.

[Tannis V'larr]

Tannis had endured many such comments he wasn't supposed to hear -- a hazard of having superior hearing to his human counterparts. There was nothing to be gained by showing he had overheard this one.

It was Commodore Balades's next question that, for the first time since the review began, left Tannis speechless. He did not blush -- his blood was green, turning his cheeks a subtler olive hue.

"I... certainly I do not wish to be disloyal to my squadron. In the service of the Empire, of course... Forgive me, sir. I am deeply honored. I would require time to consider it."

Inwardly, his mind was racing, and when a Sikarran's mind raced, it did so along multiple tracks, pursuing several eventualities at once. Only in his most unrestrained speculations had he considered this as a possibility.

[Teleran Balades]

Ah, of course, Lieutenant V'larr was a soldier true to his commrades, he wouldn't let them down. The Commodore understood perfectly the bonds between squad mates, still, Balades would be sorry to see the man go.

"Of course, Lieutenant." Teleran closed down his data slate. He had heaped a lot on Tannis in the last while, it would probably be a good idea to give him some time to sort things out....and deal with several of the leaches sitting in the room before anything was written in stone.

"Thank you for your presentation. I see excellent potential for such a craft." Balades stood, as the lights came on, and moved around the table to shake V'larr's hand. "We will need time to come to a final decision as well. In the mean time, feel free to take advantage of the station's ammenities.

[Tannis V'larr]

Tannis accepted the handshake with a firm, calculated grip. He was surprised to see what appeared to be genuine respect in the Commodore's eyes.

"Thank you, sir."

In the intervening moment, he cast about for anything else to say -- thank you for the opportunity, I shall eagerly await your decision, it has been an honor -- all of it sounded too youthful, too winsome, too unprofessional in his imagination. So he settled for:

"I look forward to hearing from you."

He snapped a smart salute, which Balades returned, and then turned to pack up his briefcase. Two more officers paused to shake his hand on his way out of the boardroom. The rest ignored him, and he ignored them.

On the other side of the door, he indulged in a fortifying breath. It seemed he'd found an unexpected ally in the Commodore if he could overcome the bureaucratic inertia opposing him.

Feel free to take advantage of the station's ammenities.

He understood there was a Twi'lek restaurant aboard, not one of the cheap take-out kiosks scattered across the galaxy, but a gourmet establishment where he could have some decent plomeek soup and a real nerfsteak. It would stretch a Lieutenant's pay, but could be the first of many such dinners if he were awarded a contract.

Or he could refine the power flow, or finish testing that alternate matrix configuration...

His fantasy of a gourmet dinner evaporated, and he left the conference suite to find an open computer terminal.