Directorate Officer
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To make a versatile amphibious vehicle that in many ways mimics its namesake, the Aiwha
- Image Source: here, modified by yours truly
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Lucerne Labs
- Affiliation: Directorate, Silver Jedi Concord, Lucerne Labs customers
- Market Status: Closed-Market
- Model: Aiwha-class Amphibious Skimmer
- Modularity: Warheads
- Production: Mass-Produced.
- Material: Starskimmer-series Hull (Carbo-plas, condensed-matter composite, corellian epoxy, thermal gel) with Burthan thread lamination, permex articulated wings, ceraglass canopy, Psykhe-series Droid Brain, Biolux series Organoform Circuitry, typical skimmer components
- Classification: Amphibious Skimmer
- Role: Light Assault / Personal Transport
- Size: Small
- Weight: Light
- Armaments: Average
- 2 Vaapad-class Laser Cannons
- 1 LLT-7 General Purpose Warhead Launcher (typically with one of the following loadouts)
- Defenses: Low
- Maneuverability Rating: Very High
- Speed Rating: High
- Propulsion: Repulsorlift
- Minimum Crew: 1
- Optimal Crew: 1
- Passenger Capacity: 0
- Cargo Capacity: Very Small
- Amphibious: Mimicking its namesake, the Aiwha is equally at home gliding through deep ocean waters or flying high up in the air thanks a combination of biomimetic body movements and repulsorlifts. The cockpit controls themselves have been kept very basic in order to better keep them waterproof even if submerged in deep waters. This means that riders do have the option of using the craft with the canopy fully retracted, allowing for quick dismounts when in the water or just above the service. Conversely, keeping the canopy sealed keeps it pressurized, allowing the user greater operating altitudes when in the air or submersion to deep depths without need the need for the user to wear specialized suits.
- Biomimetic: The Aiwha actually mimics its namesake in its rough size, shape, and general body motions. Articulated permex wings allow the Aiwha a limited ability to actually glide in the air without repulsorlifts, but they can also can contort to in maneuvering both in the air and underwater. The Aiwha's tail actually pins or moves side to side to also aid in maneuvering and propelling the craft. This careful replication of movements means that not only are the Aiwha's movement's efficient, but they sometimes also get the Aiwha confused as actual wild-life on long-range sensors.
- Composite Sensor Package Aiwha has a hardwired Enhance-Scan General-Purpose Scanner linked to a Subsonic Scanner and Sonar Mapper that automatically provides a wealth of data to the driver via the HUD and the droid brain. While designed to help the users explore and patrol areas, the scanner is also sometimes used more directly in tactical situations to analyze enemies.
- Semi-Automated: The Aiwha has a hardwired Psyhke-series Droid brain that is designed to make it almost a robotic mount if the user enables this mode, capable of guiding itself through the air or water if necessary or attacking known foes with its weapons. This is particularly useful when in the water if the user decides to dismount in order to get a closer view of wild life or a wreck. It can also return to the user via comlink transmission, much like a beckon call.
- Agile: The Aiwha's light build and high power repulsorlifts make it an exceptionally fast and agile craft both in the air and in the water, capable of swiftly making tight turns to maneuver through obstacles or shake off pursuers.
- Amphibian: Mimicking its namesake, the Aiwha is a capable of operating both underwater and within the atmosphere, making it one of a few vehicles that is truly all terrain on most worlds.
- Weak Hull: The Aiwha is fairly lightly built to give it both good flight and underwater cruising performance, but it makes the craft rather fragile to weapons fire.
- Small Cargo Capacity: The Aiwha has a very small hull, which greatly limits what the user can take with them - typically no more than a personal bag or two.
The Aiwha is hybrid air-water vehicle, made in emulation of its namesake, that's designed to be an agile scout or light combatant. Thanks to its biomimetic design, it is fairly quick and agile craft that lends itself well to dare devils and more performance-minded enthusiasts. Some people have dubbed the Aiwha the "underwater swoop" which isn't too far off from its actual use - with speeds that are usually several orders of magnitude higher than similar craft, with one of the closest vehicles at its performance being several of the older sub-fighters used by some late galactic powers, such as the Shark Underwater Fighter and Tie Fighter Boat. The Aiwha itself sports fairly similarly armament to these vessels, though notably its general purpose warhead launcher makes it a much more versatile combat platform. Perhaps more importantly compared to such competitors, the Aiwha itself capable of actual flight, which allows it to ascend from watery depths to dogfight aircraft in the skies or act as a ground attack vehicle if need be - though it is typically doesn't perform as well as dedicated airspeeders or starfighters.
There are few modern submersible combat vehicle designs on the market right now, which has led the company to fairly confidentially start production of the vehicle despite any initial pre-orders from outside sources. Lucerne Labs itself has already ordered some to protect several of their own older facilities, which were constructed underwater to better protect them from conventional foes. Militaries within the Silver Jedi Concord are almost certainly likely to order some as well for their own uses, especially those worlds like Azure which are primarily covered in water.
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