Character
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Long Range Ship Identification and Tracking with Regional Navigational Mapping and Guidance.
- Image Source: Wired, ESA/P. Carril
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source:
- Manufacturer: Leviathan Ring, Confederacy of Independent Systems
- Affiliation: Confederacy of Independent Systems
- Model: FAL NS-HV Mk I
- Production: Minor
- Material: Durasteel, Plasteel, Aluminum, Isotope-5A Micro Reactor
- Classification: Regional Navigation Guidance & Control Satellite
- Length: 5 Meters
- Width: 5 Meters
- Height: 5 Meters
- Armament: None
- Defenses: Extreme
- Hangar Space: Base: 0
- Hangar Allocations:
- Starfighters: 0 squadrons
- Support Craft: 0 squadrons
- Maneuverability Rating: High
- Speed Rating: Average
- Hyperdrive Class: N/A
- Sensor Array
- Transmitter & Receiver
- Maneuvering Thrusters
- Regional Astrogation Map Update Hub
- Regional Navigational Hazard & Advisory Hub
- Automated Planetary Orbital Guidance & Holding Pattern System
- Hyperspace Advanced Warning System: Positioned in orbit with several of its kin, these Satellites can monitor nearby Hyperspace traffic by detecting subtle disturbances indicating an object (presumably a ship) is about to enter normal space nearby. How much advanced notice depends on the size and composition of the approaching vessel(s); though it is rarely more than several seconds. Enough time to race over to sensors to get a look at whoever or whatever is arriving.
- IFF Challenge & Response System: Newly arrived vessels' IFF are collected, analyzed, and set on for additional review. Sloppy forgeries are often immediately identified and notification sent to planetary defense forces.
- Incursion Warning System: A large fleet or a Super Star Destroyer with an unrecognized or hostile IFF triggers an immediate notification to planetary defense forces, and Confederacy Command to alert to a possible invasion force arriving within a system. As much data regarding the composition and movement of this fleet will also be sent on until the Satellites are destroyed or communications are jammed.
- Arrival & Departure Tracking System: Ships entering or leaving orbit are logged for review by personnel as needed. The Satellite can broadcast messages for a vessel to halt, but has no on-board means of enforcement (no weapons systems or tractor beams).
- Astronomical Hazard Detection: The Satellite's array of sensors can pick up various astronomical hazards that may get stirred up and pose a danger to nearby vessels. This information will be relayed to orbiting or arriving ships to ensure their safe passage in or around the affected area.
- Self-Learning Protection Protocols: A specialized Electronic Intelligence manages on-board systems and analyzes all 'authorized' communication to identify enemy combatants attempting to utilize whitelisted frequencies allowed by allied command.
- Distributed, Mesh Network: Multiple Satellites are often deployed in orbit around a planet or space-bound facility. While a single satellite can monitor a wide area, multiple satellite allow for monitoring an entire solar system. With sufficient number the network can even survive the loss of one or more satellites with little to no degradation of coverage.
- Isotope-5A Micro Reactor: The small version of an extremely powerful energy source supplying the satellites with the energy they need.
- Ion/EMP Protected Circuitry: A Faraday cage with shielded wires to external transmitters and receivers, ion surge shielding, and miniaturized cap drains provide ION/EMP protection often used by hostile forces in an effort to disable Capital vessels or ground defenses.
- Sensor Deflector Net: A good defense is not letting the enemy know where you are to begin with.
- Rapid Identification & Response: Vessels entering range are quickly identified and logged. Details are passed on to planetary defense ordinarily; but in the event sufficient mass of vessels are detected (especially if they're immediately identified as hostile based on faction profile or weapons fire) Confederacy Command will be notified very encrypted burst transmission or ghostwave with as much information about the size, composition, and movement of such an Invasion Fleet.
- Self-Defense Protocol: It's not always feasible to have Intelligence personnel personally managing the defense of every cyber warfare suite. With the Confederacy being proponents of droids, automation, and artificial intelligence it was only natural a high specialized counter-breech security intelligence was installed to protect the satellites from being tampered with or turned against allied command.
- Many Small Packages: The small size of the satellites, sensor deflector, distributed deployment, and built-in ION/EMP protection makes destroying the net difficult.
- Mice: There is an extremely short (almost concurrent) Advanced Arrival Notice for a single, small vessel exiting hyperspace; and a single, small vessel will not trigger the Incursion warning. The larger the ship or fleet, the more effective those systems are.
- Toothless: The Satellites are not able to enforce an order by planetary Command for a vessel to not approach or leave orbit. They have no weapons systems, no tractor beam, and do not engage in electronic warfare. These are monitoring and coordination platforms and not Combat Satellites.
- Fragile: They can take micro-meteorites like a champ, but when it comes to being struck head-on by a torpedo or successfully pelted by incoming fire the satellites won't stand a chance. Their size and sensor scrambling (stealth) are their greatest means of survival. Also, it's better if you don't drop them on the hanger deck when loading them -- they're expensive.
- I, Spy: While auto-lock by many weapons systems is thwarted by the sensor deflector, due to the sensor array, monitoring, and broadcast capabilities of the Satellites an astute Sensor or Science operator may be able to provide coordinates for Weapons to eliminate the orbital watchers.
Even a dedicated Orbital Command Post can benefit from a supplemental collection of Navigation Satellites providing comprehensive sensor coverage of the local star system and planetary orbit. These NavSats go beyond the standard dumb sensor extension of mass produced products, however. A sensitive array of hyperspace sensors allow for a few extra seconds warning of incoming vessels (especially large ones, or entire fleets), and their on-board classification and IFF verification reduce the response time of planetary defense forces.
The Vigilence NavSats benefit from having multiple Satellites in orbit for wider and more detailed monitoring of the surrounding space; the more Satellites deployed the greater the redundancy in the event of failure or destruction ensuring continued coverage. They were also designed with a certain amount of self-management involved, especially when it comes to unauthorized attempts at accessing on-board systems. The Confederacy's efforts in automation and droid intelligence has produced some of the most effective cybersecurity.
