IAF Ships

The Z-1 is a prototype in every respect. Lacking even a basic class designation, each element of the ship was designed from the ground up to take full advantage of its small Chronoscience Drive, integrating it almost flawlessly into its systems. Initially, the intention behind the Chronoscience project had been to create a prototype featuring a significantly more powerful Drive housed in a capital ship frame, allowing for large-scale experiments with more than enough space for an entire science team to observe the technology directly. A lack of materials and general fear of the possible consequences scaled things down considerably, eventually resulting in the current 8 meter long, single-pilot design. Though lacking the power or possibilities of a capital-size craft, this model has the added feature of relative disposability. One critical malfunction could still cause the loss of the invaluable Chronoscience Drive, but would only take a single life and small frame with it, rather than dozens of scientists, hundreds of crewmen, and thousands of tons of material.

Though the Z-1 more or less resembles similar-size human shuttles at a glance, it takes on a very different shape in flight. The hull is modular, separating into several principal components bound to the Chronoscience Drive at its core. Switching out systems and adapting the craft to different experiments is relatively simple; the Z-1 could go from a tactical surface-attack loadout to an instrument-laden survey variant in a matter of hours, so long as the components are available.

When it came time for the I.A.F. to select a pilot for their prototype, Philip was the obvious choice. Highly decorated, psychologically reliable, and no next-of-kin to demand a troublesome investigation if something went wrong. With Philip at its helm, the Z-1 is ready to undergo its greatest trial-combat with the Fatem Armada.

Unlike the Z-1, Trish's ship was never designed to implement Chronoscient technology. At its core, it is still a Valkyrie, a highly advanced and maneuverable Interceptor with which Trish has years of experience. It can mount a wide variety of armaments, sports state of the art countermeasures, and is capable of staggering speeds even with a full payload. Interestingly, the Valkyrie is also home to a comprehensive electronic warfare system.

This is what made the ship perfect for adaptation to Chronoscience. The onboard power facilities are already designed to accommodate intricate and fragile systems, and removing the E.W.S. leaves enough room to install a Chronoscience Drive with minimal hull modification. Unfortunately, the installation was performed rapidly and under pressure, a desperate attempt to give Trish a fighting chance against the Fatem. The somewhat unstable result is the Valkyrie Mod. 0, the only one of its kind. Its far from an optimal setup, but with a skilled pilot and more than a little luck, it should get the job done.

The Vergar is, at its heart, a testament to human adaptability. Its not so much a ship as the foundation of one; a simple, reliable, and effective frame on which thousands of different craft can be constructed. Everything about the Vergar Chasis is designed to accommodate modification. The core is a reinforced structure that can mount a wide range of engines, atmospheric maneuvering systems, weapons, sensors, and more. Without expansion it has enough room to haul nearly a hundred tons of high-density cargo or comfortably seat a dozen personnel. Some of the most common variants are civilian transports and military dropships, though the I.A.F. has been known to repurpose Vergar interiors to accommodate explosive munitions instead, converting them into slow high-payload bombers and missile corvettes. Different incarnations of the Vergar can be seen on every human colony. With a little work and the right parts, they can fill any role the I.A.F. need them to. With Fatem surging towards their population centers, the people of Asgard will need every option at their disposal.