Diary Entry 1: The Skeleton – From Hauler to Brute
Schematic Overview of Phoenix
The structural refit... Gods, that was a beast. Looking at the Phoenix now, you'd never guess she spent cycles hauling ore. In the past I took the old cargo bays, reinforced the internal framework with layers of durasteel and some surprisingly effective salvaged plasteel composites. It's all about force distribution now; the old lines have been re-routed, channeling impact towards the core, where it can be absorbed. It's more...solid than it was. No longer a gentle, swaying barge, she feels like a fist.
Recently due to the cargo, wraith provides, we shaved down the excess mass, streamlining Phoenix silhouette, giving her a leaner, meaner edge. The engineers muttered a lot about ‘kinetic resonance dampeners,’ I just know the whole frame vibrates less when we do hard burns. She feels like she's ready to take a beating, before delivering one.
Diary Entry 2: The Fangs – Kinetic Prowess
The 'Fangs,' as they call them. Two massive electromagnetic rail launchers mounted on the fore. These aren't the standard railguns that spew hot plasma. These kinetic rounds to rip through armour. It's less power reliant. These weapons aren't for shields, no, these are for kinetic penetration. My recent engineers have calculated that those projectiles can punch through even the thickest armour plating- especially with the way we're routing power directly from auxiliary capacitor banks. We're not looking to ignite, we're looking to shatter. We tested them today on a derelict hulk and... well, the damage was… spectacular. It wasn't clean, it was brutal. I think I'm starting to like this Brawler role she's taken.
Diary Entry 3: The Skin – Ablative Layers
Ablative armour, not the most elegant solution, but effective. Instead of heavy plates, she's clad in layers of a specialized composite that vaporizes under extreme heat and kinetic impact. Each layer is designed to take the force of a hit and dissipate it. Sort of like scales. Sure, we’ll need to replace the layers in between engagements, but they’re relatively modular, and cheap, good as it is to sacrifice armour instead of internal systems. There's a peculiar, almost burnt smell to the hull now, something that reminds me of welding. It's a smell of violence, the Phoenix is becoming a ship of war. I hope, gods, I hope it will be enough.
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Diary Entry 4: The Heart – Modified ThrustersDate: Cycle 239, Sunrise
The engines… they’re no longer the workhorses of a cargo vessel. I've ripped out the old, low-burn thrusters and installed a pair of modified, high-output plasma drives. They're not the most fuel efficient, but they give us phenomenal burst speed and maneuverability. Something necessary if we are to get into the thick of things. The engineers call them "Inferno-Class" drives. They make the whole ship tremble when they spool up, and the exhaust plume is terrifying to behold. Makes the Phoenix look like she’s spitting fire, ready to engulf anything in her path. A perfect reflection of her new designation.
Diary Entry 5: The Eyes – Enhanced Sensors
The sensor suite has gone through a complete overhaul over the years. Gone are the basic scanning arrays for resource deposits, replaced with wide-spectrum, high-resolution sensors, both active and passive. We have long-range targeting sensors linked to the fangs, and close-range threat assessment systems that can track multiple targets simultaneously. They're sensitive enough to pick up heat signatures and even subtle disturbances in the energy field. I'm going to need to learn how to use all of this new information. It's a lot more than just ‘rock here, rock there’. This is battlefield awareness, almost like we are seeing the thoughts of our enemy.
Diary Entry 6: The Unseen – Miscellany and Support
It's the little things that make the difference. Over the years I've added reinforced internal bulkheads, redundant power systems, and multiple auxiliary fire control stations. There are emergency repair systems to fix minor damage and keep her fighting. And most importantly, I have installed the gravity compensators, now properly calibrated for combat maneuvers which are a lot more aggressive than her previous profession. Even the life support systems are upgraded to handle combat g-forces and stressful situations. It's the details that make a difference between a ship that survives a battle, and one that becomes a derelict wreck.
Diary Entry 7: The Teeth – Point Defense
While the Fangs are for major blows, we needed a way to deal with the pests. The Mining drones I picked up are good point defence. The real punch, if they get too close are the four vulcan cannons along the bow and flanks. I have one ballistic of tungeston rods, but they aren't too accurate. The vulcans are light, rapid-fire, and perfect for shredding incoming missiles and fighter craft. They are also linked into the sensors, and can be put into an auto targeting mode if things get too hairy. It's a symphony of staccato bursts when they light up, a wall of death against whatever tries to get close. It’s not the main damage dealers, but these are needed. It rounds out the Phoenix, she can strike hard, and she can defend herself. She's not just a big metal fist anymore, she's… a brawler, through and through.
Just updating on the schematics of Phoenix.
Log end.