ATMOSPHERIC PROPULSION
POWER GENERATION
The majority of ground vehicles are powered by hydrocell batteries. Energy generated from a range of methods such as reactors, solar collectors, renewables and others is stored as a pure, highly compressed hydrogen which, when introduced to oxygen, burns and forms H20 whilst releasing energy. Hydrocell batteries are typically used for smaller vehicles and ground vehicles.
Select larger atmospheric vehicles, in particular aircraft and transatmospheric craft, make use of monopole reactors built to a smaller scale than their true spacegoing counterparts. These reactors are volatile and can degrade with explosive force if compromised, but provide a much greater energy output.
Select larger atmospheric vehicles, in particular aircraft and transatmospheric craft, make use of monopole reactors built to a smaller scale than their true spacegoing counterparts. These reactors are volatile and can degrade with explosive force if compromised, but provide a much greater energy output.
HARDLIGHT PROPULSION
By using hardlight generators to create a contained field of photinos, vehicles can create temporary solid surfaces to achieve thrust.
Many IJN ground vehicles use a system known as Bathymetric Hardlight which creates an artificial wavelike field of thin hardlight particles which move along the hull of the vehicle and are reclaimed at the rear of the hull, propelling it forwards by artificial hydraulic pressure. This has the end result that the vehicle appears to be suspended on an ephemeral crest of watery light, bursting in foam much like the spray at the bow of an oceangoing ship.
Bathymetric Hardlight has the advantage that it acts as light armour in and of itself, and does not present an easily disrupted mechanism unlike conventional tracks. It also allows for the vehicle to engage in limited lateral movement by changing the flow direction. Damaged Bathymetric Hardlight can be replenished from a reserve of photonic material and energy, but if this reserve is depleted or the emitters are damaged the vehicle's ability to propel itself will be degraded.
Hardlight fields are also used in the form of Hardlight Profile Modifiers. Affixed to aerial vehicles, hardlight fields are used to extend and alter the profile of airborne vehicles without any significant weight increase. This is particularly useful for transorbital vessels, who can use HPM's to gain increased wingspan and improve their aerodynamic profile whilst in flight. These HPM's can then be deactivated in space to reduce profile, drag and visual profile and to conserve energy.
Many IJN ground vehicles use a system known as Bathymetric Hardlight which creates an artificial wavelike field of thin hardlight particles which move along the hull of the vehicle and are reclaimed at the rear of the hull, propelling it forwards by artificial hydraulic pressure. This has the end result that the vehicle appears to be suspended on an ephemeral crest of watery light, bursting in foam much like the spray at the bow of an oceangoing ship.
Bathymetric Hardlight has the advantage that it acts as light armour in and of itself, and does not present an easily disrupted mechanism unlike conventional tracks. It also allows for the vehicle to engage in limited lateral movement by changing the flow direction. Damaged Bathymetric Hardlight can be replenished from a reserve of photonic material and energy, but if this reserve is depleted or the emitters are damaged the vehicle's ability to propel itself will be degraded.
Hardlight fields are also used in the form of Hardlight Profile Modifiers. Affixed to aerial vehicles, hardlight fields are used to extend and alter the profile of airborne vehicles without any significant weight increase. This is particularly useful for transorbital vessels, who can use HPM's to gain increased wingspan and improve their aerodynamic profile whilst in flight. These HPM's can then be deactivated in space to reduce profile, drag and visual profile and to conserve energy.