By Mike Moolick
These vehicles are one of the crowning achievements of my convention's scientific progress. I can confidently say that they have no equal in performance ot utility. They have, over the past three decades especially, become the main deep probe and transport devices of the Void Engineers.
Periodic exposure of current designs has been proceeding over the past century. There are enough believers that the devices are almost paradox free. Furthermore, the introduction of "Stealth" technology has enables us to use them right under sleepers' noses. The following is a discription of our craft for the landbound.
The Void Engines are sleek ovoid craft. A quick inspection shows them to be made of a smooth, seamless, brilliantly reflective metal, a Void Engineer material called Celestium. Celestium is a memory metal, and as the vehicles changes speed and direction the confirmation of the metal changes to maximize aerodynamic factors and propulsion. Indeed, the metal is an integral part of the craft's uniqe propulsion system.
The Void Engines are propelled by systems unlike any in current sleeper use. The technology is based upon the wasping of the continum and alteration of spatial curves, the theories of which are too classified to be released here. The craft's surface defines an envelope of "stable space" around which the alterations are made. By strengthening space on one end of the craft and contracting it at the other, the space the vehicle is in is moved. This is different than the vehicle moving through space, and allows speed and maneuverability that is physically impossible otherwise. Instantaneous changes in speed and direction are possible, without worry of G-forces which plague conventional aircraft. The largest present problem with in atmosphere flight is friction. Even though Celestium is nearly frictionless flight can heat it to several thousand degrees on the surface, and burn it away slowly over a period of years. Flight above mach eight is therefore an aunauthorized proceedure in all non-experimental cases.
The Celestium releases it's pent up energy as light, heat, and radiation. This can reach damaging doses for those who carelessly fly low without engaging the stealth systems.
The stealth systems increase the seal integrity of the ship's space. Electromagnetic energies radiating from the ships encounter a phenomona similar to light trying to escape a black hole's event horizin, and are quickly re-absorbed by the celestium hull. External electromagnetic radiation is bend around the vehicle, exiting from the warped space at angles and times corresponding to that whouch would have occured in the normal environment without the vehicle's presence.
Pilot: Only Void Engineers have the training to handle these craft in flight. The pilot interfaces with the vehicle's computer systems by sitting in a special "neural induction field seat", which we devised with Progenitor assistance. This, combined with a mental action which is not dissimlar to entering the Digital Web ( Correspondence *, Mind * ) allows reaction times well above those physiological possible in conventional flight systems.
Cargo Capacity: The Void Engines have little cargo space and with good reason, ask and Void Engine pilot and he'll tell you ( "These puppies ain't third class freight. ) The largest engines can Accommodate about ten people or one and a half tons of cargo.
Top speed: Atmospheric Mach 8 (Computers cut of anything faster); In Void - Classified (Hint, warp something)
Maneuverability: 9 ( Capable of "Impossible" maneuvers and flight in any direction as well as hovering. Authorization to land except in Technomancer controlled areas is rarely granted, and the computers won't allow it without authorization.)
Range: Classified. Known to be "Quintessence Guzzler", costs at least 3 points of quintessence per hout to keep flying.
Fuselage: The Celestium hull gives the Void Engines two dice of countermagick against magickal assault. Celestium's hardness provides four dice of armor, and the spatial envelope of a flying whip gives it four more. In stealth mode, attacks involving lesser forces are routed around it. The vehicles have eight soak dice.
Damage levels: OK x 3, -1, -2, -3, -3, -4, -4, -5, Destroyed. Modifiers apply to maneuverability.
Weapons: Void Engines are unarmed, as they are not combat craft. Pilots are under orders to avoid conflict. Pilots and passengers can use magical attacks however. Most commonly lasers or memory/consciousness deadening attacks are used.
Note - The Void Engines operate not only in air and space, but undersea as well. This is unusual as oceanic exploration is usually handled by task-specific vehicles.