HNV Snark (Re-Reworking)

Human Naval Vessel (HNV) Snark is a potent weapons platform, and the most powerful ship in the IDIF-1 Fleet. Snark is capable of engaging Land, Sea, Undersea, Air, and Space targets. She is primarily used to engage hostile spacecraft and satellites to devastating effect. Snark is typically part of Task Force 3 or in use of the defense of HomeBase. As a “Special Type”, her X-Ray laser was replaced with a Gamma Laser at some point before coming into contact with IDIF-1

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Little is known to IDIF-1 on where, when, or how the Snark was created. There are records in the ship, but these records are incomplete or just simply lacking.

The discovery of the Snark was unusual for the IDIF-1 as it wasn't captured or traded for. IDIF-1 was transported to a strange planet with red water and an orange sky. The water of this planet was relatively shallow, only reaching a few hundred meters at the deepest but stayed around 10 to 20 meters. There was nothing but calm waters for as far as the eye could see. No land mass detected by sensors or satellites. Snark would be spotted directly before the fleet, leaning to one side in shallow water. Seemingly deactivated and with no other options available, the ship was investigated. Although looking bare and "modern" on the outside, the inside told a different story. The team dispatched to investigate reported the ship was nearly fully biomechanical. The ship was living, a creature encased in armor and electronics.

The bridge was scaled to creatures larger than humans, but yet felt human. Terminals booted with ease, controls were familiar to any crew, barracks had comfortable beds, it was undoubtably human in design. And yet, no crew were to be found. With no bodies, all evidence pointed to the crew abandoning the vessel without much fuss. Yet there was one creature that was found near the reactor of the vessel, curled around it as if it were protecting it. The creature was massive, multi-limbed, black and white, the face was demonic and terrifying. It was connected to the reactor and ship via sickening tubes and veins, it was evidently dead as it gave off no heat or vitals.

Once secure, the vessel would be worked on by research teams until a way was found to start it. The creature around the reactor sprung back to life with the ship, and sought out the humans on the bridge. A firefight ensued, yet it shrugged off all attacks without much care. Deciding the ship and its' crew was their only hostile, IDIF-1 planted explosives around the ship, but were stopped by the hulking creature. Realizing the monster wasn't actually fighting back, a more diplomatic solution was put forward.

To make a long story short, the creature was the caretaker of the vessel and assisted in helping to understand the vessel's OS and language. The creature identified itself as a "Ha'Hosh", more specifically a 'Specialist' from their Warrior Caste. The Ha'Hosh claimed that it did not have a name, thus was given the name 'Jerry'. Jerry was unhelpful in explaining what happened to the vessel, what planet they were on, or much else. Jerry claims it "no longer has connection to Azavir or Veznauk command", information on Azavir and Veznauk command is limited. Jerry also claims that the vessel and itself are in a weakened state and would require more fuel (Kighrish) to remain operational. This fuel was an unknown radioactive element, though a low quality substitute would be synthesized. The substitute is only capable of producing a fraction of the power the element can, but it works.

HNS 818-797518-S 2 was the name of the vessel, IDIF would later renamed it to 'Snark'. Snark would be outfitted with new weapons, defenses, and systems. The entire ship would receive an interior overhaul to allow humans to more effectively navigate it. Jerry claims that humans have gotten much smaller since he last saw them, saying his former crew were all humans. Upon adoption into the IDIF fleet, it would also jump with the rest of the fleet. Snark continues to operate in the fleet as its' powerful asset.

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Snark is highly advanced, estimates place it thousands of years ahead of anything else in the fleet. The hull outwardly appears metal in construction, but upon closer investigation reveals a more boney, rough surface. Underneath the hull is the meat of the ship, figuratively and literally. Snark is a living vessel, like the Leviathan class but a fully living creature, hereby referred to as 'she'. Crew move in and out of her seamlessly, as she houses many amenities inside her as well as most engineering. Snark's biomechanical design allows perfect integration of biology and technology, for example her Vein Delivery System (VDS) supplies the ship with power and resources for repairs. Most damage excluding the outer hull can be repaired via the VDS system relatively quickly, massively boosting the vessels' survivability.

Snark's Veznauk Bioarmor is capable of shrugging off most railgun, laser, and missile strikes. It is particularly effective at absorbing kinetic impacts and resisting chemical attacks. Additionally the armor gives protection against radiation, making the inside of Snark perfectly safe in the event of nuclear strike. This is all assuming any munitions make it through her impressive defensive screen of lasers, decoys, and coilguns. Her HW-PAL-7.6 Phased Array Laser banks are used for defense against saturation and kinetic attacks while her LW-U-M-7.6 Ultraviolet PD Lasers are more powerful and focused. Decoy and Chaff throw off her heat signature or make it seem like their are more vessels than there are. The HW-EMC-M-7.5 60mm Coilguns make short work of large munitions or aircraft. Her weakened HHS-7.4 Electromagnetic Field is only capable of slowing heavy munitions and deflecting/redirecting lighter munitions.

Snark's main offensive capabilities come in the form of her dual gamma laser weapons and AKVs. Her first gamma weapon, the HHW Kighash Ray Emitter is a destructive laser powered directly by the reactor. This weapon is an upscaled and adapted version of a Ha'Hosh gamma ray, meaning it gives off enough radiation and heat to instantly kill organic life, and melt through most materials near-instantly. Snark cannot fire this weapon for very long, and prefers to 'pulse' it. Her other gamma weapon is the HW-L-M-7.6 Gamma Laser, a human made laser weapon. The Gamma Laser does relatively significantly less physical damage, instead causing primarily radioactive damage. Again, being hit by, or even nearly hit by this weapon can cause near-instant death for organics. Electronics can become completely fried or destroyed by the ionizing radiation.

Her AKVs (Autonomous Kill Vehicles) are other primary form of offensive power, armed with nuclear payloads. These AKVs are launched into orbit via an electromagnetic catapult, they then use a chemical rocket with ~9 km/s ∆V (DeltaV) in order to maneuver in space. 30 AKVs are armed with a variable yield thermonuclear warhead, ranging from 5 to 50 Megatons. 10 AKVs are armed with dizzying 500 MT Kighrish warheads. While the thermonuclear warheads are perfect for taking out ships in relatively tight formations, the Kighrish warhead is fantastic for annihilating entire sections of fleets. AKVs can be loaded with practically anything within the weight and space constraints. This can include cargo, small satellites, or other forms of weapons such as sand/rocks or kinetic munitions.

Snark uses an advanced form of sensors and detection systems that have been integrated and expanded upon by IDIF-1. The HS-FSA-7.7 Full Spectrum Sensor Array allows Snark to use a wide variety of detection methods. This includes, but is not limited to, radar, IR, optical, and laser. Perhaps the most important part of Snark's sensors are the HS-DSR-7.7 Deep Space Radar and HS-MST-7.7 Multi-Spectrum Telescope. These sensors allow Snark to search nearby space for targets and track them, an integral part of her primary role.

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• Ships typical of this class have an X-Ray laser, though Snark was created with a gamma laser to further her offensive capabilities.

• Jerry works as a one 'man' maintenance god, his ability to directly connect to the ship allows him to instantly assess ship status. Jerry can feel what the ship feels, and can even take direct control of the vessel from nearly anywhere in it.

• Although lacking in communication and soical skills, Jerry serves as the Lt. of Snark due to his knowledge and experience with the vessel. A powerful weapon in his own right, Jerry also will occasionally serve with fleet special forces. Though his power is clearly not what it apparently once was, no human would ever stand a change against his sheer speed and power.

• Snark can gain power from radiation sources, including suns. Outer armor and hull layers can open up to expose Snarks' flesh. Snark can additionally can further power from other sources of radiation such as extreme heat and nuclear weapons. It is entirely possible for Snark to nuke itself to gain more power, or more likely, absorb the radiation from a hostile nuclear strike.

• Snark is nearly fully automated, from her fire control to her fire fighting. The vessel can operate nearly completely on its' own, patrolling and resupplying itself without orders. Controls and orders can be given verbally or via direct control.

• Snark uses an IIAS (Integrated Intelligence and Awareness System) Slave system, this system works on a shared artificial intelligence. The Master intelligence shares and updates all Slave systems with new data and tactics. IIAS additionally gives systems and vehicles an unprecedented level of situational awareness, and ability to react to situations. IIAS harnesses the power of AI without risking the use of true AI. For ships like Snark, which have their own 'AI' systems in the form of their neural network, can work with and override the IIAS. The combination IIAS/Neural Network gives ships like Snark their own pseudo intelligences, effectively making ships living weapons.

• Kighrish refers to the element and fuel, while Kighash refers to the weaponized version. Meaning 'Life Blood' and 'Life Fire' respectively.

• Surprisingly Snark lacked almost any form of AWS weaponry or defenses prior to joining IDIF-1. Snark in general doesn't seem like it was designed to engage other navies, all on board data and records point to orbital defense. Jerry is slightly irritable and unhelpful on the topic of what it was defending against.

• Snark's insides are utterly alien; interior lights are glowing cysts, halls are made of smooth black carapace lined with pulsating tubes and veins. In stark contrast, the living quarters, bridge, CIC, and other rooms are distinctly human. They are blocky and industrial, purpose-built, but comfortable.

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