Teynara Jeralyr
Resident Sig Lord
Intent: To provide the Sith with a long-range communications network to rival the existent Galactic Holonet, one able to serve both in Sith-controlled territory as well as covertly in enemy territory.
Hero Unit: No
Manufacturer: Comnet Corporation
Model: Envoy-class SE-XR7 Transceiver Assembly
Affiliation: Sith Empire
Modularity: Modular, can be upgraded to use several different communications protocols.
Production: Mass Produced
Material: Duranium Alloy and Plasteel
Description:
Created by the Sith Empire in conjunction with Comnet Corporation, the SE-XR7 Transceiver Assembly was conceived with the spread of the Empire in territorial terms, with a view to establishing a rival Holonet system that might undermine the one used and maintained by the Galactic Republic. With many feeling that the so-called 'Galactic Holonet' serves only as a propaganda machine for the Republic and it's Jedi members, the Sith believed it appropriate to create a Holonet that could present a more unbiased view of the Galaxy, one that also took into account Sith interests, and would allow them to present information on the state of the Empire to worlds both within those territories, and to those beyond.
The transceiver is designed with multiple different functions in mind: firstly, purely to broadcast the Holonet software created by Sith engineers, enabling all citizens of the Empire to access important and pertinent information from within their borders. Secondly, it is capable of intercepting and projecting data from existing Holonet relays and transmitting that information back into Sith space, so that all citizenry may benefit from what is provided on the 'general' Galactic Holonet - to provide an insight into Republic Space.
More insidiously, it has also been designed as a spy satellite, able to relay information regarding a particular system provided it is in range of a world's communications net. It can intercept outgoing and incoming transmissions, and thus serve as a tap for enemy communications, providing important data that can be used by Sith Intelligence Services. However, the satellite itself is incapable of decrypting these transmissions, so the communications are simply returned to the Sith as they are originally sent, requiring the services of Sith Cryptographics in order to decode any of this data. As such, it is purely designed as a means of conveying information, but nothing more.
The satellite itself is incredibly vulnerable - although it possesses an energy shield capable of protecting it against cursory attack, this is powered by the transceiver's sole power core, and the drain required to maintain it prevents any signals being sent if that shield is presently under attack. Although able to withstand damage from space debris and an attack by vessels of fairly diminutive size, they are extremely vulnerable to anything larger, and can easily be destroyed by a planet's Defense Grid if the satellite is detected.
Despite this vulnerability, the Transceiver is incredibly hard to detect via visuals, and carries sensor jamming software able to disrupt the scanning capabilities of any vessel or static orbiting object within fifty kilometers. When passively receiving information, the satellite enters low-power mode (which also lowers the shield), only powering up fully when instructed to transmit via the Holonet or by another transceiver assembly in it's network. As such, it is most likely to be detected only when transmitting: the satellite's power output often drops below detection thresholds when in low-power mode.
