Directorate Officer
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Gulfstream is Lucerne Lab's entry into auxiliary maneuvering systems. While many companies and shipwrights use various combinations of manevuering thrusters and microthruster to improve a ship's maneuverability, Lucerne Lab's biomemetic pursuit led them to study the fish of Hast. Inspired by their movements, Lucerne Labs modified existing ion stream deflector technology to fit around the ship's existing ion engine nacelles, which enhances the ship's inherent maneuverability at the cost of speed. But application of this technology did not produce the full amount of maneuverability that they were looking to achieve, particularly near the bow of the vessels. This led the design team back to the drawing board, and ironically to traditional water craft design. Lucerne Labs took traditional gyroscopic internal stabilizers, and rigged them up to multiple gravitational field disruptors. While the gyroscopes typically keep the ship stabilized, the gravitational field disruptors can alter the mass of the gyroscopes, making them either become heavier or much lighter, and consequently can shift the ship's center of gravity around the ship, which in combination with the ion stream deflector technology, makes Gulfstream-equipped ships exceptionally maneuverable, though it noticeably drains speed from the engines. This complex process is moderated by specifically designed gyro-balance circuitry which coordinates all of the subsystems.
For all of its complexities, Gulfstream provides about the same maneuverability enhancement as several other maneuvering systems already on the market. The main advantage that Gulfstream possesses over these systems is that its components are mostly internal, which makes it more difficult to damage. However, the same gravitational enhancements to the ship's gyroscopic stabilizers also frequently interferes with the ship's own internal gravity, especially during sudden maneuvers, as there is generally a lag between the gyro-balance controls interacting with the ship's artificial gravity. It is not uncommon for a ship's crew undergoing such sudden maneuvers to be jostled or tossed around as the sudden increase in the gravitational field produced by the disruptors overwhelms the internal gravity.
Intent: To provide a maneuvering subsystem for Lucerne Lab Starships
Image Source: N/A
Canon Link: N/A
Restricted Missions: N/A
Primary Source: N/A
Manufacturer: Lucerne Labs
Model: Gulfstream-class Maneuvering System
Affiliation: Closed Market
Modularity: None
Production: Mass-Produced.
Material: Ion Stream Deflectors, Gravitational Field Disruptors, Gyro-Balance Circuitry, Mirrsteel Gyroscopic Internal Stabilizers
Can temporarily enhance a ship's maneuverability at the cost of its speed
Temporarily Enhances Maneuvering: Gulfstreams use of ion stream deflectors and gravitationally-enhanced gyroscopic stabilizers can allow its host craft to become more maneuverable at the lost of speed.
Protected Maneuvering: Gulfstream's components are almost all internal, which makes it more difficult to damage compared to conventional maneuvering systems.
Reduces Speed: Gulfstream draws its power directly from a ship's engine, partially as a necessity to provide enough power for the ion streams and gravitational field disruptors, and partially because it makes the vessel easier for the altered gyro-balance circuitry controls to handle.
Gravity Fluxes: Gulfstream use of gravitationally enhanced technology creates distinct gravitational signatures that are easily detected from a great distance. Additionally, the placing of internal gravity fields frequently disrupts the artificial gravity in the immediate areas around the gyroscopic stabilizers.
Gulfstream is Lucerne Lab's entry into auxiliary maneuvering systems. While many companies and shipwrights use various combinations of manevuering thrusters and microthruster to improve a ship's maneuverability, Lucerne Lab's biomemetic pursuit led them to study the fish of Hast. Inspired by their movements, Lucerne Labs modified existing ion stream deflector technology to fit around the ship's existing ion engine nacelles, which enhances the ship's inherent maneuverability at the cost of speed. But application of this technology did not produce the full amount of maneuverability that they were looking to achieve, particularly near the bow of the vessels. This led the design team back to the drawing board, and ironically to traditional water craft design. Lucerne Labs took traditional gyroscopic internal stabilizers, and rigged them up to multiple gravitational field disruptors. While the gyroscopes typically keep the ship stabilized, the gravitational field disruptors can alter the mass of the gyroscopes, making them either become heavier or much lighter, and consequently can shift the ship's center of gravity around the ship, which in combination with the ion stream deflector technology, makes Gulfstream-equipped ships exceptionally maneuverable, though it noticeably drains speed from the engines. This complex process is moderated by specifically designed gyro-balance circuitry which coordinates all of the subsystems.
For all of its complexities, Gulfstream provides about the same maneuverability enhancement as several other maneuvering systems already on the market. The main advantage that Gulfstream possesses over these systems is that its components are mostly internal, which makes it more difficult to damage. However, the same gravitational enhancements to the ship's gyroscopic stabilizers also frequently interferes with the ship's own internal gravity, especially during sudden maneuvers, as there is generally a lag between the gyro-balance controls interacting with the ship's artificial gravity. It is not uncommon for a ship's crew undergoing such sudden maneuvers to be jostled or tossed around as the sudden increase in the gravitational field produced by the disruptors overwhelms the internal gravity.