E X A R C H
SPECIAL FEATURES
Project BLACK TIDE is a classified naval weapons initiative developed under the authority of Karl von Strauss following the collapse of the Imperial Confederation. The system is based on reverse-engineered principles from fragmented Rakatan matter transmission infrastructure, which utilized paired spatial anchors and controlled hyperspatial compression fields to facilitate short-range matter displacement. Rather than functioning as a conventional transport system, BLACK TIDE weaponizes this concept into a ship-to-ship boarding platform designed for rapid internal insertion of strike teams.
Operationally, the system projects a stabilized translocation aperture between a capital vessel and a targeted enemy ship once a valid sensor lock and internal structural mapping solution is achieved. This allows designated boarding elements to be displaced directly into pre-selected interior compartments such as engineering sections, command corridors, or hangar bays without the need for hull breaching. Initial testing recorded significant instability rates during early deployment cycles. The result is a doctrine-shifting boarding capability that enables immediate internal engagement and rapid disruption of enemy vessel command and control structures.
BLACK TIDE excels against conventional naval doctrine that relies on external armor, point-defense systems, and shielded hull integrity, as it can bypass most outer defenses once a lock is established. It is particularly effective in decapitation strikes against capital ships, where rapid insertion of naval infantry can neutralize bridge crews, disable reactor systems, or seize critical ship functions before an organized response can be mounted, as long as translocation is successful.
However, the system is constrained by several operational limitations. It requires continuous sensor coherence and spatial targeting, making it vulnerable to heavy shielding, electronic countermeasures, sensor jamming, or rapid evasive maneuvers that disrupt lock stability. The system also draws extreme power from capital-grade reactors and requires mandatory cooldown cycles between mass activations due to thermal and spatial stress buildup within the projector array. Additionally, BLACK TIDE is limited to small-unit short-range translocation, restricting its use to squad-level boarding actions during closer engagements.
While highly effective in controlled engagements, BLACK TIDE carries inherent risks if misused, including potential spatial misalignment events, failed insertions, or partial translocation under unstable field conditions. As such, its deployment is restricted to sanctioned naval operations under Naval command authority. Despite these limitations, the system represents a significant advancement in naval boarding doctrine, providing a decisive advantage in boarding engagements.
- Short-Range Matter Translocation Array - Experimental Rakata-derived system enabling limited, short-range ship-to-ship personnel transfer via stabilized micro-transit bursts. In layman's terms: a teleport.
- Boarding Aperture Projector - Projects a temporary tranfer corridor that locks onto enemy hull signatures for direct insertion of boarding teams into interior compartments.
- Reactor Tap - The Array has a direct line to the reactor of the ship, providing the system with enough energy at the time of translocation.
- NZ SAP-2A SSA [Sensor Systems Array] - A comprehensive sensor suite, providing the BLACK TIDE with the information it needs to be able to determine the best possible target area for translocation.
- NZ Thanatos ECM/A Suite - An electronic countermeasure suite that can provide the BLACK TIDE with enough protection to, hopefully, get a lock on target.
- Instantaeous Boarding - Transfers small boarding elements at a time (fireteams/squads, no more than ten), bypassing traditional hull breaches and deploy directly into critical enemy ship systems, significantly reducing boarding time and casualty exposure.
- Hard to Crack - Thanks to the combination of the N&Z Thanatos ECM/A suite and Rakatan technology the system is extremely difficult to hack into in order to disable it.
- Enigmatic Engineering - Thanks to the complexity of the BLACK TIDE, it will take plenty of time and resources to reverse engineer.
- Limited Number - Due to the extreme material requirements only 6 of the BLACK TIDEs were able to be made.
- Short-Range - In the expansive size of naval engagements, the BLACK TIDE has a short-range of 1000m.
- Capital Ship Integration Only - Due to the massive energy requirements the BLACK TIDE can only be mounted on ships/stations destroyer-classed or larger.
- Shield Interference - Function is degraded by strong deflector shielding or active electronic countermeasures, meaning that translocation might fail or send boarding teams into a completely different area.
- Cooldown & Thermal Stress Cycle - Requires recharge intervals between mass activations due to severe energy and heat buildup in the projection matrix. The system can safely perform up to three sequential activations before requiring a full thermal purge cycle.
- Limited Deployment Volume - The system is limited to translocating a maximum of ten individuals at a time, which is insufficient to meaningfully compromise large vessels and would instead function only as a temporary hindrance.
- Technical Instability Risk - The experimental Rakata-derived systems carry a non-zero risk of misalignment, potentially resulting in partial transfers or failed insertions if improperly calibrated or under combat stress.
- OOC - I plan on using the dice system to determine wether or not translocations are successful. Using a d6: 1 - Critical failure, no translocation, immediate heat purge needed; 2 - translocation gone wrong, outside of target; 3-4 - within target; 5-6 - on target.
- EX: Rolled a 6: translocated exactly where you wanted to go. Rolled a 3: translocation successful, but instead of the engine room you are in crew quarters three decks up. Rolled a 2: translocation unsuccessful, floating in the void of space meters away from target. Rolled a 1: Critical failure cause team to be injured, heat buildup too high, and now I have to spend a paragraph venting the heat from the system.
- OOC - I plan on using the dice system to determine wether or not translocations are successful. Using a d6: 1 - Critical failure, no translocation, immediate heat purge needed; 2 - translocation gone wrong, outside of target; 3-4 - within target; 5-6 - on target.
Project BLACK TIDE is a classified naval weapons initiative developed under the authority of Karl von Strauss following the collapse of the Imperial Confederation. The system is based on reverse-engineered principles from fragmented Rakatan matter transmission infrastructure, which utilized paired spatial anchors and controlled hyperspatial compression fields to facilitate short-range matter displacement. Rather than functioning as a conventional transport system, BLACK TIDE weaponizes this concept into a ship-to-ship boarding platform designed for rapid internal insertion of strike teams.
Operationally, the system projects a stabilized translocation aperture between a capital vessel and a targeted enemy ship once a valid sensor lock and internal structural mapping solution is achieved. This allows designated boarding elements to be displaced directly into pre-selected interior compartments such as engineering sections, command corridors, or hangar bays without the need for hull breaching. Initial testing recorded significant instability rates during early deployment cycles. The result is a doctrine-shifting boarding capability that enables immediate internal engagement and rapid disruption of enemy vessel command and control structures.
BLACK TIDE excels against conventional naval doctrine that relies on external armor, point-defense systems, and shielded hull integrity, as it can bypass most outer defenses once a lock is established. It is particularly effective in decapitation strikes against capital ships, where rapid insertion of naval infantry can neutralize bridge crews, disable reactor systems, or seize critical ship functions before an organized response can be mounted, as long as translocation is successful.
However, the system is constrained by several operational limitations. It requires continuous sensor coherence and spatial targeting, making it vulnerable to heavy shielding, electronic countermeasures, sensor jamming, or rapid evasive maneuvers that disrupt lock stability. The system also draws extreme power from capital-grade reactors and requires mandatory cooldown cycles between mass activations due to thermal and spatial stress buildup within the projector array. Additionally, BLACK TIDE is limited to small-unit short-range translocation, restricting its use to squad-level boarding actions during closer engagements.
While highly effective in controlled engagements, BLACK TIDE carries inherent risks if misused, including potential spatial misalignment events, failed insertions, or partial translocation under unstable field conditions. As such, its deployment is restricted to sanctioned naval operations under Naval command authority. Despite these limitations, the system represents a significant advancement in naval boarding doctrine, providing a decisive advantage in boarding engagements.
Out Of Character Info
Intent:
To create a technology useful for boarding actions.
Primary Source(s):
Technical Information
Affiliation:
Karl von Strauss
Model:
Project BLACK TIDE - Tactical Boarding Translocation Array [TBTA]
Modular:
No
Material:
Ersteel SLCA and 12231 superstructure, Quadanium reinforcement framing, Trinium plating | Rakatan Technology, crystalline conduits, focusing lenses | reactor tap, tibanna gas amplifier, thermal dissipation vents | NZ SAP-2A SSA, acceleration compensator, NZ Thanatos ECM/A Suite
Last edited: