Aria Nox
B L A C K S M I T H
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Create Aria Nox's personal vessel for work and as her mobile residence.
- Image Source: Artstation
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Aria Nox
- Affiliation: Aria Nox
- Model: AX-114
- Production: Unique
- Material: Stygian-Tripsmatic Polymer, G-32 Evasive Armor Plating, Glasteel, Stygium Crystal, Nykkalt
- Classification: Gunship
- Length: 50 Meters
- Width: 20 Meters
- Height: 14 Meters
- Armament: Extreme
- Repeating, Multi-Positional, Heavy Tri-Cannon Turrets - 2 Port/Dorsal, 2 Starboard/Dorsal, 2 Ventral
- Repeating, Aft-Oriented, Heavy Tri-Cannon Turrets - 2 Aft/Ventral
- Ordinance Launchers - 2 Port, 2 Starboard, 2 Aft
- Defenses: Very High
- Squadron Count: None: 1
- Maneuverability Rating: Average
- Speed Rating: High
- Hyperdrive: Yes
- Hyperdrive Class: 1.0
- All Standard Features
- Tractor Beam (Aft)
- Cargo Harpoons (Ventral)
- Atmospheric Re-entry & Flight
- Cargo Bay - The ship possesses a moderately sized cargo area on the lower level allowing for transportation of crates, or the less enjoyable ferrying of sentient individuals (chairs, benches, and beds not provided).
- The Forge - A large compartment on the lower level of the ship houses the workshop Aria uses to build weapons, armor, and even work with beskar whenever she is fortunate enough to acquire more. The door to the Forge is unlocked using a palm reader.
- Hidden Cache - Any beskar Aria possesses is stored in a hidden compartment lined with Nykkalt in the Forge.
- Cloaking Device - The Echoy'la Goran possesses a cloaking device using stygium crystal, bafflers, and sensor mask in order to elude those less supportive of her work, or those eager to get their hands on her possessions (like the beskar).
- Assault Drop Pod - A small craft designed to hold three uncomfortably can be dropped from the aft of the ship. Its rapid descent is arrested by thrusters to allow occupants to safely arrive at their destination. It has no weapons, but packs a mean punch.
- Auto-Pilot Droid Brain - The on-board computer can pilot the ship out of harm's way after depositing the drop pod, and then return when a recall signal is sent by Aria.
- Evacuation - In the event the ship is about to crash or be destroyed, occupants can take refuge in the The Forge. Explosive bolts can be triggered by Aria to separate the chamber from the rest of the ship as an emergency lifeboat.
- Assault Role - While not bristling with weaponry, the cannons the ship possesses are capable of rapidly adjusting roll, pitch and yaw to track and cut down targets. The cycling, three barrels unleash a relentless steam of blaster fire. Meanwhile, the recessed launchers can bombard targets with a variety of torpedoes, missiles, and more. With strong shields and hull plating, the ship can withstand many forms of counterattack in order to silence the opposition.
- Stealth Role - The cloaking device and supporting systems allow the ship to escape notice either on approach or in fleeing the scene of a crime (justified or otherwise). It's not her favorite role, but being on the road by herself for some time she knows not every fight can be won; they'll still be there to shoot tomorrow.
- Ion/EMP Sink - The Echoy'la Goran can weather more Ion/EMP discharges than a standard ship without being completely incapacitated due to its cap drains and combat de-ionizers.
- Auto-Pilot - Able to continue on its way or return on command, the ship can fly without any crew on-board based on parameters set prior to Aria's departure.
- Particle Shields - Must be lowered in order to launch ordinance, which can leave the ship exposed to incoming fire for a second or two. When engaging multiple opponents this may limit utilization of ordinance in battle especially if avoiding further hull damage is paramount.
- Cloak Activated - Particle and Ray shielding cannot be active at the same time as the cloaking device as a result of the energy output is too high to mask from sensors. A 'lucky shot' or some area of effect (whether they knew Aria was nearby or not) could result in damage to the ship and potentially collapse the cloaking field.
- Ion/EMP Residual - While the ship won't necessarily be disabled by an Ion/EMP assault, the cloaking device requires several minutes to recover from the effects. Additionally, depending on the strength of the effect (or the ship's proximity to it) an active cloaking field may be disrupted and reveal the ship's whereabouts.
- Droid Brain - Signal jamming technology can prevent the recall signal from reaching the ship and calling for a pick-up. The on-board computer system may also not be adequately equipped to respond to certain environmental conditions -- it lacks the creativity of a sentient.
After being forced to flee her home, being captured, nearly dying, and then finding herself seemingly alone in the galaxy, Aria set upon rebuilding and customizing an old gunship. Credits from mercenary work taken by those in need of Mandalorian services -- usually involving shooting people -- supplied her the materials and some hired services for the task. A personal vessel made it easier to stay on the move, find new jobs, and most importantly not need to worry about having some thief steal what little she owned because she stayed at the wrong place.
Staying mobile and eluding those that might like to steal her hard work, Aria made two primary additions to the original ship design. First, the inclusion of a cloaking device to go unseen by unwanted eyes. Second, to design a forge where she could work and securely store her personal gear. Other modifications also helped enable a Mandalorian to accomplish her tasks, and stay a step ahead of those that didn't appreciate all her hard work.
The cloaking device and related systems, however, aren't designed for warfare. Wide area of effect Ion and EMP discharges used in such large theaters of battle might not kill the ship, but it can certainly temporarily disable the cloaking field. If Aria isn't trying to pass through a war zone unnoticed, but is actively engaged in the battle she won't need a cloaking device -- that's where the ship's weapons and armor come in.
Once inside the target's defense perimeter, Aria can either land or utilize the drop pod at the after of her ship to drop in unannounced. While The Echoy'la Goran continues on its way awaiting her signal for a pick-up, the Mandalorian can hop out of the pod and get straight to work. Quite handy when there's no place to park, but it can make a rapid exfil difficult if signal jamming keeps the ship from hearing the recall transmission.
Get in, handle the job, get paid, acquire exotic materials pretty much sums up Aria's life these days. Selling some of her creations provides a tidy stream of income as well; but working in the forge is more meditative -- perhaps even religious -- in nature rather than a means of acquiring riches. That said, a special compartment stores any beskar the Mandalorian has in her possession to keep it from registering on sensors. It might not be about the credits for her, but it almost certainly is for everyone else.
Her collection of gear and beskar is so important that the chamber housing the forge itself can double as an emergency lifeboat. Explosively deatched from the rest of the ship, it can survive in space for several days with emergency rations. This can only be done in the event the ship is lost or scuttled, however, as the separation will severely damage the integrity of the parent vessel -- likely resulting in a hull breach and exposing the interior to vacuum. Also, in the event the lifeboat has to touched down on a planet the landing is likely to be a bit jarring. Minimal engine capacity exists, and the act of landing will expend all fuel stores.
Cargo Capacity: 15 Tonnes
Crew Capacity Min: 1 (Pilot)
Crew Capacity Max: 5 (Pilot, Co-Pilot, Weapons Officer, Medical Officer, Engineer)
Passenger Capacity: 6 (Seated), 102 (Standing Evacuation Capacity with No Cargo)
