Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
Intent: An advanced neural interface between pilots and specially designed ships; roughly comparable to a Yuuzhan Vong cognition hood.
Development Thread:
Manufacturer: iBorg Prosthetic Augments
Model: iBorg Liberation Aurek-Zerek Neural Piloting Interface Node
Affiliation: Select customers
Modularity: No
Production: Mass-produced
Material: Electronics, desh-terenthium, agrinium
Description: The Liberation Aurek-Zerek Node is a highly advanced neural piloting interface. Less invasive than a cyber pilot system or shadow droid rig, but more stable and less overwhelming than a neural interface device, it finds a middle ground between these technologies. The Liberation requires the pilot to have iBorg implants with one free Aurek Node slot (corresponding to advanced capabilities) and one free Zerek Node slot (corresponding to augmented reality and sensory augmentation/overlay/deprivation). The Liberation plugs into both slots simultaneously, and no other Aurek or Zerek slots can be active in other implants while the Liberation is in use.
The Liberation has two modes. The first is Gold Mode, which comprises a customizable augmented reality overlay. While a pilot uses controls and systems displays as normal, Gold Mode offers a configurable perceptual overlay of sight, sound, smell and taste, with sensory stimuli corresponding to systems readouts, enemy actions, etc. Gold Mode is 'piloting plus'. The second setting is Black Mode, which renders pilots intimately aware of their ships, their targets, and their surroundings. In Black Mode, 'you are the ship' -- all systems feedback indicators, from engine strain to shield strength to hull damage, along with all sensor and flight data, are interpreted in an anthropomorphized way. Firing weapons is throwing a punch or a kick; maneuvering involves body postures, much like using palm/heel/back thrusters in atmosphere; surrounding sensor contacts are processed intuitively. Though the pilot's body does not move throughout the process of using Black Mode, restraints are recommended. Black Mode also involves sensory deprivation. The experience is comparable to being a cyber pilot system or shadow droid (links below), though not as high-performance as the latter (because shadow droid pilots were a ) Force-sensitive, b ) already combat aces, and c ) more closely linked with their systems than the Liberation allows). The Liberation gives significantly improved performance and awareness relative to a cognition hood.
Relevant canon-
Relevant Chaos canon-
Other inspirations-
Development Thread:
Manufacturer: iBorg Prosthetic Augments
Model: iBorg Liberation Aurek-Zerek Neural Piloting Interface Node
Affiliation: Select customers
Modularity: No
Production: Mass-produced
Material: Electronics, desh-terenthium, agrinium
Description: The Liberation Aurek-Zerek Node is a highly advanced neural piloting interface. Less invasive than a cyber pilot system or shadow droid rig, but more stable and less overwhelming than a neural interface device, it finds a middle ground between these technologies. The Liberation requires the pilot to have iBorg implants with one free Aurek Node slot (corresponding to advanced capabilities) and one free Zerek Node slot (corresponding to augmented reality and sensory augmentation/overlay/deprivation). The Liberation plugs into both slots simultaneously, and no other Aurek or Zerek slots can be active in other implants while the Liberation is in use.
The Liberation has two modes. The first is Gold Mode, which comprises a customizable augmented reality overlay. While a pilot uses controls and systems displays as normal, Gold Mode offers a configurable perceptual overlay of sight, sound, smell and taste, with sensory stimuli corresponding to systems readouts, enemy actions, etc. Gold Mode is 'piloting plus'. The second setting is Black Mode, which renders pilots intimately aware of their ships, their targets, and their surroundings. In Black Mode, 'you are the ship' -- all systems feedback indicators, from engine strain to shield strength to hull damage, along with all sensor and flight data, are interpreted in an anthropomorphized way. Firing weapons is throwing a punch or a kick; maneuvering involves body postures, much like using palm/heel/back thrusters in atmosphere; surrounding sensor contacts are processed intuitively. Though the pilot's body does not move throughout the process of using Black Mode, restraints are recommended. Black Mode also involves sensory deprivation. The experience is comparable to being a cyber pilot system or shadow droid (links below), though not as high-performance as the latter (because shadow droid pilots were a ) Force-sensitive, b ) already combat aces, and c ) more closely linked with their systems than the Liberation allows). The Liberation gives significantly improved performance and awareness relative to a cognition hood.
- (-) Can only be used to interface with specially designed or heavily modified/heavily modular ships (each subbed separately).
- (-) Only recommended for ships with a crew of 1-2.
- (-) No other Aurek or Zerek implant slots can be active. Crucially, this means that Zerek Ascension Nodes cannot be used to accelerate learning.
- (-) Overwhelming to inexperienced pilots.
- (-) Even experienced pilots require specialized training and more experience, generally on the order of hundreds of hours. Plug-and-play simply is not an option.
- (-) If a ship is disabled, implants may be damaged, and pilot has a chance of being into a coma as if personally struck by an ion weapon. Quick manual disconnect recommended, but may be difficult if in Black Mode. Do not use Black Mode if at imminent risk of being disabled.
- (-) Hard disconnect while in Gold or Black Mode not recommended.
- (-) PTSD-related implications of associating weapons fire, breach alarms, etc. with specific tastes, sounds, smells, etc. should not be underestimated.
- (-) Additionally, odd associations, fixations, and unexpected kinks may result.
- (-) Extensive use of Black Mode can lead to emotional dissociation, occasional addiction, and sometimes a loss of connection with reality.
- (-) Since Gold and Black Modes are entirely configurable by the pilot, it is strongly recommended that no pilot use another pilot's rig without extensive calibration and adjustment.
- (+) Can be used in two modes as situationally appropriate, reducing risk of overload. Black Mode is recommended for combat operations only, and Gold Mode is perfectly acceptable for combat flight.
- (+) Shortens reaction time modestly.
- (+) Significantly improves awareness of ship systems integrity.
- (+) Improves targeting modestly.
- (+) Significantly improves situational awareness (in ships with appropriately located/improved sensors/cameras).
- (+) The blueprints for the ship side of the Liberation interface are open-source, meaning that any vehicle/starship manufacturer can make Liberation-compatible vehicles.
Relevant canon-
Relevant Chaos canon-
Other inspirations-
