NLSI Model 409 Submersible Utility & Exploration Vehicle
The hum of the fans and whirring of the directional props blended with the sound of the pumps filling the ballast tanks overshadowed the bubbly, aquatic sounds as the EV Manta II decended to depth. The gently techno-organic looking design of the submerisble moved through the water easily, blending natural designs with technological capabilioty and a swappable mission pod. Warm sunlight filtered through the cerulean blue water, and curious marine life, still unaccustomed to the presence of terrans or their vehicles, flitted around it. Lei's left hand flicked across the controls in front of her, deftly making adustments while her right hand gripped the joystick. Her feet were busy too, working the control pedals. The protected cockpit had windows, but her visor gave her a full 360° veiw of the beautiful deep sea around her through dozens of cameras, all filtered to perfectr smoothness through a limited AI system. She ginned and hit the press to talk button. "One minute till depth, 200m, release in three minutes, check your systems. Confirmed antecessor ruins at 225 metre depth, approximately 50 metres to the starbord bow. Our job today is survey and preliminary site mapping. Any questions?" A chorus of affirmations of the instructions and all clears on checks followed. "Releasing equipment pod now." A semi-cylindrical container detached and self illuminated, tiny pumps and systems activating allowing it to achieve neutral bouyancy a few metres below the Manta II. "Releasing survey team. Stay safe. Moving to overwatch position." Six divers in AtmosDiver Mk.XI hardsuits deployed and went to the equipment pod while Manta II's external light arrays illuminated the workspace.
On Tanit II, Nkoma-Liu Subaquatic Industries is the word in working and exploration submersibles and their support vessels. And the Model 409 is inarguably the most common submersible in commercial and academic service. Developed from successful but limited earlier models, it boasts a crew space, deployable mission equipment pods, and a swappable mission pod. The modular nature of the vehicle, combined with the rigourous testing process used to certify it have made it intensely popular. So popular that it's even been exported in system. Pilot certification is not easy on this vehicle though, as basic level submersibel skills will only unlock maybe 25% of its capability. Graduates of its six seek operator course, or more preferably for those with the cash to hire them, the 18 week advanced operators course, are in demand all over Tanit II and in the Tanit system where ever these submersibles can be found.
Power Generation
The Model 409 is a fuel cell electric vehicle, and uses dual Hydrogen Fuel Cells for power, with one unit active and the other kept in reserve in case of emergency. Fuel is provided by TIA (Tanit Industrial union) standard short (A) or medium (B) Ultra-High Pressure Compressed Hydrogen Bottles. On an A bottle, the submersible can operate at full capacity for 8 hours, and this is extended to 14 hours with a B bottle. Larger bottles will not fit in the bottle docks, but could theoretically be attached with hoses and secured to the outer hull in an emergency.
Propulsion
Six directional and three fixed shielded propellers maneuver the Model 409 through the water. The directional propellors are layed out three on each side, and the three fixed propellors face rearward. navigational planes and adjustments to the directional props make the Model 409 a nimble vessel to operate, and in a pinch, it can be maneuvered solely with the propulsion props and the navigaitonal planes. However, that's considered "degraded operation" and the vessel is dramatically less maneuverable in that state. Ascent and descent is achieved through a combination of the directional props and ballast tanks.
Weapons & Armament
Most Model 409 SUEVs are unarmed, however defensive packages are offered for operators taking them to areas with hostile flora and fauna, or where their may be a need for defense agains criminals. These consist of a variety of less-lethal systems like an electrified hull option, an "ink" and decoy launcher, and the "bubbler", which coats the hull in a slippery and narcotic faux mucus membrane. On the lethal enod of the spectrum are hull and mission pod mounted spear and harpoon launchers. Criminal organizaitons have been known to mount combat weapons systems to their SUEVs, with mixed results.
Armor and defense
For a non-military grade vessel, the Model 409 is quite hardy. Its hull is a laminate of titanium and self healing polymers, and the cabin's "glass" is a high grade adaptation aluminium oxynitride, a transparent aluminum ceramic. It can withstand pressures up to 300m below surface, and temperatures up to 209°C.
Communication Tools & Systems
Internal communications are handled through a multiple redundancy wired system, although the cabin crew can talk normally. The wired system does allow the cabin to talk to the mission pod if its a crewed/occupied pod type. The Model 409 also sports an aquaphone to broadcast directly into the water around it, and an underwater wireless communication system with an effective range of 500m. This system is also used ot communicate with surface tender vessels. In the event of an emergency, the life beacon system deploys a buoy on a 400m long line to the surface, where it broadcasts a mayday on all emergency bands, then allows for surface to submersible communicaiton once a responding vessel arrives and connects to it.
Sensors
The Model 409 has an array of baseline sensors that can be enhanced with mission equipment pods. The basic sensor array includes passive and active multibeam sonar, white and IR light systems, and the "All Eyes" camera system. The All Eyes system consists of 36 day and lowlight cameras and lights distributed around the hull, whose feeds are then fed through a limited AI system allowing anyone using a syncronized visor system to have a 360° view around the vessel and along all its surfaces by moving their heads around.
Additional & auxiliary systems
The cabin is a pressurized space that's maintained at 0.9 to 1 atmosphere of pressure at all times. In the event of a cabin rupture, the crew can use emergency regulators that send them a blend of Nitrox (nitrogen/oygen), Trimix (nitrogen/oxygen/helium), or Heliox (helium/oxygen) depending on their depth, at which point the limited AI will determine their ascent time and breahitng mixes on the way to safely return to the surface. Model 409's also have a fully operational second hydrogen power cell and redundant power systems. Everything is waterproof.
Hangars & docked vessels
The Model 409 can carry two mission equipment pods and one mission pod.
Mission Pods
Mission pods are large and fit between the twin tails that extend rearwards from the main hull.
Typically deployed with the worker type pods. They're self-adjusting to maintain neutral buoyancy at depth and the cargo space measures 3m long by 90cm wide and has 65cm of depth. They're tough, reliable, and used for everything from transporitng tools to sensors to other specialized gear.
Mission pods are large and fit between the twin tails that extend rearwards from the main hull.
- Tourism/Observer Pod: lots of windows and an independent life support system. Carries 14 passengers and has no non-emergency subsurface egress options.
- Worker Delivery Pod: carries up to 8 UESE equipped divers, and acts like a diving bell.
- Deep Worker Delivery Pod: carries 6 hardsuited divers to extreme depths, acts like a diving bell and has life support hook ups to prolong their systems use at depth and on return.
- Habitat Pod: a modular section of an underwater habitat, including equipment rooms, sleeping areas, living areas, and more. All have watertight bulkheads and independent life support.
- AUV Nest Pod: contains 6 AUVs and acts as their homebase, providing recharge and simple maintence. The nest can operate for 96hrs between refuellings, and has a communications buoy it uses to broadcast data. The AUVs are equipped with active and passive sonar, lidar, thermal imaging cameras, regular cameras, and illumination systems.
Typically deployed with the worker type pods. They're self-adjusting to maintain neutral buoyancy at depth and the cargo space measures 3m long by 90cm wide and has 65cm of depth. They're tough, reliable, and used for everything from transporitng tools to sensors to other specialized gear.
Manufacturer
Price
1.1 million TSh (Base Model)
Rarity
Uncommon
Width
6.5m
Length
19.5m
Height
3m
Weight
35.8t
Speed
22 Knots (41kph)
Complement / Crew
1 Operator, up to three additional crew in cabin.
Cargo & Passenger Capacity
Varies my mission pod.
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