In the alternate worlds of Muv-Luv Unlimited/Muv-Luv Alternative, Tactical Surface Fighters are only the tip of the spear of humanity's fighting force, with support vehicles, warships, aerial craft and aerospace vehicles augmenting the deadliness of TSFs on the field either directly or indirectly.
Mankinds early development of spacecraft in the world of Unlimited/Alternative has allowed them some measure of relief; most space-based assets remain untouched by the BETA. Despite losing their lunar facilities before the invasion of Earth, orbital assets are still strong, and Earth is well-defended by a network of interceptor satellites. Having a strong presence in space compared to their adversaries is, perhaps, the only thing that has allowed humanity to have held on throughout the years.
While airspace may be closed to all forms of human traffic, space is not, and these trans-atmospheric shuttles allow humanity to maintain a foothold in space by shuttling personnel and supplies back and forth. The creation of the Orbital Diver Corps and associated materials, equipment, and tactics has also given humanity a new edge against the BETA.
Escape Shuttle[]
(MLA) Escape shuttle, top view.
- A medium-sized flight-capable shuttle used as an escape craft, stored in the interior housing of the XG-70d Susanoo Unit 4. The shuttle is capable of both operation in space and in the atmosphere of Earth. Heat-resistant panels are used to line its underside to allow it to re-enter the atmosphere without aid, and its vertical stabilizers can be folded for easier storage in an Armored Capsule. Its size is roughly the same as that of the Space Shuttles used during humanity's exploration of space prior to the outbreak of the BETA War.
Hyper Surface Shuttle Transporter[]
(MLA) A HSST.
A large-scale trans-atmospheric shuttle, the HSST is built to shuttle supplies and people up to space in bulk. The craft are designed to be manned by a small crew, with generally a primary pilot and co-pilot; both pilots are trained to not only handle the craft but also to coordinate with their orbital diver compliment for drop operations.
Most commonly used for orbital drop operations, the HSST can carry a single set of Re-entry Shells up into space, with each shell holding a single TSF and pilot. During combat operations involving Orbital Divers, several HSSTs within a fleet may be armed with orbital bombardment munitions; these are usually AL warheads.
- The HSST is usually launched with the aid of booster rockets to get it up to the required altitude, although it has no problems re-entering the atmosphere and landing on its own power. It is also sometimes referred to as a 'Re-entry Destroyer'.
Colony Ship[]
A colony ship under construction.
Large-scale long-distance colonization spaceships, design to transport the remainder of the human race to a distant star system as part of the Alternative V plan. Several dozen were built. They are able to traverse the multi-light-year journey using technology derived from G-Elements.
After the BETA presence on Earth was completely eradicated, old colony ships found a new purpose in the Second Lunar War. The ships were converted into ad-hoc kinetic projectiles and used to bombard the Moon's surface from orbit. This strategy successfully eliminated the BETA presence on the Moon.
Sirius-class starship[]
A jump-capable starship designed and built by the Union of Mankind in the late 2040s. It is 2,880 meters long. A total of 24 of these ships were built to serve as escorts for the expeditionary space fleet being assembled by the Union to find the homeworld of the Siliconians. A single Sirius-class starship is said to equal the firepower of two companies (24 units) of G-17b Hercules Space Bombardment Fortresses.
Elpis-class mothership[]
Elpis-class and Sirius-class ships, and Fomalhaut gates
Unmanned, self-sustaining spacecraft, satellites can be remotely-controlled from the ground, allowing humanity to continue data-gathering processes without the need to station additional manpower in space. On occasion, arming satellite platforms gives a weapon system not unlike a ground-based turret in function.
Colony Ship Shipyard[]
- Area where the colony ships were constructed.
Data Satellites[]
- Observation satellites are used in a wide variety of roles; with airspace closed as a result of Laser-class and Heavy Laser-class BETA, orbital images sometime are the only way a commander can gain an overview of a battlefield, either before, during or after action. These satellites can also provide weather information, trajectory of airborne objects, aerial-view maps, enemy force vectors, and other important information.
SHADOW[]
SHADOW's operation diagram.
- Standing for Spaceward Hardwares for All-Round Defensive Ordnances and Warheads, SHADOW is a networked system of three components; a lunar orbit surveillance network, an early-stage nuclear launch platform at Lagrange 1, and a final interception line made up of a group of nuclear attack satellites in Earth orbit.
SHADOW system.
- SHADOW satellites were built as part of a plan to prevent the further landing of Hive core units from lunar-based
- BETA Hives. So far, the SHADOW network has detected and deflected only one incoming object off-course; whether it was a Hive core unit or something else entirely remains a point of contention to this day.
- The SHADOW system is divided into two separate programs; ARTMISS & LID. The ARTMISS system is focused on the final interception line of Earth nuclear attack satellites controlled by OSP-1400, the command satellite. LID is the Lunar early detection and initial nuclear launch platform system for monitoring BETA activity on the Moon's surface.
ARTMISS[]
The ARTMISS system handles the operation of all Earth nuclear defense satellites and is organized via NORAD and its associated command satellite, OSP-1400. The nuclear satellites are 300 km from the Earth, whereas OSP-1400 is 1400 km in distance from the planet. While the weapons are designed to target BETA landers and other foreign, hostile objects from space, as seen in The Day After the satellites can easily be aimed back toward the Earth in order to target surface positions.
In order to reprogram and fire the weapons, however, both NORAD and OSP-1400 must send approval codes to reposition and recalibrate the firing mechanisms. This is done to ensure that any rogue elements that manage to infiltrate either the satellite or the command bunker will not be able to use the WMDs against humanity.
LID[]
The LID system handles all of the organized satellites and detection networks focused on observing the lunar surface and orbit for BETA activity. The primary defense satellite used for early interception is called Space One, and is the largest satellite in LID. For surveillance, there are at least three satellites in low orbit of the Moon at all times, with a fourth one sharing the same orbit as Space One that acts as the primary collector and transmitter of data.
Fomalhaut[]
The Fomalhaut is a phase space transport catapult or "gate" that was developed by the Union of Mankind in the 2040s, after the BETA were eradicated from the Sol system. The culmination of extensive research of element G, the Fomalhaut is essentially a long-range jump catapult that can propel ships across interstellar and even intergalactic distances. Since it is a catapult, a corresponding unit does not need to be present at the destination of a jump for it to operate, but its modular design means ships can easily construct another catapult after jumping to enable return trips. Fomalhaut gates have security measures to prevent usage by unauthorized parties, and can self-destruct to deny access if necessary.
Fomalhaut gates were constructed to facilitate the exploration of the universe, and are a key part of the Union's plan to find and establish contact with the Siliconians.
Trivia[]
- The ARTMISS system is a reference to the Greek Goddess, Artemis. The Greek Goddess was known to be a huntress who used a bow and arrow, carefully striking targets with deadly efficiency.