Incoming Transmission
From: Central Intelligence(intel@sector1.cis.gov)
To: Captain Daimler(jdaimler@sector4.police.gov)
Captain Daimler--this file is a composite of the current information we have on the pirate ship "Sol Bianca", as requested. Where possible, the tactics and individual personalities of the crew are listed. Be advised this is by no means comprehensive, although after the last embarassing encounter, our agents have been working nonstop to rectify our earlier intelligence problem. Good luck, and good hunting.
--transmission begins--
Most Secret--Redistribution of this document is prohibited according to Galactic Law $3432-432.54. Violators will be dealt with severly.
"Sol Bianca"
Overview:
The starship "Sol Bianca" is, to our knowledge, one of the most powerful ships ever designed. In addition to its impressive weaponry, it carries more design innovations than the newest Interplanetary-class cruisers in rotation, and several technological advances far beyond anything even conceptualized by humans. Several researchers have made the claim that the ship is not of human design, or at least not of current human technology. This theory is partially supported by previous observations from Sector 4 HQ, but should not be taken as fact(yet).
Drive Systems:
From observations recovered from the remains of the Tres battlefleet, and observations from Sector 4(files 432-543.432 to 433-432.32), the Sol Bianca appears to have a fairly conventional appearing N-Space drive. The differences are that the Bianca is apparently much more manuverable at any speed, and is capable of functioning in gravity fields and atmosphere with no restrictions. While this is not revolutionary technology, no modern ship-of-the-line has been constructed to do this--it is usually weight and cost inefficient on deep-space cruisers. Some researchers have postulated that the Sol Bianca may have some advanced form of contragrav generators, although without further information, this is mere speculation.
The Sol Bianca's most amazing feature, is its ability to pass in and out of hyperspace without the use of a Gate. Even more amazing is its accuracy, able to leave hyperspace even while inside another starship. No aspect of modern technology comes close to explaining how a relatively small ship is capable of doing the job of a million-ton and perfectly placed hyperspace Gate. It is not without limits however, as the records from the Tres battlefleet have indicated. The drive apparently takes some time to activate, and may not be possible to use in certain circumstances. Observations from the sector 4 HQ have indicated that the hull may play some part in the drive system, due to its unbelievable composition(discussed later in this document) The crew are aware of the limitless opportunites and usually use the abovementioned methods in their attacks on freighters.
Primary Weaponry
Offensively, the Sol Bianca is a dangerous threat. Its primary weapon array consists of eight plasma-laser emitters located on the lower pylon. More deadly than regular lasers or plasma cannons, the emitters project a stream of plasma shaped in a magnetic field propelled by a laser beam. The end result is a superhot stream able to be formed into any shape, with enough power to slice most alloys in two. Analysis of Tres records(files 433-657.654 to 789.432) and other specific reports indicate that the streams usually take the form of "whips", or can be focused into a steady stream that can slice straight through a M-Class starfreighter--or totally demolish small fighters. Accuracy is also high quality: in their escape from Sector 4 HQ, the beams were used to slice the cruiser that was transporting two members of the crew into ribbons; without harming the prisoners. Several crewmembers of the Sol Bianca(Files 644"Janny", 643"April") are known to use hand weapons similar to the main guns, although they are apparently only capable of being used as whips.
PL Emitters in use. Note distinctive "curving" effect, as beams are projected--
Secondary Weaponry
--Torpedo launchers
Molecular Particle Coatings--
The other major weaponry aboard the Sol Bianca are six general purpose missile-tubes. Conventional weapons, they are nevertheless still dangerous--the tubes are equilivent to the Military-Unlimited class, capable of launching even Mark VI antiship torpedoes.
Several other specific-purpose weapon systems are aboard, the technology of which has not been satisfactorily explained. Among those include a space-version of a grappling hook and an advanced form of deflector shield. The shield is the more interesting of the two, reinforcing the Sol Bianca to such a degree that it can smash through external hull platings and bulkheads with ease. Again, the ship's hull seems to play some part in how this is accomplished, although one researcher has termed it "Molecular Particle Coating"
The final weapon, however, is its most dangerous. In extreme conditions(the last reported use was at the battle over Uno, and then only against the remaining and largest battleship), the Sol Bianca can employ a mind-bogglingly powerful Energy Resonance cannon. After the deployment of several ancillary structures, and approximately 10 seconds for charging, the ship can discharge a gigantic bolt of which the flight recorder of the Tres Citadel reported to be pure Bio-Energy. Capable of totally disrupting particle and laser beams in the bolt's path, it displayed no trouble penetrating the defenses of the Citadel: a ship that was in numerous violations of the NuGeneva Convention on ship size and armament-to-defense ratios. If the cannon is deployed, our best recommendation is to retreat. Immediately.
Deployment and charging of the Resonance Cannon--
Defensive Systems:
Conversely, the Sol Bianca does not display strong defenses. Analysis indicates that the shields used are of standard design, and average for its weight class. The Tres interdiction fleet was able to damage the Sol Bianca using shield-splitter blasts, suggesting that a concentrated attack might be able to severely damage/disable the ship. Of course, the ship's ability to dive back into hyperspace defeats that attack, as the Tres fleet learned. However, the more amazing part is the hull plating. Several technicians at Sector 4 HQ noticed the hull composition after the Sol Bianca was towed to the police shipyards. Their report was considered unreliable, but the commander passed it on to us with his comments. The starship's hull is, to their estimation, made completely out of pasha. As you know, pasha is an energy-amplifying metal found in minute quantites, usually in remote asteroid fields. Not more than a few hundred tons have ever been found, and yet the Sol Bianca would have to have had close to a thousand if the hull was made completely out of pasha. This helps explain some of the remarkable technological achievments displayed, although raises even more questions. Further details would be appreciated, if you are able to make a detailed sensor scan. The only other item of interest was the unusual energy readings displayed during the initial capture of the Sol Bianca. No adequate explanation was available at the time, but several researchers have postulated that it may be a kind of self-healing process based on the recorders from the capture ships. Again, any further details would be most helpful.
One final note: another unknown ship has been sighted in your area. Design qualities are remarkably similar to the Sol Bianca, but no accurate readings have been obtained. All details concerning this ship have been stamped with a "Highly Secret" order from the local govenor, but a picture was obtained. Be warned--the ship appears to be looking for something, and I would not want to be the person that prevented it. Stay wary, Captain.
-----end transmission------
Return to the Small Sol Bianca page.
Problems with this site? Give the maintainer a shout at mechaman@mail.wsu.edu