The Rebel Faction

Mandalorian Cloaking Device mk II

Designation: Cloaking Technology- Mandalorian Cloaking Device mk II.
Manufacturer/Designer: Mandalore Sector Technologies
Developed: Guildstown Industrial, Mandalore.

Description:
Designed and developed by Mandalore Technologies to be the final word in modern Cloaking technology, the Mandalorian Cloaking Device mk II is perhaps the most effective and efficient cloak currently in production. Expensive to develop, build and, run, it was not designed to be common-place or easily affordable, thus; able to fill a market class entirely of its own.

Based off of the earlier, much more crude MCD mk I, the mk II surpasses is predecessor in all areas. While still similar to the previous design, the mk II fills the gaps exposed in the first editions; which were large, bulky units prone to malfunction and very demanding to maintain and equip. The mk II began development as an upgrade for the older mk I*.

Like the Stygium device, which uses crystals available in only one place, the Mandalorian device uses an extremely rare asset found in only one place in the galaxy. A reactive element found only in the Iron located beneath the surface of the planet Mandalore, which is the catalyst in creating the reaction which effectively 'bends' space around a vessle and holds it secure in a pocket of null-space. Due to the extreme nature of a cloaking anomaly, the cloaked ship equips a layer of treated ore, which prevents any damage being done to the vessel itself as a result of the cloak. This layer is formed from Mandalorian Iron, which again can only be found on the planet Mandalore and some of the moons in that system. Like the mk I, the mk II does not suffer from the double-blind effect common to all Imperial cloaking devices. It was later discovered that the internal nature of the 'bubble' generated by the cloaking technology prevented any gravametric readings escaping the cloak, masking the vessel from most dedicated-energy-receptor sensors (DER).

Due to an internal, self-sufficient powercore and new modulation in the outer-hull layer of treated ore, vessels under this form of cloak are now able to run full active sensors without compromising the integrity of the cloak 'bubble'**. This would not be possible without the advanced situation computer, which is required to monitor and maintain the cloak, and has been upgraded to allow easier 'communication' both in and out of cloak. As well, the new hull modulation is able to contain any stray internal emanations which would otherwise destabilize the cloak, enabling a cloaked vessel to run with weapons and sensors charged without collapsing the cloak***. Its power derived from an internal reaction, the mk II does not demand a massive allotment of a vessels pre-existing energy supply, as such it's power requirements are minimal as compared to the mk I and numerous other cloaking devices, rather the largest constraint is sheer size.

Sheild and hyperspace constraints have been better over-come by the mk II. Dependant upon the power-output of a vessels powercore, a vessel can now mount reactive shield generators as powerful as possible, as these devices no longer interfere with the abilities of the cloak. However; a vessel equipped with the mk II must still disengage its cloak before engaging reactive shielding. Doing otherwise will start cascade reaction in the device will result in irreparable damage to the cloaking unit itself if not total destruction of the vessel. Similarly, any vessel moving into hyperspace must de-cloak before making the jump to lightspeed, though still able to program and align for a the jump to lightspeed before lowering the cloak. The time required to both engage and disengage the cloak bubble has been greatly lowered as compared to the mk I , the entire process taking only a fraction of a second when operating a peak efficiency.

The new mk II runs far cleaner then the mk I, so much so that the need for waste storage is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, with the loss of this byproduct so goes the feature of the mk I to vent said waste into specially converted motivators, resulting in a burst of out-put. The trade off is that now vessels equipped with MCD technology can remain cloaked for vast amounts of time before having to 'snorkel' or refuel. The limits of which are dependant entirely on the vessel.

Unfortunately, hot speed has been greatly reduced with the new device. Sublight speed while cloaked hinges on the amount of systems currently active aboard ship, a flaw which can be overcome in certain designs. For example, a vessel rigged for silent running will still be able to manage a high sublight speed, while a vessel running all systems active will have to move much slower****.

It is important to note that the 'bubble' generated by the mk II is far more stable then that of its predecessor, so much so that it takes a great deal of distortion to actually collapse the 'bubble', though the vessel may be visible by other means. The technology itself is also very temperamental and excessive damage to the ore treated hull layer, or significant structural or internal damage, will render the cloak inoperable.

Requirements:

Unlike the mk I, the newer mk II does not require an entire redesign of any ship wishing to equip this technology. While the demands are still fairly extensive, they are not as severe as with the previous model.

Hull: As with the previous model, the device requires a layer of receptive treated ore be applied to a vessels hull. The nature of the ore prevents any structural damage being done to the vessel under cloak while also granting the hull a natural resistance to energy or concussive damage. Modulation nodes are also required installed just below the ablative layer, advanced unit which control the hull harmonics.

Computer: An Advanced Situation Computer is mandatory for any vessel equipping the mk II. The core itself is a large cube which demands its own space and power, neither of which is any small amount. It must also be hardwired to a number of modulators, which are placed into a vessels existing structure and reside below the treated ore layer, which is outermost upon the hull.

Device: The 'device' itself is not so much a unit as a number of units which are interconnected and link-up to form a whole. While the fuction is often controlled from a station aboard a vessles cockpit or bridge, the 'device' is actually maintained by an engineering crew and monitored by both engineers and sensor officers, depending on scale.

Countless smaller upgrades and modifications are required for any pre-exsiting design equipping the mk II but are not worth mentioning, while the changes required for new designs or classes of vessles is nowhere near as extensive.



OOC Information
Research and Development time: 20 Days
Cost: 1/2 increased build time ( ie, 200m ship = 2days + 1half = 3 Days)
Requires viable acces to a source of nessescary elements


*(Note: Replaces the mk I currently in use)
**(Note: This does not prevent the sensor eminitions beyond the bubble being detected by enemy equipment, it simply enables the ship to maintain her cloak while using all sensor modes.)
***(Note: This does not prevent detection, which is dependant entirely upon the technology of an enemy, it simply prevents the cloak from collapsing when running said systems.)
****(Note: Even a vessle at top speed running with all systems hot still remains cloaked, however, resulting energy radiation can betray location.)