Machina Terra

*From Admiral R. Barni*
*To Dr. R. Tracey*
*Stuttered tight point transmission - V^M-55#20c*
*Security Code: X-Ray - Eyes Only*

Project Status

The date for the next council meeting is getting closer, and I need a full report about the project achievements before it for evaluation. You know quite well that we've been facing some 'opposition', and hence I must have the material to assure our will is confirmed by the council when the hour arrives. Some work may be required on this matter, and I need the time to make all the arrangements.

I have dispatched the Mitchell to guarantee the safe transport of all critical data, as it's not secure to transmit it even through this channel. The ship will be arriving at Division 2#01 in 7 hours at most. Deliver all the required files to Captain Stephenson himself.

I'll also need a brief technical explanation of the new research subjects as soon as possible so I can contact the other sponsors and inform them of our development status. From your previous messages I can foresee an impressive set of information on such report, specially on what concerns the activation process and it's byproducts. I am gathering data from the other projects' advancements, and I feel that it's time for the larger picture to be seen. Now we just have to get confirmation from the council.

*End transmission*

______________________________

*From Dr. R. Tracey*
*To Admiral R. Barni*
*Stuttered tight point transmission - V^M-55#21c*
*Security Code: X-Ray - Eyes Only*

Re: Project Status

I have received your message, and prepared a report on the current status of the Vis Magnus project - mainly about the activation system, including a fairly detailed description of a very interesting aspect of it that has been revealed by our research.

All files have been dispatched through the Mitchell, and should arrive shortly. Stephenson is also carrying an encryption key for a message I'll be sending soon, briefly explaining the technology behind the Conversion Matrix - something that will certainly grab your full interest.

*End transmission*

______________________________

*From Dr. R. Tracey*
*To Admiral R. Barni*
*Stuttered tight point transmission - V^M-55#22c*
*Security Code: X-Ray - Eyes Only*

Conversion Matrix

The summation of decades of intense research into upperdimensional physics, the Conversion Mtrix is the final result of the Vis Magnus project. Using a subspace field that reaches into 11-space, the Conversion Matrix causes a cascade reaction in the targeted material. This reaction affects the target on the quantum level by disrupting the gluon exchange between quarks, leading to eruption of energy from subspace into sidereal space due to a Planck-scale (10e-43s) Gauge-field warping. This immediately rends the atomic binding forces, releasing the binding energy on a macrocosmic scale and starting a runaway chain-fission reaction in the targeted materiel, fed both by further gluon disintigrations and Gauge-field eruptions.

Shielding was found to have no effect upon the field beam, even Lucifer class shielding is expected to be ignored completely. If the subspace field collapses, the reaction ceases within 6x10e-21s, however, during an active field near total disruption of the target occurs. Due to quantum uncertainty, there is a low but finite chance that the weapon will cause a 'doubling back' and create a feedback loop between the field generator and target locus. This would have the effect of creating a 11-space macrocosmic energy eruption in both the target and field generator itself, releasing in the vicinity of 10e31 joules of energy in 10e-5 seconds along the path between the generator and locus. There is a somewhat greater chance that the target locus will undergo a similar but significantly smaller reaction. Even without these macrocosmic quantum events, secondary atomic fission effects will release large amounts of energy into the surrounding area, up to 4x10e19 joules worth.

In addition, the majority of the target materiel will have suffered subatomic disruption, leading to major weakening and significant tertiary radioactivity hazards. Finally, an unexpected benefit was a cycling through of energy from the target through subspace to the field generator. This appears to be a lower level version of a 'doubling back' event, and caused an unexpected explosion with the first experimental model. A second set of subspace field manipulators and associated power ducting allowed this power source to be tapped. Research is ongoing on a way to reduce or eliminate the chance of a catastrophic doubling back.

*End transmission*

Attached Files

______________________________

*From Admiral R. Barni*
*To Dr. R. Tracey*
*Stuttered tight point transmission - V^M-55#23c*
*Security Code: X-Ray - Eyes Only*

Re: Conversion Matrix

I must confess that I am impressed with the results. When the project was started seven years ago we dreamt of better ways to generate energy, of a foundation to the walls that would protect us from the Destroyers and any other threat imposed by this distopic universe. Now you show me our achievements far surpassed our goals.

We must start construction of a working prototype as soon as possible. From what I can understand of your initial reports, it wouldn't be a minor task, so time is of essence. I'll need a brief explanation of the technology and a list of all requirements for the prototype as soon as possible to approve the resource allocation and begin the process of integration with the other projects.

Again, congratulations on the work well done. I expect a reply soon.

*End transmission*

______________________________

*From Dr. R. Tracey*
*To Admiral R. Barni*
*Stuttered tight point transmission - V^M-55#24c*
*Security Code: X-Ray - Eyes Only*

Prototype

I am very surprised at the final configuration of the Conversion Matrix as well. We had originally planned it as nothing more than a 'spark plug' if you will, something to provide sufficient energy to activate a full scale Vis Magnus reactor. However, once we had constructed a scaled down version and tested it, we realized that we had more than that. This is not merely a piece of equipment to be used to activate the total conversion cores, this has the potential to become the single most powerful weapon ever devised by man.

However, I must stress that designing and building a fully combat ready Conversion Matrix would be no easy task. While our current version out by Pluto is much smaller, as benefitting it's proof of concept status, I would say that any Matrix smaller than an Orion-class destroyer would be waste of resources to bring into combat. And by that I don't mean an Orion mounting this, I mean the entire device would be the size of an Orion, if not larger. Just to construct a ship that could mount a Conversion Matrix would take years, possibly decades of work. However, we believe that we have most of the scientific and engineering hurdles out of the way. Soon, it will be up to your designers to draw up plans for the ship that will bring such a weapon to battle.

As I said, there do not appear to any significant barriers to constructing a full scale prototype of the Conversion Matrix, other than simple size and time constraints. I will get my department to draw up plans and requirements for a full scale version, and will transmit them to you ASAP.

Finally, a short description of the technology involved. I appologize for the somewhat dense message I sent. In essence, the Conversion Matrix taps into the upper dimensions that we call 'subspace' in order to generate a disruptive reaction in the target. This then leads to a number of secondary effects including a fission reaction. It also passes energy back from this reaction to the main generator, which is what was originally intended to be the sole purpose of the matrix. However, it requires two sets of subspace field guides, not the one set we had thought. Activating the device without the second set of guides will utterly destroy it. We believe that a full scale version at the size I outlined would destroy a target the size of the Lucifer in less than four seconds.

I await your go-ahead to construct a full scale version

*End transmission*

______________________________

*From Admiral R. Barni*
*To Dr. R. Tracey*
*Stuttered tight point transmission - V^M-55#25c*
*Security Code: X-Ray - Eyes Only*

Construction Approved

The material you sent was presented to the council, and construction of the first full scale prototype has been approved. A heavy construction unit has been reassigned to your facility and is underway to our orbital facilities on Pluto onboard the TFFr Parana. The ship is scheduled to arrive at it's destination in 31 hours and 15 minutes, and is authorized to depoly the equipment and begin work upon arrival.

Concerning future developments on such technology:
The council has decided that time has come to begin work on the integrated design. Project Apocalypse is scheduled to be launched in seven months, and no more than half a year will be set for the planning stages, so I advise you to gather all data available and begin work on the system specifications. Interaction with the other research teams is highly advised, as to avoid possible conflicts.

If any other resources are required for the construction of the prototype please inform me and I'll take the measures to provide them. Keep me informed on the development status.

*End transmission*