Blacktron I HOC-1

A general review of Blacktron offensive capabilities revealed the lack of a long-range reconnaissance solution. This situation was deemed critical by the review committee and a solution was immediately sought. Blacktron aerospace engineers first attempted to modify the venerable Invader platform, but changes in fuel, speed, and armor requirements quickly doomed the project. Requiring the craft to enter and leave planetary atmospheres numerous times during a flight cycle ultimately eliminated the Invader frame from consideration when combined with the other requirement changes.

Designing a new airframe was deemed the only reasonable option. Years were spent designing and testing numerous prototypes, but progress was made. The end result of these endeavors is the Hardened Observation Craft. The HOC sports four low gravity engines, one hybrid gaseous atmosphere/low gravity engine, and retrorockets facing outward from the bottom of the craft. A fixed medium laser is attached below the cockpit and a rotating heavy laser provides 360 degree coverage from the aft of the ship. A cargo mount is provided below the heavy laser and a sensor array is positioned just forward of the laser’s position. Armor across the craft varies, but generally the hull enjoys a medium range of protection while the engines and struts are more lightly armored.

Attached are images of the HOC being prepared for takeoff, a top view of the ship, another view of the launch bay, and details of the launch bay with refueling platform, tool cargo container, in-flight repair drone, folding access ladder, refueling robot, and maintenance robot.