Task Force Mission
Mobile Task Force Unit Eta-0, known as the "Hell Jumpers", is a company-sized task force specializing in rapid response to emergent anomalous threats through the use of proprietary sub-orbital drop pod technology.
Due to the esoteric nature of the task force, very few operatives have ever been selected for Eta-0. As such, the task force only maintains a roughly section-sized element garrisoned on each continent. Despite their size, the task force maintains one of the quickest response times.
Sky Jumpers did not turn out to be the resounding success that the staff at Site-94 wanted.
This is the second try at a costly project, Director.Welcome to Datascraper! Ver. 419.9.10
Sure, It's rare that a project succeeds the first time around.
But given the cost, ETTRA would rather pursue other opportunities.
What's new with Datascraper?
A project proposal is on its way, Overseer.
Our scope is much larger this time around—no room for error.
Training VisToText.dll…
Do you expect that looking higher will make this passion project sing?
There were many problems at the conceptual stage. The Sky Jumpers relied heavily on fictitious forces, math that left… gaps.
Compromises had to be made. It's unrealistic to expect every site to maintain a landing pad, after all.
Training AudToText.dll…
There is little and less I can say over communications to change your mind.
The proof is in the proposal.
Training complete! Outputting text below…
DATASCRAPER observes the presence of one (1x) text-based cognitohazard below.
Task Force Classification
[✓] M (Combat) [✓] C (Containment) [ ] G (Engineering) [✓] E (Esoteric) [ ] T (Tracking) [ ] U (Undercover)
Backers
- atlas.x (Author) (Operative)
- pandorion (Author) (Commander)
- solarias (Author)
- space_cadet_alien (Author)
- watchthosewristrockets
- uranium123
- hugohertzel
- xanapain
- merithskye
- supreme_kai_einzel (Officer)
- ratfarts
- _valorousreaper_ (Officer)
- plague_the_idiot
- royalunc
- luckyshinobi
- robotics_guy
- martinpjones
- tuskgauss
- lytch
- solairesunbro
- tempesta.net
- cosmohause
Ranks
C4 | Commander - 0 NPCs
C4 | Officer - 0 NPCs
C3 | Squad Leader - 0 NPCs
C2 | Senior Operative - 0 NPCs
C1 | Operative - 0 NPCs
Task Force Technology
HELL JUMPER MK.2 PODS
The central crux of Eta-0: "Hell Jumpers", these pods are designed to carry a single specialist, dropped from anywhere between the Tropopause to the Mesosphere and lower Ionosphere. These pods come equipped with parachutes, gear, and enough equipment for a single operative, as well as onboard life-support and lifesaving procedures in the improbable event of a catastrophic drop.
Pods are equipped with full-control thrusters, able to accelerate and turn in all environments, and effectively airbrake in the troposphere. Modern heatshield techniques have been employed in their construction, primarily utilizing PICA3 [Phenolic-Impregnated Carbon Ablated] as a heat shield. Though pods are rarely deployed from a height high enough to cause significant atmospheric drag, the utilization of PICA3 reduces wear on the hull of Hell Jumper pods as well.
Designed for reclamation and re-use, Hell Jumper pods are incredibly sturdy and rated for constant usage.
ORION CORES
The central piece of Hell Jumper pods, the function of Orion Cores is difficult to summarize in a few sentences. These devices measure 5 feet long with a diameter of two feet, weighing approximately 152.5lbs. Orion cores are subdivided into seven central sections, referred to as 'rings'.
The first three sections are centralized computers, responsible for the majority of information collected by the various instruments of the Hell Jumper pods, before being processed into legible instructions and astronavigational data.
Central section four functions primarily as an inter-operator between the fifth section and the first three, taking astronavigational data and converting it into instructions for the fifth.
The fifth is the closest thing to paratech in the Orion Core, with micro-computers only lining the very exterior. These microcomputers handle influencing the internals of the fifth. These internals typically spin at an extraordinarily high speed [12000 RPM >]. In coordination with the WELROD suits worn by Eta-0 operatives, these internals primarily counteract G-Forces for the specialist aboard the pod through the application of localized magnetic fields, essentially 'pulling back' on the operative without actually pulling them back.
This force is formally known as STAT-LOC, or Geostationary Lockup, named for the sensation of no-gravity achieved halfway through Eta-0 deployments. The first half of the drops are rarely as smooth.
The sixth ring is an emergency ancillary, taking over the functions of the fifth in the event of a critical failure, focused solely on the preservation of the specialist, deploying airbrakes and parachutes, as well as ensuring the activation of onboard life-support and lifesaving procedures. In the event of the activation of the sixth ring, the seventh is prematurely deactivated, and the sixth assumes its functions.
The seventh central section acts as the Drive crux between the Orion Core and the engine, handling instructions from all the first to the fifth core, and handling instructions sent back from the pod's primary engine.
A skeletal view of an Orion Core.
FOUNDATION-CLASS Y-15 AIRCRAFT
Based on the North American X-15A-2, Foundation Y-15's have largely had their internals ripped out and redesigned to bring them in line with modern Aerial Reconnaissance standards. The aircraft has retained its trademark extremely dense dorsal fin, resulting in significant drag at typical cruising altitude.
Borrowing from the design of the X-15A-2, Y-15's have sockets for the deployment of Eta-0 pods in the position that is normally used for external fuel tanks. Modifications to the XLR99 engines of Foundation Y-15's have cleared them for flight up to 580000 feet, surpassing the service ceiling of the X-15A-2 by a considerable margin.
Despite the lack of external fuel tanks and the added weight courtesy of Hell Jumper pods, Y-15's maintain a general range of 300mi, offering more than enough time and distance for the deployment of Eta-0 operatives.
FOUNDATION-CLASS NB-53: "ZENITH"
Purchased from Boeing following the retirement of the NB-52 "Challenger", the NB-52 is a Foundation mothership solely responsible for the deployment of Y-15's from high-cruise altitude, avoiding a majority of the issues caused by the Y-15's Wedge Tail.
Minimal changes have been made to the NB-53, largely consisting of an update to the internals of the craft, as well as ensuring that the aircraft's RB211 engines will continue to be operational for the foreseeable future. Foundation aerospace engineers are currently considering retrofitting the NB-53's with Pratt & Whitney PW800s.
Given the size of the craft, all Eta-0 deployments are veiled from inquiry as a resurgence of the X-15 program as the X-62.
ANTI-G 'WELROD' SUITS
Developed in-house at Site-94, Welrod suits are the primary gear piece worn by Eta-0 operatives, designed explicitly to mitigate the effects of LEO drops and the intense G-Forces that specialists receive. Comprised of a modern blend of Twaron and Normex, utilizing Foundation-class synthetic fiber blending techniques, Welrod suits utilize many similar techniques as G-Suits currently in use across the globe.
The primary difference between the Welrod suit and modern G-Suits comes down to the application of micro-alloys utilized by the fifth ring of the Orion Cores within Hell Jumper drop pods. These micro-alloys relay the effects of the fifth ring to the human specialist within the pods, 'pulling back' on the G-Forces acting on the body.
Welrod suits possess onboard computers that monitor operative vitals and communicate with the Orion Cores, alerting the system in case of a sudden loss of consciousness, and signaling for the activation of the sixth ring.
OPTICALLY-AUGMENTED SERVER-INTEGRATED SYSTEM [OASIS] GOGGLES
SENIOR OPERATIVE
Developed in conjunction with the Land-Warrior Program utilized by Nu-7, OASIS goggles act as a slide-lock interface for Eta-0 operatives, displaying real-time information including current location via GPS, tracking nearby friendly forces, and limited augmented reality capability.
OASIS goggles are linked directly to Orion Cores through the first three rings, displaying information related to the free fall before, during, and after. This information includes altitude, bearing, velocity, and estimated time to impact. While the Orion cores generally handle the HUD layout during freefall, an onboard responsive context-sensitive handling program handles displaying relevant information post-freefall.
DEPLOYMENT TIMETABLE
Primarily a Foundation QRF, Eta-0 should be able to go from stationary to on-scene in under an hour. The airfield responsible for the deployment of NB-53's, and consequently Y-15's, should be ready for NB-53s to take off in five minutes from the moment an Eta-0 call is received.
It is expected that NB-53s will reach cruising altitude following ten minutes after takeoff, deploying Y-15s at 42000 feet, before promptly returning to their base.
Given the sheer variance in distance regarding Eta-0 deployment, the Y-15 stage will be the largest variance in actual arrival time. Given Y-15s typically ascend at 40k feet per minute, and max out at 60k in full tilt, the ascension stage can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 20.
Once deployed, Eta-0 pods generally take 10 minutes to touchdown, though given the extreme variance in drop height, this may be as little as five.
TASK FORCE PERSONNEL
Given the extreme conditions involved in standard Eta-0 pod drops, Hell Jumpers generally selects personnel with a background in Special Forces, especially in environments where operatives are trained in High-Altitude Low-Opening / High-Opening (HALO/HAHO) jumps, which aid in the quick recovery of the strain of sub-atmospheric jumps. Operatives are given priority for recruitment if they have prior service in the military in live-fire air deployments.
Furthermore, the physically intensive nature of Eta-0 requires all operatives to submit for a bimonthly physical to monitor for long-term or short-term injuries. Personnel injured in the line of duty for Eta-0 may be cleared for operation in less physically intensive Task Forces, but if an operative is deemed unfit for service in Eta-0 at any point, they may never be cleared for duty again.
Transfer into Eta-0 requires a thorough evaluation and personal consultation of the Task Force's active MTFC, though personnel transferring out are not subject to this process.
INDUCTION PROCESS
The highly unusual nature of Eta-0 deployments requires a three-month training period upon joining, in which the operative will be acclimated to the environments presented by typical Eta-0 deployments, typically high-G. High-stress environments in tandem with the intensive nature of Eta-0 drops are often incredibly disorienting, and operatives train regularly in simulations to ensure that the effects of these deployments remain minimal.
If no incidents requiring the deployment of Eta-0 happen for a month, operatives will undergo at least one training jump, determined and hosted by the acting MTFC.