Helix-class "Dynamic Fortissimo"

### Complement:

1x Archon Type SAR Vehicle (Archon 1)1x Converted Condor Transport (Dynamic Pianissimo)

### Crew:

-Vera Tsimilitude (Owner, Host, Technician)
-Director Laprys (Captain)
-Commissar John (First officer)
-Senior Ranger Ethan (Pilot)
-Igneous Twor (Engineer)
-Vyell Volz (Engineers Assistant)
-Titus Livy (Host, Technician)

Former Crew-Ronald Wier (Engineers Assistant) - Deceased
-Lara Anderson (Ranger) - Deceased
-Fred Anderson (Ranger) - Deceased
-Garry (A shy plush toy) – Deceased

## Chronological and Affiliation

### Affiliation:

- 133.7 The Bustin FM- Department of the Exterior

### Launched:

Gustav Craine: 2172Dynamic Fortissimo: 2213

*Dynamic Fortissimo (registry number NR51687-6A) is a former construction hauler turned transmission ship. Acquired and converted shortly after the fall of Safina in 2212, the crew spent  almost 6 months making her space worthy in the back of a ship salesman’s junkyard. By the end 2212 the ship had collected both the transmitter from Larry the Slow and the remains of the DOE era 133.7 transmission tower. A short time later she would be outfitted with a reconstructed antenna array designed to reach across its local tile.*

*In modern times, Dynamic Fortissimo is the home of 133.7 The Bustin and is the origin for all known official 133.7 transmissions. Aboard is the largest remnant of the Department of the Exterior, now working as the ships crew and transmitting staff. The Dynamic Fortissimo’s antenna has been updated to include datalink capabilities to simulcast in both peer to peer format and the more traditional Extremely High Frequency radio. The ship currently travels pioneer in search of stories and unsecured antennas to tell them with.*

## Operational history

### **Construction**

The Dynamic Fortissimo started it’s life as a Helix Class construction hauler called Gustav Craine. At some point in 2205, she was sold and relegated to a scrap yard in 2C. Here she sat, being picked over for parts until she was a shell of her former self. It was in this shell that the beleaguered members of the DOE, fresh from their evacuation of Safina saw potential. With the majority of her external fittings removed for parts and scrap, only a hulk remained, a blank canvas. Negotiations between Director Laprys, Vera Tsimilitude and the yard owner resulted in the ship being transferred to the Department of the Exterior with permission to prepare her for departure where she sat.

Over the next six months, new parts were sourced to replace what was long gone and the ship was overhauled to favor endurance and range. This was until Commissar Cole and Ranger Ethan came across a deal on enhanced hydrogen thrusters, greatly increasing the ships forwards acceleration. Multiple hydrogen tanks of dubious origins were installed and cargo storage from a recent arrival at the yard began to fill out the engineering spaces. Two reactors and a battery set from an old cargo liner combined with decommissioned oxygen generation systems were the next to be installed; with a pair of decrepit jump drives finishing of the core systems.

Most other systems were picked off of ships within the yard and midway through 2212 she met the requirements for a rebuild title, receiving the registry number NR51687-6A. She would leave the scrap yard a week later to embark on her first operation, the last mission for the DOE.

### **Operation Aerodynamic**

Vera Tsimilitude had received word that Jenkins of JSC had located the remains of the original Safina broadcast tower and had protected them from raiders. With the situation degrading rapidly, JSC was looking for an exit plan and wished to trade the tower for a pickup and some alcohol. JSC was holed up in their immobilized HQ, the JSC Independence and while they were putting up an excellent fight, the Raiders were making slow progress. Realizing that the area was too hot for a ship of Fortissimo’s size, Jenkins ordered a smaller rover called the Riverboat to be loaded up with personnel and supplies, strapping the radio equipment to the roof. With the guns set to automatic tracking and aggressive ammunition consumption, JSC made for a rendezvous point at the old DOE base under the protection of the now empty Independence.

With cover from Independence, Dynamic Fortissimo performed a crash dive into atmosphere, becoming stable less than 500m off the ground. From there it moved to the old DOE base where it loaded up survivors, equipment, weapons, supplies and the remains of the tower. It took some time to load everything and even though the Independence fired defiantly in the distance, some Raiders had managed to skirt around it and locate the landing site. Realizing what they had stumbled upon, the Raiders concentrated fire on the Fortissimo, breaching the hull in the forward section.

Silhouetted against the mountain with enemies closing in, the ship touched off, pursued by atmospheric fighters. This didn’t last long however. The better hydrogen engines allowed the Fortissimo to pull away and she ultimately made it to the safety of orbit. With the remainder of JSC personnel recovered and some fine scotch provided, DJ Vera got his transmitter back. This would be the last official operation of the DOE as an entity.

### **Final Fittings**

Following the recovery of the Safina transmitter, the crew of the Fortissimo would combine the recovered transmitter with the radio equipment from Larry the Slow to create a more potent radio mast capable of transmitting across a tile. Sensing an opportunity, some of the weapons that JSC brought with them were purchased and mounted to the exterior of the Fortissimo. In addition to this, modifications were made to lessen her sensor signature. While she couldn’t completely disappear, she was harder to scan from the exterior and harder to detect at range. By late 2212 the final outfitting was complete, and the ship was ready for her maiden broadcast.

### **The New 133.7**

In early 2213, Dynamic Fortissimo cranked the power on the transmitter to maximum, overpowering signals in 2B for their triumphant return to air. By end of day the ship would have CDF forces trailing her attempting to apprehend the pirate radio crew. The ship put out a large blast from her transmitter, wreaking havoc on the sensor scopes of the CDF frigate following them. Before the CDF crew had the opportunity to re calibrate, the transmitter fell silent, with the ship altering course and slipping away.

This would be a recurring pattern for the next two years as a warrant was issued for the crew and a bounty placed on the ship. During this time the Dynamic Fortissimo would go by several names when visiting port. To conceal the ships identity the crew used forged identification documents to accompany a large, false, nameplate on the side of the ship. This would give them enough time to make port, get the supplies they needed and leave before authorities were alerted. At the time, the Helix class was rather common, so descriptions that did make it back to authorities were unhelpful. The warrants would be dropped in 2215, however the practice of disguising the ship never really fell out of fashion and many ships that are believed to be the Dynamic Fortissimo have been sighted.

### **Belt War**

During the opening hours of the belt war, Dynamic Fortissimo would find itself caught between Enclave and COA forces. With the shifting battle threatening to put the ship squarely in either side cross hairs, the crew decided that going dark and assessing the situation was the best option. During this period, the ship was reported destroyed a number of times, however all of these claims would be put to rest as the transmitter fired up once more, with the ship transmitting from the proximity of an Enclave squadron. The crew had spent some weeks testing their stealth against sensors of both sides and concluded that, so long as the warships were occupied, it was safe enough to shadow them. While they couldn’t hide from dedicated CS squadrons, they did their best to outpace them. Fortissimo would be present at the battle of the bricks and report on the fight in real time.

### **Overhaul**

Following the belt war parts from destroyed or decommissioned ships were plentiful and the prices were right. Seizing on the opportunity to overhaul the aging equipment that the ship had been equipped with almost a decade prior, the crew of the Fortissimo would spend more than a month in Khan space. In this time they would refit the entire engine core, increase storage, replace the jump drives and acquire a second support craft. As of 2222 Dynamic Fortissimo is believed to be utilizing. A larger array of batteries and more reactors than in her previous configuration and all of her thrusters have been upgraded. She now has a noticeably smaller signature on sensors due to the more modern and efficient electrical components.

## Support Craft

### **Archon 1:**

Archon 1 is an Archon Type Search and Rescue VTOL originally used by the DOE in Jacob's Ladder Colonial Park. Originally an atmospheric only craft, Archon 1 had a long history with the Rangers, rescuing numerous stranded hikers, partaking in multiple ranger combat drops and assisting in the DOE evacuation of the park. After the evacuation it remained in the hands of former DOE survivors who would go on to form the crew of the Dynamic Fortissimo. In the subsequent years Archon 1 has been retrofitted to implement better defenses and single stage to orbit capabilities. Now truly a spacecraft she serves as both an orbit to ground transport and a testament to the ingenuity of the DOE.

### **Dynamic Pianissimo:**

As the belt war drew to a close, many Enclave space frames that were destined for production found their way to scrapyards for decommissioning and breakdown. Such was the fate of almost all Condor class transports. The model was new and was never commissioned into service. As such, all space frames were either incomplete or complete but never used. During a parts trip, the crew of the Fortissimo managed to acquire an almost complete Condor and set to work converting it for their own radio purposes. The exterior was painted to match the Dynamic Fortissimo and the interior was completely reworked, now housing transmission equipment and a production studio. The final touch was adding a moderate power radio mast to the side of the ship, capped with a tight beam transmitter at the end. The vessel now serves as a news van, landing on worlds with a small crew and reporting back real time news from the ground.

## Last Remnants of the United Nations or just Tax Evasion?

Dynamic Fortissimo is registered as sovereign territory of the Department of the Exterior and as such is considered a micro state under the jurisdiction United Nations. As such they are required to pay taxes to the United Nations, which is impossible due to the current political climate. Due to this they do not pay taxes to Pioneer though they do keep immaculate tax records for the day they reconnect with the UN.

Due to this privileged status as a micro state, it is alleged that people have stored their money within DOE accounts to protect them from the various factions tax agencies. It is presumed that the DOE takes a percentage but no proof of said allegations has been found.

## Gallery

A picture of the Fortissimo taken by a Khan miner sometime after the conclusion of the Belt WarA picture of the rear of the ship taken by Vera Tsimilitude and posted to the 133.7 Website.A picture of the Fortissimo's Bridge.A picture of the fortissimo's engine room. Note the extended range hydrogen tanks.A picture inside the 133.7 studio.The only known picture of the Gustav Craine at the time of the reconstruction.Fortissimo taking off. Captured by a shipbreaker. Note that she doesn't have her transmitter at this time.Recovered image of the Fortissimo in the gunsight of a raider fighter.