TSF Components and Nomeclature

TSFs rely on many critical components in their construction and operation. Developed over three decades, in tandem with the service history of the machines themselves, these various components are listed below.

@Anti-Laser Countermeasures

Anti-laser countermeasures can either refer to a warning system for TSFs, a surface coating on its frame, or, in the cases of offensive uses, a grouping of different technologies that aim to reduce the effectiveness of @BETA - Laser Class and @BETA - Heavy Laser Class in the heat of combat.

Most modern TSFs have an anti-laser warning system that will allow them to detect when they are being tracked by a Laser-class BETA which has begun the low-energy laser phase of its firing cycle. The short window of time that the system allows is the difference between a successful dodging maneuver by the pilot, or the TSF being shot down. This detection system is supplemented by two additional physical technologies: anti-laser coatings, and heavy metal particulates (also known as AL warheads) which on TSFs, can be utilized like a chaff launcher.

Anti-laser coatings are used on all TSFs, several types of naval warships, and certain combat vehicles to improve their durability against laser strain BETA attacks. However, even the latest of such technology is only viable for three seconds, and any exposure longer than that will burn through the coating; a disastrous result to be avoided at all costs, considering that no armor material known to humankind can currently withstand direct exposure to BETA laser strain blasts for even a fraction of a second. The coating will also wear down from repeated short-term exposure to Laser blasts, resulting in damage from Laser attacks during long periods of continuous combat.

Autopilot

As its name suggests, TSFs can engage in autonomous combat and action. However, their reactions in close-quarters combat are well below TSFs operated by skilled pilots.

Carbon Construction

Artificial carbon materials were developed as part of the BETAverse's space exploration programs. Such materials have been the base of many of humanity's technological breakthroughs, allowing for a vehicle to be constructed lighter than similarly-sized contemporaries while having equal or greater durability. Even the internal systems of TSFs use advanced carbonic actuators and electricity-powered malleable carbon bands combined with traditional joint systems to provide greater power, speed, and durability during movement.

Part of these developments include the creation of Super Carbon, an advanced construction and armor material developed by @The United States of America (USA) in 1956 as part of the "Hope II" large orbital station program. This ubiquitous material plays a key role in the construction of vehicles and technology such as spacecraft and TSFs; it has been used in the construction of TSF frames to @Jump Units, external and @Supplemental Armor Systems, bladed weapons, and the aerodynamic control surfaces and armor components of modern TSFs; artificial carbon materials used in the construction of TSF frames and weapons are also known as Super Carbon.

Data Link

The capability to share important information, such as data logs, allied units' status readouts, terrain information and meteorological data, between allied TSFs. Data linking is especially important on the battlefield, as it allows incoming troops to gain an understanding on what is happening on the front lines, and to change and modify their tactics and strategies accordingly.

Jamming

Jamming capabilities are part of a TSF's radar and sensor systems, with such abilities being more prominent in TSFs produced after or upgraded from 1st-generation models. Apart from breaking up wireless communication and tracking capabilities of enemy units, variants of this technology exists that allows a TSF to mask its electronic signature by introducing radar noise, preventing the enemy from accurately detecting its opponent.

As an example, the @F-22A Raptor's electronic systems can jam communication lines that have not been registered as those of allied forces, and the @Type-77 Gekishin is equipped with the Noisemaker, an ECM device that clutters the area with radar noise to mask allied approach signatures on enemy radar.

Operation by Wire

Operation By Wire (OBW) is a system that introduces a computer processing system with coded presets into the operating system of the TSF's controls to prevent accidents and help stabilize the TSF during operation; the system's name is a reference to the significant amount of additional wiring. OBW allows TSFs to auto-correct unintended maneuvers that would otherwise cause the machine in question to crash, fall down, or impact a surface/obstacle unintentionally. This system is not foolproof however, and should not be treated as a substitute for actual combat maneuvers.

Operation by Light

An evolution of OBW, Operation By Light (OBL) is a system whereby inputs by the pilot are converted to light signals transmitted by optical fiber cables rather than the electronic signals transmitted by wires used in OBW. The advantages of OBL over OBW include greater speed and bandwidth of data transmission, reduced weight, increased resistance to electromagnetic and heat damage, and greater ease of maintenance.

OBL is a defining characteristic of third-generation TSFs; its resistance to electromagnetic interference allows a TSF equipped as such to operate near or directly use advanced weaponry.

Suggestive Hypnosis

As its name suggests, any such system is a hypnotic suggestion program, using spoken words in formulated tones designed to evoke certain emotions. Hypnosis is widely used in the BETAverse, from being a combat enhancer to medical treatments and memory manipulation.

@Combat Hypnosis Functions are a software function installed into a TSF and can be remotely activated by other pilots of greater rank that the receiving person, allowing senior pilots acting as unit leaders to affect the mental state of others.

Usually used in conjunction with drugs and stimulants injected into a pilot's body, this can cause pilots to calm down and/or become more aggressive in combat. While there may be advantages to the system, hypnotic suggestion has its own downsides, which includes impaired capability for long-term/strategic judgement, loss of perception of reality to a certain degree, and an overly-aggressive, almost animalistic and anger-fueled instinct-based behavior detrimental to the hypnotized pilot's safety.

Slave Mode

A system for Tactical Surface Fighters that allows a pilot to remotely control one or more TSFs. Slave Mode is not commonly used on the battlefield due to slaved units having less ability than properly-trained pilots. The data links from the control unit to the slave units can also be disrupted by heavy metal particles and enemy jamming capabilities.

Slave mode is not autopilot, where the TSF is capable of making decisions for itself, but does utilize it to a small extent. Essentially, a TSF engaged in Slave Mode is autonomously maneuvering and operating, though under the command and directives of a separate "master" control unit.

Sub-Arms

A distinct system from the @Mount Pylons, the Sub-Arm is a blanket term used to describe an additional system to a TSF for added mobility of its parts. They differ from the TSF's limbs and the Mount Pylon in usage, as they serve very specific roles depending on where such a system is installed.

The Type-74 @Mount Pylons, for instance, are equipped with a sub-arm system on its end to allow it to reload mounted guns without a TSF having to manually reload the weapon by grabbing an ejected magazine from the TSF's ammunition holster. A TSF's shoulder armor blocks are also operated by sub-arm systems, which allow the TSF to move its limbs with greater flexibility or enter storage in a more compact form, and most improved 1st generation TSFs onwards use sub-arm systems for their @Jump Units to allow for greater mobility by using thrust-vectoring. All Blade Sheaths have a sub-arm system to accelerate and streamline the deployment of the @Close Combat Dagger stored within.

Storage Equipment

Empty spaces in a TSF or external carried stores, used to house either spare ammunition, combat daggers or other items. Such components can be found in the form of empty cavities in a TSF's knee block armor, or using its hip and "skirt" block armor to store extra ammunition.

@Jump Unit

The Jump Unit, in actuality, refers to the twin booster components that are (usually) attached to a TSF's rear; depending on model, either to the waist block or the rear upper thigh. Jump Units of all model and make fulfill similar functions; most contain a hybrid engine, are mounted to a TSF via a sub-arm that can be operated independently, giving it thrust vectoring capabilities, are capable of reverse thrust, and can be purged from the TSF in the event of an emergency. However, some Jump Units may have other functions that are unique to their model.

During operation, the Jump Unit engine operates in either jet or rocket mode, but never both at once. In jet engine mode, the engine operates like any other turbofan jet engine. The Jump Unit switches to rocket engine mode during instances where high maneuverability or high output thrust is required. While the rocket engine is active, the jet components of the engine continues to operate on idle rather than completely shutting down.

Supplemental developments have seen the additions of Variable Wing Mechanisms or Optional thrusters to different TSF models to improve response, agility, and maneuverability output of the Jump Unit.

While TSFs related in development may share Jump Unit designs, the engines that they use within are different and can vary from improved models of a previous engine type to a completely different engine from a different manufacturer.