LPS-i8 Drone

The LPS-i8 drone was an autonomous strike craft designed for reconnaissance and stealth operations in hostile territories. The drone was developed by Athazex Drives under a contract with the Astachez Navy in the mid 48,800s, during a period of intense conflict in Ivesceel. Astachez military leaders advocated for significant increases in funding and scale of the nation's armed forces as the Klexac Sector broke apart and the Tilanex Empire, one of the largest TAUFOG member nations in the galaxy, fought their neighbor the Osphat Canommin Republic. Hundreds of updated or completely original strike craft, capital ships, and other weapons were designed and manufactured under Astachez procurement programs. Athazex Drives was a major military contractor for the Astachez Navy, and thus received a large portion of these contracts, including the LPS-i8. The LPS-i8 was developed to serve as a reconnaissance strike craft capable of surveying systems beyond the range of Astachez naval units or hypothetical forward operating bases and relay information back to naval command for analysis. Important technical requirements were the inclusion of a full cloaking shield, additional passive stealth systems, an accurate RISNET and CIINET transceiver for long-range communication, and at least a rating 4.1.10 darkspace drive. Athazex Drives was able to exceed the expectations of the Astachez Navy, incorporating all required systems and additionally equipping the LPS-i8 with twin light laser cannons and light shields to potentially survive an attack from hostile strike craft long enough to escape into lightspeed. The drone would be manufactured for over a century, with procurement contracts continually extended as tensions between the Astachez Federation and Rodain Empire increased, continuing until the final days of the Astachez Civil War. Production would be halted following an attack by the Roccho Navy on the Estrek system, when Roccho forces were able to destroy Athazex Drive's primary shipyards.