Laniakea Reactor ([Lah:nee:uh:kay:uh])

A Laniakea Reactor is an advanced power plant used throughout the Solar System. Utilizing the energy produced by matter/anti-matter annihilation, Laniakea Reactors are capable of producing vast amounts of energy that power metropolises, ships, and space colonies alike. They are exclusively fabricated with the express consent of certain authorities within the Corps, though counterfeit devices have been produced by fabrication centers within Jupiter's territory with inconsistent results.   This dependency also stems from the use of Ketteract Drive Thrusters. A byproduct of the Laniakea's power generation are superheated buffer materials. While this material is safely disposed of by trained technicians at civic powerplants, Battle Suits utilize this byproduct as a propellant in Ketteract Drive Thrusters. These thrusters are able to sustain sudden, irregular bursts of movement that battle suit combat has naturally gravitated towards. This byproduct is often harvested and stored as excess battle suit propellant in most military installations and space colonies.   While traditional fission/fusion power plants still exist, they are considered inferior substitutes, similar to fossil fuels and nuclear fission from the Grain Wars. Most commercial vehicles requiring an independent power source will use such a reactor (e.g.; commercial interplanetary flights, back-up power systems, etc.) due to the high demand of Laniakea Reactors.  

Reactor Types

Laniakea Reactors are classified by size and subcategorized based on its energy output. The standarized classifications are listed below.

• Type A Reactors (A1-A5): Type A reactors are the smallest generators, commonly found in Battle Suits. While power generation is obviously important for a Battle Suit's functionality, Type A reactors are specially designed to optimize byproduct generation for the Ketteract Drive Thrusters.
  • Type A1 Reactor: The most efficient Laniakea Reactors ever produced, only 31 Type A1 reactors were manufactured for the 30 Feather Frames during the First Solar War. Theoretically, their power output is limitless in conjunction with the FEATHER Operating System found in said Feather Frames. The manufacturing plant these reactors were fabricated in was destroyed during the First Solar War alongside the plant designs. Only 12 reactors of this type remain in service.
  • Type A2 Reactor: Type A2 reactors are rare and expensive models found in high-end Battle Suits. Popular among veteran mercenaries and special forces, Battle Suits using these reactors are only outclassed by the Feather Frames themselves.
  • Type A3-A5 Reactor: The remaining grades of Laniakea Reactors are far more commonplace in contrast to A1 and A2 reactors. Type A3s are favored among specialists who customize their Battle Suits in an effort to optimize their combat performance. Type A4 and A5 reactors are manufactured en masse for rank and file battle suits.
    
• Type B Reactors (B1-B3): Type B reactors are much larger than any Battle Suit is capable of supporting. As such, these reactors will be found in nearly every naval vessel and defense platform in the system. At this size, power generation becomes far more important in order to meet the excessive energy demands of capital Laz-weapons.
  • Type B1 Reactor: Once ubiquiitous amongst the grand capital ships of the First and Second Solar War, the gradual shift to smaller naval vessels has resulted in a drastic reduction in the number of B1 reactors in both the Feather Corps and the Jovian fleets. Repurposed Type B1 reactors can be found serving as auxillary generators for colonies and some civilian freight vessels. The three B1 reactors still in service amongst the Feather Corps capital ships are located in the Glaive-class Battleships of the Magma Guard and Typhoon Legion and in the Zugzwang. Otherwise, they continue to serve space stations, ports, and even the orbital elevators of the terrestrial planets.
  • Type B2 Reactor: A well-rounded midrange reactor that supports smaller vessels, Type B2 reactors are the backbone of the modern spaceborne navy. These reactors power cruisers, carriers, and frigates alike as a Jack of all trades.
  • Type B3 Reactor: B3 reactors fill the niche of "launch" naval vessels. Though modest in size and energy output in comparison to the other Type B reactors, the B3 provides an effective foundation for destroyers and convoy escort ships where a small number of high powered armaments are equipped.
    
• Type C Reactors (C1-C3): Type C reactors are enormous in contrast to its spaceborne siblings. These monoliths of energy production support the excessive energy demands of burgeoning colonies and sprawling urban centers. While C1 and C2 reactors are capable of powering swathes of urbanized land or entire space colonies, most C3s service compounds and elaborate complexes, such as Olympus Mons.

Laniakea Particles

An additional result of these reactors manifest as the considerable amount of exotic particles they emit. While this radiation is not particularly harmful to humans, it replicates the effect of an Electromagnetic Pulse within close proximity. This undesirable side effect is of little consequence in military applications, as devices and systems can easily be hardened to withstand it. However, civilian plants must be constructed far from any type of settlement as radiation hardening is infeasible for most consumer-grade electronics. In addition, numerous political arrangements and treaties expressly prohibits the use of Battle Suits in urban combat if the area has not been completely evacuated.