The Hei Ten Shi

The Hei Ten Shi is an advanced underwater submarine constructed by Nankatsu Industries utilizing technology provided by The Blackdoor Group.  It is comprised of three distinct components: (from top to bottom) the ballast, the control module, and the cargo component.  The primary purpose of the Hei Ten Shi is the underwater transport of its Starstone cargo.  Because of the enormous density of Starstone material, the Hei Ten Shi was built to resemble an underwater “blimp” where the enormous ballast component at the top of the craft effectively serves as a massive lift bag to offset the weight of the Starstone.   Because the ship utilizes technology mysteriously obtained by Blackdoor, its maximum operating depth stands at 19,000 feet, thousands of feet deeper than any modern military submarine is existence today.

The Hei Ten Shi utilizes two unique forms of propulsion.  The primary means of propulsion is the induction hydrojets which allow for extraordinarily silent, albeit slower, running.  To assist with the ship’s mission of Starstone delivery, the Hei Ten Shi has also been constructed with an experimental Ionic Turbine Engine which allows for tremendous speed to be achieved at the loss of stealth.  The express purpose of the Ionic Turbines is to enable a rapid getaway after cargo deployment to distance the Hei Ten Shi from its release point underwater.

At time of cargo delivery, a complex separation sequence is initiated in which the cargo component containing the Starstone is released simultaneously with the ballast.  This procedure is highly dangerous because of the inherent risk of any malfunction.  If the ballast failed to disconnect simultaneously with the cargo, the Hei Ten Shi would be violently pulled to the surface compromising its structural integrity.  If the cargo failed to disconnect simultaneously with the ballast, then the ship would be instantly pulled down into the abyss of the deep ocean and subject to catastrophic pressures.