Encrypted Log - Lightfoil Construction

In Character Roleplay
#1

#Engineering Log
#Author: Shirri A’Sar
#Log Encrypted and secure on closed system. Notes pending.
#Entry LS-001

I’ve acquired a sample of a weapon known as a ‘lightfoil’. It’s not as strong as some of the ones I have seen, and this one is rather worn from use. Nevertheless, there are components in it that I can see for the purposes of replicating and later improving the design.

Designs like these are kept highly secret by both the Jedi and Sith orders. Given I lack the powers that they keep secret (termed “Force Sensitivity”), this may lead to unexpected complications. Nevertheless, this before me is not some conjured magic but a feat of engineering, and engineering can be learned and understood.

Initial analysis of the lightfoil: Contains two crystal clusters in a central chamber, which seems to be the power source for the generated beam. Unlike a blaster that is designed to create an energy projectile and then launch it, this is designed to keep a coherent beam of fixed length of energy, meant for cutting or cauterizing. I’d hypothesize that the length of the beam must be strictly controlled to prevent dissipation.

I’ve also looked at other components. There’s an electronic emitter at the end of the hilt which seems to project and stabilize the beam. I’ll have to further analyze how it stabilizes the energy flow, I would expect it would need a continual upsurge to deal with the dissipation and find some way to manage it.

The last major component is the hilt. It seems similar to other structures, just a metal casing to contain the foil.

Further smaller components necessary for function will need to be further analyzed.

More samples may need to be acquired. Maybe one of those ‘real’ lightsabers for dissection and analysis.

End Log Entry

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#2

#Engineering Log
#Author: Shirri A’Sar
#Log Encrypted and secure on closed system. Notes pending.
#Entry LS-002

I’ve acquired a sturdier sample that’s in much better condition. Comparison of the samples seems to indicate a number of smaller changes that seem mostly designed to make the foil last through more wear. It appears channeling all of that energy through the hilt can wreak havoc on the internal components, and overuse will cause overheating damage similar to what is seen in high powered blasters. Having seen higher powered foils though, I know the design can be further improved.

I took a closer look at the emitter matrix, there’s a magnetic stabilizing ring on the outside which helps keep the beam of plasma stable like a blade, with power fed by dual cycling field energizers, that or the energy channel in between them, with the cycling field energizers fueling that so that the energy channel can send power through the emitter matrix.

The lower half of the design was intriguing too. I think two of the crystals served differing functions, yet appeared at first glance to be the same kind of crystal. One is a primary power crystal and the other is used for focusing and coherence. Corollary: The quality of the crystals will determine the quality of the end product. To this end the crystals on Hutlar seem to be of better quality than the ones on Viscara but still of suspect quality for something like this.
(Possible that the Jedi and Sith keep the highest quality crystals to themselves, it would be one way to keep effective blades like this in their hands, to keep tight control on the necessary critical components for construction).

Besides insulators and casing, the other thing I found was a diatum energy cell. It may be that the crystals somehow amplify the power made by the energy cell, since diatum energy cells are rather readily available.

I’ll need to take a closer look at how the crystals are applied, and also the energy channel with the dual field energizers elsewhere on the hilt. That said, I can clearly see that the designs I am looking at are not of high quality, the beam can burn but the coherence is questionable. I figure there’s something wrong with the configuration or at least poorly designed. Further investigation required.

End Log Entry

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#3

#Engineering Log
#Author: Shirri A’Sar
#Log Encrypted and secure on closed system. Notes pending.
#Entry LS-003

I’ve gotten a lucky break and acquired some schematics on foils. I’ll have to study them in more detail, then make some attempts at constructing some for myself. More study is needed.

I am curious as to how they were acquired in the first place. The person I asked mentioned that they acquired them during the debacle with that force entity in the caves. Some visions later and he suddenly had the schematics on a datapad, and an intuitive enough understanding to make it work. It’s all very curious, odds are he doesn’t remember the full story of what happened.

I’m studying them now, and the design is intricate, but in theory it should be workable by a capable engineer. Still, I am at a distinct disadvantage. I will be attempting construction without any Force based acid-trips.
At the end of the day, despite all of the secrecy surrounding these weapons, I’m certain at the end of the day, beneath the air of hocus pocus, it’s just another thing that can be made by skilled hands and machinery.

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#4

#Engineering Log
#Author: Shirri A’Sar
#Log Encrypted and secure on closed system. Notes pending.
#Entry LS-004

I overheard an interesting tidbit while making some gear for some force wielders. Apparently the crystals that are used in lightfoil/lightsaber construction attune to their wielders. I’m not sure what this attunement does, but it may assist in constructing it or wielding it. From the little I heard, carrying the crystals can attune to the person in question over time.

I’ll need to find out more about the attunement process. How it works and what it does. I doubt I can ask the Jedi about it directly, they are notoriously secretive.

#5

#Engineering Log
#Author: Shirri A’Sar
#Log Encrypted and secure on closed system. Notes pending
#Entry LS-005

It’s done, I’ve finally managed to make my own, and an impressive one if I do say so myself.
Holding it was strange. The blade has nearly no weight, but I could feel the throbbing power that came from it when it was ignited, like holding an active high density power core in your hands. The cutting power is impressive too, far more so than conventional vibroblades, though I think less modifiable for direct power.
ShirriSaber

It’s not a ‘real’ lightsaber, so I’ll have to find one of those and dissect one to continue this project. Still, what I have seen is a most impressive weapon. Given the weight (or lack thereof) and power, it would take quite some training to wield safely. Still, this would be useful as a high powered cutting laser, if I ever need one.

Acquiring a real lightsaber though may be more challenging, I’ll have to wait for opportunities in that regard.
I’ve got my blueprints for what I have so far and can use that as a solid base.

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#6

#Personal Log
#Author: Shirri A’Sar
#Log Encrypted and secure on closed system. Notes pending
#Entry LS-006

Glad I listened to my instincts. Apparently, trade, manufacture, and ownership of foils is illegal outside of the Jedi Order in the Republic Space. Apparently the Jedi have the authority to confascate and arrest such items. Of course, I’ve seen people not affiliated with the order using them around the Viscara sector several times. Is this simply the order reaching the limits of their ability to maintain control over things? The Jedi have to have a lot of influence in the Republic to be able to wield that kind of legal influence. Or maybe their influence isn’t as great as I thought it was?

It does seem rather odd to control such items. There’s blasters that can wreak far more destruction than foils can. There’s applications in engineering for strong cutting lasers. And with foils one needs extensive training to not harm themselves more than their opponent with them.

But perhaps it’s not about utility, perhaps it’s about power and influence. Controlling them leaves other methods of control. Symbology? They don’t want to be subverted.

Either way, advancing on this little project of mine will need to be done with the utmost care. The risks are greater than I’d expected.

That, and I won’t be able to sell these. It’s a pity. A part of me was looking forward to marketing S-Brand Starblades after I spent so much effort learning how to make them without any of the Hocus Pocus the Jedi and Sith can wield.

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#7

#Personal Log
#Author: Shirri A’Sar
#Log Encrypted and secure on closed system. Notes pending
#Entry LS-007

A curious twist of fate saw me make some progress with this, though I must admit to being somewhat perplexed by it. I was able to acquire the blueprints for a Sith Electroblade and make one of superior construction in it’s likeness. I will admit, I did have to do some extra work to get all of the runes set properly in place. The design I saw looked like it was something ancient, from several hundred years ago, the construction was crude and inefficient. It seemed more ceremonial than practical.

However, more interesting is what I was told, that the runes did have a purpose when connecting to the force, that the key was about those ‘feelings’. Apparently the runes help channel them somehow. I melded the design with more modern techniques to make something that should be both ceremonial and much more effective. (I didn’t put my usual brand on it). She did emphasize the importance of feelings and the runes. Power in symbology, perhaps? They don’t to my senses make for any practical benefits.

I do have a few theories. Perhaps it is only their belief that enhances their connection to this Force, but maybe because they believe the runes will serve as a channeling, the runes actually do because they believe strongly it will. A curious concept, but it does remind me of what I have heard about such things ‘attuning’ to their wielders. The concepts seem similarly related.

Maybe there is something to the runes themselves. I’ll have to study the blueprints further. The original design seems rather resistant to modifications. Still, I can’t help but wonder if lightsabers work the same way. Something to look into.