Alicorn

Lore & Background

The Alicorn began its life as a Scinfaxi-class submarine, a class originally developed by the Union of Yuktobanian Republics. After the Circum-Pacific War, the unfinished hull was acquired by Erusea, which secretly completed and heavily modified it over decades. The submarine was equipped with a powerful electromagnetic railgun capable of striking surface and aerial targets at extreme range, as well as a complement of drones and conventional missiles. Its nuclear reactor gave it virtually unlimited endurance, allowing it to operate as a stealthy, persistent threat. Commanded by Captain Matias Torres, the Alicorn became a symbol of Erusean desperation and defiance. Torres, a brilliant but fanatical officer, saw the submarine as a tool to force a decisive end to the war through terror. The Alicorn's railgun was used to sink the Osean fleet's supply base at the Khesed Strait, and later to threaten the space elevator at Tyler Island. Its ability to strike from underwater made it nearly impossible to detect or counter with conventional forces. The submarine's crew were a mix of Erusean regulars and loyalists, many of whom shared Torres's extreme views. The Alicorn's ultimate fate was sealed when it was engaged by the Osean Air Defense Force's Long Range Strategic Strike Group, including the legendary pilot Trigger. Despite its advanced systems and Torres's cunning, the Alicorn was sunk in a desperate final battle near the Tyler Island space elevator.

In Their Own Story

The sea was a black mirror under a moonless sky. Deep below, the Alicorn moved like a silent leviathan, its nuclear heart pulsing with barely contained power. In the control room, Captain Torres watched the tactical display, a faint smile on his lips. 'Surface,' he ordered. The ocean parted as the submarine rose, its railgun turret breaking the surface like a dragon's horn. On the horizon, the lights of the Osean supply base glittered, unaware. 'Fire,' Torres whispered. A streak of light, a crack of thunder, and the base became a fireball. The Alicorn slipped back into the depths, leaving only smoke and questions. Torres turned to his first officer. 'They will learn to fear the dark,' he said, and the crew's laughter echoed through the steel corridors.

Reader's Guide

The Alicorn is a submarine cruiser designed for long-range, high-impact strikes. Its primary weapon is a bow-mounted electromagnetic railgun, which fires projectiles at hypersonic speeds, capable of destroying ships, bases, and even aircraft in a single shot. The railgun requires a lengthy charge-up and leaves the submarine vulnerable during firing. Additionally, the Alicorn carries a large number of standard missiles, torpedoes, and a drone bay for defensive and offensive support. In-world, the Alicorn is operated by a crew of several hundred, with Captain Torres a fanatical leader who views the vessel as a divine instrument to end the war through terror. The submarine's stealth and endurance make it a nightmare to hunt; only a coordinated strike by elite pilots like Trigger can hope to bring it down.

Did You Know?

• The Alicorn was originally a Scinfaxi-class submarine, a design from the Yuktobanian Navy, but Erusea secretly completed it with advanced technology never intended by the original designers.
• Its railgun is powerful enough to threaten the space elevator, a structure that reaches into orbit, making it a weapon of strategic terror.
• Captain Torres was known for his obsession with the 'Alicorn's purpose' and his willingness to use extreme measures, including targeting civilian infrastructure to force a surrender.
• The submarine's name, Alicorn, refers to a mythical horned horse, symbolizing its unique and deadly nature—a beast that is part machine, part legend.