Device: Magnetic Assembly Containerized System 4
Type: Electrogravitational Communication System
Operators: The Magnetic Assembly
Manufacturer: The Magnetic Assembly
Introduced: 2322

Length: 10 meters
Height: 2.5 meters
Width: 2 meters

Following the Arrival and initial exploration of Azathoth in the Hawking System, the Edward Deming found itself struggling to communicate with teams deep inside of the the Aliyum artifact. Previously various ultra-low frequency systems, drone-meshes, and high-powered repeater systems had been used to get signals down to the lower levels of the artifact.

Further research was being put into highly penetrating neutron radiation systems to take over for the deep planetary communication requirements throughout 2321 with incrimental success, though this was suddenly overshadowed by the amount of Wofleonium that became available after the armistice with the American Union. An Electrogravitational solution was quickly worked out using some of the available excess, and rolled out to the Edward Deming in early 2322.

The container itself houses a rotating electrogravitational beam assembly that can turn to face a target while still inside of the container. As the gravitational beam generated is relatively weak, it is not considered dangerous to send through the ship, so it can track a target from anywhere onboard the ship. Sensitive gravitational sensors are located on both sides of the container to act as receivers for incoming beams, and the rest of the space is taken up by ultracapacitors and the control electronics for the system.

The communication system is designed to work at short range, but be able to send signals through incredibly dense material. Though it would be ineffective at communicating to someone at even short interstellar distances it is effective at reaching a receiver on the other side of a planet from a starship in low orbit. This makes the system idea for reaching survey teams that have gone underground.

Getting information down to a receiver is easy, but a similarly large system with a large power source is needed to transfer information back. This often means communication from the ship is one-way unless the ground team has the equipment and expertise needed to talk back. Since the ground team is usually underground when this type of communication is used, they also need to track the starship's location which adds additional complication to the process when trying to talk back.