И где-нибудь есть достаточно подробное описание того, что из себя представляют "черные ящики"?
Есть. Это межзвездный факс.
K-Series Interstellar Communications Device
“Black Box” FAX Machine
The so-called “Black Box” was introduced into limited service in
3027 by the AFFS Department of Military Communications and
has continuously served both the AFFS and the LAAF in various
incarnations ever since. It is one of the most top-secret pieces of
equipment in regular use, though its existence is an open secret,
and it allows interstellar communications independent of the HPG
network. These devices can only send text and still images, not fullscale
audio or video messages, and each communiqué is limited to a
certain amount of information. Additionally, Black Box messages do
not propagate instantaneously but instead may take days or weeks to
cross great distances.
Both the Federated Suns and the Lyran Alliance, including both
military and political arms, actively use the Black Box, while the
Draconis Combine, which has captured several throughout the years,
employs these devices in limited capacity. All organizations that use
the Black Box tightly control their issue—not only are they expensive
and difficult to construct, but due to the sensitive nature of the
communications passed through the machines they are assigned only
to the senior battlefield commanders and diplomats that absolutely
need them (they are not used to pass routine or general traffic). There
are several different Black Box models that have appeared throughout
the years, with newer models having a greater propagation speed and
range, in addition to other improvements. Later models implemented
hardware encryption, used in addition to hand encryption of the text
message, as well as the capability of transmitting more data and on
multiple sub-channels.
Transmissions made with a Black Box radiate out from the device
in a spherical pattern but have a limited range; once a transmission
reaches the limit, it rapidly degrades (see the Comms/FAX Skill on
p. 179 for the effects of this degradation). All single-channel units
are completely compatible and may communicate with each other,
and likewise all two-channel models are compatible with each
other. Newer, multi-channel models are backwards compatible with
earlier models, but only after the user sets the device properly (add
a +2 penalty to the Comms/FAX TN to do so); older models can only
send messages to new units that have been likewise set to receive
such transmissions.
The Black Box Specifications Table below provides the salient
details on each model.
Propagation Speed, Range, and the Extra-Long
Range Incremental distances (see the Comms/Fax Skill rules, p. 179)
are measured in Light Years (LY) and can be used to determine how
long it will take a message to reach a certain point in space;
Message Capacity indicates how many pages of text and/or graphics can be sent in each transmission (each page takes ten seconds to scan but
thirty seconds to transmit);
the Maximum Channels column shows how many channels a particular model of Black Box can tune in.
Whether the device is capable of encrypting a particular transmission
is indicated under Hardware Encryption? with a “Yes” or “No”, while
the Target Number for any attempts to decrypt an encrypted
transmission appears under Decryption TN (note that this applies only
to intercepted transmissions; those received by the intended device/
station are automatically decrypted); the year the particular model was placed into service is listed under Year in Service.
Additional pieces of information also provided are the RPG Equipment Ratings of the various models, Weight (in kilograms). Affiliation defines which powers in the Inner Sphere have access to that particular model of Black Box (DC is Draconis Combine, FC is Federated Commonwealth and its two member nations [FS for Federated Suns, LC for Lyran Commonwealth], LA is Lyran Alliance, and SL is original Star League); finally, any extra information (such as power use and historical information) is contained under Notes.
за таблицами по типам и видам прошу в новый хаусбук "Дом Дэвион" стр 181-183
вкратце -
модель Звездной лиги К-0 - 10 светолет в день, на 100+1 св.лет пуляет 2 стр текста, вес 10 кг, появилась в 2580-м
лучшая драконическая модель К-3А- 50 св.лет/день, на 500+5 св.лет 6 страниц разом по двум каналам с встроенной шифровкой, вес 16 кг 15 часовая батарея. 3052 год
лучшая федсодовская модель К-6 180 св.лет/день на 1200+10 св.лет, 50 страниц по 9 каналам. с шифровкой, 10 часовая батарея, 15 кг, появилась в 3061.
У капеллан тоже одна штука есть (трофей), но что за тип - неясно.
Модели начиная с 42 года (с К-2) могут перехватывать мессаги, и даже расшифровывать их, но с напрягом.