Arcanum

"We are strangers to the galaxy. We teach strange things, the likes of which many in the galaxy can hardly fathom. I’ve named it the Arcanum."

―Anshar

The Arcanum is one of four unique ships commissioned by the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. Built in secret, the ship became the mobile Shadow Academy after the Seventh Great Jedi War.

General Description

Though the same length as the classic Imperial II Star Destroyer, this ship is built to more modern specs, and boasts a more fluid and sleek look than the Star Destroyers of the past. Having more aggressive weapon arrays and stronger shields, this ship also utilizes a greater number of more efficient generators.

Commissioned for the Dark Brotherhood in secret, and paid for in funds laundered from various sources, the ship is armed to the teeth, utilizing far more fire batteries and missile launchers than old Imperial standards would deem necessary for a single ship. Considering the ship's future role as a mobile Shadow Academy, this is simply not surprising. The Arcanum is both the Shadow Academy and as well as a powerful asset to the Brotherhood’s fleet. However, the ship lives up to its name and every effort is made to ensure that the ship's exact location remains a mystery to everyone except those who truly need to know. The Arcanum makes continual hyperspace jumps.

The ship is painted almost entirely black with a special paint that absorbs most of the radiant light around it. Extra measures are taken to reduce the energy signature of the vessel wherever possible. Tinted windows prevent one from easily seeing inside the vessel, or radiant light from spilling out. Despite its size, the ship is virtually invisible to the naked eye when in open space. All of these measures were taken by Headmaster Anshar Kahn Tarentae in an effort to make the already powerful ship more secure.

Command Structure and Staffing

The Headmaster, whenever present aboard the ship, is considered the final authority in all matters. However, the Headmaster will often let the ship’s commanding officer run the ship itself, while the Headmaster focuses on the Shadow Academy. In his absence, the praetor may assume this authority. Eclectic Pedagogues and Magistrates do not have command authority on board the ship unless they are also designated officers on the ship. Even then, they must follow the chain of command. The current captain of the vessel is Dranik.

The Arcanum is currently staffed with a large number of droids and very few living beings. Failed initiates are converted into crew members whenever possible, but this provides only a fraction of the needed manpower. As time goes on, the number will grow, but for now, the ship remains somewhat understaffed.

Supporting Craft

The Arcanum has room for a full wing of starfighters. The order of battle is currently incomplete.

The Arcanum also carries fourteen shuttles. Of the original Shadow Academy shuttle fleet, Anshar sold the three Corellian Star Shuttles, four Lambda class shuttles, and the twelve Kappa class transports. With the galaxy torn apart by war, and with the need to move large amounts of people and material around, it was very easy to unload the nineteen craft. Fourteen Lambda shuttles remained with the Shadow Academy but with some changes to their designations (Envoy 1-6, Lyceum 1-4, and Philosopher 1-4).

The two YV-330 transports, the Vidar and Vali, also remained with the Shadow Academy. Both are capable of docking with the Arcanum as well as landing in the hanger, and they are used for a myriad of purposes. The two corvettes Sirona and Corra also serve as supporting vessels. Most of the turbolasers were replaced in favor of anti-starfighter defenses, as the Arcanum is somewhat lacking in that area. How much longer the two corvettes serve with the fleet remains to be seen.

Due to the limited space in the hanger, there is little room for ships beyond what the Shadow Academy has. Thus, no member, except the Headmaster, may have any type of personal craft aboard the ship. Access to the Arcanum, even for staff members, is only via the various shuttles and transports operated by the Shadow Academy.

The Shadow Academy

The Arcanum possesses numerous classrooms and simulators that permit the ship to function as a mobile school. Personal quarters are virtually non-existant and much of the Dark Vault, the Academy's library, was digitized to save space. Where the original documents are is (almost) anyone's guess. More information on the ship's role as the Shadow Academy will be forthcoming in a separate article.