Azure Horizon

Five Views of the Azure Horizon

The Azure Horizon is the flagship of the Azure League. It combines features of a carrier with a research lab, conference center, and cruise liner. The Horizon was designed and constructed collaboratively by many within the Azure League. The initial concept and plans originated in the Azure Conclave, with this group retaining a guiding hand throughout the project. Design and construction was sustained completely through donated material, expertise, labor, or funds from Azurites.

The design incorporates technology gained from The Azure Wind, a captured platform, and several experimental blue technologies. Although details are incomplete, unobtanium and/or skystone are reputed to be used in the structure. Much of the ship's power is known to come from solar technology extracted from the Azure League's captured platform. This enables the craft to fly for extremely long durations before requiring landings. The ability to take on supplies in flight effectively makes the Azure Horizon's range infinite, although this is unlikely in practice.

Airplanes are both launched and recovered from the two pontoons. Hangars use an automated ceiling conveyance system to lower planes into the breezeways, where they are then launched into the wind. The doors of the pontoons remain closed during regular flight, but open for launches and recovery. Most planes can land aboard the Azure Horizon, although the larger ones like the Kingfisher or Halifax are unable to come aboard. To dock with an airship, the craft match speed and maneuvers for the length of the docking.

Construction and Design History

An aerial image taken of the Azure Horizon's construction. It is believed the visible skylets were artificially lowered to sea level where the craft was built.

Following the disappearance of Lawrence Islo and his Azure Wind, a number of Blue faction members sought to find a new flagship for the faction. The movement gained further popularity and technological support from the recovery of the Azure Wind and the capture of a Hidden Fleet's Platform. The Azure Conclave settled upon a set of specifications and configuration, with subsystem design occurring in drafting rooms and workshops across skytopia. The project was kept under a substantial veil of secrecy, largely to protect from marauding Pirates.

Individual skytopians and Blue faction members were made aware of the project on the recommendation of those already involved. The work was funded largely by small contributions of wealth, material, and labor. For this reason, it is unlikely the total cost of the project will ever be known. Final assembly took place on a hidden archipelago of small skylets. Extra workers were brought on to complete the major structural assembly ahead of schedule, so that work could continue during a particularly strong and lengthy storm.

Late into construction, a group of pirates known as "The Teaches" gained knowledge of the project, and sought to disrupt it for their own gain. Following a fake unveiling event, the pirates were captured or scattered, and the project concluded without further disruption.

The Azure Horizon was unveiled to much fanfare, the culmination of multiple years of work. All involved in the project and many skytopian notables were invited to an inaugural ball aboard the craft as it took it's maiden voyage amongst the skylands.

Features

Carrier capability

3 hangar decks for personal craft, with automated ceiling conveyance system
2 pontoon landing breezeways, with outward opening doors
2 launch catapults/arresting gear system

24 fighters of the Phantom Fleet, stored ready for launch in underwing hold

Science

Skytopian Central Library of Learning
Technical Library
2 writing rooms
4 large laboratories
24 modular laboratories
6 workshops/machine shops
2 wind tunnels
Vibration compensated observatory
162 work/sleep units

Conferences

Small theater (performing arts, cinema, presentations)
Private dining rooms convert to auditoriums/conference rooms
Numerous private meeting rooms

Comfort

358 Sleeping rooms
162 double staterooms or work/sleep areas
36 staterooms

Veranda Café (seats 180)
Main dining room (seats 600) converts to dance floor/ballroom
4 auxiliary public dining rooms
Main private dining room (seats 90)
4 auxiliary private dinning rooms (seats 40)
6 kitchens

Grand Promenade Deck

Grand Bazaar
4 bars
Hairdresser salon
Barbershop
Various merchants
More hat makers and haberdashers than you can count

Grimby pitch

Misc

4 flak canons for point defense

1 dentist and office
2 doctors and offices

Desalinization system

Mooring mast for dirigibles

Trivia

• The Azure Horizon is based on the Bel Geddes Airliner Number 4.

Further reading

• Introductory Information: New Horizon
• Unveiling of the Horizon: Location: Islo Subject: Horizon Project