Hyperspace 'Standoff'
Hyperspace, released in early 2003, is a mini mod-project bringing space combat to Descent 3 for Assault. Together with your team mates, you can combat the other teams Base and its defenses with a vast array of new weapons. The objectives are simple: Load-Up, Protect Your Base, Destroy Enemy Defenses and Enemy Base Stuctures (Reactors, Cargo Ship and Power Conduits). The level completes once all objectives are neutralized.

Ships & Stations Introduced in 'Standoff'

  • EA Infiltrator
  • EA Hunter
  • EA Caracel
  • EA Nova
  • Cargo Carrier
  • Infiltrator fighters are commonly used in squadrons to defend assets. While not a high risk alone, a group can be deadly.

    Special Features: None

    Close Box.

    The Hunter-Cruiser has seen five variations over the past few decades. The Hunter was one of the first combat Cruisers comissioned by the Alliance - And although many of them were destroyed in the independence wars, they are still widely used to protect the Alliance's assets. The Mark II Hunter is the oldest still in service - With still as many as one hundred scattered over the known galaxy - Which isn't much, considering. The reason the Mark II has survived for so long is because of its tough armour that few cruisers can easily match. They are fast and effective striking cruisers.

    Special Features: None

    Close Box.

    Currently the oldest Cruiser still in service, this ship is rarely seen anywhere due to its primitive engine and weapon systems. The Caracel features a vast array of electronic equipment designed to assist other ships.

    Special Features: None

    Close Box.

    Novas are deep range Carriers assigned to setup space stations. While they are not as tough as a Leviathan, Nova's have more turrets than most ships - But due to their limited power, cannot mount a defense against large targets. The Nova is the oldest Carrier and they are no longer built by the Alliance due to the ineffective design. They are purely logistical ships with a punch and they are never seen on the front line of an engagement - They are however capable of launching several fighter waves and escort ships for protection from raiders.

    Special Features: 1000% bonus to Hyperspace range, Fighter Bay

    Close Box.

    One of toughest Cargo Ships around, and you can find almost anything in them from foodstocks to weapons.

    Close Box.

    Hyperspace 'Divided'
    Hyperspace: Divided is a highly energized sequel to Hyperspace: Standoff, an assault based space-combat environment. It was released in the summer of 2003. Taking elements of the original, Divided improves upon AI and other requested features from the original.

    The CTF version

    Divided: CTF optimizes weapons for Capture The Flag rather than Assault, reducing overall DPS. Some other changes have also been made to the weapons. Assault still works - But even deadlier than before !

    Ships & Stations Introduced in 'Divided'

  • EA Pegasus
  • EA Thunderbolt
  • EA Leviathan
  • EA Battlestation
  • The Pegasus is a squadron fighter assigned to protect the assets of the Alliance - It is believed around two thousand are currently in active service. They are equipped with standard blaster cannons. Usually, Pegasus fighters are found in groups of three or four.

    Close Box.

    Thunderbolts are one of the original bomber designs - They are fairly fast for bombers with tough plating. While they cannot mount as many missile systems as newer designs, they are however capable of fitting anti-fighter weaponry which most bombers lack.

    Close Box.

    The Leviathan Carrier is a modern military vessel. It's as fast as the slowest Battleship, which is very impressive for such a large craft. The Leviathan is a very small capital ship and can mount only limited weaponry with just two wings of fighters. Fitted with a jump drive, this ship is often found on the front lines far more often than other classes of carriers. Leviathans can deal with nearly any threat by strafing targets at long range. And few ships are able to rack up the DPS that the Leviathan can bring in prolonged combat.

    Special Features: 250% bonus to Hyperspace range, Small Fighter Bay

    Close Box.

    Battlestations are the toughest of stations found and only a handful of them exist in Alliance space. Mainly for military use. They are able to launch many kinds of fighters, and have large facilities for receiving frigates and cruisers.

    Special Features: 50% bonus to shield recharge.

    Close Box.

    Hyperspace 'Apotheosis'
    The third and final level in the Hyperspace series - Hyperspace Apotheosis, solely for Assault, shows what really can be done with Descent 3. Apotheosis brings the series to a close in a big way. It is recommended you have a fast computer & broadband for online play.

    As with all Hyperspace levels, the goal is to destroy the enemy base. But Apotheosis has a few objectives you must complete before you can proceed; so don��t panic if nothing happens. I��m sure you can figure out what they are.

    Note that Player Drones (Gunboy/Seekers) DO not work against Robots, only against other players. This MAY be fixed, but the AI doesn��t seem compatible with Assault mode, sorry!

    The CTF version

    Capture The Flag/Entropy version of Hyperspace: Apotheosis. There are three types of Drones available in this level (which are updated from the original version). The first, replacing the Gun boy is a ��Heavy�� combat drone with a small vulcan cannon. The second replaces the Seeker, and is a lighter variant with a blaster fitted instead. The final drone replacing the Proximity Mine is a specialized drone that causes melee damage, drains your energy and is a general annoyance. Deploy these to help guard your base.

    Each base features a command centre. This was featured in the Assault version, but with fewer controls. The switches to the far left and right of the room control all four energy centres for the base. This might be overridden in Entropy, however. The two small switches to the front control the ��cleaning�� system, which is effectively a smoke screen to deter intruders. The third centre switch with red markings activates the ��Intruder System��, which sends a plume of fire into the hanger. This damages all players, so use this switch with care. Some of these switches have a 30 second recharge delay.

    Ships & Stations Introduced in 'Apotheosis'

  • EA Rifter
  • EA Mortifier
  • EA Wrecker
  • EA Nemesis
  • EA Demolisher
  • EA Omega
  • EA Habitat
  • EA Hauler
  • MOL Hawk
  • Rifter Interceptors have great maneuvering ability, and can easily outgun any ship in their weight class. They have a unique ability to mount multiple weapon systems while still having the power to use afterburners and thrusters - Enabling them to quickly reach targets and overcome them. Rifter's are an older design, and are gradually being phased with the recent introduction of the Horus Interceptor.

    Close Box.

    Mortifier bombers are actually as old as Thunderbolts, and have slightly less hull plating. The Mortifier was a quick creation from Thi Corporation shipyards - Sadly, the ship never really took off in the Alliance so it was scrapped, and most of the remaining ships were sold off to other corporations or outposts that needed cheap defense vehicles.

    Close Box.

    Wrecker Cruisers are assigned to defend small outposts and assets such as important cargo fields. They are very effective at warding off fighters and bombers alike, however, they lack the ability to hold off other larger opponents.

    Close Box.

    Nemesis Cruisers are designed for long range prolonged bombardments of targets. They are able to throw Cruise Missiles out at an alarming speed, capable of destroying fighters, bombers, cruisers and even battleships. Typically a Nemesis is outfitted with Paradise missiles as opposed to the larger variety - This is mainly because of storage problems.

    Special Features: 50% bonus to missile ROF, Ventral and Dorsal Proximity Shockbombs.

    Close Box.

    The Demolisher is a ship favoured by veteran ship captains because of it's success rate in battle. No ship in it's weight classs can match the firepower of a Destroyer. Only those highly in favour are able to captain the Demolisher. The Demolisher hull has the largest weapon loadout of any Battleship - Just two or three are capable of taking down a Carrier class vessel. The original Alliance designed Demolisher is no longer in active service - And the original design was eventually being redesigned to improve the hull plating, however that very design was scrapped despite several prototypes coming off the construction line. It is believed the Maltu Orion Legion now use the redesigned Demolisher hull as their flagships.

    Close Box.

    Omega Carriers, often nicknamed "Apocalypse Class" - is the most dangerous ship class in the Alliance. Only a handful were deployed at the end of the independence wars. The resources and funding for construction of even a single carrier are greater than an entire colony. Omega Carriers have enough firepower to level the surface of a planet, but lack the ability to store energy for prolonged combat due to the high energy usage of it's primary weapons. It's normal to see support ships flying with Omega class carriers.

    Special Features: 500% bonus to Hyperspace range, Fighter Bay

    Close Box.

    These Habitats are large stations commonly found throughout the Alliance, and cater to a multitude of civilian and military needs. Due to their size, Habitats are poorly defended, so they rely on Satellite Tracking and Defense Platforms for protection.

    Special Features: 25% bonus to shield recharge.

    Close Box.

    Haulers store mainly fuel needed for larger vessels. Tough hull plating makes them hard to crack for raiders. Caution is advised while near an exploding hauler.

    Close Box.

    The Hawk Interceptor is a fifty year old Alliance design, but still it is widely used among civilian organisations as protection. The Maltu Orion Legion deploy hundreds of Hawk's throughout their region of space. They are widely found among the 'Hope' and 'Genesis' regions. Although the Hawk is not capable of reaching the speeds of an Interceptor, it is still quite capable of maneuvering in combat.

    Special Features: 50% penalty to thruster power.

    Close Box.

    Hyperspace Timeline
    This is a kind of timeline of the Hyperspace universe I had originally envisioned. It incorporates important footnotes in the exploration of space and how they lead to the present space age. Its only a rough draft that was written years ago shortly after the release of Basewars. I never bothered to release it and it has been collecting dust until now. Its main purpose was to provide a backdrop (and act as inspiration) for fan-fiction written exclusively in the Hyperspace universe, such as what Scyphi started working on. I have since revised it a little bit for Silent Fury.

    Footnotes before the time of Hyperspace

    2063 - War leaves fifty-percent of the population dead, a worldwide effort to rebuild a new Earth begins.
    2110 - The Earth Alliance is established, the first worldwide combined space agency and military.
    2154 - Alternative energy sources take over traditional fuel methods.
    2170 - Construction of human colonies on Mars begins.
    2182 - The first deep SOL outpost on Pluto is built.
    2190 - Fusion-based engines are replaced with Steinbach Ion drives.
    2230 - Completion of the first stable Interstellar drive allows travel between nearby stars within 5-10 years.
    2232 - The Mars economy begins to flourish and it's population grows.
    2233 - Mysterious lights are reported by the crew of the first interstellar ship as it makes its maiden voyage.
    2238 - The interstellar ship, Endeavour, completes its first eight year round-trip to Alpha Centauri.
    2245 - Fragments of an unknown device are discovered on Mars, dated at over one hundred thousand years old.
    2246 - The interstellar drive is installed on five more refitted craft.
    2251 - The spaceship Alexis disappears without a trace on route to Sirius.
    2290 - The Earth Alliance now flourishes, with colonies and stations scattered throughout the Solar System.
    2300 - The first deep space space stations are built in Alpha Centauri and Wolf 359.
    2305 - The first recorded encounter with a Black Hole destroys two deep space transports as it passes near their flight path.
    2310 - The spaceship Columbus discovers an alien artifact in the Ross 128 system.
    2311 - Science ships are dispatched on a long journey to join the Columbus in Ross 128.
    2315 - Study of the ancient artifact in orbit of a planet in Ross 128 begins, believed to hold the key to space travel.
    2322 - Mars declares itself an independent planet and breaks away from the Earth Alliance.
    2323 - Control of Mars is regained by force, killing thousands in the process.
    2325 - The first of many Nova class carriers are launched.
    2330 - Deep space probes discover artifacts identical to the one in Ross 128, now believed to be stargates of somekind.

    Significant events in the age of Hyperspace travel.

    2403 - After a century of hard research and experiments, Hyperspace travel is born.
    2410 - After its 300th anniversary, the Earth Alliance announces the plan to populate deep space.
    2412 - The Earth Alliance completes construction of the first manmade short-range Hyperspace gates.
    2420 - After decades of searching with a fleet of probes numbering in hundreds, countless ancient gates are discovered.
    2439 - The Alliance completes its first network of gates, connecting what would become the Alliance Region together.
    2441 - Remains of an ancient artifact are found in Luyten, suggesting many more gates may have been fallen to the ages.
    2444 - Once again Mars falls into political chaos, resulting in a standoff between Earth and its outer colonies.
    2461 - As new routes are discovered through the ancient gate network, new colonies with new names begin to rise.
    2513 - After a century of work, the current jump gate network is completed.
    2524 - The Eden region is established, the first regional division of stars belonging to a now independent Mars.
    2529 - The Genesis and Hope regions are established as a civilian sector, supported by a rapidly growing industry.
    2535 - The Earth Alliance, in cooperation with several civilian organisations establish colonies beyond the core cluster.
    2536 - Large scale robberies by unknown parties result in huge economic problems for the outer colonies.
    2539 - The Sagittaria and Essence regions are born, supported by an Earth Alliance gate network.
    2544 - Unidentified pirates attack a civilian convoy in the Genesis region.
    2545 - Destruction of a colony at the hands of unknown parties in Utar leaves the Northern Regions in a state of emergency.
    2545 - An inhospitable region of space, Geminon, is claimed by pirates.
    2550 - The Geminon region is marked as a no-fly zone.
    2590 - Every newly discovered ancient gate appears to have been destroyed long ago, raising many questions.
    2591 - The Gemini Syndicate is formed, presenting itself as the black market of the galaxy.
    2593 - The cosmos becomes restless as many civilian worlds fall victim to crime by the Gemini Syndicate.
    2594 - The Alliance Carrier, Jogeir, is destroyed after running secret missions in Gemini space.
    2609 - Over 100 new short range in-system gates are finished, connecting destinations together rapidly.
    2615 - The first Hyperspace engine is built, enabling large craft to enter Hyperspace without a gate.
    2620 - New missions to explore star systems without ancient gates begins.

    And in recent times (Hyperspace Standoff, Divided, Apotheosis and Basewars).

    2630 - A thousand deep space probes are sent to distant stars, each with jump beacons fitted onboard.
    2634 - A Gemini outpost is discovered in Alliance borders, suggesting many more secret outposts may exist.
    2639 - The Alliance Intelligence Agency (EIA) collapses, resulting in the exodus of over fifty thousand workers from Earth.
    2640 - Civilian research agencies from Saggitaria begin studying unmapped systems using jump-capable ships.
    2641 - The Northern Regions becomes home to the immigrants from the EIA.
    2647 - Funded by civilian governments, the former EIA workers form the Maltu Orion Legion, dedicated to science and research.
    2648 - The murder of the Earth Alliance president is blamed on New Mars.
    2648 - The Gemini Syndicate solidify their borders and setup the largest known defense grid around Gemini Prime.
    2649 - Many government officials are arrested and detained as accusations of conspiracy are thrown around.
    2650 - The Earth Alliance seizes control of installations on Mars and declares martial law throughout the solar system.
    2650 - Uproar threatens the core worlds as Alliance ships attack arms-transports in Eden.
    2651 - It is discovered too late that the unrest on Earth is the result of a plot to take over the government.
    2651 - New Mars and the region of Eden closes its borders as the Alliance falls victim to a brutal dictatorship.
    2652 - Plans to over-throw the dictatorship and liberate the controlled Alliance worlds is formed.
    2652 - A large movement of Alliance ships is destroyed in combat by those loyal to New Mars. (Hyperspace Standoff)
    2653 - Civil war is declared between Alliance worlds.
    2653 - The Alliance attempts to gain support for the war effort by creating propaganda.
    2653 - Alliance ships loyal to the dictatorship push into the Eden region causing hope to waiver.
    2654 - The battle for Eden is won after several fierce engagements, the Alliance withdraws to the borderzone.
    2654 - The force loyal to New Mars begin a campaign to liberate worlds in Alliance space.
    2655 - The Alliance reveals a new war machine, the Omega class carrier.
    2655 - New Mars forces valiantly push deep into Alliance space. (Hyperspace Divided)
    2656 - Earth is liberated as the Alliance President is captured and executed by free forces.
    2656 - A new administration is established and former Earth Alliance staff are reinstated.
    2656 - A renegade Omega carrier loyal to the old administration destroys a station in the Alliance borderzone. (Hyperspace Apotheosis)
    2657 - The Omega class carrier, Daewoo, is recaptured.
    2657 - With the dictatorship over, the Alliance once again returns to its peaceful roots.
    2665 - The Earth Alliance locates the Maltu Orion Legions base of operations and dispatches representatives to open negotiations.
    2665 - The Maltu Orion Legion declare the Hope region as protected, and that the Alliance are prohibited from entry.
    2670 - The economies of the Northern Region begin to flourish as free trade improves the standard of living.
    2671 - The first of the new deep space probe fleet reaches its destination.
    2671 - The Genesis region becomes the focus of scientific research for the Earth Alliance and Maltu Orion Legion.
    2675 - Deep space surveying is resumed in uncharted star systems beyond Geminon.
    2676 - Civilian governments hire Mercenaries to protect the Saggitaria region from pirates.
    2677 - The first planet based jump gate is rumoured to have been built by the Maltu Orion Legion.
    2678 - Mercenaries steal the blueprints for new ship designs from the Alliance.
    2681 - A new age of research commences as several facilities are established in the northern territories.
    2683 - Mercenaries take control of the Airelon Depository, transforming it into their headquarters.
    2684 - A new nanovirus is unleashed on facilities controlled by the Maltu Orion Legion, threatening economic stability.
    2684 - The Earth Alliance sets up mobile outposts in the Genesis Region due to increasing threats from rogue faction pirates and looters. (Basewars)
    2686 - The Mercenary Confederation flush out the Legion from Genesis using nanovirus technology of unknown origin.
    2688 - The Maltu Orion Legion's economy collapses and goes into recession.
    2689 - Alliance outposts in the Rintadi system disappear without a trace.
    2689 - The Icarus, a large carrier commanded by the Maltu Orion Legion is overpowered by Mercenary forces and taken.
    2690 - The Maltu Orion Legion consolidate their forces around Maltu Prime preventing further losses.
    2692 - Due to the collapse of the Legion, many residents of the Genesis and Hope regions flee to the Eden Region.
    2695 - Present Day (Hyperspace Silent Fury)