View source for Project Sunlight

'''Project SUNLIGHT''' was a joint [[ComStar]]–[[Republic of the Sphere]] investigation focused around [[HPG]]s, founded by [[Tucker Harwell]].

==History==
After [[Gray Monday]], almost all [[HPG]]s, which allow faster-than-light communication, were burned out by a virus or destroyed by direct attacks; only some older generators remained operational. Most of the Inner Sphere fell into chaos and wars erupted across the Sphere. The remaining generators became priority targets for the warring factions.

[[ComStar]]'s attempts to repair or rebuild the HPGs failed; with even newly-installed cores burning out mere seconds after being turned on. In [[3135]], some hope appeared when technician [[Tucker Harwell]] managed to reactivate [[Wyatt]]'s HPG.<ref>''[[A Bonfire of Worlds]]'' indicates it was still operating in 3143</ref>

However, a second repair on [[Millungera]] didn't last. With so many factions desperate to reactivate their HPGs, Tucker's success made him a target for Republic forces, the [[Spirit Cats]], [[Bannson's Raiders]], and the reborn [[Com Guards]], who ultimately succeeded in seizing his team. However, Harwell failed to repeat his success with the Wyatt facility. Even newly built HPGs failed to achieve operational status.

The Republic launched Project Sunlight to uncover the cause of the blackout and reactivate the HPGs. Tucker, after uncovering the origin was [[Clarion Note]], a Blakist-turned Republic secret project, awakened [[Devlin Stone]] searching for answers, and later was convinced to became Sunlight's leader. By then, he had uncovered than the Hyperspace frequency had changed, and every system would need a new one, but wasn't able to find which one.<ref>''A Bonfire of Worlds'' ch. 10</ref>

The researchers focused their work on [[Northwind]], because that HPG, older than others, initially went dark but later inexplicably began transmitting again.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 93</ref>

This made Northwind a target, and a [[Battle of Northwind (3150)|three-sided battle]] erupted around the HPG complex between the [[Northwind Highlanders]], the [[Draconis Combine]], and the [[Capellan Confederation]], forcing the defenders to destroy the HPG in order to drive both invaders offworld. However, they kept the underground part of the HPG intact, and it remained critical to Sunlight's research.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 97</ref>

In the end, Project Sunlight was described as a doomed effort. However, [[Clan Sea Fox]], using a markedly different line of research, managed to find an undisclosed solution and in [[3152]] they managed to restore the [[Alyina]] HPG. The Clan began building new HPGs that were immune to whatever caused the blackout, first on [[Twycross]], slowly replacing ComStar as the controllers of interstellar communications.<ref>''Empire Alone'', p. 70</ref>

==Sunlight Personnel==
* Tucker Harwell (lead researcher).
* [[Bianca Haller]].<ref>''Grey Watch Protocol'' pp. 56</ref>

==Notes==
The virus that shut down the HPG appears to be [[Clarion Note]], a [[Devlin Stone]] secret project, but he claims he didn't activate it.<ref>''A Bonfire of Worlds'', ch. 10</ref>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Empire Alone]]''
* ''[[Grey Watch Protocol]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]''


[[Category:Jihad Era Military Operations]]