Heimdallr Exchange Programme
| Hama Behwearft Hīgung (HBH) Heime Austauschprogramm (HAp) | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | August 1938 |
| Dissolved | July 1944 |
The Heimdallr Exchange Programme (Fēþisc: Hama Behwearft Hīgung; Kerenevoian-Ostlandic: Heime Austauschprogramm) referred to as HEP, was a joint Kerenevoian-Fyrish scientific research effort of the early-1940s. HEP is distinct from the Kerenevoian Heimdallr Ring, which received its name from the Heimdallr Exchange Programme. The Heimdallr programme encompassed many joint STEM research projects, most notably Astor Dreyer's D-series programable computers.
Kerenevoian motivations for the programme aimed to focus joint Kerenevoian-Fyrish academia into military projects, safely away from Entente bombing efforts. The programme consolidated the disorderly Kerenevoian-Fyrish cooperation agreements of the early 20th century under a central administration body. HEP developed many advanced technologies, propelling the evolution of technological bases within Kerenevoi and Fyrland.
History
WSS cooperation
The War of Serenoran Succession initiated an alliance of necessity between Fyrland and the Casaterran Central Powers. Although the war raged across several continents, the geographical separation of Casaterran and Vinyan theatres uniquely limited military cooperation. This restriction funnelled collaboration attention towards the application of academia into military use. Many mutual research projects cropped up resulting from this focus during the war, most notably the Maier-Wuffa Agreement. Despite undoubtedly achieving significant technological developments for the war, the agreements lacked any central administration or standardisation, with each project individually backed by their parent institutions. This lack of a central body invariably hampered developmental efficiency.
Inter-war efforts
The disastrous epilogue to the WSS ushered in a considerable analytical period for the Casaterran Central Powers. While in Vinya, the real cost of the war hit home. With significant alterations to obligations, many mutual projects ceased to exist as funding dried up. Extensive arrangements such as the Maier-Wuffa Agreement would remain intact after the war, though in a reduced capacity due to Kerenevoian Liberal government defence restructuring.
Not until the late 1920s, after the Kerenevoian Social Democrats took power, did interest in Fyrish cooperation grow once more. The Social Democratic desire to placate military interests led to a reaffirmation of the Maier-Wuffa Agreement, paving the way for further cooperation in the 1930s.
A prominent development from this spirit of cooperation was the emigration of Astor Dreyer to Fyrland. Unrelated to military development, Dreyer's work nevertheless showed the candid relations between Fyrland and Kerenevoi. From his parents' apartment, Dreyer had constructed the first freely programmable computer in 1936; privately financed by his immediate family members. Named Dreyer-1, despite being significantly advanced in concept compared with its contemporaries, it proved wholly unreliable. This unreliability was the main factor regarding the uninterest within Kerenevoian circles. However, indebted to his family, Dreyer had to seek investment elsewhere to continue his work. His search led him to a Fyrish University of Faesteah grant under RHGI, which offered funding, residence, and a job offer once the grant ran its course. With few options remaining, Dreyer applied for the grant towards the end of 1936.
Heimdallr Exchange Programme
Although Fyrland was officially neutral during the Pan-Septentrion War, the impetus for defence academia partnership grew. The Conservative Fyrish government-held sympathies towards the Ostlandic peoples fostered the assent of broader cooperation. While the now Fascist Kerenevoian government also accepted the notion of collaboration consolidation. With a shared understanding, the Kerenevoian-Fyrish governments took steps to officialise joint academic defence research in 1938. Previous projects now benefitted from this robust system, as opposed to the WSS era system of individual industrial concern management.
Heimdallr Ring
In 1938, increasing Entente pressure prompted the Kerenevoian government to create the Heimdallr Ring. Named after the Heimdallr Exchange Programme, the Heimdallr Ring was an organisation dedicated to the research, development, production, and management of projects which created or required massive computational power. The Ring acted as a supplier, security, and management for related projects. Projects that used Heimdallr Ring resources often became absorbed into the Ring, or became associate 'subrings'.
The Ring became aware of Dreyer's D-1 computer from 1939, which remained in his parents' apartment. The Heimdallr Ring's nature meant that Astor Dreyer's work was of immense interest to actors within the secretive organisation. Subsequently, D-1 passed through hands at Dehomag and Kartenstanzfirma (KSF), where the study of its design provided remarkable insights. Lessons learned from D-1 allowed innovations elsewhere, and a team from KSF began work to improve the usability of Dreyer's computer.
Meanwhile, Dreyer had constructed D-2 and D-3 at the University of Faesteah, which improved drastically upon the D-1. Although not under the Heimdallr Exchange Programme, the Heimdallr Ring became aware of this development in 1941. This discovery led to the immediate recall of Dreyer and his work. The Kerenevoian government formally requested transfer of his machines, research assistants, and designs on May 6 1941. However, Dreyer's computers proved too difficult to transport amidst the war, so they remained in RHGI's custody in Fyrland.
Kerenevoi's capitulation
By mid-1944, chaos set in within Kerenevoi. Allied advances in the face of fanatical resistance provided a breeding ground for fear and suspicion. This climate led to a sharp rise in the number of fleeing researchers, fascists, and politicians, as fear of capture set in. Ultimately, the dissolution of Kerenevoi's government ended the Heimdallr Exchange Programme, leaving much incomplete work.