Eri heavy long-range tractor beam

[Cathul Thuku]

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: To provide a tractor beam capable of towing objects at long ranges, such as planet-killing asteroids and other large-sized threats
• Image Source: N/A
• Canon Link: N/A
• Restricted Missions: N/A
• Primary Source: Tractor beam

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

• Manufacturer: Ringovinda Systems
• Model: ER-8 "Eri" heavy long-range tractor beam
• Affiliation: Open-Market
• Modularity: Can be mounted on a variety of turrets/emplacements.
• Production: Minor
• Material: Standard tractor beam components.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Classification: Tractor beam
• Size: Stationary or Ship-Mounted
• Length: 20m
• Weight: 75 tons
• Ammunition Type: Power Cell
• Ammunition Capacity: Effectively unlimited
• Effective Range: Long-range turbolaser standard
• Rate of Fire: Heavy long-range turbolaser standard

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Polarity reversal: it allows to repel objects

DESCRIPTION
After the invasion of Ossus by the First Order, where large-scale use of asteroids was made by the First Order, a means to tow or repel objects at long ranges quickly became necessary, especially for those towing operations where the safe distance needed by the tug is longer than for typical tractor beams. So it can keep the towed object within a certain distance of the tug, such as would be the case in an asteroid field. Improved collimation allows the beam to maintain coherence up until the edge of long-range turbolaser range, and hence to be able to use the tractor beam up to that distance. By reversing the polarity one can instead repel objects. However, as with all tractor beams, it is subject to the limitations of the relative size of the acting ship and target ship. This means that, while the Eri is turret-mounted, its traverse and elevation rate is constrained by the mass of the item being tractored: a heavier object will be slower to move around, and even potentially be moved around by the target.

However, due to the size of the power generator attached to the weapon, it is not practical to mount an Eri unit on a ship smaller than a cruiser, nor is it practical to mount more than one on a ship under 1 km. On the other hand, a destroyer may mount two units, a battlecruiser may mount three units and a flagship may mount four or five units, depending on its size.

Important note: the Eri heavy long-range tractor beam is worth 20 turbolasers for starship construction

Strengths:

• Allows the mount ship to maintain safe distance for hazardous towing operations
• Ability to both attract and repel objects
• Ability to change the target object's direction of motion

Weaknesses:

• High energy drain: can cause shields to short out around the hardpoint if used for too long in a row
• A tractor beam's use is constrained by the relative mass, thrust and structural integrity of the acting ship and target ships: in other words, don't expect a light freighter to be towing a battlecruiser
• Can only fit one Eri unit per kilometer on a ship (rounded up)
• Cannot be mounted on frigates or smaller ships (as a corollary, it cannot be mounted on orbital stations below 500m in size)
• Vulnerable to shrouds
• Easier to escape beyond standard turbolaser range

 

[The Major]

<p>Hello, I'll be the factory judge reviewing your submission. If you have questions, please feel free to respond to this thread once we are underway.</p>

 

[The Major]

[member="Cathul Thuku"]

Let's start right away. After that business on Ossus it would make a lot of sense for the galaxy to react to the use of asteroids as an offensive option. As a defensive option to an overwhelmingly powerful attack —the logic here is sound. However, I cannot agree that something like this should be able to be equipped to every ship, thus making a mobile defense across the galaxy possible. Having the device as part of a stationary emplacement either planetside or in orbit as part of an station seems to be a fair compromise: drawing upon a massive generator to power its use as an expensive option. Furthermore, we can probably adjust it to work in a pulse fashion and not indefinite in such a way that it could pin smaller spacecraft.

Basically, rework the sub so that the shield is made to protect against the use of asteroids to utterly destroy a planet.

 

[Cathul Thuku]

[member="The Major"] Given my experience as a participant on Ossus, albeit with an alt, the events on Ossus also proved IC that an effective defense against asteroid attacks is much more likely to succeed if the tools of the job have sufficient mobility. Hence the need for the ability to mount a mobile defense against asteroid attacks.

If an asteroid is within long-range turbolaser range of a planet, or of an orbital station over that same planet, it's probably going to be a last-resort device at most, which would likely defeat the whole point of the device, or at least limit its utility, even more so if used in a pulse. While I readily accept that it cannot hold objects in place indefinitely, and that the size of the generator required to mount it makes it impractical to mount more than one on a ship smaller than a battlecruiser, and impossible to mount on frigates or smaller, restricting it to use on mounts that are essentially stationary is perhaps a bit much.

 

[The Major]

You can build multiple stations at specific points on the planet to cover multiple angles. You can also slap them unto space stations that will cover orbital points. Thus the angles will be covered as long as each station is still active. As it stands a mobile turbolazer ranged device like this is too powerful to be used in on a ship. The idea is to use this as a preemptive defensive structure that is expensive to build and maintain. Factions would have to make the tactical decision if using this system would be feasible for their military budgets.

Keep in mind that some orbital stations can have hyperdrives and be deployed from massive ships. [member="Cathul Thuku"]

 

[The Major]

<p>Moved to Factory Archives - If you want to remove from the archives, please feel free to tag Raziel, Jamie, or Cira.</p>