Unreviewed Hexfire Charge Mk. I

[Darth Prazutis]

​

• Intent: To design a Sith aligned sabotage mine for the Kainate, specializing in hull breaches and shield disruption via delayed alchemical plasma charges and hex-based corruption fields.
• Image Source:
  • Headers - Teresa Zambrano | Darth Pellax
• Canon Link: N/A
• Permissions: N/A
• Primary Source: N/A

• Manufacturer:
  
  • Malsheem Hypernautics and Manufacturing
• Affiliation:
  
  • The Kainate
• Market Status: Closed-Market
• Model: Hexfire Charge Mk. I
• Modularity: No
• Production: Limited
• Material:
  • Alchemized Sarrassian Iron Core Shell
  • Bloodwrought Plating
  • Hexbrand Conduit Mesh
  • Alchemical Plasma Reservoir

• Alchemized Plasma Core: The internal reservoir contains alchemically refined plasma, designed to ignite only after a magnetic anchor is achieved. The plasma is tailored to breach standard and reinforced hulls alike, eating through armor in a controlled burn pattern to maximize interior exposure.
• Void-Spiral Collapse Mechanism: Upon detonation, a secondary field is activated that floods the area with a repeating hexagonal resonance pattern. This field interferes with shield harmonics and regeneration algorithms, effectively stalling most automatic repair systems for a short duration and leaving hull zones vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
• Magnetic Anchor Array: Equipped with multi-surface magnetic clamps and polarizers, the mine affixes itself to metallic hulls or key structural components on contact. The anchoring system is optimized for deployment via launchers, drones, manual placement, or mine layers during close quarters boarding actions and more.
• Shield-Interference Sync Logic: When encountering active shielding, the Hexfire Charge enters a passive hover-stasis just outside the shield envelope, using embedded proximity harmonics to assess shield node configurations. It then emits a corruption signal via its hexbrand mesh to destabilize local harmonic integrity. In vessels with modular or localized shield nodes, this interference can force a temporary dropout or overload, allowing the mine to slip through and anchor to exposed hull beneath. While ineffective against heavily unified or continuous shielding systems at full power, it excels at exploiting shields already strained by combat.

• Devastating Armor Breach: The charge's alchemized plasma composition allows it to burn through even advanced starship armor plating with sustained exposure. Once activated, it is difficult to dislodge or neutralize before the plasma begins its destructive course.
• Shield Reconstitution Disruption: The hex-pattern field emitted during the charge's burn cycle scrambles localized energy signatures and confuses shield-node feedback loops. This temporarily halts regenerative shielding and automated patching systems in the affected zone.
• Versatile Delivery Methods: Its compact design and adaptive magnetic array make the Hexfire Charge viable for use with starfighters, drones, saboteurs, or breaching units. It is effective in both space and ground engagements, particularly for targeted sabotage of vital systems.
• Shield Penetration Protocols: The Hexfire Charge is capable of interacting with shielded targets by emitting a targeted interference field that exploits momentary harmonic instability in most starship energy shielding. This allows the mine to bypass shield envelopes and magnetically anchor to the hull, ensuring functionality even against vessels with active defenses.

• Limited Blast Radius: The charge is precision-oriented and only affects a small area of hull. While this makes it ideal for disabling specific systems or creating breach points, it does not cause wide-scale destruction on its own.
• Non-Detonative Vulnerability: If discovered before ignition, the mine can be neutralized by EMP bursts, point-defense turrets, or careful manual disarming. It relies heavily on stealthy placement or misdirection to be effective.
• Ineffective on Force Nullification: The alchemical plasma relies on interaction with energized matter and conductive surfaces. It has reduced efficacy against voidstone, or materials inherently resistant to Force based alteration.

The Hexfire Charge Mk. I represent the Kainate's answer to rapid sabotage and precision armor disruption, combining Sith alchemy with advanced engineering to create a mine capable of tearing into enemy vessels while corrupting their self-repair capabilities. Developed in the crucibles of Malsheem, the mine was designed for insertion via covert means, boarding teams, or long-range deployment systems and mine layers.

When attached to an enemy hull, the charge locks into place and initiates a delay cycle. Its anchoring system is capable of exploiting harmonic instabilities in active shield envelopes, allowing it to breach through and affix directly to the outer hull before ignition. Upon detonation, it releases a slow-burning alchemical plasma fire, one that eats through metal with agonizing precision. Simultaneously, the charge deploys a hex-resonance field, a pattern of corrupted spatial frequencies that wreaks havoc on shield harmonics, causing localized breakdowns in energy fields and creating ideal conditions for further penetration or follow-up attacks.

Unlike larger mines built for battlefield suppression, the Hexfire Charge is surgical. It is a weapon of precision, infiltration, attrition, and psychological pressure. Its visual burn pattern, a glowing, hexagonal lattice carved into scorched hull plating, has become a calling card of Kainate saboteurs. Though limited in scope, its tactical value in disabling key systems and corrupting defenses cannot be understated, and it has quickly earned a reputation as a favorite among Sith breachers and subversion units alike.