The Spacepiress of Chaos
Intent: Updating the previous Guardian EX for CIS use
Image Source: [HERE]
Canon Link: N/a
Permissions: N/a
Primary Source:
Manufacturer:
Affiliation:
- Confederacy of Independent Systems
- M58-G2
- No
- Limited
Classification: Planetary Mass Driver Cannon
Size: Extremely Large
Weight: Extremely Heavy
Ammunition Type: Tungsten Carbide Hardened Depleted Uranium Slugs
Ammunition Capacity:
- Extremely Small
- (1) Slug
Effective Range:
- Extreme
- High Orbit
- Very Low
- (1) Slug every 30 - 45 standard minutes
Stopping Power: Very High
Recoil: Extreme
Rotating Barrels
- Distance - The Guardian EX is capable of firing a slug into a vessel located in the High Orbit of a planet without much problem or correction. Beyond this, the weapon becomes much less accurate and the slug becomes far easier to maneuver around or otherwise avoid.
- Penetration - The sheer size of the slugs fired (often the size of a small corvette) coupled with the velocity at which the slug is projected into orbit provides the capability of punching through the armor plating of most vessels; save for some of the heaviest armored vessels - such as Super Star Destroyers and Battlecruisers. Often in these instances, it takes multiple slugs fired at the target to eventually penetrate its thick armor.
- You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat - In many instances vessels smaller than some of the most heavily armored Cruisers will not have a good time when facing this weapon.
- Triple Barrels - An upgrade from the predecessor weapon; the addition of a rotating mechanism permits the weapon to fire for longer periods by rotating its barrels to reduce barrel fatigue in the short term.
- Make the Checkbook Cry - Everything adds up in the end - the cost of constructing the weapon, producing its munitions, maintaining the weapon (even when it's not being fired); as well as training and maintaining a proper crew for the weapon makes its operational cost staggering. To put it bluntly, these weapons are astronomically expensive to operate, with few worlds in the Outer Rim Territories capable of scraping together the funds required to not only install the weapon but to also keep it properly operating in peek condition. Thus, the Guardian EX is a weapon that is fielded in limited numbers with only the wealthiest of worlds capable of maintaining just one of these weapons.
- Duracrete Fatigue - An addition to the otherwise costly operational budget of these weapons; when fired the Guardian EX is known to release a shuddering, which crews have described as standing in a building during an earthquake. The concussive force and vibrations of the weapon when fired cause damage to the Duracrete, which often manifests as cracks and fractures in the structure. These damages must be constantly checked for and repaired to ensure that the facility itself does not buckle beneath the force of the weapon firing.
- Defenseless - The majority of the operational command center and operational structure of the weapon are buried underground. However, the weapon itself is exposed on the surface and otherwise undefended. This requires additional emplacements and defenses to ensure that the weapon remains operational and protect it from potential enemy strikes meant to disable or destroy the weapon.
- Barrel Fatigue - Even with the addition of a rotating barrel mechanism, the barrels of the weapon still experience fatigue from the sheer strain caused by the force of the weapon firing. Even with the barrels being rotated after each slug is fired; after the fourteenth round has been loosed from a barrel, it must be replaced least a catastrophic event occur - such as the barrel shattering or causing a misfire - that could potentially disable or destroy the weapon.
- Operation - Unlike other weapons, the Guardian EX is not one in which an individual can merely jump into a seat, pull a trigger, and fire the weapon. It takes years if not decades for an individual to be fully and properly trained in a specifically assigned position.
- Crew Fire - The Guardian Mark II requires no less than a total crew of two-hundred fifty individuals
- Stationary - The Guardian EX is incapable of being moved once it is installed beyond the weapon being capable of traversing in a 90-degree arc (left to right, up and down). Often it is only installed within a hemisphere of a world and utilizes the world's rotational period to align the weapon with targets in orbit.
- Safety First - If the Guardian Mark II is installed on an orbiting moon as a means to protect a world; a system of fail-safes and safeties prevents the weapon from being fired at the world that it is orbiting.
The M58 Guardian EX Mark II is a colossal planetary defense weapon with minor upgrades of its predecessor weapon, the Mark I. The primary difference between the weapons is that the Mark II contains a mechanism which rotates a barrel out of place once it has been fired, allowing the barrel time to cool and a fresh barrel to be moved into place. This rotating barrel feature is also an attempt at mitigating the barrel fatigue that is caused by the firing of the weapon - however, after every fourteenth shot, the barrels still need to be replaced. The rotating mechanism though allows for the maximum utilization of the weapon rather than relying on a single barrel; while also preventing the weapon from becoming disabled if one of the barrels was damaged or otherwise incapable of being utilized.
Installation of the Mark II is a monumental task; with the weapon often being installed into natural landscapes such as mountains, mesas, and other similar structures. This is done in an attempt to protect the command center of the weapon - a sprawling underground facility that maintains and fires the weapon. However, the primary drawback is that the weapon is otherwise left defenseless, requiring additional defensive structures above ground to protect the weapon from attack or damage. It is due to this, that the Mark II - much like its predecessor - is astronomically costly to install and operate just one of these weapons; with only the richest of worlds capable of maintaining multiple cannons. Likewise, once the weapon has been installed, it takes no less than two-hundred-fifty specially trained personnel to properly operate the weapon; adding to the weapon's already pricey cost.
Once installed, the weapon remains a stationary piece, requiring that those worlds that do decide to operate such a force to carefully decide where to station the weapon. As it is at the mercy of the rotational period of the planet to be moved into place to target an enemy fleet - and even then it is only capable of moving in a 90-degree arc, left to right, up and down. More oft than not, those worlds with a moon find it better to install the weapon on their orbiting satellite, which permits a great utilization of the weapon - however it remains exposed without additional defenses. Likewise, the sheer concussive force that the weapon produces when fired is noted to cause structural damage to its foundation and structure beneath the weapon - which requires constant maintenance to ensure it doesn't collapse beneath its weight.
The primary ordinance of the weapon - roughly measuring in at around 100m - 200m or the size of a small corvette - is a Slug composed of Tungsten Carbide reinforced Depleted Uranium. The weapon is capable of projecting these rounds into a target in High Orbit of a planet; as targeting anything further out sees a marked drop in the weapon's accuracy as well as making it easier to otherwise avoid or maneuver around the slug. While the prevailing theory is to install multiple weapons on a single world - often in pairs or trios to provide an effective overlapping firing arc - this is otherwise costly, with many worlds incapable of such an endeavor. Rather the best placement of the weapon is on an orbiting moon - in which case the weapon contains a series of safety features that would prevent it from targeting the planet that the moon orbits.
