Maelstrom Energy Arc

[Valiens Nantaris]

Maelstrom Energy Arc

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: To create a powerful, yet short ranged, ship mounted weapon for the Contingency to use. This weapon will be powerful, but have significant weaknesses.
• Image Source: Here. The Malevolence from the Clone Wars TV series.
• Canon Link: N/A
• Restricted Missions: N/A
• Primary Source: N/A

[SIZE=11pt]PRODUCTION INFORMATION[/SIZE]

• Manufacturer: The Contingency
• Model: Energy Arc
• Affiliation: The Contingency Only
• Modularity: No.
• Production: Limited
• Material: Standard ion cannon components; focusing Kyber crystal.

[SIZE=11pt]TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS[/SIZE]

• Classification: Ion dispersal cannon.
• Size: Capital ship mounted.
• Length: 50m wide, 10 long.
• Weight: Thousands of tonnes
• Ammunition Type: Reactor Energy.
• Ammunition Capacity: Essentually Unlimited.
• Effective Range: One third regular starship combat range.
• Rate of Fire: Single shot with charge up.

[SIZE=11pt]SPECIAL FEATURES[/SIZE]

• Fires an arc of ion energy in front of it. Normally this is a 90 degree forward arc. This cone extends to a third of the range of regular starship engagement. Anything within this arc has a very good chance of being struck and blasted with powerful electrical energy.
• If using a hex map where regular range is 10 hexes the arc extends 3 hexes forward in a 1-2-3 cone. Anything in that cone could potentially be hit.
• Requires time to recharge after firing. In forum terms, this is one shot every second post/round.
• The more objects are in the cone, the less energy arcs to them and therefore the less damage possibly received.
• Counts as 150 capital guns, and can only be mounted on ships over 1000m.

[SIZE=11pt]Strengths[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]:[/SIZE]

• Indiscriminate. The Maelstrom fires an arc of ion energy forward for a long distance. Anything in that cone, from interceptor to destroyer, has a good chance of being blasted with ion discharge.
• Zap. The damage inflicted varies depending on the size of ship (larger are more resilient), whether their shields are up or not and so on. In a best case, attack craft or ships up to frigates might be entirely disabled. Regardless, any ship in the area of impact will know about it.
• Swatter. The Maelstrom is best used against smaller ships and especially swarms of attack craft which might be overloaded and left helpless.

[SIZE=11pt]Weaknesses[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]:[/SIZE]

• Recharge. After the Maelstrom has fired it must recharge. It can only be fired once every ten minutes (once every second post).
• Indiscriminate. Anything caught in the arc risks being hit…including friendly craft. Since the Contingency are droids themselves, this is especially dangerous.
• Fixed. The Maelstrom must be mounted forward on a ship and not on a turret.

[SIZE=11pt]DESCRIPTION[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]One of the most fiendish weapons created by the Contingency was the Maelstrom energy arc weapon. Unlike other weapons, the Maelstrom eschews precision in favour of powerful, indiscriminate and devastating arcs of ion energy. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]When unleashed, it is a danger to anything caught in the cone. Attack craft risk having their shields and systems fried, leaving them helpless. Escorts such as corvettes and frigates risk having their shields stripped and if unshielded having their systems fried. Even larger capital ships are in danger of having their shields depleted or damage due to overloading power.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Fortunately, the Maelstrom is not especially manoeuvrable and takes time to recharge in between shots. Since it is mounted on the largest of the Contingency ships, the best remedy is simply to get out of the way![/SIZE]