GDI CEO
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To provide a scalable, heavy-grade, energy based armament for ships of the line rated at a variety of tonnages
- Image Source: Image Source #1 | Image Source #2
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: MegaCaliber Six Turbolaser Cannon - Wookieepedia Link
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
- Manufacturer: GDI Incorporated
- Affiliation: GDI Incorporated
- Market Status: Closed-Market | Guardian Defense Industries Inc.
- Model: MegaCaliber-44 ‘Rupture’ Particle Cannon
- Modularity: Yes - Comes in a single or dual cannon configuration as pictured. Can also be fired either in a beam or standard configuration.
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material:
- Quadanium Exterior Plating
- Durasteel Superstructure
- Dallorian Alloy Lining
- Duravlex Coating
- Cold Plasma Cooling System
- Interchangeable Machined Parts
- Particle Cannon Components
- Particle Beam Components
- Galven Coils
- Autosteady Gyro Gimbal
- Recoil Stabilizers
- Cold Plasma Cooling System
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS- Classification: Particle Cannon
- Size: Very Large
- Weight: Very Heavy
- Ammunition Type: Tibanna Gas, Ship-board Reactor Energy
- Ammunition Capacity: Average
- Effective Range: Battlefield
- Rate of Fire: Average
- Damage Output: Extreme
- Recoil: High
SPECIAL FEATURES- Interchangeable Parts: GDI has established itself as a company based around modularity and ease of maintenance. As a general rule, they have always strived to implement that same hallmark of their brand within even the most complex and specialized of technologies they’ve designed. With respect to the MCal-44 ‘Rupture’ Particle Cannon, given its destructive nature and seemingly advanced technological development, one would expect it to be hard to maintain or replace damaged components. To the contrary, not only is the Rupture very well built and dependable, but the breakthroughs applied in its development make it a very serviceable industrial scale’ capital weapon.
- Particle Beam Modulators: The MegaCaliber-44 ‘Rupture’ Particle Cannon is, as its name plainly states, a particle cannon - designed to pummel enemy starships and installations with a devastating and constant barrage of high intensity punishment. As if that were not enough, this weapon system also doubles as a particle beam weapon through a change in configuration and fire settings.
- Autosteady Gyro Gimbal System: Although it is impossible to fully eliminate the amount of recoil generated from such a high-powered weapon platform, the integration of a comprehensive autosteady gyro gimbal system significantly reduces the recoil into manageable levels; thus allowing for the MCal-44 to be mounted aboard a wide variety of ship classes while maintaining a surprising level of stability (note, this weapon system is too large to fit on corvette-class vessels).
STRENGTHS
- +Interchangeable Parts: (See special features)
- +Particle Beam Modulators: (See special features)
- +Extreme Stopping Power: Serving as the perfect blend of both turbolaser and particle weapons technology, the MegaCaliber-44 ‘Rupture’ Particle Cannon is GDI’s response to its competitors’ heavier weapons platforms, placing it fairly close in comparison to far heavier and bulkier orbital autocannons. Capable of unleashing both high intensity particle beams to rend all but the most heavy of shielding and armor systems, as well as densely packed particle bolts able to deliver highly-explosive payloads; enemy fleets and planetary installations alike would fair poorly when facing a ship fitted with this system in any real quantity.
- +Stable: Despite the extreme levels of devastation this weapons platform is capable of delivering, the Rupture is surprisingly stable both internally and externally. Its maintenance schedules are no more stringent than similarly large and powerful weapon systems, and its Gyro Gimbal System severely reduces the recoil one would normally expect.
- +Battlefield Coverage: Most beam weapons are relegated to mid or closer engagement ranges, but the highly concentrated and dense energy signature of ths Rupture’s particle beam allows it to reach to quite long ranges.
- +Dynamic: The Rupture is designed to be used both in ship-to-ship and ship-to-ground applications. The amount of punishment it can unleash against ground targets (such as cities, bastions, and natural formations) is truly a sight to behold.
WEAKNESSES- -Very Large: As one can expect, the MCal-44 could easily be the main armament of any sized vessel, but it is built accordingly. As noted above, Corvette-class vessels are incapable of equipping this weapon system.
- -Very Heavy: In addition to the noted size of the Rupture, it is also quite heavy. Smaller vessels equipping this weapon could expect to see slight issues in inertia stabilization and in mass acceleration unless specialized propulsion systems are utilized to compensate.
- -Slow & Steady: The Rupture is not as slow-firing as a traditional orbital autocannon (which is a boon in and of itself given its comparable damage output), yet it is also not a rapid fire weapon. So as to prevent energy overload and overheating, the weapon’s internal computer regulates the firing pattern into a slow and steady rhythm when in standard configuration, or in a modulated and consistent beam when otherwise configured.
- -Energy Dependant: The raw damage output of this weapons platform does not come without cost, as the Rupture is exceedingly dependant on a robust reactor system to supply the energy required for proper operation; particularly if the platform is used in any great quantity.
- -Tracking: Given the size of the weapon, and the comparatively slower speed in which it traverses to get into position, the Rupture is better served at targeting capital-grade vessels. While more agile style craft would most assuredly be obliterated from concentrated fire from this weapon system, most smaller capital vessels possess sufficient speed and maneuverability to protect themselves from a direct hit. This drawback can be compensated for by robust targeting systems, but only by so much.
- -Proprietary: While the Rupture is quite accessible given its mass produced level of production, the technology within it is largely the reason why given its overall stability. To protect this advantage, GDI has implemented several safeguards to prevent easy reverse-engineering and counterfeiting of the technology utilized. This requires specially licensed technicians to service or repair such modules. While the process is simple enough to go through, and there is a constantly increasing number of GDI maintenance facilities, these safeguards do heavily restrict (if not outright prevent) alteration or modification of the weapon system. This can be mitigated to a certain extent with the usage of the GSI/DE Synapse System to manage overall integration.
DESCRIPTIONAs an expansion to GDI’s well established weapons development program, the megacorporation’s engineering division set itself upon perfecting a union between MegaCaliber & Particle weapons technology. The result is a weapon capable of traditional damage output comparable to all but the heaviest of orbital autocannons in a slightly smaller package, with the added feature of firing in either beam or standard ‘bolt’ style configurations.
While the marriage between the two concepts is a feat in technological development in and of itself, the fact that this platform is able to be mass produced on a galactic scale is another achievement entirely. It is a rather stable and dependable weapons system, but the proprietary nature of its design requires servicing by GDI certified technicians who are subject to a very tight and well enforced non-disclosure agreement. The need for this is largely due to failsafes being implemented within the weapon system to prevent tampering, which could easily result in the weapon being internally disabled beyond extensive repairs necessitating a visit to a GDI service center.
It almost goes without saying that any ship fitting this weapon system should have engineers who are licensed and certified appropriately, lest this outcome come to fruition during the heat of battle.
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