Unreviewed RGG-901 "Echo" Tarnicite Autocannon

[Helix]

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: To create a medium starship weapon for the Dzara
• Image Source: Link
• Canon Link: N/A
• Permissions: N/A
• Primary Source: N/A

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

• Manufacturer: Helix Privateers
• Affiliation: Helix Privateers / The Dzara
• Market Status: Closed-Market
• Model: RGG-901 Echo
• Modularity: Yes
• Production: Minor
• Material:
  
  • General Construction: Helsteel
  • Internal Electronics: Helglass
  • Primary Payload: Tarnicite

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Classification: Projectile/Crystal
• Size: Average
• Weight: Average
• Ammunition Type: Tarnicite Crystals
• Ammunition Capacity: Very Large
• Effective Range: Average
• Rate of Fire: High (Flak) Average (Cannon)
• Damage Output:
  • Immediate Impact: Low (Flak) Average (Cannon)
  • Crystalline Conversion: Very High
• Recoil: Low

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Fires self-replicating crystals
• Features integrated Aftershock software

STRENGTHS

• Crystallize: The Echo utilizes self-replicating Tarnicite munitions, and thus poses a threat to armored hulls and strike craft of all shapes and sizes.
• Flak Switch: The Echo is capable of modulating its exact firing characteristics, allowing it to adapt itself towards the variety of foe at hand.

WEAKNESSES

• Blocked: As is customary with weapons of this sort, the Echo is considerably less effective against shields.

DESCRIPTION

A smaller, turret-scale version of the Statuesque, this weapon is commonly found dotted across the hulls of Dzara vessels.

Compared to its larger cousin, the Echo's chief claim to fame is in versatility. Unlike the fixed shells fired by the Statuesque, the Echo launches solid shards of Tarnicite crystal, individually sliced from a magnetically-contained magazine reservoir.

This allows the weapon to choose the exact size, velocity, and rate of fire of its projectiles. It can spray a rapid hail of smaller shards to serve as a point-defense turret, or larger, slower-firing ones to assault the hulls of capital ships.

In either case, the Echo carries the same remarkable dangers as other systems that weaponize Tarnicite. Even glancing hits against starfighters can be exceedingly dangerous, as a small chunk of crystal imbedded in a wing can gradually overtake the entire vehicle, potentially rendering weapons inert, compromising life support systems, or breaching the cockpit.

Likewise, these weapons excel at wearing away the hulls of larger vessels, riddling them with self-replicating crystalline corruption. Though they somewhat lack in the immediate destructive power of many other weapons, the corruptive effects of their munitions can easily spell the doom of even larger vessels, given time.

In either case, these weapons are widely-loathed by salvage and recovery crews, as unchecked Tarnicite replication can eventually turn an otherwise-repairable vessel into a worthless (and dangerous) mass of floating crystal. Vessels destroyed by these weapons are thus often unrecoverable if the corruption has spread widely enough. Of course, for the Dzara's raiders, this is a two-edged sword. Getting to the plunder before it is converted can pose a challenge, and incautious aim can wind up spoiling the prize for all involved.

Thus, the Echo can engage about any weight class of target that gets in its range, a superb attribute that ensures these emplacements are widespread amongst the Dzara's naval assets. While typically mounted on starships, the Echo is also occasionally seen as a ground emplacement, where it is used to engage infantry, vehicles, and air assets.