OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: A blaster cannon created by Denon Stahl Arms for the Sith Empire to fulfill a weapons contract.
- Image Source: Source
- Canon Link: N/A
- Restricted Missions: N/A
- Primary Source: Blaster Cannon
- Manufacturer: Denon Stahl Arms
- Model: STA (SE) Blaster Cannon
- Affiliation: The Sith Empire
- Modularity: Can be mounted in various turrets or on pintle mounts, tripods, bipods, or on ledges and railing with the proper clamp attachment.
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material: Standard blaster components, Durasteel
- Classification: Blaster Cannon
- Size: Handheld
- Length:
1.0m Closed - 1.2m Open
[*]Weight: 30kg (Base weapon, no ammo pack or attachments. Read description for further operator details.)
[*]Ammunition Type: Power Cell and Gas Canister
[*]Ammunition Capacity:
- Vehicle or Permanently Emplaced: Effectively Unlimited
- External Power Supply Generator: "Effectively Unlimited"
- Ammo Pack (10kg): 1000
[*]Effective Range: Battlefield
[*]Rate of Fire: Approximately 2-4 shots per second at standard rate of charge. The weapon should be fired in bursts up to a minute long. Timing of course can be at the discretion of the operator to suit the needs of battle. DSA recommends you give the weapon 30 seconds to cool off after a full minute long burst. But it is up to the operator or their units procedures as to how they manage their burst rate while not overheating the weapon.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Collapsible / Extendable: In it's compact state the weapon can be wielded in hand as a heavy support weapon. Also allows for easier transportation or storage while saving space. In it's extended mode, the weapon can be mounted or emplaced in a wide variety of configurations. Such as in turrets or on pintle mounts of vehicles. Or attached to tripods, bipods, or on ledges or railings with a clamp for static use.
- Two Optical Sights: One for short range and one for long range.
- HUD Connection Port: The operator can connect their helmets HUD via cable to the weapon and see out the weapons optics. Great for shooting around corners or because your bucket head won't let you see through the sights.
The STA (SE) Blaster Cannon is purpose build for the sole use of the Sith Empire. And it's future forward design will see it in use by them for a long time to come. It is aptly described as a general purpose blaster cannon. And it serves it's versatile role well. Allowing the military to use the weapon in a variety of roles from vehicle turrets and gunship door configurations, to having a single trooper lugging the heavy weapon in it's compact mode while on a sling in a heavy support role. And of course all kinds of roles in between. This is why there are plenty of attachments to mount the weapon on to fit so many roles. It plays well on the offensive but truly shines on defense. In a defensive role it can be hooked up to a generator, or power grid say in a base defense role. Giving the weapon an effectively unlimited firing capacity, though limited still by overheating.
The cannon features two optical sights. The upper is a basic red dot sight that can be used with a helmet on. While the lower electronic multi-range scope can not be used with most trooper helmets in the standard way. Denon Stahl Arms have incorporated a small computer to allow a trooper to attach their helmets HUD to the system via cable. They can then see out the scope on their HUD. This provides a good deal of advantages to a trained user. They can change the scopes rage settings by voice command. Keep their head down in a trench while still firing. And even use it to shoot or scout around corners without exposing their full body to fire or potential danger.
Perhaps the most notable feature of the blaster cannon is that the barrel is collapsible. Or extendable depending on how you decide to look at it. It helps to save space in storage or in transport. As well as protecting the internals better in the closed state. It is also easier to, and intended to be wielded closed for an operator on the move. In it's open state, the attachment fittings are exposed. Allowing the weapon to be mounted on whatever attachment you want. It also shift the center of gravity forward. As the weapon has a want to pull up from recoil. So it helps the operator compensate for better accuracy while it's mounted or resting on something. It should be noted the weapon can be used while on the move with certain attachments, mostly the bipod, should the mission necessitate it.
The Weapon isn't without it's weaknesses through. While powerful enough to wreck near any soldier running around. And can even mess up light vehicles and unshielded aircraft. Anything coming close to heavily armored and up. Or with good shielding is not going to be taken out with this weapon. Power supply can make the weapon immobile, while hooked up to a power grid or generator. You're not going to be moving this weapon around really. Except on the mount of course. The ammo pack is also limiting the user on weight too. Adding a whopping 10 kg's of weight to the weapon. The price you pay for an energy dense cell to keep your shot count high and power levels up. The weight also really limits you to carrying at best one reload yourself. Have a battle buddy carry one for you instead. Overheating can be a big problem too. A good operator though will know their weapons limits and how to keep things within acceptable temperature ranges.
Despite these drawbacks and limitations. The STA (SE) Blaster Cannon is a very versatile and powerful weapon to be employed. Used correctly and effectively you'll be gunning down your enemies with your B.F.G like a boss.
Strengths:
- Rapid Fire - As a Blaster Cannon, the STA (SE) Blaster Cannon is not fully automatic but can manage a very high rate of fire in short bursts.
- Versatile Roles - The STA (SE) Blaster Cannon can be mounted on vehicles, used as a fire support weapon, or built into defensive emplacements and other uses a users imagination can come up with.
- Limited Power - While more than powerful enough to deal with infantry and light vehicles, the STA (SE) Blaster Cannon preforms poorly against heavy vehicle armor and heavily shielded objects.
- Power Supply - When not mounted on vehicles or in an emplacement the STA (SE) Blaster Cannon can be hooked up to a large external power supply to operate effectively. This is both heavy and unwieldy, but gives the weapon a very large though not technically unlimited ammunition supply, you pretty much will in battle terms. Lastly, a large ammunition pack can be attached (See box forward of trigger grip). This is the lightest of all configurations and is meant to make the user mobile enough to support others in any operation. This adds considerable weight still due to the density of the ammo pack, about 10 kg. And sets the ammunition capacity to 1000 shots.
- Overheating: Due to the high power output of the weapon. Continuously firing the weapon can lead to overheating the gun in a manner of minutes. Operators should be aware of their weapons heat levels to avoid critical failure.
- Weight: This weapons heavy. Coming in at 30 kg's as it's base. But with a 10kg ammo pack, or attachments, the weapons just going to get heavier. Which can make it difficult to wield carrying it around. If you're running around though you should be at or just above with a bipod at 41kg's. Very heavy, so set it on something and fight smart. Other configurations just get heavier and heavier. But you'll be emplaced or dug in and just swinging around on a mount with a general ease.
