Directorate Officer
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: To provide Lucerne Labs with a version of the ion encumbrance system
Image Source: here
Canon Link: N/A
Primary Source: N/A
Manufacturer: Lucerne Labs
Affiliation: Directorate, Silver Jedi, Galactic Alliance, Closed-Market
Model: Stormflash Ion Encumbrance System
Modularity: None
Production: Mass-Produced.
Material: ferroceramic casing, ion encumbrance system components, laser cannon components, cyrogenic cooling system
Classification: Ion Encumbrance System / electrochemical mass driver cannon
Size: Large
Weight: Heavy
Ammunition Type: Ion Sensor Tags / Energy / Blaster gas
Ammunition Capacity: infinite in practical terms when mounted on a starship or vehicle
Reload Speed: Average
Effective Range:Average
Rate of Fire: Average (Low - light Laser Cannon Mode)
Stopping Power: Average (Low - light Laser Cannon Mode)
Recoil: Average
Ion Tag Ammunition: Stormflash's primary ammunition is the ion-enabled sensor tag, which is essentially a miniaturized homing beacon sheathed in an ion shield. This beacon not only aids friendly craft in tracking and targeting the 'tagged' ship, but it also drains the target's local shield energy for almost a minute, making shots more likely to pierce through the target's shields.
Secondary Laser Fire mode: The Stormflash is a derivative of the Seure-class Cannon, and like that weapon, the priming laser can be used by itself as a light energy weapon that for practical purposes is equivalent to a light laser cannon.
Equivalent to a typical laser cannon in terms of energy and power usage
Shield Shredder: Stormflash's ion tags lower the ability of shields to maintain cohesive strength. Large numbers of ion tags can in a localized area have the potential to severely weaken shields.
Guidance: Each ion tag fired by the Stormflash acts as a homing beacon, making it easier for friendly craft to track and target the enemy vessel.
Limited Damage: For practical purposes, the ion tags cannot physically damage a target. The Laser cannon setting can damage targets, but it is much inferior to even a standard laser cannon in terms of strength and rate of fire.
Limited Effect: The ion tags are only active for about a minute, after which they run out of power. This means that the shield stripping and homing effects of the tag then come to an end.
The Stormflash is Lucerne Labs' own version of the ion encumbrance system. Unlike other versions of that technology, the Stormflash is actually an evolution of the Seuro, using laser ignition to ignite the propellant of each ion tag. This makes little to no difference in the terminal performance of each ion tag, but it also allows the Stormflash to function as a light laser cannon with the flip of a switch. As this performance is severely limited compared to a typical laser cannon, its use tends to be more incidental. Most users chose the Stormflash solely because of the effects of its ion tags.
Each ion tag appears to physically be a typical gray-blue slug. However, the impact of the projectile is very different from that of a simple slug. Each ion tag deforms on impact, causing practically no physical damage to the opposing craft. This deformation does protect and cushion the tag's internal components though, where a microtransmitter broadcasts its location to friendly assets. Perhaps just as importantly, the ion shielding around the slug continues to subsist for a while, weakening shields and making them more susceptible to being penetrated by other weapons.
As Stormflashes are designed as secondary weapons, as their primary effects don't directly damage but rather act as force multipliers for other weapons. This means that they are typically used in conjunction with other weapons such as laser cannons or warhead launchers. The latter is especially effective, as many missiles can lock onto the microtransmitter's broadcast for improved guidance on battlefields where ECM technologies are increasingly being found in use.
