M E A T B A G
NOTE: Despite the listed capabilities of the following weapon, the Hyperion does not nor should allow for one writer to call hits on the other during collaborative combat. As always, it’s up to the person taking the hits to call whatever damage they wish to take.
Intent: To create a Thyrsian variant of the standard Turbolaser for future Starship submissions.
Image Source: Pavel Ivanenko - Artstation Link. [x]
Canon Link: Solar Ionization Cannon. [x]
Primary Source: Repurposed Canon Articles, Original Submission [x], Synthetic Starburst Crystals [x.]
Manufacturer: The Golden Company - Armourer’s Guild, The Thyrsian Hierarchy - Royal Armaments Guild (Select and Contracted Foundries.)
Affiliation: The Golden Company, The Thyrsian Hierarchy, Closed-Market.
Model: TTH/SIL - 001 “Hyperion” Solar Lance Battery.
Modularity: Yes; Aesthetic Variations, and Variable Emplacement Styles (Light, Heavy, Vehicle-mounted, Composite Beam, Etc.)
Production: Mass-Produced.
Material: Agrinium, Durasteel, Dallorian Alloy, Galven Coiling, Reinforced Duraplast, Rylith Crystals, Various Energy and Solar Weapon Components.
Classification: Directed Energy Beam - Thyrsian Turbolaser Analog.
Size: Large Rating - Starship and Vehicle Emplacement.
Weight: Very Heavy Rating - Starship and Vehicle Emplacement.
Ammunition Type: Converted Solar Energy, Superheated Plasma and Tibanna Gas Canisters - Reactor Dependant.
Ammunition Capacity: Theoretically Unlimited - Reactor(s) Dependant.
Reload Speed: Average Rating - DirectDraw Functionality.
Effective Range: Average Rating - Standard Turbolaser Weapon’s Range.
Rate of Fire: Low Rating - Solar Particle Acquisition and Unleashment (Six Seconds Per Cannon.) [Slower than Standard Turbolasers by a Factor of Two.]
Stopping Power: High Rating - Turbolaser Analog.
Recoil: None - Fixed Beam Weapon Turret.
Beam Colour: Amber or Topaz - Edged in Magnetic White.
= SPECIAL FEATURES =
The Hyperion unleashed a coherent beam of solarized plasmatic energy that strikes its target, bypassing the protective layers that encapsulate a majority of void-capable ships. When compared to conventional turbolasers, the beam-lance released less energy upon impact and focused on a considerably smaller surface area; culminating in a more specialized "pinpoint" weapon. This channelling of power resulted in the solarized energy being redirected into the armour plating itself and possibly melting the affixed panels thereafter. A process that would cause catastrophic damage if the weapon was able to breach through a vital bulkhead; ending with a violent decompression occurring within the targeted vessel.
- Equivalent Firepower to One Dual Turbolaser Turret, or Two Turbolasers.
- Pinpoint / Precision Weapon.
- Fire-Link Capable.
- Fast-Track Mounting(s.)
- Solarized Plasma Beam.
- Integrated Droid Brain, with Remote Uplink - Automated Operation.
- Socketguard(s.)
- Alternate Firing Cycler.
- Directed Solar Weapon: Much like their starfighter-mounted analogs, the Hyperion is capable of punching through conventional shielding to directly affect the vessel’s armour and hull plating beneath; rather than having to whittle down their defensive barriers through standard means. These effects vary, depending on the affected vessel’s hull composition, but should it be comprised of durasteel - or comparable materials - it would melt the plating. However, despite the exotic capabilities of the solar ionization weapon, the power and strength of the projected beam(s) were equivalent to that of an average turbolaser.
- Dual Projectors: For every turret, the Hyperion comes equipped with two projectors - or two cannons - that are capable of producing twinned amber beams of solarized energy, before being consigned to the void. This gives the Hyperion the ability to either alternate its projection pattern, where one beam’s fired whilst the other is charging or fired simultaneously for greater effect(s.)
- Pinpoint Turbolaser Analog: While the power and capabilities of solar ionization cannons were considerable, the Hyperion’s output was on par with that of a standard starship turbolaser - with the only difference being its ability to punch through conventional deflector shields and melt durasteel plating. In addition to this, the collective power of the turret was relative to the starship it was mounted on, meaning that a frigate’s battery would be more powerful than the freighter or corvette mounted variant(s.) However, with that being said the capabilities of the Hyperion were incapable of truly matching the destructive power of a conventional turbolaser, as the process of weaponizing solarized energy created a more pinpoint weapon - rather than an indiscriminate killer.
- Solar-Based Weapon: As the Hyperion was a dedicated solarized energy weapon, the weapon relies on a consistent supply of solar radiation in order to adequately power the projected beams - meaning that these cannons were more effective when employed within a solar system with a radiant star. If they were outside the confines of a heliocentric system, the weapons would require a solar conversion module that needed to be directly tied into the reactor core in order to generate an operational beam for use in combat. Should this module, or secondary reactor not be installed, then the Hyperion would eventually drain its power reserves and be rendered inoperable until the reactor was fueled or recharged.
- Accrued Lethality: In comparison to turbolasers, the Hyperion battery held a noticeably slower firing rate than conventional starships weapons; but managed to maintain it's analogous status through beam cohesion and power, as well as the additional capabilities of being a solarized weapon. From their pacing tests, the Hyperion lance’s were capable of unleashing their beams after a conventional starship-mounted turbolaser already discharged two to three of its plasmatic beams. Although it was possible to alternate the cannon’s firing cycle(s), the reported increase was marginal - barely capable of offsetting the required charging time before unleashment, thus truly rendering the Hyperion as a slow firing weapon.
Long before the Second Echani Occupation, the Thyrsian people had idolized the Sun and all of its life-giving properties. In this reverent pursuit, the people of Thyrsus had developed arcane technology that could harness the power of the Sun; weaponizing it against those that stood in their way or threatened their ways of life. After their mighty navy was defeated and their world was brought under the heel of a brutal regime, much of those exotic secrets were lost in fear they would be developed further in the future. However, there were those that had taken to the stars; seeking to escape the Echani brutality and carry on developing their weapons - away from the prying eyes of those that worship the dreaded moon. These technological savants found themselves forming the core of the Sun Guard’s armourer’s guild, which provided the Golden Company with a host of advanced and exotic weaponry.
From these ventures came the TTH/SIL - 001 “Hyperion” Solar Lance Battery. In essence, it was an up-scaled variant of the standard solar cannons that saw widespread use on strike craft across the galaxy, but retained several similarities to turbolaser weapons; thus creating an elegant fusion between both weapons. This was the intent, however, as the Thyrsian Enclave desired to have an alternative weapon that better matched their ancient, and storied heritage. When the inevitable battle to reclaim their homeworld began, they wanted to ensure their dominance, and through the aptly named Hyperion - such fever dreams held great possibilities.
The weapon was comparable in power to a turbolaser, but the true marvel behind the weapon’s design was the arcane capability to punch through conventional shielding to affect the armour and hull plating beneath. When the plasmatic bolt from the immensely-scaled variant of the blaster impacted the hull plating, after having torn down the projected barriers through a sustained barrage, it exploded outwards - sending deadly and coruscating plasma across a wide surface area. The Hyperion, however, did things differently. When the ambered bolt of solarized energy impacted the durasteel plating, it was capable of melting the panels, as the energy was directed towards the vessel’s centre - rather than across the surface.
While the power was on par with that of a turbolaser and had some added side effects that made them marginally more effective, there were a handful of ways that these lances of solarized energy could be defeated. Due to the properties of both molecular and xythan force shields; ionized solar energy was broken down before it was capable of affecting the armour plating beneath the barrier, and was either shunted towards the reactor or was respectively redirected elsewhere. This would safeguard the vessel beneath from enduring the horrors that would’ve been inflicted across its armoured hull, had it not been protected through unconventional means.
As these measures were uncommon amongst the stars, there was little worry among the Scions of Thyrsus that their superiority would be denied.
However, it was possible that the ship bearing the slow-firing Hyperion weapons would be destroyed before such superiority was claimed - as the target acquisition and accrued lethality process were time-consuming. In the time it took to gather the necessary power required to unleash the twinned beam-lances, a conventional turbolaser would've been able to fire off two to three salvos. Sadly, this was an unavoidable side-effect of the Hyperion because of the arcane technologies that'd gone into the adaptation and resurrection of these ancient Thyrsian weapons. Yet, despite the slower firing rate, they believed that the trade-off was worth it; as it generated a more precision-based weapon that matched their fighting styles and cultural heritage.
Modification Summary:
- Added Rylith Crystals and Synthetic Starburst Crystals to further expand on the capabilities of the weapon system.
- Added hyperlinks to materials section in compliance with new factory standards.
- Updated Modularity.
