NationStates Jolt Archive

The weapon in question is a massive mobile charged particle cannon we have recently been developing.

Ordinarily, such a beam weapon would be the province of stationary installations or research labs only, due to it's incredible power requirements, but we have found a way around this problem.

By powering the cannon's four particle accelerators with an external beam of power transmitted to it's power reciever arrays by one of our orbital microwave power transmitters, we believe we can overcome the power problem and let the cannon operate at a useful level while still having it remain mobile.

The cannon will be tested against three targets in total: An Admiral A-1 Mk III, a Lucifer-Class Air Dreadnaught that is being retired, and a small town that has been cleared out and slated for demoltion. There will be one day between each test to allow for study of the data gathered by the test. Full military escort will be provided to any observers to prevent them from coming to harm.

(OOC: I'll do the first test in a day or so, depending on how many responses I get.)

OOC: Is this modern, post-modern or future?

OOC Yea, I can't help you until I know, as this nations future tech is very different to its modern.

(ooc: a giant space laser that can decimate towns...... hmmm.... modern or future..... lol)

OOC: Actually Blacktower, the laser is on a mobile platform, with the satellite providing power. I'm just wondering because the Admiral A-1 is modern/post-modern.

OOC: Post-modern. Basically, I'm taking two things that are technically possible (microwave power transmission and particle beams) and trying to combine them to get around the power problem of useful beam weapons. Basically, as it stands, the prototype is a huge bulky cannon mounted on the back of something that looks a lot like an ICBM trailer, with radiator fins sticking off the sides, four round particle accelerators near the rear, and a large folding microwave array to catch the beam fired to it by the power station.

If it works, then I'll try to find a useful battlefield application for it.

Edit: CHARGED PARTICLE BEAM, not laser!

OOC: Sorry, Blactower got to me, lol.

IC:

I would be willing to watch, though we are a modern nation, this is clsoe enough for us to participate. If these become available we will not buy them, but would allow them in RP's.

bump

Bump

bump

bump (I'll do the first test tomorrow if no one else sends observers)

OOC: OK, let's get this show on the road.

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Location: Somewhere in the Imperial Graveyard
Time: 1420 hours

"Careful with that!"

The officer in charge of the test area looks irritated as he works on getting the test site in order. The area is quite busy, with airships and UAVs flying to and fro overhead, Hound FMBs zipping here and there on patrol, and a massive Admiral A-1 Mk III rumbling downrange, as well as the preparations around the prototype particle cannon and all of the scientific equipment that had to be hauled out to the middle of nowhere for the test.

The officer picks up a radio, and depresses the talk button.

"Command post to bunker. Are the observers here yet?"

On the other end, a junior lieutenant signals the affirmative.

"Yes, sir. They're all in place."

A synthesized computer voice rings out an announcement over the chaos.

"T-minus two minutes to test. All personnel to your assigned posts."

The officer turns to look at one of the scientists working at a nearby console.

"Are you sure this thing will work, Dr. Trent? I'm a bit nervous about pumping all that energy into such a confined area."

Dr. Trent looks up irritably and waves off the officer.

"Relax, Captain. Everything will be fine."

On the test range, the last of dozens of data cables is connected to the prototype, and the Admiral A-1 is finally emplaced. The crew is picked up by a combat car and quickly scurried out of the way.

"T-minus one minute to test. Deploy microwave collector array."

On the massive cannon, a large microwave reciever array unfolds with an audible whir-thunk-crash, and locks it's large panels into place.

"Collector deployed. Commence contact with orbital station."

The powerful SATCOM unit in the control center flings it's contact request skywards to the closest power station. A lock-on request similar to that of the one used for ground-based power stations is relayed, though the amount of power requested is somewhat larger...

"Contact established! Initiating Laser Circuit!"

In orbit, some capacitors charge briefly, and a laser beam fires downwards towards the cannon. The effect is quite spectacular, and is seen by many around the globe, as a bright blue line draws itself from orbit and down to the collector.

The beam flashes downwards through the slight overcast, and hits the reciever orb dead-on.

"Laser Circuit confirmed. Initiate power transmission. Estimated time for the beam to reach these coordinates is 3.4 seconds!"

Inside the bunker, the captain leans forward unconciously, excited.

"Here it comes...!"

A massive beam of microwave energy shoots forth from the transmitter in orbit, following the path of the laser. The clouds spring aside from the beam as it passes through them, and the reciever array begins to glow brightly as it absorbs the energy. The very air seems to throb with all the power being poured onto this one small target.

"Positive energy flow confirmed. Starting particle accelerators!"

The four disc-shaped particle accelerators unlock slightly and begin to spin, sucking in the incoming power greedily and generating the particles needed for the cannon to fire. Sparks fly from the radiator fins along the sides of the cannon as they dump excess heat.

"Cannon fully charged. Fire when ready!"

A massive blue-white beam erupts forth from the cannon, screaming downrange and completely enveloping the large tank 10 miles away, and passing onwards to hit a large hill in the distance. What happened next wasn't technically an explosion, but dirt and rock converted to gas tends to behave the same way as one. Two explosions shake the area, as the fully-armed Admiral's ammo cooks off and the hill leaps skywards in a brilliant dome of light. The beam continues to fire for a second before the automatic shutdown kicks in and the power beam from orbit is terminated.

All is silent for a moment, everyone at the site awed at the power they had unleashed.

The Phoenixius observer turns to the nearest Axis Nova sicentist, stunned. "Blimy, I wouldn't want to come accross that at any time! Not only does that look so cool, but its devestating. Can't wait for the other demonstrations."

OOC: I just found this...I'd like to be involved...

IC:

The Gamma-12 ambassador (an Arabic-looking man with a strange snake-like machine wrapped around his shoulders) looks on grimly.