Eh. Designing independent Athena node does come with the very bad flaw that the enemy can disable armies if they destroy the very obvious nodes.
Revision: Athena Dedicated ComputronicsRight now we're hosting Athena on general computer parts and electronics. While this works just fine and is perfectly acceptable in a void, it could be
much better.
By spending some time revising the computer parts utilized by Athena nodes, we can come up with parts that are specifically meant to work
with Athena, improving the amount of processing power we get for space, mass, and budget.
This should allow us to fit proper Athena nodes in every Aegis drone (and just increase processing power/space+budget for anything else - like the Cuttlefish - and fit Athena into smaller things in the feature). The proper Athena nodes in Aegis units should eliminate the reliance on the external Athena node and allow relative competence even when severed from the network.
Hopefully the dedicated parts will allow Athena to "think" more, improving her general battlefield strategic and tactical abilities as well.
TL;DR: We revise computer parts specifically meant to "run" Athena, getting a lot more processing power for space/budget used. Maybe improve general capabilities as well w/ advantages from dedicated parts.
Revision: EAC-PDX1 "Aspis"We greatly downscale an AX5 Spear in size and power, then implement some changes to the mirrors; specifically, the mirrors will be able to hopefully redirect the stream of laser pulses in any direction. The Aspis is put on every Cuttlefish, and Athena is instructed to use it to eliminate incoming projectiles she's already tracking, either by deflecting it or vaporizing it (whatever's easiest).
TL;DR: Revise some point defense for our ships.
Revision: EAC-TML2 "Sarissa"Instead of a single large payload, we have the Sarissa instead hold a number of smaller "missiles" to be released when close to the target - making the Sarissa a MIRV missile. It'll release the smaller payloads before entering PD range.
Each smaller missile is of course controlled by Athena, who will guide them for maximum damage in the area and to overwhelm PD. This can also make the Sarissa more "efficient" at doing damage, as Athena can find the best targets in the area (or focus one one target) instead of wasting all explosive power in the center wherever the Sarissa itself hit.
TL;DR: Turn the Sarissa into a MIRV missile.
Revision: EAF-PX4 "Raider"The Raider has been neglected for a while, too.
We refit the Raider to use the Vasarely Pattern (like ~x2 damage not x3 'cause we're not increasing power consumption). While we're at it,
we make it more futuristic we include a holographic sight and sync the entire gun with Athena. Athena will be able to pinpoint already-analyzed weakspots as well as targets already located by the Athena network. The holosight isn't
huge in size but it can point out targets (specifically mirage-plated ones) in the general direction the gun's pointed, as aforementioned the best spots to fire on to get past armor can be pinpointed, and Athena can give targets that compensate for movement and the like.
As a side note, one of the three Vasarely wavelength modes should be IR in order to bypass their smoke cloud stuff.
TL;DR: Give the Raider the Vasarely Pattern (increasing damage + countering mirage plating) and a holosight linked to Athena (compensating for target movement + pointing out stuff known by the network, like cloaked targets and weak points). Should be straightforward.
(Should be easy - holosight is just a hologram [we have] displaying what Athena knows and Vasarely pattern is already a laser pattern and from previous pattern designs we know porting them is trivial)
Something vaguely like the holostuff (scope optional, as it is in the Raider) below. You have the main "sight" part as shown then some additional information like the stuff I mentioned in the actual revision.
EAC-PDX1 "Aspis" (1): Chiefwaffles
EAC-PX4 "Raider" (1): Chiefwaffles
EAC-TML2 Sarissa (0):
Athena Dedicated Computronics (1): Chiefwaffles
EDIT: Also added a vote for Dedicated Computronics. Again, you can let me know if you dislike me multivoting.
My reasoning for Aspis: Basically cement a future space advantage and also give Quillus a taste of their own countermedicine. We increase the survivability of all our ships and lay the groundwork for PD in our land stuff as well.
My reasoning for PX4 Raider: It's a really easy way (Holosight: We make a hologram - trivial - and connect it to Athena - trivial. Vasarely Pattern: Just port it over - trivial) to get a substantial improvement for our infantry.
My reasoning for Computronics: Lays out more groundwork for a a better Athena in the future (more processing power in smaller things) and makes the Aegis able to work independently + be less bad.
Author
Topic: Ertex Design Bureau - Battle for Aljadid - Strategy SY108 (Read 48471 times)