Revision: Shard TALON(Hard) (3+4)-1=6: Above Average
Through a series of very lucky discoveries involving your standard quantity of explosions to be expected for the fare, we've discovered that Magmatite contains naturally-occurring quantum bonding. Normally at a scale far too minor to be noticeable, but through the power of
painstakingly-careful growing of individual Magmatite crystals in labs SCIENCE we've succesfully weaponized this.
When the growth of an artificial Magmatite crystal is very carefully managed with a whole lot of measuring equipment and educated approximations, we can provoke the creation of quantum bonds (the theoretical scientists yell at us when we say "quantum bonds" but saying it doesn't cause anything to explode so we're good) between different discrete crystals. Said bonds allow the sharing of charge between these crystals. Allowing for completely wireless energy "transmission". Great!
The first use of this is in the Shard TALON, a modification of the regular TALON cannon to benefit from the phenomenon. Crystals with multiple bonds to other crystals are set up in a tree formation, with a head/firing crystal linked to two charge crystals, each of which is linked to two additional charge crystals. Combined with liberal use of heat insulation and physical separation, we have a significantly safer weapon that does
not have the tendency to explode itself with prejudice! It doesn't use magmagel due to the changes which does in theory mean a lower charging time, but as each charge crystal can be simultaneously charged (as long as you're careful) the effective rate of charge across the entire weapon remains the same.
In effect, the Shard TALON acts a lot like a regular TALON. Except it's a bit lighter, and doesn't have an exposed cooling system nor does it disastrously explode when damaged. Sufficient damage can still cause a weapon malfunction, but malfunction at most will destroy the head crystal. This will render the weapon very
very permanently inoperable, but it will not render the gunner dead. Which is probably an improvement, as long as you don't listen to accounting.
Speaking of costs, the Shard TALON is... impractical.
Okay, okay. It's "completely useless" at current costs. The advancement in theory it represents is astounding, but it's too impractical expense-wise to be even represent in the traditional expense figures. A single Shard TALON requires 7 crystals be sequentially grown
extraordinarily slowly in a very expensive lab environment. As we (currently?) cannot change the organization of the bonds once the crystals are created, any damage to one crystal means the weapon is permanently less that crystal and any linked under it. Furthermore, lab-grown crystals are quite brittle. They won't shatter at a brief touch, but regular wear-and-tear combined with the irreplaceable nature of them makes the weapon, again, impractical.
We will not be deploying the Shard TALON unless the Design Division is really insistent to the contrary. Command in the military is excited about further weaponization of quantum mechanics, though. We've told them that our lasers already weaponize quantum mechanics, but they don't seem to care unless they get to say "quantum bonds" so we're just going with it.
It will not be included in our design lists because we're told that they're running out of forests to cut down for the creation of the extreme amounts of paper required to maintain the design list documentation. Or something. But rest assured, the knowledge has been written down somewhere by an
unpaid underpaid intern.
[Design spoiler to come Eventually™]The Combat Phase of Summer 1965 has begun. Submit any votes necessary for the combat phase, such as for an Intrigue action and/or strategy proposals and whatnot.
Author
Topic: Mad Arms Race - Mereth Design Division (Fall 1965 - Final Design Phase) (Read 83350 times)