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Starfleet Weapons Developments 2380+
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Capt_Frank_Hollister: [QB] I've been doing some thinking as to the kinds of developments might lie in the near future of Starfleet after Nemesis and the Dominion war and three ideas have stuck out. [b]Verteron (Pulse) Torpedo[/b] In the TNG episode "Force of Nature" we see a "verteron mine" used to disable subspace systems aboard starships. Particularly, warp nacells are rendered inoperable until purged nad concievably other subspace systems such as impulse engines and computer cores could be affected. Such a warhead, if mounted in a standard photon torpedo casing coul dbecome a useful, non-leathal, weapon. The idea would be to direct these torpedos at a target's warp nacells to knock it out of, or prevent it from going to, warp for some number of hours. This system would be ideal for law enforcement and convoy escort duties during peacetime to provdide a non-leathal way of disabling a target and aprehending criminals. It could also be used to allow smaller and out gunned starships (such as scouts or transports) to disable attackers and escape at warp speeds without pursuit. The weapon could also be employed in a lethal fashion. A target saturated with vertons will likely loose computer control of key systems such as warp containment. Also if fired at a target travelling at warp directed only one nacell, the verteron pulse may cause an asymetric collapse of the warp field causing relativistic differential velocities across the target's spaceframe resulting in stresses which could destroy the ship. Modern day analogy (sort of): EMP weapon. [b]Polaron(?) Torpedo[/b] Starfleet has developed the quantum torpedo as an improved standoff weapon with over 3 times the yield of a photon torpedo (suggested by the DS9 tech manual). However, increased yield has only limited gains in effectiveness and effeiciency while productions costs remain prohibitively high for mass production. Throughout the Dimion War we saw examples of how polaron-based weapons could easily penetrate standard shields. If this technology, perhaps in the form of a polaron pulse generator, could be incorporated into a photon torpedo one could effectively create a shield-penetrating round. The yield of a standard photon torpedo should be sufficient to destroy a virtually unshielded target. A shield-pentrating photon torpedo is not only more efficient, but overcomes a basic weakness inherent in explosive weapons: that only a portion of the blast is actually directed at the target. A shield-penetrating round overcomes this weakness by using the target's own shield bubble to trap the explosive energy of the warhead, increasing its destructive power. These systems would utilize existing technology and be far easier/cheaper to produce than quantum torpedoes. Modern day analogy: armor-penetrating anti-tank artilery. *Another improvement to the photon torpedo would be an equivilant to shaped-charge rounds. [b]Long Range Warp Capable Tactical Missile (WCTM-LR)[/b] At present, starship combat resembles gun ship battles prior to Earth's 21st century. Ships close to weapons range at sublight speeds and procede to "slug it out" with phasers and torpedoes at close range. What is needed is a true standoff weapon capable of destroying targets in one or two hits and facilitating tactical maneuver at warp speeds. the WCTM-LR would be a shuttle- or runabout-sized vehicle with its own warp drive, sublight propulsion, computer, sensors, and coummications equipment. It will carry a photon or quantum warhead capable of destroying most targets possible with the aid of shield penetrating technology. The missile should be able to cruise at wf 8 to a range of ~.5 light year with terminal attack velocity in excess of wf 9.9. The missle will be capable of semi-autonomous operations and manuever at sublight speeds. They could also be dropped along the predicted path of target vessels and thus used as effective mines. Such a weapons system would revolutionize starship tactics for the coming century. Linear phaser arrays would be optimized as point defense anti-missile systems, while pulse pasers would be optimized for slugging it out with targets at now extremely close range compared to the new expanded battle space. Also, such system would increase the importance of sensor capabilites for early detection of targets in incoming missle threats, an area in which Starfleet seems to have an edge over other powers. Modern day analogy: Anti-ship cruise missile such as the French Exocet or US Harpoon. Mine function is similar to an encapsulated torpedo mine. Comments, Suggestions, Questions? [/QB][/QUOTE]
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