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Line 1: == Description == == Description == − '''Mass Driver''' systems have been used by civilian orbital mining and manufacturing interests for centuries as an economical means of moving materials. Functioning as a primitive [[Gauss rifle]], a load is placed into a cradle which is accelerated via a series of magnets. The load then flies off on the directed course at a relatively slow speed, requiring no rockets, fuel, or guidance systems. Once it reaches its destination the load is captured by an orbital tug or [[DropShip]] and maneuvered into its final place. Careful operations and strict safety guidelines were needed to make sure the system's planets were not affected by a load that missed its target. If the load entered a planetary atmosphere, when it impacted the surface it would cause destruction almost equal to that of a small tactical nuclear device.<ref name="TOp323">''Tactical Operations'', p. 323, "Mass Driver"</ref> Due to the massive damage and fallout these weapons can inflict upon a planet, mass drivers were rightly considered weapons of mass destruction and access to their control systems was heavily restricted and regulated. These safeguards failed at [[Cor Caroli]], resulting in several nickel-iron asteroids landing on the planet's surface.<ref>''Dark Age: Republic Worlds (3130)'', p. 182: "Cor Caroli"</ref> + '''Mass Driver''' systems have been used by civilian orbital mining and manufacturing interests for centuries as an economical means of moving materials. Functioning as a primitive [[Gauss rifle]], a load is placed into a cradle which is accelerated via a series of magnets. The load then flies off on the directed course at a relatively slow speed, requiring no rockets, fuel, or guidance systems. Once it reaches its destination the load is captured by an orbital tug or [[DropShip]] and maneuvered into its final place. Careful operations and strict safety guidelines were needed to make sure the system's planets were not affected by a load that missed its target. If the load entered a planetary atmosphere, when it impacted the surface it would cause destruction almost equal to that of a small tactical nuclear device.<ref name="TOp323">''Tactical Operations'', p. 323, "Mass Driver"</ref> Due to the massive damage and fallout these weapons can inflict upon a planet, mass drivers were rightly considered weapons of mass destruction and access to their control systems was heavily restricted and regulated. These safeguards failed at [[Cor Caroli]], resulting in several nickel-iron asteroids landing on the planet's surface.<ref>''Dark Age: Republic Worlds'', p. 179, "Cor Caroli"</ref> − Initially created by the [[Terran Hegemony]] as a few prototypes in [[2715]], the first WarShips to mount any was the [[Soyal]] class in [[2732]], resulting in the Star League constructing a modified [[Kimagure]], the SLS [[Surprise]], in [[2756]]. [[Word of Blake]] engineers rediscovered the technology in [[3070]], creating the [[Erinyes (Individual WarShip)|Erinyes]].<ref name="TOp323"/> These massive weapons fired a [['Mech]] sized iron slug at their target, and inflicted mind-boggling amounts of damage. Fortunately, there were several restrictions on Mass Drivers as weapons that greatly reduced their effectiveness on the battlefield: + Initially created by the [[Terran Hegemony]] as a few prototypes in [[2715]], the first WarShips to mount any was the [[Soyal]] class in [[2732]], resulting in the Star League constructing a modified [[Kimagure]], the SLS [[Surprise]], in [[2756]]. [[Word of Blake]] engineers rediscovered the technology in [[3070]], creating the [[Erinyes (WarShip)|Erinyes]].<ref name="TOp323"/> These massive weapons fired a [['Mech]] sized iron slug at their target, and inflicted mind-boggling amounts of damage. Fortunately, there were several restrictions on Mass Drivers as weapons that greatly reduced their effectiveness on the battlefield: Like other capital weapons, the Mass Driver was broadly split into three categories: Like other capital weapons, the Mass Driver was broadly split into three categories: Line 23:
Line 23: # It is ineffective against any target smaller than the size of a planet or moon. # It is ineffective against any target smaller than the size of a planet or moon. # Attacks via orbital bombardment are greatly restricted by Article II of the [[Ares Conventions]]. # Attacks via orbital bombardment are greatly restricted by Article II of the [[Ares Conventions]]. − # The indiscriminate damage of a Mass Driver round can have horrific consequences on a planet, including extinction of indiginous life.<ref>See [[w:Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event|Extinction of Terran Dinosaurs]] for one example.</ref> The use of a Mass Driver therefore could fall under restrictions of Article I and Article IV of the [[Ares Conventions]]. + # The indiscriminate damage of a Mass Driver round can have horrific consequences on a planet, including extinction of indiginous life.<ref>See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous%E2%80%93Tertiary_extinction_event Extinction of Terran Dinosaurs] for one example.</ref> The use of a Mass Driver therefore could fall under restrictions of Article I and Article IV of the [[Ares Conventions]]. # A Mass Driver is more expensive than nearly any other weapon system. The Light Mass Driver cost 150 million C-bills, which is enough to outfit at least a regiment of BattleMechs. The Heavy Mass Driver cost a staggering '''500 million C-bills'''. # A Mass Driver is more expensive than nearly any other weapon system. The Light Mass Driver cost 150 million C-bills, which is enough to outfit at least a regiment of BattleMechs. The Heavy Mass Driver cost a staggering '''500 million C-bills'''. </div> </div>
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | '''Mass Driver''' systems have been used by civilian orbital mining and manufacturing interests for centuries as an economical means of moving materials. Functioning as a primitive [[Gauss rifle]], a load is placed into a cradle which is accelerated via a series of magnets. The load then flies off on the directed course at a relatively slow speed, requiring no rockets, fuel, or guidance systems. Once it reaches its destination the load is captured by an orbital tug or [[DropShip]] and maneuvered into its final place. Careful operations and strict safety guidelines were needed to make sure the system's planets were not affected by a load that missed its target. If the load entered a planetary atmosphere, when it impacted the surface it would cause destruction almost equal to that of a small tactical nuclear device.<ref name="TOp323">''Tactical Operations'', p. 323, "Mass Driver"</ref> Due to the massive damage and fallout these weapons can inflict upon a planet, mass drivers were rightly considered weapons of mass destruction and access to their control systems was heavily restricted and regulated. These safeguards failed at [[Cor Caroli]], resulting in several nickel-iron asteroids landing on the planet's surface.<ref>''Dark Age: Republic Worlds | + | '''Mass Driver''' systems have been used by civilian orbital mining and manufacturing interests for centuries as an economical means of moving materials. Functioning as a primitive [[Gauss rifle]], a load is placed into a cradle which is accelerated via a series of magnets. The load then flies off on the directed course at a relatively slow speed, requiring no rockets, fuel, or guidance systems. Once it reaches its destination the load is captured by an orbital tug or [[DropShip]] and maneuvered into its final place. Careful operations and strict safety guidelines were needed to make sure the system's planets were not affected by a load that missed its target. If the load entered a planetary atmosphere, when it impacted the surface it would cause destruction almost equal to that of a small tactical nuclear device.<ref name="TOp323">''Tactical Operations'', p. 323, "Mass Driver"</ref> Due to the massive damage and fallout these weapons can inflict upon a planet, mass drivers were rightly considered weapons of mass destruction and access to their control systems was heavily restricted and regulated. These safeguards failed at [[Cor Caroli]], resulting in several nickel-iron asteroids landing on the planet's surface.<ref>''Dark Age: Republic Worlds'', p. 179, "Cor Caroli"</ref> |
| − | Initially created by the [[Terran Hegemony]] as a few prototypes in [[2715]], the first WarShips to mount any was the [[Soyal]] class in [[2732]], resulting in the Star League constructing a modified [[Kimagure]], the SLS [[Surprise]], in [[2756]]. [[Word of Blake]] engineers rediscovered the technology in [[3070]], creating the [[Erinyes ( | + | Initially created by the [[Terran Hegemony]] as a few prototypes in [[2715]], the first WarShips to mount any was the [[Soyal]] class in [[2732]], resulting in the Star League constructing a modified [[Kimagure]], the SLS [[Surprise]], in [[2756]]. [[Word of Blake]] engineers rediscovered the technology in [[3070]], creating the [[Erinyes (WarShip)|Erinyes]].<ref name="TOp323"/> These massive weapons fired a [['Mech]] sized iron slug at their target, and inflicted mind-boggling amounts of damage. Fortunately, there were several restrictions on Mass Drivers as weapons that greatly reduced their effectiveness on the battlefield: |
Like other capital weapons, the Mass Driver was broadly split into three categories: | Like other capital weapons, the Mass Driver was broadly split into three categories: | ||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
# It is ineffective against any target smaller than the size of a planet or moon. | # It is ineffective against any target smaller than the size of a planet or moon. | ||
# Attacks via orbital bombardment are greatly restricted by Article II of the [[Ares Conventions]]. | # Attacks via orbital bombardment are greatly restricted by Article II of the [[Ares Conventions]]. | ||
| − | # The indiscriminate damage of a Mass Driver round can have horrific consequences on a planet, including extinction of indiginous life.<ref>See [ | + | # The indiscriminate damage of a Mass Driver round can have horrific consequences on a planet, including extinction of indiginous life.<ref>See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceous%E2%80%93Tertiary_extinction_event Extinction of Terran Dinosaurs] for one example.</ref> The use of a Mass Driver therefore could fall under restrictions of Article I and Article IV of the [[Ares Conventions]]. |
# A Mass Driver is more expensive than nearly any other weapon system. The Light Mass Driver cost 150 million C-bills, which is enough to outfit at least a regiment of BattleMechs. The Heavy Mass Driver cost a staggering '''500 million C-bills'''. | # A Mass Driver is more expensive than nearly any other weapon system. The Light Mass Driver cost 150 million C-bills, which is enough to outfit at least a regiment of BattleMechs. The Heavy Mass Driver cost a staggering '''500 million C-bills'''. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||