Protector-class Flak Tower
Description: The flak tower is an old concept, and forgotten in the Confederation until rediscovered in the old Audacian Military Archives. Flak towers were used by the various nationstates on Audacia in much earlier times to defend against enemy air attacks. Equipped with heavy guns and heavy armor, they were so effective in their role that generally air attacks were completely deterred altogether, because the armor was too thick for their bombs to pierce, and the guns were capable of ripping the aircraft apart in a single shot. They were even instances in which the Audacians used them against opposing armored vehicles to great effect.
The Protector-class Flak Tower, co-designed by KDI and the Audacian military, attempts to duplicate that effectiveness, but instead of using multiple, old, chemical-propellant guns, it uses a single, three-barreled revolving railgun for a faster rate of fire. Instead of countering airborne bombers, the Protector is designed to hit capital starships, much in the same way as a planetary turbolaser. Each railgun barrel is constructed in the same fashion as previous KDI weapons, using ferrocarbon to brace and hold the superconducting rails together. Because of the tremendous recoil generated from the weapon, the entire platform is built on a rolling foundation (similar to how many modern runways are constructed). On that foundation are the provision stores, enough to keep the combined army and naval gunnery crew running independently for several months before a restock is required.
In attempt to duplicate the original flak towers’ durability, the structure is utilizes 3.5 meter thick ferrocrete walls heavily reinforced by durasteel framing. In addition, the facility features both ray and particle shielding which is always kept up, except for at the entrance. Particle shields, both from the tower and planetary shields (if any) are briefly lowered for several milliseconds as the guns fire. The sides of the octagonal base are slightly sloped and featureless, except for the several automated blaster cannons on each face. On top of that base iare several rapid-fire dual laser cannons (similar to the ones used on the original Tie Fighter) for point-defence against smaller enemy aircraft and ground vehicles. On the same level lies the spherical turret, made out of Quadanium steel, in which the railgun is housed. The turret uses magnetic levitation turrets similar to those used on some Confederation warships. This allows the weapon to easily track faster moving capital ships, but it is quite unlikely to hit anything smaller than a shuttle. Like the flak tower weapons of old, the railgun has an excellent depression field, allowing it in emergencies to fire on ground targets.
Like planetary turbolasers, the tertiary weapon requires a massive power supply, which has led to Flak Towers using half of the Multi-core Power system used on the Seraph Mk III. The power system is housed beneath the rolling foundation for the platform and is protected in the same fashion as the flak tower’s octagonal base. Just off to the side of the power system lies the vast ammunition magazines for the weapons, also protected by 3.5 meter thick ferrocrete walls.
For simplicity’s sake, the railgun only uses two types of ammo: solid Armor Piercing and a Meson loaded shell. Both shells are made using molecular fusing in a process similar to that of making molecular armor. The difference being that the AP shell is made completely of it, while the Meson shell has a cavity inside filled with materials which activate when they hit the target, to start releasing Mesons. Mesons are subatomic particles with a short half-life. Aside from the damage caused by the kinetic energy of the shell, mesons rapidly decay releasing high levels of radiation as well as an explosion because the process is similar to nuclear fission. The shells are fed in a linked belt similar to that used by some projectile machine guns.
Security is a prime concern with the structure. To that end, the tower uses seismic sensors to detect intruders before they reach the facility grounds. At the grounds of the facility are energy fences which completely encircle the tower. The inside perimeter of these fences are patrolled by the tireless Paladin IIs which are kept stored in the tower when not in use. There is only one entrance into the facility. It is kept under constant watch by droid and organic sentries. Access is restricted to only Confederation military personnel which have previously been authorized according to the tower’s computers. Personnel use their rank cylinders much like keycards in order to access the first foyer. If any physical details such as the user’s voice, retinae, or fingerprint do not match, an alarm is triggered and a pair of the laser traps on either side of the foyer gun the target down, usually with stun bolts, but if that appears ineffective, lethal blaster bolts will be used. Once inside the base, the rank cylinder is frequently required to access key areas. Aside from the typical guards, gravity traps are randomly imbedded within the floors and superconductors line the walls. When an intruder is detected, electricity is ran through those linings, quickly charring any person in the immediate vicinity as high-voltage electrical currents run through their body.
By order of the Contegorian Council, Protector Flak Tower systems are to be speedily introduced on all Confederation worlds as the top defence priority. The entire Contegori-class Star Destroyer program has been put off for several months in order to speed up production of the facility’s components. Other defence projects, including the building of other warships, fighters, vehicles, and droids has also been reduced somewhat as their resources are used to get the towers built up expediently. Adding to that effort, the Confederation has contracted Stellar Enterprises to build many of the networks, using profits from Genon’s Bacta production to hire the company. It is expected that in several months, some networks will have been completed or will be nearing completion.
Associated RP Thread: In the Name of Defence...
The Protector-class Flak Tower, co-designed by KDI and the Audacian military, attempts to duplicate that effectiveness, but instead of using multiple, old, chemical-propellant guns, it uses a single, three-barreled revolving railgun for a faster rate of fire. Instead of countering airborne bombers, the Protector is designed to hit capital starships, much in the same way as a planetary turbolaser. Each railgun barrel is constructed in the same fashion as previous KDI weapons, using ferrocarbon to brace and hold the superconducting rails together. Because of the tremendous recoil generated from the weapon, the entire platform is built on a rolling foundation (similar to how many modern runways are constructed). On that foundation are the provision stores, enough to keep the combined army and naval gunnery crew running independently for several months before a restock is required.
In attempt to duplicate the original flak towers’ durability, the structure is utilizes 3.5 meter thick ferrocrete walls heavily reinforced by durasteel framing. In addition, the facility features both ray and particle shielding which is always kept up, except for at the entrance. Particle shields, both from the tower and planetary shields (if any) are briefly lowered for several milliseconds as the guns fire. The sides of the octagonal base are slightly sloped and featureless, except for the several automated blaster cannons on each face. On top of that base iare several rapid-fire dual laser cannons (similar to the ones used on the original Tie Fighter) for point-defence against smaller enemy aircraft and ground vehicles. On the same level lies the spherical turret, made out of Quadanium steel, in which the railgun is housed. The turret uses magnetic levitation turrets similar to those used on some Confederation warships. This allows the weapon to easily track faster moving capital ships, but it is quite unlikely to hit anything smaller than a shuttle. Like the flak tower weapons of old, the railgun has an excellent depression field, allowing it in emergencies to fire on ground targets.
Like planetary turbolasers, the tertiary weapon requires a massive power supply, which has led to Flak Towers using half of the Multi-core Power system used on the Seraph Mk III. The power system is housed beneath the rolling foundation for the platform and is protected in the same fashion as the flak tower’s octagonal base. Just off to the side of the power system lies the vast ammunition magazines for the weapons, also protected by 3.5 meter thick ferrocrete walls.
For simplicity’s sake, the railgun only uses two types of ammo: solid Armor Piercing and a Meson loaded shell. Both shells are made using molecular fusing in a process similar to that of making molecular armor. The difference being that the AP shell is made completely of it, while the Meson shell has a cavity inside filled with materials which activate when they hit the target, to start releasing Mesons. Mesons are subatomic particles with a short half-life. Aside from the damage caused by the kinetic energy of the shell, mesons rapidly decay releasing high levels of radiation as well as an explosion because the process is similar to nuclear fission. The shells are fed in a linked belt similar to that used by some projectile machine guns.
Security is a prime concern with the structure. To that end, the tower uses seismic sensors to detect intruders before they reach the facility grounds. At the grounds of the facility are energy fences which completely encircle the tower. The inside perimeter of these fences are patrolled by the tireless Paladin IIs which are kept stored in the tower when not in use. There is only one entrance into the facility. It is kept under constant watch by droid and organic sentries. Access is restricted to only Confederation military personnel which have previously been authorized according to the tower’s computers. Personnel use their rank cylinders much like keycards in order to access the first foyer. If any physical details such as the user’s voice, retinae, or fingerprint do not match, an alarm is triggered and a pair of the laser traps on either side of the foyer gun the target down, usually with stun bolts, but if that appears ineffective, lethal blaster bolts will be used. Once inside the base, the rank cylinder is frequently required to access key areas. Aside from the typical guards, gravity traps are randomly imbedded within the floors and superconductors line the walls. When an intruder is detected, electricity is ran through those linings, quickly charring any person in the immediate vicinity as high-voltage electrical currents run through their body.
By order of the Contegorian Council, Protector Flak Tower systems are to be speedily introduced on all Confederation worlds as the top defence priority. The entire Contegori-class Star Destroyer program has been put off for several months in order to speed up production of the facility’s components. Other defence projects, including the building of other warships, fighters, vehicles, and droids has also been reduced somewhat as their resources are used to get the towers built up expediently. Adding to that effort, the Confederation has contracted Stellar Enterprises to build many of the networks, using profits from Genon’s Bacta production to hire the company. It is expected that in several months, some networks will have been completed or will be nearing completion.
Associated RP Thread: In the Name of Defence...