GDI CEO
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To develop a specialized module for launching ‘area of denial’ gravimetric fields, as well as to facilitate interdiction applications
- Image Source: Image 1 is from ‘Hawk Wargaming’ but I could not find a direct page crediting them for this. However, the following page gives them credit, about halfway down. | Image 2 Credits
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: Gravity Well | Gravity Well Projector
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
- Manufacturer: GDI Incorporated and its subsidiary, Guardian Defense Engineering
- Affiliation: GDI Incorporated
- Market Status: Closed-Market | Guardian Defense Industries Inc. This item is classified as a ‘Reserve’ item, meaning that this specific item is exempt from ‘open use’ contracts awarded by GDI via their marketplace terminal. It must be explicitly requested via the marketplace terminal.
- Model: GDE-48-IP ‘Heilos’ Interdiction Projector
- Modularity: N/A
- Production: Limited
- Material:
- Quadanium Exterior Plating
- Alusteel Superstructure and probe casings
- Chromium Internal Housing
- Duravlex Coating
- Cold Plasma Cooling System
- Limited Interchangeable Machined Parts
- Gravity Well Projector Components
- EMP Projector Components
- Sensor Dampener Components
- Recoil Stabilizers
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Classification: Interdiction Projector
- Size: Small
- Weight: Average
- Ammunition Type: Based on configuration as noted in detail below.
- Remote Gravimetric Field Projectors
- Remote ECM Field Projectors.
- Remote Sensor Dampener Field Projectors
- Ammunition Capacity: Average
- Effective Range: Extreme
- Rate of Fire: High
- Damage Output: None
- Recoil: Average
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Interdiction Field Projectors: The GDE-48-IP is a unique ‘weapon’ in that it does no actual physical damage; but rather, launches ‘field projector’ probes to perform a variety of functions. Specifically, it is capable of launching three primary projection probes: Gravimetric, EMP, and Sensor Dampening. All probes share common features as follows:
- Alusteel casings similar to many torpedoes
- A generalized radius per probe of approximately 100 meters.
- A max probe deployment of 10 probes at a time regardless of ‘type’ or quantity of projectors installed upon a given ship (as each individual projector operate as a system in terms of probe communication).
Deployment of probes is done either ‘in series’ or ‘in concentration’. ‘In series’ deployment is strictly for area denial, and results in a consistent effect along the entire length of the deployment. The most effective method is to overlap each field in columns of two, so as to provide a greater than average effect upon your standard military ship. ‘In concentration’ deployment is meant for active, offensive utilization, similar to if a bomb or ‘area of effect’ charge were to be launched into an enemy formation. The effect is usually exponential over a smaller area, which varies based on the spacing pattern of the probes. Each probe type’s functions are described below:
- Gravimetric Probes: Gravimetric probes contain miniaturized gravity well projector components. While not nearly as powerful on its own as a larger gravity well projector system built into a dedicated Interdictor-class capital ship, when these probes are deployed in greater quantities, they can emit a highly dense gravitational field which links together between probes in a mesh. The amount of probes utilized could vary the strength and application of the field. Lower quantities could effectively result in ‘blocking off’ areas of the battlefield to other vessels for fear of getting trapped in the artificial gravity well. Larger concentrations of probes could create a field similar in scope and effect of an actual interdiction field, pulling starships out of hyperspace and causing their hyperdrives to temporarily overload from the stress of such an abrupt translation.
- EMP Probes: EMP probes contain miniaturized EMP field projectors. They operate similarly to the gravity field projectors earlier mentioned, with the obvious exception of utilizing EMP technology instead. Smaller quantities of probes could simply result in minor electronic disruption to targeting technology and shield arrays. Larger concentrations could result in total electronic system failure of a ship venturing too close, or in one wherein the probe was intentionally launched nearby. The effects of this field could be mitigated to an extent by multiple different EMP shielding techniques, but the effect cannot be entirely discounted or avoided if a ship is caught within the field radius. If anything, shielding would decrease the amount of time an effect remains upon the target, rather than reducing the actual effect itself.
- Sensor Dampening Probes: Similar to the previous two probe types, sensor dampening probes are able to emit a ‘white noise’ field, which would severely handicap a ship from detecting anything on the opposing side of the field. Unlike the previous types, the effect of this field is equally as potent if launched in series vs if launched in concentration. So, there is no point in launching these offensively against a formation of ships, but rather these are almost exclusively seen for area denial, or in aiding the masking of movements for more stealthy or smaller vessels.
STRENGTHS
- +Interdiction Field Projectors: (See special features)
- +Small: This module is fairly small and unobtrusive, allowing it to be deployed on any sized capital vessel (corvette and larger). However, it should be noted that in smaller vessels (corvettes and frigates), this system would take up space normally used for conventional weapons, therefore reducing the amount of conventional weapons they can deploy. This should be accounted for accordingly.
- +Versatile: As noted above, this module is capable of launching probes for a variety of applications, providing a level of tactical flexibility for ships that utilize this technology.
WEAKNESSES- -Non-Conventional: Although the merits of this system stand on their own for those of singular vision, it should still be stated that this is not a conventional weapon by any means. It does not fire munitions, ordinance, focused energy particles, or any other means of dealing physical damage to enemy vessels.
- -Sensitive Equipment: While each individual probe is small enough to prevent becoming too large of a target, the fact remains that the ‘fields’ these probes emit can be completely mitigated or bypass by the destruction of the probes themselves. Doing so would require dedicated firepower with very accurate levels of tracking and target acquisition, which in many cases would result in ships getting into the field of effect of the probe. to begin with.
- -Bandwidth Limitations: The Heilos projector communicates with its probes via high intensity IR bursts, which are attenuated at a distinct level to break through the fields they project so as to prevent disruption. This highly focused means of communication is great for reliability and range, but it has the side effect of limiting how many probes can communicate with the system. This has resulted in a hard cap of 10 probes per Heilos system. While it has been mentioned, it’s worth repeating that increase quantities of Heilos projectors does not mitigate this limitation, as they all communicate with one another to maintain continuous probe communication and synchronization
DESCRIPTION
While GDI has established for itself a strong name in the market of conventional weapons, engineering technologies, and ship development, it has flexed its muscles in the field of non-conventional weaponry and modules with the development of the GDE-48-IP ‘Heilos’ Interdiction Projector, along with the probes it is designed to launch. In its conception, the engineering teams of Guardian Defense Engineering sought to fulfill the dilemma of miniaturizing the technology behind dedicated interdiction and ECM vessels, without overly sacrificing functionality. A breakthrough was achieved in the probes themselves, with the mass groupings of said probes capable of emitting mesh fields to devastating effect, whether it is with the intention of area denial, or area of effect to disrupt fleet formations. The relatively small size of this module allows for it to be effectively integrated upon nearly any size capital vessel to varying degrees. While this weapon system is definitively not a typical or conventional means of doing so, the Heilos is slated to revolutionize spacial warfare and interdiction operations
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