Directorate Officer
Image Source: Modified concept art of Master of Orions's proton torpedo (found http://masteroforion.gamepedia.com/Proton_torpedoes[/FONT]]here
Intent: To provide an Ion warhead for use against high-tech opponents
Development Thread: None
Manufacturer: Lucerne Labs
Model: Nyx-class Ion Torpedo
Affiliation: Directorate, Lightside Factions, select Lucerne Labs customers
Modularity: No
Production: Mass-Produced
Material: warhead components, duraplast, durasteel
Classification: Missile
Size: standard starfighter-grade proton torpedo
Length: 1.7 meters
Weight: 80 kg
Ammunition Type: Projectile
Ammunition Capacity: 1 ion capacitor
Effective Range: 1 kilometer
Rate of Fire: single
Special Features:
-Fiber Optic wire-guided SALOC guidance system
-mechanical detonator
-solid propellant rocket motor
-can be launched from any platform capable of firing a proton torpedo
Strengths
-Narrow, focused radiation is excellent at concentrating power to overwhelm shielded electronical devices
-Resistant to electronic warfare and EMP devices
Weaknesses:
-Does not have the area of effect associated with most EMP weapons.
-Half the range of a standard starfighter warhead (~500 meters)
Description: Roughly the size and shape of a standard proton torpedo, The Nyx-class Ion Torpedo is designed to disrupt and destroy enemy electronics via a narrowband ion pulse. This ion pulse is produced by an ion capacitor similar to those found on disruptor torpedoes. Unlike that weapon, the Nyx's capacitor is designed to release its charge into a focused and narrow frequency range. This makes the Nyx a much more focused EMP weapon, capable of penetrating and overpowering shielded electronics to fry their circuitry. This penetrative effect come at the cost of most EMP weapon's area of effect; the torpedo's charge is only effective in a cone-shaped area that expands from the point of detonation. The further away from the initial detonation point, the less the damage. At close ranges, the sudden surge of strong microwave radiation overheats and fuses circuits together, rendering them useless until they are replaced. At long distances, the effects are very mild, such as seeing interior lights briefly flicker. This makes the Nyx particularly well-suited for disabling certain subsystems on capital ships, though it can be employed against smaller craft as well.
The plasteel torpedo chassis itself is a step backwards in technology. The base chassis is based on that of a standard proton torpedo, allowing it to be backwards compatible with proton torpedo launchers. Everything else about the weapon though is decidedly low tech in order to make it resistant against electronic warfare. Rather than using a miniaturized ion engine, the Nyx relies on a solid fuel slug not unlike those found the Trade Federation's old Vulture-class Drones. The ion capacitor is triggered by a simple mechanical contact mechanism. The missile itself is guided to its target from the ship's targeting computer or gunner through a fiber optic cable. While this all makes the Nyx highly resistant to electronic warfare techniques and technologies, it also limits the torpedo's range to a mere 500 meters, or roughly half that of a normal proton torpedo.
Primary Source:
http://spectrum.ieee.org/biomedical/devices/the-dawn-of-the-ebomb (Narrowband EMP weapons article)
