Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
Intent: To flesh out an existing canon device in a profitable way.
Development Thread: No
Manufacturer: Silk Holdings
Model: QQ-543N/53R Cap Drain Module
Affiliation: Levantine Sanctum, open market
Modularity: It's a module.
Production: Mass-produced
Material: Electronics, metal oxide varistor (replaceable), gadolinium-based superconductor
Description: Designed by freighter pilots with money, the QQ-543N/53R Cap Drain Module is primarily an anti-pirate measure.
The module is, in effect, an advanced surge protector, designed to shunt away excess voltage (such as from ionic charged particle beams, Connor nets, and even electromagnetic pulses). When a burst of voltage spreads across and through the hull, it encounters gadolinium-based superconductive cables, which shunt the excess to a central module for neutralization through chemical reaction in a metal oxide varistor. The varistor component degrades with use; while it may protect a vessel against several small-scale engagements, it would certainly be useless after (or during) a fight against heavy capital ships.
Due to cable length, varistor capacity, ship complexity and other factors, effective cap drain requirements double with every 200 metres of hull. For example, a vessel 200 metres or below would only require one module for a reasonable amount of protection, a vessel between 200 and 400 metres would require two modules, a vessel between 400 and 600 metres would require four modules, and so forth. As the module is compatible with all Silk and CEC freighters, and many other vessels, this means that a standard Tempus Ardet would require two modules, a standard Ackbar would require sixteen modules, and a standard Connestoga would require a staggering five hundred and twelve. Obviously, this protection has serious issues with cost-effectiveness, and is generally considered to yield optimal returns on vessels of frigate scale or smaller.
'A reasonable amount of protection' is generally defined as significant or full resistance against Connor nets, EMP weapons, and Force lightning, as well as limited resistance against ion cannons of the same scale as the vessel. Naturally, intensity of ion fire is also a significant factor. A serious attempt to disable a cap-drain-shielded vessel with capital-scale ion cannons will generally succeed. For example, while a smuggler flying a cap-drain-shielded Tachyon-class light freighter could safely take one or two capital ion cannon shots while making his escape, more would certainly neutralize the entire varistor and disable his ship. The wise and well-heeled pilot keeps several spare varistor nodes ready, recognizing that the cap drain would be totally ineffective while replacing them, and also recognizing that the varistor nodes, at 120kg each, are very difficult to swap out manually in the middle of combat, taking anywhere from five to fifteen minutes. As the device is not excessively complex, physical severing of the cables (ie, through substantial structural damage) would be required to make it ineffective. Obviously, damage closer to the varistor would have a higher likelihood of severing multiple cables.
One module takes up 5 tons of cargo space.
Development Thread: No
Manufacturer: Silk Holdings
Model: QQ-543N/53R Cap Drain Module
Affiliation: Levantine Sanctum, open market
Modularity: It's a module.
Production: Mass-produced
Material: Electronics, metal oxide varistor (replaceable), gadolinium-based superconductor
Description: Designed by freighter pilots with money, the QQ-543N/53R Cap Drain Module is primarily an anti-pirate measure.
The module is, in effect, an advanced surge protector, designed to shunt away excess voltage (such as from ionic charged particle beams, Connor nets, and even electromagnetic pulses). When a burst of voltage spreads across and through the hull, it encounters gadolinium-based superconductive cables, which shunt the excess to a central module for neutralization through chemical reaction in a metal oxide varistor. The varistor component degrades with use; while it may protect a vessel against several small-scale engagements, it would certainly be useless after (or during) a fight against heavy capital ships.
Due to cable length, varistor capacity, ship complexity and other factors, effective cap drain requirements double with every 200 metres of hull. For example, a vessel 200 metres or below would only require one module for a reasonable amount of protection, a vessel between 200 and 400 metres would require two modules, a vessel between 400 and 600 metres would require four modules, and so forth. As the module is compatible with all Silk and CEC freighters, and many other vessels, this means that a standard Tempus Ardet would require two modules, a standard Ackbar would require sixteen modules, and a standard Connestoga would require a staggering five hundred and twelve. Obviously, this protection has serious issues with cost-effectiveness, and is generally considered to yield optimal returns on vessels of frigate scale or smaller.
'A reasonable amount of protection' is generally defined as significant or full resistance against Connor nets, EMP weapons, and Force lightning, as well as limited resistance against ion cannons of the same scale as the vessel. Naturally, intensity of ion fire is also a significant factor. A serious attempt to disable a cap-drain-shielded vessel with capital-scale ion cannons will generally succeed. For example, while a smuggler flying a cap-drain-shielded Tachyon-class light freighter could safely take one or two capital ion cannon shots while making his escape, more would certainly neutralize the entire varistor and disable his ship. The wise and well-heeled pilot keeps several spare varistor nodes ready, recognizing that the cap drain would be totally ineffective while replacing them, and also recognizing that the varistor nodes, at 120kg each, are very difficult to swap out manually in the middle of combat, taking anywhere from five to fifteen minutes. As the device is not excessively complex, physical severing of the cables (ie, through substantial structural damage) would be required to make it ineffective. Obviously, damage closer to the varistor would have a higher likelihood of severing multiple cables.
One module takes up 5 tons of cargo space.
