Babylon 5 Pulse Weaponry
Pulse Weaponry
[edit]Pulse technology was the next possible step for weapon evolution after the success of the particle array. All across the galaxy particle-based weaponry was being invented, bought, sold and stolen in every shipbuilding facility imaginable. First envisioned by the Humans, who worked on ideas spoken about highly in the Narn Regime, pulse technology was created by removing the particles from the particle array.
Instead of firing supercharged particles, pulse weaponry uses the same tracking system and firing stability to throw focused energy blasts directly at the enemy. Without having to worry about an ‘unwieldy’ feeding mechanism, pulse weaponry can unleash much higher firing rates without the threat of jamming or running out of ammunition.
Lacking a bit of the punch that a supercharged particle stream has, pulse weaponry relies on its rate of fire to compensate. The reliance on firing lanes and targeting protocols means that the weapon can be easily defended against by defensive fire or swift piloting, but they remain inexpensive and numerous as a consequence.
| Pulse Weaponry | |||||||||
| Name | Origin | Type | Scale | Cost | Space Range | Atmosphere Range | Qualities | Damage | |
| Ultra-Light Pulse Cannon | - | Pulse Cannon | Starfighter | 20,000 | 1/2/4 | 10-100/200/400m | Fire Control: -1D | 3D | |
| Light Pulse Cannon | - | Pulse Cannon | Starfighter | 29,000 | 1/3/6 | 10-100/300/600m | Fire Control: -1D | 4D+2 | |
| Medium Pulse Cannon | - | Pulse Cannon | Starfighter | 62,000 | 1-3/7/13 | 10-300/700/1,300m | Fire Control: -1D | 7D+1 | |
| Heavy Pulse Cannon | - | Pulse Cannon | Capital | 420,000 | 1-6/15/30 | 2-12/30/60km | Fire Control: -1D | 6D+1 | |
| Uni-Pulse Cannon | Earth Alliance | Pulse Cannon | Starfighter | 25,000 | 1-2/5/10 | 10-200/500/1,000m | - | 4D | |
| Gatling Pulse Cannon | Earth Alliance | Pulse Cannon | Starfighter | 110,000 | 1-4/10/19 | 10-400/1,000/1,900m | - | 7D+1 | |
Pulse Cannon
[edit]- Fire Control: -1D
The essential pulse technology weapon is understandably the pulse cannon. It has become the leader in fast-firing energy weapons and is extremely simple to operate, repair and maintain. Most have twin alternating barrels to keep the component from overheating, but some instead use nitrogen or water cooling systems instead – there is little difference to the outward appearance of these weapons. Only their size and the relative power drawn from the fusion reactor, matters to most shipbuilders.
Uni-Pulse Cannon
[edit]The uni-pulse cannon is the standard fighter weapon of the Earth Alliance Starfury. Using the ‘three-round burst’ facility of some particle weapons but utilizing pulse technology to arm it, the weapon can saturate a target with several small groupings of pulse energy rather than spreading them out for lesser effect. Best when twin-linked or used in groups, the uni-pulse cannon is among Earth Alliance’s most admired scientific developments
Gatling Pulse Cannon
[edit]An advanced version of the uni-pulse cannon capable of precision attacks on ground targets, the gatling pulse cannon is the main armament of the Thunderbolt Starfury. Like the miniguns found on many of the EarthForce VTOL aircraft and land rovers, the gatling pulse cannon is a fully automatic weapon with an independent secondary power supply to sustain long bursts. Sometimes more effective than some capital vessel arms, it is no wonder why the Thunderbolt is so universally feared by Earth’s enemies.
Source
[edit]- Babylon 5 Ship Builder's Manual (pages 46-65)
- thedemonapostle