Editing World Devastators (section)

==='''Functions'''===

Perhaps nothing so characterized the nature of Palpatine's New Order as much as the Tarkin Doctrine. It is still one of the underlying principles by which the Empire governs. While both Death Stars were destroyed, this in no way invalidates the Tarkin Doctrine that spawned them. The World Devastator actually improves its effectiveness by virtue of its self-contained nature. Cannibalizing what it needs and refining the materials to make new vehicles and fighters, Devastators are excellent weapons. The amount of time it takes to lay waste to a planet may be quite long compared to the instantaneous destruction of a planet with the superlaser, but the World Devastator wastes nothing.

Raw materials are molecularized and siphoned off to the fabrication plants deep in the bellies of these behemoth constructs. Subsidiary computers hold design specifications for dozens of different robot fighters, battlespeeders and automated tanks. Based on priorities assigned by the commander, the master technicians set production levels and assembly schedules. With so many interconnected computer systems, a realignment of assembly priorities can take several hours. Once the computers have the designs on-line, the great internal factories can begin working on the fabrication.

As the first of the elements and alloys are channeled by force field into the forming chambers, they are shaped and formed, molded by robot manipulators and welded, cut, stamped and tooled into the necessary parts. The parts are then moved to the assembly lines, where droids, workers and slaves begin assembling the new machines to correspond to the selected patterns.

The two most important individuals in the on-board factories are the Calibration Engineer, who maintains the furnace temperature and force field siphons, and the Assembly Commander, who must oversee the actual production to peak efficiency.

During a battle situation, the commander may either rely on the built-in turbolasers, ion cannons or other weapons, or he may begin charging up the battle craft the Devastator manufactures. Many of these are automated craft that are controlled by combat technicians from the bridge. Alternatively, the Devastators work in tandem with heavily armored military transports that ferry the many pilots and crew members necessary to operate any manned vehicles that are built. The World Devastator uses a series of tractor beam projectors to direct materials into the maw of the molecular furnace, which has a layer of plasma shields around it to protect the World Devastator itself.

The sun-hot maw of the molecular furnace at the front, bottom or rear of a World Devastator can break down any structure, from bare mountainside to starship to gleaming city. Even starships aren't immune to the effect, as demonstrated by the fate of the Rebel Star Destroyer Emancipator. World Devastators can also devour barren planetoids and asteroids, destroyed vehicles and ships or any other source of metals, plastics and other components.

Depending on the mineral wealth of the victim planet, the World Devastator's factories may create a surplus of finished goods; these are shipped to other warships or industrial worlds for processing. The World Devastators are not currently capable of reproducing the computer cores and fabrication equipment it takes to make more Devastators, but in time, even that problem could be surmounted.