Centurion Weapon System

Centurion Weapon System
Production information
Type Energy (Direct Fire)
Tech Base Inner Sphere Experimental[1][2]
Prototyped Approximately ~2762 TH[1][2]
Year Extinction 2770
Technology Rating E[2]
Availability Rating F[2]
Availability Ratings F[2]/X[2]/X[2]
Legality Rating E[3]
Technical specifications
Heat 4[3]
Damage 0
Minimum Range 0/0[2]
Short Range 1/6[2]
Medium Range 2/12[2]
Long Range 3/18[2]
Tons 5[3]
Critical Slots 2[3]
Cost (unloaded) 1,000,000[3]
BV (2.0) 750[4]



Description[edit]

The eventually inspiration for Dark Age era TSEMP systems, the Centurion Weapon System was a Star League era directed energy weapon firing a focused EMP burst and has the ability to temporarily shut down any electronics primarily to non-lethally disable BattleMechs, combat vehicles and aerospace fighters.[1][2]

Overview[edit]

In the late twenty-eighth century, the increasing spread of advanced Terran Hegemony military technologies to the general Inner Sphere and the Periphery led Star League Defense Force Generals Aleksandr Kerensky and Aaron DeChavilier to task researchers with developing non-lethal weapons to disable such "stolen" equipment. A few concepts were reviewed before research focused on the development of an energy weapon intended to produce a localized electromagnetic pulse on impact intended to overload the electronic systems of the target.[1][2]

Despite this laudable goal, practical testing and combat simulations quickly showed even minimal electronics hardening and simple combat maneuvering rendered the depressingly short-ranged and overly complicated system ineffective against all but the slowest and oldest equipment still in use. During trials engineers fitted test units with special transponders that would automatically shut down units if struck with Centurion beam at increased ranges, with the SLDF agreeing to an extended test in response, but even with this boost the weapon system still proved both too limited and unreliable. Ultimately the system was shelved when the additional transponders were modified to be able to shut down 'Mechs or vehicles by coded radio command, before even they were removed when the codes were leaked far and wide.[1][2]

Though development of the Centurion system and even the transponders quickly ended and the technology disappeared during the LosTech period of the Succession War era, the system made a surprising return during the Jihad with copies of the prototype emerging as part of the "Retrotech" craze that swept the Inner Sphere. The Word of Blake championed these efforts as part of a search for an improved relative of the BattleMech Taser, and while the Blakists never succeeded before their defeat, their research would ultimately allow the Republic of the Sphere to refine and introduce the TSEMP systems which finally achieve what the Centurion Weapon System could not.[5][2][6][7]

Notes[edit]

The ranges listed reflect if a target is susceptible or resistant to the Centurion Weapon System. Most undamaged military equipment are resistant to the CWS use the shorter Small Laser ranges, but equipment that is either primitive/retrotech, damaged or older than 150 years old as of 2762 or are fitted with the testing transponders are automatically susceptible. Infantry, including battle armor, and aerospace units larger than 200 tons are automatically immune from the effects.[2]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Jihad Conspiracies: Interstellar Players 2, p. 127: "Rules Addendum - New Vehicle Equipment: Centurion Weapon Systems"
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 Interstellar Operations, pp. 85–86: "Alternate Eras: Units and Equipment - Centurion Weapon System (Star League Era)"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Interstellar Operations, p. 217: "Additional Alternate Eras Weapons Equipment"
  4. Interstellar Operations, p. 195: "Alternate Eras Weapons and Equipment Battle Value Table"
  5. Experimental Technical Readout: Periphery, p. 13: "TRB-XTS Thunderbird"
  6. Era Report: 3145, p. 121
  7. Field Manual: 3145, p. 245

Bibliography[edit]