Void Shields

One of the most common defensive forcefields in use by humanity, void shields function in a matter similar to an inverted Gellar field. When active, they create a fold in the veil between reality and the warp. By design, they do not fully breach into the warp, but instead partially transition inbound ordinance, resulting in the energy and matter of the attack being converted into a manageable soup of exotic energies. While immensely effective, each transition consumes staggering power and the surge of exotic energies can easily overload emitters. In effect, this means sufficiently large amounts of energy and mass can disrupt void shields, either overloading the power system or forcing the emitters into a rebooting cycle. Typically void shields are mounted in arrays of emitters, with isolated power systems. This allows downed layers of void shields to come back online while protected by layers that have yet to be overwhelmed. Most void shields project a reactive energy envelope, that reacts to sufficient energy density by activating the active field. In effect, this means swift-moving objects or energy blasts above a certain intensity will trigger the shield. This prevents wasting power by blocking sunlight or wind but does mean a slow-moving object can pass through a void shield, this passive envelop can be tuned to ignore attacks originating from within the shield. While effective, Void shields are sufficiently bulky and power-hungry that their use is limited to the largest of super heavies at the very smallest.

## Ground Void shields

### Personal Void shields

Rare archeotech relics, that have so far not yet been reverse engineered. Even in the Dark Age, the technologies needed to produce and power Void shields on such a small scale were rare and expensive. Reserved for the elites even then, what few examples remain are poorly understood and jealously guarded relics. Able to allow a man to survive multiple shots from anti-tank weapons, there are few better methods of protection, although they fail against melee attacks in most cases, as such weapons do not move fast enough to trigger the shield.

### Testudo Void shields

The most compact type of Void shield in common use, the Testudo Void Shield uses vastly simplified projectors. This allows for both significant miniaturization and impressive power efficiency. They are small enough that a purpose-built heavy tank can carry and power an array of them. Instead of creating a full field, they create a curved plane of protection. However, due to the simplicity of the projectors, the field can not distinguish between inbound and outbound fire, preventing those under it from firing out. Despite this limitation, they are invaluable for shielding armies on the move.

### Macro Void shields

An umbrella term used for Void Shields mounted on super heavy land vehicles. The shield and the generators to power it are massive, limiting their use to scout titans and similarly massive super heavies. Each layer of Void Shields will be able to withstand at least one hit, often allowing a super heavy to survive a barrage of weapons fire that would otherwise destroy it. Though, Void Shields can also be overwhelmed by massed amounts of fire from lesser weapons.

### Static Void Shields

A simplified version of void shields intended tor use in static positions. Notably bulkier than Macro Void shields, Static Void Shields are also more power-efficient, as they do not need to compensate for their platform's movements. Static Void Shields see a large amount of use in field emplacement and prefabricated fortresses. They are also often affixed to structures field engineers are seeking to fortify. While vulnerable to sabotage, Static Void Shields are capable of withstanding significant bombardment, massively reducing casualties from hostile artillery.

### Hive Void Shields

The largest ground-based void shield array, Hives are fitted with a dizzying array of Void Shield generators, intended to protect from a wide range of threats, including anything from mortar fire from enemy partisans to prolonged bombardment from hostile fleets. The combination of a Hive's immense size and massive power plants allows Hives to mount countless layers of Void Shields. Combined with the difficulty of accurate orbit to ground fire, this allows Fortress Hives to withstand bombardment from entire squadrons of battleships, and often require bombardments intense enough to devastate the surrounding areas.

## Naval Void shields

### Imperial Void Shields

Massive, power-hungry, and the standard for much of humanity. The Imperial Navy was one of the very few organizations to enforce a degree of standardization, this resulted in the Void Shields of most imperial ships being of surprisingly consistent quality, if not necessarily design. In general, Imperial Void Shields provide resistance to attempts to wear down a ship, providing a regenerating defense. Smaller ships also rely on them more than larger ones, with battleships and larger relying almost entirely on armor as the Imperium could not easily produce void shields to match the armor of more durable ships. They remain one of the most common types of Void Shield in existence, and to this day serve as the baseline for comparing and apprising other designs.

### Dark Age Void Shields

Recovered from the Sword of Sutur, these were marked as the "generic" void shield and seems to have been the baseline Void Shields widely available to almost all powers. Whether this was through convergent design, widely available design documentation, or simply a prolific seller is unknown. They have almost the exact same power draw as Imperial Void Shields, leading many to theorize that most imperial designs are degraded versions of this STC. However, the fully intact design offers 150% of the protection of the old Imperium's attempt to copy them.

### Ancile Void Shields

A type of Void Shield array that has been heavily optimized to minimize power consumption. While they provide similar protection to Imperial Void Shields, they require only 50% as much power. Making them ideal for vessels with tight power budgets, and roles that do not require powerful shields.

### Aegis Void Shield

A type of Void Shield that has been heavily optimized to maximize strength. Compare to Imperial-era shields, they need 150% the power but provide approximately 300% the protection. This makes them ideal for ships that can either spare the extra power or desperately need the extra protection they offer.

## Tranth Patten Void Shields

While Void Shields were considered to be a mature technology, with little room for improvement without massive amounts of research with the different perspective offered by the Frigid Sea Sirens, Archmagos Tranth was able to make several notable improvements. While you don understand exactly what he did, from what you can gather he made several changes to the method in which the Void Shield redirects attacks into the Warp, notably reducing the effort needed to do so, which in effect reduces the impact on the Void Shields. After conducting testing Archmagos Tranth has determined that his modifications will increase the amount of firepower needed to overload Void Shields by a solid 40%, without notably increasing the complexity, size or power requirements of the Void Sheild Generators.

## Ultimate Shield

a theoretical design not yet completed recovered from a Dark Age of Technology research station, the Ultimate Shield is intended to be fitted on the Deus super dreadnaught. Since its recovery before the first Grand Conclave, the various sane powers have been working to completed this potent technology, though so far progress has been slow. While not yet at even the prototyping stage, the combined efforts of countless magos to finish this project has resulted in a firm foundation for further efforts.