VATA

The **Variable Auto-Targeting Armament** or V.A.T.A is a very versatile weapon designed Originally for Battle Cruiser class starships, This system due to it's versatility and wide use by The Avenger Class Arbiter Class and Inquiry Class vessels has seen wide spread use among the fleet,

This overwhelming weapon fires a pair of Auto-Targeting Armament Projectiles that travel toward your designated target. Every few seconds, these projectiles will fire weapons (either torpedoes or a tachyon beam) at a random foe within weapons lock range of each delivery torpedo.

This highly versatile weapon system will function differently depending upon which firing mode each torpedo pair is deployed in

The versatility of the weapon system allows for multiple functions and firing solutions to be presented to the torpedo but it is not at this time considered a viable alternative to the photon or quantum torpedo weapons systems that are standard in Federation vessels as the reload time of the V.A.T.A torpedoes is still quite high versus its sister weapons in Quantum and Photon torpedoes

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Design The V.A.T.A torpedo system functions in many ways as the Photon or Quantum torpedo systems do. each torpedo contains a propulsion system onboard sensors to identify enemy vessels within firing range and in Quantum and Tachyon firing modes an anti-matter charge designed to damage the opposing vessel upon impact

### Offensive Functions

the firing modes for the VATA system are Tachyon burst, Quantum ordinance, and Chroniton ordinance each firing mode employs a different strategy as each firing mode also presents new challenges for the mothership battle cruiser starship to also overcome.

##### **Quantum firing mode**

unleashes micro quantum torpedoes during each second of flight time towards it's designated target. upon reaching the target the Quantum warhead VATA torpedo will either slam into the hull of the opposing vessel and detonate inflicting massive damage to the surface of the enemy vessel or detonate against shields inflicting minimal structural damage but possibly overloading the shield matrix in the struck facing.

##### **Chroniton firing mode**

releases the VATA torpedo with the intent to harass the opposing vessel by peppering its shields or hull with micro chroniton bursts designed to destabilize or shut down enemy warp fields and impair impulse drive functionality the torpedoes do not directly impact with the opposing vessel instead they will encircle it and continue to utilize chroniton radioactive bursts until emptying ordinance chambers completely, at which point the VATA torpedo will then self destruct to prevent the weapon from falling into enemy forces hands

##### **Tachyon firing mode**

Tachyon firing mode will unleash the VATA torpedo with a forward facing beam emitter warhead. during flight the Tachyon warhead will emit a half second burst of directed Tachyon energy at the designated target every 2 seconds during flight. this firing mode can severely damage or reduce the effectiveness of an enemy vessel shield system once the torpedo reaches it's designated target it will detonate against the shields or hull of the opponent vessel causing severe damage to the shield grid system and or hull of the opponent vessel.

### Mother-ship Dangers for VATA system

As each VATA torpedo has the possibility of becoming any other VATA torpedo system the mother-ship avenger or arbiter class starship must maintain a supply of each warhead to be used. such diversity does come at the cost of firing times as specialized technicians must fit each flight module with the individual VATA warhead before firing. (rough reload time for each VATA strike 2 minutes) as such the VATA system cannot feasibly replace standard issue multi-tube launchers for photon or quantum torpedo systems

During Tachyon firing mode it is possible however unlikely for an opposing vessel to intercept and destroy the warhead in flight while it is within range to inflict serious harm to the Avenger or Arbiter class vessel's shield system as most opponent vessels will be concentrating on deflecting or evading the heavy forward firepower of the AvengerArbiter mother-ship

Starfleet Vessels known to use V.A.T.A launchers

USS Axalon Avenger class battle cruiser

USS Ticonderoga Arbiter class battle cruiser