Arc Weapon

An **Arc weapon** is a plasma-based weapon powered by Petrusite, an element which is found only on Helghan. Arc weapons were constructed and used by the Helghan Empire in the Second Extrasolar War. These weapons come in the form of hand-held weapons such as VC5 Arc Rifle to heavy anti-orbital weapons platforms.

## Design

Arc cannons and batteries were used in the defense of Pyrrhus during Operation Archangel. The large weapons platforms drew their power from the Petrusite grid beneath Pyrrhus and the Tharsis Refinery. Once the electrical current has been charged inside an Arc platform, the weapon releases large arcs of electrical currents, which destroys anything that comes in contact with the arc.

## History

During the time of rapid industrialization that followed the accession of Autarch Scolar Visari in the early 2350's, many new mines and refineries were opened. A series of devastating explosions during desert mining operations led to the discovery of Petrusite, a previously unknown element with huge electrical potential. Professor Torr Savic, a leading researcher at the Institute of Science and Technology, was the first to identify the element and develop a controlled means of using it to generate power. From there, Arc technology was used for civil and industrial applications, primarily increased automation and the provision of cheap energy to the masses.

Following the failed Helghast invasion of Vekta in 2357 and expecting ISA retaliation, Visari saw Arc technology to be vital to the very survival of the Helghast nation and he ordered that all research be directed to military applications. Stahl Arms began developing a fixed Arc cannon with massive firepower and extra-orbital range.

During the ISA counter-invasion of Helghan in Operation Archangel, the ISA Navy took heavy losses from Arc cannons and batteries and were pinned in orbit until ISA-sponsored mercenaries disabled the Arc Cannon system. However, not all Arc weapons were disabled by ISA forces as Colonel Mael Radec had hidden Arc towers within Pyrrhus and deployed them on the surprised invaders, preventing them from further encroaching on Visari Palace. The Arc network was later shut down when the ISA Cruiser *New Sun* crashed into the Petrusite distribution grid, in 2362.

However following the failed Invasion of Helghan, the wreckage of the New Sun was removed from the grid terminal crater, reactivating the Arc weapons systems, thus allowng the Helghast to mass produce the weapon by 2363, to the point by 2364, the Arc weapon systems were able to mass produce towers that were designed with power cores in order to provide power to the weapon and was designed to operate off of Helghan.

Arc Towers took part in the Battle of Sorola Sun, where although several effective against the Coralition Republic, the advanced ship building and armor of the Coralition Navy completely surpassed the ARC's fire power in the last days of the engagement, thus allowing the Coralition Republic to overcome and overrun the Helghast Third Army on the moon, remains of the Towers would remain on Sorola Sun for over 300 years until the moon was discovered in 2509 by Humans from Planet Everest.