The Orbital Class Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannons

## History

The genesis of the Orbital Class Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon traces its roots to a critical juncture in the Empire's history—the Defilement of Trucilara. This pivotal event marked the failure of the Orbital Class Bastion Cannons, raising concerns about the defensive capabilities of Trucilara in the face of formidable threats. While the responsibility for the research and development of such a crucial weapon typically fell under the purview of the Imperious and the Imperial Guard, recent covert restructuring and battlefield casualties had eroded their abilities in those quarters.

One prominent organization, Illiop Industries, had previously undertaken the development of the Bastion Cannons, but their catastrophic failure left them bereft of trust and credibility. Consequently, an alternative had to be sought, and the Ikarim, along with their home planet of Ikari, emerged as a beacon of hope. Ikari had long held the distinction of being the empire's foremost military research and development planet, enjoying an unusual degree of autonomy compared to other planets within the empire.

The Council of Principes, the ruling body of Ikari, immediately embarked on the task of addressing the primary shortcoming of the Bastion Cannons—insufficient firepower. In a remarkable display of industry and innovation, they swiftly generated over three dozen general designs and nearly 70 different weapon systems in the span of just one year.

The subsequent phase involved a collective decision-making process, wherein the the Capital Guard, the Imperial Guard, and The Istaci each selected a design to champion. While the ultimate authority rested with the Emperor, a decision was made to allow each organization to present its preferred design to The Stratigium—a pivotal decision-making body within the Imperial Guard—and a consortium representing the Imperious, the personal guards of the Emperor, among other key officials.

During this deliberative process, The Capital Guard's 14th Regiment, known as The Meteorites, successfully argued the superiority of the Magnetic Acceleration-based Cannon, the Hikidorax Tonda A1. Emperor Aleister Godfrey acquiesced to the choice, granting the Ikarim the mandate to refine this design further.

The responsibility for refining the design fell to Princep Morphyx Malice Zethrax, a visionary with a penchant for AI integration in weaponry and ship design. Morphyx, undaunted by budgetary constraints, embarked on the development of two equally exceptional designs—one with AI and one without.

To substantiate the merits of AI integration, Morphyx engaged in a spirited, three-day debate with the Novi Ingeniarii, Seraphici Architecti, and the Novi Artifices—the preeminent experts in infrastructure, technology, and siege craft within the empire. This exchange tested Morphyx's mettle, as he confronted individuals capable of intellectual feats thousands of times beyond the norm. His ability to stand toe to toe with these individuals had gained him immense respect from not only the Imperious but the Emperor who knew the difficulty of standing as an intellectual equal to the Imperious.

Ultimately, the design with AI integration was accepted, and the order for a prototype was dispatched to the Bolaria Magnus Shipyards—an extragalactic shipyard specializing in top-secret imperial projects. Given the unique nature of the system, the need to import thousands of experts from diverse worlds, and the requirement for approval of dozens of highly classified imperial designs, it would be nearly eight months before production of the first Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon could commence.

the Orbital Class Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon continued with significant hurdles encountered during its production phase, primarily related to the challenge of securing a power generator robust enough to fuel the cannon's formidable energy requirements. Princep Morphyx had leaned heavily on the expertise of the Novi Ingeniarii, Seraphici Architecti, and the Novi Artifices, who were engrossed in the research and development of the newly discovered Matter Annihilation Reactor. Without this revolutionary power source, the cannon would remain non-operational, necessitating the development of an alternative design.

For five painstaking years, the production of the Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon lagged behind schedule, causing mounting concerns among those overseeing the project. The reactor's importance in powering the Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon was paramount, and its delay posed a significant threat to the entire initiative.

Finally, after a protracted wait, the Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon's first production prototype was subjected to rigorous testing. The prototype was dispatched to a classified system, characterized by its hostile environments and a complete absence of inhabitants. Imperial Command had meticulously monitored all traffic in and out of the system throughout the prototype's development, ensuring the utmost secrecy. The initial test was pivotal, as it would determine whether the project would proceed or be shelved in favor of an alternative design.

The initial test of the Matter Annihilation Reactor was straightforward—a single firing against a relatively small ice moon within the system. The results were nothing short of astonishing, as half of the moon was melted away into a pool of molten ice that subsequently flowed into the cold void of space. Equally impressive was the cannon's relatively rapid firing capability, attributed to the efficiency of its AI systems in target acquisition, far surpassing human capabilities.

The most crucial and destructive test followed, where the cannon faced an ultimate trial—the surrounding fleet was ordered to obliterate the prototype to test its shield. The Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon's shields proved to be remarkably resilient, withstanding an array of weaponry commonly found on ships up to the Heavy Cruiser class. The shields even exhibited impressive resistance to a Battle Cruiser's firepower, but they succumbed when subjected to the onslaught of a Minorum Dreadnought.

To ensure complete destruction of the cannon components, a Naval Titan unleashed a relentless barrage, firing upon the wreckage for ten minutes. This extreme measure resulted in the vaporization of even the tiniest remnants, leaving nothing but a clean slate. So that not even a screw would be able to be taken for analysis by enemies, Regardless the system would still be monitored for a decade to insure that nothing untoward would be occurring in the system.

With undeniable proof of the cannon's efficacy and durability, far surpassing the capabilities of the previous Bastion Cannons, an order for 400 Orbital Class Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannons was placed. This massive order consumed all of Bolaria's time and resources, underscoring the significance of this endeavor to the Thoria Empire.

After an arduous seven years and two months, on the auspicious date of 3.10.005.IM128, the very first Orbital Class Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon was ceremoniously delivered to the Trucilaran system. It stood as a guardian over Trucilara, a new symbol of pride and glory, and its arrival immediately reverberated throughout the empire, Leaving a new surge of pride as waves of propoganda influenced the population, while beyond the empires closed boarders it left an uneasy feeling among the surrounding factions who were seeing the visible reaction of the previous attack on the empires capital. The cannon's imposing presence marked a new era in the empire's military capabilities and defensive strategy, forever altering the balance of power among the stars.

> "*And so it has begun. This is the moment at which one significant thing will be decided, whether the Thoria Empire shall ascend to become the greatest nation ever seen by humankind or fall into obscurity. Whose poisoned and diseased mind found the event 86 months ago to be one of military genius, well look upon the visible outcome of your choices.*"
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> —Rydrome Perkodox - The Chief Custodian of Titan

## Design

The Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon, with its dimensions meticulously engineered for optimal performance, is a testament to the cutting-edge technology and innovative design principles incorporated into its formidable structure. At a length of 1,288 meters, a width of 928 meters with the ring, and a height of 750 meters, this colossal weapon is an imposing presence in the vast expanse of space.

The cannon's architecture resembles that of a massive, boxy brick, characterized by its robust and angular form. At its core lies the Hikidorax Tonda A1 barrel, a testament to the exceptional craftsmanship of the Tonda Peoples on the planet of Hikidorial. This barrle spans 400 meters from the stern to the front of the weapon.

Encircling the cannon are a series of meticulously positioned magnetic coils, essential for generating and controlling the electromagnetic fields necessary for propulsion. Behind the cannon and surrounding the coils are auxiliary systems that support its operation ensuring optimal performance and safety.

To safeguard the cannon from potential threats, a Hydrawndia Gen 4 Shield Generator, known for its resilience and reliability, has been integrated into the structure. Four shield emitters located around the muzzle of the cannon and an additional 18 emitters on the ring work in tandem to focus and fortify this formidable shield system.

Nestled behind the barrel of the cannon is the Matter Annihilation Reactor, responsible for providing the primary source of energy, supplemented by three Fusion Reactors for redundancy. To protect this critical section, an additional 20 shield emitters are strategically placed in the aft portion of the cannon, ensuring the integrity of the reactor and its supporting systems.

The cannon's maintenance and operation are predominantly entrusted to a sophisticated network of tunnels that snake around the entire structure. These tunnels allow small robotic units to access and perform maintenance tasks with precision and efficiency, minimizing the need for organic personnel to work in the harsh environment of space.

The limited crew aboard the cannon primarily occupies the commander's deck, positioned above the connection point of the ring and the main structure. From this vantage point, they oversee and command the weapon's operation, aided by a comprehensive suite of sensors and AI systems. These systems are strategically positioned below the cannon's barrel and magnetic coils, granting the commander real-time situational awareness of the entire system via a holographic table. The AI, with its advanced capabilities, can calculate and execute firing solutions for targets within an operational range of the entire system provided that the target is not behind the star, a planet, or a moon.

The torus ring, aside from distributing the shield, serves as a colossal ammunition magazine. Within its interior, a dual staggered-column magazine houses nearly 300 rounds, while the cannon itself can accommodate five rounds at any given time. This configuration provides the cannon with a total of 305 shots before needing to replenish its ammunition supply.

## Function

The Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon operates as an astounding feat of engineering, drawing its immense energy from a Matter Annihilation Reactor at its core, complemented by three backup Fusion Reactors. This advanced orbital weapon is designed to propel a colossal 200-meter-long by 20-meter-wide rod, crafted from the extraordinarily durable Titanium-ASTM2B, Vanadium-VC5B, and Tungsten-TCC1B alloy, at an astonishing 8% of the speed of light. The intricate mechanism by which it achieves this unparalleled capability is as follows:

At its heart, the Matter Annihilation Reactor harnesses the fundamental principles of matter-antimatter annihilation. This process involves the controlled collision of antimatter, such as antiprotons, with matter, typically hydrogen nuclei. This annihilation reaction converts mass into pure energy, following an archaic equation, E=mc², where E represents energy, m is mass, and c is the speed of light.

The energy produced through matter-antimatter annihilation is harnessed to power the Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon. This energy is initially channeled into the propulsion system through an intricate network of conduits and magnetic fields. Superconducting magnets play a pivotal role in directing and focusing the energy released during the annihilation process.

The cannon further enhances its energy output by employing three backup Fusion Reactors. These Fusion Reactors utilize the fusion of hydrogen isotopes, replicating the process that powers a star. Through the controlled fusion of hydrogen nuclei, helium is produced, releasing a substantial amount of energy in the process.

The combination of the Matter Annihilation Reactor and the three Fusion Reactors ensures a reliable and robust energy source for the cannon's operation. The Fusion Reactors serve as redundant power supplies, guaranteeing continued functionality even in the event of a malfunction in one of the reactors. Furthermore the cannon has the ability to use reactors from connected ships of certain sizes to leach off their power to continue even in the event of all the reactors failing.

Once the energy is generated and harnessed, it is channeled into the propulsion system, which consists of a series of electromagnetic coils, waveguides, and particle accelerators. This complex system generates a rapidly oscillating magnetic field that interacts with high-energy photons, creating an immensely powerful thrust.

The 200-meter-long rod, composed of the formidable Titanium-ASTM2B, Vanadium-VC5B, and Tungsten-TCC1B alloy, is positioned within the cannon's barrel. The electromagnetic thrust generated by the interaction with the high-energy photon beam accelerates the rod to an astonishing 8% of the speed of light.

Precision targeting and guidance systems ensure the accuracy of the Radiance Pulse Artillery Cannon, accounting for various factors such as orbital dynamics, gravitational forces, and target coordinates.