Helstrom Plasma Cannon

An Anti-Starship, Anti-Ugly Monstrosity Plasma Cannon based on a fusion torch produced by the Iron Company. It was first produced in 15 BYE.

The Helstrom Plasma Cannon is “The Big Guns” when Albert Steiner calls for them. The Helstrom is based on the design of a plasma torch that was used for industrial purposes. It is the evolution of a scaling family of plasma weapons to be deployed by the Iron Company. It is generally mounted on a vehicle, mecha, or small craft which is powered with a Wrath Series Fusion Reactor and has the Nephilim Defense System. The Wrath Series Fusion Reactor provides the fusion gas for the Helstrom's ammo.

The canon's Anti-Starship classification is more of a consequence of design than a purposeful mode for the weapon. The weapon, like most made for the Iron Company is designed for the annihilation of xenobiological wildlife, otherwise known as monstrosities. The bigger and uglier these foes are, the more satisfying it is for Iron Company mercenaries to deploy this kind of power against it.

The Warden Technician has this “Big Gun” system attached to it. In YE 42, while on a training rotation with a MERN (Minatu Empire Royal Navy) Special Operations unit, the now Cultural Exchange Officer Tacho, witnessed the deployment of this system against Craethel and Asune Dimensional Creatures from in the underground city on the planet Orab. She described its use as enlightening as a religious experience and has since attempted to mount it on all sorts of platforms.

The cooling system on this weapon is considered only moderately reliable. Increasing its rate of fire or modifying its mechanisms may result in unfortunate results up to and including death. If “knuckleheads” proceed to engage in this behavior, the sorrowful nature of their deaths may be overshadowed by the laughter of the Cultural Exchange Officer, Tacho.

Alexi Durnov, a drunk weapons engineer for the Iron Company in 15 BYE took the inspiration for the weapon from a fusion plasma cutting torch one of his maintenance teams was utilizing. The weapon was then first utilized during an unfortunate emergency situation involving a very large reptilian creature on a world they were deployed on in their home universe of Valhalla. It resulted in the destruction of the ugly beast but also resulted in the unfortunate death of several good men of the Iron Company as the weapon overheated and caused an unexpected explosion. Over the next few years as the design of the Wrath Series Fusion Reactor improved, so did the design of the Helstrom Cannon. A better cooling system was then added to 'somewhat' prevent the possibility of unfortunate consequences of firing this weapon.

After the Schism in 15 BYE development on the system came to a stop. It would not be until YE 42, during the Battle of Glimmergold against the Interstellar Kingdom Of Kuvexia that the weapon would once again be used while mounted to Albert Steiner's Warden Technician¹⁾.

In YE 44, when Albert Steiner revitalized the Iron Company the production of this weapon was restarted on a limited basis.

General information on the Helstrom Plasma Cannon.

Helstrom Plasma Cannon
No Art At This Time
Year Introduced	15 BYE. Restart YE 44.
Class/Nomenclature	IC-M1-W4400 (Current Production Version)
Alternative Nomenclature	IC-W-HC
Designers	Iron Company
Manufacturer	Iron Company
Fielded By	Iron Company
Weapon Type	Plasma Cannon
Weapon Role	Anti-Light Starship, Anti-Monstrous Xenofauna
Length	671cm (Barrel Included)
Weight	250kg
Damage Rating (Version 3)	Tier 10
Production	Limited Production
Pricing	3,000 KS2)

The Helstrom Plasma Cannon long, cylindrical barrel, approximately 1.5 feet in diameter and 12 feet in length, though the bore of the weapon itself is actually around 5cm, as the rest of the barrel houses the electromagnetic cylinders to direct the plasma. The Main firing mechanism is located towards the base of the weapon, which in term resembles a rectangle with a rounded end and the front slanting at a 30-degree slope. A series of vents on the front and the side, four in total, form the emergency vent system for the weapons. Towards the back is a slot to insert the plasma gas container. Worked throughout the weapon is a modified version of the cooling system of the Wrath Series Fusion Reactor.

• Muzzle Flash: As the beam leaves the barrel, the flash is akin to the cone-shaped muzzle flash of a projectile as the air around it is ionized, around 3 feet in diameter, producing a pressure shockwave akin to a cannon being fired. The flash is white in color.
• Retort: The sudden change in air pressure from the discharge creates a thunderclap effect.
• Projectile/Beam Appearance: The beam is an intense blue-white color that is difficult to look at and is said to hurt the eyes and tends to generate secondary, uncontrolled arcs.
• Effective Range: The weapon is effective out to 3km, though accuracy out to that range is difficult.
• Rate of Fire: The Helstrom can fire up to 10 shots per minute, though 3 to 5 is the norm to minimize safety concerns.
• Recoil: The weapon does produce some recoil, most in the form of a jolt that elevates the cannon by one degree and can slightly stagger walker it is mounted.

• Ammunition: Fusion Gas Canister from Wrath Series Fusion Reactor sources.
• Purpose: Scalable to Tier 10 Light anti-starship
• Round Capacity: The gas canister normally holds enough ammo for 16 shots, it can be increased to 32
• Fusion Gas Canister Price: 500ks (37.85L, 16 shots), or 800 ks (75.71L, High-Pressure Canister, 32 shots), the canister can be reused and refilled.

The gas itself is a common mix of deuterium and helium-3, used in most fusion engines. When hyper-compressed and ignited, the plasma is immediately forced from the barrel at extreme velocities, resulting in the beam having enormous amounts of kinetic energy with the beam generating secondary plasma arcs that scorch and burn anything close by. The beam strikes with an enormous kinetic force akin to a railgun, causing the armor to buckle and shatter as it destabilizes violently, creating a small explosion at the point of contact. Anything in immediate contact with the beam is vaporized and additional residual heat can cause structural and electronic problems. The beam itself also poses a secondary hazard-the heat alone is enough to cause third and fourth-degree burns to unprotected personnel within 15 meters and can inflict heavy collateral damage to the environment if not applied carefully. (ie; melting concrete, shattering glass from overpressure, setting vegetation alight, etc.)

• Firing Mechanism: The weapon pumps gas into the fusion reaction chamber, using superconducting magnets to compress the gas rapidly that it begins to form plasma, taking around 2 to 4 seconds to charge-this is indicated by the faint blue-white glow at the end of the barrel-this process can be aborted by the firer, though the unused gas is simply vented. Once optimum pressure levels are achieved, the fusion process is kick-started by a lasing process and the plasma is forced out in a violent manner via a series of powerful electromagnets spread out at 1-inch intervals. After firing, any unspent or lingering plasma gas is vented out of the ports. Once the magnetic fields have recharged the process is repeated, though firing at its maximum rate allows for little time for the venting process to complete. Power is drawn directly from the vehicle's powerplant.
• Loading: The weapon is loaded via a port at the back that contains the gas canister, the port is opened, the gas canister is unscrewed, a fresh one is inserted and the port is resealed.
• Mode Selector: The safety mechanism is activated via an electronic signal.
• Firing Modes: The only has semi-auto mode only
• Weapon Sight: The gun is linked directly to the targeting system of whatever weapons platform it is mounted on.
• Attachment Hard Points: While no additional attachment mechanisms were available, sometimes enterprising(or sanity-possessing) technicians would manually install additional cooling mechanisms and housing on the outside of the unit to mitigate heat damage.

• Barrel: 500ks
• Coolant Unit: 300 Ks
• Lasing Mechanism: 10KS
• Gas Valve: 5 KS

Commissar Farzi created this article on 2020/12/22 17:21.

This was approved by Wes on 2022/11/25.³⁾