From: "Doomriser" <doom.riser@3web.net>
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.vs.starwars
Subject: [PDD] ISD Ch. 5-6
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 14:23:34 -0400

CHAPTER FIVE
CAPITAL SHIPS

(From a report by the Imperial Navy to the Emperor's advisors on budgetary
affairs.)

"While starfighters took a premier role in the recent Battle of Yavin,
capital ships remain the heart of the Imperial Navy. Capital ships conduct
battles on a grand scale. They do not engage in common dogfights - that is
the province of small one- and two-man starfighters. When capital ships
meet, they engage in a war between spacefaring cities and the outcome could
result in thousands of deaths."

Tactics: Role of capital ships vs. starfighters
S&S: Scope of capital ship combat

"These combat starships measure over 100 meters, require large crews to
operate, use massive power cells and generators, and are heavily armed and
armored. Under the New Order, many of these vessels have been commissioned.
But since the emphasis of Imperial doctrine has again turned toward the use
of the Imperial fleet, even more of these ships of the line are needed."

Tactics: Definition of capital ships/ships-of-the-line

"Assault shuttles are among the most-heavily shielded vessels in the
Imperial fleet. Most combat starships funnel approximately 25 percent of
their total power through the shield generators. An assault shuttle uses up
to 62 percent power on shields, and over half of that power is channeled
into the front arc. This allows the shuttle to withstand even the most
concentrated barrage of fire for at least a short time."

Shielding: Most combat starships funnel approximately 25 percent of their
total power through the shield generators as opposed to the exceptional 62
percent on an assault shuttle.

"Blastboats fill the gap between speedy, maneuverable starfighter designs
and the slower, more heavily-armed capital ships. They are swift enough to
overhaul most system intruders, and strong enough to deliver - and survive -
blows from powerful weapons. They operate equally well in atmosphere, on
patrol in the far reaches of a star system, or performing fleet point duties
with or without starfighter support."

Tactics: Role of Skipray Blastboats

[I'm skipping most of the vehicle data since there are dedicated books for
that.]

"The Torpedo Sphere, a dedicated siege platform, is designed to accomplish
one mission - to knock out a planet's shields. Planetary shields, whether
full or partial, protect a world from orbital bombardment. It takes a lot of
troops to assault a planet. It is easier and far less expensive to simply
pound a planet into submission with the weapons of a Star Destroyer. But
planetary shields prevent this."

Shielding: Planetary shields must be fairly common for a need for Torpedo
Spheres to arise. 6 Torpedo Spheres were built to deal with rebelling
worlds. Considering that the Rebellion is strong mostly in the Outer Rim, it
is probably the galactic backwaters that are putting up planetary shields.

"Sensors cannot penetrate full planetary shields, so the crew of the Sphere
must study the power waves within the shield to determine where the initial
power is coming from."

Sensors: Full-power planetary shields prevent effective scans.

"The Torpedo Sphere is a miniature Death Star, covered with thousands of
dedicated energy receptors (DERs) designed to analyze shield emissions.
Planetary shields are never uniformly even. They experience power anomalies
and energy fluctuations just like other mechanical devices. The Torpedo
Sphere parks in orbit around a planet and trains its DERs upon the world to
search for weak points in the shielding. These weak points rarely exceed
more than a 20 percent power drop, but this is enough for the Torpedo Sphere
to bring down the shields.

The Sphere contains 500 proton torpedo tubes arranged in an inverted conical
formation. Surrounding these tubes are 10 heavy turbolaser batteries. The
actual destruction of a planet's shields is simple. The Torpedo Sphere
arrives and analyzes the shields. It finds both the weak points and the
location of the planet-bound shield generators. The Sphere then fires a
salvo of torpedoes that knock a hole in the shield (at a weak point),
followed by blasts from the turbolasers to destroy the generators. Then the
bombardment of the planet can begin.

That is the quick version. In reality, it takes almost a hundred heavy
weapons technicians to coordinate the tube launches. The target area rarely
exceeds a six meter square. The hole this produces is actually a power surge
that only lasts a few microseconds. If the turbolasers have not made their
shots in this time, the process must start all over again."

Shielding: The above suggests that a 20% power drop in a six-metre square
can be penetrated by 500 proton torpedoes fired into that six-metre square.
If we can figure out the Proton Torped firepower, we can get an idea of
typical shield strength.

Oops! Never mind:

"Damage [per torp]: 9D (Specially calibrated to affect planetary shields; do
only 4D damage to other vessels)"

These Proton Torps are 'Specially calibrated to affect planetary shields.'
To planetary shields, they do equivalent damage as a heavy turbolaser (50
GT?)

So by my rough calcs, one would have to pump about 25,000 GT of firepower
into a 6-metre weak spot in order to cause a temporary shield failure
through which you would have to bombard the shield generator from orbit. No
easy task!!! The rest of the shields are 20% stronger.(~30,000 GT per 6m2)

Sensors: The ability to fire 500 torpedoes into a 6-metre square
demonstrates that the expectation of starfighters at Yavin to hit a 2-metre
exhaust port was not unreasonable, uncommon, or unprecedented as Trek
cultists like to claim.

"Designed by Lira Wessex, daughter of the man who designed the Victory-class
Star Destroyer, the Imperial-class Star Destroyer was an engineering and
budget-planning nightmare. But the Navy pushed for it and the Emperor
demanded it, so the standard Star Destroyer was built.

The Imperial Star Destroyer has enough firepower to reduce a civilized world
to slag or take on a fleet of lesser enemy vessels. Each carries a full
stormtrooper division, complete with assault craft and ablative heat shields
for orbital drops, 20 AT-AT and 30 AT-ST walkers for ground assault, and six
TIE fighter squadrons for escort and patrol.

There are whole star systems whose gross domestic product is less than the
cost of a single Imperial Star Destroyer. There are whole nations which,
throughout their entire history, do not use as much energy as an Imperial
expends to make a single hyperspace jump.

To carry out the Emperor's mandate of rule through fear and the swift
destruction of opposition, the Imperial-class Star Destroyer is the weapon
of choice. By deploying a Star Destroyer and support ships to a system, the
Empire can destroy virtually any foe.

It is impossible to garrison every world in every system in the Empire, but
the Imperial Star Destroyers give the Emperor the ability to project his
power anywhere he wishes in a short period of time. These vessels are more
than weapons platforms. They also act as space stations, repair docks, and
heavy transports for smaller craft.

An Imperial-class vessel usually carries combat craft, shuttles, repair and
recovery vehicles, landing barges, drop ships, ground assault vehicles, and
prefabricated garrison bases for immediate deployment.

Since its introduction, an improved version of the Star Destroyer has begun
to see action. The Imperial II is an upgraded model featuring increased hull
shielding and heavier firepower."

[Description of ISDs]

"Except for the Death Star battle station, the Super-class Star Destroyer is
the largest warship ever constructed. Five times the length of an Imperial
Star Destroyer, each carries more than a quarter million troops and crew.

Over 1,000 turbolaser batteries, ion cannons, and tractor beam emplacements
dot the eight kilometer long ship. These vessels are like a fleet unto
themselves. Twelve squadrons of TIE fighters await within the huge confines
of the massive ship, including two squadrons made up of the new TIE
Interceptor model. Other carried vessels bring the total aboard the Super
Star Destroyer to over 200 ships.

Even more weapons of destruction are within the Super Star Destroyer,
including a full corp of stormtroopers and other soldiers, 25 AT-AT walkers,
50 AT-STs, and various other ground assault vehicles. In addition, the ship
carries three prefabricated garrison bases for immediate deployment.

The Super-class Star Destroyer is the dream of the Emperor and the epitome
of his new navy. It represents the best and newest vessel available in the
Imperial inventory. It is a command ship, a spacegoing headquarters from
which to guide planetary invasions, space battles, and the like.

Four of these massive vessels are now in service. The first, Executor, was
presented to Lord Darth Vader by the Emperor to serve as his personal
flagship from which to lead the fleet charged with the eradication of the
Rebel Alliance."

[Role and inaccurate stats for 'Super Star Destroyers']

Chapter Six
Custom Ordnance

"Cloaking Fields

A fully-operational cloaking device has always been the ultimate dream of
Naval commanders since before the most primitive sensors were developed. The
idea of cloaking or hiding a vessel from either visual or sensor pickup has
been a goal of everyone who designs space vehicles. Unfortunately, as newer
and more sophisticated sensor systems were developed, true "cloaking" became
more difficult.

Recently, the Empire's highly funded and very controversial research into
sensor cloaking paid off. A multi-talented team of scientists and engineers
were collected to begin final construction on a working cloaking device.

Many rumors have been circulated concerning cloaking fields and their
existence. Some have come from the Empire in an attempt to frighten and
confuse those who would test its abilities. Others have come from those so
frightened, permitting the disinformation to expand. In fact, it was
determined that a singular breakthrough in cloaking technology was highly
unlikely, and the Empire has pursued a combined approach ever since.

The current test model is a device comprised of a number of inter-related
systems and technologies, specifically designed to provide total protection.
The "cape," as the complete system is referred to, is a double-blind device.
This means the protection from sensor transmissions works both ways.

The cloaking field obscures all types of electromagnetic sensors by
absorbing the beams instead of reflecting them. Since most sensor radiation
never returns to the originating source but usually disappears into the void
of space, the protected vessel is effectively cloaked. The field protects
against highly limited EPRs (electrophoto receptors), insensitive FSTs
(full- spectrum transceivers), and computerized LFIs (lifeform indicators).

A cloaked vessel is virtually immune to DER (dedicated energy receptor)
scanning by all but the most powerful systems manned by the most expert
technicians. DERs can only locate cloaked vessels by picking up ion engine
heat. The Empire has developed a method for successfully baffling this heat
via another phase of this project, and this phase is currently being studied
for other military applications.

Cloaking fields, as they are developing now, cannot protect against CGTs
(crystal gravitational traps) since the mass of the protected vessel is not
affected by the field. As most of these expensive sensors are Imperial
property, the need for mass baffling seems unnecessary.

The main drawback to the cloaking field project is that the cloak works both
ways. A cloaked vessel cannot use Its sensors either, as the field absorbs
the beams before they can register any information These ships would be
blind in space, as well as invisible.

With these problems In mind, DMR decided to narrow the cloaking project's
goals. Under the new scheme, a vessel with a specific search-and-destroyor
deep-space patrol mission would be equipped with the new technology. This
ship would use visual navigation In realspace and minimum sensors when In
hyperspace. As combat would remain a low priority of this type of mission,
the need for extensive computerized weapons systems which rely on sensor
feedback would be eliminated.

As more details and reports are forthcoming, they will be passed along to
the Advisory Committee"

TECH: Description of a cloaking device. This conflicts with HNN.COM which
suggests that cloaking devices were in operation in the pre-AOTC era, and
with TPM.

"Hyperspace Pulsemass Generators

Certain leaders within the DMR have a tendency to overlabel everything. The
hyperspace pulsemass generator is an example of this, as the ordnance is
simply a huge "pebble spreader" in space. The generator produces tiny
spheres of hyperenergy that are shot out into an area of space. When ships
traveling through hyperspace cross the equivalent area of realspace, they
come in contact with the hyperenergy spheres. These spheres overwhelm the
blocking capacity of the ship's shields and shred the craft.

These hyperenergy spheres do not affect ships in realspace, but if a ship
enters a field of spheres and then jumps to lightspeed it comes in contact
with the deadly pulses. A region mined with hyperenergy spheres is dangerous
for only a few minutes, for then the energy dissipates.

This weapon can be devastating to large fleets, but the luck involved in
successfully employing the pulsemass generator is enormous. You literally
have to catch your opponent napping to mine a region of space and have him
hyperspace through it before the energy spheres fade.

Now in experimental and limited use, the Empire is working to make this form
of attack more profitable and more exacting. If it does, succeed in
improving the versatility of the hyperspace pulsemass generator, then fleets
of enemy ships quickly escaping into hyperspace will become a threat of the
past."

Tech: Wow, I guess O'Shea's 'Neutralizer' cruiser or whatever it was called
actually is grounded in official literature!

"Magnetic Bombards

High tech worlds where the new magnepulse custom ordnance have been tested
showed an Immediate cessation of hostile and rebellious activity. A magnetic
bombard delivered above cities or technological installations can send a
civilization literally back into its dark ages.

These weapons take two forms, both delivering a magnetic pulse that shorts
out most technological equipment, computers, communication units, and
droids. The first method delivers the pulse via a cannon blast delivered by
a ship of medium cruiser level or above. This blast, however, can be
reflected back on the firer, causing the attacking vessel to "blink out" and
become a desolate, powerless hulk. The second method delivers its pulse via
a cluster bomb, but these bombs can be destroyed before they reach
detonation.

Now being designed to include shields and evasive computers, the magnepulse
bomb is gaining acceptance within the Empire. It is a clean weapon that
simply prevents a world from retaliating with modern weaponry. The bombs can
be carried by any vessel capable of supporting TIE bays, as these weapons
are approximately the size of a fighter when the thrusters, evasive
computers, shield generator, and power cells are in place.

The sophisticated technology that goes into creating a magnepulse bomb, and
its one-shot delivery, make this ordnance very mission expensive. For now,
DMR has chosen to spend the extra credits to obtain maximum flexibility. But
new technologies, like interchangeable cannon-mounted weapons, might see
this change in the near future.

Remember, these weapons do nothing against planets without a level of
technology that includes computers and electromagnetic communications. But
as most worlds the Empire wishes to pacify fall into this category, the use
of magnepulse ordnance may increase as the civil war rages on."

Tech: Note that smaller fighter-based versions were deployed in the TIE
Fighter series

"Two-Wave Gravshock Devices

Housed within the shell of a Torpedo Sphere, the two-wave gravshock - or
planetbuster - is designed to do terrible damage on a near-planetary scale.

By localizing a planet's gravity, the gravshock waves can simulate
earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters. Unfortunately, time and
power make this weapon somewhat impractical on the everyday scale. The
Super-class Star Destroyer, for example, is the only ship with engines
powerful enough to pump the massive amounts of energy necessary for a full
planetary disruption, but it has no need of such a weapon considering the
armaments it packs.

The localization effect of the gravwave is not without problems either. As a
planet's gravitational field is altered, any vessels navigating in
near-space (including the attacker) are subject to rapid and unpredictable
orbital shifts.

However, successful tests make this ordnance worth exploring. Crushing
cities in upon themselves, shaking them to pieces, redirecting waterways to
make the most of their destructive power, the gravshock device is worthy of
Imperial thinking and use.

One new concept for the gravshock technology involves asteroid mining and
surveying. Imperial engineers theorize that by studying the effects of a
weak gravwave attack on a small body, like a moon or asteroid, they can
learn information about its interior. Thus, the weapon can be used to find
important ores and metals for making even more weapons."

Tech: Coool. Chalk up another planetbuster for the Empire's arsenal.

--
-=Doomriser

"We've been very careful. The continuity is airtight. Believe me. We know.
We know."
-Brannon Braga