Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => Arts & Talents => Topic started by: Sabin Stargem on June 25, 2010, 09:43:43 pm
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As of late, the GTVA has been researching a new branch of missile weaponry designed to assist pilots in the field through indirect methods of controlling the battlefield. Known as the Tactical Assistance Guidance (TAG) missiles, there is a large alphabet of prototypes that were tested or refused by command. Starting from the Terran Alphabet, we will work our way from A to Z.
TAG-A: An "Aspect" missile, it acts as a beacon for guiding other missiles to the target. Mostly used for anti-fighter and bomber purposes, especially in nebula conditions.
TAG-B: "Beam" missile. Enables capital ships to target vessels with their beam weaponry.
TAG-C: "Call" missile. Utilizing an encrypted communications system, it will send a message through nearby Subspace Portals asking for a barrage of missiles. If any missiles are available and Command gives the go-ahead, the stockpile of missiles will activate and home in on the target after performing a subspace jump into the system.
TAG-D: The "Defend" missile is designed to be "launched" at a friendly IFF vessel. Upon doing so, the missile will assume a defensive position and will drift nearby. When enemy missiles lock onto the friendly ship and enter range, the TAG-D will automatically launch itself towards the armed munitions to neutralize them. Was refused by command, on the grounds that it was too complicated for pilots to use, and that it wasn't likely to be effective. These findings were found by the evaluation committee, which includes Triton Dynamics, Han-Roland Corporation, and other commercial entities.
TAG-E: Notorious in the GTVI R&D community, the "Escape" missile went through many iterations and never really settled on a single concept. The initial design was for the missile to be a portal subspace jump drive that could be attached to immobile vessels, but it was found to be far too expensive and unreliable. The second attempt was aimed at replacing damaged thruster systems and serving as Afterburners, but once again hit the same hurdle. A final and third design was to create a sort of smoke screen to ward off missiles and sensor scans by scattering anti-scanning debris around the target, which failed to produce any worthwhile results. As such, the TAG-E was discontinued.
TAG-F: "Friendly" missile, which alters the target's IFF signature so that it would appear to be friendly to your cause to enemy ships. The GTVA discontinued the project since it ran counter to BETAC provisions. However, the GTVI has unofficially continued development for cloak and dagger purposes.
TAG-G: "Guardian" missile, which is designed to be targeted at an capital ship's beam turret. A mixture of Stiletto and TAG design, the purpose of the Guardian is to fly towards the turret. If the turret begins charging up to open fire, the Guardian's powerplant will overload and cause a specialized "bubble" of energy to be created when it explodes. Doing so a few seconds before the beam fires, the resulting bubble of energy will deflect or absorb the beam, preventing it from reaching the intended target. However, the Stiletto ancestry of the Guardian also allows it to destroy a turret if it runs into one. The GTVA has canceled development due to a scandal among the Terran research team, which has placed the project into perpetual limbo.
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I like the TAG C one, very clever.
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I like the TAG C one, very clever.
Uh, mate, the TAG-C has been around since retail. He didn't come up with it.
So far as I know it's never been put into a workable state until War in Heaven.
While I like many of the concepts, it weirds me out that you changed the acronym (TAG stands for Target Acquisition and Guidance) in canon, and that you changed the TAG-A from a dumbfire general-purpose guidance weapon into something related to aspect lock. Similarly, the B works exactly like the A in canon except it's aspect seeking.
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TAG-H: "Hailstorm" missile. Upon impacting a hostile craft, the TAG-H immediately emits an intense EM signal overriding the guidance systems of any seeking missile within 1km. All affected missiles acquire the ship impacted by the TAG-H. Limited tactical application, but can be useful to divert swarm missiles from sensitive targets, or to provide a better target for cluster missiles. Rejected by test pilots, because careless pilots could accidentally divert friendly missiles from critical targets.
TAG-I: "Interceptor" missile. Anti-bomb weapon. Fire the TAG-I at a hostile bomber, and friendly capital ships are provided with targeting data. All facing flak cannon and CIWS blobs are targeted at the bomber wing and begin to fire in a spread pattern, designed to intercept incoming bombs even as soon as they are launched. This has the added benefit of disrupting the bombers' achieving aspect lock due to the kinetic disruption. Widely loathed by turret gunners who enjoyed being able to aim and fire their own weapons.
TAG-J: "Joker" missile. Designed in the early stages of the NTF Rebellion by Echidna Electronics (GSE: EES) as a psychological weapon. Upon impact with a target, would flood any nearby communications with propaganda, white noise, and extremely annoying music, depending on the communications channel. Rejected by GTVA command as ineffective, as affected fighters could just temporarily disable audio comms, suffering only mild irritation and a temporary loss of coordination.
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True, I did alter the TAG-A, but I wanted to make each and every TAG a slightly different one for fun. :)
TAG-K: "Keepsake" A particularly odd variety of TAG, it was designed to act as a tether by targeting two seperate objects within 300d between each other, and launching the warhead at the desired target. Smashing into the object, one end of the tether will engage a latching mechanism before firing the opposite end of the missile towards the other target. If no second target was selected, the tether will be connected to the fighter. Intended to prevent ships from escaping interception or rescue operations, but it was found that the mechanisms and tether often failed at some point in the process. The project was ultimately scrapped when Alpha-1 of the 178th Baboons was dragged into subspace by an Elsysium during a CEW trial.
EDIT: Whoops, missed the Hunter-Killer. :p
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EDIT: Whoops, missed the Hunter-Killer. :p
No problem, I'll take care of it. Watch:
TAG-L: "Locater" missile. Two part missile, does very little physical damage. When the shell impacts a vulnerable section of hull of a capital ship, attaches on with titanium-tipped claws and fires a breach charge into the hull. Through the breach, the "warhead" is released, which burrows the rest of the way through any remaining plating or systems, to the nearest habitable area inside the enemy ship. The "warhead" is a small, autonomous assassin robot, programmed to seek out the captain of the target ship and execute him in the most graphic way possible, and then explode. Designed as both a practical and psychological weapon, but rejected due to cost of the individual robots and general ineffectiveness.
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TAG-V: "Vuvuzela" missile. Firing it at a target has no physical effect, rather it transmits an electrical pulse that effects the organic pilot's sensory nerve systems in the inner ear, the effect of which creates an extremely loud buzzing sound that is likely to distract the enemy pilot, enabling the attacker to dispatch the target via more conventional means.
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The TAG-E in the initial post doesn't fit with the in-universe fluff on subspace..might wanna remove it because that wouldn't even be attempted ;P
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Uh, mate, the TAG-C has been around since retail. He didn't come up with it.
So far as I know it's never been put into a workable state until War in Heaven.
Then it's as it never existed to me.... sure, It might have been around, but doesn't mean we all know about this stuff.
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Tag M- "Monsoon"
A dedicated local upload electronics warfare package.
Upon impact, the warhead proceeds to lockdown all bulkhead doors and activate fire suppression halon and sprinkler systems then formatting control protocols effectively turnin the target capital ship into a fish tank.
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Tag M- "Monsoon"
A dedicated local upload electronics warfare package.
Upon impact, the warhead proceeds to lockdown all bulkhead doors and activate fire suppression halon and sprinkler systems then formatting control protocols effectively turnin the target capital ship into a fish tank.
Wouldn't the Vasudans like that?
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Drown em all and let Terran god sort em out :p
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TAG-N "Namesake": Creates a clone of the targeted ship's IFF and radiation signature, making it more difficult for hostiles to differentiate between the two beyond visual range.
Used to avoid long range detection and to deploy tactical decoys. Limited usefulness in visual range engagements, but can be used to draw bomb locks and then launched away from the ship as the bombers launch their salvos.
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Uh, mate, the TAG-C has been around since retail. He didn't come up with it.
So far as I know it's never been put into a workable state until War in Heaven.
Then it's as it never existed to me.... sure, It might have been around, but doesn't mean we all know about this stuff.
You never tried using the TAG-C in retail? It's available in a few missions.
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This is the fanfiction forum.
:p
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You never tried using the TAG-C in retail? It's available in a few missions.
Really? I never saw it... :mad:
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You never tried using the TAG-C in retail? It's available in a few missions.
Really? I never saw it... :mad:
I recall the TAG-C being available only in some multi missions.
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And even there, it's useless and its inclusion considered a bug, as the feature it's meant to call forth (Subspace Missile strikes) was not implemented in FS2 retail.
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Indeed.
BUT BEHOLD
(http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/16/15109/SSMs.jpg)
Bear in mind this is not a tricky thing to do, you can use it in your mod without much trouble.
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Holy crap!
Suddenly I don't like the idea of being in an earth vessel.
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It boggles my mind how more people aren't aware of the feature bobbau unlocked about half a decade ago.
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It boggles my mind how more people aren't aware of the feature bobbau unlocked about half a decade ago.
Heh, yeah. The package used to be available back on HLP 2.0 in the downloads section too. :)
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TAG-O: "Open" missile. A simple transmitter on the weapon beams a virus into the target ship's computers, immediately popping all doors, windows, and airlocks open. Ineffective against Shivans.
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:yes:
TAG-P "Pilot-light"
This limited production mass prototyp uses vectored thrust, shield phase "skipper" technology and rapid micropulse engines combined with high-pressure storage in the following fashion.
Upon target selection this heavy missile rapidly appraches the target skipping any shileds using phased subspace technology, it then breaches the targets hull deploying a high content of flammible napalm like material to the cockpit. :D
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TAG-R: "Respite" was suggested by an frustrated SOC pilot who was tired of having freighters, science vessels, and assigned escorts being destroyed during bombing runs since it is hard to intercept missiles. Launching a missile at ship, the missile will impact and become embedded, for one purpose: To lie in wait for incoming bombs before it activates, creating a mild shield. While not very strong and prone to burn out within 20 seconds, it theoretically could give a reasonable chance of survival to otherwise vulnerable ships. Unfortunately, the missiles were expensive and it required typically 4-6 missiles adequately protect a ship from a single bombing run. Furthermore, the size and shape of the vessel often altered the performance of the missile, which lead to pilots overusing or being too conservative. R&D has abandoned the project, though the principles and concepts were released to scientific community in the hopes of someone figuring out how to fix these issues.
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Call me crazy but I would kill for a gravitational missile:
Something I can fire in a very populated area of space and after explotion a super massive G force drags everything in 500mts and compresses all matter trapped in a tiny ball, after achieving critical mass (say a couple of secs) a massive explotion occurs to end the chain of events.
Though... not sure if that can be modded somehow.
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Steve-O did it, but the Black Hole Bomb isn't available to anyone outside BP team (it's not very usefull anyway, almost anything that can mount it is too slow and killed by the blast).
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Not available YET you mean. . .
The above should be read out with an air of desperation in order to avoid accidental misinterpretation, namely assumption on my part.
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It'll most likely be released along with WiH, but it's not used there.
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All kidding aside:
TAG-X A.K.A. "Cluster Tag"
The TAG-X itself is a modified Piranha missile, which upon detonation will not only release a number of heat-seeking variants of the original TAG-A, but the detonation is also accompanied by an EMP burst. Though a smaller detonation than the EMP Adv., the burst is effective at disrupting bombers and bombs within range of the TAG sub-munitions. Once the enemy bombers have been tagged, they will be knocked down by a barrage of AAA from friendly warships. The TAG-X is most effective for defending friendly capital ships from large numbers of enemy bombers. Rumors have also been circulating that special issue versions of this missile are equipped with a more powerful targeting transmitter. This allows for a powerful enough sensor lock to be obtained on enemy bombers that capital ships will be able to engage them, individually or in groups, with its main anti-capital ship beams, allowing entire bomber wings to be vaporized in a single volley. The only solid evidence to support this rumor, is the size of the warhead chamber, which is capable of accommodating a larger transmitter than that included with standard issue weapons.
I believe that I put that one in another weapons thread some time ago.
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TAG-S "Screamer": Multispectrum ECM, the Screamer failed to work as designed. Intended to blind the target with multispectral white noise for a brief window and based on the same technologies as the common GTVA missile decoy, it ended up having the reverse effect and rendering the target unlockable by any other ship while usually failing to blind it due to the hit location usually being obscured from the sensors.
Too large and bulky to avoid causing significant velocity and vector changes to a fighter-sized target it hit or be carried in large numbers, and being considered generally unhelpful anyways, the project was cancelled.
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TAG-S "Screamer": Multispectrum ECM, the Screamer failed to work as designed. Intended to blind the target with multispectral white noise for a brief window and based on the same technologies as the common GTVA missile decoy, it ended up having the reverse effect and rendering the target unlockable by any other ship while usually failing to blind it due to the hit location usually being obscured from the sensors.
Too large and bulky to avoid causing significant velocity and vector changes to a fighter-sized target it hit or be carried in large numbers, and being considered generally unhelpful anyways, the project was cancelled.
But it would be awesome to shoot at your own ships!
"Oh noes, a Ravana! Quick, TAG ourselves!"
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Then you get what, twenty seconds? :P Granted that might be enough, but I can think of better ways.
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TAG-Q: "Quick Clay" missile. Warhead contains high volume of highly compressed space foam. Upon contact, foam explodes, and due coats a large area of the target with rapidly hardening clay-foam. Depending on where it hits, the foam can block vision, sensors, maneuvering thrusters, weapons ports, even engines for a short time. When impacting a capital ship, it behaves much the same manner, though less effectively.
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TAG-R: "Rain" missile. As the name implies, the TAG-R is a cluster missile, but it launcher about 30 missiles at once, each capable of fully destroying a capital ship's turret. Only capital ships have missile launchers large enough to carry these huge torpedoes. Once launched, one could fully disarm any cruiser, and only two are required to fully disarm a destroyer.
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TAG-R: "Rain" missile. As the name implies, the TAG-R is a cluster missile, but it launcher about 30 missiles at once, each capable of fully destroying a capital ship's turret. Only capital ships have missile launchers large enough to carry these huge torpedoes. Once launched, one could fully disarm any cruiser, and only two are required to fully disarm a destroyer.
That's not a TAG missile. Try again.
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Also, we already have a TAG-R and -S (and -X), I just had to go back and cover -Q because it got skipped.
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TAG-T "Tag" missile. A very small missile, fitted with an advanced heat/electronics-seeking guidance system. These missiles are grouped in special external racks of three, and fitted on recon and intercept fighters in limited numbers throughout the GTVA. The TAG-T is designed especially for use against stealthed or otherwise unlockable craft. It does not require a target to fire, but locks on to the nearest active heat/electronics source that is not broadcasting an IFF signal. It's small size gives it excellent speed and manueverability, and can consistantly hit most targets on the first shot, under all but the most evasive manuevers. When it contacts the target, it digs a small transmitter into the hull and begins pulsing a very powerful signal that allows any nearby craft to gain aspect lock and other essential target data such as speed and heading. The advanced technologies and limited application make this missile one of the rarer sights in the galaxy.
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Ooh, now that I like.
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TAG-T "Tag" missile. A very small missile, fitted with an advanced heat/electronics-seeking guidance system. These missiles are grouped in special external racks of three, and fitted on recon and intercept fighters in limited numbers throughout the GTVA. The TAG-T is designed especially for use against stealthed or otherwise unlockable craft. It does not require a target to fire, but locks on to the nearest active heat/electronics source that is not broadcasting an IFF signal. It's small size gives it excellent speed and manueverability, and can consistantly hit most targets on the first shot, under all but the most evasive manuevers. When it contacts the target, it digs a small transmitter into the hull and begins pulsing a very powerful signal that allows any nearby craft to gain aspect lock and other essential target data such as speed and heading. The advanced technologies and limited application make this missile one of the rarer sights in the galaxy.
Hilarious recursion?
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BTW, where did you got an idea of external racks of 3 missiles?
There's a Steve-O's missile that would work extremally well for a TAG-T model. :)
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Too much armoured core.
Or not enough :yes:
Tag U - "Underminer"
This warhead is essentially similar to previous electronic warfare models in it's hardware, the software however is focused towards causing freighters and miners to voluntarily dumping their cargo without their knowledge.
All clamping and locking mechanisms (valves and the like in miners / tankers) enter the open state. All internal indicators and hazard warnings however read as normal allowing allied forces to deal with the cargoes as needed.
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BTW, where did you got an idea of external racks of 3 missiles?
There's a Steve-O's missile that would work extremally well for a TAG-T model. :)
It just made sense to put something that would hardly ever be used on a "special use" rack instead of putting 20 inside your main secondary hardpoint. Also, this way you can mount them on anything, as/if needed.
I like the -U missile.
"Hey what was that sound?" "I don't know." "Does the ship feel lighter all of a sudden?" "I'm sure you're imagining things. Want me to look out the window?" "Nah, you're probably right. Hey look a subspace node, let's jump."
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Tag V - "vampire"
Another electronics warfare missile. This one is geared towards over-riding enemy support ship control systems.
Upon successful integration, allied subroutines install and overwrite core command directives forcing the onboard navigation AI to rearm and resupply friendly forces instead of their own. Once onboard supplies are exhausted, the support craft essentially become suicide craft.
At the missile originators discretion this feature can be given priority as a fully laden support ship has the potential to have as much yield as twenty Cyclops torpedoes.
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TAG-W "Warp": A penetrator missile, the TAG-W is designed to punch through a Shivan ship's hull and directly access the ship's internal network for cyberwarfare attacks. It then attempts to wreak whatever havoc possible on ship systems. The effect that gives it is name is due to the tendancy of the program to start by making internal gravity fluctate. The Shivans are relatively cautious and known hardcoded safeties in the environmentals and inertial dampening mean the TAG-W can rarely inflict lasting crew casualities, but it can severely degrade shipboard operations.
While not expected to be a lasting contributor in any future conflict as the Shivans will doubtless rapidly adopt internal encryption protocols and safeguards, the TAG-W could nonetheless allow GTVA craft to punch far above their weight in the opening moves.
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And here I thought that a TAG "Warp" would create a massive subspace warp within an enemy ship, causing encompassed regions to be pulled into subspace, generally causing the destruction of the target vessel.
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RED MATTAH.
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And here I thought that a TAG "Warp" would create a massive subspace warp within an enemy ship, causing encompassed regions to be pulled into subspace, generally causing the destruction of the target vessel.
They wanted to do that, but the TAG-E proved it was impossible.
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TAG-X "eXcitement" missile: Upon impact with a target, the TAG-X begins transmitting to all hostile craft within 50m, lighting up their threat and missile-lock indicators.
Ideally, this would have two effects: 1) Hostile craft immediately break off their current attack in order to evade a false attack. 2) Once the pilots realize that the attack is false, may let their guards down, and will at least be forced to rely on visual scanning to reveal threats.
Useful for defending against bombing or swarm missile runs.
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Tag-Y "yellowtail"
Electronic warfare missile- forces a blind subspace jump.
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Tag-Y "yellowtail"
Electronic warfare missile- forces a blind subspace jump.
That's quite cool.
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I got the idea from Thundercats the movie.
:yes:
One letter left.
Better be a good one ;)
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TAG-Z "Zip/Zilch" (nickname varies)
The TAG-Z is an EW warhead that, after striking a target, disrupts all targeting data on the afflicted craft, so that is has "zip/zilch" for targeting. Missile locks are lost, lead indicators are displayed in erroneous places, and heat seeking missiles tracking mechanisms are disabled for a period of thirty seconds. Initial test missiles also actively changed the struck craft's target, but this was deemed too minor to warrant the extra cost to the missile. However, during testing, observations were made that led to the inclusion of a countermeasure disruptor, making countermeasures approximately 50% less effective if deployed from a TAGged vessel.
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<Congratulations!> everyone! <Good job!>
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Round two...........
Tag A - "Abandon"
EWP (Electronic Warfare Package) Only effective on fighters and smaller bombers. This Missile causes an early firing of the onboard ejection system. ;7
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TAG-B "Black Hole": An experiment with miniaturized gravitic weaponry, the TAG-B is so far the only TAG munition designed exclusively for warship use. Designed to deal with an incoming wave of enemy bombs by creating a small singularity for approximately two and a half seconds, it is of minimal effectiveness against the bombers themselves due to their own artigrav being able to counteract. A well-placed TAG-B can protect a warship from an entire wing of enemy bombers by destroying all their launched weapons. Given that Shivan pilots rarely close to point-blank range before launching their first salvo, the TAG-B can buy precious seconds for warship guns or friendly interceptors to definitively destroy an incoming bomber wing without being distracted by enemy ordnance.
TAG-C "Caller": A long-duration subspace transmitter and sophisticated subspace sensor package attached to a large missile body, the TAG-C is extremely expensive. Approximately every minute after deployment and impact with any object at a speed greater than 20 kilometers an hour, it "calls" any GTVA subspace transceiver in the system with its precise posistion. It can also be set to call only specific transcievers or to activate only when the target craft is also using subspace communications. The TAG-C can continue to do this for a full week, providing simple, easy tracking of enemy warships. The downside is that the resulting system is just as large as a Cyclops bomb. While in OpEval, it is unknown if the utility of the system will justify its expense and the devoting of what would normally be dedicated strike fightercraft to its deployment. There are also serious concerns that it will not be effective against Shivans given that going EVA to remove or destroy the device is exceedingly easy for them.
TAG-D "Doseage": A weapon design intended specifically for inflicting lethal harm on enemy pilots without damaging their fightercraft, the TAG-D employs sophisticated sensors to assess the type of enemy fighter and then makes a beeline for an impact on or near the cockpit. It then proceeds to emit an extremely intense, directional X-ray pulse which is strong enough to kill a human or Vasudan within a few hours of exposure despite shields and fightercraft hull. It has the side-effect of being severely damaging to the target craft's shields. Terminal effects on a Shivan are not assured due mainly to the fact very little is known about how a living Shivan reacts to nearly anything, but tests on Shivan cybernetic systems suggest that it might cause severe damage to certain components, particularly their "ears". The weapon is completely ineffective against capital-scale armor, but might work against civilian or logistics craft though it would only effect a small portion of the ship. Needless to say, political opposition to the weapon has been intense, and the delayed nature of the weapon's lethality poses some significant tactical problems in certain situations.
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Tag E "Endgame"
This multi-warhead dumbfire tag missile is geared towards the sometimes frantic situation where target lock is absolutely imperative but impossible to achieve.
A two part weapon the first salvo contain cheap dispensable tag systems.
The second stage fire when succesful tagging has been achieved.
The second stage consists of Rage missiles- modified Fury missiles with short lived tag homing abilities.
Fired twenty at a time it only takes eight to twelve to take out a Mara fighter.
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This is going to sound stupid, but here I go.
TAG-F "Flare"
The TAG-F was designed as an alternative to the original TAG-A tested by the 134th Barracudas during the Second Shivan Incursion. The TAG-F is equipped with the most sophisticated Trojan horse every made, fused with an undecipherable electronics override code. Upon impact, the TAG-F hacks into the electronics and weapons systems of the target, recolouring everything from ship HUD to hull with the inverse colour of the target's surrounding environment in addition to transmitting targeting data to nearby friendly forces.
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TAG-G "Gravity Disabler" - Intended for use on capital ships: Temporarily disables artificial gravity on the target ship to allow specially-equipped boarding teams to more easily overpower the crew and capture the ship.
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TAG-H "Huygens"
The TAG-H, called the "Huygens", in memory of an exploration vessel of the same class that killed its own crew after being infected with an Artificial Intelligence too powerful for it to handle, is a weapon first designed by the rogue GTI in 2335 before and during the Hades Rebellion, and only recently completed as a result of the Threat Exigency Initiative. Utilising reverse-engineered Shivan Technology and a small robot no larger than half the length and width of the human finger, the TAG-H, upon impact, will release the small robot, which will then bore into the internal workings of the target ship, rewiring the audio systems of the ship to transmit a continuous sound wave that may permanently confuse or brainwash the controller of the ship into fighting for friendly forces. If the robot succeeds in its task, it will reconfigure the ship's sensors into sending out false targeting data, marking the ship as a friendly target to all belligerents.
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TAG-I "Innocent": The TAG-I consists of two parts: A small disruptor charge, and an IFF transponder. Upon impact with a hostile ship, the disruptor charge fires, dealing subsystem damage to the system it impacts. Then the IFF transponder changes the target ship to either "neutral" or any other necessary designation; this will protect the target from damage by cluster missiles and overzealous gunners/fighters. Primarily used when attempting to capture specific, sensitive targets from among a group of hostiles.