[Sabin Stargem]

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.

[Rodo]

I like the TAG C one, very clever.

[General Battuta]

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.

[Scourge of Ages]

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.

[Sabin Stargem]

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.  

[Scourge of Ages]

EDIT:  Whoops, missed the Hunter-Killer.  

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.

[Snail]

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.

[QuantumDelta]

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

[Rodo]

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.

[Colonol Dekker]

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.

[Snail]

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?

[Colonol Dekker]

Drown em all and let Terran god sort em out

[Herra Tohtori]

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.

[General Battuta]

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.

[Colonol Dekker]

This is the fanfiction forum.
 

[Rodo]

You never tried using the TAG-C in retail? It's available in a few missions.

Really? I never saw it...

[Jeff Vader]

You never tried using the TAG-C in retail? It's available in a few missions.

Really? I never saw it...

I recall the TAG-C being available only in some multi missions.

[The E]

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.

[General Battuta]

Indeed.

BUT BEHOLD



Bear in mind this is not a tricky thing to do, you can use it in your mod without much trouble.

[Rodo]

Holy crap!

Suddenly I don't like the idea of being in an earth vessel.