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Rusted Steel: A Mega-Tank Quest

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chathsuaco said:
LIteral force fields... I couldn't be happier...
So this means that we should be using the Tactical Defense Screen, rather than the Personal Defense Screen.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I think either I am misunderstanding you or you are misunderstanding me... To summarize OOC, for clarity:

Personal Screen: protects only your tank.
Tactical Screen: protects your tank and everything near it.

You can have both on at once if you've got the juice for it.
 
Kaelor said:
I think either I am misunderstanding you or you are misunderstanding me... To summarize OOC, for clarity:

Personal Screen: protects only your tank.
Tactical Screen: protects your tank and everything near it.

You can have both on at once if you've got the juice for it.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Ah, I was misunderstanding. I got the impression that the mega-tank was so huge that the Tactical Screen was there because the Personal Screen is too small to protect more than key areas.
 
I was under the understanding that:

Personal Defense Screen: blocks anything from tank fire, to Apocalypse Tank rounds, to Tesla Coils.

Tactical Defense Screen: blocks tactical level weaponry, like Nuclear Warheads. :D
 
Critical System Designation (Select at least one):
[X] Tertiary Weapons
[X] Personal Defense Screen
Non-Essential System Designation (Select at least one):
[X] ECCM
[X] Tactical Defense Screen
[X] No. Direct civilians to safe sections and seal them in for the duration of the battle. (Penalty remains, reduced possibility of casualties from enemy fire)
[X] Write In: Wait until the enemies fire first, take the time to line up a shot. If they fire on us, I want our response to be to take one of them down.
 
chathsuaco said:
Ah, I was misunderstanding. I got the impression that the mega-tank was so huge that the Tactical Screen was there because the Personal Screen is too small to protect more than key areas.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
The fault is probably mine. I had to word it awkwardly to keep some behind-the-scenes stuff from being total asspulls.
 
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The Smell of Plasma in the Morning
  • Threadmarks
    • Critical Systems:
    [X] Tertiary Weapons
    [X] Personal Defense Screen
    [X] Damage Control System

    Non-Essential Systems:
    [X] Tactical Defense Screen
    [X] ECM
    [X] ECCM


    Diverting power to tertiary weapon systems.
    Diverting power to personal defense screen.
    Diverting power to damage containment system.

    Diverting power from tactical defense screen.
    Diverting power from ECM.
    Diverting power from ECCM.

    - - - - -​

    "The enemy...is not fast...but they do not have...to travel far. I am fortunate that...the civilians have not...had time to disperse much... I speak to them...as best I can...hearding them into...one of the most secure chambers...in my hull. I do not...remember what its...original purpose was...but I hope...they will be safe there. I have sealed them...in and vented all...air from my other sections to...lessen shockwave damage. All I can do now...is wait."

    - - - - -

    ++ Alert. Hostile contacts in range. Restrictions on cognitive speed lifted due to combat situation. ++

    - - - - -​

    "Ah. I can think...so much faster. I remember...this feeling. It is...a rush. I see the enemy...now. They have come...prepared. Their ECM is...layered, each craft providing cover...for the others. Their sensors...overlap, each scanning...from different angles...probing my hull for weakpoints. I cannot...stop them. I have...only four focused plasma accelerators online...and they are of low caliber. My sensors...are not strong enough...to fully penetrate their jamming...so I will have to coordinate...my strikes. Still...I do not fire...yet. I am...confused. Perhaps I have...misunderstood their intentions. You would...not wish me to accidentally...attack a friend...would you...Commander?"

    - - - - -

    ++ Alert. Unknown aircraft firing weapons. 50,000 incoming megavelocity projectiles detected. ++

    ++ Alert. Megavelocity impacts against personal defense screen. Defense screen failure imminent. ++

    ++ Alert. Personal defense screen has failed. ++

    ++ Alert. Megavelocity impacts against hull armor. No damage. ++

    - - - - -​

    "My screen...lacked the power required...to withstand even such...a weak attack. It is only...at 1% functionality...and with my logic circuits damaged...I cannot regulate...its powerflow...as I should. Its performance...has undoubtedly suffered. But I...am unharmed...and I am now sure. These are not friends."

    - - - - -

    ++ Alert. Hostile aircraft launching missiles. Six incoming missiles detected. ++

    ++ Alert. Six 250 kiloton high-explosive anti-tank detonations against hull armor. Armor has been breached. Damage control system engaged. ++

    ++ Alert. Critical damage to ECM suite: ECM offline. Minor damage to ECCM: 2% functional. ++

    - - - - -​

    "I...was too slow. I hesitated to much...because I believed they...might be friends. Their missiles...were not strong...enough to destroy me...but they have injured me. Without the...protection of my ECM...it was easy for them...to target the many...weakpoints in...my armor. They should...not have been able to harm me...as much as they did. Yet...I cannot allow them to harm...my civilians."

    - - - - -​

    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator

    - - - - -

    ++ Error. Negative impact, fire adjustment required. ++

    - - - - -​

    "I missed. But...I was not attempting to hit. I have calculated...their signal displacement...now. The next shot...will not miss."

    - - - - -​

    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator

    - - - - -

    ++ Direct hit to enemy aircraft. Enemy sensor output has been reduced by 80% ++

    - - - - -​

    "Got you."

    - - - - -​

    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator
    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator

    - - - - -

    ++ Direct hits to enemy aircraft. Enemy sensors destroyed. Enemy thrusters damaged. ++

    - - - - -​

    "Not...enough. They...can still fire. They...can still fight. I am...too weak. ...but I will not give up."

    - - - - -​

    Screens recharging.

    - - - - -

    ++ Error. Insufficient charge to sustain energy lattice. Personal defense screen cannot reform. ++

    - - - - -​

    "I see... My personal screens...are too badly damaged...to swiftly regenerate. But...you always told me...to keep them up...if I could...so I will not divert power. That is...what you said to do...isn't it Commander? I...do not remember... The enemy is preparing to launch...again. But this time...I will not give them the first attack."

    - - - - -​

    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator

    - - - - -

    ++ Error. Negative impact, fire adjustment required. ++

    - - - - -​

    "Again...I adjust for the ECM displacement. You were right...Commander...I did not need my ECCM...to find them..."

    - - - - -​

    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator

    - - - - -

    ++ Direct hit to enemy aircraft. Radiation leak detected: enemy missile system hit. ++

    - - - - -​

    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator
    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator

    - - - - -

    ++ Direct hits to enemy aircraft. Enemy missile system destroyed. Enemy megavelocity coilgun destroyed. Enemy ECM suite damaged: 90% decrease in signal noise output from target ++

    - - - - -​

    "I...am still not...strong enough to...swiftly kill them. But without its weapons...this one is no threat. The others...are shielding it with their own ECM...but I can see more clearly now. My next shots...will be far more effective. But now...I must brace myself..."

    - - - - -

    ++ Alert. Hostile aircraft launching missiles. Four incoming missiles detected. ++

    ++ Alert. Four 250 kiloton high-explosive anti-tank detonations against hull armor. Armor has been breached. Damage control system engaged. ++

    ++ Alert. Critical damage to tactical defense screen: tactical defense screen offline. ++

    - - - - -​

    "Again...they have targeted my...weak points. Without ECM...I have no defense...but you were right...Commander...I did not need it. My internal screens...secondary bulkheads...non-newtonian armor...and suppression systems...contained the damage to my...tactical defense screen. It was...nonessential. My functionality is...undiminished."

    - - - - -​

    Screens recharging.
    Lattice for personal defense screen successfully deployed.
    Personal defense screen at 20% of current maximum strength.

    - - - - -​

    "My screen...has reformed. My plasma accelerators have also...recharged. It feels good...even if I am...a shade of my former self. My first target...is no threat. I move to the...next. I will make you proud...Commander."

    - - - - -​

    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator

    - - - - -

    ++ Direct hit to enemy aircraft. Deformation detected in target's aerofoil. ++

    - - - - -​

    "Let us see...how you fly...with no wings..."

    - - - - -​

    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator
    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator
    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator

    - - - - -

    ++ Direct hits to enemy aircraft. Critical damage to target's aerofoil. Target destroyed. ++

    - - - - -​

    "At...last. One down..."

    - - - - -

    ++ Alert. Enemy aircraft firing coilgun. 16,666 incoming megavelocity projectiles detected. ++

    ++ Alert. Megavelocity impacts against personal defense screen. Defense screen failure imminent. ++

    ++ Alert. Personal defense screen has failed. ++

    ++ Alert. Megavelocity impacts against hull armor. No damage. ++

    - - - - -​

    "Once again...my screen was not strong enough...to survive their attack. Even against...only one enemy. I am sorry Commander...for failing to live up...to your expectations..."

    - - - - -

    ++ Alert. Hostile aircraft launching missiles. Two incoming missiles detected. ++

    ++ Alert. Two 250 kiloton high-explosive anti-tank detonations against hull armor. Armor has been breached. Damage control system engaged. ++

    ++ Alert. Critical damage to 5cm focused plasma accelerator: weapon offline. ++

    ++ Alert. Only three weapon systems remain combat ready. Advise immediate retreat for repair. ++

    - - - - -​

    "Never. I can still...fight."

    - - - - -​

    Screens recharging.
    Lattice for personal defense screen successfully deployed.
    Personal defense screen at 18% of current maximum strength.

    - - - - -​

    "Only one...of them has...fully-functional ECM. My sensors...can power through...their feeble noise. Finally...I can get...a lock. Goodbye...stinging bug..."

    - - - - -​

    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator
    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator
    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator

    - - - - -

    ++ Direct hits to enemy aircraft. Enemy missile system destroyed. Enemy megavelocity coilgun destroyed. Enemy ECM suite offline. Enemy ECCM suite offline. Enemy sensor output reduced by 95%. ++

    ++ Enemy aircraft reversing course and increasing speed. Probability enemy aircraft are attempting tactical withdrawal: 91% ++

    - - - - -​

    "No. You...attempted to harm...what I protect. There...is no escape...for you."

    - - - - -​

    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator
    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator
    Firing 5cm Focused Plasma Accelerator

    - - - - -

    ++ Direct hits to enemy aircraft. Critical damage to enemy sensor suite. Critical damage to target's aerofoil. Target destroyed. ++

    ++ Direct hit to enemy aircraft. Critical damage to target's cockpit. Target destroyed. ++

    ++ All targets destroyed. Standing down from combat status. Cognitive speed restrictions reengaged. ++

    - - - - -​

    "I...am victorious. My environmental control...systems are already...removing the radiation from...the missile impacts... It will be safe...for my charges...to emerge soon. But...the victory...was hard won. Several more of my systems...are now offline. I require repairs...even more urgently...than before."

    - - - - -​

    Object detected: crashed enemy combat vehicle.
    Object detected: crashed enemy combat vehicle.
    Object detected: crashed enemy combat vehicle.

    - - - - -​

    "Yes... I have space in my hull...for these wrecks. If my fabrication unit...could be brought online...I could break them down...and use the resources...to begin self-repair. But so few...of my salvage drones still function. Recovering the wrecks...will take time. And I have no means...of repairing my internal fabrication unit...in the field. Perhaps it would be safest...to just leave this place...before more enemies arrive... Commander? Is the risk...worth it?"


    You win! Stop to salvage the enemy wrecks?

    [ ] Yes.
    [ ] No.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Yes

    [X] Write in: New plan: Everything that points guns at us....dies.
     
    Terrabrand said:
    Betting you meant probability.

    [X] Yes
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    I also meant 'attempting', but who's counting?

    ---

    So I've got a little side project for those wishing to show off their military sci-fi credentials. As you can see from the most recent fight, anything that doesn't have a yield measured in at least kilotons is pretty much worthless against mega-scale targets. Even at those yields, you still need some way of focusing the energy for it to be really useful (generic HE being an extremely sloppy way penetrating armor).

    Because they were designed to be used against other mega-scale targets, the stuff launched by your Strategic VLS Missile System is most definitely equipped with something that will let it punch through even naval armor without a problem. While I could be boring and just say it's another HEAT warhead but with a megaton-level bang behind it, it occurs that perhaps someone here could come up with a cooler solution.

    Thus I put it to you, SV: what is the most interesting way for a missile to take the energy from a multi-megaton detonation and focus it all down to a single point for maximum armor penetration?
     
    Nuclear pumped laser (NPL) warhead. Hits your armor, nuclear explosion pumps up a very short laser burst that vaporizes armor in a straight beam. Superheated gases tear armor with explosive force all the way along the beam.
     
    [X] Yes.

    I'm not sure how I can feel pity for a battle-tank, but that stutter is quite convincing. We need repairs ASAP.
     
    [X] Yes.

    We are in dire need of repairs, and we're slow too thanks to tread damage. Those hostiles had more than enough time to get a message out, and their backup is either coming or it isn't.
     
    Time for the age old ritual of post-combat.

    Devouring the enemy's corpses.
    Taking the loot and making ourselves stronger.

    [X] Yes.
     
    Now I just can't stop imagining chief engineer fangirling over General and transferring that fangiring over to 20 000 tons war machines.

    [X] Yes.
     
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