High-Powered Microwave
The High-Powered Microwave[3] (HPM), also known as the Guided Electromagnetic Plasma Weapon[4][5] during development, was a secret directed-energy anti-aircraft weapon created by the Leasath Air Force New Weapon Laboratory.[1] It was developed specifically for use on Leasath's super-fighter Fenrir.
Design
The HPM primarily worked under the principle of amplifying microwave resonance to ignite the fuel tanks of enemy aircraft. Designed for use aboard the Fenrir super-fighter, the HPM was designed to take advantage of the Fenrir's other main technology—its optical camouflage system. Due to Fenrir's small size in comparison to an airborne fortress like the Gleipnir, it was rendered unable to provide power for its own optical camouflage. Instead, Fenrir relied on a ground-based emitter to transmit electrical power in the form of microwaves in order to sustain its cloaking abilities.[6] Due to this, however, the HPM was conceived. By attaching a microwave emitter to Fenrir itself, it could become capable of using excess microwave energy it received from the ground emitter to attack enemy aircraft. Similarly, the ground emitter was modified to direct microwave beams at both Fenrir and at enemy aircraft.[3]
By having both a ground-based emitter and an airborne emitter directing microwave beams in the direction of a target in unison, an overlapping resonant effect was created at the point in space where the beams connected.[2][3] The resonant amplification of the microwaves—combined with the large energy output from the ground-based emitter—resulted in the target point of the HPM becoming visible to the naked eye in the form of an sphere of pure energy,[3] often described as a "fireball" by those that encountered the weapon in combat.[2] The effect of the microwaves' amplification was almost immediately apparent upon contact; the fuel temperature of the target aircraft would rise rapidly, eventually causing the fuel tank to eventually combust, destroying the aircraft. While not immediately fatal, it was highly dangerous to remain within its area of effect for extended periods.[2]
History
The High-Powered Microwave began development alongside the Fenrir as a product of the Leasath Air Force New Weapon Laboratory, and was originally known as the Guided Electromagnetic Plasma Weapon before its final name was settled on.[1] The weapon was manufactured at Cobalt Cave, where a large array of satellite dishes were built to improve the HPM's homing capabilities.[7] An electrical plant near Archelon Fortress was used as the ground-based emitter for the weapon.[6]
Aurelian War
Prior to the Battle of Griswall, Diego Navarro fled the capital city of Aurelia and went on the run.[8] Pursued by Aurelian special forces, he managed to escape to Archelon Fortress, where prototypes for Fenrir were being produced.[8]
At the time, the HPM's airborne emitters were still being developed at Cobalt Cave. Shortly after they were completed, Leasath began transporting them to Archelon Fortress via a flotilla of container ships. Gryphus Squadron was deployed to destroy the convoy before it could escape the area.
The flotilla was ultimately eliminated, and the HPM's threat was removed from the war before it could ever be utilized in combat.[9] However, this allowed the Leasath Air Force's elite Alect Squadron to cross the Danern Straits and reach Archelon Fortress in order to pilot the Fenrir prototypes, thus making the aircraft an even greater threat.[6]
Alternate events
Instead of attacking Cobalt Cave immediately, Aurelia opted to engage the Alect Squadron to prevent them from ever reaching Archelon Fortress. After an intense dogfight, the entire squadron was shot down. However, this allowed the HPM shipment to reach Archelon Fortress, resulting in the weapon being mounted aboard the Fenrir prototypes.[10] Subsequently, Aurelian forces launched an attack on Cobalt Cave's satellite dish network, aiming to cripple the HPM's homing capabilities. The mission was successful, despite the complication of a final targeting system node within the cave itself.[7]
Finally, Aurelia launched an aerial assault on Archelon Fortress, aiming to destroy the facility and the Fenrirs it had already produced. As the aircraft approached Sentry Island, however, they were ambushed by a squadron of Fenrirs; Aquila 1 fell victim to the HPM, his aircraft exploding into flames. This caused the rest of the Aurelian squadron to scatter, beginning a fierce dogfight. During the course of the engagement, Aquila 2 also fell victim to the HPM, being unable to escape the weapon's area of effect before his aircraft was destroyed. Nevertheless, the battle ended with the destruction of both Archelon Fortress and the Fenrir prototypes, ending the threat the aircraft and its HPM posed to Aurelia.[2]
Gallery
Trivia
- If the player escapes a plasma sphere before their plane is destroyed, their engine's temperature begins to stabilize. However, this wouldn't be the case in real life; the electronics within the plane, along with the engine itself, would be structurally damaged by the sudden, intense heat. The plane would retain some internal damage after escaping the sphere.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Confidential document of Leasath army
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Mission 15A: "End of Deception I", Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 ACES WEB: ACE COMBAT X: Weapons - "HPM"
- ↑ Scene 4, Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception.
- ↑ Confidential document of Leasath army
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mission 15B: "End of Deception II", Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mission 14B: "Offline", Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Scene 4", Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception.
- ↑ Mission 14A: "Fire Storm", Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception.
- ↑ Mission 13A: "Alect Squadron", Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception.