Planetside - Star Trek - Technologies

Often called 'spiral wave disruptors' by other races, compressor beams are an original invention of the Cardassians. Compressor beams utilize advanced gravitic lensing technologies to focus the beam fired, intensifying and amplifying the weapon's destructive properties.

Unfortunately for the Cardassian, the compressor family of weapons is space intensive and very few can be mounted on most mid-range hulls. This more than anything else has led to the Cardassian doctrine of developing warship hulls built for fleet actions rather than solo combat.

Compressor Beam

Primary Users

Cardassian

Developed

2338 (Cardassian)

Size Factor

The compressor beam is little more than an enlarged light compressor beam. Based on the same technologies as its predecessor, the compressor beam is the central weapon of the Cardassian military. Most ships equipped with compressor beams tend to mount them in a fixed position as the equipment necessary to power such a weapon requires great amounts of space and a direct connection to the ship's reactor to provide the necessary power.

The primary advantage of the compressor beam is the amount of damage that the weapon can do in a successful strike. Easily able to rip down ships and decimate enemy ships, the compressor is a deadly weapon--especially when sustained. Unfortunately, the increased strength comes at the price of rate of fire, making the compressor beam a slow firing weapon.

The compressor beam has been the heavy weapon of choice within the Cardassian fleet for over fifty years. In recent years, the Cardassians have even managed to miniaturize the weapon further, allowing for multiple compressor weapons to be housed in less space.

Light Compressor Beam

Primary Users

Cardassian

Developed

2318 (Cardassian)

Size Factor

The light compressor beam is the originator of the compressor beam weapon family. The light compressor beam was originally intended by the Cardassian Central Command to be an alternative to the medium phaser. The Cardassians had managed to secure several models of the medium phaser from black market channels (primarily weapons runners), but all attempts to reverse engineer and reproduce the technology met with inadequate results. In most cases, the weapon proved to be too bulky, too power hungry, or simply unstable. Testbeds of the medium phaser on the Gurnet Warship proved fruitless.

It was hoped by the Cardassians that integrating their knowledge of phaser weaponry and their advanced research into applied gravitics would allow them to develop a weapon of comparable strength to the medium phaser, but able to be built and serviced by the Cardassian Union.

After many years of research the first light compressor beam prototype was developed. Cardassian scientists had managed to develop a hybrid weapon that had more reliable damage with only a slightly increased power requirement. Fire control systems were substandard but were the best that the Cardassians could provide. The only disadvantage to the light compressor beam was the increased rate of fire necessitated by the need for a longer weapon cooldown cycle.

The light compressor beam would see great use during the subjugation of numerous worlds during the height of Cardassian imperialism. The light compressor beam was more than powerful enough for battles against the small navies of its lightly defended neighbors.

By the late 2330's, however, the weapon was starting to feel its age. Newer, stronger weapons were being fielded by other powers in the region. The Klingons and Romulans especially were fielding new disruptor weapons that made the light compressor beam look even more inferior.

The light compressor was eventually replaced in its role as a heavy weapon by the compressor beam between 2338 and 2244. After this point the light compressor became a secondary weapon in most cases or on ships that could not mount a full compressor beam.

Gravitic Disruptor

Primary Users

Cardassian

Developed

2290 (Cardassian)

Size Factor

The gravitic disruptor is one of the first weapons the Cardassian fielded based on gravitic technology. The weapon was originally intended to act as a long ranged replacement for the popular light phaser, but its low damage made this an untenable choice in the eyes of the military leadership. Most knew the value of the light phaser in Cardassian fleet based tactics and had come to rely on the weapon in combat.

Nonetheless, the gravitic disruptor entered limited service on new hulls. In early engagements and battle simulations the gravitic disruptor earned the name of "shield ripper", a designation that is actually more common than the weapon's actual name. It was found that gravitic disruptors could be used to weaken enemy shielding on the approach, making it easier for the fleet's light phasers to break through shields and damage enemy craft.

Due to a quirk in the gravitic disruptor's design, it is able to store up enough power if unfired on a turn to fire two volleys on the following turn. On ships that made heavy use of "shield rippers", it allowed the ship to fire a hail of disruptor fire at enemy ships which, at close ranges, would almost guarantee shield collapse.

During the doctrinal and technological upheaval of the 2340's, the Cardassian union shied away from gravitic disruptor weaponry and no longer mounted it on new hulls. Some models of the weapon were sold to third parties, usually with Cardassian maintenance contracts attached. The weapon has only rarely seen use in the civilian sector, starship proprietors preferring to use weapon systems that are more easily fixed and maintained by other sources than the Cardassian military.

Questions, comments, or suggestions? Please contact Tyrel Lohr at contact@tyrellohr.com.