Plasmic Warheads

Plasmic warheads represent one of the most devastating conventional weapons in the theocratic navy's arsenal, combining advanced Elysian plasma containment technology with precision targeting systems. These specialized munitions utilize compressed plasma cores maintained at temperatures exceeding those found in most stars, contained within layered electromagnetic fields developed by gear hierophants of the Technate of Elysia.

Technical schematic of a Mark VII plasmic warhead's containment chamber and delivery mechanisms

The development of plasmic warheads marked a significant advancement in void warfare capabilities, as they provided capital ships with a means to deliver concentrated plasma payloads across vast distances. The warheads' distinctive design incorporates graviton stabilizers that prevent the plasma core from destabilizing during transit through both realspace and foldspace jumps, allowing them to be safely stored in ships' ammunition holds for extended periods.

When detonated, a plasmic warhead releases its contained plasma in a precisely controlled burst, creating a short-lived but incredibly intense sphere of superheated matter that can melt through even the thickest ship armor. The resulting plasma field also disrupts shield harmonics and electronic systems, making these weapons particularly effective against heavily defended targets. Their deployment requires careful timing and targeting, as the plasma dissipates rapidly in the void, though this same characteristic helps prevent collateral damage to friendly vessels.

The manufacturing process for plasmic warheads is incredibly complex, requiring specialized facilities like those found in the soaring shipyards of Hebhastun. Each warhead's plasma core must be individually cultivated through a process that takes several weeks, with Elysian technomancers carefully monitoring the growing plasma formation to ensure proper containment field harmonization. Even a minor flaw in the containment matrix can result in catastrophic failure.

These weapons proved particularly effective during early engagements with aberrations, as the intense plasma fields seemed to cause disproportionate damage to entities originating from the Nemither. However, their use requires careful coordination between ships' targeting systems and specialized firing solutions calculated by prognosticators to account for the complex gravitational effects that can influence plasma containment during flight.

Deployment and Strategic Use

The theocratic navy typically deploys plasmic warheads from dedicated launch tubes aboard larger capital ships, particularly the Providence class battleship and Dominantae pattern battleship. These vessels carry specialized targeting arrays calibrated specifically for tracking plasmic warhead trajectories through void space.

The effectiveness of plasmic warheads against both conventional targets and Nemither-spawned threats has made them a crucial component of the theocracy's void warfare doctrine. However, their complex manufacturing requirements and the limited number of facilities capable of producing them means they must be deployed strategically, often reserved for high-priority targets or situations where conventional weapons prove insufficient.

Technical Specifications

The standard plasmic warhead contains a magnetically confined plasma core maintained at approximately 100 million degrees Kelvin. This core is suspended within nested containment fields generated by arrays of precision-engineered crystals grown in the foundries of Hebhastun. The outer casing incorporates layers of heat-dissipating materials and gravitational dampeners to protect the warhead during storage and transit.

The warhead's guidance systems utilize a combination of conventional void-space tracking algorithms and specialized sensors capable of detecting gravitational anomalies that might affect the plasma containment fields during flight. This dual guidance system helps ensure accurate delivery even in complex battlefield conditions where enemy electronic warfare systems might attempt to disrupt targeting.

See Also

• Plasmic weapons
• Plasmic canons
• Plasmic lances
• The theocratic navy