| Sketchley's Translations Main Index | Macross Portal |
| By AARON SKETCHLEY (aaronsketch@HOTdelete_thisMAIL.com) | Ver 1.0 2013.04.30 |
| Technology 09A: Reaction Weapons |
|---|
Illustrated by Takuya Io
Caption: Reaction Weapons, which appropriate Over Technology, demonstrated immense power in anti-ship attacks in the First Interstellar War. Although usage restrictions were imposed on them after the war because of their power, they are used even now as the trump card of the New Unified Forces.
Reaction Weapons: The Wide-Area Destruction Weapon Successor Brought Forth by Over Technology
Reaction armaments are a kind of wide area destruction weapon, which use Over Technology (henceforth OTM), and were implemented as "reaction weapons", such as warship carried missiles, missiles for VFs and shells for large calibre guns. Also, they have a great destructive power, as can be understood from their destruction of the Zentraadi warships -which exceed several thousand metres in length- in the First Interstellar War. Although limitations were imposed on their use in the Galactic Treaty that was concluded after the war, they are still acknowledge as one of the strongest weapons.
Although only the point that reaction weapons use a hydrogen nuclear reaction is the same as conventional thermonuclear reaction weapons, reaction weapon don't generate residual radioactivity, because heavy quantum is used in the super detonation agent (however, it's assumed that some of the initial reaction shells that were used in the Unification War had the potentiality of causing radioactive contamination). Also, the production of reaction weapons isn't that difficult, as heavy quantum can be generated if there is a reactor that's been built using OTM.
In addition, the reaction weapon's power differs depending on the size of the warhead, and their explosive power can be adjusted. Also, because of the specially made heavy quantum which instantly crushes normal space, reaction weapons have such features as being able to explode after only a short time - except for some of the extra-large warheads.
The majority of the explosive power is by an enormous heat ray, just like conventional large area destruction weapons (joined by a shock wave in an atmosphere), and there is no residual radioactivity. As they were assumed to be operated in space combat with aliens, their deployment went forward centred on the Unified Forces space fleet.
Reaction weapons are something that was born from mankind's analysis of OTM and as there are no examples of hostile aliens using them, it appears to be a technology monopolized by the Earth. However, they were actually produced and operated even in the Protoculture era. Although the Zentraadi naturally also possessed them, reaction weapons became a lost technology because the Protoculture didn't tell the Zentraadi the structural design of the weapons, they were expended in combat that extended over many years or were disabled due to the lifespan of the heavy quantum and, above all else, the reaction weapon plants were destroyed by internal Protoculture battles.
Related Matter: The Nullification of Reaction Weapons
Although reaction weapons have immense offensive abilities, the Unified Forces though about countermeasures for them. In addition, examples of their nullification by such things as alien creatures have also been reported.
Protoculture Armaments and Alien Creatures
The Protodevilun promptly regenerated from damage received from reaction weapons. The alien Vajra creatures acquired a resistance to reaction weapons during the conflict.
Caption: The "Bird Man" confined the explosions of reaction weapons within a barrier to prevented collateral damage to the surrounding area, and then folded somewhere.
Earth Armaments
The advance prototype Monster had heavy armour that endured close range explosions of reaction weapon. The barrier of the Macross was also able to endure reaction weapon explosions.
Caption: The SDF-1 Macross, which had rushed into the flagship of the Bodoru Fleet, launched a large quantity of reaction weapons within the ship. At that time, the damage to the Macross was held back to a minimum by the omni-directional barrier.
Caption: Although the opportunity to use reaction weapons decreased after the interstellar war, a large quantity of reaction weapons were prepared for contingencies and stored by such groups as the Emigration Fleet Escort Fleets and planetary guards.
Use During the Unification War
Although their use was held back out of political and collateral damage concerns, the supreme decision-making body occasionally permitted their use depending on the situation.
Use in the First Interstellar War
A large quantity of reaction weapons were used in outer space against the Zentraadi. Among them, VFs and Destroids were also equipped with reaction weapons in the battle against the Bodoru Main Fleet.
Use Restrictions After the Interstellar War
In the "Galaxy Treaty", which was concluded after the interstellar war, the operation of reaction weapons was restricted. Thereafter, as a general rule, reaction weapons were not used in normal combat.
Requirements Under the Galactic Treaty
Due to the Galaxy Treaty, the permission of the New Unified Government on the Earth was needed in order to use reaction weapons. However, under the New Unified Charter's exception clauses, if the administrative head authorizes it, reaction weapons could be used in emigrant fleets.
The Types of Reaction Weapon
Reaction Weapons for VFs
Types developed as missiles for VFs are loaded under the wings, into multi-weapon bays and so on. They were already implemented in the age of the VF-1.
Caption: Because they are sized in the largest class of missiles for a VF, the number of reaction weapons that a VF can be equipped with is limited. Two are commonly installed, and even if there are a lot, 6 seems to be the limit.
Caption: A total of 4 reaction weapons can be installed on the sides of the VF-25 Armour Pack's supplemental boosters. They racked up great military gains in the battle against the Vajra fleet.
Up: RMS-1 Large Anti-Ship Reaction Weapon
A missile for the VF-1 loaded with an anti-ship reaction weapon. It has a power that can destroy the Zentraadi ships, which are even larger than the SDF-1.
Reaction Weapons for Spaceships
There are many large types of reaction weapons for spaceships, and models up to the 10 Gt class exist. The Zentraadi ships were also once loaded with reaction weapons.
Caption: Reaction weapons were also widely deployed in the initial Unified Forces space fleet, from the ARMD Space Carriers to the Space Destroyers,
Caption: Reaction weapons were also installed in the warships of the Varohta Forces. When it comes to the Fleet Flagship Space Carrier, it was loaded with 8 Anti-Fleet Extra-Large Reaction Weapons.
Up: Small Anti-Ship Missile RB-5
A reaction weapon that was installed in the Unified Forces Space Destroyers. Although they were small types for warships, they could have their yield adjusted.
Reaction Weapons for Destroids
Types of reaction weapons, such as missiles and shells, were provided even for the land warfare humanoid weapon Destroids. The reaction shells for the Destroid Monster are especially known.
Caption: Reaction weapons for the advance prototype Monster's 40 cm guns. Their explosive power can be adjusted from 0.1 kt to 50 kt, and the Monster could fire four at the same time.
Caption: The Destroid force attached to the Macross was equipped with reaction weapons in the Bodoru Main Fleet Battle. They are thought to have been used when the SDF-1 made the attack to rush inside the enemy flagship.
Other Reaction Weapons
Among the reaction weapons, there are some that have an uncertain practical configuration. These are represented by the type that were stored on Gaul 4 that were taken by the rebelling unit and loaded onto battle-suits.
Caption: The rebelling squadron within the 33rd Marine Force equipped their Quadoran-Rea with reaction weapons. They were equipped with a reaction weapon in a form that was connected to the power-suit's back unit.
Caption: Planet Zola's Galactic Whale Poaching Group was also equipped with reaction weapons. They were unusual ones that were loading into the tip of a rod-type firing mechanism.
Examples Showing the Use of Reaction Weapons
2008: Operation Iconoclasm
The Unified Government's highest decision-making body directed the use of reaction weapons against the "Bird Man", which appeared in the vicinity of Mayan Island.
Caption: The advance prototype Destroid Monster fires four reaction weapons from the deck of the carrier Asuka. However, the Bird Man sealed up the explosion and folded somewhere.
2009 - 2010: The First Interstellar War
A large quantity of reaction weapons were used against the alien Zentraadi. Many were used especially against the Buritai Fleet at the start of hostilities and in the final stage of the Bodoru Main Fleet Battle.
Caption: Buritai held an interest in the reaction weapons that were used by the Unified Forces. Also, they became the weapons that buried the main fleet's commander Bodoruza.
2045: Operation Stargazer
An assault operation by the Unified Forces that escort the Macross 7 Fleet. The VF force assaulted the center of the Protodevilun, and tried to destroy them with reaction weapons.
Caption: The VF-22S piloted by Maximillian Jiinasu launched reaction weapons. However, the reaction weapons were folded to the Unified Forces' own operations flagship and the operation failed.
2046: The Anti-Zomudo & Goramu Battle
The Macross 7 Fleet's Escort Fleet used reaction weapons against Zomudo and Goramu. Due to that use, although it seemed like Zomudo and Goramu were defeated, they were not damaged.
Caption: The bodies of the Protodevilun were the Protoculture's living-weapon Ehvil Series, and were not damaged even by reaction weapons.
2047: The Poaching Group's Attack on the Galactic Whales
Planet Zola's Poaching Group used reaction weapons against the space whales. Although the reaction weapons explode inside the Galactic Whale's body and the explosion extended into the surroundings, the Galactic Whale was uninjured.
Caption: As the source of power for a spaceship can be harvested from the Galactic Whales, they became the target of the Poaching Group. Reaction weapons don't seem to have caused an effect in the Galactic Whales.
2059: The Anti-Vajra Fleet Battle
The Vajra Fleet defolded in the sector of space that the Frontier Fleet was sailing in. The Frontier Fleet sortied its VF force, which was equipped with reaction weapons, and defeated the Vajra.
Caption: The Vajra Fleet was defeated by a massive quantity of reaction weapons that were thrown into the battle. However, in the next battle, the Vajra had acquired a resistance to reaction weapons.