The Ion Beam is
the single most powerful weapon technology developed by
Taiidani science. The frigate hull can barely support the
entire length of the particle acceleration unit, but it
offers the quickest and most economical way to put this
devastating weapon into battle.
The design
sequence was so rapid that the frigate entered frontline
service still under its project name, "Weapon X,"
but within days of its first combat trials, crews had
renamed the frigate "Sajuuk Cor"—an ancient
phrase that translates roughly into "God's Wrath."
Given the power of the weapon system, Sajuuk Cor crews were
drawn only from veteran personnel, and quickly became some
of the most driven members of the fleet. Where the obvious
vulnerabilities of a ship with only one forward firing
weapon would dictate cautious deployment, Beam Frigate crews
operate as hunter/killers, and will often plow their
frigates through formations of enemy fighters in order to
pin a capital ship in a web of deadly blue-white cutting
beams. While this tactic can be devastatingly effective, it
drastically lowers the survivability of the Beam Frigates
and, despite numerous disciplinary charges against zealous
captains, there seems to be no increase in caution amongst
Sajuuk Cor crews. Attempts to mix in greener or more
cautious personnel has either had no effect, or produced an
unacceptable drop in combat efficiency.
As
a result, fleet commanders have no choice but to assign
escort vessels like Diirvass Corvettes and Tiifal defense
frigates to cover the Sajuuk Cors as they dive into the
thick of things, hunting the largest enemy vessels on the
scope.
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