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The Siege Cannon was an ancient Bentusi weapon located in a Debris Field in Koreth's Rift Sector. It was found by the Kuun-Lan after they escaped Gozan IV.
Overview[]
The Siege Cannon is one of the few known pieces of Bentusi weaponry known to still exist. The weapon was presumably used in battle by the Bentusi in Koreth's Rift, during which it was severed from its origin ship and left as a derelict for millennia. This incident also allowed it to escape the fate that befell most of its creators' weapons technology, after the Bentusi abandoned violence out of guilt for the Exile of the Hiigarans 3015 years ago.
In 9525 GSY/15 AHL, After their successful raid on Gozan IV, the Kiith Somtaaw vessel Kuun-Lan and her escorts took refuge in the debris field, hoping that the derelicts floating throughout the area would shield them from detection. A Recon patrolling the perimeter came upon an active mine and, intrigued by the fact that it wasn't as old as the rest of the debris field, looked further and found the cannon, largely intact. Quickly recognizing its potential value, Kuun-Lan organized a salvage operation despite subsequent report of an incoming Turanic Raiders contingent. After a long struggle and despite the Raiders using ships that are either cloaked or disguised as derelicts to ambush the salvage team, the Somtaaw forces were able to secure the Siege Cannon and install it onto Kuun-Lan.
The Somtaaw tested the restored cannon on a Beast Mothership that was formerly the Kuun-Lan's jettisoned lower deck module. Unfortunately, the shot proved unable to cope with the regenerative ability of the Beast cells, and Hiigaran technology the Somtaaw derived their works from at the time could not restore the cannon's energy conduits to their full specifications, causing the weapon to overheat after firing and making follow-up shots impossible. Still considering the cannon as their best chance, the Somtaaw forces set about improving it.
First, they needed to acquire a sample of original Beast tissue, an analysis of which would allow Kuun-Lan's engineering team to adjust the cannon's output to account for all possibilities of Beast cellular regeneration. This is accomplished by tracking down Naggarok and covertly obtaining a sample off it. Then, upon further discovery of the cannon being Bentusi in origin, the Somtaaw attempted and eventually managed to convince its original creators to help them. The cannon's energy conduits were subsequently repaired reinforced with improved heat sinks that allow repeated firing of the cannon. The Somtaaw tested the modified cannon on the former Clee-San, this time achieving great success and permanently disabling the Beast-subverted ship. The Somtaaw then used the dying former Clee-San to lure the Beast Mothership into a trap, and the cannon once again performed admirably, proving its cooling system up to the task.
At Naval Base Alpha, the cannon was used again against the Naggarok.
Effects[]
The "siege shell" it fires detonates in mid-space in an explosion that can vaporize any vessel smaller than a full mothership in a direct hit. Being caught in the blast can seriously damage any ship and will vaporize any ship smaller than a destroyer. The down side to the power of the Siege Cannon is the long recharge time between shots.
Because it is an area-effect weapon, any and all ships in the area of the blast will receive damage, including friendly ships. Although it has a considerable range, the Siege Cannon's shot will degenerate quickly, drastically reducing its damage at longer ranges.