Editing Plasma cannon

{{separate continuity|universe=TOS|cont=Richard Hatch Novelizations|lcont=Richard Hatch continuation}}

'''Plasma cannons''' are the primary heavy armament system employed by [[Cylon (TOS-RH)|Cylon]] [[basestar (TOS-RH)|basestars]] in the [[Richard Hatch continuation]]. These devastating weapons represent the pinnacle of Cylon offensive capability, designed to deliver planet-rending destructive force against capital ships, planetary targets, and large installations. {{RH|Resurrection}}{{RH|Paradis}}

==Design and Capabilities==

Plasma cannons are massive weapon systems that protrude from the hull of basestars in organized tiers, resembling quills arranged in orderly lines.<ref name="RES228">{{cite book/RH|3|228}}</ref> The spacing between individual cannon barrels is approximately one-eighth of a metron, creating a densely packed weapons array that maximizes firepower coverage.<ref name="RES228" />

The cannons discharge concentrated beams of superheated plasma capable of inflicting catastrophic damage on virtually any target. The destructive potential is described as "planet-rending force,"<ref name="RES185">{{cite book/RH|3|185}}</ref> indicating these weapons possess sufficient power to devastate planetary surfaces and breach the heaviest armor.

===Operational Characteristics===

Plasma cannons require a charging cycle before firing, during which the weapons accumulate and focus tremendous energy.<ref name="RES185" /> The area around a basestar becomes visibly charged with plasma energy as the cannons power up, creating a distinctive electromagnetic signature detectable by enemy sensors.<ref name="RES185" />

When the cannons discharge, they produce blasts of blazing plasma that can track across space to their targets. The weapons operate in salvos, with multiple cannons firing in coordinated patterns to maximize destructive effect.<ref name="RES216">{{cite book/RH|3|216}}</ref> The tremendous feedback generated by plasma cannon fire can create secondary effects even within the firing vessel, as energy discharges through connected systems.<ref name="RES217">{{cite book/RH|3|217}}</ref>

==Tactical Deployment==

===Anti-Capital Ship Operations===

Plasma cannons serve as the basestar's primary weapon for engaging {{TOS-RH|Colonial battlestar|Colonial battlestars}} and other large warships. During the {{TOS-RH|Battle of Kobol|Battle of Kobol}}, basestar plasma cannon arrays demonstrated their devastating effectiveness against the Colonial fleet.<ref name="RES216" />

The weapons proved capable of inflicting severe damage even on heavily armored battlestars. {{TOS-RH|Galactica|''Galactica''}}{{'}}'s weapons systems suffered catastrophic damage when struck by plasma cannon fire, with weapons officers thrown from their posts by the tremendous energy feedback. The blast caused multiple electrical fires and required significant time for repair crews to restore functionality.<ref name="RES217" />

{{TOS-RH|Pegasus|''Pegasus''}} under {{TOS-RH|Cain|Commander Cain}} sustained terrible damage from plasma cannon bombardment, with the bristling arrays of weapons tracking the battlestar's movements and delivering repeated strikes.<ref name="RES216" /> The cumulative effect of these attacks reduced ''Pegasus'' to little more than a burning hulk, though the battlestar's hull integrity remained sufficient for Cain's final kamikaze run against a Cylon mothership.<ref name="RES232">{{cite book/RH|3|232}}</ref>

===Planetary Bombardment===

Plasma cannons can devastate planetary installations and surface targets. During the Battle of Kobol, basestars employed their plasma cannon arrays to target civilian ships attempting to evacuate the planet's surface. The weapons destroyed multiple vessels, leaving them as smoking ruins scattered across the landscape "like bones of dead marine animals on the bottom of a suddenly-dry ocean bed."<ref name="RES216" />

The cannons also proved effective against hardened installations. When {{TOS-RH|Athena}} and the Colonial forces attempted to evacuate from an asteroid base, a [[Cylon Class IV basestar (TOS-RH)|Class IV basestar]] brought its plasma cannon arrays to bear. The weapons trained their destructive force on a single point, causing the asteroid's structure to crumble under sustained bombardment. The plasma bursts triggered a chain reaction with the unstable [[tylium (TOS)|tylium]] mine within the asteroid, resulting in an explosion that resembled "a new star being born."<ref name="RES185" />

==Vulnerabilities and Countermeasures==

===Targeting Limitations===

Despite their immense destructive power, plasma cannons suffer from significant tactical limitations. The weapons are designed to engage large, relatively slow-moving targets such as battlestars, civilian ships, and planetary installations. They prove far less effective against small, fast, maneuverable fighters.<ref name="RES226">{{cite book/RH|3|226}}</ref>

The cannons can only be trained and fired in predetermined arcs; they lack the tracking capability necessary to reliably target {{TOS-RH|Viper|Vipers}} and other small craft. This design limitation makes plasma cannon arrays vulnerable to fighter assault, as demonstrated repeatedly during the Battle of Kobol.<ref name="RES226" />

===Viper Strike Tactics===

Colonial Viper pilots developed specific tactics to exploit plasma cannon vulnerabilities. During combat operations, Vipers would make attack runs directly at the cannon emplacements, firing their turbolasers down the massive bores of the barrels. These precision strikes could cause internal explosions deep within the basestar, disabling entire weapon sections.<ref name="RES227">{{cite book/RH|3|227}}</ref>

{{TOS-RH|Apollo|Commander Apollo}} ordered {{TOS-RH|Starbuck}} and his squadron to specifically target the basestar's main weapons before the plasma cannons could achieve firing position. Such strikes required extraordinary piloting skill and courage, as the Vipers had to close to extremely short range with the heavily armed basestar.<ref name="RES217" />

Pilot {{TOS-RH|Troy}} demonstrated an particularly audacious tactic by flying his Viper through the gaps between plasma cannon barrels in a slalom pattern, using the weapons themselves as an obstacle course. This maneuver forced pursuing [[Chitain (TOS-RH)|Chitain]] Stingers to follow the same path at high speed. When a Stinger attempted to fire on Troy's Viper, it instead struck one of the plasma cannons. The pursuing craft subsequently collided with another cannon barrel at full speed, causing a massive explosion that vaporized the weapon and peeled back a section of the basestar's hull, exposing the weapons bay and crew within.<ref name="RES228" />

===Battlestar Counterbattery Fire===

Colonial battlestars could effectively engage plasma cannon emplacements with their own long-range artillery when circumstances permitted. ''Galactica'' demonstrated this capability by maneuvering to bring all port-side weapons to bear on a basestar, destroying an entire emplacement of plasma cannons. This single salvo effectively halved the basestar's assault capabilities, though the remaining weapons still posed a formidable threat.<ref name="RES216" />

==Atmospheric Combat Limitations==

Plasma cannons and the basestars mounting them suffer significant disadvantages when operating within planetary atmospheres. While the weapons retain their devastating destructive power, the basestar platforms prove slower and less maneuverable in atmospheric conditions. Basestars are explicitly noted as "not designed for battle within a planet's atmosphere," creating tactical vulnerabilities that Colonial forces could exploit.<ref name="RES216" />

This limitation proved critical during the Battle of Kobol, where Colonial battlestars leveraged their superior maneuverability against the more powerful but less agile basestars. The battlestars could position themselves advantageously, strike plasma cannon emplacements, and maneuver away before the slower basestars could bring their remaining weapons to bear effectively.<ref name="RES216" />

==Strategic Significance==

Plasma cannons represent the ultimate expression of Cylon military philosophy: overwhelming firepower designed to annihilate enemies through sheer destructive capacity. The weapons embody the Cylons' approach to warfare—methodical, devastating, and designed to eliminate opposition through superior technology and raw power.

The effectiveness of plasma cannon arrays explains why basestars serve as the centerpiece of Cylon naval strategy. A single basestar with fully operational plasma cannons can threaten entire fleets or devastate planetary surfaces. This capability makes basestars the equivalent of {{TOS-RH|Colonial battlestar|Colonial battlestars}} in terms of strategic value, though the two vessel types employ fundamentally different tactical approaches.<ref name="PAR33">{{cite book/RH|7|33}}</ref>

However, the weapons' limitations against small craft necessitate combined-arms tactics. Basestars must rely on escorting [[Raider (TOS-RH)|Raiders]] and other fighters to provide defense against Viper strikes, as the plasma cannons alone cannot adequately protect the basestar from determined fighter assault.<ref name="RES226" />

==Notable Engagements==

===Battle of Kobol===

The Battle of Kobol showcased both the devastating power and critical vulnerabilities of plasma cannon systems. Multiple basestars brought their weapons to bear on the Colonial fleet as it attempted to evacuate the planet. The plasma cannons inflicted terrible casualties on both civilian vessels and defending battlestars.<ref name="RES216" />

''Galactica'' suffered severe damage to its weapons systems from plasma cannon fire, temporarily crippling the battlestar's offensive capabilities. ''Pegasus'' endured even more catastrophic damage, with plasma cannon strikes reducing Commander Cain's vessel to a burning wreck.<ref name="RES216" /><ref name="RES232" />

Despite this destructive success, Colonial Viper squadrons successfully disabled multiple plasma cannon emplacements through precision strikes. Starbuck's squadron targeted the basestar's forward-facing weapons, buying crucial time for the fleet to escape. Individual Viper pilots like Troy demonstrated that audacious tactics could turn the plasma cannons' own positioning against them, using the weapon arrays as obstacles to defeat pursuing enemy fighters.<ref name="RES228" />

===Paradis System===

When the remnants of {{TOS-RH|The Fleet|the Fleet}} remaining in the [[Paradis system (TOS-RH)|Paradis system]] encountered a damaged Cylon basestar, the plasma cannon arrays were among the systems Apollo's team investigated during their reconnaissance mission. The discovery of a partially functional basestar with its weapons systems provided intelligence on current Cylon capabilities and technology.<ref name="PAR33" />

==Notes==

* The plasma cannon represents an evolution of Cylon weaponry from the original television series, where basestars were depicted with various weapons systems but without this specific designation. The Richard Hatch continuation novels expanded Cylon armament with more detailed descriptions of weapon types and capabilities, including the systematic categorization of plasma cannons as the primary heavy weapons of basestars.

==References==

<references />

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