@Altaran technological principles represent a profound divergence from conventional material science, operating on seemingly aberrant physical laws that pre-war Unity researchers had catalogued as speculative fringe theory. Where human-derived technology follows predictable, causal engineering, @Altaran systems embrace controlled paradox and esoteric particle states, yielding capabilities that initially appeared impossible. Their weaponry is not merely advanced, but conceptually alien, built upon a science that manipulates foundational aspects of reality humans considered immutable constants.
Classification: Tier-0 Anomalous Kinetic Projector
Primary Source: @Altaran Esoterica / Meta-stable Mass-State Manipulation
Propagation Velocity: Non-linear (Projectile exhibits subdimensional tunneling; effective manifestation is instantaneous across engagement ranges)
Effective Countermeasures: Scalar Interference Fields, Adaptive Phased Mass-Energy Shielding, Redirective Temporal-Spatial Warping. Simple plated armor and cover are utterly ineffective.
Note: Weapon does not fire through barriers; the projectile's mass-state is temporarily non-interactive with local spacetime, bypassing all intervening matter. Defense requires disrupting the recursive containment field prior to impact-state collapse.
The @Phase-Piercer 'Penumbra' serves as the archetype for this weapon system class. The weapon eschews linear acceleration, instead using meta-stable mass-state manipulation to transition a projectile into a non-interactive phase. Sustained by a recursive containment field, the slug achieves subdimensional tunneling, bypassing all intervening matter until deliberate field termination at the target locus. The resulting impact combines kinetic force with a localized reality-reassertion shock.
This non-linear propagation makes standard interception impossible and nullifies the tactical value of cover, embodying the @Altaran doctrine of absolute efficiency. The weapon’s existence is a testament to scientific paradigms the Unity once deemed theoretical, demonstrating a mastery of physics that allows @Altaran systems to ignore conventional defensive concepts entirely.
The only reliable defense against such a system is Adaptive Phased Mass-Energy Shielding, which requires precise calibration to disrupt the projectile's containment field and force a premature mass-state collapse. During the first decades of the War of the Chosen, this technology was non-existent at the infantry scale, leading to catastrophic losses, as standard armor offered no protection. The rapid development and eventual ubiquity of personal energy shields within the Unity military were driven in large part by the existential threat posed by @Altaran phase-weaponry. While now standard on all modern starships, including nimble one-man Firebirds, the defense remains intensely energy-intensive and requires constant modulation. In combat, the loss of shielding against an @Altaran arsenal almost invariably spells instantaneous death.