Orbital Weapons

While space ships give control of space to the Horde, their array of orbital weapons give them control of the skies and low earth orbit. The exact nature of some of these weapons is unknown. It is assumed that several different designs are used. The most frequently used weapons have small or possibly no warheads, relying on kinetic energy alone to inflict damage. These systems are apparently computer targeted. Several characteristics have been noted in the targeting habits of the kinetic weapons. Three factors apparently influence targeting and accuracy: speed, height and projected area. Slow moving objects of any size are not targeted. Tests with blimps have shown that the threshold speed is 10 km/hr. Fast moving targets reduce the accuracy of these weapons. Evasive manoeuvres reduce accuracy even more. Low elevation flight reduces targeting. Movement below approximately 75 m is not targeted. Movement between 75 and 125 m is rarely targeted. Movement above 125 m is almost always targeted. The area that a target presents to the satellite influences targeting. Larger craft are more frequently and more accurately targeted. Craft under approximately 80 m2 are not targeted. The accuracy of attacks is proportional to the area of the craft.

Nuclear Weapons

All earth forces had destroyed their nuclear stockpiles long ago. At least one of the Horde's victim races had nuclear capability. These have been used sparingly. Their role appears to be restricted to retaliation against humans. Most of the nuclear weapons used have been in the 10 to 20 megaton range. Only limited use has been made of nuclear weapons by the Horde. Their policy seems to reserve nuclear weapons for psychological effect as much as physical effect. Nuclear weapons have only been used on targets of psychological importance to humans. One example is the bombing of the White House and Capital Hill in Washington, D.C., USA, after PSC forces staged the first successful stand against a Horde raid. The White House and Capital Hill were destroyed hours later, accomplishing little to nothing of strategic or tactical use other than intimidation.

November 5, 2055 saw the first mass use of nuclear weapons. The Horde had determined the location of Morituri Mountain. They blanketed the area with nuclear weapons, proving that they are able and willing to make mass nuclear attacks as well as their determination to destroy Strikeforce Morituri. Strikeforce Morituri and Morituri Command were destroyed with all on site forces. No nuclear attacks have been made since this attack. Redeployment of Strikeforce Morituri can be expected to elicit similar responses from the Horde.

Attack Armour

This is armour similar to PSC Shock Armour. There have been few cases of it being used. The first appearance was in an assassination attempt on the first Strikeforce Morituri team. The suit provides protection against the PSC issue blaster. This fact alone causes great concern. The armour is faced with a ceramic which withstands the attack of the plasma. The coating seems to be susceptible to kinetic impact. One possible way of handling the armour may be to use medium and heavy machine gun fire to break up the protective ceramic followed by plasma fire. This tactic has not been used. From test results, however, it does appear to be a reasonable tactic.

The armour is equipped with servo motors to enhance the strength and reflexes of the user. Coupled with the claws that project from the forearm sections, this makes a Hordian practically unstoppable in close quarters. 

Shield Generator

Weapons

As always with any human endeavour, military applications of science were ahead of civilian applications. The creation of the UEF in 2030 created the largest and best funded military force in the history of mankind. The UEF's standing forces were about a third of the size of the four predecessor forces combined. The UEF budget, however, was about two-thirds of the combined budgets. The extra money went into research.

The standard military weapon had become the assault rifle, firing caseless ammunition. The UEF continued to develop weapons. UEF researchers developed the first man portable gauss weapon. Gauss weapons use magnetism to accelerate the projectile. The weapon itself is carbine size. The powerpack for the weapon is large, which made it impractical for battlefield use. Smaller powerpacks were available but did not allow sustained fire. The most notable of the gauss weapons are the sniper rifle, the flachette gun and the rail gun.

With gauss weapons, there is no chemical explosion and, therefore, no muzzle flash. If the projectile is not accelerated past the speed of sound, the weapon is silent. The sniper rifle fires projectiles at subsonic speeds. The powerpack is designed to allow ten shots before recharging or a new powerpack is needed. The flachette gun is an antipersonnel weapon. It fires hundreds of rounds per second. The projectiles are small needles or splinters of steel. It is not effective against well armored people. Rail guns are at the opposite size extreme. Small rail guns are used for mobile artillery. The biggest rail guns were used for transportation from Moon Colony to space stations and space explorers.

Only one practical man portable energy weapon had been developed. These weapons, blasters, use pulsed plasma to deliver energy to the target. A compact powerpack had been developed for this weapon. Blasters fire blobs of plasma. Plasma is a very hot, electron rich gas mixture. The UEF blaster design intakes gas from the air or, preferably, from a pressurized cylinder built into the weapon. Electricity from the powerpack turned this gas into plasma. Plasma is very reactive and very hot. When it hits something, it reacts, causing a thermal/chemical burn. Blasters are effective at small arms range, but loose their effectiveness at long range because plasma reacts with the atmosphere and cooling.

The UEF did develop plans for large scale energy weapons. There are a number of systems based on different types of high energy beams. The designs, however, are for space ships. The weapons are impractical as land based weapons.