Astry Missile

þ (Thorn): 78,000,000W
Efficiency: 1.2þ
Power Type: HydrOx
Mass: 100kg
Length: 3m
Acceleration: 1,140m/s
Force:114,018N
Reaction: Combustion of 2H₂ + O₂ → 2(H₂O + 241.8kJ Energy)
Reaction Mass Used: 5.81138kg/s
Fuel Mass: 80kg
Burn Time: 13.77s
Top Relative Speed: 15,696m/s
Distance under acceleration: 108km
Kinetic Impact: 12,317,843,595J
TNT Equivalent: 3,000kg
Sol Tzu Attack Rating: 1,140

In order to allow maximum utility, the Astry missile does not carry any additional explosive. They are entirely made up of the shell massing 20kg and HydrOx fuel massing 80kg. They are designed to have a range longer than the 100km Impossibility Engine interference while minimising their size. If the target is at maximum range then the kinetic energy is the pure source of attack, whereas at close range the internal shape of the missile makes the HydrOx fuel a shaped charge. As the range and relative speeds vary between battling ships, the skill is in the ship and crew to hit the target.

The design of the missiles allows them to take up minimal space, but they also have an interlocking shape that allows them to double up, string up or attach to a weapons platforms. In a string, an off centre and temporary firing pattern can give the block of missiles a vector not predictable by observers of the flame, or hide the flame itself. The missiles are also designed to be able to hide a typical suited starler within an empty case although this fact is top secret.

Most ships keep a spread of them that can be directly fired from the hull, but with a feeder channel to take them to the ships main flig in order to rapidly accelerate it without the use of fuel. Missiles are the only realistic long range offensive weapons in space. Cannonballs can be flung but they are easily dodged and don’t have much real kinetic energy.

Writers Notes

If you’re a real mathematician, you may notice that the stats for the Top Relative Speed and below are out as I’ve used a linier approximation. I intend to refine this at some point but they are acceptable for now. The kinetic impact calculation is based on a mass of 100kg for simplicity, as it should be on 20kg with a higher speed from a proportionally higher acceleration. If you can give me the real numbers I’ll happily update them. Also, TNT is rounded up from a typical 4,184kJ/kg.